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Wicked Witches of the Midwest Shorts #15

How Aunt Tillie Stole Christmas

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Fourteen years ago, Christmas hit Walkerville with a bang. Or, rather, a big ball of fire.

When a local group home for orphaned children goes up in smoke right before the holidays, Tillie Winchester volunteers her family to take in some kids – even though her arch nemesis Margaret Little is dead-set against it. Of course, that’s part of the appeal for Tillie so she’s considering it a win.

Three boys – all of them with a little attitude – have no idea what to expect from the Winchester household. No matter what, Tillie is sure they’re about to get more than they bargained for. In short order, they’re welcomed into the family at the same time the town is on edge due to a second fire.

Tillie is determined to prove the boys are innocent while also finding them a forever home… even if she has to take on a local judge and declare all out war to do it.

So, hang your stockings by the fire and sit back for another Christmas with the Winchesters. You’ll never be the same again.

126 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 12, 2017

522 people are currently reading
253 people want to read

About the author

Amanda M. Lee

305 books2,907 followers
When I was a kid, I was torn between whether or not I was going to grow up and be the Incredible Hulk or Wonder Woman. I flirted with being a Jedi Knight for awhile, but I wasn't up for the intense travel associated with the gig. In my teens, I settled on being a writer -- although I had no idea the effort that would entail.
Not only am I a writer now, but I'm a writer in several different mediums. I'm a longtime newspaper reporter, an avid reader and a voracious science fiction fanatic.

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5 stars
1,064 (70%)
4 stars
331 (22%)
3 stars
93 (6%)
2 stars
10 (<1%)
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4 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 121 reviews
Profile Image for Mary.
922 reviews39 followers
January 2, 2018
I loved it!

Aunt Tillie is a real character and she is funny! She is the care giver for 4 teenagers and their mothers whose parents died and Tillie was given custody of them.

There is a fire in the state home where David, Michael, and Andrew live and the boys come to stay with Aunt Tilly and the girls.

The story ends with a happy solution when Aunt Tillie gets to working on a Christmas miracle for the boys!
Profile Image for Meg.
612 reviews
December 11, 2018
Another fun adventure with abrasive yet lovable Aunt Tillie. The grandnieces are teenagers still in this one, and are along for the ride, making sure that Christmas is wonderful this year for three homeless brothers.
Profile Image for Starr Perry.
408 reviews2 followers
May 14, 2024

Nothing but love for the hilarious & often heinous aunt Tillie who is badddddto the bone and goes her own way along with her crazy Winchester family circus, but is a hoot and a half while doing so.

Aunt Tillie learns of an orphanage in a nearby town that has burned down just a few days from Christmas. The children there desperately need temporary placement until new foster homes can be found for them.

Tillie’s arch nemesis Margaret Little attempts to rally the town to block the children having temporary shelter (Scrooge, anyone???) and in a fury, Tillie agrees to bring 3 of the foster kids sight unseen home to the Winchester compound and their B&B for Christmas, so they have a safe place to stay,
while Tillie investigates their situation.

Of course as with all things wildly witchy Winchester for any of you other fan gals like me (I’m in my early 60s and have happily read my way through almost all of the talented Ms Lee’s literary offerings, I adore her stories!!) they have a CRAzZZzzzzy magical family circus with various magics among their generational witch family and they do not hesitate to wield their powers to protect the helpless and innocent and banish the evil.

WARNING: howling like a loon with snorting with wild laughter will ensue. Or so my husband tells me, late at night when he is quite annoyed while attempting to sleep and I am banished down the hall to the guest room, with my unlimited kindle reading ability, stillllll laughing. 🙄

An absolutely entertaining story, a wonderful writer and an absolutely worthwhile read
Profile Image for Imjussayin.
567 reviews11 followers
May 25, 2018
2.5 stars

In A Nutshell:Meet a younger Aunt Tillie, bullying instead of curmudgeonly. But as we meet the younger force-ripe manipulative Bay, Thistle, and Clove, Aunt Tillie's position is understandable and excusable. I read the series because of Aunt Tillie character, and it is lovely to see her being openly kind. Well, it is Christmas. I was slightly uncomfortable that it was three orphaned African- American brothers that needed saving. The storyline fitted too many stereotypes, and it was rounded off with a white saviour. But Aunt Tillie is terrific, and the story does send a positive message of love and hope.

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Would I read the next one or reread ?: Yes

My rating system (* = star)
0* Could not finish this book (waste of time)
1*Finished the book but didn't like it not fulfilled
2* Finished the book it was okay.
3* A good read worth your time.
4* An excellent read often with a novel concept or unusual plot.
5* A magnificent read. A prominent example of the genre.
6,228 reviews40 followers
June 21, 2019
Aunt Tillie is the narrator of this volume. It takes place some fourteen years before the 'regular' series of books. Bay is 15 and is just learning how to drive.

There's a fire at a juvenile detention facility and there's a plan that some of the kids will find temporary housing in Walkerville. Margaret Little leads a plan to try to ban any such thing from happening and, what Margaret wants, Tillie opposes.

So the Winchester family end up with three of the boys. They start to adjust and will only be staying until a regular foster family can be found. Unfortunately a house in the town that had been part of the program burns down and this fuels the group that doesn't want any of the kids there.

Aunt Tillie, along with Bay, Thistle and Clover, want to give the boys a very nice Christmas (it's onlya few days before that). The father of the boys had run out on the family and still has legal custody of them. Their Uncle wants to take care of the boys but he can't do anything unless the father signs off legally and lets them live with their uncle.

So, what can be done? Combine a spy movie with witchcraft (including a zombie ghost) and you end up with the usual good ending to the story. A really good story.
Profile Image for Loretta TheMoodyRedhead.
1,050 reviews4 followers
June 9, 2025
Aunt Tillie is ornery, stubborn, and only thinks of herself, but she also loves deeply and is loyal to a fault. And just when you think you know her, she’ll throw you for a loop and do something completely shocking like save Christmas for three brothers whose group home displaced them after burning down.

Aunt Tillie is on it! She volunteered to take the brothers in for a few days while The System searched for a new foster home. However, that isn’t good enough for Aunt Tillie so she and her three great-nieces (Bay, Thistle, and Clove) go on a mission to find a permanent home for the brothers just in time for Christmas. Can they do it? Well, we’re talking about Aunt Tillie, the witch that controls the weather, and when she sets her mind on something she will surely get her way.

Sweet story and the last in this 15-book series.

My next read is book 13 from Robyn Peterman’s Good to the Last Death women’s paranormal fiction series: “Someone Save My Midlife Tonight.” This one is a great series that can be pretty intense, at times. It’ll make you think twice about whether magic, angels, demons, and God exist - (they do!)
Profile Image for Helen Robare.
813 reviews6 followers
January 22, 2018
I love all of the books in this series but especially those that feature Aunt Tillie! She is a character that's for sure. If I had read this book when I was younger, I might have loved one of the cousins or one of the sisters but since I'm a senior citizen, it's Aunt Tillie that I read them for. In this book, it shows that Aunt Tillie has a heart though she always has some other reason for doing what she does. I love the fact that she takes these boys into her home and I love how they come to respect her. The entire book is written in such a way that you can see Aunt Tillie has a heart, though "she" doesn't come right out and gush love and kisses. That isn't her way. All the characters in this series are written well and the plots are good also. If you want a little light reading that will make you laugh out loud sometimes...then this is the series for you.
Profile Image for Lori.
361 reviews3 followers
April 15, 2020
Exceptionately well written!

It's almost Christmas again, and once more, it's Aunt Tilly to the rescue, (with a little help from three Christmas elves.)
You can't save everyone, but you can try to save some. Three young boys have lost their government home to a fire and Aunt Tilly has decided to house them for a few days. Without consulting her nieces, and mostly to frustrate her nemesis, Mrs. Little.
After spending a little time with the boys her heart is touched, (yes, she Does have one), and she decided to give them the best Christmas ever.
This time, she and the girls are going to try stealing Christmas.
That should work out well.
Thankfully, between Christmas magic, and Winchester magic, it just might!
Profile Image for Patricia L Dunbar.
24 reviews
December 12, 2017
I Loved it.

I love all your books, especially this series. But you outdid yourself with this one. I laughed and laughed as I read this story. The only problem was it was too short. I would love to see more of them with all the witches all working together with Tillie. It made for a real fun read. It was priceless when Bay out witted Mrs. Little at the "emergency" town meeting. I laughed so hard I cried . I really hate that character. I am so with Tillie about her. She so deserves yellow snow for Christmas. Rotflmao.
Keep it up and Merry Christmas everyone. Best Christmas story ever.
16 reviews
December 14, 2017
Was really 21/2 stars but it wouldn't registers the half. Spoiler Alert

Same lines, snark , kvetch, " shot a dark, black, murderous look,,". Same pages of meaninglessly argue men's. Really could put any other of Lee's books here for 80% of this story and no one would know. Holds true for all. Then there is then you have the white lady bountiful who swoops down and in days does the impossible. Tired, insulting plot. , She fixes the black children's Christmas and LIVES! Wow. So white of Lee. In every way. Why black kids? Sincerely? Then there is the 20%. Sweet basic underlying story. Escape non challenging reading and again, the price is right.
Profile Image for Golden Angel.
Author 164 books2,025 followers
December 27, 2017
I loved this Wicked Witches Short!

I've found some of the shorts to be re-reads (the fairy tale book!) and others to only be one-offs, but this one is definitely going to be a re-read over and over again for me! SUCH a wonderful Christmas story! If you love the characters then you'll seriously enjoy seeing Bay, Thistle, and Clove at their manipulative worst (aka best) as teenagers clashing with Aunt Tillie. Aunt Tillie is just AMAZING in this. Crochety, bullying, and totally on Santa's side.

It's a completely heartwearming, feel good story with the usual dose of Winchester sarcasm and troublemaking. Definitely exactly what I needed to read today!
Profile Image for Debi Paglia .
616 reviews18 followers
December 15, 2017
I love Ms. Lee’s style of writing. She has a quirky sense of humor that cracks me up! Especially when she’s writing from Aunt Tillie’s perspective! This book is no exception! Aunt Tillie’s methods are not typical, but she gets results! This book showed a caring side of Aunt Tillie that we don’t get to see very often. It was a great feel-good Winchester Christmas! This series is my all-time favorite with its wacky cast of characters. It’s like they are real people that I know. Can’t wait for the next one!
725 reviews8 followers
December 13, 2017
Great!

This has to be the best of the Aunt Tillie Christmas stories. It's an all round feel good Winchester holiday--and even better in this one, she helps someone who really needs it. There are the usual Winchester highjinks and snark of course--teenage Bay, Clove, and Thistle are at the heart of the story along with some needy children, a ghost from the past, some yellow snow for Margaret, and even a quick look at how Aunt Tillie got custody of Winnie and her sisters back in the day. I recommend this for anyone who needs their heart warmed for Christmas and a good chuckle.
Profile Image for Starla.
951 reviews
January 6, 2018
Loved this book. Aunt Tillie truly has a sweet side especially if it irritates Mrs. Little. This short is about how Aunt Tillie takes in 3 orphaned brothers and basically gets them to trust her enough to tell their story of how they came to be orphaned and what they want most in the world for Christmas. Aunt Tillie then sets out to give them the best Christmas they could ever have and make their dreams come true. She does this all while doing what Aunt Tillie does. Makes people do what she wants by annoying or threatening them. A perfect Christmas short!
Profile Image for Theresa .
1,857 reviews77 followers
December 27, 2020
4.5 Stars... When Aunt Tillie decides to take in three teen boys after the juvenile detention home they were housed in burns down, Christmas at the Winchesters becomes one for the record books... Aunt Tillie is on a mission to steal Christmas and right the wrongs that have been done to these boys... Her co-conspirators happen to be a young Bay, Clove, and Thistle, who aid her in a family reunion to remember... A perfect Christmas read that is filled with humor, family, compassion, and the true Christmas spirit:)
Profile Image for K.L. Hopkins.
Author 1 book3 followers
December 14, 2017
Haha Aunt Tillie

I love that woman. I lovedthe whole book, although if mrs. Little was real I would definitely help with the yellow snow haha. I can't get enough of this series. I love each and every one of the books. The author is most definitely one of my favs. But this one was better than most. I loved getting a look inside Tillies mind. She is always up to something. It was a good read for Christmas. Merry Christmas to the author and to everyone else.
Profile Image for Ruthanne Brownlee.
13 reviews
January 12, 2018
Willie and the girls win Christmas.

This was a good read and warmed my heart and a tear in my eye at the great family ending..with the family getting to be together as a family for the holidays and for the rest of their lives .it ended the way it should with love winning all the way it should . Aunt Tillie really stole Christmas for a family that was trying to be pulled apart by the system.
Profile Image for Shawn.
195 reviews
January 15, 2018
Aunt Tillie is the best

I love the mischief Aunt Tillie and the girls can get into. Especially if Ms. Little is around. We see more of Aunt Tillie being softer in the flashbacks. More so because it's her stories instead of Bay's. We see more of her and how her mind works, which I love. Whether in the past or present Aunt Tillie's heart is in the right place. Just don't tell anyone or you might be added to her list!
35 reviews1 follower
October 1, 2019
Everyone read all the books from Amanda m lee

These are the best books I have read in 20 years. I'm not good at reviews I never know what to say lol but these are the funniest books I ever read. I laughed so hard I cried. Aunt Till and Landon are my favorite characters. My family is slot like the Winchesters sarcasm is a must in my house. Anyway I'm hoping she writes more I'm so sad I read them all.
1 review
November 9, 2019
Can't Get Enough

When I first started reading the series I was skeptical. That's me, doubting Debbie. I couldn't put the books down. I finished what Amanda had written in no time flat. I was disappointed when I ran out of stories about this family that made me laugh and brought tears to my eyes. This story was a surprise and it is definitely something I needed to find. I absolutely love these characters! Thank you Amanda for relighting the fire of my imagination!
859 reviews
November 23, 2019
I am so sad that I have just finished the last of Amanda M. Lee's novels, fantasy titles, and shorts about the Winchester family of witches. I will most miss reading about Aunt Tillie. If I can be that spry and feisty as the senior witch in this delightfully strong tri-generation of witches I will be very happy. I hope Lee writes more tales about the these women. Maybe a 4th generation is coming soon. :-)
Profile Image for Pam.
34 reviews
March 9, 2021
Too many discrepancies...

I enjoy these stories. The characters are definitely colorful. But I'm having a hard time getting past some discrepancies. In some books Thistle is the youngest. In other books Clove is the youngest. Which is it? I'm some books their dog's name is Pepper. In others it's Sugar. Which is it? These errors really should have never happened. A good editor should have got these immediately.
Profile Image for Catherine.
487 reviews
December 14, 2017
Tillie Claus

This is one of the nicest Aunt Tillie stories I've read and I'm sure I've read then all.
Seeing Bay, Thistle &Clove as teens was fun but what Tillie pulls off for a Christmas miracle is mind-boggling. If you want to know what Tillie Claus did, you have to read the story. You won't regret it.
667 reviews7 followers
December 17, 2017
Aunt Tillie stole Christmas

I just love this family. They are the best characters in all the books I have read. I have read every book in this series and loved everyone of them. I highly recommend all her books to everyone who love cozy mysteries and loving wicked witches. Diana Romano
Profile Image for Jennie.
43 reviews
December 20, 2017
1 million stars. My most favorite Winchester of all. You can never go wrong with reading a whole book about aunt Tillie's mischief. She always cracks me up. She is always my pick me up. I just love her. She is exactly like my great aunt. I feel like kidnapping her out of the books and keep her to myself. Thank you for bringing so much laughter into our lives.
Profile Image for Kerri Luoto.
39 reviews1 follower
December 22, 2017
I just love these witches!!

Worth the title on this one I was really Thinking Aunt Tille took her shenanigans a tad too far this time... But... Well ok she always takes things a tad too far, but it was for all the best reasons possible this time!! I even got a bit teary eyed myself in the ends.
79 reviews
December 26, 2017
One of my Winchester favorites!

Tillie is in the Christmas spirit for sure. As for the norm, I laughed and shed a few tears but this lifted my spirits in a way nothing else has. It's been a hard Christmas this year and this reminded me I needed to think less of myself and more about the less fortunate. Great read!
83 reviews
January 3, 2018
The best short ever!

I have to admit Aunt Tillie some times gets on my nerves but this short I rooted for her all the way. I know she can be stinker then be the good guy but this book she's all the way Santa! I laughed and cried in this book. Yes it is that good. I love reading when the girls was young. Mostly Clove when she says her eyes are going to leak. Lol I love it!
Profile Image for Tara Schantz.
63 reviews2 followers
January 14, 2018
Who would have thought Aunt Tillie had it in her? We have seen a softer side before but this was just....(sigh)! If she hadn't already won my heart with her crazy antics, her snarky ways, her "lists" and "punishments" aka curses lol, etc... she most definitely did now. Way to go Ms Lee you did it again!
440 reviews1 follower
February 9, 2018
I loved this story

Aunt Tillie is awesome!! I've always loved her for her snark, but I also knew she had her heart in the right place and could be very giving. This story shows just how big of a heart Aunt Tillie has and how far she is willing to go for those in need. Definitely a heart warming story that leaves you smiling at the end.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 121 reviews

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