A short story by A.L. Jambor When Meg’s sister dies, she is devastated. The last of three children, Meg misses her siblings and has never felt so alone. She’s an author, but her emotional state hinders her ability to write, and she can’t sit in front of her computer without trembling. A trip to Port Revere, MA recalls memories of the summers spent there with her family when she was a girl, and Meg decides to buy the Christmas Cottage, an abandoned little house on a bluff near town. She refurbishes it, and with the help of her nephew Zack, starts to come out of her shell. But then the holidays, a time for families and celebrations, arrive, and Meg must again face her loneliness, and guilt over something she can't forgive herself for – she wasn’t there when her sister died and never had a chance to say goodbye. With the cottage almost completed, Meg has one last thing to do; she has to find out if her plumbing is up to snuff, and arranges for a plumber to visit the cottage. On Thanksgiving Day, she is sipping a cup of coffee when someone knocks on the door. She looks out the window and sees an old man, an old truck, and an old dog. Lettering on the truck announces that Angus O’Malley, Plumber Extraordinaire, is standing on her doorstep. What she doesn’t know is that Angus is on a mission and that his appearance heralds the beginning of something wonderful, and the best Christmas Meg has ever had. The Little Cottage by the Sea was formerly published as The Christmas Cottage. The content has not changed. It is a short book of 20,000 words.

    She's taken on an unexpected detour back to her life shortly before she died. But she's seeing the world from a different point of view. This is the first time she has ever experienced a detour being the best part of a journey. 'A wonderful, warm read that's guaranteed to tug at the heartstrings,' author Colette Caddle. Checkout Girl was published as part of the short story compilation, Moments, in aid of the tsunami. It was also part of a short story collection published in Germany. Aimee Alexander is the pen name of bestselling Irish author Denise Deegan Checkout Girl includes a short excerpt from Pause to Rewind, a contemporary novel by Aimee Alexander.

    But instead of enjoying mince pies and mistletoe, their happiness is threatened by old secrets and someone harbouring a grudge. When the truth is finally revealed, can the couple enjoy the festivities with their family, or is their marriage doomed from the start? This short story is the perfect mystery to keep you guessing this holiday season, so why not enjoy it with a glass of mulled wine while sat next to a roaring fire. "A Christmas Crime is a Christmas pleasure to read. A wedding, snow, and revenge. Loved it, five stars recommended.” - Anita Waller, bestselling author of 34 Days and the Kat and Mouse Murder Mysteries

     Eloise is too busy juggling the chaos of three kids, an ever present ex-husband and a demanding boss to even remember the last time dating crossed her mind. But as soft snow falls silently all around, romance twinkles with the flakes. After being single for so long, Eloise suddenly has a lot of choices. Too many choices. Will anyone be worthy of melting the guard around her heart to let love in? A fun-filled, festive read for fans of Christie Barlow, Fiona Gibson and Colleen Coleman

    With Mum, Dad and eight kids to feed, life in the Glasgow of the Seventies, was never going to be easy for the clan McCallister. They were short of money, overcrowded and had to rely on second-hand furniture and an outside toilet. But despite their lack of material possessions it was a happy home, full of love and laughter (and a few tears). Based on McCabe's own upbringing on the south side of Glasgow, the Ten's a Crowd series has become a real favourite.

    When most of the junior class from Paranormal Public University, along with two chaperons - including Charlotte's boyfriend Keller - visit Golden Falls for the semester, their first impression is that it is an idyllic place. Golden Falls presents itself as completely opposed to darkness and violence, and at first Charlotte and her friends think they’ve found a sanctuary from the Nocturns. But a spate of murders, including two of their own Public classmates, changes everything. Between a course load that is staggering and a fight with darkness that is only getting darker, it's hard to see how Charlotte and her friends will make it through the semester unscathed. Book 8: Charlotte is devastated by the events of last spring, and the last thing she wants to do is return to Paranormal Public for her senior year as if nothing has happened. Unfortunately, she doesn't have a choice. As she and her friends fight to find out what happened to their friend, and hope for a bit of normalcy in a paranormal world turned upside down by darkness, Charlotte is forced to confront difficult truths: sometimes blood is stronger than loyalty, the bad guys win, and you have no choice but to lose what you hold most dear. Book 9: Instead of finals, there is war. Instead of love, there is loss. And instead of hope there is a gaping black hole. Lisabelle has gone to darkness, friends are dying, and Charlotte is forced to make unforgivable choices. If you love someone so much that you have to lose him, what was the point in the first place?

    Love shouldn’t be an uphill struggle. Verity Lawton’s fortieth birthday surprise from her husband, Tony isn’t quite what she’s expecting and she needs to get away. Is joining daughter Lucy as a chalet girl in France a step too far? Verity’s cooking is more ‘bleurgh’ than cordon bleu but how difficult can it be to make crème brûlée? Chalet Marianne looks like a dream and so does the owner, Josh Calder. But being a chalet girl involves more than sitting by a fire watching snowflakes fall or dancing the night away. Josh has several rules – and they don’t include Verity snapping at him every time he opens his mouth, taking in a stray dog that seems to have forgotten its job description, or setting the kitchen on fire. Verity’s on a slippery slope – and it’s about to get much worse. When her own mother arrives, along with a repentant Tony, it’s time to make a choice. But is it really hers to make? And will things work out for the best, or is it all downhill from here? Also by EMILY HARVALE Highland Fling Lizzie Marshall's Wedding The Golf Widows' Club Sailing Solo Carole Singer's Christmas Christmas Wishes

    England rules the waves and Wellington is taking on the French in the Spanish Peninsula, but the French Navy yet remains a potent threat, especially their fast, well-armed frigates. Also, another threat is creeping Northward; slaver/pirates in fast galleys from the North African coast, are raiding North, taking advantage of the warring Navies preoccupation with each other, to capture for slavery the highly valuable women and children of Northern Europe. Into this, Captain Reuben Argent sails his first command, HMS Ariadne, a fast, 32 gun, Spanish built frigate. He has moulded both his ship and crew into a tight fighting unit, which he immediately uses to capture La Mouette, a French 42 gun frigate. A brilliant start, but all is not well at home. The Enclosures movement could force his family from their farm, and his Admiral is their immediate neighbour, who hates the Argent family and will use any means available to force them from their home and gain their land. On top is Argent’s rivalry with “Flogger Cheveley” the Captain of the Herodotus, who has a very different concept of how to run a ship of the Royal Navy. Also, as Captain, Argent has to contend with the machinations within the community that is his own crew. The day comes when Argent has to make a career threatening choice, either, as ordered, to take a vital despatch to Wellington at the fastest possible speed or to search for the slaver that has just captured Cornish women and children, including members of his own family. In the background is the smuggling of linen from Ireland to France and his relations with the feisty Sinead Malley and the society beauty Charlotte Willoughby

    He is bright, easy going, an apt student, a hard worker, and a thief. Actually, he is more of an opportunist than a thief Things just land in his lap, and he keeps them. Working after school and on weekends at his father’s garage and towing service, he has more than ample opportunity for things to drop into his lap. As a high school senior in a small Missouri town and with a father who remembers what it was like to be young, Lee has been given the kind of freedom unheard of in the early 1960s; the kind of freedom that most of his peers can only dream of. The worst that could ever happen, he thought, would be getting caught in the back seat with a six-pack and the daughter of the man holding the flashlight. He quickly learns that the world outside of Doubling, Missouri can be a cruel and deadly place when four pounds of heroin are dropped into his lap at the scene of a fatal accident. Realizing that he is over his head, he turns the merchandise over to the local law. The size and circumstance of the find attracts the attention of state and federal agencies, which set up a foolproof sting operation using Lee as bait. When he starts classes at a nearby state college, Lee realizes that he can no longer slam through life with abandon because a commitment to his father has to be honored. The class work is harder and more complex than high school, and so are the girls, but both are much more interesting and exciting. As Lee fumbles and stumbles his way into maturity, he also goes from frying pans into fires at an ever-increasing rate.

     Farzana is one of the prostitutes at Begum's kotha and Ramakant Bannerjee, the writer, loves her deeply. He's promised to marry her once he has enough money. He's currently writing his most ambitious novel, the story of Kaneez. As the story of Kaneez unfolds, so does the intriguing life of Farzana. What fate does she meet? Read on to find out.

     Cash Ogden was perfectly happy on his ranch outside of Jackson, Wyoming where he always knew what to expect and was able to keep things neat and tidy. But then Hailey Young showed up on his doorstep, throwing his entire life into disarray. An author from New York City, she wants to study Cash’s life so she can write a realistic cowboy novel, and though Cash isn’t excited by the prospect of opening up his home and life, he can’t turn down the money she’s offering. Cash can’t deny an immediate physical attraction to the beautiful and smart Hailey, but they are complete opposites who also happen to live three thousand miles apart. He vows to keep things professional between them, but will he really be able to keep that promise to himself during the three months Hailey plans to stay, closely watching his every move as the attraction builds?

    

    Ely, the beloved character from the novel, Taste & See, is back in her very own Christmas story! All Orella Ely ever wanted was for her loved ones to be happy and blessed. But now that they are, it seems they have little time left for her. And with Christmas fast approaching, that fact has become painfully clear. Encouraged by some to retire and restart her life elsewhere, Ms. Ely has a hard decision to make. Is it time to move on? Or does God have other plans in store for her? Find out along with Ms. Ely as she learns how God can turn the dark parts of our lives into something bright and beautiful.

    

     Wanting to put a spin on Christmas, the wives—Liberty, Sempri, Gi’Dore, Teagan, and Mo’Nae—decide to recruit their husbands for the organizing and planning of their annual Christmas Eve party. Having no other choice, their husbands—Legacy, Philan, Achilles, Adonis, and Quame—agree in order to keep their wives happy. Unfortunately, they’ve all bitten off more than they can chew with the task. On top of preparing for Christmas, a few couples are having to deal with the growing pains of their now teenage children. Follow these couples as they try to find a balance between their marriage, children, and friends while making it through the holidays drama free.