Surf’s up at the exclusive resort they’ve chosen as their honeymoon destination. The Sanctuary Resort and Spa at Corsario Cove has everything: a spectacular location with scenic views of the Pacific Ocean, luxurious accommodations, 5-star cuisine, spa services, and a staff that aims to anticipate and meet your every need. A romantic midnight swim in the Club Level terrace pool changes everything when an unexpected guest drops in wearing a Santa Suit with a couple bullet holes in it! Who killed Santa? Kim and Brien are soon swept up in murder and mayhem trying to unravel the mystery.

    

    Sophy Winter is not your typical Lady of the Manor… When she unexpectedly inherits Winter's End - a crumbling mansion in the beautiful Lancashire countryside - it seems like all Sophy's prayers have been answered. She eagerly swaps life as an impoverished housekeeper in favour of her own team of staff.But Sophy quickly realises the challenge on her hands - the house is decrepit and its eccentric inhabitants are a nightmare. And once it is discovered that Winter's End played host to a young Shakespeare, the entire village of Sticklepond becomes curious about Sophy's plans, especially charming Jack Lewis. But is he really smitten by Sophy… or her newly-acquired cash?Meanwhile, Sophy’s gorgeous head gardener Seth is the strong and silent type. But does his passion bloom for anything beyond the horticultural? As Sophy gets to grips with squabbling relatives, collapsing buildings and the ghostly presence of one of her ancestors, she wonders if Winter's End is not so much a gift from the gods as a mixed blessing… A charming romantic comedy for fans of Katie Fforde and Jill Mansell - guaranteed to thaw the coldest of hearts!

    In an age when manufactured goods are king, it seems improbable that handmade goods could find value. That’s just it though. They have value because they have meaning. Handmade gifts are making a huge comeback. When you make something and put your heart and spirit into it, that item has more value than anything from a department store. This year for Christmas, see what all the fuss is about. This book takes you on an easy step-by-step journey through crocheting some things to make your holidays just a little more cozy. From the simple, to the complex, this book really covers it all. For those that have never picked up a hook before, there are easy to follow directions on how to get started and what the basic skills you will need are. For those that can spin out a blanket in a matter of hours, there’s something for you too! The projects are paired with pictures, showing you just a quick idea of what you can do with your project. There’s so much out there! Each pattern also comes with directions on how much yarn you will need, the hook type, and helpful hints. Christmas is right around the corner. Start a new tradition this year with some handmade decorations that will be treasured for years. You’ll be surprised at how easy they really are to put together. Comments From Other Readers “I don’t normally have the patience to sit and just work on a craft. Then I broke my leg. Needless to say there wasn’t too much I could do but sit for long periods of time. You can only have so many Netflix marathons. A friend of mine from work suggested taking up crocheting. I figured with this book I might be able to throw something together for the holidays and if not, I’d at least keep my mind off my leg. It was a success on both parts! I started out with a runner and worked my way up to a wreath. I know this is something I’ll continue long after I’m up and walking!” - Amy (Minnesota, US) “I loved making little gifts for my kid’s teachers and even as stocking stuffers. The Elf was adorable and the cape will get a lot of use as the days get colder. I’m so glad I grabbed this book!” - Kelli (North Carolina, US) Tags: homemade holiday, yarn, crochet, beginners crochet, Christmas, holiday, winter, knit, Crocheting, Crochet, Afghan, knitting, one day crocheting, Christmas projects, Crochet Projects, Christmas Gifts, DIY Christmas

    This Christmas, however, he is well down the road towards spontaneous self-destruction. Unwitting at first, Jude has progressively alienated his band and driven away the love of his life. Tonight, the night before Christmas Eve, he has broken the final taboo during a disastrous gig. Yet Jude doesn't see how badly his life has derailed, not until a ghostly procession of legends passes through his bedroom with a series of vivid and powerful wake-up calls. Will the Spirits help Jude put the friendship, love, and rock music back into his Christmas? Spirits of Christmas is a modern-day rock'n'roll adaption of Charles Dickens' classic A Christmas Carol. This novella will enchant romance readers, rock lovers, fans of ghost stories, and everybody who adores the festive season.

    Faithful woman. A lonely child. And a God who answers! Five years ago, on Christmas Eve, Collin Watson lost his two-year-old son when his ex-wife, who was a junkie, took the boy and disappeared. He despairs of ever finding his son but never stops praying for the boy to be safe wherever he is. This year he is praying for a Christmas miracle. Mabel Green is an Elementary School teacher and she doesn’t know why she is drawn to the seven year old boy who just joined her class at the beginning of the year. She is single and longs to find a man who will love her deeply, and she prays that this Christmas she won’t be alone. Taylor Brown has known a lot of pain in his short life and his only respite comes from his teacher, who cares about him, ensuring that he eats at least one good meal a day. He longs to find a good family who will take him in so he can have a wonderful Christmas this year. Three yearning hearts brought together by the magic and love of Christmas.

    Having lost faith in the most magical part of the year, her father, Jim, desperately tries to bring back the magic she has lost. When an unforeseen change of events takes over their little family on the morning of Christmas Eve, Jim's faith and spirits are really put to the test. Will the magic of Christmas be enough to bring back the joy to their family once more? Or will they really depend on a Christmas miracle?

    This story is about one of my most cherished childhood Christmases…in 1959 when I was nine years old. After my beloved musician/singer/songwriter brother Jim passed away in 2015 from cancer I felt an intense need to write this short story about that special Christmas Eve I shared with him, my other siblings, mother, father and grandparents, and put it out there for everyone to read as a tribute to him and my family. This is my story, part of my childhood, and some of my fondest memories. Note: in the late 1970’s I did a series of illustrated (by me, because I’m an artist, too) short stories for my local newspaper and I’ve used one of my old article drawings from that newspaper from 1977 for the first page of this short story.

    Ever since moving there as an orphaned teenager, she’s worked hard to carve out a place for herself in the tight-knit community. Now she’s mayor and owner of the town’s flower shop. But she also has a big secret…and nine months to figure out how to break the news to the father.Lawyer Malcolm Carter has always been the golden boy of Cupid Falls—until he discovers the one night he spent with the girl-next-door turned out to have a lifetime of consequences. Now, the mother of his child wants nothing to do with him, and he’s gone from someone who is admired to persona non grata as the town rallies behind its mayor.Malcolm has always known what he wants. But now as Christmas approaches, he’ll have to discover a way to show Kennedy that she could find the only thing she’s ever really wanted—a true home—with him. Convincing her will take the help of Cupid Falls’ quirky residents…and a bit of holiday magic.

    Little does she realize, when she falls deathly ill on the journey there he will abandon her, leaving her stranded and sick on the station platform. Even the small town doctor refuses to take her in for fear that she will infect his other patients. Help comes in an unexpected guise, a humble mercantile owner named Abe Graham, once a physician, nurses the ailing Collette. And Collette’s body is not all that finds healing – Abe’s heart discovers a renewed purpose. Will Collette’s dream of a Thanksgiving wedding still take place? And can Abe shake off his past disappointments and embrace a new future? Brides For All Seasons Vol. II is a beautiful historical holiday romance series. Each book in the collection is a standalone story designed to warm your heart with seasonal love and romantic adventure.

     The Mother Superior crossed herself quickly. “May God forgive them both,” she murmured as she locked the diary and faded letters in the drawer. Deep in the heart of the East African bush stands a deserted mansion. Boarded up, on the top floor, is a magnificent Steinway Concert Grand, shrouded in decades of dust. In an antique shop in London, an elderly nun recognises an old photograph of the mansion; she knows it well – it is called Mbabati. Seven thousand miles away in Cape Town a woman lies dying, she whispers one final word to journalist Alex Patterson – Mbabati. Sensing a good story, and intrigued with what he has discovered about the dead woman’s past, Alex heads for East Africa in search of the old abandoned house. He is totally unprepared for what he discovers there; the hidden home of a once famous classical pianist whose career came to a shattering end; a grave with a blank headstone and an old retainer called Luke, who is the only person left alive who knows the truth about two sisters who disappeared without trace more than twenty years earlier. Alex unravels a story which has fascinated the media and the police for decades. A twisting tale of love, passion, betrayal and murder; and the unbreakable bond between two extraordinary sisters who were prepared to sacrifice everything to hide the truth. Mbabati is set against the magnificent and enduring landscape of the African bush – where nothing is ever quite as it seems. Samantha's first novel The Zanzibar Affair was a very well received and highly acclaimed debut novel which used Africa as a backdrop to her story telling. Once again she has drawn on her knowledge and experiences of Africa, its culture and the lives of the rich and privileged to weave an even more tangled web of mystery, intrigue and suspense in this; her second superb novel. “The House Called Mbabati is skilfully written and layered with mystery and intrigue. Set against the romantic backdrop of Kenya and South Africa, the author manages to sweep the reader away into another world where the scenes are so well depicted one can almost smell the hot dry earth and the dusty pelts of the animals. An unforgettable cast of characters within a story which twists and turns at a ferocious pace. A real page turner with a breath-taking and richly rewarding ending. A cracking good story ." John Gordon-Davis (author)

    Not only does she find herself swept off her feet by the handsome and successful, Andre, but there’s another man after her heart. Her Ex. The only problem is, she doesn’t know which ex it is. For 12 days, December receives gifts that remind her of what love is supposed to be, but the sender of the gifts remain a mystery. Who are they from? Who wants her back? And which man will she choose? True Love sometimes comes by surprise. And sometimes it’s the person right in front of your eyes. But on rare occasions, true love could be your ex. Take this holiday journey with December to see what happens next!

    All dreamy brown eyes and 6’5” of gorgeousness, the man is hotter and more delicious than a freshly baked mince pie.Though Maggie always thought it’s a truth universally acknowledged that you never kiss a man in a Christmas jumper?The next FABULOUS book from Debbie Johnson, author of best-selling Christmas number one, ‘Cold Feet at Christmas’ and the summer hit ‘Pippa’s Cornish Dream’.

    This is one cardinal rule that Robyn always abides by. But then she meets Jonathan… After a delicious dalliance in the dance studio, Robyn and Jonathan fall truly, madly, deeply in love. Jonathan justifies his actions because his wife is a workaholic, while Robyn finds the glamour – free from any mundane concerns – thrilling. But then the pressure mounts up: the guilt; the lies; the strain of it all. With the festive season approaching, can Robyn make this the best holiday ever or will it be the nightmare before Christmas? This is the perfect winter read for fans of Milly Johnson and Kate Harrison.

    She’s also a cat lover, a Sound of Music Fanatic, and a single, but fiercely Independent Woman with a razor sharp tongue. When she is sent to Salzburg on a business trip, she is ecstatic, hoping to see all the locations to her favourite film. Love is the last thing on her mind. Pete Wallace is a cynical, reclusive rock-star and the world’s Number One, male solo artist. After a three year hiatus, he’s preparing to go back on the road again. A week in Salzburg, schmoozing with the music press, is one of his worst nightmares. Love is the last thing on his mind. When Pete and Sukie meet, sparks fly, but when life throws up some unpredictable challenges, will their new friendship die, before it has a chance to flourish?