Holiday World

Does the Christmas season leave you exhausted, empty, and longing for something simpler? Are you dreading the rush, the shopping and spending, the commercialism, the stress of expectations, and the hollowness of what the season has become? Stephanie L. Jones invites you to pause from the hustle and bustle of the “world’s” Christmas as she helps you take a deeper look at God’s Christmas story. Uncommon Christmas gives you a new perspective of the people and events of the first Christmas. In the end, you’ll see, experience, and celebrate, in awe, God’s greatest gift, like you ...

The days are turning colder, preparations are under way for the Winter Fest, and everyone is hoping for a little holiday magic on the Finfarran peninsula. And as Cassie Fitzgerald, fresh from Toronto, is about to discover, there’s more to the holidays on the west coast of Ireland than mistletoe and mince pies. Enchanted by the small town where her dad was born, Cassie makes friends and joins local librarian Hanna Casey’s writing group in Lissbeg Library. But the more she’s drawn into the festivities leading up to her first Irish Christmas, the more questions she wants to ask.

Alice is turning 30 and is stuck in a rut. Her friends are all coupling up and settling down, while she's still working as a temp, trying (and failing) not to shag her terrible ex, getting thrown out of clubs, and accidentally sexting her boss.... She decides to throw caution to the wind and jets off on a round-the-world adventure to #FindTheFun and find herself. Of course, she's no more likely to find the answer to true happiness on the beach in Thailand than she is at the electric beach in Tooting, but at least in Thailand there's paddleboard yoga.

We all have a little magic in us. It's usually just a matter of perspective as to how to find it.

Do you crack open a piñata on your birthday? Do you eat long noodles? Learn all about different birthday customs of children around the world.

Close your eyes and imagine the world is your oyster... And now imagine never seeing it. Welcome to Harriet Langton's world. All her life she's dreamt of travelling the globe – fate always got in the way. Working as a travel agent, the closest Harri comes to her dream destination of Venice is booking the trip for someone else. But everything changes when travel fanatic Alex drops in. With her boyfriend Rob tied up with work, Harri is persuaded to help Alex in his quest for love. But in her attempts to help, Harri soon discovers that she's alienating those around her.

★ Hygge and Christmas are kindred spirits, both celebrating the warmth of human connections and the calmness of the season. Here, you can find 35 Hyggelig recipes to get you the festive season ★ Amid the festive season, there's something genuinely magical about gathering with loved ones, sharing laughter, and savoring delicious dishes that warm the heart and the soul. These 35 hyggelig Christmas recipes have not only provided us with a culinary journey but have also woven a sense of togetherness and coziness into the very fabric of the holiday season. As we explored these recipes, we ...

Lord Etienne de Beynac, the youngest of six boys, has managed to disgrace his family with his wild ways. When his father and brothers disown him, he has no choice but to agree to his father's terms. He joins a monastery as a novice across the channel, in England. Etienne gets one last chance for redemption before he finalizes his vows to live the rest of his life as a monk. As a favor to his brother, he goes to Grimsthorpe Castle to spy on his brother's betrothed, Lady Philippa.

Welcome to the world of the Manhattan Men. The handsome alpha males that run the family that founded the big city. The family law firm needs a public facelift and I'm the guy for the job. The sexy minx they hire to help me act better is a social media influencer. She's also the one that got away. It's a bit of a Cinderella story, but it isn't her shoe she left for me. She's not getting away this time. I'm claiming her for good. NYC’s most eligible bachelor just turned in his claim to fame. This New Years' kiss is my last.

Hailey Bishop was used to low expectations, accepting whatever the world’s tides sent her way. She had a boyfriend, a best friend, and a degree in library sciences, although no job yet. If Brian ever proposed, she'd probably say yes. Then Hailey got the "letter", unexpectedly, from a sister at the orphanage in which she'd grown up. It revealed the name of her birth mother. It took Hailey only a few Google searches to find Annabel Edwards, who was semi-famous and living in Spain. Hailey not only had a mother, but two sisters who each had triplets.

Kent, 1953. The Woolworths Erith store, a beloved cornerstone of the community, faces closure if the December turnover fails to increase. And, as if store manager Betty Billington doesn't have enough on her plate, personnel shortages and a troublesome new employee add to the strife. With Christmas on the horizon, Betty and her staff must strive to find solutions to improve business and keep the store running – from special events for late-night customers to a festive group trip into central London.

Autumn 1941, and as female conscription looms, three women arrive at the Bell Works Factory in Hucknall to work on the Spitfire production line. Lily soon realises her real dream is to pilot the planes; Edna longs to be reunited with her evacuee daughter, but soon discovers she has a much bigger problem; and Jeannie fears the worst after weeks of no news from her fiancé. Despite all the heartache, with a bit of festive cheer and 'can do' attitude, The Engine Girls will pull together and do all they can to ensure Britain's safe for the New Year.

Norma Hayes has always tried to make Christmas special for her family, but 1944 will make that more difficult with money being tight and wartime rationing making everything hard to come by. Aware of his mother's hardships and the worry from having her eldest son at war, Norma's second son, Dennis, is determined to buy his mother a special gift this Christmas: a lavender blue dress he hopes will bring her comfort.

Jenny Crawford was sitting at the kitchen table with her head in her hands trying desperately to hold back the tears when she heard Sadie open the front door. After a frustrating and hot day at work in the month of June, she asks, "Why can't we have Christmas every day? Just think about how much nicer the world would be! There would be beautiful Christmas music playing and people would be happy because they're filled with the Christmas spirit...instead of being hot and tired, and let's not forget grouchy!" Sadie helps Jenny discover how to bring back 'Joy to the World' in the month of June ...

Conoce a Gustavo. Él es un fantasma y como a cualquier ser paranormal le encanta hacer lo que le es normal: atravesar paredes, hacer volar objetos y brillar en la oscuridad. También le encanta tocar el violín. Pero Gustavo tiene un problema. Él es muy, muy tímido; y aunque su deseo más grande es tener amigos, nunca se ha atrevido a hablarle a ninguno de los monstruos en su pueblito. Con el Día de Muertos cerca, ¿se atreverá Gustavo a dejar que lo vean?

It’s official - for Juliette Connolly, Christmas is a bust, and she’s definitely not in the holiday spirit. She’s been dumped by her boyfriend and replaced by a younger model. Then a clause in her contract means she and a mysterious colleague have to work over Christmas. But there’s much more to Andrew Campbell than meets the eye. Especially when it turns out he’s the Scottish laird of the haunted house they’re filming in.

In Book Three of Holly Webb's The Mysteries of Maisie Hitchins, 12-year-old Maisie and her dog Eddie are invited to join Maisie's friend Alice on a trip to the country. It's lovely to get away from the London smog, but there is something strange about the manor where the girls are staying. Odd noises, horrid smells, and sightings of a spectral cat keep them up at night. Has Alice's father rented a haunted house? There must be a logical explanation, and Maisie plans to use her detecting skills to find out what it is!

Cohen Ford is a man who could do with a little bit of sweetening up. It’s no surprise that when he walks into The Great Greenwich Ice Creamery on a typically gloomy London day before Christmas, he insists on a black coffee rather than his childhood favourite – strawberry ice cream. But then he meets River de Luca, the woman behind the flavours. After their first encounter, Cohen begins visiting the ice creamery every Tuesday, gradually learning more about the intriguing River.

Has your family's Christmas celebration become ho-hum? Advent is a beautiful way to add new meaning and excitement to the holiday season. If you are unfamiliar with Advent, this book will introduce you to this beautiful way to celebrate Christ’s birth. And even if Advent has been a part of your tradition for years, The Adventure of Advent will suggest new, fresh, and innovative ways to tailor the celebration to your family’s needs. This is the year to do something different! This Christmas, make the season count! Don't just go through the motions and wonder where the holidays went come ...

Christmas time is fast approaching at Mary Vale and newcomer Libby is ready to start a fresh chapter working alongside the Wartime Midwives. When she discovers that the local primary school is struggling, Libby rallies the midwives to band together and work with the local community. With the help of midwife Ada and teacher Margaret, Libby has a plan to save Christmas. But not everyone likes what Libby is doing, and local landlord Thorpe is hiding something.