Highclere Castle, known as 'the real Downton Abbey' bustles with activity at the best of times, but it is never more alive than at Christmas. Christmas at Highclere is a look behind the scenes at the routines and rituals that make the castle the most magical place to be throughout the festive season. Lady Carnarvon will guide you through Advent, Christmas preparations and Christmas Eve all the way through to the day itself, and beyond. Learn how the castle and grounds are transformed by decorations, including the raising of a twenty-foot tree in the saloon, the gathering of holly and mistletoe from the grounds. All the intricacies of the perfect traditional Christmas are here: from crackers and carol singers. The festive feeling is carried through to Highclere's Boxing Day traditions, the restorative middle days and the New Year's Eve celebrations. This book also tells the story of historic Christmases at Highclere - of distinguished guests warming themselves by the fire after a long journeys home through the snow, unexpected knocks on the door, and, always, the joy of bringing family - and staff - together after a busy year. As well as telling the stories of Highclere Christmases past and present, Lady Carnarvon provides recipes, tips and inspiration from her kitchen so that readers can bring a quintessentially British festive spirit to their own home. Lady Carnarvon divulges the secret to perfectly flakey mince pies, the proper way to wrap presents so that you and your guests are guaranteed a Christmas to remember. Lavish, celebratory and utterly enchanting, Christmas at Highclere is celebration of one of the UK's most beloved historic houses and is the perfect gift for any Downton Abbey fan.

'The ultimate in feelgood fiction reads, it will fill your heart with Christmas spirit.' Milly Johnson, author of Woman in the Middle This Christmas will be the most special of them all... Elderly widow Sabine knows this will be her last Christmas in her beloved home, Mitras Castle. Determined to make it just like the ones she remembers from her childhood, she employs Dido Jones of Heavenly Houseparties to help with the big day. Dido is enchanted by the castle as soon as she steps through the imposing front door. And as Christmas day approaches, her feeling of connection to the old house runs deeper than she first thought. But when the snow begins to fall and Sabine's family arrive at the house - including Dido's teenage crush Xan - tensions rise around the castle's future and long-buried mysteries begin to unravel... As past secrets come to light, can this still be a magical Christmas to remember? _________ Praise for Trisha Ashley: 'One of the best writers around' Katie Fforde 'Full of down-to-earth humour' Sophie Kinsella 'A warm-hearted and comforting read' Carole Matthews Readers are falling in love with One More Christmas at the Castle: ***** 'Trisha's Christmas stories are the perfect start to the festive season' ***** 'Pure Christmas escapism with plenty of mulled wine and mince pies' ***** 'This is cosy, festive, fun and so much more. I wanted to move into the castle and join in all the festivities!'

Viceroy Crofton plots to take over the kingdom and has exiled Angela who is the rightful princess.

Enter a magical world of friendship and fun! It's Christmas in the Secret Kingdom, and all of the creatures in the realm are on their way to Christmas Castle for their special Christmas Eve sleepover, which will be followed by a Christmas Day visit by Santa Claus himself! Summer, Ellie and Jasmine are so excited to be able to celebrate with all of their friends in Secret Kingdom, but soon mean Queen Malice and her nasty Storm Sprites arrive to spoil their fun. Will the girls be able to break the queen's horrible spells and save Christmas? Secret Kingdom is a brand new series full of the things girls love most: special friendships, secrets and magical adventures. Newly confident readers will be swept away by the magical stories of three children whose courage and resourcefulness save a fantastical land from disaster. Full of all the things little girls love best: special friendships, secrets and magical adventures, all set in an incredible kingdom!Eye-catching illustrations throughout.Become best friends with Ellie, Summer and Jasmine - plus Trixi the pixie!Help Ellie, Summer and Jasmine save the Secret Kingdom from wicked Queen Malice and her naughty storm sprites. A new exciting adventure in each and every book.

"'Twas December 24th, and three brave knights were just settling in for the night when out on the drawbridge, there arose such a clatter! The knights try everything to get rid of this unknown invader (Santa Claus!), a red and white knight with a fleet of dragons"--

In partnership with the University of South Carolina Press, the Simms Initiatives at the University of South Carolina Libraries reissues authoritative editions of out-of-print works by William Gilmore Simms, antebellum South Carolinas preeminent man of letters. Each volume has a new critical introduction and a biographical overview.

A crown meant for a princess. A medieval castle. And a one-way ticket to an unforgettable romance.A life changing diagnosis sends Avery Stuart on a last-chance Christmas road trip. The cheery bed-and-breakfast offers a festive way to spend the holidays alone. But when she finds her name listed on an ancient family tree next to an English baron, her trip suddenly takes a startling turn-no fairy godmother included. She might have gotten the Cinderella dress, but her prince is more beast than charming.On the verge of seeing his people starve, Sir Robert de Northwood must seek a bride with a hefty dowry in order to salvage what war has wrought. The night he must choose his wife, a strange foreign princess arrives at Northwood Castle dressed in enough jewels to feed his barony for a year-and she's entirely alone. Sir Robert is intrigued by the fascinating woman and offers his protection by way of a sensible marriage arrangement that will benefit them both. But when the mysterious Princess Avery of Gardenia claims to be from the future, how much will he risk losing in order to keep her close?? The Back Inn Time series short novels are fun, faith-filled stories of what it might be like to suddenly experience life in a different time. These clean historical romances are packed with humor and adventure. Perfect for fans of dual timeline or time slip stories and Christian historical romance, these books answer the question every historical fiction fan wonders-what would it be like if I went back to that time? If you enjoy the wholesomeness of Amish, Western, or frontier fiction and adore romantic comedies, then a visit to a seaside Victorian inn where you can "step back inn time and leave your troubles behind!" is for you.