Spice up your season by rolling, molding, and kneading your way through some of the world's most iconic Christmas recipes. Interspersed with tales of sailors, saints, tomb raiders, and artisans, The Secret History of Christmas Baking proves that even the humblest holiday treat has a global backstory.

Did you know that the ancient Egyptians had their own version of gingerbread or that marzipan was once considered a pharmaceutical? Linda Raedisch dispels some long-standing culinary myths and delves into the darker chapters of the West's centuries-long romance with sugar and spices. In addition to more than forty recipes for modern bakers, you'll find illustrated instructions for dressing up your cakes and cookie plates with paper stars, angels, and witches. From Linzer tartlets to Christstollen, you can turn your kitchen into an Old World Christmas market stall.

Relive Tim Burton’s beloved and utterly unique holiday classic in this evocative novelisation. Jack Skellington is the adored Pumpkin King of Halloween Town, but he has grown tired of leading the usual scares every year. Then he stumbles upon a mysterious tree-shaped door deep in the Hinterlands and falls straight into Christmas Town―an enchanting place like no other, full of sparkling snow, merry elves and twinkling lights. Reinvigorated, Jack returns to Halloween Town and recruits the citizens for his new plan: to organise Christmas themselves! But even with aid from his loyal dog, Zero, and the resourceful rag doll Sally, challenges lurk around every corner. Sally has a terrible vision of the holiday ending in disaster and the mysterious Oogie Boogie hides in the shadows. Will Jack’s dream of creating the perfect Christmas come true ... or is it destined to become an utter nightmare?

When Ashley Smith - a bright-eyed but lonely American studying in London - is invited to spend Christmas with her classmate's family at their Cotswolds manor house, it seems like a perfect country idyll. And for Ashley - who records it all in her diary - there's the added romantic potential of her friend's twin brother, Adam, who she thinks could be her wildest dream come true. But is there something strange about the old house, both stately and rundown? What could the motives of the mysterious Chapman family be? And what holiday horrors might be lying in wait?

But what do you do when you’ve fallen for your fallback?!

A brilliant new friends to lovers, opposites attract, romcom for fans of Mhairi McFarlane and One Day!

There is no rulebook for secretly falling in love with your best friend. So when Mitch offers Rosie a bargain that secretly gets her what she’s been pining for… Rosie would be a fool to say no, right?

They either find their soulmates by Christmas, or be each other’s fallback. Either way Rosie wins: she finds someone that will finally get her over Mitch, or she can be with him.

What she didn’t bargain for was Mitch falling for someone else…

It's been five years since Charlotte Donovan was ditched at the altar by her ex-fiancee, and she's doing more than okay. Sure, her single mother never checks in, but she has her strings ensemble, the Rosalind Quartet, and her life in New York is a dream come true. As the holidays draw near, her ensemble mate Sloane persuades Charlotte and the rest of the quartet to spend Christmas with her family in Colorado - it is much cozier and quieter than Manhattan, and it would guarantee more practice time for the quartet's upcoming tour. But when Charlotte arrives, she discovers that Sloane's sister Adele also brought a friend home - and that friend is none other than her ex, Brighton.

All Brighton Fairbrook wanted was to have the holliest, jolliest Christmas - and try to forget that her band kicked her out. But instead, she's stuck pretending like she and her ex are strangers - which proves to be difficult when Sloane and Adele's mom signs them all up for a series of Christmas dating events. Charlotte and Brighton are soon entrenched in horseback riding and cookie decorating, but Charlotte still won't talk to her. Brighton can hardly blame her after what she did.

After a few days, however, things start to slip through. Memories. Music. The way they used to play together - Brighton on guitar, Charlotte on her violin - and it all feels painfully familiar. But it's all in the past and nothing can melt the ice in their hearts . . . right?

Twelve days of fake dates. Two holidays.

One chance to convince everyone they’re in love.

Hollywood teen actor Arden James’ messy reputation is interfering with her career when a notoriously picky director won’t give her a role based on her party-girl image. So she and her publicist make up a lie – not only is she from a small town (true) but her childhood best friend Caroline, is her long-term girlfriend (false) and she can prove it when she goes home for Christmas.

Caroline Beckett hasn’t thought about her ex-best friend Arden James for years, focusing instead on her dreams about becoming a journalist. When Arden turns up on her doorstep and promises her an article in Cosmopolitan magazine on their twelve snow-covered romantic days together, Caroline agrees to play along. But when old feelings start to bubble up, what will fall faster – Arden and Caroline or the Christmas Eve snow?

So begins Chapter 12 of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, the story of Harry Potter’s magical first Christmas at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. From the wonder of the Great Hall decked with sparkling, decorated fir trees to cosy evenings by the fire in the Gryffindor common room and the joy of opening presents on Christmas morning, it’s a school holiday filled with warmth, friendship, treats and magical surprises that Harry will never forget.

With text drawn directly from J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone and luminous artwork by Ziyi Gao, this favourite moment, showing Harry’s very first Christmas amongst friends, is now fully illustrated for the whole family to enjoy. Sure to be treasured by Harry Potter fans of all ages, it’s the perfect gift to put under the tree or read together at Christmas – the beginning of an enchanting new festive tradition.

At the most magical time of the year, will Mary choose independence or love?

It's 1909 and Mary Richards has worked hard to gain an education and become a teacher in her close-knit, picturesque village in the Cotswolds, but not everyone approves of her modern ways.

When her sister Emily becomes engaged to David Christmas, it seems fate will intervene in the form of the best man- his eligible brother Johnathon. Mary finds herself in danger of falling for this handsome, almost too perfect stranger, only married women have to give up their careers as soon as they're wed and there's no way Mary is going to sacrifice her dreams for a man.

Yet the ancient village of Bibury has a way of weaving its enchantments over them all, and as the winter snows fall and Emily's Christmas-Day wedding approaches, Mary isn't immune to the romance of the season. In the end she must decide whether she's ready to embrace love or not, and if she can truly have the best of both worlds on the eve of what could well be the most magical Christmas of them all.

She'll save Christmas just to spite him...

There's only one thing standing in the way of Cat King saving a small town's Christmas festival: Grumpy town manager Noah Yates.

Single dad Noah takes his responsibilities seriously. When a late season hurricane turns Merry, Connecticut, into a disaster, he's left scrambling to pick up the pieces of the town he loves.

At least, until home renovation expert and smoking hot reality TV star Catalina King arrives with a camera crew and a budget big enough to put the town back together again. But Noah doesn't want a celebrity diva capitalizing on their tragedy or filling his daughter's head with visions of glitz and glam.

Blonde bombshell Cat is used to being underestimated, but Noah has an uncanny knack for getting under her skin. They can't be in a room together without rubbing each other the wrong way...except that time in the dark alley where the rubbing was just right. Can these enemies work together to pull off a Christmas miracle or will their fighting leave them both on the naughty list?

It’s the Christmas countdown at the Regency Grand Hotel, and Molly the maid is polishing up her holiday list.
*Deck halls
*Dust off decorations
*Buy Secret Santa gift
*Solve mystery?

A festive plot throws Molly off-kilter. Why does her beau, Juan Manuel, keep disappearing? And why are the hotel corridors filled with whispers?

Someone is keeping a secret. And, as Molly discovers, the answers to the mystery lie in a most unexpected gift…

In a village of lies, death comes with the snow... A dazzling winter murder mystery, perfect for Christmas, from the bestselling author of the DCI Daley series.

In a village of lies, death comes with the snow... A dazzling Christmas murder mystery from the No.1 bestselling author of the DCI Daley series.

'A quintessential slice of Yuletide murder mystery' Sun 'The feel-good factor is off the scale' The Times 'A fun book. Playful. One to make you smile' Stuart MacBride

A village of secrets. It's December 1952, and a dead stranger has been found lodged up the chimney of Holly House in the snow-covered town of Elderby. Is he a simple thief, or a would-be killer? Either way, he wasn't on anyone's Christmas wish-list.

A mystery that can't be solved. Inspector Frank Grasby is ordered to investigate. But as is often the way for him, things don't go according to plan.

A Christmas to remember. When the local doctor's husband is murdered, Grasby begins to realize that everyone in Elderby is hiding something - and if he can't uncover the truth soon, the whole country will pay a dreadful price...

My name's Ernest Cunningham. I used to be a fan of reading Golden Age murder mysteries, until I found myself with a haphazard career getting stuck in the middle of real-life ones. I'd hoped, this Christmas, that any self-respecting murderer would kick their feet up and take it easy over the holidays. I was wrong.

So here I am, backstage at the show of world-famous magician Rylan Blaze, whose benefactor has just been murdered. My suspects are all professional tricksters- masters of the art of misdirection.

THE MAGICIAN THE ASSISTANT THE EXECUTIVE THE HYPNOTIST THE TWIN THE COUNSELLOR THE STAGEHAND

My clues are even more abstract- A suspect covered in blood, without a memory of how it got there; A murder committed without setting foot inside the room where it happens; And an advent calendar. Because, you know, it's Christmas.

If I can see through the illusions, I know I can solve it.

After all, a good murder is just like a magic trick, isn't it?

Ebenezer Scrooge, a bitter and mean old man, sees the error of his ways after meeting three strange ghosts, and a whole lot of Muppets, one snowy Christmas Eve.

Donna Hay's bestselling classic Christmas Feasts and Treats - now fully revised and updated with many new recipes to make, enjoy and give away - will make your Christmas cooking and entertaining fabulously easy and delicious.

Donna Hay takes the stress out of Christmas cooking and entertaining with this must-have collection of over 170 stunning yet simple festive recipes. Featuring all the nostalgic favourites and some fun twists on the classics, this is the only cookbook you need for the festive season.

From easy starters to show-stopping mains - including a cheat's glazed ham that doesn't need studding or basting - to dazzling desserts that are sure to impress, and some special edible gifts, these recipes are peppered with Donna's best-ever tricks and shortcuts to make it the most relaxing Christmas yet. You'll also find plenty of beautiful styling tips to add some extra sparkle to the festivities.

Also included are step-by-step images to walk you through it all, whether you're attempting a glossy ham, succulent bird, fruity pudding or a shimmering trifle. Or perhaps you want to try your hand at a roast pork with the perfect crackle, a gingerbread wreath or a rocking rocky road?

No matter what's on the menu, Christmas Feasts and Treats will give you the confidence to have a very delicious and stress-free Christmas.

If you love Christmas, you'll love this book! It's the perfect antidote to the traditional tinsel and glitter that shed harmful microplastics, polluting our oceans and waterways.

The Eco-Christmas Craft Book is filled with lots of ideas to create your own stylishly beautiful, eco-friendly Christmas.

All you need to do is save up some recyclable or foraged items such as cardboard, newspaper, wine bottle corks, twigs and pine cones. You can choose your own colour scheme to match your home and, because the materials are recyclable, you could make new ones every year!

Including all the things that make Christmas special, such as tree decorations, advent items, Christmas cards, table decorations, wreaths and many more, there are 30 fabulous projects to make, and ideas for many more. So start collecting and learn how to make gorgeous, professional-looking decorations cheaply, without harming the planet.