Caro Jenkins is finally making her escape for Christmas. It has been a sucky, sucky year... She got dumped... She's still stuck selling over-priced clothes to idiots... and, of course, she had to work on Christmas Eve eve. Her birthday. But now she's on her way to the cosy oasis that is her parents' house - ready to slip into her festive PJs, turn her back on the year and hibernate until New Year arrives. One ill-advised moment of weakness where she actually listens to her Sat-Nav and disaster strikes. Sam Wills is determined to bury his head in the sand until Christmas is all over. It has been a crappy, crappy year... He's all alone... The well-meaning villagers of Little Bamton are driving him potty... and, of course, Christmas was always his wife's favourite time of year. But now he's on his way down to the village pub for one last appearance before hiding-out in his cabin until the New Year. Or, that was the plan until he spotted the ancient, red Nissan Micra on its side in the ditch. Will the magic of Little Bamton be enough to save Caro and Sam this Christmas or is the festive season about the be the biggest baubles-up of the year so far? A cosy Christmas read full of fun, romance and laughter! For fans of Holly Martin, Darcie Boleyn and TA Williams. Christmas Lights and Snowball Fights is the first standalone novella in the Little Bamton series

Daniel Wolfe, author of Cold Ground's Been My Bed: A Korean War Memoir, brings to life his Bronx neighborhood during the Great Depression-a scene populated by characters that sound like a casting call for Guys and Dolls: Willie the Weasel, Lunchee, Noiviss, Trench Feet, Jake the Pickleman, Pimple Ear, and the Creep. A street vendor's cart offered a baked sweet potato, a jelly apple, or shaved ice dripping with syrup. A raucous game of stickball, street hockey, or off the curb resounded with predictable arguments. Dan depicts his hilarious antics as a busboy at a Catskill Mountain resort, a first date boat ride up the Hudson River, and the everyday caustic jokes of the boys hanging out at the candy store. But the heart and soul of Dan's childhood was found not in his colorful street life but within the two-bedroom flat that his parents made home for a family of five despite a hostile janitor, a cold radiator, and a leaky icebox. The author's relationship with his hard-working Ma and Pa illuminates this memoir. Like a long talk with old friends late into the night, Seabury Place is an experience you won't want to end.

With the removal of sexual orientation as a bar to ordination in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), pending approval of a majority of presbyteries, and the Episcopal Church’s 2009 General Convention calling for the development of theological and liturgical resources for same-sex blessings, sexual orientation—especially with regard to marriage—is a central issue. Secularly, too, the topic is front-page news with the recent California same-gender marriage ruling and subsequent Proposition 8 vote and the update of the Massachusetts same-gender marriage law. This book sets forth the case for religious institutions’ blessing of same-gender marriage, positing that same-gender marriage does not detract from the sacredness of heterosexual marriage, but rather enhances and nourishes the institution. Chapters include: • Claiming the Blessing • Deeper Than Scripture • Traditional Family Values • The Sacred Source of Marriage • Sex and the Body of Christ • Marriage As a Spiritual Discipline “Marriage is a spiritual discipline in which we come to know ourselves as beloved, trustworthy, redeemed, forgiven, and blessed, and at the same time learn how to love, be faithful, redeem, forgive, and bless the partner as well as the community.” —Chris Glaser

It's time for the wedding we've all been waiting for... Life at Hedgehog Hollow is never dull, although Samantha hopes that the new year ahead will be a little less chaotic as she prepares to marry the love of her life, Josh. But disaster strikes when she checks the rescue centre's bank account after the festive season and discovers it has been emptied. Who would do such a thing, and why? With the future of Hedgehog Hollow now in jeopardy, planning a wedding has lost its shine. Phoebe is desperate to escape the shadow of her family, infamously known for their attacks on Samantha's beloved rescue centre. Could the kindness of the Hedgehog Hollow team be the chance she needs for a fresh start, or will her family's secrets continue to drag her back? Top 10 bestseller Jessica Redland welcomes you back to glorious Hedgehog Hollow; full of love, family, friendship - and hedgehogs of course! Praise for the Hedgehog Hollow series: 'I loved my trip to Hedgehog Hollow. An emotional read, full of twists and turns' Heidi Swain 'The Hedgehog Hollow series is a tonic I'd recommend for everyone. There is so much to make you smile in Jessica's stories and they are always uplifting reads, which will make you really glad you decided to pick up a copy.' Jo Bartlett 'A beautifully written series that offers the ultimate in heartwarming escapism.' Samantha Tonge 'Hedgehog Hollow is a wonderful series that has found a special place all of its own deep in the hearts of readers, including mine.' Jennifer Bohnet ‘An emotional, romantic and ultimately uplifting read. Jessica always touches my heart with her sensitive handling of difficult subjects. The gorgeous community she has built around Hedgehog Hollow is one I hope to visit again and again.’ Sarah Bennett 'A warm hug of a book. I never wanted to leave Hedgehog Hollow. Very highly recommended.' Della Galton 'A wonderful, warm series full of family, friends and romance.' Katie Ginger 'Jessica Redland writes from the heart, with heart, about heart' Nicola May 'An emotional but uplifting page turner.' Fay Keenan

The perfect book for inquirers and new members, as well as current Church members who may be unfamiliar with some of the Church s history, beliefs, and practices. This new introduction to the history, polity, spirituality, worship, and outreach of the Episcopal Church is written in an easy-to-read conversational tone, and includes study questions at the end of each chapter, making it an excellent resource for adult parish study and inquirers' classes."

*Please note: this is part two of Hattie’s story. Her adventure starts in Sandwiches in Seabury - and will conclude in Surprises in Seabury.* This is Seabury - where everyone knows everyone, the average tourist hasn't got a clue it even exists, and that's just how the locals like it! The opening night of the new restaurant at The Pebble Street Hotel is just around the corner, and head chef Hattie Barclay’s head is spinning with everything there is left for her to do. Even with Ben and Lou on hand to keep her feet on the ground and steer her true, she can’t help but worry that she’s not living up to her old boss Marco Brook's standards… even if the man was a first-class idiot and his new restaurant is a total flop. Still, Hattie can’t help but feel that she’s missing the key ingredient to make sure the launch goes off with a bang - and she’s starting to get a little bit desperate! But when a DIY disaster in the breakfast room uncovers some forgotten memories that had been in danger of being lost forever, it’s not just the hotel’s long-held secrets that are about to be revealed… Can Hattie win the town’s tastebuds over? Will she realise that the answers to her dreams could be right here in Seabury? Or will her appetite and ambition make sure that disaster is firmly on the menu? A small town, seaside adventure full of friendship, fun and laughter! For fans of Holly Martin, Polly Babbington and Heidi Swain. Secrets in Seabury is the fifth novella in the Seabury series - and part two of Hattie's story.

This early work by Seabury Quinn was originally published in 1923 and we are now republishing it with a brand new introductory biography as part of our Cryptofiction Classics series. 'The Phantom Farmhouse' is a short story containing a lycanthropic mystery. Seabury Grandin Quinn was born in Washington D.C. in 1889. In 1910, he graduated from law school, and was admitted to the District of Columbia Bar. Quinn's stories were incredibly popular, and between the twenties and fifties he appeared in 'Weird Tales' magazine more times than both Robert E. Howard and H. P. Lovecraft. The Cryptofiction Classics series contains a collection of wonderful stories from some of the greatest authors in the genre, including Ambrose Bierce, Arthur Conan Doyle, Robert Louis Stevenson, and Jack London. From its roots in cryptozoology, this genre features bizarre, fantastical, and often terrifying tales of mythical and legendary creatures. Whether it be giant spiders, werewolves, lake monsters, or dinosaurs, the Cryptofiction Classics series offers a fantastic introduction to the world of weird creatures in fiction.

Perfect for newcomers and confirmation classes The Episcopal Church has a language and a practice all its own. For a newcomer, these can seem intimidating at first glance. This book takes readers through a Sunday worship experience, and explains the what, the why, and the how of what they might encounter. Worship is explained, with a quick survey of the Book of Common Prayer, along with frequently encountered vocabulary. How we read the Bible and what we believe about core points of theology are also discussed, especially as these points may differ from what many people assume to be Christian norms. How faith is practiced and its connection to our social and moral lives is discussed. What is the Jesus Movement and how can the Way of Love be lived every day? Finally, a short overview of Episcopal history is included, for the visitor who wonders how we came to be here. The book concludes with a few of the most frequently asked questions by adults who join the Episcopal Church.

The first introductory textbook on the subject of queer theology. Contextual theologies have developed from a number of perspectives – including feminist theology, black theology, womanist theology, Latin American liberation theology, and Asian American theology – and a wide variety of academic and general introductions exist to examine each one. However, Radical Love is the first introductory textbook on the subject of queer theology. In this lucid and compelling introduction, Cheng provides a historical survey of how queer theology has developed from the 1950s to today and then explicates the themes of queer theology using the ecumenical creeds as a general framework. Topics include revelation, God, Trinity, creation, Jesus Christ, atonement, sin, grace, Holy Spirit, church, sacraments, and last things, as seen through the lenses of LGBT theologians.

‘A gloriously festive, warm and cosy hug of a book. If this doesn’t get you in the mood for mince pies, eggnog and pine tree scents, nothing will!’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ’Tis the season for mulled wine, mince pies, and magic under the mistletoe...