Celebrate the holidays with M. C. Beaton, the queen of cozy mysteries! In the dark, wintry highlands of Lochdubh, Scotland, where the local Calvinist element resists the secular trimmings of Christmas, the spirit of Old St. Nick is about as welcome as a flat tire on a deserted road. Nor is crime taking a holiday, as Constable Hamish Macbeth soon finds himself protecting an unhappy girl, unlocking the secrets of a frightened old woman, and retrieving some stolen holiday goods. Now the lanky lawman must use all his Highland charm and detective skills to make things right. And he had better do it quickly, for the church bells will soon toll and all of Lochdubh will be forced to face another dreary winter without the comforting embrace of Yuletide cheer. Praise for A Highland Christmas "Chock full of local color and sentimental cheer." - Booklist "An inspirational treat for the holiday season." - Library Journal "Fun throughout" - Publishers Weekly "A charmingly illustrated Christmas fable sure to please." - Kirkus Reviews

In dark, wintry Lochdubh, Christmas Cheer is about as welcome as a flat tyre on a deserted road. The Calvinist element in town has always resisted what they view as secular frivolity, so for most of the townsfolk there'll be no carols, feasting, gifts - or even whisky on Christmas Day! And for PC Hamish Macbeth there's no holiday from crime - he finds himself hunting for a missing cat belonging to a lonely spinster. Curt and unfriendly, the woman is convinced her pet has been stolen but once behind her heavily-bolted door, Hamish can spot her true problem - she lives in fear, though of who or what he cannot guess. Then someone steals a Christmas tree and lights from the nearby village of Cnothan. So it is up to Hamish to sort all these problems out - and he had better do it quickly, for the church bells will soon peal on the eve of Christmas. Praise for the Hamish Macbeth series: 'First rate ... deft social comedy and wonderfully realized atmosphere.' Booklist 'It's always a treat to return to Lochdubh.' New York Times 'Readers will enjoy the quirks and unique qualities of the cast ... Beaton catches the beauty of the area's natural geography and succinctly describes its distinct flavour.' Library Journal 'Befuddled, earnest and utterly endearing, Hamish makes his triumphs sweetly satisfying.' Publishers Weekly

Eimhir Mackenzie has never been a biddable lass. Her mother thinks of her as a wild thing, and is pleased that she will be finally off her hands and wed to a future Chieftain, Angus Gordon—but Eimhir has a secret. When she slips away from the castle for a few hours of freedom before agreeing to accept Angus Gordon as her husband, she meets a man who promises her the kind of life she has dreamed of: adventure, excitement, and freedom. Liall Gunn is a free spirit, a seaman who has decided that his future lies with the same tumultuous seas that have always beckoned to Eimhir. He makes her a promise: that he will be back by Christmastide to claim her as his. But life moves on, and her father has promised her to Angus Gordon. If Liall cannot make it back by Christmastide, Eimhir’s dreams of freedom and love will come to naught...

Myra Munro is devastated beyond words when her twin, Jaime, is killed in the service of the King. Her parents, strong in their grief, urge her to do honour to her brother’s memory and nurse his best friend Ewan back to health. Ewan has not only lost his best friend but needs time and space while recovering from his injuries. Suffering himself, he understands that Myra is numbed with grief, but in the long road back to health, Jaime’s twin Myra is the one bright light in his world. He cannot deny his feelings for her. But Ewan has a secret: a sacred trust. While dying on the battlefield, Jaime gave Ewan a Christmas gift he has been carrying with him to give to his beloved twin sister. But before Ewan can find the right time to speak with her about it, they find themselves in mortal danger…

In dark, wintry Lochdubh, Christmas Cheer is about as welcome as a flat tyre on a deserted road. The Calvinist element in town has always resisted what they view as secular frivolity, so for most of the townsfolk there'll be no carols, feasting, gifts - or even whisky on Christmas Day!And for PC Hamish Macbeth there's no holiday from crime - he finds himself hunting for a missing cat belonging to a lonely spinster. Curt and unfriendly, the woman is convinced her pet has been stolen but once behind her heavily-bolted door, Hamish can spot her true problem - she lives in fear, though of who or what he cannot guess.Then someone steals a Christmas tree and lights from the nearby village of Cnothan. So it is up to Hamish to sort all these problems out - and he had better do it quickly, for the church bells will soon peal on the eve of Christmas.This one-off standalone story is a special Christmas treat for all fans of Hamish Macbeth and can be read at any point in the ongoing series.Praise for the Hamish Macbeth series:'First rate ... deft social comedy and wonderfully realized atmosphere.' Booklist'It's always a treat to return to Lochdubh.' New York Times'Readers will enjoy the quirks and unique qualities of the cast ... Beaton catches the beauty of the area's natural geography and succinctly describes its distinct flavour.' Library Journal'Befuddled, earnest and utterly endearing, Hamish makes his triumphs sweetly satisfying.' Publishers Weekly