'Wickedly funny . . . a delight' Katie Fforde A laugh-out-loud, feel-good festive read filled with characters who will make you feel like part of the family. Perfect for fans of Heidi Swain, Trisha Ashley and Sue Moorcroft. The magic of Christmas has arrived . . . much to William's dismay! William intends to spend Christmas alone with his cat. But with so many empty rooms at the grand Haseley House, William has no excuse when his large and eccentric family invite themselves to stay. As Christmas Day approaches, William's son, daughter and sister arrive, bringing with them partners, children, nannies, friends and hidden agendas ... Surely with a house so large, William and Scratch can keep to themselves. But a quiet Christmas is not to be. Soon William is caught up in his family's dramatic rivalries, and he uncovers some dubious intentions. He knows it wouldn't be Christmas without a bit of mayhem, but this particular family Christmas is going to change everybody's lives . . . What readers are saying about A Proper Family Christmas: 'A truly wonderful light festive read' 'Made me laugh out loud' 'Wonderful cast of characters, clever plot and delightful twists and turns' 'Such a great story, just how Christmas should be. Beautifully written' 'What a lovely book. An absolute delight to read. The characters are all so entertaining - never a dull moment. Even the cat will have you smiling with his antics'

A collection of Oxford short stories and a sequal to the successful 'Sixpenny Debt'. In his foreword, Colin Dexter writes: "Volume II? Well, a common reference in the publishing world is the peril of 'the second-book hurdle', at which a good many runners in the Writers' Stakes have come to grief, some of them incurring a plenitude of penalty points. Not so here! Our talented writers have collectively cleared the hurdle with stylish assurance. "Fourteen of the two dozen or so Group members have submitted their stories, and they cover a splendidly wide range: from humour and satire to psychological insights; from history, old and new, to romance and reflection; and to add a dash of spice we find spookery and science fiction too. "Short-story writing is a difficult art, and it is a remarkable achievement."

From thirteen talented Oxford writers, stories that sweep across town, gown and countryside. Featuring everything from love, lust, loss and death to tortoises and Tchaikovsky, this collection of stories will delight and enthral all those who have a passion for Oxford.