Five comfortable short stories that will put you in the mood for Christmas. Easy reading before bed or anytime you have a few minutes and need a renewal or a new dose of Christmas spirit.

The insecurity of pirate Captain Livingston Pinkum reaches across two centuries to shock the little community of Hardly Hill. An unintentional assist is provided by Lulu, the new young Managing Director of Hilltop House. Because Lulu is more interested in herself than in the welfare of her company or her staff, she unwittingly enables a crime that impacts the community and her own life. In the end an unlikely hero emerges, a cold police case is closed, a kidnapper is brought to justice and a little bit of self esteem is returned to a demented old man.

This tale of strangers and secrets, love and betrayal, nobility and greed plays out in the small community of Hardly Hill. Here, clues and motives lie hidden in half-remembered stories, forgotten collections, and ancient heirlooms. It is here that Sammy finds himself as he continues his secret search for a long forgotten and possibly non-existent pirate treasure. But will he sacrifice what he finds in order to pursue a compelling new mystery that he's not sure he will ever be able to solve. This is book two in the Hardly Hill series. Book one is titled Hilltop House.

An unintentional good turn generates others as an invitation to breakfast turns into a blessing for several people over the course of the day.