Monday 16 December 2019

Miranda's Christmas Musings!

Dear ones, HAPPY CHRISTMAS! It's such a wonderful time of the year, a special time to enjoy family and friends, and eat too much and sing carols. And hopefully, time to sit down and read. My word. You don't need to ask me what I'm giving people this Christmas: books! I always enjoy receiving them, too, but really I love anything that comes my way. Just the fact someone has thought of me is enough. Love is in the air and all that.

You all know I'm absolutely smitten by Christmas books. I look forward to them every year and start reading them around October. I find them fun and lovely and absolutely essential to my festive enjoyment. So what have I read this season?


Picture credit: amazon.com


I always begin with Debbie Macomber's Christmas novel. This year it's A Mrs. Miracle Christmas. Oh the bliss. There might be a little heavenly intervention for Laurel and Zach from angelic old friends in this book! Debbie writes so sweetly, you could pop this in anyone's stocking and they will thank you. It doesn't seem to be available on Kindle yet, so I splurged and bought the gorgeous sparkly little hardback. It didn't break the bank and I truly would not have minded if it did. 💗


Picture credit: amazon.com


The Scrooge Of Loon Lake by Carrie Nichols was next. I love Dickens and his story A Christmas Carol. With the title of Carrie's book referencing old Scrooge, I was hooked by the title alone. Call me facile, but hey, I know I'm among friends who choose books for the titles and/or covers. Yes? I thought so! This 'Scrooge' is an injured veteran, a grouchy hermit on the outside and secretly all marshmallow on the inside. Say no more. I'm in love.


Picture credit: amazon.com


Next came a delight from Barbara WallaceHer Convenient Christmas Date. Thrillingly, this is the same family from Their Christmas Miracle, which I read and enjoyed this time last year! (I might be a creature of habit.) I love the way Barbara Wallace addressed the whole issue of low self-esteem and feelings of inferiority for this ex-footballer and his pretend-date heiress. Such a light but lovely touch as a relationship of convenience turns serious. And wonderfully festive.


Picture credit: amazon.com


Our very own lovely Alyssa J Montgomery has gifted us her fabulous book The Magic of Christmas. So, so beautiful. I know for a fact that Alyssa is a wonderful pianist (as am I, but maybe *cough* not as wonderful), and so is her heroine Grace - who now cleans houses for a living. When her billionaire client Jack accidentally hears her play his grand piano, his world tilts a little. This is a Cinderella story with a poignant difference. Both Jack and Grace are damaged people, but there is a certain someone who might be sprinkling a little bit of Christmas magic around, to help them come together... Sigh.



Picture credit: amazon.com


Christmas on Hope Street is written by beloved fellow blogger, Jayne Kingsley, with her friends Megan MayfairStella Quinn and Marianne Bayliss. These novellas are perfect to snatch a little time out in all the busyness of things, and relax. There are movie references and vintage fashions, bell making and a determined chef with wooing on his mind. Intrigued? Read on! I intended to read each story by itself, then, you know, 'go and do something' - the To Do List is endless this time of year, isn't it my darlings? But somehow I found myself mysteriously melded to my chair and I couldn't put this charmer down. Thanks girls! And more please!



Picture credit: amazon.com


It wouldn't be Christmas without a very British snowy get-together of festiveness, food, family and fun in a big house. Voila! Trisha Ashley has given us The Christmas Invitation. Someone said reading it is like being wrapped up in a fluffy blanket with a cup of hot chocolate. In dear old hot Oz, maybe we don't have to worry about getting so cosy, but the sentiment is exactly the same. As Christmas approaches artist (and recovering from pneumonia) Meg is invited to a big old house in Lancashire to paint some portraits. Only trouble is, she discovers the nephew of the lady of the house is someone with whom she has An Unfortunate Past. There's a dear little boy, a dog, brilliant food, and wonderfully eccentric characters to charm you here. Simply marvellous. Do stuff it in your stocking!


Dearest readers, wishing you a very happy Christmas and a splendid New Year. Hug your precious ones, be kind, stay safe, and enjoy some wonderful reading. See you all in 2020!


Love from Miranda xxx

And pssssst! Any Christmas reads you've loved? Any NY resolutions you can share (like, 'read more')?


Love to laugh:

At the cute cat videos as they destroy Christmas trees. That was my Tess! I kept finding baubles all over the house when she was around. 😻


Love to love:

Christmas everything. And I have no regrets about that. 🎇

Love to learn:

You can still get a copy of A Very Aussie Christmas from the Breathless Girls here. Give yourself a Christmas pressie! 

22 comments:

  1. Thank you so much for your lovely review of Christmas on Hope Street! We loved writing it and glad people are enjoying it. There's nothing like a Christmas story to put me in a festive spirit!

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    1. Megan! Thanks for stopping by! I'm so glad you did. I just loved all the stories in Christmas on Hope Street, and your story 'The Christmas Movie Date' was just fabulous, revisiting Christmas movies that I now desperately want to watch all over again. I love the way John and Annabelle bonded over watching movies and popcorn. So much sweetness. Have a wonderful Christmas.

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  2. Thanks for the call out Malvina! So glad to hear you like the Colliers. Working on Linus’s story right now.

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    1. Hi Barb, and wow, thanks so much for stopping by! I love the Colliers, and I'm delighted you're working on Linus' story, yay! That's going to be another special book, I just know it. Have a wonderful Christmas.

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  3. Thank you for the mention!! I'm so excited to be included and that you loved my grumpy hero! I confess a soft spot for crusty heroes. I also have a grumpy sheriff in a novella, Snowbound with the Stork, that I'm offering free to newsletter subscribers. Or, if you prefer, you can email me at authorcarrienichols@gmail.com and I will send the link.

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    1. Carrie, thanks for stopping in! How lovely to hear from you! It was impossible to not love your grumpy hero. I loved him from the very start. :) I'm excited to learn about Snowbound with the Stork and will be subscribing to the newsletter immediately. Thanks for gifting us your grumpy heroes (not really grumpy) and your lovely heroines. And happy Christmas!

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  4. I'm with you, Miranda, I also start reading Christmas stories in October. I'm so glad you enjoyed Christmas on Hope Street. It was a pleasure to write Jake and Lexi's story and I loved, loved, loved working with my clever fellow anthology authors. I will definitely read some of the books you've listed above. Merry Christmas to you.

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    1. Marianne, how wonderful your story is! I particularly loved how determined Jake was, determined to help Lexi finally conquer a few childhood demons. Everyone needs someone who loves them as much as Jake loves Lexi. Thankyou!

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  5. Another fabulous selection of Christmas romances. Thanks so Much Miranda!

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    1. Hope you get the time to read a few, Marilyn. Christmas is always a special time, and busy, but there are always chances to snatch five minutes reading here and there. x

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  6. I always look forward to your Christmas story lists each year Miranda and what a fantastic list this year is.

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    1. Thankyou Cassandra! I always look forward to my list too - mainly because it's just so much fun to begin reading all the romantic Christmas stories and get in the mood for festivities. I think it all helps. And often Christmas is a time for sentimentality. A little romance helps things along. x

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  7. Thank you for your wonderful call out Miranda, I'm so glad you enjoyed Christmas On Hope Street :D I have a few of those other books on my TBR pile - The Barbara Wallace one has just been lifted to the top of the pile, fingers crossed I can carve out some time this afternoon to start it. Reading Christmas stories at Christmas is such a treat for me (actually reading anytime!) - I'm hoping Santa loans me his elves to babysit my cherubs on Christmas Day so I can spend the whole day reading hehehe (wishful thinking i'm sure). Wishing you a very lovely Christmas! x

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    1. Jayne, you are most welcome. I loved Christmas on Hope Street and hope everyone else will too. I'm glad you've got a few of these up your sleeve to read as well. I'm quite sure there will be no babysitting elves on Christmas Day, sadly, but your cherubs are cherubs indeed, and it's a wonderful day to enjoy your children and make special memories. I hope you have a wonderful time, and maybe in the down days after Christmas there will be a little 'you' time!

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  8. I'm so glad you enjoyed THE MAGIC OF CHRISTMAS, Miranda! I'm quite chuffed to be on your Christmas list in such illustrious company and am looking forward to reading the other stories you've recommended. Have a wonderful Christmas and as always, I'll look forward to your posts on the Breathless in the Bush blog in 2020!

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    1. Thanks Alyssa! So glad you stopped by. Your beautiful The Magic of Christmas simply blew me away. Magic and music make a beautiful duo, and so do Grace and Jack. Oh my heart. I hope you do find time to read over Christmas and the new year! And I also really really hope you find time to write some more wonderful stories for me to read! Happy Christmas!

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  10. Every book listed sounds wonderful! Hmm, how to choose?

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    1. *Cough* read them all, Enisa! How can I pick one above the other?! And let me know if you find any other gems! Happy reading. x

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  11. Christmas can be a mixed blessing, can't it? Here in Queensland the temperatures are roasting us alive, families have to travel large distances over busy roads, no-one has enough white plates to make up a table for 12 … it can all get a little wild. Cue: the Christmas romance … I like to find a cool spot (even if it is on a lilo in the pool), some quiet time (send the kids to the movies and the rellies off to their rooms for a nanna nap), and all that's left is a bit of happy time between the pages of a lovingly crafted book.

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    1. Stella, I do hope you and your precious ones have stayed safe and well through this heat! Ans I confess, I'm with you... sneaking off to a cool spot to slot in a little reading. Love love love this. Thanks for dropping by so much, and happy new year!

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