Well, hello my darlings, long time no see! I'm delighted to be back with you and chatting about my absolute favourite thing: CHRISTMAS BOOKS! Christmas is tremendously special for me, and combining the love of the season with romance is a complete winner. I've got ten special books to share, so I'm going to dive straight in.
 |
| Picture credit: amazon.com |
DEAR SANTA by Debbie Macomber is a lovely way to kick off your festive reading; I always enjoy her Christmas books. How many of you remember writing letters to Santa when you were little, with a wish list? How many wishes came true? Lindy Carmichael's just had her heart broken - then her mother gives her all her old Santa letters, and Lindy realises sometimes Christmas wishes do come true, with a little help from you-know-who. No, not Voldemort, of course I mean Santa!
 |
| Picture credit: amazon.com |
Fancy a cowboy for Christmas? Don't we all! Vicki Lewis Thompson gifts us the scorching novella It's Christmas, Cowboy, and we do need to pop this in our Christmas stocking. With the always-poignant trope of second-chance-at-love, old school friends Tucker and Lacey reconnect. And boy howdy, do they ever! This is fast and furious, so if you've only got a short break, choose this.
 |
| Picture credit: amazon.com |
And speaking of cowboys - ranchers - ranch builders - Kelly Hunter's Must Love Christmas is totally fabulous, one of my 5 star reads this year. Seth Casey is such a dream hero, strong and rugged and sexy and capable and, well, also nice. Madeline is the rich girl who owns the ranch he wants to own, and she says no to his offer to buy it. I thought this might degenerate into a fight (sorry Kelly, I should've known better), but they're both so heroic it turns out to be a heart-grabbing romance. The scene on Christmas Day here is enough to move even the stoniest of Christmas scrooges (sniff).
 |
| Picture credit: amazon.com |
Rebecca Raisin is a new-to-me author this year, and I read the two books loosely linked to Flora's Travelling Christmas Shop and loved them: Rosie's Travelling Tea Shop and Aria's Travelling Book Shop. Both were terrific, especially the latter (it's about books!). I couldn't resist the third one, set in the most fairytale of all places at Christmas: Lapland! I'm not kidding. With reindeer and snow and hot chocolate and omigosh the food, and Christmas trees and, cough, Connor, a bit of a Christmas grinch. Flora's about the sort that out, quick smart. This is a gentle romance, and it's sparkly with tinsel and glitter and everything Christmassy.
 |
| Picture credit: amazon.com |
From Lapland to Edinburgh! I discovered Jenny Colgan last year, and she combines warm humour and romance with festive fun and food: a complete reader seduction. When you add in the booky setting for The Christmas Bookshop, it's winning all the way. At first I wasn't sure if I was going to like Carmen: she was aimless and a bit thoughtless. When her mother and sister foist her into a pretty hopeless destined-to-fail job at the bookstore, it takes a while for Carmen to shine. But, happily, shine she does, and just in time for Christmas. The romance is a little bit different, and the quirky characters totally capture your heart.
 |
| Photo credit: amazon.com |
Sweet Christmas Secrets is a stunning anthology with ten festive Regency stories written by ten Aussie authors. Kudos to them all! I had a fabulous time reading my way through the lushly romantic stories. Every one is just long enough to sit and enjoy as a mini break in-between all your Christmas busyness. They each feature a letter and/or a secret, and there are many misunderstandings and broken hearts before we get our happy ending. What a Christmas bliss bomb.
 |
| Photo credit: amazon.com |
While we're in Regency mode, treat yourself to the charming novella A Christmas Love Redeemed, by fan favourite Alison Stuart. It's a second-chance-at-love story, and it's simply lovely. Another one to enjoy with a quick hot chocolate and a fruit mince pie. Our hero is French (swoon) and the heroine English, so that leads to high tension when the hero is caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. Such a special treat.
 |
| Photo credit: amazon.com |
Who can resist the two sweet cherubs on the cover of Their Yuletide Healing? Not I! This is another new-to-me author, Mindy Obenhaus, who writes for Harlequin Love Inspired, a series where faith is a main element in the books. Have to say, faith and Christmas sort of go together, and also reconciliation and forgiveness and healing. Here the town Scrooge suddenly finds his guarded, lonely heart invaded by these two little foster kids and their foster mom. Just. Beautiful.
 |
| Photo credit: amazon.com |
It truly is a pleasure to read another Christmas story from Sarah Morgan, and The Christmas Escape is marvellous. And, again, shock, off we go to Lapland! Is the Universe telling me something? Do I need to book an escape to Lapland? (Yes. The answer is obviously yes.) It's not just snow and the cold and festivities, however. This is a deeply moving story of a little family in crisis, of reconciliation, and a zinger do-I-hate-you-or-love-you? romance. (Spoiler: love. The answer is obviously love.)
 |
| Photo credit: amazon.com |
I've been told the cover of Trisha Ashley's book One More Christmas at the Castle is all glittery and gorgeous, so it almost seemed sacrilegious to read it on my Kindle. I wanted all that razzle dazzle in my hands, sigh. But any which way you read this book you'll love it. You'll also put on weight just reading about the lavish food, oh my. I have no idea how these characters stayed trim. All that walking in the snow? An elderly widow invites a few key people from her family and friends - and the Heavenly Houseparty catering company - to mastermind her last Christmas at the castle (bit sad). The burning question is who will inherit, but I kept getting distracted by the Christmas cake and cheese straws and...never mind. Not one but two romances here, so terrific, and a fabulous cast of characters. And I'm not going to mention decorations or the food any more. Although there was the mulled wine and the mistletoe...no. A wonderful book that happily wallowed in Christmas from beginning to end, and it made me happy. I now want to live in a castle and have Heavenly Houseparties cater for me, forever. Enjoy.
So that's my little list. Happily I have many, many more also ready to go, including my annual reread of the classic A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. If you click on the link you'll see I've indulged in a very special new edition.
Merry Christmas, dear readers. May your festive time be merry and bright, and I hope Santa brings you some wonderful reading.
Do stay safe and well, and hug your precious ones tight.
Loads of love from Miranda xxx
Love to love: Christmas! Everything and all things Christmassy!
Love to laugh: I'm a bit like Cassandra Samuels, I love funny Christmas movies.
Love to learn: What are you reading? And some last minute hot tips for the Christmas stockings? Please tell? Pop it all in the comments. below.
What a great list! A few authors I’ve not heard of so off to amazon I go 😘
ReplyDeleteI’m currently reading The Riviera House by Natasha Lester - not a Christmas read but addictive all the same! I did watch A Castle for Christmas last night which was Christmasy and delightful (also full of scrumptious looking food).
If the stockings are for kids Kmart has giant candy canes! Rocky road is always a welcome treat too. There’s a real food theme happening here isn’t there!
Wishing you a lovely Christmas xx
Hello Jayne, and thanks so much for stopping by. Ooh, I've heard the Riviera House is a great read. I've enjoyed other books by Natasha Lester. Onto the list it goes! And I've watched A Castle for Christmas too - total fun, and I loved the knitter's circle. After a few books, you can't go past rocky road in the Christmas stocking, yum, and candy canes are obligatory, aren't they? At least one! Have a wonderful Christmas with your beautiful family, Jayne x
DeleteI came for the mention (thank you so much) and stayed on for the Miranda magic and to top up my Chrissy reading list. And the Dickens--so gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteMy Christmas stocking stuffers often include a Christmas bauble for the tree, a new toothbrush (because, nostalgia), (foot) thongs for overseas visitors (back when overseas travel was a thing) who want to hit the beach. And stubby/can holders to keep those drinks cool!
So glad you did pop in, Kelly, yay! I *loved* your book - the characters were so gorgeous I wanted to be there! Love your Christmas stocking suggestions. A new one in our family is nice soap or shampoo as well as edible treats. So sometimes our packets of chips or nuts also have a nice smell. ;)
DeleteWow! What a great selection to get the Season going.
ReplyDeleteMy adult 'kids' still love their Cadbury Christmas stockings and chocolate coins every year.
All the best for the New Year.
xo
So glad you liked it! And why yes, chocolate coins are an essential. In fact I sent some poor chap in Woolworths off the other day to find quite a lot of packets for me. He delivered, thankyou kind sir! I love Cadbury's chocolate, it's my favourite, and there's quite a few bars going into the stockings on Christmas Eve. I was, cough, a bit late to the shops to find the stockings this year - had to self isolate for a while (sigh). Never mind, any Cadbury's is a gift. Enjoy your Christmas, and happy reading.
DeleteUnknown AKA Erin Grace..lol
DeleteDon't know what happened, I signed in and everything!
:)
Hi Erin! Your story in Sweet Christmas Secrets was so lovely. Nice to know it's you commenting - sometimes commenting produces unexpected challenges. All the best for Christmas!
DeleteChocolate coins. Yes!
ReplyDeleteABSOLUTELY! #1 importance! I've been known to swipe a couple of coins every year and eat them myself. I'm sure they didn't notice (?!)...
DeleteDitto, chocolate coins! Would go rather nicely with a re-read of Must Love Christmas which I just the best read!
DeleteMust Love Christmas is a completely fab read, I second Enisa. :)
DeleteAnother fabulous selection of Christmas reads for the holiday season. Thanks Miranda!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome Marilyn! Hope you find at least one of these on Christmas morning. xx
DeleteThere is something for everyone in this list!
ReplyDeleteAnd thank you for mentioning my little Christmas novella A CHRISTMAS LOVE REDEEMED. It's a quick read - some stories are just not meant to be long books and I love this story of love redeemed!
What am I reading? My recommendation for those who love Cosy Mysteries is MURDER AT MELROSE COURT by Karen Menuhin. It's a classic 1920s mystery with a snowed in manor house, dead bodies, Christmas and a cast of quirky characters (including a dog and a cat). Great fun and written with humour and whimsy. I've binged the whole Heathcliff Lennox series this year!
So lovely you've popped in. And your story was beautiful, Alison - their love certainly lasted the distance! And how fabulous, a cosy mystery murder! I find them irresistible, especially a 'locked house' murder. Who did it?! I've downloaded it and am ready to read. ...Maybe after I finish binging more Christmas books... Enjoy your Christmas!
DeleteA terrific variety in this Christmas list. Thanks for including our anthology, SWEET CHRISTMAS SECRETS. My story is 'Spying for the Earl', which follows on from last year's novella, 'A Spy for Lady Clementine' which is newly released through Escape. As far as Christmas reading goes, not much given we have a 3-year-old and 6-month-old and parents staying, with another three coming shortly! Planning to fit in some Chrissie viewing though! 'Love, Actually', and I saw the new Netflix film, 'A Castle for Christmas'. Hits of nostalgia with the two stars. Merry Christmas to all!
ReplyDeleteSusanne, thank you for stopping by! You might just have time for Alison Stuart's A Christmas Love Redeemed, or the one by Vicki Lewis Thompson - they're both quick reads. It sounds like you have a full house and lots of love present in your bursting household. I hope it's magical for you all.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteDelighted to report that Vicki Lewis Thompson popped in via email to say what a lovely mention of her book! Yay! She was saying they live in Arizona so also have a warm Christmas, but not as warm as us. So excited to hear from her. Fan moment.
ReplyDeleteSo many books to choose from! Loved, loved, loved Kelly Hunter's Must Love Christmas. What to read next? 😁
ReplyDeleteClose your eyes and - well, not stick a pin in your screen, but maybe hover with a finger. They're all winners, Enisa.
DeleteOh my, just had another wonderful fan moment! Sarah Morgan emailed and said she was so pleased I enjoyed the book and honoured to be on the blog. Happy sigh.
ReplyDeleteThanks for another fabulous set of recommendations, Miranda. My Christmas reading is assured. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas.
ReplyDeleteThankyou Sharon, and the same to you and your family! I'm sure you'll find something special to read here. Let me know your favourites!
DeleteMiranda, your recommended reads are always fabulous and I'm looking forward to taking some time to read some of the books on this list. Kelly Hunter is always a favourite, and Alison Stuart is also an author who never lets me down. I'm especially looking forward to the anthology of Aussie authors as many I know but sadly, have not yet red. Time to set that right!
ReplyDeleteAnd...a shameless plug of my own...The Magic of Christmas which you covered back in 2019 is on special this month for Aussie readers at $1.99 from Escape Publishing so or those of you who might not have read it and would like to add it to your list, I hope you enjoy it.
As far as Christmas stocking fillers go, I will add that my adult 'children' also still enjoy the Cadbury Christmas stocking! Can't go wrong with chocolate!
I wish all our Breathless in the Bush authors and readers a very Merry Christmas. I hope it's safe and happy and wish you all a fabulously happy and healthy 2022.
Best wishes, Alyssa
Thanks for stopping by, Alyssa, and yes - if anyone hasn't already, Alyssa's 'The Magic of Christmas' is a completely fabulous festive read. And on special! No excuse to miss out. :) Glad you enjoyed the other recommendations too. I hope you find something special for some down time. And of course you're right about chocolate. I think Christmas chocolate doesn't have any calories, so indulge and enjoy.
DeleteI love the historical stuff. Always good to see some great reads for Jolabokaflod (that beautiful annual read-a-thon at Christmas where you escape from the day job and pretty much every other responsibility and curl up at home with a good book or twenty).
ReplyDeleteYour Grace, I am ALL for Jolabokaflod! And thankyou for your lovely story in Sweet Christmas Secrets! Books are such a wonderful gift, so much to enjoy - and yes, I love a good historical. Thanks so much for popping in to say hi! Have a wonderful booky Christmas.
DeleteI can't see my comment I though I put up the other day. Thankyou for reading the Sweet Christmas Secrets Anthology which includes my novella. It's a marathon effort with ten novellas ;)
ReplyDeleteFiona, thanks for coming by, twice! Sometimes comments vanish, it's frustrating. Happily you're here now. Your story in Sweet Christmas Secrets was a delight, that anthology is fabulous to read. The longer the better, really. One can never have too much Regency romance! Have a wonderful Christmas.
Delete