Because this month at Romancing the Genres is about
Holiday Romance Novels, I asked a historical western romance facebook group I’m
in, “Why do you read Holiday romance books?” I found their answers
enlightening.
While I had a hunch I knew most of the answers, there was one
that stuck out in my mind. One reader
said she had a dysfunctional family and it was a way to experience a joyful,
family-filled holiday by reading Christmas romance books.
Quite a few readers said the stories gets them in the
mood for the holidays. Many said the books feel magical and they appreciate a
story that has a happy ending. A few
liked that the books are an escape from reality.
Because this was a historical group I asked, several
said they enjoyed reading about how the holidays were celebrated in the earlier
times of pioneers and cowboys. I have to agree, a lot of the fun of writing a
historical holiday book is the research into how they did celebrate. While
today’s children wouldn’t be impressed with an orange in their stocking back in
the pioneer days it was a treat. Before the railroad it was hard to haul the
fruit very far from the states where they grew, making it hard for many in the
mid-west to even see let alone taste the citrus fruit.
Other comments made by readers included:
I read them to feel
better, get lost in a good story.
I read holiday romances
to get lost from my reality. Love stories about others during the holidays
always brightens my mood!
I love reading about the
Christmas miracle and hope with the season.
They make me feel like I’m
surround by family and friends.
I love Christmas stories.
They just lift my spirits
I love reading and I Love
Christmas! Put the two together and I'm in heaven!
It is fun to get into the
holiday spirit with a good book. Sometimes I feel like I do so much for the
kids that it is nice to have a little something like a Christmas story just for
me.
I don't usually have a
lot of family here for the holidays, so I spend my holidays with my book
family.
I work retail so the
holidays are twice as stressful. We don't get much time off, so I bury myself
in Christmas stories to relax and bring the holidays back when they were more
magical.
I love reading holiday
romance it never snows here and never at Christmas and holiday romance are just
so magical you can get lost in them and they make you feel good. I read them
all year round.
What do you do to get into the Holiday spirit? Is it reading a holiday book or something completely different?
Leave a comment and I’ll
put your name in the drawing for an ebook of my Nov. 15th release
of the Shandra Higheagle Mystery, Yuletide Slaying. There’s a bit of
romance, murder, and a feel good ending.
Book 7 of the Shandra Higheagle mystery series
Family,
Revenge, Murder
When Shandra Higheagle’s dog brings her a dead body in
a sleigh full of presents, her world is turned upside down. The man is a John
Doe and within twenty-four hours another body is found.
Detective Ryan Greer receives a call that has them
both looking over their shoulders. A vengeful brother of a gang member who died
in a gang war is out for Ryan’s blood. Shandra’s dreams and Ryan’s fellow
officers may not be enough to keep them alive to share Christmas.
Paty Jager is an
award-winning author of 25+ novels and over a dozen novellas and short stories
of murder mystery, western historical romance, and action adventure. She has a
RomCon Reader’s Choice Award for her Action Adventure, received the EPPIE Award
for Best Contemporary Romance, and a Paranormal Lorie Award. Her first mystery,
Double Duplicity, was a finalist in the Chanticleer Mayhem and Mystery Award
and a runner-up in the RONE Award Mystery category. This is what Mysteries Etc says about her
Shandra Higheagle mystery series: “Mystery, romance, small
town, and Native American heritage combine to make a compelling read.”
Photo © Can Stock Photo / monkeybusiness
2 comments:
I'm certainly not in the 'bah humbug' category but other than buying a wreath or maybe two (one for inside), I probably won't do much more decorating. Haven't done the big holiday dinners for at least a decade now. I expect to spend the holidays alone - this is not a bad thing. Of course I'll read! I've already started a mental list of the books I want to reread!
Thanksgiving I spend time recounting all my blessings.
Solstice I give thanks for the dark and welcome the light back into my life.
New Years Eve I generally contemplate what I really want to manifest in the next year.
Hi Judith, Decorating for Christmas has always been one of my favorite things to do. But since we'll be having both Christmas and Thanksgiving at our daughter's and I'll be headed to my other daughter's to help with the arrival of a new grandchild, I'm only going to do a tiny bit of Christmas decorating this year. But hubby and I enjoy watching the Hallmark Christmas movies.
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