We celebrate many sacred holidays in
December…among them Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa. Thanksgiving is over. And
New Year’s Eve is ahead of us. I am sure I have missed many sacred
celebrations. But since this is not what my blog is about this month, I’ll not
give you a rundown.
Instead, I have given you another list of
holiday books I have read this season, or plan to continue to read in December
and into the new year. And this list doesn't include the holiday books on my WISH LIST! Yes, I do love holiday-themed books
As stated in last month’s list, the books
mentioned below are not listed as recommendations, but as books I read, that
are written by authors I know, new authors whom I wished to try, as well as
covers and titles that caught my eye. Exploring holidays that I know little
about has been a fun, learning experience, especially when seen through the
lens of romance.
I hope everyone has a lovely holiday, no
matter what or how you celebrate.
Feel free to leave
your own suggestions, in the comments,
about holiday romance books
you enjoy at this time of the year!
THE
LIST of BOOKS I READ
Thanksgiving (Oct 2009) – Janet
Evanovich
A fun family romp over Thanksgiving, after
two meet in a most unconventional way. Throw in a wool-eating rabbit, an
“abandoned” baby, two cars destined for the junk yard, a self-absorbed fiancé
who jilted the heroine, insecurities, lust, love, a pregnant horse, interfering
moms, and the charm of Williamsburg and you have a recipe for a holiday Rom
Com.
No Ordinary Christmas (Sept 2021) –
Belle Calhoune
An unexpected, and not necessarily welcome, Christmas reunion. Old love, new sparks fanning the embers remaining from lost love, and a little help from the small-town busybodies. Will the spirit of the season bring the two back together?
Eight Nights of Apricot Cookies (Nov 2021) – Roni
Denholtz
As Erica
cleans out her grandmother's home, she searches for her favorite holiday
apricot cookie recipe. With a little help from the neighbor, who also adored
her grandmother and loved the same cookies, they start on a quest to find the
recipe before the end of 8 days of Hanukkah. And a recipe at the end of the
book!
From This Moment (Nov 2021) –
Melody Grace
Friends to lovers on the rebound. Can a
self-proclaimed bachelor and man-about-town allow himself to find true love?
And will his best friend trust him enough to let him get close?
Red Velvet Crinkles and Christmas
Sprinkles
(Nov 2021) – Maria Imblazano
Fired and
at a loss, Bella returns home only to find her parents need help in their shop
over the holiday season. She's thrown together with her high school crush—the
one who both betrayed her and motivated her as a teen—to help save the
business, as she works to save her career. A fun journey through the world of
retail during the holidays. And a recipe at the end of the book!
A Sailor’s Perfect Christmas (Nov 2021) – Dari
Laroche
As Alex
takes over his father's marine salvage business, he is tasked to plan a holiday
company party. When he meets the perfect woman, whose job in education allows
her time off during the holidays, she pitches in. Spending quality time
together leads to a holiday romance.
If
Snowflakes Were Forever: A MacLeod's Cove Novella (Dec 2021) – Luanna Stewart
A
delightful and fun romp of a story about two characters, each in isolation, on
a journey of discovery about their own lives. Until their worlds collide and
they find the journey may be more interesting together.
Let
It Snow (Oct 2019) – Nancy Thayer
A story of
friendships, work buddies, and finding love, new friends, and forgiveness at
Christmas, amidst the lovely scenery of island life on Nantucket.
Kwanzaa Angel (July 2012) –
Shirley Hailstock
The nightmare from her high school years
is back in town, and he keeps showing up at every town Kwanzaa celebration. The
chemistry is hot. She’s a successful business woman looking to expand, but he betrays
her a second time – this time through his own business dealings. Can they find
a way to make their growing love work this time before he heads home after the
week of Kwanzaa celebrations?
Christmas in the Duke’s Arms (Dec 2021) –
Julie Johnstone
An unrequited love and a marriage of
convenience merge into a lovely romance between two who are so different and
wary of the other. But each brings out the best in the other and love wins out!
Yours ‘Til Midnight: A Kwanzaa
Kisses Holiday (Book ONE of 9 books by different authors released
individually during December 2021) – Jailaa West
A very spicey, Cinderella quick read,
where the hero is left with no clues to follow in order to find the woman he falls
in love with, at first sight.
Caught Up in Candy Cane Kisses (Dec 2021) –
Shannon Robinson
A second chance at love with the help of a
few matchmakers and a cookie baking / fundraiser contest. And a recipe at the
end of the book!
Scoring Over the Holidays: A Holiday
Sports Anthology (Dec 2021) – Sierra Hall, Alexia Chase,
Alexis
Anne, Cathryn Fox, Daniela Romero, Kimberly Readnour, Lisa Lang
Blakeney, Megan Ryder, Melissa Ivers, Mira Lyn Kelly
Holiday stories featuring sports stars.
The stories run from hot to sweet.
One Christmas Wish (Oct 2021) – Brenda Jackson
Two people, both heartbroken for different reasons, find someone who listens and shares. But both are off-limits for different reasons. Heartwarming tale of loss and finding second chances through trust and love.
It’s Christmas Cowboy (The Sons of
Chance) (Nov 2021) – Vicki Lewis Thompson
A quick read of second chances and unrequited love
that brings two together to celebrate Christmas Eve after being stranded in a cozy
cabin during a blizzard.
Kisses and Lemon Snowflake Cookies
(Christmas Cookies) (Dec 2021) - N. Jade Gray
A self-conscious out-of-towner, helps
her aunt in her bakery and meets the Mr. July fireman of the fundraiser calendar
fame, who also doesn’t have much confidence when it comes to women, in the cute
holiday match-maker story. It helps that said fireman loves lemon snowflake cookies.
And a
recipe at the end of the book!
Sleigh Bells Ring (Oct 2021) – RaeAnne
Thayne
Childhood friends reconnect to find true
love, as one family is ready to move on from the ranch owned by
their recently deceased
grandfather, while the other is invested in a property she has no hold on.
Against all odds, can they make true love work?
Kwanzaa ‘Pon a Time (Nov 2021) –
Marcia King-Gamble
Meeting her brother’s best friend, from their
service in Afghanistan, pushes every button the heroine thought true. But stuck
together over the Christmas holiday, as maid of honor and best man for her brother’s
Kwanzaa wedding, she soon finds the truth and true love.
The Christmas Escape (Oct 2021) –
Sarah Morgan
A multi-layered journey about relationships:
childhood best friends, marriage, career choices, all in the spectacular settings
of London, the British countryside, and the remote Lapland in Scandinavia.
TOO
MANY BOOKS, TOO LITTLE TIME: BOOKS I PLAN to READ
A Cowboy’s Christmas (The McGavin
Brothers, Book 6) (Nov 2017) – Vicki Lewis Thompson
Duke the Halls (Nov 2021) –
anthology with Christi Caldwell, Jennifer Ashley, Anna Bradley, Grace Burrowes,
Kerrigan Byrne. Tanya Anne Crosby. (Six historical stories about love during
the holidays.)
A Sweetwater Canyon Holiday Trio (Dec 2017) – Maggie Lynch
Christmas Holiday House (Oct 2020) – RaeAnne
Thayne
Candleglow and Mistletoe (Oct 2016) –
Josie Riviera
Tis The Season for Romance (Nov 2021) - Diana Dawn, Susan Horsnell, Josie Johnston, Mary Morano, J. F. Lowe, A. M. Olenick, Andra Dill, Jakki Frances
The Christmas Boutique (Oct 2019) –
Jennifer Chiaverini
One More Christmas (Dec 2020) –
Sarah Morgan
Mischief Under the Mistletoe (Oct 2021) – Stephanie
Rowe
Christmas on Peachtree Lane (Nov 2020) – Jules
Bennett
New Year’s Miracle: A Sweet
Stonewater Novella - Book 4 (Nov 2021) – Ginny Frost
There’s Only One Holiday at
Christmas
(Collection 2018, 2019, 2020) – Jackie Lau
Dear Santa, I Really Tried: A Holiday
Anthology from Naughty to Nice (Nov 2021) – Kathryn Shay, Lisa
Mondello, Patricia McLinn, Barbara McMahon, Chantel Rondeau, KT Pec, Day
LeClaire
A Cowboy’s Christmas (The McGavin
Brothers, Book 6) (Nov 2017) – Vicki Lewis Thompson
The Doctor's Instant Family (Oct 2018) – Mindy
Neff
Gifts of Love (two stories)
(Oct 2009) – Lisa Kleypas and Kay Hooper
Come Dance With Me
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Come-Dance-Me-Serenity-Starlight-ebook/dp/B074N95RGK/
Books2Read
ALSO –
check out Woman’s World 5-minute Romance Holiday – a
digest of 40 holiday shorts – I have a Thanksgiving story and a Valentine’s Day
story (on stands until Feb 7, 2022)
~ cottages to
cabins ~ keep the home fires burning ~
Delsora Lowe writes small town sweet and
spicy romances and contemporary westerns from the mountains of Colorado to the
shores of Maine.
Author of the Starlight Grille
series, Serenity Harbor Maine novellas, and the Cowboys of Mineral Springs series, Lowe has also authored short
romances for Woman’s World magazine.
Her novella, The Love Left Behind, released in October, 2020.
She is currently editing her own holiday book, The Inn on
Gooseneck Lane.
Social Media
Links:
Author website: www.delsoralowe.com
Facebook Author page: https://www.facebook.com/delsoraloweauthor/community/
Amazon Author page: https://www.amazon.com/Delsora-Lowe/e/B01M61OM39/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0
Books2Read Author page: https://www.books2read.com/ap/8GWm98/Delsora-Lowe
BookBub Author Page: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/delsora-lowe-93c6987f-129d-483d-9f5a-abe603876518
Goodreads Author Page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16045986.Delsora_Lowe
Instagram: #delsoralowe / https://www.instagram.com/delsoralowe/
Photo
Credits:
Book
covers from Amazon
14 comments:
What a great list, Delsora. Thanks for sharing. Happy holidays.
I always love reading romances set during special holidays. And even better, is reading books by authors I know. Thanks for checking in Anna!
Christmas romances are always such a fun read. Your recommendations have just added to my already long list!
Deb, thanks as always for sharing your list!! Found some new ones to add to my own list --I usually read them AFTER the holidays when things slow down a bit, but hey, Christmas lasts for 12 days....and there's usually snow here in January to keep me in the mood!
Nina - tell me about the long lists - I'll be reading holiday books until May :-)
Gail, I hear you - I usually keep my twinkle lights up in my living room through March. Comforting on snowy days in New England, when it still gets dark early. And a great time to keep reading holiday books. Thanks for stopping in.
Deb,
Thanks for that great list! I have read yours and one other on the list. It is hard to read this time of year with so much going on. October /November is when I usually read Christmas stories.
Happy Holidays!
Wow!!! Love your list of read and to-be-read books. I'm about to break down and get an e-reader ... of course that brings additional challenges for me as I have to figure out how to use it as in put books on it and then keep it charged so I can read them.
But first I'll check to see which ones are in print.
Great list! I saw many authors I already know and love and a few I haven't read before. Now to find time to read any of them. :) Congrats on having two stories in Women's World. You are a force to be reckoned with between your novels, short stories, and all the reading you do.
So many books! So little time. Thanks for this annual assortment just in time for the holidays!
Diana - I did read an entire list in Oct through mid-November, too. And there is always room for holiday books in July :-) Enoy time with family and then you can get back to reading in January.
Judith, once you set up your e-reader (whether you use a Kindle or a Nook or ???,) then you go on-line and buy e-books from that vendor - they will automatically show up on your e-reader. I enjoy e-readers because it hurts my hands to hold onto books. So, I have an e-book case that sets up so I can just put it on my lap and read away.
Maggie - a lot of sleepless nights, so I read. As I said above, I'll be reading the rest all year round. It was exciting to hear that they used 2 of my stories in the Woman's World digest. They were previously published by WsW, so I had no clue they were even in the running, until they told me they had been chosen.
Sue - I totally agree there is way too little time for reading. But reading keeps me engaged in what is out there, and often helps reboot my creativity when I can't think to write. It was fun searching out authors I didn't know and trying books about different holidays.
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