I have a difficult time with all the
commercialism this time of year. There were Christmas decoration things in the
store before Hallowe’en, for pete’s sake. There should be a law against that.
We’ll be bombarded from now until December
25th with advertising to buy buy buy as if our level of holiday
spirit is dependent on the size of our credit card bill.
So what better way to escape from all that
noise than with a good book, one where the focus is on family and love (rather
than the lowest price on the biggest TV).
And perhaps a mystery will be solved along with the lighting of the plum
pudding.
My favourite book to re-read in December (I
refuse to even think about the holidays until then, except for baking my
fruitcake – it needs time to soak up the holiday spirit <wink>) is slightly “deck the halls” but mostly murder
mystery set during the Victorian era. Part of a long series by the great Anne
Perry, it can nonetheless be enjoyed on its own.
A Christmas Homecoming takes place at a country
manor house – aah – in the dead of winter – brrrr – and centres around a
theatrical production of Bram Stoker’s Dracula – oooh – at Christmas time – fa la la! It really is a good story.
I also happen to have a book with hints of
the festive season and it has been re-released (this past weekend) with a new
cover, just in time for a much-needed break from holiday turmoil. Content
warning: a blizzard, a gloomy country manor house, and smexy times.
Her wish
will be granted…
When a
mysterious note directs Miss Miranda Large to a tiny village in Cornwall to
find her heart’s desire, she’d be a fool to not go. The excitement mounts when
she meets a strange shopkeeper who claims that a magical keepsake will make
possible her dream of marriage to a man with a title. But a snowstorm forces
her to accept the hospitality of a sullen earl and Miranda fears she’s made a
horrible mistake.
He’s given up hope…
Edward
Penhallion, the 12th Earl of Claverlock, is not in the mood to search for yet
another wife. He longs to be left alone with his books and his dreams of
revenge. But the arrival of a headstrong, sharp-tongued spinster forces him to
play the charming host. Not a difficult task, given her intelligence and
beauty.
As the blizzard rages, Edward discovers there’s more to Miranda than a
lively wit and a lovely face. And Miranda wonders if the trappings of wealth
are enough for true happiness.
And here's the handy Universal Book Link that'll take you to your favourite book seller:
