I love the holidays. Even with the stress of everything that has to get done before Christmas, I still love this time of year. I even love the hustle and bustle sometimes (yes, you think I'm crazy, it's fine) - I like braving the stores for Christmas shopping, though sometimes I have to remind myself of that when the crowds get too big and people get a little rude. Decorating the house, baking Christmas cookies, wrapping gifts, sending cards, Christmas music - I enjoy all of it. Here's my tree, decorated the Saturday after Thanksgiving:
I also read a lot of holiday romances. In fact most of what I read from Thanksgiving through New Years are holiday romances (sometimes I'll pull one out at another time of year, when I need a dose of really happy). It's my own little tradition, and if I can read them sitting my the Christmas tree with a mug of peppermint hot chocolate, that's even better. Holiday romances are wonderful. They take everything about romances - the hope, the joy, the happy ever after - and magnify them like crazy. There's a special warm, happy, fuzzy feeling you get at the end of a holiday romance when everyone is happy and together. I thought I'd list some of my favorites (even though you've probably been inundated with holiday romance recs already). So in random order:
Turkey in the Snow by Amy Lane - I love this novella. It makes me smile every time and it's probably my favorite Amy Lane Christmas story, though Christmas Kitsch was wonderful and made me laugh and cry and smile too.
The Winter Spirit by Indra Vaughn - I just read this one. It's now a new favorite. I adored Gabriel the ghost and Nate from the beginning and was hoping for a magical HEA (it's a Christmas story and I loved it so you can bet there was one).
The Minnesota Christmas series by Heidi Cullinan - This series is wonderful, sexy and sweet and so very Christmas. I just read the third book, Winter Wonderland, and they just keep getting better.
North Pole City Tales by Charlie Cochet - This is a fantastic fantasy series set at the North Pole among Santa's elves. It's a brilliant magical world filled with sweet treats and Christmas joy and lovely romance. I'm looking forward to Loving Blitz which comes out this month.
Holiday Outing by Astrid Amara - This is a fun Hanukah romance with a blizzard, a zany family, and a little mystery. It's probably my favorite holiday romance by this author but I really enjoyed her Bellskis series too.
Winter Knights by Harper Fox - Beautiful writing and a hint of the paranormal and a lovely holiday romance. I also love her Nine Lights Over Edinburgh.
Lone Star by Josh Lanyon - A romance between a ballet dancer returning home after many years away and a Texas Ranger he loved as a teenager. I also love Icecapade, a Christmas romance between a former jewel thief turned writer and the FBI agent who pursued him, and The Dickens with Love which involved an unknown Dickens Christmas tale and an ocelot.
A Wallflower Christmas by Lisa Kleypas - Kleypas's Wallflower series is one of my favorite historical series, and this Christmas story lets us visit with old friends while meeting a new couple.
The Mischief of the Mistletoe by Lauren Willig - With a hero called Turnip, could this be anything other than a fun story?
Mistletoe at Midnight by LB Gregg - A sweet second chance romance in the midst of a family Christmas at an inn in Vermont.
My True Love Gave to Me by Ava March - This historical novella broke me apart at the beginning, but it was lovely to see these two men come back together again.
Secret Light by ZA Maxfield - A historical set in the 1950s. It was subdued and emotional but lovely.
Blame It on the Mistletoe by Eli Easton - Sweet holiday romance between a super smart, adorable nerd and his athlete roommate.
Comfort and Joy Anthology - A Christmas anthology with stories from Joanna Chambers, Harper Fox, LB Gregg, and Josh Lanyon. Joanna Chambers's Rest and Be Thankful might be my favorite story of them, but they were all good.
I'll stop there, but I add so many more. I keep thinking of them! And they all need to be reread, and there are still so many new ones to read this year.
What about you? Do you read holiday romances? What are your favorites?
Turkey in the Snow by Amy Lane - I love this novella. It makes me smile every time and it's probably my favorite Amy Lane Christmas story, though Christmas Kitsch was wonderful and made me laugh and cry and smile too.
The Winter Spirit by Indra Vaughn - I just read this one. It's now a new favorite. I adored Gabriel the ghost and Nate from the beginning and was hoping for a magical HEA (it's a Christmas story and I loved it so you can bet there was one).
The Minnesota Christmas series by Heidi Cullinan - This series is wonderful, sexy and sweet and so very Christmas. I just read the third book, Winter Wonderland, and they just keep getting better.
North Pole City Tales by Charlie Cochet - This is a fantastic fantasy series set at the North Pole among Santa's elves. It's a brilliant magical world filled with sweet treats and Christmas joy and lovely romance. I'm looking forward to Loving Blitz which comes out this month.
Holiday Outing by Astrid Amara - This is a fun Hanukah romance with a blizzard, a zany family, and a little mystery. It's probably my favorite holiday romance by this author but I really enjoyed her Bellskis series too.
Winter Knights by Harper Fox - Beautiful writing and a hint of the paranormal and a lovely holiday romance. I also love her Nine Lights Over Edinburgh.
Lone Star by Josh Lanyon - A romance between a ballet dancer returning home after many years away and a Texas Ranger he loved as a teenager. I also love Icecapade, a Christmas romance between a former jewel thief turned writer and the FBI agent who pursued him, and The Dickens with Love which involved an unknown Dickens Christmas tale and an ocelot.
A Wallflower Christmas by Lisa Kleypas - Kleypas's Wallflower series is one of my favorite historical series, and this Christmas story lets us visit with old friends while meeting a new couple.
The Mischief of the Mistletoe by Lauren Willig - With a hero called Turnip, could this be anything other than a fun story?
Mistletoe at Midnight by LB Gregg - A sweet second chance romance in the midst of a family Christmas at an inn in Vermont.
My True Love Gave to Me by Ava March - This historical novella broke me apart at the beginning, but it was lovely to see these two men come back together again.
Secret Light by ZA Maxfield - A historical set in the 1950s. It was subdued and emotional but lovely.
Blame It on the Mistletoe by Eli Easton - Sweet holiday romance between a super smart, adorable nerd and his athlete roommate.
Comfort and Joy Anthology - A Christmas anthology with stories from Joanna Chambers, Harper Fox, LB Gregg, and Josh Lanyon. Joanna Chambers's Rest and Be Thankful might be my favorite story of them, but they were all good.
I'll stop there, but I add so many more. I keep thinking of them! And they all need to be reread, and there are still so many new ones to read this year.
What about you? Do you read holiday romances? What are your favorites?
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