I got a lot of books read in December. I wanted to concentrate on Christmas books and I’m so glad I did. I still have a ton on my TBR that I will hopefully get to next December. If you’ve read any of these books, let me know what you thought of them!
One Snowy Night by Patience Griffin
Sweet Home, Alaska, was once a thriving, idyllic town, where A Stone’s Throw Hardware and Haberdashery and the Sisterhood of the Quilt were the cornerstones of the community. Then, in one fatal moment, two young lives were cut short, and everything changed. Now the Stone family businesses have closed, the diner is in the red, and the population has dwindled to 573. After the tragic accident that took her sister’s life, Hope McKnight discovered she was pregnant, and gave up her dreams of college to raise her daughter. When Donovan Stone returns to sell his family’s properties and to cut final ties with Sweet Home, he’s shocked to find Hope still there–and a single mother. The pull between Hope and Donovan is as powerful as ever. But so are the secrets and lies stemming from that long-ago tragedy. Will they be able to overcome the past, or will the heartbreak of bygone days destroy their love again?
This was really good. Very emotional. I really want to read more by this author.
One Charmed Christmas by Sheila Roberts
Catherine Pine is hoping her Christmas is a bit more jolly than last year’s. That one was her first without her husband, and with her kids and their families absent this year, she’s worried. But things change when her good friend invites her on a Christmas cruise to lift her spirits. Suddenly every day is an adventure and she’s making a bunch of new friends, including the lovable Sophie Miles. It’s like a gift from Santa when Sophie and Catherine meet the charming Dr. Rudy Nichols, a perfect match for hypochondriac Sophie. But he comes with a two-legged lump of coal, his guard-dog daughter. And then there’s chocolatier Trevor March, who’s also interested in the scrumptious Sophie. Can he convince her that chocolate is the perfect cure for what ails her? Who knows what Santa has in store for these holiday travelers? Anything could happen this charmed Christmas!
This was so good. Very emotional and hits close to home.
The Santa Suit by Mary Kay Andrews
When newly-divorced Ivy Perkins buys an old farmhouse sight unseen, she is definitely looking for a change in her life. The Four Roses, as the farmhouse is called, is a labor of love—but Ivy didn’t bargain on just how much labor. The previous family left so much furniture and so much junk, that it’s a full-time job sorting through all of it. At the top of a closet, Ivy finds an old Santa suit—beautifully made and decades old. In the pocket of a suit she finds a note written in a childish hand: it’s from a little girl who has one Christmas wish, and that is for her father to return home from the war. This discovery sets Ivy off on a mission. Who wrote the note? Did the man ever come home? What mysteries did the Rose family hold? Ivy’s quest brings her into the community, at a time when all she wanted to do was be left alone and nurse her wounds. But the magic of Christmas makes miracles happen, and Ivy just might find more than she ever thought possible: a welcoming town, a family reunited, a mystery solved, and a second chance at love
This was so sweet and heartwarming. I loved the bit of mystery element it had too.
Sleigh Bells Ring by RaeAnne Thayne
Ranch manager Annie McCade thought her twin niece and nephew could join her at the Angel View Ranch for Christmas with her absent employer being none the wiser. But when the ranch’s owner, Tate Sheridan, shows up out of the blue, Annie’s plans are upended. Soon she finds herself helping Tate make a Christmas to remember for his grieving and fractured extended family.
I really enjoyed this. I read this in a day and could not put it down. Super sweet and heartwarming.
Kilala Princess vol. 1 art by Nao Kodaka and story by Rika Tanaka
Meet Kilala, an ordinary girl who loves all the Disney Princesses. When she awakens a sleeping prince named Rei, she magically gains the power of the princesses! Rei is searching for the missing princess of his world, and has a magical tiara that will lead him to her. But before Kilala can help him find the missing princess and restore peace to his world, Kilala’s best friend, Erica, is kidnapped by mysterious men! So, with the help of the magical tiara and Rei, Kilala sets off on a quest to find her!
This was such a cute, easy read! I can’t wait to read the next one!
My Knight Before Christmas by Amanda P. Jones
I’d never felt a connection like ours before. After sharing a spine-tingling first kiss with Liam Knight, I was certain he wanted to be my boyfriend. But instead of moonlit strolls on the beach, he ghosted me. Three months later, with a sugar hangover and pants that are now too tight, Liam’s back, ready to pick up where we left off. But I don’t trust him enough to let him back in. When my boss leaves me in charge of her bakery while she competes in a baking show, I’m literally running around like a road-runner hopped up on caffeine. Until My Knight comes to my rescue. Is forgiving him and getting our second-chance worth the risk?
This was super cute! Very short and easy to read.
A Very Nascar Holiday by Nancy Warren, Debra Webb, and Gina Wilkins
All I Want for Christmas by Nancy Warren Darren Littlejohn may be only ten, but he knows what he wants–to meet his hero, NASCAR driver Jason Bane. Of course, that means his mom will be there, too. And she sure does seem anxious about seeing her childhood friend. Maybe there’s more to those old high school stories than she’s been willing to share…. Christmas Past by Debra Webb After a tragic mountain-climbing accident changed his life forever, NASCAR driver Jason Fewell hasn’t been himself, on or off the track. So he heads into the wilderness to face his worst fears–and miraculously finds the one woman who can make him whole again. If only she didn’t have secrets of her own. Secret Santa by Gina Wilkins Shhh… Don’t tell! Under Santa’s beard it’s famous NASCAR driver R. J. Sanger! All he wants this year is to spread holiday cheer, away from the crowds. Until he meets Mrs. Claus. She says she’s an average single mom. But to R.J., she might be all he needs to make his Christmas–and his life–complete.
I really enjoyed all three of these stories. Such a fan of the Nascar element!
Last Kiss Under The Mistletoe by Melanie A. Smith
CJ Roberts just wants to be a normal girl, have a normal job, normal friends, maybe even a normal boyfriend. Unfortunately, she’s about as far from normal as it gets, because she can See the future. And like two sides of a coin, her twin brother, Matt, can See the past. Sounds like a neat party trick, right? Actually, it’s frustrating and sometimes even dangerous. And if the past is any indicator, CJ can’t do much to change what she Sees. Drew Davies lives and breathes his job as a chef at one of the hottest restaurants in San Francisco. He’s content to focus on his craft, and dating has always been on the back burner. That is, until he meets CJ. When sparks fly, things heat up quickly between them. It’s an unexpected but welcome connection as the holidays approach. But just as hope blooms, CJ has a vision that changes everything. She doesn’t know how it will happen, but she knows Drew is going to die. Now she’s left with a decision: Does she risk exposing herself to save Drew, or does she play it safe and let fate deal its hand? Secrecy has protected her until now, but can she really do nothing when the life of the man she’s falling for hangs in the balance?
I loved this so much! The characters were amazing and I loved the story. Emotional too.
The Twelve Days of Dash and Lily by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
Dash and Lily have had a tough year since readers watched the couple fall in love in Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares. Lily’s beloved grandfather suffered a heart attack, and his difficult road to recovery has taken a major toll on her typically sunny disposition. Lily’s spark has dimmed so much that Langston, her brother, has put aside his grudge against Dash to team up and remind Lily what there is to love about life.
With only twelve days left until Christmas–Lily’s favorite time of the year–Dash, Langston, and their friends take Manhattan by storm to help Lily recapture the holiday spirit of New York City in December, a time and place unlike anywhere else in the world.
This was pretty good. It took me a bit to get into the writing style. I love Dash so much.
Totally Frosted by Zoey Indiana
I’ve watched the years drag by, waiting for the day I can remove my curse. Forced into an unnatural form, my shifter beast screams for release. Then a friend calls with a request. His new dating service needs cookies, and I own every bakery in town. Fated mates aren’t real, so his business must be a scam. But the human woman owner of my latest acquisition protests my takeover of her bakery, I’d drawn to her like sprinkles on cookies. It’s too late to change bakeries. I have to convince her to do me a favor… the man who just stole her livelihood. My first mistake was stealing her bakery. The second was thinking I could tell her what to do. If she finds out about my curse, she’ll laugh me right out of town. It’s my darkest secret. If anyone finds out, this cursed shifter’s dead.
This was a fun, sexy, short story. Loved the different shifter element. I will definitely read more of this series.
Scrooged by Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward
“SEXY SCROOGE” The Last thing I needed was to share an Uber with Scrooge – a cocky lawyer on a snowy Christmas Eve. It was bad enough I was on my way to court for the gift of eviction. Although maybe today wouldn’t turn out so bad after all. The Sexy Scrooge and I started to connect as we trudged our way through a storm. Our ride was about to end. But would I ever see him again? “THE MERRY MISTAKE” Note to self: Ask Santa for glasses this year. When I accidentally mistook a gorgeous man resting outside my building for a homeless person in need of a lunch, we got into it. I’d only been trying to do a good deed around the holidays, but he called me righteous. I called him something far worse. If only I didn’t have to see him again. But fate had other plans. “KISSMAS IN NEW YORK” It was just supposed to be a simple kiss with a stranger. I’d done it to prove a point – that I hadn’t lost my sense of adventure. But you know what they about the best laid plans. Maybe I’d get something in my stocking after all this holiday season. . .
All three stories in here were cute and funny. Really enjoyed them.
The Last Christmas Cowboy by Maisey Yates
This Christmas, cowgirl Rose Daniels is determined to play matchmaker to ensure her beloved sister will meet someone under the mistletoe. She enlists the reluctant help of family friend Logan Heath, but his insistence that she doesn’t understand chemistry is exasperating. Until they share one electrifying moment that shows her exactly what chemistry is all about, and it becomes outrageously, irresistibly intriguing… Logan hates the holidays. They are a painful reminder of the family he lost and a time of year he always wants to spend on his own. But Rose refuses to let him. Logan’s worked for years to keep his attraction to her under wraps—she’s his best friend’s youngest sister and she couldn’t be more off-limits. He’s the last cowboy that innocent Rose should ever kiss, but this Christmas, will Logan become the only cowboy she’ll ever want?
This was so good! I loved Rose and Logan together. Very emotional and deals a lot with grief.
Kissing Under the Mistletoe by Bella Andre
For Mary Sullivan Christmas is, and always has been, about family. And this year is no different. As she awaits the arrival of her eight children and their partners at the cottage in Lake Tahoe, she hangs the ornaments that they made for her over the years. Each decoration brings with it a tide of memories, all of which she holds dear to her heart. But when she comes across the oldest ornament, the one her beloved husband, Jack, gave her on their very first Christmas together, Mary is immediately swept back to the first days of their whirlwind romance, to the love that would be the foundation on which they built the family she is so proud to call her own.
This was so sweet! I love the Sullivans and it was great having Jack and Mary’s story. Emotional, romantic, and filled with amazing characters.
The Bite Before Christmas by Lynsay Sands and Jeanine Frost
This holiday season, two of today’s most popular paranormal authors invite you into their worlds—where creatures are always stirring . . . and no one sleeps through the night.
I really enjoyed both of these stories. So good and entertaining! I couldn’t put it down!
Mistletoe Wishes and Foot-Poppin’ Kisses by Susan Mellon
There are some things in Ivy Alexander’s life that are steadfast, like watching Christmas movies, eating her grandmother’s homemade Chex Mix, and making the same mistletoe wish every year. Then Ivy encounters the same man, twice in two days. During their second encounter, North Pohl literally crashes into Ivy, or at least, the drone he was attempting to fly does, and Ivy agrees to go on a date with him. Then she tries to save Christmas for him and ends up falling for him instead. Ivy is mortified when she realizes she jumped to false conclusions about North. Feeling unsettled, Ivy ends their relationship. With North only too ready to overlook Ivy’s erroneous assumptions, the only person standing in the way of her mistletoe wish coming true is Ivy.
This was a sweet, clean read. I enjoyed it but wasn’t a favorite.
Two Kisses for Christmas by Sheila Roberts
The Snow Globe Kiley is tired of standing solo under the mistletoe—all she wants this Christmas is someone to spend her nights with, cozy by the fire. With one hopeful shake of an antique snow globe, Kiley begins a dazzling adventure….and discovers that sometimes the impossible becomes possible, and miracles really do come true. Nine Lives of Christmas Firefighter Zach is in serious need of help when it comes to finding the right woman. Sweet Merilee, who works in a pet shop, is perfect for him but is too shy to let him know she’s interested. Maybe a matchmaking cat on his ninth life is just what they need to help them find their happily ever after.
These stories were okay. I thought the one story would be closer to the Hallmark movie and was disappointed. They were still enjoyable though.
Imperfect Match by Corinne Michaels and Melanie Harlow
Rule number one for a professional matchmaker? Don’t fall in love with your client. I screwed that up when I fell for my best friend, Reid Fortino. He’s gorgeous, successful, and sexy as hell. I figured it would be easy to find him a match—and save the family business at the same time. But the more time I spend attempting to find the perfect girl, the more I realize how much I want him for my own. What’s the harm if we give in for just one night? I should have known that would never be enough. Now I’m on the verge of losing my job and my heart. We were an imperfect match from the start, but I don’t know how to let him go.
I loved this so much! So emotional and the characters were amazing! A new fave.
Baby, It’s Cold Outside by Corinne Michaels and Melanie Harlow
Christmas in Chicago has never been so warm … My Christmas list did not include a broken heart, freezing temperatures, or my tree stuck in the door to my apartment complex, but that’s what I got. Just when I thought Santa had failed me, I got something I never thought to ask for … him.
This was so cute! I loved how we got a bit of the characters from Imperfect Match in here. I really liked the fate element as well. The humor was great too.
All I Want From Santa by Lisa Jackson
The small town of Cascadia is home to Veronica Walsh and her young daughter, Amy. If Ronni still believed in Santa, she’d ask for a chance to buy the rundown old lodge next door and turn it into a B&B. Amy’s Christmas wish list, on the other hand, includes one item that catches Ronni off-guard: a new daddy. But four years after losing her husband in a tragic accident, Ronni doesn’t plan to get involved with anyone–least of all the lodge’s new owner. Travis Keegan has moved from Seattle to get his wayward teenaged son back on track. Yet the moment he meets Ronni, he wonders if this could be the fresh start they all need. Healing from loss and melding their two families won’t be easy, but Christmas in Cascadia has a magic that may just prove irresistible…
This was okay. Not my favorite. It was hard to get through at times. Plus, I know it’s a me problem, but the chapters were so long!
Christmas with the Cowboy by Tina Radcliffe
Former navy SEAL Zach Norman has been avoiding his ranching roots–and the woman he couldn’t have. Back to visit his brother’s widow, Emma Maxwell Norman, and her adorable toddler twins, the bah-humbug cowboy is roped into helping prepare the ranch for the holidays. Working side by side, can Emma and Zach overcome their troubled past…and receive the greatest Christmas gift of all–love?
This was so good and sweet. I loved this story and amazing family.
This was so good and sweet. I loved this story and amazing family.
Those are all the books I read in December! Hope you enjoyed and found some new books to check out! Until next time.