In the latest edition of Hide Your Wallet, Reader Mary Star left a comment about looking for some great holiday reads to pair with her Hallmark movie binge watching:
Can we do a separate Thanksgiving/holiday release thread as well? Maybe with new releases as well as old faves and recommendations? I’ve fired up my Hallmark channel and I’d love to pick up some books as well for reading during the commercials.
And of course, here at the Pink Palace of Bitchery, we’ll look for any excuse to talk about books and add more to our ever-growing mountain of books to be read. Plus, books are a great distraction from socializing with family.
One of my favorite holiday anthologies is Baby, It’s Cold Outside. There’s a little catnip for everyone. Firefighter heroes? Check. A snowed-in romance? Check. Some romance in a small, quiet town? Oh yeah, check. I don’t seek out many holiday romances, so this one definitely fell into my lap more because I was interested in all of the individual stories (which rarely happens).
For those hoping for a holiday romance that doesn’t focus on Christmas, Sarah wrote an awesome Hanukkah romance last year. She also recommends Shannon Stacey’s Holiday Sparks ( A | BN | K | G | AB ), which is her favorite, and Jude Deveraux’s Just Curious ( A | K | G | AB ).
Rather than reading romances that revolve around the holiday season (because sometimes it’s not the most pleasant of times for people), Elyse prefers a romance that uses the holidays as the setting. She recommends the first book Jill Shalvis’ Lucky Harbor series – Simply Irresistible ( A | K | G | AB | Au ) – though she wouldn’t classify it as a typical holiday romance.
Redheadedgirl recommends Theresa Romain’s Holiday Pleasures series, which begins with Season for Temptation ( A | BN | K | G | AB ) and it’s also $1.99 right now! The rest of the books in the series are also set during the holiday season.
If you want a little science fiction in your holiday celebration, Carrie mentioned a couple books by Connie Willis, especially Miracle and Other Christmas Romances ( A | K | G | AB ), though they’re a little light on the romance.
We’ve also talked about holiday romances at SBTB HQ previously! We’ve had a podcast dedicated to them, Good Shit vs. Shit to Avoid for Christmas romances, and a Rec League for Thanksgiving romances. Plus, we’ve done some Books on Sale posts in the past with plenty of holiday reads, though be forewarned that these sales might not be valid anymore.
Do you have any holiday romances you reread during the season? Any new releases you’re looking forward to reading?
Hi @garlicknitter! I saw Mary Jo Putney mention that she was digitizing a couple of her old Christmas novellas that have never been available as e-books before, so I asked her on Facebook if one happened to be “The Best Husband Money Can Buy”. And the answer is Yes! It will be available in a month or so together with “Mad, Bad and Dangerous to Know” and the volume will be named “Christmas Candles”. More arranged marriage catnip for me!
This has been such a fun thread for me! I really appreciate everyone’s input and contributions — thank you!
I’ve started a separate holiday-themed TBR and while shopping at my library booksale yesterday (five romances for a DOLLAR! O.O), was actually granted access to the sacred stockroom to explore their Christmas books before they go out. I picked up Mary Balogh’s “A Christmas Promise,” Susan Wiggs’ “Candlelight Christmas,” and Linda Lael Miller’s “The Christmas Brides.” *happy sigh*
Can you do a roundup someday of the heroine-disguised-as-a-boy trope? I’ve been looking for some more and can’t find a good list. <3
I love holiday stories and read them year-round. This thread is going to make my wallet squeak and so I’m offering to share the pain by adding a few titles I haven’t seen mentioned yet. I’m suggesting some titles that use the holidays as the backdrop rather than the star of the story.
For m/m readers R.J. Scott has done a book called Christmas Throwaway.
Heather Long’s Always a Marine series has several holiday stories :
Thanksgiving – A Marine of Plenty
Christmas – Have Yourself a Marine Christmas
Hanukkah – A Candle for a Marine
Pagan Yule – Marine Under the Mistletoe
New Years – Lest Old Marines be Forgot
And lastly, Heidi Cullinan has a m/m trilogy called Minnesota Christmas. The first book, Let It Snow, is a sort of trapped in a small town by a blizzard. The second, Sleigh Ride, starts a bit before Thanksgiving and continues through the holidays. The third is due out 11/10 and I’m really looking forward to Paul’s and Kyle’s HEA.
Chiming in late (is it ever too late for a good book recommendation?) to add Hot Toy by Jennifer Crusie. It’s a novella originally published in the anthology Santa, Baby. It was just released as a stand-alone.
I didn’t see this sooner! And Willig’s Mischief of the Mistletoe is already recommended. I can’t recommend that one highly enough.
I’m a total sucker for Xmas stories….but often they don’t really stick in my brain even the ones that leave me with a total Good Book Sigh.
Mary Balogh novellas on sale at Amazon for $1.99 each (reg $3.99)
each book contains 3 stories
Christmas Miracles
http://smile.amazon.com/dp/B016CN53KA/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pd_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=1GOLYHNF8PJYU&coliid=I3DGBP0ULFW0SK
Christmas Gifts
http://smile.amazon.com/dp/B016DQTXMA/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pd_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=1GOLYHNF8PJYU&coliid=I2MP744H2K417T