I just finished a marathon round with Christmas books. Not that I minded. I especially love this time of year for books. All my favorite genres come together with the common theme of Christmas and of course, happily ever after. And don’t we all really want that sigh at this time of year? That moment of contentment…Peace on Earth, Good will toward All. <sigh>
I couldn’t resist and started off with A Highlander for Christmas by Sandy Blair. Claire MacGregor runs an antique shop in Boston. Sir Cameron MacLeod is headed for the Culloden battle in 1745 Scotland. The two come face to face (or should I say face to nakedness) when Claire opens an antique box and Cam stands before her in all his glory.
This delightful time-travel is the stuff dreams are made of. Cam is the fish out of water in modern times and Claire is the woman who can stand up to his warrior ways. Their journey together is a fast, fun romp as they try to find Cam a way back to his own time.
I’m such a sucker for all things Highlander (ahhhh, Adrian Paul) and Sandy delivers my Christmas wish.
Next up was Holiday with a Vampire. Loved the title. Maureen Child‘s contribution, Christmas Cravings has vampire Grayson Stone returning to his human home every Christmas on the anniversary of his family’s murder and his own death. Tessa Franklin, with secrets of her own, is the current owner who finds an unconscious Grayson on her property. Together they work to heal the pain of their pasts while battling vampires and a mysterious assailant.
In Caridad Pineiro’s story Fate Calls, lawyer Connie Morales dresses up like Santa to ring a bell for charity. Hadrian Aurelius is a vampire with no use for humans. When he can’t stand the bell ringing any longer, Hadrian confronts Santa not realizing he’s a she.
While this is Maureen’s first step into the vampire world, Caridad has added on to her popular Calling series. These short stories can introduce readers to authors they haven’t yet experienced. A great way to "try on" a new author.
Then it was on to The Perfect Tree, a very sweet Christmas anthology. Roz Denny Fox‘s Noelle and the Wise Man. Noelle Hale runs the family tree farm in Oregon. Enter Camden Latimer, former cop, who inherits the tree farm next door to Noelle. When a property dispute threatens Noelle’s chances at having her tree picked for the White House, she needs to decide what is really important in life.
One Magic Christmas by Ann DeFee. Honey Campbell’s car breaks down in a snowstorm til she’s rescue by a man resembling Santa on a decorated snowmobile. He drops Honey off at the Magic Tree Farm owned by her ex-husband, Matt De Luca. Matt isn’t thrilled with seeing his ex for the first time in 15 years, but the blizzard keeps them in close quarters…along with 3 kids and a dog.
Tanner and Baum by Tanya Michaels. Tanner Waide returns to his home town of Mistletoe, Georgia in shame after his business partner’s embezzlement. Lilah Baum, the girl he left behind, is now a school teacher and not exactly thrilled that Tanner is back in town. It’s up to Tanner to convince her otherwise. (Ok, I admit I was a little slow to get play on words with the title…clever Tanya)
Three Christmas stories to warm even the coldest heart on these long winter nights.
Your turn…what have you been reading? Christmas tales? Love stories? Mysteries? Thrillers? How to books? It’s ok, you can tell us.
Bottom Line: Only 4 more days to read the books I bought as Christmas gifts before I have to wrap them…don’t worry, everyone knows I’ve been doing it for years.
I read Christmas novellas this year. I read both in Holiday with a Vampire (my first vamp romance by the way), 1 in Christmas Presence from Harlequin Next (You’re All I Want for Christmas by Susan Crosby is without doubt one of the best novellas I’ve ever read — it was that “Awwwwwww” moment at the end where you feel good all over), and 1 in The Gift by Nora Roberts. Last night I started Match Me if You Can by Susan Elizabeth Phillips. Not sure how much reading I’ll get done since I’m at my mom’s for Christmas and we’ll be visiting and celebrating and eating out a lot since she doesn’t cook any more. LOL!
ROFLOL! I LOVE that you read the books before you give them and everyone knows. That’s just so cute (and smart).
Hi Barbara – I’m trying to decide what is more entertaining – all the great reads you’ve suggested or finding out you read gift books before giving them away. “g” That’s really too cute…just like you in person. I’ve read Sandy Blair’s book (she’s a Wet Noodle Posse sister of mine) and loved it. I got the HQ Perfect Tree holiday anthology at Tanya Michael’s last signing, but it’s on my TBR list for this next week. I figured it was good, but glad to hear you’ve already zoomed through. Wonder who is getting that one from you?
Hugs and happy holiday wishes, Dianna
Barbara, What happens if you buy a book as a gift, read it, and find out it isn’t as great as you’d thought it would be. Do you give it anyway or go get something else?
I love the idea of reading them first, but I need large print so it would really be obvious.
A trip to the library led to a suspense binge
. If you’ve ever owned a Golden Retriever, read Dean Koontz’s The Darkest Evening of the Year. I have a couple of Tess Gerritsen’s lined up next. Shari http://www.sharianton.com
Laurel, I’ve really been lucky and have pretty much liked everything I bought for people. Just once my son wasn’t thrilled with the story, but I won’t mention any names. :g:
I just finished two beautiful Christmas Antholgies from Highland Press. Romance Upon a Midnight Clear and Love Under the Mistletoe. Some amazing stories. The books are tradesize and so beautiful. Make great gifts.
Highland Press Publishing has four Christmas anthologies out now, and there’s sure to be a story in each of them that will touch your heart. Numerous talented authors banded together to bring you delightful stories in CHRISTMAS WISHES, HOLIDAY IN THE HEART, ROMANCE UPON A MIDNIGHT CLEAR, and HOLIDAY IN THE HEART. While most of the stories are about Christmas, one of the stories in HOLIDAY IN THE HEART is about Chanukkah. The stories run the gamut from funny to those that will make you cry – but each will leave a mark on your heart.
I am reading A Lick of Frost by Laurell K Hamilton and while I loved the first Merry Gentry book and this one is better than the last, I wish she would get back to the detective stuff she had in the first one. It had mystery, fun and adventure.
Opps just a minor correction, Barbara, the battle at Culloden was in April of 1746, a common mistake when it was the fourth Jacobite uprising that began in 1745. I just finished a oldie by Justina Burgess entitled WINGS OF EDEN, great Scottish characters but the setting was early 1800′s India. Well worth the search to find this book.
You had made a comment about winds of eden by Justina burgess I alos enjoyed th ebook. I have ooked but hav enot found a 2nd book to go on witht he story. Is there one?
Yes, Renie and Jody — there will be a sequel to Winds of Eden —right in time for the Sesquicentennial of Civil War. What happens when Kirby and Desirée’s abolitionist grandson falls in love with a a passionate young Charleston beauty who works with Confederate spies? I’m a professional historian, and like Winds, every external event in this luscious biggie, aside from the actual love story, is true. The adventures are as factually accurate as they are thrilling. It is a passion that shows a side of the War between the States you’ve never even heard of — and will never forget.
Oh Justina, I’m so glad you’re writing another book! Winds of Eden is one of my favorite books. I love that its so jammed with history!
I to have just finished Winds of Eden. I have read literally hundreds of hundreds or romance novels and this by far is one of my favorites. I really hope to see more books by such a talented author and look forward to reading anything she writes again.
Thanks. Comments like that keep my fingers flying! And the characters are living their own intense, dangerous lives and loves so vividly right now, it seems I’ve entered a time machine.
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Relaxing on the beach with hubby. Home in both cities where my son’s live.
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