December means Christmas books

I would like to start off wishing you all a heartfelt “Merry Christmas’ and I hope that you may be lucky enough to receive books for Christmas.

Every year from the end of November I read Christmas books.  I don’t care about genre; my only ‘rule’ is that the plot is set around Christmas.

All through the year I watch out for, and collect, any books that are Christmas focused – the sale boxes outside bookshops, second hand book shops and now I’ve expanded to include electronic sources and Kindle eBooks and Kobo eBooks both seem to explode with free Christmas themed book downloads at this time of the year.

As it nears to Christmas, I take note of any suggestions from my internet friends on Goodreads groups, blogs and discussion forums for any possible physical or electronic candidates to go on my wish list for future reads.  The my magazines are another good source and I also regularly check the local library catalogue for new Christmas additions making note in my diary for October to start requesting them.

Then comes December, and the Christmas reading frenzy begins, only pausing for Christmas card writing, tree decoration and sparkling red wine consumption.

So for this 2016 Christmas season – I thought I’d share with you the Christmas books that I have read over the past ten years or so; then the Christmas books I will be reading this season, as well as give you a peek at those in my TBR pile to be read in the future.

 

Christmas Books Past:

My Christmas reading is always an eclectic mixture of faith, romance, murder, fantasy, fun and spookiness!  Some are short stories; some are novellas; but most are novels.  They do, however, all have one thing in common – they’re light, fluffy and have a happy ending! I call them my soul soothers.  This first list are the books I have read.

12 Daves of Christmas by Juliet Mdison – B – Romance

12 Days at Silver Bell House by Jennie Jones – B – Romance

1225 Christmas Tree Lane by Debbie Macomber – C – Romance

A Bush Christmas by Margareta Osborn – B – Fantasy

A Cedar Cove Christmas by Debbie Macomber – B – Romance

A Child’s Christmas in Wales by Dylan Thomas – C – General Fiction

A Christmas Blizzard by Garrison Keillor – D – General Fiction

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens – A – Classic

A Christmas memory by Truman Capote – B – Historical

A Family Christmas by Carrie Alexander – D – Romance

A Family for Christmas by Helen Scott Taylor – C – Romance

A Highland Christmas by MC Beaton – B – Mystery

A Holly, Jolly Murder by Joan Hess – B – Mystery

A Killer’s Christmas in Wales by Elizabeth J Duncan – Mystery

A Mum for Christmas by Joan Kilby – C – Romance

A Proper Family Christmas by Jane Gordon-Cumming – C – Chicklit

A Puzzle in a Pear Tree by Parnell Hall – D – Mystery

A Redbird Christmas by Fannie Flagg – A – General Fiction

A Simple Amish Christmas by Vannetta Chapman – B – Romance

A Soldier’s Christmas by Rachel Lee – C – Romance

A very Gothic Christmas by Christine Feehan et al – B – Paranormal

A Virgin River Christmas by Robyn Carr – C – Romance

A Wee Christmas Homicide by Keitlyn Dunnett – C – Mystery

Agatha Raisin and the Busy Body by M.C. Beaton – B – Mystery

Agatha Raisin and the Christmas Crumble by M.C. Beaton – C – Mystery

Agatha Raisin and Kissing Christmas Goodbye by M.C. Beaton –B – Mystery

All I Want for Christmas Is a Vampire by Kerrelyn Sparks – B – Paranormal

All I want for Christmas is you by Lisa Modello – B – Romance

An Aussie Christmas carol by Kel Richards – B – General Fiction

An Irish Country Christmas by Patrick Taylor – B – Historical

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Christmas Magic by Jack Canfield – C – Non-fiction

Christmas at Harrington’s by Melody Carlson – B – Romance

Christmas Eve at Friday Harbour by Lisa Kleypas – B – Romance

Christmas is Murder by CS Challinor – B – Mystery

Christmas Letters by Debbie Macomber – B – Romance

Christmas Magic by Cathy Kelly – C – Chick Lit

Christmas Scandal…Not! By Jeanne Savery – C – Historical

Christmas Stars by David G Hartwell – D – Science Fiction

Christine Kringle by Lynn Brittney – A – Fantasy

Crewel Yule by Monica Ferris – C – Mystery

Cupid’s Christmas by Bette Lee Crosby – A – Romance

Death in Store by Jennifer Rowe – B – Mystery

Festive in Death by J.D. Robb – B – Mystery

Her Mistletoe Cowboy by Alissa Callen – B – Romance

He Sees You When You’re Sleeping by Mary Higgins Clark – B – Fantasy

Hogfather by Terry Prachett – A – Fantasy

Holiday in Death by J.D. Robb – B – Mystery

Holidays Are Hell by Kim Harrison et al – B – Paranormal

Hot for the Holidays Lora Leigh et al – B– Paranormal

How Mrs Claus Saved Christmas by Jeff Guinn – D – Fantasy

How Still We See Thee Lie by Allana Martin – C – Mystery

How to Survive Christmas by Jilly Cooper – D – Non-Fiction

Let it Snow by John Green – B – Young Adult

Merry, Merry Ghost by Carolyn Hart – B – Mystery

Merry’s Christmas: A love Story by Susan Rohrer – B – Romance

New Year’s Promise by Anna Clifton – A – Romance

Nutty as a Fruitcake by Mary Daheim – C – Mystery

O Little Town by Don Reid – A – General Fiction

One Imperfect Christmas by Myra Johnson – C – Women’s Fiction

Past reason Hated by Peter Robinson – B – Mystery

Ruth’s First Christmas tree by Elly Griffiths – B – Mystery

Secret Santo by Carla Caruso – C – Romance

Santa, Baby by Jennifer Crusie – B – Romance

Silent Night by Deanna Raybourn – B – Mystery

Skipping Christmas by John Grisham – A – General Fiction

Snowbound in Montana by C.J. Carmichael – B – Romance

Starry Night by Debbie Macomber – B – Romance

Stupid Christmas by Leland Gregory – C – Non-fiction

Sugerplums and Scandal by Lori Avocato – C – Romance

That Christmas Feeling by Debbie Macomber – B – Romance

The Act of Roger Murgatroyd by Gilbert Adair – B – Mystery

The Autobiography of Santa Claus by Jeff Guinn – D – Fantasy

The Bite before Christmas by Heidi Betts – B – Paranormal

The Christmas Basket by Debbie Macomber – B – Romance

The Christmas Bus by Melody Carlson – B – Romance

The Christmas Cookie Club by Ann Pearlman – D – Romance

The Christmas Dog by Melody Carlson – C – Romance

The Christmas Gift by Monica McInerney – C – Women’s Fiction

The Christmas Grandma Ran Away From Home by Nancy Warren – A –  Women’s Fiction

The Christmas Pearl by Dorothea Benton Frank – D – Paranormal

The Christmas Thief: A Novel Mary & Carol Higgins Clark – C – Mystery

The Christmas Mystery by Jostein Gaarder – C – Fantasy

The Christmas Wedding by James Pattterson – B – Romance

The Diva Cooks a Goose by Krista Davis – B – Mystery

The Happy Endings Bookclub by Jane Tara – C – Women’s Fiction

The Kissing Season by Rachael Johns – B – Romance

The Man under the Mistletoe by Muriel Jensen – D – Romance

The Present by Johanna Lindsey – C – Historical

The Shadows of Christmas Past by Christine Feehan – C – Paranormal

The Snow Bride by Debbie Macomber – C – Romance

The Stupidest Angel by Christopher Moore – B –Horror

The Twilight Before Christmas by Christine Feehan – B – Paranormal

Until Midnight by Melissa Landers – A Science Fiction

Water Like a Stone by Deborah Crombie – B – Mystery

We Three Dragons by Ed Greenwood et al – C – Fantasy

White Christmas by Ros Baxter – C – Science Fiction

Wishin’ and Hopin’ by Wally Lamb – B – Historical

 

Christmas Books Present:

All these books are on my reading list for December – there may be some extra ones snuck in from ‘Christmas Books Future’ as well if there is time.

A Faraway Smell of Lemon by Rachel Joyce (a short story)

A New York Christmas by Anne Perry

Christmas Baby Miracles by Jacqueline Diamond

It Must Have Been the Mistletoe by Judy Astley

On Strike for Christmas by Sheila Roberts

Twelve Days of Christmas by Trisha Ashley

 

 

Christmas Books Future:

This last list is the books that are sitting patiently on my shelves (sort of – occasional whimpers can be heard, and around Christmas it’s best not to turn your back on them as they jostle for prominence and prepare to attack if necessary).

A Bride for Christmas by Aileen Fish

A Grosvenor Square Christmas by Anna Campbell

A Home for Christmas by Deborah Grace Staley

A Victorian Christmas by Catherine Palmer

All I have to give by Melody Carlson

Baby it’s Cold outside by Amy Andrews

Blame it on the mistletoe by Joyce Magnin

Candy Cane Murder by Joanne Fluke

Christmas at Copper Mountain by Jane Porter

Christmas Bizarre by Lizz Lund

Death is coming to Town: four murderous holiday tales by Eleanor Cawood Jones

Her Christmas Earl by Anna Campbell

Holly Lane by Toni Blake

I’m Dreaming of an Undead Christmas by Molly Harper

Kiss of Christmas Magic by Eve Langlais

Married for Christmas by Noelle Adams

Mistletoe in Maine by Ginny Baird

Mistletoe Magic by Melissa McClone

Must love Santa by Nina Bruhns

My First Christmas: Libby the Psychic Dog by A.L. Jambor

North Pole High: A rebel without a Claus by Candace Jane Kringle

Rest Ye Murdered Gentlemen by Vicki Delany

The North Pole Challenge by Kevin George

The Secret Christmas Ciphers by Carolynn Carey

The Very Best Gift by Connie Neal

The Yada Yada Prayer Group gets Decked out by Neta Jackson

Twelve Days by Teresa Hill

Walking Straight by T.E. Killian

Wanted: One Scoundrel by Jenny Schwartz

Who Gets Fluffy by Judith Summers