Are we in the holiday spirit yet? Yes, I know we haven’t even made it through Halloween, but Walmart already has their Christmas decorations up. And, I’ve been receiving a lot of holiday romance books from Mr. UPS man. So I’m in the mood for eggnog and some smexy ho ho ho’s.
A few of the holiday books we have received over the past few weeks:
I’ve learned, that our fellow Smexy Books reviewer, May loves, loves, loves her holiday romance books and will be reviewing a couple of the ones above. I went to her to get some of her favorites from the past:
That Holiday Feeling by Debbie Macomber, Robyn Carr, Sherryl Woods (Cute enough for the price)
The Gift by Nora Roberts (which is being rereleased, but May enjoyed previously)
Truly Madly Manhattan by Nora Roberts
Midnight Kiss by Robyn Carr, Victoria Dahl, Jean Brashear
A Virgin River Christmas by Robyn Carr
Santa Baby by Jennifer Cruise
Visions of Sugar Plums by Janet Evanovich (May says it is hilarious, but no smex)
An Enchanted Season by Maggie Shayne, Erin McCarthy, Nalini Singh, Jean Johnson (May hasn’t read this one yet, but nice set of authors)
The Magical Christmas Cat by Lora Leigh, Nalini Singh, Erin McCarthy, Linda WInstead Jones. (Again this falls into the category of waiting for the right e-book price)
This got me thinking of the Christmas books that I’ve enjoyed over the years, and I thought immediately of Mary Balogh. Some of my favorites are:
Christmas Belle
A Christmas Bride
A Christmas Promise
And last year, I read the His for the Holiday’s m/m anthology from Carina Press which was fab.
And Tori has some of her favorites from back in the day:
A Holiday of Love by Judith McNaught, Jude Deveraux, Jill Barnett
The Night Before Christmas by Erin McCarthy, Lori Foster, Jill Shalvis, Kathy Love, Katherine Garbera, Kylie Adams
Jingle All the Way by Fern Michaels, Linda Lael Miller, Theresa Alan, Jane Blackwood
Tidings of Great Joy by Sandra Brown
I also went to Twitter for some recs, and while there are too many to post, I do want to highlight some Hanukah romance books that Renee recommended, since it seems like Christmas dominates this time of the year.
Holiday Outing by Astrid Amara
Love Ahead:Expect Delays by Astrid Amara
Carol of the Bellskis by Astrid Amara
Do you look forward to holiday romance books with some smexy time under the mistletoe? Do you have any favorites you want to share?
I love Christmas romances. Thanks for the lists!
Hope you find some good ones this year!
I feel like a horrible reader. I cannot think of any holiday books off the top of my head that I’ve read. I’ve written a few (and read the antho one was in), but if I don’t count those, I’m drawing a complete blank. I might need to remedy that this year.
LOL..I’m kind of in the same boat. Tori and May were rattling them off and it took me awhile to think of some. But now that I see all of these, it makes me want to read more of them
I must have read lots of them. And I guess anthologies with a theme the most often. Can think of some cozies in that time, like one by Joanne Fluke. I do like themed books.
I just read Laura Childs – Fiber and Brimstone, and now I want to be in New Orleans for Halloween!
oooh…NOLA for Halloween would be fun!
I think I prefer the novella length stories for holidays. Then bad ones aren’t such a time investment.
So far 2
I need to read the historical anthology with Balogh + Milan ASAP. Just need to find it in my tbr pile from last year! *blush*
Oops! iPhone posted early!
Was typing that so far in 2011 I liked Jennifer Estep’s enovella but others so far? Not good. Crossing fingers to find more! I know Robyn Carr and Debbie maccomber and Nora are all queens ‘o Xmas.
Would love a new years one… Hmm….
Oh right – the Courtney Milan and new Jennifer Estep – forgot to include those!
New Years WOULD be fun….must investigate
I love Christmas Romance Anthologies. Especially Regency and contemps. I always go to used book store and do re reads over the holidays. Guess I need to branch out and look at some newer ones.
I need to start doing this more :)
There is a new HQN coming out that has 3 novellas – Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s – Holiday Hideout. I think Vicki LewisTthompson is the lead author and Jill Shalvis is another author of the three.
I currently have The Christmas Cat from the library. I am trying to read the psy-changeling books in order and the novella in that anthology was next for me. That story was very good, i have not read the others yet.
I think I like anthologies for the holdiays because they are quick reads when live tends to be crazier that usual. It might take me a few days to get through one novella, but i do not need to remember the plot over weeks when there is not a lot of time on hand to read :)
Oh cool..you’ve read the Singh Christmas Cat novella. I really need to do that – excited you are reading the Psy/Changeling books too!
The last two holiday seasons I made a point to read Christmas romances and it’s definitely going to be an annual tradition for me. It truly adds some extra joy to the season for me.
Last year, I read The Gift by Nora Roberts and the year before I read The Heart of Christmas anthology with historical romances by Mary Balogh, Nicola Cornick and Courtney Milan. I adored both books.
I’ve also read Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor by Lisa Kleypas which was very cute.
For those who like a good young adult now and then, I read Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan last holiday season and thought it was great.
I keep my eye out for small Christmas books or novellas at used book sales at my library and now have several to choose from this year. I think I enjoy the Christmas romance anthologies the best.
Fun post! :D
I’m totally going to my used book store to look for Christmas anths! I need this! :)
The Heart of Christmas is one I definitely want to read
I haven’t read a Christmas romance yet. Must remedy that! I love the cover for Tis The Season To Be Sinful. That dress.
I LOVE Christmas: the lights, the cookies, the atmosphere of preparation, everything. so of course I can’t wait to start reading holiday themed romances :-D But I’ll wait until November at least to prepare myself for the holiday feeling. Even though I love Christmas, and it can’t come soon enough I don’t like it that stores start playing Christmas tunes in October, it’s way too early :-/
Love the holiday covers they all look beautiful, can’t wait for it to be time to start reading Christmas stories :-D
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