On Thursday, I ordered fourteen Christmas books for the library’s OverDrive account. We already have the physical books on order for the library. But, I only order the OverDrive titles the week before they come out in eBook or audio. All fourteen of these titles will be released on Tuesday, September 29. If you’re one of those people who snatch up Christmas books, get ready. And, if you think it’s too early, skip this post and come back later. But, those of you who get your books at the library, or read or listen to them from OverDrive might be interested. (And, it’s a trial run for me. I can see if Blogger is going to work for my upcoming Treasures post, or if it will leave me frustrated and angry.)
Even if you’re not a fan of Christmas books, you have to admit Janet Dailey’s Holding Out for Christmas has an adorable cover. A rancher in Branding Iron, Texas yearns for the sultry singer he saw on stage at the previous year’s Cowboy’s Christmas Ball. But, the kindergarten teacher who returns home for the holidays has dreams of a big career in Nashville. And, no little holiday romance will get in the way.
Robbie’s back in South Lick, Indiana for Christmas at her popular country store and cafe in the latest in Maddie Day’s Country Store Mystery series, Candy Slain Murder. It may be a bumpy road for the holidays. First, a man shows up at Pans ‘N Pancakes, claiming he’s the long-lost half-brother of Robbie’s assistant. Then, a fire destroys a home, exposing skeletal remains in the attic. All Robbie wants for Christmas is to stop her winter wonderland from becoming a nightmare.
Speaking of winter wonderland, Vicki Delany’s fifth Year-Round Christmas Mystery is Dying in a Winter Wonderland. The Christmas spirit is falling a little flat in Rudolph, New York this year when Luanne Ireland moves her wedding up months, and expects everyone to be able to work with that. Merry Wilkinson had agreed to help with the decorations, but it’s not the best time of year for that. Then, Luanne’s fiance is found murdered at their wedding venue. Merry resolves to restore peace and calm to the community, but she’s beginning to suspect a death knell could ring in the New Year.
Hollyberry Homicide is the fifth book in Sharon Farrow’s Berry Basket series. When the original actor in Oriole Point’s production of A Christmas Carol dies, Marlee Jacob agrees to take over the role of Jacob Marley. But, clues start mounting that there’s trouble behind the scenes. There are accidents on set, and a body is found with a sprig of holly draped over it. Marlee has to solve the case so there’s a very, berry Christmas. Berry recipes are included.
December turns Lake Eden into the North Pole in Joanne Fluke’s latest Hannah Swensen mystery, Christmas Cupcake Murder. But, Hannah’s keeping the heat on in the kitchen as she bakes irresistible holiday cupcakes while preventing a person who attempted murder from succeeding the second time around. A man was found near death in the abandoned storefront two doors down from Hannah’s bakery. He can’t recall anything about himself, except he has a great deal of knowledge about restoring antique furniture. With just a few clues, Hannah’s out to solve the puzzle.
Amish romances and novels are extremely popular in southwestern Indiana, and Shelley Shepard Gray is one of the most popular authors writing those books. Now, she joins forces with Rachel J. Good and Loree Lough for a collection of holiday stories, Amish Christmas Twins.
Janna Jaxon’s The Widow’s Christmas Surprise is a historical romance. Lady Maria Kersey has a beautiful baby daughter, but she’s in mourning for the husband who died a month earlier, killed in a duel. Her future is in doubt since there’s no male heir. She’s scorned by the ton, but her husband’s steward, Hugh Granger, is an ally. He’s in love with her, but has nothing to offer. Although they’re attracted to each other, she heads to London to spend time with friends, widows who lost their husbands in the Battle of Waterloo. But, the holidays provide a twist of fate, and a gift of love.
Susan Mallery brings readers the sixth Happily Inc. novel, Happily This Christmas. Wynn Beauchene has a thriving business, a great kid, and a crush on the guy next door, local cop Garrick McCabe. But, Garrick’s haunted by the ghosts of past mistakes, including estrangement from his pregnant daughter. He desperately needs Wynn’s help to add a woman’s touch to his house before his daughter arrives for Christmas. Maybe the holiday will work its magic on two wounded souls.
Can holiday wishes come true for two single parents in Debbie Mason’s Christmas on Reindeer Road? Mallory Maitland swore never to give up on her late husband’s two sons, her stepsons. But, when the teens land in hot water, she has to lean on the caring Chief of Police Gabriel Buchanan. After his wife died, Gabriel left his job as a New York City homicide detective to raise his three boys. Back in Highland Falls, trouble comes in the form of his beautiful neighbor and her troublesome stepsons. Gabriel doesn’t need the additional problem of a romance. His mother-in-law is looking for any excuse to take Gabriel’s sons. He can’t risk involvement, although Mallory could make this Christmas, and future ones, merry and bright.
The Brightest Star is a heart-warming novel from bestselling author Fern Michaels. This Christmas theme will sound familiar. For generations, Lauren Montgomery’s family has operated a Christmas shop, Razzle Dazzle Decor. Now it’s threatened by an online superstore, Globalgoods.com. Lauren, who tries to keep the family business afloat by writing biographies for business figures, is eager for a new job, until she learns the subject of her new book is the owner of Globalgoods.com, the company that could put her family out of business. Even so, she travels to Seattle to meet with the mogul. She’s surprised when she meets his son, a handsome, intelligent, kind man who represents the company that threatens everything Lauren loves.
Mary Monroe’s holiday book is The Gift of Family. Middle-aged couple Eugene and Rosemary Johnson are successful, secure, and still very much in love. They’ve never given up on their dream to be parents. But, their hope seems further away than ever, especially this Christmas when Rosemary has to have surgery and home help to recuperate. Eugene has the brilliant idea to contact Ethel Perkins, a widow who raised Eugene and his brother. Ethel is struggling as she attempts to raise her great-grandchildren and keep them out of trouble. Ethel’s problems only grow worse, as Eugene and Rosemary pitch in to help her and the children. And, the best way the two families can enjoy the holiday season is by celebrating it together.
Diana Palmer, Marina Adair, and Kate Pearce each have a story in the collection Christmas Kisses with My Cowboy. The summary says, “This Christmas the best kind of trouble comes in threes: Three bestselling authors. Three stories of holiday romance. And three cowboys who are ready for love – whether they know it yet or not.”
A Christmas Carol Murder is the third book in Heather Redmond’s series featuring a young Charles Dickens as the amateur sleuth. Each story’s plot inspires a future book by the journalist who aspires to be a novelist. This time, Dickens suspects a miser of pushing his partner out a window, but Charles’ fiancee, Kate Hogarth, has a more charitable view. Charles and Kate are out with friends in London in December 1835 when a body plummets from the upper story of a house. The dead man at their feet, his neck wrapped in chains, is Jacob Harley, the business partner of the owner of the house, an unpleasant codger named Emmanual Screws. Before Dickens can investigate, Harley’s body is stolen. And, then the journalist believes he is visited by the man’s ghost. Or, maybe it’s just his imagination. Together, Charles and Kate attempt to solve the mystery.
Sheila Roberts takes readers on a Christmas cruise in One Charmed Christmas. Catherine Pine is hoping for a better Christmas than last year, her first without her husband. And, this year, her kids and their families are absent. Then, a good friend invites her on a cruise to lift her spirits. Every day is an adventure. There are new friends, and one of them is the lovable Sophie Miles. Everyone seems to love Sophie, from Dr. Rudy Nichols, a perfect match for the hypochondriac Sophie, to chocolatier Trevor March. And, anything could happen this charmed Christmas.
I have family members and friends who love Christmas books. September 29 brings all kinds of Christmas books, from holiday mysteries and murder to historical and contemporary romances. If you’re a fan of holiday reading, it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas.
Donna Andrews's Christmas entry – THE GIFT OF THE MAGPIE – is due out on October 13.
And the format looks great.
Thank you, Sandie! I worked hard on this one, but it went smoothly.
Joanne Fluke's Christmas Cupcake Murder is also out tomorrow, but I missed that one.