For the past several years I have spent all of December reading nothing but Christmas stories. Here it is already halfway through December and with the exception of the ones my critique partners wrote, I’ve read nothing! Between my husband’s health issues and a kitchen remodel there has been no time.
I looked back over my favorites for the last several years and thought I’d share the contemporary ones from my list. After all, there’s no exploration date on a good story!
I mentioned my critique partners’ work. They were in several Christmas collections this year but here are my favorites from each of them. —All the Moore by Toni Shiloh, part of the Something Borrowed collection, had me tearing up at one point and I loved the hero from that book. This and Every Christmas, part of the Hearts Aglow collection was my favorite this year from Jaycee Weaver. I thought it was a fresh and unique approach at combining past and present.
And since we are talking about my critique partners, two of their stories from past years also made my list —Deck the Shelves by Toni and Love, Laughter, and Luminarias by Jaycee.
Two other InspyRomance authors made my list too. Be sure to check out A Husband for Holly by Marion Ueckerman and Christmas in Abundance by Sally Bayless.
Some well-known authors make up the rest of my list. Maybe you’ve read them. They are One Enchanted Eve by Melissa Tagg, The Wedding Dress Christmas by Rachel Hauck, The Best Gift of All by Julie Lessman, and Catching Christmas by Terri Blackstock.
Help fill in my To Be Read list. What is your favorite Christmas tale?
**FYI- One of my own Christmas stories—Mistletoe Kiss— is currently FREE!
Mary Preston says
My favorite would be the Charles Dickens classic; A CHRISTMAS CAROL
Samantha Ball says
Once Upon A Silent Night – Kimberly Rae Jordan
Paula Marie says
Christmas in Montana by Valerie Comer and Christmas at the Lake by Autumn Macarthur are some of my favorite sets!
Dianne says
Alas you aren’t the only one missing reading this December :( Hopefully their will be more reading time in the new year.
Trudy says
I’ve read so many! I think one of my favorites has to be Marion Ueckermann’s Poles Apart. I have a quite a few in my TBR stack, too!!
Andrea Boyd says
Love that one!
Andrea Boyd says
Thanks!
Andrea Boyd says
I hope so too!
Andrea Boyd says
I haven’t read that one yet. Thanks for the recommendation!
Priscila Perales says
According to my GR account, I haven’t read that many of those *gasp!*
Still, the ones that I’ve enjoyed in previous years are Mistletoe Kiss ;) and A Gift Like No Other by Julie Lessman.
Also, one series I haven’t started yet (though I do have my eye on it) is Cowboy Mountain Christmas by Jessie Gussman. I’ve enjoyed other books by her, so I know this series will be fun :)
Trixi says
Melody Carlson is a favorite of mine when it comes to Christmas books! The one I really enjoyed was “The Christmas Cat” :-) She also wrote “The Christmas Bus”, it was like the Christmas story of Mary & Joseph.
I’ve read “One Royal Christmas” by Melissa Tagg , “A Match Made at Christmas” by Courtney Walsh, “An Ivy Hill Christmas” by Julie Klassen, “An Amish Christmas Wedding” novella collection by Amy Clipston, Kathleen Fuller, Kelly Irvin, and Vannetta Chapman, “A Christmas Courting” novella collection by Jennifer Moore, Chalon Linton, Jen Geigle Johnson, and Heidi Kimball, “Once Again at the Falls” by Becky Monson, “The Christmas Table” by Donna VanLiere, and “A Shopkeeper for Christmas” by Zina Abbott
Lincoln says
I do enjoy Christmas settings but not exclusively during the holidays. I recently finished Marion Ueckermann’s “A Husband for Holly”. Past favorites include Julie Arduini’s “Restoring Christmas” and Valerie Bodden’s “Not Until Christmas Morning”.
Beth Nunn says
The Red Gloves Collection by Karen Kingsbury is one of my favourites.
I also like Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball by Donita K Paul.
Plus any of Melody Carlson’s Christmas novellas.
Lelia (Lucy) Reynolds says
A Little Women Christmas Tale by Linda Brooks Davis.
Alicia Haney says
I read Once Upon a Dickens Christmas by Michele Griep and it is very good, it has 3 Victorian Christmas tales and I love them all. Thank you for sharing the awesome sounding good books. Have a Great week and stay safe.
Arletta says
You do list some good ones! Some to add are Erynn Mangum’s Christmas novellas – she has a few. Jenny B Jones also has some. I enjoyed reading Courtney Walsh’s A Match Made at Christmas. Oh, and Restoring Christmas by Cynthia Ruchti is good, too!
Debra J Pruss says
My Mom has been ill so I have not read very many books either. I did read Jingle All The Way by Debbie Macomber. It is a great story.
denise says
The Gift of the Magi.
Andrea Boyd says
I haven’t read any of Jessie Gussman’s yet. I’ll have to check them out. Thanks!
Andrea Boyd says
A great list- some I haven’t read. I’ll add them to my list. Thanks!
Andrea Boyd says
Thanks for the recommendations!
Andrea Boyd says
I’ve read some of Melody Carson’s but not the others. Thanks for the adds!
Andrea Boyd says
Well, I loved the original Little Women so I’ll definitely check this one out. Thanks!
Andrea Boyd says
I’ve read those. Michelle Griep is one of my favorite authors!
Andrea Boyd says
I haven’t read any of those. I’ll add them to my list!
Andrea Boyd says
Sorry about your mom. Prayers for her and for you. I know how tough the job of caregiver can be.
I feel like I’ve read that one before. I’ll have to check, and if not, add it to my list.
Andrea Boyd says
Sounds familiar. I’ll have to look it up. Thanks!
Natalya Lakhno says
Once Upon a Christmas by Amanda Tru