As ready as I am (decorating-wise, at least) for Christmas, I have to admit that this year, I haven’t been as in the mood for Christmas romance like I usually am.
I’m not sure if it’s because for every Christmas romance I’ve loved (looking at you, Heroes of Freedom Ridge season 3 books – especially Blind Date with the Hero), I’ve set aside two or three others for various reasons (that are more to do with me than the book, I’m sure.)
I’ve never been a huge consumer of Christmas-content. There are a handful of movies we try to watch each year, but other than White Christmas, they’re things my husband or kids ask for. I also enjoy watching The Christmas Card if I have time (it’s an older Hallmark movie.) But beyond that? I can take it or leave it.
I think that’s probably one of the reasons I don’t write a lot of Christmas novels or novellas. I really probably only have three that “count” when we’re talking straight up Christmas books.
There’s Operation Mistletoe, the first novella in my Operation Romance series. (And if you enjoy audiobooks, you can listen to it free on my YouTube channel here.) I love this story, actually. It was so fun to write about a newspaper reporter who hates Christmas, because it seems to be the season for everything in her life to go wrong. And so of course, she had to fall in love with someone who put together a massive Christmas wonderland on his property and opens it to the public every year.
The next is Pathway to Peace. This is also a novella and it’s kind of an epilogue/post-script to the Grant Us Grace series. It’s several years down the road and gives Lindsey, a teen in book 2 of the series (Courage to Change) her own happy ending. It has some definite nods to You’ve Got Mail in it if you’re one who likes that setup.
And finally, I have Hope for Christmas. This kicks off the Hope Ranch series (and we won’t talk about why I shouldn’t have started a series with a Christmas book) and is all the things I loved about Christmas growing up in Northern New Mexico — from going up the mountain to cut a tree, to luminarias, to biscochitos.
I have other books that also happen to have Christmas in them. There are books in the Hope Ranch series that feature Christmas again. There’s a book in the Peacock Hill series that crosses over Christmas. I’m pretty sure Wisdom to Know has Christmas in it (it’s been a lot of years since I wrote that, so I’m a little hazy, but I know for sure there’s Thanksgiving, so it stands to reason that Christmas happens, too.) And those are kind of my favorite types of Christmas books. Where Christmas happens, and the characters celebrate Jesus’s birthday, but it isn’t all about snow and presents and Santa and Christmas pageants. Maybe I’m not alone?
I do have one other Christmas story. It’s a short story. And it’s only available to my newsletter subscribers. Matt and Laura are recurring characters in my Grant Us Grace series. They’re a couple that many readers loved. And so, I put together a glimpse of their first Christmas together, Christmas with Matt & Laura. If you’ve read the series (or if you just love O’Henry-esque short stories), you can grab your copy by signing up for my newsletter.
Since there is still a lot of December ahead, tell me what Christmas romances you’ve been reading (or watching!) I definitely need to add a few more to my list.
Elizabeth Maddrey is a semi-reformed computer geek and homeschooling mother of two who lives in the suburbs of Washington D.C. When she isn’t writing, Elizabeth is a voracious consumer of books. She loves to write about Christians who struggle through their lives, dealing with sin and receiving God’s grace on their way to their own romantic happily ever after.
I’m not much of a Christmas movie or book person, either, but I’ve just read a beautiful Christmas romance by Emily Dana Botrous. It’s called With All My Heart, Joy. The story would be wonderful no matter what time of the year, but the Christmas-related plot points make it extra sweet.
Ooh..I’ve enjoyed a couple of books by her. I’ll look for this one. Thanks!
I love romances by the author Betty Neels – they’re quite old-fashioned but I’ve been reading the for years – and I always re-read her Christmas books at Christmas. When I was younger and went back to my parents’ for Christmas I would always save one to read on the journey home. I also love the film ‘While You Were Sleeping ‘ which isn’t strictly a Christmas filem I suppose but is set at Christmas. Last year I really enjoyed Kimberly Rae Jordan’s series We Three Kings.
I loved Operation Mistletoe by the way, it was so funny and a lovely Christ centred Christmas read.
I do not get the Hallmark channel, so there are NO movies from Hallmark for me! I do get ION, though, which airs some Hallmark-like Christmas movies on Sundays. I don’t really watch those too much, though, as I’m usually reading while the tv is on. I need that background noise. If a channel is showing White Christmas, I love to watch it!! I also like the original Miracle on 34th Street, and will watch it if I find it on. Otherwise, I’d just rather read. I don’t specifically choose to read Christmas books, it really depends on if I want to read from my Kindle TBR stack or just read from my paperback TBR stack. I have read Mandi Blake’s Freedom Ridge book and Hannah Jo Abbott’s for this year, though, and loved them!!!
Thank you :)
I do enjoy While You Were Sleeping – that is a fun, Christmassy movie. And yes, Kimberly’s series last year was enjoyable. She has another out this year that is on my list but I haven’t made it to yet.
The Freedom Ridge books have been consistently enjoyable for me.
I also really enjoyed Sarah Monzon’s Kiss Me At Christmas in a box – I think it was Destination Christmas. I should have added that one to the post :)
I will admit, I’m a clean Christmas romance movie junkie, even though most of the plots are cheesy and recycled. Sometimes I get a snippet of an idea for a book. But Hallmark put out a blockbuster this year, 3 Wise Men and a Baby. I believe it is or was also streaming on Hulu. It was fresh, funny, and heartwarming, heavy focus on family and just a sprinkle of romance at the end. Highly recommend!
Pelican Book Group also published 12 books this year in their Christmas Extravaganza (full disclosure, mine is one of them). There’s something for everyone! I read and reviewed six of them, and they were fantastic.
Your books sound wonderful, Elizabeth!
Ooh, that sounds like a fun movie. Ill look for it. And for the books from Pelican!
I love Christmas books and movies.
I enjoy the old Christmas movies! I enjoy reading Christmas romance novels, too!
Christmas movies are fun
I read Debbie Macomber’s new Christmas book, Christmas Spirits. I am with you, Elizabeth. I am struggling this year. My Mom is in Hospice care and declining. I just cannot get into all the commercialism of Christmas. We do not have any tree up. I have not baked or sent out cards. I am not even sure I am going to this year. Thank you for sharing. God bless you.
I have watched a few Christmas movies but unlike last year not at the same rate infact its more like a couple a week. Ok would have been more but slept though 2 of them for being so tired. I have read a couple one being historical but I have been so tired that reading takes to much effort right now. I have put a few aside due to just not connecting and too much angst and one was so descriptive leaving nothing to the imagination and on a subject I don’t like.
When I am emotionally tired as I am currently I need light and shorter.
Yay!
The old ones are fun.
They can be for sure.
So many hugs. It’s hard.
Everything is harder when you’re exhausted mentally and emotionally. Hugs.
White Christmas always kicks off our Christmas movie watching! I watched it with my family growing up, and now I’m forcing my children to love it as well 🤣. Thankfully, they’re fans and we all sing along. Even my angsty teen son still watched it happily.
Love it! I sing. Everyone else sits there rolling their eyes at me. But it’s still fun 🤣