December is one of my favorite months of the year. The Christmas season is here, summer has arrived, our school year ends, and we move into the January holiday period. Our Christmas tree is not up yet because we’re painting our living and dining room area. This means my home is a bit chaotic at the moment, and the tv is temporarily unplugged. Christmas movies on the big screen are on hold, but my Kindle is alive with Christmas stories that are calling my name. I thought I’d share a few of the Christmas books I’ve read this year.
An Awestruck Christmas Melody by Emily R. Conrad
During the recording of our StoryChats @ InspyRomance episodes this year, I kept hearing about Emily’s Rhythms of Redemption Romance series. I thought I need to jump in and read the Christmas novella that’s book 1.5 in the series and discover what I’m missing out on! The novella is set around a Christmas road trip from Chicago to Northern Wisconsin during a blizzard. We meet characters from the band, Awestruck, and the novella hooked me into wanting to read more books in the series (they are now in my Kindle TBR). I recommend An Awestruck Christmas Melody to contemporary romance readers who like heartwarming Christmas novellas with a relevant faith element in the story. Read my more detailed book recommendation here.
Kiss Me on Christmas by Sarah Monzon — in Destination Christmas multi-author collection
I’ve only read the first novella by Sarah, and I absolutely adored the story. Being a parent to a special needs young adult, I totally identified with Kaitlyn’s parenting situation and challenges in parenting her beautiful ten year old boy, Liam. If only I’d known the secret sauce to preventing anxiety meltdowns on planes was for my child’s favorite YouTube star to be spotted ahead in the line and boarding the same flight, lol. I’m planning to read Jaycee’s story next, and I’ll add a book recommendation on my blog soon.
A Quilt for Christmas by Melody Carlson
Melody writes a Christmas story every year, and I loved reading this one. It’s more romantic elements than straight CCR, but it ticks all my boxes in what I’m looking for in a heartwarming Christmas novella. I recommend A Quilt for Christmas to contemporary fiction readers who like Christmas novellas with romantic elements and a light faith thread woven into the story. Read my more detailed book recommendation here.
Merry Ex-Mas by Courtney Walsh
I enjoyed reading this Christmas romantic comedy, but I did go into the story knowing it was categorised as sweet/clean at Amazon. Sometimes having the right expectations can make all the difference regarding whether or not I will enjoy reading a book. I personally don’t expect romance lead characters in sweet/clean general market romance to have a Christian worldview, and I’m aware I’m probably in the minority on this issue. I recommend Merry Ex-Mas to contemporary romance readers who like second chances and enemies-to-love sweet and clean Christmas romcoms set in a small town. Read my more detailed book recommendation here.
CCR (contemporary Christian romance) books with a Christmas theme are the focus of my December reading list. For me, Christmas books are special because they provide opportunities to consider and remember Jesus and the reason for the season. I’d love to hear your thoughts and recommendations for CCR Christmas books you’ve read, or want to read, this Christmas season.
A fun loving Aussie girl at heart, Narelle Atkins was born and raised on the beautiful northern beaches in Sydney, Australia. She has settled in Canberra with her husband and children. A lifelong romance reader, she found the perfect genre to write when she discovered inspirational romance. Narelle's contemporary stories of faith and romance are set in Australia and international locations.
I’ve honestly not read any YET this month!! I have quite a few on my kindle TBR, and hope to get to them soon!! I much prefer books with the faith element there, especially at this time of the year! Some I’ve read in the past is The Max Lucado Christmas Collection, and some by Melody Carlson, though I can’t remember the names!
Thanks so much for including An Awestruck Christmas Medley! A Christmas romance favorite of mine is Melissa Tagg’s One Enchanted Christmas, where an author has a crush on her book’s cover model. Such a fun, sweet story!
I love hearing about Christmas in Australia, it must be so nice to have a summertime Christmas and end of year school break. Thank you for the book recommendations.
I have a whole list of Christmas CCR on my TBR list but I haven’t got through any of them yet. I’m particularly looking forward to Autumn McArthur’s Christmas box set ‘Together for Christmas’, and some of Jessie Gussman’s Heartland set which have some Christmas elements it looks like.
Happy festive reading to you all!
I read A Quilt for Christmas and loved it. I plan to read some more. I reading Christmas books with snow and the American traditions. I would however love one set in Hawaii.
I have always like the Christmas books Janet Tronstad does in Dry Creek which normally have a nativity play or something at the church for Christmas
My tree is up not fully decorated ironically Libby (cat) wanted to help me decorate and sit in the box with the decorations but hasn’t even looked at the tree since so stage 3 the icicles can go on next. I do however have it tied to weights to stop it from having naps this year.
I read Debbie Macomber’s Christmas Spirits. It was good. Thank you so much for sharing. God bless you.
fun covers
Hi Trudy, I hope you’ll have a chance to start reading the Christmas books soon. I should look up the Max Lucado books. I love CCR Christmas books because they have the faith element. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Emily, You’re very welcome. 😊 I need to reread Melissa’s book, too!
Hi Ruthie, You’re very welcome, and we’re finally having ‘summery’ weather with less rain. Autumn’s stories are always favourites of mine, and Jessie’s series sounds fun, too. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Jenny, It’s a long time since I’ve read Janet’s Dry Creek series from LI. I do remember her Christmas stories ticking all my boxes for heartwarming, winter and lots of snow. I’m glad Libby is behaving herself around your Christmas tree. Miss Daisy will play with the decorations at the bottom of the tree, and she likes tinsel a bit too much for my liking, lol. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Debra, You’ve reminded me that I need to find the Debbie Macomber Christmas paperbacks on my bookshelves and reread them. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi bn100, The covers are cute! Thanks for commenting. 😊
I love Christian Christmas books. I have really not gotten into contemporary yet, except a few rom coms, which I am completely enjoying. I am one of those people who will read Christian Christmas books all year long, same with music
Hi Lori, I’m enjoying reading lighthearted Christmas romcoms. Sometimes I’ll read Christmas books in July during winter here. Thanks for commenting. 😊