The wonder of the Christmas season is upon us! 🎄
Although Advent doesn’t actually start until December 3 this year, when I was growing up, we always started decorating for Christmas on December 1, so December 1 is my default day for starting the Yuletide celebrations. (I grew up in Canada, where Thanksgiving takes place in October. For those in the U.S., the day after Thanksgiving is often the de facto day when the Christmas seasons begins.)
The joy of Advent is in the expectant waiting. We look forward to the birth of Christ and prepare our hearts to receive Baby Jesus. 🙏
When I was a kid, one of the ways my parents nurtured that sense of expectant waiting was by giving me and my siblings Advent calendars. Each day from December 1–24, we’d open a tiny gift from the calendar, excited about the bigger gifts that we knew would be waiting on Christmas morning.
As a Christian romance author, I have the joy and privilege of having a community of readers who are interested in my books and what I have to say. Last year, I was brainstorming ways to give back to my readers during the Christmas season, and I came up with an idea: What if I put together an Advent calendar for books? 🎁
I liked the idea so much that I went out and bought twenty-four paperback Christmas books that I thought my readers would enjoy and put together a daily email campaign featuring a different paperback giveaway every day from December 1–24.
It was a wild success! 🎉
This year, I wanted to make it even more special, so in addition to offering a daily paperback giveaway, I also invited a bunch of my author friends to contribute Christmas ebooks that everyone on the subscriber list can download for free!!! Whether you prefer reading paperbacks or ebooks, there will be something for everyone!
Several of the Inspy Romance bloggers are participating, including: Carolyn Miller, Emily Dana Botrous, Jaycee Weaver, Valerie Bodden, Lindi Peterson, Valerie Comer and Elizabeth Maddrey. 🥰
If you love Christmas romance and you’re not already signed up for my 2023 Christmas Countdown, I wanted to invite you to sign up right now. (If you’re a newsletter subscriber who has already opted in for this year, you don’t need to sign up again. 😊)
Which Christmas books are you most looking forward to reading this December?
Meghann Whistler is a wife, mom, and Christian romance novelist who loves writing sweet, happy stories that WON'T make your grandmother blush! When she's not writing, reading, or jamming out to Christian rock music, you can find her enjoying a relaxing evening with her rocket scientist husband (seriously—he's a real, live rocket scientist!) or playing with her three kids.
I love this idea! Advent calendars are so fun, I’ve got one for all my kids.
I love finding new christmas books to read but there are some old favourites I like to read too.
It was fun last year, and I’m signed up for this year, too!!
What a great idea. I’ve never particularly read Christmas books, I think because time is at such a premium in December. Just signed up though. I especially love the idea of ebooks so everyone everywhere can participate equally. Anticipation is such a wonderful feeling, thank you for providing a ray of sunshine each day with your advent calendar. :)
The oldies are the best, Ruthie! I still remember reading A Christmas Carol for the first time — what a story! 🎄
Yay!!! 🎁🎄😍 Glad you enjoyed it last year!
I’m glad you signed up, Dianne! Time is definitely at a premium in December, but the great thing about Christmas books is that they can bring some holiday cheer to the other months of the year! 🥰
Wow, this sounds like so much fun!! Thank you all for doing this. Have a Great day and a great rest of the week.
Thanks, Alicia! I hope you have a nice week, too! ❤️
I signed up through the newsletter!
That’s a different perspective I hadn’t considered before. Thanks. Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas! 💕
Yay! 🎉🎉🎉
I dont know if I have already signed up so I signed up. This sounds like such a fun give a way. Thanks for thinking of us all.
Awesome, Lori! Better safe than sorry :)
I am really looking forward to this! Thank you!
I’m so glad you’re joining in, Bonnie!
It is hard to pick just one. I look forward to reading any that I can. I look forward to your Advent countdown. Thank you so much for putting it together. Thanks for sharing. God bless you.
There really are so many wonderful Christmas books, Debra! I’m glad you’re participating in the Countdown! It’s going to be fun! 💕
What a cute idea! I signed up & sent my mom the post as well 😊
I’m finishing up A Christmas Waltz for Linda by Donna K. Weaver today & starting The Baby’s Christmas Blessing by you—I won a signed copy recently! 🥰
Yay! I hope you and your mom have fun with the Countdown, and I hope you enjoy the book!
I like Advent Calendars. I know that advent starts on 1st of December, every year. I had some Advent calendars too, in the past. Why do you say it is the 3rd?
Actually, for us, Orthodoxes, Advent starts on 15th of November, if this means the time of waiting for Christ’s birth, and abstaining from animal food. But we simply call it Christmas fast, exactly how Lent is Easter fast.
In most of the Western Christian churches, Advent starts on the fourth Sunday before Christmas :)
That’s neat that it’s like Lent in the Orthodox church!