I can read Christmas romance books in any month of the year. But there’s something wonderful about it being cold outside and I’m curled up inside with a book, a blanket, and a cup of something hot.
I’ve put together a list of the feel-good festive romances that I’m excited to read this year.
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Midnight at the Christmas Bookshop by Jenny Colgan
Jenny Colgan always writes cracking Christmas romance books. My husband gave me The Christmas Bookshop last year. I loved the descriptions of the Edinburgh setting and the quirky cast of characters. I’m looking forward to catching up with bookshop manager Carmen in this sequel.
The blurb
Carmen is at a loose end. Her gorgeous bookshop is the filming site of a cheesy Christmas movie, she’s been ousted from her sister’s house, and the love of her life has just flown thousands of miles away. It’s threatening to be a very unjolly Christmas indeed!
But when the elderly owner of the shop comes to Carmen with a Christmas wish that threatens to never come true, Carmen knows she must buckle down to get the funds to save not only his trip, but the shop itself. While fending off a shady tatt-selling businessman, Carmen discovers wonders to the shop she could have never imagined, and opens a labyrinth of bookish backrooms for the customers to get lost in.
With her deadline looming, it might take more than a fresh coat of paint to solve Carmen’s problems. But with the help of their neighbours, her nieces and nephew, and a very distractingly cute male nanny, Carmen might just pull her greatest magic trick yet . . .
The Christmas Book Club by Sarah Morgan
Sarah Morgan is another author who I think has perfected the Christmas novel. Similar to her previous Christmas romance books, I expect the romance to be light in this book with the main storyline being the female friendships.
The blurb
Every year, Erica, Claudia, and Anna reunite for their book club holiday. They’re bonded by years of friendship and a deep love of books, but there is still so much they keep from each other.
At the cosy Maple Sugar Inn, Hattie specialises in making her guests’ dreams come true, but this Christmas all she wants is to survive the festive season. Between running the inn and being a single mother, Hattie is close to breaking point.
Over the course of an eventful week, Hattie sees that the friends are each carrying around unspoken truths, but nothing prepares her for how deeply her story will become entwined in theirs. Will this Christmas be the end of the book club’s story or the start of a whole new chapter?
Snowdown at the Old Schoolhouse by Margaret Amatt
If you like a Christmas romance where the love story is more central to the book, try Snowdown at the Old Schoolhouse by Margaret Amatt. Snowdown at the Old Schoolhouse is part of the Glenbriar series, but it’s a standalone story and can be read without having read the others in the series.
The blurb
When charismatic and handsome weather presenter Marcus Bowman walks back into Willow Roxburgh’s life three weeks before Christmas, her quiet job as an admin worker at the Old Schoolhouse residential care centre in Glenbriar is shattered. He’s not only the man she used to crush on, he’s also the one who thwarted her TV forecasting dreams.
But she’s no longer the anonymous studio assistant; she’s secretly Scotland’s new favourite weather forecaster, Rocky Rainman.
With the Schoolhouse facing closure, Marcus is on an assignment to drum up festive support. However, he’s discovered the internet sensation Rocky Rainman lives somewhere nearby and is determined to expose him after Rocky’s recent damaging comments on social media. Seeing Willow, the girl he used to obsess over, shakes his priorities.
When a blizzard hits, Willow and Marcus are snowed in, and she discovers her perception of him wasn’t as accurate as her forecasts. Marcus isn’t convinced it’ll be a white Christmas, but he’s determined to win Willow’s heart. Can their new love weather storm if he discovers her secret? Because how can there be a future for Marcus Bowman and Rocky Rainman?
A Winter Wedding at Bletchley Park by Molly Green
A Winter Wedding at Bletchley Park is something a little different. A reader recommended this one to me. My book Between Moons is a World War 2 historical fiction novel so this is definitely a genre that appeals to me.
The blurb
When Rosie Frost was jilted on her wedding day, she didn’t think life could get any worse. But six years later in the throes of the Second World War, she is unceremoniously dismissed from her dream job after they discover her illegitimate child.
Thankfully, top secret war office Bletchley Park recognises Rosie’s talent and recruits her to decipher their Italian naval signals. Happy to be doing her bit for the war effort, Rosie settles into her new life.
But when she spots a familiar face at the Park, Rosie’s world threatens to come crashing down once more. Can she put her heartbreak behind her? And will wedding bells ring out across Bletchley Park before the year is out?
Christmas at the Cat Café by Jessica Redland
I recently read and loved The Start of Something Wonderful by Jessica Redland. You can find my review here. I can’t wait to delve into another Jessica Redland read.
The blurb
It’s the most wonderful time of the year on Castle Street, and there’s a paw-some new business opening….
It had always been Tabby’s dream to work with cats and an inheritance from her beloved nanna has finally made that a reality. Idyllic Castle Street in Whitsborough Bay couldn’t be a better place for pastry chef Tabby to open a cat café with her boyfriend, Leon.
But when Leon leaves her in the lurch, the pressure mounts for Tabby. With Christmas fast approaching, she has to open the café on her own – a daunting prospect, especially when she’s been hiding her health issues from the ones she loves.
Faced with local resistance to the café – and somebody seemingly determined that she won’t succeed – Tabby will need her friends, family and cats more than ever to recover her broken Christmas spirit and pull together for a Christmas miracle.
Will the cat café bring the festive joy to Castle Street as Tabby had hoped or will it be a cat-astrophe? And can the magic of Christmas on Castle Street mend Tabby’s broken heart as well as her business?
A Christmas Truce by Emma Bennett
Emma Bennett is a new to me author. A Christmas Truce has been recommended to me so many times and I’m sure I’m going to love it.
The blurb
Photographer Libby just got fired. Again. Then she gets home early to find her boyfriend in bed with another woman. And just like that, her dreams of a Christmas Day proposal are shattered.
Libby lands a new job as a personal assistant to enigmatic businessman Seth Coleman. He’s terse and demanding — it’s no wonder Libby keeps messing up.
Then one day an adorable Golden Retriever puppy is delivered to the house. As Libby helps Seth train Barney, she realizes that there’s a surprisingly sweet side to this CEO . . .
But everything goes wrong when Libby finds out that Seth’s company just bought the community centre where they’ve been training Barney. It’s not only puppy classes, it’s a lifeline for the whole village. Libby is devastated when Seth says it’s ‘just business’. So she packs her bags.
Until disaster strikes and Libby is forced to spend her favourite time of the year with a man who doesn’t even own tinsel. It’s up to Libby to bring some much-needed Christmas spirit. Starting with a truce, since they’re going to be stuck together whether they like it or not.
But Libby might just find magic under the mistletoe after all if she can encourage Seth to open his heart to Christmas . . .
Christmas Memories at Waterside Cottage by K.T. Dady (Pepper Bay Series, Book 10)
I’m a fan of K.T. Dady’s Pepper Bay series. Her books are cosy romance reads in a gorgeous small-town setting. With Christmas layered on top, I’m sure I’m going to love Christmas Memories at Waterside Cottage.
The blurb
Charlie and Grace have been together for four years, but when Grace wakes up in hospital after an accident, she doesn’t remember her husband at all. With Christmas just around the corner, and it being their favourite time of year, Charlie pulls out all the festive stops, hoping his wife will remember their relationship or at least fall in love with him all over again, because there is no way he can lose her.
The Christmas Tree Cottage by Holly Martin
After reading the delightfully charming The Midnight Village by Holly Martin at Halloween, I can’t wait to curl up with this Christmas romance book. I’m sure it’s going to be filled with all the festive feels.
The blurb
Evergreen Winter lives an unconventional life. Her home is a ramshackle red caravan and her Clydesdale horse Thunder is her only companion. She’s never anywhere long enough to put down roots, and that’s just the way she likes it. Until she arrives at beautiful Wishing Wood eight days before Christmas . . .
When Evergreen accepted the job to play the role of Mrs Christmas at the magical treehouse resort nestled within lush forest she never expected her Santa Claus to be the very gorgeous Heath Brookfield. From the moment they meet their connection is electric, and each day they play husband and wife Evergreen gets a glimpse of how incredible her life could be if she stayed in Wishing Wood for good.
But the last time Evergreen opened her heart to love she lost everything and she swore she’d never rely on anyone ever again. Heath believes he’s the one person who can change her mind. But with Evergreen set to leave on Christmas Eve, Heath doesn’t have long. Can he convince her to stay or will she ride away forever in her little red caravan taking his heart with her?
Christmas on Crumcarey by Beth Rain
The thought of a cosy cottage in Scotland, the aroma of mulled wine filling the air, and the crackling sound of an open fire has me eagerly anticipating this Christmas romance book.
The blurb
Ivy Evans is looking forward to the perfect, most romantic Christmas she’s ever had. She’s being whisked off to a cosy cottage in Scotland. She’s pretty sure Gareth is planning to propose. And to celebrate, they’ll be taking a flight to Crumcarey Island on Christmas Eve.
Ivy can already taste the mulled wine, feel the tartan blanket under her fingers and smell the soft woodsmoke from the open fire.
Sure – she might be having a hard time believing Gareth has it in him to dream up something so romantic all by himself… but then, people can change… can’t they?
When the blissful trip she’s been dreaming about begins to drop its needles like a Christmas tree on boxing day, Ivy finds herself stranded with strangers.
Will Ivy fight to return to reality in time for Christmas – no matter how disappointing it might turn out to be? Or will the spirit of this strange little island work its magic and gift her a glimpse of a very different future?
Snowfall and Second Chances by Claire Anders
Finally, there’s my own festive romance with childhood sweethearts, twinkling lights, Christmas tree shopping, and gingerbread cookies. OK, so I’m not going to be reading this one – I read it way too many times during the writing and editing process – but if you love small-town romances and second chances, I hope you’ll give it a read.
The blurb
Jeremy Lewis left Thistle Bay two decades ago to join the Marines. But five years ago, his one-night stand with child- hood sweetheart Rebecca resulted in their twin boys. Now Jeremy is leaving the Marines and is determined to reclaim his family – including Rebecca.
Rebecca Knight is used to doing everything for everyone. She puts herself second, always. Being a single mother and working in her family’s business full-time has been tough for her. With Jeremy moving back to town, Rebecca had thought it was finally time for their second chance. But with big changes at work, she doesn’t have the time needed to make a relationship work.
While Jeremy focuses on building his new business, Rebecca finds herself torn between her career and love.
Can a relationship that’s been neglected for so long still have a chance?