Hey, friends! Are you into the full holiday swing yet? Need some books to get you in the right frame of mind? Help is here!

Today, I’m sharing a “Last, Now, Next” post… featuring what I last read… what I’m reading now… and what’s next on my list. And, these are all festive holiday reads! Pick one up and it’s sure to help you find your seasonal spirit.

 

 

Last: The Santa Suit by Mary Kay Andrews

Mary Kay Andrews has become a favorite of mine. She’s best known for her summer beach blockbusters, but in this departure from the norm, we find a cozy holiday read:

When newly-divorced Ivy Perkins buys an old farmhouse sight unseen, she is definitely looking for a change in her life. The Four Roses, as the farmhouse is called, is a labor of love―but Ivy didn’t bargain on just how much labor. The previous family left so much furniture and so much junk, that it’s a full-time job sorting through all of it.

At the top of a closet, Ivy finds an old Santa suit―beautifully made and decades old. In the pocket of a suit she finds a note written in a childish hand: it’s from a little girl who has one Christmas wish, and that is for her father to return home from the war. This discovery sets Ivy off on a mission. Who wrote the note? Did the man ever come home? What mysteries did the Rose family hold?

Ivy’s quest brings her into the community, at a time when all she wanted to do was be left alone and nurse her wounds. But the magic of Christmas makes miracles happen, and Ivy just might find more than she ever thought possible: a welcoming town, a family reunited, a mystery solved, and a second chance at love.

 
I loved this story… it had romance, small town camaraderie, and a great theme of giving and opening yourself up to relationships of all kinds. Highly recommended for a dose of Christmas spirit!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

Now: A Wedding in December by Sarah Morgan

I’ve loved everything I’ve read by Sarah Morgan, and I expect this one will be no exception! She is brilliant at getting to heart of family relationships and weaving beautiful stories. In this one, a family spends their Christmas season celebrating a wedding while dealing with their own problems:

In the snowy perfection of Aspen, the White family gathers for youngest daughter Rosie’s whirlwind Christmas wedding.

First to arrive are the bride’s parents, Maggie and Nick. Their daughter’s marriage is a milestone they are determined to celebrate wholeheartedly, but they are hiding a huge secret about their own: they are on the brink of divorce. After living apart for the last six months, the last thing they need is to be trapped together in an irresistibly romantic winter wonderland.

Rosie’s older sister Katie is also dreading the wedding. Worried that impulsive, sweet-hearted Rosie is making a mistake, Katie is determined to save her sister from herself. If only the irritatingly good-looking best man, Jordan, would stop interfering with her plans…

Bride-to-be Rosie loves her fiance but is having serious second thoughts. Except everyone has arrived – how can she tell them she’s not sure? As the big day gets closer, and emotions run even higher, this is one White family Christmas none of them will ever forget.

I’ve previously reviewed two books by Sarah Morgan: One Summer in Paris and Family for Beginners… take a look!

 

 

Next: In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren

If you’re looking for a fun, flirty romp, Christina Lauren always delivers! This Groundhog-day style story sounds super cute and I can’t wait to pick it up!

It’s the most wonderful time of the year…but not for Maelyn Jones. She’s living with her parents, hates her going-nowhere job, and has just made a romantic error of epic proportions.

But perhaps worst of all, this is the last Christmas Mae will be at her favorite place in the world—the snowy Utah cabin where she and her family have spent every holiday since she was born, along with two other beloved families. Mentally melting down as she drives away from the cabin for the final time, Mae throws out what she thinks is a simple plea to the universe: Please. Show me what will make me happy.

The next thing she knows, tires screech and metal collides, everything goes black. But when Mae gasps awake…she’s on an airplane bound for Utah, where she begins the same holiday all over again. With one hilarious disaster after another sending her back to the plane, Mae must figure out how to break free of the strange time loop—and finally get her true love under the mistletoe.

Jam-packed with yuletide cheer, an unforgettable cast of characters, and Christina Lauren’s trademark “downright hilarious” (Helen Hoang, author of The Bride Test) hijinks, this swoon-worthy romantic read will make you believe in the power of wishes and the magic of the holidays.

And the best news? If you’ve yet to pick this one up, the Kindle book is on sale right now for just $1.99 (as of 12/6)… what a deal!

 

So how about it… any great holiday reads you’re picking up this month? Tell us about them in the comments! Happy festive reading, everyone!

 

Thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for complimentary digital review copies of these titles. All opinions are my own.

This post contains affiliate links, which allow me the opportunity to earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you.  Please see my policies for further information.

 

Advertisement

Leave a Reply

Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in:

WordPress.com Logo

You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Log Out /  Change )

Twitter picture

You are commenting using your Twitter account. Log Out /  Change )

Facebook photo

You are commenting using your Facebook account. Log Out /  Change )

Connecting to %s