I have not forgotten about this blog, even if it appears that I might have. I just don't have the time I used to have to devote here. But as we are just three months away from the holiday itself, it's time to get back into the swing of things. Also, Halloween is coming up so I will be sharing some Halloween content again this year. I'm hoping Ken at Sounds of Christmas will join us again next month to share the new holiday music released/releasing this year.
The Book Club Hotel: A Christmas Novel
by Sarah Morgan
With its historic charm and picture-perfect library, the Maple Sugar Inn is considered the winter destination. As the holidays approach, the inn is fully booked with guests looking for their dream vacation. But widowed far too young, and exhausted from juggling the hotel with being a dedicated single mom, Hattie Coleman dreams only of making it through the festive season.
But when Erica, Claudia and Anna—lifelong friends who seem to have it all—check in for a girlfriends’ book club holiday, it changes everything. Their close friendship and shared love of books have carried them through life's ups and downs. But Hattie can see they're also packing some major emotional baggage, and nothing prepares her for how deeply her own story is about to become entwined in theirs.
In the span of a week over the most enchanting time of the year, can these four women come together to improve each other’s lives and make this the start of a whole new chapter?
When single mom Hope Reynolds returns to her small New Jersey hometown a decade after a rift with her father, there’s only one thing she’s looking forward to: seeing her beloved Christmas Star shining across the valley. For townspeople, it’s been a beacon of hope, a symbol of miracles. And Hope, who may be losing her job, needs a miracle now more than ever.
But the star, which has been shining over Hackettstown every Christmas since welcoming its soldiers home from World War II, is no longer lit, damaged from a recent superstorm. Hope is devastated and her son Zach is disappointed.
Soon, though, Hope begins to feel the magic of Christmas for the first time in years and is persuaded to spearhead a fundraiser to bring back the star. Though extending her stay could jeopardize the new life she’s building down south to give Zach roots, how can she say no? The star is part of her family history.
Just when it seems she might actually pull off this miracle, Hope finds one final obstacle standing in her way: Ryan Miller, a former Marine and local handyman, who has awakened in Hope feelings she’s avoided for years.
Will Hope be able to convince Ryan to let the star shine once again? Or will it be Ryan who shows Hope that sometimes miracles come where we least expect them?
But when Erica, Claudia and Anna—lifelong friends who seem to have it all—check in for a girlfriends’ book club holiday, it changes everything. Their close friendship and shared love of books have carried them through life's ups and downs. But Hattie can see they're also packing some major emotional baggage, and nothing prepares her for how deeply her own story is about to become entwined in theirs.
In the span of a week over the most enchanting time of the year, can these four women come together to improve each other’s lives and make this the start of a whole new chapter?
by Maryann McFadden
But the star, which has been shining over Hackettstown every Christmas since welcoming its soldiers home from World War II, is no longer lit, damaged from a recent superstorm. Hope is devastated and her son Zach is disappointed.
Soon, though, Hope begins to feel the magic of Christmas for the first time in years and is persuaded to spearhead a fundraiser to bring back the star. Though extending her stay could jeopardize the new life she’s building down south to give Zach roots, how can she say no? The star is part of her family history.
Just when it seems she might actually pull off this miracle, Hope finds one final obstacle standing in her way: Ryan Miller, a former Marine and local handyman, who has awakened in Hope feelings she’s avoided for years.
Will Hope be able to convince Ryan to let the star shine once again? Or will it be Ryan who shows Hope that sometimes miracles come where we least expect them?
Christmas at the Cat Café
by Jessica Redland
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?
by Shari Low
On Christmas Eve, 1993, Cathy’s daughter Helena is overjoyed to hear that her boyfriend is about to propose, until a devastating encounter threatens to bring her heartbreak instead of diamonds.
On Christmas Eve 2023, a shocking discovery rocks Eve Quinn’s world. The only gift Eve wants this year is the truth. But will it take a Christmas miracle to unravel generations of secrets?
by Melody Carlson
Adelaide Smith is too busy for fairy tales. She's been working hard to put herself through law school and now that the end is in sight, she's determined to stay focused on her goals. Then she receives a letter notifying her that she has been found through a DNA registry to be a direct descendant of King Maximillian V, the ruler of a small Eastern European principality called Montovia. She's understandably skeptical. This is the stuff of cheesy made-for-TV movies, not real life.
Although the pieces of this surprising family puzzle seem too good to be true, curiosity gets the best of her. At the king's invitation, Adelaide embarks on a Christmas break trip that is chock-full of surprises, including a charming village, an opulent palace, family mysteries, royal jealousies, a handsome young member of Parliament--and the chance at a real fairy tale romance with a happily-ever-after ending.
Although the pieces of this surprising family puzzle seem too good to be true, curiosity gets the best of her. At the king's invitation, Adelaide embarks on a Christmas break trip that is chock-full of surprises, including a charming village, an opulent palace, family mysteries, royal jealousies, a handsome young member of Parliament--and the chance at a real fairy tale romance with a happily-ever-after ending.
A Second Christmas Wish
by Kathryn Freeman
Melissa Raven has long given up on fairy-tale Christmases.
She’s taken her seven-year-old son William and left her good-for-nothing husband. Now all she wants is to keep her little boy safe and leave their painful memories behind.
But it breaks her heart to see how painfully shy William is. So to bring him out of his shell, Melissa arranges for some tennis lessons. With Daniel, a former Grand Slam champion no less.
Daniel's certainly easy on the eyes, but the last thing she expects is the instant sparks that fly between them. And the back-and-forth flirtation beats any tennis rally.
Daniel has fallen hard for her, but Melissa has been let down time and time again. She no longer believes in happy endings. How does she know that this time will be any different?
If she can only find the courage to open her heart, maybe she and William can find the true magic of Christmas with Daniel at their side. Can all their wishes finally come true?
She’s taken her seven-year-old son William and left her good-for-nothing husband. Now all she wants is to keep her little boy safe and leave their painful memories behind.
But it breaks her heart to see how painfully shy William is. So to bring him out of his shell, Melissa arranges for some tennis lessons. With Daniel, a former Grand Slam champion no less.
Daniel's certainly easy on the eyes, but the last thing she expects is the instant sparks that fly between them. And the back-and-forth flirtation beats any tennis rally.
Daniel has fallen hard for her, but Melissa has been let down time and time again. She no longer believes in happy endings. How does she know that this time will be any different?
If she can only find the courage to open her heart, maybe she and William can find the true magic of Christmas with Daniel at their side. Can all their wishes finally come true?
After a bad breakup, Cerys Davies swaps the familiar shores of Wales for a fresh start in an enchanting village in the South Downs.
So Cerys throws herself into her newfound community, opening a quaint craft shop-tea room and helping launch the village's first festive craft fair.
But she’s soon tangled in a web of emotions. She’s fallen head over heels for Lovely Sam, the dishy owner of the local pub . . . within the first ten minutes of meeting him. It’s too bad he’s firmly in the clutches of Awful Belinda.
Now.
For five long years, Cerys has held a candle for Lovely Sam.
But she won’t let it get her down. As her fifth Christmas in Padcock approaches, there’s a magic in the air . . . Could this be the year that Cerys's wishes finally come true?
This Christmas might just be the one she’s been waiting for — filled with the joy of love and fresh starts . .
26 Ways to Come Home For The Holidays
by Jennifer Joy
As the group races to complete the store's twenty-six 'Home for the Holidays'-themed Christmas windows, Stella is stunned to discover that Hector is newly single and realizes the feelings she’d buried for him long ago may run deeper than she ever imagined. Dodging a baker who's sweet on her, the store kiss-up who's after her job, and the store owner who wants an early preview — Stella has more than enough to worry about without her love life adding to the mix. But with the ribbon-cutting approaching (and the news of Hector's epic bachelor status swirling through the store), Stella realizes that telling him how she feels might be now or never, even if it means risking losing him entirely.
by Kiley Dunbar
For years the gingerbread exhibition drew visitors from across the region and each year the model town grew more elaborate and ambitious but recently, interest has been dwindling. The gingerbread grotto needs to be rehomed or close forever.
Sixty-four-year-old Margi, the event’s founder, has had enough of village life (and its total lack of eligible men) and is planning to sell up and head to Birmingham to live closer to her niece.
She has lost her spark and her Christmas spirit and decides this will be her last gingerbread village, but despairs when she finds her only support is her old friend, Izzy, her niece Lucy from Birmingham, and Fern, the shy young farmer’s daughter. Oh, and Patrick, the gorgeous, reliable school caretaker.
As if this wasn’t enough, Lucy is determined to get her out dating again and persuades her to try some online dating apps but Margi’s had her heart broken too many times and wonders if she has just missed her chance.
Can they save the Gingerbread Grotto and can Margi get her old spark and her Christmas spirit back?
by Lindsay Gibson
To save her job, she finds herself in the beautifully festive New England coastal town of Seabreeze, the setting of the painting. When a nor’easter blows through, she’s stuck at the adorable Cove Hill Inn, all decorated for the holiday and brimming with Christmas magic. While it’s not an awful place to be snowed in, her ability to work is at a standstill, with the gala looming closer.
And she isn’t expecting to meet the innkeeper’s soon, ruggedly handsome Aiden Bennett, a distraction she definitely doesn’t need. Even the inn’s cherry scones and the town’s Christmas fair are no match for Aiden’s charm.
However, when she uncovers a family secret that could impact everyone, including herself and Aiden, it might shake up more than just the holiday. Under the shimmer of the town twinkle lights and the snow-covered Christmas trees, will Charlotte find the answers she’s looking for? Or has she unearthed something else entirely?
A Very Merry Manhattan Christmas
by Darcie Boleyn
This is a perfect romantic, escapist read to curl up with this Christmas, ideal for fans of Sue Moorcroft and Mandy Baggot.
Sixty-year-old Alexandra started out early Christmas Eve 1639 to make the day-long walk from Jamestown, Virginia, to her niece's house in Wolstenholme. She never made it. Instead, as she weaved her way through the woods, she found herself back in her hometown of Canterbury, England, just in time to become entangled with Parliament's ban on Christmas Celebrations, England's civil war, and a long-lost love.
In 1982, Alexandra's journal calls to seventeen-year-old Marley Winters in her small town in the Mountains of Virginia. Dealing with her mother's illness and the problem of paying for college, the journal helps Marley find the key to her future as well as her past.
A Christmas Redo: Not just a holiday romance
by Nola Jackson
Macy tried to be the best mom possible, considering what life hurled at her. Through heartache and bad relationships, she swore off men, throwing herself into her one genuine passion: pies. Grandma’s Recipes was born and her saving grace.
The rogue
The only love in Richard’s life was art. His studio closed during the pandemic but Go Ink Yourself thrived. Who knew so many people would want tattoos while their world was upside down.
When enough is enough
To get her younger sister off her case, Macy swore she’d kiss the next guy that walked through her bakery door. Mr. Average was the unlucky man that stood under the mistletoe.
by Melody Carlson
Rescuing You for Christmas
by Judy Leslie
Fortunately, a handsome stranger stops to give her a lift to the cabin she rented. But the place turns out to be a dilapidated building with no electricity.
Matt Holloway is a bachelor who enjoys his space and freedom. But not wanting to abandon Paige in the snow, he reluctantly offers to let her, and her daughter stay with him until Paige’s car is repaired. However, their presence turns his life upside down.
As the snow falls, the fire crackles, and the smell of freshly baked cookies fills the air, a connection forms that neither Paige nor Matt can ignore. But a holiday fling is not what they want, and Paige has a daughter to consider. Besides, there’s no way Matt is getting involved with a city gal. He understands the risks of giving in to his growing desires.
Paige is leaving on Christmas day, and then they will return to their old lives. That’s what they both want—or at least that’s what they keep telling themselves.
Set against the backdrop of the magical winter wonderland of the mountains of Leavenworth, Washington, this charming Christmas story will have you curling up with a cup of cider by the fireplace, dreaming of being snowed in with someone you find irresistible.
Fairytale of New York
by Zoë Folbigg
As Christmas approaches, she is New York bound, to be reunited with boyfriend Harry after work has kept them apart.
But once she lands, Harry is nowhere to be found…
There’s no hand-drawn sign with her name being brandished at the gate. No answer from Harry's phone. And all at once, Charlie’s worst fears come true.
What has happened to Harry? And what should Charlie do now that she’s an ocean away from home?
As Charlie slowly comes to terms with her predicament, she makes a decision. She’s not leaving New York without finding out the truth, and with a little help from her handsome new friend Pete, there might still be a path to happily-ever-after…
by Heather Schneider
When Holly Claus visits a small town in Oregon on one of her normal Cheer-collecting missions, she never imagines that everything she knew about holiday Cheer would be thrown out the sleigh.
Holly has always been efficient in her work of traveling around the world, collecting Cheer to power the North Pole and its dream-making operations there.
But she’s never been quite as good at collecting it as her father was, and she’ll do anything to figure out why- including blending in in a small town full of Cheer.
Local businessman Ash Hayes is working nonstop to build up his tourism business at The Emerald House in rural Oregon, even going so far as to enter the town in a Hallmark competition for Best Small Town Christmas Faire. Driven by a desire to make the town a desirable destination after his mom ran away from Emerald Hollow as a child, Ash feels like he has the future of the whole town riding on his shoulders.
When Ash and Holly meet, sparks fly, but she isn’t looking for love, and he isn’t looking for someone who leaves. Little do they know, magic may kindle love despite their carefully laid plans.
Holly’s arrival in town sets in motion a change in Holly’s Cheer magic that upends everything at the North Pole. If Holly doesn’t get to the bottom of what’s causing all the Cheer in Emerald Hollow, Christmas itself may be at stake.
In this sweet small-town twist on the classic Christmas tale, experience holiday magic like never before.
The Secret History of Christmas Baking: Recipes & Stories from Tomb Offerings to Gingerbread Boys
by Linda Raedisch
Holly has always been efficient in her work of traveling around the world, collecting Cheer to power the North Pole and its dream-making operations there.
But she’s never been quite as good at collecting it as her father was, and she’ll do anything to figure out why- including blending in in a small town full of Cheer.
Local businessman Ash Hayes is working nonstop to build up his tourism business at The Emerald House in rural Oregon, even going so far as to enter the town in a Hallmark competition for Best Small Town Christmas Faire. Driven by a desire to make the town a desirable destination after his mom ran away from Emerald Hollow as a child, Ash feels like he has the future of the whole town riding on his shoulders.
When Ash and Holly meet, sparks fly, but she isn’t looking for love, and he isn’t looking for someone who leaves. Little do they know, magic may kindle love despite their carefully laid plans.
Holly’s arrival in town sets in motion a change in Holly’s Cheer magic that upends everything at the North Pole. If Holly doesn’t get to the bottom of what’s causing all the Cheer in Emerald Hollow, Christmas itself may be at stake.
In this sweet small-town twist on the classic Christmas tale, experience holiday magic like never before.
The Secret History of Christmas Baking: Recipes & Stories from Tomb Offerings to Gingerbread Boys
by Linda Raedisch
Did you know that the ancient Egyptians had their own version of gingerbread or that marzipan was once considered a pharmaceutical? Linda Raedisch dispels some long-standing culinary myths and delves into the darker chapters of the West's centuries-long romance with sugar and spices. In addition to more than forty recipes for modern bakers, you'll find illustrated instructions for dressing up your cakes and cookie plates with paper stars, angels, and witches. From Linzer tartlets to Christstollen, you can turn your kitchen into an Old World Christmas market stall.
Elf Food: 85 Holiday Sweets & Treats for a Magical Christmas
by Cayla Gallagher
Recipes include:
- Jumbo Ornament Cake
- Elf Cake
- Hot Chocolate Bombs
- 5 Instant Hot Chocolate Mixes
- Holiday Wreath Pavlova
- Classic Gingerbread Men
- The Perfect Gingerbread House
- Plaid Swiss Roll Cake
- Hot Chocolate Cupcakes
- Elf Cupcakes
- Christmas Tree Meringue Pops
- Reindeer Cupcakes
- Hot Chocolate Lasagna
- Mistletoe Shortbread
- Tree Ornament Hot Chocolate Bombs
by RaeAnne Thayne
Griff has mixed feelings about Natalie’s return. She’s just as beautiful and full of life as he remembered, but there’s a secret he’s carried for years about her brother—and the guilt is eating away at him. Still, Christmas in this small town is filled with treasured traditions and new adventures that hold the promise of something sweet and lasting. From matchmaking seniors to rambunctious nieces, it seems everyone is hoping Nat and Griff will put loss behind them and find a happy new beginning…
by Jenny Colgan
Carmen Hogan, the bookshop’s manager, is amused and a bit horrified by the goings-on, but the money the studio is paying is too good to pass up. She uses the little windfall from filming to create new displays and fend off a buyout offer from an obnoxious millionaire who wants to turn McCredie’s into a souvenir shop selling kilts made in China and plastic Nessies. Still reeling slightly from a breakup, Carmen’s not particularly looking forward to the holidays. But just as snow begins to fall and the lights of Christmas blink on, all sorts of lovely new possibilities present themselves…for McCredie’s bookstore, and for Carmen herself.
The Nightmare Before Christmas: The Official Baking Cookbook
by Sandy K. Snugly
Featuring recipes inspired by fan-favorite characters and bursting with beautiful photography of delicious dishes, this baking cookbook is a must-have for any Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas fan!
55 DEVILISHLY GOOD RECIPES: More than 55 baked goods and desserts inspired by Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas
INSPIRING PHOTOS: Vibrant, stunning photos of finished recipes help ensure success
RECIPES FOR ALL SKILL LEVELS: With accessible step-by-step instructions and helpful baking tips, Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas: The Official Baking Cookbook is a great guide for fans of any skill level, from kitchen novices to seasoned bakers
The Twelve Months of Christmas
by Sheila Roberts
The whole Christmas season has been a bust all around. But Sunny and Arianna have a wild idea: What if they had a Christmas do-over in January? February? On Saint Patrick’s Day?
Christmas all year long—what could that look like? As these three determined women chase the perfect holiday through twelve months of cooking disasters, over-the-top festivity, and lots of laughter and tears, they’ll discover perfection is way overrated.
The Christmas Orphans Club
by Becca Freeman
But now, when Finn announces a move to L.A., this Christmas may be their last. Hannah is terrified of losing the family she’s built for herself, even as her boyfriend nudges her toward commitment. Meanwhile, Finn struggles with the things he’s about to leave behind—namely, his unexpressed feelings for Theo. Does growing up mean growing apart? This Christmas the changes these friends fear may be exactly what they need. . . .
by Mary Kay Andrews
In the weeks leading into Christmas, Kerry quickly becomes close with the charming neighbors who live near their stand. When an elderly neighbor goes missing, Kerry will need to combine her country know-how with her newly acquired New York knowledge to protect the new friends she’s come to think of as family,
And complicating everything is Patrick, a single dad raising his adorable, dragon-loving son Austin on this quirky block. Kerry and Patrick’s chemistry is undeniable, but what chance does this holiday romance really have?
Filled with family ties, both rekindled and new, and sparkling with Christmas magic, BRIGHT LIGHTS, BIG CHRISTMAS delivers everything Mary Kay Andrews fans adore, all tied up in a hilarious, romantic gem of a novel.
by Leslie Meier
Twenty-some years ago, Lucy Stone arrived in Tinker Cove, Maine, and discovered her knack for solving mysteries. It happened when she met Miss Tilly, the town librarian, whose mother took a fatal fall down the basement stairs one Christmas Eve. The “accident” left a cloud of suspicion on Miss Tilly’s father—and a slew of other suspects . . .
The only clue was a glass candy cane found smashed to bits by the victim’s body. Now, as she unlocks the doors of Christmas past, Lucy must learn the mystery of the glass candy cane to expose secrets, scandal—and a killer who got away with murder . . .
The only clue was a glass candy cane found smashed to bits by the victim’s body. Now, as she unlocks the doors of Christmas past, Lucy must learn the mystery of the glass candy cane to expose secrets, scandal—and a killer who got away with murder . . .
A Very Prairie Christmas Bakebook: Cookies, Candies, Cakes & More: Vintage Baking to Celebrate the Festive Season
by Karlynn Johnston
- Traditional family recipes: inspire memory-making for you and yours with sweets like Traditional Whipped Shortbread, Divinity Candy, and Auntie Darlene’s Dark Whisky Fruitcake
- Home-grown Prairie desserts: treats like Millionaire’s Shortbread and the Marshmallow Yule Log warm the soul when the Prairies turn into a winter wonderland
- The ultimate cookie exchange guide: pick up tips for hosting and baking the best cookies to swap, like Cherry Snowballs and Gumdrop Cookies
- Cocktails and punches: get the Christmas party started with drinks like the Retro Sherbert Party Punch and the Perfect Christmas Crantini
- Ukrainian Christmas dishes: learn Karlynn’s family's traditional recipes, like Pampushky and Kutia
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