I do love the idea of seasonal reading: beach reads for summer, dark academia for fall, supernatural tales for October and then of course, we have Christmas books for December. This year, I managed to read 5 books that are set around Christmas (and it is not the end of December yet!). Below I am including the five titles and their brief summaries. Some of them are better than others, but overall, I was glad to have read some holiday-themed stories. These are listed in the order that I read them.
1. A Nantucket Christmas by Nancy Thayer
This novella was my favorite out of this bunch, and it is probably because it is the most Christmassy of all. It is set right before Christmas on the island of Nantucket in Massachusetts. There are plentiful descriptions of Christmas decorations and foods. The weather is also very wintry. In addition, the book revolves around a rather engaging family drama, and there is also a puppy in need of a home. Overall, it was cozy and heartwarming. I gave it 4 out of 5 stars.
2. A Holiday by Gaslight by Mimi Matthews
This was my second book by this author, and so far I have enjoyed her writing. She writes wholesome clean romances set in Victorian England. This particular novella is no exception. It is a Victorian romance and will appeal to Elizabeth Gaskell's fans. I definitely got distinct North and South vibes while reading it. Could we also take a moment to appreciate this cover? It is festive and absolutely beautiful. This was a 5-star read for me.
3. A Christmas Gathering by Anne Perry
Anne Perry is quite a prolific mystery writer, so if you like mysteries, chances are you have heard of or read some of her books. This was my second book by this author. She apparently has quite a number of Christmas mysteries. The plot itself was not anything gripping. However, Perry is a master of writing characters. Even though it is a novella and is just over 200 pages long, Perry manages to paint very well fleshed-out main characters with enough background for the reader to feel immersed in the story. It is a closed-circle mystery set in the 1930s in England. There is not a lot emphasis on festivities even though the party has assembled at a country manor house for the purpose of celebrating Christmas. I gave this book 3 out of 5 stars. I am frankly much more fascinated by Anne Perry's personal history than by her work. If you don't know, at the age of 15 she and her close friend murdered the friend's mother. Perry served 5 years in prison for her role in the murder and then changed her name. The truth about her past was not revealed until the 1990s when a movie was made based on this incident.
4. Mistletoe and Mr. Right by Sarah Morgenthaler
This is a quintessential holiday romance, similar to the Hallmark channel movies. It is set in a fictional town of Moose Springs, Alaska, and focuses on the budding relationship between Lana Montgomery, whose family owns pretty much all businesses in town, and Rick Harding, the owner of a local pub. The author apparently has a series of books all set in this town. Each book features a different couple. This particular one is book 2 in the series but you can definitely read them out of order. I gave this book 3 out of 5 stars. I listened to the audiobook and I highly recommend this format.
5. One Day in December by Josie Silver
This book is a contemporary second-chance romance set in the UK. Laurie and Jack see each other very briefly one December evening when she glances out from a crowded bus and sees him outside at a bus stop. All they do is look at each other but at that moment she inexplicably feels a deep connection or a recognition and resolves to find him. She eventually does meet him in person, when her best friend and roommate Sarah introduces him to her as her boyfriend and the love of her life. The book is not really centered on or around Christmas. In fact, we follow Laurie and Jack for a number of years while they wind their way back to each other. At times, this book really frustrated me, at other times, I really did not like Jack as a character. In the end, what I really loved about the book is the ending. It is magical and truly worth the read. 4 out of 5 stars.
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