Yes, it is January. I happily just finished a Christmas story and will be watching all the Hallmark movies from this past Christmas season through the month. I have discovered some new Christmas novellas, some of which have their own blog posts already, over the past weeks. This post, though, is for the few stories I have read and not yet shared about. And since today is considered the “Twelfth Night” (before the feast of Epiphany), I thought it appropriate to share now!
(I don’t observe the 12 days of Christmas or Christmastide schedule, but I do think it’s a fun idea!)
Without further ado, here are the Christmas stories I have enjoyed this year with a few thoughts on each. (Titles link to Goodreads)
Bespoke: A Tiny Christmas Tale (Espoir Archives #1) by Amanda Dykes
This is one short story that I was caught up in… with such lyrical writing and intriguing characters, I was hooked from the first hint of a secret in the prologue. My favorite things about it were the music!, the growth exhibited by the main characters, and the era. I absolutely LOVED that the setting was so immersive… though a definite year is never noted, it is clearly a historical novel and felt timeless because it was never specific (though hinted).
Letters Home: A Christmas Short Story by Rachelle Rea Cobb
This is a sweet and poetic short story in letter form. If you have read the Steadfast Love series, it is a wonderful companion story OR a great prequel that sets up and shows a different perspective on some of the events in that trilogy. I do hope Rachelle has more bookish plans for these characters!
His Mistletoe Miracle (Sugar Creek #3) by Jenny B. Jones
A FUN and hilarious romantic novel that also balanced a meaningful message of growth and even the fallout of a traumatic experience. With plenty of snarky, laugh-out-loud moments, Will and Cordelia navigate their newfound pretend “relationship” through holiday traditions and family gatherings, all the while really getting to know each other and prodding each other toward greater purpose. I hope to catch up on the rest of the “Sugar Creek” stories soon!
The Christmas Heirloom: Four Holiday Novellas of Love Through the Generations
Legacy of Love by Kristi Ann Hunter
Delightful and a nice start to the series, I especially enjoyed seeing the characters learn their worth and find an unexpected connection in this story.
Gift of the Heart by Karen Witemeyer
Though this was a novella, I thought it a well fleshed-out story in a very believable timeline. With Karen’s usual humor and endearing characters, this story takes a hero who would consider himself unlikely and pairs him with a darling little girl and a strong woman who never expected a second chance at love.
A Shot at Love by Sarah Loudin Thomas
I laughed out loud more than once while reading this story. Fleeta’s penchant for outshooting the boys was hilarious and an outward show of her fortitude. I liked Hank as her match, a man who respected her and was equal to the challenge of showing her his care. I really liked the setting of 1950s Appalachia, too.
Because of You by Becky Wade
This novella ties in to Becky’s “Bradford Sisters Romance” series in setting. Besides the fun cameos of familiar characters, this story wonderfully concluded the collection with a friendship-to-romance plot that touched on the nostalgia of the season but focused more on the joy in serving. It also handled themes of grief in a very real and tangible way, having both Leo and Maddie come to terms with honoring the past and choosing joy and good things for the future. It ended with great possibility, not with everything worked out. and I liked that.
Thanks to Netgalley for the review copy. This is my honest review.
Christmas Cake Kisses by Lena Goldfinch
This short story is just as sweet as its title implies. I adore the cover and the Victorian setting, and I really liked the time spent with the characters. Arabella and Malcolm learn more about one another and grow closer, even through a misunderstanding. I could have read a whole novel about them!
An epic start to this series! I was pulled in to the action from the very beginning! With characters easy to like and root for, this is a story of drama and danger with a very personal message of rescue and help at its center. I loved seeing Stevie learn how forgiveness is possible and for both her and Tucker to know that together is a good thing, whether it be in the form of God on your side, backup close by, or even navigating life with another person.
Another installment of action and suspense in the wilderness! Picking up during the events of book 1, Susan May Warren cleverly overlaps the stories, offering more detail through point of view and telling a more complex story. Oh, the chemistry! In the middle of the drama a connection between Rio and Skye is so evident. And the darkness vs light, the God being ON YOUR SIDE theme is continued…. proving that HE can provide right where you are.
This is my favorite of the series. 🙂 Some Like It Hot had a few twists out of nowhere, which made it all the more interesting to see how Riley and Larke would handle and respond to their circumstances as all the excitement unfolded. It wasn’t all action, though, as this story took possibly the deepest emotional turns and had both Riley and Larke coming to terms with what it means to be a hero, the risk it takes to love, and the way God abandons everything to bring us to Him. And Riley! Talk about a fun hero — he’s such a flirt on the outside but I loved seeing the way Larke brings out his protective and heroic side, especially when her own struggles and attraction complicate everything. The series is wonderfully and nicely wrapped up with this final novella, but I DO hope Susan has more in store for this team in the future!
The Green Mockingbird 