Literary Pursuits

My Christmas Reading List

It’s uncharacteristic of me, but I’ve actually started my “Christmas reading season” a little earlier than usual this year. As I’ve mentioned before, I like to read Christmas stories (and watch Hallmark Christmas movies) between Thanksgiving and New Years only. I’m not a fan of starting the Christmas season earlier than that–and forget the “Christmas in July” nonsense. Christmas comes but once a year, which is as it should be!

For some reason, though, I have been sneaking in a Christmas title here and there for the past few weeks. Maybe it’s because Thanksgiving was late this year. Or maybe it’s because my cousin released her Christmas novella, Like a Winter Snow, a few weeks ago and I couldn’t wait to read it.

For your Yuletide reading pleasure here are some titles I’ve recently read or intend to read before Christmas this year. As usual, these are Amazon affiliate links which means I could potentially earn from qualifying purchases.

Like a Winter Snow by Lindsay Harrel

This Christmas novella is a sequel to Lindsay’s full-length novel, The Secrets of Paper and Ink, which came out earlier this year. I didn’t know it until then, but it turns out that Lindsay is my third cousin.

I think novellas are the perfect length for Christmas stories and this one didn’t disappoint. It’s currently on sale for 99 cents or available to read for free if you’re a member of Kindle Unlimited.

A Little House Christmas Treasury by Laura Ingalls Wilder

I’ve been on a Little House kick lately, re-reading the books in the original series and watching the television series on DVD. This book is a compilation of the Christmas stories included in the original series. 

You might also be interested in the “Expanded Little House Reading List” I posted a few weeks ago.

The Crippled Lamb by Max Lucado

I was happy to add this beautifully illustrated picture book to my Christmas book collection when I found it in a Little Free Library last weekend. It’s a very sweet story.

I love visiting Little Free Libraries and I always leave books (if there’s room) but I don’t always find books I want to take home with me, so this was a fun surprise.

An Irish Christmas by Melody Carlson

I’ve enjoyed other Christmas novellas by Melody Carlson and stories set in the mid-20th century always intrigue me, so I decided to give this one a try. It is an interesting story about a widowed mother and her college-age son who decide to travel to Ireland for Christmas, and the secrets that are revealed in the process. It wasn’t particularly Christmas-y, which was okay with me since I read it before Thanksgiving.

It’s currently available on Kindle Unlimited.

The Christmas Cat by Melody Carlson

Here’s another one by Melody Carlson that I haven’t read yet. The premise sounds fun: The hero has to find homes for his recently deceased grandma’s 6 cats without disclosing that they each come with a sizable monetary gift.

I have it queued up on my Kindle to read soon. It’s also currently available on Kindle Unlimited.

Catching Christmas by Terri Blackstock

This is a fun, heartwarming novella about an eccentric, slightly demented little old lady, her cab driver, and her granddaughter. As you can imagine, there is some match-making involved. 

I listened to the audiobook version.

A Royal Christmas Wedding by Rachel Hauck

This one sounds like a Hallmark movie, but I’m a sucker for princess stories so I also have this one queued up on my Kindle. Plus, I’ve enjoyed other books I’ve read by Rachel Hauck.

All is Calm and All is Bright by Colleen Coble

This is a set of two Christmas novellas by another author I’ve been enjoying lately. I’ve just started listening to this set on audiobook.

What books are you reading this Christmas season?

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