The most wonderful time of the year has begun on my blog! I share my Christmas Book Picks in early November so that my blog readers will have plenty of time to read some titles from the list during the holiday season. You’ll find my picks listed in the order I read them.

Readers:
Don’t miss the additional Christmas reads to pick up at the end of the list, along with the bottom link to more Book Awards posts.
Authors:
If you’d like a medal for making the list, head toward the bottom of this post.

Small Things Like These
Claire Keegan
•
Literary Fiction
(some swearing; theme of abuse)

An Irish family man, and his disturbing discovery in the town church.
In this particular novella, the story set during Christmastime isn’t of the merry and bright variety. Yet, even through this fairly dark literary work, the few manifest sparks of light ultimately lead to a low but effective flame. That intentional measure of light is compelling—affirming in its presence. So is the hope.

A Christmas Party That Prevented a Split in the Church
Margaret Black
•
Vintage Fiction | Humor
(Gentle Read)

The women of a village church prepare for the arrival of a new, young minister—who happens to be single.
In a collection called A Treasury of African American Christmas Stories, I found this short and humorous holiday tale from 1916. And it had me laughing out loud! Like, “Huh. So, this story was written more than a century ago? Goodness. Church folk stay bein’ church folk.” At the same time, enough in the story can easily apply to various communities in general. A delightful read!

Letters from Father Christmas
J.R.R. Tolkien
•
Vintage Short Stories
(some fantasy war violence)

For more than twenty years, Tolkien’s children received letters and pictures from the North Pole!
What an imaginative, clever, super-cute, and rather hilarious collection. Father Nicholas Christmas, North Polar Bear, and Ilbereth the secretary elf are something else! The collection also has bittersweet aspects that tugged on my entire heart. How fortunate that countless people of different generations are yet getting the chance to enjoy these wonderful messages and drawings from a Tolkien family tradition.

The Paper Bag Christmas
Kevin Alan Milne
•
Inspirational Fiction
(Gentle Read)

Two young brothers. The task of volunteering at a hospital. And the unexpected gift of friendship.
I appreciate that this story illustrates how simply being, say, a sick child, a healthcare professional, a professing Christian, or a celebrator of Christmas doesn’t automatically make a person wise, kind, or compassionate. No matter a person’s position or circumstances, good character has to be developed. This book brought me some laughter and a few tears as it portrayed the enduring worth of friendship and family.

Silver Bells and Secrets
Laura Rollins
•
Regency Romance
(Gentle Read)

He’s in love with the woman he secretly corresponds with. But she’s set her cap at someone else.
As I recall, I didn’t check out the plot in the blurb before picking up this novella. The cover and the title secured my interest. I found this to be entertaining reading where the conflict isn’t too dramatic or angsty. And the two main characters both have an easy quality, with simple but believable chemistry between them. This quick read nicely delivers on love blossoming at Christmastime.

Christmas at Thompson Hall
Anthony Trollope
•
Vintage Fiction | Humor
(Gentle Read)

Mrs. Brown is eager to get to her family’s home in England by Christmas Eve—but her husband needs to be mustard plastered first.
I’d not heard of this author before I found this mid-Victorian Christmas novella: a quirky little comedy of errors that gave me some laugh-out-loud moments. Mrs. Brown’s reasoning throughout her predicament and her resulting mishmash of emotions effectively reflect how folks sometimes wind up making—and compounding upon—silly mix-ups. I’ll likely look up this new-to-me author again the next time I go searching for vintage Christmas reads.

You can pick up free Kindle copies of some of my past Christmas Book Picks below! (The Kindle book covers will vary.) Be sure to double-check the prices before downloading.

The Christmas Angel
A lonely woman decides to prove that the Christmas spirit is a humbug.
•

Bespoke: A Tiny Christmas Tale
To give her composer father one last gift, she’ll need the help of the childhood friend she lost.
•

The Story of the Other Wise Man
His way becomes profound in his quest to find the King.

This holiday season, her plan for [no] dates is in full swing!
•
Now is a great time to pick up a copy of this jolly, “just kisses” friends-to-lovers romance, one of my funnest little books to write:
Celebrating Solo?
It’s available as a standalone and also in a collection of contemporary love stories,
Love by the Breather: Four Romantic Reads.

Congratulations, authors, and thank you for writing your books! If I’ve selected yours as a Christmas Pick, you’re welcome to a complimentary medal to display on your website, blog, social media—wherever you wish. Click the image below and contact me to receive a full size PNG medal. Thanks again!

Coming Up:

Favorite Covers 2024
Monday, November 11th
•
Favorite Reads 2024
Friday, November 15th
•
Noteworthy Reads 2024
Monday, November 18th
•
Favorite Book Titles 2024
Friday, November 22nd

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More Book Awards Posts

I received a complimentary copy of one of these books for an honest review, which you’ll find in the post I’ve linked to.

The most wonderful time of the year has begun on my blog! I share my Christmas Book Picks in early November so that my blog readers will have plenty of time to read some titles from the list during the holiday season. You’ll find my picks listed in the order I read them.

Readers: Don’t miss the additional Christmas reads to pick up at the end of the list!
Authors of my Christmas Book Picks: If you’d like a medal for making the list, see the bottom of this post.

The Berenstain Bears Meet Santa Bear
Stan and Jan Berenstain
•
Children’s Picture Book

Sister Bear is in for a lesson about the true meaning of Christmas.
Does this pick take you back? In true Berenstain fashion, the situation in this chuckle-worthy, delightful story is relatable, and the characters (both the little ones and the adults) are believable, regular folks. Like countless other cubs/kids out there, Sister isn’t perfect—but she’s pretty good. And the lesson she learns is real-deal and precious. A warm family tale from one of the most memorable series from my childhood!

Secret Santa
Robert Tate Miller
Beth Polson
•
Holiday Fiction
(Gentle Read)

This reporter is determined to find out and expose the identity of a benevolent stranger.
Yup! Maybe aside from its lack of a strong emphasis on romance (not a downside, in my book), this short Christmas novel is pretty much what you’d expect its Christmas-TV-movie material to be. It’s got that “curl up on a cozy couch with a hot cup of cocoa” feel—along with a bundle of humor and a wonderful climax and conclusion. The stuff that rediscovering the spirit of Christmas is made of.

A Match-Made Christmas
Susanne Dietze
•
Christian Historical Romance

Yuletide. An expected betrothal. And a Star of Wonder necklace gone missing.
Here we have a historical ChristFic romance novella with a thread of mystery. I liked the heroine Celeste best, with her compassion, strong purpose, sense of humor, and her dash of grit blended with her grace. She and the hero Bennet have a natural way with each other, a camaraderie I appreciated. Their story is a lovely illustration of the wonderful season that gives so many people “a desire to feel more,” as Celeste would say.

Mrs. Mayberry Meets Her Match
Susan Page Davis
•
Christian Historical Romance

Before she retires from matchmaking, she wants to serve one more customer.
I was quite drawn to the fact that this historical ChristFic romance novella features a couple in their autumn years. Their journey has a simplicity and down-to-earth sweetness about it. Pleasant to read about, not too corny or saccharine. I found this to be an easy and agreeable holiday tale overall, and this—my first read by this author—won’t be my last.

Fair Mountain Christmas
Heidi Eljarbo
•
Historical Fiction
(Gentle Read)

Her winter writing retreat becomes an emotionally challenging encounter.
This tale set in the 1970s is an easily paced read with plenty of contemplative moments. While it certainly gets romantic, I’d say that family is this story’s key focus. The emotional quality is real and relatable without being overdone. And at least a time or two, the story sort of snuck up on me when it twinged my heart. Even while it deals with a prominent theme of grief, this novella is warm and inviting with its own kind of Christmas magic.

A Royal Christmas
Melody Carlson
•
Christian Fiction

This American law student finds out she’s related to a European king.
As I’m quite a fan of Christmas royalty flicks, I was immediately sold when I saw this novella’s cover. The story is uplifting, easy reading infused with holiday warmth and sparkle, and it includes a thread of suspense—a side of the story that highlights the heroine’s strength. Other lovers of modern-day royalty fairy tales should check out this wholesome, entertaining one.

Entries for 2023’s Christmas Book Picks giveaway are now closed, but comments on the post are remaining open.

Giveaway is open to U.S. residents and mailing addresses only in the contiguous U.S., Alaska, and Hawaii. Entrants must be 18 years of age or older. One randomly determined winner will be notified by email on Wednesday, November 15, 2023. If the winner does not respond by Thursday, November 16, 2023, a different entrant will be selected. Add p[dot]prospects[at]live[dot]com to your address book to ensure that a giveaway notification isn’t sent to your junk mail/spam box. For additional giveaway terms, see the Blog Giveaways and Giveaway Privacy information on my Policies page. Entering the giveaway indicates your agreement to the terms.

Click the book covers below to pick up free Kindle copies of some of my past Christmas Book Picks. Be sure to double-check the prices before downloading!

  

A glorious reunion. An early gift. A new season of love.
Now’s a great time to pick up a copy of my newest holiday love story,
A Christmas So Real.

Congratulations, authors, and thank you for writing your books! If I’ve selected yours as a Christmas Pick, you’re welcome to a complimentary medal to display on your website, blog, social media—wherever you wish. Click the image below and contact me to receive a full size PNG medal. Thanks again!

I received complimentary copies of some of these books for honest reviews, which you’ll find in the posts I’ve linked to.

The most wonderful time of the year has begun on my blog! I always share my Christmas Book Picks in early November in case any of my blog readers would like to read a title or two from the list during the holiday season. I very much hope you will! You’ll find them listed in the order I read them.

To the authors of my Christmas Picks, if you’d like a medal for making the list, see the bottom of this post.

Theft of the Magi
Miranda Atchley
•
Christian Historical Mystery

December 1922. A lady private eye. And missing gifts.
Because I read this Fiona Clery Mystery novella right after last year’s Christmas Book Picks, I had to wait a year to share it on this list. The wait is over! In keeping with the books before this one, the story not only deals with Fiona’s investigation but also with themes of immigration, prejudice, friendship, family, and a little romance—but in wonderfully Christmassy fashion. It’s also worth it if you’d like to start with the previous two mysteries in the series.

And Both Were Young
Madeleine L’Engle
•
Classic Young Adult Fiction

She’s a shy teenaged artist who meets a French guy by chance…
Although this isn’t exactly a Christmas novel, it’s got a lot of winter going for it, including a wonderful Yuletide. I’ve been so drawn by this rather peculiar story every time I’ve read it since I was twelve because of the heroine: a different, sensitive, creative girl. Someone who has to try all the harder to make it in a social environment with her classmates. So her every triumph in school—whether major or minor—is that much sweeter. It’s uplifting to watch her learn, grow, and experience young love.

Voices of Christmas
Nikki Grimes
Illustrated by Eric Velásquez
•
Biblical Fiction Picture Book

Mary’s wonder. Joseph’s anxiety. And a collection of voices.
What a beautiful storybook this is! Rather than a play-by-play account of the Nativity, it’s a collection of images and voices: brief glimpses into several different people’s perspectives. The pages hold golden text and emotional artwork with the quality of sand, shadows, and light. An ethereal book made for a thoughtful and joyful kind of story time.

A Groom for Altar
Parker J. Cole
•
Christian Historical Romance

A pregnant widow and a former steel driver have a major decision to make.
Here’s another book that isn’t exactly a holiday story, but its inclusion of Christmas and New Year’s Eve—plus that pretty, wintry book cover with its soft glow—compelled me to add this romance to my Yuletide list. The unfolding of the “new family” theme here has plenty of warmth, and after the intriguing prologue gave me cerebral chills, I was pretty amazed later on to find out what it meant. I ate up this novella in a satisfying sitting.

All I Want for Christmas: A Peace Country Story
Talena Winters
•
Contemporary Fiction

Kids like him don’t get anything from Santa—let alone parents.
Confession: Young Trevor here has got more to him and his thinking than I expected he would. He isn’t a cute and cuddly little tyke, but neither is he a dark and defiant porcupine. His imperfections and self-awareness alongside his dreams make him relatable, and his journey isn’t schmaltzy or oversimple. A quick and altogether satisfying holiday read for me.

Dasher
Matt Tavares
•
Fiction Picture Book

This adventurous young reindeer dreams of a different life.
Besides the winter-magic atmosphere set by the wonderful book cover and the intriguing one-word (that is, one-name) title, what most drew me to this book is the fact that Dasher is a girl in this take on Santa’s reindeer. Once I read it, delighting in the full and lovely illustrations, I quite appreciated the family theme. What a warm and uplifting tale!

The Greatest Gift: A Christmas Tale
Philip Van Doren Stern
•
Classic Short Story

Here’s the story that inspired the classic Christmas movie It’s a Wonderful Life.
Yes indeed, the cinematic story of George Bailey and Bedford Falls is one of my all-time favorite movies, and I’ve watched it nearly every year of my life. Still, I’m pleased that as I read The Greatest Gift, I didn’t picture George Pratt as George Bailey. For the most part, I enjoyed this short fantasy fiction tale for what it is: a short fantasy fiction tale. Not just a precursor to a movie. And what George Pratt learns about the life he’s been given is truly a timeless message.

Christmas in Harmony
Philip Gulley
•
Christian Fiction

Here comes a great new idea for the town’s Christmas Eve! Um…maybe?
Not unlike other books in the Harmony series, this holiday novella is ironic. Downright hilarious. And it has a poignant thread running through it that, doggone it, left me with a bona fide tear in my eye. While the story’s style isn’t limited to the warm sentiments reflected in the lovely cover art, it’s altogether warm (and, again, hilarious!) and lovely just the same.

A Quilt for Christmas
Melody Carlson
•
Christian Fiction

A ragtag group of women. A little girl’s ill mother. And a special Christmas request.
A nice amount of substance is packed into this tale, including meaningful backstories for the characters along with the emotional struggles they face. The various moving parts along the characters’ collective journey come together in such a touching way, I found myself blinking away a couple of tears a couple of times. Quite a fitting read for fans of warm and uplifting holiday tales with faith sprinkled in.

Entries for 2022’s Christmas Book Picks giveaway are now closed, but comments on the post are remaining open.

Giveaway is open to U.S. residents and mailing addresses only in the contiguous U.S., Alaska, and Hawaii. Entrants must be 18 years of age or older. One randomly determined winner will be notified by email on Wednesday, November 16, 2022. If the winner does not respond by Thursday, November 17, 2022, a different entrant will be selected. Add p[dot]prospects[at]live[dot]com to your address book to ensure that a giveaway notification isn’t sent to your junk mail/spam box. For additional giveaway terms, see the Blog Giveaways and Giveaway Privacy information on my Policies page. Entering the giveaway indicates your agreement to the terms.

Click the book covers below to pick up free Kindle copies of some of my past Christmas Book Picks. Be sure to double-check the prices before downloading!

Congratulations, authors, and thank you for writing your books! If I’ve selected yours as a Christmas Pick, you’re welcome to a complimentary medal to display on your website, blog, social media—wherever you wish. Click the image below and contact me to receive a full size PNG medal. Thanks again!