It’s that time of year when some people like to cozy up and watch all of the holiday movies on TV. I’m not really that sort of person. Although, I do catch bits and pieces of holiday movies-past, so I must have been at some point! And I did watch Love Actually for the first time when my husband was out of town a couple of weeks ago.

But last year was the first year that I read books to get help get in the mood for the holidays. Here are the ones I read, followed by the ones I’ve been reading this year and a few lists of holiday books around the web…

 

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Skipping Christmas
by John Grisham (fiction) – worth a read

 

I didn’t think the protagonist’s idea to skip Christmas was so bad – to steal away the holiday on a cruise ship someplace warm… Although, he does take the idea a bit to the extreme. I nice heartfelt ending.

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The Dogs of Christmas
by W. Bruce Cameron (fiction) – must read

 

If you’ve read any of my book reviews, you know I’m a fan of Cameron’s books. This story is not written from the point of view of a dog, but of a young man. And it’s worth all the feels of the holiday season.

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Light Boxes
by Shane Jones (fiction) – skip

This winter tale is very, very strange. It was on a recommended reading list somewhere; and when I couldn’t find it at my library, I took to ThriftBooks and PaperbackSwap to retrieve a copy. It might have a cult following because when I was through reading it, it was quickly picked up by another PaperbackSwap participant! So, while creative and other-worldly, it just wasn’t my type of book.

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Winter Wonderland
by Belinda Jones (fiction) – must read!

 

Isn’t that cover just lovely?! This is a great book to read after the New Year settles in and you are still stuck in the throes of winter. It takes place in Quebec, where Rob and I had the opportunity to visit the summer previously! I can hardly believe I’m saying this, but this is the first work of fiction that made we want to visit a cold weather destination in winter. I liked reminiscing about some of the places we, too, visited in Quebec City; but also picturing them during all of the winter festivities. It’s got travel and romance and silliness and was a book that made me smile and lift me up when I was experiencing a bit of the winter blues. It is also a book I’ve kept on my bookshelf because it is one I will re-read!

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Here’s my line-up of what I’ve been reading this holiday season:

• The Deal of a Lifetime – Fredrik Backman (author of A Man Called Ove) – Must read! It’s a quick one, too.
• Pride, Prejudice & Mistletoe – Melissa de la Cruz – Skip. You know the story; but if you like a modern re-telling…
• Christmas in Paris – Anita Hughes – Worth a read. A little elitist, but I loved the lead male character and imagining being in Paris this time of year.
• The Shepherd, the Angel and Walter the Christmas Miracle Dog – Dave Barry – Worth a read. Another quick read that’ll make you smile.

And on deck:

• A Lowcountry Christmas – Mary Alice Monroe – We visited Charleston this year, so maybe I’ll get the same giddy feeling like I did thinking back about Quebec?
• The Twelve Dogs of Christmas – Andy Carpenter – I might only have time for one of these two Christmas books. Which one would you choose?
• Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk – Kathleen Rooney – Not a holiday book, but I read somewhere that it was recommended to read over the New Year.

And here are some holiday book lists I’ve found around the web:

• 17 Best Books on Christmas to Read this Holiday Season
• 27 New Books to Get You in the Holiday Spirit
• Books that will get you in the Christmas Spirit
• 12 Books that Will Definitely Get you in the Holiday Spirit
• 11 Books to Read Over Winter

What are your favorite holiday books?
What types of books do you like to read in the dead of winter?

With my sporadic posting as of late, I’d like to wish you a Merry Christmas and joyous New Year in advance. See you on the other side!

Cheers~
Carrie