December is the perfect month to read some holiday books! They are often short, feel-good stories that put me right in the Christmas spirit! If you’re looking for some holiday reads this month, here’s a list of 12 good holiday books!
A Christmas Memory is loosely based on Evans’ own childhood. A young boy is faced with a very lonely life after his parents separate, forcing his mother to move them from California to her family’s old home in Utah. Her depression leads to many days where he doesn’t have to go to school and he spends his days wandering the property. He eventually meets an older man who is almost as lonely. An unlikely friendship leads to serious consequences for his whole family. I’d highly recommend this book – not just around the holidays.
Buy A Christmas Memory here!
Carrie Clayton wants to be a serious journalist, but she is stuck on the society page unless she can find and interview the elusive Alaskan author, Finn Dalton. She follows the trail and finds him, only to get stranded in his cabin with him for two days. While each are set against falling for anyone, they can’t help but connect on a starry night. Can she keep her promise not to publish an article about him?
Buy Starry Night here!
Luther and Nora Krank are facing a Christmas that will be a little bit lonely. Their only daughter is going to another country to serve in the Peace Corps and will not be home. As the hustle and bustle of the season starts, Luther has an idea. They can “skip Christmas” by going on a cruise. But, the rules are that they cannot participate in any of the Christmas activities, including putting a giant inflatable on their house and buying a tree from the Boy Scouts.
Buy Skipping Christmas here.
Read the full review here.
Who would you have been if you had lived in Israel when Jesus was alive? How would you have reacted to the story of the shepherd’s vision of angels? Would you join a caravan of wise men from afar following a star? Would you travel from place to place for a glimpse of the man who does miracles? How would you react to His arrest and crucifixion? And, what kind of despair would you fall into if you never heard that He had risen from the dead? Those are the questions addressed in Immortal Nicholas.
Buy Immortal Nicholas here.
Read the full review here.
Tom, a freelance writer, boards a train to travel across the country in hopes to both write an article and figure out what he wants to do in life. He found love once, but lost it 10 years ago – until he opens a door and there she stands. Eleanor recognizes Tom right away and wishes the door had stayed closed. They had worked together as writers after college, hoping to change to world for the better. As time takes them on assignments around the globe, Eleanor starts to crave the safety of home while Tom seeks dangerous assignments. The relationship ends and while they both thought of each other, neither sought the other out.
Buy The Christmas Train here.
Read the full review here.
A short and funny Christmas read, The Shepherd, the Angel, and Walter the Christmas Miracle Dog is a story I won’t soon forget. Doug Barnes tells the story of the Christmas when he’s a shepherd in the church pageant and his dog dies. It’s a feel good and funny Christmas story told in Dave Barry’s signature style.
Buy The Shepherd, the Angel, and Walter the Christmas Miracle Dog here!
Sometimes things happen in our lives that can’t be explained other than by some kind of magic. When Joy survives a plane crash, she finds herself wanting to hide away from the world for a while and she stumbles away from the crash site to a cabin. There, a boy and his father are rebuilding their relationship after the boy’s mother died. The father had left them years ago, but wants to make sure his son is loved. Joy helps them until she is forced to return to reality. Then, the magic happens.
Buy Comfort & Joy here.
How does a grieving family deal with Christmas? Joy is replaced with pain and smiles with tears. One family in Dayton, Ohio, deals with just that during the Christmas season of 1999. Rick, the husband and father, dies of a heart attack after putting off surgery so they could enjoy the holidays together. Knowing that and his not being there puts the mom and oldest son not wanting to even celebrate. The two other children still want to see the magic of Christmas come alive. Then, a present is found on their porch that changes everything.
Buy The 13th Gift here.
Read the full review here.
Hope was adopted by a woman who found her left in a diner booth a few days after Christmas. As a grown woman, she loses her adoptive mother to cancer and then has her apartment robbed. But, left behind by someone is a jar full of change and small bills. Using her journalistic talents, she tracks down the story behind the jar full of change and finds out others have gotten them, too, through the years – all around Christmas. This story inspired our family to start our own Christmas Jar! The book has a very good message.
Buy Christmas Jars here!
Isaac is determined to convince his older brother to ask his pretty teacher on a date. However, Amish traditions are held tightly in his family and his brother wants to be sure. Isaac tries and tries to find ways for his brother to spend time with his teacher and just as he’s about to give up, the annual Christmas program provides the perfect opportunity.
Buy The Little Amish Matchmaker here.
Ashley Davison wants to get home to Seattle for Christmas, but can’t buy a plane ticket. When she tries to get a rental car, she finds it’s the last one, but she’s not old enough to rent it. The man behind her is and he also wants to get to Seattle for a job interview. They decide to share the ride, not knowing that the real reason Ashley can’t buy a ticket is that the feds think she is on the Do Not Fly list – and they’re after her!
Buy Dashing Through the Snow here.
I can finally add one of my own books to a Christmas list – The Cookie Connection!
A single gourmet cookie destroyed one relationship and started another.
Breaking up over a cookie seems drastic, but Julie couldn’t stand Nick’s attitude anymore – and he stole her cookie. Her only hope for romance for the holidays is the green-eyed stranger who gave her the cookie that was stolen.
Springfield, Ohio, is a small town and when they meet again, Julie is free to see where it might lead. Right before Christmas, she finds out he’s been keeping secrets from her. She must decide if he’s worth the wait and the risk.
Buy The Cookie Connection here.
What holiday books look interesting to you? Do you have any favorites? Share on them below!
Print the 12 Books of Christmas list as a handy reference!
