Looking for Some Holiday/Winter Reading?

I usually don’t seek out holiday books like I do holiday movies, but this year, I find myself reading to a winter theme. Some are part of cozy mystery series, but you can read them as stand-alone stories. Maybe some will even pique your interest!

The Santa Suit by Mary Kay Andrews ~ After a painful divorce, Ivy and her dog, Punkin, move to a rural farm to begin the adventure of their new life. The discovery of a child’s note in the pocket of a Santa suit in the attic sets Ivy on a mystery that brings her friendship, love, and the life she could only dream about. I’m planning to make this an annual read because it was so lovely and satisfying.

The Skeleton Stuffs a Stocking by Leigh Perry ~ This is the sixth is a series and you just need to know that Sid, the ambulatory skeleton, has been a member of Georgia’s family since she was a little girl. When Byron, the family dog, comes home with a bone that isn’t Sid’s, the mystery of a woman’s buried skeleton touches on Georgia’s family, friends and on again-off again love. Georgia is a fun narrator with a lot of heart and this particular story winds up being a little more emotional than most.

Sugar Plum Poisoned by Jenn McKinlay ~ Another series installment, when an up-and-coming country singer who’s a friend of Angie’s comes to town for a holiday residency at a nearby hotel, she hires Angie and Mel’s bakery to provide cupcakes for the VIP room before her concerts. When her manager dies backstage, it’s up to them plus Angie’s helpful, but chaotic, brothers and the bakery staff, to help Mel’s detective uncle find the killer. I guess mysteries set around the holidays are just more emotional, as this one has a touching ending as well.

Snow Place for Murder by Diane Kelly ~ The third in a series about Misty, who, after an amicable divorce, indulges her dream of owning a mountain lodge. In this one, Misty’s two college-age sons arrive for their winter break and a real estate mogul holds a week-long investor sales event at the lodge. Misty’s curiosity and her need to resolve yet another death in the vicinity of her hotel kick in when someone dies in a seriously weird turn of events. This one had me guessing to the end, and I learned a lot from the crafting of the plot itself. There’s a little romance and a lot of friends and family dynamics, as well as holiday cheer.

The Night Raven by Johan Rundberg ~ This middle grade mystery takes place in Sweden. Mika, a 12-year-old who has lived at the orphanage all her life, gets involved with a police detective named Valdemar Hoff after someone leaves a baby at their door in the bitter cold of a winter’s night. Her powers of observation bring her and Hoff to some very scary places in their pursuit of the truth about a serial killer who seems to have risen from the dead. This definitely isn’t the merriest book in my pile, so you may want to keep this one for later in the winter. It’s a great read, though, and you’ll love the characters. I’m anticipating the next book, coming out in April 2024.

Meet Me in December by Racquel Henry ~ Felicity and Giancarlo have spent six years denying their feelings for each other, building their lives away from their hometown. Brought together again at Christmas by her brother, but still in denial, they set out to solve a romantic mystery involving Felicity’s grandmother. You’ll find yourself rooting for these two sweet characters to clear the air and, finally, get it together. This is a quick read that’s full of misperceptions, love, and fresh starts.

Second Chances in New Port Stephen by TJ Alexander ~ Eli and Nick dated in high school, way before Eli’s transition. For the first time in twenty years, Eli’s in town for the holidays, staying with his painfully well-meaning parents. Eli runs into Nick his first night back and the old sparks fly. Like any great rom-com, Second Chances is filled with crossed wires, romantic gestures gone wild and characters you just want to hug with all your might, especially Eli’s parents and Nick’s daughter and dad. There’s even a little spicy gay sex woven into the holiday mayhem. I would love a follow-up story with this entire gang!

I’m also reading Eight Bright Lights by Sara Gibbs, about three young Jewish women whose lives will intersect at one of their weddings on Christmas Day. I haven’t finished it yet, but it’s shaping up to be a riotous, satisfying finale. And I haven’t had a lot of time to discover new holiday movies but I did catch Christmas as Usual. It’s a Norwegian import about Thea bringing her Indian fiancé, Jashan, home to meet her family for the first time. Good intentions collide with tradition as Jashan tries to find his place among Thea’s folks. Painful missteps, frustrating secrets and hurt feelings eventually arrive at, Spoiler Alert, a happily ever after!

Let me know what you’re reading these winter holidays and hope you’re having a merry month!!