My overall reading mojo returned in October, and that appears to include my festive reading as well. I feel like I’m “ahead of schedule” when it comes to my Christmas TBR {although I’ve read the same number of books at each check-in this year and last}. There was a bonus Christmas audio that I bailed on – it was too similar to a non-festive book I was reading {like extremely similar storylines, one was just Christmassy}, and the non-festive read kept my attention better. But I’ve still got a decent update to report today, and a stack of festive reads I hope to dive into the next few weeks leading to Christmas! {Can you believe we’re a month away? Eek!}
A Christmas Duet | Debbie Macomber | Ballantine | 2024 | 🎄🎄 1/2
I think it might be time for me to admit that when it comes to Debbie Macomber books, I should wait for the Hallmark movie. Because they make excellent movies, but the reading is … not my favorite. This one started out promising, and then got mired down a bit in extremely messy relational dynamics. Between the ex-boyfriend who manipulated his way into a family Christmas invite to the utter inability of the family itself to communicate … The romance has tension that would play much better on the screen, but it’s a quick, fairly cute, Christmas story that helped while away the time watering.
The Mistletoe Mystery | Nita Prose | Ballantine | 2024 | 🎄🎄🎄🎄
This was simply adorable. Molly remains such an endearing little creature, and this Christmas story was sweet and gently humorous, as all the Maid mysteries have been. Thankfully, in this installment there are no dead bodies, just a lot of suspicious behavior by Molly’s beloved Juan Manuel. It’s obvious to Molly that he is keeping secrets and something fishy is going on – has she been hoodwinked by a frog instead of a prince? The reading of this made for a lovely cozy evening, and I’m quite excited to read the next installment in April.
Everyone This Christmas has a Secret | Benjamin Stevenson | Mariner | 2024 | 🎄🎄🎄🎄
I love that this was unabashedly presented as “a Christmas special,” with all the hijinks and twists and turns one would expect from not only a festive mystery but an Ernest Cunningham mystery. I figured out that it was 1 of 2 people before the end, but it was good fun to watch Ernest work it out and deliver his revelations. This series is such an unexpected delight {once you get used to the storytelling method; it did take me a bit to get into the first book}, and this Christmas special will make you rethink Secret Santa …
All in all, I’m pleased with my progress and am {mostly} enjoying the festive reading. I have high hopes for the rest of my official TBR, as well as several bonus books that have caught my eye, and with the weather finally getting frosty – it’s perfect for this reading season.
Have you started the holiday reading yet? Have we read any of the same books yet? What’s the best festive book you’ve read so far – or are eagerly anticipating?
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So many good stories out there! I’ve read several Christmas stories this month and now I’m working through my TBR pile of whatever catches my fancy at the moment. I think next year’s reading challenge is going to be to get the ones on my bookcase read, and then I will address those on my Kindle, lol. Winter was made for books 🙂
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I keep trying to remind myself “you have books on your kindle too!” LOL I have got the festive books on my shelves were I can see them, but those ebooks … they hide 😉
This is such a good reading time of the year!
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I’m starting festive books from next week. Everyone this Christmas have secret sounds interesting. Great reviews!
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Thank you! 😀 And yay for starting festive books soon! 😀 That series is a wild ride, very interesting method of storytelling in general, and this holiday special one was something extra 🙂
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I’m sorry you didn’t enjoy A Christmas Duet as much as I did. I also enjoyed A Mistletoe Mystery. Stay safe in those winds!
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I do think it will be a fabulous Hallmark movie in a few years – I always love her books-turned-movies. You stay safe too!
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Im sorry to hear about your experience wirh the first author but at least you generally enjoy her adaptations. The others sound like you had wonderful timed with them then. I haven’t managed to read The Maid yet but I definitely plan to at some point in 2025 so I’ll hopefully check the bonus festive tale out next December 🤞 I’m kind of intrigued by the Secret Santa dangers of the other book too 😂 I haven’t read any festive reads yet but I’m hoping to start one tonight and I have a couple of others on my December TBR. I hope you enjoy whatever others you get to.
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The one aside {and that was totally on me, ha}, I have thoroughly enjoyed the festive reading this year! And there’s still so many waiting for me! 😀 Oh I hope you’re able to read The Maid soon – the series is so much fun. And oh yeah, I will never look at Secret Santa quite the same way again 😂😂 Here’s to all the fun festive reads in December! ❤
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I hope it continues to go wonderfully then 🥰 my first proved to be a letdown but after I finish a series I started reading last month I’m hoping I’ll get a chance to try out a few more. Thank you ❤️ I hope you have lots of fun with them all 🥰🎄
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I really need to read Benjamin Stevenson!
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He is so fun and it’s wacky but the good kind. The audio is really hilarious, because he points mentions “I know you bought the audio” (I’d love to compare to a print/ebook actually).
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