Pre-Christmas Reading List 2020

Nov 13

Nov 13 Pre-Christmas Reading List 2020

Happy Friday!

I hope you are having a great week so far.

We are enjoying our freedom again in Melbourne, and this week Tj and I took advantage of the warm weather by hitting some patios after work and going to dinner a few times. It is so nice to be out and about again.

There are only 42 days until Christmas and I am in full holiday mode. I have made a dent in my shopping early this year to allow for extra time for shipping. And I have watched so many cheesy Christmas movies already. This Christmas isn’t looking anything like I expected it to, but I am trying to make the best of it.

So to help keep my Christmas spirit alive, I’ve added lots of Christmas books to my ‘books to read’ list. I am especially excited to read the last three books on this list becuase they took a special journey to get all the way to me. Last year my mom and Aunt Frances bought a set of Christmas books from the church sale, and then Aunt Frances and I did picksies over Facetime and each got to choose three books. My mom brought them to me when she came to visit earlier this year (feels like a lifetime ago!). So it will feel extra special to read these ones.

Here are my picks for pre-Christmas reading:

A Princess for Christmas by Jenny Holiday

What it’s about:

Leo Ricci's already handling all he can, between taking care of his little sister Gabby, driving a cab, and being the super of his apartment building in the Bronx. But when Gabby spots a "princess" in a gown outside of the UN trying to hail a cab, she begs her brother to stop and help. Before he knows it, he's got a real-life damsel in distress in the backseat of his car.

Princess Marie of Eldovia shouldn't be hailing a cab, or even be out and about. But after her mother’s death, her father has plunged into a devastating depression and the fate of her small Alpine country has fallen on Marie’s shoulders. She’s taken aback by the gruff but devastatingly handsome driver who shows her more kindness than she’s seen in a long time.

When Marie asks Leo to be her driver for the rest of her trip, he agrees, thinking he’ll squire a rich miss around for a while and make more money than he has in months. He doesn’t expect to like and start longing for the unpredictable Marie. And when he and Gabby end up in Eldovia for Christmas, he discovers the princess who is all wrong for him is also the woman who is his perfect match.

Christmas in Paris by Anita Hughes

What it’s about:

Isabel Lawson is standing on the balcony of her suite at the Hôtel de Crillon as she gazes at the twinkling lights of the Champs-Élysées and wonders if she’s made a terrible mistake. She was supposed to be visiting the Christmas tree in the Place de la Concorde, and eating escargots and macarons with her new husband on their honeymoon. But a week before the wedding, she called it off. Isabel is an ambitious financial analyst, and Neil suddenly decided to take over his grandparents' farm. Isabel wasn't ready to trade her briefcase for a pair of rubber boots and a saddle.

When Neil suggested she use their honeymoon tickets, she thought it would give her a chance to clear her head. That is, until she locks herself out on the balcony in the middle of winter. Thankfully, her neighbor, Alec, a French children’s book illustrator, comes to her rescue. He, too, is nursing a broken heart at the Crillon over the holidays. With Alec by her side, she begins to enjoy Paris at Christmas. But after a chance encounter with a fortune-teller and a close call with a taxi, she starts to question everything she thought was important.

25 Days til Christmas by Poppy Alexander

What it’s about:

Kate Potter used to love Christmas. A few years ago, she would have been wrapping her presents in September and baking mince pies on Halloween, counting down the days and hours to Christmas. But that was before Kate’s husband left for the army and never came home. Now she can hardly stand December at all.

Kate can’t deny she’s lonely, yet she doesn’t think she’s ready for romance. She knows that her son, Jack, needs a Christmas to remember—just like Kate needs a miracle to help her finally move forward with her life. So she’s decided if there isn’t a miracle on its way, she’ll just have to make her own.

As Kate’s advent countdown to the best Christmas ever begins, she soon realizes that even with the best laid plans, you can’t plan for the unexpected. For when the path of the loneliest woman in town crosses with that of the loneliest man, these two destined hearts might find a way to save the holiday for both of them.

Winter Solstice by Elin Hildebrand

What it’s about:

It's been too long since the entire Quinn family has been able to celebrate the holidays under the same roof, but that's about to change. With Bart back safe and sound from Afghanistan, the Quinns are preparing for a holiday more joyous than any they've experienced in years. And Bart's safe return isn't the family's only good news: Kevin is enjoying married life with Isabelle; Patrick is getting back on his feet after paying his debt to society; Ava thinks she's finally found the love of her life; and Kelly is thrilled to see his family reunited at last. But it just wouldn't be a Quinn family gathering if things went smoothly. A celebration of everything we love--and some of the things we endure--about the holidays, WINTER SOLSTICE is Elin Hilderbrand at her festive best.

Skipping Christmas by John Grisham

What it’s about:

Luther and Nora Krank are fed up with the chaos of Christmas. The endless shopping lists, the frenzied dashes through the mall, the hassle of decorating the tree... where has all the joy gone? This year, celebrating seems like too much effort. With their only child off in Peru, they decide that just this once, they'll skip the holidays. They spend their Christmas budget on a Caribbean cruise set to sail on December 25, and happily settle in for a restful holiday season free of rooftop snowmen and festive parties.

But the Kranks soon learn that their vacation from Christmas isn't much of a vacation at all, and that skipping the holidays has consequences they didn't bargain for...

Making Spirits Bright by Fern Michaels, Elizabeth Bass, Rosalind Noonan, Nan Rossiter

What it’s about:

With Christmas just around the corner, Asa Coleman has his hands full keeping up with his young son Noah’s rambunctious spirit. Whether he’s playing Santa or keeping a furry surprise under wraps, the joy Asa feels in Noah’s delight is all he could ask for as a single father. His best friend Maddie Carlson has been more than helpful throughout the season’s sometimes overwhelming rush of activities, and she can’t help but see how well she fits into their lives. But as always, something holds Asa back from accepting the happiness he deserves. Except this year, when it’s time to open gifts, something special might surprise them all . . .

I read these two Christmas books already this year, but they were not my favourites, so in a rare turn, I am saying you should skip these holiday books: