Wow, has the snow been falling, and falling with panache at that! This winter wonderland (or snowy wasteland, depending on who’s asking) is definitely here to stay. It’s only when I’m able to grab a sweet, warm treat for my troubles do I find the courage to step outside.
Despite my aversion to the chill, I can’t deny the warm and fuzzy feelings some of the most enchanting holiday book releases have brought. I want to share with you three holiday titles that have made my heart grow three sizes too big.
The Ginger Bread Bakery (Dream Harbor Series #5) by Laurie Gilmore
Lovers of the Dream Harbor series might recognize this book as the long-sought-after tale of Annie and Mac, but someone just jumping into the sugary town of Dream Harbor can easily fall in step with our grumpy yet dutiful bakery owner Annabelle (Annie) Andrews and her arch nemesis, bar owner Macaulay (Mac) Sullivan. Their mutual friends Logan and Jeanie (our lovebirds from The Pumpkin Spice Café) are getting married, which means Annie and Mac are thrown together in closer-than-close proximity as bridesmaid and groomsman, respectively. However, this enemies-to-lovers fake-out hides a secret second-chance romance ten years in the making, as Annie and Mac’s past gets fleshed out in a slow burn that warms you from the inside-out. With a beloved grandmother on the loose and a wedding looming, Annie and Mac need to work together as the baggage of their past dangles overhead like mistletoe. A book easily devoured in one sitting.
A Case of Life and Limb: The Trials of Gabriel Ward by Sally Smith
Yes, this next title is another in a series. And yes, you can still plunge into the fascinating world of Sir Gabriel Ward KC and London’s Inner Temple (the British . On Christmas Eve, 1901, Gabriel Ward is working on a libel case for London’s hottest singer when a mummified hand arrives on the desk of the Temple’s Treasurer Sir William Waring, with a taunting note asking, Can I give you a hand? As more packages arrive on the Temple’s door, our Edwardian lawyer-turned-amateur-sleuth must find out whose holding a deadly grudge against the capital’s barristers. Incredibly researched, with dueling mystery plot lines and a lovably eccentric protagonist, this holiday historical mystery will satisfy any historical fiction fan who likes an immersive story, but whose plot doesn’t require too much suspension of disbelief.
Good Spirits by B.K. Borison
You might recognize this author from my previous romantic recommendation from earlier this year, First Time Caller; well, I’m not done talking about B.K. Borison just yet. This time, Borison is back with the first in a series of holiday hauntings, and we start with none other than the ghost of Christmas Past (also known as Nolan Callahan). Instead of a classic Scrooge, his assignment is Harriet York, a sweetheart that doesn’t know why Nolan has been sent to haunt her. She’s a good person, isn’t she? Loves her cat, blueberry danishes, and the most tinselly time of year? And yet, Nolan and Harriet can’t help but feel a sense of d
If you want a holiday romance with magic on top of sweetness, look no further than Good Spirits. Don’t believe me? My fellow Bookie Jenny can vouch for this spicy title. With humor, warmth, and a slight mystery afoot, Borison creates a coziness that can’t be matched.
Check out these other holiday reads that have just landed in our catalog:
Need more recommendations, or wondering what other delights lie in store in our collection? Stop by the Information Desk at either of our locations, or go online to cooklib.org/bookies to receive your own personalized reading list! And don’t forget to check out CMPLD’s Ins & Outs newsletter for all sorts of great events to keep you reading all season long.
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