10 Holiday-Themed Novels That Will Make You Want Some Mistletoe
One of the best parts about the holidays is how romantic everything becomes. From mood lighting set by the fireplace to slowly falling snowflakes on a quiet night time street, the season is surrounded by love. If you’re a sucker for a heartfelt, romantic novel set in the midst of the holiday season, check out some of my favorites.
“The Billionaire's Christmas Miracle” by Chelsea Hale
When a mourning Hailey Waters returns to the town of Road Oaks to see to her aunt’s belongings who recently passed, she meets a man who not only catches her eye but also her need for Christmas spirit. Love interest and billionaire Troy Rasmussen is working on winning the Christmas Gifts Bet: revive the Forest Festival by spending as little money as possible and with as little help as possible. However, Troy’s determination begins to waver between tasks. Does he care more about winning the competition – or the girl?
“My True Love Gave to Me” by Regina Scott
What does one do in the face of darkness during the Christmastime? Try to spread holiday cheer in any way they can. This is Genevieve Munroe’s mission as her newly impoverished family faces a final happy Christmas. Finding peace among rivals proves to be more challenging than she anticipated when the attractive eldest son, Alan, proposes a challenge: if he can present her with all the gifts from the Twelve Days of Christmas song without spending any money, she has to marry him.
“Bringing Holly Home for Christmas” by Laura Wolf
Marked by new beginnings and new love, Holly and Klaus meet each other at a time of uncertainty, confusion, and mess. Feeling like a Scrooge himself, Klaus would like to ward off Christmas as a whole this year. Holly, however, only wants others to have a better Christmas than the lonely one she sees herself spending. Just when life seems as doomed as ever, these unknown lovers could change each other’s perspectives – and lives.
“Dear Santa Christmas Romances” by Mona Ingram
Although he’s the town’s most eligible bachelor, he’s also so much more than that. His good looks aren’t the only thing that wins over the heart of caterer Paige, it’s his caring personality. After a night of working an esteemed company’s Christmas party, Paige is invited to relax with the man in charge of the crew. It isn’t until the very end of the night that she realizes her life is about to change… forever.
“The Christmas Cookie House” by Jennifer Griffith
Heading back to her hometown was proving to be difficult for Leela Miller after her mom passed away that spring. She found herself as a new full-time caregiver for her sickly father, forcing her to quit her job as a bookshop keeper. Not only does she have to return to Massey Falls to tie up loose ends, but she also has to fill her mother’s shoes in the Ladies’ Auxiliary by chairing the Cookie House fundraiser. She only sees the Layton Mansion fit for this event, except she faces a new challenge: it’s not ready for business. New vet school graduate Jay Wilson has nearly flipped the entire house, except for the attic. Once that’s complete, he can sell the property. So what does Leela do? She offers to help him under the condition that once they’re finished she can use the house for her event. But the day of the fundraiser is also the house’s sale deadline. Now, Jay faces the decision as to whether he should sell the place, which would take the house out from under Leela’s feet, or stick to his promise to her.
“Christmas in New York” by Melissa Hill
There’s no better place to be for Christmas than in New York City with unlimited decorations and Christmas spirit, and that’s exactly where Penny finds herself for the holiday. While staying with her best friend Kate, she comes into contact with the last person she expected to see: Mike. Timing has never been right for the two, but with the spirit of Christmas as high as ever, can she resist him any longer?
“Sweet on Christmas” by Gabby Reed
After losing it all – her money, heart and bakery – Lauren finds herself back at her grandma’s bed and breakfast that has been in her family for generations. But there’s something she comes to find out: the place about to go bankrupt. Wanting to save it for her family, she realizes she needs money, and she needs it fast. Lucky for her, there’s a local baking contest with a $5,000 grand prize. Her biggest competition, Trevor, is the only thing standing in her way, and he doesn’t plan to let her win. When in the second round they’re paired together, it seems like a recipe for disaster when they’re forced to put aside their differences and work together. But is it enough to win?
“Henry's Holiday Charade” by Danielle Thorne
Amanda Hill is facing emergency, and Henry Caldecott needs a girlfriend. While she’s trying to get through Christmas without facing more debt, he’s the heir to a successful hotel chain and in search of a date to his family’s Christmas party. Prepared to make a deal to bring her to the event of the year, Henry sees this as the perfect opportunity to not just save the damsel in distress. He also sees it a chance to prove his family wrong. Turns out, he’s the one who needs to be saved.
“His Christmas Wish” by Melissa McClone
Christmas was always Carly Bishop’s favorite holiday until the worst event of her life happened: the simultaneous deaths of her fiancé and brother. She left her town of Hood Hamlet behind in search of a new life soon thereafter. Coincidentally, she left her love of Christmas behind too. Six years later, her family tasks her to return to the town that only reminds her of pain to give her niece and nephew the Christmas they need and deserve. Jake Porter still finds himself burdened with guilt over the passing of his two friends and how he couldn’t save Carly. When she returns, Jake wants to turn not just his life around, but hers too.
“Garland's Christmas Romance” by Danielle Thorne
Garland Tate lives in a Christmas-obsessed town seemingly out of a Hallmark movie. But if there’s one thing she wants to avoid this year in the face of her mom’s terminal illness, it’s the celebration of a holiday. Pete Darling, heir to a wealthy Victorian-age family, finds his holiday spirit in full spring when he’s tasked with distributing money anonymously to his remaining relatives in need. When Garland and Pete meet at the Lava Java, both of them become distracted from their lives and focused on something new: each other. Can their Christmas love last forever?