Reading Recommendations: Holiday Romance Reads

Happy Holidays Everyone! It’s been a while since I’ve done a Reading Recommendations post and with Christmas around the around the corner, I wanted to share some holiday reads with you. Here is small selection of the Holiday Romance books I’ve enjoyed in recent years. They are perfect cozy reads to snuggle up with your hot beverage of choice. Enjoy!

Synopsis: Calm. Cool. Collected. Gisele Whitby has perfected the art of illusion—her survival, after all, has depended upon it. Years ago, to escape an abusive husband, Gisele “disappeared.” Now she must risk revealing her new identity to save another innocent girl from the same fate. But she needs a daring man for her scheme, and the rogue in question shows a remarkable talent . . . for shattering Gisele’s carefully constructed façade and igniting her deepest desires. (description from Goodreads)

Usually I don’t read romance novels set in this era, but the title alone caught my eye with its play on words of a popular Christmas tune. Though Gisele, the main character, scheme relies on a man to make it work, she is a very self-sufficient and feisty character. She stands up for what she believes in and headstrong nature keeps her focused on staying out of danger. Though Gisele and Jamie butt heads because of their strong personalities, both have such kind hearts which leads them to fall in love. Full of humor, action, and charm, this is a good read for fans of historical romance books.

Synopsis:  Darcy’s never fallen in love, never has time for anyone else’s drama, and never goes home for Christmas if she can help it. But when her mother falls ill, she comes home to Pemberley, Ohio, to spend the season with her family.Her parents throw their annual Christmas bash, where she meets one Luke Bennet, the smart, sardonic slacker son of their neighbor. Luke is 32-years-old and has never left home. He’s a carpenter and makes beautiful furniture, and is content with his simple life. He comes from a family of five brothers, each one less ambitious than the other. When Darcy and Luke fall into bed after too many eggnogs, Darcy thinks it’s just another one night stand. But why can’t she stop thinking of Luke? (description from Goodreads)

I found Pride and Prejudice and Mistletoe is engaging and light-hearted, plus I enjoyed the romance aspects. In this version things are switched around a bit. Darcy, the main character, is a successful businesswoman who travels back home for the holidays. In doing so she ends up confronting her past and connects with friends and family she hasn’t seen in ages.She feels conflicted about the life she wants to live versus what others expect from her. I found the story to be relatable as both Darcy and Luke are conquering the obstacles of life. They are both trying to figure out themselves and what they want in life. They are both stuck in relationships were they were unhappy and are trying to move on from their setbacks.

Synopsis: Part of the Winter clan, the Evergreen family is considered magical nobility. While Evergreen Industries in picturesque Gingerbread, Colorado, might look like an ordinary office building, this is where the magic of Christmas unfolds. Above Santa’s workshop, the Evergreens hold court, manage Christmas and, sometimes against their will and better judgment, fall in love. (description from Goodreads)

The first half of this Harlequin double feature book is Jingle Spells which features a compilation of works my multiple authors. The Evergreen siblings each get their own story which was fun! The family is essentially wizards of Winter and work along with Santa in order to keep the Christmas magic flowing.  It’s hard to discuss much about these stories without giving too much away, but I will say they are fun one-shot stories. Like most Harlequin novels, the romance gets pretty steamy in some of these tales, making it one of the spicier books featured on this list.

Synopsis: Caledon, South Africa, is supposed to be just a stop on the way to Christmas in Cape Town, part of Angie’s long-avoided homecoming. She never expected to star in a bizarre comedy of errors, but here she is: convincing a handsome stranger to be her fake boyfriend for the day.  Ezra Johnson, the handsome stranger in question, turns out to be a pleasant distraction from both the wedding and thoughts of her first family Christmas without her father. And he seems to loathe weddings just as much as she does. He’s the perfect temporary companion.

But a lot can happen in twenty-four hours. Including a connection so strong it tempts them both into thinking of something more permanent… (description from Goodreads)

This novel is like Hallmark movie in book form. Erza and Angie get pulled into random situations (just like a romantic comedy movie) such as a local Christmas parade, wedding reception, and so much more. It turns out to be a lot of fun for the two and it temporarily helps them to escape from their problems. It was nice to see the two have such deep conversations with each other even though they just met. For some reason I did feel Erza and Angie were a bit bland for romantic leads, but in the end they still make a cute couple. This meet cute novel is fun read for the holiday season, if you’re looking for a book that is lighthearted with a happily ever after.

Synopsis: After years of dreaming, Jessica is finally getting married, but the marriage isn’t exactly what she thought.Daniel is her best friend, and she’s known him all her life, but he’s never gotten over losing his wife two years ago. His dream is to become the pastor of the church in their hometown, but the small-town congregation keeps balking over calling an unmarried minister. Since Daniel needs a wife and Jessica wants a husband and family, she proposes an arrangement that benefits both of them.  (description from Goodreads)

Though this book is supremely cheesy and it lack some character development, I still enjoyed it. It was one of the random book picks I found in a search for Holiday reads and I wasn’t disappointed. The book follows a friends-to-lovers trope with a happily ever after. I could picture the cozy small town filled with holiday lights where the story was set while I was reading the story. I liked the cute interactions between Daniel and Jessica a married couple and how even though they try they can’t deny their feelings for each other. It’s light, fluffy, and a fast-paced holiday read.

Do you have any holiday reads that you enjoy? If so, share you thoughts in the comment section below!