I know some people have already packed up their Christmas decorations, but ours have been up for less than a week, and we’re enjoying the Christmas season! I’ve been devouring Christmas books for a bit longer, and will likely continue into the new year.

Aside from those of us who celebrate Christmas during Christmas more than before, there are those who enjoying reading Christmas stories year round! These recommendations are for you! (Or, bookmark this page for next year.)

Here then are my 5-star and 4-star Christmas reads so far this season. For more books,  including children’s books and reviews from previous years, check out my Goodreads Christmas shelf.

The best Christmas books I've read this year! Click To Tweet

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The 5-Star Reads

Catching Christmas by Terri Blackstock

Cab driver Finn’s personality really shines in this story as he comes to care for a sick, elderly lady he totes to and from her medical appointments. Both his character and the lady’s granddaughter, Sydney, are well-developed and entertaining.

Catching Christmas hits all the right notes with the perfect amount of Christmas levity, genuine emotion borne of love and loss, and the gentle spirit of Christmas inviting us to approach the babe in the manger.

One of my favorite Christmas reads!

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A Holiday by Gaslight by Mimi Matthews

I was smitten with Sophie and Ned from the beginning! Something about these unpretentious, straight-forward characters drew me in. The setting was just perfect for a Christmas romance with gaslight manors, evergreen, mistletoe, and a sleigh ride. And three holiday kisses to make a girl swoon. This is one of my favorite Christmas reads! I love the cover equally as much.

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Merried Off by Christina Coryell

For so short a story, the main characters were well developed! Such a sweet and tender romance. I thoroughly enjoyed it – the setting, the characters, the Christmas details, and the new beginning for Celeste and Doug. It may have made me reconsider my aversion to beards. 😉

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His Mistletoe Miracle by Jenny B. Jones

His Mistletoe Miracle is a fun, light Christmas story that includes the smart, slightly irreverent wit I’ve come to expect from Jenny B. Jones. Combine quirky characters, charming banter, and a swoony guy. Then add a pinch of Christmas kitsch and you’ve got yourself a delightful Christmas read!

(Note: You do not have to have read the other Sugar Creek novels or Save the Date to enjoy this story!)

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Mistletoe Kiss by Andrea Boyd

Short but fun friends-to-lovers Christmas story. Long-suffering Chase has been friend-zoned until Rae unwittingly presents him with a golden opportunity to make his feelings for her plain – a world-record mistletoe kiss!

How many times will Chase and Rachel screw this up? Many.

But, in the process we get a well-developed cast of family and friends for so short a story as well as several delicious kisses between these sweet friends who so obviously belong together forever.

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Defending Christmas: A Christmas Wedding Story by Carol Ross

Since I’m often skeptical of romances that start with the couple completely at odds, I didn’t know if I’d buy a romance between Jax and Lincoln, but Carol Ross pulled it off extremely well.

I bought their disagreement and I bought their attraction and growing feelings for one another. Well-developed characters and a little mystery to go with it. I flew through the book and finished satisfied with characters that grew, healed, and found love!

I’d happily read another clean romance by this author!

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The 4-Star Reads

A Tale of Two Hearts by Michelle Griep

I enjoyed this cozy Dickensian Christmas romance! Uncle Barlow was my favorite because of his good humor and wisdom. The rest of the cast goes about trying to deceive or manipulate him for the most of the book – some for honorable reasons, some not.

The romance between William and Mina was sweet and the lessons learned about honesty and what’s truly important (people over status) were melded naturally into the story.

This Christmas series has been a treat!

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Heaven Sent – A Small Town Christmas Romance by Sherri Schoenborn Murray

Heaven Sent is a humorous cautionary tale on the consequences of poor communication! Couples that can’t over the course of twelve years communicate their feelings for one another, people who write coy messages hidden in autograph books, gossips that damage hearts and lives under the guise of a telephone prayer chain, and people that flat out don’t listen.

My favorite parts were the well-developed, small-town characters and the references to processed convenience foods used liberally by one of the gossips. Funny remarks here and there had me laughing out loud. The writing – narrative and dialogue – was well done.

The romance(s) never grabbed me as I never cared for either of Isabel’s suitors and hoped the ending would take a different course entirely. Alas, it did not. Isabel’s feelings for her sort-of boyfriend in the first half felt murky, at best. For different reasons, each of the men needed a good slap upside the head. I also thought a little much was made of a girl traveling 20 miles from home.

The narration was excellent as so many distinctive voices were necessary – women and men, young and old. As a bonus, the narrator sung passages of hymns and carols as well. Very, very well done.

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Until We Kissed by Heather B. Moore

Until We Kissed is a fun, sweet romance for any time of year. (It’s set in the fall leading up to Thanksgiving and Christmas, but the holidays don’t play much of a role in the story.)

While it would’ve been nice for Livvy to see the light about her self-important doctor boyfriend earlier on, then all the story’s tension would be lost. Instead, Livvy hedges her bets, reluctant to give up her dream of marrying a doctor while falling for the handsome author in the back of the library.

Livvy and Mason have good chemistry, making their eventual happily ever after even sweeter!

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Merry and Bright by Debbie Macomber

Merry and Bright is a likable enough Christmas story – a clean and sweet romance. I especially enjoyed the inclusion of main character Merry’s brother with Down Syndrome, Patrick. He brought depth to Merry’s family.

The dating site match trope is just okay here, making the story predictable. (I think Denise Hunter did it better in On Magnolia Lane.) But again, if you’re looking for a light, quick Christmas read, Merry and Bright fits the bill.

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All Through the Night by Mary Higgins Clark

All Through the Night is an enjoyable mystery/suspense set at Christmas. I enjoyed the New York City setting and the Catholic parish backdrop. The meddlesome mystery-solver Elvira was a cracker and kept things lively. Predictable but satisfying and heartwarming ending.

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The More the Merrier by Liwen Y. Ho

Cute, short, clean. Enough to make me want to give the author’s longer works a shot.

 

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And, I’d be remiss if I left off my own Christmas novel, Ornamental Graces!

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