Season's Readings: Adults
All I want for Christmas
Knox, Maggie, author
2022
True love wasn't on their holiday wish list. When Sadie and Max are selected as contestants on the famed reality singing show Starmaker, each thinks they've finally gotten their big Nashville break. But then they're paired up for duet week and stun the world with their romantic onstage chemistry. With fans going wild for #Saxie, the network demands that they remain a duo on and offstage, or exit the competition. Faking a relationship until their final performance in the Starmaker holiday special shouldn't be too hard, except for one small problem -- Sadie and Max can't stand each other. But with their dreams just within reach, they agree to the ruse.
An Amish christmas kitchen : three novellas celebrating the warmth of the holiday
2019
This cheerful and heartwarming Amish novella collection captures the heart of the Christmas season with a trio of heartfelt stories from bestselling authors Leslie Gould, Jan Drexler, and Kate Lloyd. All three tales feature a unique Amish recipe perfect for the Christmas table.
The book club hotel : a novel
Morgan, Sarah (Romance fiction writer), author
2023
With its historic charm and picture-perfect library, the Maple Sugar Inn is considered the winter destination. As the holidays approach, the inn is fully booked with guests looking for their dream vacation. But widowed far too young, and exhausted from juggling the hotel with being a dedicated single mom, Hattie Coleman dreams only of making it through the festive season. But when Erica, Claudia and Anna--lifelong friends who seem to have it all--check in for a girlfriends' book club holiday, it changes everything. Their close friendship and shared love of books have carried them through life's ups and downs. But Hattie can see they're also packing some major emotional baggage, and nothing prepares her for how deeply her own story is about to become entwined in theirs.
The Christmas sisters
Morgan, Sarah, 1948-2013 author
2018
"In the snowy Highlands of Scotland, Suzanne McBride is dreaming of the perfect cozy Christmas. Her three adopted daughters are coming home for the holidays and she can't wait to see them. But the tensions are running high..."-- Provided by publisher.
A dog's perfect Christmas
Cameron, W. Bruce, author
2020
The problems fracturing the Goss family as Christmas approaches are hardly unique, though perhaps they are handling them a little differently than most people might. But then a true emergency arises, one with the potential to not only ruin Christmas, but everything holding the family together. Is the arrival of a lost puppy yet another in the string of calamities facing them, or could the little canine be just what they all need?
Finding Noel
Evans, Richard Paul, author
2006
Twenty-one-year-old Macy retains little from her birthparents: a memory of being sent away at the age of seven, a vague remembrance of a little sister, and a Christmas ornament inscribed with the word "Noel." When her adult life begins crumbling around her, she embarks on a journey searching for her biological sister - and answers to her past.
God rest ye, royal gentlemen
Bowen, Rhys, author
2021
"For my first Christmas as a married woman, it seems fitting that I throw a little house party for my nearest and dearest at Eynsleigh, my lovely new home. While this sounds delightful in theory, the fact of the matter is I cannot trust Queenie not to burn the house down, let alone cook a decent dinner for my prospective guests. However, all of my problems appear to be solved when Darcy receives a letter from his aunt, Ermintrude, who has moved to a small house on the edge of the Sandringham estate, near the royal family. It appears Darcy's odd aunt wants to meet me, but I had not realized she was the former lady-in-waiting and close confident of the Queen! Her majesty has told Aunt Ermintrude that it would be a great comfort to have me nearby during this festive time of year. Realizing that the invitation from Darcy's aunt is actually a royal summons in disguise, we pack up our guests: Mummy, Binky and Fig-and yes, even Queenie-and head to Sandringham. Once settled at Aunt Ermintrude's grace-and-favor house, I learn that the notorious Mrs. Simpson, mistress to the Prince of Wales, will also be in attendance along with the Prince himself, my cousin David. It is now as clear as crystal that the Queen expects me to do a bit of spying. But when I pay Her Majesty a visit, I learn that there is more to her request than just some simple eavesdropping. There have been a couple of strange incidents at the estate in recent years. Two gentlemen of the royal household died in mysterious circumstances during the previous December. And now it seems that the deadly accidents are starting up again. Is the real target the Prince of Wales and his prickly paramour, or is there an even more sinister plot at work? I must get to the truth of the matter to ensure that my first Christmas married to my darling Darcy is not our last..."-- Provided by publisher.
The holiday trap
Parrish, Roan, author
2022
"Greta Russakoff needs some space from her overbearing family. Truman Belvedere needs a place to heal after a devastating heartbreak. The solution is obvious: Truman and Greta decide to swap houses for the month of December. Can a change of scenery be the start of something new?"-- Provided by publisher.
Holly
Deveraux, Jude, author
2003
This is a wonderfully unpredictable and emotionally stirring Christmas tale. A heartwarming gem of a story for dyed-in-the-wool romantics the world over.
In a holidaze
Lauren, Christina, author.
2023
It's the most wonderful time of the year - but not for Maelyn Jones. She's living with her parents, hates her going-nowhere job, and has just made a romantic error of epic proportions. One day, tires screech and metal collides, everything goes black. But when Mae gasps awake, she begins the same holiday all over again. With one hilarious disaster after another sending her back to the plane, Mae must figure out how to break free of the strange time loop - and finally get her true love under the mistletoe. Author is a pen name of writing partners Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings.
Just like magic : a novel
Hogle, Sarah, author
2022
Boasting about her extravagant lifestyle on social media, but actually broke and squatting in Colorado, Bettie Hughes contemplates Christmas with her family and accidentally conjures up Hall, the Holiday Spirit, who can make all her wishes come true.
Knit the season
Jacobs, Kate, 1973-
2009
A year after the events of "Knit Two", Dakota Walker and her family travel to spend the Christmas holidays with her Gran in Scotland. Together, they share a trove of happy memories about Christmases past with Dakota's mom, Georgia- from Georgia's childhood to her blissful time as a doting new mom. From Thanksgiving through Hanukkah and Christmas to New Year's, "Knit the Season" is a novel about the richness of family bonds and the joys of friendship, filled with Jacobs patented sense of humour.
Midnight at the Christmas bookshop : a novel
Colgan, Jenny, author
2023
Christmas comes early to McCredie's little Old Town bookshop in Edinburgh. It's summer, but an American production company has decided that McCredie's is the perfect location to film a very cheesy Christmas movie. Carmen Hogan, the bookshop's manager, is amused and a bit horrified by the goings-on, but the money the studio is paying is too good to pass up. Still reeling slightly from a breakup, Carmen's not particularly looking forward to the holidays. But just as snow begins to fall and the lights of Christmas blink on, all sorts of lovely new possibilities present themselves - for McCredie's bookstore, and for Carmen herself.
A plain & fancy Christmas : a novel
Keller, Cynthia
2011
Family and holiday celebrations take centre stage in this heartwarming novel from the author of "An Amish Christmas". As the holidays approach, both Rachel and Melly grapple with their identities and how strong or fragile their bonds are to their various families. Each also learns to appreciate the other's way of life - including celebrations of Christmas and Hanukkah. And as their unusual bond deepens into friendship, each must choose the path that will lead her to fulfillment and happiness.
So this is Christmas : a novel
Holiday, Jenny (Romance author), author
2022
Matteo Benz has spent his life serving at the pleasure of the Eldovian crown. His work is his life and his life, well... he doesn't have much of one. When he is tasked to aid a management consultant who has been flown in to help straighten out the king's affairs, he is instantly disturbed by her brash American manner--as well by an inconvenient attraction to the brainy beauty. Cara Delaney is in Eldovia to help clean up the king's financial affairs, but soon finds herself at odds with the very proper Mr. Benz. As intrigued by his good looks as she is annoyed by his dedication to tradition for its own sake, she slowly begins to see the real man behind the royal throne. As they work together to return Eldovia to its former glory during the country's magical Christmas season, Matteo discovers he is falling hopelessly in love with the unconventional American.
Wreck the halls : a novel
Bailey, Tessa, author
2023
"Melody Gallard may be the daughter of music royalty, but her world is far from glamorous. She spends her days restoring old books and avoiding the limelight. ... But when a producer offers her a lot of money to reunite her mother's band on live TV, Mel begins to wonder if it's time to rattle the cage, shake up her quiet life--and see him again, the only other person who could wrangle the rock and roll divas. Beat Dawkins, the lead singer's son, is Melody's opposite--the camera loves him, he could charm the pants off anyone, and his mom is not a potential cult leader. Still, they might have been best friends, if not for the legendary feud that broke up the band"-- Provided by publisher.