Nov 30, 2015

Christmas Book Recommendations



So, we're a whisper away from the start of December and I'm in the mood for a Christmas story. I've already read and loved the stories in the LoveCats box set, Hot Christmas Nights, and now I need some recommendations!


In exchange, I offer two suggestions from me - an old favourite and a brand new story.





Jennifer Crusie's Hot Toy was originally in a print anthology with two other authors, but this year they've released an eBook version of just her story. It's fast paced, sexy, and laugh out loud funny.




From the back cover: Mayhem ensues under the mistletoe as a determined shopper grabs the very last hot toy action figure off the shelf, only to find herself plunged into the middle of a real-life spy game–in the arms of a sexy secret agent. . .


A new for me story this year will be Anna Campbell's A Pirate For Christmas and I can't wait for December to hit so I can dive into this one.



How much fun does this back cover sound?

There’s a pirate in the manor house!

What is vicar’s daughter Bess Farrar to do when the dashing new earl, the man gossip paints as a ruthless pirate, kisses her the day they meet? Why, kiss him right back, of course! Now Lord Channing vows to claim the lovely firebrand, despite interfering villagers, a snowstorm, scandal, and a rascally donkey. The gallant naval captain’s first landlocked Christmas promises mayhem – and a lifetime of breathtaking passion. 




So over to you. I'd love some recommendations for Christmas reading!





25 comments:

  1. Hi Rachel

    Well I have read Anna's Pirate and I can highly recommend Rory and Bess's story :) I will add the Jennifer Crusie to my list.

    I have just read a couple of M&B Medicals that are very Christmassy Louisa Heaton's A Father This Christmas and Robin Gianna's Her Christmas Baby Bump and both were really good and of course there id Kandy's Gift Wrapped in Her Wedding Dress which is a beauty and there is Sarah Morgan's Sleigh Bells in The Snow set in Vermont great story :)

    Have Fun
    Helen

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    1. Helen, what a lovely list of recommendations! I've heard great things about the Sarah Morgan - must pick it up. Along with Kandy's, of course. I love her stories!

      You know, it's been a while since I read a Medical, so those might just hit the spot!

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    2. Helen, thanks so much for recommending Rory and Bess! I'm so happy you enjoyed it! x

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  2. Lovely suggestions, Rachel. I'll look for Hot Toy. It sounds like a hoot. I've read Anna's Pirate and chuckled through it. She really has fun with it and so did I and it had a lovely Christmassy theme which I soaked up.

    I love Christmas stories and am so looking forward to the Hot Christmas Night novellas. I read a beauty by Liz Fielding a few Christmases ago about a woman who escapes the limelight of her life and heads to Cornwall I think, and has her first ever real, warm Christmas. It was terrific and of course I've forgotten the name.

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    1. Annie, Hot Toy is so much fun. I've had the print book for years and have read it a few times. And it's great to hear that Anna's Pirate is so good - though I expected it would be!

      Oh, the Liz Fielding sounds lovely. I read one of her Christmas books (in first person) a few years ago and adored it. I'll hop over and check her book list.

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    2. Thanks, Annie! So glad you liked my roguish pirate! Ooh, that Liz Fielding sounds lovely. Another Christmas one of hers I really like is Mistletoe and the Lost Stiletto.

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    3. I loved Mistletoe and the Lost Stiletto! And Christmas Angel for the Billionaire (which I think is the one Annie is referring to) was wonderful too. Mind you, I'm not sure Liz ever writes a bad book. :-)

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  3. oooh, that's one Jennifer Crusie I don't have...must get it! Susan Mallory does a lovely Christmas- her Fools Gold Christmas is great.

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    1. Louisa, if you like Jennifer Crusie, you'll love this novella. Smart banter and lots of fun. :)

      I haven't read a Susan Mallory - perhaps now is the season to try one!

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  4. Well, aren't you lovely, Rachel? Thank you so much! Hope you enjoy Pirate! I think you'll like the rambunctious donkey who brings my hero and heroine together.

    Actually it's tit for tat - I always have a reading binge between Christmas and New Year (it's my annual holiday). I've got your Finn Factor and the Love Cats anthology waiting for me as we speak!

    Didn't know about the Jenny Crusie story. Toddling off to Amazon to buy it right now. I love her stuff (as you know).

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    1. Anna, I can't wait to meet the rambunctious donkey. I love an animal character with personality. :)

      Hope you enjoy Finn and the LoveCats anthology. My story in that is more a Desire in tone, so quite different to Finn!

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  5. I love Sarah Morgan's stories. She's got a Christmas one out at the moment called Christmas Ever After which I'm looking forward to reading. Her recent series featured TWO Christmas stories, Sleigh Bells in the Snow and Maybe This Christmas with the lovely Suddenly Last Summer in between.

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    1. My first Sarah Morgan was your suggestion, Anna (and I loved it!), so it makes total sense that these book suggestions would come from you too. Will definitely chase them up, thanks!

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  6. I like to read the Harlequin series Christmas books each year. Already have several books o read next month

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    1. Tammy, that's one of the good things about Harlequin series - they always do some good holiday stories!

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  7. Thanks for the recommendations, Rachel.

    Actually, I still have some of your Hawke brothers' stories to read, so I think that will keep me busy!!

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    1. The Hawke brothers are in California, so it will feel like our summer Christmas weather anyway. ;)

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  8. I so have to read Hot Toy, Rach -- I'm sure it's somewhere on my Kindle. The other story I'm determined to read in my Christmas break is The Finn Factor. :-) Can't wait. Anna's Pirate is waiting to be downloaded to my Kindle too. I'm going to have fun this Christmas, aren't I?

    One of my all-time favourite romances is Marion Lennox's Christmas With Her Boss. Just brilliant. :-) A perfect Christmas read. :-)

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    1. Michelle, Hot Toy was so much fun.

      Oooh, you're about to read Finn? Hey, you know that old writing saying that every secondary character thinks they're the hero of their own story? Yeah, well, this is really Harvey's story. ;)

      I don't think I've read that Marion Lennox, though I've read a few of her Christmas stories over the years,. Must see if I can track that one down!

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  9. Umm, I'm no help with the Christmas reading ideas... that said my current plan is to continue trying to make a dent in the unread titles on my ereader.
    Looking forward to other's recommendations though.

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    1. Lyn, that's such a sensible reading goal! In fact, I might try to do some of that too.

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  10. I've got a big fat book, Watch Your Back by Karen Rose, that I'm saving until I can sit on the deck and read for more than a short, snatched moment. Then there's that enormous pile by the bed that needs dealing to.

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    1. Sue, I have the same problem with the pile beside the bed. And it keeps growing...

      Hope you get that uninterrupted time on the deck soon!

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  11. Rachel, some super Christmas reading here to add to my must-get list! And it reminded me that I have a Sarah Mayberry Christmas on my eTBR list - His Christmas Gift. And the LoveCats BoxSet should be arriving tomorrow! Woohoo! Some serious reading time needs to be unwrapped! I have read Anna Campbell's Pirate for Christmas and I'm thrilled to have her visiting the LoveCats tomorrow with a giveaway!

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    1. I love Sarah Mayberry stories but I don't think I've read a Christmas one of hers - must go and hunt it down. Thanks for the heads up, Sharon!

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