Now that we are fully into the holidays, I like to read sweet stories with happy endings set during the yuletide season. I began reading holiday books a bit early this year so I would have some reviews to share with you now. Most of these are quick reads, light stories in easy prose, with enjoyable endings.

A Sea View Christmas by Julie Klassen – Set during the Regency period of the early 1800s, Sarah lives a routine life of running the bed and breakfast that her family estate has become to make ends meet. Scottish widower Callum visits, but goes back to Scotland in the first novel in the series. Accompanying her sister on her honeymoon, Sarah tries to visit him in Scotland, but he wasn’t there. Returning to her estate, she resigns herself to a life of work, caring for her mother and maintaining the estate. But the Scottish gentleman returns for Christmastide, bringing his daughter and a possibility of a different life. Charming and a perfect holiday read.

Christmas at Sugar Plum Manor by Roseanna M. White – A second Regency period Christmas romance with much the same plot as the previous one, this is a charming romance set in rural England. Mariah’s stepfather, upon his death, must hand over the Earldom and estate to an heir she hasn’t seen since she was a child. The heir arrives at Plumford Manor to learn about his inheritance, and determine if he will accept it. At the same time, a Danish Lord has been ordered to find an English bride and has determined that Mariah fits the bill, although he believes her to be too young and immature. So, he must reshape her to fit his idea of a perfect bride. Both men know each other, and have had dealings in the past that were not cordial. As Mariah gathers the town to put on a Christmas event, all three will come to an understanding. Of course, everything works out in the predictable ending. And that is just what I like to read during the holidays!

My Beloved by Jan Karon – Another delightful visit to Mitford during the Christmas season. A book and a letter go missing, and travel around the town, changing ideas as they go. Father Tim ministers to his flock, and quirky characters live their lives in the small North Carolina town. The only quibble is in the chapters where Ms Karon writes in what she calls “ vernacular speech”, with lots of dropped vowels replaced with apostrophes. It slowed down the reading a bit too much when every “the” is written th’, plus a lot more words that have to be figured out. As she explains in the author’s notes, her intent is for the reader to understand the characters, but I found it tedious. However, overall the story is vintage Mitford and enjoyable.

The Lane That Leads to Christmas by Melanie Lageschulte – One of my favorite writers of small town living continues her Mailbox Mysteries during the holiday season. A stolen hand-carved nativity scene from an historic church alter leads postal worker Kate into the mystery. She does some sleuthing while working her postal job, doing what she can to help people in her town, fixing up her rustic farmhouse and enjoying the holiday festivities. Charming and a very easy read, with likable and quirky characters.

Christmas With The Queen by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb – This is the best kind of historical novel, one set around famous people. In this novel, a budding reporter with the BBC is assigned at the last moment to cover Queen Elizabeth II’s first speech as Queen in 1952. At the same time, a widowed chef takes a job in the Sandringham kitchen where the Queen is in residence for Christmas. The chef and the reporter have a history, one that unfolds in the second timeline beginning in 1945 and continues in 1952. Over the next few years, meeting around Christmas each year, their story unfolds and secrets are revealed. Not to worry, the happy ending we all expect comes with the season.

The Secret Christmas Library by Jenny Colgan – Part mystery with a treasure hunt, and part Christmas romance, this story is about the search for a lost book in a run down and crumbling castle in Scotland. The previous owner was a book hoarder and task seems impossible to conclude by the deadline, but there is a clue in a poem. The current laird of the castle hires Mirren, a bit of a lost soul, along with another antiquarian book expert (who happens to be Mirren’s ex) to come to the castle in December to find the book that might be valuable enough to save the estate. Some of the predicaments are a little far fetched, but overall an enjoyable read set at Christmastime. One content warning for an open door sex scene near the end of the book. A bit much for my taste, but in print I can just turn a few pages forward to skip those details.

If you are looking for more holiday reading, in mystery and other genres, see my posts Heartwarming Holiday Reading, Reading Fiction with a Christmas Theme, and read cozy mysteries with a holiday setting in Cozy Christmas Reading.

Do you have a fun Christmas Read?

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