Somehow we’re more than halfway through November. The time of year when deadlines speed up while the school year ends, Christmas lights pop up in the neighbourhood, and summer hits me with the urge to lounge under the air conditioner with a festive romance.
I’ve eased myself into the season with three new Christian Christmas releases. Two of the authors have featured on the blog, while the third is an author I’ve known of for years yet only just read. Each story brought its own charm, heart, and Christmas sparkle.
If you haven’t already dipped into your Christmas reads, I give you permission to start (even if my American friends haven’t celebrated Thanksgiving yet!). 😉
Playing for Keeps by Mandi Blake is a warm, engaging second-chance Christmas romance. I enjoyed returning to Redemption Ridge, where Caroline and Justin navigated unresolved feelings more than a decade after going their separate ways. Caroline’s cheerful personality shines, even through the complicated emotions she juggled, and our endearing hero Justin was easy to love despite the shadows in his past.
Their meet-cute was memorable and fun, and Caroline’s baking-themed puns infused some lightness, balancing the heavier challenges she faced. The faith elements grounded the story while keeping things festive. Bonus points for not needing to read the earlier books in the series as this romance stands comfortably on its own.
Royally Rogue by Dora Hiers is a sweet Christmas romance with royal twists and heartfelt moments. This story has all the charm of a Hallmark-style Christmas tale, complete with festive activities, relationship hurdles, and a wonderful faith thread tying everything together.
Kati and Reece are both likeable and believable, and their reasons for keeping their royal titles to themselves made sense. There really isn’t an ideal moment for someone to reveal their royalty, so once the truth came out, watching the two of them work through the shock, hurt, and hope gave the story emotional depth.
Once Upon a Christmas Carol by Melody Carlson is a cosy, romantic novella perfect for readers wanting warmth, snow, and heart. Carol is a Christmas baby who can’t stand anything to do with the season, so she heads off to the Bahamas… but never reaches her destination thanks to a weather detour. Her unexpected “Welcome to Michigan” leads to her reconnecting with family, healing old wounds, and opening herself to new possibilities.
Carol’s a little prickly in the early chapters, but once she meets her Aunt Maria, her softer side materialises. I loved Aunt Maria and Victor, the love interest in this story, despite a few mixed messages and romantic hesitations. Thankfully, he works through it all!
Have you kicked off your Christmas reading season yet? If you read any of these novels, I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Until next time,
Affiliate Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.