I’m not a particularly jolly person, Gentle Reader, but I do have a weird love of holiday romances and stories. So if you are like me, I thought I might recommend a few that I recently found, or not so recently as the case may be…
I’ve chosen for a range of ages and taste, because, frankly I’m an eclectic kinda girl.
Winter Story (Age 3 & Up)
Don’t know the Brambly Hedge by Jill Barklem books? OMG they are delightful! (Yes, my dear UK readers, these charming books were never a thing in the USA. We are sad.)
These lovely beautifully illustrated little stories are very, very British. Start your young ones on the path that will inevitably lead to Great British Bake Off. You want the hardcover print editions of these books, trust me. Frankly, I prefer Barklem to Beatrix Potter.
Winter Story is wonderful – the ice ball alone! So cute, such adorable little field mice running about and being so proper and cozy.
The household schematics will knock your socks off, and any kid lucky enough to receive this book as a gift. Warning, they will want all of them. They are all wonderful. And if you can’t get just Winter Story I can highly recommend the Year in Brambly Hedge box set, I grew up with this.
The Dark Is Rising (Age 10 & Up)
This is the second book in the Dark is Rising series, but it was the first one written. Like Narnia, I’m not convinced you must read these in world chronological order, but you can if you wish.
This one is both my favorite and the most winter-centered. I ADORE this book, it’s magical and wonderful and serious and thrilling. Merely thinking about the central poem gives me chills.
Come on say it with me, you know you want to.
When the Dark, comes rising, six shall turn it back;
Three from the circle, three from the track,
Wood, bronze, iron; water, fire, stone;
Five will return, and one go alone.
Argh, it’s SOOOO good. I highly recommend the audio, as that way you know how all the welsh words are pronounced. Before there was JK Rowling we old fools had Susan Cooper. I wasn’t wowed by the movie, don’t bother.
Gay Holiday Romances
Yes, I Found a Jewish One!
For all those who lament the lack of non-Christmas romance this time of year, Eight Nights in December (Amazon only) is rather sweet.
Orphaned Lucas figures spending the holidays with his obnoxious roommate’s family in New York City is better than staying alone on campus upstate. He ends up sharing a room again, this time with his roommate’s brother, Nate.
It’s very new-adult, exploring sex for the first time and that kind of thing. The setting is New York, the family is Jewish, the sex is explicit. It’s a bit of a love letter to New York.
And, of course, a Christmas one…
If you want your gay boys with Christmas and a hot friend-of-the-older-brother trope than try Yours For The Holiday by DJ Jamison (also Amazon only) instead. (Sadly, a lot of new adult queer stuff is Amazon exclusive.)
And a REALLY Funny Basically Agnostic One
Gail: Mad giggling.
AB: *eyebrow up*
G: Snicker snicker snicker.
G: This book is so much funnier than I thought it would be. I’m so happy.
Book: “summoning a toilet paper demon”
G: Loses her tiny mind for 10 minutes.
So what book was I reading?
A Villain for Christmas by Alice Winters (Amazon only). And what an unexpected gem of a book this is! Gay superheros for Christmas. I picked it up in a string of holiday reads and this one was the star (at the top of the tree, nash). (Honestly I want a cover overhaul on this one, one of those cute cartoon ones I keep seeing like Red, White & Royal Blue.)
Look it’s not really a holiday read, it’s a HILARIOUS take on superheroes where a super-villain (who really doesn’t want to be) falls in love with a superhero and has to keep his identity secret until his bumbling evil family, a hairless cat dressed in pajamas, bags of cheese, and various other things conspire against him.
I did not expect to laugh as much as a I did but honestly, it utterly ridiculous and extremely funny.
If you like my character Max in The Sumage Solution or took my rec and enjoyed The Lightning Struck by TJ Klune, then this one is for you. Honestly, give it a try, you won’t be sorry.
There it is, I hope I have managed to make your holidays a little more fun and romantic or at the very least given you a gift idea or two.
Hugs and happiest of happies!
Yours in cosy tea-riddle and slightly grumpy comfort,
Miss Gail
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Like this post? Read my holiday offering!
I Can Read for Miles says of Romancing the Werewolf:
Tags: Gail Carriger Recommends, Holiday“Guys, it is worth the wait. This novella is delightful. It gave me so many vibes that I got from Soulless.”