Santa Claus / Father Christmas Holiday Books

Santa Claus / Father Christmas Holiday Books

December Challenge





December Holiday Books

Father Christmas / Raymond Briggs

Night Before Christmas / Clement Clarke Moore ; illustrated by Robert Ingpen

Barbar and Father Christmas / Jean de Brunhoff

Christmas Day in the Morning / Pearl S. Buck

How Santa Got His Job / Stephen Krensky

Dear Santa: the Letters of James B. Dobbins / Bill Harley

Santa Claus: the World’s Number One Toy Expert / Marla Frazee

Little Santa / Jon Agee

RUDOLPH! HE'S THE REASON FOR THE SEASON / Mark Teppo / 305 Pages

RUDOLPH! HE'S THE REASON FOR THE SEASON / Mark Teppo / 305 Pages

"Am fine. STOP. Gone holiday shopping with Fat Boy. STOP. Be back in time for Zero Hour. STOP. He's not holding a gun to my head. STOP. But he does have one. Not sure where he got it. STOP. This is way outside my job description. STOP."

So goes a telegram from Bernard Rosewood, Special Elf in Charge of Operations (SECO) to the North Pole Consortium (NPC). He's off with Santa and the reindeer, including Rudolph (who has serious anger management issues), heading for the South Pole in order to fulfill a child's Christmas wish. 

Little Suzy Anderson wants her Daddy back and Santa is determined to do so even if it means going into the Great Beyond to get him! Although not even Kris Kringle can take on the Heavenly Host without there being consequences ...

Hilariously funny yet with poignancy, Teppo's Rudolph! is all about the "spirit of the season." 

Christmas Bride / Mary Balogh 260 p. Christmas stories A Partridge in A Pear Tree December Reading Challenge

Mary Balogh turns to Christmas for the setting of this sensuous Regency-era romance about the very wealthy Edgar Downes (of the merchant class) courting a titled lady.  There are many single ladies still in London after the season, all just too young.  Edgar's eye is caught by the widow Lady Stapleton.  He is not in her class but she is intrigued by him.  Marriage is not in her plans, just a dalliance.  However it is Christmas and stranger things do happen.

Christmas in Cedar Cove / Debbie Macomber 299 p.

Two novellas convey life in Cedar Cove, Washington where at 5-B Poppy Lane, Helen Shelton shares her never told WWII experiences as a French resistance fighter with her first husband when her granddaughter Ruth visits; then moves to the unwed mother Mary Jo Wyse as she seeks her ex-lover’s family and ends up having her baby, Noelle, in Grace and Cliff Harding’s stable apartment delivered Christmas by firefighter Mack McAfee as her three brothers Wyse drive all around the cove looking for her.

Mischief and Mistletoe/Mary Jo Putney, Jo Beverley, et al

This is a collection of Regency Christmas stories--that pretty much sums it up! I do want to add, however, that I am a big fan of Jo Beverley and Mary Jo Putney, so that's what initially drew me to this collection. As a result, I have discovered that I really enjoyed the writing of some of the other authors of this collection. At this busy time of year, it was nice to have a book that I could easily put down and look forward to returning to!

Donkey's Gift / Thomas M. Coffey 89 p.

Asinus plans to run away. After all he has been mistreated by humans all his life. In the hills of Galilee a donkey can be free. But he is purchased by Joseph, a carpenter , who needs to get his pregnant wife Mary to Bethlehem. Asinus finds himself in the role of protector. He learns of burglary attempts through conversations with fellow donkey travelors. Along the way, he learns that Joseph and Mary are one of many humans that are caring individuals. A fun Christmas tale.

The Heart of Christmas / Mary Balogh, Nicola Cornick and Courtney Milan 378 p.

Three novellas tell of romance during the holidays. Christmas is the perfect backdrop for love to develop and grow. Handful of Gold by Balogh has Julian Dare and his best friend spending Christmas with their mistresses in a hideaway. What Julian doesn't bargain for is snow driving others to their abode. Season for Suitors by Nicola Cornick has heiress Clara Davenport turning to the most notorious rake in London for expert advice in avoiding being compromised by rakes. Of course, tables turn as Sebastian Fleet finds himself with a growing attraction for Clara. This Wicked Gift by Courtney Milan finds Lavinia Spencer planning a divine Christmas dinner for her sick father and brother. Only the money has disappeared and her brother swindled, left owing more than they can ever pay. A benefactor settles the debt but wants more from Lavinia than just a handshake and a heartfelt thanks.

Find in the library catalog

Christmas Bride / Mary Balogh 222 p.

Very wealthy cit Edgar Downes has decided at 36 to take a wife. Since he promised his aging father that he would wed a title lady by Christmas, he goes to London to review the parade of available ladies. His eye is caught by the widow Lady Helena Stapleton. Turns out the attraction is mutual. Marriage is out of the question for Lady Helena--she's too old and just the wrong lady for Edgar. But it is the Christmas season and miracles do happen. Balogh's romances are just a bit on the risqué side as well as having twists in the romance and characters with some depth.

Check the library catalog

Santa Baby / Jennifer Crusie and others 328 p.

Christmas is the time for romance. Last minute Christmas Eve shopping for the latest action figure to die for has Trudy Maxwell running into spies and secret codes and a hunk secret agent.

Check library catalog

Angel Christmas / Mary Balogh, [et. al] 384 p.

Christmas time brings angels to romance in these 5 stories. My favorite is the Tin Angel by Patricia Rice. Angel Mary appears to Jeffrey, Viscount Darcourt, when he settles in at home for a quiet Christmas. He is filled with rage over the loss of his brother, slow movement of needed change in Parliament, and his own loneliness. Mary telling of his good points doesn't seem to help. Mary seems to be making an impact because Jeffrey takes to caring about her hideaway--a tin angel. He finds himself helping the Vicar as his daughter lies dying. He gives a Christmas tree topped with the tin angel. Not to give the story away but it is a romance.

Read before the end of the year--just got to blog now.

Check out the library catalog

Christmas Promise / Mary Balogh 289 p.

Eleanor Transome's father arranges her marriage to Randolph Pierce, Earl of Falloden; he needs her father's wealth and her father wants her protected after his death. Both find themselves not at all interested in the other. She's a cit after all and he's of the ton. Her dying father requested that she celebrate Christmas--and not be in mourning. She invites her father's entire family some 20 including 2 children. Randolph invited his bachelor friends while under the influence. The stage is set for a culture war. Randolph's good manners and Eleanor's boisterous family devise a most enjoyable Christmas.

Find book and ebook in the catalog.

Holidays on Ice / David Sedaris 176 p.

Humorist David Sedaris presents a series of short stories. Santaland Diaries gives one behind the scenes insight into visiting Santa. This has such a ring to truth that I believe David was once a Christmas elf. Droll humor.

Plum Pudding Murder / Joanne Fluke 303 p.

This Christmas finds Hannah Swensen returning in her 12th mystery. The Cookie Jar, Hannah's shop, is busy busy busy making treats for all including Larry Jaeger to sell at his Crazy Elf Christmas Tree Lot. She even develops her own plum pudding--with plums--for him to sell. When she goes to pick up her check, she and boy friend find Larry dead. Taking out her steno pad, she lists the suspects and motives. Hannah checks off suspects as she goes about Lake Eden, Minn. overhearing conversations, piecing together folk's whereabouts and getting reports from an investigating mother. Plum full of recipes from Hot Fudge Sundae Cakes to Triple Threat Chocolate Cheesecake Pie.

The 'spicy' prize for the Blue-and-White week is cookies from the Cookie Jar.

Check the library catalog.

1225 Christmas Tree Lane/Debbie Macomber/283 pgs.

This is mainly Beth Morehouse's story; she lives at 1225 Christmas Tree Lane. She has been divorced from Kent Morehouse for 3 years. Her college age daughters, Bailey and Sophie, decide it's time to get their parents back together--and when is a better time than at Christmas? Throw in the usual complications and misunderstandings, plus 10 puppies needing homes, and you have a typical Cedar Grove Christmas. A fast read for the holiday season!

Christmas box / Richard Paul Evans 125 p.

Young parents, Richard and Keri, find a new start-up business irresistible as it lets them move back home. Now with a daughter, Jenna, Richard and Keri need a larger space. They take the job of live-in caretaker for lonely widow Mary Parkin. When they move in Richard discovers the ornate wood music box in the attic. The families blend with true warmth. Jenna looks upon Mary as a grandmother. However, Richard is drawn in more and more with the business at the expense of family time. Mary urges him to adjust his schedule as this time will not come again and to understand the gift of Christmas. Richard is just too busy. As Mary lays dying, Richard gets it-- love is God's greatest gift.

Holiday themed story

Find in the library

All I want for Christmas / Nora Roberts 109 p.

The six-year old Taylor twins write to Santa for just two things: a real mom and a bike. When they see the new music teacher, Nell Davis, they have found The Mom! She meets all their requirements even down to baking cookies. The fun in this story is that Dad doesn't have a clue what exactly is up but he does get that something is. The twins try their best to be good cause that's what Santa wants to bring The Mom! A fun read about the joy of anticipation and wishes that come true.

Winter Holiday theme

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Treasury of Christmas Crafts & Foods / 384 p.

Everything Christmas is featured in this work. I loved all the ways to make creches at least a dozen plus. Everything needed to develop lovely Christmas traditions is here. There seems to be something for everyone. Food for the holidays along with the table decorations, ornaments, Christmas trees, it's here. And here's a secret the source for the treats to winners of the Show Your True Colors is this.

Night Before Christmas / Brenda Novak, Day Leclaire, Molly O'Keefe

Three romances are set in the Christmas holidays.

Brenda Novak's On a Snowy Christmas tells the romance that blossom between two adversaries while campaigning for the same Senate seat in the aftermath of a plane crash in the high Sierras.

In Day Leclaire’s The Christmas Baby, Carrie Manning is having a bad hair year culminating with a baby left on her doorstep. Three couples find a healing of old hurts.

Molly O’Keefe won the 2010 RITA for Best Romance Novella for The Christmas Eve Promise. Merrieta Monroe finds romance when she returns home to Webster, Missouri, to work in her parent’s diner at Christmas time. It’s really the about reconnecting with family and past loves.

2010 RITA for Best Romance Novella