Reading For The Holidays
Posted by Samantha Hunter in Samantha Hunter, tags: Books, gifts, holidays, reading, romance
I watched The Proposal this past weekend (really cute movie) and the heroine mentioned reading Wuthering Heights every Christmas. Do you read one special book every holiday? Are you looking forward to receiving a gift of books this year, or do you expect to be too busy to read (gasp!) this season? What books are you giving?
I tell family and friends never to buy me books — a gift card is fine, but I buy far too many of my own for anyone to know what I’ve read or haven’t, so books as gifts never work for me, but I do enjoy giving them. I try to make notes through the year of books I think family members will find interesting or fun, though sometimes I don’t wait. When my MIL visited this past September, I bought her the first four Karen Marie Moning Fever books because I was too anxious for her to read them to wait for Christmas. As for books we read every year, I don’t really have any particular book I return to over and over again. Last year, my husband had their Uncle’s enthusiastic reading, which he enjoyed, too. It’s nice for kids to have books as well as TV shows for their annual traditions, I think, even though I love many of the TV specials we grew up with.
I will be reading a lot through the month, working through my Kindle TBR and enjoying curling up in the evenings with some good reading. I am reading Charlaine Harris’s Grave Secret at the moment (not very Christmassy, I know, but it’s a good book), and have a list of romances (including some Blazes, of course) that I am looking forward to, as well. Are you reading any holiday-oriented romances you would recommend?
So what books are you reading, or do you want to curl up on a holiday evening and read this month? Share your current reading and I’ll pick two winners to receive a signed copy of my previous Christmas Blaze, Talking in Your Sleep, along with a tin of hot chocolate and a pretty mug. If you have this book already, just let me know if you would like it signed for someone else, and maybe it can be one of your gift items this season. Merry, Merry, and best wishes for a happy and peaceful month, whichever holiday you celebrate.
Sam
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Right now I am reading Black at Heart by Leslie Parrish which is not very Christmasy either but a great story. I have several Christmas anthologies which I will read soon. I have two little nephews that I am going to buy Christmas stories for and it’s fun to go in the children’s section and read the Christmas/winter stories they have out and pick the ones I think they will like.
Hi Maureen! Those are some great reads — I know I can’t wait for her paranormal detective series out next summer.
Books are such good gifts for kids… and easy to wrap!
Sam
I am all caught up with Harper Connelly series – but need to get Grave Secret!! I am not reading anything Christmasy either…just started Debbie Macomber’s Cedar Cove series and am on the 3rd book…so that is what I’ll be reading next. There are some Blazes out there that I am really wanting to get – hopefully I will receive a gift card for Christmas.
I buy my kids books every year for Christmas. They always know that at least one of their presents will be books from me.
I love these Harris books — number three is very good, too.
I started Michelle Rowan’s HOT SPELL last night, and enjoying it a lot. 
I am still working my way slowly through Moning’s Highlanders as well, and Jeannine Frost’s Cat books… I only read one of those every other month or so to spread them out.
Sam
I actually am reading a Christmas story, A Highlander Christmas. I just started it but I’m really enjoying it. I love to curl up in my chair with hot chocolate and read. It’s really cold here today so staying warm is my goal for today. I hope everyones holiday season is safe and joyful.
Totally behind and out of order in reading the IN DEATH series! Taking a short break in revisions to read PURITY IN DEATH. Have a great holiday!
It’s snowing here this morning, so I’m in a holiday mood! (Also a mood for baking, but that’s another story.)
My favorite annual reads: Tolkein’s Lord of the Rings and Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice (without zombies, please).
Right now I’m reading Twelve Sharp by Janet Evanovitch. Total popcorn fun.
Happy December to you!
I just got all 6 of the Blaze books for this month on sunday. I have already read Santa,Baby which was really good and I am so glad they finally told us what happens with the costume shop girl, lol. This morning I started Christamas Male which I am excited about. I love any book that has a Military man as the Hero, maybe me being married to a Marine has something to do with that, lol! After I am done with these I will have to venture out to see what else I can find. There are always a few books from other Harlequin series that catch my attention. Plus I really need to make a trip to the used book store to trade some of my books for some old ones I am looking for. I am determined to read all of Maureen Childs books. I love her and one of her books was the first romance I ever read that led me to being not only a huge fan of the books, but also a writer.
I also want to get Kissing Santa Claus by Donna Kauffman, Jill Shalvis and Helen Kay Dimon. I read To All A Good Night by them last month and loved it and cant wait to read the other one.
I am reading To Desire A Devil by Elizabeth Hoyt. I recently finished Blaze of Memory by Nalini Singh. They are so good.
I love gift cards to bookstores. They are my favorite Christmas gift. Of course, I prefer Amazon these days because I too am a lover of the Kindle. I return to the classics a lot. Jane Austen and Anne Bronte are particular favorites right now. I have a couple of projects to finish up and then I’m going on a big reading binge. I’ve already loaded the Kindle with new authors I haven’t tried yet, and some old favorites.
Happy Holidays! You always make me smile here and on twitter.
(C) I am currently reading Roxanne St Claire’s Bullet Catcher series. Man are they good and definitely HOT!
I am giving my daughter a book for Christmas because she asked for it. It’s called Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. Yeah it kinda follows the original story only with zombies. They other is Sense and Sensibilities and Sea Monsters. Both are humor based.
I don’t generally give books (G) unless I know they person has specifically asked for a book by title. I prefer gift cards because I buy so many books they might repeat one I have already bought. I tend to read a lot of books in any given mo nth But if they do buy me books they usually buy me cook books because they are safer than romance because like I said they might repeat a title there.
I hope everyone is having a great holiday season and isn’t over doing the shopping (G)
:-$ (Y) I am currently reading Roxanne St Claire’s Bullet Catcher series. Man are they good and definitely HOT!
(Y)
I am giving my daughter a book for Christmas because she asked for it. It’s called Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. Yeah it kinda follows the original story only with zombies. They other is Sense and Sensibilities and Sea Monsters. Both are humor based.
I don’t generally give books (G) unless I know they person has specifically asked for a book by title. I prefer gift cards because I buy so many books they might repeat one I have already bought. I tend to read a lot of books in any given mo nth But if they do buy me books they usually buy me cook books because they are safer than romance because like I said they might repeat a title there.
I hope everyone is having a great holiday season and isn’t over doing the shopping (G) (Y) (Y) (Y)
I dont know why it posted it twice… sorry about that!
Patsy, I just got PRIDE, PREJUDICE AND ZOMBIES, but I haven’t started it yet.
At this moment I am reading Suzanne Brockmann’s DARK OF NIGHT… I have already dug into my holiday themed books and now switching between my TBR pile and my ebooks… (*)
Hi Linda! Who is the author? That does sound like a book to curl up with.
Alina, thanks for reading the Dressed to Thrill series, and I’m glad you enjoyed Josie’s story, too. That was fun. It sounds like you have a nice stack of Christmas books!
Crystal, I have to get that Singh book — have heard good things.
Merry, Merry Candace! I enjoy seeing you here and on Twitter, too.
And I LOVE gift cards of any sort, because it means I can shop and get something I really like. Although I tend to like to give gifts more than gift cards, because I like to shop and wrap presents. 
Patsy, I have to say, I have been hearing a lot about zombies lately, and I’m just not sure about that! LOL All I can ever think of when I think of zombies is Night of the Living Dead (and the guy who is after his girlfriend’s brain, LOL). But I agree, buying books for some folks is difficult — I have a few members of the family who are easy that way, but several who don’t read at all. Hard to imagine. LOL I am probably the heaviest reader in my family, but my sisters aren’t readers. My mom was, but not my dad. The younger generation in our family does read, and I enjoy buying them books.
Colleen, I have read most of SB’s books, and need to check that one out… I lost track of her after I started reading more paranormal and mystery, less straight romantic suspense.
Sam
It’s an anthology with stories by Dawn halliday, Cindy Miles and Sophie Renwick.
My dad was a big reader, my mom was not. I inherited my dad’s reading genes but my two brothers inherited mom’s not a reader genes and unfortunately their kids followed them. So even though my brothers have kids who have kids none of them read. And all this leads me to say I don’t buy books for anyone in my family. I give gift cards but they are not to book stores either. I tried one Chirstmas to give books but that didn’t go well so I gave up.
I have read several Christmas themed books that I enjoyed ~~ The Christmas Present by Tracy Wolff ~~ Baby Under the Mistletoe by Jamie Sobrato ~~ The Christmas Stranger by Beth Cornelison just to mention a few.
Hi Sam!
I don’t normally pull out holiday books to read at the holidays. If anything, I like holiday books in the summer, when I’m dreaming of the cold weather!! I hope to be able to lots of reading this month. With a one year old, though, who knows how much will actually happen..other than Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb, or Barnyard Dance, or Dr. Seuss’ ABCs, that is. The wee one loves books so I do get reading in, technically.
For my “adult” book, I’m currently reading The Book Thief. Interesting premise, unique style, not very warm-fuzzy. I’m enjoying it. I’ll probably pick a mental-candy Blaze next, for contrast!
Books are great gifts for me. Even if I’ve read them, I can exchange them or pass them along. Gift cards are okay, too, although I have to be able to use them online because there are no chain bookstores within 250 miles.
I’m currently reading Wild Thing, Just finished Skin Game which was fantastic!
jamie sobrato blaze
smooth talking stranger0 lisa kelypas
(Y) (W)
I am reading Serendipity by Louise Shaffer. I give books to all my friends and to my family as well. I am selective about what each person is going to enjoy so they are always pleased. Have a wonderful holiday season. Best wishes and this post is lovely.
My dad just got a Kindle, so all he wants for Christmas is an Amazon gift certificate. I love it when gift buying is that easy!! I’m always thrilled with gift cards for books.
I just finished Janet Chapman’s A HIGHLANDER CHRISTMAS and now I’m reading an ARC of Helen Scott Taylor’s THE PHOENIX CHARM. Both great books!!
Hi Sam,
I have been very busy these last few weeks so my reading has suffered. I just finished the last of the November Blaze books that I had, right before I got so busy. I need to make a trip to a store quickly to nab the new ones before they disappear for the month.
I always seem to come back to one favorite Christmas story. It’s “To Marry at Christmas” by Kasey Michaels. It’s such a sweet story, and it’s special to me as I met Kasey long, long ago and I had the chance to hold a really good conversation about the book with her. She is a local author to my area, but I rarely have the chance to see her. She told me that the pretense of the story was 100% true. The story plot was actually the way her son proposed to his wife! I was so taken with the story I kept the book on my “keepers” shelf to this day. As an added bonus, I had a very strange situation happen while reading it one day. I had just started a new job, and I liked to sit alone and read during my lunch break. One day a girl from my office sat down across from me and exclaimed “OMG, you’re reading my book!” I looked at her very oddly, knowing full well that this girl was NOT Kasey Michaels. She stammered on and finally said “well, not my book exactly, but I’m a character in that book!” Now it was my turn to look at her with a stupid smile on my face. I asked her to explain what she ment, and she told me that her sister married Kasey’s son! She then told me to go back to a page in the front of the book and re-read the description of “Grandma Rose”. When I did, I was shocked to realize that every word Kasey used actually described the girl sitting across from me. She had just aged Rose about 40 years for the story and made her the Grandmother instead of the younger sister to fill out the story. It was such an amazing experience for me that It has made me return to read the book when I need a spirit boost at the Holidays on more than one occasion.
Have a fabulous holiday season everyone!
-Pamela J.
Hi, Sam! I’m definitely planning on reading the Dressed to Thrill quartet during Christmas break this year
I’ve also got some of Shelly Laurenston’s Dragon shifters to catch up on. As someone mentioned earlier, Ava Gray’s Skin Game was fabulous; I’ve got Ann’s Doubleblind on the TBR, too. Just need more time!!
No need to enter me, Sam–I’ve definitely got Talking in Your Sleep–what a hot Christmas read!
Hi, Sam! I’m definitely planning on reading the Dressed to Thrill quartet during Christmas break this year
I’ve also got some of Shelly Laurenston’s Dragon shifters to catch up on. As someone mentioned earlier, Ava Gray’s Skin Game was fabulous; I’ve got Ann’s Doubleblind on the TBR, too. Just need more time!!
And what a cool story, PamelaJ! I don’t think I’ve read that Kasey Michaels book yet!
No need to enter me, Sam–I’ve definitely got Talking in Your Sleep–what a hot Christmas read!
Oops–sorry about the double post–can’t figure out how to delete it!
I’m currently reading Cowboy Daddy, Jingle-Bell Baby by Linda Goodnight.
This my favorite time of year for reading. The books to me have something little extra special with the Christmas magic in them. My mom is getting me books for Christmas. I just usually make a list to give her. People always ask me what I want I tell them books or a gift card to a book store. It’s very easy to please me. I did buy my cousin two mysteries for Christmas.
I read Talking in Your Sleep, it’s actually a keeper book for me. Loved it!
I loooooove Christmas books, always get them out every year, just like right now they are ready for me for this year. They are a mix of my favorites from years past and whatever new ones I get for the year. I just haven’t started reading them yet, since I’m on the same book as I have been for the past couple days — love the book, just life keeps interferring. LOL So will start on them after another book or two.
Lois
I just finished Blue Bloods by Melissa De La Cruz. Next up for me is More Blazing Bedtime Stories by Julie Leto and Leslie Kelly. I have a few Christmas books in my tbr pile, and I hope to get to them in the next week or so.
Hey folks! Thanks so much for all the kind words about TIYS.
I will be back in the morning to answer more and pick some winners — my fingers are stiff from sewing all day today (finished a big quilt), so keep posting, and I’ll be back in the morning!
Sam
I’ve started reading “Naughty Bits” a Spice book with multiple authors. I’ve read two of the stories. They were completely different from each other, but both HOT! I’ve just received a few new Blaze books and I’m not sure which will be next…
Happy Holidays!
I’ve been reading Kylie Brant’s Mindhunters trilogy and Susan Donovan’s “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg.”
Recently finished up Suzanne Collins/Catching Fire and loved it. This is a fabulous series and I’m sad the next release is the last. I’m also reading a few Christmas anthologies, most recently Hot For the Holidays. I’m hoping they’ll get me more motivated to get Christmas stuff done.
Hey there! Fun reading about all your reading! Pam and Lois, I hear you on being busy. I often only read before bed at night, until I can’t keep my eyes open. Reading during daylight hours is a treat.
Liza, I love the Blazing Bedtime Stories — I have one coming out in March — you can find it here: http://tinyurl.com/ydxk7l4
Sarah, Jane, and Jody, thanks for coming by.
Jody, I wonder what you might be motivated to do with reading like that! LOL 
I posted pictures of the quilt I finished on my FB and Twitter accounts, so if you want to check them out, please do — I’m very proud of it.
So…..winners!!!
Drum roll, please………………………..
ALINA and PATSY, you are my winners for a copy of TIYS and some hot chocolate and a pretty mug.
Just email me at samhunter@samanthahunter.com, and I’ll send them out so you can enjoy them, or gift them, by the holiday. (If you want the book made out to someone else, just let me know in the email).
Thanks for sharing your reading — you gave me some new ideas, and of course, we can always use new ideas for the TBR!
Sam
ALINA and PATSY Congrats!!! (*)