My Holiday Reading Challenge Reading List Part 1

Goodreads Blurb:

Love in a time of no muffins and some evil.

I have the best luck ever; it’s terrible. You want it? It’s yours. But ask: Do you like being bored ALL the time because there are no challenges ever? Do you like being surrounded by people because no one will ever leave you alone? (Even in the bathroom, you’ll need to invest in some really good locks.) Do you want to be a virgin for the rest of your life because no one thinks they’re good enough for you? No? Me either!

I have the worst luck ever, It’s terrible. You want it? It’s yours. You get a lot of scars out of the deal. The campus darling is annoying. And beautiful. And smells like a garden after the rain. He’s the worst. And he’s a muffin thief. F**k that guy.

Goodreads Blurb:

Christmas chaos is at an all-time high for Robin Pearce, having moved back to the small town of River Sutton, bought a shabby farmhouse, started a new business and a new relationship with handsome Sheriff Chris Payne. Living in a money pit isn’t a great idea. She’s broke and bills are coming due. With no income and no prospects, Robin agrees to attend her sister Jenn’s Christmas party to welcome socialite guests to her new bed-and-breakfast, Cardinal Cottage, thinking she can drum up leads. But when a dead body is discovered at the B and B the next morning, her sister’s sugar-plum dream of becoming a travel destination turns into a lump of coal. Robin is reluctant to meddle in the investigation and ruin her relationship with the sheriff. Until Chris arrests Jenn’s wife for the murder! Robin must act fast to discover the real killer and prove her sister-in-law’s innocence . With an old nemesis making a reappearance and her relationship with the sheriff at stake, will Robin be able to find the killer before it’s too late?

Goodreads Blurb:

The love story and coming of age tale of Colton Rumble, a displaced Texas cowboy and struggling teenaged parent grieving the untimely loss of his father, and mixed-up college student, Christy Kendall, who seems to be the only one who can see him for who he truly is. When tragedy strikes the Christmas City, Colton risks everything for his true love. The plight of this star-crossed pair is set in the late 1980s during the fall and winter holidays in the steel town of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

Goodreads Blurb:

reat Aunt Patti is dead. Gloria Watson would probably feel a little sadder at that news if she had known about Great Aunt Patti in the first place. Growing up an only child, all she had was her grandmother. After Nana’s passing, Gloria thought she was the last one left in her family. Well, she is. Since Great Aunt Patti is dead and all. That’s okay. The nice lawyer who wrote her a letter assured Gloria that her great aunt lived a long, happy life in a small town that Gloria has never heard of. And now, as her next of kin, everything she owned belongs to Gloria. Including a house. Which sounds like a godsend to Gloria, who is eager to start her dream business and could use the extra cash. Only there’s a catch. Because of course there is. The house is hers—but only after she lives there for a year. One year in Hamlet and then Gloria will have enough money to follow her dream. Why not? It’ll give her time to work on her flavors. And it wasn’t like she had much going on for her in the city anyway. She’s moved in by Thanksgiving, ready to spend the holidays in her new home. So what if her new neighbor is the hottest guy she’s ever seen? Franklin is as grumpy as he is handsome, and he hates Christmas. Seriously. A year? Gloria will be lucky if she makes it to January.

Goodreads Blurb:

CRIME NEVER GOES ON HOLIDAY…

Irma Abercrombie is an energetic retiree with a shadowy past, a mean right hook, and a profound love of Christmas. Surrounded by seasonal joy – and way too many stuffed Yuletide beavers – at the island house her family has owned for generations, she’s all set for the perfect holiday.

But when a young friend asks for help with figuring out a financial snafu, her perfect day is in jeopardy. Can Irma – a woman with a yen for strong tea, cardio, and a well-oiled gun – find a thief before the festive season kicks off, or will Christmas be ruined?

Goodreads Blurb:

An innkeeper who reads minds. An ornery detective. And a trail of bodies. Cider Cove is the premiere destination for murder.
Each book in the series can be read individually so dive on in! ***Includes RECIPE***

My name is Bizzy Baker, and I can read minds—not every mind, not every time but most of the time and believe me when I say it’s not all it’s cracked up to be.

It’s Christmastime in Cider Cove and it’s beginning to look a lot like murder.

Bizzy Baker runs the Country Cottage Inn, has the ability to pry into the darkest recesses of both the human and animal mind, and has just stumbled upon a body. With the help of her kitten, Fish, a mutt named Sherlock Bones and an ornery yet dangerously good looking homicide detective, Bizzy is determined to find the killer.

The Country Cottage Inn is known for its hospitality. Leaving can be murder.

Goodreads Blurb:

I’ve always been a player.

A football player, that is. In the dating game, though, I only have eyes for one girl.

Sydney Porter, team publicist MVP, all-around hottie…and my ex-girlfriend.

Christmas comes early for me and I’m traded back to my home team mid-season. Of course, I run straight into Sydney—and a big problem. See, I never actually told my family we broke up. Now my mom wants the happy couple home for the holidays.

After saving Sydney from a work snafu, she owes me. I sweet talk her into going along with my fake dating plan, but I only have until Christmas. Can I convince her we belong together or will the magic between us disappear forever once the mistletoe comes down?

Goodreads Blurb:

When professional hockey star Tyler Adams crashes hard on the ice, his world turns as cold as the rink beneath him. With his career in jeopardy, he returns to Silver Pines, the snow-blanketed small town he once called home, seeking solace and a chance to heal. But as the frosty mountain air wraps around him, the unexpected sparks of heat begin to thaw his guarded heart.

As Tyler navigates his recovery, he’s drawn into coaching the local youth hockey team for their annual showdown in the beloved Holly Cup. Alongside Ben, a former college acquaintance with an irresistible charm and a passion for teamwork, Tyler must decide if he’s ready to take a leap of faith—not just in love but in embracing who he truly is.

With the magic of the holiday season shimmering in the background, Holiday on Ice is a heartwarming tale of second chances, self-discovery, and finding love in the most unexpected places. Between fiery glances and stolen moments, Tyler skates on thin ice between passion and self-preservation.

Goodreads Blurb:

A Boyfriend for Christmas is a heartwarming holiday romance and coming-of-age story set in the snowy, picturesque mountains of upstate New York, where two young men find themselves unexpectedly drawn to each other during the most magical time of the year.

Noah, a quiet and introspective college student, has always loved the simple comforts of Christmas in his small town—family traditions, cozy nights by the fire, and the magic of a winter wonderland. But everything changes when he meets the confident and charismatic Eli. Eli’s charm and carefree attitude immediately captivate Noah, and soon, a connection begins to bloom between them that feels both exciting and overwhelming.

As snow blankets the streets and the town is aglow with holiday lights, Noah starts to confront the feelings of passion. With Eli, he begins to experience what it feels like to truly be seen for who he is. As their bond deepens, Noah is faced with the challenge of embracing his true self and stepping into a new chapter of his life—one where love, honesty, and the courage to be open are the greatest gifts of all.

Goodreads Blurb:

Grace doesn’t want a lot for Christmas …

When it comes to relationships, Grace isn’t hoping for any mistletoe miracles. Instead of asking Santa for yet another disappointing date, her list would have only one to be a mom … a lifetime goal that she put on hold after being kicked out of her biological family for being transgender.

There is just one thing she needs.

But Grace’s plans to avoid heartbreak are shattered when she meets Alex, her best friend’s ridiculously hot and painfully arrogant brother who’s more interested in moneymaking than merrymaking. Their unexpected connection heats alongside her grandmother’s famous caramel apple pie … until reality sets in as the New Year approaches and Alex’s prestigious promotion across the country beckons.

Will her Christmas wish come true?

Alex