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We've talked movies and baking, but another way I like to get into the holiday spirit is by reading holiday-themed stories. My mom started this tradition when I was little by having us all read Charles Dickens's Christmas Carol aloud as a family, and to this day, when December rolls around I start getting the itch for books featuring miracles, mistletoe kisses, and holiday cheer.
I've seen several people asking for recommendations of favorite holiday-themed romances lately, so I thought I'd share a few of mine! Weirdly, they're all historical--but that's purely a coincidence. I'm sure there are some great Christmas contemporaries, and if you know of one, I'd love to hear about it!
The Shadow and the Star by Laura Kinsale
Strictly speaking, not a holiday-themed romance, but a large, important stretch of the book takes place at a Christmas house party. There are surprisingly intoxicating brandied cherries, a game of Victorian-era Secret Santa that goes horribly wrong--or right?, and basically it's one of the best books ever. It was the first big historical romance I read, and it hooked me on romance for life. I even made brandied cherries last year! If you haven't read this yet, you're missing out. It's a classic for a reason.
An Affair Before Christmas by Eloisa James 
This was one of James's Desperate Duchesses novels, and I enjoyed it immensely. It gave a real sense of the time period, down to some of the less pleasant details most historicals gloss right over, and in fact, those details were pivotal to the characters and the plot. Highly unique and very satisfying.
This Wicked Gift by Courtney Milan
A novella in the Heart of Christmas anthology, this is Courtney Milan's debut. Her first full length novel, Proof by Seduction, will be out January 1st, and based on this novella? I'm pre-ordering that sucker. Milan is good! This not your standard bored society lady/ravishing rake/Almack's-and-Hyde-Park historicals. The lack of wealthy dukes is enough to make this book stand out, but what really affected me was the amount of sensual detail. The prose appeals to every single one of the reader's senses, and it's enough to make you feel like you're right there. I loved it.
What are some of your favorite holiday romances?
I'm doing that bad thing where I've started multiple books at the same time. There's just so much out there I want to read, though! Here's my current list.
 Don't Try This at Home, edited by Kim Witherspoon
This is an amazing and eye-opening compendium of disaster stories from the kitchens of some of today's top chefs, from Ferran Adria to Jamie Oliver to Anthony Bourdain. Every chef has a night where things go wrong, and in this book, the chefs relive those experiences and what they learned from them in first person accounts that are by turns lyrical, poignant, hilarious, and shocking. This is my favorite kind of research!
 A Duke of Her Own by Eloisa James
The stirring conclusion of the Desperate Duchesses series! Finally, Villiers gets his happily ever after. It's been a long time since a hero engaged me on as many levels as Leopold, Duke of Villiers. He's utterly charming, vain as a peacock, loyal to a fault, and scrupulous about covering his good heart with a veneer of debauchery and frivolity. I adore him.
 In The Eye of the Storm by Gene Robinson
Gene Robinson is the gay bishop of New Hampshire whose confirmation sparked a controversy in the Episcopal Church, and beyond. His books is an examination of not only the church's policy on LGBT issues, but of Christian theology in a larger sense. His writing is passionate and straightforward, and the strength of his faith breathes through every word. Very inspiring story.
 Hot Pursuit by Suzanne Brockmann
I can't get enough of the Troubleshooters. And especially Sam/Alyssa and Jules/Robin! So it's beyond fabulous to have all of them back for another round of excitement and adventure. And, of course, the kind of passionate, gutwrenching romance Brockmann excels at.
What's on your bedside table?
If the title of this post made you think it was going to be sexy, I'm very sorry to disappoint you. Our a/c is broken. It is currently far too hot in my house for holding hands, much less anything more athletic.
Still, even with the temperature issues, it's good to be home! We had a great time in San Francisco/Napa Valley/Big Sur/Santa Ynez. Yes, the trip was as long as it sounds. I did get a bunch of writing done, though! Traveling can be good for that, I guess because it's so stimulating. I also got some good reading done--finished Blink (finally), which I'd rank below The Tipping Point and Outliers, but I did like it. And I'm nearly caught up on Eloisa James's Desperate Duchesses series! Those are compulsively readable. This Duchess of Mine is next, then I'm all ready and waiting for Villiers's story! He's the character I've adored the most through the entire series, so I'm truly looking forward to it.
In the meantime, it's back to deadlineville! I'll post pictures of the trip tomorrow, I promise. It's too hot right now to go upstairs and find my camera cord.
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