Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.
This week I’m sharing books with beautiful, wonderful, festive holiday covers! Some of these, I’ve read–some, I haven’t.
1.A Kiss in the Snow by Rosie Green
After a cruel twist of fate sends her hurtling into a black hole of despair, Carrie is absolutely dreading the festive season – especially with sister, Krystle, being even more demanding of her time and energy than usual. But then friend Maddy offers Carrie a lifeline: the chance to get away from it all in a holiday cottage in the gorgeous little village of Silverbells. Deciding that a few weeks of tranquillity – reading, baking and going for long walks in the countryside – might just restore her mood, Carrie is quick to take up the offer. But on arriving, it very soon becomes clear that this break is going to be anything but peaceful!
An unwelcome houseguest proves unsettling enough – especially one who whistles loudly first thing in the morning and is far too cheerful for his own good – but finding herself drawn into the spooky mystery of her missing neighbour means there really isn’t much time for personal reflection. And then love comes knocking, and Carrie is forced to decide exactly where her heart lies.
Will this festive season be the disaster Carrie predicted? Or will Santa be good to her and deliver her heart’s desire? One thing’s for sure – this will be a Christmas Carrie will never, ever forget…
This probably won’t be my only Rosie Green on this list… I love her book covers! This one, coincidentally, will be featured on my blog soon for a review.
2.In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren
One Christmas wish, two brothers, and a lifetime of hope are on the line for hapless Maelyn Jones in In a Holidaze, the quintessential holiday romantic novel by Christina Lauren, the New York Times bestselling author of The Unhoneymooners.
It’s the most wonderful time of the year…but not for Maelyn Jones. She’s living with her parents, hates her going-nowhere job, and has just made a romantic error of epic proportions.
But perhaps worst of all, this is the last Christmas Mae will be at her favorite place in the world—the snowy Utah cabin where she and her family have spent every holiday since she was born, along with two other beloved families. Mentally melting down as she drives away from the cabin for the final time, Mae throws out what she thinks is a simple plea to the universe: Please. Show me what will make me happy.
The next thing she knows, tires screech and metal collides, everything goes black. But when Mae gasps awake…she’s on an airplane bound for Utah, where she begins the same holiday all over again. With one hilarious disaster after another sending her back to the plane, Mae must figure out how to break free of the strange time loop—and finally get her true love under the mistletoe.
Jam-packed with yuletide cheer, an unforgettable cast of characters, and Christina Lauren’s trademark “downright hilarious” (Helen Hoang, author of The Bride Test) hijinks, this swoon-worthy romantic read will make you believe in the power of wishes and the magic of the holidays.
I just adore Christina Lauren! They’re books never fail to delight me. This simple, yet festive cover is perfect!
3.Christmas at the Island Hotel by Jenny Colgan
Another heartfelt and delightful Christmas tale from the beloved New York Times bestselling author of The Bookshop on the Corner and Christmas on the Island.
New York Times bestselling author Jenny Colgan returns to the setting of Christmas on the Island and Endless Beach for a heartwarming new novel celebrating the season, and Scotland.
On the tiny, beautiful, and remote island of Mure, halfway between Scotland and Norway, a new hotel opening is a big event. New mother Flora MacKenzie and her brother Fintan are working themselves half to death to get it ready in time for Christmas.
The new hotel’s impressive kitchens throw together two unlikely new friends: Isla Gregor is the hardworking young girl who has been a waitress in the island’s cafe, dreaming of a bigger, better life now that she’s at a proper fancy hotel. Konstantin Pederson is working his way up in the hotel’s kitchens too…but he is also, secretly, the only son of the Duke of Utsire. Konstantin has been sent to learn what it is to work hard for a living, before receiving his inheritance. Although he’s initially resentful, the place grows on him; he has never met anyone quite like Isla and her fellow Murians before.
As the island’s residents and special VIP guests gather for the hotel’s grand opening gala, Christmas is in the air. But so are more than a few small-town secrets…
Jenny Colgan always brings delightful stories! I love this cover so much!
4.Snowflakes Over Moondance Cottage by Rosie Green
When Jess Rigby lost her dad, the family coped in different ways, alone in their grief. Now, her mum seems to be going off the rails and her sister, Isla, who moved to France, is now back and determined to get the old family home on the market. But the last thing Jess wants this Christmas is for renovations to start on the house. It’s sure to stir up old memories she’s desperate to forget. And to make things worse, Isla seems to have hired the most obnoxious builder in the world to do the work. Jess could ignore the fact that women seem to be putty in his hands. But what she finds harder to ignore is the frisson she gets every time she squeezes past him in the mess that is now their beloved family home! Soon, the house begins to give up its secrets, some of them shocking. Can the family finally start talking and find a way to move on from the past this Christmas?
Another Rosie Green! This series is one I just started on, but the covers, alone, make me want to read all of them!
5.Christmas Island by Natalie Norman
Cosy up in front of a fire and discover Christmas the Norwegian way…full of romance, cosy traditions and hygge!
In the bleak midwinter…
A really frosty wind is making Holly’s life absolutely miserable
After all the years of hard work it took Londoner Holly Greene to become a doctor, now it could all be taken away and she only has herself to blame. She’s retreating to her brother’s rustic home on an island off the coast of Norway to lick her wounds. Only, it’s the middle of winter and icy slush plus endless darkness isn’t exactly the cheery, festive getaway she had imagined.
Nearly stumbling off the edge of a cliff in the dark, Holly is saved by Frøy, a yellow-eyed cat of fearsome but fluffy proportions, and his owner – grouchy, bearded recluse, Tor. Tor has his own problems to face but the inexplicable desire to leave a bag of freshly baked gingerbread men on Holly’s doorstep is seriously getting in the way of his hermit routine.
Call it kindness, call it Christmas, but Holly’s arrival means midwinter has never looked less bleak.
I hadn’t heard of this one until recently… And even if the book didn’t sound good, I’d want to read it because of the fabulous cover!
6.The Mistletoe Trap by Cindi Madsen
From the moment Julie sees her best friend, Gavin, in the airport, it’s like no time at all has gone by instead of months and months. No matter how long they’ve been apart, their relationship has always been steady, comfortable, and decidedly just friends. Even though their meddling parents have hung what seems like unlimited amounts of mistletoe everywhere she goes this holiday season, Julie knows some things will never change.
Gavin is well-aware his family’s wanted him and Julie to get together since forever, even though he’s been friend-zoned since they could talk—and he’s been happy to play that role. After all, as the new starting quarterback for the San Antonio Mustangs, he’s got enough on his plate without adding romance to the mix.
But between playing elves in the holiday bazaar to nights spent one-on-one watching rom-coms or soaking in their town’s hot springs, suddenly the “reverse parent trap” they’ve fallen into is actually starting to work. But this could be one scheme where letting themselves get trapped might be way too dangerous.
This one… The cover, the plot–it’s all so appealing! And festive!
7.Her Silent Knight by Ashtyn Newbold
When Sir Edmund catches Miss Selina in a forbidden courtship at the frost fair, she asks for his silence. But he has a request to make in exchange, and it may cost Selina her carefully guarded heart.
Sweet, Regency Christmas Romances
Five Christmas romances and the Frost Fair that started them all.
Her Silent Knight is the first book in the clean and sweet Regency romance Belles of Christmas: Frost Fair series.
Although this is a stand-alone novel, the books are best enjoyed when read in order.
This whole series has equally as beautiful covers!
8.The Last Christmas in Paris by Hazel Gaynor & Heather Webb
New York Times bestselling author Hazel Gaynor has joined with Heather Webb to create this unforgettably romantic novel of the Great War.
August 1914. England is at war. As Evie Elliott watches her brother, Will, and his best friend, Thomas Harding, depart for the front, she believes—as everyone does—that it will be over by Christmas, when the trio plan to celebrate the holiday among the romantic cafes of Paris.
But as history tells us, it all happened so differently…
Evie and Thomas experience a very different war. Frustrated by life as a privileged young lady, Evie longs to play a greater part in the conflict—but how?—and as Thomas struggles with the unimaginable realities of war he also faces personal battles back home where War Office regulations on press reporting cause trouble at his father’s newspaper business. Through their letters, Evie and Thomas share their greatest hopes and fears—and grow ever fonder from afar. Can love flourish amid the horror of the First World War, or will fate intervene?
Christmas 1968. With failing health, Thomas returns to Paris—a cherished packet of letters in hand—determined to lay to rest the ghosts of his past. But one final letter is waiting for him…
I love the Eiffel Tower in the background. This one is beautiful!
9.The Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore
This poem first appeared in a newspaper in Troy, New York, USA, on December 23, 1823, as “A Visit From St. Nicholas”. No one claimed authorship until 13 years later. Clement Clarke Moore, a professor and poet, said that he wrote the piece for his children. Unbeknownst to him, his housekeeper had sent it to the newspaper to be published. However, the family of Henry Livingston Jr. contended that their father had been reciting “A Visit from St. Nicholas” for 15 years prior to publication. Regardless of the true author, the poem is now a Christmas classic.
This was one of my favorite books as a child and this cover is so pretty to me.
10.The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg
The Polar Express is a children’s book written and illustrated by Chris Van Allsburg and published by Houghton Mifflin in 1985. The book is now widely considered to be a classic Christmas story for young children. It was praised for its detailed illustrations and calm, relaxing storyline.
I absolutely have to include this gem. This cover has caught my eye for years. And for good reason.
All of these covers are so beautiful and festive!!
Stephanie @ Bookfever recently posted…ARC Review: Abel by Katee Robert
Yessss! I loved finding all of these!
Polar Express is one of the *best* Christmas books! I’ve had my copy for so long, it’s almost falling apart, hehe.
And you’re so right about Rosie Green’s covers! They’re so cute and festive!! 🙂
I knoooow!!! I’m loving all of these! And, I too, LOVE Polar Express! 🙂
Everybody loves Polar Express and Night Before Christmas, I think!
I completely agree! I’ve seen this one a lot!
Wow, that dress on the cover of The Silent Knight is gorgeous!
Here is our Top Ten Tuesday.
It really struck me, too! I love it!
I loved The Night Before Christmas when I was a kid, too.
My post.
So many festive covers here! And I found several that were new to me to add to my tbr. I love Rosie Green’s covers so much, too! Happy Reading. <3
Dedra+@+A+Book+Wanderer recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday/Bookending Winter: Christmas Songs Book Tag MashUp!
Thank you, you too! 🙂
In a Holidaze was such a fun holiday romance. It’s one I want to reread in years to come.
I haven’t finished it yet, but I am LOVING it so far!
In A Holidaze looks so fun, and it has such a festive cover too! 🙂
I totally agree!
I have only read In a Holidaze, but I want to read quite a few from the first half of the list. The covers are all so inviting.
Sam@wlabb recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday: Tis the Season!
Nice list! You found some lovely, evocative covers. I think the first one is my favorite, even though I don’t usually like illustrated covers. It’s so cute!
Happy TTT!
Susan
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com
Aw, thank you! 🙂
I really need to read In a Holidaze this season! It looks so good. Here’s my take on this week’s TTT if you’re interested: https://www.howdidthatbookend.com/top-ten-tuesday-wintry-reads/ I went for wintry thrillers!
It’s really good so far! I hope you get a chance to read it!
Awww! That first one by Rosie is SO cute. Love it. Also, “In a Holidaze” is so festive, but I love that it breaks free from the traditional Christmas-y colors. 🙂 Thanks so much for visiting Finding Wonderland. I appreciate this.
Rissi JC recently posted…Colored Snowflakes: 15 of the Pretty Christmas Book Covers
Thanks, Rissi! 🙂
All of these look great, but I’m so interested in Christmas Island! I only found out about it recently, too, but it sounds perfect.
I know! I really want to read this one! 🙂
The Polar Express is such a classic. I love it. I have In a Holidaze coming from Book of the Month!
-Lauren
Yes!! I LOVE that book! And, as for In a Holidaze, I hope you love it!
These look fun and happy and perfect for Christmas. I hope you enjoy the ones you haven’t read!
Thank, Aj!! 🙂