Christmas books to read this December

Books are one of my true loves in life, and when we reach the winter months, there is nothing I love more than a Christmas book to read.

Christmas is exactly a week away. December is passing by rather quickly, but there's still time to enjoy festive activities before New Year.

For me, one thing I love to do in December is to snuggle up with a hot chocolate and a good Christmas book. In fact, I have a whole shelf on my bookcase dedicated to books set at Christmas time.

A Christmas book can not only help you get in the festive spirit and feel the holiday cheer, but it can also help you escape if you're finding the build-up and organising a bit stressful.

So because I love Christmas books, I thought I'd share some of my favourites.

First up is...

That Festive Feeling by Heidi Swain

Released this year, That Festive Feeling by Heidi Swain is just one of my by Heidi that I have on my shelf. I received this book as a gift for my birthday and I desperately wanted to read it before Christmas.

I finished it last week and absolutely loved it!

The story follows Holly, who is recently divorced, as she house-sits for her friends in the small Norfolk village of Nightingale Square. Whilst house-sitting over the holidays, Holly's determined to hunker down and not get involved in the community activities.

But after meeting Meg and having her eyes opened to other ways of life, Holly falls back in love with her job, herself and what life could be.

That Festive Feeling is part of a series but can be read as a standalone. And I'd definitely reading it.

A Christmas Tail by Cressida McLaughlin

This book actually follows the four seasons and has a part set in each. But the front cover, the title and the general feel of the book are very Christmassy.

A Christmas Tail is about Cat, who becomes a dog-walker whilst finding her feet in a new community where she's living with friends.

Part four is the part set at Christmas and it honestly made me smile so much. There are lots of different festive activities in the book and Cressida's descriptions are perfect.

This will be a book that I definitely will read more than once because I loved the story and the happiness the book brings.

The Christmas Book Club by Sarah Morgan

Now, this book is similar to Heidi Swain's one above in that it was released this year for Christmas. And of course, I also got it for my birthday.

I started reading The Christmas Book Club the weekend just gone and I am loving it so far. I'm just under halfway through.

It follows the story about a young woman who is struggling with life decisions and three women, who are long-time friends but have their own issues and secrets.

I have a feeling I am going to reread this book again next year because currently, I'm loving it!

Lakeside Mountain Rescue Series by Sarah Morgan

You know those books that you love so much that you reread them every year? Well, three books from this series are that to me.

The books - Wish Upon a Star, Once Upon a Christmas and Angels in the Snow - are so good, every December I read them and some of the print has even started to fade.

Each book follows two couples in their own short story and of course, they come with a happy ending. The story of each couple is different so it's not a regurgitated plot, they are all individually good, but I do have my favourites.

They are easy to read, heart-warming and most of all, festive!

A Festive Feud by Maren Moore

A Festive Feud by Maren Moore is a Christmas novella that is perfect for readers who fancy a quick, spicy holiday read.

It's an enemies-to-lovers novella that is about Emma and Jackson. A Festive Feud is a take on Romeo and Juliet as Emma and Jackson are from rival families, who try to outdo each other in terms of Christmas festivities every year.

But when things take a turn for the worse and Emma and Jackson are forced to work together one year, they discover that each family isn't actually as bad as it seems.

I haven't read much by Maren, but I did really enjoy A Festive Feud. It's a quick read so is perfect for a busy December.

Lovelight Farms by B.K. Borison

Lovelight Farms is the first book in the Lovelight series. It follows Stella, who runs a Christmas Tree Farm, and her best friend, Luka.

Times are tough on the farm so Stella enters a competition but says she runs the farm with her boyfriend, prompting Stella and Luka to fake date.

Lovelight Farms was a festive book that drew me in straight away and kept me intrigued throughout. I loved the Christmassy feel of it and the fake dating tropes with friends to lovers!

It was such a good book that is easy reading and will make you fall in love with the festive season!

Some other good recommendations:

• Snowed in for Christmas by Sarah Morgan

• I'll be Home for Christmas by Karen Clarke

• A Cornish Cream Tea Christmas by Cressida McLaughlin

• Underneath the Christmas Tree by Heidi Swain

• Murder at the Theatre Royale by Ada Montcrieff

If you fancy a festive read in the build-up to Christmas next week, give one of the above a go.

Until next time...