Holiday Romances to Warm Your Heart
It’s cold.. Well at least if you’re reading this in Iowa or anywhere North it is. And if you’re not, I'm happy for you. But here in Ames, it’s cold, and going outside does not sound fun. My current plan is to curl up inside either reading or watching tv… except I also read while I watch tv so it’s mostly reading.
But what am I reading might you ask?
Well, romance currently. October and November there were so many good romances that came out, but for some reason I read a ton of literary fiction or fantasy during those months. So I’m craving some lovey-dovey smooshy face books at the moment, and the winter books coming out this season are not disappointing.
I plan to turn on the fireplace (well the video of a fireplace that’s on Netflix), light my Oak Lane Candle Co. candle, and set the mood for a cozy reading season.
SO LET’S GET TO THE BOOKS SHALL WE
A Merry Little Meet Cute by Julie Murphy & Sierra Simone
I think I actually screamed out loud in the office when I first read about this one. I might need to ask Tanvi to confirm, but I remember thinking what a fun hilarious story that I can’t wait to devour. Seriously though, an adult film star who suddenly gets thrown into a Hallmark style Christmas movie? I almost want to start crying with laughter over the thought of it.
As a successful plus-size adult film star, Bee Hobbes (aka Bianca Von Honey) is living the life. But when a producer casts her as a star in a Christmas movie for the Hope Channel, is she ready to take on this “PG” part of her career? Needing to keep her main line of work not public, Bee realizes that it might not be that easy. Her co-star Nolan happens to be her childhood crush and a former boyband member. Things quickly become spicy between the two on set. PLUS there is a paparazzi reporter sneaking around, who happens to also be the reporter that previously hurt Nolan’s career.
Though the two are trying to keep this romance secret, it isn’t going as planned.
I FLIPPING LOVED THIS ONE!!!! And I need to add that the author, Allison Cochrun, and our Simon & Schuster account manager, Megan Manning, sent me a signed early copy of this book. That kind gesture had no influence on my loving of this book! This one takes place over Christmas but I wouldn’t categorize it as a Christmas book. In my opinion, it’s more of a wintery book since Christmas isn’t the main focus by any means. Instead, the warm feelings of family and togetherness take center stage, making this one especially palatable for those who don’t celebrate or care about Christmas.
Ellie met her dream girl one year ago on Christmas Eve, AT A BOOKSTORE (think classic meet-cute.) Her and her dream girl spend the whole day together, and she knows she’s in love. But after a surprise the next morning, Ellie ghosts the woman she fell for. Coupled with losing her dream job and some parent issues, Ellie feels lost and utterly alone.
Needing a job, any job really, to pay rent, she works at a coffee shop where her boss is the worst. Then walks in Andrew, the building’s sexy and charming landlord. After getting drunk together, Andrew reveals he needs Ellie’s help to receive his inheritance, and makes a deal for her to get a cut in return. When they go to Andrew’s family’s cabin for Christmas, she discovers that Andrew’s sister, Jack, is the woman she fell for one year ago on Christmas Eve. Will Ellie keep up her fake relationship, or will she go for real love?
Lunar Love by Lauren Kung Jessen (Out January 10, 2023)
I’M SO EXCITED FOR THIS ONE. I swear I lie to myself constantly when I say I don’t like enemies to lovers, and yet that’s what I read a lot of. Is it the angst of my teenage heart that makes me live for this sort of romance? Whatever it is, this debut rom-com has been on my radar for quite some time, and you’re going to want to pre-order it.
Olivia Huang Christenson is taking over her grandma’s matchmaking business, which uses the traditional Chinese zodiac to find everyone’s perfect partner. But when she hears about a new dating app that takes her Pó Po’s method and makes it about “animal” attraction, she can’t help but feel a flux of emotions. Liv soon discovers L.A.’s most-eligible bachelor, Bennet O’Brien, is behind the app that could destroy the legacy her family has built.
Is he handsome? Well… yes, but Liv is not about to fall for this infuriating man who is set to break the traditions she loves. The two businesses are going head to head, and Bennett and Liv make a bet: each will find a match for the other, and whoever falls in love first loses.
This book happens to be the December pick for the Between the Covers book club, and DeAnn, leader of the book club, has been anxiously awaiting its release! As a big fan of the Bromance Book Club series, she couldn’t wait for this next installment—and you won’t want to wait either if you like your romances spicy.
Meet Colton Wheeler, golden boy of country music who had the perfect romance with Gretchen Winthrop. But after their breakup a year ago, music isn’t coming as easy to Colton anymore, and the breakup still hurts. Luckily he has the support of his Bromance Book Club to support him.
Gretchen is an immigration attorney, and finds it hard to be joyful around the holidays knowing many of her clients are struggling. When her wealthy family, who she hasn’t talked to in a long while, reaches out to her and offers an opportunity for her to help serve the community she can’t say no. The only catch? She needs to convince her ex Colton to become the spokesperson for her family’s whiskey brand. Easy right?
And it seems Colton is up for it, ONLY if Gretchen will go on three dates with him before Christmas. He gets his buddies in the Bromance Book Club to help him show Gretchen that they are meant to be. But both of them will have to outrun the ghosts of Christmas past if they have any hope of building a future together.
You’re a Mean One Matthew Prince (Boy Meets Boy #2) by Timothy Janovsky
Joy to the World—and to a forced proximity romance. These sort of romances make me turtle face laugh. Ya know, when your shoulders bunch up towards your ears and your smile is toothless and wide? And your neck becomes sort of non existent? That’s what the thought of this Hallmark-esque queer romances makes me do.
Now, Is it book 2? Sure is. Do you need to have read the first one? Sure don’t. Should you read the first one at some point? Obviously.
What we know about Matthew Prince: he is young, rich and absolutely spoiled. For Matthew Prince, life is good. But it doesn’t matter that the press loves him if his parents hardly acknowledge his existence. After a public screwup, Matthew is sent to his grandparent’s small town for the holidays to keep him and his family from the ire of the limelight.
This winter wonderland hell could not get worse, that is, until he is forced to share the same space as Hector Martinez. By definition, Hector is unfairly beautiful and is very unimpressed by everything that is Matthew Prince.
Will these two come together for the holidays? Or will the endless bickering keep them from what this time of year is truly about?
