Holiday Beach Reads
I love everything about the holidays. From the anticipation of the first snowfall to sipping hot chocolate by the fire, everything is just magical this time of year. However, nothing compares to seeing the magic through your children’s eyes when they go visit Santa, watch the Christmas parade, and run up the stairs every morning to see what that stinkin’ elf is up to each day! What I don’t love is the stress, the rushing around, and trying to find the perfect gift for everyone on my list. At times it can be exhausting and overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. If you feel like you are losing some of that holiday spirit, pour yourself a glass of wine, light the fire and snuggle up under a blanket while you catch up on some reading. These books are sure to make you feel more like Buddy the Elf and less like the Grinch! Have a wonderful holiday!
“A Mrs. Miracle Christmas”
by Debbie Macomber
Laurel and her husband, Zach, have definitely been facing some challenges. Having a baby just doesn’t seem to be a reality for them. To make things worse, there are no local home caregivers available right, so they had to move in with Laurel’s grandmother who can’t take care of herself. Then, like out of a fairy tale, Mrs. Miracle shows up. She is more than a godsend to the family, and even Helen thinks she is an angel in disguise! Helen is happier when Mrs. Miracle is around. She’s smiling, engaging with others and even helping to decorate for the holidays. Actually, the whole family is happier and things start falling into place again. As the holidays get closer, it seems there is even more to Mrs. Miracle than they had thought, and this family is about to experience the Christmas of a lifetime!
“Let It Snow”
by Nancy Thayer
Christina owns a toy shop right on the wharf in Nantucket. She has been busy preparing the store for the holidays, unpacking shipments and decorating for the Christmas shoppers. When her landlord, Oscar Bittlesman, tells her he is raising her rent, Christina is afraid she might not be able to afford to continue with her shop much longer. Oscar’s granddaughter, Wink, spends a lot of time at the shop and Christina shares a special bond with her. Maybe with Wink’s help and the help of Wink’s handsome bachelor uncle, Christina can find the good that is hiding behind Oscar’s rough exterior. And just maybe they can all have a wonderful Christmas after all.
“Oh Christmas Night”
by Jane Porter
Rachel Mills is an accountant in California who is overworked, stressed out and desperately needs a break. She’s offered a promotion that looks great on the outside, but she knows it also means more work and more stress. At the same time, she finds out that she has inherited an old bookstore in Marietta, Mont. While everything is telling her to take the promotion, she decides to be spontaneous and fly to Montana to check out the bookstore. When she gets there, she meets Atticus Bowen, a Texas lawyer and entrepreneur who wants to buy the bookstore and build a restaurant. Rachel never planned on loving the bookstore, and Montana even more. She certainly didn’t plan on falling in love with Atticus, either. But she can’t keep everything and needs to decide what and who she wants in her future.
“Blue Christmas”
by Mary Kay Andrews
Weezie Foley plans to win the Savannah historical decorating contest with her antique shop. She has gone with the theme “Graceland Blue Christmas,” which means lots of tinsel, aluminum and tacky retro decorations. Just when she thinks she has the contest sealed, she notices things start to go missing from her display. Despite the secret, overnight thief, Weezie still has high hopes for a happy holiday. Even if her chef boyfriend who she was hoping would give her a ring is acting more distant than ever. Will everything fall into place so Weezie can have a merry Christmas?
“Finding Christmas”
by Karen Schaler
Christmas is Emmie’s favorite time of year. This year is extra special because she is going to share it with her boyfriend, Grant. When his demanding work schedule takes away his holiday spirit, Emmie creates a scavenger hunt to help him feel festive again. When the hunt is completed, Grant will find himself in the charming town of Christmas Point, where Emmie has planned a romantic and festive weekend. Somehow it all goes haywire and Emmie realizes that the wrong man is following the clues she set out for Grant. Sam, a mystery writer, thinks the clues are from his agent, who is trying to help him get past his writer’s block. When he gets to Christmas Point and finds Emmie, he knows she is something special. But Emmie can’t get over that this was all wrong. Sam decides to stay and persuades Emmie to stay as well, while she waits for Grant. But when Grant finally shows up and isn’t enjoying the activities Emmie has planned, she can’t help but wonder if the wrong guy was the right guy after all.
“Comfort and Joy”
by Kristin Hannah
Joy Candellaro used to love Christmas more than any other holiday. However, this year is different as she is recently divorced and alone. She’s feeling anything but festive. Without telling anyone, she buys a plane ticket and heads to the Pacific Northwest. A detour takes her deep into the woods of the Olympic rain forest, and Joy is faced with life-changing decisions. Meanwhile, in the town of Rain Valley, 6-year-old Bobby O’Shea is facing his first Christmas without his mother. He has closed himself off from the world and only interacts with his invisible best friend. His father is desperate to help his son. When Bobby meets Joy, they immediately bond. But not everything is what it seems, and quickly Joy’s world is ripped apart and once again her heart is broken. She must find the courage to believe in love and the strength to start over again.
