041Books columnist Lauren Hewitt shares her picks for some out-of-season Christmas reading with her Christmas in July book list.
WITH all the snow all over South Africa and me sitting here in GQ having the worst FOMO ever, the severe lack of accessible snow just makes winter not worth it for me. So I’m bringing snow and the snowy season to me ( and any other Snow mo people)
Not all the books are of the cheery snow and Christmas vibe, one, in particular, is a thriller. But there’s snow nonetheless.
This one has sun and snow, so a double bonus!
My Christmas Number one
Leonie Mack
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Cara and Javi are forced to record a Christmas single together, and being complete opposites in all outward appearances there should be no chemistry between them!
BUT…with a bit of ‘Nostalgia’, a trip to Javi’s home country of Colombia, some papaya ( read it to see the significance 😉), a feisty daughter, an insufferable father and some Christmas magic anything can happen.
This is not an “all snow and cosy Christmas” story, it weaves in a completely different side of Christmas in a more tropical type of climate and shows how love and friendship can cross language and cultural differences and create something special, something memorable and completely unexpected.
Do yourself a favour, go grab this book and follow the read-along on @leoniejmack Instagram page and blog where she skillfully weaves in music and creates a vibe! And bonus there’s a surprise on the final day of the read-along that beautifully ties up everything and makes you go ahhhhh and have heart eyes 😍
The Santa killer
Ross Greenwood
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When a woman is brutally attacked just before Christmas it’s shocking! A few days later the victim’s daughter draws a picture of the scene she had witnessed, when she is asked who’s holding the weapon she whispers “Bad Santa!”
The Santa Killer is the 6th and final book in the detective inspector Barton series. I haven’t read any of the previous books yet, but I don’t think it took away or revealed anything about the previous books. But I will be going back and reading them anyway.
I really liked Barton as a character as well as his crew. The book is told from many points of view: the victims, Inspector Barton and the killer! But it wasn’t confusing in the slightest. I found it quite fast-paced and gripping and just as you think you have it all solved… WHAM! A twist. It definitely kept me guessing. All the loose ends are neatly tied up in a rather emotional ending.
I enjoyed this book and would recommend it.
Let It Snow
Beth Moran
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After Bea’s long-term relationship ended she avoided returning home to her family because of painful memories and the awkward questions she wanted to avoid.
She heads home for Christmas only to have her parents have a surprise guest join them… Henry her Childhood nemesis, Henry who her parents have wanted her to marry her entire life!
Not only that but this Christmas is far from relaxing due to her Mother’s in-depth schedule. But there’s more to the schedule than it first appeared!
I loved Bea’s passion for her job as a weather girl and quite liked the storyline with the very eccentric weather challenges ( think amazing race style). I loved the road trip with the very sweet Henry who reminded me of Leonard from the big bang theory.
There were a lot of plotlines to follow, but it wasn’t difficult to keep track of them because they all neatly fit together at the end. I would have loved to see more of Bea and her chosen love together although it was the ending I was hoping for.
I love that Bea stuck to her beliefs, reached her goals and got the guy!
All in all, this was an enjoyable Christmas story that I would recommend to anyone who’s a fan of:
Slow burn
Minimal to no spice
Christmas storyline
Families
Friends/enemies to lovers.
Together Under A Snowy Skye
Lisa Hobman
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When Millie finds herself unexpectedly expecting and suddenly alone she thinks she’ll never find someone who’ll love her and the baby she’s carrying.
She travels to the fictional Glentorrin in the Isle of Skye for her best friend Jules and Reid’s wedding.
Millie stays with Dexter, Jules’s brother, and her long-time friend, Now Dexter is a 10, he cooks, he’s thoughtful, and a gentleman and I think I may have a fictional crush on him, but… (no spoiler here)
What a great cast of characters, the hatred I felt for that ‘barstool’ Harry is equally matched with the love for all the other characters including the dogs!
One of the funniest lines I have read in a book in a while was
“Hey, I think if I was trying to push a watermelon through a keyhole, I might get a bit sweary too.”
This sweet novel had me chuckling in some instances and then on the opposite side, the wedding and birth had me ‘greetin’ like a bairn’. I loved the Scottish expressions, mentions of mulled wine, ceilidhs and haggis and the familiar places I never realised how much I missed.
If you like
Miscommunication
Love at first sight
Friends to lovers
Families then this is the perfect book for you.
Snowfall Over Halesmere House
Suzanne Snow
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Ella has been living in the past, so when she gets a job at Halesmere House she has the perfect opportunity to start living her new life, but when she first arrives she wonders if she’s made a mistake. As time goes by she’s not only falling in love with the majestic Lake District…
At first, Max comes across as very prickly, abrupt and rude but when he discovers that Ella and himself share something in common he softens up. His gruff facade fades and their heartbreaking pasts bring them closer together. They are so good for each other, healing each other and Ella’s relationship with Lily and Arlo is precious and exactly what the children needed. I was on edge hoping they’d get together from the start of the book.
The chef/foodie theme is always a win with me and I loved this sweet story and all the characters I ‘met’. Except one character annoyed me with her constant trying to worm her way in and trying to put Ella off and scare her away.
Marta and her candles were so inspiring, I could almost smell the descriptive scents.
The emotionally charged ending was perfect!
I read this in almost one sitting and when I took a break from reading to make lunch I couldn’t wait to get back to Halesmere house!
If you love Grumpy and Sunshine, second-chance romance, small-town vibes and Christmas-themed books you’ll love this.
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