holiday themed reads (mystery, thriller, romance, and more)

Reading is an important part of my life. Especially around the holiday season! It is a wonderful escape from all of the to-do list items and expectations associated with the happiest season of all. Last month, I decided to set aside a small stack of books in my collection to read before Christmas Day. I tried to include a mixture of genres: romance, thrillers, mystery, and a classic tale. At the time of writing this post, most of the books have been read and some are waiting to be read or are underway. (There is still time before the big day arrives!) Here is a closer look at a few of the books on my holiday themed reads list.

Debbie Macomber Holiday Reads. I love finding discount books, especially discounted holiday books. These books from Debbie Macomber were found at thrift stores and used book shops for affordable prices. Since I have read a few of her books in the past (and even have a few movie adaptations of her work) these seemed like no brainer additions to my bookshelf. The first is Forever Under the Mistletoe, which has two stories inside: When Christmas Comes and Christmas Letters. Both have that same Hallmark movie kind of vibe, with characters that grow and change to understand one another more. The stories highlight the differences of others...and the importance of coming together around the holiday season. The stories are sweet and romantic. The Perfect Christmas is all about a matchmaker and wanting to find love during the holiday season. This was my favourite out of the Debbie Macomber stories that I was able to read this year. It was a heartfelt, fun, and downright cozy read.  

Chills and Thrills. Sometimes, my Christmas reads are more sinister than sweet. It is nice to throw a thriller or a cozy mystery novel into the mix. I read All Through the Night by Mary Higgins Clark early on in the holiday season, partly because it was a fairly short read and partly because I have had such a fun time reading Mary Higgins Clark books in more recent years. All Through the Night was an interesting story about a desperate young woman, a criminal, and iconic characters, Alvirah and Willy. The second book shown is from Sue Minx and it is called A Chapter on Murder. I've read another book in this series and was thrilled to start in on another one. At the time of writing this post, I am about three quarters of the way through...and plan to finish the book in the next day or so. It is about a crime novelist who becomes an amateur sleuth while running a bookstore. This time, the backdrop is the holiday season and a murder victim found in front of the store. It is definitely nice to add a little mystery and suspense to my holiday reading list. After all, it can't all be falling in love and meet cutes! 

A Classic Holiday Story. Now for the book on this list that is yet to be started. My hope is that I will have enough time to finish this before Christmas Day arrives. It is The Nutcracker by ETA Hoffmann, which is a novella and fairy tale from 1816. The story lays the foundation for the beloved Nutcracker story that we all know and love. I have had an obsession with nutcrackers since I was a child and each year, my dad gifts me a new one for my (always growing) collection on Christmas Day. He is also the person who bought this book for me, so it is especially important that I finish reading it before the 25th of December.

What have you been reading lately? Do you like to read holiday themed books?