It’s the most wonderful time of the year.

La, la, la, la!

Yes, holiday book season!

It’s that time of year when it’s almost mandatory to sit with a good story, a mug of something warm, and perhaps a child nearby or just the child in you. (Aww.)

Reading during this season makes all your dreams come true.

Did you know that?

Actually, no.

Not true.

But everything seems possible.

There’s nothing quite like escaping into a favorite children’s book or into a new favorite author’s book.

Stories are the perfect way to slow down and nestle into the magic of the season.

Here are some enchanting books to read or give.

Anything by Katherine Rundell.

Her latest is Impossible Creatures.

All the beasties good and bad that you ever hoped to read about are right here in this book.

And Rundell is a masterful storyteller.

The Girl Who Saved Christmas and A Boy Called Christmas by Matt Haig.

These could easily become holiday classics.

A Christmas Carol Please tell me you have a copy of this book. Enough said.

Bliss by Kathryn Littlewood is an older title about the Bliss family, their bake shop, a magic Cookery Booke, and their suspicious Aunt Lily.

The sequel is A Dash of Magic.

The third book in the series is Bite-Sized Magic.

Pastries and magic!

A perfect combination any time of year.

Cream Buns and Crime by Robin Stevens is a book I picked up in England.

Two girls form a detective society and solve crimes.

This book, part of the series called A Murder Most Unladylike, gives tips on how to write mystery novels, mystery novel trivia, in addition to several fun (non-bloody) mysteries.

Good for those who want to try their hand at writing mysteries and those who just like to piece together clues.

Your Guide to Not Getting Murdered in a Quaint English Village by Maureen Johnson and Jay Cooper is another book from my trip.

I’m not sure how I could have not bought it with a title like that!

And here’s a cozy tip: Use favorite holiday cards as bookmarks. (My sister-in-law uses them in cookbooks.)

It’s a sweet way to stir up good memories.

Are you reading any favorite books during the holidays?

Keep reading, keep writing, keep creating.

Fa la la!

Until next time,

~ Gail

Countdown: 3 weeks left of 2024

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