It's a bit past the season for A Catered Halloween ($4.47), by Isis Crawford, the fifth in her Mystery with Recipes series, but if you are reading these in holiday order (rather than publication), you'll need to read it quick before starting on A Catered Christmas ($9.99), which was just published this week, and A Catered Christmas ($5.59).Book Description
With the promise of a hefty commission and some valuable word-of-mouth for their catering business, A Little Taste of Heaven, sisters Bernadette and Libby Simmons agree to cater the charity haunted house being staged at the old Peabody School. But when wealthy socialite Amethyst Applegate is found dead in the haunted house, Bernie and Libby wonder if a murderer might also be lurking about Peabody's gloomy halls. . .
While almost everyone Amethyst ever met might have a motive for killing her, not everyone had access to the Peabody School. All Bernie and Libby know is if they don't solve this mystery soon, they might become the next stars in a real-life horror flick. . .
Death in a Turkey Town ($3.99) is an indie published title from Melanie Jackson and is the third in her Chloe Boston Mystery series, which is followed by Murder on Parade ($3.99). With these two, you get both of the next holidays covered at a bargain rate.Book Description
An overturned truck has left wild turkeys running loose in Hope Falls. Chloe Boston, unofficial detective and meter maid, is set the task of rounding them up. While Chloe is hunting turkeys she stumbles on a murder. The chief wants both turkeys and killer rounded up by Thanksgiving. Can Chloe do the seemingly impossible and also be maid of honor at her cousin's wedding when the groom is her main suspect?
The Plum Pudding Murder Bundle with Candy Cane Murder & Sugar Cookie Murder ($9.29), by Joanne Fluke (with novellas by Leslie Meier & Laura Levine) is a three-in-one bundle. even though I already have Candy Cane Murder, I'm considering this one just to get the other two, which are going for $11.98 combined. I do wish it contained Gingerbread Cookie Murder ($9.99), this year's novella anthology, instead, though.Plum Pudding Murder
The yuletide season in Lake Eden, Minnesota, guarantees a white Christmas, delectable holiday goodies from Hannah Swensen's bakery, The Cookie Jar--and murder. As a shadow hangs over her friends' Christmas wedding, Hannah's determined to cook a killer's goose before anyone else gets burned. . .
The Cookie Jar's busiest time of the year also happens to be the most wonderful time. . .for Christmas cookies, Hannah's own special plum pudding--and romance! She also gets a kick out of "Lunatic Larry Jaeger's Crazy Elf Christmas Tree Lot," a kitschy carnival taking place smack-dab in the middle of the village green. But then Hannah discovers the man himself dead as a doornail in his own office. . .
Now, with so many suspects to investigate and the twelve days of Christmas ticking away, Hannah's running out of time to nab a murderous Scrooge who doesn't want her to see the New Year. . .
Includes Hannah's favorite Christmas dinner recipes!
Candy Cane Murder
‘Tis the season for trimming the tree, caroling, baking cookies, and curling up by the Yuletide waiting for Santa to drop down the chimney. But in this festive collection of holiday whodunits, murder is also paying a visit…
"Candy Cane Murder" By Joanne Fluke
When a trail of candy canes leads to a corpse outfitted in a Santa suit on a snowy bank, Hannah Swensen sets out to discover who killed Kris Kringle…
"The Dangers Of Candy Canes" By Laura Levine
A wealthy suburbanite takes a lethal tumble off his roof while installing a giant candy cane. Now it's up to Jaine Austen to sift through a long list of scheming neighbors with dirty secrets in their stockings to expose a murderer…
"Candy Canes Of Christmas Past" By Leslie Meier
Lucy Stone must learn the mystery of a glass candy cane that was found smashed to bits by a corpse's body to unlock the doors of Christmas past--and find a killer who got away with murder.
Whether a gift for yourself or that special someone on your list, there's no better way to spend the holidays than with these tantalizing mysteries of murder…
Includes over 10 luscious holiday recipes!
Sugar Cookie Murder
The holidays are the icing on the cake for bakery owner Hannah Swensen. Surrounded by her loved ones, she has all the ingredients for a perfect Christmas--until murder is added to the mix. . .
When it comes to holidays, Minnesotans rise to the occasion--and the little town of Lake Eden is baking up a storm with Hannah leading the way. The annual Christmas Buffet is the final test of the recipes Hannah has collected for the Lake Eden Holiday Buffet Cookbook.
The recently divorced Martin Dubinski arrives at the buffet with his new Vegas showgirl wife--all wrapped up in glitter and fur. His ex-wife, however, seems as cool as chilled eggnog. And when Hannah's mother's antique Christmas cake knife disappears, its discovery in the décolletage of the new--and now late--Mrs. Dubinski puts the festivities on ice.
With everyone stranded at the community center by a blizzard, Hannah puts her investigative skills to the test, using the ingredients at hand: half the town of Lake Eden--and a killer. Now, as the snowdrifts get higher, it's up to Hannah to dig out all the clues--and make sure that this white Christmas doesn't bring any more deadly tidings…
Includes over fifty original recipes for you to try!
The Naughty List Bundle with The Night Before Christmas & Yule Be Mine ($9.99) includes stories/novellas from Donna Kauffman, Susan Fox, Kylie Adams, Katherine Garbera, Jill Shalvis, Lori Foster (full-length novel), Erin McCarthy, Cynthia Eden and Kathy Love.The Naughty List -- Deck the halls with white-hot passion!
- Donna Kauffman's Naughty But Nice: Businessman Griffin's never believed in luck…until sassy-sweet small-town baker Melody turns his world around. Except there's a catch: There's no way he'll be able to build his empire and hold on to her. His new "lucky charm" could destroy all his dreams…or make this Christmas better than he ever imagined possible…
- Cynthia Eden's All I Want for Christmas: Good girl toy inventor Christie takes a walk on the naughty side when she sparks a no-strings fling with Santa--actually, sexy cop Jonas in a Santa suit. She loves her new "bad girl" persona, except as the holidays approach, she starts falling, and hard, for this known' "love 'em and leave 'em" ladies man. . .
- Susan Fox's Tattoos and Mistletoe: Charlie returns to her hometown to fix up her aunt's B&B, but she doesn't count on LJ handling the renovations. Nerdy LJ pined for her in school, but now he's grown into the town's hottest bachelor. Charlie's been burned before and won't let him get close. But LJ's determined to break down her walls and make her dearest Christmas wish come true.
'Tis the night before Christmas and all through the house, things are definitely stirring…because if you're going to wait up for Santa, you might as well have some very sexy company…
- White Knight Christmas by New York Times bestselling author Lori Foster
- Snowed Under By Erin McCarthy
- Ms. Humbug By Jill Shalvis
- I'll Be Home For Christmas By Kathy Love
- Seducing Scrooge By Katherine Garbera
- The Good Girl's Guide To A Very Bad Christmas By Kylie Adams
Sparkling days, crackling fires, long steamy nights…Christmas is all about making memories. In four delicious tales of seduction and romance, New York Times bestselling author Lori Foster brings you all the pleasures of the season--and then some…
Booker Dean knows exactly what he wants for Christmas: his next-door neighbor, Frances Kennedy. And he's got a gift planned for her that involves lots of delicious unwrapping.
Officer Parker Ross hates Christmas, while Lily Donaldson lives for it. But he's willing to be converted, especially when Lily is the one doing the persuading.
Sergeant Osbourne Decker suspects pet psychic Marci Churchill is barking mad, but she's also a knockout. And when she's accused of stealing a donkey from the local nativity scene, he can't stop thinking about frisking her.
Furious at her cheating fiancé, Beth Monroe decides to enjoy a payback tryst with his gorgeous best friend, and finds that revenge is best served hot and sweet…
Kissing Santa Claus ($4.39), by Donna Kauffman, Jill Shalvis & Helenkay Dimon is another novella anthology, which Publisher's Weekly said is "not quite hot enough to melt ice, but it's good, disposable fun."Book Description
Three hottie humbugs find holiday magic where they least expect it...
Lock, Stock and Jingle Bells
Holly hates the yuletide season more than ever since she inherited her mother’s Christmas novelty shop, but her childhood pal Sean’s determined to warm her up—to Christmas and to him. When they uncover a diary concealing secrets involving both their families, this could be the Christmas that changes their lives forever…
Bah Handsome!
Behind on her bills, B&B owner Hope receives an unlikely guest—stranded solicitor Danny, who’s been threatening to put her out of business. Hope’s staff sees more fire than fight in the sparks that fly as they try and bring Hope and Danny together, but only a Christmas miracle can help these unlikely lovers see the light…
\It’s Hotter at Christmas
Hawaii’s no paradise for Marissa, who, thanks to a series of unfortunate events, can’t seem to get away from the sand to enjoy her Christmas East Coast style—with plenty of snow and slush. But tall, dark, and serious police officer Ted’s about to give this bad Santa in heels a Mele Kalikimaka she’ll never forget…
Jingle Hells ($3.99), by Misty Evans, is also indie-published. This one follows Witches Anonymous ($2.80) and appears to be relatively short (97K in size).Book Description
Word’s gotten around Heaven (and Hell) that Amy tricked the angel Gabriel and helped Adam with his second trial with temptation. Now Samson shows up on her doorstep looking for true love, and Delilah’s not far behind, insisting she wasn’t the one who cut off his hair.
In order to get both of them out of her ice cream shop and back into each others’ arms, Amy must become a relationship expert and a detective while completing Step Two of Witches Anonymous. But will believing in a higher power help Amy in her quest, or make matters worse?
The Treasure of Christmas: A 3-in-1 Collection and The Joy of Christmas: A 3-in-1 Collection ($9.99 each), by Melody Carlson, each collect 3 of her Christmas themed novels into single volume. I checked my library and the only overlap I found was The Christmas Bus ($6.29), which I picked up when it was free last year. Checking the prices of some of the other novels contained, just The Christmas Dog alone is selling for $9.68, three are not available as ebooks (two are also out of print, and the other two are over $6 each. So if this Christian author is one that you read, you should definitely grab these before the prices goes up.The Christmas Bus
It's only two weeks before Christmas, and Edith Ryan is disappointed to learn that none of her children is coming home for the holidays. She decides to invite strangers to rent rooms usually reserved for family during the week of Christmas. When the guest list shapes up to include a cantankerous old woman and a young couple with a broken-down hippie bus and a baby on the way, Edith wonders if she made the right choice. Will this strange assortment of guests ruin Christmas? Or could she be entertaining angels unaware?
The Gift of Christmas Present
Christine Bradley couldn't have been more surprised when, shortly after her mother's death, her father revealed that Christine had been adopted at birth. As she grapples with the revelation, Christine determines to find what's left of her biological family. As Christmas nears and Christine draws closer to the truth about her heritage, she finds an unexpected gift in the family she never knew she had.
Angels in the Snow
Looking for solace after the deaths of her husband and young son, artist Claire Andrews flees to a cabin in the Cascade Mountains. As Claire walks through the woods each day, she discovers two mysterious sets of footprints in the snow, an adult's and a child's. Is she imagining them? And how is it that the tracks are gently leading her to paint--and to hope--once again?
An Irish Christmas A well-hidden secret has haunted Colleen for twenty years. Her husband made her promise she would never speak of it again, but now he's gone and life seems so out of control. Will her fragile relationship with her adult son Jamie survive the truth she's hidden for so long? Colleen decides it's time for the two of them to take a trip together--to Ireland. This will be a Christmas they will never forget.
All I Have to Give
Anna wants this to be the best Christmas ever, and she's willing to do whatever it takes to accomplish that. But what happens when everything and everyone around her seems to be falling apart? Fortunately for her, as often happens at this time of year, there are miracles in store. And what she unwraps for Christmas will surprise everyone.
The Christmas Dog
Betty Kowalski just can't seem to find Christmas in her heart this year. Maybe it's because her husband has passed away. Maybe it's because she's missing her children who no longer live nearby. Or maybe it has something to do with her obnoxious new neighbor, who seems to be tearing his house apart and rearranging it on the lawn. But when a mangy dog appears at her doorstep, the stage is set for Betty to learn what Christmas is really all about.
Jingle Bells, Shotgun Shells: A Christmas Murder Mystery ($2.99), by Annis Ward Jackson, is a short indie-published murder mystery. No reviews yet, but I did see a recommendation from a reader in the Amazon forums.Book Description
A career Marine MP, seriously injured in a terrorist bombing, decides to try life as a police chief in a small town in eastern North Carolina.
While attempting to familiarize himself with the town's crime history he finds a red envelope containing reports on four murders from four separate years, all committed around Christmas.
Chief Ellis Crawford has only a few days to solve these murders and prevent the next, which he is convinced will be on Christmas Day.
No Christmas reading list is complete without at least one title from Debbie Macomber and this one is no exception. Angels at Christmas ($4.29) is one that wasn't included in my September Bargain Roundup, which included several of her titles (and most of those are still at bargain prices). Christmas Wishes: Christmas Letters\Rainy Day Kisses ($5.76) is a double novel title, both with a Christmas theme.Angels at Christmas
Every Christmas, three lovable angels visit Earth. Once a year, Shirley, Goodness and Mercy are allowed to intervene (or, more accurately, interfere!) in human affairs. Despite their frequent misadventures and the chaos they often cause, things always seem to turn out right....
This Christmas, join Those Christmas Angels as they respond to Anne Fletcher's prayer request. She wants her son, Roy, to meet a special woman--and the angels contrive to throw Julie Wilcott in his path (literally!).
Watch as the heaven-sent messengers reunite a divorced couple, bring peace of mind to an elderly man and grant a little boy's fondest wish. Because there's always joy Where Angels Go.
Shirley, Goodness and Mercy offer you laughter and Christmas cheer in these two heartwarming stories!
Christmas Letters
Katherine O'Connor (known as K.O.) adores her five-year-old twin nieces and strongly objects to her sister's plans to dispense with Christmas. Zelda is following the theories of child psychologist Wynn Jeffries, author of The Free Child (and, as it happens, K.O.'s neighbor). K.O. is particularly horrified by his edict to "bury Santa under the sleigh," and she's out to prove that Wynn and his ideas are full of...snow. He's not going to ruin her nieces' Christmas! Too bad the guy's so darned attractive...
Rainy Day Kisses
Seventeen years ago Susannah Simmons was a career girl who knew nothing about babies. But after babysitting her infant niece, Michelle, Susannah learned that one determined and screaming baby can make the corporate world look like...child's play. Thank goodness for her charming neighbor Nate Townsend. Now he's her charming husband, and Susannah's a mother as well as an aunt. And every Christmas Eve, Michelle tells her cousins how their mom met their dad a story in which she plays a starring role.
Scrooge & Cratchit: A Sequel to 'A Christmas Carol' ($0.99), by Matt McHugh, is a short-story that takes place after several years after that oh-so-famous Christmas tale. So far, it has stellar reviews, but be aware that it's only about a 30 minute read.Book Description
I first published "Scrooge & Cratchit" in 2002 as a small booklet circulated mostly among friends, with perhaps a few dozen copies sold beyond that. However, after I posted the story on my website, I was gratified to receive, from time to time, messages of interest from far-flung readers who happened to discover it online.
This left me intrigued by the growing reach of electronic books, but mainly impressed by the enduring interest in 'A Christmas Carol', going strong after a century-and-a-half...a work that remains unrivalled on many levels.
Like all great art, 'A Christmas Carol' connects to different generations because it addresses universal human concerns. Why do good men succumb to selfishness and greed? How does one person's life affect others? We all face questions like these, yet few have ever dramatized them with Dickens' grace and clarity.
The original says very little of the story's aftermath. I often wondered how that might play out. How does a reformed man deal with the burden of past guilt? How would those who knew Scrooge before and after his transformation relate to him?
If it seems presumptuous to attempt a follow-up to 'A Christmas Carol', consider the myriad film and stage adaptations, and I hope my story will be seen as part of an ongoing cultural conversation about a classic tale. Whatever merits my story may have, readers can judge for themselves. For my part, the experience of creating it has only deepened my appreciation for the source that inspired it.
Leaving Christmas behind, be sure to check out New Year's Eve Murder ($4.39), by Leslie Meier. I'm hoping that her Wicked Witch Murder ($9.99) goes down in price in time for next year's witching season.Book Description
After the annual parade of Christmas presents in Tinker's Cove has ended, Lucy Stone and her daughter Elizabeth are ready to ring in the new year in style. Elizabeth has won mother/daughter winter makeovers in Manhattan from Jolie magazine! But the all-expenses-paid trip is bound to have some hidden costs--and one of them is murder. . .
After finally arriving at the offices of Jolie, meeting their fellow makeover candidates, and being treated to a fashion show, Elizabeth is enamored of the extreme outfits and stick-thin models--while Lucy's having some misgivings. The pampering is nice and the glitz and glamour of haute couture is bizarrely fascinating, but bitterness and aggression lurk behind Jolie's hipper-than-thou façade. And things turn downright ugly when self-absorbed fashion editor Nadine Nelson falls mysteriously ill and then dies. . .
Lucy saw first-hand some of the backstabbing going on at Jolie. And the red-hot rumor mill soon reveals that the cliquish connection among the magazine's cabal of high-style executives has stirred up plenty of bad blood over the years. But this Manhattan murder mystery hits too close to home when Elizabeth gets rushed to the hospital with symptoms that are disturbingly similar to Nadine's. Now, it's up to Lucy to dress down a killer before the ball drops in Times Square. . .
The Haircut, a New Year's Tale ($0.99), by Donna Callea, finishes up this book roundup.Book Description
Two days after Christmas, 1948, in a city that could be New York, a young woman prepares to get a life-altering haircut. She's a princess, a post-war refugee, from an Eastern European principality that no longer exists. And she's being forced by her guardians-- her nefarious aunt and uncle-- to marry an obscenely rich industrialist who's got something of a hair fetish. The man, it seems, is aroused only by her amazingly long, glorious hair. So to save herself, she decides to get it all cut off. But she doesn't count on falling in love with the handsome young barber who refuses, at first, to do her bidding. Nor does the barber count on becoming entranced by the strangest customer he's ever encountered. Even after the severely shorn former princess is beaten beyond recognition for her act of rebellion, the barber, a widower still grieving for his late wife, finds her irresistible. Add to the mix Misha, an angel from the Old Country whose specialty is New Year's Eve. Ultimately, "The Haircut" is a story that weaves whimsy with romance, plus more serious themes, as it underscores the timelessness and hope of the season in which it's set.
