Christmas favorites

Ready to get in the Christmas mood?   I actually really enjoy reading Christmas-themed novels around this time of year.  I have a couple favorites to share.

Advent of a Mystery by Marilyn Leach
This novel is set in a small English village.  The wife of the parish priest is a former investigative reporter who can't help but get involved when someone dies at a Christmas party.  I loved the mystery as well as the fun characters.

O Little Town by Don Reid (yes, the Statler Brother!)
Set in a small Virginia town (modeled after the author's hometown of Staunton) in the 50's, this book tells the story of several families dealing with tough issues around Christmas.  There are also flashbacks to a murder that happened 50 years ago and how that ties in with the current characters.   It's a very tender, touching read.

The Shepherd's Prayer by Richard Barry
This is the story of the shepherd's who were there for Jesus' birth.  I never thought about how they might have been treated for telling their news---remember, Jesus' birth caused great grief when Herod ordered all the male babies killed.   But the shepherds kept their faith and hope in what they witnessed.

The Nativity Story by Angela Hunt
A novel based on the movie.  I like this book because it really shows the hardships of the Jewish people during the time of Christ's birth.  It reminded me of how difficult life was for all of them, and how hard the journey must have been for Mary and Joseph.

Christmas in Harmony by Philip Gulley
I plan to do a post on the whole Harmony series--some of the few books I have read more than once--but I especially love this one.  You can certainly read and enjoy it without having read any others in the series. Sam Gardner is pastoring a church in his hometown, and the folks there are--well, different.  They give the reader a lot of laughs but the author weaves in a great deal of wisdom among the humor.  One of my favorite quotes about the Christmas season is from this book--"In this unsettled world, it is good to have this steadiness -- the Christmas Eve service, the peal of the bell. . . .There is a holiness to memory, a sense of God's presence in these mangers of the mind. Which might explain why it is that the occasions that change the least are often the very occasions that change us the most."

On my list for this year!  Look for reviews soon:
The Christmas Journey by Donna VanLiere
Christmas at Harrington's by Melody Carlson
I'll be Home for Christmas by Julie L. Cannon

My Favorites

It's going to take me awhile to get reviews posted of all the books I've read, so I'm going to do a quick list of some of my favorites in case you need a good book!

Historical
Candle in the Darkness by Lynn Austin (book one of a three-book series)  Civil War, set in Richmond

Biblical
Magdalene by Angela Hunt

Suspense
Last Light by Terri Blackstock (book one in three-book series)
Uncharted by Angela Hunt

Humor
Home to Harmony by Philip Gulley (book one in a series)
Front Porch Princess by Kathryn Springer (she has other books focusing on different characters)

Romance
The Convient Groom by Denise Hunter

Contemporary
One Tuesday Morning by Karen Kingsbury TISSUE ALERT
The Road Home by Tommy Tenney and Mark-Andrew Olson (modern story of Ruth and Naomi)