Every year, Pelican Book Group publishes a series of Christmas novels and novellas. Here is a summary of some of my favorites, along with my reviews. If you’d like an inspirational Christmas story to read this season, you can find some wonderful options below!

My review:

I read Chester’s Christmas Miracle while waiting to board a plane. It was the perfect sweet Christmas story, and I flew through it (no pun intended). It’s a sweet romantic story for Aimee, but I think, more than anything, it’s Chester’s story. Chester is an older, cast-off mixed-breed service dog whose owner passes away. He seems to be unwanted. So often we feel that way, too, but just like Aimee wanted Chester, God wants us. I loved Marty and Charlotte and the coziness of their home. It made me want to visit and learn how to make braided rugs and bracelets, too. My favorite lines: “Enveloped in this peaceful setting, life seemed filled with possibilities. It seemed that after years of bitter disappointment, a wonderful Christmas gift had been placed in her lap. The gift of hope.”
It’s a story that reminds you that God is faithful and can make something beautiful out of life’s scraps. If you read Chester’s Christmas Miracle, you’ll be given the gift of hope this Christmas, too!

Holy Grounds runs on two things: the nutty, caramel scent of coffee and Sebastien Davenport’s beloved cranberry-gingerbread muffins.

When the pastry chef collapses days before Christmas, owner Bridgette Calloway faces an impossible morning rush and an even harder truth: the beloved chef she’s leaned on may need her more than ever.
When a frightening diagnosis upends Seb’s independence and he’s at his lowest, it’s his boss he finds himself calling. Perhaps she’s more than a boss after all… Bridgette shows up with a Bible, Chinese takeout, and the solid courage he didn’t know he needed. In the hush of winter and a kitchen dusted with flour and light, their friendship warms into something deeper. But fear, pride, and new limitations could cost them more than a holiday menu.
As carols ring and candlelight glows, Bridgette and Seb are thrust into uncharted territory and must make a choice. Will they retreat into safety, or put their trust in the God who writes love stories in unexpected places like a coffee sleeve, a baker’s bench, and prayer whispered over racks of cooling pastries?

My review:

The Secret Ingredient is a sweet short story. When Seb has a surprising diagnosis, he and his dear friend Bridgette realize the depths of their feelings for each other. They’re surrounded by caring friends who encourage them to take the leap. Bridgette’s coffee shop is the perfect setting to usher in the Christmas season!

Can love find a way home when the past keeps you trapped? Sara Quinn lives in paradise—Oahu, Hawaii—but her heart is thousands of miles away in New England, where her life once was. Six years after a tragic plane crash stole her family and her mobility, she’s stuck, physically injured, emotionally broken, and yearning for purpose. Then she meets Beck Sutherland, a pilot with a heart as wounded as her own.
Beck carries his own guilt from that same fateful flight…the one he was responsible for. Divorced and tied to Hawaii for his sons, he finds in Sara an unexpected thread of hope. Their shared faith becomes a lifeline, pulling them closer as they navigate grief, secrets, and the fear of moving forward.
But when Beck’s past collides with Sara’s dreams, they face an impossible choice: trust God’s path or stay trapped in the pain they know. Can Sara confront the fear that’s kept her stranded? And will Beck risk revealing the truth that could push her away forever?
Fly Me Home for Christmas is a tender Christian romance about second chances, divine timing, and the courage to let love lead you home.

My review:

I was first intrigued by the cover of this book. I haven’t read many books where the protagonist is in a wheelchair, so I was interested to see how that played into the story. Sara and Beck are such wonderful characters, and Beck’s two little boys are simply adorable. It’s easy to hope for a happily-ever-after for them, but there is so much to overcome. How does someone with an incredible fear of flying reconcile the idea of a relationship with someone who flies for a living? My favorite part of this story is how love is so clearly demonstrated. As two of the characters point out, love is about what you do, not about what you say. Beck certainly knows how to show love, even to the point of great personal sacrifice. It’s a perfect illustration of the love God demonstrates to us. In addition to the wonderful main characters, I also enjoyed the secondary characters of Danny and Astrid, and was so excited to read the author’s note at the end of the book. I thoroughly enjoyed this faith-filled, well-written story of two people who absolutely deserve to find happiness.

Liam Page has lost too much: two wives, his faith, and nearly himself. Now, as a single father to baby Olive, he’s determined to stay sober, stay steady, and never marry again, especially not for love. But when Lynsi Torres, a fellow teacher and friend, faces losing custody of her orphaned niece, Stella, she makes Liam an offer he can’t refuse: a marriage in name only to secure Stella’s future. Lynsi needs a British husband to adopt Stella before their Christmas Eve court date. Liam needs help with Olive…and maybe, just maybe, a reason to believe in second chances. It’s a practical solution, nothing more. Love isn’t required. But as they navigate family skepticism, legal hurdles, and their own fragile hearts, Liam and Lynsi discover that God’s plans don’t always follow the rules. When Stella falls ill and Olive’s laughter fills their home, the lines between convenience and care begin to blur. Can two people who swore off love find healing, trust, and a family they never expected? A tender Christian romance about faith, redemption, and the unexpected gifts of marriage. Perfect for fans of uplifting stories, found family, and love that grows where you didn’t think it would.

My review:

Love Not Required might seem like a typical marriage of convenience novel, but it is so much more. Fellow teachers Liam and Lynsi are dealing with recent losses, and their shared grief and subsequent single parenting cements their friendship. They find themselves much better together than alone, but dealing with pain and problems from the past makes their relationship much more complicated. They’re surrounded by supportive friends and family, and their daughters make the story that much more delightful. Getting ready for Christmas with a nine-year-old and a ten-month-old brings so much more magic to the season. I loved watching little Olive grow and change as the story progressed, and spunky Stella sometimes steals the show. This story had me captivated from beginning to end.

What if the journey home changes everything?

Noel Donner has three days to save his family’s toymaking business or face laying off twenty-seven employees before Christmas. When a critical investment meeting collapses, he boards a train out of London, desperate for a miracle. The last thing he needs is nine hours trapped beside Yari Ephron, the advertising executive he blames for his failure.
Yari Ephron just quit her job after her boss sabotaged Noel’s deal…and now she’s racing home to her injured father, thanks to her mother’s dramatic phone call. Stuck on a crowded train with the one man who thinks she ruined his future, Yari expects an awkward silence. Instead, they find unexpected common ground: faith, family, and a shared frustration with meddling parents.
But when floods strand them overnight, their forced proximity turns into something neither planned. As they share stories, laughter, and even a kiss under the mistletoe, Noel and Yari begin to wonder: Could this train delay be the best detour of their lives?
A heartwarming Christian romance about trust, divine timing, and love finding you in the most surprising moments.

My review:

What a truly delightful story! Yaris and Noel meet under tense circumstances, but through a series of unlikely events, find themselves on an incredibly long train ride together from London to Scotland at Christmastime. Complete with hand-carved toys, elf hats, and Christmas “biscuits” (as it is set in England, after all), the Christmas spirit flows throughout the story. Throw in a natural disaster, and you’ll never know what to expect next. The witty banter between Yaris and Noel is endearing, and it’s impossible not to root for a happy ending between them. The meddling matchmaking families add an interesting dimension, not to mention the devious ways Yaris’s mother finds to gather the whole family together at Christmas. This was one of those books that kept me from doing other things, since I just needed to read “one more chapter.” It delivered on the expected happy ending, and while I predicted what would happen, it didn’t make it any less enjoyable. This is a fun, sweet, Christmas story!

Can love return from a Christmas past? After a painful divorce, Elise Raines moves to the quiet mountain town of Laurel Ridge, determined to rebuild her life for herself and her young daughter, Amelia. Planning her cousin’ s Christmas wedding seems like the perfect distraction…until Jaxson Bleu, her childhood sweetheart and now a country music superstar, returns to town. The boy she walked away from is back, his heart transformed by newfound belief. But their reunion stirs up old wounds and an undeniable spark.
When Elise discovers a mysterious, silent child in the roadside brush, their lives take an unexpected turn. As they race to uncover the boy’ s identity, Elise and Jaxson are drawn into a dangerous web of secrets that threatens their safety and the fragile trust they’ re starting to rebuild.
Jaxson never expected to face the woman who broke his heart, but as they work together to protect the child, he realizes his journey isn’ t just about redemption; it’ s about proving he’ s finally the man Elise always deserved. Yet Elise harbors a secret of her own, one that could shatter their second chance before it even begins.
With danger closing in, can they find the courage to forgive, the strength to protect the innocent, and the faith to fight for a love they were always meant to share?

My review:

A beautifully written, faith-filled novel that will keep you turning pages. I haven’t read the first two books in the series, and while it was clear there was more to the stories of the secondary characters, this book reads as a standalone. It does, however, make me want to go back and read the first two books!
I was drawn in immediately by the mystery. Elise finds a lost little boy in the first chapter. Little Kota will steal your heart like it did Elise’s. Elise finds herself drawn into a world of mystery with danger at every turn. If only she would listen to the advice of her law-enforcement cousin once in a while, she might not keep finding danger. Then again, she might not have made as much progress in solving the mystery!
When you add the unexpected return of her first love (and best friend), her life is turned upside down. I loved trying to figure out the clues in the story (some I figured out and some I didn’t). Elise loves the Lord but has been hurt in the past, both by others and by her own choices. She’s afraid to risk her heart again. But she’s never stopped loving Jaxson, and he’s never stopped loving her.
The book is set in the Christmas season, but it’s not your typical light Christmas story. Between the mystery, the re-kindling romance, some amazing, supportive, secondary characters, and a brilliant rescue dog, you’ll find yourself on the edge of your seat throughout the story. Five stars!

Can love bloom where grief has taken root? After tragically losing his wife, Matthew Dawson is barely holding it together, let alone ready for Christmas. His greatest concern is his three-year-old daughter, Emma, who’s quietly grieving, too. Desperate for help, he hires Hannah Collins, a British-trained nanny with a heart for healing, and a secret tie to Emma’s school.
Hannah brings warmth to their home, but as Matt retreats to the oak tree he planted in Natalie’s memory, Hannah senses his pain. A Thanksgiving trip to the Texas Hill Country sparks joy in Emma…and something deeper between Hannah and Matt. Yet when their bond crosses the line, Hannah steps back, leaving Matt angrier and lonelier than ever.
Then, beneath the oak tree, purple crocuses bloom impossibly early, a sign of rebirth, hope, and new beginnings. This Christmas, God is writing a story of healing, love, and second chances that neither saw coming.
A tender Christian romance about love after loss, the courage to heal, and the miracles of Christmas. 

 My review:

Matt is grieving the loss of his wife and needs to find a nanny for Emma, his adorable three-year-old daughter. Hannah has been praying for a new job where she can make a difference in the life of the family she serves. When Matt hires Hannah, she turns out to be just what Matt and Emma need. Throughout the story, the characters actively seek to find God’s will in their lives.
The story is marked by a poignant symbol of a tree planted by Matt’s wife. As the tree moves through different seasons, it shows the different seasons in the lives of the characters. But the true delight of the story is little Emma, who wakes up from her naps in the most adorable way. This is a sweet, wholesome story about finding love after loss.

  Can love and faith overcome the shadows of the past? Pink Rainwater has spent her life running—from her childhood in a storage unit, from the stalker who won’t let go, and now from the doubt that she’ll ever be enough. Moving back to Nebraska to be near her mother and sister should feel like safety. Instead, it feels like one more place she doesn’t belong, especially when everyone around her talks about a God she’s not sure she trusts. Bowie Miller is a man of strong faith and stronger convictions, always fighting for the underdog. When his best friend’s future sister-in-law arrives in Lincoln, he offers to help, partly as a favor, partly to quiet the guilt of a past failure he can’t outrun. But the more he learns about Pink’s fragile strength and stubborn independence, the harder it is to keep his distance. She’s an unbeliever. He’s vowed to protect her. And the line between duty and desire is blurring fast. When threatening notes and a stalker’s shadow force them closer, Bowie’s determination to shield Pink clashes with her resistance to faith…and to love. As Christmas nears, Pink must decide: Is she willing to trust the God Bowie believes in, or will fear keep her running?

 My review:

Christmas, Fulfilled is the third book of a series, after A Christmas House and Christmas in Garland. It tells the tale of two sisters who grew up under terrible conditions and have now found their way into a promising adulthood. One sister, Pepper, has found love both with a man, and in Jesus. Their formerly estranged mother has found Jesus as well. Now only Pink is a holdout. But Pink doesn’t stand much chance, as her sister, mother, and her love interest Bowie speak to her continually about Jesus throughout the entire story. She finds herself torn between being annoyed at their constant Jesus talk and wondering if she’s missing out on something. The book is full of mini-sermons with romantic moments, mishaps, and notes from a stalker sprinkled in.

What if the sweetest dreams are the ones you’ re too afraid to chase? Hannah Parker has spent her life putting others first— whether it’ s rescuing her sister Abby’ s wedding veil or staying in a soul-crushing job to keep the peace. But when Drew Johnston, a passionate ice cream maker with big dreams, saves her from disaster, everything changes. His unshakable faith and encouragement ignite a spark in Hannah, making her wonder: What if God’ s plan for her is bigger than she’ s dared to imagine?
As Christmas nears, Drew’ s kindness and vision challenge Hannah to step out of the shadows. For the first time, she lets herself sing freely, write music, and dream of a future beyond her predictable routine. But when misunderstandings and old fears threaten to pull them apart, Hannah must decide: Will she keep playing it safe or trust God’ s timing, and her own heart, to embrace the life she was meant to live?
A heartwarming Christian romance about faith, courage, and the dreams God plants in our hearts.

My review:

This is my book, so I won’t review it,  but I wanted to share the lovely review I received from Reading is my Superpower: https://readingismysuperpower.org/2025/12/09/its-beginning-to-look-a-lot-like-christmas-reads-giveaway-sweeter-than-ice-cream/

 

If you’re looking for a Christ-centered read this Christmas season, I hope you’ll look into Pelican Book Group’s Christmas Extravaganza! You can find them all on Amazon or at www.pelicanbookgroup.com under new releases. Happy reading and Merry Christmas!