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!

All Samantha Williams wants to do is to use her teaching degree to instruct a classroom of second graders. But, after a breast cancer diagnosis at the age of twenty-three and failed reconstruction surgery, Sam finds herself without a job and temporarily living with her parents. This isn’t the life Sam expected. When a family friend dies and leaves Sam a house and land in Whispering Creek, Tennessee, Sam must decide if leaving Wisconsin for Southern living is in her lesson plans.

Nashville native Cole Donoven left his family’s electrical business to write country music. When Cole’s song-writing partner and girlfriend dumps him for a country music star, Cole abandons Nashville to hole up in Whispering Creek and compose one more song. The last thing Cole expects to find in the sleepy small town is a deceased friend, estate squabbles, and a Northern beauty. Will the chaos in Whispering Creek help create a bestselling song for Cole and possibly help him find a life-long collaborator?

My review:

Barbara Britton is best known for her Biblical fiction, but Christmas at Whispering Creek is sweet contemporary romance, and she nails it. Sam is a breast cancer survivor and struggles with her post-surgery body image. As a survivor myself, I was glad to see the topic addressed in this book. So many women have experienced breast cancer, and this book is sure to speak to survivors, but you don’t have to have experienced cancer to enjoy and appreciate this book. Sam, despite her trials, holds fast to God and is a positive and inspirational person. When she meets Cole, we can’t help but hope for a happy ending. Sure, there are some corny lines, but who doesn’t say corny things when they’re first falling in love? Take a trip to Whispering Creek and have a merry Christmas along with Sam and Cole.

When Finn Donovan answers a late-night knock at the door, there stands Charity Sullivan, the only woman he’ s ever loved. He hasn’ t seen her since the night nearly seventeen years ago when they shared a magical kiss after a months-long friendship.

But Charity isn’ t alone, and her last name is no longer Sullivan. Her four children are with her, and she’ s looking for a place to hide. Her marriage just ended, and her former father-in-law, a powerful, dangerous underworld boss, will stop at nothing to keep her from leaving with his grandchildren.

As Finn and Charity’ s friendship rekindles, Finn’ s protective instincts go on high alert. He’ s never stopped loving her, but as an upright, God-fearing man, doesn’t want to take advantage of her vulnerability. Charity is drawn to Finn. She dreams of a future for them, but unanswered questions from the past stand between them.

When Charity receives a phone call telling her that her former father-in-law has discovered her whereabouts, she decides to go on the run again. But Finn isn’ t having any of it. He has a Christmas dream of his own, and it won’ t come true without Charity and her children. 

My review:

A Dream of Christmas by Erin Stevenson will keep you turning pages. The characters are wonderfully crafted. We can’t help rooting for Finn – the nicest guy you’ll ever meet. When his childhood crush returns to his life after a 17-year hiatus, we wonder what happened to her. Charity has had a roller coaster of a life. She’s made some poor decisions, but is a wonderful mom of 4. Her story is told bit by bit throughout the book. The storytelling is fabulous, and the story will tug at your heartstrings. If you’re looking for something to feel good about this Christmas season, give this one a read!

Ivy Eston is dreading Christmas. The eldest of six, she’ s the only one of her siblings not married with children. She’ s also tired of being asked if she has a boyfriend. She’ s tempted to run away and spend Christmas abroad, but her grandmother’ s ill health, and current travel restrictions, means Ivy’ s staying home instead.

Firefighter Rhett Butler is perfectly content saving lives all day long and coming home to his cat who never needs more than he’ s prepared to give. After all, if God wanted him married, He’ d throw the right woman at him. However, Rhett isn’ t sure he can face another round of Christmas parties alone, and he can’ t exactly take the cat.

A chance encounter with Ivy offers a solution to both their dilemmas, especially if they can keep things strictly business. But things are never that straightforward when Christmas comes to town.

My review:

When Christmas Comes to Town by Clare Revell is a fun read. Ivy and Rhett are both facing a slew of Christmas festivities without a date. When they run into each other (literally), the idea of being each other’s ‘holidate’ is birthed. Ivy finds herself in an awful lot of messes and Rhett is there to rescue her. Falling for a firefighter is handy! The budding romance is sweet and believable, and the cast of secondary characters keeps things interesting. The book is set in England, which adds to the charm of the story. A short, sweet read!

Heartbroken over the unfair loss of a position in the school where she teaches, Angela Taylor is determined to find an AP position.

Adam Thornton has struggled for years to overcome the physical and emotional effects of a devastating accident that occurred when he was a teenager. A successful real estate attorney and part-time handyman, Adam uses his gifts and talents to serve others.

When Angela is hired as an AP at the school where Adam’ s mother is the principal, Angela and Adam find they share a past… an unexpected connection. And they must choose whether to surrender to the pain of that past or find hope for the future in the spirit of Christmas.

My review:

Choosing Christmas by Carol James is a sweet read that will get you in the mood for the season. My favorite part in the book is where we learn where the title comes from. We can choose Christmas just the same way we can choose joy amidst difficult situations. The characters in the book have found a way to choose joy in spite of trials. I enjoyed watching Angie grow in her faith and in following God‘s will. Adam has had challenges to overcome but he has chosen joy. My only complaint is that the book was too short, but that’s what you get with a novella! A sweet and inspirational read.

When district nurse Octavia Berry arrives to start her new job on a remote Scottish island, the last person she expects to see is her estranged husband. With a population of seventy-two and at the mercy of the elements, the island offers the peace and fresh start she longs for— but considerably more complications than she anticipated.

Pastor Ulysses Pine finds the island the perfect spot to assuage the sins of his youth. He spends his days tending many of the island sheep, as well as pastoring his human flock. The arrival of Octavia, the woman he abandoned on their wedding day, turns his ordered life upside down.

As Christmas approaches, Octavia and Ulysses face a collision course with the past, whilst they try to navigate through the present.

My review:

Pinecones and Holly Berries by Clare Revell is a Christmas story in a unique setting. Octavia needs a change of pace and wants to get away from her controlling father. She takes a year-long nursing job on a remote Scottish island, a place that may have more sheep than people. Things get complicated when she crosses paths with the man who left her on her wedding day- the man she’s still married to. Olivia and her husband are subjected to all sorts of twists, turns, and adventures. Throw in a cast of lovable supporting characters, and you’ll find yourself wanting to visit this island for yourself, although, given their rough storms, I’m glad I visited by book. A wholesome, enjoyable, well written story!

Pepper Rainwater has just bought the first real home she’ s ever had, and she’ s decorating and celebrating Christmas with everything she has. The neighbor’ s miniature donkeys and meeting Foxx interrupt her life. Can she turn from all she’ d been taught and trust strangers?

A startling discovery after his father’ s death forces Foxx Haven to face an unknown past. His life has been a lie. He’ s distracted from work for the first time— by his heritage and his new neighbor. Can he fight his attraction to an unbeliever and discover his new life chapter at the same time?

Miniature donkeys and learning about Christ have a profound impact on Pepper. But God has a mighty work to bring her hurting soul and Foxx’ s new perspective into alignment. Can hope override hurting souls and enable a happily-ever-after?

My review:

Christmas House by LoRee Peery is a surprise, as it doesn’t take place at Christmas! Pepper never had Christmas as a child, so when she finally has a home of her own, she decorates the whole house for Christmas. She meets Foxx, and through going to church with him, soon finds there is far more to Christmas than decorations. Both Foxx and Pepper have surprisingly dark pasts. We root for them to find peace and forgiveness so they can move forward in their lives, and hopefully spend Christmas together! 

It’ s Christmas and DS Zander Ellery is buried in work. He’ s tried hard to put the events of Jack’ s House, an undercover operation, behind him, yet his thoughts keep returning to Kate. She promised to keep in touch, and she hasn’ t.

Kate Dahlbeck left town after the events of Jack’ s House. With her past exposed, no home and no job, she fled to her brother to work for him. Now she’ s up to her neck in trouble, on the run and can only think of one person to help. Zander with a zed.

Zander and his partner, DC Isabel York, agree to help. It doesn’ t take much investigating before Zander understands that Kate’ s situation is far worse, far messier, and far more dangerous than he first realized.

 My review:

Amid the Cold of Winter by Clare Revell is a wonderful love story. Ms. Revell has written many books which feature her two detectives, but this book reads as a standalone. Kate and Zander first meet in The House that Jack Built, released earlier this year. They quickly fall for one another, but lose touch. When Kate finds herself in a heap of trouble, she reaches out to Zander for help, and finds more than she ever dreamed possible. Lots of twists and turns and danger lurking around every corner. An exciting read with a sweet romance weaving through the story.

What are the chances that accidentally knocking over someone’ s trash cans on a dark street would lead to a new lease on life?

Moving to Chestnut Crossings is Lucy Carrington‘ s only chance to live her Christian beliefs free from ridicule. But when she runs over the church trash cans, her new beginning gets off to a rocky start. Thankfully, the pastor is as forgiving as he is handsome.

Pastor Jim Sullivan is impressed by Lucy. She’s a woman of her word and doesn’t seem to take the easy way out. But when he offers her a job, he soon discovers her quirks—she’s always late, embraces as a blessing something he views as a curse, and is hiding something about her past…not that Jim should judge. He has issues of his own he’d like to keep hidden.

When Pastor Jim asks Lucy to sing at the Christmas pageant, she’s faced with a difficult and emotional decision.

Will singing free her heart from painful family memories… and inspire Jim to forgive himself, too?

In Light a Christmas Candle, discover a holiday season filled with challenges, forgiveness, love and restoration.

My review:

Light a Christmas Candle is the first book I’ve read by Regina Andrews, but it won’t be my last! Lucy tries to make a fresh start in a new town, and ends up crashing into her new life, literally. You can’t help but like Lucy and her faithful dog Dillon. A romance starts to blossom between her and the preacher, but both have issues in the past they need to deal with. The story is short, sweet, and full of Christian truths.