It would not feel like Christmas without the Reindeer Readathon! This is a month-long readathon hosted by Erik from Breakeven Books. Click here for the announcement video because he can explain everything better than I can. I am co-hosting Team Stocking for the fourth year in a row and I could not be more excited.
Dasher
It was a passion neither could forget—until he did.
Tia Hightower isn’t sure how she went from being a powerful witch to fake dating her ex at a winter house party.
For eight years, she has refused to speak Henry Pearlmatter’s name unless it has been to curse it. Now, with their family businesses merged, she and her insufferable ex must pretend to be together to secure a wealthy warlock’s investment. Sharing a room—and a bed—with Henry is bad enough. Even worse is that Tia might have had a small potion mishap…and accidentally erased Henry’s memories of her.
Henry might not remember his ex, but it’s clear there’s still something between them. Whatever went wrong in the past, he intends to figure it out. Faking feelings for Tia isn’t exactly difficult, but one thing’s for starlight carnivals and mulled-wine kisses can’t change history.
With the threat of Henry’s memories hovering over every stolen moment, their time together is running out. But a little bit of Christmas magic and the snow-melting heat between them have Tia wondering if it’s time to risk her heart once more, even if it’s with the warlock who once broke it…
I know that Season of the Witch is the third book in a series and I have not read the first two, but I think they work as standalones. I bought this book on a whim because I love anything witchy and I am a huge Noah Kahan (I assume the title is a nod to the song Season of the Sticks), so I had to pick it up.
Dancer
A fake dating, childhood friends to lovers, bisexual-awakening, holiday romance.
The day Clara started her new (dream) job as an assistant to her photography idol, she was met with an assumption that caught her off guard and stunned her silent. suddenly, she has to bring a girlfriend to the gallery’s opening in a few weeks- all because she choked up and failed to correct her boss that she is, in fact, straight.
Evan was recently dumped by her fellow teacher fiancée for a mutual co-worker and is still trying to figure out where it all went wrong. So when she gets the news the happy new couple will be hosting the staff’s holiday party- she feels utterly horrified by her single status and looks for a quick solution.
Together, these two old friends make a plan to get through the gallery opening and holiday party by pretending to date one another. Easy… right?
That is until Clara starts developing real feelings for Evan, shocking herself. All the while Evan realizes that perhaps pretending to date your straight best friend, who you’ve had a crush on for half your life- isn’t the best idea.
You will find the word search down below! I don’t want to spoil things so I will just say that fake relationship was one of the prompts I found and it is one of my favourites, so that is the one I went for. Set the Record Straight is a holiday novella from Hannah Bonam-Young, who I discovered this year and love. There is a cat with antlers on the cover- that is all I need to know.
Prancer
A jaded woman falls for her sunshine neighbor in this cozy Christmas romance.
Nora Blackburn is suspicious of everything she sees and hears. Is it fake? Is someone trying to scam her? God, it’s exhausting, but she can’t let down her guard again.
She’s tired of Christmas cheer as well. It’s never been her favorite holiday, and this year, she’ll have to spend it alone for the first time. Besides, Everett Sun, who lives across the hall, has more than enough Christmas spirit for both of them.
When she sees an image of an elaborate snow sculpture in a Toronto park, she assumes it’s AI-generated. But when more pictures of the sculpture—and others—pop up, she realizes it’s real. She encounters Everett when she goes to see it in person, and together, they visit the other sculptures.
Nora didn’t expect to ever fall for anyone again, and she’s startled by the feelings she’s developing for her neighbor. Why does she find his flannel shirt and irrepressible smile so alluring?
But as the city tries to solve the mystery of the whimsical sculptures, strange things begin happening with Everett, and she doesn’t know if she can trust him…
Magically Generated is a romance novella featuring hot buttered rum, festive snow animals, and a touch of magic.
Jackie Lau has become a go-to author for me when I am craving a contemporary romance and I am so happy to have a new holiday romance from her! Magically Generated is over seven syllables and it just sounds so adorable.
Vixen
He’s the Ghost of Christmas Past. She’s not exactly Scrooge.
Ghost of Christmas Past Nolan Callahan intends to spend this holiday haunting like every other—get in, get out, return to his otherwise aimless existence as a ghost awaiting the afterlife. But when he’s faced with Harriet York, the sweetest assignment he’s ever had, he suddenly finds himself wishing for a future.
Harriet York has no idea why she’s being haunted. She’s a good person—or, at least, she tries to be. A people pleaser to her core, she always does what’s expected of her. But as she and Nolan begin to examine her past, they discover there are threads that bind them together— and realize there might be more to moving on than expected.
With the deadline of Christmas Eve fast approaching, will they find the key to their futures in each other’s pasts? Or will they stay firmly in the present, indulging in their unexpected, spirited connection?
Filled with magic, mayhem, and cozy holiday charm
Good Spirits seems to be the holiday book of the year and is perfect for this prompt! There is actually a buddy read for this one of the readathon’s discord, so definitely check that out. Love the idea of a romance with the ghost of Christmas past.
Comet
A Night with Ms. Grinch is a steamy, small-town Black romance Christmas novella full of flirtatious banter, cozy holiday vibes, and irresistible chemistry. When interior designer Kandi Cane, Beverly Mills’ self-proclaimed Grinch, gets snowed in with sexy coffee shop owner Cole Winters, sparks fly faster than falling snow. With caffeine, temptation, and one unforgettable night, this opposites-attract romance blends heat, humor, and a heartfelt into the perfect holiday love story. Readers who enjoy cute, sweet, and with dashes of spice Hallmark-with-a-twist vibes will fall hard for A Night with Ms. Grinch.
I am a Gemini, soo I was lucky to get red, green, and yellow. Doesn’t get much more christmasy than that! A Night with Ms. Grinch, which comes out at the end of the month, has all three and there are also stockings on the cover, which is too perfect for my team. I love the “grinch” trope in these holiday romances and the fact that this has the “snowed in” trope as well is a bonus.
Cupid
A wedding in Dream Harbor can only mean one thing, everyone wants to get involved!
With Jeanie and Logan set to tie the knot, and Kira desperate to hire out her newly renovated barn at the Christmas tree farm, everything seems to be going well. Annie has agreed to bake the cake, and Mac is responsible for, well… just being Mac. And as the whole of Dream Harbor comes together to celebrate the wedding of the year with the snow falling around them, can Annie and Mac put aside their dislike for each just long enough for the ‘I Do’s’ or is that one request too far…
The Gingerbread Bakery is a cozy romantic novel with an enemies to lovers dynamic, small-town setting and a HEA guaranteed!
Tropes:
• enemies to lovers
• found family
• small town
• forced proximity
I love an audiobook that has multiple narrators and libro.fm had The Gingerbread Bakery as part of their influencer program, so I grabbed it. This series has just been okay for me but I like that I know what I can expect from them and I am into the small town vibes. I also love a romance that revolves around a wedding! A perfect book to listen to while I am baking.
Donner
Megan is dreading going home for the holidays. She’s the village pariah, the she-devil who left local golden boy Isaac at the altar four years ago and ran away to the big city. She could really do without the drama. Particularly as he’s engaged again, and she’s just been dumped for the fourth time this year.
Christian’s fed up of being on his own every Christmas. He doesn’t mind being alone, but he hates his family’s sad eyes and soft tones as they sit around coupled up. Because he’s actually, totally, fine.
So when Megan literally bumps into Christian in a Dublin pub, they come up with a pact to see them through the holiday season. They’re going to be the very best fake dates for each other, ever.
Rules are drawn up, a contract is signed on a wine-stained napkin. They will sit through each other’s family gatherings and be outrageously in love until freed from their annual obligations. After all, it’s only for a few weeks.
But with everyone home for the holidays, two big families to deal with alongside old friends, old flames and old feelings, things are bound to get messy. And when a snowed-in cabin and a little Christmas magic are added to the mix, anything could happen…
A swoonworthy and utterly gorgeous romantic comedy that will make you laugh out loud and fall completely in love.
I went for Snowed In because it has snow on the cover and I found copy of it for a good price. I know that the first book in this series has great reviews, so I wouldn’t mind getting to that as well. The fact that this is fake dating and is set in Dublin is a bonus!
Blitzen
All three of these books came out over five years ago and they have also been on my shelves for longer than that! I am intrigued by all three and they have survived many unhauls, so I need an excuse to pick them all. I will put a poll on my instagram story or in the discord at some point in December!
Rudolph
A woman who wields magical tarot cards lands herself in a false engagement with the headmaster of a mysterious academy in this first installment of an enthralling fantasy romance series from the bestselling author of A Deal with the Elf King.
Clara Graysword has survived the underworld of Eclipse City through thievery, luck, and a whole lot of illegal magic. After a job gone awry, Clara is sentenced to a lifetime in prison for inking tarot cards-a rare power reserved for practitioners at the elite Arcana Academy.
Just when it seems her luck has run dry, the academy’s enigmatic headmaster, Prince Kaelis, offers her an escape-for a price. Kaelis believes that Clara is the perfect tool to help him steal a tarot card from the king and use it to re-create an all-powerful card long lost to time.
In order to conceal her identity and keep her close, Kaelis brings Clara to Arcana Academy, introducing her as the newest first-year student and his bride-to-be.
Thrust into a world of arcane magic and royal intrigue, where one misstep will send her back to prison or worse, Clara finds that the prince she swore to hate may not be what he seems. But can she risk giving him power over the world-and her heart? Or will she take it for herself?
I am part of a witchy book club on Booktube and The Arcana Academy is our December book! It works perfectly for this prompt and it will be nice to break up all of the holiday romances with some dark academia.
Let me know if you plan to join the readathon or what is the one book you are most excited to read in December!
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