December Challenge - Christmas (of course!)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Kathryn wrote: "Thanks, Brenda - I added that one to my list not long ago, but I think that's probably one I don't need to waste any time on!"

Depends what you like Kathryn, but I was very disappointed with it!

[Kathryn]

Well, fantasy/sci-fi/paranormal are never my favourite genres anyway and this doesn't really sound like one that would float my boat!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Kathryn wrote: "Well, fantasy/sci-fi/paranormal are never my favourite genres anyway and this doesn't really sound like one that would float my boat!"

Plus another genre in there which isn't mentioned which also doesn't float my boat Kathryn!!!

[Kathryn]

Which other genre does it slot into that you don't like, Brenda?

[Jülie ☼♄ ]

Julie wrote: "12.44 am , it's the 1st. of Dec. and I'm starting nooooooow!!! :-D"

Oops sorry, I just realized I got my Summer reading challenge mixed up with this Christmas challenge ....so just FYI, I was starting my Summer challenge as I couldn't do both I opted just for the Summer challenge to best reduce my TBR pile :0 :k ?

.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Kathryn wrote: "Which other genre does it slot into that you don't like, Brenda?"

In the words of another reviewer - Okay I was not expecting Science Fiction in erotica. Not really the Christmas story I was going for...

[Kathryn]

Oh, I see, Brenda. Definitely not in my line!! :-)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Kathryn wrote: "Oh, I see, Brenda. Definitely not in my line!! :-)"

:/

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

Brenda wrote: "My 6th for this challenge - White Christmas by Ros Baxter

Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."

That sounds hilarious Brenda! Christmas science fiction with erotica! A whole new genre!!!

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

I finished The Christmas Train which was an okay read and have just started Unholy Night which is also okay so far.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Phrynne wrote: "Brenda wrote: "My 6th for this challenge - White Christmas by Ros Baxter

Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."

That sounds hilarious Brenda! Ch..."

I actually think quite a lot of authors are "milking" the Christmas train Phrynne! Knowing a lot of people read all and any Christmas books, they are putting an "appropriate" name to it, writing umm...stuff! saying it's at Christmas time, and hey, they've got a book they're even selling!! I think I'll be a little more picky in future! LOL

[Kathryn]

So far I've read Winter Solstice by Rosamunde Pilcher and The Christmas Gift by Monica McInerney. Both good reads, but nothing extraordinary. Winter Solstice is my favourite Christmas read so far this year. It was quite long, but it was sweet - lots of snow, holly, ivy, Christmas trees and food and drink!!

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

Brenda wrote: "Phrynne wrote: "Brenda wrote: "My 6th for this challenge - White Christmas by Ros Baxter

Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."

That sounds hila..."

Ah but you never know until you read it and by then it is sometimes too late.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Phrynne wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Phrynne wrote: "Brenda wrote: "My 6th for this challenge - White Christmas by Ros Baxter

Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."

T..."

"Ain't that the truth!!!" Who said that, can't remember, but I really like the words;)

[Lee at ReadWriteWish]

I just read White Christmas because you girls made me laugh so much about it. And A Christmas Wish: A twenty-minute festive read from Carole Matthews which sadly was less rivetting than the worm vampires. ;)

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

I finished Unholy Night which I gave three stars because it was so weird. It gives a whole new side to the Christmas story!
Now I am reading Merry Christmas, Alex Cross.
And I may have to actually read White Christmas to find out about these worm vampires??????

[Angela]

I finally finished Little Women (a reread for me)

Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Now for A Christmas Carol

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Lee wrote: "I just read White Christmas because you girls made me laugh so much about it. And A Christmas Wish: A twenty-minute festive read from Carole Matthews which sadly wa..."

Phrynne wrote: "I finished Unholy Night which I gave three stars because it was so weird. It gives a whole new side to the Christmas story!
Now I am reading [book:Merry Christmas, Alex Cross|130979..."

Oh dear! Not my "thing" but go for it Phrynne! What did you think Lee?

[Lee at ReadWriteWish]

What did you think Lee?

Well... I do fret that these authors write these novellas in the hope we will perhaps pay some money to buy their other books, and yet... At least Baxter had a sort of plot... Just one which was a little too modern for me. Some of these novellas seem to devoid of such things.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Lee wrote: "What did you think Lee?

Well... I do fret that these authors write these novellas in the hope we will perhaps pay some money to buy their other books, and yet... At least Baxter had a sort of p..."

:D

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

Brenda wrote: "Lee wrote: "I just read White Christmas because you girls made me laugh so much about it. And A Christmas Wish: A twenty-minute festive read from Carole Matthews wh..."

I was just kidding. I have no desire to read it really. I just finished Merry Christmas, Alex Cross which was really quite good!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Phrynne wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Lee wrote: "I just read White Christmas because you girls made me laugh so much about it. And [book:A Christmas Wish: A twenty-minute festive read from Carole Matthe..."

I enjoyed that one last year (read it for the challenge then) PS Glad you're kidding;P

[Andrea]

I've just finished A Redbird Christmas by Fannie Flagg; my favourite Christmas read so far. It was sweet and heartwarming and gentle - everything you want your Christmas stories to be (unlike the worm vampire erotica or whatever...LOL)

[Jo]

Just got from the library Homecoming by Patricia Scanlon. Oh well better late than never for the Christmas read.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Andrea wrote: "I've just finished A Redbird Christmas by Fannie Flagg; my favourite Christmas read so far. It was sweet and heartwarming and gentle - everything you want your Christmas..."

LOL Yours sounds better than mine;)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Jo wrote: "Just got from the library Homecoming by Patricia Scanlon. Oh well better late than never for the Christmas read."

I can't find any record of this book, either on GR or anywhere else Jo. Can you please give me some details, ISBN to start with, plus anything else you can get from the library book? Thanks.

[Amber]

Brenda wrote: "Jo wrote: "Just got from the library Homecoming by Patricia Scanlon. Oh well better late than never for the Christmas read."

I can't find any record of this book, either on GR or anywhere else Jo...."

I think she means Coming Home by Patricia Scanlan

[Jo]

Oh sorry it is coming home by Patricia scanlon.

[Jo]

Scanlan

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Amber wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Jo wrote: "Just got from the library Homecoming by Patricia Scanlon. Oh well better late than never for the Christmas read."

I can't find any record of this book, either on GR or an..."

Thanks so much Amber, that's why I couldn't find it!!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Jo wrote: "Oh sorry it is coming home by Patricia scanlon."

Jo wrote: "Scanlan"

Jo could you please link your books in future so everyone can check out your books? Thanks!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Finished my 6th last night Mistletoe Magic by Melissa McClone

Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

My faith in Christmas books has been restored;)

[Sharon]

Finished my 3rd : Comfort and Joy by Kristin Hannah

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

I just finished Winter Solstice. That's four Xmas books from me and I cannot do another one! I am drowning in sweetness and mince pies eaten in front of a roaring fire with egg nog and happily ever after. (did I hear someone say "Bah humbug"?)
I am going to go choose a really good book from my TBR pile and try to come down from my sugar hit.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Phrynne wrote: "I just finished Winter Solstice. That's four Xmas books from me and I cannot do another one! I am drowning in sweetness and mince pies eaten in front of a roaring fire with egg nog an..."

Hahahah!!! Well done Phrynne! It's (mostly) a little like that, isn't it;)

[Kathryn]

Phrynne wrote: "I just finished Winter Solstice. That's four Xmas books from me and I cannot do another one! I am drowning in sweetness and mince pies eaten in front of a roaring fire with egg nog an..."

I thought you weren't doing traditional, feel-good, saccharin-sweet Christmas reads Phrynne?? Although it was part of your summer challenge, wasn't it? I think I remember commenting that we were both reading it. And it wasn't exactly saccharin-sweet, but it was a bit sentimental and schmaltzy. I'm reading A Bush Christmas and it's definitely over-sweet, or something!!

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

Kathryn wrote: "Phrynne wrote: "I just finished Winter Solstice. That's four Xmas books from me and I cannot do another one! I am drowning in sweetness and mince pies eaten in front of a roaring fire..."

I read Winter Solstice Merry Christmas, Alex Cross The Christmas Train and Unholy Night. They were all non traditional really but they all still leaned towards the sentimental. And you have to admit there was an awful lot of comfort food in Winter Solstice. I got indigestion just from reading it!
Just joking but I do now intend to read The Shining for something completely different!

[Kathryn]

Yeah, the food sounded good in Winter Solstice!

[Lee at ReadWriteWish]

Just read Secret Santa. It wasn't a full length novel, but not as short as some of the novellas I've read for this challenge. It was as ordinary unfortunately. :(

[Kathryn]

Over the last few days, I finished A Bush Christmas by Margareta Osborn - 2 stars, A Darcy Christmas: A Holiday Tribute to Jane Austen by Amanda Grange - 3 stars, and The Souls of the Ships by Brian Freeman - 2 stars. Mostly quite ordinary and a bit disappointing, really - as were the other Christmas books I read earlier. Although Winter Solstice wasn't too bad.

But last year, I read Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball by Donita K. Paul and it was just magical and enchanting and everything I look for in a Christmas read and this year's reads didn't even come close to this!

Here's hoping next year's Christmas reads are better!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Bad luck Lee and Kathryn! It's been a bit of a mish-mash this year!!

[Kathryn]

Yes, it's just the way it goes, isn't it? I didn't have a lot of Christmassy reads on my TBR list, so about half of my Christmas reads were free e-books (that were more short stories - an appealing prospect at this time of year!), found via tip-offs on the Free/low priced eBooks and Kindle thread (so thanks to everyone who posted for that!). Of course, now having read them, I can see why some of them were free! But at least I didn't waste too much time or money on them!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Kathryn wrote: "Yes, it's just the way it goes, isn't it? I didn't have a lot of Christmassy reads on my TBR list, so about half of my Christmas reads were free e-books (that were more short stories - an appealing..."

Haha! You are very correct there! But I have been lucky with some free kindles:)

[Lee at ReadWriteWish]

Just finished Mistletoe Magic. It was ooookkaaaay. No more Christmas novellas for me! I think it would have been better to have been bogged down with a nice long read of Little Women or A Christmas Carol really! Oh well. Next year!

[Kathryn]

Lee wrote: "Just finished Mistletoe Magic. It was ooookkaaaay. No more Christmas novellas for me! I think it would have been better to have been bogged down with a nice long read of Little W..."

I managed one more free Christmas short story yesterday - The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry and I agree, Lee - no more! 3 stars for that one, but 2.5 might be closer to the mark. I've had a play on GR and found a handful of proper length Christmassy books for next year!!

[Andrea]

Mery Christmas everyone. I've just finished This Christmas by Jane Green et al, and it will be my last for this challenge. Maybe 2.5 stars, as I really did not enjoy the 2nd of the 3 stories.

[Nicola]

Elaine wrote: "Nicola wrote: "Have finished my second challenge book
A Christmas Guest / Anne Perry
It was my first Anne Perry book and although short..."

Sounds like it! I hadn't read any others from Anne Perry but my Mother nad Sister enjoy her, I'll have to wait and see if her others are as good for me!

[Nicola]

Another Christmas read for me:
Christmas Carol Murder / Leslie Meier

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

My last Christmas read for this challenge A Cowboy For Christmas by Katherine Garbera (That's a total of 8!)

Review to follow

[Janine]

I have also read my last for this challenge
Mistletoe Magic by Melissa McClone
A very sweet short novella.
That makes 6 for the challenge