Icon found somewhere on social media a long time ago…

Alternative title: why I will not be reading holiday fluff in future.

I meant to write this post in the immediate aftermath of the holidays but I have had a series of disasters (see my next post) and have only just got round to it. So it’s no longer totally appropriate given that most of you will be well past all the holiday shenanigans but maybe if you like the genre and you missed some of the books I mention you could consider them for next year.

As usual, I downloaded a number of Christmas or holiday themed stories, long and short. I gradually realised that for me, the sweetness of the general approach was too much. Given the amount of sugary things to eat, the incessantly cheerful music on the radio and the offerings on TV I found myself craving things that were perhaps stronger or darker…

This is not to denigrate some of the stories. They were a mixed bag, and I haven’t given them stars because it wouldn’t really be fair, given my feelings, but if you are someone who enjoys an overdose of sweetness and light and don’t feel overwhelmed by it, I can recommend the following:

Lumberjack under the tree by Keira Andrews. Well written but very slight story about how Blake and Caleb reconnect at a Christmas tree farm.

A Baby for Christmas by Keira Andrews. Well written though time-worn trope of two guys and a baby trapped in a cabin in a snowstorm.

When Love Flue In by Lillian Francis Well written short about a lawyer and a chimney sweep.

One Last Wish by Alex Adams Sob story about a dying grandfather and his wish list which brings Angus (his carer) and Blair (his grandson) together.

Santa of the Creek by Sue Brown A story in the Collier’s Creek series. Echo (a newcomer) and Dean (shy and still getting over an old accident/loss) bond at Christmas. No real drama but a lot of sex.

Christmas on Stardust Lane and Christmas on Firefly Hill by Garrett Leigh Great characters – one features an ex-biker who’s now a calligrapher and his tenant who’s a nurse. The other has a fire dancer/jewellery maker and a fireman who both have cameo parts in the other novel. (But it’s all still fluff.) Probably the ones I would recommend most highly of the books here.

Married before Christmas by Megan Linden Best friends enter marriage to save a hospital trust. Fake turns real. Of course it does!

I read about as many again but won’t detail the ones that really did bore me. The above are all mm romance. I did read some mf romance but it all fell into the boring category so the less said the better.

My only four star reads were fanfic…

Tidings of Jumpers and Joy by MistressKat**** Nice fluff in Shetland fanfic. https://archiveofourown.org/works/61687114 I suppose knowledge of all the backstory makes the fluff more satisfying.

Christmas Supplement – Marylebone Monthly Illustrated by Small_Hobbit**** Much amusement in the realms of Holmes, Watson, Mouselet, etc. https://archiveofourown.org/works/61322977 This AU based very loosely on the Holmes stories but featuring a variety of talking animals never fails to please me.

Next Christmas I shall be more self aware and will not read in this particular genre. Instead I shall seek out books set in winter but with meatier themes. I got a great deal of enjoyment out of December by Phil Rickman***** which I shall review elsewhere but I wouldn’t exactly call it a Christmas story.