Yes, this really was a nail we found. Obviously I’ve played with the colour again…

I thought since it’s twelfth night or epiphany tomorrow – the end of the holiday in a sense, but the high point on the Iberian peninsula – I’d share my holiday reading and viewing recommendations. They’re a bit late for this year but you can download the ebooks (I keep mine in a folder labelled Christmas and ignore it till December) and you might be able to stream the programmes though the BBC ones are a problem, I gather, outside UK. An Australian friend tells me the BBC have taken to putting the best on Britbox which is yet another subscription, and their Australian channels don’t buy the rest.

I didn’t really watch much Christmas fare – we were happily binge watching various series, none of which had a festive theme. However, here are my favourites of what I did view:

The Great Festive Pottery Throwdown.**** Ch 4. As usual, suitably festive and this year’s celebs were very clever even though they hadn’t touched clay before. Looking forward to the new season. (Which started last night.)

New Year’s Day Concert Live from Vienna **** BBC Not such a cheerful programme as usual (apart from the much loved favourites at the end) but it’s always a visual treat with modern ballet in various Viennese locations and of course the magnificent concert hall.

Death in Paradise 2025 Christmas Special **** BBC Formulaic, yes, but it’s a formula that never fails to please me. The locations and the acting are great and the mysteries are quite complex.

I read a lot. But holiday romances pall quite quickly. They’re usually too sweet, despite being well written. I feel as if I’ve had too much chocolate, and the characters blur into each other. That’s true even of the ones, usually short stories, by authors I enjoy. I prefer my romance reading, at any time of the year, to include some kind of drama external to the main couple – crime, paranormal, family, whatever.

Anyway, here are the best:

Sentenced to Christmas by Marshall Thornton***** Highly amusing mm rom-com. Turns fake marriage trope inside out and upside down with well developed minor characters.

Christmas Kisses Solstice Sacrifices by Theo Behr and Rowan Amaris***** Shorts, set on the first Christmas each pair from their main series experienced as a couple. Lyrical, sexy and sweet.

Merry and Bright**** by NR Walker. Delightful romance between an asexual Winter and an autistic Deacon who doesn’t like to be touched.

Marylebone Monthly Illustrated Christmas Anthology**** by Small_Hobbit. More magic and mayhem set in the author’s au of a Sherlock ‘verse with talking animals. I enjoy this every year. https://archiveofourown.org/works/75081196  The author also gifted me a story in their Twelve More Days of Christmas collection – Mouselet Saves the Day – which was lovely and much appreciated.  https://archiveofourown.org/works/76779366

Where the lovelight gleams by Keira Andrews **** Sweet Christmas story where actors who play gay characters on film come together.

The Vet’s Christmas Familiar by TJ Nichols**** Lovely story about an eagle shifter. Slightly too short – I wanted more and must check out the rest of the series.

Yours for the season by Uzma Jalaluddin**** Very amusing romcom (mf) that also explores culture clash, one of my favourite tropes.

The Magic of Midnight by RJ Scott **** Wesley has financial problems and Hunter is desperate for academic success. But perhaps the small town of Wishing Tree can solve things for both of them.

I have one novel left in my folder and will be reading it today but it will have to wait and join general reviews. For once, I have nothing left for next year.