Question — Do you limit your holiday reading? Do you read Christmas and Chanukkah-themed romances only during the month of December? Or, maybe starting in November? Or, do you consider holiday rom-coms worthwhile reading material all year long?

When it comes to decorations, I have a very “don’t rush it” outlook. (For instance, in our house, Easter decorations won’t be put out until April. Now it’s March, so I have a decorative shamrock hanging on our front and back doors.)

However, when it comes to books (and movies) I think you should read (and watch) what you want, when you want, even if it’s not the season for it.

Along those lines, I recently read Etta Easton’s holiday novella Not in the Christmas Plan.

I bought this book before I read the blurb. I bought this book simply because Etta Easton wrote it. (You may remember I read, loved, and wrote about Ms. Easton’s debut novel, The Kiss Countdown and her second novel, The Love Simulation.)

The book is definitely a fast read. There are some super-sweet moments and some really touching moments. And lots of Christmas charm. However, for all its lightness, the book does include heavy topics including grief and labor complications. 

Here are just a few passages that had me pause and savor the writing:

“The carolers knock again and Grant catches my hand. ‘Not everything requires you to give something back, Eve. Sometimes, just letting people bring you joy is enough.’ He looks from me to the door and patiently waits for me to make the decision.”

“This time I tried to perfect Christmas, hoping that if everything was just right, Ivy would come home.
“Maybe the problem isn’t that I keep losing things. Maybe it’s that I keep hoping I won’t.” 

“Ms. Thomas studies me for a long moment, then quietly says, ‘You remind me of your father.’
“I smile weakly. ‘Because I’m a control freak?’
“‘Because you love so fiercely,’ she says gently. ‘He did too. But he gave so much of himself to others that he forgot to leave anything for his own happiness.’”

This was a sweet novella, though I must admit I preferred Ms. Easton’s full-length, space-themed romance novels. And, my copy had many typos which really did interrupt my reading flow. However, I am still glad I bought, and read, this book and am always happy when I can share books with my reader friends!

Dear readers, what is the most recent holiday romance you read? And, did you read it during the holiday season or at another time?

Please note: I am including a link to buy the book that I’m highlighting this week. If you use my link, I do make a small commission on your purchase at no additional cost to you. I am working with Bookshop.org which also sends a portion of the profit to support local, independent bookstores.