Carla's Book Crush

Amish Sleigh Bells by Patricia Johns
Publisher: Love Inspired
Publication Date: November 26, 2024
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They’re worlds apart.

Can love unite them?

Spending yet another Christmas without a husband isn’t something Lydia Speicher is looking forward to this season. Helping the new veterinarian, Thad Miller, navigate his way around the local farms is a welcome distraction, despite the Beachy Amish man’s shocking customs. But when Lydia accidentally crashes Thad’s truck and he’s forced to borrow her family’s sleigh, liberal Thad must live the conservative Old Order way of life until it’s fixed. Lydia and Thad couldn’t be more different, but while working together highlights their similarities, are they willing to change for love?

Christmas at Spruce Hill Farm by Kathryn Springer
Published by: Harlequin
Publication Date:
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It’s three weeks until Christmas, and Lucy Gable is not in the holiday spirit. She’s the assistant to bestselling romance author Brynn Dixon, who’s been suffering from major burnout. Hoping to reduce Brynn’s stress, Lucy’s organized an intimate book tour—one that includes a charming little Christmas tree farm. And they’re still hoping that no one discovers that Lucy was the one who finished writing Brynn’s last book…

But Lucy’s carefully planned book tour is going completely awry. The Christmas tree farm owner is a reluctant host, the fans are going wild for the changes Lucy’s made to the book and Brynn’s adult son—who no one else knows about—is an unexpected (if handsome) distraction. And, as if those challenges aren’t enough, a winter storm at the farm is ensuring that hiding the truth is all but impossible.

Yet somewhere between snowy sleigh rides, a cozy bonfire, caroling and the promise of new love, Lucy is experiencing her first winter wonderland. And Brynn is discovering that it might not be too late to find her own happy ending. With a little courage and a sense of adventure, it might just be the start of whole new chapters for both of them—and an accidentally perfect white Christmas.

Christmas at Sugar Plum Manor by Roseanna M. White
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Publication Date: September 3, 2024
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The Nutcracker and Edwardian-Era England combine to weave a magical tale of love and friendship at Christmastime.

As the beloved stepdaughter of the Earl of Castleton, Lady Mariah Lyons cherishes her home at Plumford Manor, but her idyllic world will be threatened when the estate passes to Cyril Lightbourne, a childhood friend she hasn’t seen or heard from in years. Once, Mariah dreamed their friendship would kindle into something more, but that was before she heard Cyril was courting the cruelhearted Lady Pearl. Now Mariah is willing to welcome him as a friend and pray he will be the heir her stepfather needs, but she’ll keep her heart locked safely away from anyone with such poor taste.

Cyril Lightbourne has long avoided returning to Plumford Manor, yet he reluctantly arrives in time for Christmas. When his friendship with Lady Mariah reignites, he finds himself caught between his affection for her and her family’s misunderstanding of his attachment to Lady Pearl. Then, more trouble arrives in the form of a Danish lord on a mission to win Mariah’s hand by Christmas. Will the magic of the holiday season help lead to the discovery of true love, or will duty to country leave all longing for what could have been?

Fa-La-La-La Faking It by Teri Wilson
Series: A Comfort Paws Romance Book 2
Published by: Harlequin Special Edition
Publication Date: Oct 22 2024
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It’s beginning to look a lot like kiss…er…Christmas!

Matchmaking services as a Christmas gift? No thank you! It’s bad enough that, to save her grandmother’s feelings, Adaline Bishop fibs and says she’s seeing someone. It’s worse when Jace Martin, her grade school crush turned nemesis, volunteers that he’s the someone. Now Adaline will have to fake it until Jace’s flannel-shirted, piney-scented goodness leaves town in a couple of weeks.

Jace would like to make up for his past transgressions and for his elderly uncle’s meaner-than-the-grinch behavior during Adaline’s therapy dog visits. In the spirit of peace and goodwill toward all, Jace will happily be her fake boyfriend. It’s just that what began as a lie as big as Texas is starting to feel like the magic of a Christmas wish come true.

Her Forbidden Christmas Match by Emma Miller
Series: Seven Amish Sisters – Book 5 of 6
Publisher: Harlequin Love Inspired
Publication Date: September 24, 2024
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An Amish woman. A man who’s lost his way.

Can they find love this Christmas?

After leaving a harsh religious community, widower Aaron Raber won’t let anything separate him from his five-year-old daughter—not even his new job on a construction site. But that’s before he meets the disapproval of Willa Koffman. The stubborn Amish woman is convinced she has the perfect solution: she’ll babysit the little girl while the cranky Mennonite works. But neither expects their growing attraction. Now Willa must make a choice before Christmas—between the community she loves…and the man she doesn’t want to live without.

Her Pretend Holiday Beau by Susanne Dietze
Series: Home to Foxtail – Book 2
Publisher:  Harlequin Love Inspired
Publication Date: October 28, 2025
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Will a fake arrangement

prove they’re a perfect match?

Faced with planning the town’s Christmas nativity event, veterinarian Mick Larson turns to his childhood friend for some much-needed help. But florist Sadie Dalton requires something in return: a wedding date. It’s the perfect solution to avoid her now-engaged ex and some well-meaning matchmakers. That is, until a kiss under some mistletoe results in a giant misunderstanding. Now they must pretend to be a real couple through the holidays. But as their friendship slowly blossoms into something more, can they keep up the charade…when they start believing it themselves?

Hunted for the Holidays by Deena Alexander
Publisher: Harlequin – Romance | Love Inspired Suspense
Publication Date: October 22, 2024
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Keeping out of sight

is the only way to stay alive.

When Shae Evans spots a familiar face at a Christmas pageant, she knows her witness-protection cover has been blown. Six years ago, her testimony put a crime boss away for life, but his vengeful son never stopped looking for her. Fleeing with her daughter, Shae accepts protection from former FBI agent Mason Payne—her child’s secret father. Now they’re only seconds ahead of the ruthless crime family who want Shae silenced forever. With threats everywhere, will they live to see the New Year?

A Lancaster Amish Christmas by Anne Blackburne; Amy Clipston; Amy Lillard; Mindy Steele
Series: Amish Calling
Published by: Barbour Publishing
Publication Date: January 28, 2025
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Christmas Is Simply a Time for Love
Enjoy a simple Amish Christmas in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, that is sweetened by second chances, trimmed in love, and wrapped in faith.

Lucy’s Christmas Sunbeam by Anne Blackburne
When her parents suddenly died, Lucy stepped into the mother role for her infant sister with Down’s Syndrome. But Lucy’s boyfriend wasn’t interested in a readymade family. Living in the dawdi house on her brother’s farm, Lucy is happy with life—until she literally runs into the hardware store owner and desire for romance returns.

A Bird-in-Hand Christmas by Amy Clipston
After learning her boyfriend, Wyatt, was seeing someone else, Makayla moved across state and married. Recently widowed, she visits her parents for Christmas, only to find that Wyatt is still single and working for her father. When her five-year-old son instantly bonds with Wyatt, Makayla starts to hope for a second chance at love.

Christmas Lily by Amy Lillard
Seven-year-old Jacob Bontrager is working hard to help his lonely widower father find love again. He believes his pretty new teacher who has just moved to the community is perfect, but none of his matchmaking works until a snowstorm strands Lily Kate Troyer at the Bontrager farm. Could God and nature be on Jacob’s side?

Leaving Lancaster by Mindy Steele
The Wicky sisters didn’t expect their father to sell their thriving deer farm with plans to move them to Kentucky. Always obedient Louise fears for her growing jam business. Beth cannot wait to start a new adventure while her twin, Leah, is running out of time for a happy-ever-after. They have only one Christmas left in Lancaster. Can God deliver a Christmas miracle for all three? 

Rediscovering Christmas by Mindy Obenhaus
Series: Hope Crossing – Book 6
Published by: Love Inspired
Publication Date: November 26, 2024
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She feels she’s lost everything…
Will love give her hope?|

When a wildfire destroys her home, widowed schoolteacher Tori Stallings finds herself unexpectedly living with her mother- and brother-in-law—and struggling with her faith. With everything Tori owns consumed by the blaze, Micah vows to help his late brother’s wife and son rebuild their lives. The two of them have always been friends, but living under the same roof has their friendship turning into something more. Can love bloom amid tragic loss and shaken beliefs, and give them a fresh start for Christmas?

Their Texas Christmas Redemption by Mindy Obenhaus
Series: Legacy Ranch – Book 2
Publisher:  Love Inspired
Release Date: September 30, 2025
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Tis the season for a second chance at love.

Back home at her family’s Texas ranch for the holidays, the last thing Audrey Caldwell expects to see is her ex-husband, Tyler, on her doorstep—with his orphaned niece. The sweet baby in his arms brings up painful memories that she’d rather forget, but when little Willow gets sick, Audrey can’t turn them away. She offers to care for the baby if Tyler agrees to do some construction projects on the ranch. As they work together on a community Christmas event, neither can deny their growing connection. Can they heal their deepest wounds and find their way back to the family they always wanted?

What are you reading this Holiday season?

Thank you to The Artsy Reader Girl for hosting Top Ten Tuesday!