As the days get shorter and the temperatures drop, I find myself longing to escape with a good book to warm me up! I wrote my Peachtree Bluff Series, Feels Like Falling and my forthcoming Under the Southern Sky — all set in coastal climes — during the chilly winter months when I was longing for fresh air, sunshine and warm breezes. If you’re looking for a beachy escape — or a cozy read to make your insides feel warm and tingly — these beautiful books will not disappoint! Add one (or all) to your To Be Read list to be transported. Happy holiday reading!
A Match Made at Christmas by Courtney Walsh
A Match Made at Christmas
by Courtney Walsh
Best friends Pru and Hayes are charged with taking over the duties of a famous Nantucket matchmaker while she’s off the island for the holidays. But will these two long-time friends find out that more than one match might be made this Christmas? The answers lie in this feel-good, unputdownable Christmas tale!
Perennials by Julie Cantrell
From the sun-soaked vortexes of Sedona, AZ, to the lush perennial gardens of Oxford, MS, follow the Sutherland family as they come together to heal old wounds and to celebrate the seasons of life. (Read our review here.)
Summer Darlings by Brooke Lea Foster
If you need a getaway, travel back in time to the summer days of 1960s Martha’s Vineyard. A mysterious and wealthy family, a college coed searching for her place among their rarefied set, and a dark underbelly add up to the perfect read for right now! (Read our review here.)
Last Christmas in Paris by Heather Webb and Hazel Gaynor
Even if we can’t travel to Paris in person this Christmas, we can go there in spirit with this unforgettable story of war, loss, love and the letters that survive it all. Evie and Thomas and their stunning story will stay with you long after the final page. (Read our review here.)
The Diary by Eileen Goudge
Two sisters discover their mom’s diary after she’s passed. It holds surprising revelations about their parents’ love story. And who is the mysterious “A.J.” who seems to have been a rival for their mom’s affections? The diary holds the clues!
Jingle All the Way by Debbie Macomber
Escape to the Amazon this Christmas with workaholic Everly Lancaster, who is about to discover whether love might be more rewarding than life at the top. Charming Asher Adams — who Everly meets along her adventures — a gorgeous setting and plenty of holiday family dynamics make this a Christmas novel for everyone on your list.
The Heirloom Garden by Viola Shipman
The Heirloom Garden
by Viola Shipman
Two women from two very different generations are bonded together by the promise of hope — and the ever-present glory of flowers — in Viola Shipman’s latest feel-good story about loss, healing and the connections that make life so worth living. This is one to share with all the women you love.
The Beautiful Strangers by Camille di Maio
Escape to the Southern California Coast and the beachfront Hotel del Coronado where filming is underway for Some Like it Hot. The past and present intertwine as protagonist Kate Morgan’s fate becomes enmeshed with that of a woman who died at the hotel decades earlier, helping her discover what it is she truly wants out of life.
The Optimist's Guide to Letting Go by Amy Reichert
This charming novel follows three generations of women, seven days and one family secret. Set during the winter, it explores the bonds that tie women together and the lengths we’ll go to protect those that we love — with bonus gourmet grilled cheese! Who doesn’t feel warmer while eating grilled cheese?
Dreaming in Chocolate by Susan Bishop Crispell
Dreaming in Chocolate
by Susan Bishop Crispell
Like a hot cup of (magical) cocoa, Dreaming in Chocolate will warm your heart on a cold winter’s night. Penelope Dalton will do anything to make her daughter happy — even if it means opening her heart to the man who once broke it. With her chocolates working their magic, she just might be able to change their fate. (Read our review here.)
Stayed at the Hotel del Coronado before I heard of the ghost. Strange things happened.
Can’t wait to read this book. The Beautiful Strangers.