For the past few year, I have read only Christmas books in December. This year, I decided not to, as I was a bit over them. However, during December, I came across two books that changed my mind. I didn’t know much about them, but they seemed like they could be books that I would enjoy. It turned out they were absolute highlights.

Two Five Star Christmas Books

Christmas at Mannus Ridge
by
Joanne Tracey

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Ainsley returns to her home town, after fifteen years, when everything went wrong for her in the city. It was to be a temporary visit, and her family were happy to have her back. However, there were locals who had long memories and didn’t welcome her back.

It wasn’t long until she realised that her family’s hotel was in financial trouble and would be forced to close. Ainsley decides to use her business skills and do whatever it takes to save the hotel. This leads her to discover that someone is trying to destroy the hotel. Mannus Ridge could not survive without it’s iconic hotel, so there is much to be done to save it.

Christmas at Mannus Ridge is very much character based with strong, believable and mostly likeable characters. I stayed up all night to read this book as I couldn’t put it down.

The Twelve Topsy-Turvy Very Messy Days of Christmas
by
James Patterson and Tad Safran

Every year at Christmastime, Will and Ella Sullivan, and their father, Henry, come to a family agreement: Christmas is a holiday for other people.

At their brownstone in Harlem, stockings go unstuffed, tinsel unstrewn, gifts unbought, mistletoe unhung, chestnuts unroasted, carols unplayed, cookies uncooked, a tree un-visible, and guests uninvited. 

Until guests start arriving anyway. In pairs and sixes, in sevens and tens—they keep coming. And they stay. For twelve long, hard, topsy-turvy, very messy days. That’s when the Sullivans discover that those moments in life that defy hope, expectation, or even imagination, might be the best gifts of all.” – Goodreads

This book was a complete surprise. When I saw that it was written by James Patterson, considered one of the best crime writers in the world, I assumed it would of course, be a crime book. In the past. It was a surprise to me to be laughing from the first page.

I haven’t read many James Patterson books, but in recent years, I have enjoyed some of his books that are co-written with up and coming authors.

This book was quirky, and funny from the first page. There were many laugh out loud moments. The Twelve Topsy Turvy, Very Messy Days of Christmas was a joy to read.

Merry Christmas

I would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. Have a safe and happy new year. I look forward to our connections and conversations in 2024.

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