Conversations with Kav – the Christmas Books that Got Away + Giveaway

It’s not too early for Christmas books, right? I’ve even had my first hot cocoa of the season already so it must be time! And there are so many Christmas books I missed out on last year and the year before and the year before that and…

The Conversation

So, I thought it would be fun to find out what Christmas books slipped past you in years gone by. Or are you even a Christmas fiction reader at all? And, if you are, how early in the season do you start reading Christmas stories?

I can read Christmas books any time of the year. Like, if I’m working my way through a cozy mystery series and a holiday book comes up I’ll happily read it even if it’s April. But I seriously start craving Christmas fiction once the weather starts getting cooler, so, mid September up here. And then I’ll read them all the way through to Christmas. I know that sounds way too early for some, but I want to give enough time for Christmas book giveaways to reach winners in time to be enjoyed during the holiday season. BUT it’s highly unlikely that I’ll read a Christmas book in January or February…I’ve reached my saturation point by then and I need a break! 🙂

The Giveaway

Share your thoughts about Christmas reading in a comment and include the title of a CHRISTIAN FICTION or CLOSED DOOR Christmas book that has evaded you so far that you would like to win. Books must already be published. If your name is drawn, then you will be one Christmas book closer to your Season’s Readings goals!

US winner will have a choice between paperback or ebook .

Canadian winner will have a choice between paperback, ebook or audible (where available).

International winner – ebook with a US Kindle account.

Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday September 20 2025.

69 thoughts on “Conversations with Kav – the Christmas Books that Got Away + Giveaway”

  2. Personally, I love reading Christmas stories ALL year round. Call me odd, but who can’t use a bit of holiday cheer at any time.

    CHRISTMAS IN THE CASTLE LIBRARY by Ann Swindell is a Christmas book I’ve been dying to read, but unfortunately it’s stayed in my TBR list instead of my read next pile.

    Thank you for the wonderful chance to win a copy and to change that sad situation.

    2clowns at arkansas dot net

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    1. Holiday cheer with snow is especially fun the middle of a hot summer . 🙂 Christmas in the Castle Library is amazing!!!! And I do believe there’s a second book with a Christmas setting coming out this fall. Eeeeppp! Good luck, Kay!

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  3. I was going to recommend Christmas in the Castle Library to anyone who hasn’t read it, but I see Kay already is wishing for it. It’s an amazing fiction debut. I’ve been waiting impatiently for the second book in the series, Love in the Castle Library, and it’s finally up for preorder, Oct. 15th. This one isn’t a Christmas book, but a continuation of the series. I hit the preorder button so fast, one month!

    For a historical recommendation I would suggest Waiting for Christmas by Lynn Austin. It’s a companion book to All My Secrets but reads fine as a standalone. So heartwarming.

    The book that got away from me was Christmas at Sugar Plum Manor by Roseanna White. I kept meaning to get to it, but I read so many Christmas books last year while I had KU, I just decided to wait. And here we are another year later.

    Thanks for the giveaway Kav! tracey14567 at gmail dot com

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    1. I see you have your investigator hat on, Tracey. I just misinformed Kay that the new book will be Christmas as well. Lucky I have you to fact check me. Bwahahaha! October is a very good month for new books but I see that, so far, Love in the Castle Library is only available in ebook format. 😦 I’ll have to keep checking back to see when the paperback edition comes out.

      Waiting for Christmas does sound really good. I missed it last year and I see the audio book is on sale. 🙂 I missed out on Christmas at Sugar Plum Manor last Christmas too but I caught up with it in July and it is wonderful! Good luck, Tracey!

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      1. The 2nd book is showing as WW1 bookish mystery. I know you had talked about displaying these 2 for Christmas and I think you still can as they have similar covers and coloring. If you go to White Crown Publishing, they are showing a paperback. So it’s coming, may show up anytime between now and Oct 15th. If I happen to see it I’ll let you know.

        October has SO MANY NEW RELEASES!!! December is looking skimpy though. I’m collecting books for RC Week and not finding too many. I think I only have four out of possible 20, eek!

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      2. Small presses and indie books always seem to have the print editions only available close to or actually on the release date for some reason. Must be an expense thing? Only four books from all three months or just December? I’m thinking October is the prime month of autumn releases because they want to catch the Christmas market. We might have dig for indie releases this RCW.

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      3. There are so many in Oct, but I read like 5 ARC’s over the past few months, all of which would have been on my fall list, so now I’m really on the lookout. At this point I have 2 historical and 2 contemporary for RC week. I think you’re right, I’ll be looking for unexpected and surprise indie/small press offerings.

        Speaking of which, I just got a newsletter from Rachel Scott McDaniel on the 8th and she has an indie coming out 10/23. Her first contemporary, About Last Christmas. It has a really cute “Dick Tracy” comic style cover. I know some graphic covers aren’t too hot, but I love this one.

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      4. Ooohhhh, that cover is very retro. I like it! And it releases on my birthday. Must be a sign that I should read it. Hopefully it will come out in paperback too. Thanks for the intel, Tracey! And hooray for Net Galley ARCs keeping you in reading material ahead of the game.

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  4. Hope’s Angel: A Sweet Christmas Romance  by Linda Broday

    quilting dash lady at comcast dot net

    I love to read Christmas stories all year long. I also will give myself a break in January and February. I think it is the hope and love that draw me in.

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  5. Since I only read a few Christmas books every Christmas season, there are quite a few I’ve missed. One of my favorite Christmas books is Christmas at Carnton by Tamara Alexander. Christmas in the Castle Library by Ann Swindell seems to be one that lots of people recommend, and one that I missed, so that’s the one I would choose.

    Jolene – iwant2save34 at gmail dot com

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  6. Good morning, Kav! I mostly like Christmas suspense books & read them any time of the year! Robin Patchen has an excellent one called Wreathed in Disgrace and Ranger Faith by Lynn Shannon is another great Christmas suspense. Regular Christmas books I stop reading after Christmas.

    I just purchased a new release called Meet Me at the Christmas Cottage by Christen Krumm bc the cover is so cute & Christmas-y & I have a couple of Laura Thomas’s Christmas books on my TBR. I’m sure I’ll run into more as the season progresses. No need to enter me into the giveaway . . . just wanted to join in the discussion! 🎅🤶🐪🌟🎄🎁🎀

    Have a blessed Sunday!!

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    1. Yikes, you’re recommending an actress/Hollywood book to me?! I still haven’t read Robin Patchen yet but everyone raves about her books. Seems like I’m missing out. And for some strange reason I adore a good murder and mayhem Christmas romantic suspense too. 🙂

      I have Snow Globe Secrets by Laura Thomas on my TBR — didn’t get to it during Christmas in July. I’m really looking forward to it though. Meet Me at the Christmas Cottage looks really good — forced proximity, a blizzard, stranded together with a stranger. Yes please! I see it’s part of the Jonathan Island series. Have you read any of them? I’ve seen them on instagram and it looks like a series I could really get into but I think it’s one of these multi-author release books every month kind of series which can be daunting when you’re not reading them in ebook format. Happy Reading, Diane!

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      1. Gasp! Did I really?!! 😄 Things may change when said actress visits her hometown. 😉 They changed the cover on it to a male, I see. It used to have the heroine with Christmas candles at the bottom.

        I have another Jonathan Island book, but haven’t gotten to it yet. As far as I know, they have different characters/authors & don’t need to be read in sequence. The thing they have in common is they’re all set on Jonathan Island. I think. 🤔 I’m just picking & choosing the ones whose descriptions appeal to me the most!

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      2. I was hoping that was the case. Sounds like the summer continuity series I read last year – different authors, same location and there was some overlap of characters but not enough that each book couldn’t be read as a standalone.

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  7. I don’t normally read Christmas books until November, but last year I read one in September, this year I hope to start around November, I have SO many I wanted to read last year and ran out of time for. If I can get my other reading things done before then, I may even start in October this year ;). Now, as hard as it is to narrow it down, if chosen I would love to win The Hart of Christmas by Latisha Sexton (special edition) 🙂 Have a great day! cilydav at hotmail dot com

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    1. October sounds like the perfect month to start reading Christmas, at least it is up here since things are starting to get pretty chilly by then. Hot cocoa drinking weather = Christmas reads to me. Ohhhh, another snowed in at Christmas, forced proximity set up in The Hart of Christmas. I think that’s the book Diane was raving about last year. Good luck, Cindy!

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    3. Hmm, let me think. 🤔 I read both of her suspense books, In the Midst of the Storm & In the Midst of Her Darkest Hour. Neverending Mercy was fantastic! I have Bram Baxter on my Kindle, but haven’t gotten to it yet.

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      2. Cindy, Neverending Mercy was even better than her suspense books IMO. There’s supposed to be a sequel to it & I asked Latisha quite some time ago about it, but she said she’s not finished with it yet. It wasn’t quite coming together like she wanted it to.

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  8. I generally start Christmas books mid-October to the first of November and then go through January or February depending on my mood. For me, September is much, much too early to think about the holiday season, I’m still savoring the summer season (or what’s left of it anyway)😂

    I tend to turn to novella collections or shorter stories because they are easier for me to read in the busy Thanksgiving/Christmas season. I can still get an excellent story in shorter form with that happily-ever-after feeling. Plus, it helps plump up my Goodreads yearly reading goal!

    The one book that I’d love to read for this year is “Waiting for Christmas” by Lynn Austin. I just love that old fashioned cover and the story sounds delightful!

    teamob4 (at) gmail (dot) com

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    1. It’s feeling distinctively summery here this past week. We had a few blissfully cool days and then the heat came back. I’m back to reading Christmas books to cool down. 🙂 I enjoy novellas at Christmas too and I’ve put Waiting for Christmas on my TBR now since Tracey recommended it. Sounds like the perfect heartwarming seasonal read. Good luck, Trici!

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  9. My first inclination is to say that I’m up for Christmas books year-round, though there have certainly been times when I “don’t feel like” a Christmas story. When I was doing home decor journalism, I was writing Christmas stories in summer and have fond memories of watching a Christmas movie with my mom while working on a story 🙂
    Someone recommended Christmas Jars, by Jason F. Wright and I haven’t had the opportunity to read it:)

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    1. Ohh, yes, some jobs require getting into the spirit way early so you can have things ready for the actual season. Sounds like a fun job though. Christmas Jars does sound good and it looks like it was made into a movie too. Good luck, Stephanie!

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  11. I read Christmas books all year when they come up in my review list.
    I missed out on Christmas in the Castle Library by Ann Swindell. I would live to read it since I have heard so many great things about it.
    paulamarys49ATgmailDOTcom

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  12. I’ve thought of a couple more suggestions,

    Once Upon a Christmas Carol by Melody Carlson, I’ve read it and gave it 5 stars

    Upon a Christmas Clear by Tracie Petterson, Karen Witemeyer and Misty Beller, I’ve bought it but I’m saving it for just the right moment 🙂

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  13. I’m not sure if I knew we were allowed to read Christmas books all year long, Kav 🙂 I love Christmas books but don’t read them until close to the Christmas season so there have been lots that have gotten away from me. The one I’ll list for the giveaway, though, is Christmas in the Castle Library by Ann Swindell. I have heard such rave reviews for it, I have high hopes it will be one of my Christmas reads this year. Fingers crossed for the win! 🙂

    ckbarker at gmail dot com

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    1. Ha! I guess I’m just a reading rebel, flaunting seasonal expectations! 🙂 And, yay, Christmas in the Castle Library is an epic Christmas read that everyone needs to become acquainted with! Good luck, Cheryl! Oh, and I preordered your book from a Canadian retailer. They estimated deliver the 2nd week in October. So excited!

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  15. I don’t generally read Christmas books, unless they’re part of a series I’m reading🤷‍♀️ One that got away from me (I really LOVED All My Secrets!) is Waiting for Christmas by Lynn Austin.

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    1. No Christmas books?! I start craving them when the weather gets colder. I’m about to start listening to one right now when I go out for a walk. I think Waiting for Christmas sounds fantastic — on my list now too. Good luck, Elly!

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  16. I love reading Christmas books! 🎄 I like to start reading them in November and then throughout the winter months. I have heard so many good things about Christmas in the Castle Library. I definitely want to read it this Christmas season.

    Alison Boss
    nj(dot)bossman(at)gmail(dot)com

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  17. I’ve been wanting to read A Sea View Christmas by Julie Klassen, but our library doesn’t seem to get too many Christmas books anymore. Bummer!

    I HAVE noticed that Goodreads is taking books off of my list. My first thought was that they were older books because I couldn’t find Kelly Goshorn’s debut. I knew I had read it and owned a copy. Today I was trying to fill in some of my blanks on a reading challenge and noticed a more current one missing. That also means that my reading list for this year is no longer accurate. I depend on this list for reading challenges. Extremely frustrated but after all they are owned by Amazon. I think I need to make a spreadsheet going forward. What a shame that we can no longer count on what used to be a really good book tracking tool! Rant over. 😞

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    1. I have a Seaview book on my TBR right now and then I’ll need to get A Sea View Christmas too.

      Phew, at least I’m not imagining things since you are experiencing the same thing with GR. I was searching the issue on google and ran into some comment that explained you can back up your good reads data — I wrote down the instructions but my eyes are too tired to try it tonight. I’ll looking into it and let you know how it goes. It’s just so weird because it’s the odd random book that’s dropped. I’ll rant right along with you! Good luck, Perrianne!

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      1. Goodreads also took 2 of my Kindle books and marked them as “author unknown in Kindle Library.” They were part of their challenge, so I have no idea what they were. Not sure what any of that means, if they’re counted or if I’ve even read them! My Amazon Prime borrows are no longer listed either. Maybe I’ve had them too long? Keep me posted if you figure out how to back up Goodreads. I definitely need that!

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      2. I have a bunch if those authors unknown. I find that they are probably counted twice, once under the regular book name, if you put them on your read Goddreads shelf.
        As far as the Prime books that are borrowed. Did you sort them on your kindle? I will have to check my list of finished books to see if they are counted properly. I remember one Memory Lane by Becky Wade was.
        Some books don’t show up on my “read” Shelf. I just go to “my books”and type in the title but they aren’t in my read list.

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      3. I’m in the process of trying to downsize my Kindle library, so there’s just too much there to sort very well. (My taste in reading has changed somewhat). I can’t make heads or tails of what’s going on with Goodreads, I just know that books are being removed. Maybe I’m over their limit! 🤣🤣🤣

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  19. I LOVE Christmas reads! I try to read them all December long, sometimes starting in November! I really want to read Christmas in the Castle Library by Ann Swindell.

    manderley23 at gmail dot com

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  20. I usually enjoy Christmas books more in September-December. I’m with you, Kav, in not being that interested in them during the first of the new year.

    I also have my eye on Christmas in the Castle Library by Ann Swindell. It’s been on my radar since last Christmas.

    whthomas13 at yahoo dot com

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  21. It’s still summer weather here in southern California, but like you I enjoy reading Christmas books year round! I love collections or anthologies with a Christmas theme, and I can’t wait for Covenant’s annual collection- A Christmas Serenade by Jennifer Moore, Kasey Stockton, Katie Stewart Stone, Anneka R. Walker. It releases this week on the 17th so it’s just in time for this giveaway! Thanks Kav!

    colorvibrant at gmail dot com

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  22. A Sea View Christmas by Julie Klassen! It looks so cute and sweet! I love a good Christmas story and I always start Christmas early so this is perfect!

    Did you get my email for the Jen Turano Win last week?

    Hubby and I bought a house last month and we are doing work on it. I’m so exhausted so I am trying to make sure I keep up with everything 😅 I feel like I’m drowning rn lol

    sarahdar0801ATgmailDOTcom

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    1. Congrats on the new house! That’s exciting. I’m sure ti will be lovely when you finished all the work. It can be daunting through the process though! Yes, I got your email, haven’t ordered the books yet. That’s on today’s to-do list in between tackling some out of control shrubbery in the my garden. 🙂 I really wanted to read A Sea View Christmas too, but I have to get to the last book in the series first. Good luck, Sarah!

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  23. I love reading Christmas books anytime of the year, but do tend to enjoy them a bit more once the weather starts to cool down. 🙂 Somehow I’ve yet to read The Mistletoe Countess by Pepper Basham, and would probably pick that one.

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  25. I tend to prefer reading Christmas books when it gets closer to the season. However, I have been known to read them throughout the year. 🙂 Christmas in the Castle Library by Ann Swindell is one that I remember I wanted to read when it came out, but so far haven’t gotten around to it.

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