Romances with a holiday theme are a fairly recent addition to
the genre, although the holidays have always had a place as a backdrop in our favorite fiction.
Much-loved holiday tales have encouraged this trend. Dickens gave us the classic A Christmas
Carol, a tale of renewed hope and generosity of spirit, while movies like "It's a Wonderful Life"
emphasized the pricelessness of family and community. Like the famous first sentence from Little
Women—"Christmas won't be Christmas without any presents!"—a holiday setting lets
the reader instantly know that certain qualities, themes, and situations are bound to make an
appearance.
What's The Appeal?
Every year we get busier as the holiday season expands from before Thanksgiving through the
New Year and on to Twelfth Night.
While we may deplore the commercial aspects of the
holidays, which can easily sweep us away into a blur of shopping and neon lights, wrapping paper and
parties, if we're lucky we get more than a moment to reflect on the best parts of the
holidays—feasts, family, friends and fond memories.
A love story told against the tenderness of the holiday season helps us focus on what really matters,
enabling the reader to remember that we are celebrating family and faith, not just shopping days. The
stories you cherish are warm and funny and extremely varied, from curmudgeons determined not to
get pulled into a sentimental celebration yet who surprise themselves by succumbing to Cupid's
arrow, or a child determined to find his mother a new husband and himself a new father, and many
more. Each plot has its own twist, yet all leave us with a sense of well-being and
warmth—virtual eggnog and mistletoe, if you will.
Holiday romances burst on the scene in 1989 when talented Signet editor Hilary Ross came up
with the first Regency Christmas anthology which featured stories by the talented Mary Balogh, Edith Layton, Anita Mills, Patricia Rice, and Gayle Buck. This and subsequent holiday
collections have pulled many readers into the world of holiday romance, and now there are many
talented authors every year who blend "tidings of great joy" with Yuletide cheer in short stories and
full-length novels. While Christmas is the holiday most written about, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and New
Year's all make appearances too, and every one emphasizes the most important aspect of the
holidays—good will to all.
Authors' Thoughts...
Judith Arnold:
"Christmas is about love—of family and friends, of humanity,
and, of course, romantic love. There are so many wonderful Christmas romances, it's hard to single
out a favorite." Judith chose Anne Stuart's FALLING ANGEL, which celebrates all those kinds
of love.
Candice Hern:
"The holidays are for themes of love, family and commitment, with big
gatherings and many secondary characters. My favorites have protagonists with a past. Love is
rekindled within the spirit of the season." Candice recommends Mary Balogh's CHRISTMAS
BELLE.
Marie Ferrarella:
"Marie has always loved Christmas stories and wrote her first at
11. Her favorite is a short story—Nora Roberts' Home For Christmas. "It pulls
at my heart strings and has remained in my mind to this day. It's one of those stories that leaves you
warm and toasty."
The holidays have evolved from serving as backdrops in early romances to become
front-and-center directors of theme and action. Many of the best-loved stories focused on
Christmas; however, in recent years, publishers have started to offer stories about Hanukkah and
Kwanzaa. Your favorites are listed below. Let us know of any others we have forgotten. Happy
holidays, and remember, a new book is the best gift!
-Constance Martin
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