A List Of Christmas Themed Books, recommended by members of the Historical Fiction Book-lovers Group on Facebook.
I read this last year, and really enjoyed it!
“A charming, comic, and ultimately poignant story about the creation of the most famous Christmas tale ever written. It’s as foggy and haunted and redemptive as the original; it’s all heart, and I read it in a couple of ebullient, Christmassy gulps.” ―Anthony Doerr, #1 New York Times bestselling author of All The Light We Cannot See
Hiddensense - A Tale Of The Once & Future Nutcracker, by Gregory Maguire
"Gregory Maguire returns with an inventive novel inspired by a timeless holiday legend, intertwining the story of the famous Nutcracker with the life of the mysterious toy maker named Drosselmeier who carves him."
A Quilt For Christmas - Sandra Dallas
"In Sandra Dallas' novel A Quilt for Christmas, it is 1864 and Eliza Spooner's husband Will has joined the Kansas volunteers to fight the Confederates, leaving her with their two children and in charge of their home and land. Eliza is confident that he will return home, and she helps pass the months making a special quilt to keep Will warm during his winter in the army. When the unthinkable happens, she takes in a woman and child who have been left alone and made vulnerable by the war, and she finds solace and camaraderie amongst the women of her quilting group. And when she is asked to help hide an escaped slave, she must decide for herself what is right, and who can she can count on to help her."
The Autobiography Of Santa Claus by Jeff Guinn
"An enchanting holiday treasure, The Autobiography of Santa Claus combines solid historical fact with legend to deliver the definitive story of Santa Claus. And who better to lead us through seventeen centuries of Christmas magic than good ol’ Saint Nick himself? Families will delight in each chapter of this new Christmas classic—one per each cold December night leading up to Christmas!"
Hiddensense - A Tale Of The Once & Future Nutcracker, by Gregory Maguire
"Gregory Maguire returns with an inventive novel inspired by a timeless holiday legend, intertwining the story of the famous Nutcracker with the life of the mysterious toy maker named Drosselmeier who carves him."
"In Sandra Dallas' novel A Quilt for Christmas, it is 1864 and Eliza Spooner's husband Will has joined the Kansas volunteers to fight the Confederates, leaving her with their two children and in charge of their home and land. Eliza is confident that he will return home, and she helps pass the months making a special quilt to keep Will warm during his winter in the army. When the unthinkable happens, she takes in a woman and child who have been left alone and made vulnerable by the war, and she finds solace and camaraderie amongst the women of her quilting group. And when she is asked to help hide an escaped slave, she must decide for herself what is right, and who can she can count on to help her."
"An enchanting holiday treasure, The Autobiography of Santa Claus combines solid historical fact with legend to deliver the definitive story of Santa Claus. And who better to lead us through seventeen centuries of Christmas magic than good ol’ Saint Nick himself? Families will delight in each chapter of this new Christmas classic—one per each cold December night leading up to Christmas!"
Five very different people come together for Christmas in Scotland after World War II
The Immortal Nicholas - Glen Beck
"A novel full of drama, history, legend, and heart. From the snowy mountains of Western Asia, to the deserts of Egypt, to Yemen’s elusive frankincense-bearing boswellia trees, this is an epic tale that gives the legend of Santa a long overdue Christ-centered mission."
Last Christmas In Paris By Hazel Gaynor & Heather Webb
"Christmas 1968. With failing health, Thomas returns to Paris—a cherished packet of letters in hand—determined to lay to rest the ghosts of his past. But one final letter is waiting for him…"
Jacob T. Marley - By R. William Bennett
"Being called a new classic, Jacob T. Marley is to A Christmas Carol as the world-famous Wicked is to The Wizard of Oz. Written with a voice reminiscent of Dickens, this masterfully crafted story speaks of greed, redemption, love, and sacrifice. Jacob T. Marley has become a companion classic for Dickens fans around the world."
Christmas Once Again by Jina Bacaar
'A delightful holiday romance that has all the charm of a classic Christmas movie. Christmas Once Again is perfect for anyone who loves a holiday romance brimming with mistletoe, hope, and what ifs.' Andie Newton, author of The Girl I Left Behind
The First Christmas Of The War By Alan Simon
The first book in a trilogy about the Coleman Family of Pittsburgh, during the war.
"The Great Depression years finally behind them, the entire Coleman family of Pittsburgh has been looking forward to this Christmas for almost the entire year. For the first time in more than a decade, Gerald and Irene Coleman have tucked away enough extra money to make up for all the lean years of disappointingly modest Christmas gifts for their children. But December 7, 1941 has changed everything, and for the past two weeks the entire family has followed with despair the Japanese advances all over the Pacific as well as America finally being dragged into the two-year old European war. Though a few glimmers of hope can be found amidst the ominous war news, both parents fear not only for the country’s fate as this new war begins but also, more personally, for the fate of their sons who will likely soon be joining the fighting in one war theater or another."
The Handmaid & The Carpenter by Elizabeth Berg
This wonderful novel transports us to Nazareth in biblical times, where we meet Mary and Joseph–and understand them as never before: young, in love, and suddenly faced with an unexpected pregnancy. Aided by a great and abiding love, they endure challenges to their relationship as well as threats to their lives as they come to terms with the mysterious circumstances surrounding the birth of their child, Jesus. For Mary, the pregnancy is a divine miracle and a privilege. For Joseph, it is an ongoing test of his faith–in his wife as well as in his God. Exquisitely written and imbued with emotional truth and richness of detail, The Handmaid and the Carpenter explores lives touched profoundly by miracles large and small."
The Christmas Spirits On Tradd Street by Karen White
"Melanie Trenholm should be anticipating Christmas with nothing but joy--after all, it's the first Christmas she and her husband, Jack, will celebrate with their twin babies. But the ongoing excavation of the centuries-old cistern in the garden of her historic Tradd Street home has been a huge millstone, both financially and aesthetically. Local students are thrilled by the possibility of unearthing more Colonial-era artifacts at the cistern, but Melanie is concerned by the ghosts connected to the cistern that have suddenly invaded her life and her house--and at least one of them is definitely not filled with holiday cheer...."
One Last Christmas Carol by T.J. Cloonan
"Ebenezer Scrooge has become a frail, old man, but he remains an extremely generous businessman and good friend to all as a result of his life-altering encounter with the Christmas Spirits eighteen years earlier. Fred Walker (Scrooge's gregarious nephew and partner) is raising his lovely young family in the city of London. Tim Cratchit (Scrooge's meek, but intelligent clerk) is secretly falling in love with an enchanting, young woman named Sarah, whose past is quite mysterious. All seems to be idyllic in the Victorian lives of the three gentlemen and the young woman... but all is not as it seems. A suspicious string of horrendous crimes thrusts these heroes down unexpected paths that intertwine to create a gem of an adventure with many twists and turns. "
The Christmas Boutique - Jennifer Chiaverini
New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Chiaverini returns with a delightful Christmas-themed installment in her beloved Elm Creek Quilts series—a captivating, heartwarming tale sure to become a holiday favorite.
A Christmas With The Dodger - Charleton Daines
More Christmas Read Suggestions:
Small Change - The Secret Life Of Penny Burford by J. Belinda Yadell
"People who lead secret lives can be fascinating, but when Penny Burford's secret life is revealed, it is not only fascinating but a joy and a discovery that will enrich the life of each person who reads this wonderful book." --Earl Hamner, creator of "The Waltons ""Small Change is a little book with a great big heart, the story of a woman who has something important to say to us all. I want to read it aloud to my family at Christmas. Maybe every Christmas." --Linda Ellerbee
"A novel full of drama, history, legend, and heart. From the snowy mountains of Western Asia, to the deserts of Egypt, to Yemen’s elusive frankincense-bearing boswellia trees, this is an epic tale that gives the legend of Santa a long overdue Christ-centered mission."
Last Christmas In Paris By Hazel Gaynor & Heather Webb
"Christmas 1968. With failing health, Thomas returns to Paris—a cherished packet of letters in hand—determined to lay to rest the ghosts of his past. But one final letter is waiting for him…"
"Being called a new classic, Jacob T. Marley is to A Christmas Carol as the world-famous Wicked is to The Wizard of Oz. Written with a voice reminiscent of Dickens, this masterfully crafted story speaks of greed, redemption, love, and sacrifice. Jacob T. Marley has become a companion classic for Dickens fans around the world."
'A delightful holiday romance that has all the charm of a classic Christmas movie. Christmas Once Again is perfect for anyone who loves a holiday romance brimming with mistletoe, hope, and what ifs.' Andie Newton, author of The Girl I Left Behind
The first book in a trilogy about the Coleman Family of Pittsburgh, during the war.
"The Great Depression years finally behind them, the entire Coleman family of Pittsburgh has been looking forward to this Christmas for almost the entire year. For the first time in more than a decade, Gerald and Irene Coleman have tucked away enough extra money to make up for all the lean years of disappointingly modest Christmas gifts for their children. But December 7, 1941 has changed everything, and for the past two weeks the entire family has followed with despair the Japanese advances all over the Pacific as well as America finally being dragged into the two-year old European war. Though a few glimmers of hope can be found amidst the ominous war news, both parents fear not only for the country’s fate as this new war begins but also, more personally, for the fate of their sons who will likely soon be joining the fighting in one war theater or another."
This wonderful novel transports us to Nazareth in biblical times, where we meet Mary and Joseph–and understand them as never before: young, in love, and suddenly faced with an unexpected pregnancy. Aided by a great and abiding love, they endure challenges to their relationship as well as threats to their lives as they come to terms with the mysterious circumstances surrounding the birth of their child, Jesus. For Mary, the pregnancy is a divine miracle and a privilege. For Joseph, it is an ongoing test of his faith–in his wife as well as in his God. Exquisitely written and imbued with emotional truth and richness of detail, The Handmaid and the Carpenter explores lives touched profoundly by miracles large and small."
"Melanie Trenholm should be anticipating Christmas with nothing but joy--after all, it's the first Christmas she and her husband, Jack, will celebrate with their twin babies. But the ongoing excavation of the centuries-old cistern in the garden of her historic Tradd Street home has been a huge millstone, both financially and aesthetically. Local students are thrilled by the possibility of unearthing more Colonial-era artifacts at the cistern, but Melanie is concerned by the ghosts connected to the cistern that have suddenly invaded her life and her house--and at least one of them is definitely not filled with holiday cheer...."
"Ebenezer Scrooge has become a frail, old man, but he remains an extremely generous businessman and good friend to all as a result of his life-altering encounter with the Christmas Spirits eighteen years earlier. Fred Walker (Scrooge's gregarious nephew and partner) is raising his lovely young family in the city of London. Tim Cratchit (Scrooge's meek, but intelligent clerk) is secretly falling in love with an enchanting, young woman named Sarah, whose past is quite mysterious. All seems to be idyllic in the Victorian lives of the three gentlemen and the young woman... but all is not as it seems. A suspicious string of horrendous crimes thrusts these heroes down unexpected paths that intertwine to create a gem of an adventure with many twists and turns. "
New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Chiaverini returns with a delightful Christmas-themed installment in her beloved Elm Creek Quilts series—a captivating, heartwarming tale sure to become a holiday favorite.
Charlton Daines brings Dickens character The Artful Dodger (from Oliver Twist) back to life for a Christmas in 1899.
"Come share a Victorian Christmas with the Artful Dodger! Christmas 1899 is approaching and Reg Dawkins, adopted son of the infamous Artful Dodger, is facing a lifetime dilemma. The Turn of the Century is a time of new beginnings and Reg is caught between nostalgia for his misspent youth and the desire to please his adopted mother, Lily, by becoming a successful but honest man. It takes a thief to catch a thief and Reg is hurled into one situation after another where he has to choose which side he is on. A chance encounter with an old friend takes him back into the criminal society that he thought he had escaped, but it isn't as simple as making a choice of his own path, because the old friend is also his adopted mother's lost sister. With the dawn of a new century before him and dangerous villains chasing behind, Reg goes to the one person he can trust for advice. . . Jack Dawkins, The Artful Dodger himself."
Anne Perry has several Christmas novels. Her newest is A Christmas Gathering - "A cold case adds an extra chill to the holiday season as bestselling author Anne Perry whisks readers to an elegant home in the English countryside for a Christmas of secrets, soul-searching, and forgiveness."
"How Far to Bethlehem" tells a very familiar story, but from some very unfamiliar perspectives: we get the backstories and viewpoints of Mary, Joseph, Elizabeth, Balthazar, Melchior, Gaspar, and a little about Herod, Barabbas, a random shepherd, and the innkeeper at Bethlehem. If all this sounds like a muddled mess, believe me, it isn't. It's a lovely story, and it is enthralling from the first page.
More Christmas Read Suggestions:
"People who lead secret lives can be fascinating, but when Penny Burford's secret life is revealed, it is not only fascinating but a joy and a discovery that will enrich the life of each person who reads this wonderful book." --Earl Hamner, creator of "The Waltons ""Small Change is a little book with a great big heart, the story of a woman who has something important to say to us all. I want to read it aloud to my family at Christmas. Maybe every Christmas." --Linda Ellerbee
This was recommended on a Historical Fiction List I am on, but I am not sure what would make this Historical Fiction - I haven't read it yet.
"Deep in the southernmost part of Alabama, along the banks of a lazy winding river, lies the sleepy little community known as Lost River, a place that time itself seems to have forgotten. After a startling diagnosis from his doctor, Oswald T. Campbell leaves behind the cold and damp of the oncoming Chicago winter to spend what he believes will be his last Christmas in the warm and welcoming town of Lost River. There he meets the postman who delivers mail by boat, the store owner who nurses a broken heart, the ladies of the Mystic Order of the Royal Polka Dots Secret Society, who do clandestine good works. And he meets a little redbird named Jack, who is at the center of this tale of a magical Christmas when something so amazing happened that those who witnessed it have never forgotten it. Once you experience the wonder, you too will never forget A Redbird Christmas."
The Christmas Pearl by Dorthea Benton Frank
"Deep in the southernmost part of Alabama, along the banks of a lazy winding river, lies the sleepy little community known as Lost River, a place that time itself seems to have forgotten. After a startling diagnosis from his doctor, Oswald T. Campbell leaves behind the cold and damp of the oncoming Chicago winter to spend what he believes will be his last Christmas in the warm and welcoming town of Lost River. There he meets the postman who delivers mail by boat, the store owner who nurses a broken heart, the ladies of the Mystic Order of the Royal Polka Dots Secret Society, who do clandestine good works. And he meets a little redbird named Jack, who is at the center of this tale of a magical Christmas when something so amazing happened that those who witnessed it have never forgotten it. Once you experience the wonder, you too will never forget A Redbird Christmas."
Still spry at ninety-three, Theodora has lived long enough to see her family grow into an insufferable bunch of truculent knuckleheads. Having finally gathered the whole bickering brood together for the holidays at her South Carolina home, the grand matriarch pines wistfully for those extravagant, homey Christmases of her childhood. How she misses the tables groaning with home-cooked goodies, the over-the-top decorations, those long, lovely fireside chats with Pearl, her grandmother's beloved housekeeper and closest confidante. These days, where is the love and the joy . . . and the peace?
But this is, after all, a magical time. Someone very special has heard Theodora's plea—and is about to arrive at her door with pockets full of Gullah magic and enough common sense to transform this Christmas into the miracle it's truly meant to be.
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