The holidays often bring a nostalgic urge to re-read old favorites, especially books with a Christmas setting. Cozy up to one of these classics with a cup of cocoa, and you're guaranteed to feel a little less Grinchy and a little more Kringlely.
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Envious Casca by Georgette Heyer is a quintessential country house mystery. Curmudgeonly Nathan Herriard is killed on the eve of Christmas, and nearly all of his guests and relatives are glad he's dead, leaving Inspector Hemingway quite a puzzle to solve.
In Winter Solstice by Rosamunde Pilcher, five lonely strangers are drawn together at the holidays. A grieving man, a lonely woman and a teenager on the run are among those who find affection in unexpected ways. A heartwarming story, Winter Solstice is a testament to the power of love.
Connie Willis brings a touch of the bizarre to her collection Miracle and Other Christmas Stories. From alien invasions to secret Santas to the time-traveling appearance of the actual Joseph and Mary in search of an inn, Miracle is a delightfully different twist on a traditional Christmas.
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Mischief of the Mistletoe by Lauren Willig is a romantic holiday romp, featuring Mr. Turnip Fitzhugh (who was not nicknamed for his mental prowess), Miss Arabella Dempsey, teacher at a select young ladies’ seminary, and some French spies who are trying to use the Dowager Duchess of Dovedale's Christmas festivities as a cover for their activities.
If you're looking for a book to enjoy as a family, you can't go wrong with The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson, with illustrations by Judith Gwyn Brown. The hilarious hijinks of the terrifying Herdman children (the scourge of the neighborhood), and their shenanigans during a Christmas pageant will keep your children laughing year after year. --Jessica Howard, blogger at Quirky Bookworm