Books make the best Christmas gifts, in my literary opinion, and I’m always matchmaking readers to books! Given how many friends ask me for book recommendations, I understand not everyone is as enthusiastic as I am about matching the perfect book to a reader’s preference. To that end, I thought it might be helpful to share some of my matchmaking with you, especially those of you who may still be working through their Christmas shopping list! I’ve roped in the fabulous Katie of Fiction Aficionado (and a dear, dear friend!) to add her ideas to the table and together we bring you Katie & Rel’s inaugural Christmas 2018 Novel Gift Guide! I’m hopeful Katie is brave enough to do this again next year…if I don’t spring it on her late in the Christmas season as I have done this time.
We trust you get some great novel ideas for the book lovers in your life, or simply add some of these to your own wish lists and TBRs!
*****
For the modern romantic…
Rel recommends:
All Made Up, The Promise of Rayne, Falling for You
Katie recommends:
Reclaimed, A New Shade of Summer, Just Let Go
For those seeking a hero of yesteryear…
Rel recommends:
Merciless, The Lady & the Lionheart, Courting Morrow Little
Katie recommends:
The Reluctant Duchess, Many Sparrows, Shadow of the Storm
For the ‘creative spirit’…
Rel recommends:
The Saturday Night Supper Club, The Masterpiece, Jane of Austin
Katie recommends:
Rose in Three Quarter Time, A Portrait of Emily Price, The Illusionist’s Apprentice
For the young at heart…
Rel recommends:
I’ll Be Yours, A Worthy Rebel (and the entire Noble Knights series), Waterfall (and the entire River of Time series)
Katie recommends:
Intermission, The Story Peddler, The Uncloaked Trilogy
For the thrills and chills seeker…
Rel recommends:
Katie recommends:
Discarded Heroes, The House on Foster Hill, My Hands Came Away Red
For the wibbly-wobbly-timey-wimer…
Rel recommends:
The Enclave, The Darkwater Saga, The Sword of Lyric series
Katie recommends:
Abiassa’s Fire, The Story Peddler, Magnificent Devices series
For the Austenites…
Rel recommends:
A Defense of Honor, Dear Mr. Knightley, The Tutor’s Daughter
Katie recommends:
The Austen Escape, The Captivating Lady Charlotte, Jane of Austin
For those looking for sass, spice, but still a clean read!
Rel recommends:
Lies We Tell Ourselves, The Bentwood series, Told You So series
Katie recommends:
Meant to be Mine, A Twist of Faith, Save the Date
For the deep thinker…
Rel recommends:
The Five Times I Met Myself, The Feathered Bone, The Passion of Mary-Margaret
Katie recommends:
No One Ever Asked, No Less Days, The Alliance Duology
For the male perspective…
Rel recommends:
The Man He Never Was, The Tox Files, Sutter’s Cross
Katie recommends:
The Raven, Patrick Bowers Series, The Mountain Between Us
For the sharp of wit…
Rel recommends:
Enchanted Events Mysteries, Then There Was You, The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck
Katie recommends:
Close to You, Turtles in the Road, Charming the Troublemaker
For those who love/want a good cry…
Rel recommends:
Long Way Gone, Into the Free, Where Hope Begins
Katie recommends:
Becoming Mrs. Lewis, The Hidden Side, Hidden Among the Stars
For the adventurous…
Rel recommends:
Montana Fire series, Fossil Hunter, Raleigh Harmon Series
Katie recommends:
Montana Rescue series, Dead Reckoning, Alaskan Courage Series
For the Christmas devotee…
Rel recommends:
Christmas at Gate 18, His Mistletoe Miracle, The Christmas Heirloom
Katie recommends:
Enchanted: A Christmas Collection, Ordinary Snowflakes , A Cliche Christmas
We hope this helps! Remember, you can gift e-books at any time, so they make the perfect last minute gifts for your friends and family who have e-readers, even when Christmas morning is in sight 🙂
And finally…
…my faithful readers will note posting has been terribly sporadic the last few months and for that I’m sorry. Life has been super hectic and my blog has suffered. This is likely to be the situation until early in the new year when I will be back with a fresh perspective, some changes to the blog which will make it more manageable for me, all things I’m super excited about it. Thank you for persevering with me, dear reader friends. I value you, and your comments here, more than you know!
Love, Rel xo
December 21, 2018 at 12:02 am
I so love this post!! Such fun to read through both of your recommendations. I found several of my favorites on this list and others to try. I look forward to what 2019 may bring for your blog. Merry Christmas Rel & Katie!
December 21, 2018 at 12:04 am
Thanks Staci – no surprise there are some of your faves on the list! I do believe we share a lot of the same book taste 🙂 Merry Christmas to you xo
December 21, 2018 at 2:09 am
What wonderful recommendations! I’m happy to see so many favorites on here, especially The Passion of Mary-Margaret. I’m so happy that Christian fiction has grown into a genre full of talented authors telling such interesting stories.
December 21, 2018 at 11:23 am
Love that you love The Passion of Mary-Margaret, too, Brittaney 🙂
December 21, 2018 at 2:11 am
I hope this gift guide will become an annual event, as I’ve already made notes of several to get for myself. The great thing about books are they go with everything and are always the perfect size. 🙂 Excited about fitting into these recommendations. Can’t wait to see what goodies you have in store for us in 2019. Hope you and your family (including you, Sherlock) have a wonderful Christmas. Wrapping up lots of hugs and sending them your way, Rel. <3 <3
December 21, 2018 at 11:24 am
Yayayayay! Love that you have used it, Amy – makes me a happy girl. Have a blessed Christmas, my friend, with lots of love from me and the clan, including Sherlock xoxo
December 21, 2018 at 3:46 am
Fabulous recommendations! I see several books I need to read in 2019. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you both.
December 21, 2018 at 11:25 am
Thank you so much, Anne! Would love to know which ones you have your eye on for 2019 🙂
December 21, 2018 at 11:24 am
Loved your list – saw many books I enjoyed on it, as well as some that are on my wishlist. Have a merry Christmas!
December 21, 2018 at 11:25 am
That’s fabulous, Dianna – thanks for sharing. Have a wonderful Christmas!
December 21, 2018 at 4:36 pm
Great lists, Rel and Katie! I’ve read a lot of these and I’m looking forward to reading more of them. A bunch of them are in my TBR pile, and a few are on my wish list.
Thanks for the fun post!
December 31, 2018 at 4:11 pm
Thanks Winnie! Get working through that TBR pile 😉
December 22, 2018 at 12:40 am
Love, love, love this listing and how the books are categorized. Fabulous, Rel & Katie! Thank you for including Merciless. Merry Christmas!
December 31, 2018 at 4:11 pm
Thank you, Tamara, for writing such gift worthy tales 🙂 xo
January 1, 2019 at 12:30 am
Adore you!
December 22, 2018 at 11:03 am
OH!MY! Such awesomeness! Thank you for sharing!
December 31, 2018 at 4:11 pm
Pleasure, Caryl!
December 22, 2018 at 1:32 pm
Great list! Some of my favs!
Merry Christmas!
December 31, 2018 at 4:12 pm
Thank you, Janet! Hope your Christmas was delightful xo
December 22, 2018 at 3:17 pm
Rel & Katie – thank you for the fabulous list. I’ve read some and added more to my TBR list. I value that you spend time reading and evaluating books for our advantage and help in making a choice. Your time is valuable just like ours. How we spend our time has eternal effects on our lives – are we reading material that helps point us to Jesus? Are we reading material that moves our spirit to hear God’s voice? Are we reading material that will move us to a deeper faith – a lighter or happier heart – a generous, giving attitude? With your critic of each book, we are given insight that helps us make decisions what we choose to allow to enter our minds – and what enters our minds matters. Thank you and Merry Christmas from Florida!
December 31, 2018 at 4:14 pm
Thank you for your kind, generous, and encouragaing words, Pam. Sorry I am only responding now. I trust you had a marvellous Christmas xo
December 23, 2018 at 4:28 pm
Fabulous post! Well done ladies. I look forward to this new tradition! Merry Christmas!
December 31, 2018 at 4:14 pm
Thanks, dear Nancy – appreciate you! Hope your Christmas was terrific xo