Happy Hanukkah, Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanzaa 2021

From my home to yours, may your holiday season be healthy and happy, regardless of what you celebrate or observe. As a reader, I continue to "escape" the pandemic and the confines through books. What about you? Here are some of the newest Christmas cozy mysteries I found this year - several are on my TBR list. Definitely not all that are out there. Feel free to leave your favorites in the comments! (I'll add them to my list for next year!) Note: Descriptions are shortened versions from Amazon.

Cottage on Gooseberry Bay: Santa Who? (A Gooseberry Bay Mystery) by Kathi Daley. Ainsley Holloway had come to Gooseberry Bay to find answers about her past. She'd come to find an explanation for the dreams that haunted her after the death of the cop who'd both rescued and raised her. 

And she’d come to identify the family she couldn’t remember but knew in her heart she’d once belonged to.

Christmas Dessert Murder (A Hannah Swenson Mystery) by Joanne Fluke. It's Christmas in Lake Eden, Minnesota, and there's no better way to enjoy the holidays than by cozying up to two Hannah Swenson yuletide mysteries with a plateful of goodies from the Cookie Jar Bakery. Yes, two Christmas stories. Features Over a Dozen Cookie and Dessert Recipes from The Cookie Jar!

Tangled Up in Tinsel (A Kenni Lowry Mystery) by Tonya Kappes. Don't get your tinsel in a tangle... It's Christmastime in Cottonwood, Kentucky, and Sheriff Kenni Lowry is determined to keep the peace. Plus, the snowstorm of the century is headed right toward Cottonwood, leaving the residents in a frantic frenzy and potentially derailing Kenni’s Christmas plans with Finn. There's been a murder and there's a tinsel wrapped victim at the center of it. 

Slashing Through the Snow (A Christmas Tree Farm Mystery) by Jacqueline Frost. Reindeer Games Christmas Tree Farm is going into the B&B business and Holly White is looking forward to her new role as innkeeper. But a cold wind ruffles the cheery holiday decorations when a new guest checks in - Karen.The short December days turn even darker when Evan and Libby find Karen's dead body in the gift-wrapped toy donation box.

Mistletoe Cake Murder (All Day Breakfast Cafe Mystery Book 6) by Lena Gregory. 'Tis the season for celebrating when Gia Morelli's holidays include both a wedding and yuletide festivities. Until someone naughty delivers a most unwanted Christmas gift - murder. Gia’s caterer friends are the prime suspects in what appears to be murder by poisoning. Includes recipes from the All-Day Breakfast Café!

The Twelve Jays of Christmas (A Meg Langslow Mystery) by Donna Andrews. Meg and Michael's annual holiday celebration is well underway, with a throng of out-of-town relatives staying at their house. Hosting these festivities is a little harder than usual - they have to relocate all the events normally held in their library, currently occupied by Roderick Castlemayne, the irascible wildlife artist...

Murder at the Christmas Cookie Bake-Off (A Beacon Bakeshop Mystery) by Darci Hannah. Tucked away inside an old lighthouse in Beacon Harbor, Michigan, bakeshop cafe owner Lindsey Bakewell is ready to make her first Christmas in town shine bright. But her merry plans crumble fast when murder appears under the mistletoe...

Twisted Tea Christmas (A Tea Shop Mystery) by Laura Childs. Tea maven Theodosia Browning and her tea sommelier, Drayton Conneley, are catering a Victorian Christmas party at a swanky mansion in downtown Charleston. Drucilla Heyward, the hostess is one of the wealthiest women in town. Theodosia finds her crumpled unconscious in the hallway... a syringe sticking out of her neck.

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Murder (A Catering Hall Mystery) by Maria DiRico. Astoria, Queens, is decorated within an inch of its life for the Christmas season, and Mia Carina is juggling her job at the Belle View with a case of murder. Amid the holiday celebrations, she intends to find out who's the guilty party... Italian recipes included.

Fleece Navi Dead (A Kiki Lowenstein Mystery) by Joanna Campbell Slan. Every holiday season, Kiki Lowenstein plans 12 days of classes, her Holiday Craft Extravaganza. And every year, it nearly kills her. As the holiday season approaches, Kiki over-schedules herself and winds up running herself ragged. To make life more stressful, she must fend off a stalker.

A Lost Claus (A Christmas Cozy Mystery) by Mona Maple. As Christmas approaches in Candy Cane Hollow, it's time for the annual Claus family ice fishing trip. Holly Wood (yes, that's her real name) is a ball of nerves about meeting all of Nick Claus' relatives, until the trip ends in disaster. This is the third book in the series.

Nothing strike your fancy? Here's another selection of Cozy Christmas cozies (old and new) to consider.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS, MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY KWANZAA Seasonal Reads

From my home to yours, may your  holiday season be healthy and happy, regardless of what you celebrate or observe. Many people are not traveling or celebrating in the same way they did last year. Many have an empty seat at the table. Regardless of the reason for the gathering, we're all in similar situations. As a reader, I "escaped" the pandemic and the confines through books. What about you?

Here are some of the seasonal books I've spotted this year that caught my fancy. Most are Christmas cozies. Feel free to leave your favorites in the comments! (I'll add them to my TBR list for next year!)

HAPPY HOLIDAYS! Happy Hannukah! Merry Christmas! Happy Kwanzaa!

Holiday-themed Books 

It is definitely the time of the year for people of different cultures and faiths. To me, the "sentiment" I most embrace is that of "Peace on Earth" and kindness and good will to others. Unlike many, my home has both a menorah and a Christmas tree, reflecting different faiths of my family members. Each year, I enjoy the holiday-themed cozies and romances - yup, I do watch the Hallmark Channel!  Here are just a few of the holiday cozies I've read in the last month ... feel free to share your favorites of the season in the comments!

Yuletide Murder: A Deadline Cozy Mystery #10 by Sonia Parin

The bridge to the mainland is down, and Eve and her guests are all stranded. So much for her quiet Christmas holiday in her Inn with friends and family. Especially when Todd Emerson is found dead. She's determined to make it the best Christmas ever, complete with tiny marshmallows, and a certain police man right after she figures out who the killer is. Lots of holiday spirit and a good pace. Quick read.

Hoppy Holiday Homicides :Pet Whisperer PI #9 by Molly Fitz

Angie and her new found cousin Mags are all set to enjoy the annual Holiday Spectacular in Glendale, when they discover two bodies in the ice garden. Then Mags is kidnapped. It's up to Octo-Cat, Paisley the chihuahua, and EB bunny along with a few humans to help Angie figure out the killer. This is the 9th  in the Pet Whisperer PI series with a holiday theme and Angie the PI Pet Whisperer. If you like family, pets, and a bit of romance, add this one to your holiday TBR pile. 

17.5 Cartridges in a Pear Tree : A Maize Albright Star Detective "Between Cases" Holiday Novella by Larissa Reinhart

Maizie is all set for New Years Eve in Black Pine, Georgia when she is spooked by someone who comes to Nash Investigations in search of the Death Necklace from one of Maizie's movies. She gave the movie prop to her dad and now people are after her to get the necklace. Between Maizie and her sister, Remi, a lot can go wrong as they try to save the necklace and catch the bad guys. As always, the characters are great and the plot includes a bit of humor as well as tension. What a way to start the New Year.

BEST WISHES TO YOU ALL FOR A HAPPY AND HEALTHY HOLIDAY SEASON FILLED WITH HEALTH, HAPPINESS AND MANY ENJOYABLE BOOKS!

Happy Holidays! Happy Kwanzaa, Happy Chanukah! and Merry Christmas!

This is truly the season of holidays and it is not too often that they overlap as they do this year.  

On December 24th some will have already lit the menorah with the first candle of Chanukah as others make their way to midnight Mass and leave cookies and milk for Santa. 

Chanukah will continue through Christmas and Kwanzaa begins on December 26, also with lighting of candles.  Both Kwanzaa and Chanukah end with the start of 2017.

Different cultures, different belief systems, but all of these are rich in traditions and hope.  A time to gather with friends and family.  And, of course, gifts!

Whether you contemplate the story of Chanukah, the birth of Christ, or reflect on the principles of Kwanzaa, I hope we can all take a moment to think of others and ways to ensure:

Peace on earth, goodwill toward all!