With another Thanksgiving behind us, many people are turning their thoughts to gift giving. As a book lover, I'm always looking for great books to give. Here are some of my favorites from this past year that I think would be welcome stocking stuffers this holiday season.
2021 has been another difficult year of challenges and disappointments so you'll notice that my reading habits have tended toward shorter pieces and poetry. I think that might resonate with a lot of people this year too, so I hope you'll enjoy these books as much as I have.
Natyre Boy by Derek R. King
This is a lovely collection of nature poetry to celebrate all four seasons. If you give it as a Christmastime gift, the recipient can dive right into the winter section and read charming verses about crunching snow and the shiny patterns Jack Frost leaves on our windows. Or, if they're tired of Old Man Winter, they can flip to the verdant greens of Spring and the sunshine and flowers of Summer. Amazon fluctuates on the print price, but the list price is $9.99 and Amazon usually sells it for under $5! So not only is it an enjoyable volume of poetry, it's also a wonderful bargain buy!
Euphoric Wonderland by Ryan M. Becker
Another poetry selection, although this one is grittier. There are some F*bombs in it, (not many, but still a few) so if that's not your jam, you've been warned. However, this one impressed me because it has such strong rhythms and a joy in wordplay and rhyme. There are lots of pop culture references and, the clincher, poetry about the Beatles! (The Beatles are my all time favorites so those poems in particular really spoke to me.)
In Between: Poems of Midlife by S.J. Lomas
Yes, yes, this one is my own poetry chapbook that came out earlier this year. If you're looking for a short book, this one explores the themes of arriving in midlife amidst a pandemic. It's a thoughtful collection ruminating on slowing down, what it means to be a woman entering midlife, coping with parental death, and finding hope in bleak times.
Love For All Seasons: A Goddesses In Love Novelette by D.A. Henneman
If you enjoy ancient mythology, you may enjoy this short series of Goddesses in Love. This particular book is about Hecate and Hades. At only 69 pages, you can easily enjoy it in one sitting. While this one doesn't technically count as a stocking stuffer, because it's only available as a Kindle ebook, you can still purchase it and gift it digitally to your intended recipient. Or, you can enjoy it for yourself, at only .99 and gift one of Henneman's full length paranormal romances as a physical stocking stuffer.
The Paris Connection by Lorraine Brown
I loved this book SO MUCH that I read it in one sitting. I just got completely caught up in Hannah's accidental journey through Paris. She was set to attend a wedding in Amsterdam with her boyfriend, Simon, when their train separated in the night leaving them both heading to two destinations. Simon headed to Amsterdam as planned, and Hannah ended up in Paris with handsome stranger, Léo.
Love Songs for Skeptics by Christina Pisharis
I was so blown away by the writing and satisfying plotting of this book. Perfect for music lovers and romance lovers, this book takes you into the world of music and unrequited love. There's a secondary plot thread that is just as rich and compelling as the primary and the way the whole book came together was just a beautiful and immensely satisfying thing to behold. The writer is clearly very talented and I can't wait for her to write more so I can read it!
Christmas at the Palace by Jeevani Charika
I have not read this one yet, but I've read other books by this author and loved them. Also, this one looks absolutely charming. Charika has a knack for creating strong, female protagonists and I am here for it! This is on my list to read this holiday season, so if you want to try it out along with me, or gift it to a romcom loving friend, I think we'll all end up happy. Besides, look at that cozy, romantic cover! Love it!
So there you have it, my picks for book gifts this holiday season. I hope you'll give one or a few a chance. If you do, don't forget to leave a review on Goodreads or Amazon!
Happy holidays everyone!