Reading?

The holiday-themed books are beginning to hit the store shelves!

I don't know about you but I really enjoy holiday stories. When I saw the first few of this month's Harlequins on display I was tickled to see three Christmas stories.

Don't ask me why but the local store never puts all the Harlequins on display at once. I think it's a ploy to get shoppers back in time and again through the month but that's just my take on it. I don't mind their stocking methods during the warm months but when we're snowed in it rattles my cage. Hard. But I digress...

Last night read the first, Snowbound in Dry Creek. I couldn't put it down! I read waaay past when I should have turned in but I couldn't close the book without seeing how it ended. This morning my eyes are bloodshot but it was well worth it.

I discovered Janet Tronstad's Dry Creek series a lot later than I wish I had but at least I've finally found it. There are lots of earlier books (unfortunately I haven't read any of them) but this isn't a series where the reader has to be in on the opening story to fall right into the feeling of the place or get to know the characters. The writing style is similar to Jan Karon's so Mitford fans will enjoy visiting Dry Creek, too.

A Dry Creek Courtship was the Dry Creek story that hooked me. The characters are so realistic they feel like people anyone might know. They are good people but they don't always make the best decisions. They may be sometimes stubborn or irritable...like regular people. I like that. I like a character with flaws, one who doesn't feel perfect or sugar-coated.

Maybe the thing I like most about the Dry Creek stories is the place itself. Dry Creek is written so clearly I can see the hardware store and cafe, feel the heat from the old belly stove and bounce along the rutted roads as if I'm right there. I'm pulled in from the opening pages and, as last night's marathon page turning shows, I'm engaged right up to the final word.

What about you? Do you read holiday stories? Any favorites?

Today I'm opening my well-worn copy of Dracula. I know...it hardly seems the follow-up to such a heartwarming holiday tale but it is October. I read Dracula every October. And Frankenstein. And The Cottage, which is one of the scariest books of all time.

October...goblins and ghouls and all sorts of bump-in-the-night books. And in between? I'm gettting set for Christmas!

Hope you have a great Sunday! :)