Booktok Christmas Novels & Stories

“Here you go.” She took the flat package. “Thank you.” Turning around, she saw Lucian had followed her from the kitchen. “What’s that?” “I don’t know.” She peeled open the envelope and laughed as the sleek, stiff cover of a book peeked past the seal. She pulled it out and smiled at the sketch of a Grinch sneering back at her. Lucian frowned as he watched her. “Is that a children’s book?” “Mm-hm,” she answered, still smiling. “It’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas.”

The snow keeps falling, heavy and suffocating. When I finally gather enough courage to walk home, my nerves are shredded. My thoughts got tangled. My chest tightened I reach my doorstep, fumbling for my keys. And there,lying on my welcome mat—is something small, wooden, and dusted with snow. A Christmas ornament. Hand-carved. Shaped like a house.Burning. A single number etched into its back: 24 The countdown has begun.

I learned to be thankful and quiet. That acceptance made me hate Christmas. Love songs made my skin crawl. The lights under our tree looked like glass eyes. The ribbons on the presents were traps. Every year, the house tuned itself to cheer and I pretended to enjoy it. The twenty-fifth became the night when a new kind of cold touched my bones. It was the day the truth had crawled out at me like an animal. It was the day I had learned how much of my life had been decided by other hands.

"More? You've already done so much." Callum smiled, reaching for yet another package—this one larger, rectangular, wrapped in gold paper. "This one's from a tradition in our family," he said, nodding to Oscar. "Our parents always gave us each a book on Christmas Eve, to read before bed." The package was heavy in my hands, and I opened it carefully to reveal a beautifully bound volume—a collection of winter tales from across our kingdom, illustrated with intricate drawings that seemed to shimmer on the page. "We thought we could read it together tonight," Oscar explained. "Start our own tradition of stories by the fire."

This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be constructed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental. I’ll Be Home for Christmas (A Thorntons Christmas Novella) Published by Blue Violet Press LLC Seattle, Washington Copyright © 2017 by Iris Morland Cover design by Resplendent Media All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for

The festive atmosphere in Uncle Chuck's shop added a special warmth, making it feel like a Christmas wonderland. With twinkling lights adorning the shop and the aroma of freshly baked bread wafting through the air, Alicia couldn't help but feel a sense of joy despite the recent unsettling events. She knelt down at the little girl's eye level and asked, "Can't decide, dear? Let me help you." The girl looked up, her eyes sparkling with innocence. "It's so hard. They all look delicious!" Alicia chuckled, understanding the difficulty of choosing from so many tempting foods. "How about a scoop of our special holiday flavor? Delicious peppermint with chocolate swirls. It's a favorite among our lit

"Gift?" "Yes, a Christmas present." She answered. "And yours?" The lady asked. She shrugged. "Any plans for Christmas?" "Yes, me and my blanket, snuggling on my bed," she whispered and laughed. "Too cold outside." After buying the gift she was checking out of the shop when the owner gave her the booklet, the same one she wanted to buy, " A gift for your next novel. May you have a miraculous Christmas!" She winked.

She helped me to learn how to combat dark spells and how to protect my pack from hexes using moon flowers blessed under the full moon. “Attics has a few ideas he will be sharing when him and Heidi come for Christmas next week.” I explain, turning to look out the window. A light snow fall has begun and I smile, thinking about my first Christmas in Toronto. It was a mild snow fall back then, the city becoming quiet and cozy while Blake, Alice, Albot and I walked the streets to see the lights at the Christmas market. Maybe we should decorate the pack house this year being the first official Christmas in Astraea.

Little me was in desperate need for love and affection, she was praying Kennedy and Robert would be a mommy and daddy. Finally came the cake, it was a chocolate cake, what little would say no to a chocolate cake, I had a generous slice that I devoured happily. Next was opening of presents for Robert he had some good ones and others he just closed back the box and gave his friends the third finger making me giggle. I stayed silent watching him open all his gifts giving thanks to each one for the none offending ones, lastly was Kennedy’s gift, it was the book she got from my job. He must he a bookworm like me. My little side wanted him to read me bed time stories.

I hold the book tight to my chest and turn my back to him. "No. Give it back." He launches for the book and I step away from him and stand on the other side of his bed before he reaches me. I stuck my tongue out at him. He just smiles and shakes his head. I took the opportunity to look at the page quickly. "What's this?" I ask, trying to contain my laughter. "It's a Christmas tree." He replies, folding his arms. I raise my eyebrow quizzically. He sighs heavily. "This is why I didn't want you to see it."