Hallmark Christmas Books Novels & Stories

Arthur and I join the others in the living room, where a beautiful Christmas tree stands, twinkling with lights and ornaments. We gather around, everyone smiling and chatting, waiting for the clock to strike twelve. There’s a sense of anticipation, and I can feel Arthur’s hand tighten around mine. Finally, the clock strikes midnight, and a cheer goes up. “Merry Christmas!” everyone calls out, exchanging hugs and kisses. Gifts are passed around, and the room fills with laughter and joy. After the gifts are exchanged, we all raise our glasses for a toast. Arthur’s father, a kind man with a twinkle in his eye, leads the toast.

The patio door burst open, and Chloe ran back in, covered in snowflakes, shivering but smiling. "It's beautiful! It's so sexy!" She flopped back onto the rug, grinning at us. Then she looked at the book in my lap and wrinkled her nose. "A textbook? Dad, seriously? That is literally the lamest gift in the history of Christmas." "Maya understands the value of discipline," Silas said smoothly, his eyes locked on mine. "And commitment to long-term investments." The double meaning wasn't lost on me. Heat crept up my neck.

She adds already heading for the kitchen. Within thirty minutes Nina had put the stuff for Santa out on a Christmas plate that Mandy gave her yesterday and she was tucked up in bed while I read her a book called Once Upon a Magical Christmas and she loved every moment of it and so did Josh and Riley. Yep, that's right. The guys sat on the bottom of her bed and listened to the entire story like big children and I swear that the pair of them were almost sleeping their selves by the time I had finished and so was Nina.

No big surprise. "Huh. There's actually a pretty big section. You need a book on spells for gardening? Or how about one titled Weather Magicks? There's even one for love charms and a volume on breaking hexes. Nothing about magical Christmas decorations so far." "Try looking under 'Holiday'," she suggested. "This has something to do with your family, remember." "Good thinking." He moved again and Shelby went back to searching the desk.

“What are you doing?” “Not much,” I admitted. “Just watching some Christmas movie about some girl who’s too dumb to realize her fiancé is a jerk and that she should really be with the handsome stranger she just bumped into a few days before Christmas.” “OMG! I think I’ve seen that one. Is it on the Hallmark Channel?” “Lucy, that’s the plot of every Christmas movie on the Hallmark Channel. The only difference is that sometimes the lady is in marketing, sometimes she owns an antique store, and once or twice she was a teacher.”

Tonight is the Winter Anniversary. “I’m fine, Dom. Stop hovering and go have fun.” I swat his hand away from my shoulder. “Go be the star. I’m just here for the free champagne and to make sure you don’t do anything stupid before the big game.” He gives me that lopsided, boyish grin that has half the city swooning. “No promises.” I watch as he scans the room. This isn’t an official league party. It is the commemorative bash before the final showdown of the year. The calm before the bloodbath on the ice.

Ivana snapped back almost instantly, "I've got no time for this. I'm helping Charles look for Bubbles. If Bubbles is truly lost, Charles will be heartbroken." In the next moment, she added, "Besides, Christmas is tomorrow. You're in such a hurry for me to come over because you're jealous, aren't you?" I closed my eyes and let the tears slide down soundlessly. After ten years of marriage, I finally understood that to Ivana, Noelle and I weren't even worth as much as Charles' dog. I took a deep breath and said icily, "Ivana, it was supposed to be your turn to stay with Noelle tonight. If you hadn't left, Noelle might not have…"

’ speeches… She drained hot chocolate from her large ‘Rudolf the Reindeer’ mug and stood, padding across the wooden floor in her socks and slippers to restart the Frank Sinatra album. Maybe it was wrong that she was in such a good mood, newly divorced and absolutely alone on Christmas… but she was. She wanted to be happy. And right now, Mr. Sinatra, stimulating romance novels, and copious amounts of hot chocolate were all she needed to be happy. And, maybe later, Mr. ‘Great Scott’.

He was tall, really tall for a Santa Claus, that I had to tilt my head back to meet his eyes—oh, his eyes. They were an icy gray that seemed to bare my soul, uncovering every hidden secret before his eyes. I felt a cold shiver run down my spine, but I couldn't tell if it was from the cold or the way those eyes made me feel, something so distinct yet I couldn't put my hands on it. “Merry Christmas,” he murmured, his deep baritone causing my heart to thrum so loudly in my chest I could only stand there and gawk like a damn fool.

And Noah, in front of everyone, let go of my hand to pass a gift box to Heidi. "Heidi, your Christmas present." Heidi excitedly tore it open. When she pulled out the worn pocket watch inside, she pouted. "Noah, you're so rich. Why are you giving me something this old?" Noah smiled without answering. But I froze completely. I'd seen that pocket watch before, in the portrait of Noah's late father.