9 Romance Novels to Gift This Holiday Season

Hollywood starlet Tia Beckett had the perfect life until a near-fatal accident left her with a major facial scar. Convinced that her dreams of movie fame are over, she steps out of the spotlight and agrees to house-sit for a producer friend at his stunning estate in Silver Springs. 

It turns out, however, that she's not the only house guest. Artist Seth Turner has been left traumatized after the tragic death of his wife. Tia recognizes a fellow scarred fellow, and soon she finds her curiosity piqued by this mysterious and charming man. Maybe spending Christmas together could be exactly what they both need.

Rachel Rubenstein-Goldblatt is a nice Jewish girl with a deep love of all things Christmas, to the point where she has a secret career as a Christmas romance novelist. She's a bestseller unbeknownst to her family. When her publishers insists that she write a Hanukkah romance, Rachel finds herself bereft of inspiration. She turns to the Matzah Ball, a Jewish music celebration on the last night of Hanukkah, for some creative ideas. 

Doing so, however, will once more bring her face to face with her summer camp archenemy, Jacob Greenberg. Sure, he’s handsome but she’s holding onto her grudge and her secret Christmas love. Still, perhaps she’ll soon find herself drawn to her own faith and a certain someone. 

Single mom Lexie Bell hopes to make this first Christmas in their new home special for her six-year-old son, Brock. That means she's pulling out all of the festive stops to ensure the perfect holiday season. Her next door neighbor, on the other hand, is much less enthused. 

Stanley Mann is a reclusive widower who has rejected Christmas cheer following the passing of his wife. When she starts turning up in his dreams to let him know it's time to move on, he's not keen to follow her otherworldly advice. Maybe his neighbor can help him get in the mood. Soon, even this long-time grinch finds himself taken in by Lexie's generosity and joy for the holiday.

The Virgin River series is a long-running romance reader favorite as well as a wildly popular Netflix series. Befitting a cozy small town saga with no fewer than 19 full-length novels to its name, Virgin River has some festive cheer to share. 

In Return to Virgin River, Kaylee Sloan finds herself renting a cabin in the picturesque mountain town to finish her latest book. A bout of writer's block following the death of her mother has left her struggling for inspiration, but Virgin River may provide her with something special. 

This is a place where people are keen to embrace her as a friend in need, and she even rescues a stray dog with a litter of puppies. That leads her to Landry Moore, a dog trainer, for help, and soon, Virgin River offers her all the perfect ingredients for an ideal Christmas!

Related: 5 Uplifting Robyn Carr Books Set in Beautiful Towns

Want more from Robyn Carr? Don’t worry, she has plenty to offer! Marcie Sullivan said goodbye to her dear husband Bobby last Christmas. A veteran injured in battle in Iraq, his final years were tough, but she's forever grateful to have had three extra years to spend with her childhood sweetheart. 

Following his passing, Marcie travels to Virgin River to look for Ian Buchanan, the marine who helped to save Bobby's life. He's struggling with his own trauma and tries to push away Marcie, but she's determined to pull him out of his reclusive life and allow him to blossom into the man he once was before the horrors of war.

The Somerville sisters believe in love but have stopped believing that it will one day happen for them. Reggie's been too embarrassed to return home after a disastrous and very brief engagement. Dena got tired of waiting for the one and is now preparing to become a single mother by choice. 

But things are about to change for both of them. Reggie's first love, Toby, is back in town and there's still a spark between them. A rockstar finds himself head over heels for Dena but she's not sure a man like him fits into her plans. Christmas, however, is a time for love!

Ranch manager Annie McCade thought her twin niece and nephew could join her at the Angel View Ranch for Christmas. Sure, her boss wouldn't approve but what he doesn't know won't hurt him. He's never there anyway. 

But then, all of a sudden, ranch owner Tate Sheridan turns up. Now, Annie's plans are upended, and she soon finds herself helping Tate with his Christmas plans. He's hoping that the perfect holiday will provide a healing balm for his grieving family, and perhaps Annie and her own family can be so much more to him.

Sarah Morgan is a reliable favorite for anyone looking for a classic comforting Christmas romance to curl up with this winter. The Christmas Escape is one of her newest titles and takes place in Santa's own backyard, Lapland. 

It was supposed to be Christy Sullivan’s perfect Christmas getaway, but her marriage could use some TLC. Not wanting to disappoint her daughter, Chrissy asks her best friend Alix to accompany her to Lapland. It's a big request but soon Alix finds herself dealing with the Arctic cold, some festive frenzies, and the attention of Zac, a very attractive fellow guest with whom she has an adversarial past. 

Lapland is a place where magic is supposed to happen but does that mean Alix and Christy will get the Christmas they both want and need?

ER nurse Nessa Hunt and her sullen teen half-sister Ivy are on a road trip this Christmas. They're hoping that some time away will allow them to heal from their mother's death and her shocking confession that Nessa's father wasn't her real dad. Seeking answers, they arrive in the charming and appropriately festive small town of Rose Bend, and it's here that Nessa meets the local innkeeper's rugged son Wolfgang. 

Wolf is tall, handsome, and part of a big loving family wholly unlike Nessa's. She's got too much parental baggage right now to make space in her life for Wolf, but maybe this Christmas, she can open her heart just a little.