Readers like us have been waiting for an excuse to curl up in our warm and fuzzy blankets with hot chocolate and floating marshmallows! We just want to read till our heart’s content and dream beautiful dreams. This festive season, The Bombay Circle Press is here to embrace this feeling with a handpicked books recommendation list.
London, 1759
Lizzie Hardwicke has learned to escape her history and survive the perilous streets of Soho within the walls of Mrs Farley’s Bawdy House, a reputable brothel. But entertaining wealthy customers may not be so profitable when one of them is brutally murdered after a night with her. Lizzie must escape the investigator Davenport’s suspicious eye by solving the murder herself. But the deeper she goes, the more bodies pile up. From her customers to the doorman, everyone has something to hide. All Lizzie needs to do is find the person willing to kill for theirs, before they come for her. When information is power, secrets are worth lives.
Pranika Mehra is driving back home from New York for Christmas for the first time in years, carrying with her only a small suitcase and a huge secret. But when a terrible snowstorm halts her in her path, she is left at the mercy of the local mechanic to rescue her—who just so happens to be her ex-flame from years ago. After such an unpleasant welcome back home, Pranika can only hope for the worst. But worse is yet to come. The twelve days of Christmas may just bring her the joy and peace they promise—but not the way Pranika ever expected. Will she accept the solitude of her small town? Or will the city girl in her go back to her old ways?
Sophie is shocked to discover a beautifully bound classic novel that eerily seems to chime with her own story when an anonymous package arrives at the store where she works. Mysterious Harry spends lonely days fixing roof leaks in his dilapidated manor house. Since returning from London, he has been the target of unwanted rumors in the village and would rather keep to himself. Sophie tries to figure out what’s inside her enigmatic package as Christmas and the gift-giving season approach. She finds herself drawn into Harry’s circle, and they are both going to discover that compelling tales can take on a life of their own.
Riley Sanders never expected to lose her content marketing job right before Christmas. When she calls her sister Amy to vent, she learns their mother has broken her leg and needs help running the family inn on Cape Cod. Seeking comfort and distraction, Riley heads home for the holiday rush. There she finds warm fires, fresh cookies, and the sense of belonging she’s been missing. She meets Franny, grieving her sister and guided by four unopened letters meant to inspire new adventures. She also reconnects with Aidan, her high school sweetheart turned widower, and his nine-year-old son. What begins as a quick visit becomes a season of healing, renewed love, and the magic of Christmas by the sea this year.
Beth Bailey has loved her best friend’s older brother, Mark, for as long as she can remember. For decades she held on to the hope that one day he might feel the same—until, at thirty-five, she watches him marry someone else and finally accepts it’s time to let go. Though her dream of a life with Mark is over, Beth’s longing to become a mother remains stronger than ever. Having lost her own parents young, she’s determined to build the family she’s always wanted, no matter how unconventional the road may be. Across five years—filled with surprises, setbacks, and hard-won truths—Beth discovers what family truly means, redefines love, and ultimately finds herself on the path to happiness and, she hopes, motherhood.
If you liked these books to read, head on to The Bombay Circle Press’ bulletin for more such recommendations.