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The Buzziest Books of December | 2023

The Buzziest Books of December | 2023

December was a month of excitement for book lovers, as it has brought us a plethora of captivating new releases. From established bestselling authors to debut writers, this month’s literary offerings have something for everyone. If you’re looking for your next great read during the holidays, then look no further than our list of some of the buzziest (and festive) books published this December. Happy reading!


This Spells Love

by Kate Robb

Release Date: December 5, 2023

A young woman tries to heal her heartbreak by casting a spell to erase her ex from her past, but she wakes up in an alternate reality where she’s lost more than she wished for in this witty, whimsical friends-to-lovers debut.

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The Frozen River

by Ariel Lawhon

Release Date: December 5, 2023

From the New York Times bestselling author of I Was Anastasia and Code Name Hélène comes a gripping historical mystery inspired by the life and diary of Martha Ballard, a renowned 18th-century midwife who defied the legal system and wrote herself into American history.

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The Curse of Penryth Hall

by Jess Armstrong

Release Date: December 5, 2023

An atmospheric gothic mystery that beautifully brings the ancient Cornish countryside to life, Armstrong introduces heroine Ruby Vaughn in her Minotaur Books & Mystery Writers of America First Crime Novel Award-winning debut, The Curse of Penryth Hall.

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The Love in Sunsets

by Heidi McLaughlin & Kassidy Maye

Release Date: December 31, 2023

From the New York Times bestselling author of Forever My Girl: The Motion Picture, Heidi McLaughlin takes you to the classic New England Coast and immerses you in a tale of art, romance and the magic of a beachside romance.

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The Gentleman’s Gambit (A League of Extraordinary Women Book 4)

by Evie Dunmore

Release Date: December 5, 2023

Bookish suffragist Catriona Campbell is busy: An ailing estate, academic writer’s block, a tense time for England’s women’s rights campaign—the last thing she needs is to be stuck playing host to her father’s distractingly attractive young colleague.

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Santa Claus Surprise

by Tonya Kappes

Release Date: December 17, 2023

In the heart of Holiday Junction, where festive cheer and snowflakes blanket the streets, journalist Violet Rhinehammer prepares for the most anticipated event of the year: the Mistletoe Masquerade Ball. However, the holiday mood is deeply marred when a chilling mystery comes to light. The gruesome discovery of a man, brutally murdered behind the living manger scene in Holiday Park, casts a dark shadow over the town’s festivities. If you love dogs, every holiday with all the holiday trimmings, and a cozy town, you’re going to love this new series by Tonya Kappes. It’s time to CELEBRATE GOOD CRIMES in the town of Holiday Junction!

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Ruthless Vows (Letters of Enchantment Book 2)

by Rebecca Ross

Release Date: December 26, 2023

The epic conclusion to the intensely romantic and beautifully written story that started in Divine Rivals. Two weeks have passed since Iris Winnow returned home bruised and heartbroken from the front, but the war is far from over. Roman is missing, and the city of Oath continues to dwell in a state of disbelief and ignorance. When Iris and Attie are given another chance to report on Dacre’s movements, they both take the opportunity and head westward once more despite the danger, knowing it’s only a matter of time before the conflict reaches a city that’s unprepared and fracturing beneath the chancellor’s reign.

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Nikolaos: A Retelling of the Saint Nicholas Story

by Taylor Marshall

Release Date: December 6, 2023

In the heart of the Roman Empire, presbyter Nikolaos faces an otherworldly battle far beyond anything he has ever experienced. Melitta, daughter of a fallen merchant, teeters on the precipice of slavery, her family’s fate entwined with a demonic force gripping her father’s soul. Nikolaos is tasked with the impossible: to free Melitta’s father from the demon’s malevolent clutches and save Melitta and her sisters from a life of shameful servitude. Can he overcome his own uncertainties to confront the demon and unravel the secrets binding Melitta’s family to a fate worse than death?

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