20+ Cozy Christian Christmas Novels for Women (Updated for 2023)
A sweet, Christmas novella is just the thing for the busy holiday season. Pick up one of these Christian Christmas fiction books for women when you need a break from Christmas stress or a fun read for a long car ride!
By the afternoon of Christmas Day, I needed an escape. I’d had enough family, food, and new toys that need batteries to last me until next Christmas.
That’s when I turned to romantic Christmas stories to carry me away from the crazy. Even if the white Christmas happens only in my dreams, a good book can give me all the Christmas feels.
That frigid Christmas, I bought a Christmas fiction book to read while on the drive to visit family. I got so caught up in the story, I couldn’t put it down. I spent the entire day curled up in a chair with my Kindle just so I could finish it.
(I’ve included it in the list below. It’s a historical Christmas novel if you want to skip to that part.)
I need an escape pretty regularly during the holidays. Let’s face it. Holidays are full of stress! A good book is just what I need to get me back in the Christmas spirit.
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The Best Christian Christmas Fiction
The trend for authors to write a novella at Christmas is as popular as ever. And I am here for it!
Often an author will write a short spin-off from one of her popular series, but they can usually be enjoyed as standalone stories. I’ve made sure to share if you need to read the entire series before you can read the Christmas novel. As a bonus, you just might find a new series to love.
All’s Fair in Love and Christmas by Sarah Monzon
This one feels like your favorite holiday rom-com in book form! When the firm she works for announces a new promotion, graphic designer Mackenzie Graham will need all of her Christmas spirit to win it.
But what’s a girl to do when she’s getting distracted by the competition?
You Make It Feel Like Christmas by Toni Shiloh
Starr Lewis going home for Christmas jobless and single–what could be worse? But when her brother’s best friend shows up, it might not be so bad after all!
As the two work together to fix up his deceased mother’s Christmas shop, she might realize it is the most wonderful time of the year after all!
On the Way to Christmas: Three Stories by Melissa Ferguson, Sheila Roberts and Amy Ferguson
In this glittering and heartwarming collection of Christmas-themed novels, three of today’s best-selling sweet romance novelists offer up the gift of cheer for the winter holiday season.
Series includes:
- A Christmas Do-Over by Sheila Roberts
- Dashing Through the Snow by Melissa Ferguson
- A Perfectly Splendid Christmas by Amy Cliptson
Merry Ex-Mas by Courtney Walsh
Merry Ex-Mas is an Amazon bestselling romantic comedy that will make you laugh, cry and believe in love again.
Lily has been living her dream as the host of Good Day Denver for four years. She has a great job, loyal friends and a large social media following. But when her producer announces she’s being replaced by someone younger, Lily decides it’s time to go home and show everyone what they’re missing out on.
Port Willis Romance Collection by Lindsay Harrel
This is one of my favorite Christmas series to read each year! Unsuspecting couples find love in a tiny English town in each of the four novellas.
I love how each story introduces a new couple–even taking characters you didn’t like in a past book and making them lovable.
The novellas each standalone–but I bet you can’t read just one!
Books in the series include:
A Quilt for Christmas by Melody Carlson
A heartwarming Christmas story about a woman who finds friendship and family when she least expects it. Vera Swanson is lonely in her condo-for-one until little Fiona Albright knocks on her door needing help. With her mother seriously ill and her father out of town, Fiona enlists Vera’s help to make a Christmas quilt for Mama.Vera will have to get a ragtag group of women together in order to fulfill the request–with a little bit of romance on the way.
The Noel Diary by Richard Paul Evans
Richard Paul Evans is considered by some to be “the king of Christmas fiction,” and this first book in his Noel Diaries series shows why.
Bestselling romance author Jacob Churcher is going home for Christmas for the first time in twenty years. He just might get the greatest gift of all–the chance to rewrite the past. This book is now a Netflix film starring Justin Hartley
More novels in The Noel Diaries series:
A Cross-Country Christmas by Courtney Walsh
I love Courtney Walsh’s novels, and this is one of my favorites! Lauren Richmond hates Christmas, and she usually skips it entirely.
But this year, her brother and his wife are about to have a baby, so he’s arranged for her to ride home with his friend, Will. Unfortunately, Lauren remembers Will–and wishes she could forget him, and the huge crush she’s always had.
Can she survive the cross-country trip without losing her heart all over again? And can Will prove to Lauren and himself that he’s changed?
Don’t miss Courtney’s other novellas:
All is Calm and All is Bright (Two Novellas) by Colleen Coble
If you like your holiday romance mixed with a little bit of mystery, this mini-series is the perfect for you this Christmas season!
In these novellas, we return to two of of Colleen’s best series’ settings–Bluebird Ranch and Hope Beach, for two brand new love stories.
In All is Calm, Special Ops Agent Brendan Waddell and murder witness Lauren Everman find love at the ranch just in time for Christmas.
Then in All is Bright, Delilah is helping Elin plan her dream wedding. But she’ll need the help of Sheriff Tom Bourne to make it happen–and she might find some romance of her own.
A Royal Christmas by Melody Carlson
It’s a royal fairytale come true! Hardworking attorney Adelaide Smith gets a Christmas surprise when she finds out she’s descended from the king of a small Eastern European nation.
When she travels to the nation of Montovia for Christmas, all of her holiday dreams–including romance just might come true.
The Wish Book Christmas by Lynn Austin
I haven’t gotten a chance to read this yet, but I already know I’m going to love it. It’s a sequel to Lynn’s book If I Were You, which is one of my favorite books I read in 2021. (Seriously, if you haven’t read it, drop everything and do it now.)
In their first Christmas in post-war America, Bobby and Harry are obsessed with the Sears wish book. To reign in their wishlists, their mothers decide to teach them the true meaning of the season.
What follows is a heartwarming story about healing and forgiveness, and maybe new love.
Have Yourself a Christensen Christmas by Susan May Warren
It’s not often that I fall in love with an entire fictional family, but the Christensens got me hook, line, and sinker! I love the whole series of books, and I can’t wait to dig into this latest one.
The Christensen kids have all seemingly found their happily-ever-after. But that may change in this newest installment. Each one of them is facing some new challenges, and it may be their final Christmas together.
Obviously, if you haven’t read the Christensen series, this probably isn’t the book for you. But if you know them and love them, a Christensen Christmas is the perfect way to spend your holiday.
Baby, It’s Cold Outside by Susan May Warren
Baby, It’s Cold Outside is the offender that made me so anti-social a few Christmases ago. (Well, that and the fact that I’m an introvert and Christmas is very people-y.)
This book is about 5 people who get snowed in together just before Christmas. None of them are feeling the Christmas spirit, and each is wrestling with grief and secrets.
But the magic of Christmas, and one small child might be just what they need to find hope for the future. It promises to be a Christmas they’ll never forget.
Christmas at Whitefriars by Elizabeth Camden
In this historical romance, Mary Beckwith is so excited that her family has traveled from America to visit her in her remote castle home in England. She’s anxious to show them the upgrades she’s made to Whitefriars.
Everett Wooten has been sending money to Mary to keep the castle running for years. When he hears of her improvements and future plans, he’s livid. He makes a surprise visit to the castle just before Christmas to set things straight.
To say that Everett and Mary don’t see eye-to-eye is an understatement. They disagree over everything–especially the future of Whitefriars.
But Christmas is a magical time and a hidden recipe might be just the thing to bring them together.
This novella is a spin-off from Elizabeth’s Empire State Series. I have only read one of those books, and I didn’t find that I needed to read the others to enjoy this one.
My favorites from Elizabeth Camden:
Christmas at the Circus by Joanne Bischof
I’m not actually sure you can call this a book. It’s really short–the Kindle version is under 30 pages. I mention it here because I love the circus, and I adored this book.
It’s a sequel to Joanne’s book The Lady and the Lionheart. I admit that it took me a very long time to get into reading The Lady and the Lionheart. But others kept telling me how good it was, so I kept going.
It turned out to be just as good as they said, and I’m glad I kept it up. Christmas at the Circus tells the story of Charlie and Ella Lionheart’s first Christmas in the circus, and the magic and secrets it held. I highly recommend both of these books!
A Christmas by the Sea by Melody Carlson
Wendy Harper is traveling to Seaside, Maine, to visit the cottage she inherited from her grandfather. Her plan is to fix the cottage up and flip it.
Her son, Jackson, has different ideas and is determined to move to Seaside for good. The longer Wendy stays in the quaint town, the more she wishes she could stay. And if it’s up to one charming local, she just might!
Don’t miss Melody’s other Christmas novels:
While it Was Snowing by Tari Farris
While It Was Snowing is part of Tari’s Restoring Heritage series, but I think you can still enjoy it as a standalone. It’s a classic story of two best friends who secretly have feelings for one another.
All it takes to bring them together is being stuck together in a snowstorm!
A Royal Christmas Wedding by Rachel Hauck
Rachel’s Royal Wedding Series is one of my favorite series of all time. And A Royal Christmas Wedding is the best in that series. (Yes, it’s a matter of opinion!)
When Avery Truitt visits her sister, Queen Susannah in Brighton Kingdom, she meets her old flame Prince Colin. Will an old legend about a Christmas bell bring them together? Or will circumstances and unhappy family members stop their romance?
What do you think of my list? Have you read and enjoyed any of these books? What would you add? I’m always on the lookout for new books to read. Drop a comment and let me know your favorites Christmas reads, so I can add them to my list!
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Reading is one of my happy places, so I will have to check out some of these great reads.