I know that I am behind the times by only finally subscribing to Audible in 2023, but there are actually a lot of benefits to membership. (Yes, I do understand that many people do not want to subscribe to Audible/give money to Amazon, but if you already are, you can at least take advantage of it.) One of those huge benefits is access to the Audible Plus catalogue. You can listen to these books and podcasts for free (you do not need to use a credit) as long as you are actively subscribed. And of course, I found the free Christmas books and podcasts. So, for Blogmas 2023, I am sharing the best Christmas books on Audible!
The Best Christmas Books on Audible
The Christmas Hirelings, Mary Elizabeth Braddon (Narrated by Richard Armitage)
Richard Armitage modernizes a classic hidden gem of Christmas Past… Sir John Penlyon is planning to spend Christmas at his estate with his niece and his friend Danby, the closest thing he has to family since disowning his daughter years ago. (She eloped with the parson, who was, of course, penniless.) Danby suggests that at Christmastime the estate needs the presence of small children, and offers to find some – the “hirelings” – despite Sir John’s skepticism. Three children duly arrive, and the youngest, precocious four year-old Moppet, quickly endears herself to Sir John. The season takes flight with merriment, warmth, and even affection, until Moppet – as young children are wont to do in Victorian holiday tales – falls deathly ill. With her life hanging by a tinsel-thin thread, how will the makeshift family cope?
Why You Should Read This…
This is absolutely the book for you if you like to re-read or re-watch The Christmas Carol every year. As a Victorian story, it does have a slightly different rhythm than most of us are used to but it is cosy and charming, and I felt completely transported to a Victorian Christmas. And of course, Richard Armitage is a spectacular narrator. (There is also a version where Jennifer Saunders narrates that I’m sure is wonderful as well, but I’ve not listened to it.)
There’s Something About Merry, Codi Hall (Narrated by Cj Bloom, Lee Samuels)
Merry Winters has the holiday blues. She’s spent the last year learning to love herself, and now she’s ready to find the right guy. But the pickings are slim in Mistletoe, Idaho, and it’s just her luck that the man who catches her eye is the stoic new foreman at her family’s Christmas tree farm. Too bad he wants to keep a 39-and-a-half-foot pole between them.
Single dad Clark Griffin isn’t looking for romance, but he wouldn’t mind a friend to snuggle with on a cold winter’s night. When he signs up for online dating, he doesn’t expect to connect with the sassy, crafty Knottygirl25 and get wrapped up in every message she writes.
But when Merry turns out to be his blind internet date, his surprise causes him to miss his chance under the mistletoe. Can a little Christmas magic give these two a second chance at a first impression?
Why You Should Read This…
Before I go any further, this is a spicy romance. I know that they are popular on BookTok, but it’s not everyone’s cup of tea and it’s not a normal type of recommendation for me. However, I did find this book a lot of fun. This is book 2 in a series (they are all free for any Audible members with active subscriptions), but I haven’t read the others- in no way did I feel like I was lost or couldn’t follow this. If you enjoy Hallmark movies but want something slightly less “G-rated”, this is a good option for you!
Once Upon a Christmas Carol, Karen Schaler (Narrated by Brittany Presley, Ryan Paevey, more)
Rachel Rinehart’s Christmas season is on the brink of disaster when her record label suddenly drops her, threatening to end her music career. Then she receives a mysterious Christmas card, and everything starts to change….
Inside the card are lyrics to a classic Christmas carol urging her to return home to Crystal Falls, the snowy mountain town she left behind 15 years ago.
Once she arrives in Crystal Falls, a stroke of fate brings her face-to-face with her first love, Matt Meyers, who’s now a devoted single dad. Rachel continues to receive mysterious cards filled with Christmas carol lyrics and clues she must follow—all leading her back to Matt. Is it the work of a hometown matchmaker, or could it be Christmas magic? And will the music and majesty of the season help Rachel discover where she truly belongs?
Why You Should Read This…
If you love Hallmark movies, this is absolutely the audiobook for you. Not only has Karen Schaler, the author, written books that have already been turned into Hallmark movies, Hallmark star Ryan Paevey helps narrate. The other narrator, Brittany Pressley, is also one of my favourites, so it was a must-listen when I saw this. And it is just over two hours, making it a great choice if you are short on time.
Mistletoe Murders, Ken Cuperus (Narrated by Colbie Smulders, Raymond Ablack, Anna Cathcart, more)
When Emily Lane isn’t busy running her charming Christmas-themed store, ”Under the Mistletoe,” located in the quaint tourist town of Fletcher’s Grove, she finds herself compelled to investigate not so quaint local murders. On the surface, Emily is a perfectly lovely, good-natured puzzle-solver and mystery lover. But she is hiding a secret past from everyone in town. And when Emily begins her personal investigations, Detective-Constable Sam Wilner, a smart and attractive local cop – with a crush on Emily that is not completely unrequited – begins to wonder if there’s more to Emily than meets the eye.
Why You Should Read This…
Mistletoe Murders is technically a podcast, but it is one of the free included options and as I’ve relistened multiple times, I knew I had to include it. It is made of three, two-episode mysteries (6 episodes total) in Canadian town Fletcher’s Grove that seems to have more than its fair share of festive murders. This podcast is really a who’s who of Canadian actors, and it really made me feel like it was a modern radio play. The drama and action moves at a good pace, too, but you never feel rushed. This is a must-listen for anyone who loves a good mystery.
Mistletoe Murders 2, Ken Cuperus (Narrated by Colbie Smulders, Raymond Ablack, Anna Cathcart, Jean Yoon, Enrico Colantino, Kevin Hanchard, more)
Back by popular demand, Cobie Smulders (How I Met Your Mother) reprises her role as the captivating Emily Lane in the much-anticipated new season of Mistletoe Murders, from Canadian Screen Award winner Ken Cuperus. With Ginny & Georgia’s Raymond Ablack, plus a stellar ensemble cast featuring Anna Cathcart (To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before), Enrico Colantoni (Veronica Mars), and Jean Yoon (Kim’s Convenience), this Audible Original will help you prepare for a cozy (and criminal) holiday season.
Why You Should Read This…
The second Mistletoe Murders is an audiobook instead of a podcast with multiple episodes, but it still features three different mysteries that are roughly the same length. (While I would love to visit Fletcher’s Grove and Under the Mistletoe, I don’t know that I want to be that close to the murders that keep happening…) Not only is the full cast from the first instalment back, we have even more big-name Canadian actors joining the cast. I had to force myself to metre this one out so I wouldn’t rush myself!
What are your favourite Christmas books?
Cheers,
The Historian
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