Okay, so I DID write a post about Holiday Dread just last week, and because I’m me and I love both the downs AND the ups of the emotional rollercoaster, I’m back unexpectedly soon to restore balance to the Force with some *makes Price is Right all-this-can-be-yours hand gesture* Holiday Happiness!
Recently, I read a newsletter that tackled the nature of happiness. I really wish I could remember who wrote it, or where you could find it, but a quick Google search didn’t turn up anything and I can’t devote a lot of time to looking since I’m supposed to be drafting Book 4. Drafting is by far the most difficult phase of writing for me, and if the planning stage is anything to go by, Book 4 is going to be a self-inflicted MFer. I have to try very hard not to chase every squirrel that runs through my field of vision or I’ll never hit my deadline, but if you know the source I’m talking about, drop me a comment and I’ll update this in the archives (with proper credit to the subscriber sleuth of course!).
Anyway, that was a very Maggie North™ opening in that it was long, convoluted, and didn’t really get where it was trying to go. The point was that this mystery newsletter talked about the so-called “hedonic treadmill,” although not in so many words. The hedonic treadmill is a rather joyless name for a psychological theory describing how humans tend to get used to both the happy and the difficult things in our lives.
The great thing about this legendary newsletter was that it didn’t portray happiness as a treadmill you plod along on day after day, always going back to your baseline emotional state and never getting anywhere.
Instead, it depicted life as a journey punctuated by delicious baked potatoes of happiness. If someone hands you a baked potato, that sucker won’t be hot for long. Your best bet is to enjoy it now, because it’s not meant to last forever. Someday, ideally soon, you’ll get another potato. In this way, your life is dotted with bright memories of potatoes past, and illuminated by the hope of future potato-based joy.
In the holiday tradition of sharing a hot meal with friends, I thought I’d tell you about the book potatoes that have made my holidays warm and satisfying, in case you might find any of them delicious.
Freebies to the front of the line! I adore Regina Black the person and Regina Black the writer, and when you sign up for her newsletter your reward is a shot of her signature hot, messy, beautifully written romance. This novella spans years of a just-for-the-holidays fake relationship with, if I recall correctly, an age gap where he’s five-ish years younger. You’ll also get the whip-smartest thoughts about romance and popular culture you’ve ever read. Absolutely mind-blowing, and did I mention it’s free?
Subscribe to The Critical Heart
Freebie number two! I’ve told this story before, but the prologue of The Ripple Effect was originally conceived as a hot holiday short written for a group of romance buddies back in 2021. Because I’m perpetually and relentlessly Canadian, I wrote a Winter on Canada Day theme and later modified it to feel like a New Year’s snowfall at a spring festival so it would fit the timeline of the book. It’s hotter than the rest of The Ripple Effect (but not hotter than FOSSIL FEUD, gulp!).
Free download of TRE: the Deleted Scenes
As I write these words, this gorgeous novelette is on sale for $0.99. It’s the perfect snowed-in-by necessity-but-also-by-choice, deeply character-driven, wistful December read of my dreams. This book is worth any money, but why not get it on sale? I don’t know how long it will stay at this price, so don’t wait!
Rachel Reid’s Heated Rivalry is, as far as I can tell, taking over the world, AND WE LOVE IT. Fortunately for those of us who are obsessed with Shane and Ilya, Rachel has many more scorching queer hockey romances for us to enjoy while we wait for the next episode to drop. This one’s on my TBR, but if you’ve read it already, drop a comment with your favorite part so I can look forward to all the best bits!
A snowed-in extravaganza reminiscent of classic romcoms with multiple romances in one book/movie. Uzma and Marissa are both holiday romance specialists, which (as any romance author knows) is no easy feat in the crowded December lineup. Last year, this one kept me cozy on dark mornings curled up by the Christmas tree.
Buy Three Holidays and a Wedding
If you’ve read my books, you already know that if I were a baked good, I’d be a lemon bar: the tartness is what makes the sweetness pop. That’s why my favorite Christmas carol is Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, and also why one of my favorite romances to read at the holidays is With Love, from Cold World. Alicia Thompson does such beautiful melancholy mixed with sweet and cozy vibes, and I’ve reread this one enough that it falls open automatically at Chapter 13. Alicia would tell you to buy it at her local indie, Tombolo Books. (I think there might be an option for a custom inscription, as well, but don’t quote me on that.)
Buy With Love, from Cold World
I’m already running with the flavor metaphor, so why not carry on? Nobody does a sweet and salty female main character like Sarah Brenton, and if you ask me, Holiday Vibes is Sarah at her best. Celebrity romance, brother’s best friend, endless zingers, and enemies with benefits all wrapped up in a big messy family bow.
That’s all of my potatoes for now, but I may be back later in the month with my semi-annual What I’m Wearing guide for your durable winter comfort needs! Also, does anyone care about recipes? If you do, leave a comment and I’ll share my much-requested original recipe for Holiday Ginger Danger Cookies.
Wishing you much holiday happiness,
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