Christmas in July or Summerween? Why Choose?

If you had told me years ago that I’d happily watch Christmas movies while it’s ninety-plus degrees outside or reach for a spooky mystery in the middle of July, I probably would have laughed. Yet here we are.

Somehow, July has become one of the coziest reading months of the year.

On one side, there’s Christmas in July, complete with holiday movies, twinkling lights, festive books, and all the cozy feelings that make December so magical. On the other, there’s Summerween, a celebration of all things spooky, mysterious, and just a little ghostly without being too scary.

As a cozy mystery reader, I have to admit…I’m here for both.

Christmas in July

There’s something wonderfully comforting about stepping into a snowy Christmas village when the air conditioner is running and the sun is blazing outside. It’s the perfect excuse to revisit favorite holiday books, bake a batch of cookies, or enjoy a Christmas movie without waiting for December to roll around.

For me, Christmas stories have always been about more than the holiday itself. They’re about community, traditions, friendships, and spending time with characters who feel like old friends.

Summerween

Then there’s Summerween.

If Christmas in July wraps you in a warm blanket, Summerween invites you to wander through a misty cemetery, explore an old library, or uncover a long-buried family secret. Think charming small towns, mysterious neighbors, ghosts with unfinished business, and just enough chills to keep you turning the pages.

Not horror.

Just cozy with a spooky twist.

Why Readers Love Both

I think there’s a reason these two celebrations have become so popular with readers.

We get to escape into another season.

Books have always had a way of transporting us. Whether it’s snowflakes or falling leaves, we can visit another time of year whenever we want.

Cozy is always in season.

A cozy reading afternoon doesn’t depend on the calendar. Give me a comfortable chair, a good book, and a cup of coffee, and I’m happy any time of year.

Seasonal stories feel special.

Holiday mysteries and paranormal cozy mysteries create experiences that are different from everyday reads. They become part of the season itself.

They’re the perfect excuse to slow down.

Summer can be busy. Reading a Christmas mystery or a spooky cozy is a wonderful reminder to carve out a little quiet time for yourself.

They build excitement for what’s ahead.

Christmas in July makes me look forward to the holidays, while Summerween is the perfect bridge to autumn, pumpkins, sweaters, and crisp mornings.

Why I Love July

It’s probably no surprise that I have a soft spot for both. I’ve had so much fun writing two Halloween-themed books and a Christmas cozy mystery. All three were filled with holiday traditions, recipes and festive celebrations. And now, with my new upcoming paranormal cozy mystery, I’ve had the joy of spending my days with ghosts, old buildings, and small-town secrets.

Maybe that’s why July feels like such a perfect reading month to me. It celebrates both sides of cozy reading, and honestly, I don’t think readers have to choose.

If you’re in the mood for holiday cheer, pick up a Christmas mystery.

If you’re craving a little mystery with a hint of the supernatural, Summerween has plenty to offer.

Or do what I plan to do.

Enjoy both.

I’d love to hear from you!

Which team are you on this July?

🎄 Christmas in July

👻 Summerween

📚 Or are you happily celebrating both?

Tell me in the comments!

A CORPSE AMONG THE CAROLERS

Hope Early is fully immersed in the spirit of the Christmas season, until the sounds of joyful carolers are silenced by the words “Ho-ho-homicide” . . .

Food blogger Hope Early always gets a hearty holiday laugh from knowing that the weeks leading up to Christmas are as frantic as they are festive. But in spite of everything she has to do, the one thing she always has time for is the annual Jingle Bell Stroll, a night when the community gathers to sing their hearts out and enjoy each other’s company. This year’s caroling feels especially heartwarming, until the final note lands with a thud when Hope finds the body of the man who’d volunteered to play Santa, a knife plunged into his back.

With virtually the whole town present at the caroling, the list of suspects seems endless. It doesn’t take long, though, for both Hope and the police to turn a sharp eye on the victim’s bitter and vindictive ex-wife, along with his new wife, who may have been after his money. Then Hope unearths a clue that suggests the dead man may have been hiding a sordid past and connections to unseemly characters. But as she closes in on the killer, they’re determined to wring her neck before she can ring in the new year . . .

Includes tasty and toasty holiday recipes!

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE

A CORPSE AT THE WITCHING HOUR

Hope Early has to contend with ghosts, a fatal curse, and a decades-old family secret to catch a killer in the new Food Blogger Mystery . . .

When her best friend’s Aunt Issy falls ill, food blogger Hope Early agrees to help him hand out Halloween candy at his aunt’s house, which is rumored to be cursed. A murder-suicide took place there a century ago, and legend has it that a woman has died there every twenty years since—on Halloween. Hope doesn’t really believe in curses or ghosts, but when all the trick-or-treaters are gone and she discovers a woman’s dead body on the front lawn, she wonders if the curse might be real after all.

Then Hope and her friend discover a cache of love letters linking the dead woman to Aunt Issy’s husband years ago, and Hope is certain they’ve uncovered the motive for murder—and the police are certain Aunt Issy is their main suspect. Determined to prove Issy’s innocence and nab the real culprit, Hope starts shaking other branches of the family tree. But she forgets that Halloween isn’t the only day people hide behind masks, and if she’s not careful, Hope will come face-to-face with a ghoulish fiend who’s not afraid to kill again . . .

Recipes included!

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE

What Not to Wear to a Graveyard

After trading her Manhattan digs for her upstate hometown, fashionista Kelly Quinn has big plans for her grandmother’s consignment shop. But this All Hallow’s Eve someone is already dressed to kill . . .

A socialite’s missing dog has made front page news in Lucky Cove—complete with a hefty reward. But between renovating the consignment shop, planning her costume for a 1970s themed Halloween party, and scouting a location for a fashion shoot, Kelly doesn’t have time to search. Yet a visit to the local colonial-era cemetery—ideal for the moody atmosphere she’s after—soon turns up the precious pooch. Kelly’s looking forward to collecting the check—until she makes a gruesome discovery in an abandoned farmhouse: The dog’s owner, stabbed through the heart.

Kelly can’t help wondering why Constance Lane was traipsing around the farmhouse in stilettos. But as Kelly gets decked out in a vintage disco caftan, that isn’t the only fashion misstatement spooking her. Hidden in the dead woman’s past is a secret that could be the motive for the murder. And as the Halloween party gets started, even a menacing clown and a threatening bearded lady can’t keep Kelly from trick or treating for the truth—even if it means her last dance . . .

Amazon | Barnes & Noble