Romance authors love to pen novels and stories set in and around Christmas and we love to read them. This year there is a bumper crop of these seasonal tales, so grab your hot cocoa and enjoy.

Sleigh bells in the snow by Sarah Morgan

The Christmas he loved her by Juliana Stone

Carla Kelly's Christmas collection: four stories filled with romance and Christmas cheer by Carla Kelly

The cowboy's Christmas baby by Carolyn Brown

Lady Jenny's Christmas portrait by Grace Burrowes

Take me home for Christmas by Brenda Novak

JFK [videodisc] by written by Mark Zwonitzer ; produced and directed by Susan Bellows

Is school enough? [videodisc] by produced by Mobile Digital Arts in association with TPT National Productions ; produced and directed by Stephen Brown.

We steal secrets [videodisc]: the story of Wikileaks by Focus World presents a Jigsaw/Global Produce production ; an Alex Gibney film ; produced by Marc Shmuger, Alex Gibney, Alexis Bloom ; written and directed by Alex Gibney

Latino Americans [videodisc]: the 500-year legacy that shaped a nation by produced by Nina Alvarez, Adriana Bosch, Daniel McCabe, Cathleen O'Connell, Ray Telles, John Valadez ; directed by David Belton, Sonia Fritz

North America [videodisc] by produced by Adam Chapman, Justin Anderson, Mark Brownlow ; written by Sarah Kass, Max Salomon, Laura Fravel, James Manfull, Jeanine Isabel Butler

Secrets of the Dead: JFK: One PM Central Standard Time by Artist Not Provided

Bagels from Benny by Aubrey Davis ; illustrated by Dusan Petricic

The legend of the bluebonnet: an old tale of Texas by retold and illustrated by Tomie dePaola

The giving tree by Shel Silverstein

Brother sun, sister moon: the life and stories of St. Francis by Margaret Mayo ; illustrated by Peter Malone

The velveteen rabbit by retold and Illustrated by Komako Sakai ; translated from the Japanese by Yuki Kaneko

Small gifts in God's hands by Max Lucado ; illustrated by Cheri Bladholm

New and delightful cookbooks and memoirs highlighting cuisines from many cultures.

Mastering the art of Soviet cooking: a memoir of love and longing by Anya von Bremzen — This witty memoir captures the feasts and famines of three generations of Russian women.

Japanese soul cooking: ramen, tonkatsu, tempura, and more from the streets and kitchens of Tokyo and beyond by Tadashi Ono and Harris Salat ; photography by Todd Coleman — Comfort food Japanese-style.

Mastering the art of French eating: lessons in food and love from a year in Paris by Ann Mah — When her diplomat husband is assigned to Paris, Ann plots gastronomic adventures à deux. But when he is called to Iraq on a year-long post, Ann must stay alone in the City of Light.

Notes from the larder: a kitchen diary with recipes by Nigel Slater ; photographs by Jonathan Lovekin — British food writer Slater muses on a year in the kitchen--including a personal selection of simple and seasonal recipes.