When it comes to diversifying historical romance, we need to diversify our holiday romances!
Every year in December, the annals of historical romance are flooded with Christmas stories. Perhaps I’m a little bit of a grinch, but it always makes me want to seek out novels that explore holidays beyond Christmas.
This year (2023), I decided to round up all the historical romances I could find that are centered around a holiday that is not Christmas. It was harder than I expected! I am going to keep my reading eyes open to hopefully update this list with more books–and more holidays–as I find them!
Here are some holiday historical romances that aren’t about Christmas:
Holiday: Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur
Sailor’s Delight
By Rose Lerner
Era: Regency
Length: Novella
Average Goodreads Rating: 3.95
Self-effacing, overworked bookkeeper Elie Benezet doesn’t have time to be in love. Too bad he already is—with his favorite client, Augustus Brine. The Royal Navy sailing master is kind, handsome, and breathtakingly competent. He’s also engaged to his childhood sweetheart. And now that his prize money is coming in after years of delay, he can afford to marry her…once Elie submits the final prize paperwork.
When Augustus comes home, determined to marry by the end of his brief leave, Elie does his best to set his broken heart aside and make it happen. But he’s interrupted by one thing after another: other clients, the high holidays, his family’s relentless efforts to marry him off. Augustus isn’t helping by renting a room down the hall, shaving shirtless with his door open, and inviting Elie to the public baths. If Elie didn’t know better, he’d think Augustus didn’t want to get married.
To cap it all off, Augustus’s fiancée arrives in town, senses that Elie has a secret, and promptly accuses him of embezzling. Has Elie’s doom been sealed…or is there still time to change his fate?
Holiday: Chanukah
An Open Heart
By Caroline Warfield
Era: Regency
Length: Novella
Average Goodreads Rating: 3.82
Esther Baumann longs for a loving husband who will help her create a home where they will teach their children to value the traditions of their people. It is 1812, and Chanukah fell the month before she arrives at the Duchess of Haverford's house party. She's open to what the house party might bring. Tradition is important, but Esther also wants a man who is also open to new ideas and happy to make friends outside their narrow circle. Is it so unreasonable to ask for toe curling passion as well?
Adam Halevy prospered under the tutelage of his distant cousin, powerful banker Nathaniel Baumann. He's ready to find a suitable wife, someone who understands a woman's role, and will make a traditional home. Why is Baumann's outspoken, independent daughter the one woman who haunts his nights? When a business trip forces him to open his mind to new ideas and he arrives home to find Esther gone, what can he do? He follows her to the Duchess's ball unannounced.
Holiday: New Year
Secrets of a Perfect Night
By Stephanie Laurens, Victoria Alexander, and Rachel Gibson
Era: Regency
Length: Anthology
Average Goodreads Rating: 3.82
Three spectacular stories all set on New Year′s Eve. First, Stephanie Laurens enthralls us with a New Year′s scandal, when a rake awakens in the bed of the temptress who seduced him years before. Then, Victoria Alexander enchants with her tale of a love promised, then foiled and then rekindled on another midnight. And Rachel Gibson delights with the reunion of two estranged friends and the passionate sparks that fly when the clock strikes twelve.
Sweets and Spirits Ball
By Heather Hallman
Era: Meiji Japan
Length: Novella
Average Goodreads Rating: 4.33
American Civil War veteran Oliver Collingsworth has spent 1872 performing engineering feats in Tokyo’s foreign quarter and biding his time to tell witty, captivating Lydia Wright of his longstanding affection.
Lydia has tasted blissful freedom since her missionary parents left Tokyo, and she has no intention of giving it up. The foreign quarter’s matchmaker has found Lydia the perfect candidate for a practical union that will ensure her continued independence.
But he’s no Oliver.
She ought to be prudent and welcome in the new year alongside her betrothed. But Lydia’s freedom has gone to her head, and in Tokyo’s foreign quarter, a heady sense of freedom can wreak havoc on even the best-laid plans.
What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?
By Cat Sebastian
Era: Steampunk Gilded Age New York
Length: Anthology
Average Goodreads Rating: 4.41
Eschewing his privileged life as heir to an automaton empire, William Ashton, Jr. spends his days diving into research and pining for the young woman who frequents his branch of the NYPL. Until one careless word from his mother leaves him with every Knickerbocker princess and penniless chambermaid eager to become his date for the biggest New Year’s Gala in Manhattan.
Maddie Peters has long admired sweet and shy librarian Will Ashton, but his family’s position in high society means anything more than friendship is a fantasy. When a letter arrives to say that Will has invited her to his mother’s exclusive party, Maddie is flabbergasted. She’s sure it’s a mistake, but she’s not one to waste the opportunity to woo him.
Angry neighbors, meddling guardians, and rampaging mechanical dragons all threaten Will and Maddie’s chance at holiday romance. But when the clock strikes midnight, these two lovers might find they have what it takes to wind up in each other’s arms.
New Year’s Masquerade
By Katherine Grant (me)
Era: Regency
Length: Short story
Average Goodreads Rating: 3.85
New Year's Eve, 1810
Bernard Talbot, Earl of Gresham, is ready to take the next step: make Miss Lisbeth Dawes his countess and continue the Gresham legacy.
Then, just in time for the New Year's masquerade ball, Annabelle returns. Annabelle is Bernard's first and only love, lost to the Duke of Surrey seven years ago. Now she is widowed and hoping to step back into Bernard's life.
With just one night left before his wedding, Bernard must decide whether to honor duty or follow his heart.
New Year’s Masquerade
By Isabella Thorne
Era: Regency
Length: Short story
Average Goodreads Rating: 4.0
Lady Matilda Darcy just celebrated her first Christmas since the fire—her first Christmas without her parents, the Marquis and Marchioness of Darcy. (In Just One Christmas Kiss) She only has her little brother Clarence and her dour Aunt Alda as family. But on Christmas Eve she meets the new Lord Barrington. Uninitiated in the ways of the Ton, he is shy and unassuming, but has an inner strength that attracts Matilda. He shows her his hound puppies, and they kiss under the mistletoe.
Aunt Alda is determined that her niece will marry well, and a second rate Lord, who only just acquired the title, is simply not good enough. She thinks that Lord Phillips is a better choice. In fact, she thinks most everyone is a better choice.
Luckily, Aunt Alda won’t know who is under the mask, at the New Year’s Masquerade.