December Reads: Witchy, Wintry, and a Little Wicked

December reading always sounds ambitious. . .in theory. In practice? Between holidays, end-of-year chaos, and the small matter of diving headfirst into drafting the next Wheel of the Year Mysteries book, my reading time shrank faster than daylight before the solstice. While everyone else was wrapped in Yule vibes, I was already sneaking glances ahead to Litha—sun, fire, and long days where secrets don’t stay buried for long.

So this month’s reads skewed toward the cozy, the witchy, and the deliciously bite-sized. Think comfort reads with teeth, a little folklore, a little romance, and just enough magic to keep me grounded while I plot midsummer trouble.

The Ex Hex

Nine years ago, Vivienne Jones did what any heartbroken young witch might do: vodka, sad playlists, bubble baths… and a curse. Nothing serious—just a little magical payback delivered via an orchard hayride scented candle. What could go wrong?

Everything.

With Celtic-flavored witchcraft, ley lines, small-town vibes, and sizzling second-chance romance, The Ex Hex is exactly what it promises to be: fun, flirty, and delightfully witchy. A perfect cozy escape when the season gets a little too loud.

The Wedding Witch A dual-POV magical time-travel romance that leans fully into wintery atmosphere and old-world enchantment. When Bowen Penhallow finds himself spellbound—and literally displaced in time—his only hope lies with a woman he feels inexplicably drawn to, especially when a spell sends them tumbling into a Yuletide celebration more than fifty years in the past.

I enjoyed the first book enough to pick up the second, which is always my litmus test. This one delivered: cozy, spooky, and emotionally satisfying, with a female protagonist I liked even more than before. Ideal reading for the Winter Solstice.

House of Frost and Feathers

A young woman searches for a home, and a home searches for souls to inhabit it. Drawing on Baba Yaga folklore, this self-described “folkloric fantasy” aims for cozy vibes with mythic bones.

Unfortunately, while the premise had promise, the execution dragged. The story lingered too long in interpersonal irritation, momentum stalled, and by the midpoint, it felt like a slog. The ending didn’t quite reward the journey, leaving me more chilled than enchanted.

The Kill Clause: A Short Story

A hired killer. The holidays. A conscience inconveniently getting in the way of a contract.

This short thriller absolutely has teeth. It’s sharp, fast, clever, and packed with tension—proof that Lisa Unger doesn’t waste a single word. A wild, satisfying ride that delivers maximum impact in minimal time.

Note: This was a November 2025 Amazon First Read (free), which did not influence my opinion. Good writing stands on its own—and this one does.