Twelve short stories written by twelve authors is the perfect collection to give you a break …in a manageable length for the Chaos that is advent. Ranging from sweet to SPICY, this book has a bit of everything, like a fictional Christmas stocking full of surprises. Thanks to Atria and NetGalley for this holiday treat! The Twelve Loves of Christmas published September 29, 2026.
I’m a sucker for a Christmas town, animals and characters with passion, and not just the Steamy kind. Noah is a grinchy vet who left his small town to make his own mark at his clinic and Eloise is a Jolly… Noah’s term for people who love the holidays. The story of how Eloise tries to turn Noah into Mr. Christmas, and save his family’s farm, is as entertaining as it is joyful. It was a great way to get into the spirit! Thanks to Atria and NetGalley for the review copy! Mistletoe All the Way was released on October 6, 2026.
Tyler was the one who actually escaped from the mountain he was raised on, leaving behind all his friends, lover and family, such as it was, to become a famous rock star. He named his band after the mountain and his first hit was an elegy to the friends he left behind. When his manager books his comeback tour to begin on that same mountain, it’s clear there will be a reckoning.
Unlike many reviewers, I found the characters to be deep and authentic in that small town, closed community way. It could have been set in the Midwest, the deep south, or a ranch in Montana and the sensibility would be the same. That’s what makes a Russo novel special…the characters are people we know.
That said, the tragedies of the novel, particularly after the crash, seem to be a bit much. The original one was enough to carry the narrative, and the latter half of the book took on more themes that are less conducive to the literary genre… particularly the police corruption and racism. Still, it was a joy to read Russo again. Thanks to Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage and Anchor, the publisher and to NetGalley for the review copy. Under the Falls was published August 11, 2026.
