Lighting Up Christmas: Four Faith-Filled Christmas Romance Novellas

by Amy R. Anguish, Heather Greer, Mary Pat Johns

Four Christmas lights. Four love stories. One season filled with faith, hope, and happily-ever-afters.

In Lighting Up Christmas, four heartwarming holiday romance novellas shine with cozy charm, clean romance, small-town warmth, and the gentle reminder that God can bring light to even the dimmest season.

In The Bright Side of Christmas by Amy R. Anguish, Holly Belle loves Christmas, holiday décor, and twinkling lights. Her new neighbor, Robert Bradshaw, prefers peace, quiet, and keeping her Christmas cheer firmly on her side of the duplex. But when Holly decides his grinchy heart needs a little holiday help, their battle over lights may lead to something brighter than either one expected.

In The Light of a Christmas Star by Heather Greer, Elena Bell is determined to make Tannenbaum’s Festival of Lights a success for the families depending on it. When rising Hollywood star Trenton Wills arrives at her B&B, he may be the answer to the town’s needs—and the beginning of Elena’s own Christmas romance. But Trenton has secrets that could dim more than the festival lights.

In ’Twas the Light Before Christmas by Mary Pat Johns, Cooper Blackmon enters the region’s biggest Christmas lights competition determined to win. Mandy Alvarez needs the prize money to save her family’s beloved Christmas Village. As rivalry turns to friendship and friendship glows into something more, only one can claim the prize. But both may have far more to lose than money.

In Pitch Perfect Lights by Regina Rudd Merrick, Holly Shepherd is facing her family’s first Christmas after loss while trying to create joy for her young siblings. When author Paxton Hollis returns home and quietly helps revive her father’s beloved light display, Holly discovers that hope can still shine, even through grief.

A charming choice for readers who enjoy clean, faith-friendly romance wrapped in Christmas lights, small-town warmth, and happily-ever-after hope.

Read Lighting Up Christmas and discover four faith-filled holiday love stories that glow with joy, hope, and the true light of Christmas.

Genres: Christmas

442 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication September 29, 2026

About the author

Amy R Anguish grew up a preacher's kid, and in spite of having lived in seven different states that are all south of the Mason Dixon line, she is not a football fan. Currently, she resides in Tennessee with her husband, daughter, and son, and usually a bossy cat or two. Amy has an English degree from Freed-Hardeman University that she intends to use to glorify God, and she wants her stories to show that while Christians face real struggles, it can still work out for good.

Reviews

[Lisa]

Amy's book was funny, entertaining and love inspiring. Holly and Robert live in the same duplex and Holly is a Christmas guru...loves everything Christmas. Robert was raised by a mom who barely celebrated Christmas and he is a true hermit working all day and staying inside him duplex. One day he is interrupted by music that was so loud. Holly was playing Christmas music and didn't realize how loud the music had become. Robert said to make sure the decorations she is putting in the yard do not go past her line and his. Holly can't understand Robert's lack of wanting anything Christmas. Slowly Robert gives into the Christmas spirit and even ends up buying some decorations for Holly. This was such a cute book and I loved being an ARC for Amy.

I finished the second book and it was equally as good as Amy's. I didnt leave a review for it, but it was fun and enjoyable to read.

I am on book 3 now

[Taylor Barstad]

More to come at a later date.

[Danielle Turko]

Faith, love, and Christmas surround all four of these novellas, and if you are a fan of Hallmark Christmas movies you are sure to love this collection. "The Bright Side of Christmas" finds Holly with a new neighbour, one who apparently doesn't like Christmas. At least, he says he doesn't like the music or her decorations, and honestly if you don't like those two things what else is there? She makes it her personal mission to win Robert over to Christmas, and if it means spending time with the handsome therapist she is willing to make that sacrifice. Trenton Wills is given an ultimatum by his director (and best friend) in "The Light of a Christmas Star": Find his Christmas spirit and figure out how to properly portray it on the camera, or he's getting kicked off the film. When Trenton is sent to Tannenbaum he wonders if it's some kind of punishment, but when he meets Elena he quickly learns that falling in love at Christmas doesn't just happen in the movies. Cooper and Mandy both want to the county light show in "'Twas the Light before Christmas," Cooper so his brother can buy him out of Wonderland where there creative differences are starting to strain their familial relationship, and Mandy so she can buy Mandy's Christmas Village from her Grandma, the woman Mandy's father left to when he unexpectedly died. Her gran means well, but she wants to sell and Mandy can't imagine a life without the village in it. Trying to see each other gets harder when they keep coming to each others rescue, and when they both learn they are Christmas baby's their bond gets even stronger. Can the competition be what ultimately brings them together? Finally, in "A little Light Music" Holly Beth is feeling overwhelmed by the holidays. It's the first Christmas since her parents passed away, and while she loves being guardian to her younger siblings she is finding it hard to drum up any cheer when every thing she sees reminds her of the parents she lost. Piling on top of that, the school choir that she is conducting for her first year has won a regional competition and the next part of the competition has her scheduling extra rehearsals while still looking after everything else. Her best friend Angel offers to help, and when Angel's older brother Pax offers to help to she is shocked. She had a crush on Pax growing up, but it's been 10 years since she last saw him while he off becoming a best selling author. Her feelings are still there, but will he be willing to get involved with someone who comes with an instant family?
I received an advance copy of this novella, so while I don't have any qualms about reading a Christmas book in September this gave a bona fide excuse if someone judged me. In my opinion, each author was so similar that it was like reading four stories by the same person, but instead it was four people. The plot lines were like watching a Hallmark movie which I absolutely love so the problem was having to put it down so I could do functioning adult things like sleep and work when I just wanted to read the story. Highly recommend

[Ausjenny]

Thanks to the authors for my review copy.

I love the book and each story is well written. Often with Novella collections there are some better than others but not in this collection. Each book is special.

The Bright Side of Christmas by Amy R. Anguish. Holly Belle loves Christmas, holiday décor, and twinkling lights. Her new neighbour, Robert Bradshaw, prefers peace, quiet, and keeping her Christmas cheer firmly on her side of the duplex. Holly is one who would have Christmas lights up year round if she could but starts in November. Robert comes from a family where Christmas is compartmentalised into one day. Decorating is considered over the top and a waste of money.

I loved seeing how Holly rubbed off on Robert. I also love how we learn more about why his doesn’t want so much decoration and see him change. There are so many fun scenes in this story and I love how it ended. Well, no that’s not entirely true I really wanted more of this story I didn’t want it to end.

The Light of a Christmas Star by Heather Greer. Elena Bell is determined to make Tannenbaum’s Festival of Lights a success. Then Rising Hollywood star Trenton Wills arrives at her B&B and seems to want to join in could he be the answer. This year has been hard on some of the families and proceeds go to help them have a better Christmas. Trenton is trying to break out of his typecasting to play a hero at Christmas. The two hit it off until some information comes to light. Will the festival be a success.

We see how leaving out information even if it's unintentional can cause mistrust and where it leads. I did enjoy this story also and would love to see this sort of festival. It helped reading it on a cold day in Australia. Again, I didn't want the story to end but I do like how it ended.

’Twas the Light Before Christmas by Mary Pat Johns. Both Cooper Blackmon and Mandy Alvarez have entered the same contest for the region's biggest Christmas Lights. Both are determined to win for different but both valid reasons. Both have Christmas light displays one being a drive through experience and the other a Christmas Village with things to do. Again, I really enjoyed the story and would love to experience both places. Although I would lean towards Mandy's.

We have a couple of teen students of Mandy's who add to the story, Mandy's Grandmother and Coopers brother. I found this to be a charming story and could have kept reading. I wanted to experience the displays. I loved how it ended.

Pitch Perfect Lights by Regina Rudd Merrick. Holly Shepherd is a school music teacher, and her students are in a choir contest. She is looking after her younger siblings after family loss and is struggling. Her best friend's brother, author Paxton Hollis is home to ignite his children's book series. They both offer to help Holly and at the same time the siblings help ignite is passion with ideas for his book series.

This story shows love in action. Holly was reluctant to ask for help but needed it. With Paxton and his sisters help she was able to manage and learn it's ok to need help. For Paxton he found his voice again. This book even has an epilogue at the end which I really appreciated.

The whole series was really good. I would actually love to see a follow up novella with all the characters to see what happens next. Even the last story.

If you enjoy heartwarming Christmas stories give this book a go.

[Rachel]

The Bright Side of Christmas by Amy Anguish

Robert, a therapist who works from home and Holly, an event coordinator for a retired folks home, share a duplex but that’s about it. Robert is quite a grinch and Holly is about all things Christmas. A cute story about two quarreling neighbors who end up to be more with a story of faith and family mixed in. Amy does it again as she gets you into the spirit of the holidays with this wonderful novella that encourages you to share a little more joy to each person you encounter.

The Light of a Christmas Star by Heather Greer

Actor Trenton Willis is headed to a Christmas B&B while the owner, Elena Bell is busy setting up the towns Christmas festival. Trenton follows Elena on all her tasks for research on his new Christmas movie but isn’t exactly forthcoming about it and instead the two end up falling for one another. This was a fun story to read and will get you excited about all the events leading up to Christmas and put you in a spirit of giving to top of your holiday season.

‘Twas the Light Before Christmas by Mary Pat Johns

Cooper and Mandy, two Christmas villege rivals are competing for a grand prize. Things get more interesting with each chapter but this story will keep you reading to see what unfolds in all the things that come up in each of their lives.

A Little Light Music by Regina Rudd Merrick

Choir Director Holly is raising her twin siblings and juggling her choir rehearsals.
Paxton, struggling author and brother to Hollys best friend decides to help his Holly by hanging out with the twins when she has choir practice. This is a fun filled story of two friends who become more than they could ever dream just by helping each other out in the daily moments of life.

(I received a digital ARC of this book with no expectation in return. The opinions and comments above are mine alone.)

[Maureen Timerman]

Each story features beautiful Christmas Lights, and some sweet romance.
A different setting by four authors, but full of the Christmas spirit!
The first is a story about putting decorations and lights on your neighbor's property, what could go wrong here. Such a fun story! Then we host a rising Hollywood star, and he helps raise money, surprise! In the third story, there is a Christmas lights competition, who will win, with unexpected romance. The final has a family with a lot of grief, but the love and Christmas spirit come through here!
Four feel good reads with some sweet romance, that quickly become page turners, you can read one, or more in one sitting.
I received this book through the Author, and was not required to give a positive review.

[Thomas Robert]

★★★★★ **A Beautiful Christmas Collection Full of Heart!**

*Lighting Up Christmas* is a wonderfully heartwarming collection of clean Christmas romances filled with faith, hope, humor, and genuine emotion. Each novella brings its own charming characters and touching journey, while the themes of love, family, healing, and hope make the collection especially memorable. It’s cozy, uplifting, and perfect for anyone looking for feel-good holiday romance with a deeper message. **A beautiful collection that truly captures the light and spirit of Christmas!**