Blind Date with a Book: Christmas Edition

This cozy holiday spin on a Blind Date with a Book and Blessings Baskets is one of my favorite ways to surprise someone during the season.

Whenever I put together Blessings Baskets, I think about the reward that comes after all the preparation is done – that quiet moment when the last guest has headed home, the dishwasher is humming in the background, and you can finally settle in by the fire with a fresh set of pajamas, a good book, a cup of coffee, and a slice of pie.

I also think about my sisters during the holidays.

One calls me from the Aldi parking lot, sneaking bites of Christmas candy when she needs a break from the festive chaos.

The other calls from the corner of her suite to announce that the kids are off with their grandparents and she’s finally getting a few uninterrupted minutes to dive into a book.

As magical as the holidays can be, goodness, they can also be a lot of work.

That’s why I love filling bags, baskets, and boxes with little comforts that encourage rest and relaxation after a busy holiday weekend.

Blessings Baskets are especially thoughtful for those who don’t celebrate Spooky Season but still enjoy marking the transition into the holidays.

They’re also a wonderful way to show appreciation to hosts, friends, family members, and loved ones while sharing a little seasonal cheer before the hustle and bustle truly begins.

Here’s how we’re putting a cozy holiday spin on a Blind Date with a Book and a Blessings Basket.

Blind Date with a Book: Christmas Edition…

(Amazon affiliate links have been provided for your convenience. As an Amazon and Impact Media Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Any sales made through such links will support us with a small commission at no extra cost to you. You can read our full disclosure policy here)

• Emmanuel (An illustrated Advent exploration of what it means to experience God’s presence in our daily lives; I look forward to revisiting this book every year during Advent season)
• The Holiday Cottage (To the outside world, Imogen is a marketing genius. While her high-achieving professional image is real, her colleagues have no idea the happy childhood stories she spins are as fake as her pretend enthusiasm for Christmas. Working 24/7 has always been her solution to surviving the festive season—until burnout leads to a catastrophic blunder.
• The Big Book of Christmas Mysteries (Almost any kind of mystery you’re in the mood for suspense, pure detection, humor, cozy, private eye, or police procedural can be found in what’s widely considered the most complete collection of Yuletide whodunits ever assembled.)
• If It Makes You Happy (Grab your favorite fall candle, cuddle up a cozy blanket, and travel back to 1997 in this September to December slow-burn spicy romance set in small-town Vermont. I recently finished this book and loved it. It would be such a fun Netflix adaptation!
• One Day in December (NYT Bestseller, A Reese Book Club Pick) (Two people. Ten chances. One unforgettable spicy love story. “Get ready to be swept up in a whirlwind romance. It absolutely charmed me.”—Reese Witherspoon. If you loved Serendipity and Love Actually, you’ll love this book.)
• The 13^th Gift (NYT Bestseller) (A heartwarming Christmas story about how a random act of kindness transformed one of the bleakest moments in a family’s history into a time of strength and love.)
• One Big Happy Family (A joyfully funny and utterly irresistible story of a mother who dearly loves her adult children but hopes that, just this once, they don’t come home for Christmas so she can secretly spend time with her much younger boyfriend. But chaos ensues when her kids find out she’s been hiding him for months)
• The Christmas Spirit (NYT Bestseller) (Two lifelong friends, a local pastor and a bartender, decide to switch jobs until Christmas Eve. They’re surprised to find the two jobs have a lot of similarities. Will they each discover a new love to cherish and see each other in a new light?)  
• The Christmas Bookshop (Laid off from her department store job, Carmen has little cash and few options. Reluctantly, she takes a job at a bookshop in historic Edinburgh. Will she be able to help save the bookstore and repair her relationship with her sister in time for the holidays?)
• Bright Lights Big Christmas (Kerry travels to the city from her family’s Christmas tree farm to sell trees at a street stand in New York from November to December. She soon becomes close with the neighbors and jumps into action when one of them goes missing. This entertaining novel is filled with family ties, romance, and Christmas magic.)
• The Christmas Dress (Meg Julliard does not want to spend Christmas in Chicago, acting as the property manager of the apartment building that her father owned before he died. As she’s tending to her tenants’ needs, she forms a surprising friendship with one of the older residents who gifts her a special dress that brings two generations of women together for the magic of the season.)
• If I Were You (This gripping Christian historical fiction novel set in London during WW II and post-war America will transport readers to one of the most challenging eras of history and explore the deep, abiding power of faith and friendship. This is not a Christmas book, but I wanted to share it since it’s the prequel to The Wish Book Christmas shared below.)
• Sleigh Bells Ring (A heartwarming holiday tale set in a charming town is filled with family magic, second chances, and unexpected love from two reluctant hearts who experience the real meaning of Christmas.)
• Counting Down to You (Robyn gives her best friend Ali one last advent calendar before she dies. Even though she’s still grieving the loss of Robyn, Ali vows to carry on their annual tradition. It starts with a seasonal job at a ski lodge they had always planned on visiting together and leads to Ali fake-dating Leo, who is dealing with his own complicated loss. Will the truth behind Leo’s grief bring them together or tear them apart?)
• Christmas By the Book (In small-town England, two booksellers facing tough times decide to spread some Christmas cheer through the magic of anonymous book deliveries in this uplifting holiday tale for book lovers everywhere.)
• The Wish Book Christmas (A nostalgic holiday sequel to If I Were You that reminds us that sometimes the most meaningful gifts are the ones we least expect.)

Blessing Basket Gift Ideas…

(Amazon affiliate links have been provided for your convenience. As an Amazon and Impact Media Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Any sales made through such links will support us with a small commission at no extra cost to you. You can read our full disclosure policy here)

• Hand Cream (comes in 3 scents; this size is great for makeup bags, purses, and travel)
• Sheet Masks (have, love, and use all the time)
• Electric Blanket (gifted and it was a hit; comes in lots of colors depending on size)
• Glass Tumblers (gifted the Halloween version of these tumblers; they’re great for iced coffee and come in holiday versions too)
• Tote (have and love the large size so much I’m ordering more to gift – mine took about 10 days to arrive)
• Coffee Sampler (I include this in lots of gift baskets, and it’s always a hit; they also have a holiday sampler that’s really good too)
• Nails (have and love; they’re great when you have no time for a mani but want pretty nails)
• Holiday Sheet Masks (great to gift or to use as stocking stuffers)
• Wearable Blanket (11 colors available depending on size and perfect for your friend who’s always cold)
• Glass Tumblers (great for iced peppermint mochas)
• Fuzzy Socks (gifted the Halloween version of these and everyone said they were super soft)
• Fall Mug (holds 18 ounces)
• Loaf Pans (have, love, and use these all the time. I try to put a sweet treat in every basket and care package)
• Dr Teal’s Bath Soak (limited edition scent and always a great way to end a long day; it smells like sugar cookies)
• Half Wearable Blanket (my niece has this, and she loves it)
• Candle (so many wonderful scents to choose from and up to 45-hour burn time)
• Novelty Socks (gifting, how cute is the little pie?)
• Winter Coffee Sampler (gifting and can’t wait to try)
• Hair Clips (these are flat, so you can lay your head back without the clip pinching or pulling; they’re great for people who have medium to long hair. I gift these all the time!)
• Foot Mask (perfect to use after a holiday hike or Black Friday Shopping when your feet are tired and achy)
• Rosy Lip Balm (have, love, and stash in every bag; it gives a subtle pink shade and is nourishing)
• Winterberry Candle (7 scents to choose from, up to 150 hours of burn time)
• Slipper Socks (3 colors to choose from depending on size, no slip and great for travel)
• Christmas Mug (holds 18 ounces)
• Book Light (great for those times when there’s not a lamp on the nightstand and it’s too cold to get up and turn off the lights)
• Squirrel Pajamas (I gift this brand of pajamas all the time. They’re thin for hot sleepers yet soft and come in lots of pretty colors, including this burgundy shade)

At the end of the day, a Blessings Basket isn’t really about the coffee, the treats, or even the book inside.

It’s about creating a moment of pause during one of the busiest times of the year.

It’s an invitation to slow down, get comfortable, and savor the simple joys of the season.

Whether you’re putting one together for a host, a friend, a family member, or yourself, I hope it brings a little warmth, a little comfort, and a reminder that even in the midst of holiday hustle, there’s still room for rest.

Wishing you a season filled with cozy moments, meaningful stories, and a little holiday magic.

Until next time, I’ll see you on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest.

Many blessings,

CoCo