Riley Locke collection
The Desk by the Fire: A Cold-Months Canon
From the first pumpkin of October to the last chime of New Year's Eve, this is the desk's cold-months shelf: eight books arranged in seasonal order, curses to croissants to that bus window, with the heat levels running the full range and clearly marked. Light the fire, mark the calendar, and work…
Editorial purpose
Why this collection exists
From the first pumpkin of October to the last chime of New Year's Eve, this is the desk's cold-months shelf: eight books arranged in seasonal order, curses to croissants to that bus window, with the heat levels running the full range and clearly marked. Light the fire, mark the calendar, and work through them as the weeks turn; the last one is timed to finish as the year does.
Ordered guide
Books in this collection
The number shows editorial sequence only. It does not claim that one book is objectively better than another.
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01
The Ex Hex
The Ex Hex
Why it belongsOpen the book guide →Where the season opens: October, a curse, and a second chance. Witchy on the label, soundly built underneath.
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02
Window Shopping
Window Shopping
Why it belongsOpen the book guide →One department store, one advent of window displays, one evening's reading. High heat, higher kindness.
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03
Lovelight Farms
Lovelight Farms
Why it belongsOpen the book guide →A tree farm, a small lie, and the gentlest fake dating on the shelf. The town does half the wooing.
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04
The Holiday Swap
The Holiday Swap
Why it belongsOpen the book guide →Twin bakers trade lives for December. Closed-door, clockwork farce, croissants with consequences.
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05
Royal Holiday
Royal Holiday
Why it belongsOpen the book guide →The mother of the party gets the love story for once, and in her fifties. Long overdue and served warm.
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06
A Merry Little Meet Cute
A Merry Little Meet Cute
Why it belongsOpen the book guide →A wholesome TV Christmas movie, cast against type on purpose. Sweetest premise here; least tame execution.
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07
In a Holidaze
In a Holidaze
Why it belongsOpen the book guide →The comfort loop itself: warmth and wanting with no permanent consequences until the right ones.
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08
One Day in December
One Day in December
Why it belongsOpen the book guide →Ten seconds through a bus window, ten years to pay for them. Close the year with it; the years are the point.