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Romancing Wisconsin #1
Mistletoe Mischief
Christmas in July at the zoo is the last place single parents Eric Riley and Marissa Wilder expect to find love. Thanks to some mistletoe mischief in the form of their two young daughters and Santa, they discover mistletoe rules were not made to be broken.
74% of the material is actually the story; the rest is samples from other books in the series.
74% of the material is actually the story; the rest is samples from other books in the series.
91 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 29, 2009
214 people are currently reading
1140 people want to read
About the author
Stacey Joy Netzel
81 books262 followersWisconsin native Stacey Joy Netzel fell in love with books at a young age, so for her the graduation to writing them was natural. A member of Romance Writers of America (RWA) and Wisconsin Romance Writers (WisRWA), she credits her parents for encouraging her dreams of becoming a published author, as well as the very talented friends she’s made in WisRWA since joining in 2004. Her Christmas anthology, MISTLETOE RULES, took 1st place in WisRWA's 2010 Write Touch Readers' Award. Check out her romantic suspense Colorado Trust Series, Trust in the Lawe, Shattered trust, and Shadowed Trust. Other titles include: Lost In Italy, Ditched Again, Welcome to Redemption Series, Chasin’ Mason, Dragonfly Dreams, If Tombstones Could Talk.
An avid reader and big fan of movies with happy endings, Stacey lives in Wisconsin with her husband and three children, a couple horses and some barn cats. She works part-time as a travel agent, and in her limited free time she enjoys gardening, canning, and visiting her parents in Northeastern Wisconsin (Up North) at their cabin on the lake.
An avid reader and big fan of movies with happy endings, Stacey lives in Wisconsin with her husband and three children, a couple horses and some barn cats. She works part-time as a travel agent, and in her limited free time she enjoys gardening, canning, and visiting her parents in Northeastern Wisconsin (Up North) at their cabin on the lake.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 168 reviews
November 24, 2012
I read this author's last romance, the bestselling LOST IN ITALY, and thoroughly enjoyed it so decided to try one of her other romances, MISTLETOE MISCHIEF. Afterall, it is that time of year, right. I wasn't disappointed and this is from a reader who doesn't read all that many romances. But I loved the ending in LOST IN ITALY so figured she'd write a great ending here. Yes, she has those satisfying endings down! MISTLETOE MISCHIEF is about two divorced single parents who meet during a trip to the zoo. The characters are likeable, the story plot fun and best of all, the ending leaves you feeling good about reading the novel. What more could you ask for during the holidays? For a light fast read, MM is highly recommended. Even the Scrooges out there will be hard pressed not to smile during this story. And it's part of the Romancing Wisconsin series.
December 5, 2016
I knew this wasn't a very long book, but really, it's a novella.
Marissa Wilder is a twenty-nine year old divorced woman with a young daughter, Heather. Heather is close friends with another girl her age, Reese. Marissa has unexpectedly been forced to supervise the girls at their zoo trip. Shortly after their arrival, Reese's father, Eric Riley, shows up.
While the girls enjoy the zoo, the parents start to form an attraction. After Marissa injures her ankle, Eric offers to take them home but they end up spending more time together at Eric's house.
Things end on a sweet and clean note. There is an epilogue.
Marissa and Eric are not the best written characters. They come across as manipulative and conniving, while secretly ok with their behavior. They are also childish. The two adults meet in the morning and by the night they are making out. They talk to each other as though they have known each other for weeks, perhaps months, not hours. They act comfortable with each other but then they are shy or hesitant, like strangers. The two characters were an odd combination.
"He hadn't been looking for anyone special in his life right now past Reese. Yet after only one day with Marissa and her daughter, he could picture himself and the beautiful blond in front of him tucking the girls in bed together before cuddling on the couch to watch a movie."
This is unlikely to happen, especially for a male. The girls were not mentioned and or explored enough to know much about them.
The book is short. There are some details about the character's pasts, like ex's and experiences but not much to offer up for the characters. Christmas is in the background of the book. The characters get caught under some mistletoe and this helps bring them together.
Overall, this book is cute, sweet, and to the point. It's not a long, feel good romance or cozy fireside book but enough to quench a Christmas time book desire.
Content: minor language
Marissa Wilder is a twenty-nine year old divorced woman with a young daughter, Heather. Heather is close friends with another girl her age, Reese. Marissa has unexpectedly been forced to supervise the girls at their zoo trip. Shortly after their arrival, Reese's father, Eric Riley, shows up.
While the girls enjoy the zoo, the parents start to form an attraction. After Marissa injures her ankle, Eric offers to take them home but they end up spending more time together at Eric's house.
Things end on a sweet and clean note. There is an epilogue.
Marissa and Eric are not the best written characters. They come across as manipulative and conniving, while secretly ok with their behavior. They are also childish. The two adults meet in the morning and by the night they are making out. They talk to each other as though they have known each other for weeks, perhaps months, not hours. They act comfortable with each other but then they are shy or hesitant, like strangers. The two characters were an odd combination.
"He hadn't been looking for anyone special in his life right now past Reese. Yet after only one day with Marissa and her daughter, he could picture himself and the beautiful blond in front of him tucking the girls in bed together before cuddling on the couch to watch a movie."
This is unlikely to happen, especially for a male. The girls were not mentioned and or explored enough to know much about them.
The book is short. There are some details about the character's pasts, like ex's and experiences but not much to offer up for the characters. Christmas is in the background of the book. The characters get caught under some mistletoe and this helps bring them together.
Overall, this book is cute, sweet, and to the point. It's not a long, feel good romance or cozy fireside book but enough to quench a Christmas time book desire.
Content: minor language
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November 22, 2015This is not a review!
Yep, another Christmas themed story. Grab it while it's free and be ready for next Christmas' reading challenges!
http://www.amazon.com/Mistletoe-Misch...
Christmas recipe for love—combine a matchmaking Santa, lots of mistletoe, one iron-clad rule, fated hearts; mix and stir. The Riley siblings don't stand a chance.
Mistletoe Mischief
Christmas in July at the zoo is the last place single parents Eric Riley and Marissa Wilder expect to find love. Thanks to some mistletoe mischief in the form of their two young daughters and Santa, they discover mistletoe rules were not made to be broken.
(Previously published 2009 in Mistletoe Rules anthology, a 2010 Write Touch Readers' Award Winner)
~~~
“Daddy, you’re under the mistletoe.”
Eric glanced up at a sprig of leaves and holly berries attached to the roof of the cart, then dropped his gaze to Marissa’s. “So we are,” he murmured.
Her face flushed, but he couldn’t tell if it was from embarrassment, or anticipation of a kiss. He knew the reason his pulse raced like an out of control locomotive.
“You have to kiss her,” Reese stated.
God Bless you, Reese.
Santa laid his arm across the back of the front passenger seat and craned his head around, his brown eyes twinkling. “‘Tis tradition.”
“It’s the rule,” Reese argued, frowning at Santa before turning back to Eric. “You say so every Christmas when we stand in the doorway at Grandma’s.”
“I do, don’t I?”
Reese nodded emphatically. “Every year.”
Eric faced Marissa and sighed with exaggerated reluctance. “I might’ve been able to buck tradition, but a rule’s a rule.”
Yep, another Christmas themed story. Grab it while it's free and be ready for next Christmas' reading challenges!
http://www.amazon.com/Mistletoe-Misch...
Christmas recipe for love—combine a matchmaking Santa, lots of mistletoe, one iron-clad rule, fated hearts; mix and stir. The Riley siblings don't stand a chance.
Mistletoe Mischief
Christmas in July at the zoo is the last place single parents Eric Riley and Marissa Wilder expect to find love. Thanks to some mistletoe mischief in the form of their two young daughters and Santa, they discover mistletoe rules were not made to be broken.
(Previously published 2009 in Mistletoe Rules anthology, a 2010 Write Touch Readers' Award Winner)
~~~
“Daddy, you’re under the mistletoe.”
Eric glanced up at a sprig of leaves and holly berries attached to the roof of the cart, then dropped his gaze to Marissa’s. “So we are,” he murmured.
Her face flushed, but he couldn’t tell if it was from embarrassment, or anticipation of a kiss. He knew the reason his pulse raced like an out of control locomotive.
“You have to kiss her,” Reese stated.
God Bless you, Reese.
Santa laid his arm across the back of the front passenger seat and craned his head around, his brown eyes twinkling. “‘Tis tradition.”
“It’s the rule,” Reese argued, frowning at Santa before turning back to Eric. “You say so every Christmas when we stand in the doorway at Grandma’s.”
“I do, don’t I?”
Reese nodded emphatically. “Every year.”
Eric faced Marissa and sighed with exaggerated reluctance. “I might’ve been able to buck tradition, but a rule’s a rule.”
January 4, 2014
Sweet romantic novella ; divorced mother of6 year old Heather , Marissa Wilder finds herself roped into chaperoning her daughter and her freind Reese at the school field trip to the zoo, celebrating Christmas in July , because parents failed to show up as promised. To spite being in work clothes and high heels she and the girls are having a good time, when reesespots her father Eric Riley , one of the no show parents . Eric and Marissa may have an instant attraction to each ther but first impressions lead to Marissa trying to ignore his flirtation, despite her traitor of a body .
Eric with the help of Santa , mrs Claus and an elf keeps trying and slowly breaks down the walls Marissa puts up; never mind the unwitting help from 2 six year olds!
Sweet Chracters,nicely developed with a sweet ending!
Eric with the help of Santa , mrs Claus and an elf keeps trying and slowly breaks down the walls Marissa puts up; never mind the unwitting help from 2 six year olds!
Sweet Chracters,nicely developed with a sweet ending!
December 19, 2012
This is one of those reads that are perfect for a moment of downtime. It's a sweet, cute and short read that left a smile on my face.
While it is a short read the author does a great job at giving the characters some depth as well as some background to help flesh them out. In the end you have characters who feel human and are not subjected to the cookie-cutter routine. They have a genuine reaction to each other and due to some misunderstanding they even have a bit of aversion, but it was sweet to see them come together. It didn't feel as rushed as I expected and instead of an open or rushed ending the author gives a nice epilogue to wrap it up.
It's a great holiday read but it's not overly loaded with the holiday theme and can easily be read at anytime during the year.
While it is a short read the author does a great job at giving the characters some depth as well as some background to help flesh them out. In the end you have characters who feel human and are not subjected to the cookie-cutter routine. They have a genuine reaction to each other and due to some misunderstanding they even have a bit of aversion, but it was sweet to see them come together. It didn't feel as rushed as I expected and instead of an open or rushed ending the author gives a nice epilogue to wrap it up.
It's a great holiday read but it's not overly loaded with the holiday theme and can easily be read at anytime during the year.
October 23, 2012
Mistletoe Mischief is the first book in this series involving the Riley siblings by Stacey Joy Netzel. I just finished reading it and can't wait for the next. This was a fast fun romance. Ms. Netzel managed to make me care about these characters from the beginning. Even the child characters were well developed. The characters touched my heart and I hope they're in the other books of the series.
December 28, 2012
The best Christmas book I read this year although it was about Christmas in July :)
October 9, 2018
Em pouco tempo já li 3 livros desta autora e, tendo gostado mais de uns do que de outro, surpreende-me a escrita dela. Esta pequena história é uma pérola, sem dúvida. Gostei muito de ler estas páginas sobre um dia muito especial de julho, com elementos do Natal (que inclui o Pai Natal no Zoo, de calções), em que Eric e Marissa se conhecem ao acompanhar as respetivas filhas de 6 anos numa visita da escola ao Zoo. Um dia muito fofo, tão querido e o epílogo que acontece mesmo na época natalícia, foi uma coisa preciosa.
March 24, 2014
Nice little Christmas in July novella. Single parent Marissa unexpectedly ends up chaperoning her daughter's class trip to the zoo when some of the other parents don't show up. Part way through the trip another girl's dad shows up, late. Marissa is attracted to him, but believes he is still married to Reece's mother and is put off by his flirting. Eric is also attracted to Marissa and would like to get to know her better. He is confused by her cold attitude toward him.
Both Marissa and Eric have some issues that affect their initial attitudes toward each other. Marissa judges Eric based on her experiences with her ex, who tends to blow off his commitments to his daughter. His late arrival and some things she overhears make her believe that Eric isn't really committed to his relationship with his daughter. Meanwhile, Eric sees Marissa dressed in business clothes and high heels for a trip to the zoo and thinks she's like his ex-wife, who always dressed to attract attention.
It doesn't take too long for them to straighten out their misconceptions. Their caution was understandable given their previous experiences. Once things were made clear, it was fun to see them connect. Eric's rescue of Heather put him in a better light, and then his care for Marissa when she hurt her ankle got them even closer. Marissa was cautious but couldn't deny the interest she felt.
I loved the way "Santa Butch" was there to move things along. Not only did he provide a way for Eric to provide care for Marissa's ankle, he also added a little mistletoe to encourage their first kiss. I also liked the way he encouraged Eric to continue his pursuit after the zoo trip was over.
I loved seeing the two little girls together and how they contributed to the development of the romance. I loved the scene at Eric's house that evening with Eric and the toad - showed just how much he enjoyed being a dad.
Even though the entire story took place over just one day, it was easy to see that they would want to continue to explore their newfound relationship. I liked the epilogue with the progress report, and the bonus appearance of "Santa Butch" and company was great.
Both Marissa and Eric have some issues that affect their initial attitudes toward each other. Marissa judges Eric based on her experiences with her ex, who tends to blow off his commitments to his daughter. His late arrival and some things she overhears make her believe that Eric isn't really committed to his relationship with his daughter. Meanwhile, Eric sees Marissa dressed in business clothes and high heels for a trip to the zoo and thinks she's like his ex-wife, who always dressed to attract attention.
It doesn't take too long for them to straighten out their misconceptions. Their caution was understandable given their previous experiences. Once things were made clear, it was fun to see them connect. Eric's rescue of Heather put him in a better light, and then his care for Marissa when she hurt her ankle got them even closer. Marissa was cautious but couldn't deny the interest she felt.
I loved the way "Santa Butch" was there to move things along. Not only did he provide a way for Eric to provide care for Marissa's ankle, he also added a little mistletoe to encourage their first kiss. I also liked the way he encouraged Eric to continue his pursuit after the zoo trip was over.
I loved seeing the two little girls together and how they contributed to the development of the romance. I loved the scene at Eric's house that evening with Eric and the toad - showed just how much he enjoyed being a dad.
Even though the entire story took place over just one day, it was easy to see that they would want to continue to explore their newfound relationship. I liked the epilogue with the progress report, and the bonus appearance of "Santa Butch" and company was great.
January 31, 2016
Mistletoe Mischief by Stacey Joy Netzel
Romancing Wisconsin Series Book 1
This series is about Love finding a way to bloom in Wisconsin during any season.
Christmas in July at a zoo for Eric Riley and Marissa Wilder who are both single parents and both have a daughter the same age. Reese Riley and Heather Wilder have met recently and hit it off 100%. Marissa’s day had not started off in the best way. Eric was supposed to be with the children however he got interrupted on his way to the school by an automobile accident. He saved a man’s life. First she thinks of Eric as a no show dad but once she hears the reason she changes her mind. Eric does not bring up the fact he was at the accident since he does not like to brag. vvSo Marissa was filling in on this class trip for him. She had heels on as she was not expecting to walk around the zoo. She ended up hurting her ankle when the heel on her shoe got stuck between 2 boards. Eric being a paramedic checked out her ankle. She got a ride in a golf cart that was done up in Christmas things, candy cane and holly boughs and even a mistletoe and a driver that looked like Santa. Reese reminded her dad that the rule is if you’re under the mistletoe you have to kiss. Santa would not move till they did. He is quite the match maker. The Summer Santa was dressed in red boxer shorts and matching flip-flops. Santa had a way for Marissa to get an x-ray without a trip to the hospital, after all the zoo had one for x-ray’s they needed for animals.
Eric is impressed by her making an alphabet score sheet for the girls to fill out about the animals they see. Both Eric and Marissa had their own stories but they sure were two people worthy of finding love again.
Later Marissa is impressed with the wood working that Eric does. He has a military back ground also.
I won’t spoil anymore about the story of Santa Butch’s tricks and also Eric, Marissa, Reese and Heather.
Could not wait to read more books of the series to learn more about Santa Butch, his wife Judy, and the Riley family!
Look for Mistletoe Magic.
Romancing Wisconsin Series Book 1
This series is about Love finding a way to bloom in Wisconsin during any season.
Christmas in July at a zoo for Eric Riley and Marissa Wilder who are both single parents and both have a daughter the same age. Reese Riley and Heather Wilder have met recently and hit it off 100%. Marissa’s day had not started off in the best way. Eric was supposed to be with the children however he got interrupted on his way to the school by an automobile accident. He saved a man’s life. First she thinks of Eric as a no show dad but once she hears the reason she changes her mind. Eric does not bring up the fact he was at the accident since he does not like to brag. vvSo Marissa was filling in on this class trip for him. She had heels on as she was not expecting to walk around the zoo. She ended up hurting her ankle when the heel on her shoe got stuck between 2 boards. Eric being a paramedic checked out her ankle. She got a ride in a golf cart that was done up in Christmas things, candy cane and holly boughs and even a mistletoe and a driver that looked like Santa. Reese reminded her dad that the rule is if you’re under the mistletoe you have to kiss. Santa would not move till they did. He is quite the match maker. The Summer Santa was dressed in red boxer shorts and matching flip-flops. Santa had a way for Marissa to get an x-ray without a trip to the hospital, after all the zoo had one for x-ray’s they needed for animals.
Eric is impressed by her making an alphabet score sheet for the girls to fill out about the animals they see. Both Eric and Marissa had their own stories but they sure were two people worthy of finding love again.
Later Marissa is impressed with the wood working that Eric does. He has a military back ground also.
I won’t spoil anymore about the story of Santa Butch’s tricks and also Eric, Marissa, Reese and Heather.
Could not wait to read more books of the series to learn more about Santa Butch, his wife Judy, and the Riley family!
Look for Mistletoe Magic.
December 12, 2012
This is a short story about two divorcee's who meet at their child's field trip to the zoo. At first Marissa's first impression of Eric is not good. Due to his tardiness, she was coerced into chaperoning her daughters field trip instead of heading to work. To make matters worse, the man is blatantly flirting with her when she knows his wife is at home pregnant with another child. However, we all know the saying about assumptions.
This was a cute Christmas in July story. Not a whole heck of a lot takes place. The book pretty much takes place in the span of a day and then we are given an epilogue at the end of where they are when the real Christmas rolls around. I liked the characters but just like all novella's, I had a hard time really falling in love with them due to the short period that I got to know them.
This was a cute Christmas in July story. Not a whole heck of a lot takes place. The book pretty much takes place in the span of a day and then we are given an epilogue at the end of where they are when the real Christmas rolls around. I liked the characters but just like all novella's, I had a hard time really falling in love with them due to the short period that I got to know them.
June 6, 2016
This novella was equal parts sweet, heart-warming, fun, cute, and quite romance-y (even without the sexy times). As a holiday season romance fluff piece it delivered exactly what I'd been expecting and more.
There's Christmas in July at the zoo, two single parents whose young daughters have become attached at the him, a summer time Santa Claus in red boxer shorts and matching flip-flops, a few misunderstandings, and lots of mistletoe.
There was humor and lots of feel good moments that had me grinning big. There was nice banter between Eric and his brother, and there a nice, angst-less means of resolving romantic conflict.
Also, the two little girls were super sweet and adorable.
Mistletoe Mischeif is definitely a great read for the Christmas holiday. I'm even contemplating picking up the next two Mistletoe books in this Romancing Wisconsin series.
There's Christmas in July at the zoo, two single parents whose young daughters have become attached at the him, a summer time Santa Claus in red boxer shorts and matching flip-flops, a few misunderstandings, and lots of mistletoe.
There was humor and lots of feel good moments that had me grinning big. There was nice banter between Eric and his brother, and there a nice, angst-less means of resolving romantic conflict.
Also, the two little girls were super sweet and adorable.
Mistletoe Mischeif is definitely a great read for the Christmas holiday. I'm even contemplating picking up the next two Mistletoe books in this Romancing Wisconsin series.
March 1, 2015
This was a fun and quick read. The first of a series. It is short read but leaves you wanting to know more which is what a series should do. It is heartwaarming and amusing . This book combines Christmas the zoo and two families you cannot wait to see blend. You have a matchmaking Santa and two people who need a second chance at love. Two small girls who develop a fantastic friendship. I will definitely read the rest of the series.
November 29, 2012
A quick, short Christmassy read that cuts to the chase. The main characters - Marissa and Eric - are adorable together. I wish there was more of their kids in it cos they sounded equally adorable.
August 2, 2015
A cute quick read. This is more of a Christmas in July read.
November 25, 2014
A nice, short read! Looking forward to reading more of the series!!!
Re-read of this to catch up so I can continue the series!
Re-read of this to catch up so I can continue the series!
June 1, 2021
Mistletoe Has Its Own Magic And Creates Fun
I am usually not a fan of the instant attraction tropes. However, if you were to utilize it in a story, the way Stacey Joy Netzel made use of it in the first book of her Romancing Wisconsin Series entitled Mistletoe Mischief, is how you keep readers entranced.
Marissa Wilder is a single mother of a very active 6 year old Heather. She loves her daughter and is extremely kind. However, the experience with her ex-husband has coloured her opinions about men and even herself. Until she meets a fellow single parent...
Wood Artisan and Paramedic, Eric Riley has his own painful story and is unable to spend the requisite time with his precocious daughter, Reese. Along with guilt and hurt, Eric is gun shy as well when it comes to the opposite sex. Although, he is now getting a chance to spend quality with his little one, her cute friend, Heather and the lovely mother, Marissa. And that too at a Zoo decorated for Christmas in July!
Here is where the reader gets to see the attraction build! What I liked about the story, is that the authoress was able to jam pack so much in approximately 100 pages. No sentence was wasted. The emotional build, the honest conversations, the children's antics and the protagonist's fascination with each other was well depicted. The supporting characters, even the appearance of the next players of the following book, added further dimension to the story.
A small complaint would be that my copy had small edit issues and I hope they fix them in the next editions. It did not deter from the story, but a small annoyance nevertheless. Regardless, it was a relaxing and wonderful read over a day! I have books 2 and 3 in my library and can't wait to read on. Stacey Joy Netzel just became my new go to romance novelist, along with many others.
If you are looking for some sweet heat, a Christmas romance, a funny Santa family, cute children and a good tale, you will luck out with this one!
I am usually not a fan of the instant attraction tropes. However, if you were to utilize it in a story, the way Stacey Joy Netzel made use of it in the first book of her Romancing Wisconsin Series entitled Mistletoe Mischief, is how you keep readers entranced.
Marissa Wilder is a single mother of a very active 6 year old Heather. She loves her daughter and is extremely kind. However, the experience with her ex-husband has coloured her opinions about men and even herself. Until she meets a fellow single parent...
Wood Artisan and Paramedic, Eric Riley has his own painful story and is unable to spend the requisite time with his precocious daughter, Reese. Along with guilt and hurt, Eric is gun shy as well when it comes to the opposite sex. Although, he is now getting a chance to spend quality with his little one, her cute friend, Heather and the lovely mother, Marissa. And that too at a Zoo decorated for Christmas in July!
Here is where the reader gets to see the attraction build! What I liked about the story, is that the authoress was able to jam pack so much in approximately 100 pages. No sentence was wasted. The emotional build, the honest conversations, the children's antics and the protagonist's fascination with each other was well depicted. The supporting characters, even the appearance of the next players of the following book, added further dimension to the story.
A small complaint would be that my copy had small edit issues and I hope they fix them in the next editions. It did not deter from the story, but a small annoyance nevertheless. Regardless, it was a relaxing and wonderful read over a day! I have books 2 and 3 in my library and can't wait to read on. Stacey Joy Netzel just became my new go to romance novelist, along with many others.
If you are looking for some sweet heat, a Christmas romance, a funny Santa family, cute children and a good tale, you will luck out with this one!
November 15, 2019
A quick read and the start of a fun new series for me to immerse myself in. Playful with lots of holiday spirit even if it is at the zoo in a Christmas in July event! Santa and Mrs. Claus, Butch and Judy, were a great addition to the story as is their granddaughter, Janelle and Eric's brother, Mark.
I loved the chemistry between Eric and Marissa and how they tried to tamp it down due to their warped reasoning, mixed signals and lack of communication. I was happy when they started to talk since things were set to rights and things were taken to a whole new level. Their daughters, Reese and Heather, respectively, have become best friends in the three short weeks they've known each other. They definitely get into mischief but it always works out.
The story flowed nicely with lots of descriptions and surprisingly takes place in the span of a day. There is wonderful closure with the epilogue that takes place about five months after the story ends and a lot has happened during that time. I loved the happily-ever-after with lots of surprises thrown in. I look forward to reading the next book in the series, Mistletoe Magic, of which there was an excerpt in the back of this book that only whet my appetite for more. Another excerpt of the fourth book in the series, Autumn Wish, has me realizing there are a lot more stories to tell!
This is only the second book I've read by Ms. Netzel. She's always been on my radar but her books have never reached my reading pile for some reason. That will be rectified and I've put more of her books on my TBR pile especially the ones in this series.
I loved the chemistry between Eric and Marissa and how they tried to tamp it down due to their warped reasoning, mixed signals and lack of communication. I was happy when they started to talk since things were set to rights and things were taken to a whole new level. Their daughters, Reese and Heather, respectively, have become best friends in the three short weeks they've known each other. They definitely get into mischief but it always works out.
The story flowed nicely with lots of descriptions and surprisingly takes place in the span of a day. There is wonderful closure with the epilogue that takes place about five months after the story ends and a lot has happened during that time. I loved the happily-ever-after with lots of surprises thrown in. I look forward to reading the next book in the series, Mistletoe Magic, of which there was an excerpt in the back of this book that only whet my appetite for more. Another excerpt of the fourth book in the series, Autumn Wish, has me realizing there are a lot more stories to tell!
This is only the second book I've read by Ms. Netzel. She's always been on my radar but her books have never reached my reading pile for some reason. That will be rectified and I've put more of her books on my TBR pile especially the ones in this series.
August 29, 2020
Mistletoe Mischief is the first book in Stacey Joy Netzel's Romancing Wisconsin series. In this sweet romance, we are introduced to Marissa Wilder, a 29 year old divorcee, who is raising her daughter, Heather. We also meet Eric Riley, a former Army Field Medic and a divorcee sharing custody of his daughter, Reese. An excursion to the local zoo bring these two together. At first they are not impressed with each other. Their perceptions are clouded by the emotional wounds of the previous relationships. However as the day progresses they discover that there is an attraction. Will they get over their emotional scars? Will they have a future together? If you are curious then you must pick up this book.
Ms. Netzel penned a sweet romance. She created strong characters and through this plot we see the challenges they face and how the manage them. The dialog and banter is well done and makes the reader chuckle. I enjoyed the dual point of view as it allowed readers to understand each character. This is a delightful book to read on a lazy weekend. Get yourself a copy, sit back, get comfy and enjoy.
Ms. Netzel penned a sweet romance. She created strong characters and through this plot we see the challenges they face and how the manage them. The dialog and banter is well done and makes the reader chuckle. I enjoyed the dual point of view as it allowed readers to understand each character. This is a delightful book to read on a lazy weekend. Get yourself a copy, sit back, get comfy and enjoy.
February 21, 2021
A cute beginning to the Romancing Wisconsin series. Marissa, a divorcee with a six year old named Heather and burned by her deadbeat ex, and Eric, a former Army medic with his daughter Reese, meet on a summer class field trip to the zoo. The two little girls are delightful together and are very useful in setting up their parents! The chemistry is great and the writing is cute. All of the characters are likable. This novella is character-driven, not plot driven since it basically takes place in one day. There's not a lot of depth to the story, but throw in Santa Claus and some mistletoe and it's a very enjoyable read!
September 22, 2017
I really enjoyed this book. I read it after reading Netzel's book that was included in the Beach Brides series since that story crosses over into this series. Unfortunately the rest of this series is not available on kindle unlimited so I won't be reading it. I very much enjoyed it and I like the way the author writes but I can't pay $3 for a book that is less than 200 pages that I will read in less than 2 hours.
October 10, 2017
Very cute novella.
Eric and Marissa had great chemistry, and I appreciated that the book focused on one full day together (with an epilogue set in the future). I really loved Eric and his relationship with his daughter. I thought Marissa was a bit too judgmental for too long, but eventually came around.
Overall a quick, light read that is great for getting you into the holiday spirit.
Eric and Marissa had great chemistry, and I appreciated that the book focused on one full day together (with an epilogue set in the future). I really loved Eric and his relationship with his daughter. I thought Marissa was a bit too judgmental for too long, but eventually came around.
Overall a quick, light read that is great for getting you into the holiday spirit.
December 10, 2024
I neither hated this nor loved it. It was a cute novella and mostly clean, but I had a real issue with the epilogue happening only 5 months after the story with MAJOR life changes for the whole group. I would consider reading more from the author, but I hope she plans better (more realistic) on longer novels.
July 19, 2017
Adorable, sweet read that is, sadly, short. Really enjoyed the story and the chemistry between the two main characters. It was also sweet to follow the relationship between their daughters. Christmas in July was a great story theme.
October 30, 2018
Excellent!
What a wonderful start to the Financing Wisconsin series. Eric, Marissa and their 2 little girls were so easy to fall in love with. I'm looking forward to Mark and Janelle's story next.
What a wonderful start to the Financing Wisconsin series. Eric, Marissa and their 2 little girls were so easy to fall in love with. I'm looking forward to Mark and Janelle's story next.
June 7, 2020
Love, love, love
Comfy cozy feel good read. Eric and Marissa make a great couple and their daughter's are adorable. Single parents that instant connection and gotta love Santa Butch
Comfy cozy feel good read. Eric and Marissa make a great couple and their daughter's are adorable. Single parents that instant connection and gotta love Santa Butch
November 6, 2022
This was such a sweet story and just made you feel good when you read it. With all the sadness in the world today, it felt good to have a happy ending where love prevailed. Looking forward to reading more of this author’s stories
March 25, 2024
Eric and Marissa seem to be a very good fit for each other. They both value their children & their jobs & make sure they have time to spend with them. It's a short story and a quick one but I think that this is a very good romance and a good start to the series.
June 21, 2017
Loving this series! Grandpa Butch is so funny.
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