Mistletoe and Mayhem at the Little Shopping Mall

by Hannah Pearl

A FUN-FILLED CHRISTMAS ROMANCE TO FALL IN LOVE WITH AT ANY TIME OF THE YEAR.

Mistletoe, mayhem . . . and mystery?

Assistant manager Caroline never has a dull moment working at Holly Walk Mall. Especially at Christmas.

But she wouldn’t have it any other way. The shopkeepers are like family to her, and nothing can ruin their wonderful community.

Until the shop owners are shocked by sudden rent increases. Then a new jewellery store pops up in a prime location. The owner seems dodgy and Caroline just knows he’s up to no good . . .

Her suspicions are confirmed when she notices a rather handsome stranger watching the new tenant. Damian’s a detective and suspects the man of hiding stolen jewels in his store.

But with evictions looming over their heads and a jewel thief to catch, a lot rests on Caroline’s shoulders. Perhaps Damian can make her see that she doesn’t have to face this alone.

Could they discover something even more valuable than jewels that could make this the most magical Christmas at the mall ever?

This uplifting romance is full of warmth and perfect for fans of Cary Elks, Morton S. Gray, Portia MacIntosh, Angela Britnell, Hannah Lynn or Jessica Redland.

Genres: Christmas, Romance, Holiday, Mystery, Fiction, Rom Com, Contemporary

277 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 7, 2023

About the author

Hannah Pearl was born in East London. She is married with two children and now lives in Cambridge.
She has previously worked as a Criminology researcher, as a Development Worker with various charities and even pulled a few pints in her time.
In 2015 she was struck down by Labrynthitis, which left her feeling dizzy and virtually housebound. She has since been diagnosed with ME. Reading has allowed Hannah to escape from the reality of feeling ill. She read upwards of three hundred books during the first year of her illness. When her burgeoning eReader addiction grew to be too expensive, she decided to have a go at writing. In 2017 she won Simon and Schuster’s Books and the City #heatseeker short story competition, in partnership with Heat magazine, for her short story The Last Good Day.
Hannah is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association.

Follow Hannah:
www.dizzygirlwrites.wordpress.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/HannahPearl_1

Reviews

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Caroline loved her job at Holly Walk Mall where she was in charge of all the little shops in the mall, of keeping the shop owners happy, and keeping the money coming in. She was even trying to do her manager's job - Ian was a grump and seemed to have no idea how to keep things flowing smoothly. Caro had friends in all the stores, and she called them her family. When a new jewellery store opened, Caro was put out. Ian hadn't done the correct paperwork and the owner was rude to everyone he encountered. Plus the added security put a strain on the budget.

When Caro spotted another stranger in the mall, seemingly casing the jewellery store, she didn't expect the chain of events which followed. Something was up with Ian - but he wouldn't fill her in. And now Caro had to keep an eye on the jewellery store owner - was he a crook? It seemed something nefarious was happening right under her nose. She was determined to find the answer before Christmas...

Mistletoe & Mayhem at the Little Shopping Mall is another delightful and entertaining novel by Hannah Pearl which I thoroughly enjoyed. The Christmas spirit, late night shopping fun, Caro's brother Dylan who was an excellent chef, and Damien, the reluctant cowboy! Plus Nina and Marco, Italian cafe owners and Caro's adopted grandparents. Many wonderful characters sprinkle this novel, and I have no hesitation in recommending it highly.

With thanks to ChocLit Publishing for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

[Franka · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audiobook

[Angela Britnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a warm, fun-filled story filled with mystery and more than a dash of romance! Caroline is assistant manager of the Holly Walk Mall and considers the shopkeepers to be part of her family. But then the problems start and we’ve got everything from a shady jeweller who might be up to no good and rent increases that could sound a death knell for many of the businesses. A handsome stranger, Damien catches Caroline’s eye and he turns out to be a police detective trying to track down a jewel thief. Romantic sparks fly when they start to work together in the run up to Christmas. A light-hearted festive read that will leave you with a smile on your face.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! A delightful story with a "who-dun-it" and a romance. The Mall that Caroline is responsible for and the shopkeepers are her extended family. She will fight tooth and nail for them. On the run up to Christmas things start conspiring against the smooth running of the Mall. As Caroline tries to maintain everything, nothing works until Damien appears. I will say no more which would spoil the story for you. A smile will be on your face most of the time whilst you are reading this.

[Lita · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very cute story but I had some difficulties with it because of the differences between American English and British English. For instance in America it's jewelry but in England it's jewelery. My mind kept snagging on that disrupting my reading. Since this story centered around a jewelry store, it came up often. Also Brits seem to say things like leant instead of leaned, which was also disruptive for me. Note to my fellow Americans who tend towards proper grammar - both are correct. However, those differences aside it was a nice story and I enjoyed it.

[bookloversclub2023 · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cosy romance/ mystery story. Although it didn’t hold the traditional feels of a Christmas story it was still a cosy read.

I enjoyed the aspect of it being set in a mall as this was a new setting to me and I hadn’t read anything like it before. The characters all added something to the story and I enjoyed the sense of community and family it bought.

It was a lighthearted read but for me didn’t hold all the Christmas vibes I was hoping for, however an enjoyable read overall, it just lacked a few things for me.

[Emma Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a cute and cosy festive read. I was hooked from the very first page and I kept reading until the end. it's the perfect book to read at this time of year. The story was cute and easy to follow and had a good cast of characters. I highly recommend it and I look forward to reading more by the author.
💝 Thank you to Choc Lit for the free download.

[Frankie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Impossibly festive romantic fun with all the trimmings!

I love this book, in fact, I got to say I haven’t read a Hannah Pearl book that I haven’t loved and this is easily my favourite (I think I say that after each book) but I will admit that it was one particular line on the book description that tickled me and made me want to read it. Can you guess?

If you guessed the ‘cute bottom’ line, then you are correct, you know me as soon as I see the words; ‘mysterious guy with the cute bottom’ I am hooked…LOL!

I loved everything about this one; the magical and festively fun story, the characters are wonderful, and the setting of a shopping mall at Christmas is brilliant I wished I had worked there when I was toiling away as a cashier in varied shops at Christmas (my jobs were never as fun, plus no cute bottoms😆).

Hmmm, think I am becoming a little obsessed with bottoms, best move on!

I loved the setting of a shopping mall and Holly Walk Mall is one I would love to visit, it’s so charming and full of gorgeous gifts and enigmatic shop owners. Caroline is worked off her feet, due mainly to her boss the utterly useless manager of the Mall, a manager who can’t manage and no truer words have ever been uttered! Caroline’s life is all going there is never a moment to herself which means she neglects herself, I love how the wonderful owners of the Italian cafe keep feeding her, Nina and Marco are fabulous – the only problem I always felt hungry whenever they are in a scene.

With Christmas fast approaching Caroline has to organize the late-night shopping and the Santa’s Grotto, now she has to contend with the rather enticing bottom of a new mystery guy who has opened the jewellery shop in the mall. Add in Mistletoe and scandalous cowboy costumes….plus, Mr cute bottom (seriously, I am obsessed) is constantly around and….well you can imagine there is Christmas chaos.

Mistletoe and Mayhem at the Little Shopping Mall are so much more than just a cute festive fun read, there is a hint of mystery entwined within the pages and I thoroughly enjoyed watching Caroline as she turns all Miss Marple on us to solve the mystery.

I adored this book, it’s cheerful, entertaining and absolutely perfect for the season. A quick-paced, easy-to-read story which captures the attention from the start, a definite must-read!

[Happily Ever After Romance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed at Happily Ever After Romance

I will confess upfront that I have always loved every title of this author that I’ve read… and Mistletoe and Mayhem at the Little Shopping Mall continues that winning streak. Most of what you’ll want to know before picking up this Christmas Romance can be found in the cover description. What you won’t find there is the absolute joy and mystery that this story will create for you. Now, because there is a definite mystery involved I’m not going into any great details about the plot. But I can say that I had an absolute blast with Caro and her group of friends, fellow shop owners, and customers in this story.

So. If you’re in the mood to get started on your Christmas reading with a fun, charming, entertaining romance with a touch of mystery then you’ll want to pick up Mistletoe and Mayhem at the Little Shopping Mall real soon. The characters are believable, the plot interesting, the secondary characters lively and charming, and that hopeful hint of a Christmas romance is always felt. I had a blast here, and this one will definitely go on my annual Christmas re-read list. If you love a romance that will give you laughter and shivers, or if figuring out a bit of a mystery is right up your alley, and if possibilities always fascinate you then pick up Caro’s adventure and have yourself a really good time.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher ChocLit/Ruby Fiction. The opinions expressed in this review are my own -good, bad, or indifferent.*

[Karen Mace · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fabulously festive read, with a great mystery angle thrown in for good measure!! Plenty to put a smile on your face and intriguing characters to take to your heart!

And Caroline is at the heart of the story - working at a Mall as an assistant manager, although really running the place as the manager, Ian, is an incompetent fool! But amongst the shop owners there's a lovely community feel and they're always looking out for one another which is just perfect to read about.

With the onset of late night shopping beginning, an increase in rents, and the odd behaviour of a mystery man, this is where the fun and intrigue kicks in and I loved how the cosiness of the community and relationships between people, alongside the mystery element worked really well. There's stakeouts and sleuthing going on and I loved it!! Spending time with these characters made you part of the community too and you just wanted the 'good guys' to succeed! Caroline really gets into her 'detective' role and I loved the banter between her and Damian!!

An absorbing and entertaining story!! Not just for Christmas!!

[V · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mistletoe the Mayhem by Hannah Pearl is a light, cozy read set in the UK with some romance and a bit of mystery. I enjoyed the setting in a very unique little mall with artisans, crafts, a family owned real Italian food café and individual stalls. I haven’t been to a traditional anchor mall I almost ten years! This one sounded like fun. The mall manager, Caroline, is carrying quite a load, raising her younger brother and working long hours. Her boss is an ambivalent jerk. A suspicious new jewelry shop tenant owner creates additional tension to all the other overly stressed lessees during the busiest time of the year. I thought the theme and plot was interesting. I had never read anything by this author before. My only critique would be that the writing was plain and almost more at a Young Adult level. It was a quick easy story to read but I probably won’t remember it.

[Mrs S · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cosy romance/mystery novel perfect to read with your favourite festive drink and goodies.
Caroline (Caro) is dedicated to her job at the Little Shopping Mall and considers the (majority of) shop owners to be part of her family which she needs since tragedy struck when she was younger. Prioritising her job and her brother she devotes no time to herself or her love life.
Can she find happiness with the ‘mystery man’ who appears at the mall?
Caroline is busy in the run up to Christmas organising themed shopping events to bring in extra business so that shop owners can increase their sales to cover increased costs due to an unwelcome new shop to the mall.
Damian (mystery man) is working undercover to find evidence that the unwelcome shop owner is not what he seems.
Can Caroline and Damian be more than working companions?

[Isabelle D · Rating 5 out of 5]

If, like me, you like small village settings, you'll surely also enjoy this small shopping mall variation, complete with sense of community and well-meaning but slightly irritating matchmakers.
I also really enjoyed the mystery aspect, as it was fun following Caroline's efforts at sleuthing while helping everyone around her and dealing with a demanding manager.
And then, of course, there's the festive touch that makes a Christmas novel. If it worked for me in the middle of a summer heatwave, it's bound to work even better when winter comes.

I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Donna Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Caroline is the assistant to manager Ian of Holly Walk Mall. He is very incompetent, irritable, and leaves her to do all the work & sort out all the complaints from the shop holders.
She meets a mysterious stranger who is watching new tenant Christopher Sharp. The stranger turns out to be a police detective called Damian. They meet for a coffee and he tells her all about Christopher’s brother who was involved in a jewellery robbery. He thinks Christopher might be storing stolen goods in his shop.
Caroline agrees to keep a watch on him too & inform Damien of any dodgy dealings.
I loved reading this story. The characters were very interesting too.

[Isobel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is set in one of those lovely old shopping arcades where specialist family businesses and shopping with a personal touch can still be found. However charming the location, unfortunately the realities of modern commerce are making themselves felt. This is a community of people who bring humour, mystery, warmth and strength to their working lives as they try to find a niche in the modern world. On the way there is drama, suspense, skullduggery and other things that if I told you would give the game away. Whilst nostalgic in someways and amusing in others this story has reality too. Really enjoyable.

[Barbara Deeprose · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Nice Christmas Read

Caroline loves her job as assistant manager at the Holly Walk Mall. All the shopkeepers feel like family and it is a very close community until a new shopkeeper arrives to open up a jewellery business. Suddenly the rents are put up and the manager of the Mall seems to be absent more often than not. Then Caroline notices someone taking rather an interest in the jewellery but seems to be avoiding the owner. Is there trouble ahead? This was a nice Christmas read, with some laugh out load moments. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a light hearted read from time to time.

[Gill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book - I was hooked right from the start and for once I read pretty much every word. The story is a little different, with a bit of suspense, perhaps slightly predictable but no less interesting and involving anyway. It ended most satisfactorily – all loose ends tied in a nice bow, in almost exactly the way I had decided I wanted it to go. An easy 5 star rating from me for this one.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Caroline works at the Holly Walk mall, a unique shopping arcade. She is the heart and soul of the mall, ensuring that everything runs smoothly. She is kept in sugary treats by Nina and Marco at the Italian cafe. With additional pressures including setting up santa's grotto and dealing with the new jewellery store she meets a a new man. Will they come together and will she solve the mystery in the jewellery shop. A fun read.

[Skarleth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bastante sobrio, menos navideño y menos romántico de lo que esperaba.

Una historia enfocada en la resolución de un misterio, con variedad de personajes pintorescos pero que la verdad incluso a los protagonistas se les conoce solo superficialmente.

Es fácil de leer aunque para mi gusto le falta algo de agarre ya que ni el misterio lo hace tan interesante.

No está mal, los personajes son agradables y en general está bien.

[Margaret Fantom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed reading about Cara the shopping mall she looks after she loves all the little shops & the people who run them they are like here family Cara & her brother lost both their parents in a car accident she gets to know an undercover policeman who is investigating one the shop keepers so with the build up to Christmas & the late nights they work together to try & prove he is corrupt along with many other characters I found this book a nice read

[Jane L. Dollar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love at the Mall

I loved this book and all of the character descriptions. I loved the budding and shy romance, and the fact there were no lurid sex scenes. I just wish there was a follow-up book continuing the love story of Caro and Damien!!!

[Pat Christie · Rating 4 out of 5]

ebook

She’s the Mall manager without a title. He comes to see if one of the shop owners is a crook. He’s a cop doing undercover work on his own. He helps her and she helps him but neither admits their attraction…

[Michaela Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I felt the book rambled on and on and in lots of places repeated what we already knew. Maybe this was to get the word count up to make it in to a book rather than a short story. Having said that I did enjoy the story.

[Cherlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun light read

This was a delightful lighthearted Book to read The challenges faced by the heroin in here was always fun and the interesting things that they came up with to keep people interested in them all were fun
to read I

[Pam Kennedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

easy ready

Well portrayed characters, brought life with a bit of everything included, humour, drama, comedy, intrigue and enough going on to make you want get to the next chapter. Totally different storyline to anything else I’ve read. Thoroughly enjoyable.

[Margaret Swanson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good story

This is a great story with the Christmas theme of the true spirit of loving and caring for others as well as a tender romance while solving a crime.

[Angel Graham · Rating 2 out of 5]

Far too long for not much of a mystery.

[Mrs Woo Woo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not what is normally read....thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Caroline De Ruijter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very soppy

[Frances Wolf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mistletoe and Mayhem

This is the first book I’ve read by this author. I did enjoy it but I just thought it was a little bit drawn out for a Christmas story but I can recommend it.