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The Mistletoe Duet #2
Catching the Mistletoe
I'm Arabella Snow, vibrant, adventurous, a bit of a spitfire. And I’m finally free after years of being sick.
I woke up from a coma a year ago. He was leaning over me, holding my hands, calming me down.
I’d never met him before, but one look in his deep, hazel eyes and I was a goner. Who is this guy?
Turns out he’s Mack, my sister’s husband’s best friend. And if you think that’s complicated, you’re right.
Even more complicated? When I see him again, he acts like he’s never met me.
Now we're stuck together on a Christmas charity road trip, delivering presents to kids in need.
And Mack? He's the haunted, broody cowboy who's all about keeping his secrets and doesn’t even want to be here.
As the nights grow longer and the snow starts falling, we start opening up. We've both got our scars, sure. But as we travel from town to town, we're unwrapping the hidden layers of our own guarded hearts.
Could this road trip be our chance to heal? Or do our scars run too deep?
I woke up from a coma a year ago. He was leaning over me, holding my hands, calming me down.
I’d never met him before, but one look in his deep, hazel eyes and I was a goner. Who is this guy?
Turns out he’s Mack, my sister’s husband’s best friend. And if you think that’s complicated, you’re right.
Even more complicated? When I see him again, he acts like he’s never met me.
Now we're stuck together on a Christmas charity road trip, delivering presents to kids in need.
And Mack? He's the haunted, broody cowboy who's all about keeping his secrets and doesn’t even want to be here.
As the nights grow longer and the snow starts falling, we start opening up. We've both got our scars, sure. But as we travel from town to town, we're unwrapping the hidden layers of our own guarded hearts.
Could this road trip be our chance to heal? Or do our scars run too deep?
334 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 16, 2023
247 people are currently reading
986 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
December 24, 2024
Bella and Mack
Forced proximity
Christmas
RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
SPICE: 🔥🔥🔥
Bella having had a life-saving surgery the year before after years and years of struggling, and Mack having a not-so-happy childhood are paired together to deliver gifts across America (taking the place of her sister and his foster-brother)
A cute little love story. These two have been attracted to each other for a year. Mack kept her at a distance as «she deserves more». Now that they are forced in a caravan for the next weeks, there is no longer enough distance.
Their banter and angst for chapters was good. Now that she will live, she wants to experience it all. He does small things for her to «live» her list. He is a romantic to the core and their spice/intimacy was perfect.
The only reason it didnt hit 5 was felt we didnt get enough of Mack.
Forced proximity
Christmas
RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
SPICE: 🔥🔥🔥
Bella having had a life-saving surgery the year before after years and years of struggling, and Mack having a not-so-happy childhood are paired together to deliver gifts across America (taking the place of her sister and his foster-brother)
A cute little love story. These two have been attracted to each other for a year. Mack kept her at a distance as «she deserves more». Now that they are forced in a caravan for the next weeks, there is no longer enough distance.
Their banter and angst for chapters was good. Now that she will live, she wants to experience it all. He does small things for her to «live» her list. He is a romantic to the core and their spice/intimacy was perfect.
The only reason it didnt hit 5 was felt we didnt get enough of Mack.
December 29, 2024
Loved this story too! Bella no longer sick after having her surgery has the chance to travel across the country delivering gifts to those in need. Add Mack in and they made a great team. Both were on a healing journey as well. So many emotions were felt while reading. I enjoyed it a lot.
December 11, 2023
This one just didn’t hit for me. The concept was cute and I felt like there was a lot of potential, but it took me a while to get through.
Arabella was too exclamation-pointy for me. I’m all for positive/sunshiney characters but I felt like she was over the top. And then it seemed like she just threw in some swear words for the heck of it.
I didn’t get the drama with Mack. He has a sad backstory, yes, but I still don’t quite get all the drama he created. Communication would have helped a lot! He otherwise was a likable character for me.
One other small little thing, some word choice seemed out of left field, with more fancy words being placed here and there and didn’t seem to fit the rest.
Arabella was too exclamation-pointy for me. I’m all for positive/sunshiney characters but I felt like she was over the top. And then it seemed like she just threw in some swear words for the heck of it.
I didn’t get the drama with Mack. He has a sad backstory, yes, but I still don’t quite get all the drama he created. Communication would have helped a lot! He otherwise was a likable character for me.
One other small little thing, some word choice seemed out of left field, with more fancy words being placed here and there and didn’t seem to fit the rest.
November 23, 2023
Catching The Mistletoe is a grumpy/sunshine, holiday romance featuring Arabella Snow and Liam McKinley (Mack). It is the second book in The Mistletoe Duet but can be appreciated as a standalone.
Arabella lives at Slow River Ranch just outside Esperance, NC with her most of her family. She had spent most of her life sick but about a year prior had received a new kidney and was ready to start living her life to the fullest.
The ranch had always been the dream of Noah, her brother-in-law, and Mack, his best friend. They were finally living their dream thanks to all the donations that came in when Noah and Genevieve, Arabella's sister, participated in the Chasing The Mistletoe contest/reality show where they fell in love.
The show did so well that the producers contact Genevieve and Noah about a new show called Caravan of Christmas. The concept was that they would travel across the US delivering Christmas gifts to underprivileged kids. Due to their current commitments, they had to decline but it was suggested that Arabella go instead. After exerting some pressure, Mack was coerced into going with her.
On their trip, Arabella and Mack push past their mutual discomfort to get to know one another. (Yay for forced proximity!) Both have scars that need to heal, and being vulnerable isn't something that comes easily to them. Finding another person who sees you and appreciates you exactly as you are though makes it entirely worth the effort!
This was a beautiful story of two people finding their complement. I loved how this journey allowed both Arabella and Mack to take steps forward, starting a journey of healing from their pasts. They have wonderful chemistry together, and I loved how they showed up for each other. I definitely recommend checking this one out.
My #NewToMeWord is grizzle. It appears to be a British word that refers to a child's fretful cry.
Arabella lives at Slow River Ranch just outside Esperance, NC with her most of her family. She had spent most of her life sick but about a year prior had received a new kidney and was ready to start living her life to the fullest.
The ranch had always been the dream of Noah, her brother-in-law, and Mack, his best friend. They were finally living their dream thanks to all the donations that came in when Noah and Genevieve, Arabella's sister, participated in the Chasing The Mistletoe contest/reality show where they fell in love.
The show did so well that the producers contact Genevieve and Noah about a new show called Caravan of Christmas. The concept was that they would travel across the US delivering Christmas gifts to underprivileged kids. Due to their current commitments, they had to decline but it was suggested that Arabella go instead. After exerting some pressure, Mack was coerced into going with her.
On their trip, Arabella and Mack push past their mutual discomfort to get to know one another. (Yay for forced proximity!) Both have scars that need to heal, and being vulnerable isn't something that comes easily to them. Finding another person who sees you and appreciates you exactly as you are though makes it entirely worth the effort!
This was a beautiful story of two people finding their complement. I loved how this journey allowed both Arabella and Mack to take steps forward, starting a journey of healing from their pasts. They have wonderful chemistry together, and I loved how they showed up for each other. I definitely recommend checking this one out.
My #NewToMeWord is grizzle. It appears to be a British word that refers to a child's fretful cry.
January 13, 2025
Garbage. Absolute dumpster fire of a book. Arabella Snow (and yes that is her real name) was so annoying. Like I’m aware she’s supposed to be the sunshine to his grumpy but it honestly felt like she was a little kid sometimes. Which is perfect for him because his nickname for her is little dove. What happened to good old fashioned “my love”, “darling” , or “sweetheart” ? On top of that, we get absolutely no backstory as to why he calls her little dove, he just said it once and ran with it. Mack needs to learn the art of communication. He has a troubled past that was talked about and a big problem for him and yet we never got any real details as to what happened to him. He went as far as breaking up with Arabella because he didn’t think he deserved her. Yes I get he has drama but I know he went through therapy so he should know how to use his words, right? The plot was so lacking, it was the same routine over and over again; Drive to destination, hand out presents, leave. That’s it. The only challenge they had to overcome was how Mack’s whole vocabulary consisted of “yes”, “okay”, and that god awful nickname.
October 27, 2025
gosh i’ve never related more to how thirsty this woman is goodness gracious me and once she got it SHE GOT IT golly gosh they are like rabid bunnies that can’t be normal im no expert but these guys are shagging multiple times DAILY each time she’s coming multiple times?!
anyways in other words this was another super short and sweet little romance, very predictable but enjoyable all the same, we did have a little 3rd act breakup but it’s fairly nice to see that it wasn’t dragged out and didn’t ruin everything for ages!
do have to comment on the marriage thing idk if it’s different in america but both books they’ve only been dating a matter of weeks? and they’re engaged? calm down guys plz too much
however i did really enjoy this duology i wish they’d been longer! they would’ve been SO good as a more slow burn longer novels! unfortunately the length whilst easy to read makes them more forgettable and less likely to stick in my memory.
but either way i had a good time reading!
anyways in other words this was another super short and sweet little romance, very predictable but enjoyable all the same, we did have a little 3rd act breakup but it’s fairly nice to see that it wasn’t dragged out and didn’t ruin everything for ages!
do have to comment on the marriage thing idk if it’s different in america but both books they’ve only been dating a matter of weeks? and they’re engaged? calm down guys plz too much
however i did really enjoy this duology i wish they’d been longer! they would’ve been SO good as a more slow burn longer novels! unfortunately the length whilst easy to read makes them more forgettable and less likely to stick in my memory.
but either way i had a good time reading!
November 17, 2023
Mack and Arabella/Bella are both on a journey of healing and both have vulnerability, can the two find their own Christmas miracle. Bella woke up after being in a coma a year ago , there was a sweet man staring down at her keeping her calm , holding her hands . This man wasn’t a stranger though he’s her sister’s husband’s best friend … A Christmas road trip for the kids , handing out gifts . Bella sees Mack again , but he’s closed off and is acting like he doesn’t know who she is. He doesn’t really want to be here either .Do they find romance in the most unexpected circumstances that fate has dealt them and embrace it and each other. If they can only find the key… Unlocking their guarded hearts. Sweet antsy romance . Lovely Christmas story full of hope. Well written feel-good read.
I read a free copy and my review is voluntary and my own words
I read a free copy and my review is voluntary and my own words
November 16, 2023
I saw lucky enough to get the chance to read this book before it came out, and went in blind without knowing the blurb or having read the first book.
Despite that, I fell in love over-and-over again with Bella's strength and Mack's stoic-ness.
Bella thinks that Mack doesn't like her, but unfortunately, he's her card to finally get the adventure she's always dreaming of having.
We meet adorable kids, get tattoos, are forced to have real, uncomfortable conversations due to forced proximity, and stay in the snow cabin we've always dreamed of getting snowed into!
There's absolutely no OM/OW drama or cheating, just a HEA that will make you swoon!
10/10 would recommend!
Despite that, I fell in love over-and-over again with Bella's strength and Mack's stoic-ness.
Bella thinks that Mack doesn't like her, but unfortunately, he's her card to finally get the adventure she's always dreaming of having.
We meet adorable kids, get tattoos, are forced to have real, uncomfortable conversations due to forced proximity, and stay in the snow cabin we've always dreamed of getting snowed into!
There's absolutely no OM/OW drama or cheating, just a HEA that will make you swoon!
10/10 would recommend!
December 10, 2023
A cute Christmas theme story and a good complement to the first book. A Christmas road trip across the country to give presents to kids.
A slow pace love story full of much needed healing on both sides. They have a great chemistry together, I love how they show up for each other and help one another.
Mack built walls to close himself, but Bella have hope that she can unlock her heart and bring the walls down. They find romance in the most unexpected circumstances that fate has dealt them with and will eventually embrace it.
A slow pace love story full of much needed healing on both sides. They have a great chemistry together, I love how they show up for each other and help one another.
Mack built walls to close himself, but Bella have hope that she can unlock her heart and bring the walls down. They find romance in the most unexpected circumstances that fate has dealt them with and will eventually embrace it.
January 15, 2025
4.0
This was a really cute Christmas romance. I have not read the first in this duology, the plot of this one seemed more interesting to me. I was not disappointed. The two MC's fit together so well, grumpy cowboys are the best especially when they have a soft spot and a cute nickname for their girl.
I was a little worried that the 'reality tv' aspect was going to be a main focus of the plot, and was pleasantly surprised to have it take a back seat to the romance plot.
The characters are well developed with rich histories.
Good amount of spice and a HEA to boot.
This was a really cute Christmas romance. I have not read the first in this duology, the plot of this one seemed more interesting to me. I was not disappointed. The two MC's fit together so well, grumpy cowboys are the best especially when they have a soft spot and a cute nickname for their girl.
I was a little worried that the 'reality tv' aspect was going to be a main focus of the plot, and was pleasantly surprised to have it take a back seat to the romance plot.
The characters are well developed with rich histories.
Good amount of spice and a HEA to boot.
February 3, 2025
Honestly this book was such a good and fun quick read for me. I loved the forced proximity trope while doing it in a creative and fun way. it was such an interesting ride to tag along with mack and bella and see their love and understanding of each other grow through the book while also doing the charity event where bella learns to find herself. the only thing is i wish we had more time with both of them and that the ending was longer since it felt a little rushed.
December 11, 2023
This is such a great feel-good holiday read! Mack and Arabella are absolutely perfect and complete each other: opposites that bring out the best in each other. The story line is also wonderful and mentions some very important missions that should not only be thought about during the holidays.
A great read for the holidays or if you want to be in the holiday spirit year-round!
A great read for the holidays or if you want to be in the holiday spirit year-round!
November 20, 2023
Oh man…what a fantastic read!
This was such an incredible read! You’re going to laugh out loud; sob until you can’t breath; and be simply overcome with love and joy. Get your copy today!
This was such an incredible read! You’re going to laugh out loud; sob until you can’t breath; and be simply overcome with love and joy. Get your copy today!
November 27, 2023
Cute.
I do wish the drama at the end made a little more sense. His "reason" for being a dummy just didn't hit for me. It felt kind of immature.. and then we went from 0 to 100. From "there is no us" to let's get married in less than a week. Damn.
Overall enjoyed.
I do wish the drama at the end made a little more sense. His "reason" for being a dummy just didn't hit for me. It felt kind of immature.. and then we went from 0 to 100. From "there is no us" to let's get married in less than a week. Damn.
Overall enjoyed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 24, 2023
Review of Catching the Mistletoe
I absolutely loved book and I will definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves romantic novels. She is an amazing writer! She is also a new writer for me!
I absolutely loved book and I will definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves romantic novels. She is an amazing writer! She is also a new writer for me!
November 21, 2023
This is an awesome romance! I loved it! Sweet, with lots of steam.. Heartfelt and healing..
December 15, 2023
mistletoe
Great story and I loved the characters. I just have to say the word is not f. It’s make love. Helping others is truly the way of Christmas.
Great story and I loved the characters. I just have to say the word is not f. It’s make love. Helping others is truly the way of Christmas.
January 2, 2024
Was really good Christmas book xx
Read
January 13, 2025This was a cute one. This one was deff one for men are stupid and cant get out of his own head to be happy....
dnf
January 22, 2025Stopped on page 44 at 14%
June 5, 2025
Overall great story but too much language and racy scenes for my liking. Would have been better if toned down a bit.
December 1, 2023
✿ 𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀 ✿
Friends with benefits to Lovers 💕
Grumpy x sunshine ☀️
Dual POV 🎭
Forced proximity 🚍
Mental health rep 🧠
Illness rep 🚑
"𝚈𝚘𝚞'𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚎𝚊𝚌𝚎 𝙸'𝚟𝚎 𝚊𝚕𝚠𝚊𝚢𝚜 𝚋𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚜𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚌𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚏𝚘𝚛. 𝚈𝚘𝚞'𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚑𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝙸 𝚗𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝙸'𝚍 𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚍. 𝙰𝚗𝚍 𝙸 𝚗𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚟𝚎."
If you want a cosy Christmas read, this book is for you! I loved the festive road trip vibe, coupled with the forced proximity of the RV and the interactions with the children at the charity events, it made the perfect emotional rollercoaster.
Arabella and Mack complemented each other perfectly and the grumpy x sunshine was done so well with Mack’s history. I loved that the dual POV let us really see Mack’s inner turmoil over Arabella and not feeling good enough 🥺
Also special shoutout to the boy obsessed moment we got when Mack revealed he got a tattoo for Arabella before he even spoke a single word to her 🤭
Friends with benefits to Lovers 💕
Grumpy x sunshine ☀️
Dual POV 🎭
Forced proximity 🚍
Mental health rep 🧠
Illness rep 🚑
"𝚈𝚘𝚞'𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚎𝚊𝚌𝚎 𝙸'𝚟𝚎 𝚊𝚕𝚠𝚊𝚢𝚜 𝚋𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚜𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚌𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚏𝚘𝚛. 𝚈𝚘𝚞'𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚑𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝙸 𝚗𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝙸'𝚍 𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚍. 𝙰𝚗𝚍 𝙸 𝚗𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚟𝚎."
If you want a cosy Christmas read, this book is for you! I loved the festive road trip vibe, coupled with the forced proximity of the RV and the interactions with the children at the charity events, it made the perfect emotional rollercoaster.
Arabella and Mack complemented each other perfectly and the grumpy x sunshine was done so well with Mack’s history. I loved that the dual POV let us really see Mack’s inner turmoil over Arabella and not feeling good enough 🥺
Also special shoutout to the boy obsessed moment we got when Mack revealed he got a tattoo for Arabella before he even spoke a single word to her 🤭
November 6, 2024
I loved it. The whole healing concept and story line were well written. Although it felt rushed in the last pages. They just started really dating and in a week or two and suddenly are engaged. I know this is based on the concept that they are soulmates and already knew each other but they were "friends" for a year, dated 2 weeks and we're already engaged? That's really rushed. I think it would be better if the epilogue was set like - at least - a year after the show.
Plus, I signed up for the newsletter just for the bonus scene and it wasn't that good. I didn't learned anything new or interesting. SPOILER - It was just another pov of a scene we already had.
Plus, I signed up for the newsletter just for the bonus scene and it wasn't that good. I didn't learned anything new or interesting. SPOILER - It was just another pov of a scene we already had.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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