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From Meltdown to Mistletoe
Kia Love was determined to enjoy her Christmas, despite having to work all day waiting tables. Never mind that she’d had a rather crappy Christmas Eve and eighteen months of bad luck before that; she tried to keep smiling, regardless.
Disgruntled vet Jalil Dunn isn't exactly riding high on holiday spirit, and when he and Kia cross paths after many years of not seeing each other, he’s nowhere near warm and fuzzy.
Yet when he witnesses Kia have an uncharacteristic meltdown, he feels compelled to go check on her. They decide to ride out the rest of their subpar Christmases together and thanks to some forgotten mistletoe, maybe it won’t suck so much after all.
Content warning: brief mention of attack/death (off page).
Disgruntled vet Jalil Dunn isn't exactly riding high on holiday spirit, and when he and Kia cross paths after many years of not seeing each other, he’s nowhere near warm and fuzzy.
Yet when he witnesses Kia have an uncharacteristic meltdown, he feels compelled to go check on her. They decide to ride out the rest of their subpar Christmases together and thanks to some forgotten mistletoe, maybe it won’t suck so much after all.
Content warning: brief mention of attack/death (off page).
42 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 9, 2023
1 person is currently reading
15 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 15, 2023
S/O to Mistletoe
This was such a good short story. It’s not the holly jolly you’d normally expect in a holiday read but I still enjoyed it. I was pulled into the story immediately and was locked in the entire time. Kia really was sunshine but when snapped she really snapped. I knew Jalil was a softy on the inside. Would love more from these two!!!!!
This was such a good short story. It’s not the holly jolly you’d normally expect in a holiday read but I still enjoyed it. I was pulled into the story immediately and was locked in the entire time. Kia really was sunshine but when snapped she really snapped. I knew Jalil was a softy on the inside. Would love more from these two!!!!!
December 12, 2023
Short. Pretty good.
January 16, 2024
From Meltdown to Mistletoe is the story of Kia who was down on her luck during the holidays and is comforted by Jalil, a guy she knew from high school who recently moved into her building.
Overall, this is a well-written and enjoyable short story. I love blue-collar heroines and Kia is a waitress at the beginning of the story. I think there are several tropes here: "riches to rags," "grumpy/sunshine" and the "healing power of love." The third trope I found a little problematic for this story. Kia and Jalil talk for maybe an hour and Jalil says he's feeling better than he had in years. If they'd been talking for several days instead of a few hours or if he said he felt better than he felt in weeks or months, I would have bought it. But as it stood, it sounded like a pick-up line to get into Kia's pants. Also, I was hoping they would wait at least a week to be intimate, as Kia was intimate with the guy who ghosted her the night before. That's not enough time in between men.
Overall, this is a well-written and enjoyable short story. I love blue-collar heroines and Kia is a waitress at the beginning of the story. I think there are several tropes here: "riches to rags," "grumpy/sunshine" and the "healing power of love." The third trope I found a little problematic for this story. Kia and Jalil talk for maybe an hour and Jalil says he's feeling better than he had in years. If they'd been talking for several days instead of a few hours or if he said he felt better than he felt in weeks or months, I would have bought it. But as it stood, it sounded like a pick-up line to get into Kia's pants. Also, I was hoping they would wait at least a week to be intimate, as Kia was intimate with the guy who ghosted her the night before. That's not enough time in between men.
December 27, 2023
Irritation to flirtation
The story is about Kia the skinny girl who every one teased and jalil the grumpy football players from high school who every girl was drooling on have reunited unexpectedly years down the line when jalil moves into Kia’s apartment building. Kai the friendly neighbour tried to make small talk with jalil but he was having none of that.
On Christmas jalil goes to the nearby diner to collect his Christmas order for the veterans group he volunteers for when he sees Kia having a meltdown at work because she encountered her high school bullies who were there to make her shift a terrible one. After he sees her storming out of the diner, he makes it his mission to make sure she is already and her Christmas isn’t ruined. Read the book to find out what happens when he pay Kia an unexpected visit at her apartment.
The story is about Kia the skinny girl who every one teased and jalil the grumpy football players from high school who every girl was drooling on have reunited unexpectedly years down the line when jalil moves into Kia’s apartment building. Kai the friendly neighbour tried to make small talk with jalil but he was having none of that.
On Christmas jalil goes to the nearby diner to collect his Christmas order for the veterans group he volunteers for when he sees Kia having a meltdown at work because she encountered her high school bullies who were there to make her shift a terrible one. After he sees her storming out of the diner, he makes it his mission to make sure she is already and her Christmas isn’t ruined. Read the book to find out what happens when he pay Kia an unexpected visit at her apartment.
December 28, 2023
Great quick read
I was glad when Kia's day went from bad to good. Kia and Jalil deserve the happiness that they bring to each other. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a good quick book to read.
I was glad when Kia's day went from bad to good. Kia and Jalil deserve the happiness that they bring to each other. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a good quick book to read.
December 21, 2023
A great holiday short to put or keep you in the spirit of the season!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 26, 2024
Fun holiday read
I downloaded this book for a Christmas Eve read and it hit the spot. The characters were relatable with just enough romance to make it fun and sexy.
I downloaded this book for a Christmas Eve read and it hit the spot. The characters were relatable with just enough romance to make it fun and sexy.
December 28, 2024
Kia and Jalil
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews