Just Add Mistletoe

Everly Falls #4

by Heather B. Moore

She’ll do anything to stay invisible to the male eye. But he can’t seem to notice anyone else.

Lori loves the holidays, and if her holiday store isn’t a huge indicator, she dresses for each season. It makes her happy, and no man, so far, has been interested in her idiosyncrasies. But that doesn’t matter since she’s sworn off dating because of a series of flops. She’s more than content, or at least that’s what she thinks, until Malcom moves across the street from her. Literally. In a construction lot where he’s taken up residence in a trailer.

Lori decides his housing choices are none of her business—but the two keep crossing paths and discover they have plenty in common. And all the things they are opposite in only add fuel to her attraction. Besides, he’s not put off by her broomstick earrings, autumn leaf sweaters, or mistletoe hairband. The only catch is that he’s also sworn off dating. One of them will have to cave first.

EVERLY FALLS
Just Add Romance
Just Add Mischief
Just Add Friendship
Just Add Mistletoe

PINE VALLEY
Worth the Risk
Where I Belong
Say You Love Me
Waiting for You
Finding Us
Until We Kissed
Let's Begin Again
All For You

PROSPERITY RANCH
One Summer Day
Steal My Heart
Not Over You
Seasoned with Love
Take a Chance

ALISO CREEK
Picture Perfect
Third Time’s the Charm
The Daisy Chain
Lost then Found
One Chance

FALLING
Falling for Sydney
Falling for Maria
Falling for June
Falling for Lucy

TANGERINE STREET ROMANCE
The Fortune Café
The Boardwalk Antiques Shop
The Mariposa Hotel
Delilah's Desserts

THE NEWPORT LADIES BOOK CLUB
Athena
Ruby’s Secret
Tying the Knot

HISTORICAL
Love is Come
An Ocean Away
A Fortunate Exile
A Season in London
Mail Order Bride
Heart of the Ocean
Power of the Matchmaker
Twelve Months
The Duke's Brother

TIMELESS ROMANCE
Winter Collection
Spring Vacation Collection
Summer Wedding Collection
California Dreamin’ Collection
Valentine’s Day Collection
And more…!

ABOUT THE
Heather B. Moore is a USA today bestselling author who writes sweet romance. Under H.B. Moore she writes historicals & thrillers. Under Jane Redd, she writes Young Adult. There are more than 9,000 5-star reviews for Heather's books on Goodreads!

Genres: Christmas, Clean Romance, Romance, Contemporary, Holiday

246 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 2, 2024

About the author

Heather B. Moore is a USA Today bestselling author of more than ninety publications. Heather writes primarily historical and #herstory fiction about the humanity and heroism of the everyday person. Publishing in a breadth of genres, Heather dives into the hearts and souls of her characters, meshing her love of research with her love of storytelling.

Her ancient era historicals and thrillers are written under pen name H.B. Moore. She writes historical women's fiction, romance and inspirational non-fiction under Heather B. Moore, and . . . speculative fiction under Jane Redd. This can all be confusing, so her kids just call her Mom. Heather attended Cairo American College in Egypt and the Anglican School of Jerusalem in Israel. Despite failing her high school AP English exam, Heather persevered and earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Brigham Young University in something other than English.

Please join Heather's email list at: HBMoore.com/contact/
Website: HBMoore.com
Twitter: @heatherbmoore
Instagram: @authorhbmoore
Facebook: Fans of Heather B. Moore
And yes, the Blog still lives: MyWritersLair.blogspot.com

Literary honors: 2020 Goodreads Choice Award Semi-Finalist, Foreword 2020 INDIES Finalist, ALA Best New Books - September 2020, 6-time Best of State Recipient for Best in Literary Arts, 2019 Maggie Award Winner, 4-time Whitney Award Winner, and 2-time Golden Quill Award Winner.

Heather is represented by Dystel, Goderich, and Bourret.

Reviews

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute way to start off my Christmas reading season!

[Katie (hiding in the pages) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Because I grew up in a small town, I have a deep love and connection to small town stories and Everly Falls is one of my favorite settings.

Malcolm and Lori are such great characters and the way this “strictly” friends relationship-to-more kicks off at the beginning of the holiday season hit the spot. It was fun to watch the natural progression of both parallel one another in the most satisfying of ways.


With a fake relationship, a cute little Tiger kitten, swoony vibes, and a mystery at hand, this one is a holiday winner.

Content: kisses

*I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given*

[Julie Carpenter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Darling Christmas story that I loved immersing myself in. I loved being back in Everly Falls and seeing the characters from previous books. It was so fun feeling like I was catching up with them and seeing where they were at now after their books ended. That's one aspect that draws me to book series, is being able to have little glimpses of characters that you love.

Lori and Malcom's story was sweet to watch unfold. They're both in their 30's and haven't had the best luck with dating. So when they meet unexpectedly and over a situation that is kind of humorous they catch each others' eyes. Then they keep running into each other. And that in turn has her friends playing matchmakers. *smirks*

There are some moments of mystery in regards to Malcom's business, which leads them down the path of investigating what is going on. It was a fun twist and addition to the story.

This one will definitely have you smiling and loving the sweet chemistry and romance.

Content: Clean. Some sweet kisses but nothing further.

I received a copy from the author. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.

Happy Reading!!!

[Sharon the Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sworn off dating, Lori puts all of her time and energy into her holiday shop. She is 100% in on whichever holiday is in season. She lives above the shop- and is content with her quiet life and a book.

Malcom, is what some would call a workaholic. He co-owns a construction company with a step-brother, and actually lives onsite in the other half of the trailer/office. He is not looking for love or a relationship- doesn’t have the time or energy.

The townspeople are not happy to have development and growth coming to Everly- which makes him enemy number one. Except for the shop owner across the street, the residents are bent on stopping construction.

Complicated familial relationships, close friend group, small town, and cat love will make this a perfect cozy read for fall and winter. I have not read the others in the series and this works perfectly as a standalone. If you’re a fan of Hallmark Christmas movies- you’ll be enthralled. If not- you will still enjoy it. I sure did.

I was given an arc for my review.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just Add Mistletoe is such a cute romance. It's set in Everly Falls. I love it when authors write books set in the same world. It just makes me happy to see beloved characters again.

I loved Lori! She's the kind of person who loves holidays so much that she dresses up for all of them. And she has a holiday themed store. Lori has no desire to have a relationship, except for when she's the fifth wheel with her friends. Which happens a lot. And that's when she meets Malcom.

I loved the way Malcom tries to look out for Lori. He helps her with so many things. But she helps him as well. These two just worked so well together. This is such a cute book!

[Charity · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this must be the perfect holiday romance. I can't really say Christmas, because it kind of encompasses all the late-year holidays. But Christmas is definitely in there.

This is a peaceful, low-angst, yet family-complicated read. After a couple heavier books, this is exactly what I needed. And while I definitely didn't love Malcom's family (seriously!), I adored Lori's friend group.

Speaking of which, this book is the fourth in the series, but the first one I read, and I had no problem keeping up. I'd say they're probably all stand alones.

You know, I'm not a fan of Hallmark movies, but somehow I'm a fan of Hallmark-ish books. Maybe because the acting's better in my head?

I'm sorry, I'm sorry! Don't shoot me!

~I was given a complimentary copy of this book. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.~

[Adrienne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Based on the cover and the title, I was expecting this to be much more of a Christmas story than it actually is. Fully half of the book takes place in October, and mistletoe doesn't get mentioned until over 90% of the way through the book. That's not necessarily a bad thing; I just was expecting more Christmas elements and wouldn't necessarily recommend this as a Christmas read. However, I totally recommend it as a sweet romance. Lori and Malcolm are both great characters. I like how they don't play games but are just straightforward with each other. It was easy to root for them. So, Christmas read? Not so much. Fun clean romance? Totally!
4 stars.
I read a DRC provided by the author. All opinions are my own.

[Mara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lori, is a vibrant woman who owns a holiday-themed store. She loves dressing for each holiday and is perfectly content with her single life – or so she tells herself. Enter Malcolm, a rugged and enigmatic construction worker who moves into a trailer across the street while the condominium project was under construction.

I love returning to the small town of Everly Falls!! Both Lori and Malcom have sworn off dating, but their growing friendship challenges them to reconsider their self-imposed restrictions. Their initial encounters are filled with playful banter and undeniable chemistry. Lori, despite her dating ban, finds herself drawn to Malcolm. He is captivated by Lori's infectious enthusiasm and her belief in the magic of the holidays.

I loved Lori's enthusiasm for each holiday; she seemed like a fun girlfriend to hangout with. Malcolm is a swoon-worthy boyfriend! I loved the fake dating scenes, the family drama and business mystery was icing on the cake for me.

This is a delightful holiday romance that will leave you feeling warm and fuzzy, so curl up in your favorite comfy chair with a hot beverage, a blanket and enjoy this small-town romance. I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts expressed in this review are my own.

[Suzan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really lovely holiday romance! It was charming, heartwarming, and had all the feels of an enjoyable Hallmark movie.

I loved Lori and Malcom. They were fun and flirty together, and I loved the slow burn tension between them, and their mature communication with each other.

Heather writes in a way that I feel like I’m stepping into these people‘s lives and can’t help falling in love with them. The characters were well developed, the setting was great, and it just had such fun and festive holiday vibes.

This is part of a series, but can be read as a standalone.

Many thanks to the author for a copy!

[Korbie Harrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just Add Mistletoe by @authorhbmoore is the perfect sort of Christmas read! Lori and Malcolm’s romance is very sweet and gentle. Both are genuinely kind people, aiming to live good lives. Everly Falls is a lovely setting too - it feels very quintessential small town! The people, particularly Lori’s friends, are exactly the type of people I want to be surrounded by.

While it is part of a series, the book stands alone well (it’s my first book I’ve read in the series, but I’ve got the rest lined up and ready to go in January after I finish my Christmas reads!).

Romance stays at just kisses, and the book is free of harsh language and violence; it’s the sort of book you can comfortably recommend to teens up to the grandmas of the world!

Thank you to the author for the copy!

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a darling conclusion to an adorable series! Everly Falls is a fun place to find love! Lori and Malcom have a bumpy journey and I was there for it. A couple of characters drove me nuts and a cute critter warmed my soul! Great combination! An all around heart-warming, swoony and fun holiday book!

Thanks to the author for the chance to read this book, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Holli · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given this book in exchange for a review.

4.5 out of 5. I started the book thinking I would take my time to read it. Before I knew it, I was 70% done with the book and up way too late. I finished it in two sittings.

I loved the characters' dynamics in this story. I enjoyed how well they meshed together. The nemeses in the story are well developed but not surprising. I would have liked to see more repercussions for what they did.

The story kept me engaged, and I enjoyed it thoroughly. I am excited to read the other stories in the series.

[Donna Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my gosh. I stayed up way too late reading this, but I couldn't put it down. I loved the relationship between Lori and Malcom. They each have very interesting family dynamics, but everything works out beautifully in the end. They have such great chemistry together.

[Jessie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Sweet Romance Through the Seasons

The cover makes this seem like a Christmas book, while really it takes place through Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas! I loved Lori and Malcolm, and loved to hate Malcom’s family. This book was full of so much real life and relationships, and a very sweet romance. I absolutely adored Lori’s friends and her holiday themed clothing and jewelry.

[RD · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great story! I really enjoyed reading this clean, engaging romance. The story had depth and a bit of intrigue which kept me turning pages (all night) until I reached the satisfying conclusion. There is also a good helping of tender moments and wonderful chemistry between the main characters, Malcolm and Lori. 4.5 ⭐️

[Shauna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Return to Everly Falls for another small town story with a hint of Christmas. Malcolm comes to town to develop an area. Across the street is Lori. When circumstances throughout w then together they start a relationship.

This author always throws a hit of suspense into the mix and I especially enjoy that part. A great addition to this series!

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice contemporary. Sweet Christmas read

[Shayla Riley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I give 4.5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

~She’ll do anything to stay invisible to the male eye. But he can’t seem to notice anyone else…

“Maybe it was possible for everyone to move past all the betrayals and find a new sense of peace.”

-Just Add Mistletoe, is a lovely quick holiday romcom. You will love the small town vibes of Everly Falls, the delightful characters, sparkling slow-burn tension, mischief, dear friendships, interesting family dynamics/drama, holiday vibes, humor, all the feels, suspense, a matchmaking kitten, witty banter, sweet kisses, cozy holiday setting, and much more. This is a delightful holiday romcom, that doesn’t just center around the Christmas Season. You also get Halloween and Thanksgiving! It’s a quick but, delightful story, worth the read!🙌🏻📚☺️

“You’re in my heart, and every time I’mwith you, it’s like my entire being is filled up.”

#justaddmistletoe
#hbmoore
#allaboutthebestreads

“He wasn’t going anywhere, and neither was she. It has definitely been a good call to hang more mistletoe.”

•Content: complicated family dynamics, divorce, business deceit.

-I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

“I like your earrings, but I love you.”

[Maria Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet, clean romance.
I love this group of friends who spend so much time together and support each other. I enjoyed Lori & Malcom's story. It seemed like it was going to be a slow burn but it really wasn't that slow in the end. Plus, there was a cute kitty. Made me want to snuggle a kitten but there is no kitten to be found at my house. Sigh.... But the romance was sweet and the banter was fun. And I might be a little jealous of the earring collection.

No sex, language or violence

[The Flipped Page (Susan K) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet, contemporary romance

Romance, sweet, contemporary; series but stand alone read
Lori and Malcolm’s story was a fun mix of their story and backstory with some family twists. Genuine, honest hearts, working to make their dreams come alive. Both helping each other and feeling the instant pull of attraction that grew into so much more. Lovely, sweet shared moments, with lots of fun interspersed as well. Sweet, lovely, caring, and romantic fall, even in the face of all those working against them. HEA written in their hearts, present, and future made for a perfect read.

[Jeni | StoryTimeReviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

✨ 𝗛𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮 𝗦𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝘄𝗼𝗼𝗻! 🎄✨ If you’re craving a cozy holiday romance, Just Add Mistletoe by Heather B. Moore is your perfect festive escape! Lori, the quirky owner of a holiday store, is happily single—until Malcom, 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘧 𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦, parks his construction-site trailer across the street. Sparks fly when he ropes her into a fake-dating scheme to fend off an overly interested coworker at an awards banquet, and their sweet friendship starts to blossom into something real.

🎁 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗟𝗼𝘃𝗲:
• 🕊️ Malcom: thoughtful, swoon-worthy, and practically a walking Hallmark movie hero.
• 🎄 Witty banter sharper than your grandmother’s holiday fudge knife.
• 💋 Sweet kisses and perfectly slow-burn tension.
• 🌟 Fake dating (because what could go wrong?).
• 🐾 A matchmaking kitten who clearly runs the show.
• 📊 Office drama and meddling moms keeping you on your toes

Oh, and Lori’s holiday store? It’s basically a Christmas-lover’s dream. Imagine the kind of place where you’d accidentally spend $200 on festive candles and ornaments while sipping hot cocoa. Add in plotting besties, family drama, and plenty of feels, and you’ve got the ultimate holiday romance!

💭 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀: Lori and Malcom’s love story is equal parts charming, swoony, and heartwarming—perfect for curling up with a blanket, a fire, and something warm to sip. This book will make you believe in holiday magic (and matchmaking kittens). Definitely don’t miss this festive delight!

This book is pure holiday magic—a feel-good romance packed with all the cozy, swoony vibes we crave this time of year. Although it doesn’t rewrite the romance rulebook, who cares when it’s this charming?

⚠️ 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁/𝗧𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗪𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀: No explicit or graphic content. Themes of complicated family relationships and divorce.

❓What’s your favorite holiday tradition? Bonus points if it’s as magical as a matchmaking kitten or as cozy as Lori’s holiday store!

Much love and thanks to Heather B. Moore for the gifted ebook. A positive review was not required.

[the girl who reads a lot · Rating 4 out of 5]

“It's against the laws of nature to move if a cat is asleep on your lap.”

Lori is done with dating, not that she was ever a big dater to begin with. But she’s tired of it just the same. Who cares if she’s the only one in her friend group without a man? She has her new shop to focus on as well as getting her parents’ house ready to sell. However, when she keeps crossing paths with Malcolm, the construction guy who’s living in a trailer across the street, she can’t deny there might be something there.

While this book looks like it’s strictly a Christmas novel, the story starts before Halloween, which I think is fun. I haven’t read any of the other Everly Falls books, and didn’t feel like I missed out on anything. I really liked this book! It’s a cute story, and I wish I could visit Lori’s shop. I feel like I would spend way too much time and money there! And now I need to look up the rest of the Everly Falls books.

I received a complementary copy from the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars, rounded up

This is a fun addition to the Everly Falls series, but it's not a Christmas book. ha ha It really covers from Halloween through Christmas, with Christmas only in the very last chapter, so with the title I did go into it expecting a lot more Christmas. The romance in this book is between Lori and Malcolm, a newcomer to town and Lori being the last of her Everly Falls' friend group who hasn't found her "one" yet. Lori is a store owner and has a fun, slightly quirkly personality of matching all her clothing and jewelry to the current holiday, while Malcolm works in a construction company that comes to town for a new housing development and ends up in a business mess that brings him and Lori together. Tiger the kitten adds a fun element to the story, as does being able to revisit all of Lori's friends who were featured in the previous Everly Falls' books. A shorter, fun, easy, light rom-com, just don't go into it expecting a Christmas story. :)

Content: Clean

***I received a complimentary digital copy from the author in exchange for my honest review.***


OUABC 2024 40-Book Reading Challenge Tag: A Book That Takes Place During Autumn

[Shauna Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

She was never seen until he came.
Such a sweet story of really seeing and valuing people for who they are. Lori was sweet, caring, kind, and loved the holidays so much she opened a shop dedicated to all holidays. The men she dated could never accept her love for all holidays and, likewise, her because of it. She spoke honestly but always kindly but all they seemed to see was her holiday earrings or apparel so rarely was there even a second date. Still, she had friends and they cared for her. When construction on a condo begins across the street from her shop she couldn’t help but notice the man in charge and when they meet, he actually sees her. When he asks her to attend an awards banquet as a shield from an overly interested woman, she agrees and soon they begin a sweet friendship. However, her fear of another rejection, the woman aggressively pursuing him, and misdeeds within his family company all work together to keep their friendship from becoming more. A wonderful heartwarming read you are sure to enjoy. I received an early copy and this is my honest review.

[Melissa’s Bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Take a quirky, cute heroine, a handsome golden retriever type hero, an adorable kitten, fake dating, & a bit of mystery & you have the makings of a sweet holiday romance! Heather B. Moore brings all the charm in Just Add Mistletoe. This darling holiday romance was such a fun, cozy read, easily devoured in a day.

Lori’s approaching 30 & sworn off dating. With her delightful holiday shop & trying to get her parents’ home ready to sell, she doesn’t have much time for a relationship either. When a hunky new neighbor moves his trailer in across the street, the sparks fly between them.

Malcolm & his brother own a construction company & are working with the city to build condos much to the dismay of certain residents. He also has his brother’s annoying sister-in-law to contend with who has a thing for him. When he meets Lori, he’s charmed by her cute holiday earrings & sweaters as well as her quirky personality. When he needs a date to an awards banquet, he enlists her help to be his fake date. Even though he’s sworn off dating too, he wants to make their fake relationship real.

I loved Lori & Malcolm! Lori’s such a cute person & I loved her fun personality. Malcolm’s the absolute perfect book boyfriend. Their chemistry was off the charts! I loved the banter & swoon worthy kisses. The mystery involving Malcolm’s company & some family drama kept me turning the pages too. I also loved all the small town feels, Lori’s friend group, & the cozy holiday setting.

It’s the perfect Christmas read! Though it’s part of a series, it’s easily read as a standalone. Highly recommend to Hallmark romance fans! I received an advanced complimentary copy from the author. All opinions are my own and voluntarily provided. 4-4.5 stars!

[Randi Sampson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just Add Mistletoe is the fourth book in the Everly Falls series. I had not personally read any of the previous books in the series and I found I was able to enjoy this one just fine as a standalone.

This was a really cute story! Lori had sworn off dating and was content to run her holiday store and Malcolm was a workaholic (to the point that he even lived in a trailer on the job) with no time for relationships either, but when the two meet, they have a really easy chemistry between them. I loved seeing them connect throughout the story, and for him to start allowing himself to put down some real roots. When he learns about some secrets about his family business, they work through it together... there's definitely some drama, but it was a really sweet read with a lighthearted, cozy feeling overall... the perfect type of read for this time of year!

Just Add Mistletoe is a closed-door romance with kisses only and no language.

**ARC received for consideration. All opinions are my own.

[Leann Arave · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful holiday romance. It was so good to come back to Everly Falls. I was excited for Lori‘s story. She was done with dating and just wanted to focus on her new little holiday store. When construction started across the street, she couldn’t help but notice the tall handsome stranger. Malcolm has seen his share of protests on a construction project, but he was surprised when he pulled in on his first day to a group of angry residence of the small town. When a scuffle begins and people are throwing punches, he runs across the street to get some ice for the battered older gentleman with a bloody nose. He entered the shop to find the most beautiful stunning woman he had ever seen. Everything about the story is fun, sweet and tender. The family dynamics, the betrayal, the compassionate and helpful group of friends, and of course the great chemistry between Malcolm and Lori. The banter is charming, the drama is gritty and clean sweet romance abounds. Plus a cute furry friend, tiger. It is part of a great series, but can be read as a stand alone.

[Heather Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Don't let the title fool you
-Just Add Mistletoe by Heather B. Moore isn't just for Christmas! A This sweet, swoony romance is perfect for *any* time of year.
I was completely hooked on this low-angst, feel-good story. & The sprinkling of holiday vibes (Halloween through Christmas) adds a festive touch, but the story's heart goes far beyond seasonal cheer.
This is a book about choosing your own path to happiness and redefining success outside of love or relationship status.
Lori is delightfully quirky, refreshingly down-to-earth, and so easy to root for. & She's the perfect balance to Malcom, the super hot gentleman with a complicated career and family life. Despite everything, Malcom remains a man of integrity, guarding his heart while staying true to himself-and honestly, that just makes him even more swoon-worthy.
Together? They're adorbs.
This was my first book into the Everly series, and while it works perfectly as a standalone, l'm already lining up the rest of the books on my TBR.

[Kass Rob · Rating 5 out of 5]

O my goodness! I just have to say this was such a perfect read for my Thanksgiving break! I loved the mix of Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas! Trust me, if you're looking for a cozy holiday romance, Just Add Mistletoe by Heather B. Moore is a perfect pick!

I absolutely loved Lori, and her quirky personality, especially her earrings and the reason behind why she wears the ones she does! She owns the cutest little Holiday Shop, and is content being single, that is until Malcom, (the charming new construction worker in town) convinces her to pretend like they are dating for his big work event party, but their pretend romance soon becomes something real!

I loved the friendships in this book, (and now have to go read the rest of the series) the little tabby cat, and working together through family drama, made this a delightful, feel good romance with all the cozy holiday feels!

Thank you so much to Heather B. Moore for the early copy of this book, all views are my own.

[MK · Rating 4 out of 5]

Is hallmark Christmas your thing? If it is, you will really enjoy this one.

Malcom is new to a small town… and the town isn’t very excited he’s building housing. While politely trying to do his job and not make waves with the towns people, he noticed Lori. Lori owns the shop across from the construction site. She’s quirky, kind, and not looking for romance.

Malcom comes from a complicated family that becomes more complicated through business. Lori seems to be just the friend he needs as he navigates his way through his problems.

I love supportive friends and this book had them in spades. I also love the misunderstood trope. I loved how Malcom and Lori had so many opportunities to get to know each other and how their friendship naturally led to more. Truly a fun Christmas love story of growth, redemption, and finding happiness in unlikely places. All things a holiday romance needs.

Content: just kisses.