This Christmas, three couples find themselves under the mistletoe . . . whether they want to be there or not.
Say No to Mistletoe by Sheila Roberts--Mistletoe is Hailey Fairchild's kryptonite. Every time she's kissed someone under the mistletoe it's led to love disaster. Not a good thing for a romance writer! When she was a gawky high school girl, her hunky neighbor, Carwyn Davies, star of the basketball team (and her dreams) kissed her under the mistletoe on a dare. But the kiss wasn't a dream come true. It was a mortifying moment she's never forgotten, and now she's about to go home for the holidays, unengaged and . . . determined to say no to mistletoe. Especially if Carwyn is anywhere around.
Return to Mistletoe by Kathleen Fuller--Emmy Banks has always loved Christmas. How could she not when she lives in Mistletoe, Missouri? Kieran O'Neill has spent years abroad, renovating an old Irish castle, but returns to Mistletoe for his mother's seventieth birthday. He reconnects with Emmy, his sister's close friend, and spends time with her in her charming antique shop. When the weather turns colder, things start to warm up between Emmy and Kieran. But can Emmy risk her heart when she knows he'll never stay in Mistletoe, and she will never leave?
The Mistletoe Prince by Pepper Basham--Prince Arran St. Clare has lost his freedom and fairytale life in exchange for a three-month "punishment" in the small town of Ransom, North Carolina. To prove he is ready for the royal life for which he was born, Arran must engage in the Christmas charity fundraiser, The Mistletoe Wish. But when kindness, authenticity, and hard work prove more appreciated in Appalachia than a royal pedigree, Arran must face the mirror and find out who he is beyond the crown. Add a beautiful and intelligent woman who doesn't recognize her own worth, some mistletoe, and a little Christmas magic and it all might be enough to help the rebel-prince understand what truly matters most.
With fifty books to her credit, both fiction and non-fiction, Sheila Roberts is a frequent USA Today and Publishers Weekly bestseller - and a fan favorite. Her books have sold over three million copies and have been turned into movies for the Hallmark, Lifetime and Great American Family channels. Before settling into her writing career, Sheila owned a singing telegram company and played in band. When she's not traveling, Sheila can be found hanging out with friends, playing tennis, and, of course, writing and reading. Sometimes she even remembers to post books she's read!
I adored Pepper Basham’s royal novella. Hit every right note and had me highlighting each witty, wise saying. I will definitely read that novella again. The other two were sweet, but Charlie and Arren’s story reached into my heart and had me rooting for them against the odds.
This is a set of three festive stories of romance to get brighten your Christmas reading, all with mistletoe somewhere in the story. I really wanted to read Prince Arran's story by Pepper Basham as I had read the rest of the Skymar series. It was definitely a lovely addition to the series with Charlie (Charlotte) Edgewood, cousin of Luke, Izzy, and Penelope, and Arran, Prince from Skymar. Arran is working on a life do-over while in the Blue Ridge Mountains working with Luke, his sister and princess Ellie's husband. A lovely quick Christmas romance develops between Charlie and Arran. Kathleen Fuller's sweet Christmas story is a Christmas romance between Emmy Banks and Kieran O'Neill, her best friend's brother. Emmy had a high school crush on Kieran and even filled in as a last-minute date for his senior prom. Kieran left right after graduation for Ireland and hasn't been back until now for his mom's 70th birthday. With his delicious Irish accent. Fun story. In Sheila Roberts' story, Hailey goes to her Northwest hometown for Christmas. She grew up as an awkward, nerdy chubby girl. Now she has slimmed down and is a bestselling romance author. Her mom has her set up for all kinds of appearances and is somewhat of a celebrity, but she doesn't feel like one with her insecurities popping up. But she enjoys her visit and even gets to spend special time with her old crush and her brother's best friend Carwyn. I recommend this anthology for a series of quick, fun romance holiday reads. I received a copy for the purpose of an honest review. These are my thoughts.
Mistletoe Season by Sheila Roberts, Kathleen Fuller and Pepper Basham Holiday romance novellas. Each can be read as a stand-alone. Closed door.
Say No to Mistletoe by Sheila Roberts. Hailey Fairchild avoids kissing under the mistletoe. It’s always gone wrong for her. But her hunky neighbor and first kiss gone wrong may be able to change her mind.
Return to Mistletoe by Kathleen Fuller Living in Mistletoe, MO, Emmy Banks can’t help loving the holidays. When Kiernan O’Neill comes back after years away, Emmy wants to spend time with him. But will he stay after the holiday with or leave again?
The Mistletoe Prince by Pepper Basham The small town of Ransom, North Carolina is having a charity fundraiser and Prince Arran St Clare is sent to help. He is forced to face his privilege and the authentic town and a woman that makes him feel things. Can they have a future? Does he want that?
Three charming and heartwarming stories that celebrate the holiday season and finding love when least expected.
Mistletoe Season by Sheila Roberts, Kathleen Fuller and Pepper Basham - 4 Stars Overall 3 Christmas Novellas BLOG POST with Review Graphic: https://bookloveramanda.blogspot.com/...
Overall, these 3 novellas are charming and heartwarming holiday romances that perfectly show the magic of Christmas. I really enjoyed each of these, with Kathleen and Sheila being new to me authors! Looking forward to reading more by those authors. Pepper is one of my favorite authors and her's was my fav because we had Luke show back up! :)
Return to Mistletoe by Kathleen Fuller - 4 Stars
This was a unique Christmas romance between two characters in their 40s. I really liked that because you don't see those ages of characters portrayed much. In this one, we have Emmy Banks, who is fully rooted in her community with her antique shop. Set in Mistletoe, Missouri, the shop add an extra layer of charm to it. Kieran O'Neill has spent years abroad, renovating an old Irish castle, but returns to Mistletoe for his mother's 70th birthday. We see him reconnect with Emmy, his sister's close friend, and spend time helping her in the shop. A romance ensues and the rest is history. :) I really liked the characters and small town - a very cozy read. I loved that he was Irish too, added a nice layer to the story.
The Mistletoe Prince by Pepper Basham - 4 Stars
We are back with our Skymar characters and this time Princess Ellie's brother is getting his romance! Prince Arran St. Clare lost his fairytale life in exchange for a 3 month "punishment" in the small town of Ransom, North Carolina. He has to prove he is ready for royal life so he has to participate in the Christmas charity fundraiser, The Mistletoe Wish. The fundraiser not only forces Arran to get involved but also allows him to interact more deeply with the locals, helping him grow as a person. For anyone who LOVED the Skymar series like I did, this is a MUST read yall! (Specifically Loyally, Luke readers will love this the most!) We see Luke and Ellie again - which were lovely! Really enjoyed the faith elements in this too. A must read for those who enjoyed a mix of royalty, small-town charm, and a holiday romance.
Say No To Mistletoe - Sheila Roberts - 4 Stars
This one made me laugh out loud several times! I loved the mistletoe mishaps here. It's giving Christmas rom-com. We have a romance author, Hailey Fairchild, who always has a disaster under the mistletoe. Her handsome neighbor, Carwyn Davies, star of the basketball team, kissed her under the mistletoe many years ago and it was an embarrassing moment. Now, back home, she is determined to say no to mistletoe, until a second chance erupts between her and Carwyn. :) I really liked this one. I really needed the laughs and this one delivered!
Overall, this anthology is a great one to pick up during the holiday season. Very lighthearted, hallmark like novellas that are bound to be enjoyable!
Thank you to the Thomas Nelson for providing a copy to honestly read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I’m a Pepper Basham fan, so I was anxious to read her novella, especially since it centered around the Edgewood family. Each story was unique. I hadn’t read anything by Kathleen Fuller or Sheila Roberts before, so it was a good opportunity to check out new authors. For me the weakest story was Return to Mistletoe by Kathleen Fuller. I didn’t feel warm or fuzzy about the hero, and I thought there was a whole lot of telling rather than showing. This is a novella drawback, but the other stories in the collection were more enjoyable. My favorite was The Mistletoe Prince by Pepper Basham. It had all the feels for me and continued the story of the Edgewoods and Skymar royals. Say No to Mistletoe by Sheila Roberts was funny and kept my interest. The romance in all three happens fast, but that’s the nature of the novella. If you’re looking for quick, sweet stories for the Christmas season, you’ll enjoy this collection.
DNF - 40% I think maybe I'm over short/holiday stories?
Return to Mistletoe - it was cute, but not my favorite. Older main characters, Single mom x Irish fox (is that a thing? lol). I didn't love the 'oh, no way she's/he's into me' from both. They are over 40 years old, just communicate, please.
Story 2) A Mistletoe Prince - Story 3) Say No to Mistletoe -
Mistletoe Season — Average Story Enjoyment Rating: 8/10 Average Christian Faith Rating: 1/3 This is a collection of three Christian Christmas romance novellas.
Return to Mistletoe by Kathleen Fuller — Story Enjoyment Rating 8.5/10 Christian Faith Rating 1/3
Kathleen Fuller’s “Return to Mistletoe” is the first novella in the Mistletoe Season collection. It’s a heartwarming contemporary Christian romance set during the Christmas season, perfect for those looking for a quick, festive read. The story follows Emmy, a woman who runs an antique shop with her daughter and best friend. When her friend’s brother, Kieran, returns to town after years away, Emmy finds her old feelings for him resurfacing. Despite its short length (around 80 pages), the novella successfully delves into the characters’ backstories and motivations, particularly Emmy’s. The antique shop setting and the characters’ Christmas traditions contribute to the charming, cosy atmosphere of the story. While faith is a part of the story, it’s not a major plot element. Overall, it’s a cute and enjoyable Christmas romance, especially for those who appreciate older protagonists.
The Mistletoe Prince by Pepper Basham — Story Enjoyment Rating 8.5/10 Christian Faith Rating 2/3
“The Mistletoe Prince” is a novella by Peppa Basham that follows Prince Arran from the fictional kingdom of Skymar, who is trying to redeem himself after a period of reckless behaviour. He travels to America to stay with his sister and brother-in-law, where he helps with the family carpentry business and a charity called The Mistletoe Wish. He meets Charlotte, his brother-in-law's relative, under awkward circumstances, and they strike a deal: he helps her with public speaking, and she helps him improve his image through good works. This novella, the longest in the collection, offers a lighthearted, Christmas-themed romance. Although a full-length novel might have been preferable, I enjoyed revisiting familiar characters and the festive theme. Unlike other books in the Skymar series, which are written in an epistolary style using text messages and emails, 'The Mistletoe Prince' mainly uses narration. I was pleased to see that there were some Christian faith elements in the story.
Say No To Mistletoe by Sheila Roberts — Story Enjoyment Rating: 7/10 Christian Faith Rating: 1/3
“Say No to Mistletoe” by Sheila Roberts is a contemporary romance novel about Hailey Fairchild, a romance novelist who ‘believes mistletoe is her Kryptonite’. After a series of disastrous relationships that began with a kiss under the mistletoe, Hailey vows to avoid it altogether. Returning home for Christmas, she encounters her childhood neighbour, the first person she kissed under the mistletoe, and their rekindled connection challenges her vow. At the same time, she also faces writer’s block and family drama, creating a lighthearted but interesting story. The novel is told in the first person present tense, giving it an immediate and engaging feel. I found the plot a bit hurried, but I liked the characters and the overall tone was upbeat.
This was such a cute holiday collection, it’s three novellas from three different authors and I enjoyed all of them. This would be perfect during the busy holiday season and you could jump in and out, maybe read one story even if that’s all you had time for. If you’re in the mood for some festive, hallmark style reads try this collection!
I received a free copy of, Mistletoe Season, by Sheila Roberts, Kathleen Fuller, Pepper Basham, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This book has three great Christmas stories, The first story is my favorite of the three.
Return to Mistletoe by Kathleen Fuller is the first book. I love Emmy, she is a great character, she live in Mistletoe, Missouri. Emmy reconnects with a friends brother and sparks fly, but will Kieran have to go back to Ireland?
The second story is The Mistletoe Prince, by Pepper Basham. Prince Arran St. Clare of Skymar, has a lesson to learn and it will be in Ransom, North Carolina. Arran learns a lot in Ransom, North Carolina, about people, and poverty.
The third story is, Say No to Mistletoe, by Sheila Roberts. Hailey Fairchild is not a fan of mistletoe, it has done her wrong, over the years. Maybe this year will be different, maybe this year she will find her beau?
Three very enjoyable Christmas stories, I really liked them all, great stories and characters
Full disclosure, I requested this book on NetGalley for precisely two reasons: 1) the ever-blithesome Pepper Basham and 2) the ever-delightful Edgewoods from her Skymar series.
Therefore, it's no surprise that of the three holiday novellas Basham's was far and away my favorite. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that "The Mistletoe Prince" is the gleaming jewel in this collection's crown! A sweet royal romance with southern charm, wit, and heart.
If you like twinkle lights, small town vibes, and Hallmark Christmas movies, "Mistletoe Season" might just be your cup of Pepper-mint tea! (Pun wholeheartedly intended!😉)
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own honest opinion.
Mistletoe Season is a book of three cute, clean Christmas novellas from three best-selling authors. All three were light-hearted, Hallmark-ish, wholesome and sweet romances.
Pepper Basham’s, The Mistletoe Prince, was especially charming as it is a continuation of her Skymar series (Authentically Izzy, Positively Penelope, & Loyally Luke). For those who are familiar, this Christmas plot is about Princess Ellie’s brother from Skymar. He’s been a bad boy prince and is sent to North Carolina with Luke and Ellie to get his act together. REALLY enjoyed it - especially the faith content. 4 stars
The other two stories, “Return to Mistletoe” and “Say No to Mistletoe” were both cute as well - clean contemporary fiction. Both have a second chance romance trope. Both were quick, carefree reads. 3 stars for these two.
More in-depth book reviews can be found on my YouTube channel. 💙☕📚
I was blessed to have received an early complimentary ebook AND audiobook and opinions are my own!
All three stories were cute, but I felt like in order for me to rate higher I would have preferred more depth to the stories and less insta love and more chance for the relationship to grow.
A collection of three brand new holiday kissing only romance novellas set in small towns. My favorite by far was the second story by Pepper Basham that's set in the Skymar universe and sees a tomboy carpenter falling for a royal prince. Lots of content about learning to love oneself and being worthy of love just as you are. The final story also follows those themes as an introverted NYC romance writer returns home for Christmas and falls for her high school crush. Recommended for fans of authors like Susan Mallory or Debbie Macomber. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!
Three fabulous authors & all the Christmas feels! I loved the Mistletoe Season collection. This book had so many lovely tropes including second chance romance, former teenage crush, & a modern Cinderella story. I thoroughly enjoyed them all!
Return to Mistletoe by Kathleen Fuller is a lovely second chance romance with a hunky, flirtatious Irishman. Emmy Banks owns a charming antique shop in Mistletoe, Missouri & loves all things Christmas. Kieran O’Neill, Emmy’s best friend’s older brother, is finally returning to Mistletoe for his mother’s seventieth birthday after years in Ireland renovating an old family castle & running away from memories. Emmy’s had a secret crush on Kieran for years, & when they reconnect, the sparks fly. Kieran doesn’t want to hurt Emmy, but what happens when he has to return to Ireland? This story gave me all the emotions. It was fun reading about more mature characters with a wealth of experience behind them. There were times I was frustrated with Kieran only to turn around & want to hug him. His & Emmy’s romantic carriage ride was one of my favorite scenes.
The Mistletoe Prince by Pepper Basham is the darling fish-out-of-water story of Prince Arran St. Clare (Ellie’s brother from Loyally, Luke!) who’s been banished to Ransom, North Carolina for three months to stay with his sister & brother-in-law Luke. His mission is to prove he’s ready for royal life by participating in the annual fundraiser, The Mistletoe Wish. Charlie (Charlotte) is Luke’s cousin & a hardworking carpenter. She’s beautiful & intelligent, but suffers from a lack of self confidence. As she & Arran work together on the fundraiser, Charlie blossoms under Arran’s praise & suggestions. Arran’s smitten & in turn learns the importance of hard work, kindness, & being genuine from Charlie. But when Arran has to return home, will Charlie have the courage to go after her dreams? I mainly picked up this book because I was dying to read this story & it didn’t disappoint! I loved the Cinderella, My Fair Lady vibes, and of course LUKE! His no nonsense wisdom got me every time & I loved how he helps Charlie. The old softy at heart! The royal romance was chef’s kiss & definitely my favorite story of the three.
Say No to Mistletoe by Sheila Roberts is a delightful former teenage crush romance. Hailey Fairchild’s a successful romance writer who has an outright dislike for mistletoe. Every kiss she’s had under the cursed plant has turned to disaster beginning with her teenage crush. Returning home for Christmas as a newly single woman is going to take courage especially when her former crush Carwyn’s going to be there. This story brought back fun memories of high school crushes. Despite Hailey’s success, she still has all those old insecurities when she returns home & it doesn’t help that there’s a mean girl there to sabotage her. This book had me laughing out loud with all the disasters Hailey experiences especially in front of Carwyn. Carwyn for the most part is a really supportive, likable guy & I couldn’t help but root for a happily ever after for him & Hailey.
A lovely, romantic novella collection not to miss & the perfect read for Christmas. Like a fun Hallmarkish romance, each of these stories leaves you with all the warm fuzzies. I received an advanced complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own & voluntarily provided.
This was a fun collection! However the last story by Sheila Roberts had me laughing out loud! I had never heard of this author before and I'll definitely be reading more things by her!
While I found the stories and writing styles to be vastly different from each other in this anthology, the theme that tied the collection together for me was that the male main characters had names that I couldn't quite figure out how to pronounce in my head. This kept me amused as I would switch between pronunciations as I read along. Alongside this observation, the three mistletoe stories each brought about Christmas cheer in a clean, sweet way. With two out of the three stories having scant faith content, I would more so classify this book as a clean Christmas romance, with one notable exception.
Since I had already read Pepper Basham’s Skymar series, I was especially keen to read The Mistletoe Prince, which was a satisfying Christmas story to accompany the other Edgewood books. I loved that this particular story contained the most amount of faith content with beautiful depictions of what Christmas truly means, along with meaningful references to prayer and God’s teachings. It is certainly a treat for those who have read Loyally, Luke, as there are recurring characters, making this book even more special and the one that hit it out of the park for me.
Return to Mistletoe and Say No to Mistletoe were similar in that they were both second-chance romances, one with a brother's best friend and the other with a best friend’s brother. If you like these tropes, you can have both versions! Each story reads like a fun Hallmark movie, with Say No to Mistletoe being especially funny in the first person voice. Overall, this is a lighthearted collection that would be enjoyable to read anytime of the year.
Three new Christmas romance novellas? From three talented authors? You don’t have to ask me twice! Along with a cover that makes you just want to camp out right in that adorable gazebo, each story drew me in and appealed to me in ways that were distinctive from each other. In other words, this isn’t a ‘copy/paste’ collection in any way – all three stories are fresh and fun, and the authors’ unique writing voices get their individual chances to shine.
Kathleen Fuller’s Return to Mistletoe kicks things off with nostalgia, reunions, and a best friend’s brother with enough of an Irish accent (after all these years abroad) to make the word ‘lass’ sound super swoony in my imagination. I enjoyed getting to know Emmy and her daughter (loved the dynamics between them!), and Fuller made Emmy’s antiques store easy to picture, especially as they adorn it for the holidays. Everyone’s not-at-all-subtle attempts to get Emmy and the aforementioned Irish-accented Kieran alone had me chuckling even as I shook my head fondly because – turns out, they do just fine falling in love on their own, and readers will enjoy watching them do so.
If I’ve read anything by Sheila Roberts before, it’s been many years ago, so I went into Say No to Mistletoe with no preconceptions. Right away, Roberts’ heroine Hailey captured me with her witty first person POV and continued to delight me with her thoughts through the rest of the story. Hailey is a bit of a delightful hot mess, endearingly balancing her career as a romance author with her abysmal luck in picking the right guy for her own life. She blames the mistletoe, though, calling it her kryptonite, which means she’s desperate to steer clear of the pesky plant once her reunion with her high school crush turns smoochy. The chemistry between Hailey and Carwyn is strong, though, so expect some yummy kisses regardless of whether mistletoe plays a part or not.
Fans of Pepper Basham’s Edgewood family (of the Skymar novels), her small town of Ransom (also of the Mitchell’s Crossroads series), royal romance, redeemed rogues, and stories that are both heartwarming and hilarious, The Mistletoe Prince is a much-anticipated treat. I loved everything about this novella, from the ‘meet cute’ (which devolved into ‘oh dear’ romcom chaos in ways that delight me to read about but would not be fun to live in real life lol) to the perfect ending … and all the snark & swoon in between. Charlotte (aka Charlie) and Prince Arran are a banter-lover’s dream, and their mutual efforts for The Mistletoe Wish community charity touched my heart, made me grin, and even evoked a giggle or two as well. (Those reactions also are due to Basham’s gift at writing characters – and particularly children – from Appalachia.)
Bottom Line: Mistletoe Season is a fun and festive collection of Christmas romances from three talented authors – Kathleen Fuller, Sheila Roberts & Pepper Basham. I can easily see each of these stories becoming a Hallmark movie next Christmas (and I hope they do), because they’re the perfect blend of sweet, swoony, and inspirational. They also act as a wonderful introduction to either of the three authors you may not have read before, and I know I’ll be adding more of Sheila Roberts’ clean romances to my TBR list after this. Mistletoe Season put me in the holiday spirit and put a smile in my heart, and I think it will do the same for you, too.
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
This anthology was absolutely delightful! Two authors were new to me and my love runs deep for Pepper Basham and the second I saw her name on the title I knew I would be reading this one. #noregrets!!
Return to Mistletoe by Kathleen Fuller
'When he left Mistletoe, he didn't vie the town, or Emmy Branch, more than a second thought. He sure was thinking about her now.'
Little sister's best friend, second chance connection all set in a beautiful Hallmark-esque town. This is perfect for any Christmas reading!! This book had real heart and soul put into it and I loved the escape this provided!
A Mistletoe Prince by Pepper Basham
"When I prayed for a prince as a little girl, Lord, this is not what I had in mind."
I cannot get enough of the characters from this series. If you've been reading Authentically, Izzy, Positively, Persephone and Loyally, Luke you're already more than in love with these characters... to add in Charlie's story with a rogue prince was chef's kiss perfection! Royalty, meet-cute gone wrong, second chances and learning to trust; all with Pepper's wit and pop culture references made for an unforgettable Christmas romance!!!
Say No to Mistletoe by Sheila Roberts
'Mistletoe is my kryptonite. One kiss under it, and I go weak in the head. My last three mistletoe kisses resulted in relationship disaster. Which is why I, Hailey Fairchild, am swearing off it.'
This book gave me major 90's romcom vibes and made me laugh out loud so many times. This is boy next door, unrequited crush, second chance kisses (is that a thing? let's make it a thing lol) and really a fun read from start to finish!
Overall, you cannot go wrong with any of these! If you're looking for some fun, contemporary Christmas romances-this would be a great place to start!! Anthologies are always perfect for the busiest time of the year to pick-up and put down with short, quick stories!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Content/Triggers: minimal innuendo, off-page cancer mention, partying regrets, parent abandonment, secondary character under the influence of alcohol, romance-kisses only.
Mistletoe Season was a sweet collection of Christmas tales. I enjoyed the audio narration for each of the stories, too. These novellas are a good way to enjoy shorter festive tales as the Christmas season approaches. I enjoyed all three novellas.
In Return to Mistletoe by Kathleen Fuller, I loved that it was a best friend’s brother, unrequited crush story from twenty years earlier that finally resulted in the female main character ending up with the man she adored as a teen. This story was so good and I really actually wished there was an epilogue showing the two main characters a year or so in the future.
I’ve been looking forward to reading The Mistletoe Prince by Pepper Basham and returning to some of the characters from her Skymar series. What a fun fairy tale romance this was, with Charlie finding her happily ever after with a prince! I loved that Arran had overcome so much and that his true nature was kind and genuine and that he was immediately drawn to the unique woman that Charlie was.
I hadn’t read anything by Sheila Roberts before, but I enjoyed listening to Say No to Mistletoe. I do have to admit that I was very anxious at the beginning of this story. The fact that Hailey had to deal with a woman who bullied her in high school was tense for me. However, I ended up loving the way the author handled that situation. This was another tale of a high school crush and unrequited love, with the brother’s best friend this time, and it was fun to see Hailey capture the attention of the handsome Carwyn and grow more confident in herself along the way.
This fun collection was enjoyable to listen to and a nice way to enjoy seasonal Christmas stories.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Mistletoe Season features three sweet, small-town Christmas stories, each reminiscent of a Hallmark Christmas movie!
Return to Mistletoe by Kathleen Fuller - after renovating an old Irish castle, Kieran arrives back in town to celebrate his mothers seventieth birthday and reconnects with Emmy during his stay! This was a cute story with all the idyllic and welcoming charm of a close-knit community!
The Mistletoe Prince by Pepper Basham - when a prince is punished for his wrongdoings, he finds himself in small town Appalachia to discover what really matters! I found this one both too long, and unrealistic.
Say No to Mistletoe by Sheila Roberts - had a strong redemption arc as Hailey and Carwyn had met under the mistletoe in high school to disastrous results! This was easily my favourite of the three!
Although audiobook narrator Tanya Eby did a great job (accents, inflection and personality abound), I wished each story had a different narrator. Yes I understand the logistics of this is a challenge, but I didn't enjoy listening to three different stories all narrated by the same individual.
Overall, this book can replace your Christmas playlist while you set up your tree or bake cookies, since you won't miss anything if you get too distracted by your holiday tasks!
Thank you NetGalley, HarperCollins Christian Publishing and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the complimentary audio copy to read and review.
Mistletoe Season by Sheila Roberts, Kathleen Fuller, and Pepper Basham
Return to Mistletoe by Kathleen Fuller ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I love a good holiday novella and I love audiobooks. I really enjoyed this first of three audio novellas. The narrator did a great job with the accents and the story was cute. This was my second favorite of the three.
The Mistletoe Prince by Pepper Basham ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Ironically most reviews think this is the strongest of the three. Personally, I hated the narrator’s accent for the FMC in this one which made me cringe each time she spoke. I’m also not familiar with Basham’s work, which probably lessened my enjoyment of this one since some characters were familiar to fans of Basham. Also, I didn’t know these were all Christian audiobooks until this one. It mentioned religion A LOT.
Besides that, this one dragged on for a bit. It’s the longest of the three and I liked books 1 and 2 MUCH more than this one.
Return to Mistletoe By Sheila Robert’s ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is my favorite of the three stories. We have a second chance, small town romance that felt reminiscent of a Hallmark movie. This was sweet and cute!
Thank you so much to NetGalley for the gifted audiobook copy of this one!
Mistletoe Season has three Christmas novellas in it. I had not read anything by Sheila Roberts before, but I have loved several books by Kathleen Fuller and Pepper Basham. I went into it thinking I could skip a story if I didn't enjoy it, but it wasn't necessary because all three stories are wonderful.
Return to Mistletoe by Kathleen Fuller
Sweet story. Second chance romance, the main leads are early forties, which is refreshing. Best friend's brother. Mistletoe is the location. Lots of Christmas vibes. Irish accent for the male lead. Bookstore.
A Mistletoe Prince by Pepper Basham
Having loved the Skymar series, I was thrilled to see Luke again, and his cousin Charlie. This is the longest story in the collection, and it feels more like a story, than a novella. Charlie and Prince Arran have a memorable not meet-cute, LOL, and that sets the stage for the whole story. Great banter, and a fun story.
Say No to Mistletoe by Sheila Roberts
I liked Hailey and Carwyn's story. It is also a second chance romance, and brother's best friend trope. Some cute quips.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this gifted book! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Title: Mistletoe Season Authors: Sheila Roberts, Katherine Fuller, and Pepper Basham Genre: Christmas Romance ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ This book is a fun collection of three sweet Christmas romances! Since it’s three individual novellas, you can read all three or just pick one or two. I actually really love these shorter books for the Christmas season!
Novella 1: Return to Mistletoe by Katherine Fuller This book features Emmy Banks who owns a bookshop and lives in the magical Christmas town of Mistletoe! How can you not dream of Christmas romance? But Emmy has been burned by relationships one too many times. When her best friend’s brother comes back home, she begins to consider opening up her heart again.
Novella 2: The Mistletoe Prince by Pepper Basham Skymar comes to the US in the form of the dreamy Prince Arran. And Charlie always dreamed of marrying a prince. But their first meeting is…problematic—to put it nicely. Can Arran and Charlie overcome their troubling pasts for a fairytale future?
Novella 3: Say No to Mistletoe by Sheila Roberts Hailey Fairchild has some major issues with mistletoe. It always seems to usher in another relationship mistake, so this Christmas she is done with it. But when her first mistletoe mistake reappears in her life, she considers giving love a second chance.
Overall, this collection is fun for a short Christmas read! The first and last books were not my favorite. They just lacked any sort of depth to me. But if you’re a Skymar fan, I’d say it’s totally worth getting just for Pepper’s novella!
Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
*I was given an ARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Return to Mistletoe by Kathleen Fuller This was a cute second chance romance. I liked that the main characters were in their 40s. The MMC was also Irish which was fun. Overall, a cute story. ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Mistletoe Prince by Pepper Basham This was such a cute story! I loved the redemption for the Prince. Arran is such a great character and I loved how much he was willing to help Charlie with her event and her confidence. Charlie is great too! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Say No to Mistletoe by Sheila Roberts Hailey is a fun character. And Carwyn was a nice guy. This story is cute but there wasn’t enough substance to their relationship for me. ⭐️⭐️⭐️
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from netgalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
Perfect Christmas novellas. I particularly enjoyed the Pepper Basham one, and I enjoyed trying out the other two authors. In particular, I know Sheila Roberts has a lot more Christmas books I want to try.
This one’s a fluff Christmas read - which I knew going into it, and which I was in the mood for. My favourite was The Mistletoe Prince. That was a solid 4 stars. Say No to Mistletoe was very short and fast so the characters fell flat. Overall I’d give the whole collection 3 stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I loved these three sweet romances. Each one was so unique. I loved the romances and the characters in each one. I normally rate novella collections average, but I enjoyed each story so much! A must read for the holiday season.
*Thank you to one of the authors for sending me a complimentary e-copy to read. All thoughts are my own.