Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Mistlefoe

Rate this book
An office rivals to lovers Christmas romcom.

He’s the bane of my existence and now we’re forced to work together to organize the company’s Christmas party, but only one of us is getting a promotion out of it…

SIERRA

Every year, SPORTY throws the biggest Christmas party organized by a member of the marketing team. The reward: a hefty bonus.

My family isn’t exactly well off, so I would love to earn that bonus and bring my Grammie over from Venezuela for the holidays. We haven’t seen her in ten years and age is really starting to take its toll on her.

But I have competition, and there is no freaking way I’m letting Conor—my fiercest rival—take this opportunity away from me. Unfortunately our boss agrees, and instead of awarding the job to me (or him—ugh), he makes Conor and I work together.

CONOR

My Gramps is set on closing the hockey rink that gave wings to my dream of a professional career. After an injury ended it, I’ve made it my mission to protect the dreams of the kids who train at our rink.

To do that I need some serious cash that I can use to pay off our overdue bills, and the bonus from organizing the company Christmas party is the ticket.

But there’s one obstacle: Sierra, the woman who absolutely hates my guts. She wants this bonus as much as I do, and things get even worse when our boss dangles a possible promotion over us like it’s some nightmare version of mistletoe.

Will a little mistletoe bring these foes closer, or will the competition ruin the Christmas magic?

Mistlefoe is a standalone, dual POV, closed door Christmas romance with mild language, and heat without spice.

Tropes:

Office rivals to lovers.
Retired hockey player hero.
Latina heroine.
Christmas party chaos.
No 3rd act breakup.
Closed door romance.

274 pages, Paperback

Published October 14, 2024

55 people are currently reading
3055 people want to read

About the author

Mari Loyal

11 books86 followers

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
71 (24%)
4 stars
108 (36%)
3 stars
90 (30%)
2 stars
20 (6%)
1 star
3 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews
Profile Image for Jessica.
1,162 reviews29 followers
November 3, 2024
Every year SPORTY throws a big Christmas party for its employees. It's always a member of the marketing team who gets the assignment to arrange it - along with a nice bonus. Sierra needs the bonus to fly her Grammie over from Venezuela for Christmas. Conor wants to save the hockey rink his Gramps is planning on closing. Sierra has always detested Conor and she's determined to bring home that bonus. Then their boss makes them work together and dangles a promotion over their heads.

Lovely characters who go from office rivals to lovers! Sierra, American with Venezuelan ancestry (and temper!), and Conor, a former hockey player who had to end his career early due to a head injury. We get dual POV's and it makes it very clear how different their personalities are. I was a bit worried about them confessing their feelings for each other too soon, but I'm happy we didn't get any 3rd act breakup!

If you want to get into Christmas spirit this is a book for you! Christmas party, eggnog, mistletoes, snow, gift wrapping, Christmas trees and much more! Enjoy!

* I received an ARC from the author and I'm giving my honest review. *
Profile Image for Elizabeth Albano.
56 reviews2 followers
November 26, 2024
Didn’t have super high expectations for this one, but it was cute and fun for Christmas! But the plot wasn’t super interesting, and the ending fell pretty flat. 3.3 ⭐️
Profile Image for Brittany .
2,886 reviews208 followers
October 27, 2024
This was a really fun and flirty Christmas story! This enemies to more office romance was what I would call a hockey adjacent sports romance, as Conor was a former NHL hockey player who was forced to retire due to an injury. And hockey is still a big part of his life, just in a different way.

Sierra was a tough cookie at first, holding onto a grudge toward Conor for two years. However, I loved that when she began to get to know him, along with his backstory, she quickly felt badly about the way she had been treating him. Someone who is willing to apologize when they have wronged another is definitely a great character.

Conor was a spectacular main character, too. I liked the way the author was able to really show us his heart and his feelings not only toward Sierra, but also regarding the things he had lost in life, the struggles he had, and the relationship he had with his grandfather.

There was great chemistry between Conor and Sierra that built throughout the story. It is definitely closed door, yet there is innuendo as the two actually begin their relationship. This story had a lot more "light cursing" for me than most of the romcoms I read, which are admittedly sweet romcoms. I still loved the story and recommend it as long as readers are aware that the characters do curse at various times throughout the book.

This is the first book that I have read by this author, but I'd like to read more.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Larissa (That Baker That Reads).
193 reviews15 followers
November 10, 2024
Synopsis:
Sierra and Conor are office rivals, and now they will have to work together at the office Christmas party and compete for a promotion at the same time.

Includes:
✨Rivals to More
✨Workplace Romance
✨Former Hockey Player
✨Golden Retriever Hero
✨Disability Rep
✨Latina FMC
✨No Third Act Break Up

🌶️Heat Level:
Kissing Only
Innuendo
Mild Language
Attraction/Tension:🔥🔥🔥

My Opinion:
This one is so cute! I love the characters, the storyline, how fast-paced it is, and of course, Mari always brings the fire chemistry. Sierra and Conor are so much fun together, and their interactions and thoughts are very entertaining to follow. The backstories and secondary characters are placed very well, but at the same time, they don’t take the spotlight from the main characters.  It brings less ‘heat’ than her previous novels, but the tension is on point and the kissing scenes are so good. If you want a fun and cute winter romance, this one is for you.

TW:

*𝐈 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐚 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫. 𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐚 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰. 𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐲 𝐨𝐰𝐧.*
Profile Image for Hannah.
721 reviews72 followers
October 22, 2024
3.5 Stars.

The vibes:
- office rivals to lovers
- Retired hockey player hero
- Latina heroine
- Closed door

My thoughts:
This really did feel like a hallmark movie feeling. Coworkers (and workplace rivals) Conor and Sierra are forced to work together on the annual Christmas work party. Bonuses and promotions are involved, and of course a lot of mistletoe. Seeing a whole new side of Conor will have Sierra asking herself why she has always hated Conor’s guts and if she has been wrong about him for years.

This had a slow start for me- but once Conor and Sierra had their plans in place and were rolling with the Christmas party plans- I was enjoying the story more.

I had a hard time feeling connected to the characters in the begining but I enjoyed seeing their personalities begin to shine through as the book went on.

I liked seeing Conor’s backstory when we got it. I felt like he was so cute with his insecurities while also being a smoke show to Sierra. And then seeing him teaching hockey to kids. So freaking cute. Their chemistry had moments that were hot 🥵 🔥.

Also - I really liked Gramps. He was a favorite.

Was it perfect? No. I felt some disconnect in the beginning and also at the end. The writing felt a little choppy at moments for me - but I still enjoyed this read overall and thought it was a cute Christmas romance to add to your list if you love Christmas books and are looking for an office Christmas party read. I toggled between 3.5-4 stars, but I did my best to explain everything and hopefully help this book find the perfect reader, regardless of stars.

Release date: October 24, 2024.
Note - closed door; language.

Thank you so much to Mari Loyal for the gifted copy.
Profile Image for Megan Crofton.
342 reviews43 followers
December 21, 2024
I truly love enemies to more banter and what it brings to a story. Especially when you add a bit of rivalry in there. This book definitely delivered on that.

I loved the enemies/rival thing Conor and Sierra had going on. And this was such a fun, perfectly Christmassy story! Conor and Sierra had that great build up that rivals to more always does and I loved it. They had some great tension and flirting. Sierra and Conor tackled the obstacles in their way well together and I loved watching their love story unfold from their rivalry.

I loved seeing more about Sierra's family and culture. And the author included translations in the back of the book that I referenced which helped greatly. I enjoyed seeing a Latin culture represented and seeing the culture differences in their family.

Though I really enjoyed the book, the pacing was a little off for me towards the end. The writing was well-done and creative but there was some minor grammar mistakes. I am excited to read more from this author because I like what she brings to the sports romance book world.
Profile Image for Jo|Ruth Reads.
665 reviews82 followers
October 18, 2024
I loved this story! If you like the enemies to lovers trope, this one is for you. The chemistry between these two is spot on. And the sweet kisses are everything you'd want in a closed door romance.

Conor and Sierra have never gotten along. But it wasn't Conors doing, Sierra always felt he was one upping her and competing against her... so she could not stand him. But when they are forced to plan an office party and compete for a promotion, no one would have expected them to enjoy it as much as they did. There is a lot to unpack when it comes to WHY Sierra didn't like Conor. And why they both need this promotion and bonus. But they call a truce and work together, and slowly and surely, the opposites DO attract. But what's to come of them after the party is planned? What happens when one is given the promotion over the other? Do they have a future beyond the workplace?

This story was wonderful, I am so glad I was able to read and review it. I received a complimentary copy, but the review reflects my own opinion.

***This book contains some mild language, some innuendo, and more fade to black since it suggests things that may have happened off the page. But other than somewhat steamy kisses, this is closed door romance.
Profile Image for Kim Golding.
445 reviews2 followers
October 20, 2024
Mistlefoe is the cute story of Sierra and Conor, office enemies who end up having to play nice when they get assigned to plan the company Christmas party together. It quickly seems to Sierra that she has had Conor pegged all wrong for the past 2 years they they’ve worked together. It doesn’t take long before the sparks start to fly and ending up under the mistletoe at every turn seems to help things along nicely. 😏 These two have a whirlwind romance filled with flirty banter, mistletoe kisses, and some help along the way from the cutest meddling Gramps.
Profile Image for Nootka Lenoir.
235 reviews2 followers
October 26, 2024
I really really wanted to love this one.
Enemies to lovers, sports, retired hockeyplayer, workplace romance, forced proximity.
All the ingredients for the perfect story.
But it wasn’t for me.
Don’t get me wrong I did like the book overall.
But the pace that te relationship developed between the main characters was just not my speed.
It went to fast.
It didn’t have enough depth.
For me it felt like one moment they hate each other and are rivals.
The next they kiss and they are in love with each other but neither had the guts to do something about it.
If this is what you like then I think you will love it.
Like i said the story itself is 5 stars.
But how the relationship between the main characters moved wasn’t what I want and love in books.
I did like the all the characters by itself. Did wish we saw more of Rachel tho.

An honorary quote:
“See, thats another important item in the list of reasons why he irritates me. He has no right to be so freaking cute.”
Profile Image for rach.
468 reviews36 followers
October 28, 2024
I received an eARC from the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Another book by Mari Loyal that I devoured! I absolutely adored the main characters. This was a fun Christmas rom-com with great banter and tension between office rivals to lovers.

There were parts that were slightly cheesy, but I still loved this one!

Two rival coworkers are forced to work together for this year’s company holiday party. They each get $10,000, but there’s one caveat. Only one of them will get a promotion at the end of this. As the Sierra and Conor begin to work together, they begin to realize maybe they don’t actually hate each other…

Read if you like:
• Rivals to Lovers
• Office romance
• Retired hockey players
• Christmas romances
• Closed door romances
• Latina heroine
Profile Image for Chelsea | chelseadennreads Dennison.
520 reviews18 followers
October 29, 2024
3.5⭐️

Cute Christmas romance. I felt the reason for them being enemies was a little more honest and vulnerable than what we normally see. I also enjoyed that they weren’t enemies the whole time and you got to see them progress into a friendship. Reminds me of Christmas Like This by Carina Taylor

Closed door, mild language and innuendo
Content warnings: bullying in past, hockey injury in past
Profile Image for Kristen Hearn.
243 reviews
December 2, 2025
3/5 stars.

The holiday party plot line didn’t hit for me. Still a cute read though!
Profile Image for Mar.
2,239 reviews43 followers
October 29, 2024
4 stars

This was absolutely adorable.
It was heartfelt, filled with beautiful and hilarious moments.
I love how Mari gives side characters *character* like they're not there just to be fillers but to help our main characters develop... to help them grow!
I love Gramps. He was my favorite.
Our main couple was sweet and funny and realistic.
This book is perfect for the holiday season, and I can't wait to reread it during December ❄️

Thank you to Mari Loyal for the chance to read this ARC.
Profile Image for Diana.
261 reviews2 followers
December 16, 2024
3.5.

This is very cute! It's an indie book (I think), so it could use some more refinement (editing, substance, flow at times), but overall a great Christmas-Hallmark-movie feel. Always love an enemies-to-lovers (though I'm not sure I could actually count this as enemies/rivals; not much rivalry, only perceived slights).
Profile Image for Kaitlyn | readwithkaittt.
92 reviews1 follower
December 4, 2024
4.5/5

MARI DOES IT AGAIN!! and I'm not just saying that because I am a Mari fan, but truly she writes some of the best closed door romances I've read to date.

I'm not usually a fan of office romance books but sprinkle a little Christmas in there and I'll be a fan! If you're really looking for a Christmassy book, this one is it! This book focuses on two rivals in the office that have to plan THE Christmas party and in a short time.

The one thing that I love about Mari's books is the Spanish vocabulary sprinkled in, its gives it a certain something that tickles my brain just right - but don't worry (as a non-Spanish speaker myself) Mari gives a 'Glossary of Spanish Vocabs' at the end of the book that you can look through as you read!

Conor, the ex-hockey pro who now works in an office with a heart too big. I really enjoyed visiting Conor's character and getting to know him on a deeper level. Learn what drives his ambitions and passions, see the leader and role model he is for the kids he teaches on ice and the relationship with his grandfather. All swoon-worthy qualities.

Sierra, the hard-headed but hardest worker too. I LOVE LOVE LOVE Sierra, she is a power house of a woman, who can hold grudges like no tomorrow (similar to myself LOL). The care that Sierra had for her family was unlike no other - I loved seeing her push herself just knowing that she was doing this all the get her family together on Christmas.

I loved seeing Sierra open her heart to Conor and realize that sometimes rash judgements sometimes are just that: rash and uncalled for. The friendship and love that blossomed between Conor and Sierra was so beautiful - I also loved how understanding Conor was about women in the workplace and how relationships could negatively impact Sierra just because she was a woman, and a minority. I loved that Conor embraced Sierra's family and the family embraced Conor just as much - I love seeing two families become one <3.

I loved the office vibes from this book because realistically, you spend 40 hours a week with your coworkers so it was nice to see those relationships portrayed positively in a book.

If you're looking for all the Christmas vibes, with a strong FMC and the most caring MMC, this book is for you!

P.s - thank you Mari for writing characters who are willing to take accountability for their mean behaviour and are willing to apologize. We love self-aware queens!
67 reviews3 followers
October 29, 2024
Mistlefoe is a delightful enemies-to-lovers Christmas romance with a Latin American flair. The story follows Sierra Fernandez and Conor Mahoney, two marketing colleagues at SPORTY, a sporting goods company. They are tasked with organizing the company's annual Christmas party and compete for a promotion. Sierra is a driven and ambitious marketing professional who is determined to win the promotion. She initially resents Conor, but as they work together, she begins to see him in a new light. Conor is a former professional hockey player whose career was cut short due to an eye injury. He is dedicated to his work and cares deeply for his grandfather and the family ice rink.

The story is told in alternating chapters from Sierra and Conor's points of view, allowing the reader to understand both characters' perspectives. The author does an excellent job of developing the characters and their relationship, showcasing their individual strengths, vulnerabilities, and growth as they learn to overcome their differences and work together.

The romance is sweet and spicy, with plenty of banter and sexual tension. Sierra and Conor's initial animosity gradually transforms into something more and better!

One of the strengths of Mistlefoe is the vibrant portrayal of Sierra's Latin American heritage. The author seamlessly incorporates Spanish phrases and cultural references into the narrative, adding depth and authenticity to Sierra's character and the story's overall charm.

The book is well-written and engaging, with a fast-paced plot that keeps the reader hooked until the very end. The Christmas setting adds a festive and heartwarming touch to the story, making it a perfect read for the holiday season. The secondary characters are well-developed and add depth and humor to the narrative.

Overall, Mistlefoe is a delightful and heartwarming Christmas romance that will leave readers feeling warm and fuzzy.

ARC for unbiased review
Profile Image for Julia Marcum.
164 reviews3 followers
October 28, 2024
“Sierra, I’m a bit freaked out right now.”

“What?” My eyes snap open. “Why?”

His teeth rake over his lower lip. “Because I’m falling for you so fast and so hard, I’m scared I’ll crash into pieces.”

“You won’t.” ❤️🎄🎁

Thank you @mariloyalauthor for the ARC!! I’m pretty sure this book will be living rent-free in my brain for weeksssss, I love Sierra and Conor so much 😍😍

Sierra Fernandez and Conor Mahoney are both on the marketing team of Sporty, a well-known athletic attire company. They’ve been the fiercest of rivals for two years, but are unexpectedly thrown together to plan the world’s best Christmas party. This is met with obvious reluctance, but a massive bonus and a promotion are on the line. They both have their reasons for needing that extra money, so they agree to a temporary truce.

However, the more time they spend together, the more they find to admire in each other. Conor learns that Sierra is a lot softer than her tough-as-nails demeanor lets on, and Sierra discovers that her dislike of Conor was both one-sided and foolish.

It helps that neither of them can risk the universe giving them bad luck if they don’t kiss under the mistletoe…💋🎄

I really adored all stages of Sierra’s and Conor’s relationship: the heated rivalry, the teasing camaraderie, and eventually the sweet and smoldering affection for each other. ❤️ I love that they can also understand each other’s reasons for competing for the promotion: Sierra for her Grammie in Venezuela, and Conor for his Gramps and the ice rink. They are both such caring, amazing people and it was wonderful to watch them discover that about one another. I also loved all the cozy Christmas/wintertime vibes 🎄☃️

This is an adult, closed-door romance. Meaning it has some adult themes(innuendo and LOTS of desire, but actual on-page intimacy kept PG), and some adult language. I love when I can find a closed-door romance that’s written for post-college adults, rather than feeling like I’m only reading Young Adult romances lol. Loved this so much 😍😍😍

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Profile Image for Jana.
190 reviews6 followers
October 31, 2024
🎄What better way to start reading Christmas books, than reading a MARI LOYAL Christmas book? It’s NEVER too early for Christmas okay?

I felt like the plot is unique. It was quirky and creative; having Conor and Sierra plan the company’s Christmas party for that year together

I loved how Conor went off on a rant about the SPORTY pants. He literally convinced ME to go buy a pair if possible and wear the most comfy pants ever. He was doing a great job lol

I loved the rivalry between Conor and Sierra. I love me a good challenge and I loved when they were getting competitive. As a very competitive person myself, I was literally binge reading this book because of how happy it made me. It was really fast paced and fun and cute and cozy

One of the best qualities I think people should have is owning to their sh!t. When you’re wrong, you take responsibility and you apologize. That’s how life works. So I really enjoyed that Sierra was that type of girly

Another thing I really like, is when an author is able to properly formulate a vulnerable man. This species is really hard to crack and they don’t really open up. But when they do, everything comes flowing out. Conor sensitive and he has such a pure heart despite everything he had to go through and all the struggles that was thrown in his face

I know it’s a rival/enemy to lovers trope, but from the start, you could feel the sparks fly everywhere, they just needed to be tamed somehow. The mistletoes were paid actresses and actors. Their dynamic was so sweet and adorable and almost realistic

If you’re getting snuggly and preparing yourself for the holidays, please make sure you pick this book up and get cozy🤍
Profile Image for Sweety.
62 reviews3 followers
October 12, 2024
When I started Mistlefoe, I won’t lie—I didn’t think I’d enjoy it. The first few chapters didn’t grab me, and I was mentally preparing myself for a "meh" read. But oh boy, was I wrong! As the pages flew by, I got completely sucked in, and now I’m kicking myself for judging too soon. I even cried reading Conor's story (and I’m not a crier, okay?!).

Sierra? She felt real. Like, her emotions weren’t just words on a page; I was living them. It was almost like I was Sierra, dealing with all the office drama, the banter with Conor, and that gnawing pressure to prove myself—especially when I’ve felt the same way in my own life, having been bullied and constantly pushing myself to be better. So, I got why she reacted the way she did.

What really impressed me was how even during Conor’s POV, I could still feel Sierra’s thoughts and actions. The author did a fantastic job of weaving their perspectives together. I could sense Sierra’s emotions vividly, even when it wasn’t her chapter. The depth of their characters made their interactions so engaging.

And can we talk about the banter? Absolute gold! It was sassy, funny, and flirty in the best way possible. Every time they bickered, I was here for it. It added a spark to their relationship that kept me turning the pages.

Also, Conor’s grandpa? LOVE. Seriously, that man melted my heart. So wholesome.

In short, if you’re into enemies-to-lovers with all the feels, Mistlefoe will wrap you up in a big Christmas bow. Don’t make my mistake and judge it too quickly!
Profile Image for Cassondra Perea.
610 reviews5 followers
November 23, 2024
ARC Review:

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Christmas is a big deal for the company SPORTY. As the main employer for the small town of Mapleton, Connecticut, they use the holiday to thank their employees and spread cheer. Tradition dictates that one member of the team is chosen to host the festivities and as an added reward receives a $10,000 bonus. This year the stakes are raised when the office rivals, Sierra and Conor, are pinned against one another, vying for not only the bonus, but a promotion. Can the two put aside their differences for the good of the company and who will come out on top?

Mistlefoe by Mari Loyal is in the running for my favorite Christmas romcom of 2024!!! This book is hilarious. Loyal had me hooked from the beginning with her smart and witty writing. The plot was so unique it had me wishing I could jump inside the book and participate in the office festivities!

In addition to her terrific writing style, Loyal knows how to write a love story. The chemistry between Sierra and Conor was outrageous. I am not sure how she managed to make this clean/ closed door romance so palpable, but I am here for it!

Read this book for:
-workplace romance
-opposites attract
-forced proximity
-enemies to more
-feisty Latina FMC
-ex hockey star MMC
-dual POVs

Special thanks to Mari Loyal for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest opinion. This was the perfect book to introduce me to her work and I cannot wait to read more in the near future.
160 reviews1 follower
October 14, 2024
Release Day: October 24th!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Closed door romance


This was a cute book to start off the holiday and Christmas books with!

Sierra cracked me up. She was fiesty! She also had some insecurities from past bullying in high school. Sierra was great at her job and I loved seeing her ideas and making them come to life for the SPORTY event. I love her love for her family, especially her grandmother. I really enjoyed Sierra and her attitude and work ethic through this book. I also loved her love for Christmas!



Conor was just adorable to me. I loved him. He had a bad accident which cut his dreams short but now he's helping the next generation and his grandfather. His grumpy grandpa was hilarious! I loved him so much! Conor was just a sexy former pro hockey sweetheart. The way he treated Sierra and always helped her despite how she treated him for long was awesome to see. He is was kind, funny, caring, compassionate and a hard worker.

Sierra and Conor were cute. I loved their banter and how they balanced each other out so well. Seeing them come together and make this work project a success was so fun and I love the Christmas fair idea. It made me want to be able too to something like this!

This was a sweet, cute and fun holiday read! If you're in the Christmas mood already or when you are definitely check this story out!
Profile Image for Randi Sampson.
1,775 reviews94 followers
October 20, 2024
Oh, how I loved this book! A retired hockey player + the banter of office enemies + all the holiday festivities + sizzling mistletoe kisses!? Yes, please! It was the perfect combination, and I was absolutely here for it all! As the story starts out, Sierra and Conor are office rivals who don't get along at all--- though that's definitely more from her side! As they are forced to work together to plan a holiday party with large bonusses and a promotion on the line, she starts seeing that there is more to him than she first thought and sparks fly! Both of these characters absolutely drew me in. I loved that as determined as they both were to get the promotion and bonusses, they are both wanting it for selfless reasons. And oh my goodness, the chemistry between these two! It was absolutely flying off the pages! I truly just couldn't get enough of them together. Their family and coworkers added so much fun to the story too--- I especially adored Conor's Gramps with his lack of filter and frequent interruptions. This story truly was the right blend of banter, romance and Christmas cheer and definitely one to add to the TBR!

Mistlefoe is a closed-door romance with some pretty heated kisses and some innuendo. There is quite a bit of minor language throughout as well.

** ARC received for consideration. All opinions are my own.
29 reviews4 followers
November 17, 2024
Raise your hand if you’re looking for a funny, swoony holiday read. This is it, friends! Mistlefoe is hilarious and heartfelt.
Conor is a pro hockey player who was forced to retire due to a severe injury. He picks up a job at an athletic clothing brand and has never figured out why his coworker Sierra has hated him for years, from the very first moment he walked in.
Conor and Sierra are forced to work together to plan their office’s elaborate Christmas party. A promotion and bonus are on the line for whoever performs the best at this task so tensions are HIGH. Too bad they’re both secretly, incredibly attracted to each other 😏
There are sweet themes of perseverance, forgiveness, and healing throughout this story mixed in with laugh out loud moments. Perfection!

Read for:
Dual POV
One sided office rivals
Sassy Venezuelan FMC
Retired pro hockey player/kid’s hockey coach MMC
Hilarious grandpa
Mutual pining
Fake boyfriend scene
The mistletoe 🫠

Content: Detailed making out. Innuendo. Mentions of adult alcohol consumption. Fairly frequent language but no f-words or religious swears.
Possible triggers: mentions of bullying in the past, description of sports injury/rehab in the past

Many thanks to @mariloyalauthor for a gifted e-copy of this book. Opinions are always my own.
Profile Image for Josie Lingard.
141 reviews
November 3, 2024
Mistlefoe by Mari Loyal
5 🌟

SPORTY always throws the biggest Christmas parties, and this year, it falls to Sierra and Conor to organise the event. The problem is Sierra has hated Conor since he started at the company 2 years ago. But when she’s forced to spend significant time with him, she begins to question whether she really does hate him or if her real feelings might actually be the opposite. With a big bonus and a promotion on the line, Sierra and Conor have to work together to create the best Christmas event SPORTY has seen, all the while navigating changing and growing feelings and the continual appearance of mistletoe.

Mari has once again hit it out of the park with this one! I love the way she writes such beautiful romances with amazing communications and no third-act breakup 🙌🏻 The way that Sierra has to reflect on the opinions she held about Conor for 2 years is so interesting to read. I love the maturity these characters show in acknowledging when they’re wrong or have behaved badly and communicating their feelings. They were so smitten with each other, and I loved how they expressed their affection for each other. Plus, who doesn’t love foes repeatedly getting caught under mistletoe 🎄
Profile Image for Kaitlin.
205 reviews1 follower
October 16, 2024
Mari Loyal doesnt miss! I've loved every single one of her books that I've read and Mistlefoe is no exception! This is the perfect read to add to your holiday TBR.

If you like the "office rivals forced to work together while also competing" trope, then this is definitely for you. I liked how in this story they weren't super mean to each other the whole book, and instead focused on slowly getting to know and accept each other.

The premise of them planning a holiday party was so fun and the party they planned was super unique and fun to watch them develop.

I really liked that Latina representation with Sierra! The authenticity of her Venezuelan background was so cool to experience. Conor's struggles with his career ending injury brought a lot of depth to the story as well.

Also, no third act breakup!!!

Overall, I have a feeling this is going to be one of my favorite holiday reads of the year! Thank you so much to Mari for letting me read and review early!

Read if you like:

🎄Office rivals to lovers.
🎄Retired hockey player hero.
🎄Latina heroine.
🎄Christmas party chaos.
🎄No 3rd act breakup.
🎄Closed door romance.
Profile Image for Kate (bookishkenyannerd).
559 reviews2 followers
October 31, 2024
Every year, SPORTY throws the biggest Christmas party organized by a member of the marketing team. The reward: a hefty bonus. Both Sierra and Conor are supposed to do it this year. What's on the line is the bonus and a promotion for only one of them. It doesn't help that Sierra hates Conor's guts.

The only way for them to get along after a few years of being rivals was definitely organizing the Christmas party. It had to be good, else they wouldn't get their bonuses. They both had very good reasons for wanting the prize, and I love that it gave them a glimpse into each other's lives.

I loved seeing their growing attraction as they also bumped into more than one mistletoe everywhere they went 😂 Gramps' matchmaking also deserves a mention. The conniving curmudgeon was a force.

Sierra's parents and Grammie made for some comical moments with their Latin roots and way of life. I also loved their close-knit ways and their drive to be together during the holidays.

Thank you to the author for an ARC. I can't wait for more of SPORTY Christmas!😄

Rating: 4⭐
Steam level: 1.5🌶️ Closed door
Profile Image for Debajodelamesa.books.
88 reviews2 followers
December 1, 2024
✨️ARC Review✨️

This is my first ever holiday read and I really enjoyed it. It set the perfect atmosphere for the start of this season 🎄❤️

I absolutely love how Mari Loyal connects all her stories in a brilliant and subtle way, dropping easter eggs for her readers and making the experience more fun and exciting!

Connor and Sierra are beautiful characters that will make you feel all the fuzzy feelings and make me wish for me and my husband to find ourselves under a mistletoe soon 🥰 but my favorite part was the relationship between Sierra and her Grammie, it was lovely!

***

Esta es mi primera lectura navideña y realmente la disfruté. Creó la atmósfera perfecta para el comienzo de esta temporada 🎄❤️

Me encanta cómo Mari Loyal conecta todas sus historias de una manera increíble y sutil, dejando pistas para sus lectores, lo que hace que la experiencia sea más divertida y emocionante!

Connor y Sierra son personajes hermosos que te harán sentir enamoramiento y me hicieron desear que mi esposo y yo nos encontremos pronto bajo el muérdago 🥰 pero mi parte favorita fue la relación entre Sierra y su abuelita, está super bonita!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5
Profile Image for ReadaholicDeb.
810 reviews23 followers
December 11, 2024
This was a fun and entertaining office rivals-to-lovers romance with a holiday theme. Sierra holds a grudge against Conor, especially when their job hosts a huge holiday party for employees. The person who plans the party gets a raise and promotion, so Sierra, needing both, decides to compete—putting her directly up against Conor, who also needs the bonus. When their boss throws in a twist, they’re forced to work together.

The rivalry between Sierra and Conor was entertaining, leading to witty dialogue and some great chemistry, enhanced by Conor’s flirty demeanor. Although this is a clean romance, their undeniable chemistry comes through, and they don’t shy away from playful innuendos.

The writing does a fantastic job of detailing their history and personal backstories, giving both characters a lot of depth. The dual POVs and first-person narratives made it easy to connect with them, which added to the tension and build-up.

The slow-burn build-up, complete with a few mistletoe kisses, was delightful. Once they gave in to their feelings, the story moved quickly, and I found myself completely absorbed, falling harder for Conor with every page.

Profile Image for Kassandra Marie.
294 reviews8 followers
October 11, 2024
❌This is my ARC Book Review ❌

I am so grateful to have the privilege of reading a copy of Mistlefoe.

🤍 I have enjoyed reading this book , the writing and the story telling was perfectly written, I adore the characters, now I really adore Conor Grandpa I think he was the best. I really also enjoy Conor and his background.

Now for Sierra , at first I didn't like her behavior when it came to Conor and I was happy that Conor put her in her place and called her out on her bullshit. I understand Office rivals and getting the money and that promotion. But that's not a right to treat a person like that on a petty level. Actually I think that's on a childish behavior.

But between the partnering up and actually working together and getting to know each other and their life , it just shows that some good and character growth was in place. I also love Sierra parents and her family.

🎄 Over all this is a perfect story read for the Holidays, I highly recommend this book , it's a cute Office rivals romance.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.