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Cowboy Under the Mistletoe: An Alpine Ridge Holiday Novella
Wishing for a Christmas miracle is harder than it seems.
Katherine Pearson has lived her whole life in Alpine Ridge, TN. From marrying her high school sweetheart to being divorced in her mid-thirties, Katherine is feeling stuck. Stuck in life, stuck in her hometown, and stuck in love.
When she finds herself at a dive bar at the edge of town, there’s a sense of solace that she can’t quite place. A sense of belonging that she hasn’t felt in a long time. Stumbling into a cowboy under a mistletoe is the last thing she expects to happen to her. It doesn’t help that he’s a cowboy who just seems to understand everything she’s feeling this holiday season.
Maybe Santa does have Katherine at the top of his list this year.
-
Cowboy Under the Mistletoe is intended for readers 18+. Please check the author's website (graceelenaauthor.com) for a complete list of content warnings.
Cowboy Under the Mistletoe is Book 1.5 in the Alpine Ridge series.
Alpine Ridge is a small town in the Tennessee Roots Universe by Grace Elena.
Katherine Pearson has lived her whole life in Alpine Ridge, TN. From marrying her high school sweetheart to being divorced in her mid-thirties, Katherine is feeling stuck. Stuck in life, stuck in her hometown, and stuck in love.
When she finds herself at a dive bar at the edge of town, there’s a sense of solace that she can’t quite place. A sense of belonging that she hasn’t felt in a long time. Stumbling into a cowboy under a mistletoe is the last thing she expects to happen to her. It doesn’t help that he’s a cowboy who just seems to understand everything she’s feeling this holiday season.
Maybe Santa does have Katherine at the top of his list this year.
-
Cowboy Under the Mistletoe is intended for readers 18+. Please check the author's website (graceelenaauthor.com) for a complete list of content warnings.
Cowboy Under the Mistletoe is Book 1.5 in the Alpine Ridge series.
Alpine Ridge is a small town in the Tennessee Roots Universe by Grace Elena.
132 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 17, 2024
26 people are currently reading
290 people want to read
About the author
Grace Elena
5 books199 followersGrace Elena is a Mexican American author who loves to write slow burn romances with strong Latinx leads. She's been writing since she could remember and even dabbled in some songwriting during her college years. When Grace isn't writing, she's spending time with her cat in Nashville, Tennessee.
IG: graceelenaauthor
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 158 reviews
December 15, 2024
“are you gonna do it? are you gonna kiss me, cowboy?”
this was an adorable christmas novella! short and sweet, and definitely left me wanting to read more of grace elena’s work. i’m not a fan of hallmark christmas movies, but i would totally watch this one if it got picked up. i didn’t know that a christmas novella with a cowboy that uses the pet name “darlin’” would have me giggling and kicking my feet, but here we are!
thank you so much to grace elena for the opportunity to receive an e-arc of this novella!
❆ small town
❆ spicy (christmas lights!)
❆ scrooge mmc x grinch fmc
❆ mmc calls fmc “darlin’” and “chestnut”
❆ cowboy rancher mmc x ballet studio owner fmc
this was an adorable christmas novella! short and sweet, and definitely left me wanting to read more of grace elena’s work. i’m not a fan of hallmark christmas movies, but i would totally watch this one if it got picked up. i didn’t know that a christmas novella with a cowboy that uses the pet name “darlin’” would have me giggling and kicking my feet, but here we are!
thank you so much to grace elena for the opportunity to receive an e-arc of this novella!
❆ small town
❆ spicy (christmas lights!)
❆ scrooge mmc x grinch fmc
❆ mmc calls fmc “darlin’” and “chestnut”
❆ cowboy rancher mmc x ballet studio owner fmc
December 18, 2024
The perfect Christmas novella! Mistletoe, a cowboy, great spice, and some Christmas lights (IYKYK 😉) 🎄
December 18, 2024
•I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.*
3.5 stars!
Thank you to the author for this ARC! This was a cute little holiday novella! It had everything you want from a quick, happy holiday read. I enjoyed the characters and the world. The author did say that there you did not need to read the first book in the series, but I do think it would have been helpful because none of the characters were reintroduced and it was just assumed we knew them already. I would love to go visit a little mountain town like Alpine Ridge. Big fan of the second chance love and life theme throughout the story. You’re never too old to fall in love again, especially around the holidays.
3.5 stars!
Thank you to the author for this ARC! This was a cute little holiday novella! It had everything you want from a quick, happy holiday read. I enjoyed the characters and the world. The author did say that there you did not need to read the first book in the series, but I do think it would have been helpful because none of the characters were reintroduced and it was just assumed we knew them already. I would love to go visit a little mountain town like Alpine Ridge. Big fan of the second chance love and life theme throughout the story. You’re never too old to fall in love again, especially around the holidays.
December 16, 2024
3 ⭐
I received an arc copy in exchange for an honest review, thank you so much to the author for giving me this opportunity.
Cowboy under the mistletoe is a short holiday novella, part of the Alpine Ridge series of interconnected standalones. The author states that it can be read as a complete standalone, but honestly, I think it might be better to check out book 1 before getting into this. There's some details that might cause a bit of confusion and that are probably explained better in the first book.
That being said, it's a cute holiday read nothing more, nothing less.
I received an arc copy in exchange for an honest review, thank you so much to the author for giving me this opportunity.
Cowboy under the mistletoe is a short holiday novella, part of the Alpine Ridge series of interconnected standalones. The author states that it can be read as a complete standalone, but honestly, I think it might be better to check out book 1 before getting into this. There's some details that might cause a bit of confusion and that are probably explained better in the first book.
That being said, it's a cute holiday read nothing more, nothing less.
December 23, 2025
3.5 stars
December 16, 2024
This was a very quick read. The author says that you do not have to read the first book that is set in this town, but I disagree. A lot of names were thrown out in the beginning without minor explanations of their relationship to the main character. Overall, this novella was short and sweet, but the romance was just surface level.
Thank you Grace Elena for the arc! 💚
Thank you Grace Elena for the arc! 💚
December 20, 2024
Honest ARC review 🎄🎁🤠
Okay so first off thank you so much to the author for the ARC of this story!
At first I thought about not giving this a rating because I like a dummy did not read the fine print when i applied for this ARC to understand that its part of an existing series and should be read as one. I saw 'christmas' and 'cowboy' and said YEP GIMME 😂 im a ho ho ho for cowboys what can i say 🤷🏼♀️
So now ive decided to rate it as someone who is BRAND NEW to this author because there will always be people like me who read things out of order 🫣 now to the review....
Overall this was cute! A fast paced fun novella with a little bit of naughty mixed in with the nice! About 20 pages in I was like "am i missing something?" Yes i was. An entire previous book 😂 MY BAD THATS ON ME! Lance and Katherine are both easy to love characters and it was nice to see them act their age and be mature.
In reference to the title I wouldve liked to see a bit more cowboy-esque vibes but thats a personal preference. Like I said im a ho ho ho for cowboys.
Ive had Between The Vines on my physical TBR for about a year and I will DEFINITELY be going back to read it knowing some of the MMCs backstory!
I feel like this story had alot of other stuff going on aside from the MCs for a novella. Lots about Lainey which is great because I am looking forward to her book but I think hee set up wouldve been better fit for a full length book rather than a quick read as I feel it took away from Katherine and Lances story a bit.
Overall though I did enjoy this story as a fresh faced newbie to Alpine Ridge and I will for sure be coming back in the future! Thank you again to Grace for the ARC 🫶🏼
Okay so first off thank you so much to the author for the ARC of this story!
At first I thought about not giving this a rating because I like a dummy did not read the fine print when i applied for this ARC to understand that its part of an existing series and should be read as one. I saw 'christmas' and 'cowboy' and said YEP GIMME 😂 im a ho ho ho for cowboys what can i say 🤷🏼♀️
So now ive decided to rate it as someone who is BRAND NEW to this author because there will always be people like me who read things out of order 🫣 now to the review....
Overall this was cute! A fast paced fun novella with a little bit of naughty mixed in with the nice! About 20 pages in I was like "am i missing something?" Yes i was. An entire previous book 😂 MY BAD THATS ON ME! Lance and Katherine are both easy to love characters and it was nice to see them act their age and be mature.
In reference to the title I wouldve liked to see a bit more cowboy-esque vibes but thats a personal preference. Like I said im a ho ho ho for cowboys.
Ive had Between The Vines on my physical TBR for about a year and I will DEFINITELY be going back to read it knowing some of the MMCs backstory!
I feel like this story had alot of other stuff going on aside from the MCs for a novella. Lots about Lainey which is great because I am looking forward to her book but I think hee set up wouldve been better fit for a full length book rather than a quick read as I feel it took away from Katherine and Lances story a bit.
Overall though I did enjoy this story as a fresh faced newbie to Alpine Ridge and I will for sure be coming back in the future! Thank you again to Grace for the ARC 🫶🏼
December 14, 2024
ARC Review of Cowboy Under The Mistletoe 🤠🐴🩰🎄🐈☕️🥯❄️🩵
This book? Pure holiday magic. It’s technically a standalone, but if you’ve read Between the Vines, you’ll appreciate the little cameos and nods to familiar faces. You don’t have to read that one first, but honestly, I loved being able to dive right back into this cozy small town with all its charm and quirks. It made the whole experience even sweeter.
For a novella, this story packs a lot of heart! The characters feel real—mature, relatable, and just the right mix of sweet and spicy. They’re in their 30s, and the way they navigate their relationship is refreshingly down-to-earth—no unnecessary drama or ridiculous misunderstandings, just good, honest storytelling. Plus, the Christmas vibes are there, but it’s not too Christmas-y, so it feels cozy without being over-the-top.
And let’s talk about the little details—those nicknames! “Cowboy,” “Chestnut”—adorable without being cheesy. The setting is just perfect too, with enough warmth and small-town charm to make you feel like you’re right there sipping cocoa by the fire. It’s an easy, feel-good read, ideal for curling up during the holidays when you want something comforting but still fun.
I’m so excited to see where the Alpine Ridge series goes next. If this is any indication, we’re in for something special!🩵
✨TROPES✨
✨Bucket Lists
✨He finds her a Tree 🌲
✨Found Family
✨Bonfires and S’mores
✨Cute Nicknames
✨Coffee and Bagel dates
✨Cowboy Rancher x Ballet Studio owner
🩵My Favorite Quote🩵
“That damn mistletoe really did its job, huh?” I suddenly say. She laughs and turns her body so we’re cuddling, staring at each other.
“That damn mistletoe caught me so off guard and yet here we are.”
“Here we are,” I repeat, my heart feeling like it’s grown three times its size just staring at Katherine Pearson.
Here we damn are.
‼️Book coming out December 17th on Amazon, and I'm already so excited for everyone to read it and love it as much as I did‼️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
This book? Pure holiday magic. It’s technically a standalone, but if you’ve read Between the Vines, you’ll appreciate the little cameos and nods to familiar faces. You don’t have to read that one first, but honestly, I loved being able to dive right back into this cozy small town with all its charm and quirks. It made the whole experience even sweeter.
For a novella, this story packs a lot of heart! The characters feel real—mature, relatable, and just the right mix of sweet and spicy. They’re in their 30s, and the way they navigate their relationship is refreshingly down-to-earth—no unnecessary drama or ridiculous misunderstandings, just good, honest storytelling. Plus, the Christmas vibes are there, but it’s not too Christmas-y, so it feels cozy without being over-the-top.
And let’s talk about the little details—those nicknames! “Cowboy,” “Chestnut”—adorable without being cheesy. The setting is just perfect too, with enough warmth and small-town charm to make you feel like you’re right there sipping cocoa by the fire. It’s an easy, feel-good read, ideal for curling up during the holidays when you want something comforting but still fun.
I’m so excited to see where the Alpine Ridge series goes next. If this is any indication, we’re in for something special!🩵
✨TROPES✨
✨Bucket Lists
✨He finds her a Tree 🌲
✨Found Family
✨Bonfires and S’mores
✨Cute Nicknames
✨Coffee and Bagel dates
✨Cowboy Rancher x Ballet Studio owner
🩵My Favorite Quote🩵
“That damn mistletoe really did its job, huh?” I suddenly say. She laughs and turns her body so we’re cuddling, staring at each other.
“That damn mistletoe caught me so off guard and yet here we are.”
“Here we are,” I repeat, my heart feeling like it’s grown three times its size just staring at Katherine Pearson.
Here we damn are.
‼️Book coming out December 17th on Amazon, and I'm already so excited for everyone to read it and love it as much as I did‼️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
December 28, 2024
Cowboy Under The Mistletoe ARC Review
i was very fortunate to receive an ARC of Cowboy Under The Mistletoe by Grace Elena. All opinions are my own and given freely. 💚
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️/5
content warning: mention of divorce, mental health topics, mention of isolation, mention of parental alcoholism, sexually explicit scenes, drinking, and cursing.
“are you gonna do it? are you gonna kiss me, cowboy?”
this is my first time reading anything by grace and i do just want to say that i didn’t realize this novella was part of series. i definitely think i could’ve benefited from reading the first book in this series and being introduced to the characters. but i still really enjoyed this novella! it’s was short but sweet and definitely left me wanting to read more of grace’s work! and it’s made me so excited to go back and read between the vines! while reading, i quickly fell in love with both characters, they were honestly just so relatable! this is the perfect holiday novella to cozy up by the fire!!
katherine and lance were enjoyable characters to read about! i instantly fell in love with both of them. i loved how the tension between the two builds throughout the book. i also loved that both characters are in their 30's, feeling stuck and trying to navigate life, it just makes them that much more relatable. and then you have the spicy side of the characters, which was *chefs kiss* had me giggling and kicking my feet.
i cannot wait for grace’s next book!!! and once again thank you so much for giving me the chance to read cowboy under the mistletoe early! 💚
i was very fortunate to receive an ARC of Cowboy Under The Mistletoe by Grace Elena. All opinions are my own and given freely. 💚
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️/5
content warning: mention of divorce, mental health topics, mention of isolation, mention of parental alcoholism, sexually explicit scenes, drinking, and cursing.
“are you gonna do it? are you gonna kiss me, cowboy?”
this is my first time reading anything by grace and i do just want to say that i didn’t realize this novella was part of series. i definitely think i could’ve benefited from reading the first book in this series and being introduced to the characters. but i still really enjoyed this novella! it’s was short but sweet and definitely left me wanting to read more of grace’s work! and it’s made me so excited to go back and read between the vines! while reading, i quickly fell in love with both characters, they were honestly just so relatable! this is the perfect holiday novella to cozy up by the fire!!
katherine and lance were enjoyable characters to read about! i instantly fell in love with both of them. i loved how the tension between the two builds throughout the book. i also loved that both characters are in their 30's, feeling stuck and trying to navigate life, it just makes them that much more relatable. and then you have the spicy side of the characters, which was *chefs kiss* had me giggling and kicking my feet.
i cannot wait for grace’s next book!!! and once again thank you so much for giving me the chance to read cowboy under the mistletoe early! 💚
December 17, 2024
⭐️⭐️ - My first ARC read. Thank you Grace Elena for this exciting opportunity!
I was really rooting for this one… I love the idea of a cowboy Christmas romance! Sadly, this one missed the mark in more ways than one, starting with the fact that calling the MMC a cowboy is a stretch. The author tried to fit A LOT into this novella, which left the reader with a string of underdeveloped ideas and unconnected events that felt like a lot of background noise.
The story focuses on the ex-wife of the MMC in Grace Elena’s previous book, Between the Vines. While Cowboy Under the Mistletoe is presented as an interconnected standalone, I found myself confused about who was who and what relationship they had to the FMC with all of the different names flying around and no context provided. With how much the book referred to the Christmas party at the vineyard, I was surprised (and kind of disappointed) the party itself didn’t feature in the book.
CUTM took “insta-love” to a new level… Forget 1-3 months, this couple had excessive expectations about one another after 1 week. This was made even more awkward because of the fact that the main characters are in their late 30s. While there was no shortage of smutty moments, they fell flat for me as the characters didn’t feel like they had any chemistry (there was no chance for them to develop it). The scene with the Christmas lights made me cringe - not only because consent was not sought first, but because of this strange thought process on the part the MMC: “I pull her wrists closer to me and start wrapping her wrists with the Christmas lights. If an outlet was closer to the couch I’d plug these lights in and have her lit up like a Christmas tree.”
A quick and easy read. As a woman in her mid-30s, I appreciated the characters being in their late 30s as I’m usually stuck reading about FMCs a decade younger than me.
I was really rooting for this one… I love the idea of a cowboy Christmas romance! Sadly, this one missed the mark in more ways than one, starting with the fact that calling the MMC a cowboy is a stretch. The author tried to fit A LOT into this novella, which left the reader with a string of underdeveloped ideas and unconnected events that felt like a lot of background noise.
The story focuses on the ex-wife of the MMC in Grace Elena’s previous book, Between the Vines. While Cowboy Under the Mistletoe is presented as an interconnected standalone, I found myself confused about who was who and what relationship they had to the FMC with all of the different names flying around and no context provided. With how much the book referred to the Christmas party at the vineyard, I was surprised (and kind of disappointed) the party itself didn’t feature in the book.
CUTM took “insta-love” to a new level… Forget 1-3 months, this couple had excessive expectations about one another after 1 week. This was made even more awkward because of the fact that the main characters are in their late 30s. While there was no shortage of smutty moments, they fell flat for me as the characters didn’t feel like they had any chemistry (there was no chance for them to develop it). The scene with the Christmas lights made me cringe - not only because consent was not sought first, but because of this strange thought process on the part the MMC: “I pull her wrists closer to me and start wrapping her wrists with the Christmas lights. If an outlet was closer to the couch I’d plug these lights in and have her lit up like a Christmas tree.”
A quick and easy read. As a woman in her mid-30s, I appreciated the characters being in their late 30s as I’m usually stuck reading about FMCs a decade younger than me.
December 16, 2024
Thank you to Grace Elena for the ARC!
This was a cute little holiday novella!! You already know that I will not pass up on anything cowboy lmao. There were a ton of really sweet moments in this and I loved Lance's grand gestures. The vibes were there for all the holiday magic. This was also hot hot hot.
My big complaint was that it's supposed to be a standalone, but it didn't really feel like one. There's a ton of characters in this and a lot of backstory that I felt like we were missing out on that seemed pretty significant (spoken from someone who hasn't read any other books in this world.)
Aside from that, this also seemed more like its purpose was to set up Alainey's book, which is fine, but a decent amount of the book spent time on her and I think it took away from moments that could have been better spent developing Katherine and Lance's relationship. Especially since it's a novella and we only have so much time with them. This had a ton of potential and needed the length/time that a full novel would have provided in order to accomplish everything the author set out to do.
All that being said, this was still a good time and I love the author's writing. Will not be the last thing I read from her, that's for sure!
This was a cute little holiday novella!! You already know that I will not pass up on anything cowboy lmao. There were a ton of really sweet moments in this and I loved Lance's grand gestures. The vibes were there for all the holiday magic. This was also hot hot hot.
My big complaint was that it's supposed to be a standalone, but it didn't really feel like one. There's a ton of characters in this and a lot of backstory that I felt like we were missing out on that seemed pretty significant (spoken from someone who hasn't read any other books in this world.)
Aside from that, this also seemed more like its purpose was to set up Alainey's book, which is fine, but a decent amount of the book spent time on her and I think it took away from moments that could have been better spent developing Katherine and Lance's relationship. Especially since it's a novella and we only have so much time with them. This had a ton of potential and needed the length/time that a full novel would have provided in order to accomplish everything the author set out to do.
All that being said, this was still a good time and I love the author's writing. Will not be the last thing I read from her, that's for sure!
December 19, 2024
Rating: rounded up to ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
This is a cute, small town hallmark style holiday romance novella. I always love a romance featuring characters in their 30s, and I especially appreciated our FMC’s first experience dating post divorce. I’m normally not huge on small town romances since I came from a small town myself, but this one didn’t have many of the cheesy small town components (whew)! In under 130 pages we have an entertaining book and romance with some spice.
I wish we had more background on our main characters. I felt like we needed more. Plus there was a vineyard party that was mentioned but seemed pointless to be mentioned? This is said with the caveat that I did not read the previous book in this series of interconnected standalones.
Read this if you like:
🎄Christmas novellas
🎄small town
🎄cowboy MMC
🎄mistletoe kiss
🎄life after divorce
🎄main characters in their 30s
🎄Christmas lights involved in 🛏️
Thank you so much to Grace Elena for the ARC!
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
This is a cute, small town hallmark style holiday romance novella. I always love a romance featuring characters in their 30s, and I especially appreciated our FMC’s first experience dating post divorce. I’m normally not huge on small town romances since I came from a small town myself, but this one didn’t have many of the cheesy small town components (whew)! In under 130 pages we have an entertaining book and romance with some spice.
I wish we had more background on our main characters. I felt like we needed more. Plus there was a vineyard party that was mentioned but seemed pointless to be mentioned? This is said with the caveat that I did not read the previous book in this series of interconnected standalones.
Read this if you like:
🎄Christmas novellas
🎄small town
🎄cowboy MMC
🎄mistletoe kiss
🎄life after divorce
🎄main characters in their 30s
🎄Christmas lights involved in 🛏️
Thank you so much to Grace Elena for the ARC!
December 19, 2024
❤️Cowboy Under The Mistletoe 🎄
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️
Review:
This Christmas novella was the perfect read this festive season!
I absolutely loved being back in Alpine Ridge, it felt like I was seeing old friends again. We all know how much I love a small town book - especially when it’s one we’ve seen in a previous book!
I loved the addition of a map of the town, it’s always lovely to be able to see exactly where everything is that you’ve been picturing in the book. I found myself referring back to it as I was reading.
This book was such a warm, cosy and sweet read. It felt like a hug in book format.
I really loved the characters and hope we see more of them in future books!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️
Review:
This Christmas novella was the perfect read this festive season!
I absolutely loved being back in Alpine Ridge, it felt like I was seeing old friends again. We all know how much I love a small town book - especially when it’s one we’ve seen in a previous book!
I loved the addition of a map of the town, it’s always lovely to be able to see exactly where everything is that you’ve been picturing in the book. I found myself referring back to it as I was reading.
This book was such a warm, cosy and sweet read. It felt like a hug in book format.
I really loved the characters and hope we see more of them in future books!
January 5, 2025
I give this book a 3.5 it was a quick Christmas book with a cowboy I’ll take it. It just me I sign up for an Arc and it was a part a series kind of threw me off 😳. If you’re looking for a small town Christmas Novella this is the book for you. Overall I enjoyed the characters it gave me all the Christmas vibes which was amazing 🤩. I would have rated it higher if I knew more the story of the characters i think it would made a little sense.
December 15, 2024
ARC Review
This was such a cute Christmas story without it being too Christmas-y. I loved Lance and Katherine and how they instantly just clicked with eachother. Just two people trying to find their way in life. Such a cute and easy read!
“Do it scared. Do it afraid. But make sure you that you just do it.”
This was such a cute Christmas story without it being too Christmas-y. I loved Lance and Katherine and how they instantly just clicked with eachother. Just two people trying to find their way in life. Such a cute and easy read!
“Do it scared. Do it afraid. But make sure you that you just do it.”
December 16, 2024
**I received a free ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.**
So this is an interconnected standalone to the Alpine Ridge Series. I will say, despite being a standalone novella, I did opt to pause reading after the first chapter to start and finish the first book (Between the Vines). While not really necessary for the main plot, reading the first book helped to get a better backstory of the characters because there was a bunch of names thrown out there in the first chapter without real explanation of who they are.
Once I got back reading to the novella, we meet the FMC, Katherine, who is the ex-wife of Bennett the MMC in the previous book. She’s strong on the outside, but kind of mopey internally because although everyone’s cordial, all the friends in town basically took Bennett’s side in the divorce. The MMC, Lance, is a smartass rancher who also is kind of outcast from the town. It’s a novella, so there’s minimal tension, the spice comes quick (that’s what she said), and the main characters get the HEA they deserve. I honestly liked these two characters more than the first book’s main characters because they seemed more relatable. Overall cute, quick holiday love story with almost immediate spice.
🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Tropes, etc
-Dual POV
-Small town
-Christmas romance
-Divorced FMC
-Rancher MMC
-30+ FMC and MMC
-HEA
TW
-divorce
-mental health topics
-mention of parental alcoholism
-sexually explicit scenes
So this is an interconnected standalone to the Alpine Ridge Series. I will say, despite being a standalone novella, I did opt to pause reading after the first chapter to start and finish the first book (Between the Vines). While not really necessary for the main plot, reading the first book helped to get a better backstory of the characters because there was a bunch of names thrown out there in the first chapter without real explanation of who they are.
Once I got back reading to the novella, we meet the FMC, Katherine, who is the ex-wife of Bennett the MMC in the previous book. She’s strong on the outside, but kind of mopey internally because although everyone’s cordial, all the friends in town basically took Bennett’s side in the divorce. The MMC, Lance, is a smartass rancher who also is kind of outcast from the town. It’s a novella, so there’s minimal tension, the spice comes quick (that’s what she said), and the main characters get the HEA they deserve. I honestly liked these two characters more than the first book’s main characters because they seemed more relatable. Overall cute, quick holiday love story with almost immediate spice.
🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Tropes, etc
-Dual POV
-Small town
-Christmas romance
-Divorced FMC
-Rancher MMC
-30+ FMC and MMC
-HEA
TW
-divorce
-mental health topics
-mention of parental alcoholism
-sexually explicit scenes
December 14, 2024
Thank you to Grace Elena for the opportunity to read an ARC of this novella! So fun to support a fellow Mexican American woman!
4.5⭐️
This story was so cute! It's a standalone, but is interconnected with the previously published book, "Between the Vines." You don't have to read BTV first, but I am glad that I have because there are a few character cameos that were fun to see. Plus it was so much fun to get re-immersed in this small town and have context to some of the places mentioned around the towns.
This novella had all of the best things packed into its short length - likable and relatable characters, the right amount of Christmas spirit, spice, and cozy feel-good vibes. The characters acted their age (30's) and navigated their relationship concerns in ways that made sense and did not create unnecessary conflict.
I cannot wait for the Alpine Ridge series to continue and for the spin-off series that Grace has in the works!
pub date: 12/17/24
4.5⭐️
This story was so cute! It's a standalone, but is interconnected with the previously published book, "Between the Vines." You don't have to read BTV first, but I am glad that I have because there are a few character cameos that were fun to see. Plus it was so much fun to get re-immersed in this small town and have context to some of the places mentioned around the towns.
This novella had all of the best things packed into its short length - likable and relatable characters, the right amount of Christmas spirit, spice, and cozy feel-good vibes. The characters acted their age (30's) and navigated their relationship concerns in ways that made sense and did not create unnecessary conflict.
I cannot wait for the Alpine Ridge series to continue and for the spin-off series that Grace has in the works!
pub date: 12/17/24
December 19, 2024
Thank you, Grace for the arc of Cowboy Under the Mistletoe, out now!
This was soooo much better than the first book in the series, Between the Vines. This is a novella in that same universe, and it was super cute and short. I, for one, was surprised we were getting a novella on Katherine, however it was nice to read about her a bit more, I feel if we get maybe 50-100 pages more it could've helped bring my rating to a 4 as it felt like we rarely got to know about the characters. I think Katherine and Lance were great as they both were feeling the same way. Unfortunately, I wish the author did not say we don't need to read the first book to understand this one because you definitely do. The characters from there make appearances here and you're expected to know them, coincidentally enough I read the book last week, so it was in time for this one. This was definitely a fun time, and I enjoyed reading them. Thank you again for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review!
This was soooo much better than the first book in the series, Between the Vines. This is a novella in that same universe, and it was super cute and short. I, for one, was surprised we were getting a novella on Katherine, however it was nice to read about her a bit more, I feel if we get maybe 50-100 pages more it could've helped bring my rating to a 4 as it felt like we rarely got to know about the characters. I think Katherine and Lance were great as they both were feeling the same way. Unfortunately, I wish the author did not say we don't need to read the first book to understand this one because you definitely do. The characters from there make appearances here and you're expected to know them, coincidentally enough I read the book last week, so it was in time for this one. This was definitely a fun time, and I enjoyed reading them. Thank you again for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review!
January 27, 2025
4.25⭐️
Okay so first off thank you so much to the author for the ARC of this story!
This was a cute little holiday novella! It had everything you want from a quick, happy holiday read. I enjoyed the characters and the world. The characters feel real-mature, relatable, and just the right mix of sweet and spicy.
This book is technically a standalone,but I wish I read the first book before reading this one because the characters weren’t reintroduced!
Overall this was cute! A fast paced fun novella with a little bit of naughty mixed in with the nice! really loved the characters and hope we see more of them in future books!
Okay so first off thank you so much to the author for the ARC of this story!
This was a cute little holiday novella! It had everything you want from a quick, happy holiday read. I enjoyed the characters and the world. The characters feel real-mature, relatable, and just the right mix of sweet and spicy.
This book is technically a standalone,but I wish I read the first book before reading this one because the characters weren’t reintroduced!
Overall this was cute! A fast paced fun novella with a little bit of naughty mixed in with the nice! really loved the characters and hope we see more of them in future books!
December 15, 2024
Such a cute Christmas novella I couldn’t put it down I loved it❤️I was so curious of how Katherine story was going to go and omg I didn’t disappoint I love her and I’m so happy for her she deserves happiness too 🥹❤️Lance was perfection he was so kind, caring and very understanding and I love him for it ❤️him and Katherine were so precious 🥹 I love them both so much ❤️I can’t wait for what’s to come 👀
Tropes:
🎄: small town
❤️: found family
🎄: acts of service
❤️: Cowboy Rancher x Ballet Studio owner
4.5⭐️
Tropes:
🎄: small town
❤️: found family
🎄: acts of service
❤️: Cowboy Rancher x Ballet Studio owner
4.5⭐️
December 16, 2024
Thank you Grace Elena for the ARC it was magnificent!!
I loved every minute of the short Christmas novella. Cowboys🤠 are my weakness😭 and Lance character was just perfect. Both Katherine and Lance had great chemistry and their spicy scenes 🌶️🌶️🌶️ loved! You definitely can’t go wrong with a good, spicy and short novella! cameos from her first book reappeared which was perfect! One thing I did like was how both Katherine and Lance were supportive of Lainey’s career path! And how grateful she was of them. Definitely worth reading!!📖
I loved every minute of the short Christmas novella. Cowboys🤠 are my weakness😭 and Lance character was just perfect. Both Katherine and Lance had great chemistry and their spicy scenes 🌶️🌶️🌶️ loved! You definitely can’t go wrong with a good, spicy and short novella! cameos from her first book reappeared which was perfect! One thing I did like was how both Katherine and Lance were supportive of Lainey’s career path! And how grateful she was of them. Definitely worth reading!!📖
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 19, 2024
This novella is a cute fast read to set the chrismas mood!❤️
The characters are great, Lance is a cowboy full of green flags, i really like d him!
My only issue is the fact that it stated that the novella can be read by itself but it lack of context, several facts or characters dont makes sense because we dont know their story or contribution to the FMC’s life.
So it seems like its a better option read the first book before this novella.
The characters are great, Lance is a cowboy full of green flags, i really like d him!
My only issue is the fact that it stated that the novella can be read by itself but it lack of context, several facts or characters dont makes sense because we dont know their story or contribution to the FMC’s life.
So it seems like its a better option read the first book before this novella.
December 24, 2024
Such a simple and sweet novella. Both Katherine and Lance feel stuck in their town, being raised and now in their late 30's has made them doubt the love they have for the town. Meeting each other is like a breath of fresh air because although they knew of one another they're now getting to know each other. They're able to fill the void for one another that's been growing in them for a while.
Thank you so much to Grace Elena for allowing me to receive an ARC copy!
Thank you so much to Grace Elena for allowing me to receive an ARC copy!
December 14, 2024
My first ever ARC (thank you so much Grace Elena!!) and boy was it something!
This small town, cowboy romance was incredible. I fell in love with the characters so fast. Katherine being a ballet teacher hit at my heartstrings from my years in ballet and then our handsome, lovable MMC, Lance is a rancher/cowboy and reminded me so much of my husband. I could find myself in a little town like Alpine, TN and never want to leave.
If you’re a fan of Elsie Silver or Lyla Sage, this novella is for you! I cannot wait to dive into more of the Alpine Ridge series as well as her other two series (so excited for a Lainey book)!
4.5⭐️
This small town, cowboy romance was incredible. I fell in love with the characters so fast. Katherine being a ballet teacher hit at my heartstrings from my years in ballet and then our handsome, lovable MMC, Lance is a rancher/cowboy and reminded me so much of my husband. I could find myself in a little town like Alpine, TN and never want to leave.
If you’re a fan of Elsie Silver or Lyla Sage, this novella is for you! I cannot wait to dive into more of the Alpine Ridge series as well as her other two series (so excited for a Lainey book)!
4.5⭐️
December 15, 2024
I was lucky enough to be an ARC reader for Grace’s new novella Cowboy Under the Mistletoe. Such a cute and fun Christmas novella! A super quick read that’s perfect for this time of year. I would have loved to read a full length novel about the FMC and the things she’s working through (I think her backstory is great and I want to know more lol). The MMC was doing all the right things. 🌶️ The characters were lovable and relatable. I can’t wait to read her other books!
December 15, 2024
**SPOILER FREE ARC REVIEW**
Absolutely loved this! I wish it was a tad bit longer, but the pace was perfect, the spice was perfect, and the nicknames?! Adorable. I’m definitely adding Grace’s other books to my TBR! 🩷
Absolutely loved this! I wish it was a tad bit longer, but the pace was perfect, the spice was perfect, and the nicknames?! Adorable. I’m definitely adding Grace’s other books to my TBR! 🩷
December 17, 2024
Short and sweet Christmas romance. This is the first book I have read by Grace Elena. I feel like there were a lot of characters being thrown at me all at once. I wasn't sure how a lot of them fit into this story. I loved the MMC. He was very sweet and compassionate. There is mild spice that adds to the story. Overall, I thought this was a cute novella and would be interested to read more of this author in the future!
December 19, 2024
I received an arc of this book in exchange for my honest review
2.5⭐️ I really wanted to like this book but it fell flat for me. I just felt like it dragged like this is 125 pages and it just felt long. I like parts of this but overall it didn’t work for me
2.5⭐️ I really wanted to like this book but it fell flat for me. I just felt like it dragged like this is 125 pages and it just felt long. I like parts of this but overall it didn’t work for me
December 15, 2024
What a sweet little Christmas love story and second chances and small town love! 💕 Grateful to be an ARC reader on this one and loved the small town setting and chemistry between the main characters. A quick read with lots of heart.
Sit down for an afternoon and get caught up in this fun little romance. 💘
Sit down for an afternoon and get caught up in this fun little romance. 💘
December 18, 2024
short and sweet.
a lot of characters i clearly knew nothing about and felt out of the loop with. i know it’s a stand alone but connects to the other book and maybe had i read it first i’d feel more connected with the characters.
fast paced and a little spice with christmas magic.
a lot of characters i clearly knew nothing about and felt out of the loop with. i know it’s a stand alone but connects to the other book and maybe had i read it first i’d feel more connected with the characters.
fast paced and a little spice with christmas magic.
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