Mittens & Barks

Starfish Inn #4

by Nina Potter, Verena Boeheim

A short, sweet Christmas novella about finding love later in life - perfect for a cozy evening read!In Mistletoe Cove, where Christmas magic meets second chances...

Children's author Anika Reddy came to Mistletoe Cove's charming Starfish Inn hoping to break her writer's block. Instead, she finds herself drawn into the local animal shelter's fight for survival—and into the life of its dedicated but guarded veterinarian, Tom Miller.

At forty-one, Tom has learned that caring too much can cost you everything. Running both his veterinary practice and the chronically underfunded shelter leaves little room for romance. But there's something about Anika that makes him want to lower his carefully constructed walls—even if she's only in town until New Year's.

As they work together to save the shelter through a holiday fundraising project, neither can deny the growing attraction between them. But with Anika's deadline looming and Tom's fear of opening his heart again, it will take more than Christmas magic to create their own happily ever after.

A heartwarming holiday romance

A charming small-town veterinarianA successful author finding new inspirationAn endearing cast of rescue animalsThe magic of Christmas in a coastal townA community coming together to save what mattersFinding love when you least expect it
Welcome back to Mistletoe Cove, where second chances are always in season. "Mittens & Barks" is Book 4 in the Mistletoe Cove Romance series but can be enjoyed as a standalone story.

Perfect for readers who

Mature characters finding loveSmall-town holiday romanceAnimal rescue storiesHeartwarming Christmas talesSweet contemporary romance
Curl up with this cozy Christmas novella and fall in love with Mistletoe Cove!

This uplifting holiday romance novella is a quick, heartwarming read. If you're looking for a short, sweet story about mature characters finding love during the holiday season, "Mittens & Barks" is perfect for you!

144 pages, Paperback

Published November 22, 2024

Reviews

[Abbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was my favourite although I’m not sure if it’s because animals featured so heavily this one being slightly longer got you really invested in their story and I love that they adopted max together also making the shelter into her next book series was a stroke of genius

[Star-Book Reviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all…don’t you just love the cover with the cutest dog ever? Then open the pages to this sweet novella and enter the magical easy flow of a Nina Potter story. Her words seem to glide across the pages as she brings to life her characters. The small town veterinarian and animal shelter manager Tom Miller finds himself now married to a life that revolves around his work and the struggles to keep the shelter open and get the animals adopted when a visitor to Mistletoe Cove makes him take notice. Anika Reddy, a writer of children’s books, has never felt she fit in anywhere and now facing writer’s block she’s come to the Starfish Inn to see if a new location will jolt her back into writing. She soon learns that the local animal shelter is facing issues and all of a sudden things begin to change. For the animal lovers there are many delightful animal scenes in this book involving Max the Australian Cattle dog as well as some other shelter residents. For the romantics, the author has woven a later in life two lonely hearts fighting for the same purpose falling in love romance. For the small town at Christmas reader this one portrays all the Hallmark Christmas movie goodness and this sweet, clean, less than two hour read is perfect for a cold winter’s night by a cozy fireplace. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[R.S.05 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nina Potter comes out with a hit ONCE AGAIN!

This book seized me from the start, roping me in with the comforting and immaculately writing style.

A cozy, sweet and short book, perfect to read whenever one wants to unwind from real life and immerse oneself into a new and wonderful little small town - I wish I had the chance to visit this beautiful and unique town, to be part of this tight-knit community.

Tom Miller is a sweetheart through and though from the second he is introduced, and Anika Reddy follows right behind - both characters a breath of fresh air.

Our main characters were just perfect for each other - the missing pieces in each other’s lives.

Their instant connection when they first meet was wonderful. As the reader, I could feel it through the way the author described it, and I was instantly hooked, practically swooning from the first few chapters

This book, Anika and Tom’s story, was a home run.

I’m already excited for the next book this amazing author is going to come out with, and can’t wait to read more from this delightful small town!

Nina Potter, you better hurry up with your next book, I can’t wait too long😩!!

I received an ARC from the author, and here is my honest review on this book.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Brooke Burger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review

Mittens and Barks by Nina Potter

This is a wonderous middle of life love story set in the amazing Mistletoe Cove. Enter the magical matchmakers of the Starfish Inn and see what happens.

Those of us who love small towns know that they work together for a good, heartfelt cause.

So, we are introduced to Tom, a local vet who runs the animal shelter. A work of the heart that keeps him overly busy sometimes.

Enter Max, the amazing shelter dog. Then comes Anika, the author of touching children’s books about finding where you belong, where you fit in.

The operation, should you choose to take it is to save the animal shelter. Is love found along the way? Read to find out.

I did receive a free ARC of this book, but my love of Mistletoe Cove and Nina Potter books is all mine.

[Lcr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mittens and Barks is a wonderful stand-alone novella whilst also being part of the delightful ‘Starfish Inn’ series.

Tom returned to Mistletoe Cove many years ago after finishing veterinary school and his life is the local, severely underfunded animal shelter. Anika is a new visitor to town looking for a quiet place to overcome writers block. Together they find Christmas magic and an unexpected hea. Max however, quite rightly, is the star of this book.
I thoroughly enjoyed this later in life romance. It is a quick, easy read that is both gentle and heartwarming and the epilogue is simply wonderful. I cannot recommend this book highly enough so please grab a drink and a cosy blanket, make yourself comfortable and enjoy Mittens and Barks.

[Margaret Hejmanowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love all things Nina Potter and this does not disappoint, this is book four in The Starfish Inn series. This is a short sweet later in life Christmas romance novella. Anika Reddy is a children's author and comes to Mistletoe Cove hoping to break her writers block. She hears that the Mistletoe Cove Animal Shelter will be losing funding and may close. She goes to the shelter and meets Tom Miller, the head of the animal shelter. Anika falls in love with the animals and wants to help. Can Anika and Tom raise enough donations to save the shelter? Love the plot, great setting, and strong intense interesting characters. I look forward to reading more from Ms. Nina Potter!!!

[Trina Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this story. It was a sweet page turner and the suspense was amazing. I was on the edge of my seat and I couldn’t even put it down. These characters found each other once again after all these years later. As they rekindle their romance once again for the second time around with the love and the compassion of romance and tenderness. I definitely recommend this book and you won’t be disappointed. I received advance copy of this book via Bookfunnel and am voluntarily leaving my honest opinion. Trina Jones

[Aud · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Mittens & Barks” by Nina Potter
Gotta Love this Small Town
Yes, this is a sweet novella which is another stand-a-lone easy read that made me, once again, wish I lived in this town or at least could book a room in this Inn for a couple of weeks. A special place where special things happen for regular folks like you and me. A “dreams come true” town, for certain sure. I hope you enjoy Anika & Tom’s story as much as I enjoyed my time within this story. Happy Reading ! !

[Eveie Hickman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anika has always felt like she didn’t belong, until she came to Mistletoe Cove. Suffering from writers block she walked into the animal shelter, saw Tom behind the counter and the dogs and the fog began to lift. This is a story of fitting in and find a fit which is what happened with many of the animals to the shelter. Including max who found his forever home with anika and visa versa with Tom. Charming story loved it.

[Kay Zaugg · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short novella was a quick fun read. I loved how Annika came to Mistletoe cove to get rid of her writer's block. She hears about the problem with the funding for the local animal shelter and just has to investigate. She meets Tom, the veterinarian and shelter in-keeper.
This is a later in life Christmas love story with a happy ever after. It does give you all the feel goods needed for the animals and the vet. I received a free advance copy from the author for an honest review.

[Linda Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the fourth trip to Mistletoe Cove for a cozy Christmas novella. It’s such a special place, where later in life romances flourish. Starfish Inn is host to Children’s author Anika Reddy. Tom Miller is the local vet and Head of Mistletoe Cove Animal Shelter. There’s chemistry when the two meet up. This is a fun, sweet, short read. It can be read as a stand alone. Recommend
I received a complimentary copy from the author and this is my voluntary, honest review.

[Janine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tom and Anika's love story is super sweet. I enjoyed how their real life experiences became the inspiration for overcoming Anika's writer's block.

Nina Potter did a great job bringing Tom and Anika to life in this short Novella, and I was happy to see their HEA come to life through the pages.

A sweet read and great for a cosy Christmas afternoon.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Texas · Rating 5 out of 5]

MITTENS & BARKS - A quickly read, sweet, funny novella about starting anew, finding family, friends, community and love. Plenty of dogs, too. Source: The author. 5*

RISTRETTO ROMANCE - A very sweet, clean, interesting story complete with a Matchmaker and his success in nudging individuals into couples, and plenty of coffee, too. Source: The author, ARC. 4*

[Lucia Valenzuela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful later in life romance. Tom and Anika are a great couple and come together to try and save the shelter. The community rallies around the shelter and all the good things it does. Max is adorable. The story captured me from the beginning.
I received a copy of this book from the author and this is my voluntary, honest review.

[Ilona · Rating 5 out of 5]

This short novella by Nina is a truly beautiful story of two people who have a heart for animals. I was touched by Anika and Tom’s growing awareness of each other as they tried to make a difference in Mistletoe Cove . A later in life story is always very special and Nina just knows how to write it!

[Jacqueline Johnston Cotton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has all the things I love in a book, Christmas, a coastal setting, rescue animals, later in life characters, love and romance. This story was beautifully written, sweet, heartwarming and so entertaining. It's a wonderful feel - good story in so many ways. The perfect book for a cozy night reading. I just love all the book covers in this series.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Didn’t disappoint.

I have simply loved reading the Starfish Inn books this Yuletide season. With the way Nina potter writes about the characters, they simply come to life in my mind .
I have already fallen quite in love with Mistletoe Cove and it’s residents original and New alike and I am really looking forward to book 5 .

[Melinda Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short and sweet

Thos was a cute short cozy stories. ..sometimes love os right in front of you and you don't see it . Taking chances for new beginnings and finding love ,a home and happiness

[Toni Shortsleeve · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this easy to read short story!

Always happy to visit Mistletoe Cove, and especially Starfish Inn.

Handsome vet doctor and funny blocked author make a perfect story for today.

[LaRae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a sweet, cozy later in life story. Broken characters that heal and find love! So good! Highly recommend!

[Meg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Hallmark book

This is such a cute series. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading this series. It's the perfect thing to read when you can't get your mind to focus properly!

[Brandy Wine · Rating 5 out of 5]

cozy

I am enjoying this series so much! Wonderful break from my normal reads. Its never reminds me that it’s never to late and small towns are where it is

[Cheryl Hollingsworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

So glad for the Happily Ever After for Anika, Tom, and their fur babies! Another wonderful story in this series! Then again, they're all great stories!! So thankful for the joy this series brings!