Mistletoe Rescue

by Donna K. Weaver, Vicki Pierce (narrator)

Love could be the most daring rescue of all.

Nurse Holly Richardson thinks she’s left trauma behind in the big city. Then, on her first night in the new ER, she must treat a gunshot victim. What's more shocking? The injured man is her first love, Zack Jarvie.

Zack has never forgotten Holly. Seeing her reignites feelings he thought were in the past, and he’s determined not to lose her again. He hopes her involvement in the town’s Winter Festival with give them time to rebuild their connection. And show her that Canyondale—and Zack—can be her new home.

Then a life-or-death situation tests Holly and Zack’s limits. Will she let the pain of her ex-fiancé’s betrayal with her sister keep Holly from embracing a future she’s always wanted? Or will a kiss under the mistletoe give her the courage to take a second chance at love?

Genres: Christmas, Romance, Clean Romance

Audible Audio

Published February 4, 2025

About the author

USA Today best-selling and award-winning author - wife-mother-grandmother-Navy brat-Army veteran-karate black belt-Harry Potter nerd-online gamer.

Reviews

[Tabby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet little Christmas romance novella. Wish it were longer because I’d like to see pining. I also thought some of the plot points were a little dark for something like this. Idk I just thought there would be something more sweet but it does read like a hallmark movie so that’s not too bad and I enjoyed that. Also there is no spice in this just sweet little kisses and hugs, very cute.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a sweet Christmas novella, perfect length for the busy season. Zack and Holly are so good together. I loved Zack's patience and devotion to Holly and helping her heal from her past. I wish there had been a little more resolution on Holly's part or at least more details, but I still enjoyed this second chance sweet short read.

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is proving to be wonderful, it's like a little bit of feelgood wrapped up in festive cheer. Holly had moved to Canyondale leaving her past and family behind. Starting her first day in the hospital was different from her time spent in Denver's busy hospital. She never expected to be treating a shooting incident, she'd hoped to have left all that behind. When the patient opened his eyes and said her name she was shocked did she know him. Zach thought he was seeing an angel when he opened his eyes and saw Holly, can it really be her. He'd not seen her since they both were counsellors at summer camp and forged a friendship at first, then they kissed but lost contact. Will she stay in Canyondale. Can Zach finally admit his feelings. Or will Holly's past resurface and take her back to Denver. I read this in a single sitting and can't fault the storyline. It's a festive story that has every emotion possible

[Bernadette Cinkoske · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mistletoe Rescue is a clean, short, second chance, Christmas romance. Holly left the big city, a toxic family situation, and a cheating ex-fiance. I enjoyed Holly and Zach reconnecting. She has to put a lot of pain and betrayal behind her, but Zach wants to help. Ms. Weaver spins a heartwarming, creditable story that just kept me reading until I got to the end.

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love a second chance with your first love storylines. Zack and Holly reunite but it isn't under the most ideal circumstances. Trauma, heartbreak, betrayal and starting over are just a few things the characters experience. Holly's family was something else. I cannot imagine treating my daughter like they did Holly. Still makes me unhappy thinking about. Loved Zack's family.

[Erica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I give this 4 1/2 Stars!!

I want to start by saying I received an ARC of this. This is a sweet clean Christmas romance book. This book is about Zack and Holly. They had feelings for each other when they were younger but lost contact with each other. Holly had moved to get away from an ex and her family after some betrayal. Her first night working at the hospital she runs into Zack. Will they reconnect for good? Will the love they had when they were younger come back? Will Holly be able to open her heart to love after the betrayal she experienced? This book is so good. I loved how good Zack was for Holly. I loved the side characters. The only thing I wish was that it had more of a future aspect. I would love to know what happens between her and Zack and her and her family. Overall, this is a really cute book.

[Shauna Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful, short read to enjoy
This book is short but so worth it. Holly, a nurse, has left Denver for a small town in hopes of a less stressful work place and to get away from the pain caused by the betrayal of not only her fiancée but her own family backing her fiancée. Little did she know her first emergency patient would be her teenage crush, now a deputy and who immediately recognized her. She wanted to be away from everything but does she really want to be away from Zack who was her first kiss? A truly enjoyable read. I received an early copy and this is my honest review.

[Sheila (sheilasbookreviewer) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mistletoe Rescue tells a charming story about finding love again. This short read is part of the Mistletoe Kisses series and is perfect for a quick escape during the busy holiday season.

The main characters, Holly and Zack, were once young sweethearts but lost touch over the years. Now, Holly is a nurse in a small town trying to leave behind her past filled with heartbreak and family troubles. She never thought she would be open to love again until she cares for Zack, a police officer injured on the job.

I really enjoyed the cozy small-town vibe, the friendly neighbors, and especially the spark between Holly and Zack. The story shares both of their perspectives, which I loved because it showed how nervous they were about revealing their feelings. Zack’s kindness towards Holly really stood out to me.

I wish this novella was longer because I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to the characters. I wanted to learn more about Holly and Zack’s future and how she would find closure with her family. Overall, this story is engaging and well-written, making it a perfect read to get you in the holiday spirit.

[Carolyn Frank]

I was immediately pulled in by this story. What a creative opening: the heroine meeting the hero in the ER as a nurse attending to a handsome young man who has just been the victim of a shooter in a courtroom. I loved the small town setting and the story as Holly and Zack revived their old summertime romance they'd started back in their high school years while at camp. It was a fun story that I could easily recommend.

[Donna Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this sweet second chance at romance. I loved the characters and their chemistry. This is a really sweet, clean romance.

[Maria Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars
This story has a Hallmark-esque feel to it but it isn't all mistletoe and hot cocoa. There is a secondary drama underlying Holly's move that makes a strong current in the beginning and then in the end particularly. I think Holly probably could've used a good therapist to help her deal with her history. The ending didn't fully resolve for me because I was expecting it to be all tied up with a pretty bow, but as real life tends to go, it takes a lot of time to fully resolve serious problems. The reader is left with the hope of a happily ever after but still a question of will that pretty bow ever get tied? And what all will be included in that package? Surely the romance will be packed nicely into it but what about the family drama? Speaking of which, I wanted to know more about what happened. They talked about being duped by the ex but what in the world made them choose to side with the twin? My only hope for them is that prior to that disaster, they had been a happy family from the sounds of it. So maybe there is hope for them to be so again.
The story is short so it is easily read in an evening. So, curl up next to the fireplace with a cup of hot cocoa to read this romance and if you are really lucky, there might be some mistletoe close by too.

Potential trigger: toxic family situation
No, sex, language or violence

[Gwen Chester · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nurse Holly Richardson loved being a nurse but she had to leave the trauma from the Denver behind. The shootings, drugs, stabbings had just gotten to be too much for her. She ends up moving to the little city of Canyondale and so far really liked it. This is going to be her first night working in the ER in her new town. That very night they have a shooting and she has to treat a gunshot victim. Oh no if it is going to be like this here what am I going to do. Before the shooter is done we have a few wounded and one dead.

Turns out she knows the gunshot victim. Zack Jarvie was her first love and now he is a policeman here in Canyondale. Luckily he had a bullet proof vest on so he just has impact wounds and a few sore ribs. So some stitches and taking it easy for a few days should take care of him. They have never forgotten each other and Zach hope they can rekindle their relationship. Who knows? Maybe Zach just need a little holiday magic.

[Jen Peters · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, Mistletoe Rescue is a stand-alone romance, even though it falls between two books in the Safe Harbors series. I had read the previous book, Swing Vote, a few years ago, but not remembering much of it didn’t make a difference in enjoying this one now.

Nurse Holly has left the trauma of a big city Emergency Room, hoping for a quieter job in a small town. It doesn’t start quite like she imagined, but Zack, who she had known earlier, is very glad she gives it a chance. The sparks between them are palpable, but Holly is still dealing with a lot of anguish to recover from her (now ex-) fiancé’s and family’s betrayal. And Zack’s job is dangerous, which makes her even more reluctant.

I can’t easily say more without spoilers, but Donna Weaver gives us a delightful dance of budding romance, family tension, and Christmas joy. I thoroughly enjoyed it and will probably read it again before Christmas.

[Margaret Watkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely Christmas romance, this novella brings old friends back together again as Holly escapes the city to small town Canyondale after a particularly traumatic time. She did not realize that, as a nurse, she would find herself treating an old flame after a grim shooting incident. Zack may have let Holly go when they were still teenagers, but he wouldn't be making that same mistake again. Gently earning her trust Zack quietly makes his moves to entice her into a relationship with him, but also to give her a sense of self-worth and bring healing to her battered heart. Although this is a short novella, it is not short on content and gives hope and inspiration to those who have been betrayed by those they love. This romance is well-written and a standalone. I received a copy of this novella as a gift and this is my honest and voluntary review.

[Mara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novelette is the perfect size for times when you want to squeeze reading into a busy day. Holly, a nurse seeking a fresh start, finds herself thrown into a whirlwind of emotions when her first love, Zack, becomes her patient on her first night shift in the ER.

I love second-chance romances and was rooting for Holly and Zack to be able to work things out. I understood Holly's reluctance to get romantically involved again after being betrayed by her ex-fiancé and family, and I loved how patient Zack was with her. I liked the dual POV and the Winter Festival combined with the small-town charm of Canyondale, created an enchanting setting that helps Holly and Zack reconnect. Mistletoe Rescue is a perfect holiday read.

I received a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

[Rae · Rating 4 out of 5]

 This is a short story for the holidays.  This story had romance, family drama, and reconnection in it.  It is part of the 'mistletoe kisses' series and can be read as a standalone (In full disclosure, I haven't read any of the other books in the multi author series.

I enjoyed it and would have loved it to be longer in length. I felt that while these types of stories are always happily ever after, some storylines need that extra time so that the characters can have their happy ending but the reader knows they have done to work to achieve it e.g. counseling.

I receive complimentary books for various sources including, Netgalley, Authors, and other such sources. I am not required to write a positive review and have not received compensation.

[Celina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mistletoe Rescue is a part of the Mistletoe Kisses Collaboration of Christmas theme novellas.

Holly has left Denver after a traumatic experience in the ER and moved to a small town. Her first day gives her flashbacks to Denver. While helping a shooting victim, she realizes it was her crush from summer camp, Zack. She helps with his rehab.

This book does jump ahead in the timeline a bit, but you are guided to how Zack helps Holly work through her past and supports her as they become better friends.

When another incident happens in a snowstorm, Zack is there to help Holly again when this incident hits a little too close to home. Holly is such a wonderful character even though her past makes it hard to get comfortable with others.

[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

The clean short holiday story of Holly and Zack revolves around their past friendship being the basis for Holly rebuilding trust in others. Reconnecting due to a shooting incident, there is a thread in the story of unrest in their town and the attempts to rebuild their community. Holly has had some hard knocks from fiancée, family, former boss and a stressful work environment. All of these have left her with a trauma that leaves her suspicious and untrusting of others but seeking a change. Through Zack’s support and encouragement, she finds that trust is a gift you give yourself and you can rescue former relationships through memories of better times.

[Karen Brasher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mistletoe Rescue

Short but sweet, this story has Holly Richardson moving from Denver to a small town far enough away she didn’t have to think about what she had left behind. She had suffered a devastating breakup at her wedding rehearsal supper and needed to get away from the memories. Working in the Denver emergency room as a nurse compounded her desire to leave the large town. She never imagined that her first night in the emergency room of her new town, the victim of a gunshot wound she was treating would turn out to be an ex boyfriend from the camp she went to as a youth. Will they be able to rekindle their relationship from years before?

[Laura Bowman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mistletoe Rescue by Donna K. Weaver is a short sweet book part of Mistletoe Kisses series.

Holly moves from Denver to small town Colorado as an ER nurse after the betrayal of her ex-fiancé. Her first night at the hospital, her first patent is a gunshot victim, her first love Zach.

Circumstances and well meaning friends connect them and help Holly begin to heal. Can she leave the past behind and forgive.

As with all series, you become intrigued with characters from other books in the series. I enjoyed the book and may have to read more of the series.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed Mistletoe Rescue. Zack and Holly are great characters, and I wanted that HEA for them. Author Donna K. Weaver delivered on that. I loved the town of Canyondale and would be tempted to move there if weren't fictional. Zack's friends and close family add to the warmth of the book. I would like to have known why Holly's parents made the choice that they did and would love to have the conversation that she had with her twin included in the book. I would read more from this author.
I received a complimentary copy and am sharing my opinion of this delightful Christmas romance.

[Holly Zegalia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nurse Holly discovers that her newest gunshot victim is her first love Zack. Holly, who is getting over her last love’s betrayal, starts working with Zack on the town holiday festival. Will she get over the recent past or lose out on love?

The Mistletoe Kisses series has been filled with new authors to me and gems of holiday reads. Mistletoe Rescue is the latest find. I adored the story with the family drama surrounding Holly, the tried and true love of the past returning.

Tropes Include:
Reunited love
Life or death situation

[Christie Pollard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holly moves from Denver to work in a small-town ER. On her 1st shift on duty, one of her patients from a mass shooting was her teen crush from youth camp. Zack was her first kiss. Holly is running from her memories of an unfaithful fiancé – who cheated with her twin sister. This caused an estrangement with her family since they sided with her sister. Zack has never forgotten his first love and begins the process of wooing her.

Very enjoyable book. I highly recommend it.

I received a copy of this book from the author. My review is entirely voluntary and unbiased.

[Franki · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE strong characters like Holly and Zach!
Holly is a nurse who has been thorough trauma and the people who should have lifted her up has instead hurt her. Despite this she keeps working while making steps to make her situation better.
Zach is a police officer who has hit his own streak of misfortune.
Together they work together to heal each other’s wounds and the chemistry between them is beautiful!
Five stars all of the way!
I received a review copy of this story and I’m leaving a voluntary review.

[Tami Willard · Rating 5 out of 5]

She left her past behind when she left Denver. Expecting a slower, less stressful job at the smaller ER she's caught off guard her first night on duty. Seeing an old flame on the gurney doesn't help. Will she stay or run again to escape the pain? Who hurt her and how? When her past decides to follow will she be ready to get closure and forgive? Can he help her overcome?
I received a copy of this book from the author. Review voluntarily given.

[Kitty Elder · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a short and sweet story about second chances and starting over. It’s part of a large multi-author group of Christmas books that are all released individually rather than being in an anthology. Each book is a stand alone story. This one is about Zach and Kathy. And I recognize some supporting characters from other books by this author. Expect sweet rekindled love, a little drama, and a plot twist at the end. It culminates in a HFN ending.

[Margie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having moved from a big city to a small town, I understand Holly’s expectations of a peaceful and calmer life. Well, the reality is that bad things happen everywhere, even in a small town. This book gives us betrayal, second chances, drama and healing. Zack, one of the truly good guys, helps her find that healing and peace. This is an enjoyable story and a good addition to this series. Yes, mistletoe does play a part in this reunion.

[Aud · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Mistletoe Rescue” by Donna K. Weaver
A Sweet Clean Contemporary Romance
A quick easy read which begins with heartbreak… the possibility of a second chance romance… and then there is the blizzard.. or at least a very intense blowing snow storm.. and then… Well I enjoyed my time in this story.. I hope you can say you enjoyed this story, too ! Happy Reading ! !

[Bonnie Theel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this short Christmas read.

Holly, a nurse, moved to Canyondale to get away from the stress in Denver. Her first patient in the ER was Zack, a man she had met when they worked at the same camp several years ago. Could this be a second chance for them?

I received a free ARC, and this is my honest opinion.

[G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holly needs space from her family and her former life, when on the first day of work in her new town she runs into Zack, an old friend.
This is a really sweet romance of love and rediscovering trust. A fairly quick read, so the perfect book for a relaxing afternoon. A great book to read.

I received a copy of this book from the author. I am leaving a voluntary and honest review.