From #1 Amazon and USA Today Bestselling Author Bella Matthews comes a single dad/nanny, grumpy grinch/sunshine, holiday romance.
Falling for my brother’s teammate wasn’t on my Christmas list. Neither was working for him, but here I am—nannying for Camden Monroe, Philly’s star quarterback, single dad, and the grumpiest grinch to ever fill out a pair of gray sweats.
He should be the last man I want under my mistletoe.
He’s too old. Too cocky. And too damn tempting. But one snowy night, one reckless touch, and one unforgettable kiss have me rethinking everything I thought I wanted.
Suddenly, the holidays aren’t about twinkle lights and tinsel. They’re about stolen moments, secret touches, and the kind of Christmas chaos that feels way too good to resist.
Maybe the best gifts don’t come wrapped in pretty bows… Maybe they come with dirty grins, filthy mouths, and the power to make me forget every single reason why Camden doesn’t belong at the top of my wish list. . .
camden monroe, a football player and single father, needs a nanny for his daughter. holly chase accepts the nanny job to help her brother's teammate, camden. it’s not supposed to be a permanent job but as the romance develops, holly finds something stable and permanent; a family she can call her own.
┆ ⤿ 💌 ⌗ thoughts
i'll start with the positives, the christmas atmosphere is very cosy and well done in this book, the festive spirit here is very cute. my favourite parts were the epilogue and the bonus chapter, which were very sweet!! 🌟 now for the parts i didn't like; the writing style may have given me a headache, i don't enjoy fast-paced romance or instant infatuation also i don't usually read spicy books and i’m trying to give them a chance but once again i didn't like it. BUT if you like spicy books and fast-paced romance, then you might enjoy this book 🩵
┆ ⤿ 🫧 ⌗ what to expect .ᐟ
⤿ single dad (football player) x nanny (master's in early childhood development) ⤿ age gap ⤿ dual pov ⤿ holiday romance
Thoughts | 4.5⭐️ Loved this one!! The character's chemistry, the back and forth between them was so cute, I would 100% watch this if it became a Christmas film adaptation. The ending did feel rushed other than that I really enjoyed this novella, highly recommend if you're looking for something to put you in the christmasy mood or if you love the single dad x nanny trope as much as I do!
Plot Summary When Holly takes a nanny job to help out her brother’s teammate, star quarterback and grumpy single dad Camden Monroe, the last thing she expects is to fall for him. Camden is older, broody, and absolutely off-limits but one unforgettable kiss changes everything.
What to expect ▪︎ Single dad x nanny ▪︎ Grinch MMC ▪︎ Brother's teammate ▪︎ Grumpy x sunshine ▪︎ Forced proximity ▪︎ Hallmark vibes ▪︎ Holiday romance
"We're a really bad idea, Camden." "Pretty sure we're the best decision I've ever made, Holly."
🤍 Single Dad ❤️ Nanny Trope 🤍 Age Gap ❤️ Brother's Best Friend ...
Okay...so this was cute. And I would have given it a higher rating...if I wasn't deceived. The tropes all sound mouth watering, if only I could say the same about the execution 😭 The blurb talks about 'stolen moments, secret touches', I was fully ready for some 'Dress' by Taylor Swift vibes but what did it give me? Love at first glance version of 'Enchanted', that too without the tension😔 I hate false expectations 😔
Also it was so fast forward. What do you mean, in a span of 200 pages, he asked her to move in, they married, had a kid 😭😭 And also the two epilogues and three additional povs as bonus content 😭 I don't even see that in a 700 page book, let a 200 one 😭 Although if you end up loving this book, you'd be in for a treat 😉
I just personally didn't like it as much :/ The Christmas vibes were there but it still kinda left me unfulfilled.
***
Time for my annual Christmas read 🥁🥳 Tbh, this cover has already won me over 🙂↕️
Who's ready to spend the holidays in Kroydon Hills? I know I am and let me tell you, this was the perfect little holiday novella to fill your Kroydon Hill cravings as we await Bella's next book!
The one thing that I love most about Bella is the strong found family vibes that her books have and this novella is no different. If you remember Maverick and Emmie from Teasing, then you are in luck because they return in this fun and festive novella because the MMC is Emmie's older brother Camden and surprise he is a single daddy looking for a nanny! And he's in luck because his teammate has the perfect person in mind, HIS SISTER Holly!
This one has all of the fun and gutsy vibes of your favorite hallmark Christmas movies. Holly loves everything about Christmas and Camden is a little bit of a grinch. And leave it up to Holly to warm his heart and break down his walls. I absolutely loved these two and Camden's sweet little Sophie. I also loved Bella's top tier family text message banter. She never misses with those text conversations. Holly's family made me laugh multiple times and I hope to see some of her siblings as MCs in future books!
Listen my only complaint... this was a novella but I will say it didn't read like a novella! It had everything I would want and need in a book, I am just selfish and always want more from Bella. But this plot will not have you leaving feeling unfulfilled. It's honestly the perfect novella for this holiday season! I hope you guys enjoy Camden and Holly!
You should most definitely read this book if you like: - Christmas Novella - Football Romance - Single Dad x Nanny - Grumpy x Sunshine - Teammate's Sister - Age Gap (8 yrs)
* I would like to say a HUGE THANK YOU to Bella Matthews for allowing me the pleasure to read Mistletoe Meet Cute as an ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts, opinions and review.
𝘊𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘢𝘯’𝘴 𝘚𝘦𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘵 𝘛𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴: How is this the first Bella Matthews I’ve read?!?! About to binge more of her books.
Y’all already know that I’m a sucker for any Christmas romance. But throw in that he’s a single dad looking for a nanny PLUS he’s a pro football player?! Sign me up! Camden is the grumpy grinch single dad of my dreams!
This was a short and sweet novella filled with humor, banter, and all the Christmas cheer. There were characters from Bella’s previous books, and with this being my first from her, I didn’t feel lost on who was who so it is a true standalone. She is an author who has been in my TBR for a while and I will definitely be going back and reading the others.
🎧 This is narrated in duet by Erin Mallon and Connor Crais. One of my favorite duos in the game! I could listen to them all day long. They made this such a fun, quick listen!
𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲: 🎄 Holiday Novella ❤️ Single Dad x Nanny 🎄 Brother’s Teammate ❤️ Duet Narration
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. What's not to like? (Actually there are a couple of things but I will get to that later in the review)
🧔 Camden, 32 years, is a pro football player. Grumpy (or so we are told, he's a bit closed off but didn't see that grumpiness the blurb hinted at), stoic, dedicated father and great brother. Six months ago, a random ONS comes knocking on his door and tells him she is pregnant with his child. He doesn't remember her, but after she delivers, he runs a paternity test only to confirm that he is actually the father. The mother is not ready to play the role so she dumps her baby girl with the baby daddy.
👶🏻 Sophie, 5 months old, is just adorable! I wanted to be her nanny. I love when there are kids in the book but this baby just stole the show for me.
👱🏻♀️ Holly, 24 years, is a Christmas aficionado 🎄. She was even born on Christmas eve. She's been burnt by love. She majors in early childhood development and her dream is to work with children and have a family of her own.
Her brother is Camden's teammate and friend. Luke suggests Camden hire Holly as his nanny to help him go through football season. They are instantly attracted to each other. And though Holly finds Camden very attractive but she still plays hard to get and afterwards respects her position as nanny and how that might affect the Sophie-Camden-Holly dynamic and that made me respect her as an MFC. 🩷
Camden didn't know what hit him🚄. Holly is everything he never dreamed of having. His upbringing was harsh. His mom didn't give him the best impression of love. And he's never had someone to take care of him or be there for him. Holly was that and more. He was enchanted by her aura. He was addicted to her cooking. He was enamored by her relationship with his daughter. And he was in absolute lust with her flannel shorts and knee high socks. She was a wet dream. And she turned his life upside down.
The writing was a bit cheesy 🧀. But I mean, this is Bella Mathews, I already knew that. And it's a novella, it's supposed to be cheesy. But all in all, I adored the premise, the MCs, the holiday theme and best of all baby Sophie.
🚨 What I didn’t like though are her siblings. Shoot. Me. Now. They are horrendous, not as siblings but their group chat texting is very vulgar and crass. Especially Hadley, known as Hades, and Briggs, her little brother. Fucking, banging, throuples and d*cks are recurrent topics in their chat! 🙄🤦♀️ Too bad because their dirty texting took away a lot from the romance which I did not appreciate as a reader and it definitely didn't make me a fan of the siblings' books in the future.
Another BR with my lovely Lori 🩷
Ticking another Fall/Winter 🍁❄️ Bingo square: 26) "BR a Holiday Themed book with a friend"
Talk about grumpy sunshine, single dad & nanny perfection 🤌🏼And what a jam packed novella this was! I adored Holly’s personality, being the perfect blend of sugar and spice 😉. She was so great with Camden’s daughter Sophie, and the way these 3 seamlessly formed a cohesive family unit was beautiful.
Camden may be a grumpy, tired single dad but MAN can he put on the moves 😮💨. I was cackling at his obsession with Holly’s around the house outfits. The banter between these two was so funny and the texts between them and their family & friends had me cackling.
💕 Christmas novella 💕 Single dad & nanny 💕 Grumpy & Sunshine 💕 age gap (8 years) 💕 Brother’s teammate
🎧 Duet narration audiobook Performed by @connorcrais and @mallonerin 4 hrs 22 min
I absolutely adored this audio. I was squealing and kicking my feet while listening to Connor Crais as the perfect grumpy single dad and the growls?? *swoon*. Erin Mallon was exceptional in her role as Holly and perfectly captured her light, joyous spirit and her sassy side. The banter was everything!!
💕 Thank you so much @bellamatthews.author and @valentine_pr_ for the ALC of Mistletoe Meet Cute!
جالي نفور من الروايات الرومانس حقيقي مبشوفش فيه حبكة غير الليلة الواحده مع صديق الاخ اللي انا شغاله مربية عنده طب ليه ما فيه مليون حبكة تاني نقدر نعمل عليها رواية خيالية حقيقي zero ابداع حتي مبيشتغلوش انهم يبنوا شخصيات الرواية مش هقدر اقيم طبعا لان dnf
Such a cute holiday read! I really enjoyed the writing in this one and it officially made me want to read more from this author. It hit three of my favorite tropes single dad, nanny, and age gap and they were done in a fun, cozy way. The chemistry and banter worked well, and the holiday vibes were spot on. The nicknames Grinch and Vixon were especially adorable and added so much charm to their dynamic. Overall, a sweet and festive romance I really enjoyed.
Adorable little Christmasy read. Holly (almost literally) runs into Camden (who is wearing his 5 month old daughter on his chest) while getting coffee. A couple days later, she sees him again at the local store, and they flirt over diaper purchases. When Camden ends up needing a nanny for his daughter, Holly’s brother (Camden’s teammate) volunteers her for the job. Being shoved into such close proximity has them not only falling for each other, but Holly also falls in love with baby Sophie.
Loved that this didn’t have a third act breakup, and didn’t rely on the dreaded miscommunication trope. Everything is just happiness (except for that one gross run-in with “Santa”.)
I'm already diving into the holidays books and this time I read the latest book by Bella Matthews🥰. Thank youu so much for this e-ARC, Bella and team!🤗 Super proud to be part of your content team🩵.
Holly and Camden had a pretty cute first meet but nothing had prepared them for the surprise part when Holly was the person recommended to take care of Camden's baby, Sophie. He was a bit unsure if he should take that step but he really needed someone to take care of his girl when he was on the road because of his football career. Their close proximity won't be in their favor because some tension was already present even from the moment they've first met. Will they give into the temptation or keep it professional until the end?
This was definitely one of the coziest and wonderful read of the year! It was sweetness overloaded in this story, with our single dad, his daughter and his nanny. Holly and Camden had an insane chemistry even from the start, even if they didn't know too much about one another. Their first couple encounters were so funny and definitely some sparks were prezent there. The way Holly simply fitted with Camden and little Sophie was so darn cute! I adored that first meet between Holly and Sophie, when you could just see how wonderful their connection was and how much Holly loved kids. Our grumpy football player wasn't sure at all about hiring Holly, but it might have been the best decision he ever made, because that might just offered him something that he could have never imagined.
I devoured this book in only one stand, being sooo sweet and swoony that I just couldn't stop from reading it🥰. All that was intertwined with some pretty steamy scenes, which brought the fire into this story. It was super delicious to read this book, being so easy to get lost in it and, without realizing, reaching the epilogue of this story.🤭 One of the best holiday romances I read so far🩵.
Mistletoe Meet Cute, packs so much story in just a short novella, I loved every second of it!
FMC Holly is in search of a job where she can use her degree, but is having no luck, and its the holidays so that makes job searching even harder. MMC Camden has just lost his nanny, and being a pro football player, he desperately needs somebody for all his practices and away games. Camden's teammate recommends his sister, who is trustworthy and great with kids. Holly shows up to take care of Sophie, Camden's baby daughter, and neither of them are prepared for the attraction that blooms.
This is such a perfectly spicy, holiday read! From the first time Camden and Holly bump into each other, their chemistry is on fire. Little do they know that fate will bring them together not just a second time, but also a third as Holly takes on the role of Camden's nanny. I love how Holly brings Christmas into Camden's house, and makes it special for his baby Sophie. Also, Camden's bulldog Madden is so cute! (I have pugs so he reminds me of them). Although both Camden and Holly try to fight their mounting attraction, her being his employee and all, they are only able to resist for so long.
Also, H0lly's Secret Thoughts that start off each chapter, every one of them had me laughing, I loved that little addition to the story!
Grab some cocoa and settle in for this unputdownable holiday read!
Some fav quotes: "Mr. Broad Chest is wearing gray sweats. The good kind. The sexy kind. The kind that makes me think of book boyfriends, naughty actions, and spicy scenes."
"Sexy stranger, golden gladiator, hot daddy laughs, and that sound...It warms my insides."
"This woman makes pale blue-and-white striped socks look incredible in a way I want to see wrapped around my hips while I f*** her senseless."
"Her cheeks flush as she finishes, and my sex-starved brain wants to know how far down that flush goes. I'm like an addict jonesing for a hit after years of being sober, and Holly Chase might just be my drug of choice."
"My God, he looks delicious. Dark jeans and dark boots, a gray sweater and dark-blue peacoat. Yes, please. This man should be a walking advertisement."
"Camden Monroe has invaded every spare inch of my thoughts. Most of which would have me firmly placed on the naughty list. But damn, it might just be worth a little coal."
"And that laugh...deep and low and beautifully sexy, is the sound my dreams are filled with."
Thank you so much to Valentine PR, and the author for a copy of this book!
Mistletoe Meet Cute was exactly the cozy, feel good holiday romance I wanted. Sweet, festive, and super easy to fly through, it gave me all the Christmas rom com vibes without being over the top. Not to mention it’s super short.
Holly was such a fun main character. She’s sunshine in human form. Kind, patient, and endlessly cheerful and seeing her in her nanny role made her even more lovable. She genuinely cares about kids and brings warmth into every space she’s in, which makes the contrast with Chase even better. Chase is full-on grumpy, closed-off, and very much anti-holiday at first… basically the Grinch. Watching Holly slowly break down his walls (while nannying and just being her relentlessly positive self) was so satisfying.
Their dynamic is pure Holly Jolly x Grinch, and it works so well. The chemistry builds through banter, small moments, and emotional connection rather than instant heat. This isn’t a heavy read, but it’s comforting, charming, and leaves you smiling. Perfect if you want a festive romance with heart, humor, and a guaranteed happy ending.
I hadn’t read anything by Bella Matthews but once I saw this cover I knew I had to read it! This is a sweet small town holiday novella. The main characters have incredible chemistry, and I loved the snark from Holly. But what really warmed my heart? The protectiveness from Camden when it came to his daughter. Give me a protective single dad any day and I’ll fall in love!
If you’re looking for a small-town romance and want some Christmas vibes then I recommend this one! While it wasn’t over the top Christmasy, it did have some of those festive feelings sprinkled in.
𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗙𝗘𝗖𝗧 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗙𝗔𝗡𝗦 𝗢𝗙 ❥ Christmas Romances ❥ Small Town ❥ Single Dad and Nanny
Even tho I ate this up and loved every second I can’t rate it more than 3 ⭐️. Holly and Camden were so cute and I loved all the Christmas references and that whole vibe! Camden was DADDY 😮💨 my goodness was he hot. Oh boy..
So if you want a steamy Christmas novel with a hot single dad, read this.
This book is the perfect Christmas romance even if you’re in a Grinch mood, Holly and Camden will get you in the spirit immediately!!
I am so happy to have a new family introduced into Kroydon Hills and I hope it’s not the last of them that we will see! More than anything though I’m so happy Camden found his person. Omg this book was infectious because of the fun holiday cheer and the hilarious family banter!!
The perfect cute and spicy Christmas novella! The FMC - Holly loves everything about Christmas and the MMC Camden is a “grinch”. The best mix of grumpy vs. sunshine. Plus Camden is a #football player and a single dad to the cutest little baby Sophie. I enjoyed the slow burn, single dad x nanny and small town tropes!
The audiobook was great! Dual POV / duet narration. If you want a audiobook that is like a spicy Hallmark movie this is it!
Thank you valentine_pr_ and Bella Mathew’s for this ALC! I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
⭐4.5 stars⭐ Just finished listening to an advanced copy of an audiobook that was just released today called, Mistletoe Meet Cute. This about Holly, she's looking for a job when her brother finds out that his teammate needs a nanny for his baby. Camden is a quarterback and single dad whose whole world revolves around his daughter. He hasn't been able to find a nanny he trusts so when his teammate suggests his sister for the job and Camden is out of options he decides to give Holly a shot. Now she's living in his house, taking care of his daughter, decorating his house for Christmas, snuggling his dog, and making his house feel like a home for the first time ever. He knows he can't have feelings for the nanny and that this is only temporary, but he can't help it when her laughter brings a smile to his face and how her love for his daughter is melting his heart. Holly knows she can't fall for her boss, but she sees the type of father Camden is and the type of man he is, and she can't help but want to kiss him under the mistletoe this Christmas. This was the cutest holiday novella! This was fun, flirty, romantic, and oh so festive! I loved the grumpy/sunshine with Christmas vibes, their cute nicknames for each other, and the single dad/nanny aspect was so sweet because the baby was most important to them both. I loved that this audiobook was a duet narration, the narrators added so much personality to these characters and really made them come to life! This story is under 200 pages, so even with life being busy here at the holidays, it's the perfect romcom holiday novella for this time of year! I absolutely loved it! ❤️📚
Thank you to the author and Valentine PR for this ALC of Mistletoe Meet Cute, in exchange for an honest review.
Mistletoe Meet Cute is the perfect holiday romance, featuring some of our favorite characters from Kroyden Hills. It also introduced me to an amazing family that owns the local winery. I hope they all get books one day.
This novella is about Camden, Emmie's brother from Teasing. He is a protective single dad of an adorable 5 month old and needs help getting a nanny for the football season. His teammate offers up his sister Holly, who is looking for a job after getting a degree in childhood development.
Camden is kind of a grinch, but Holly is determined to bring her love of Christmas into his life. She built such a sweet connection to his daughter, and I just loved how adorable they were together. Camden and Holly had amazing chemistry and felt so effortless together.
I adored Holly's family and loved the setting of their family business. I love a winery setting.
This was just so sweet and low angst. It felt like a Hallmark holiday movie. I definitely recommend it, especially if you love Bella Matthews.
🎄Holiday novella 🎄Single dad x nanny 🎄Grumpy grinch x sunshine 🎄Football romance 🎄Found Family
Thank you to Bella Matthews for providing the ARC.