Mistletoe All the Way

Evergreen Falls #3

by Lauren Blakely

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Lauren Blakely, a small-town spicy, holiday romance about a guarded cowboy veterinarian and a Christmas-loving optimist who team up for a town holiday pageant.

Dr. Noah Lennox has three Christmas rules—avoid his hometown, avoid being mistaken for his internet-famous twin, and definitely avoid his smug cousin, Stephen. But when his beloved grandfather announces he’s retiring and leaving the family’s beloved sleigh-ride horse farm to either Noah or Stephen, Noah finds himself snowed in back home in Evergreen Falls and determined to fight for the place that means everything to him. The problem is, the town doesn’t exactly welcome its resident Scrooge with open arms.

Eloise Langston, a sunny Tourism Bureau hopeful, needs a win to land her dream job—and health insurance. Her Hail Mary plan? Turn Noah into Mr. Christmas to help the town’s Mr. Holiday Pageant draw record crowds. Transforming a camera-shy cowboy vet into a small-town sweetheart isn’t exactly in her job description—but neither is falling for him.

As sleigh bells ring and sparks fly, Noah and Eloise find themselves tangled in twinkle lights, fake pageants, and one very real attraction. But with the farm’s future at stake, Stephen's scheming, and Eloise’s own career on the line, there’s a blizzard of reasons to put their growing feelings on ice. Then again, if you can’t fight for love at the most wonderful time of the year, you don’t deserve the kiss waiting under the mistletoe.

Genres: Christmas, Romance, Holiday, Rom Com, Holiday Romance, Contemporary Romance, Audiobook

384 pages, Paperback

Expected publication October 6, 2026

About the author

You can find Lauren on TikTok at @laurenblakelybooks! A #1 New York Times Bestselling, #1 Wall Street Journal Bestselling, and #1 Audible Bestselling author, Lauren Blakely is known for her contemporary romance style that’s sexy, feel-good and witty. Lauren likes dogs, cake and show tunes and she is the vegetarian at your dinner party.

Reviews

[BookishKB]

🎄❤️ Mistletoe All the Way ❤️🎄

📖 Bookish Thoughts

My full review will be shared closer to the publication date.

✨ What to Expect
• Holiday Romance
• Grumpy x Sunshine
• Small Town Romance
• Fake Kisses
• Christmas Competition
• Forced Proximity
_ _ _

📅 Pub Date: October 6, 2026
Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

[Sarah]

I absolutely love Christmas romances. This one nailed the Scrooge/grumpy vs. jolly/sunshine dynamic!

So, long story short, Noah’s grandpa is retiring and intends to keep the farm within the family. There’s competition over who gets the farm, so they settle it by seeing who can keep the farm and the Christmas spirit alive.

I loved Eloise’s character so much! I thought she was pretty smart to pitch the idea of supporting Noah in winning the Mr. Holiday Contest. It was a win win scenario… he got to show off his Christmas spirit, and she got an opportunity to show off her marketing abilities. I loved their banter and flirting. The progression of their relationship felt very real and genuine. I was living for their escalating romantic scenes!

I also loved how Eloise handled the competition! Sis was determined to win! Detective Eloise was my absolute favorite! I totally need a friend like her!

Noah was such a grump, but I understood his reasoning. I loved his devotion to the animals and to preserving his family’s farm! I loved watching him slowly warm up to the holiday cheer because Eloise made it fun!

His cousin, aka the competition, was so confusing! His parts of the book were really entertaining to me! I wanted to know what he was up to right alongside Noah and Eloise!

I felt like the conflicts in this book were very reasonable. I really enjoyed how everything unfolded, as well as all the fun Christmas innuendos! It’s a perfect holiday read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Anna DiCiurcio]

It’s never too early to read a Christmas book, especially by Lauren Blakely! I loved this book, it was fun, romantic and the characters had a fun mystery. This is definitely a grumpy/sunshine spicy romance. Eloise is trying to make it in PR with her own firm and is trying to win over the Mayor by convincing Noah to compete in the towns Mr. holiday competition. Noah left their small town after his mom passed and has rarely looked back and after her passing he doesn’t like to partake in anything holiday related. Noah’s grandfather is retiring and looking to keep their family farm in the family by having Noah or his cousin Stephen inherit the farm. Eloise and Noah try to make him a jolly to win the competition, but are always trying to uncover Stephen’s plans for the farm because he always seems a bit shady.

I loved this book so much thank you NetGalley, Atria, and Lauren Blakely for letting me read it early!

[Bookish_Aly_Cat]

This is such a fun holiday romcom. I loved getting perspectives from both main characters, Noah and Eloise. I enjoyed the dynamic between the grumpy cowboy veterinarian and the Christmas-loving PR agent. It was fun watching them team up for a holiday competition in this christmasy small town. If you are looking for a cozy romance full of holiday spirit and a touch of spice you should love this one.

Read this if you like:
🎄Small town
🎄Grumpy/sunshine
🎄Opposites attract
🎄Forced proximity

Thank you @atriabooks for sending me a gifted copy of the book.

[Haley Bruner]

Full of joy, Christmas spirit, funny banter, and steamy scene, Mistletoe All the Way felt like a spicy Hallmark Movie.

Noah is returning to his hometown of Evergreen Falls for a big announcement from his grandfather. While stopping for his favorite snack on his way into town, Noah meets Eloise. She appears to have some tire troubles but Noah quickly learns, Eloise isn’t as helpless as he thinks. As meetings progress these two opposites pair up to help each other try to win what they’re most wanting this holiday season.

Thank you Atria Books and NetGalley for this ARC!

[Juah Johnson]

3.5 stars

I’m a huge fan & lover of Christmas, but this one just wasn’t the one for me. I loved the contest, forced proximity, and how he was honest with his grandpa. I especially loved the “break up” scene didn’t last weeks to months. I think this one was just a touch too cheesy for me.
But if you like cheesy Christmas books, then I’d absolutely suggest this book!

[Karen Goodenough]

Review of advance copy
🎄 grumpy/sunshine
🎄 small town romance
🎄 Christmas competition
I love small town holiday romance and this book had all of my favorites. Eloise and Noah were such sweet characters you rooted for them the whole time. And man Eloise’s Grandma was seriously the best side character. She was hilarious.
Thank you NetGalley for the e-arc

[Gina Blades]

3.75⭐️ 1.5-2🌶️ ARC REVIEW: 📖 MISTLETOE ALL THE WAY 📖 by Lauren Blakely ✨ I was getting the holiday-read craving, so Merry Christmas (in July) to me! ☺️ This is a festive and steamy standalone holiday romance. It’s giving warm, fuzzy, magical holiday energy without being cheesy. The holiday vibes? Immaculate. I wanted to transport myself to Evergreen Falls and drink hot cocoa at the Candy Cane diner. I loved the dynamic between Noah Lennox, the grumpy cowboy veterinarian, and Eloise Langston, the Christmas-loving social media manager. Noah avoids his hometown of Evergreen Falls, and is a grinch—he prefers animals to people and hates Christmas. Eloise Langston, on the other hand, is a Christmas enthusiast. He needs to enter the town’s Mr. Holiday competition to save his grandfather’s sleigh-ride farm, and she needs to help him win so she can land her dream tourism job. Turn Mr. Anti-Christmas into small-town hero? Easy-peasy. 🤣

During the time they spend together doing the Mr. Holiday challenges, he starts to like Christmas thanks to Eloise, and he becomes obsessed with her happiness. We also learn why he hates Christmas (I wanted to hug him), and Eloise really sees through his smug, cocky holiday-hating personality to the sad, shy, emotional man underneath. Their relationship is a slow burn but we get a whipped cream moment, he has a dirty mouth and likes to use it, he is dedicated to her satisfaction, and I won’t look at silky Christmas ribbon the same way again. 🤭 If you’re looking for a charming small town, cute and cozy holiday romance with heart, heat, and humor, this book is for you. 🎄❄️🎅🏻

The dedication:
For anyone who's ever wanted to do it under the mistletoe

My thoughts:
Undeniable chemistry ✔️
Flirty banter ✔️
Drawn-out tension ✔️ (a bit long - like get to the point already but I still was invested).
A lot of buildup ✔️ but I needed a bit more intensity and emotional payoff.

Favorite quotes:
"It's sort of like a pageant."
“Pageant? You want to enter me in a
pageant? Have you met me?"
“I have, Noah. I have. And that's why you'd be great."
"Have you lost your mind? What about me
screams pageant?"
"Nothing, but I like a challenge."

We need to make the town love you, Mr. Holiday.”
"We'd better decorate the f-ck out of that tree, then. Let's get you some content for Mr.
Holiday."
“Ooh, I love it when you say words like content and brand."

"I'm not naming my tree."
"I named mine. She's Betty."
"I'm not naming a tree."
"Fine. I'll call it Bah Humbug."

“There's so much negativity out there, and I thought, why not focus on what's uplifting? It probably sounds silly to you, I bet."
"No. I get it. Is that why you like Christmas? Because you want to bring joy and stuff."

"Hands and knees, sweetheart. I need to touch you everywhere."

"Here's a Christmas challenge for you, cowboy. Can you give this woman multiple 0rgasms?
“I think I might like Christmas after all."

"Yes, please, like that. More, just like that.”
That tracks—I expected nothing less than specific directions from Ms. Bossy.

"That farm is where I fell in love with animals. But it can't just be when they're shiny and young and fun. They deserve a soft landing. And what if I could make that happen? Besides, my mom would have wanted that."

"I want the whole thing. Snow, fireplace, hot cocoa, snuggles, and 0rgasms."
“Snuggles and 0rgasms? I'm in."

"There you go. You're so good at riding, aren't you?"

Read this if you like:
*Small town romance
*Holiday romance
*Grumpy x sunshine
*Veterinarian x PR manager
*Banter
*Opposites attract
*Forced proximity
*Fake kisses/real attraction
*Workplace/competition stakes
*Slow burn
*Angst/tension

Content warning: death of a parent

Thank you to Lauren, Atria Books, and NetGalley for letting me read/review. All opinions are my own.

[Jenn Arzberger]

There are a few authors out there that can do no wrong Lauren Blakely is one of them! Every book from her that I’ve read so far has left me feeling happy inside and I do think about the characters later. I loved book 3 of the Evergreen Falls series. I loved how she brought back characters from previous books to give you another glimpse at their Happily Ever After. This book had just the right amount of spice and I may never look at fruitcake the same way again!

Noah a shy, quiet, socially awkward, vegetarian veterinarian meets Eloise an outgoing, holiday loving Christmas Elf/ PR Social Media Manager on his way home for Thanksgiving and his Grandfather’s Retirement Party. At the party his Grandfather announces that not only is he retiring but he is moving to California to learn how to surf. And he will leave the farm to his family. Stephen his sleazy, slime ball of a cousin automatically volunteers to take over the farm but something about his eagerness rubs Noah the wrong way and he also volunteers to run the farm. And what’s the best way to decide but a Christmas themed competition.

The Mr. Holiday competition is a perfect way to show holiday spirit and show who can take over the farm. Needing all the help he can get Eloise volunteers to make him the best Mr Holiday and turns him into the newest social media thirst trap Cowboy Vet.

Eloise not only helps Noah not only with his Social media and the Mr Holiday community but becomes a secret holiday spy to try to figure out Stephen’s plan. While also promoting herself and her new PR firm to the town and the mayor in hopes to expand her business.

What happens when you put a brooding Cowboy in a Red Cowboy hat, tight white t-shirt, red jeans, cowboy boots and a full length red duster jacket with white trim? You fall in love because damn if I don’t want that under my tree this year! But the only problem is come Christmas Eve Noah has to head back home to Colorado 800 miles away and Eloise already burned once with a long distance relationship refuses to put herself through that again.

Will the Grinches heart grown 3 sizes this holiday season. Will Eloise get her Hallmark Christmas Movie Happy Ending? Who will win the farm and the Mr Holiday competition? Guess you’re going to have to read and find out. But again. Such a good book!

[Nicole (literary_nics)]

Evergreen Falls served me a grumpy cowboy vet, an internet famous identical twin, and roughly four hundred Christmas puns, and somehow the one thing missing was the spark.

Dr. Noah Lennox is the kind of man who treats Christmas like a personal attack. He's a cowboy veterinarian, camera shy, allergic to jingle bells, and one identical twin away from being genuinely internet famous, which he also hates. When his grandfather announces retirement and dangles the family's sleigh ride horse farm in front of Noah and his scheming cousin Stephen, Noah has to come home and actually try. Enter Eloise Langston, tourism bureau hopeful and professional optimist, who decides the fix is turning Noah into the town's new Mr. Christmas for the holiday pageant. Fake partnership, real twinkle lights, one farm on the line, and a cousin circling like he studied villainy specifically for this.

What worked: the small town Christmas machine is running at full capacity. Sleigh rides, a pageant subplot that fully commits to the bit, hot cocoa energy in every scene. Noah's secretly famous identical twin was a genuinely fun wrinkle I didn't see coming and I wanted three more scenes of that chaos. And the puns. This book puns like it's being paid per joke, and I genuinely respect the commitment.

Why not 5 stars: a grumpy sunshine small town romance needs the burn to actually catch, and for me this stayed at a polite simmer the entire time. I believed Noah and Eloise liked each other. I did not believe I needed to fan myself or reread a scene twice. And the puns that charm you in chapter one start working overtime by the back half, tipping the whole book from festive into a little too much tinsel.

Trope Chaos Check
✨ Grumpy sunshine (Noah has never smiled on purpose, Eloise smiles for a living)
✨ Small town Christmas
✨ Forced proximity (via a Christmas pageant, of all the ways)
✨ Fake dating slash fake Mr. Christmas campaign
✨ Opposites attract

★★★☆☆ cozy, campy, and just a little too candy cane sweet to leave a mark.

Thank you to Atria Books for the advance copy of Mistletoe All the Way. Evergreen Falls earned a permanent spot on my hallmark movie shelf, reservations and all.

[Jennifer Wegner]

I always love a small town cute romance Christmas Story. Eloise is having some car trouble when Noah comes up to her pretending to be his twin brother that everyone likes more. He doesn't help her but suggests someone to call to get her car fixed but she refused to listen to him and went to a different place. She finds out he was not Henry but Noah the Grumpy Vet. She wants to be a publicist bigger than she already is, her parents are not the greatest parents keep talking her into being a lawyer like them but she not happy and wants to do what she loves. She talks to the mayor on being a publicist for the town but they mayor doesn't need her unless she can help with the Mr. Holiday Pageant. She knows the perfect grumpy vet that can help her. Noah's grandpa is selling the Christmas Farm and Noah wants it badly and make it better, his cousin Stephen also wants it but will do anything to get it. Eloise thinks Noah doing the pageant is perfect that plus it will help win his Grandpa on how much he cares about Christmas. Eloise will not give up on getting everything they both want. She helps bring in the crowds plus does a little detective work when she finds out how shady Stephen is and what he is actually gonna do when he gets the farm. The only bad thing is Noah lives in a different state and plans on going back home once everything is done but will hire better help when he gets the farm. Both Noah and Eloise start getting a little closer and it all starts with mistletoe on one snowy night in his home in Colorado. They both can not stop thinking about that Mistletoe kiss and think if they want more. Eloise gets Noah to do the most random things including wearing a ugly outfit to selling Fruitcakes. They make a great team and keep getting closer but they both know it will end at Christmas when they both go their own ways. By Christmas they have fallen for eachother but are afraid to tell. Who will win the Mr. Holiday Pageant? Who will get the Farm? Will Eloise get her dream job with the city and will Noah come back?

This can be read as a stand alone but it is a cute story between Eloise and Noah. There are cute banter between the two and love messing with people. Excited to see what happens in the future with the two.

Thank you Netgalley for the E-ARC

[Alexandra Rose]

✨Summary✨
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5
HEA: Yes, no 3rd act breakup
POV: Dual
Tropes: Holiday Romance, Grumpy x Sunshine, Grinch MMC, Slow Burn, PR Manager X Veterinarian, Forced Proximity, Opposites Attract, Small Town, Holiday Competition

Noah is a veterinarian who returns to the hometown he actively avoids for Thanksgiving with his family. While there, his grandfather announces he’s retiring and needs to decide which of his grandsons will take over the family farm and sleigh ride business. Noah hadn’t planned on volunteering, but when his slimy cousin raises his hand, Noah can’t stand the thought of losing the family legacy that meant so much to his mom. His grandfather gives them until Christmas Eve to prove who deserves it. There’s only one problem…his cousin is full of fake holiday cheer, while Noah is a total Grinch. Eloise has branched out on her own to start a PR business and desperately wants a contract with the town, but the mayor isn’t convinced she has enough experience. So she and Noah make a deal: she’ll help transform him into Mr. Holiday, and he’ll help her prove to the mayor that she has what it takes. But all that forced proximity starts thawing the Grinch’s heart in more ways than one…

I really liked Noah and Eloise together. Noah has a reason for hating Christmas, but he loves his family’s farm and knows how much it meant to his mom. He’s willing to do whatever it takes to save it. Eloise is his complete opposite and really helps him relax and loosen up. The attraction between them is instant, but they try to keep things professional until they just can’t anymore.

Eloise has a strained relationship with her parents, but her grandmother was a hoot lol. She’s nothing like Eloise’s straight-laced lawyer parents. She’s a total free spirit and definitely added some fun to the story. I actually really enjoyed a lot of the secondary characters!

There was just one little thing that bothered me, and this could totally be a me thing because it’s pretty minor lol. Eloise has heterochromia, with one blue eye and one green eye, which really interests Noah. But at one point she wears brown contacts and he basically goes feral over them. I just didn’t understand why he was so fixated on her having brown eyes. It’s never really explained, so I was like…what is it about the brown contacts?! Maybe if I’d understood the reason behind it, it wouldn’t have stood out to me so much lol.

Overall, this was a great holiday read! I love a Grinch MMC, especially when you get to watch his heart thaw and see him slowly fall in love with Christmas again. Noah and Eloise were sweet, the small-town holiday setting was fun, and it had just the right amount of Christmas cheer without losing the romance.

[Paperbacked Otter]

Every autumn as holiday books are released, I begin to accrue my pile of holiday reads. I let them sit there and anticipate reading them as a holiday treat. If Mistletoe All the Way by Lauren Blakely is representative of this year's batch of holiday rom coms, sitting on the couch with my novel and cozy blanket will be my permanent position. NetGalley gave me this novel in exchange for an honest review, and I am delighted to say I loved it.

Many holiday books are set in December with Christmas decorations as a backdrop. What I like about Mistletoe All the Way is that Christmas is front and center. The entire plot revolves around a Christmas contest where Noah, a grumpy veterinarian, comes home to Evergreen Falls for Christmas to find out his grandfather wants to turn over the family business to either himself or his shady cousin. His grandfather wants to turn the business over to whomever has the most Christmas spirit. Enter Eloise Langston who is striving to grow her own public relations business and sees an opportunity to acquire a position working for the town’s Tourism Bureau.
To do this she is tasked with increasing attendance both in town and online for all the Mr. Holiday contest events. Though the town holds a grudge against Noah for leaving Evergreen Falls, he prefers animals over people, and sees smiling as a crime, Eloise decides he is her ticket to landing the PR job.

The story is told from a dual perspective which I really enjoy. The writing is descriptive enough to visualize the story, but does not get bogged down in unnecessary details. The characters are fully developed and easy to get to know. The dialogue is witty, with a dose of compassion as well as Christmas spirit. The supporting cast is delightful, especially Eloise’s hip and happening grandmother.

I literally smiled the whole time I was reading Mistletoe All the Way – from beginning to end. I really was sad to turn to that last page. Get yourself a blanket, a cup of tea, and a cozy chair because you will not want to put this one down.

[Bells]

𝘔𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸 𝘪𝘴 𝘷𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘺, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯.𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴, 𝘓𝘢𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘯, 𝘈𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘢, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺.

Christmas in August? YUM!!!

Noah, the vet, is literally the Grinch. This guy even has a cute dog named Rusty, just like the Grinch has Max 😂. He’s back home for his grandpa when he accidentally meets a literal jolly, not sunshine, JOLLY woman named Eliose, a small-business owner/publicist, on the same day.

Eloise’s business is in trouble. When she meets Noah, she ropes him into the Mr. Holiday competition, convincing him that winning could help him get his inheritance. And with Eloise as his publicist, the competition could also help her get more gigs in the future, making it a win-win situation for both. Little does he know he’s about to get dragged into every round of holiday chaos. And let me tell you, this man had the hots for her from the beginning, but Eloise was worried he’d just be a fling after her last relationship, so she tried her best not to fall for this Grinch. 𝗞𝗲𝘆𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱: tried. 😂 Noah is also a twin, and as a millennial, Noah and Chris’s pranks brought back memories of The Parent Trap and The Suite Life of Zack & Cody. It was so cute watching him get roped into each round, especially when you could tell he was already gone for her. 🥹

I used Kindle TTS, so I flew through this book. The spice is low since this is more of a steamy romance, but Lauren’s holiday romances are basically drinking hot cocoa on a rainy day for me since I don’t have winter where I live! There are a couple of people I’d love to throw into a black hole because OMG, I was so mad on behalf of our leads! I also had to double-check whether my ears were lying to me when characters from the previous installment showed up! 🥰 There’s even a little Scooby-Doo-esque mystery thrown into the mix, which I enjoyed. I liked the ending because they both got what they were aiming for, and I fucking LOVE the animals. They deserve a special mention because they were absolute stars.

If you like holiday romance, hallmark rom-coms, Grinch vet × jolly publicist, dog dad × cat mom, he fell first, and slow burn, you’ll probably enjoy this one!

[Lea Columbus]

I would like to thank Net Galley for the opportunity to read this as an ARC. This is the third book in the Evergreen Falls series. I have read both prior books to this one, and indeed some of the characters for the others are there, some cameo appearances and some sidekick roles. Like the other two, it is a cute story, with a friends to lovers plot( the first two were fake dating, not my favorite, so I was glad this was different), and definitely some spice to the romance. And it is not confined to the main couple, there is a sweet subplot of Eloise's ( main character) grandmother having a later in life romance. The main plot of the story is that the owner of the Silver Bells Stable, which has horses and gives sleigh rides , wants to retire. He has 3 grandsons, 2 of who are twins and vets,and one who runs a local bar. The twins, Noah and Chris , are identical in looks but not in manner. Chris lives in town is sweet and pleasant to all. Noah lives and works in Colorado and is a grinch, by self definition. Hank the owner of Silver Bells, wants to turn the operation over to family.Stephen wants it. There is bad blood between the cousins, and Noah does not trust Stephen, so he says he wants it. Hank says that both men can put their case to him on Christmas Eve, and he will decide. Eloise lives in Evergreen Falls. She was been working for a PR firm and now is branching out into her own business. She is doing work for the local hockey team, but needs some big clients. The mayor say she will consider her if she can get more interest in the Mr Holiday contest the town is having. Noah needs to show his family he cares about Evergreen Falls, and Christmas. It is a pretty basic plot, although there are a few twists thrown in( Stephen is really apiece of work, and Eloise's parents are not supportive of her job choices, among others.)It is a cute Christmas story with appealing characters. The love scenes are a bit spicy, so if that is not your cup of tea, it might now be for you. Thanks again for the ARC.

[BookshelfInBloom]

📖📖📖📖📖
Series: Kissmas (3)
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Noah Lennox is a grumpy, Christmas hating veterinarian who returns to his hometown of Evergreen Falls but only briefly. His grandfather is retiring from the family sleigh ride farm and ends up announcing a contest to choose between Noah and his super shady cousin Stephen to take over. Eloise Langston is a Jolly, through and through. She sees the positive despite her murder board brain. She also senses a PR masterpiece that will get her new PR firm noticed by the mayor but also give Noah a fighting chance at the farm. Eloise enters the camera shy, cowboy vet into the “Mr. Holiday” competition. What follows is absolute festive chaos: Eloise dressing Noah in ridiculous holiday outfits, hilariously creative uses for fruitcake and turning him into a social media thirst trap. All while the two play amateur Christmas spies to figure out what suspicious cousin Stephen really wants the family farm for.

This was such a blast to read! The grumpy x sunshine banter between Noah and Eloise is hilariously delightful and I loved how their dynamic evolved. Underneath Noah’s constant grumbling about, well, everything Christmas is a man dealing with grief and Eloise doesn’t force him out of it but instead she just gently shows him a way forward. He supports her career ambitions without treating them like a cute side hobby. Best of all, they actually talk to each other instead of relying on misunderstanding or perceived feelings! Stephen definitely behaved like a snake oil salesman but the espionage hijinx just enhanced the storyline and the falling. This is a festive romance that balances a delightful Christmas contests with genuine emotional depth, romance and family drama with ease. I highly recommend this one and I am going back to read the first in the series ‘My Favorite Holidate‘ right now!

#MistletoeAllTheWay #NetGalley #HolidayRomance

[Debbie]

When I cracked open this book, I was expecting a warm cozy cup of hot chocolate with marshmallows. What I got was a mug of Mexican hot chocolate. Smooth, sweet and very spicy! Noah Lennox, a successful Colorado vet (the pet kind) and half of the twin-set of Lennox boys, is back in town to help celebrate his grandfather’s upcoming retirement. What he doesn’t expect is that gramps is planning on turning over the family-run farm business, Silver Bell Sleigh Rides to the one grandchild who proves most worthy of running a successful enterprise and caring for an aging herd of horses. Also in the running is Noah’s least favorite relative, Stephen, a.k.a. Captain Smarm who already owns a very popular holiday themed bar in town. Noah’s got the horse-loving requirement, he’s just not the jolly sort of extrovert.

On his way into town, Noah runs into (not literally) Eloise Langston who is the polar opposite – always cheery, optimistic, and in love with everything holiday. Noah becomes her pet project in a quid-pro-quo to make him town’s Mr. Holiday while building her own PR company. There’s a definite spark between them, but is it romantic, or more like TNT? Stephen, on the other hand, has some shady looking “friends” and business tactics aiding his cause.

Blakely fills the tit-for-tat between our two protagonists with double entendres, skin teases, and sparks. And when those sparks ignite, things get hotter than a room full of menopausal women! The book is long-ish for a romance novel, but there really doesn’t appear to be any spare fat to trim – all contributes to the story line. The writing is conversational with alternating viewpoints between Eloise and Noah. There is a little mystery that unfolds in the last 10% as well. Over all, it’s a very fulfilling, spicy addition to the holiday romance genre.

Many thanks to @GoodReads, @SimonandSchuster.com, and @LaurenBlakely for the opportunity to read and review this holiday ARC. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

[Alice]

Who does not love a good Lauren, blakely book- to me, she writes it all romance spice, sometimes a little bit of mystery. She's got humor- and this one was no different- our main girl Eloise lives in Christmas, central everybody loves Christmas and Christmas is their bread-and-butter at Christmas time. She is trying to get her PR firm off the ground and just having a little bit of luck. But she wants to have the contract for the town. So she comes up with a plan to make the town famous for their Mr. Holiday contest- she has a one off encounter with Noah who is a very anti Christmas. He is only home for his grandfather's retirement from running the town sleigh ride horse farm- one's there he finds out that his Grandpa is going to move to sunny San Diego and leave the farm behind
It looks like it's going to go to his cousin Stephen by default until Noah speaks up and says he wants it. He can't see his cousin running the farm. He just doesn't trust him- so grandpa says he will think about it and make a decision, he runs back into Eloise who says that maybe he should run for Mr Holiday to show his grandpa that he really has christmas spirit and she will be his advisor- a lot of hyjinks begin there is a little bit of of mystery. A lot of romance between Eloise and Noah. It is a really fun book- great for the holidays, or for people like me who can read a Christmas story. Anytime of the year there was a little bit of her other books in here too. I like when an author sprinkles in from other books.I could definitely see another book with noah's.Identical twin. So, hopefully that's coming next. But if you like a good spicy Ram com, this is the book for you plus there's awesome animals in there too. I'm definitely recommend

Thank you.Netgalley or the arc in exchange for an honest review

[Charlene]

Noah’s grandpa is retiring and wants to leave the ranch to someone in the family. To prevent his conniving cousin Stephen from taking over, he decides to throw his hat in the ring. The only problem is he has been away from home for many years, and everyone thinks of him as a Scrooge. Eloise is a marketing maven who has her sights set on marketing the tourism and town, but needs some experience.

In a chance meeting, Eloise and Noah are determined to increase his visibility in the town by participating in the Mr. Christmas competition. They work to turn this shy Scrooge into someone the whole town loves. As the competition heats up, so do things between Eloise and Noah, and they find themselves wondering if this will be a merry Christmas after all.

This was a cute holiday romance. Eloise was a fun character who knew what she was doing helping Noah with the competition. She is feisty and wants to prove to her parents that her career choice is real and not a passing whim. Noah was a grump, but an understandable grump. He still feels the loss of his mom, but I loved how much he loved the animals and preserving his family’s farm. It took him a while to warm up to Eloise’s quirks.

The competition for Mr. Christmas was fun, but I wish that we got to see a little bit more of it. Also, there was this conflict with Stephen, but I wish we would have gotten more of it. I did enjoy the friendships with Eloise and her friend group and Noah and his brother. It would have been great to see more of them too.

I loved all the Christmas vibes in this book, and had fun being transported to Evergreen Falls. If you are in the mood for a holiday story, with plenty of cheer, a grumpy vet, and a Christmas competition with real heart, this would be perfect for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for a copy of this book. All opinions are 100% mine.

[Emily Shobe]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 stars rounded up for GR
This will be an all star this holiday season!

Lauren Blakely said: what if we take undeniable chemistry, flirty banter, forced proximity energy, AND holiday magic… and make it impossible to resist—and honestly?? She succeeded.

The banter? Elite as always
The chemistry? Immediate. Like… they breathe near each other and I’m like “oh this is going to ruin me.”
The tension?? STRETCHED. OUT. in that “just kiss already but also don’t because I’m enjoying the torture” kind of way.

This is definitely a right person, wrong time / slow-burn-but-make-it-ache situation, and I was EATING IT UP… until I wasn’t 😅

Because listen—
the push and pull? A little long for me
The angst? Delicious… but borderline testing my patience. Like, come on get. To. The. Point!

But did that stop me from being fully invested? Absolutely not.

The holiday vibes are immaculate. It’s cozy, festive, slightly magical without being cheesy. It’s giving snow, longing looks, emotional damage, and “we shouldn’t… but we absolutely will.”

My only real complaint: I wanted a bigger emotional payoff at the end. After ALL that buildup, I needed just a little more grovel, a little more intensity, a little more something to match the tension we suffered through.

Still… I finished this with a smile and that warm, fuzzy, slightly emotionally wrecked feeling—which, let’s be honest, is exactly what I signed up for.

If you love:
✨ banter that hits every time
✨ instant chemistry with drawn-out tension
✨ “this is a bad idea” energy
✨ cozy holiday romance with angst

you’re going to have a great time with this one. Add it to the December TBR now.

[Alex Beisel]

✨ ARC REVIEW ✨
Mistletoe All The Way
– Lauren Blakely**

Okay but why am I fully obsessed with a Christmas book… in April?? Only for Lauren Blakely.😭🎄

Noah is the ultimate holiday grinch — a veterinarian who’s seen the worst side of Christmas (looking at you, people who return pets 💔). He keeps his circle small, his heart guarded, and his only consistent companion is his dog, Rusty… and his murder podcasts.

Then enters Eloise — PR queen, chaotic in the best way, secretly a badass (Krav Maga?? CAN fixing her own tire??), and unapologetically a jolly.

Their meet-cute? Him pretending to be his famous twin while fixing her tire.
Their chemistry? Immediate.
Their banter? Top tier.

What starts as a fake-it-for-the-Mr-Holiday-competition situation turns into something so soft, so real, and so unexpectedly emotional.

This story had EVERYTHING:
– grumpy x sunshine done perfectly
– small town holiday chaos
– twin swap shenanigans
– a grandma who absolutely stole the show (icon behaviour only)
– slow burn tension that builds so naturally
– and honestly… some *very* fun festive spice 🌶️🎁

But underneath all the cozy Christmas vibes, there’s real depth. Noah’s grief tied to the holidays broke my heart, and Eloise’s struggle to be taken seriously by her family felt so real. Watching them see* each other and show up in the ways that mattered?? Yeah… I was gone.

And that ending???
THE MISTLETOE???
HIM SHOWING UP??? 😭😭

Lauren Blakely really said “you will feel EVERYTHING” and I absolutely did.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ — no notes, just love.



Tropes:
🎄 Grumpy x Sunshine (grinch x jolly)
🎄 Small Town Romance
🎄 Slow Burn
🎄 Holiday Romance
🎄 Animal Lovers
🎄 Opposites Attract

[Cris Alvarez]

This was such a cozy, feel-good holiday romance and exactly the kind of book I want to curl up with during winter. From the first few chapters, I knew I was going to love the small-town atmosphere. Evergreen Falls felt charming and festive without being over-the-top, and the snowy setting made everything feel warm and comforting.

Noah ended up being my favorite kind of romance hero — grumpy, guarded, and secretly soft underneath all the sarcasm and avoidance. I really loved watching him slowly reconnect with both the town and the people he tried so hard to distance himself from. Eloise balanced him perfectly. Her optimism and determination never felt forced, and I found myself rooting for her immediately, especially because she’s trying so hard to prove herself.

What I enjoyed most was how natural the relationship felt. The chemistry between Noah and Eloise builds in such a sweet and believable way, and their banter genuinely made me smile. The story has all the things I love in a holiday romance: small-town chaos, family drama, festive events, snowed-in moments, and plenty of emotional heart underneath the humor.

I also appreciated that the story wasn’t just romance. The themes of home, family expectations, and figuring out what truly matters gave the book more emotional depth than I expected. It felt comforting, funny, and heartfelt all at once.

If you love grumpy/sunshine romances, Christmas magic, charming small towns, and Hallmark-movie vibes with extra heart, this is definitely one to add to your holiday reading list. It completely put me in the Christmas spirit and left me smiling by the end.

Thank you Atria Books and NetGalley for the ARC!

[Jennifer]

This was such a fun, cozy holiday romance with just the right amount of spice and heart. I flew through this one—it’s definitely one of those “just one more chapter” kind of reads.

Noah is very much in his grumpy era, avoiding Christmas and anything that comes with it, and Eloise is the complete opposite. She’s optimistic, driven, and determined to make something happen for herself. I really liked how different they were without it feeling forced. Their dynamic felt natural, and the chemistry between them was there right from the beginning.

The banter was one of my favorite parts. It felt easy and playful, and it made their connection believable even when they were both trying to keep things from going too far. There’s definitely that push and pull throughout, and while it leans a little into the slow-burn/right person wrong time vibe, it worked for the most part. There were a few moments where it felt a little drawn out, but I understood why they held back.

I loved the small-town setting and the whole Mr. Holiday competition storyline. It added something fun and a little chaotic without taking away from the romance. It gave the story that cozy, festive feel without being overdone.

If I had one critique, I did want a little more from the ending. The buildup between them was strong, so I was expecting a slightly bigger emotional moment at the end. It was still satisfying, just not as impactful as I thought it would be.

Overall, this was a really enjoyable, feel-good holiday read. Easy to get into, easy to finish, and exactly what I wanted it to be.

[Jaclyn]

Mistletoe All the Way is a funny, romantic and festive holiday book. Dr. Noah Lennox, a quiet, anti-Christmas, and anti-social veterinarian returns home for a visit and learns his grandfather is going to retire and handing over the family farm to Noah or his cousin. Noah would do anything to get the farm, and to not have his cousin receive it. After he meets Eloise, a woman after the PR position for the town tourism, she decides to make it her mission to make Noah win the town’s newest contest, Mr. Holiday, in hopes it shows his grandpa that he does in fact deserve the farm that is rooted in the holiday of Christmas. She has to make Noah find his Christmas spirit, and for the town to believe he is not the grump they all think he is. Noah even plans to try to use his twin brother to win the contest. Eloise and Noah also have to prove how shady his cousin actually is so that he does not win the farm, and to convince his grandfather of everything.
There are ups and downs to this plan, especially with Noah living in Colorado full time, and falling for each other. There are so many hilarious moments, and of course, spice, dogs, and some cameos from characters from other Lauren Blakely books!

I truly enjoy Lauren Blakely’s holiday books, and this was no exception. I love how there were characters from The Holidate and mention of Hockey Ever After characters, bringing in all of the worlds together! The book definitely had me in my feels and I loved the growth of Noah as a whole, but also how these two people who are inherently so different, coming together and making a life together. Also seeing Eloise as a spy is excuse enough to read this book! If you love small town romance with a grumpy/sunshine duo and all the holiday spirit and spice, this one is for you!

[Jean]

I’ve read Lauren Blakely before and enjoyed her work. ‘Mistletoe All the Way’ was no exception. Some might find it hard to immerse themselves in a holiday book in the middle of summer, but I didn’t have that issue with this book. It had me wishing for a cup of hot cocoa, a warm fireplace, and for a snowfall outside my window while enjoying the previous two.

I really enjoyed our MCs. Eloise, our FMC, was a relatable external optimist. She projects sunshine and roses, but her inner thoughts show her emotional depth. She’s not without her insecurities and longing for more. But she has an ambitious and stop-at-nothing attitude.

Noah, our MMC, is true book boyfriend material. Grumpy with a Golden Retriever heart. Fitting since he’s our Cowboy Vet. I was sold on him from Chapter 1 when puts booties on his trusty canine companion, Rusty. Like Eloise, Noah’s inner thoughts show his true depth of character. He’s a flannel wearing, beard having, veterinarian with a heart of gold. He prefers the company of animals to humans (so relatable).

The story gives us just enough of its secondary characters for them to memorable and give more depth to the story, but not so much that you feel like it’s taking away from our MCs (something that can be a bit of a pet peeve of mine).

The story is a feel good holiday romance. Predictable in the best way. Who doesn’t love a fluffy happy ending with a Christmas setting?!

This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Jenny]

This charming Christmas romance is set in the Christmas town of Evergreen Falls. Even though it’s the third book in the series, it’s perfectly enjoyable as a standalone novel. While some characters from previous books make brief appearances, they don’t significantly impact the story.

The main focus of this book is Eloise, a resident of Evergreen Falls who’s recently started her own public relations company after working for the SF Sea Dogs hockey team. She takes on a challenging project involving Noah, a veterinarian who grew up in the area but now resides in Colorado. Noah’s grandfather is contemplating retirement and wants to preserve the family farm, but he’s torn between giving it to Noah, who’s not a local, or to his cousin Stephen, who’s a local but not everyone’s favorite.

Eloise persuades Noah to participate in the town’s first annual Mr. Christmas competition, hoping to demonstrate his ability to embrace the holiday spirit despite his grumpy demeanor. Throughout the story, Eloise and Noah’s relationship develops, and the reader is drawn into their journey. While the ending may be somewhat predictable, the overall experience is still enjoyable and engaging. Like many of the author’s other books, this one features spicy open door scenes that may not be suitable for everyone.

Thank you, Atria Books, for providing this book for review consideration through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

[Denise Geelhart]

While some people love watching Hallmark movies during the holidays, I prefer curling up with a holiday romance.

In this grumpy-sunshine Christmas romance, Dr. Noah Lennox is a grump, or should I say, a Grinch. Unlike his identical twin, Chris, he hates Christmas. He prefers living a life alone or with the animals he treats as a veterinarian. But his grandfather plans to retire and give up his sleigh ride farm in Evergreen Falls. Noah wants the farm, but so does his slimy cousin Stephen. Lucky for him, he met a "jolly" in Eloise Langston, a publicist/social media manager. Eloise wants to grow her business and wants to do publicity for the town. She proposes helping Noah get the farm by helping him win Mr. Holiday. By helping him, she will be helping to promote the event and hopefully lead to a contract with the town.

I loved this romance and the characters in it. There was a little bit of intrigue (what secret does cousin Stephen have?) and lots of romance with some spice. What I enjoyed most was watching the growth of Noah as he reluctantly embraces the holiday spirit. There was less development for Eloise, but she didn't have as far to go in terms of growth; she did find her own voice, all the same.

I definitely recommend this book for anyone looking for a holiday romance this season!

Thank you to Lauren Blakely, Atria Books, and NetGalley for providing me with a digital ARC to read in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed above are my own.

[Kristen Abernathy]

Mistletoe All the Way is a cute holiday romance that will definitely put you in the Christmas spirit!

The story follows Noah and Eloise as Noah finds himself competing with his cousin Stephen to inherit his Gramps’s farm and carry on the family legacy. The problem? Noah is a bit of a Grinch when it comes to Christmas cheer. Enter Eloise, who comes up with a plan to help Noah show Gramps that he’s the right person to carry on the farm, and, of course, that plan involves convincing Noah to embrace the Christmas spirit.

My favorite part of the book was the little bit of espionage Noah and Eloise get into as they try to figure out exactly what Stephen is up to. I loved watching them piece together his endgame, and it added a fun element to the romance and family drama.

The beginning felt a little slow for me, but once the story got going, I was completely invested. I absolutely loved the ending and the way everything was wrapped up. It felt true to the characters, and I genuinely didn't know how everything was going to work out. By the time I reached the last ten chapters, I could not put this book down!

If you're looking for a cute Christmas romance with family drama, holiday cheer, a little mystery, and a grumpy hero who needs some convincing to embrace the season, Mistletoe All the Way is a fun addition to your holiday TBR.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

[Peggy Jaeger]

When I requested this book by an author I’d never read before, I thought it might be a cutesy, schmaltzy Christmas romcom.
And in a way…it was.
But it was so much more. So much more!
Mistletoe all the way is a grumpy/sunshine/cowboy/steamy/Christmas romcom that pulled me in from page one and didn’t let go of my heart even after I finished it.
Eloise is a PR maven and wants to be successful enough to run her own business.
Noah is a twin and a veterinarian ( I mean, come on!! Can you spell S-W-O-O-N?) who doesn’t get with the whole Jolly Christmas vibe. The reason is explained in his revealed backstory, so I don’t want to give anything away, but it rings so true, you can’t help but understand why he feels the way he does.
These two have two divergent goals. Hers, to run her own company; him to ensure his shifty cousin doesn’t inherit their beloved grandfather’s Christmas farm.

Together, they form an alliance to accomplish both by entering Noah in the first Mr. Holiday contest in their town. What this sunshine “Jolly” will teach this shy, grump of a cowboy is the stuff of romcom perfection.
It may be April, but reading this holiday romance was a wonderful way to spend the off-holiday time. 5 stars to a story that warmed by heart ( and got my pulse racing – Did I mention COWBOY/VETERINARIAN??)

[Christine]

Eloise is trying to start up her own PR agency in her small town of Evergreen Falls in northern California. Noah left Evergreen Falls to go to college and veterinary school in Colorado, and only returns to town when he has to. When Noah's grandfather announces he's retiring from the farm and wants to leave the farm to one of his grandsons, Noah returns only to realize that he wants to keep his grandparent's legacy alive.

Eloise loves Christmas and is always trying to create the Christmas joy she didn't have growing up in a home with her two lawyer parents who seem to love their job and country club more than they love her. Noah lost his mother a few days before Christmas when he was a teenager, and struggles to find the Christmas spirit anymore. When the two cross paths, Eloise decides that the best way to win the PR contract for her local town is to turn Noah into "Mr. Holiday".

If you love the Hallmark Christmas movies, you'll love this one. The story is sweet and the romance is spicey. Both Eloise and Noah are lovable characters and you want to root for them to work out. Nothing especially out of the ordinary from the typical rom com formula, but a fun read. This book is due to be published on October 6, 2026, so perfect timing for a holiday read.

I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.