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Mistletoe #2
The Mistletoe Inn
The second holiday love story in New York Times bestselling author Richard Paul Evans' Mistletoe Collection.
At thirty-two Kimberly Rossetti, a finance officer at a Lexus car dealership, has had her heart broken more times than she wants to remember. With two failed engagements, a divorce and again alone with no prospects, she hardly seems the type to dream of being a published romance author. Dreading another holiday alone, she signs up for The Mistletoe Retreat, a nine-day writing retreat in Burlington, VT. Deep inside Kimberly knows she's at a junction in her life and it's time to either fulfill her dream or let it go. The other reason she decides to attend the conference is because famed romance writer, H.T. Cowell, once the best selling romance writer in America, and the author whose books instilled in her the desire to be a writer, will be speaking in public for the first time in more than a decade.
In one of her breakout sessions Kimberly meets another aspiring writer, and one of the few men at the conference, Zeke, an intelligent man with a wry wit who seems as interested in Kimberly as he is in the retreat. As Kimberly begins to open up to him about her stories and dreams, she inadvertently reveals her own troubled past. As Zeke helps her to discover why her books fail to live up to their potential she begins to wonder if he's really talking more about her life than her literature. But as she grows closer to him, she realizes that Zeke has his own darkness, a past he's unwilling to talk about.
The theme of The Mistletoe Inn is that like literature, relationships must be lived with passion and vulnerability to succeed.
At thirty-two Kimberly Rossetti, a finance officer at a Lexus car dealership, has had her heart broken more times than she wants to remember. With two failed engagements, a divorce and again alone with no prospects, she hardly seems the type to dream of being a published romance author. Dreading another holiday alone, she signs up for The Mistletoe Retreat, a nine-day writing retreat in Burlington, VT. Deep inside Kimberly knows she's at a junction in her life and it's time to either fulfill her dream or let it go. The other reason she decides to attend the conference is because famed romance writer, H.T. Cowell, once the best selling romance writer in America, and the author whose books instilled in her the desire to be a writer, will be speaking in public for the first time in more than a decade.
In one of her breakout sessions Kimberly meets another aspiring writer, and one of the few men at the conference, Zeke, an intelligent man with a wry wit who seems as interested in Kimberly as he is in the retreat. As Kimberly begins to open up to him about her stories and dreams, she inadvertently reveals her own troubled past. As Zeke helps her to discover why her books fail to live up to their potential she begins to wonder if he's really talking more about her life than her literature. But as she grows closer to him, she realizes that Zeke has his own darkness, a past he's unwilling to talk about.
The theme of The Mistletoe Inn is that like literature, relationships must be lived with passion and vulnerability to succeed.
300 pages, Hardcover
First published November 17, 2015
488 people are currently reading
4942 people want to read
About the author
Richard Paul Evans
227 books6,511 followersWhen Richard Paul Evans wrote the #1 best-seller, The Christmas Box, he never intended on becoming an internationally known author. His quiet story of parental love and the true meaning of Christmas made history when it became simultaneously the #1 hardcover and paperback book in the nation. Since then, more than eight million copies of The Christmas Box have been printed. He has since written eleven consecutive New York Times bestsellers. He is one the few authors in history to have hit both the fiction and non-fiction bestseller lists. He has won several awards for his books including the 1998 American Mothers Book Award, two first place Storytelling World Awards, and the 2005 Romantic Times Best Women Novel of the Year Award. His books have been translated into more than 22 languages and several have been international best sellers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,396 reviews
December 11, 2022
Not long ago Goodreads asked What book changed you the most. I have to say it is not a book but an author.
It is Christmas season and I am going through one of the hardest trials ever. Author Richard Paul Evans inspirational books of hope and love are giving me just that: HOPE.
The Mistletoe Inn by Richard Paul Evans is similar to his last book I read. It left me weeping with sadness but joy, hope and inspiration. You can’t help but smile and want to make life better.
The Mistletoe Inn is 2nd in a series of 3. I would advise the reader to read in order. For me, I had to wait for the other two to be available. In my perfect impatience I started in the middle.
Happy Holidays my friends 💚❤️💚
It is Christmas season and I am going through one of the hardest trials ever. Author Richard Paul Evans inspirational books of hope and love are giving me just that: HOPE.
The Mistletoe Inn by Richard Paul Evans is similar to his last book I read. It left me weeping with sadness but joy, hope and inspiration. You can’t help but smile and want to make life better.
The Mistletoe Inn is 2nd in a series of 3. I would advise the reader to read in order. For me, I had to wait for the other two to be available. In my perfect impatience I started in the middle.
Happy Holidays my friends 💚❤️💚
November 18, 2016
In Richard Paul Evans's The Mistletoe Inn, the heroine is an aspiring writer and her first work-in-progress is The Mistletoe Promise! Off the bat, I thought this was a lovely way to connect these two standalone novels. But aside from witnessing the writing and workshop process, readers will journey with the heroine through many stressors in her life, through trauma and grief, through slow healing, and eventually through self-acceptance and love (a bit of insta-love but love nonetheless).
The hero was written with his own set of heartwrenching stressors...and slightly predictable surprises. I really enjoyed these characters and the overall story in general. I adored the attention Mr. Evans brought forth regarding our treasured veterans and the shamefully limited resources available to them. I am the daughter of veterans, the granddaughter, niece, cousin, and friend of many as well. I have seen how much of their souls are sacrificed for their country with minimal in return. The Mistletoe Inn was a great reading experience and I loved every minute of it. I highly recommend this collection. Check it out!
My favorite quote:
“...remember that death is the punctuation at the end of the sentence. It’s up to us to decide what kind of punctuation it will be—a period or an exclamation point.”
Richard Paul Evans's Mistletoe Collection includes the following standalone novels as of November 2016:
#1-The Mistletoe Promise (2014)
#2-The Mistletoe Inn (2015)
#3-The Mistletoe Secret (2016)
The hero was written with his own set of heartwrenching stressors...and slightly predictable surprises. I really enjoyed these characters and the overall story in general. I adored the attention Mr. Evans brought forth regarding our treasured veterans and the shamefully limited resources available to them. I am the daughter of veterans, the granddaughter, niece, cousin, and friend of many as well. I have seen how much of their souls are sacrificed for their country with minimal in return. The Mistletoe Inn was a great reading experience and I loved every minute of it. I highly recommend this collection. Check it out!
My favorite quote:
“...remember that death is the punctuation at the end of the sentence. It’s up to us to decide what kind of punctuation it will be—a period or an exclamation point.”
Richard Paul Evans's Mistletoe Collection includes the following standalone novels as of November 2016:
#1-The Mistletoe Promise (2014)
#2-The Mistletoe Inn (2015)
#3-The Mistletoe Secret (2016)
November 27, 2015
Predictable as all his books are, but still a perfectly enjoyable holiday read.
December 24, 2025
Until we got to the writer's retreat, I thought this one wouldn't be as good as the first one, but I shouldn't have doubted Mr. Evans, because once that ball got rolling, I couldn't tear myself away.
I was like "okay, I'll start the audiobook, but I'm not finishing it in the same day". Guess what happened...
I badly needed to know how things would go, and if my suspicions about the mysterious author's identity were correct (they were), and before you know it, I was done with the book.
The Mistletoe Inn felt so realistic, I was almost convinced that it actually happened, and Evans was just telling us about it in book form.
I love when authors find ways to connect their books, so it was a delightful surprise to find out that The Mistletoe Promise exists in this world, but as a novel the main character wrote, with the exact same plot.
That's what made it seem even more realistic, and all the discussions about writing and romance in general too, you can't convince me Evans didn't attend a writing retreat like this one!!
The audiobook was lovely as well, and I'd highly recommend it to anyone looking for a cute Christmas read.
I was like "okay, I'll start the audiobook, but I'm not finishing it in the same day". Guess what happened...
I badly needed to know how things would go, and if my suspicions about the mysterious author's identity were correct (they were), and before you know it, I was done with the book.
The Mistletoe Inn felt so realistic, I was almost convinced that it actually happened, and Evans was just telling us about it in book form.
I love when authors find ways to connect their books, so it was a delightful surprise to find out that The Mistletoe Promise exists in this world, but as a novel the main character wrote, with the exact same plot.
That's what made it seem even more realistic, and all the discussions about writing and romance in general too, you can't convince me Evans didn't attend a writing retreat like this one!!
The audiobook was lovely as well, and I'd highly recommend it to anyone looking for a cute Christmas read.
November 19, 2015
Richard Paul Evans is a good writer who has lapsed into a mode of churning out books rather than writing good books. Mistletoe Inn is about a wannabe writer, Kimberly Rossi, who goes to a writing conference where her favorite author, H. T. Cowell, is scheduled to speak. Mr. Cowell quit writing suddenly for no explained reason after becoming a world renowned romance writer. Miss Rossi is writing a novel, Mistletoe Promise. Mistletoe Promise is Mr. Evans previous book in this series. This book, Mistletoe Inn, becomes a tool to promote Mr. Evans previous book, Mistletoe Promise. The first chapter of Mistletoe Promise is even included at the end of Mistletoe Inn to promote the prior book. It gives the appearance that Mistletoe Inn is bigger than it really is and adds nothing to Mistletoe Inn.
Our conclusion is that Mr. Evans needs to follow the example of his character H. T. Cowell, and quit writing for a while, rest, spend time with his family. Perhaps he will be able to come back with an attitude of writing a good book rather than just writing a book because he has a schedule to keep.
Our conclusion is that Mr. Evans needs to follow the example of his character H. T. Cowell, and quit writing for a while, rest, spend time with his family. Perhaps he will be able to come back with an attitude of writing a good book rather than just writing a book because he has a schedule to keep.
December 30, 2015
I really enjoyed this book. I've never read this author, but I'd definitely read more by him. A great book for the Christmas season that sets a good mood without being sappy. Some great insights about the romance publishing world.
Overall rating: 4.5/5.0 stars.
Reviewed for Affaire de Coeur magazine. http://affairedecoeur.com.
Overall rating: 4.5/5.0 stars.
Reviewed for Affaire de Coeur magazine. http://affairedecoeur.com.
December 23, 2015
2.5 stars
After absolutely loving The Mistletoe Promise, this book was quite a disappointment. Nearly half the book passes before Kimberly and Zeke even cross paths, and while that in itself didn't bother me, the fact that once they do they are supposedly deeply in love in about a two day time period felt totally unrealistic and forced. I'm sorry to say I felt no connection to either of these characters and, therefore, for me...this book fell flat.
At 300 pages, it seemed quite boring most of the time.
This is only the second book I've read by this author and maybe I was just so blown away by the first one that I found this one lacking.
Either way, it won't stop me from trying out some of his other works.
After absolutely loving The Mistletoe Promise, this book was quite a disappointment. Nearly half the book passes before Kimberly and Zeke even cross paths, and while that in itself didn't bother me, the fact that once they do they are supposedly deeply in love in about a two day time period felt totally unrealistic and forced. I'm sorry to say I felt no connection to either of these characters and, therefore, for me...this book fell flat.
At 300 pages, it seemed quite boring most of the time.
This is only the second book I've read by this author and maybe I was just so blown away by the first one that I found this one lacking.
Either way, it won't stop me from trying out some of his other works.
December 21, 2023
Christmas a time to remember the good things in life that fills your heart. Family, Grandsons, Faith and Love to name a few, but where does Christmas stories fall into this? It makes me feel warm inside and clears the mind of the crazy that goes on. I am not one to read much outside of classics but I really enjoy this author and his skill for instilling visions.
Kimberly's life has not turned out exactly as she had laid out. With an emotionally trying childhood and a string of bad relationships she is now divorced and working in an office at a car dealership, helpiing those with their purchases. What she wants and longs for is to be a romance author that has work that is published, but the denials keep arriving, not helping at all.
When her father surprises her with nine days at a writers retreat called The Mistletoe Retreat. She decides that this might be exactly what she needs. She meets Zeke and they write together trying to help each other with their skills.
The Mistletoe Inn has just the right amount of laughter, romance, sometimes a bit sad and what a telling of what a retreat for writers might be about to make it interesting.
Kimberly's life has not turned out exactly as she had laid out. With an emotionally trying childhood and a string of bad relationships she is now divorced and working in an office at a car dealership, helpiing those with their purchases. What she wants and longs for is to be a romance author that has work that is published, but the denials keep arriving, not helping at all.
When her father surprises her with nine days at a writers retreat called The Mistletoe Retreat. She decides that this might be exactly what she needs. She meets Zeke and they write together trying to help each other with their skills.
The Mistletoe Inn has just the right amount of laughter, romance, sometimes a bit sad and what a telling of what a retreat for writers might be about to make it interesting.
December 9, 2017
This author has a way of writing that pulls you in. With such a pretty cover, I always expect a fluffy, sweet romance, but within the pages of his books, there is always a depth, usually something very sad, that the main character has to grow and heal from. They are sad and uplifting all at the same time. This book was fun because I enjoy bookish type books. In this story, the heroine likes to write and she wants to have her book published. She attends a writers conference and meets another author. I would recommend it to those who love Christmas stories with some depth and to those who love to read about the writing world, getting published, the beauty of words, and, of course, books with a HEA.
December 9, 2025
The story is of a woman who has had way too many heartbreaking situations in her life. When Kim was a young girl, her mother took her life by suicide, leaving her with feelings of anger & abandonment. As she matured, there were broken engagements, a divorce,and the possibility of losing her father. At a writer's conference, she meets a man who will change her life forever.
November 30, 2022
It is really hard for me to rate this story. I was disappointed. This wasn't a Christmas story per se, but this would not have bothered me if the characters had been drawn as I am use to reading from the author. I found them somewhat superficial, and had big problems relating to them. The story was written so that reading it went fast--but, for me, it was too tongue in cheek almost as if it wasn't thought about thoroughly...
So, my problem is would I rate another author as severely, or was I so disappointed because I really enjoy and relate to almost everything Richard Paul Evans has written and disliked this book...?
Dec. 3 2017
I tried this novel again believing that I misjudged-- and was proven only slightly wrong. The same things that bothered me before bothered me this time too. But I am certain the first rating was given because I usually enjoy Richard Paul Evens so much... and was disappointed.
So, my problem is would I rate another author as severely, or was I so disappointed because I really enjoy and relate to almost everything Richard Paul Evans has written and disliked this book...?
Dec. 3 2017
I tried this novel again believing that I misjudged-- and was proven only slightly wrong. The same things that bothered me before bothered me this time too. But I am certain the first rating was given because I usually enjoy Richard Paul Evens so much... and was disappointed.
December 6, 2016
Another heartwarming novel by Richard Paul Evans. The romance between the two main characters happened rather quickly, especially considering Kim's history with men. However, it was an overall enjoyable Christmas novel. I recommend it to fans of Christmas novels.
January 8, 2019
So this was my first book by this author.... And I'm not going to lie that I was disappointed. Between generic characters with no depth, to the super described foods every meal and the tons of nothing but dialog (there's nothing I hate more than people doing nothing but talking and talking and talking and getting very little action or details)..... This didn't come off as romantic at all. Kim doesn't even meet Zeke until close to half way through the book. The back stories for them both are tragic but barely filled out. It just seems like a promotion for his previous book, which is talked about a LOT.
The book itself is pretty, the idea behind the book is a good one, one I really wanted to read. I has been looking forward to seeing how this unfolded. This is the only reason I gave it 3⭐ instead of 2. I just wish he had actually tried with this 😢
The book itself is pretty, the idea behind the book is a good one, one I really wanted to read. I has been looking forward to seeing how this unfolded. This is the only reason I gave it 3⭐ instead of 2. I just wish he had actually tried with this 😢
January 17, 2017
Ugh! This book is so dull. It takes place at a romance writers convention and everything it says to not do, it does. The characters are wooden and boring the story is predictable and idiotic. The female protagonist was not likable. The most interesting part of the book is the mini diary excerpts that started each chapter...and there are 40 of them, because it's a 300 page book with 40 chapters.
When Zeke asks Kim what she likes about him, she starts to list things...one being you kiss like a Hoover vacuum. Seriously, how is that remotely sexy or complimentary?!
I was glad this book came in a hardback, it was very satisfying to hurl it at the wall.
When Zeke asks Kim what she likes about him, she starts to list things...one being you kiss like a Hoover vacuum. Seriously, how is that remotely sexy or complimentary?!
I was glad this book came in a hardback, it was very satisfying to hurl it at the wall.
December 18, 2020
Not Christmassy 👎
Cheesy dialogue 👎
Weird insta-love / possessiveness 👎
Cheesy dialogue 👎
Weird insta-love / possessiveness 👎
December 2, 2024
I loved this cleverly crafted story of dreams, and loss and happiness and pain and ultimately forgiveness.
December 28, 2015
Twenty-some years ago, Richard Paul Evans wrote "The Christmas Box" which was given to me as a gift. It was charming and sweet, and new.
The Mistletoe Inn being his latest book, after twenty five or more other Richard Paul Evans New York Times Best Seller List books have been written and sold, is more or less a variation of his other books. Predictable? Yes, but that's not necessarily a bad thing in and of itself. After all, we like being able to count on an author to remind us of whatever we enjoyed in their former books, stories, poems. Sappy? Undoubtedly. Richard Paul Evans books are like an extended Hallmark greeting card from someone you know, which is sometimes all you need at that moment.
The Mistletoe Inn being his latest book, after twenty five or more other Richard Paul Evans New York Times Best Seller List books have been written and sold, is more or less a variation of his other books. Predictable? Yes, but that's not necessarily a bad thing in and of itself. After all, we like being able to count on an author to remind us of whatever we enjoyed in their former books, stories, poems. Sappy? Undoubtedly. Richard Paul Evans books are like an extended Hallmark greeting card from someone you know, which is sometimes all you need at that moment.
December 15, 2015
I always read Richard Paul Evans' Christmas story every year and was disappointed with this one. It was a dud. It was way too predictable, which is mainly why I quit reading romance in the first place. I knew right away who Zeke really was. I knew how it was going to end. I couldn't relate to Kim at all. I actually give it 1.5 stars. It looks like from the other reviews that I am in the minority.
February 15, 2017
I'm always down for good Christmas story, I was so excited when I found out this book was out. A Mistletoe Inn is the second book in the Mistletoe series, (by the way the third book comes out in 2016!!!)
Summary (From Book)
At thirty-two Kimberly Rossetti, a finance officer at a Lexus car dealership, has had her heart broken more times than she wants to remember. With two failed engagements, a divorce and again alone with no prospects, she hardly seems the type to dream of being a published romance author. Dreading another holiday alone, she signs up for The Mistletoe Retreat, a nine-day writing retreat in Savannah, Georgia. Deep inside Kimberly knows she's at a junction in her life and it's time to either fulfill her dream or let it go. The other reason she decides to attend the conference is because famed romance writer, H.T. Cowell, once the best selling romance writer in America, and the author whose books instilled in her the desire to be a writer, will be speaking in public for the first time in more than a decade.
In one of her breakout sessions Kimberly meets another aspiring writer, and one of the few men at the conference, Zeke, an intelligent man with a wry wit who seems as interested in Kimberly as he is in the retreat. As Kimberly begins to open up to him about her stories and dreams, she inadvertently reveals her own troubled past. As Zeke helps her to discover why her books fail to live up to their potential she begins to wonder if he's really talking more about her life than her literature. But as she grows closer to him, she realizes that Zeke has his own darkness, a past he's unwilling to talk about.
The theme of The Mistletoe Inn is that like literature, relationships must be lived with passion and vulnerability to succeed.
My Thoughts <3
This book was soo good. Richard Paul Evans has a special gift in writing realistic romances and stories about family. I love the fact that the majority of the story takes place at a romantic writers retreat.(Lol, the book nerd side of me geeked out). I loved both Kim and Zeke's story. This book has definitely won a special place in my heart.
January 22, 2020
Oh my gosh, this was torture! I was in the car with someone who played the audio version of this book. The heroine is TSTL. . .weak, full of poor me, and her interaction with the hero is pitiful. By the beginning of the 2nd chapter, when the heroine is berated on her wedding night then sleeps on the couch I'm thinking why does author thinks that anyone would be interested in this type of person. Does Richard Paul Evans think that normal women would put up with crap?
Some of the most ridiculous statements.
People with cancer intuitively know if it is their time or not to die.
You shouldn't date someone with a disability because of pity (Purple heart recipient - lost arm & leg).
Every moment was broadcast in the book way before it happened.
This book is a reason to always have ear plugs in your purse.
Some of the most ridiculous statements.
People with cancer intuitively know if it is their time or not to die.
You shouldn't date someone with a disability because of pity (Purple heart recipient - lost arm & leg).
Every moment was broadcast in the book way before it happened.
This book is a reason to always have ear plugs in your purse.
February 13, 2016
What a remarkable story! Clean romance, a healthy dose of philosophy, and an ending to make a reader smile. Lovely. :)
December 13, 2023
This was 100% the Christmas book I was hoping for when I pulled it off the library shelf. I was nervous about high hopes after reading and loving Mistletoe Promise last year, but this did not disappoint. It hits in all of the feels. Is it unrealistic? You bet, but in the perfect Christmas romance way that you hope for. Excited to read his next Christmas book!
December 29, 2015
Being a writer is a difficult journey, especially now when books are being pushed out left and right. I read a statistic last year that over 11 million books are published per year (this includes traditional and indie books).
Which leads me to this, good and bad. This book had, at first, a very accurate account of a writer starting off. She wrote her book and had some (though not many) struggles. She took it very hard and couldn’t handle her critiques very well. I thought these were all good things for an aspiring author to read especially with the attachment Kim had to her first book. However it was the ending that got me. I have no intention of spoiling this for anyone and I don’t think this will spoil it if I just say: I wanted her to do it on her own.
All in all, it was a fun, cute love story.
Which leads me to this, good and bad. This book had, at first, a very accurate account of a writer starting off. She wrote her book and had some (though not many) struggles. She took it very hard and couldn’t handle her critiques very well. I thought these were all good things for an aspiring author to read especially with the attachment Kim had to her first book. However it was the ending that got me. I have no intention of spoiling this for anyone and I don’t think this will spoil it if I just say: I wanted her to do it on her own.
All in all, it was a fun, cute love story.
December 2, 2018
I could have written the outline by just reading the 1st few chapters
December 23, 2024
3.75 stars rounded up
A woman goes to a writers conference in Vermont. She meets a man there who reads her manuscript.
I liked the father/daughter relationship. However, Zeke didn't seem fully fleshed out. Just a handsome rich guy. I wanted more.
A woman goes to a writers conference in Vermont. She meets a man there who reads her manuscript.
I liked the father/daughter relationship. However, Zeke didn't seem fully fleshed out. Just a handsome rich guy. I wanted more.
January 16, 2021
This was just meh. Having read The Mistletoe Promise, I was quite let down by it. I appreciated the meta parts where the author described in detail the process of writing and getting published but the romance was incredibly weak and there was no Christmasy mood either.
January 28, 2018
Was this a good read? Mm... it was okay. Not wholly awful, but not all that good either. I don't often say this, but I liked the movie better and the movie wasn't even all that great, in my opinion. I actually decided to read this book because I had seen the movie and thought the book would probably be better. Well... there was more to it, for sure. And there are some differences in the main couple's relationship, not to mention the storyline in general, though that is to be expected and can even be a good thing. But I don't think the book is as good as the movie, much less better than it.
The book is rather darker and sadder than the Hallmark movie. There is depression, suicide, cheating, professor/student relationships, divorce, cancer..... Yeah. Sadness and heartache. But the strange thing is that, while I would expect all that to evoke an emotional response... it really didn't. None of it felt all that real to me. The telling felt bland and flat to the point that it didn't make me care about these characters and what had happened/was happening to them. I don't enjoy reading books that are sad and make me cry, but if it's going to be sad? Make me feel it-- make me cry!
Now, that's not to say there isn't anything lighthearted and happy in the story. There is, I promise. Kim and Zeke have their romance and their happily ever after (come on, that's not a spoiler!) and there are funny moments with Kim's new friend at the Inn. Some other secondary characters even get happy endings. There are special moments and sweet moments. There just wasn't enough to outweigh the negatives for me. Things like being told every single thing they ordered every time they had a meal. Why? It reminded me of kids adding in as many needless words as possible to a school report so they could reach their word count requirement faster. I don't need to know this. It doesn't help or enhance the story at all. Maybe that's just me, but I found myself rolling my eyes every time they headed to dinner because I knew what was coming.
Also there were some things in the story that just didn't make any sense to me at all. I wouldn't normally include stuff like this, but it just got to me so I'll share a couple of examples.
1) At one point, Kim puts her wedding ring back on to deter unwanted attention from a certain jerk. But... she's divorced and has been separated from her husband for a while, if I remember correctly, so why did she even have her wedding ring with her? I mean, even if she still had it at home, why would she have brought it to the writers retreat?
2) Toward the end of the book, there was a conversation where someone was misinformed about a situation (I'm going to try really hard to not give anything away here). Kim was trying to set them straight, but they didn't believe her because they doubted the person concerned would tell Kim about the situation in question. Instead of simply explaining that she was present when the person told the whole story to a roomful of people, she tries to convince them that she really did know the person and they told her the story personally. Yes, she did tell the truth, but it was unnecessary and over-complicated things. And I suppose it could be played off as an emotional reaction, but it just made it seem really forced and kind of ridiculous because it was a pointless conversation.
I'm sorry... I feel like maybe I'm being overly critical here. It's just that, the more I think about it, the less I like this book and the more I want to give it only 1 star, even though I started out giving it 2. Because the characters weren't very likable either and the writing in general really wasn't all that great. But then there was some good stuff thrown in there about love and relationships...
"Romance novels are all about desire and happily-ever-after, but happily-ever-after doesn’t come from desire—at least not the kind portrayed in pulp romances. Real love is not to desire a person but to desire their happiness—sometimes even at the expense of our own happiness. Real love is to expand our own capacity for tolerance and caring, to actively seek another’s well-being. All else is simply a charade of self-interest."
"They say love is blind, but it's not. Infatuation is blind. Emotional neediness is blind. Love sees the fault, it just sees beyond it as well."
*sigh* I guess I'll leave the rating at 2 stars, but I think it's probably more like 1 1/2.
Content Advisory:
There are a couple of mild cuss words used and a couple remarks regarding kissing and being naked that might be considered somewhat inappropriate by someone looking for a very clean read. I would consider it inappropriate for a Christian book, but I don't think this book is classified that way, is it..?
The book is rather darker and sadder than the Hallmark movie. There is depression, suicide, cheating, professor/student relationships, divorce, cancer..... Yeah. Sadness and heartache. But the strange thing is that, while I would expect all that to evoke an emotional response... it really didn't. None of it felt all that real to me. The telling felt bland and flat to the point that it didn't make me care about these characters and what had happened/was happening to them. I don't enjoy reading books that are sad and make me cry, but if it's going to be sad? Make me feel it-- make me cry!
Now, that's not to say there isn't anything lighthearted and happy in the story. There is, I promise. Kim and Zeke have their romance and their happily ever after (come on, that's not a spoiler!) and there are funny moments with Kim's new friend at the Inn. Some other secondary characters even get happy endings. There are special moments and sweet moments. There just wasn't enough to outweigh the negatives for me. Things like being told every single thing they ordered every time they had a meal. Why? It reminded me of kids adding in as many needless words as possible to a school report so they could reach their word count requirement faster. I don't need to know this. It doesn't help or enhance the story at all. Maybe that's just me, but I found myself rolling my eyes every time they headed to dinner because I knew what was coming.
Also there were some things in the story that just didn't make any sense to me at all. I wouldn't normally include stuff like this, but it just got to me so I'll share a couple of examples.
1) At one point, Kim puts her wedding ring back on to deter unwanted attention from a certain jerk. But... she's divorced and has been separated from her husband for a while, if I remember correctly, so why did she even have her wedding ring with her? I mean, even if she still had it at home, why would she have brought it to the writers retreat?
2) Toward the end of the book, there was a conversation where someone was misinformed about a situation (I'm going to try really hard to not give anything away here). Kim was trying to set them straight, but they didn't believe her because they doubted the person concerned would tell Kim about the situation in question. Instead of simply explaining that she was present when the person told the whole story to a roomful of people, she tries to convince them that she really did know the person and they told her the story personally. Yes, she did tell the truth, but it was unnecessary and over-complicated things. And I suppose it could be played off as an emotional reaction, but it just made it seem really forced and kind of ridiculous because it was a pointless conversation.
I'm sorry... I feel like maybe I'm being overly critical here. It's just that, the more I think about it, the less I like this book and the more I want to give it only 1 star, even though I started out giving it 2. Because the characters weren't very likable either and the writing in general really wasn't all that great. But then there was some good stuff thrown in there about love and relationships...
"Romance novels are all about desire and happily-ever-after, but happily-ever-after doesn’t come from desire—at least not the kind portrayed in pulp romances. Real love is not to desire a person but to desire their happiness—sometimes even at the expense of our own happiness. Real love is to expand our own capacity for tolerance and caring, to actively seek another’s well-being. All else is simply a charade of self-interest."
"They say love is blind, but it's not. Infatuation is blind. Emotional neediness is blind. Love sees the fault, it just sees beyond it as well."
*sigh* I guess I'll leave the rating at 2 stars, but I think it's probably more like 1 1/2.
Content Advisory:
There are a couple of mild cuss words used and a couple remarks regarding kissing and being naked that might be considered somewhat inappropriate by someone looking for a very clean read. I would consider it inappropriate for a Christian book, but I don't think this book is classified that way, is it..?
December 17, 2019
Oh my goodness gracious I love how this one was SO well connected to the first book. Like all the intricacies and secrets made me smile so big. Also, some of the big reveals I knew beforehand. I'd like to think it is because I'm becoming a better reader though. But I really enjoyed this Hallmark-esque book.
January 1, 2016
SUMMARY: At thirty-two Kimberly Rossi, a finance officer at a Lexus car dealership, has had her heart broken more times than she wants to remember. With two failed engagements, a divorce and again alone with no prospects, she hardly seems the type to dream of being a published romance author. Dreading another holiday alone, she signs up for The Mistletoe Retreat, a nine-day writing retreat in Burlington, VT. Deep inside Kimberly knows she’s at a junction in her life and it’s time to either fulfill her dream or let it go. The other reason she decides to attend the conference is because famed romance writer, H.T. Cowell, once the best selling romance writer in America, and the author whose books instilled in her the desire to be a writer, will be speaking in public for the first time in more than a decade.
In one of her breakout sessions Kimberly meets another aspiring writer, and one of the few men at the conference, Zeke, an intelligent man with a wry wit who seems as interested in Kimberly as he is in the retreat. As Kimberly begins to open up to him about her stories and dreams, she inadvertently reveals her own troubled past. As Zeke helps her to discover why her books fail to live up to their potential she begins to wonder if he’s really talking more about her life than her literature. But as she grows closer to him, she realizes that Zeke has his own darkness, a past he’s unwilling to talk about.
The theme of The Mistletoe Inn is that like literature, relationships must be lived with passion and vulnerability to succeed.
REVIEW: I have read many of Richard Paul Evans novels and have found them absolutely enchanting. This one didn't quite hit that mark. I found the first half of the book rather slow and draggy with too much emphasis on the writer's conference. . But in processing the theme of this book, I felt like the superficiality Kimberly displayed was perhaps representative of the superficiality of the characters in her book. The second half of the book was definitely a 5. I admit I figured out fairly easily who Zeke really was but the ending was delightful. Kim's supportive friend, Samantha, was a wonderful secondary character. Overall, a good read but perhaps not one of Evans' best.
FAVORITE QUOTES: ( Evans' books always are filled with gems to remember and this one did not let down in that department.)
"They say love is blind, but int's not. Infatuation is blind. Emotional neediness is blind. Love sees the fault---it just sees beyond it as well."
"There are people whom we've never met in person yet feel closer to than those we brush up against in real life."
"remember that death is punctuation at the end of the sentence. It's up to us to decide what kind of punctuation it will be---a period or an exclamation point."
"We don't appreciate the things that come easy to us as much as we do the things we have to work for. I think that's true of love as well."
"But wisdom is knowing that we need love and knowing when it's safe and whom to trust."
"The power of Christmas is its capacity to evoke memories."
In one of her breakout sessions Kimberly meets another aspiring writer, and one of the few men at the conference, Zeke, an intelligent man with a wry wit who seems as interested in Kimberly as he is in the retreat. As Kimberly begins to open up to him about her stories and dreams, she inadvertently reveals her own troubled past. As Zeke helps her to discover why her books fail to live up to their potential she begins to wonder if he’s really talking more about her life than her literature. But as she grows closer to him, she realizes that Zeke has his own darkness, a past he’s unwilling to talk about.
The theme of The Mistletoe Inn is that like literature, relationships must be lived with passion and vulnerability to succeed.
REVIEW: I have read many of Richard Paul Evans novels and have found them absolutely enchanting. This one didn't quite hit that mark. I found the first half of the book rather slow and draggy with too much emphasis on the writer's conference. . But in processing the theme of this book, I felt like the superficiality Kimberly displayed was perhaps representative of the superficiality of the characters in her book. The second half of the book was definitely a 5. I admit I figured out fairly easily who Zeke really was but the ending was delightful. Kim's supportive friend, Samantha, was a wonderful secondary character. Overall, a good read but perhaps not one of Evans' best.
FAVORITE QUOTES: ( Evans' books always are filled with gems to remember and this one did not let down in that department.)
"They say love is blind, but int's not. Infatuation is blind. Emotional neediness is blind. Love sees the fault---it just sees beyond it as well."
"There are people whom we've never met in person yet feel closer to than those we brush up against in real life."
"remember that death is punctuation at the end of the sentence. It's up to us to decide what kind of punctuation it will be---a period or an exclamation point."
"We don't appreciate the things that come easy to us as much as we do the things we have to work for. I think that's true of love as well."
"But wisdom is knowing that we need love and knowing when it's safe and whom to trust."
"The power of Christmas is its capacity to evoke memories."
December 1, 2016
Such a wonderful romance. I just love the way the author writes. Although most of the book takes place in Vermont, it also has a touch of Christmas in New York City.
Kim, the main character, is an aspiring writer with a troubled past. In an effort to get away for a bit and go after her dream, she decides to attend a writer's conference in Vermont at the Mistletoe Inn. What is especially enticing to her, besides the workshops and agents that will be there, is that the keynote will be an author who has inspired her for years.
Zeke is also an aspiring author at this conference and after meeting, Kim and Zeke form a friendship, bond and even the possibility of something more.
However, Kim needs to face the shadows of her past to move forward.
I also want to stress that there is so much more to this book than just the romance. This is about love in all aspects of life including family. The side story of Kim, the main character, and her parents was so touching and heart warming. The family aspect was a much a part a book as the romance. I highly recommend this or any other Christmas book by this author. Loved it!!!!!
Kim, the main character, is an aspiring writer with a troubled past. In an effort to get away for a bit and go after her dream, she decides to attend a writer's conference in Vermont at the Mistletoe Inn. What is especially enticing to her, besides the workshops and agents that will be there, is that the keynote will be an author who has inspired her for years.
Zeke is also an aspiring author at this conference and after meeting, Kim and Zeke form a friendship, bond and even the possibility of something more.
However, Kim needs to face the shadows of her past to move forward.
I also want to stress that there is so much more to this book than just the romance. This is about love in all aspects of life including family. The side story of Kim, the main character, and her parents was so touching and heart warming. The family aspect was a much a part a book as the romance. I highly recommend this or any other Christmas book by this author. Loved it!!!!!
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