Montana Mistletoe

Line of Fire #6

by Becca Boyd

Caught in a Christmas nightmare, Gillian needs to keep her distance from her ex, but with mistletoe everywhere and feelings resurfacing, she’s not sure she can resist just one more kiss…

Gillian Potter is having the biggest night of her life. A giant fundraiser, a beautifully decorated Christmas scene, an original madrigal, and her job is on the line. When she needs a caterer at the last minute, her secretary books the only person they can find on short notice. Unfortunately, that person is Gillian’s ex: Mason Herrick. Hurt as she is by the way he ended things, she wants to hate him and tries to stay away…

Mason Herrick took too many years to grow up and the perfect girl got away. Returned to Madison Falls, a new man and a business owner, Mason is determined to make good and to someday show Gillian Potter that he can be different. When her job and her future depend on Mason, he’s not sure if he’s become a good enough man to save her. Or to deserve her.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary

74 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 18, 2015

Reviews

[Ash P Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely short story about Christmas, lost love and second chances. With one disaster occurring after another, Gillian's career is on the line. Now she desperately needs someone to cater her Christmas show at the theater she's managing. Of course, the person to come to her rescue would have to be the man who broke her heart in the past. Could things get any worse? But he is the only one who is available in her time of need. But she must be willing to let bygones be bygones and allow him to help her fulfill her goals.

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

[Leiah Cooper · Rating 2 out of 5]

Christmas in July? Well, I have been known to watch “The Santa Clause” and “The Santa Clause II” in July, so reading “Montana Mistletoe” tonight should have been right up my alley. I am almost embarrassed to say, not so much.

I simply couldn’t like any of the characters. Not. One. Gillian is a raving beotch – even if she is under pressure and comes face-to-face with her old flame, the raving was over-the-top. The ex, Mason, and his brothers came in to fill in as caterers for a fundraising party held for the Granite Peak, Montana Children’s Theatre. You don’t get but a few words from the brothers, but Mason comes across as a spoiled brat. The people Gillian works for? Caricatures of the pompous fat rich man and his top-heavy, trashy second wife. That was my issue with the whole story. As much as I wanted to like it – it was written as a fundraiser for the Kaleidoscope Youth Theatre in Bozeman, Montana, a hugely worthy cause, it feels like the author didn’t care enough about the theatre to write a story worth reading.

I received this book from the publisher for a realistic review. I just wish she could have written a better one.

If you would like to donate to the Theater, go to www.kytbozeman.org. I am sure the kids would LOVE your support!

[Angela Goodrich · Rating 3 out of 5]

Montana Mistletoe is a quick read that did a nice job of kicking off the holiday reading season for me. It also had me wanting to cry in frustration on Gillian’s behalf as everything that could go wrong did, and then some. Syme does an excellent job in creating Gillian’s character and all that she must deal with on the night of the theater’s biggest fundraiser, and keeping it from becoming a comedy of errors. I believe most of us has had one of those days where nothing goes right, you question why you bothered getting out of bed that morning, silently beg the universe to let you crawl back into bed and wakeup to a do-over, and have to endure all of that with a ghost from our past showing up to witness it all. I know I have experienced all that minus the last part and this certainly made Gillian a very sympathetic character in my book.

That’s not to say that Mason wasn’t also a sympathetic character, because he was and I connected to him as well. In fact, I could easily feel Mason’s frustrations when he had to deal with Gillian’s reactions (appropriate and inappropriate), last minute changes because the secretary failed to share the night’s schedule of events ahead of time, and subpar working conditions while still being expected to prepare an outstanding meal. Top that all off with Gillian’s hot and cold demeanor toward him and it’s quite impressive how well he did over the course of the evening. While I liked both Gillian and Mason’s characters, I didn’t quite connect with them as a couple. Granted Montana Mistletoe is more of a reigniting the sparks of a second chance romance than the story of how their second chance actually plays out. As such, this didn’t allow for a lot of interactions between the two and with only a couple of stolen kisses here and there, this hindered my ability to connect to them as a couple rather than as individuals. However, this didn’t reduce my enjoyment of the novella overall, but rather left me wanting more and hoping that the next installment in the Granite Peak series will show us more of Mason and Gillian’s romance. Montana Mistletoe was an enjoyable holiday read and a fun way to spend an hour or two.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

[Marsha Keeper Bookshelf · Rating 3 out of 5]

First reviewed at Keeper Bookshelf

Montana Mistletoe is a quick, sweet Christmas themed story. Told completely in the few hours leading up to and through a Christmas musical we will see frustration, anger, misunderstandings and at times complete chaos.

Everything that could go wrong at Gilliam’s musical presentation is going wrong. Between the awful decorations, the craziness of opening night, facing her former love is the last thing she expected to be dealing with tonight. But there he is, in the flesh. Mason, the man she trusted with her heart – the man who walked away, crushing the love she had into tiny pieces. She couldn’t deal with this, but she had no choice.

Through the craziness and chaos of this opening night, memories assault Mason and Gillian. By the time the night is over their past will be resolved – but will the Christmas pagent be the success that she needs it to be in order to save her job.

I enjoyed this novel. It was short, sweet and fun. I wish there had been some background on Mason and Gillian earlier on in the story, it would have made the difference for me in understanding the anger that Gillian had towards Mason. An opinion only, the story was not mine to tell. Overall, it was an enjoyable story.

*Any review is just one person’s opinion. You might feel the same or totally different. The only way to know for certain is for you to read it. This was my opinion of this particular book.*

[Char (1RadReader59) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Holy Mistletoe there has been an explosion of an awful kind in the lobby of the dinner theater. Mason Herrick and his brothers Cash and Tyson are caters that own 406 Catering Company. They were hired because the usual caterer died suddenly.
When they get there though Mason and the director (as well as writer and fundraiser coordinator) for the event have a history and not a pleasant one. In fact Gillian (Jill) Potter hates Mason. It has been years since they have seen one another. As far as she could care it could go on longer.
You see Mason had left the state of Montana and her behind never looking back. California might as well have been another country. Now he is back and trying to play nice? Well it’s too little too late. Besides she can’t hate him if he is trying to be nice it was much easier when there were several states between them.
Now thought she has a show to get ready to be put on stage. Kids to run through their lines again and last minute things to get done with the fundraiser. All that won’t now if she had to deal with Mason. Just looking at him makes her made. All Mason can see is all the good memories. And wanting to kiss her the first chance he gets.
This was a cute very short story. Not a lot of meat or potatoes to it. I give this 3 stars. Provided by netgalley.
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[Margaret Sholders · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a really short story. It is also either late for Christmas or early for this year. It is a bit funny and sad. Gillian is the Director of a local theater. Her caterer died and she needed another one. She goes crazy when she sees it is her ex boyfriend and his brothers. Spoiler. There isn't room for serving. The stage area is small. People are warming up. The owner (spoiler) is upset she didn't use his wife's decoration and threatens to fire her. Then a blizzard hits. Will the patrons still come? Will they stop the show? Will she talk with Mason? Will he talk to her? I guess you will have to read to find out how the story ends. Enjoy! I have this book for an honest review for NetGalley.

[Bette Hansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is really a very entertaining read! It's a short and sweet second chance story that shows a little communication, understanding, and compromise can save us from a whole lot of hurt.

Unexpectedly Gillian Potter finds herself face to face with the man that ripped her heart out. Worse yet, she needs him. Mason Herrick is the only caterer she can find to save her Christmas event. Little does she now how helpful he'll be. Once he jumps into action and basically saves the whole show she can't avoid him any longer. And once they start really talking, who knows what could happen???

If you're looking for a quick fun holiday read this is it! I highly recommend it.

[Jin · Rating 3 out of 5]

thanks to Netgalley and Hummingbird Books.

It was short and I finished in one sitting.
Mason and Jillian were together when they were young. But love didn't last long. Both had different view on their break up. He was pursuing his career as a chef and she was pursuing her career.
By chance, they meet again as theater director and a caterer. One night Jillian needs to show her talent she faces him again.. Jillian says she hates him but truly she doesn't really hate him.. Both find each other again by chance.
Will they find each other again?
I wish there were more back story to their love story.

[Simera · Rating 4 out of 5]

Montana Mistletoe is a really short story.

Gillian Potter's job is on the line and she needs for the fundraiser that she is working on to bring in big money. Everything that can go wrong is.
Mason Herrick is the caterer that is called in to save the fundraiser. However he and Gillian have a past and they didn't seperate on the best of turns.
Gillian and Mason are both fighting their feelings for each other and dealing with their past relationship.

This is a sweet fast story and can be read in a few hours.

copy provided by NetGalley

[Isha Coleman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Regret, forgiveness, understanding and trust are put to the test in Montana Mistletoe. Youthful mistakes, bad choices and lack of trust caused Gillian and Mason to pull the plug on their marriage. When they unexpectedly come face to face on a night that Gillian needs everything to go perfectly old wounds and regrets are brought to the surface. Gillian and Mason have the chemistry and I thought the story was a good read. There were times however that I found the story to be a little to drawn out. Received a copy of this story for an honest review.

[BookSnuggle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley/Hummingbird Books for an honest review. "Montana Mistletoe" by R.L. Syme is book one of the "Granite Peak/Chefs of the West" series. This is a clean romance and a quick read. Gillian Potter is having too many problems to handle at once. One of her problems is the caterer she had to hire at the last minute was her ex: Mason Herrick. This is an okay read for me. There was a lot happening for just a short read.

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[Robin Barton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun light hearted read. Simple and quick but very enjoyable.
The characters were realistic and easy to relate to for such a short story. Gillian and Mason...need to just put
the past to rest. With all the craziness along with Mason walking back into Gillian's life it was nice to see that
she dealt with everything just the way most of would have.
I enjoyed this quick story but would have enjoyed a bit more background. Overall I am for second chances...forgive...forget leave the past in the past.

[Christina Montminy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really quick and cute read. The story of two former lovers meeting again for the first time in many years. Mason is hired to replace a caterer for a dinner theatre at the last minute and unbeknownst to him the theatre is run by his ex. Gillian is angry that her assistant gave the job to Mason without her knowing, but that's only one of the problems that she has. As the problems mount, Gillian is surprised that Mason comes to her rescue and wonders why. Can the past be put to rest?

[Sam Parsons · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book in exchange for an honest review through NetGalley.

This was a very cute novella about lost love. I enjoyed every aspect of the book and was rooting for them to reconcile from the start.