Lighthearted fun with a peppermint festival, snow & a slow burn swoony romance as sweet as hot cocoa with a dash of spice
Deals require negotiations, but for Cole Stevens, this could be the riskiest deal of his lifetime. Holland Jenkins has been disappointed so often that she questions her purpose and her talent as an artist. The cabins she helps lease for her family is the one constant in her life. Sure, she's attracted to the handsome stranger staying at Mistletoe Ridge for a few days, but if she finds out he may be part of another loss in her life, will she walk away from her dreams once again, or make both of their Christmas wishes come true?
Hi there! I'm Angie Ellington & I write contemporary women's fiction...a mashup of sweet romance with humor, heart, family, friendship, and love...it's all in the mixed recipe of my characters & their stories. One of my first books, Autumn at Apple Hill, was adapted into a Hallmark Channel movie in 2024 under the same name starring Erin Cahill & Wes Brown. :)
*Christmas in Fair Bend (2017) (Repubbed in 2022 as Christmas in Frost Bend) *Autumn at Apple Hill (2017) *Spring in Lilac Glen(2018) *Love at the Salted Caramel Cafe' (2018)
Carlisle Bay Series *Dancing by the Moonlight (2018) *Dancing by the Christmas Lights (2019)
*Christmas at Mistletoe Ridge (2020)
Sweethearts of Valentine Series *Be Mine in Valentine (2022)
Lovely, heartwarming and cute! I didn't know that you could wish on mistletoe - I do love lucky themes. This is the story of a start of a romance, Holland the artist and Cole the businessman including warm drinks, stone fireplaces and mild tension in the plot. Will this Christmas romance melt in January's thaw? Apart from making decorative ornaments, Holland works renting cabins at her family's business in the close-knit town, Birch Falls. Cole (attractive name) comes to stay for three days before Christmas does he have an ulterior motive? It doesn't matter if he does because everyone in Birch Falls knows Holland and has a bit of Christmassy-life-wisdom to share with Cole on his way around the village. Also, there is a recipe at the end of the book for chicken parmesan which made me smile.
I believe this might be Angie Ellington’s best yet!
If this doesn’t get you in the mood for Hallmark movies, I don’t know what will! It’s got all the things we love about small town @hallmark movies, the quaint local, family-owned businesses with a community of kind people that supports each other. Not to mention, a little romance, of course! Holland welcomes Cole to her family’s farm to stay in one of their cabins. She introduces this city guy to the small town she loves so much. He starts to have a hard time resisting the allure of the charm & spirit this little place has. Not to mention, a beautiful girl, who literally falls into his arms, our Holland Jenkins.
As always, I absolutely loved this story and the best part, it features a sweet dog, named Sassy, which, of course, is close to my pup loving heart!
And then, a special surprise recipe for Chicken Parmesan at the end!
A million thanks to my friend & one of my absolute favorite authors, Angie Ellington, for an advanced copy of this book to read & review!
This is just a delicious little holiday listen! The story couldn’t be any sweeter if they tried. The Peppermint Festival is great plus the different things the town does leading up to it is fun. I loved it. The characters are good. But the town folk and their stories really sell the story. I liked Cole. He was resistive at first to participating with Holland but the more he did the better he loved the town. Holland is a good complex character. Her love of family and risk of failure are what Keep her at Mistletoe Ridge.
Overall this is good, enjoyable holiday story. I did listen to this on audio. Joanne Wilson is a narrator I haven’t listened to before. She did a good job.
This book had a real Hallmark feel at home story. Loved the setting of the home town and the main couple in this story, very cute and homey feeling at Christmas time. Loved the dog!
This book has me ready for a small town Christmas and a hallmark movie. These characters had me hooked from the start. Holland has a passion for art and came home from the city for her family. She stays because it’s home, she still does her art, some, and helps her grandparents with the farm and cabin rentals on the property she grew up on. Times change with resorts being built and less tourists wanting the simple life of a small town. Cole accidentally gets stuck in the small town of Mistletoe Ridge instead of the resort in the next town when he comes for work. Holland and Cole’s worlds collide in an unexpected way.
3.5 ⭐️🎧 Cole arrives at a charming inn he hopes to acquire for his real estate investors, and he meets Holland, the inn operator and owners’ granddaughter. Classic, totally predictable Hallmark plot.. but great for getting in the Christmas spirit 🎄✨
Christmas at Mistletoe Ridge is a cute, heart-warming Christmas story. I like that it includes glimpses into more than one couple's developing relationship. Last Christmas, I spent hours making hand-painted ornaments and immediately broke two of them, so I was drawn into the story right away with the connection to Holland.
I listened to the Audible version. Joanne Wilson was a new narrator for me. She did an excellent job with the voices and the energy of the story. I would have liked a better sound quality for the recording.
😽😻📚Claire Bear & Mel Mel's Book Reviews 📚😻😽 'Christmas at Mistletoe Ridge' by Angie Ellington Genre: Romance Fiction
About the Book: "Deals require negotiations, but for Cole Stevens, this could be the riskiest deal of his lifetime. Holland Jenkins has been disappointed so often that she questions her purpose and her talent as an artist. The cabins she helps lease for her family is the one constant in her life. Cole finds himself falling for the charming small town, and also falling for Holland, which wasn't part of the plan. Holland doesn't know about her grandparents' plans to sell Mistletoe Ridge, and although they think they are doing it for the right reasons, keeping it a secret has all involved reconsidering."
My Review: This is a lovely light festive read. The setting is full of Christmas spirit. I like how Holland (one of the protagonists) shows her love and care for her family. Whilst trying to follow her own creative dreams. The two protagonists have a nice slow build romance with underlying challenges. The ending is beautiful. I enjoy how the story comes together.
The points of view change quickly which makes the story confusing at times. I would have preferred one chapter per point of view with the author stating which character is speaking at the beginning. The narrative is robotic numerous times throughout the story but I am not sure if this is due to the audio narration or the actual story.
Disclaimer: My Book Reviews are based on my own opinions and experiences only.
Listened on @audible and narrated by Joanne Wilson.
🎄 Heart warming holiday romance 🎄
Holland- leasing agent for Mistletoe Ridge, artist 🧑🎨
Cole- businessman - in town for a business deal.
Sassy- gold retriever- dog 🐕
Words that Linger: 🍋”I don’t think kissing should be the first item on your checklist”. -Holland
🍋”You are not alone, I’m here. I’ll lift you up, I’ll hold you in my arms, whatever you need.” -Cole
🍋”The diner is a lot like Birch Fall. If there is something you have lost, you could likely find it here if you slow down and discover what it really is you are looking for”. -Mr Reid in coffee shop
🍋”Lots of uneven surfaces in love, it’s one of like painting a room. Sometimes there’s a coat from before that’s harder to remove. You have to work harder to get a fresh start. Sand the wall to smooth away the rough edges and taking your time to get it right.” -Ken
Tropes: 🍋Small Town 🍋Christmas 🍋Hallmark Movie 🍋HEA
This is a typical Christmas movie type book. It includes a couple meeting, falling for each other (literally in this case), a third act break up and then the typical ending, with a prologue set a year later. I liked how the FMC, Holland had moved away from her small town and then decided to move back. It gave her slightly more depth than some other characters in books I have read before. It was refreshing that the MMC, Cole had positive memories of Christmas that he was happy to revive. He was ready to try anything including repairs around the farm. The scene stealer was always the golden retriever, Sassy. She helped the couple get together and didn’t even like the ex-boyfriend. If the dog doesn’t like someone, they are not worth your time. Overall, this was a fun and easy read that is a great refresher in between heavier books.
Daisy and her relationship to work was really frustrating. She’s so obviously being exploited by her job and the fact she doesn’t tell them she got into a car accident when she missed a meeting was so annoying. I understand being committed to work but the degree she goes to is really sad. Sure, she eventually sees the light but it really took a lot to get there.
Mason was a voice of reason the whole time and gives the impression of someone who loved the ground and found a better way to balance life-work.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This book gave me all the feels, and especially much needed holiday feels! Angie Ellington brings happiness, love and fun in her books. I think this might be my favorite. If you like light-hearted, warm, cozy, feel good reads AND the holidays this book is for you - or as a gift for friends or family. Perfect for a buddy read! Warning: Happiness will ensue. Loved it!
This was a little too sappy and schmaltzy for me but might be someone else’s jam. The audio was… not great. She was “reading” the words with very little emotion or inflection. Might be better as an eyeball read.
I listened to this book. The narrator sounded like they were in their own room. I almost didn’t finish it because of the narrator but the storyline was cute. Next time I will read the book myself! The rating is for the narrator not the book.
3.5 stars. I liked this...thought it was a nice Hallmark movie style romance...but also just as forgettable I think. A pleasant way to spend an afternoon...listening to the audiobook.
meh, maybe I've read or watched to many of these with the same story line. Major Hallmark vibes, I can totally see it as a made for TV movie. but I also feel like I've already seen this movie...
Almost DNF. It had way too many storylines that were not necessary to the main character and her journey. It was really distracting and drug the book out.
One of those romances that just make you feel good reading it. It is well written. The story is well developed and one of those books that you hope has a sequel. Enjoyed on both kindle and audible
I expected this to be a cheesy, Hallmark style book. My expectations weren't high but I did find it a bit boring. Didn't love the third person POV either, I just couldn't connect with the characters. Then new characters and side stories would be introduced out of the blue and then you didn't hear about them again until the end of the book. A quick read if you want a simple, insta-love Christmas read.