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Mistletoe Magic
No one captures the delights of the holiday season like #1 New York Times bestselling author Fern Michaels. Now available in mass market, this sparkling collection features four heartwarming stories, all written by Fern and perfect for gifting--or receiving--this Christmas.
"Making Spirits Bright"
Melanie McLaughlin desperately wants to adopt two orphaned siblings and give them a real home for Christmas. A
just-for-the-holiday marriage to Bryce Landry fits her plan perfectly...until unexpected sparks have Melanie dreaming of forever by his side...
"Mister Christmas"
A week before Christmas, attorney Claire O'Brien is summoned to Ireland to change her wealthy client's will--only to encounter resistance from his handsome nephew. Will Claire be forced to spend the holidays up close and personal with her irresistible Irish nemesis?
"A Winter Wonderland"
Angelica Shepard left New York for Christmas in Colorado to relax and unwind--but an out-of-control snowboarder almost had her laid to rest. When she wakes up in the hospital, all she remembers is the handsome angel who saved her...
"Candy Canes and Cupid"
All private investigator Hannah Ray wants for Christmas is a quiet day at her Florida beachfront condo. When her biggest client insists she join him on a Colorado ski trip, she has little choice--but what she finds on her arrival could melt the coldest heart...
"Making Spirits Bright"
Melanie McLaughlin desperately wants to adopt two orphaned siblings and give them a real home for Christmas. A
just-for-the-holiday marriage to Bryce Landry fits her plan perfectly...until unexpected sparks have Melanie dreaming of forever by his side...
"Mister Christmas"
A week before Christmas, attorney Claire O'Brien is summoned to Ireland to change her wealthy client's will--only to encounter resistance from his handsome nephew. Will Claire be forced to spend the holidays up close and personal with her irresistible Irish nemesis?
"A Winter Wonderland"
Angelica Shepard left New York for Christmas in Colorado to relax and unwind--but an out-of-control snowboarder almost had her laid to rest. When she wakes up in the hospital, all she remembers is the handsome angel who saved her...
"Candy Canes and Cupid"
All private investigator Hannah Ray wants for Christmas is a quiet day at her Florida beachfront condo. When her biggest client insists she join him on a Colorado ski trip, she has little choice--but what she finds on her arrival could melt the coldest heart...
416 pages, Mass Market Paperback
Published December 1, 2020
442 people are currently reading
2618 people want to read
About the author
Fern Michaels
426 books6,525 followersFern Michaels isn’t a person. I’m not sure she’s an entity either since an entity is something with separate existence. Fern Michaels® is what I DO. Me, Mary Ruth Kuczkir. Growing up in Hastings, Pennsylvania, I was called Ruth. I became Mary when I entered the business world where first names were the order of the day. To this day, family and friends call me Dink, a name my father gave me when I was born because according to him I was ‘a dinky little thing’ weighing in at four and a half pounds. However, I answer to Fern since people are more comfortable with a name they can pronounce.
As they say, the past is prologue. I grew up, got a job, got married, had five kids. When my youngest went off to Kindergarten, my husband told me to get off my ass and get a job. Those were his exact words. I didn’t know how to do anything except be a wife and mother. I was also a voracious reader having cut my teeth on The Bobbsey Twins, Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, Cherry Ames and the like. The library was a magical place for me. It still is to this day. Rather than face the outside world with no skills, I decided to write a book. For some reason that didn’t intimidate me. As my husband said at the time, stupid is as stupid does. Guess what, I don’t have that husband any more. Guess what else! I wrote 99 books, most of them New York Times Best Sellers.
Moving right along here . . . Several years ago I left Ballantine Books, parted company with my agent, sold my house in New Jersey that I had lived in all my married life and in 1993 moved to South Carolina. I figured if I was going to go through trauma let it be all at one time. It was a breeze. The kids were all on their own at that point. The dump was a 300 year old plantation house that is listed in the National Registry that I remodeled. Today it is beyond belief as are the gardens and the equally old Angel Oaks that drip Spanish moss. Unfortunately, I could not get my ghost to relocate. This ghost has been documented by previous owners. Mary Margaret as we call her, is “a friendly”. She is also mischievous. It took me two weeks to figure out that she didn’t like my coffee cups. They would slide off the table or counter or else they’d break in the dishwasher. I bought red checkered ones. All are intact as of this writing. She moves pillows from one room to the other and she stops all the clocks in the house at 9:10 in the a.m. at least once a week. When the Azaleas are in bloom, and only then, I find blooms on my night stand. I have this glorious front porch and during the warm months I see my swing moving early in the morning when the air is still and again late in the day. She doesn’t spook the dogs. I always know when she’s around because the five of them line up and look like they’re at a tennis match. As of this writing we’re co-habiting nicely.
Most writers love what they do and I’m no exception. I love it when I get a germ of an idea and get it down on paper. I love breathing life into my characters. I love writing about women who persevere and prevail because that’s what I had to do to get to this point in time. It’s another way of saying it doesn’t matter where you’ve been, what matters is where you’re going and how you get there. The day I finally prevailed was the day I was inducted into the New Jersey Literary Hall of Fame. For me it was an awesome day and there are no words to describe it.
I’ve been telling stories and scribbling for 37 years. I hope I can continue for another 37 years. It wasn’t easy during some of those years. As I said, I had to persevere. My old Polish grandmother said something to me when I was little that I never forgot. She said when God is good to you, you have to give back. For a while I didn’t know how to do that. When I finally figured it out I set up The Fern Michaels® Foundation.
READ FERN MICHAELS' FULL BIOGRAPHY HERE: http://www.fernmichaels.com/biography/
As they say, the past is prologue. I grew up, got a job, got married, had five kids. When my youngest went off to Kindergarten, my husband told me to get off my ass and get a job. Those were his exact words. I didn’t know how to do anything except be a wife and mother. I was also a voracious reader having cut my teeth on The Bobbsey Twins, Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, Cherry Ames and the like. The library was a magical place for me. It still is to this day. Rather than face the outside world with no skills, I decided to write a book. For some reason that didn’t intimidate me. As my husband said at the time, stupid is as stupid does. Guess what, I don’t have that husband any more. Guess what else! I wrote 99 books, most of them New York Times Best Sellers.
Moving right along here . . . Several years ago I left Ballantine Books, parted company with my agent, sold my house in New Jersey that I had lived in all my married life and in 1993 moved to South Carolina. I figured if I was going to go through trauma let it be all at one time. It was a breeze. The kids were all on their own at that point. The dump was a 300 year old plantation house that is listed in the National Registry that I remodeled. Today it is beyond belief as are the gardens and the equally old Angel Oaks that drip Spanish moss. Unfortunately, I could not get my ghost to relocate. This ghost has been documented by previous owners. Mary Margaret as we call her, is “a friendly”. She is also mischievous. It took me two weeks to figure out that she didn’t like my coffee cups. They would slide off the table or counter or else they’d break in the dishwasher. I bought red checkered ones. All are intact as of this writing. She moves pillows from one room to the other and she stops all the clocks in the house at 9:10 in the a.m. at least once a week. When the Azaleas are in bloom, and only then, I find blooms on my night stand. I have this glorious front porch and during the warm months I see my swing moving early in the morning when the air is still and again late in the day. She doesn’t spook the dogs. I always know when she’s around because the five of them line up and look like they’re at a tennis match. As of this writing we’re co-habiting nicely.
Most writers love what they do and I’m no exception. I love it when I get a germ of an idea and get it down on paper. I love breathing life into my characters. I love writing about women who persevere and prevail because that’s what I had to do to get to this point in time. It’s another way of saying it doesn’t matter where you’ve been, what matters is where you’re going and how you get there. The day I finally prevailed was the day I was inducted into the New Jersey Literary Hall of Fame. For me it was an awesome day and there are no words to describe it.
I’ve been telling stories and scribbling for 37 years. I hope I can continue for another 37 years. It wasn’t easy during some of those years. As I said, I had to persevere. My old Polish grandmother said something to me when I was little that I never forgot. She said when God is good to you, you have to give back. For a while I didn’t know how to do that. When I finally figured it out I set up The Fern Michaels® Foundation.
READ FERN MICHAELS' FULL BIOGRAPHY HERE: http://www.fernmichaels.com/biography/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
December 5, 2021
I have enjoyed reading Fern Michaels' novels, but I was a bit disappointed with Mistletoe Magic. It definitely was a feel good Christmas story, but all the characters ended up falling in love right at the end of the story which was a bit disappointing. Mistletoe Magic was a novel of three short novellas all in the same book. All of these novellas have a connection to a ski resort in Colorado, which Olympic Gold Medalist skier Max Jorgenson owns.
Making Spirits Bright- Melanie McLaughlin desperately wants to adopt children and give them the best Christmas ever. Melanie is told she MUST be married in order to adopt children from this certain foster care in Colorado, Melanie majestically marries Bryce Landry before she learns that the adoption agency lied to her.
Mister Christmas- A week before Christmas Claire O'Brien must make a trip to Ireland to change one of her wealthy client's will, only to encounter a romantic relationship with her clients nephew.
A Winter Wonderland- Angelica Shepard left New York for Christmas in Colorado to think about if she wants to change her job, because as an actress her age, Angelica isn't getting very far. While on a ski slope Angelica gets taken out by an out of control snowboarder, in the hospital Angelica wakes up to the angel that saved her, Parker North who is a trauma surgeon at Denver's Angel of Mercy Hospital is also on a vacation to also think about his career.
Candy Canes and Cupid- Hannah Ray is a private investigator and she just wants to spend a quiet Christmas day at her Florida beachfront condo. Hannah's biggest client, Max Jorgenson insists that Hannah joins him on a Colorado ski trip.
Making Spirits Bright- Melanie McLaughlin desperately wants to adopt children and give them the best Christmas ever. Melanie is told she MUST be married in order to adopt children from this certain foster care in Colorado, Melanie majestically marries Bryce Landry before she learns that the adoption agency lied to her.
Mister Christmas- A week before Christmas Claire O'Brien must make a trip to Ireland to change one of her wealthy client's will, only to encounter a romantic relationship with her clients nephew.
A Winter Wonderland- Angelica Shepard left New York for Christmas in Colorado to think about if she wants to change her job, because as an actress her age, Angelica isn't getting very far. While on a ski slope Angelica gets taken out by an out of control snowboarder, in the hospital Angelica wakes up to the angel that saved her, Parker North who is a trauma surgeon at Denver's Angel of Mercy Hospital is also on a vacation to also think about his career.
Candy Canes and Cupid- Hannah Ray is a private investigator and she just wants to spend a quiet Christmas day at her Florida beachfront condo. Hannah's biggest client, Max Jorgenson insists that Hannah joins him on a Colorado ski trip.
didn-t-finish
December 1, 2025Four novellas and I got through maybe half of the first three and decided not to bother with the last one. It’s not normal for a man and woman who have known each other for less than 24 hours to be all lovey dovey and ga-ga over each other, especially when they started out sniping at one another verbally.
No stars, but definitely not recommended. Sad, I wanted to read a Fern Michaels in memory of her, RIP, but this was not the book to do that with I think.
No stars, but definitely not recommended. Sad, I wanted to read a Fern Michaels in memory of her, RIP, but this was not the book to do that with I think.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 8, 2018
A collection of holiday romances centered around Maximum Glide, the Telluride, CO ski resort owned by former Olympic gold medalist, Max Jorgesen, and his wife Grace. Now I like a good romance as much as the next girl, but when people meet and either fall in love or get married in one day, it is a bit unrealistic. Additionally, when Ms Michaels can't keep track of her own characters (she wrote all 4 stories in this collection) it is a bit disappointing. In the first story, "Making Spirits Bright", Max & Grace's daughter is referred to as Ella (pg 51), which is her name from other stories with these characters. However, in the second story, "Mister Christmas", her name changes to Bella on page 152. The third story, "A Winter Wonderland", again has her name correct as Ella on page 176. In this story, Patrick and Stephanie announce they are pregnant and reveal the sex of the baby. However, in the final story, "Candy Canes and Cupid", they've had the baby but it is not what Ms Michaels indicated in "A Winter Wonderland". Now, it might not be so bad if these stories were in separate books, but when they are contained within a single book, and people read them one after the other, it is disheartening that the author can't keep her characters straight. An enjoyable, but just OK, read -- 4 out of 10.
December 11, 2017
A number of sweet, predictable Christmas stories. They reminded me of Hallmark movies but wonderful to read during the Christmas season.
August 23, 2019
Oh good Lord. Someone PLEASE tell me WHY I keep reading Fern Michaels books when I know the "formula" like the back of my hand & how they're going to end by the end of the third page. I spend more time rolling my eyes & head slapping than I care to explain. I need an intervention. It's no wonder women have unrealistic expectations in relationships. We're being conditioned by books like this to believe all men are fantastic, sensitive, good looking, ridiculously wealthy & would NEVER fart in front of you.....haha. What color is the sky in that world?!?
October 6, 2017
I won this book from Goodreads giveaways. I was not required to give a favorable review. This book was a wonderful collection of short novellas based around a ski area in Telluride, CO. It was wonderful. It story connects with the families and goings on. But brings in how with just a little help love can find it's way into everyone heart and makes for wonderful holidays stories. I love Fern Michael as a writer and is this is just another great book.
October 24, 2021
Four short lovable Christmas stories. They will bring magic to your Christmas season.
December 17, 2021
DNF. Made it through the first story out of the 4 in this book, but just barely. It was just really boring and I’m definitely not a fan of this author’s writing style. I don’t foresee myself finishing the other 3 stories…but who knows - maybe I’ll read the next one some day just to give the author a fair chance???
November 26, 2018
Ugh. Poorly told, dull story.
July 16, 2019
Four Christmas stories, some were better than others but all followed the same formula. It was really boring.
January 22, 2018
A WINTER WONDERLAND
A WINTER WONDERLAND should never have made it past the first draft. It was a horrible love story and Angelica (the main character) should be ashamed. She's a wealthy lawyer who goes to a Colorado ski lodge to relax. She runs into a man who, in her eyes, isn't up to par. She thinks he's rude and a typical ski bum. When she finds out he's staying at the lodge, her immediate thought was 'He must have saved his money for so long to treat himself, poor thing." She comments on his junk of a car and is torn between feeling pity and embarrassed for him. When she learns he's staying at the penthouse suite, her thoughts were "Wow, he must have won a contest." Yet, when he tells her he's actually a doctor, Angelica finds herself heads over heels. He doesn't treat her any differently and yet she has stars in her eyes. The worst part of this short story wasn't the writing, it was the regret of Angelica not voicing these nasty thoughts out loud. It would have been a better story if she ends up all alone.
A WINTER WONDERLAND should never have made it past the first draft. It was a horrible love story and Angelica (the main character) should be ashamed. She's a wealthy lawyer who goes to a Colorado ski lodge to relax. She runs into a man who, in her eyes, isn't up to par. She thinks he's rude and a typical ski bum. When she finds out he's staying at the lodge, her immediate thought was 'He must have saved his money for so long to treat himself, poor thing." She comments on his junk of a car and is torn between feeling pity and embarrassed for him. When she learns he's staying at the penthouse suite, her thoughts were "Wow, he must have won a contest." Yet, when he tells her he's actually a doctor, Angelica finds herself heads over heels. He doesn't treat her any differently and yet she has stars in her eyes. The worst part of this short story wasn't the writing, it was the regret of Angelica not voicing these nasty thoughts out loud. It would have been a better story if she ends up all alone.
December 12, 2020
This was not a good book. I hardly ever write bad reviews, but I have to here.
1) The back cover blurbs revealed almost every turn in the stories (that is not the writer's fault, I know.)
2) The short stories took such a long time to get to the point that they had no pages left to actually cover any interesting plot details.
3) For some reason, all the interesting plot twists did not merit an actual scene. In stead there were scenes about how the main characters were thinking about things. But you never got to experience how the private eye figured out who was the thief, for instance, that was just narrated between scenes. You never actually got to experience the scene where the couple told the kids that they are going to be adopted. And so on.
4) The love stories had no tension. At all.
I haven't read Fern Michaels before, so I'm hoping she does better with novels, where slow beginnings aren't so much a problem.
1) The back cover blurbs revealed almost every turn in the stories (that is not the writer's fault, I know.)
2) The short stories took such a long time to get to the point that they had no pages left to actually cover any interesting plot details.
3) For some reason, all the interesting plot twists did not merit an actual scene. In stead there were scenes about how the main characters were thinking about things. But you never got to experience how the private eye figured out who was the thief, for instance, that was just narrated between scenes. You never actually got to experience the scene where the couple told the kids that they are going to be adopted. And so on.
4) The love stories had no tension. At all.
I haven't read Fern Michaels before, so I'm hoping she does better with novels, where slow beginnings aren't so much a problem.
December 18, 2017
This book is a collection of 4 Christmas novellas by Fern Michaels. I picked up a copy as a bargain book. I enjoyed the first and third novellas, Makng Spirits Bright and A Winter Wonderland. Both of these stories had well developed characters. While the storylines were a bit unrealistic and the endings predictable, it was still good escapism reading. At this time of year I read a lot of Christmas / holiday books. I like to keep my reading light for the holidays. The second and fourth novellas, Mister Christmas and Candy Canes and Cupid, were too over-the-top for me. After reading the first few pages of these two novellas, I decided not to continue reading them. Overall, I got my money's worth with this bargain book. I rate it 3 stars.
December 28, 2023
Mistletoe magic is a cozy read (at least for me) centered around a ski resort in Colorado during the holiday season. I enjoyed reading the four stories, the only thing I dislike about it is that in each story the characters get together in the last chapters, I feel like it was rushed. I know, they're short what did I expect? Nothing, I guess. I enjoyed the stories nonetheless; it brought me back to the memories of the past when my family visited my grandparents in Illinois and my grandma showed me her book collection. I got interested in reading because of my grandma and I believe the first book she let me choose was a Fern Michaels book. Picking up a book from an author my grandma read makes me miss her (r.i.p. grandma).
December 8, 2021
These were just bad. I had to put this book down after the second story.
All the characters are completely flat outside of one defining feature. All the love interests are just lampshades with sexy sticky notes on them, and impossibly hot.
These stories read like they were written 60 years ago, not 10 years ago. I don't know who any of these mid 30 peoples are doing, but no one lives like the characters in Michaels' stories. I really wish Goodreads would allow for a 0 star rating, as this is what these stories deserve.
All the characters are completely flat outside of one defining feature. All the love interests are just lampshades with sexy sticky notes on them, and impossibly hot.
These stories read like they were written 60 years ago, not 10 years ago. I don't know who any of these mid 30 peoples are doing, but no one lives like the characters in Michaels' stories. I really wish Goodreads would allow for a 0 star rating, as this is what these stories deserve.
February 26, 2021
It is short stories that all fall during Christmas. It also has the characters enter twine with in each story. Even though the are stand alone with the romance it all takes places at a ski resort as well. All the stories written by same author. 2 of the stories just couldn’t hold my attention would read/scan to get to the end of the story. The last story it sounded great liked the character Hannah Ray this story was way to short still couldn’t hold my attention.
December 20, 2021
I feel like the author really tried to course correct the preceding holiday anthology (which included a novella about a victim of domestic violence falling in love with someone who verbally and emotionally abuses her) with a completely unrealistic but fine hero who is completely OK with marrying the heroine in Vegas so she can adopt two kids, and then he wants to adopt them with her and they have one big happy family—after one week.
December 12, 2017
Loved this book-a selecton of 4 hoiday romance stories, some funny moments and some amazing coincidences with characters.
Love is in the air in the mountains of Telluride,Colorado.
Its always nice to read a book that is set to where I live or where I used to live and I can mentally check the author's accuracy of details.
Love is in the air in the mountains of Telluride,Colorado.
Its always nice to read a book that is set to where I live or where I used to live and I can mentally check the author's accuracy of details.
December 7, 2017
Ok, I think even lower than Hallmark. Let's be a little real, folks. Instant lust may happen but you don't automatically know you will spend the rest of your life with the character you meet in odd circumstances..even if they are a set up. Fairly good descriptions and characters, just a little shallow.
January 3, 2021
I won this kindle book in the giveaway. This book is four short stories with a common connection of Colorado. I actually didn’t realize that once I started the second one right away, a tad confusing. Lol. Anyways, four love stories where couples with lots of money, great jobs meet and fall in love within days. If only real life was this way...
January 4, 2021
I won this copy from Goodreads and this is my honest review of it.
This is a heartwarming book containing 4 short stories all revolving around a ski resort in Colorado called Maximum Glide. Each story is a sweet and romantic tale of love at first sight. They were a joy to read and made you feel good. Perfect during this pandemic.
This is a heartwarming book containing 4 short stories all revolving around a ski resort in Colorado called Maximum Glide. Each story is a sweet and romantic tale of love at first sight. They were a joy to read and made you feel good. Perfect during this pandemic.
December 10, 2018
I love a good romance. This was a collection of stories centered around a ski resort in Telluride, CO. They're all the cheesy romance you could ask for without the blatant sex scenes. They were cute and a quick read.
June 24, 2019
This book is a series of four stories that take place in an upscale ski resort in Telluride, Colorado. The characters are intertwined throughout the stories. In each case, a couple falls in love within a day or two of their first rocky meeting and decide to spend the rest of their lives together.
October 10, 2019
Okay, but...
It wasn’t the Christmas book I thought it would be, but it was okay. You get four in one connected short stories, which I wasn’t expecting. And since I’m a little dense, it was hard for me to keep all the different characters straight in my head.
It wasn’t the Christmas book I thought it would be, but it was okay. You get four in one connected short stories, which I wasn’t expecting. And since I’m a little dense, it was hard for me to keep all the different characters straight in my head.
December 26, 2020
A quartet of skiing over the holiday stories. The quick commitments seemed unlikely, but I know of real people who have done this and lived happily ever after, so why not. Light and easy, enjoyable reading. A pleasant day of escapism. Thanks to Goodreads I won a copy.
January 1, 2021
Wonderful holiday stories
I just finished this shortly before the New Year! Each of these was a getaway treat for me all involving skiing in Colorado, a place I’d love to visit, but I’ve never skied a day in my life!
I just finished this shortly before the New Year! Each of these was a getaway treat for me all involving skiing in Colorado, a place I’d love to visit, but I’ve never skied a day in my life!
December 31, 2021
A delightful collection of Christmas stories and love at first sight moments. All the stories are connected by characters in the other stories and I enjoyed that. It kept the story rolling and the reader doesn't have to remember a whole new set of characters.
January 9, 2023
This book contained four different short stories with a holiday theme. They were quick to read & somewhat entertaining. They were all romances, all set at Christmas, & set in snowy places. I enjoyed this lighthearted read, perfect for the holiday season.
December 22, 2024
I read three of the four as I've read the one story previously. All were good. The last one I enjoyed best of all as it was set at a ski lodge! I'm not really familiar with lodges, but it gave a good account of one. Fairly good reading of romances! All set in the holiday season!
November 14, 2017
Some of the story's were quite good but the time frame for the whole events were a bit too fast to be believable.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews