Mistletoe Kisses

Reindeer Ridge #1

by Macie St. James

Love is in the air in Reindeer Ridge as four female shop owners celebrate the season.

As an animal lover, the last thing Annaliese Bennett needs is a trapped bear in the shop across from her pet clothing store. But that's exactly what she finds when she returns from being out of town. Worse, the bear has been deliberately trapped by the shop's owner, Will Parker.

Will is starting a new life in the town of Reindeer Ridge. His shop, The Big Bear, sells novelty items while also providing guests the chance to see a live bear kept humanely upstairs. Unfortunately, the shop owner across the way seems to be determined to have his shop closed down.

But Annaliese soon begins to realize that Will isn’t the bad guy she wants to make him out to be. As their feelings for each other start to grow, they both begin to realize the importance of compromise.

This book was previously included in the December 2020 anthology, Small-Town Christmas. The rest of the series was not part of that anthology.

The Reindeer Ridge series is a sweet, clean contemporary Christmas series filled with swoon-worthy heroes and a small-town setting.

Genres: Christmas, Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Amazon, Holiday

178 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 1, 2020

About the author

Macie St. James is a freelance content writer by day, romance author by night. Or maybe a mix of both at all times. When she's not dreaming up her next story, she can be found indulging her Happy Planner habit and snuggling with her pet dog, a spaniel mix. She lives in Nashville with her husband. Sign up for her newsletter for exclusives and news about future books: https://maciestjames.com

Reviews

[Jamie Bee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mostly Misses

I absolutely adore Christmas novellas and novels and start reading them as they come out. Unfortunately, I didn’t really feel like this one exemplified the holiday spirit I like to see in such stories. Yes, it takes place in a small town, but much of the focus of the book—to where the main romance felt like a side story rather than the main one—is on introducing the town (and all its seasonal events) and its inhabitants. I often feel that contemporary Christmas romances are not in tune with the “reason for the season.” All the references to the hero’s and heroine’s good-looking body parts were just such an issue. When a holiday romance is billed as “sweet” or “clean,” I don’t really care to see mention of how cute the heroine thinks the hero’s bottom is! The whole “bear” aspect—to the point of keeping a live bear in a retail store!!--didn’t seem hardly Christmas-y either.

I actually ran a retail store in a small town, and I liked that the author chose unusual stores for the hero and heroine. Small towns typically aren’t full of bakeries, coffee houses, antique shops, and book stores… as most small-town novels and novellas would have you believe! The author was not able to capture the “rush” of small-town holiday retail for both owners and shoppers. Holiday retail in small towns is typically a big deal, bursting and bustling with activity for a short time, with stores pulling out all the Christmas stops with cheery and festive decorations and seasonal inventory.

I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.

[Tracey Wert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Annaliese can't "bear" that there's a bear trapped in the shop across from her. Will is new in town and thinks the bear will be a great draw for customers to visit his store. As they get to know each other through some really fun town festivals and themed nights on the town square, they realize that there has to be a compromise at some point!

This was a really fun read as Annaliese and Will (and Poppy) realize their feelings for each other and how they need to give a little to make things work on a personal and professional level. The supporting cast was great too! The baggage that each brought into the new relationship was believable and overcome-able (is that a word?). A great book leading into this Christmas season!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Terra Oenning · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was so good and had me enthralled from the beginning until the end and the storyline flowed throughout the book. I absolutely Will and Annalise story.

[Shanna Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute holiday story with lots of unexpected moments

This story was lovely and so unlike others I have read, in fact I don't think I have EVER read a story with a live bear involved. I enjoyed this one so much and can't wait to read more by this author. Next book I'll have to be sure to have my cup of peppermint cocoa ready to go.

[Kathy Winchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet story full of misunderstanding and a HEA in the making. Annaliese with Poppy and Will with Grizz, muddle their way through the hard stuff, with help from the other shopkeepers in town. Finding themselves better together than apart, Annaliese and Will discover love isn't what you think it is...it is what you make of it!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute book! Fun characters. Annaliese and Will are likable. What will happen with Will’s bear? Will Annalise become friends with Will and agree to keeping the beat in his habitat? Or will Grizz have to be returned? Would recommend the book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Rebmay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a sweet, rather enchanting story. At first, Annaliese and Will seem to be combatants on opposite sides of an animal care issue. Annaliese can’t believe that Will thinks keeping a live bear in a retail setting is a good idea. She thinks cruelty to animals is a big reason not to like the man who she finds to be very attractive. Will is also attracted to Annaliese, the shopkeeper nearest to his new store, but he could do without the quick judgement. He is determined to show her that their is no animal mistreatment going on and that he is a good guy. Will she give him a chance? Events around town and the townspeople themselves seem determined to throw these two together. Anyone can see the chemistry between them, and hopefully some Christmas magic will help these two become a couple.

The fascinating characters and intriguing storyline make this book very entertaining. The town and it’s citizens are delightfully unique and charming. I would recommend this book to lovers of sweet, charming romances. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[DJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christmas, romance and pets-- I loved it!

Mistletoe Kisses, book 1 in Macie St. James Reindeer Ridge series, is a delightful romp through love and romance at Christmas time! I have always loved the Christmas season. My earliest childhood memories involve my home at Christmas time. My mom went out of her way to make our home a Christmas wonderland. Our relatives would gather for a mini- reunion and Mom would go slightly crazy making sure everyone had a good time! My mom has been gone for many years now, passing away suddenly from a brain aneurysm . And with her passing the elaborate family Christmas celebrations passed with her.

This is why I love reading novels about people finding their happily ever after during this magical season. It is a reminder of hope, love and second chance romance! Marcie St. James perfectly captures that atmosphere in Mistletoe Kisses. Can you imagine a more perfect name for a village wrapped up tight in the Christmas spirit than Reindeer Ridge? The name of this small town in North Carolina was what attracted to this novel in the first place! The name and then the great cast of quirky townspeople were just the ticket to bring a smile to my face!

Marcie made sure the town and its shopkeepers came alive with just her words. I was hooked from page 1 with Annaliese and her adorable dog Poppy! And the developing relationship with the newcomer,Will, and his live rescue bear, Grizz, melted my heart. Reading Mistletoe Kisses was like being center stage during a Hallmark movie filming!

There is plenty of humor in this story. I laughed out loud, startling my husband and napping dogs, when Will and Annaliese are forced to go on impromptu scavenger hunt for Will's stolen, life size stuffed Bear, Fuzzy! But that wasn't near as adorable ,then the scene where Will and Poppy take over the Kissing Booth at the festival! It was so clever for Will to make the doggie the kisser at the booth, instead of himself!

The festivities and the town square were also well- developed. I couldn't have a better idea what the setting looked like unless I was holding a map of the festivities while given a guided tour! Macie really has a way with words! Such word craft skills I am in awe!

Mistletoe Kisses is a clean romance with nothing racer than a few sneaked kisses. But the raw sexual tension and attraction is very palpable! Made me just want to start singing , "Kiss the Girl from Disney's Little Mermaid!

Don't Walk! Run! To pick up this book! It's currently available on Kindle Unlimited, making it affordable and adorable! Try it! I know you will like it!

[Ann Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

'Mistletoe Kisses' by Macie St. James is the first book in her new series Reindeer Ridge and tells the story of Annalise, who owns a popular pet notions store, and Will, who has just opened a store across the street. Will's store was called The Big Bear and he had an actual live bear in his store as a draw. As an animal advocate Annalise could not abide cruelty to animals and was horrified to hear about the bear. She found out that permission had been given while she was out of town helping her mother recover from surgery. Annalise lodges a complaint with the mayor's office and the mayor decides to have someone look into the good and bad of the issue. Annalise and Will are assigned to the job.

Ms. St. James has kicked off her new series with a sweet story. The book is well written with great characters, an interesting plot, and wonderful dialogue. I enjoyed this book and recommend them to anyone who likes some Christmas with their romance.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Penny Leidecker · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a delightful series with some interesting characters. Mistletoe Kisses is set in Reindeer Ridge, North Carolina. This book is centered around Annaliese and Will. Will is opening a new shop, The Big Bear, across the way from Annaliese and she’s not happy that he has a live bear in his shop. Even though she doesn’t like the idea of a live bear, she still finds Will very attractive. Will just got out of a relationship and he isn’t looking for a new one. Will the live bear cause issues for the town or will it help? No spoilers, so grab your copy and see what happens. I will say this is the perfect title for this book. I can’t wait to see what this author has for us next.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[LetsTalksBooks Too · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4 star
Spicy: 1 star

I adored this story and am so happy it is a series so I can dive into the next book soon. Annalise is the sweetest leading lady and is one not to be messed with. When a NEW shop owner comes to town and challenges her Animal Loving Activism what can go wrong? Well, there is more to the eye for our Mr. Will Parker. I loved watching this story unfold and seeing what would happen next with this “bear” issue. The feelings start to grow and these two really get to know each other their little town of Reindeer Ridge helps push them when they need to be shoved! And can we talk about the side characters and how much I loved them? Absolutely loved this sweet small-town romance!

[Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

After the betrayal of his fiancée, Will is starting over in Reindeer Ridge. His shop, The Big Bear, will have a live bear that he saved from a hunting farm where it would most definitely be killed on the hunt. Annaliese Bennett owns the shop across the street from Will and with being an animal love and activist, she is determined to have the bear released. This comes about after an incident when she was a child and unchained the dog next door and opened the gate to let it go, never knowing what happened as it was never found. What will an email betrayal do to Will when he learns of it? I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lori R · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun story of two shop owners who live in the ski resort town of Reindeer Ridge in North Carolina.  I found Will's shop to be fascinating as it was called The Big Bear and it even had a real bear inside.  It was interesting to see that while there may be sparks between Will and his shop neighbor, Annaliese, she was really upset with the bear being in his store.  This led to a fun story full of surprises and romance.  The quaint town with all of its fun Christmas activities made me want to visit.  I also found Annaliese's dog, Poppy, to be a fun part of the book.  I received an advance copy of this book and I willingly chose to write an honest review.

[Fleur · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just loved Annaliese and Will they make you laugh and roll your eyes at what they go through, while at first they are at logger heads with each other, as the Town festivities (which I really want to go to) take place they start to see things differently and with some loveable meddling matchmakers they slowly get to know each other. You get a picturesque Town you want to visit so you can meet the townsfolk that make you laugh, shake your head and want to hang out with, two people that have plenty of sparks between them and a cute wee dog Poppy to top it of and make it a book to get lost in and love.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Vicci Lucas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really tried to like Annalise but never could warm up to her. Perhaps because of her over the top attitude in regards to Will and Grizz or her dressing Poppy up and the matching outfits sealed the deal for me. Tatum, Ivy and Meredith were all somewhat complex and interesting ladies. I hope their HEA’s are in store. Will was very likable and tried his hardest to please everyone. A bit soon for him to fall for Annalise after being dumped though. I thoroughly enjoy Ms St James writing and will continue to read her books, I just won’t revisit this one again.

[Amanda Marlowe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Annaliese has been away, when she gets back she sees that the shop across from her has a huge bear outside. Will has moved to Reindeer Ridge to start again, he had a shop in Florida but put it in his girlfriend's name too, so when they broke up he lost everything, he's much more wary now.
Annaliese can't believe there's a live bear in Will's shop, she's all for animal rights. Gradually she finds that Will isn't as bad as she first thought.
A great read from Macie
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Marie Bourgery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Annaliese with her pet supply store and her little dog Poppy was uncertain about the new store going in across from hers with the live bear. I think she liked sexy sweet to her dog Will from the start, but she wasn't happy about the bear and jumps to conclusions and makes rash decisions over it. If I were Will I would be upset with her too especially after she went behind his back while outwardly making it look like they were going to work together. I like Reindeer Ridge with it's interesting interfering residences and nightly holiday festivals.

[Wanda Compton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love blossoms in a tourist ski town

Reindeer Ridge is a town that would be fun to visit. Quirky characters and festivals and don't forget the bear living in the souvenir shop. It's instant attraction when Will opens his shop across the street from Annaliese pet
shop. A difference of opinion about the bear could cause their relationship to falter but the matchmaking residents step in. I liked Will and Annaliese and her little dog Poppy who got in on the matchmaking as well..I enjoy the dynamics of a small town. This was a sweet read.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mistletoe Kisses

A sweet small town romance begins under very different circumstances regarding a bear named Grizz. The ideal small town at Christmastime with closeness between the town people and tourists lots of festivals with holiday cheer. Annaliese met Will when he opened the shop across the street from her. They seemed to really like each other but she couldn't approve of his Bear on display. Could they come to an agreement on what was best for the bear and for each other?

[Sharon S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Annaliese owns a novelty pet store. Will just moved into town and opened a souvenir shop that has a live bear in the store.
Annaliese loves all animals and is appalled that Will has a captive bear. She thinks he should set the bear free. The mayor suggests they work together to find a solution that is best for the bear.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Raylene Weber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Will has open a store that has a real bear in the base and Annaliese is not happy about it. She just finds out when she get back from being with her mother.
Annaliese don't believe in cage animals and is not happy at all. She try to get the council decision over turn. But what happen as she get to know Will and everything about the bear habit. Read and found out where they go.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Brigitte · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christmas is always a sweet season for stories as is shown here in this fine romance. Love is in the air was a popular song and those lines are just as true today aa when the song was written. Love finds its way in this sweet story and I just loved reading it while enjoying the good feelings I felt while reading it. So fabulous four stars go to this beautiful romance.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Emily Pennington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fighting for the Bear . . .

Annaliese can’t imagine why Will, a fellow shopkeeper, would think of keeping a live bear in the store! She immediately assumes cruelty to the animal and dives into a fight with Will whom she has pre-judged to be a bad guy. Will he show her the animal is well-treated and content? Will he convince her that maybe he’s a good guy after all? Maybe even worth a HEA if she gives him a chance?

This is a cute story and worth your time to read and enjoy.

[KL Cassanello · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a sweet story. Annaliese and Will are perfect for each other - everyone can see that. But they both have baggage from prior relationships, and other issues to overcome. Together, they learn the fine art of compromise, looking at the other person's point of view. This small town is full of interesting characters, and I look forward to getting to know them. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Judy Gittleson Hendrickson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Annaliese and Will have shops in town that are right across from each other. The only thing keeping them apart is the live bear that he has on premises. She is all for releasing it, but does not know the history. The characters are heartwarming in their strong passions of animals and family. The storyline is well written with drama, surprises, twists and some romance. Loved the ending.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lcr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mistletoe Kisses is a small town romance that is easy to read. I was rather put off by the fact the storyline is about a bear being kept in a shop. Whatever your views on this, it is still a sweet, easy to read romance with some interesting characters.
If you love Christmas then this is definitely the book and series for you as Reindeer Ridge has a Christmas festival every day from Thanksgiving to Christmas itself. I did enjoy this book, mixed feelings about the best though.

[Wren Woodland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grizz needs a friend

Sweet contemporary. She had animal issues since childhood and did everything to protect any and all. He saved a bear from a shoot farm and made a large enclosure in the back of his bear themed store and she was sure the animal was being mistreated. Is there any way their sparks can overcome their differences? Clean and wholesome. I’m looking forward to the rest of the series.

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story. Annaliese made a snap decision about a fellow shop owner when she learns there is a live bear on display. She believes wild animals should be free. There is no good reason for captivity. She makes causes problems for the store owner. When she realizes she is wrong, it is interesting how she & the owner solve the problem. This is the first book by this author. I would read more of her books.

[Mandy Sickle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one is cute it's set in Raindeer Ridge where Will has just opened a new shop but also has a live bear living at the shop in a custom built inclosure. Annaliese the animal lover isn't thrilled about the Bear in a cage and is worried about the bear. I liked the chemistry between the duo it's adorable watching them try to figure out how to make it work. I love a sweet clean romance and this one hit the spot perfectly

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the small town vibe and the people that make it that way. Anneliese cares deeply about animals and it comes from something that happened when she was younger, but she makes some rash judgments because of it. This is so good, can't wait for more like this.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.