Chasing the Mistletoe

The Mistletoe Duet #1

by Mary Waterford

Twelve teams. A race across America. Half a million dollars up for grabs. And there's one guy I just can't stand.

When I'm paired with Noah Lockwood for the inaugural "Chasing the Mistletoe" reality TV show, I know I'm in for a challenge. Our first encounter? I yelled at him right in the middle of the street, clueless that he'd soon become my only lifeline in this competition.

The pressure is immense. That prize money? It's for my sister's lifesaving surgery. Backing out isn't an option, even if it means bunking with a hot cowboy who clearly isn't my biggest fan. But as the nights chill, something changes between us—sparks fly and resisting him becomes nearly impossible.

Yet as the finish line draws nearer, it dawns on me: splitting the prize with Noah won't be enough. I'll need a Christmas miracle to save my sister and win Noah's heart.

Genres: Christmas, Romance, Holiday, Forced Proximity, Enemies To Lovers, Ebooks, Contemporary

318 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 26, 2022

Reviews

[Kylie ve · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a great high stakes book! I loved how caring and supportive Genevieve was throughout this whole book towards everyone she met. She was such a kind person that helped whenever she could. And Noah is such an interesting character. He’s got a hard past with trauma and a lot he had to go through. But it was nice to see that he turned out to be a caring and compassionate guy despite the way he grew up and who he was around. I love how determined and caring Genevieve was to win the money to help her sister live it was such a great addition to her character and Noah and his goals to open a ranch for foster kids was such a heartwarming thing to see. Such a good book and I definitely recommend it!

[K · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read all of Mary Waterford's books and this one is so good! First person dual POV? Check. Action and adventure? Check. High stakes that cause most of the tension? Check! Hot cowboy Noah and gorgeous Genevieve, who are thrown together as strangers and have put aside their misconceptions if they want to win the prize money that would change both their lives? Check!

Seriously, this book was perfect! Love love love.

[Cassandra · Rating 2 out of 5]

It started out great and fun. But the muddle dragged on and the ending was rushed. Also, all the miscommunication!!! I hate obvious miscommunication and Genevieve even said something along the lines of knowing she needed to just act like an adult but didn’t when think about discussing issues with Noah.

[Smacka · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this high stakes, Christmas adventure romance. The contest as the background to their story was a lot of fun and the challenges were interesting. I loved the way the relationship developed between Genevieve and Noah, from instant dislike, to like, to love. I also adored the way they were there for each other and how Noah was able to open up to Genevieve about his past. All in all, a sweet, steamy holiday read.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fiction / Strangers to friends to lovers / Force Proximity / Christmas
⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 🌶🌶🌶/5

TW: Family illness / Attempted sexual assault / physical assault / Talk of past Child abuse

Oh my goodness. I laughed, cried like a baby, and I laughed some more. The Amazing Race meets a Hallmark movie. A Christmas time read but not centered around Christmas. I would suggest this to anyone looking for heartwarming and spice!!

[Maggie Mac · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't ususally like books written in first person POV, but the cover of this book grabbed me and I liked the other books by this author, so I thought I'd give it ago. I'm so glad I did! It was a great, fast paced read. Action packed but also with lots of emotion. The hero and heroine were great characters and their love story was really sweet.

[Sadie P L · Rating 4 out of 5]

My 1st xmas book

I really really enjoyed this book. A really great easy read. The main characters were easily loveable. The games were really good. Haven't read a book like it. It reminded me of the Xmas hallmark movies that watch every year. Love that all family watched their love grow and how they help anyone in need.

[Ana Filipa · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was such a treat. It had all the sweetness and warmth that anyone could ask 🥰🥰

This book is perfect for around Christmas time, it’s a really cute love story. They made such a perfect couple.

4.50⭐️

[N Warfie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored this book. The action was great, the romance was really lovely. I really felt for both these characters and what they were going through in their lives. I cried at the end, it was so sweet.

[ame · Rating 3 out of 5]

This started off so so good, but then halfway through the book I felt like the plot became insignificant and it became a smut fest. Some of the logic in the book also didn't really made sense in my opinion, but I loved the basic concept of the plot, I'm sad it flopped

[Allie Dykes · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was here for the book until about 75% through. Then she had to throw in every trope and possible epilogue ending. It was just a lot for me.

[Blackrose · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.3 ⭐️

I need to spill the tea on "Chasing the Mistletoe" by Mary Waterford. And let me tell you, my experience with this one was less of a hit and more of a miss. Am I the only one riding this struggle bus?

Now, don't get me wrong; call me the odd one out, but I'm over here feeling like I got a miss instead of a hit with this story. It's like expecting a grand slam and ending up with a bunt. Sure, it's easy to read, and the pace is faster than a squirrel on caffeine – major points there. The whole Amazing Race vibe was a cool concept, but honestly, it left me feeling like it could've been a bit juicier, you know? Like ordering a burger and getting a veggie patty – not quite what you signed up for. But hold the mistletoe, folks, because in my humble opinion, it could've been better.

Let's talk about communication and emotional regulation here. It was like watching a ping pong match, but instead of the ball, it was emotions bouncing all over the place. Get it together, people! I wanted articulate conversations, not a rollercoaster of feelings without a seatbelt.

Sure, there were parts of the story that had me on the edge of my seat, pumping my fists like I just won a Fortnite battle. Those were the moments where the story shone, and I was all in for it.

However, and it's a big however, it left me wanting more. Maybe I'm just a tough critic, or maybe my mistletoe mojo was on vacation that day.

[Madge Bear · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genevieve and Noah
Forced proximity
Christmas

RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️,5
SPICE: 🔥🔥🔥

12 teams race across America to win $500,000. All teams created in advance. Genevieve and Noah having just lost their partners. Gen’s ex broke up with her while Noah’s was his foster brother/friend who broke his leg. Thus, these two either go it together or not at all.

Anonosity and misreadings lead the couple to be in last place in the beginning. Once they put all aside and start getting to know eache other, they slowly start to come up on the leader board.

Gen is a true heart. She is there to win money for her sister’s surgery. Loved her slowly getting out of her head.

Noah’s got some skeletons in his closet. His slowly realizing to have it all with Gen, he needs to open his closet.

Loved the race concepr and all the little drama around it. Their relationship was beautifully written. Intimacy and spice was perfectly placed.

[Hannah DiPilato · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably more of a 3.5 but by far the best fluffy Christmas book I read this year. I loved the first 60% of the book, the pacing was great and the competition aspect was very unique. I felt like after that it slowed down and focused a lot more on Gen and Noah’s relationship, which was fine but it was just a bit slow and basic. It did feel like they got very close very unrealistically fast, they could’ve gotten married further out, but overall the plot was cute and tied up nicely. I liked that the author didn’t reveal Noah’s backstory right away and that all of the side plots concluded nicely.

[Myriam Toriz · Rating 5 out of 5]

An easy 4.5🌟
Entertainment, love and attractive characters the best combination for a light book.

Genevieve is a great support and a life saver even in some of the worse and most stressful times of her life.

Noah, doesn’t have the best past but made out the best of it and is great person and make others shine.

The contest, the challenges and the holidays, and the development of their relationship from strangers, to friends to lovers and the fact that their trust was built slowly was great

[Amber Jayne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book the plot idea was great and the characters are likeable with good stories however towards the end it just felt like it was rushed and no one would move that quickly after like a week.

If you don’t enjoy miscommunication I would not recommend, I don’t mind it but it was a bit annoying happening multiple times! Just have a chat 🤣

I have challenged myself to read only Christmas themed books this December so I can say I’ve read a fair few now🎄 but I wouldn’t really say this has anything Christmassy in except they are collecting mistletoe.

[Brianne Grant · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one started out promising, but I lost interest for most of it, and then the last 20% I was interested again. It had very Hallmark-y vibes which I actually loved, it just didn’t hold my interest. I didn’t feel a great connection between Noah and Genevieve. I also was a bit disappointed that it wasn’t more Christmas-y. It didn’t read like a Christmas/holiday book.
-reality show competition
-strangers to lovers
-forced proximity
-one bed
-tragic past

[Brittany Metcalf · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun holiday read! It made me nostalgic of when I would watch The Amazing Race with my mom when I was younger, and I really liked that aspect of it! I liked all the challenges they had to do. I also really liked some of the other contestants, especially Phoenix. I liked both of the main characters, but I just felt like their relationship was a little fast. Other than that, I had a fun time with this one and will probably end up reading the second book about Genevieve's sister.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

What’s better than a race for cash!

Genevieve’s ex-boyfriend dumped her just before the competition started. But she made arrangements and went anyhow. Little did she know, that she would get paired with the insufferable guy who bumped into her on the way there. Fate has a way however, of making sure that you’re taken care of. Her new partner, turns out to be better than she could have ever hoped for.

[Sarah Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

I remember getting this book on one of my many Stuff Your Kindle Days recently and I wasn’t sure how I would feel about this. I really don’t normally watch Amazing Race style shows, but the premise had me intrigued. I thought it was a cheesey holiday romance with a nice plot and good characters! I wasn’t swooning or gushing over anything in particular, but it was an enjoyable read for the holiday season! I’d say 2.75/5 stars is what I would rate it.

[LittleMissBookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an emotional rollercoaster!

This book is the perfect blend of silly, cute and hard-hitting. Even though, the story is centered around a fun reality TV show, the stakes for our two MCs, especially Genevieve, are extremely high.
I love how she and Noah gradually open up to one another after their not so meet cute and start really working together. Also, their chemistry is off the charts!

This would have been a five star read if it weren't for a little something at the very end that's one of my personal pet peeves. Highly recommend!

[A · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was such a short and sweet book! i loved the thrill of the competition and the fact that there was no 3rd act breakup!!! it’s actually so refreshing to not have a big stupid miscommunication or something that makes them unhappy enough to end things!
i was also so sure there was gonna be some issues with the money at the end but again i was pleasantly surprised the whole book was just so sweet and just reinstated my dreams of being a foster mother one day!

[Amelia Cameron · Rating 3 out of 5]

So, I really liked the story. But, I had to take off a star because of the British English terms that are just not what two Americans would use. Americans do not have hostels, hire cars, plait their hair, fantasize about dream holidays, toss things into the bin, or stay in hospital. It would have been just as easy to have this story take place in England or Canada, but if you’re choosing American places and characters, it’s distracting to have them speak like Brits for no apparent reason.

[Adam Beatson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a beautifully well written adventure/ love story across the United States. I loved all the wonderful locations during the Chase and enjoyed all the interactions with the other contestants. High drama , action a plenty and lots of love , sweat 🥵 and tears. Highly recommend for this or any Christmas. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun story with strangers thrown together to compete in Chasing the Mistletoe - think Amazing Race light. Both Genevieve and Noah need the money. The game is ok, but could have been better - the clues were so bad. (But they made fun of them in the story, too.) The characters are well written and you did root for them. I will check out more books from Mary Waterford.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was precious😭 I love Noah and Genevieve with all my heart. The reality show aspect of the book is what first caught my attention, but it's much more than that. It's a story of two strangers learning to trust each other and falling in love amidst life's struggles. Their story was truly beautiful, and I'm happy to have read it!

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book pulled me out of my latest reading slump. I loved the romance, mixed in with the reality show adventure. The characters in this book were so likeable and easy to connect with. There were a few bumpy parts that took me out of the story, but mostly I couldn’t stop reading. I finished this in one sitting because it was that good.

[Tatyana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this story. Genevieve is so sweet, caring and loving to those around her. Even when she’s worried about her sister she still has time to be there for her teammate and competitors. Reading about Noah and his progression to being able to be open a little more about his past to Genevieve is perfect. The story flowed and the timing for everything was great!

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A reality competition brings together two people who have not previously met. They are both a bit hesitant about partnering up for this, but both have big plans for needing to win. Eventually they warm up to each other and are able to work well as a team. A few racy scenes I could have done without, but overall, a good story and ending.

[shannon Stubbs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emotional

This story was very emotional. I cried several times during reading this story. Genevieve is a nurse and Noah is a councillor. They both loose their partners before the competition. So the show pair them together.
This was an emotional roller coaster of their journey on a Christmas competition show.