Candy Cane Wishes and Mistletoe Kisses

by Karen Jackson

A heartwarming sweet romance about family, second chances and finding love over the Holidays where you least expect it.

Megan McCleary has left the hustle and bustle of the city to join her father in the small Christmas obsessed town of Mistletoe Bay to participate in the annual 12 Days of Mistletoe Bay Festival. Megan has opened a pop-up bakery Megan's Cupcakes for the Festival with dreams on one day starting her own bakeshop.

Jake Hansen is the nephew of the owners of Holly's Diner right across the street from Megan's Cupcakes. He graduated from culinary school and is helping out his Uncle at the Diner while dreaming of opening his own restaurant in Mistletoe Bay.

Sean McCleary is the new Fire Chief and recently has moved from New York City to Mistletoe Bay. Sandy Robertson is the owner of Candy Cane Cottage and Sean's high school sweetheart.

What will happen when sparks fly between two cooks as they go head to head to win the Christmas Festival Dessert Contest?
Will the Christmas Spirit be enough to reunite two long lost High School sweethearts for a second chance at love?

Genres: Christmas, Holiday

253 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 18, 2022

About the author

Karen Jackson writes feel-good, sweet romances. When Karen isn't busy writing, she enjoys cooking, painting with watercolors, watching The Gilmore Girls and reading, especially her favorite author, Jane Austen. She lives in Southern California with her husband and their two very spoiled rescue dogs, Sky and Casper, who graciously allow their owners to reside in the house and care for them.

Reviews

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a delightfully warm, sentimental and nostalgic look at a small town and its Christmas magic. I think towns like this have to live in our imaginations and memories as too few real ones exist. Charming read. Highly recommended!

My thanks to the author, Karen Jackson, for my electronic copy of this booj which I received through a Goodreads Giveaway.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hallmark Christmas movie in a book. Fun but nothing really special.

[Nyntje347 · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you want a book that feels like the ideal Christmas, read this. It's a story about a town that has 12 days of Christmas traditions. But that's not all, we also have these 2 people who don't live in the town, and they completely get welcomed like they are family.
Megan starts a pop-up cupcake shop that is only supposed to stay till the end of the festival. Across the street of her shop, there is this lovely diner that has amazing Christmas traditions. The nephew of the owners, Jake, dreams about opening his own restaurant one day. On the first day of the festival, there is a contest for all business owners in Mistletoe Bay, and both Megan and Jake are competing for the 10 thousand dollar price. Megan needs to proof that she's a good baker and Jake really could use that money to start his business.
On the other side there's Megan's father, who recently got the job of fire chief in Mistletoe Bay and guess what, he runs into his old high school sweetheart. They end up spending the festival together. The entire book is just so wholesome and beautiful!
I do need the recipe for the Christmas Tree Pancake Special and the Cinnamon French Toast with Maple Bacon. That just sounds amazing!

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet Christmas read

If I could be anywhere at Christmas it would be Mistletoe Bay. As I read this novel I could almost picture myself enjoying the twelve days of Christmas. The characters were alive and having so much fun at the Mistletoe Festival. It is a sweet read and I enjoyed it very much. My only complaint is that there were quite a few grammatical errors throughout the novel. All in all I enjoyed this novel.

[Kayla · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book as part of a Goodreads giveaway. If you’re going in expecting a low-stakes small town vibe Christmas romance, it absolutely delivers! I can appreciate the immersive descriptions of scenes; it’s a fun, cozy read especially during the holiday season. I just felt that the plot lines were a little too one-note - not much conflict/resolution to keep me super interested as the story progressed. Overall, it’s light and enjoyable. 3/5 stars!

[Regina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a sucker for a Christmas story and this one does not disappoint. So festive and so fun. It just makes you smile and feel good.

I read the kindle version which did have some errors but I did my best to ignore them and enjoy the story.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a nice follow-up to Christmas in Mistletoe Bay, but I feel it had too many similarities. The 12 days of Christmas festivities were basically like re-reading the first book, just with different characters.

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heartwarming Christmas story!

[thelma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love is in the air

Five stars most delightful love story how two couples find love and so enjoying the life they search for themselves

[Whitney Warrick · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm a sucker for small town romance, but good heavens, this thing desperately needs a copy editor. I only made it through 10% before I did the Kindle version of throwing it against the wall.

[Marcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet, PG rated feel good Christmas novel.

[Catsalive · Rating 2 out of 5]

A mercifully short Christmas tale. Saccharine & predictable. I read it for a challenge, and it was.

[Meghan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet, clean Christmas romance. It was fairly predictable for the storyline but I enjoyed it overall.

[Jennie Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Heartwarming and sweet.