Mistletoe Season, Three Christmas Stories by Kathleen Fuller, Pepper Basham and Sheila Roberts

This is a collection of three novellas all involving mistletoe.  They are heartwarming and uplifting stories that are easy to read and bring holiday joy.

The first is Return to Mistletoe by Kathleen Fuller. This story is about a single mom, Emmy and her adopted daughter, Carina.  They own an antique shop called Mistletoe Antiques in a town named Mistletoe.  Emmy and her former boyfriend, opened the store together but shortly after receiving a business loan, he left taking all the money with him.  She is left trying to keep the store going.   She is surprised when her high school crush, Kieran, returns after living in Ireland for over 20 years. He is also her best friend’s brother.  As they renew their friendship they both realize that the developing relationship is more than a friendship.  They have some obstacles to overcome, the biggest one being that Kieran returns to Ireland.  What will become of their renewed relationship?

A Mistletoe Prince by Pepper Basham is the second story.  Arran is royalty, a prince, with a bad-boy reputation. His family sends him to live with his sister in America and to work for her husband, Luke, who owns a construction company. Another stipulation is that Arran must help with the annual Christmas charity event, the Mistletoe Wish.  Luke’s cousin, Charlotte, or Charlie, as they call her, is in charge of the charity and also works for the construction company.  They have a rather comical and unfortunate first meeting. Charlie reluctantly decides she needs his help.  Arran’s sister, Ellie, enlists Arran’s help in giving Charlie, a self proclaimed tom-boy, a makeover.  Will Arran change his bad-boy ways and what will he and Charlie discover about themselves along the way?

The third story in this collection is Say No to Mistletoe by Sheila Roberts. In this story, Hailey Fairchild, a romance writer, has had bad experiences with dates and mistletoe kisses. The author gives us an accounting of Hailey’s last three disastrous relationships all beginning with a kiss under the mistletoe. Hailey has vowed she will never kiss under the mistletoe again.  When she returns home to spend Christmas with her family, she discovers her brother’s new girlfriend is the mean girl from high school.  She is a hairdresser and convinces Hailey to let her color her hair.  She purposely colors it bright green, and this is how Hailey looks when she sees her high school crush, Carwyn, for the first time in years.  Hailey is convinced that in order for her to have a relationship with Carwyn, she must stay away from any mistletoe kisses.  Their relationship seems to be progressing but problems arise when she realizes that their relationship would have to be a long distance one. He lives in her hometown and she lives in New York City, where her publisher is. After several months, Hailey knows she must make a decision.  Will Hailey get over her fears?  Will their relationship survive?

These three stories are lighthearted, clean romances filled with fun holiday spirit.

This is from the publisher’s website:

“Say No to Mistletoe by Sheila Roberts

Mistletoe is Hailey Fairchild’s kryptonite. Every time she’s kissed someone under the mistletoe it’s led to love disaster. Not a good thing for a romance writer! When she was a gawky high school girl, her hunky neighbor, Carwyn Davies, star of the basketball team (and her dreams), kissed her under the mistletoe on a dare. But the kiss wasn’t a dream come true. It was a mortifying moment she’s never forgotten, and now she’s about to go home for the holidays, unengaged and . . . determined to say no to mistletoe. Especially if Carwyn is anywhere around.

Return to Mistletoe by Kathleen Fuller

Emmy Banks has always loved Christmas. How could she not when she lives in Mistletoe, Missouri? Kieran O’Neill has spent years abroad, renovating an old Irish castle, but returns to Mistletoe for his mother’s seventieth birthday. He reconnects with Emmy, his sister’s close friend, and spends time with her in her charming antique shop. When the weather turns colder, things start to warm up between Emmy and Kieran. But can Emmy risk her heart when she knows he’ll never stay in Mistletoe, and she will never leave?

The Mistletoe Prince by Pepper Basham

Prince Arran St. Clare has lost his freedom and fairytale life in exchange for a three-month “punishment” in the small town of Ransom, North Carolina. To prove he is ready for the royal life for which he was born, Arran must engage in the Christmas charity fundraiser, The Mistletoe Wish. But when kindness, authenticity, and hard work prove more appreciated in Appalachia than a royal pedigree, Arran must face the mirror and find out who he is beyond the crown. Add a beautiful and intelligent woman who doesn’t recognize her own worth, some mistletoe, and a little Christmas magic and it all might be enough to help the rebel-prince understand what truly matters most.”

 

Go HERE to read an excerpt 

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I received a complimentary ARC of this book from the Thomas Nelson, Harper Collins via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed  are my own.