I am so happy to have read this book during Christmas! The small-town life, the secondary characters and the plot gave me the festive vibe and the warmth typical for this type of romance.
Grace comes to Mistletoe looking for her sister who apparently decided to take some time away and think, with little time before her wedding. The only accommodation available is with the most sought-after bachelor in town: Ayden McCabe. He promises to help find her sister if she agrees on being his pretend girlfriend for a few days. All goes well, until a mistletoe branch ruins their plans.
There are many things I liked and some I did not agree with. On the plus side, I did enjoy the small-town vibe we get from all the secondary characters. They were the ones creating the atmosphere around Ayden and Grace. I liked Ayden – his attention to Grace’s needs, his dedication to his family make him a great guy. He surrounds himself with women that can be quickly disposed, without forming any emotional attachments, yet when he meets Grace, a woman not interested in his charms and with a look of pure innocence, he feels the need to protect.
On the negative, there are some background stories that are not very well developed. Though I know they are not the front and center, I did wish to understand more about Ayden and Grace’s fears. We see just a little bit of both, just not enough to justify the fears they have or the weaknesses they possess. In my opinion, Grace’s past is not enough to justify why she puts up with her boyfriend (or ex-boyfriend)’s crises. The guy is portrayed as a real piece of … something bad and yet she still cannot find the strength to say it to his face. The last 50 pages are kind of a rush, with all things forming a conclusion and characters opening their eyes. It’s good, but I wanted more.
So while I did enjoy the story very very much and I do consider it a great read for the Christmas season, I would have wanted more swoon, a deeper background story for the characters. 4 stars on my end, just because I am picky.
Cover Review: I fully agree with the cover! The color scheme used is perfect for winter, with the blue and the snow. We see the blanket! Apparently, it has nothing to do, but you will understand if you go through the book. Snowy Mistletoe is in the background… It would have been nice to have also a snowy mistletoe branch but… maybe it would have been too much. All in all, I like the cover, it’s fitting.
Favorite Quote: “Danielle believed her older sister needed to spread her own wings and fly. Grace just wished someone had given her a damn parachute first.”
Lilly's Book World 