Five Stars for Feisty!
Five Stars for Fun!
Five Stars for Festive!
Five Stars for Original!
Five Stars for Debut Delight!
Mistletoe Magic Really Needs Five Reviews to do it Justice!
This may be the best debut
Christmas novella I’ve ever read – and I’ve read many. The heroine, Misty
Winslow, and, Britt, her BFF, (for over 25 years), are entertaining enough to
carry the story between just the two of them. Britt is so predatory about finding a
husband in the small town of Winslow (the town is named for the heroine’s ancestors)
that it is like reading a romance from the 1950’s. Britt has already staked out
the hero as ‘hers’. Britt saw him first and even works for him!
The only
trouble is, the hero has eyes only for Misty.
So Misty has to try and sell ‘Dr. Dreamy,’ as she mistakenly calls him
to his face when they first meet, on dating Britt. As a conciliation Britt buys
Misty a membership to the dating website, Rural
Romance, in order to find a husband before she turns thirty. This is
realistic because Misty is a stereotypical, bookish, librarian who has not had
a formal date in eight years. Dr. Dreamy, however, has just given a wake up call to eight
years worth of Misty's sleeping hormones. Poor Misty is being driven to distraction.
Indeed, it’s love at first sight for Dr.
Dreamy, the new dentist. He is finally settling down in the small town of his choice
and is ready to marry and start a family. When the stunning redheaded heroine literally
falls at his feet, he’s hooked. (I kept seeing Lucile Ball in the part of
Misty).
The plot thickens. The good
doctor also joins the ‘Rural Romance’
dating service. Now right away I thought this won’t work. It is way too hard to
make such a coincidence believable in a romance. Believe me, coincidence had
nothing to do with this situation and all is totally believable.
The writing is fresh, bold,
inspired even. And yes, this is a good Christian romance. No preaching, just
Christmas joy. I loved it. Misty and Britt are so feisty with their repartee
that I thought their dialogue must be real. (Confession: I read the author’s
bio at this point and sure enough she lives with her sister in Oklahoma! The
dialogue is just too good to be fictional.)
 |
| Flatbed Ford Is Reflected in the Window |
Well, I'm a standing
on a corner
in Winslow, Arizona
and such a fine sight to see
It's a girl, my Lord, in a flatbed
Ford slowin' down to take a look at me
Come on, baby, don't say maybe
in Winslow, Arizona
and such a fine sight to see
It's a girl, my Lord, in a flatbed
Ford slowin' down to take a look at me
Come on, baby, don't say maybe
Even if the story takes place
in Winslow, Oklahoma, for me it happened in Arizona. I’m a very proactive reader. Besides,
‘Oklahoma’ and ‘Arizona’ both have four syllables. : )
I know. I know. I had too
much fun reading this story. There never was a moment that I was not enjoying
myself. I can’t wait to read more from this author. In a way, I feel sorry for
her. I can’t imagine how a novella can get any better than this one. But when
the time comes I’ll be the first on line to find out if her next book can do
it.
There are many great
Christmas novellas out right now and I’m trying to read them all. Of all of
them, I recommend reading "Mistletoe Magic" first!
It’s that good.
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