Mistletoe and Mr. Right by Lyla Payne (Website, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads)Also by this author: Not Quite True
Published by Bloomsbury Publishing USA on November 20th 2014
Genres: Christmas & Advent, Contemporary, Europe, Fiction, General, Holidays, Ireland, Love & Romance, New Adult, Religion, Romance, Romantic Comedy, Travel, Young Adult
Pages: 150
Format: Hardcover
Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring...but lust refused to settle in for a long winter's nap. She might be all nestled, snug in her bed, by why, oh why, do visions of the wrong guy dance in her head? Jessica, (not Jessie), figures that nothing could be better than a trip to the Emerald Isle for Christmas break. So she takes a flying leap and follows her boyfriend home for the holidays, not only sure that he will finally agree they're destined for each other, but also that Ireland will provide the perfect backdrop to the beginning of their happily-ever-after. But it turns out his family--and his gorgeous ex-girlfriend--don't feel the same way, and even the family goat seems to be conspiring against her well-laid plans. The only person making the trip worthwhile is the very last one she should be thinking about, but Grady, the local farmhand, has a way of showing up when Jessica needs him most...and least.USA Today bestselling author Lyla Payne wraps up the perfect holiday novella, ties it with a ribbon of romance, and tops it with a light dusting of snow. Perfect to curl up with under the tree. Just add hot cocoa!
Mistletoe & Mr. Right is a sweet holiday read!
If you’re like me, you love holiday romance… and if you’re looking for something quick and satisfying in that genre, then definitely grab this story from Lyla Payne.
Jessica is a little high strung… she’s got plans for her life and if she expects everything to fall into place, she’s got to make sure her current boyfriend is on the same page as she is. Only he’s in Ireland for the holidays… but that isn’t going to deter her.
A long plane ride, a harrowing car trip and an almost goat murder later, she shows up on his family’s porch to surprise him and spend the holidays. Only she doesn’t get the exact reception she was hoping for, and she ends up finding a connection with someone completely unexpected.
Payne writes a painfully, awkward experience for Jessica. It was hard to read it from her point of view and see how hard she wanted to fit in, only to find that she really didn’t. But I have to say that it felt completely real… so real that I just wanted to hug the girl most of the time.
Jessica has some deep seeded issues that explain a lot of her behavior, but I have to say that I think I would have liked a bit more depth on those, as well as getting to know Grady on a personal level a bit more. I know it’s hard to do with novellas, but I felt that I just wanted a little bit more so that I could grab on to that connection a bit more.
This one wraps up nicely and with some definite swoon! Overall, a sweet and lovely holiday novella that you should definitely grab this holiday season!
The second novella in this book is Sleigh Bells & Second Chances and I think I enjoyed this one a bit more than the first! Christina Lake is headed overseas for work this holiday season and while it’s a great opportunity for her, she’s not looking forward to possibly seeing her estranged father and definitely not excited to work with the IT band of the moment due to some history between her and the lead singer.
But she’s not going to let this opportunity pass her by, she’s moved on… right. She can handle it …right?
Cary is bound and determined to make things right, between him and Christina but how can he do that when she thinks everything they ever had was really a lie?
Second chance stories are some of my favorite… the couple has that base friendship in their history and if it’s done well, you can see glimpses of the past influence what is happening now and Payne did it really well here. But “Second Chances” doesn’t apply only to Cary in this story. Christina’s dad has a lot of making up to do for the past few years as well.
I really loved the mending of both relationships and how Payne goes about it. I appreciated Christina’s hesitancy in both relationships but I love that she put herself and her heart out there again.
The twist… I had an inkling something wonky had happened … it’s not necessarily hidden, but I had thought it was a bit different than what it turned out to be, so that was a pleasant surprise as well.
It’s no surprise that I’m a fan of Lyla Payne and these novellas are a prime reason why… She writes realistic, fun characters who you can’t help but cheer for as you turn the pages. Let’s also not forget that her guys are sexy and swoony and these stories will definitely get in the holiday spirit… or at least want to head overseas and find a rockstar or Irishman… or both. *books plane ticket*
Thank you to the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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