Series: The Glenbriar Series #11 (Standalone)
Publication Date: 23rd Nov 2024
Purchase Link: https://mybook.to/mixupmistletoe
Goodreads Book Page: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/217072101-mix-up-under-the-mistletoe
Genre: Contemporary Christmas Romance
3.8 Stars
One Liner: Cute!
Book Blurb:
She’s
always on the outside looking in, but his door might just be the one to open
for her this Christmas.
‘Her name’s Tilly. Tilly Thorpe. She lives in London.’
To stop his family from speculating about his love life, travel company
CEO Rafe Harrington casually drops Tilly Thorpe’s
name as his girlfriend. After all, they’ll never meet – she’s just a name he
saw on a rival company’s website.
But when Rafe arrives at his family’s home in Glenbriar for Christmas, he’s
shocked to find ‘his girlfriend’ waiting for him.
He has some explaining to do and so does Tilly.
Why did Rafe’s family welcome her with open arms when she’s little more than a
spy? Someone who’s trying hard to please her superiors, hoping it’ll bring some
desperately desired happiness to her lonely existence.
Rafe isn’t a big fan of the festive season, but neither he nor Tilly can ignore
their instant spark. With bad weather forecast, now is the ideal moment to discover
some magic. Tilly’s never felt this at home anywhere, but none of it’s real,
and that’s not why she’s here.
With time running short, can they seize this unexpected chance to fall in love
not only with Christmas but also with each other?
***
My Thoughts:
The story comes in Raffe and Tilly’s third-person POVs.
This is the standalone eleventh book in the series. It’s my first time reading the author, so I have no idea about the previous books. However, the common element seems to be Glenbriar (a cute place in Scotland), so I could enjoy this book for what it is.
The dual POV of the main characters is helpful,
especially since it is in the third person. There’s no confusion in the voice.
Since the entire story takes place in December, it
is insta-love. However, the family presence and the Christmas vibes make it easier
to understand the development of romance.
The main characters are well-etched, especially
Tilly. Her backstory is heavier and might feel repetitive but it reinforces her
thoughts, doubts, actions, and decisions. Her growth does feel organic in the given
context and page count.
The romance is pretty cute with a bit of spice.
Since this is very much a Hallmark-y book, most characters are easy to like
(except for a selected few whom we will anyway dislike).
The book also deals with the theme of abandonment
issues and limerence. I could empathize with the character and was glad when
the right answers were provided. The role of a therapist is so difficult! Not
being firm enough wouldn’t help the person but being too straightforward could
lead to more issues.
There’s a bit of faith and talk of Christmas miracle
as well. I didn’t quite expect that but it shouldn’t be an
issue. We could do with a miracle this Christmas (I’m asking for it in
advance).
To summarize, Mix-Up under the Mistletoe is a cute,
cozy, and festive romance. It shows how a loving family and supportive people
can bring out the best in us. And oh… I wouldn’t mind a huge slice of that
cake!
Thank you, Rachel’s Random Resources, Leannan Press,
and the author, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest
opinion about the book.
***
About the Author – Margaret Amatt
Margaret is a bestselling Scottish author and chocolate lover who has
been writing stories for over twenty years (possibly more if you count her
primary school efforts). Her early works will never see the light of day and
are locked in dusty vaults on some old floppy disks. But after all those years
of practise, Margaret released her first novel in 2021. It was the first of a
ten-book series set on the gorgeous Scottish Isle of Mull.
Margaret is also the author of the acclaimed Glenbriar Series, based
in the fictional Scottish town of Glenbriar. This is an ongoing series with
more books coming in 2024 and 2025.
The stories are unashamedly romantic, but with lots of drama and an eclectic mix of characters. Each book can be read as a standalone, but followers of the series will enjoy catching up with the characters.
Follow the Author:
Website: https://www.margaretamatt.com/subscribe
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MargaretAmattAuthor
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/margaret_amatt_author
X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/AmattAuthor
***
This has been a stop on the #MixUpUnderTheMistletoe blog tour by Rachel's Random Resources (@rararesources). Thanks for stopping by!
No comments:
Post a Comment