Review: Meddling with Mistletoe

"Meddling with Mistletoe" is a sweet romance in more ways than one. The female love interest is a baker after all. While there aren't any deep spiritual themes developed here—there's a quick bit about God not making man to be alone—this was one of the best developed easy-read holiday romances I've read. The story is very slice-of-life, with the only real drama revolving around the "big reveal" that Whitney has made a deal to help Aretha in exchange for tuition funds. We know about the deal from the start, so what follows is predictable. Still, author Liz Johnson crafts a lovely story wherein we enjoy watching Whitney fall in love with the man who she is supposed to be setting up with another woman. What's truly sweet is the way in which Whitney helps Daniel, the male lead, leave his painful past behind and smile again, while he reminds Whitney of her own unrealized strengths. Of course, it's a Christmas novel, so there's snow, sledding, decorations, and more involved. Readers are sure to find it all very delightful and merry.

*Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Fiction Review: Sandcastle Inn by Irene Hannon

Irene Hannon's 10th visit to Hope Harbor does not disappoint, and readers can already be looking forward to book 11! Here, characters find healing, rest, and romance, and readers find some catharsis, too. I've read most of the Hope Harbor novels and always look forward to the gentle wisdom of Charlie the taco man and Hannon's own occasional references to the arts and theatre. 

In "Sandcastle Inn," Matt struggles with the tragic loss of his wife and daughter, while Vienna deals with the loss of a job and a strained relationship with her mother. Their paths cross as Matt helps his sister refurbish an inn and Vienna puts her high-end hotel expertise to work in aiding him. Meanwhile, the contractor working on the inn and his wife rebuild their lives after family estrangement and difficult financial straits. As usual, Hannon gives as much care to side characters as she does to her romantic leads, and what unfolds is both realistic hardship and hopeful, sweet ends. 

The religious element is not particularly strong in Hannon's novels, but one can appreciate that she does not add such things in gratuitously. 

My one complaint is that it never seems like we get enough of these characters. That is, we are left wanting more in a good way. Even 300+ pages does not seem like enough space to dive into who they are and how their lives intertwine, especially when it comes to getting a sense for the romantic chemistry between Matt and Vienna. It also felt like Charlie was not in this book as much as some of the other Hope Harbor novels.

I certainly look forward to more of Charlie and Hope Harbor in the next installment!

*Disclaimer: I received this book for free in exchange for my honest review.