Now that I have fallen totally in love with Lucky Harbor (THANKS GINGER), I got really excited when I noticed there was a short story about Tara’s daughter Mia set during Christmas because that meant it would take me like 30 minutes to read the book and then maybe another 30 minutes to have the review written up and ready to go for December – my month of holiday themed reviews. FYI you guys, you will read this post on December 9 but I am typing it on October 29, just before Halloween. How’s that for Holiday dissonance? Anyways. I really freakin’ enjoyed Under The Mistletoe by Jill Shalvis and it definitely is more in the short story realm than it is in the novella realm and that is okay, that just means there’s no unnecessary crap.
Mia is going to college in New York City to be a counselor to kids. She connects with this guy Nick, who has also been given up for adoption. His story isn’t quite as sunny as hers though. Anyways, the two have some pretty mindblowing bedroom interludes and are in a relationship. One day Mia asks Nick to come to Lucky Harbor with her to her aunt Chloe’s wedding. Nick clams up and gets all nervous because he hasn’t had a family before. This naturally pisses Mia off because she assumes that Nick is not picking her the way she deserves to be picked and so she flies off sans boyfriend. Nick realizes he is being a total jackass and goes after her. What results are pages of him trying to make it up to her, pages of him interacting with our favorite Lucky Harbor residents and revisiting some favorite old characters. Basically Under The Mistletoe is a nice short little Christmas treat, you know, like a bite size candy bar, whetting my appetite for the whole bag of candy OR the whole series (is it super obvious that I am I writing this two days before Halloween?).
Going into Shalvis’s Under The Mistletoe I was a tiny bit pissed. This is because Mia wasn’t with the same boy as she was with in The Sweetest Thing (which I will be reviewing right after Christmas). That’s right! Total letdown. But then, of course, I actually read the short story and was like wow, yeah it makes sense that she would leave 17 behind and end up with the man who is perfect for her as an adult. There’s some fantastic chemistry between Nick and Mia that I think will put you all on my side when it comes to this romance.
On A Scale Of One To Clark Griswold, How Much Christmas Spirit Does This Book Have?
I will put this firmly in the Love Actually camp as far as Christmas Spirit goes. Like, there’s Christmas, but I think it’s more about the connections and the romance than it is the season.
Disclosure: Purchased My Copy Because I Will Always Spend My Cash Money On Jill Shalvis
Other reviews of Under The Mistletoe:
The Book Barbies – “So many feelings!”
Feeling Fictional – ” wish it was longer”
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- Make The Season Bright by Ashley Herring Blake | Audiobook Review - December 4, 2024
- Christmas at Corgi Cove by Annie England Noblin | Book Review - December 3, 2024
“On A Scale Of One To Clark Griswold, How Much Christmas Spirit Does This Book Have?”
YOU ARE MY NEW FAVORITE PERSON. I want to use this scale for everything ever.
And yay for Jill Shalvis Christmas books! I’m reading Merry & Bright right now. I agree with you about this one, though. I was totally upset at the beginning because it wasn’t Carlos, BUT. It all worked out, and I loved it the way it was.
ahahahha yes, that scale needs to be used FOR ALL OF THE THINGS – cookies, presents, movies, TV shows! ALL OF THEM.
OOOO, I want to read Merry & Bright!
I am glad we feel similar about how it all worked out 🙂
This short story sounds super cute! I really want to read it, mostly because I’m partial to the residents of Lucky Harbor and would love any opportunity to revisit them.
LoL to no unnecessary crap. I think that’s why I love short stories so much.
I recently read a short by Jill Shalvis and it was pretty good. I’m definitely going to be hooking myself up with the first Lucky Harbor book for Christmas. I think I will really like that series. I love series books where you can continue to see how everyone is doing.
This year I blew through the Bella Andre books for that reason. :o)
So, I’ve only read one Jill Shalvis, and although I liked it, I wasn’t in love. BUT I just picked up her animal series (I’m not sure what the actual series name is but the books all have the word “animal” in the title) and I’m excited to give them a try.
Also, talk about planning ahead, April! Wow! I love it. Are you super in the holiday spirit now?
I read this one last year I think!
LOL I can’t remember when, but I do remember that I would have liked for more Christmas spirit in this one 😛
anyway, I’m glad you liked it and that you’re loving Lucky Harbor.