Member Reviews
This book was published almost two years ago, and I only just got around to it as part of my complete the backlist campaign! I should have just tried it then because it is a quick but potent read which I finished in one sitting, to my satisfaction.
I do not celebrate Christmas and consequently do not feel odd reading about it at any random point in the year, like now. The story is not precisely focused on Christmas celebrations itself but on the work that the hospitality department might have to put up with. The story begins with Beth hunkering down in her mother's hotel/home. A few guests checked in over the holidays, and everything seems normal until it is not.
Beth feels confused about her reactions to her old social life, having just broken up and is helping her mother out with small random things. Then things snowball (pun intended). It begins with the flu invading the staff, and then her mother is stranded away from the hotel. This is when Beth realises how much work her mother puts in on a daily basis. There are some unbelievable moments, but in this genre, such coincidences are more welcome than not. The ending of the chaos in the hotel is filmy, as is the final wrap up but cheesy as it was, it was fun. I liked some of the dialogues and liked almost all the characters, even the not-so-good ones, because they played out their roles well. No one went overboard in the helping department; people said no or even expressed their limits, and friends accepted it. This is something I rarely see acknowledged with an extended cast of people all lending a hand.
If given another chance, I would pick up another book by the author.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.
I adore this author and this book was a brilliant read and one that is perfect to escape for a few hours and loose yourself.
Characters that fall out of the pages of the book and make you fell apart of the story, the setting comes alive and captured is well with words.
A great read. that I would highly recommend.
I thought that this was a really nice enchanting story and it felt wholesome to be involved.
I thought that the group of characters gelled well together and they had great interaction too which worked so well with the story line.
The author has a great writing style and it worked well with the plot and gave it a great flow. It was an easy book to read and I found it to be a well developed and fun story too.
It is 5 stars from me for this one, I really enjoyed it - highly recommended!
This was a completely festive read and I loved it! I loved both of the characters Beth and Nick and the plot of Beth having to run the hotel for Christmas! It reminded me of a Heidi Swain or Annie Darling book. Definitely a great read this Christmas!
What a wonderfully cute romance, a great festive read full of relatable characters, family, friendship, love and just the right amount of angst. Well written, such an easy read to pick up and you’ll finish it before you realise, it leaves you with a big smile on your face. Just a lovely read.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion
A beautiful romance, full of believable characters and an entertaining plot. Highly recommended. Plan on reading more books by this author.
I received a free ebook version of this book from Netgalley. Thankyou to both Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this! My review is still honest.
I am one of the most festive people you'll ever meet. This year, I have FOUR advent calendars, a Christmas tree in my bedroom and I don't think my nails could get any more Christmassy. Despite this, I've never actually read a proper Christmas book before now, and I'm not disappointed with my first foray into them.
A Mistletoe Miracle is about Beth, a woman who has just got out of an emotionally abusive relationship and has to move back in with her mother in the hotel she runs. Over Christmas, due to some crazy circumstances, Beth has to run the hotel essentially on her own, interacting with the guests as she goes.
The plot of this is quite riveting, with the constant question of whether Beth can actually pull this off! It fits well into the festive theme too, with all the crazy shenanigans and everyone pulling together to have a fantastic Christmas. I really liked the mix of characters in the guests at the hotel, some of them extremely comical. Nick is the perfect love interest-he's respectful, he's as far away from chauvinistic as you can get, he's kind and helpful. I really liked reading about the developing relationship between the two, and how both his and Beth's past traumas affect how that happens. There were some really funny, heart-warming moments and if you love snow like I do, this is great.
I can't say this absolutely blew me away. The romance was nice, but it wasn't one that would go into my top favourite couples of all time. I don't have others to compare it to in terms of Christmas reads,either, but I have a sneaking suspicion there are others that might be better suited to my tastes. Nevertheless, I'm satisfied with this one and think it made for a fun, quick festive read.
This was a lovely festive book to read. Not too kitschy but it did put me in a Christmas mood. I loved the main character because you see that she is not perfect and trying her best. I also adored the setting- I wish I could stay at that hotel. 3.5 Stars from me.
A cosy Christmas chicklit, full of likeable characters.
Really felt for Beth, the main character, who had disaster after disaster when she is left to run her mother’s hotel over Christmas. A flu outbreak and the firing of a thieving chef means Beth is running the hotel practically single handed! Luckily some of the guests, including the handsome Nick and the feisty Noelle see Beth struggling and are on hand to help out.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my review.
An engaging, easy to read, Christmas themed romance. I was highly entertained throughout this festive read, with a well written, flowing style and a nice pace – I didn’t feel like the story plodded along or sped through details to get to the end. I loved how a sense of community was developed through the guests at the hotel and the main characters local friends too, what a darling place to spend the Christmas period I’d say.
Beth is a great leading lady, obviously been through some knocks in life that meant her self confidence was in need of a major boost but she is completely likeable and I did want things to go well for her. I have to say her spirit and dedication as impressive, I don’t think many people would handle things in the same way!
Always nice to have a yummy sounding romantic interest and Nick did not disappoint at all. I was a bit annoyed when I thought his brother might get there first though.
I would’ve loved to get to know a little more of the other guests, some were set up nicely and nothing much followed – maybe we are having to wait for a return visit? That’s be brilliant and I would read more.
Many Thanks for the opportunity to read and review. I would recommend this read for those romance fans looking for a nice cosy book.
This is a proper, quintessential Christmas romance book.
I loved the setting of the hotel, and how everything fell apart but was somehow shoved back together. I found the main characters to be super relatable, and appreciated that whilst it was a romance book there was a lot else going on with it also.
I only had a couple fairly minor issues with this, one was the way the main character seemed to drop her friends very quickly, especially when she basically misses their engagement party? That didn’t quite sit right with me.
Also when she decides to sing in a tree to get her love interests attention kind of jumped the shark for me, she was a super relatable character other than this one moment which I just couldn’t understand.
I read the synopsis for 'A Mistletoe Miracle' and it certainly sounded like just the kind of read I needed at that moment in time. A light hearted, fun, romantic comedy that would distract me from my own problems. 'A Mistletoe Miracle' was certainly all that and more. I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'A Mistletoe Miracle' but more about that in a bit.
I couldn't help but take to the character of Beth from the first time I met her. She returns to her family's hotel following the traumatic and disastrous break up of her relationship. It seems that her boyfriend wasn't who he was claiming to be and he was a tad economical with the truth. Beth ends up looking after the hotel following her mother's departure to look after a sick relative. Beth doesn't exactly have the best self confidence and she doesn't believe in her own capabilities. It was at this point that I wanted to jump inside the pages of the book to give Beth a huge hug. As you can imagine, whilst her mother is away, things start to go wrong and to say that Beth has been thrown in at the deep end is an understatement. Destiny keeps throwing Beth and Nick together. Nick being the gorgeous but grumpy pilot, whose grandmother is staying at the hotel as is he. There definitely seems to be definite chemistry between Beth and Nick and I was keeping everything crossed that Beth and Nick would get together in the end. Does this happen? Well you are just going to have to read the book for yourselves to find out as I am not going to tell you.
Oh my word, 'A Mistletoe Miracle' was a delight to read. It really was the tonic that I needed. It distracted me from my worries and at the same time I found myself chuckling away at random times as I imagined the different funny scenarios playing in my head. I soon became addicted to this gorgeous story and I found the book to be an unputdownable page turner of a read. The book wasn't exactly glued to my hand but it might as well have been because it travelled everywhere with me. I didn't want to miss a single second of the story. I just had to keep reading to see if Beth and Nick got the happy ever after ending that they both deserved. I managed to binge read the entire book over the course of the day, which is pretty good going for me. Usually I have the attention span of a gnat and I am easily distracted but not in this case.
'A Mistletoe Miracle' is superbly written. Emma certainly knows how you draw you into the story from the first word on the first page and once she has your attention, she will not let it go until you have finished reading the last word on the last page. She has created truly memorable characters- most of whom are impossible to dislike. I did find myself becoming far too involved in the story to the extent that I wanted to jump inside the pages of the book to sort out Beth's former boyfriend and give him a good slapping with a wet flip flop. Emma uses such vivid and realistic descriptions that I felt as though I was part of the story myself. Emma has written a corker of a book.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'A Mistletoe Miracle' and I would definitely recommend this book to other readers. I look forward to reading more from Emma Jackson in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
Charming from start to finish, A MISTLETOE MIRACLE by Emma Jackson is sure to put a smile on your face this winter.
Beth is back in her childhood home at the Everdene Hotel in a picture-perfect village that is the stuff of tourists' dreams. But Beth is struggling to get into the festive mood after a disastrous breakup that has left her feeling very unsettled and unsure about what she wants from the future. At least helping out at the hotel with her mum will keep her occupied even if she does have to deal with surly customers like Nick, even though he is quite handsome. But when Beth finds herself in charge of the hotel for Christmas with barely any help and a mystery reviewer showing up, will the magic of Christmas find a way to save the day and maybe even open Beth's heart to love again?
With a captivating setting that I completely fell in love with and characters that warm your heart, A MISTLETOE MIRACLE by Emma Jackson is truly lovely from beginning to end. I enjoyed watching Beth grow in confidence and tap into her inner-strength as the story progressed and there were plenty of moments that made me smile along the way.
A MISTLETOE MIRACLE by Emma Jackson is a lovely story and I look forward to more from this talented new author.
An excellent Christmas romance, full of festive spirit, engrossing and entertaining.
I liked the great storyline, the lovely setting and the well thought cast of characters.
It's the first book I read by this author and won't surely be the last.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
Heart, Hope, and Healing - Everything You need from a Warming Christmas Story
I have to admit that reviewing this book feels a little odd to me. You see, this beautiful book, so closely resembled my own life in so many ways, that I feel as if I have just stepped back from reading my own diaries.
A Mistletoe Miracle chronicles a hectic Christmas period at Everdeen Hotel as twenty-six-year-old Beth navigates managing her mothers' hotel during a blizzard over Chrismas. But the snow that is falling outside is not the only force of nature that will cause her stress over the festive period. Sparring rivalry between two gorgeous brothers will see Beth caught in a few situations that will test both her personal and professional resolve.
Much like Beth, my parents owned hotels when I was younger, so I grew up living, breathing and working in those hotels. Emma's descriptions of the life and inner workings of a hotel at Christmas time took me straight back to my younger years. The interaction with difficult chefs, the cleverly created characters that grace the dining rooms, and the hectic nature of the industry was so pin-point perfect that I could see smell and taste the memories of my younger years.
The entire cast is so intricately drawn, the descriptions of the hotels give a unique sense of place and the relationships are so well created that I feel like I have been living with these people all my life. To create such a well-rounded world in such a short space of time is a true talent. Jackson offers just enough characters to give the story real depth and truth, but not too many that you forget the importance each has to play in her story.
Beth, the main character, is everything you want from a leading lady. Caring, compassionate, flawed and broken. Her past has torn apart her resolve and her confidence, but when her mother gets stranded in a blizzard, she has to reach deep down to find some part of her that believes she can keep going. As a reader, all you want to do is wrap her in your arms and feed her the confidence she needs and as we watch her race around the hotel rooms, trying to be everything to everyone. With Christmas Day fast approaching, can she pull off the perfect flurries of festivities without her mum there to guide her?
The beautiful thing about this book is that no... she can't. At least not alone. This may be a romantic Christmas tale, but one of the themes that truly lept from the pages was that of community. In the most difficult of times, pulling together and helping each other is really the only way to get through a crisis.
Each guest in the hotel has a part to play, and I love the balance and juxtaposition of the competing personalities of each of them, but the friendship that develops between Beth and Noelle is one that truly struck a chord with me. As any hotel worker will know, there are just some guests who capture your heart... the warring brothers may well be competing for her attention romantically, but the love and friendship struck between Beth and her new friend from across the pond really does add a beautiful dimension to the book.
The writing is delicate and tender. The sarcasm in Beth's character paints humour onto the pages with such delicacy that laughter in the right places provides a lightness to some of the deeper, sad and angry moments. Interactions with the warring brothers will resonate with anyone who has ever had to deal with a sibling rivalry.
It has been a long time since I have found myself so charmed and full of love for a group of people. This book has wound its way into my heart and nestled in for the season. A truly beautiful Christmas book, full of heart, love, and honesty. I will miss my Christmas at Everdeen Hotel - somehow I feel I will look back and wish I could have shared a mince pie and mulled wine with them all as they huddled around the fireplace.It would be remiss of me to end this review without mentioning the hot and steamy sections that could have easily melted the snow outside the hotel windows... for those looking for a book with real heart, beautiful characters and steamy kiss or two... this is absolutely one to note down for your Christmas wish list.
Reviewed by Emma-Claire Wilson for The Glass House Book Club
This story was such a cosy and inviting read. Set in a hotel in a quiet village, the descriptions of the setting really made you want to spend Christmas with the characters there. even if there were the odd disaster here or there. A delightfully slow burn romance just added to the central themes of strength, overcoming obstacles and dealing with grief. I really enjoyed this book and all the talk of the delicious food made my mouth water. A lovely festive read.
From the minute I saw that stunning cover I knew this book was for me and I couldn’t wait to delve inside. Let me tell you this book did not disappoint it was absolutely fantastic! The story itself was lovely to read and so easy too. The characters were fabulous, they are really memorable and easy to get to know. The little romance in this was just beautiful. Oh and the way the author has written this book it really keeps you reading.
This is definitely one of the best Christmas books I have read! Emma Jackson is fast becoming one of my favourite authors and I can’t wait to read more from her!
If you are looking for a heart warming romantic Christmas read then this is the perfect one!
As far as Christmas books go this is up there with the best of them! I absolutely loved this book and fell in love with the whole story.
The setting is a beautiful family run hotel in the run up to Christmas. With plenty of drama, fun, romance and snow it has everything you could want from a Christmas book.
I really enjoyed the developing relationship between Beth and Nick, but also loved the other characters staying in the hotel, particularly Noelle. The book is nicely paced and lingers on certain scenes just when you want it to. It has a lot of heart to the story and is not just simply a romance story.
A perfect read to cosy up with this winter.
Set in a hotel in the run up to Christmas. Beth is running the hotel after her mum is called away on an emergency. Nick is a guest at the hotel, spending Christmas their with his brother and Nan.
The first time they meet it does not go well, but as they spend more time together Beth gets to like him more and more. But all is not well at the hotel, with a chef stealing, staff being sick and a mystery blogger staying in the hotel, Beth is having a battle to get through everything.
Just when everything is starting to go well, Nick's brother ruins everything. Will they still have a chance?
A great christmas read.
I really enjoyed this book, a lovely gentle romance with Christmas spirit. It was well written, and easy to read. I only noticed one typo - sooth instead of soothe - which is pretty impressive.
The characters were sympathetic and seemed 3D. The story was full of gentle humour, alongside the (not too angsty) troubles the characters were going through. Beth was a great character, she’d obviously had her confidence undermined, but she persisted anyway.
It was amusing to see Beth and Nick being so awkward around each other. It came across as a real building of a relationship, even though it occurred across a short time.
Overall, this was a charming Christmas romance, and I’ll be keeping an eye out for more books by this author.
I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.