This such a good holiday story. It would make a very good Hallmark movie that everyone could enjoy. The characters are fun to read about and the setting is where you want to be for Christmas.

Liz Johnson knows how to write Christian fiction.

If you've read Liz Johnson's Red Door Inn series (or really, any of the books in the series) you've met some of the characters in Meddling with Mistletoe already. If you haven't yet, you're in for a treat!

Whitney Garrett has tried (and given up on) so many different careers that her exasperated father has finally had it. The only way she can try cooking school is if she pays for it herself. Selling her home baked pies is her solution, but the money isn't adding up fast enough to cover her tuition. When Aretha Franklin-Sloan offers to cover the outstanding amount if she helps match her nephew, Daniel, with Ruby, the woman brokering the sale of Aretha's antique shop. Unfortunately for Whitney, the only chemistry is between her and Daniel, not Ruby and Daniel. When Aretha's solution is to get Daniel and Ruby to kiss under the mistletoe, even that fails because Daniel catches Whitney instead. Can she turn Daniel's heart to another when she wants it for herself?

This was a fun book to read as a Christmas treat. I completely understand Whitney's misgivings on both the job front and the romance front. When she finally sees herself as others see her, she can take a chance on her future. Until then, she's stuck in a pretty self-destructive rut.

I've read every book in this series and loved them all. This one is shorter in length, and if you enjoy audio books, I can recommend that version as well. Narrator Kelli Tager does a great job voicing the different characters.

I loved the stories set at the Red Door Inn, so it was such a pleasure to return there for Whitney's story! She is at a crossroads in her life, feeling forced to choose a career that she can stick with, or let her parents down again, and no more safety net. I could sense how on edge she felt, working toward an end goal with things falling apart around her. Despite her circumstances, she is the sunshine providing contrast to Daniel's grumpiness. His character put off vibes of flatness and unhappiness, going through the motions, but still caring about his aunt enough to travel and help her sell her business. There are plenty of funny mishaps, but the best part of this book is the way Daniel blossomed around Whitney's light. They both gently challenged each other, and as Daniel learns to open his heart again, Whitney gains the courage to find and follow the dream authentic to her. A sweet holiday read with great romantic chemistry!

Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.

Whitney is on a mission to pay for culinary school, planning to bake pies and sell them for the holidays, but a broken oven puts her in a bind and she ends up watching the Sloan children and cooking for the Red Door Inn in exchange for use of their kitchen.

Whitney isn't the only one on a mission, Aretha Franklin Sloan has a plan to cheer up her nephew by matching him up with a successful business woman, and enlists Whitney to help her make it happen.

A feel good rom-com with endearing characters, adorable children, strong faith, and a matchmaking gone wrong. Whitney is a relatable heroine, and I admired her for continuing to push forward despite all the set backs. Daniel has poured himself into his work for the last few years, not willing to give love another chance. I liked how Julia Mae kept asking him to join them in their activities.

Overall, from beginning to end this was a delightful read, with a feel-good, cozy, rom-com feel, and a strong core of faith. I enjoyed the full cast of characters, and grumpy/sunshine, matchmaking tropes. The perfect pick-me-up for the Christmas season!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Whitney Garrett finally has a plan. Hoping to
prove to her parents she can stick with something, she’s decided to go to culinary school—if she can sell enough of her homemade pies to pay her tuition balance. So when her seasoned matchmaker neighbor Aretha makes Whitney an offer she can’t refuse in exchange for her help hooking her grumpy 30-something nephew Daniel up with a seemingly well-matched businesswoman, Whitney semi-happily agrees. But what Whitney doesn’t plan for is falling for the grump herself.

Y’all, this was one of the cutest Christmas books! All the characters were lovable and endearing. And I loved Whitney and Daniel together. He was such a rock for her and saw her in a light that helped her to see herself differently. And she helped him rediscover joy and know that he was capable of more than he thought.

If you enjoy opposites attract, forced proximity, found family, and cozy clean reads with tons of Christmas cheer, add this one to holiday TBR!

Thanks so much to @revellfiction for the gifted copy to read and review! All opinions are my own.

A Cute Christmas romance by Liz Johnson. The Author is new to me and I loved the book. The story takes place in Prince Edward Island Canada. Though I was born in Canada and lived there for 21 years I have never been to PEI. It sounds like a lovely place to put on my bucket list.

The winters are cold and since this is a Christmas story there’s snow and freezing temperatures. The story is filled with the Christmas Spirit, decorations and lots of delicious pies. I loved most of the characters but admit that at times I wasn’t fond of Aunt Aretha. She considered herself to be a successful matchmaker but she meddled into her nephew’s life and I found her to be irritating at times. At least she had good intentions and loved her nephew. In the end all things worked out for the best and the story was very entertaining and drew me in completely. I’m pleased to have found a new Author and I look forward to reading more books by her.

I recommend this book to readers of Christmas novels, Christian Fiction, women’s Fiction and Contemporary Romance.

Was this book a cheesy matchmaking gone wrong Christmas romance? Yes. Was it cliche? Also yes. But did I love it? Also yes! It’s your typical hallmark Christmas love story doesn’t try to be anything else and it was such a fun, lighthearted read. I don’t have much time for reading these days but I was so invested, I read this in one sitting.

This was such a sweet Christmas story! I was drawn in from the beginning and had a hard time putting it down. It’s definitely a recommendation to add to your Christmas TBR.

Whitney has very little direction in her life and changes plans for her future every time she hits a slight bump in the road. Her current plan is to go to culinary school, but in order to finance school it means she’s working nonstop to make the tuition payments. She finds herself working at the Red Door Inn over the holiday season in order to reach her goals.

Cute cosy holiday romance with some old familar characters around for the fun. Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced review copy!

Meddling With Mistletoe is the story of Whitney Garrett, who is baking homemade pies to fund her culinary school tuition. When her oven breaks, she works out a deal with the owners of the local bed and breakfast to bake pies there in exchange for babysitting and cooking breakfasts daily. While working at the inn she meets a guest named Daniel, who is in town to visit his aunt -- who is an eccentric antique shop owner determined to make a match between Daniel and Ruby, the woman buying his aunt's antique store. Whitney is convinced, though, that Daniel and Ruby are not an ideal match . . . and she has an idea of a better match for him.

I wanted to read this novel because it sounded like a Hallmark movie in book form. It is! It is a delightful Christmas story, with lots of holiday atmosphere.

I liked Whitney as a protagonist and admire her determination to pursue her dream. I also like Daniel and I thought from early on that they would be an interesting match. Their story is very heartwarming with some light faith references.

I recommend Meddling for Mistletoe for readers who enjoy Christmas reads, heartwarming love stories, and cozy settings.

Come back to the Red Door Inn to catch up with all your favorite characters from past stories -- and if you're new here, you get to meet everyone! (You don't need to have read the others to love this book, but will enjoy getting a glimpse into the current lives of previous protagonists if you have.) We have a free spirit who is struggling to get grounded and a very structured and routine guy who could use a bit of breaking out of his shell. They work well together, though, and learn quite a bit about life and love over this holiday season. There are serious moments, but overall it's a cozy Christmas read, perfect for curling up with in front of the fireplace.

This was an adorable Christmas romance that also includes an MMC with grinch-like tendencies and a versatile and lovable FMC. Throw in a meddlesome aunt and a cozy winter atmosphere, this is a great book to settle next to the fireplace with! Definitely give this one a read!

This was a perfect Christmas romance about a grumpy numbers guy who avoids Christmas and is forced to spend time at the Red Door Inn with creative Whitney and the three adorable children she's watching. He gets pulled into spending time with them and eating the delicious food she prepares and realizes what he's been missing. His heart was broken by his fiance and he's focused on nothing but work since but he starts to hope that maybe his life can have more. I liked that Daniel isn't the usual perfect hero as he seems to be a little bit autistic and has a hard time reading social cues. His ex-fiance made him doubt himself even more and it doesn't help that Whitney fights her feelings since she's supposed to be helping match him with Ruby, the businesswoman negotiating to buy his aunt's store. She also needs the money for tuition that Aretha agreed to pay her for helping and she wants to prove to her parents that she can finish something as she's had trouble following through on things. Which will win out, her feelings or her goal? Will Daniel find out about the matchmaking plot? There's a subtle faith message as Daniel attends a rehearsal for the Christmas pageant and is reminded of God's love and presence. The romance was very sweet and it was great to catch up with prior characters in the series and meet their children! I highly recommend this sweet Christmas story!

I received a free kindle copy of this book from Revell. I was not compensated for this review. All opinions are my own.

Meddling With Mistletoe takes fans of Liz Johnson back to the Red Door Inn for rom-com antics, the joys of the Christmas season and all it entails, and for a story of two strangers finding friendship and a little romance in unlikely circumstances. If you’ve never visited the Red Door Inn or Prince Edward Island in Liz’s other stories, you are in for a treat discovering the steadfast and vibrant characters who make up this story world. If you’re a returning traveler, you will be joyous to revisit characters like Marie and Seth, Aretha Franklin and Jack, and a new generation of kids to like — especially precocious Julia May who steals a few scenes in this story with her funny holiday and personal observations.

The romance has the right balance of complexity, twinkling lights, friendship, and pies. Daniel is a new beta hero to add to my bespectacled book boyfriend list with so much kindness behind a sometimes-stoic exterior. My favorite thing about his romance with Whitney is how they both see each other’s integrity and heart, even in the tentative first parts of their friendship. The way Whitney excels at pastry but holds a little uncertainty about her future and dreams is smartly portrayed and encouraged — never judged — by Daniel, which makes their dynamic all the more appreciated.

My thank Revell Publishing and the Revell Reads program for the review copy. This is my honest review.

This was a sweet Christmas story that reminds us we are our own worst critic.

Whitney is trying to make enough money to reserve her spot at culinary school by baking pies and selling them at the farmer's market. It seems like a good plan until her oven breaks. She asks the owner of the Red Door Inn if she can use their kitchen. The Inn is usually closed this time of year, The owner Marie tells Whitney that they actially have two guests this year, but they make a deal. Whitney will help watch Marie's three children and cook breakfast for the guests in exchange for use of the Inn's kitchen,

Daniel and Ruby are the Inn's guest. They are in town for the sale of Aretha's antique business. Daniel is Aretha's finance-whiz nephew and Ruby is representing the company purchasing the business.

Aretha is eager to see her nephew in a relationship after his last one ended so badly. She seizes on Daniel and Ruby both being single and having to work together. She is so determined that she steamrolls Whitney into helping matchmake. Whitney wants nothing to do with it, but when Aretha offers her financial assistance toward culinary school, she reluctantly agrees.

As Aretha pushes Ruby and Daniel together, he ends up spending more time with Whitney than Ruby. Whitney is good for Daniel's all-business and no play demeanor. When Whitney realizes that Daniel is not interested in Ruby, but in her, she knows she needs to let him know what his aunt asked her to do. It would be horrible for him to find out from someone else first...

Read Meddling with Mistletoe to find out the rest of Whitney and Daniel's story. If you like Christmas romances with lots of winter atmosphere and likable main characters, this one is for you!

Thank you to NetGalley and Revell for a chance to read an advance copy in exchange for my honest review. 3.5 rounded up to 4 stars.

Desperation can make people do some remarkably bad decisions, and Whitney is desperate. She has flaked out one too many times for her parents to continue supporting her. Now she has to come up with the money to go to culinary school on her own; she is running out of time and all her hard work seems to lead only to more desperation. This creates an exciting opportunity for her friend, Aretha, who needs some help finagling her nephew into a romance that will turn his frown upside down. It is a tricky situation, but Aretha’s promise to fund the rest of her culinary school tuition is more than Whitney can afford to turn down right now. The big problem? The woman Aretha has chosen for Daniel is not the one who has fallen for him. Nor he for her. The bigger problem, however, is the fallout from the unraveling of their intricate plan to meddle with mistletoe. Now, both Whitney and Daniel must decide which future they will choose and who they truly want to be when the dust settles. Liz Johnson takes us back to the Red Door Inn on beautiful Prince Edward Island in the heart of the winter season to get to the heart of the mess Aretha has made by meddling in matchmaking. This sweet heat romance begs a bit of joy from the kitchen; I think it pairs well with a cup of coffee and a slice of pie, flannel pajamas, and a cozy blanket by the fire.

Thank you to the author and publisher for allowing me a copy to read and review. All opinions expressed here are my own and are completely genuine.

I loved this book so much. It was like getting a hug. It reminded me of what it feels like when watching a Hallmark movie - simple and lovely. I enjoyed these characters and will be going back to read the other stories in this series. This was the first book from this author for me, but it won't be my last.

Now that’s what I call a ‘Christmas book’! A good opening set the scene for an enjoyable story, a pleasure to read with likeable characters & an interesting plot. It makes a welcome change between the heavier-themed books, & we could all do with a lighter one now & then.
NB Do read the Acknowledgements, they’re about the best part of the book - (& the rest was good...)

I thought this was a cute Christmas story and I loved the characters. I loved how Whitney was able to help Daniel deal with his past hurt and learn to smile again. I loved how Daniel was able to help Whitney figure out what her dream really is and to know that she can do hard things. I also liked seeing them fall in love as they spent time with each other. I also liked how the matchmaking by Daniel’s aunt went awry but it all worked out in the end by the right people ending up with each other. I really enjoyed this story and would highly recommend it.

I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, and or authors.  A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.

The book was very well written and a fun wintery read in the summer weather we are having this fall. I enjoyed the plot and the characters' relationship.