I'm a huge fan of Christmas stories (aka the type you'd likely find on Lifetime or Hallmark), and this book doesn't disappoint. The town where this story is set sounds so magical, the characters loveable and endearing, and there was an interesting story arch that kept my attention. I didn't want to put this book down. And I absolutely loved that the main character was a librarian who loves books!!

No ord Christmas

This small town romance featuring Lucy, the town’s librarian and her former best friend and lover, Dante, who abruptly left town and became a movie star.

He comes back to town to film a movie there and try to make amends with Lucy and those he left behind.

This is a super sweet and quick romance novel, low Steam, but good emotion from the characters. I could definitely see this being apart of Hallmarks Christmas Movies.

Melli’s Book Breakdown
-Holiday Romance
-Second Chance Romance
-Narrator, 3rd person
-Small Town Romance
-POC Main Characters
-Low Steam
-HEA

Plot: This was a great second chance romance! Reading about Lucy and Dante finding their way back to each other was nice, and I loved all the Christmas in the book. It felt just like a Hallmark movie, which is a big compliment! It was all delightfully festive! (Um, Hallmark? Please make this into a movie!)

Characters: Lucy was a great main character! And even though I got frustrated with Dante at times, I quite liked him. Both of their families were fun, and I loved how big a part they played in the book. Lucy's little sister was adorable! And I liked the other characters, too!

The Cover: It's cute!

Overall: This was a fantastic book, and I loved reading it! And I'm definitely looking forward to more books in the series! (I have a thought about who the next book will be about, and I want to know if I'm right!) If you're looking for a festive Christmas romance, I highly recommend this book!

I received an e-ARC from the publisher.

I still am reading Christmas books in July. This is the start of a new contemporary romance series by Belle Calhoune. The setting is a cute little town, Mistletoe, Maine. And it's going to have all things Christmas; parade, tree farm, sleigh rides and visits with Santa Clause. There is also going to be a second chance at romance.

Dante West left Mistletoe for Hollywood and didn't come back till seven years later. He is a movie superstar now and has come to his hometown to make a film. He is trying to reconnect to the family he left behind and apologize to his old girlfriend too. Lucy Marshall was heartbroken when Dante left. They had made plans and had dreams of a future and he left without a word. She went on and graduated college and now runs the town library.

I like that the main characters are black. Color isn't an issue but it is nice to have representation. The story is wholesome with only a few kisses and no language. Unfortunately the book is repetitive. We kept hearing about Dante leaving and somehow coming back is his way to make amends but those thoughts are mentioned over and over. Dante still can't be humble with his brother or Lucy wanting them to see his trying without saying the words. His grand gesture seems weak for as heartbroken as Lucy says she was. Also why is Dante kissing around if he really doesn't plan on pursuing Lucy. These are minor quibbles but for me the difference between three stars and higher.

I will give Calhoune and Mistletoe another try when the next story comes out and see if it engages me more. Thank you NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for an ARC ebook in exchange for an honest review.

This is a great book and a bonus is a Christmas book. The two main characters are Lucy and Dante. They have know each other all their life. Dante wanted to be an actor so he left for Hollywood without telling Lucy. They didn’t see each other till eight and half years when Dante came back to his hometown to make a movie. Dante and Lucy have problems they have to work out to find each other again and admit they they love each other.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Lucy is a librarian in a small town in Maine. Her ex boyfriend Dante left several years ago without saying goodbye. He is a successful movie star and is filming a movie in their small town. This was a quick read.

I received an advance copy of, No Ordinary Christmas, by Belle Calhoune. I love books by Belle Calhoune, and this is a good Christmas story. Lucy, Dante, and Tess are great characters.

I love Christmas books and I really, really wanted to love this one, but...I didn't. At all. I've never read such a repetitive book. The same few points were repeated ad nauseum throughout the entire book: Dante left and broke Lucy's heart. Lucy is a librarian. Dante is an action star. Dante was on the football team in high school. Dante is having trouble with his family. Dante and his brother are estranged. Lucy's heart was broken when Dante left. Dante has been gone for eight and a half years. Dante's best friend's wife was killed in a horrific accident. Dante's dad died from cancer. Dante has so many regrets. The characters were flat and had no development, growth, or personality, and the romance was equally flat.

I really hope this book finds its audience and brings people some Christmas joy. I really do wish I'd been one of those people.

If Mistletoe, Maine were a real place, I’d go in a heartbeat! Belle Calhoune has created a perfect, cozy, and festive winter wonderland in No Ordinary Christmas that made me feel like I was in the midst of a Hallmark movie. This setting is so vivid and homey, and I just absolutely loved it. This second chance romance is so sweet and heartwarming. I really enjoyed Lucy, especially. She is spunky and strong and her relationships with her older and younger sister was just so genuine and wonderful. I loved the family dynamics in this too, with both Lucy and Dante. This was a book where Dante didn’t only leave Lucy, but his family too, and I love how that was addressed. The relationships Dante and Lucy had with their family were my favorite aspect of this book. From Dante and Lucy, I wanted more. Lucy was really heartbroken about Dante left to become an actor and I don’t think he did enough to really win her back, but I did love that the movie he was making was a love letter to her, I just wish we could’ve seen more of it. Their relationship relies so heavy on their past and as a reader, we didn’t really get a lot of what that looked like for them, so it was hard to feel connected to them as a couple in the beginning, but the more interactions they had, the more I rooted for them. I think this book relied a little heavy on telling and not showing and I got a little lost in some of the repetitive language along the way. But it is a sweet read that I really couldn’t put down.

This is a good book about a two people working to overcome their experiences and history to rediscover love. The town of Mistletoe comes alive in this book and makes you cheer for both it and our hero and heroine. I liked the supporting characters in the story as well and can't wait to read their story . The story starts a little slow but keep reading to find out if Lucy and Dante can find their happily ever after.

I received No Ordinary Christmas as part of a NetGalley giveaway.

Lucy Marshall wants nothing to do with Dante West, the hometown hero turned movie star currently directing a film in their shared hometown of Mistletoe, Maine. Years earlier, they had shared a friends-to-lovers romance until Dante left abruptly for Hollywood, leaving Lucy heartbroken. But he's back, and hard to ignore, and with the help of some Christmas magic, Dante and Lucy may yet get their second chance.

This was a cozy, sweet romance novel with strictly PG related content. It didn't light my world on fire, but I'm not sure Christmas romances necessarily have to do that. If you're a fan of Hallmark movies, this would be a great read, with a handsome movie start and heartbroken librarian getting their second-chance romance against the backdrop of an idyllic small town.

No Ordinary Christmas by Belle Calhoune is a great contemporary festive romance that is the first book in the new Mistletoe, Maine series. This is so sweet, fun, and really put me in the holiday spirit.

I loved being introduced to the wonderful, quaint New England town of Mistletoe in Maine. The author did a great job in creating, laying out, and describing the town, its structures, history, and inhabitants. The character cast that was introduced was great and there are plenty of people and material to build upon for future books.

I liked the romance, interaction, and chemistry between the two main characters: Dante and Lucy. Where one was outgoing, one was more reserved. They seemed to be opposites, yet had more in common than one might think and played off one another. The complicated and complex history between the two with mixed messages and things unsaid really add to the complexity of the current interactions and development of the present relationship. I liked the plot of being "forced" into a professional relationship, having those feelings resurface, and for them to be able to work through said problems. I loved how it all worked out and also the fabulous Christmas theme and backdrop that made it all feel so warm, fuzzy, cozy, and magical.

A great read for anyone that loves a good holiday romance. I look forward to the next book.

5/5 stars

Thank you NG and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication.