I loved this book! It's well-written, enjoyable, and a great Christmas read. Michelle Major did a great job of writing in a way that captures the readers attention, and makes you not want to put it down until you're finished! I would highly recommend it!

Mistletoe Season book two of the Carolina Girls Series is an enchanting tapestry of family bonds, personal growth, and a second chance at love, all wrapped up in the delightful trappings of the holiday season.

Angie, a devoted single parent, grapples with the weight of parental expectations while simultaneously pursuing her own dreams alongside running the cherished family restaurant. It’s a juggling act that tugged at my heart strings..

Gabe Carlyle, a man of intriguing complexity, his most striking feature is his huge heart. Initially gruff, Gabe’s character undergoes a transformation that will endear him to you in no time. Returning to town to assist his grandmother in maintaining her beloved flower shop, Gabe unexpectedly collides with his past.

Angie and Gabe, now adults with a shared history marred by unpleasant memories and lingering resentments, embark on a compelling journey. Witness their graceful dance as they navigate through past wounds, inching ever closer to the possibility of friendship. Angie finds herself in need of a pretend boyfriend to quell her mother’s relentless matchmaking, while Gabe seeks assistance in reviving his grandmother’s fading flower shop. Throw in an astute eight-year-old with a wit as sharp as a tack, and you’re presented with the ingredients for an extraordinary story that will captivate the most romantic of hearts.

Mistletoe Season is a heartfelt elixir that will kindle warmth within your soul just in time for the holiday season. As a first-time reader of Michelle Major’s works, I’m delighted to declare that it won’t be my last. I’ve already eagerly picked up the initial installment of The Carolina Girls Series.” And, as if that weren’t enough, this enchanting tale is accompanied by a bonus novella at its conclusion, a delightful cherry on top of an already wonderful holiday treat!

Rated 5 Stilettos and a Recommend Read by Deb!

I read this during the holidays last year and really enjoyed it! I really loved the characters and of course, the fake dating trope. It was the perfect holiday book for me. Thank you for sharing!

A fun read that is perfect for the Holiday Season! Excellent character development that truly brought them to life on the page in a way that made me feel as though I knew them and felt connected to them and their story!

If you are looking for a sweet, holiday-themed read that captures the beauty of mistletoe season, Michelle Majorngi’s Mistletoe Season is the perfect book for you.

The story follows Angi Guilardi and Gabriel Carlyle as they are brought together by mistletoe at Magnolia’s Wildflower Inn. Guilardi is running a fledgling catering business and Carlyle is back in town to help his grandmother with her flower shop. As the two interact, the sparks between them are undeniable, but Carlyle is cautious about pursuing any romantic relationship. Through all of the hard work of both Guilardi and Carlyle, the pair eventually come together and form a strong, heartfelt connection.

This sweet holiday story has an uplifting ending that readers will love. Majorngi writes a heartwarming story with vivid descriptions of her characters and the festive setting of mistletoe season. While this is a story that follows two people’s romantic relationship, it’s also filled with deeper themes, such as friendship, family, and redemption. This is a perfect book to curl up with in the winter season and is sure to put you in a festive and joyous spirit.

This was a very cute second chance holiday romance story. Angie us a single mom who is overwhelmed taking care of her mother, the family restaurant and her son who is being bullied at school. Gabe is just trying to keep his grandmother’s flower shop afloat and her home from falling into disarray after a fall landed her in a nursing home. What Angie and Gabe didn’t expect was to be running the committee for the upcoming town’s holiday festival. What ensues is a fake relationship that ends with someone’s broken heart, and apparently the spirit of Christmas can fix all!

Such a good sweet read. It is exactly what I needed to have a break from the chaos that is the world. I will for sure be reading more from this author.

Michelle Major did it again! I adore her series and this one did not disappoint. I love this set of characters even more than the Sisters! It’s fun to see them pop up again.

This book is nice holiday escape reading. Angi is trying to fulfill her catering commitments while saving the family restaurant. Gabriel is back in town to run his grandmothers floral business. Both are encountering bullies from their childhood. The themes of becoming adults, family obligations/expectations and communications are strong.

I truly wanted to enjoy this book. It has so much potential with the enemies-to-lovers trope in the mix of a holiday romance story. But yet, it was a bit too slow for my taste.
Angi is having problems with herself and her family. She feels guilty about pursuing her dreams while, unexpectedly, her mother falls ill. But yet, her family, especially her mother, is holding her back from her dreams. And it does not help that she has to help her small-town holiday parade with her childhood enemy, Gabriel. He makes it well-known that he does not have any interest in her whatsoever. He does not have the time to deal with her while he is taking care of his grandmother and the flower shop. And it does not help that he has to deal with her while handling the town holiday parade.
This book had potential. But I was really irritated with Angi as a female character. I understand that there are family obligations or a sense of family loyalty, but something has to give if you want to be happy in life. And don't take offense that people who don't like you. It happens. And it happens more when you were a bully to them when you were children.

Anji, a single mother raising her son, Andrew has always dream to have her own business. And when she thought she have achieve it, she have to let go of her dream to help her mum to run her family’s Italian restaurant. It was not an easy task for her as her mum’s insistence on her following the traditional recipe and menu is suffocating her. She wanted to explore and challenge herself with new menu, something that she could do in her catering business but not at her family’s restaurant. The conflict within her has put a tremendous stress on her coupled with the bullying issue in school that Andrew is experiencing.

Gabriel is back to Magnolia to help his grandma to manage her florist shop after his grandma fell sick. To get entangled in Anji and family matter is the last in his mind. But he couldn’t help himself especially when Anji still hold a place in his heart.

It is a story of love, hope, family and redemption which I hold dear in this season of greeting. Love the stubbornness of Anji and Gabriel but not I not fancy of the harsh decision that Gabriel made at the end of the story. Overall it is a wonderful read for this holiday season.

Anji Guilardi is worried she will lose her ailing mother. Gabriel Carlyle has lost his grandmother. Kindred spirits perhaps? Anji has had to start working with her mother after her mother fell ill. Not only must Anji take the reigns, but she has an eight-year-old son who needs her time and attention.

Gabriel has an agenda. Fix up his grandmother's flower shop. Sell it and move on. He did not expect the complication of Anji. The two have a history and it was not pleasant. In fact, she was one of his childhood bullies due to a weight issue he had while young. How can Gabriel deal with those feelings of resentment all while finding himself more and more drawn to Anji? She certainly is no bully now. In fact, she is gorgeous and is just about everything he could want. However, he has no long-terms plans to stick around.

Meanwhile, Anji must find time to balance her Inn and her mother's italian restaurant while her mother recuperates. How will she do that and deal with a possible romance with Gabriel?

There is drama in this touching story. It does deal with bullying, and not just when Gabriel was a child. Anji's son is now dealing with bullies, so her life has pretty much come full circle. As this is the second book in the Carolina Girls series, I was able to read Wildflower Season as well. I enjoyed both stories and found them to be heartwarming and memorable.

Many thanks to HQN and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

The Review

The tension between the two protagonists was palpable as the story began. The way the author explores the past these two characters share with one another and the impact their families have had on them as well was so intriguing and engaging and made the impact of their growing romance that much more meaningful. The pain of their pasts both tougher and individually elevated their character arcs to new heights and allowed the reader to feel connected to their emotional states overall.

The small-town vibe and history of the characters and area really made this story what it was. The intimate moments between the protagonists and the holiday romance felt much more alive due to the connected way the town and its citizens interacted with one another, and the connection each protagonist had to the wellbeing and overall happiness of Angi’s son brought out the best of each of them, making this such an emotionally-investing narrative.

The Verdict

A memorable, hopeful, and well-written holiday romance, author Michelle Major’s “Mistletoe Season” is the perfect read for romance fans this winter. The world-building and character development the author captured here in this narrative was entertaining and emotional all at once, and the twists and turns their relationship takes will keep readers on the edge of their seats.

It's a good story, emotional and heartwarming.
The beginning it's a bit sad but the evolution of the plot and the well thought characters made me smile and feel the festive atmosphere.
The plot flows and it's entertaining, the characters are fleshed and I enjoyed it.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Disclaimer: I was sent a free book and am voluntarily leaving this honest review.

I must say when I learned this was the second book in a series and was nervous to start reading it as I was afraid I would miss something by not reading the first book. I was so wrong.

This book can be read as a stand-alone and was very good. It was a perfect holiday read for me.

This was a classic story of friends who become enemies because one of them betrays the other for their own selfish reasons. The years later as adults are thrown together due to work. This forces them to reevaluate their friendship, their past and eventually leads them to heal and love.

I very much enjoyed this book. I thought the author did a fabulous job bringing the characters to life. The story was a classic one that was enjoyable as well.

I also felt myself relating to Angi. She is someone who has trouble saying no. As a recovering people pleaser, I gt her. I really related to her journey and was so thrilled that by the end of the book she had learned to set healthy boundaries. I really got her characters.

Overall a wonderful holiday read.

Angi Guilardi needs a Christmas miracle. She is run ragged trying to run her late father’s restaurant, run her catering business on the sly at her friends B&B, and raising her son. What she does not need is her mother meddling in her nonexistent love life and making her feel guilty about the restaurant. When Angi decides the only way to get her mother off her back is to come up with a fake boyfriend for the holidays, life takes an interesting twist.

Gabriel is back home from his time in the military and is taking care of his grandmother and running her flower shop. All he wants is for his grandmother to be happy and does not need any distractions, especially his ex best friend Angi. When he is thrown into planning a holiday event with her, things start to heat up around the Christmas mistletoe.

This is such a sweet holiday romance. The characters are so heartwarming, and I loved their stories. I believe we have all felt like Angi at one time in our lives, being pulled in every direction, so I know I could certainly relate to her character. The supporting characters were ones we previously met in previous books in this series and the Magnolia Sisters series as well, so it was fun to catch up with their stories. That said, it also could be read as a stand alone novel. Thank you, Harlequin Publishing, for an advanced readers copy. All opinions are unbiased and entirely my own.

Mistletoe Season is a well-written holiday romance, but it's not all easy going Christmas cheer. Anji and Gabe have some hurdles to jump on their way to a happy for now declaration of love. Some of those hurdles are in the here and now, but some are from the past, and oftentimes, those are the hardest to overcome. These two do have good chemistry, and the romance, while emotional, is a little bit sexy and a whole lot sweet. The book is set in Michelle Major's Magnolia, North Carolina world, and it's such an entertaining place. You can't help but fall in love with the place and its engaging characters. That said, this book can be read as a standalone, although you'll want more of this world once you've been introduced.

Mistletoe Season
Michelle Major
Carolina Girls #2


No one does small town poignant romances with imperfect yet heartfelt characters like Michelle Major and Mistletoe Season is a prime example. She also deals with real issues like bullying and living up to expectations sometimes at the expense of your dreams. And then there’s the family drama that she always handles with kid gloves and the pint sized lad who steals the show. And of course there’s the romance and no one reaches a more perfect Happily Ever After than Michelle Major. Any one who loves touching holiday tales featuring small towns and unforgettable characters needs a dose of Mistletoe Season.
Angi Guilardi is at a crossroads, she really wants to focus on her new catering business but her mom wants her to take over her family’s restaurant an institution in her hometown of Magnolia NC. Her mom is also resorting to making dates for her because she also wants her married and settled down. So Angi is resorting to getting a fake boyfriend for the holidays. The trouble is the man she wants is one she bullied when they were young. And now that her own son is the target of bullies she’s even more upset about what she did to fit in.
Gabe Carlyle rushed back to Magnolia to take over his grandma’s flower shop when she fell ill. Seeing that Magnolia is such a small town he’s not surprised to run into one of his childhood tormentors, what did surprise him was that she’s grown into a real beauty and a compassionate mom which is a real switch from when she was a big bully. What really blew his socks off is that he says yes when she asks him to be her fake boyfriend through the holidays.

Mistletoe Season is the second stand alone in The Carolina Girls series by Michelle Major. This sweet holiday romance with its enemies to lovers & the fake relationship trope hit the spot for the Christmas season.

Anji and Gabe were summer best friends when they were young, but Anji betrayed his trust one year to fit in with the popular crowd and they have been enemies ever since. Now adults, they are far from the children they were, but Gabe's childhood wounds are hard for him to forget. Forced to work together to plan the town's holiday festivities they have to make nice, but when Anji needs a boyfriend to get her mother off her back Gabe seems like the perfect solution. While balancing being a single parent, her son's school problems, working at her family restaurant, planning the town festivities, and working on her own catering dreams, she somehow manages to rekindle the friendship with Gabe and so much more. In the end, with Gabe trust in Anji's love or will his fears of never being enough chase him away for good.

I really enjoyed this one. It's filled with a great cast of characters. Anji had a lot going on in her life, just reading about all the things she was bouncing between made me exhausted lol She was a great friend, a supportive daughter, and a loving mother. Her relationship with Gabe was a pleasure to read, and I really feel like she redeemed herself from the way she treated him as a kid. Gabe was a tough nut who tended to go hot and cold quite frequently, because of his upbringing he didn't have the best example of loving and stable. His grandmother was the only one who really showed him love, and he felt like he failed her in the end. Whenever he let his wall down with Anji he was very sweet and charming, and he was really great with her son Andrew. While there is an open door intimate scene, Anji and Gabe's romance is slow burn and low steam but sweet.

This could have been the perfect holiday romance, but what's holding me back from giving a higher rating is the ending itself. Gabe should have done a huge declaration of his love for Anji as an apology. However, he simply walks up and says he's sorry and says "I love you", and it just wasn't enough for me. Then there's the fact that she accepts, and then the books just over. Give me an epilogue of them as a happy family the following season or something. It was simply a somewhat unsatisfying ending.

Mistletoe Season, is a great addition to the Caroline Girls series. A fake relationship romance filled with an endearing young boy, holiday dances, Christmas crafts, and mistletoe kisses.

It’s officially Christmas reading season for me and I couldn’t wait to dive into this one. I loved the cover and it just screamed Christmas magic for me even if I haven’t read anything else by Michelle Major, this one just screamed read me for some reason. I know that Michelle Major is we well known romance author with quite a few series under her belt so I felt confident that I would enjoy this book by a beloved writer!

While this is part of a series, it is not necessary for a new reader to go back and read the other books. I felt right at home in the book and with the characters without having read the first book which is usually typical for most romances. It was very evident that Major is a skilled writer with experience crafting romances and chemistry between her characters. I enjoyed this one so much and actually ordered a couple of her other books to read in the coming months.

If you love holiday romances this book is going to be a great option for you. The cover is stunning and eye catching, and not to mention the story within will warm your heart and make you feel cozy and satisfied. So pick up your eggnog or hot tottie and settle in for some holiday romance with this charming read!

Summary
Spend the holidays in Magnolia, North Carolina, where two lonely hearts find exactly what they need for Christmas.

Anji Guilardi needs a man for Christmas—at least, according to her mother. What she really needs is to grow her fledgling catering business. Partnering with Magnolia’s Wildflower Inn holds promise, but when her mother falls ill, Anji’s drawn back to the responsibility of the family restaurant. Balancing work and her eight-year-old son, she has no time for romance…until Anji runs into Gabriel Carlyle.

Temporarily helping at his grandmother’s flower shop, Gabriel doesn’t plan to stick around, especially after he bumps into Anji, one of his childhood bullies. Sure, she’s all grown up and gorgeous now, and when they find themselves under the mistletoe, their chemistry is undeniable. But it’ll take more than a Christmas miracle for Anji to break through the defenses of Gabriel’s well-guarded heart and find a love built to last. (summary from Goodreads)

Review
Normally my go to genre for romance is enemies to lovers. I love that troupe and I feel like the chemistry is always rife with tension and heat. While I wouldn’t qualify this book as an enemies to lovers romance, the characters have a history and resentment that I think makes the chemistry and tension satisfying for fans of that romance troupe but the history of a ‘second chance’ romance too if that makes sense. It’s kind of a weird mix of troupes that somehow really works. I thought that Anji and Gabriel’s history made this book exciting and created opportunities for growth from both characters but also added this layer of complexity that kept me reading. I really enjoyed this book for the characters and their history.

While this book is a romance, it isn’t a straight up romance—there are other themes and issues at play in this one. It has romantic elements to be sure but there are also other circumstances driving the characters and their choices beyond just the romance. While I love a good solid romance, I also like how adding other things to the plot builds up the romance and gives readers a reason to keep reading and engaging with the story and characters. I also loved that this one had a nice Christmas feel without being overwhelming. I hate when some Christmas novels ‘try too hard’ to being the Christmas cheer. I have read some where I am just like lord I get it it’s the holidays! And I have read others where I am like wait is this set during Christmas at all? This one struck a nice balance between both and I really appreciated that.

This was a quick easy read for me and I read it in a couple of days. I felt satisfied with the ending and since it was my first novel by Major, I was left wanting to read more by her. I loved the characters and the setting, Gabriel was lovable and sexy. Anji was sweet and while she had her own issues she works to resolve them. I loved the feel goodness of this book and I feel ready for more holiday books now. If you love contempo romance with a splash of holiday cheer this book is for you. I think this will be a hot Christmas read this year! It’s out now so make sure to pick up a copy to read!

Book Info and Rating
Format 288 pages

Published: October 26th 2021 by HQN

ISBN: 9781335529039

Free review copy provided by publisher, Harlequin, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and in no way influenced.

Rating: 4 stars

Genre: holiday romance, contempo romance