Fun, feisty American Gracelynn Ferguson finds herself the bride of Lord Frederick Percy, an Englishman with a trunk load of personal baggage. If anyone can make a go of this marriage of convenience, it is the ever-thoughtful Grace. Pepper Basham is an author of many talents and writes well in several genres. In The Mistletoe Countess, she has given the reader a swoony, romantic historical mixed with a Sherlock Holmes-esque mystery. I enjoy a romance in which the couple gets together well before the last page and spends time working out their relationship together. I also enjoy a good mystery with a dislikable villain. I got both in this delightful book.

If you have enjoyed Pepper Basham before, you will undoubtedly love this book. If Basham is a new to you author, this is a great place to start.

I was given a copy of this book by the author. All opinions stated are my own.

I just couldn't get into this one. I found myself skimming through major portions.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to review a temporary digital ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

I am sorry this galley got lost in my to be read pile but it was worthwhile. How refreshing to meet a person who has married someone a bit of her league who isn't about to change.
Sparks of humor, gentle lessons on being a better person are sprinkled throughout the book while still remaining one of the most fun books I have read in ages.
Okay from the get go you can see what you think k is going to happen and it does but oh so much more. The first in a trilogy, I look forward to more amazing amusing adventures with bated breath.
Thanks to Netgalley for letting me read this book!

Due to content mentioned in reviews of people I trust I will not be reading this book at this time... I may come back to it sometime, however I am concerned about the sexual content that I've seen is mentioned in this.

It took me a while to review this book! From the summary, I didn't expect the book to be what it was, so I didn't appreciate it so much. However, after a long pause, I decide to start again where I'd stopped in the middle and ended up liking it more than I first thought.

The story takes place in the 1910s (something that you would expect by reading the summary).
Gracelynn Ferguson, a young women from an upper-class, American family agrees to marry the British Lord Frederick Percy, despite him being her sister's former intended.
Gracelynn is very imaginative and excitable, so when she and her husband are victims of very strange and unfortunate circumstances, she's not cowering in a corner but ready to fight back—that is, once she founds the culprit! I found her to be a very naïve heroine, but her courage was still admirable.

I found this book to be a mix between a romance and mystery (which neither the book title nor the cover would make you think it is). The romance was pretty good, with two characters that grow together and learn to quickly love each other.

It's not exactly what I expected, but in the end, it was still a good read. I'd give it 3.5 stars.

*I received an eARC in exchange for my honest opinion*

This was my first foray into Pepper Basham books. I was actually going on an author fan trip with her and this book had just come out so I picked this one. I’m glad I did because I learned she writes in little nods to Biltmore and I think she modeled the estate in this book after Biltmore. I find a lot of my personality in Grace and love that she loves books. I absolutely loved watching her and Freddie’s relationship grow. There were some instances where I wondered how she was going to get herself out the predicaments she found herself in. This is a great fun read for anyone who loves Pepoer Basham books, loves romance and a bit of mystery solving!

Freddie and Grace are two of my absolute favorite fictional characters of all. The author weaves a story of passion, faith, and mystery. The reader can't help but be drawn in with her unique voice and soul-gripping words.

Oh the joy I experienced reading this story.
Grace is my girl…in personality and love of solving a good mystery. Boy, does she keep Fredrick on his toes. I loved the pairing of these two characters and their passion for one another is endearing.
Some might find their connection unbelievable but when it is clearly a choice to let attractions build and choosing to love the way God instructs, it isn’t that unusual.
There was a beauty to this romance that was Beyond the cookie-cutter hallmark movie romance. I found myself wishing that there were more period dramas that take place at Christmas. The storyline in these characters are the kind of people that I want to see more of.
Thank you once again, Pepper Bashan, for writing the kind of story I needed to read to be inspired and maybe do a little daydreaming of my own.

Are you up for a Christmas murder mystery? What? Christmas and murder don't go together? In this case they do!

The Mistletoe Countess was in my Christmas TBR pile from last year. Who knew such an awesome tale was just lurking on my shelf? There was just so much to love about this book. It's technically a Christmas book, but really it's just set during the Christmas season. So if you're finding this in March go ahead and read it, you'll be in for a real treat.

The story has a gothic romance style but Grace's sunny disposition makes it laugh-out-loud funny at times and pushes all those creepy, sinister elements to the side. I do believe that she has leapt to the top of my favorite character list.

Grace's new husband Frederick is quite the character as well. The two of them together are a combination of molten lava and fireworks. I'm absolutely thrilled that this is just book one in the series and we get to follow along as these two newlyweds continue to grow in their relationship.

In all seriousness I think my favorite aspect of this novel was not just Grace the character but grace the attribute that flowed through her. We could all take a lesson from Grace in dealing with others. From a difficult mother-in-law to wary household staff she could give each of us a master class on how to treat others.

As soon as book two comes out I'm reading it. No waiting around for a year to pass this time!

I received a copy of this book to facilitate my review.

The Mistletoe Countess is a very well written historical romance. Great plot and character dynamics. If you enjoy historical books you will enjoy reading this book. I received an advance ebook from the publisher and Netgalley. This is my unbiased review.

Ende November 1913 ist Lillias Fergusons Familie zu einer einwöchigen vorweihnachtlichen Hausparty eingeladen. Sie findet in der Nähe der Blue Ridge Mountains im italienisch anmutenden Palast Whitlock statt. Lillias soll vor der anstehenden Verlobung und Abreise nach England den Earl of Astley besser kennenlernen. Die Hochzeit wurde aus wirtschaftlichen Gründen zwischen den Eltern beschlossen. Die eine Familie wird ihren Titel beitragen und die andere ihren Wohlstand. Lillias jüngere Schwester Grace stellt sich eine Eheschließung nicht so vor. Für sie ist Romantik wichtig. Sie lebt in der Welt ihrer Bücher. So trifft sie zufällig als erste in der Bibliothek auf Frederique. Die Pflicht, die Familie zu retten, ging erst vor sechs Monaten an ihn über, nach dem plötzlichen Tod seines älteren Bruders. Sein Freund Blake macht sich nach einer Reihe seltsamer Unfälle Sorgen um das Wohlergehen Frederiques. Die erste Begegnung zwischen Lillias und Frederique, bei der sie sich als recht unterschiedliche Charaktere erweisen, lässt ihn an seiner Entscheidung und ihrer Unschuld zweifeln.

Den großen Teil des Romans geht es dann um das bereits verheiratete Paar, sie sind jung verliebt und verrückt nacheinander, es wird geküsst und geküsst und geküsst. Sie sind sympathische Protagonisten und Blake überzeugt in seiner Nebenrolle. Es ist eher ein ruhiges Buch, das nur durch den Krimianteil etwas Spannung und Tempo erhält. Es gibt einen passenden perfekten Bösewicht und einen spannenden temporeichen Show Down.

Leider hat es mir an weihnachtlichem gefehlt, überwiegend spielt die Geschichte halt nur zeitlich in den vorweihnachtlichen Wochen, erst im Epilog durch die Bescherung wird es richtig schön weihnachtlich und so kann das Ende in der Hinsicht etwas gut machen.

Grace entpuppt sich als eigenwillige, selbstbewusste und praktisch veranlagte Frau, die sich gerne in der fiktiven Welt der Bücher verliert. Es kommen viele literarische Anspielungen vor. Es zeigt sich, wofür eine Neigung zu klassischer Kriminallektüre gut sein kann. Auch der Humor kommt nicht zu kurz.

Insgesamt eine leichte Lektüre, die gut unterhalten kann.

An amazing book that I could not put down!! I absolutely loved everything about this story. The storyline, the characters, the romance... sigh... totally swoonworthy!! No one does romance like Pepper Basham! Oh and did I mention the incredible faith thread in this story?! Wowza!!! Absolutely great book!

The Mistletoe Countess is a beautiful, heartwarming tale of finding belonging in the most unexpected of places.

Grace's curiosity, courage, and compassion made her a truly inspirational (and at times incredibly amusing) heroine. Her ability to find light at the darkest of times was a delight.

Frederick, on the other hand was on the gloomy side and full of regrets; he certainly needed a Grace in his life. But his strong sense of integrity and conviction shone beneath his shadowed façade, making him the perfect match for Grace.

And as for the romance, well, Pepper Basham wrote it, so of course it was wonderful! And the mystery aspects fit in perfectly with the overall plot.
All in all, I really enjoyed this fun Christmas read!

Grace is absolutely delightful! Her personality is so vivid, and she really carried the story as she brought light into Frederick's life. I loved how he allowed himself to be vulnerable with her as he began to trust her, and she didn't let him down, providing support, encouragement, and validation. They have fabulous chemistry from the start- beginning with friendship and quickly developing into something more, especially as their circumstances shift in unexpected ways. Aside from their unusual relationship, there is a suspenseful mystery to be solved, which Grace takes to with enthusiasm. I admired her self-confidence and determination in the face of adversity which comes in a variety of ways. I thoroughly enjoyed this sweet romance with elements of faith and adventure!

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.

I enjoyed this story very much and it kept moving at a good pace. Grace was a "substitute" bride when her sister ran away. She was young and a bit unconventional in her ways but she was willing to try and do what was best for her family and her new husband.

Frederick was thrown into the position of "Earl" when both his father and brother died. He had been a bit of a "wild child" in his youth but was now ready to assume his duty, even though he didn't feel qualified to the task. When he first met Grace, he was intrigued and when she proposed marriage to honor the agreement between their families, he assumed his life would never be the same; and that was the truth.

I loved the interactions between Frederick and Grace. I loved how patient he was with her as she learned more about him and felt comfortable with him and when they were both prepared, they were able to become one so smoothly.

This was a sweet romance that took place in the early 1900s but it felt more like it came from an earlier time period. I don't recall having read a book by this author before but I look forward to enjoying more from her.

I was given an arc copy of this book and I willingly offer my honest review.

I absolutely love Pepper Basham’s writing. She knows exactly how to pull the reader into her stories. This one does not disappoint, escapism at its best. Loved it.

Pepper’s rich storytelling and strong prose immersed me into the story from the beginning. And that premise: the wrong bride is (somehow) the right choice! What a hook.

According to the hero, the heroine has "no reserve whatsoever." Ha! That’s enough to make him uncomfortable. She’s lively and unpredictable. He’s burdened by regrets and has allowed “the past to attach weights to the future.” Insightful lines like that pop up now and then like Christmas gifts to the reader.

The romantic thread is enjoyable, centered around books and fiction, and being the heroine or hero of your own story. The newlyweds' relationship must begin at the beginning, and it's fun watching their intimacy grow.

I appreciated how Pepper included symbolism throughout. Our heroine is very intelligent and strong. She’s courageous. Our hero carries the burdens of his role as a nobleman, but he’s kind, which draws her. She can see his heroic side, even if he can’t. She supports him in a beautiful way, and that thread felt like a takeaway for married readers.

One recurring thought moved me often as I read: I want to see this book made into a movie. The rich setting and prose, the characters, the romance—this story begs to be shown, played out.

I loved this novel! Highly recommended!

This book wasn't for me. I found Grace to be immature and obtuse. The whole book was very flat and one dimensional.

The Mistletoe Countess
by Pepper Basham

Grace Ferguson is delighted that her sister is going to be married and she imagines all sorts of fairytale loveliness for the life she is about to embark on. But when a secret threatens to ruin her family and more than one life - Grace does the only thing possible - she takes her sister's place.

But Grace has never sought a position in society so life as a countess is something she is unprepared for. But if literary knowledge is needed she's read a fair bit. And she is more than adequate as an amateur sleuth - having read any detective novel she can get her hands on. What she never expected was that this knowledge would come in handy when someone tries to do away with her new husband - Lord Frederick Percy.

Assuming the title of Havensbrook Hall was the last thing Frederick ever wanted - but the unexpected loss of his brother has him trying to restore the estate and save it from financial ruin. He needs money and marriage to an American heiress seems his only hope. When a last-minute change finds him marrying a substitute bride it will either be a colossal disaster or a blessing in disguise - and there is no way of knowing which until after their vows are said.

When danger follows Frederick and Grace across the ocean - he can't ignore the fact that someone seems determined to see him dead. The question is why. But finding the answer will have to wait as Lord and Lady Astley settle into their new roles.

As danger creeps ever closer, the darkness of the past threatens the happiness that Frederick and Grace have found during their short acquaintance and even shorter marriage. But to claim the inheritance that is rightly theirs they will need to delve into the past and its secrets to get to the truth, freeing them of the danger that seeks to end them all.

First off, I have to say there is a whole lot of story packed into this book. It isn't that it is too long just a lot of action and story, what with the whole marriage debacle and then the settling into life in England and solving the mystery surrounding Havensbrook Hall and the previous/current residents. Overall I'd say it was an excellent reading experience.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion ~ all thoughts expressed are my own.

Pepper Basham has done it again! This is a marriage of convenience story with many twists and turns. The heroine Grace was an enjoyable character. She’s an avid bookworm, which I relate, too but her book reading definitely influences how she sees the world. The hero Frederick was an great character as well who was also a flawed human being but was down-to-earth despite his earl status. Grace unexpectedly takes the place of her more refined older sister to marry Frederick for his title and to help out his family estate. The secondary characters were good as well especially Blake. The story was around Christmas which adds to it. The mystery aspect of the story was very interesting. The Christian aspect of the story was woven nicely: to basically trust God in His entirety and everything will fall into place. The romance was sweet and wasn’t super rushed.

The mystery was definitely intriguing as well with some plot twists.

I recommend this book!