I loved this one so much!

First, Grace and Frederick meet in the library and bond over their love for books. He's to marry her sister to save his estate in England, but when something unexpected happens, it's Grace he marries instead.

I loved to see their friendship and well suited they were for each other. Despite being young and inexperienced, Grace is exactly what Frederick needs and the more time they spend together, the easier that is to see.

There was also a mystery throughout and they work together to solve it. I would love to see a series with these two, a married couple solving mysteries.

Absolutely adorable story, excellent writing, and charming characters!

I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

What a fabulous book! Freddie and Grace are a new favorite couple. They are a marriage of convenience story. It’s filled with a mystery to solve and danger too. There’s also a sweet innocence about Grace. There’s a lot she doesn’t know about marriage. But she knows she likes kisses! I’m hoping the author gives us many more adventures with this couple. I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All views stated here are my own.

This is a very fun and romantic novel. Truthfully, I was expecting something closer to a novella as it seems that most Christmas romantic fiction books aren’t full length. And when starting this book, I felt that I knew what was going to happen. And it did but, Oh! There is so much more!

There are so many things to love in this book! Grace is a person who always, always sees the silver lining in things. And though she seems childlike, she is smart. I adore her love and knowledge of fiction. She is spirited, joyful, enthusiastic, and brave. She is also a wonderful sleuth thanks to all the books she’s read. What’s not to love!
And who could not love Frederick, the broken hero. “The only heroes worth reading about are the broken ones. They have the greatest potential because they’ve learned what it takes to truly be strong.” He was kind, handsome, brave, devoted and a little roguish – in his own special way. He was a great counterpart to Grace.

There is indeed a great deal of kissing in this book, too much for some maybe. And Grace does seem to be happy all the time, which could be considered a bit unnatural. But overlooking that, it is a wonderful read.
And there is also a great deal of humor and a mystery which makes it very entertaining..

In the end Grace surmises that “God had used the unexpected to give her even more. How very clever of Him! She supposed He did have the very best of imaginations from the start.”

Highly recommended!
Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book. The opinions are entirely my own.

I've never met a Pepper Basham book that I didn't love, but wow! There's just something absolutely irresistible about an earl, but when you get a handsome single earl like Lord Frederick Percy, Earl of Astley stuck in an disgraceful disaster of an engagement when his betrothed elopes with another man, that's something else altogether! Thanks to some quick (and possibly hasty) thinking on his intended's sister's part, the young, innocent Grace offers to take her sister's place, and marries the Duke so they can both hold up their respective ends of the betrothal bargain. In doing so, she and Frederick plow head-first into a marriage of convenience turned storybook romance, not to mention the fascinating mystery surrounding his beloved Havensbrooke. The untimely deaths of his father and brother, as well as some suspicious accidents surrounding Lord Astley, and then Grace, not to mention a resident ghost haunting a vacant wing give this story quite the Gothic vibe. For me, the best part was how obviously Freddie is head over heels in love with his new, unexpected, and nothing like what he planned wife, and getting to see a peek inside this lovely married couple romance is just absolutely refreshing! There isn't nearly enough married romance in Christian fiction, "but romance has to be worth something if people throughout all time have spent years, money, risk and a whole host of daydreams in finding it." Grace is adorable, and you'll find yourself in stitches trying to keep up with her antics. One of my favorite reads of 2021! I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and was under no obligation to write a review.

I adore everything about this book. I’m not sure how to properly gush over it because I can’t come up with anything to accurately depict how much I love this book. It felt like a historical Hart to Hart (a TV show I have loved for years with a married couple solving mysteries). I want to hang out with Grace and let her feed my imagination with her adventures. And follow Freddie around his manor as he tells me the history of it. And have tea with Aunt Lavenia as she shocks me with her opinions. I want an entire series of adventures with these characters to watch them grow (and so I don’t have to leave them behind). It’s fun, humorous, adventurous, and full of heart! It’s lighthearted and yet holds some amazing faith elements that touch the soul.

Fans of the following will enjoy this:
marriage of convenience trope
mystery
humor

Frederick must marry to secure needed finances for his estate Havenbrook. Lillia is the daughter of an American family that comes from new money. This story starts out at the home of the Whitlocks, where we meet Frederick (Lord Astly), Lillia, her sister Grace, their father, the Whitlocks, Blake, Elliott and a few others, Once we get to England and Havenbrook, we also meet Frederick’s mother, Brandon, Celia, Lily and a host of others. Page turning story, with wonderful characters and a mystery to solve as well. I love the main heroine in this one. Grace is such a fun character and she and Frederick offset each other quite well. A definite pick me up book, even with the mystery they are trying to solve, Grace’s character is strong and joyful.
A complimentary copy was provided by Barbour Publishing via NetGalley. A review was not required and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

It's Christmas in July! 4.5 stars for this sweet Christmastime historical romance. When I first opened this book, I thought it was going to be terribly predictable. But when everything I thought was going to happen in the book had happened by the 25% mark, I wondered what in the world was going to happen for the rest of the book. The answer is - married romance (which I much prefer), a pretty intense mystery and a good dose of humor. I had several laugh out loud moments in this book, as well as wondering how on earth the mystery was going to play out. Those things kept me turning pages. The characters were quite lovely and Grace's affinity for fiction was endearing. In addition to the mystery, romance and humor, there were also some life lessons on conflict in marriage, gratitude and reliance on God. All in all, this was a thoroughly enjoyable read. There are 2 minor things that kept me from giving this a full 5 stars - first of all, there was a bit more passion than I'm comfortable with. Since the passion happens after marriage and what we "see" is still chaste, I'm not deducting much for it, but the kisses were more passionate than I prefer - total matter of preference - but if you're sensitive to that as I am - just note that there is some passionate kissing. Secondly, Grace's boundless optimism, while endearing, also began to grate on me a bit by the end of the book. Everyone has a bad day here and there, but there was nothing that seemed to get Grace down. While I loved that about her, it also made her character a bit less "real" to me by the end. Neither of those were major issues and overall, this was a rather enjoyable read. Though it takes place at Christmas-time and there are Christmas decorations (and plenty of mistletoe), this book can truly be enjoyed at any time of year as the Christmas "theme" is more background of timing. The real story is of the mystery and romance, which can be enjoyed at any time of year. Special thanks to Barbour Publishing and NetGalley for an advance e-copy of this book. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

The Mistletoe Countess is a romance novel written by Pepper Basham.

Summary: Gracelynn Ferguson’s carefree days are over. She never planned to marry, but now she’s marrying a stranger in order to save her family from total disgrace.

As the second son, Frederick Percy never imagined he would become the Lord of Havensbrook Hall. But with the sudden death of his brother, everything has changed. With the estate in disrepair, and scandal following his every move, Frederick has agreed to marry a rich heiress-and hopefully in the process try to redeem his own past mistakes.

Can the two of them find a way to love-even when life has thrown them together in such a dramatic twist of fate?

And what is really going on at Havensbrook Hall? What has happened to the estate’s money? And why have there been so many suspicious accidents-is someone trying to hurt Frederick and Gracelynn? Maybe Frederick’s brother’s death wasn’t due to natural causes after all……

My Thoughts: I have mixed feelings about this book. I liked the characters a lot. I liked how Gracelynn really changed the atmosphere and relationships with her arrive at Havensbrook Hall. I also really enjoyed the mystery as Frederick and Gracelynn try to piece everything together as to what really happened in the past.

Gracelynn’s character is pretty outrageous (in a fun-to-read way), and reminds me of some of the author Jen Turano’s fun and crazy characters. If you like Jen’s writings, you will probably enjoy this one.

The only thing I didn’t really care for was all of the mentions of sex. It is not detailed or anything, but it is mentioned a lot throughout this book, and I didn’t really think it was necessary, nor is it really my cup of tea.

Otherwise, it is a fun and adventurous book, and I did enjoy it for the most part.

I would like to thank Barbour Publishing, Inc. for providing me with a free digital copy of this book in exchange for my review. Thank you.

Pepper Basham's Mistletoe Countess has it all. There is romance in an arranged marriage with the wrong bride, a vivacious American heroine, a handsome aristocratic hero, passion, and lots of suspenseful mystery. It was a hard to put down book that kept me guessing about who done it. References to classic literature added to the entertainment, from Sherlock Holmes to Jane Eyre. This book introduced me to an author that I hadn't read before and I am definitely going to check our her other books.

I’ve put off writing this review for a while because I just didn’t know how to get started. Author Pepper Basham has written a story that will be a favorite, probably for life.

Oh, the characters in The Mistletoe Countess. Gracelynn is incredibly warm hearted and has a great sense of humor. Even when faced with the unthinkable she wants the best for others. Frederick is definitely swoon worthy, especially as he grows to care for Grace. Such a handsome, protective man. Havensbrook Hall has ghosts and mysteries and people who definitely need to be loved. And all set at Christmas among a family of book lovers.

There are so many literal laugh out loud moments throughout The Mistletoe Countess that at times I garnered strange looks from my husband. But equally as compelling was the faith message. The fact that God loves us always, regardless of who we are, and that He is working our life out as it should be, even when circumstances seem tough.

To top it off, there is a mystery afoot as someone is trying to kill…..someone. (I’m not giving anything away; you’ll need to read it for yourself.) When Grace decides to solve the mystery the game is on and you’ll be spellbound, trying to figure out who dun it.

With something for everyone, including some well placed kissing because after all it is a Basham book, I highly recommend you read The Mistletoe Countess.

I received a complimentary copy of this book but was not required to leave a review.

Lillias is the perfect image of a prospective countess - beautiful, strong, well mannered and well spoken. Her younger sister Grace is the polar opposite, as her personality quite matches her fiery red hair. Their father has a contract with Earl Astley for the marriage of Lillias but consequences play him another hand.
I loved Grace, as she is quite delightful and enamoured with Frederick's swoonly kisses. At nearly nineteen she exhibits steely flexiblity and a surprising willingness to move to another country for her Frederick. It seems that it was not the lure of her being a countess but the fact that she truly cares for him, a perfect stranger. The beginning of this novel is a deeply romantic one, but it switches gears around midways to an investigation and madcap chase of a kidnapper and double murderer. I enjoyed the romantic moments foremost.
I have read a couple of Pepper Basham's novels and my favorite so far is Hope Between the Pages. Her work is very enjoyable and I am slowly making my way through her ample backlist.
I received an e-book copy from NetGalley and I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 255, Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising

I absolutely loved this book! Grace's character was lovely and watching her and Frederick's journey throughout the book was a joy! This book had all the sweet romance, which I love. I also enjoyed all the literary references. Watching Grace and how she clung to her faith and what she knew to be true about the Lord and His love for her throughout the difficulties she would face was beautiful. This story also had plenty of mystery and intrigue as well! I couldn't wait to find out what all was going on and what would happen! I thoroughly enjoyed this love story and would highly recommend it!

Deliciously delightful whimsical reading. Gracelynn Ferguson is an impish Pollyanna type who endears herself to almost everyone she encounters except maybe Lady Moriah Percy who is certain Gracelynn will cause scandal wherever she goes, as she lives in her world of fiction, and Lady Moriah may very well be correct.

The Earl of Astley needs to marry well to save his estate. Lillias Ferguson appears to be the perfect lady to be his savior, or is she?

So many players in this game, all fictional but some more fictional than others! This was so much fun to read. Very fast paced and over much too soon.

I received an ARC (ebook) from Barbour Publishing through NetGalley.

The Mistletoe Countess is a great book! Frederick is supposed to marry Lillias, but through some surprising twists of circumstances, her sister, Gracelynn, steps into her place. Although she isn't the bride he expected, he soon learns that she is exactly the bride he needed. She is whimsical, and smart, and through her love of books, she is smart enough to help discover the mysteries surrounding his brother's death! They even discover the mystery surrounding the ghost of the manor! Exciting to read, I loved it! Very clean also! Excellent book!

Grace and Frederick step off the pages in this sweet, inspirational, historical romantic mystery. Grace is a vivid character who catches you by surprise and endears you to her from the start. Frederick develops more slowly like a fine meal that should be savored bite by bite. I thoroughly enjoyed how Frederick let go of his mistakes and the lies that had been told to him and embraced the beautiful, spirited Grace. The cast of secondary characters, like Blake, Elliot, and Brandon round out the story and leave the reader hoping the author will make this an on-going series! At times a romantic comedy, at times a passionate romance, at times heart-breaking and tender, The Mistletoe Countess will satisfy the romantic heart and leave the reader wanting more!

The Mistletoe Countess by Pepper Basham
The Mistletoe Countess is a wonderful holiday romance with a little suspense and mystery afoot. Set in England of old, Pepper takes you on a journey to smile, laugh, cheer, wonder, cringe and sigh. So glad I discovered this author! Her books are worth the read and won’t disappoint. #NetGalley #MistletoeCountess

What a delightful book.

I loved the entire cast of characters. I loved all the book references. I loved the major Lakeshore Park and Edenbrooke vibes. I loved the faith woven through on almost every page. I loved the marriage of convenience and the swoony romance. I loved that during the suspense scenes, the characters had me laughing so hard. I loved the happy ending.

I completely enjoyed the journey of this book. I don't always rave in book reviews, but this one was exactly written up my alley. I actually liked it better than Hope Between the Pages, because it didn't have the whole sad thread.

I thought some of the descriptors at the beginning got repetitive when talking about Grace's authenticity but that's really the only con I can think of, and I feel like I'm stretching to even mention it.

Well done, Pepper. I loved this one and already preordered it for a friend.

Younger readers who prefer not to know that married people enjoy sleeping together will probably find too many mentions to such bliss in this book. Please don't read it rather than read it and complain about that.

I received an ecopy of this book from the publisher and Netgalley for honest review and all opinions are my own.

I just loved this story!
I'm a huge fan of anything written by Pepper Basham, and so I knew I'd have to read this one. It does not disappoint!
This story is...Delicious. Romantic. Fun. Mysterious.
When Grace has to step in and take her sister's place, she is unexpectedly forced to marry and become a countess. This is quite difficult for her. You see, she's an American through and through. Ladylike she is not.
Grace is full of determination. And the little bit she's gotten to know her new husband, she's determined to win him over.
But someone seems to want to kill him. (oh wait...how much can I say and not give any spoilers...) This does have a bit of mystery in these pages...
I loved seeing how Grace and Frederich Percy, Lord Astley, get to know each other and fall in love...
Pepper Basham has given us a delightful story, it does have a bit of that marriage-of-convenience, but it is written in such a beautiful way I couldn't help but fall in love with not only the characters, but also the setting.

Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review, and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

A delightful book with such an amazing different way of looking at life. The author compelled me to continue reading and wanting to understand what would be happening next.

I’ve loved every book I’ve read by Pepper Basham but this one is now my favorite! Just like Grace who has a love of literature and devours books, I devoured this one!
Grace and Frederick enter a marriage of convenience but this story is far from just another love story. Mystery, suspense, humor, and God’s grace are woven into this book. Grace’s quick wit and literary references were a breath of fresh air. I enjoyed the banter between Grace and Frederick. They weren’t depicted as having a cookie-cutter relationship with no issues but the sweet romance was there.
This fun, adventure and quotable filled book is one I will be sure to read again and again!