I thoroughly enjoyed the first two Molly the Maid books, and this novella was so good. Set at Christmastime and after the events of The Mystery Guest, The Mistletoe Mystery gave me all the feels and made me want to grab a cup of hot chocolate as I finished it. Molly and Juan’s relationship is the central focus and Nita Prose continues her use of amusing puns to make us giggle. And although she is gone, we still benefit from Gran’s wisdom as Molly remembers all of her advice. Be sure to read the first two books before this one. Loved it!

A romantic quick read for fans of the first two books in the series. The end is predictable, but I think that was part of the charm of the book. We know early on the Juan Manuel will propose, but Molly is not picking up on the hints. Something about the way their love was presented did seem one sided, with Molly being dependent on the giving nature of Juan Manuel. However, this is quick, festive read.

This is a short novella set at Christmas that continues the story of Molly, the maid from previous books THE MAID and THE MYSTERY GUEST. Molly lives with and loves Juan but she still doubts that he really loves her. When he begins to act suspiciously, she thinks the worst. I figured it out before the ending and was quite happy. Charming! Thanks to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group, Ballantine, and Ballantine Books for providing an ARC.

Although I love Molly's character and the side characters that we engage with in the previous books, this fell a little flat and a bit predictable to me. Not sure it needed to be it's own standalone novella. I could easily see elements of the story being put into a full book as a side plot running along the main mystery. Still an enjoyable comfort read for sure.

I really enjoy a short novella, and am so excited to have one from Nita Prose! 5 stars, great read for the holidays.

Feliz Navidad!

It’s Christmastime! Join Molly and Juan Manual as they get festive and keep traditions alive. Since her gran’s passing, Molly has had a difficult time during this merry season. However, Juan Manuel is determined to make this Christmas Molly’s most joyful yet. He fills Gran’s card catalog advent calendar with thoughtful gifts each day and sings Christmas songs while cooking delicious meals. Has Molly found her Prince Charming? When lazy Cheryl insinuates that Juan Manuel might not have good intentions, Molly begins to have doubts. Can she really trust Juan Manuel?

I was super excited to see that Nita Prose wrote a Maid novella. This short cozy vignette is filled with misunderstandings and mischief as well as heartwarming romance. I really enjoyed getting a glimpse into Molly and Juan’s relationship. This is such a fun series filled with terrific characters. I highly recommend reading books one and two prior to this installment for best understanding. Is another full length Maid novel is on the way? I sure hope so!

5/5 stars

Expected publication date: 10/1/24

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine books for the ARC of The Mistletoe Mystery in exchange for an honest review.

I was so excited to see something new by the wonderful author, Nita Prose, that I put everything aside to read The Mistletoe Mystery right away. The dear, sometimes confused, main character from The Maid is back and has a Christmas surprise waiting for her. This novella of love put a smile on my face.

This didn't hit the right note for me, which is too bad because I generally find Molly and company somewhere between refreshing and charming.

I don’t consider this a novella, it’s too short. It’s basically a short story., and I imagine the volume will be very slim. It’s fun to visit the world and thoughts of Molly but this is basically a feel good Holiday story, when I want another full length mystery. Looking forward to that.