Member Reviews
4.5 stars
Christmas on Mistletoe Lane by Annie Rains is a beautiful, heartwarming read and I really enjoyed it.
I loved watching Kaitlyn and Mitch's relationship unfold, they made me smile and swoon and I had no doubt these two were meant for each other.
Overall, Christmas on Mistletoe Lane is a quick, romantic and enjoyable read and I highly recommend it.
*Thank you to the publisher via Netgalley for the advance copy.*
Christmas on Mistletoe Lane is book 1 in the Sweetwater Springs series.
This is the first book I have ever read by Annie Rains and I can assure you this one will not be the last.
I just loved this book so much that I did read it very quickly because it is such a good and heartwarming story that got me hooked.
I do highly recommend.
I give this 4 out of 5 stars.
A sweet story about two strangers who come together to keep a dying bed and breakfast from shutting down for good.
Mitch and Kaitlyn come to Sweetwater Springs to be read the last will of Kaitlyn’s grandmother. She’s left them both her bed and breakfast. There’s a catch. They both have to run it for two months. The only problem is Mitch doesn’t want to stay and Kaitlyn has given up her life in New York to do this.
Mitch and Kaitlyn try to fight their attraction while fighting to keep the bed and breakfast going. I loved their story! 5 stars!
I adored Christmas on Mistletoe Lane by Annie Rains!
It is the perfect book to get you in the mood for the holidays. The small town of Sweetwater Springs is adorable, the townsfolk are quirky and fun, and Kaitlyn and Mitch are wonderful together.
After I finished reading, I wished I could book a stay at the Sweetwater B&B for Christmas. It seems like the perfect place for a getaway!
For a while now I've been looking at this book. Thinking about reviewing but not sure if I wanted to. I wasn't sure if it was the first book in the series so I didn't give it another thought. Until I did. Ha! I was told it was the first book in her new series and decided it was something I had to try.
I'm so glad I did. Right away I was drawn into the story. I just wanted, no needed to know what was going on. Why would Kaitlyn grandma leave here B&B to not only her granddaughter but the boy next door. Intriguing, right!
Haha! Okay, maybe I'm overplaying my hand here but I wanted to know why. I also wanted to know why Mitch wouldn't stay in town other then for a quick visit.
Some good things going on.
You do get answers to my question, some quicker than others but they are tied up in a bow by the end.
This is a wonderful story with characters you want more of. I felt like I was there as Kaitlyn decorated her and Mitch's B&B. I wanted so badly to see it and visit with all the guest. If the description was anything the place sounded beautiful. The guest also sound pretty good too. A fun group.
There's a lot more then just the running of the B&B that the characters deal with. Both deal with their pasts and the feeling they have. This is really a very happy ending story. I totally enjoyed it and can't wait for more stories in this series. Make sure to grab this one and add it to your holiday reads.
This was a cute small town story. Mitch and Kaitlyn are great together and they make you root for them from the start.
Make a cup of tea and grab the cookies before you start this delightful holiday romance because you won’t want to put this book down once you’ve been surrounded by the cozy town of Sweetwater Springs. The Bed & Breakfast setting is very appealing to me because I love to entertain family and friends and I would love to run a B&B. I think it would be a wonderful way to make a living. In the beginning of the story Kaitlyn and Mitch have no idea that Kaitlyn’s grandmother made special provisions in her will hoping that a romance would develop between them. Forced to work together or forfeit their ownership these charismatic characters make the best of the situation and I could easily imagine Grandma Mabel clapping her hands in delight at the success of her machinations. Sweetwater Springs is the quintessential small town with a tradition of community spirit and a wonderful cast of characters that romance readers are sure to enjoy. I read an early copy of this book courtesy of Grand Central Publishing through NetGalley and all opinions expressed in my voluntary review are completely my own.
I’ve always been a sucker for a good Christmas romance, so I’m super excited that Christmas on Mistletoe Lane was my first one for the season! This sweet tale brings together two wounded people...a guilt-ridden ex-soldier and a recently fired and tormented young woman...who now jointly own a struggling B&B. While each sees the differences between them, this reader sees their similarities, and their warm, open hearts.
Having dreamed about owning and running a B&B myself when I was younger, I’m always charmed by stories about them, as well as the guests that stay in them. I enjoyed the little touches of current events that pop up here and there...including a “visit” from a favorite author (or at least her namesake!) And I love the idea of theme rooms at the in, a la the Boonsboro Inn in Maryland.
But it’s Kaitlyn and Mitch who drive the story with a great supporting cast of small town characters...and visitors to the Sweetwater B&B. If you love your books sweet, romantic and fun, this book is a great addition to your holiday to be read list!
I really liked this book. It had all the trappings of a great holiday story. Thrown together due to a stipulation in a will, Mitch has no desire to stay, but a Kaitlyn is trying to start over. Determined to do right by both Kaitlyn and her deceased grandma, Mitch decides to help out for the two months, and then leave.
What neither expects is that her grandma had a huge plan set in motion, if only he doesn't push her away. He had valid reasons for starting out of town, but when is it ok to ask forgiveness and to forgive yourself? Will Kaitlyn get what she wants, her bed and breakfast and Mitch, or is she destined to lose one or both?
I am so excited I have found another author to add to my favorites list. This is the first book I have read by Annie Rains and I will definitely be reading more! This was a quick read for me that kept my interest from start to finish. I love the settings of the town and the B & B. The author provides wonderful description and I felt like I was there. The characters are well developed and I honestly can't find anything bad to say about this story. It has romance, emotion, sexy alpha male, smart, beautiful, caring, female, and holiday magic. I loved how the author gave such a positive spin to one of the characters being in a wheelchair. Don't miss this story by Annie Rains! Great read.
Its barely into autumn and I just couldn't help myself. I was going to wait being that its a christmasy book but the holiday season seems to be rapidly approaching and I might end up getting swamped. Too swamped to pick up a good book to read. Also release day is today. These are my excuses as to why I picked up this book now. After reading this book I don't regret it. I really enjoyed this book and liked it so much I pretty much spent my whole day watching it. Trust me when I say that its was hard to put down. I liked the characters and getting to know them and their backgrounds. I thought it was interesting getting to know their families and seeing different reactions to different situations. I enjoyed hearing about the guests that stayed at the B&B and how different they were. Then there was a bit of a mystery when there was plenty of break-ins in the book and wondering who was behind it and it was interesting getting to see how it was handled. I was curious to see if this person who strike next possibly at the B&B to shake things up. I loved that bit of romance that was going on with the main characters and loved that this book managed to remain clean. Overall a pretty great book I really enjoyed it.
There is something magical about Christmas on Mistletoe Lane. So grab a cup of hot cocoa, sit by a warm fire, and picture living in Sweetwater Springs, North Carolina where there are friendly people, quaint shops, a beautiful lake, and majestic mountains. Nestled in that town is this quaint B&B with new owners. I really like Kaitlyn Russo, who flees New York after she is fired from her current job and decides to run her grandmother's B&B. She is strong, courageous, and very determined to make the B&B a success. Unfortunately that is not how the other owner feels about the B&B and that is where all of the fun in this story begins. Right when Mitch Hargrove enters the picture. I received an advance copy of this book and I willingly wrote an honest review. You have to put this book on your must read list for Christmas stories!
Wonderful contemporary romance that occurs during the holidays. The characters are delightful. Ms. Rains did an excellent job developing the main characters of Mitch and Kaitlyn. The story is entertaining and pulls at your heartstrings. The author describes the town, Sweetwater Springs, as a place where everyone in town looks after one another. It reminds me of childhood when neighbors got together and helped one another in times of duress. It's sad the world has changed so much. This is part of why the romance between Mitch and Kaitlyn draws the entire town. I received a complementary copy via Net Galley and chose to write a review. I look forward to reading future books by Ms. Rains.
Christmas on Mistletoe Lane is an engaging holiday read by author Annie Rains. This is a clean, small town romance with charming and delightful personalities. The two main characters, former Marine and military police officer Mitch Hargrove, and interior designer Kaitlyn Russo, have a nice romantic chemistry which evolves into much more.
Due to Kaitlyn's late grandmother's will, Mitch and Kaitlyn find themselves co-owners of Kaitlyn's grandmother's bed and breakfast, for at least two months. With the exception of visiting his mother, Mitch has absolutely no desire to be in his hometown. So the sooner he can sell his half of the B&B to Kaitlyn, and move on to his new position in security the better. Kaitlyn is gung-ho on reviving the B&B, especially since loosing her job in NYC. Both Mitch and Kaitlyn have pasts that they prefer not to discuss, however, their newfound relationship and the magic of Christmas enables them to forge a future together.
This is an enjoyable holiday story with well-defined characters and a captivating plot.
Complimentary copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.
What a lovely way to start the holiday season, with a new story by author Annie Rains. With a spunky heroine character and a hunky hero with a kind heart, it just rounds out this great story.
CHRISTMAS ON MISTLETOE LANE is the first instalment in Annie Rains’ contemporary, adult SWEETWATER SPRINGS romance series focusing on the small town of Sweetwater Springs, North Carolina. This is interior designer Kaitlyn Russo, and retired US Marine Mitch Hargrove’s story line.
Told from dual third person perspectives (Mitch and Kaitlyn) CHRISTMAS ON MISTLETOE LANE focuses on the building relationship between interior designer Kaitlyn Russo, and retired US Marine Mitch Hargrove. The recent death of her grandmother Mable pulled Kaitlyn Russo to the small town of Sweetwater Springs, North Carolina where our heroine inherited her grandmother’s beloved Sweetwater B&B, an inheritance that came with a questionable caveat. Enter retired US Marine Mitch Hargrove, one-time B&B caretaker and friend to Henry and Mable Russo, and the new co-owner of the Sweetwater B&B. A two month ‘obligatory business arrangement ‘ in order to inherit or sell the B&B finds our couple working together to make the small hotel into a thriving business. What ensues is the building relationship and romance between Kaitlyn and Mitch, and the potential fall-out as Mitch struggles with memories of the past, and the perceived sins of a teenaged boy.
Mitch Hargrove wants nothing to do with Sweetwater Springs, a town that brings too many fractured memories of long ago. Aside from him mother, there is nothing and no one that calls to his heart. Preparing for a security assignment in the new year Mitch is surprised to discover that Ms. Mable has ‘arranged’ a two-month assignment of her own. Kaitlyn Russo was a successful New York interior designer but a designer whose career was destroyed by a professional fall-out and the accusations of a celebrity extraordinaire. Hoping to restart her life Kaitlyn is shocked when she is forced to work alongside a man who wants nothing to do with the Sweetwater B&B. If they cannot find a way to work together, the B&B will be sold, and everything will go to charity.
The relationship between Mitch and Kaitlyn begins as a forced business arrangement, an arrangement neither one is happy to oblige. Mitch’s plans do not include running a run-down B&B, and Kaitlyn hopes to rebuild her grandmother’s once-successful business. The sexual attraction between Kaitlyn and Mitch is palpable and immediate. The $ex scenes are intimate, passionate but mostly implied.
We are introduced to the colorful and charismatic people and places of Sweetwater Springs including attorney Jacob Garrison; police chief Alex Logan; Mitch’s mother Gina Hargrove, and aunt Nettie, and longtime friend Tucker Locklear; Fudge Shop owner Dawanda; bookstore owner Julia Kent; Kaitlyn’s best friend and journalist Josie; as well as a number of Sweetwater B&B guests including graphic designer and biker Paris. I am definitely hoping to read a happily ever after for Paris.
CHRISTMAS ON MISTLETOE LANE is a sweet and sexy story line; a small-town romance focusing on two people who lives are interrupted by a meddling but well-meaning old lady. The premise is entertaining, engaging and endearing; the characters are dynamic and lively, especially the B&B guest; the romance is tender and dramatic as Mitch continues to pull away giving mixed signals with every encounter. A wonderful holiday read, CHRISTMAS ON MISTLETOE LANE is a great start to the holiday season.
Copy supplied by Netgalley
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I am a big fan of Annie's writing and this book does not disappoint. This is a super sweet small town holiday romance. What a great way to kick off the upcoming holiday season. I really enjoyed the characters, the relationships, and the story.
Warning! This book will jumpstart your holiday spirits.
Directions: Take one cup of hot cocoa or cappuccino, 3 or 4 homemade baked cookies with you to your couch. Be sure to be wearing your cozy pajamas and think slouch socks. Turn on Christmas music quietly. As soon as you get on the couch, drape that cozy blanket over you and pick this book up and start reading. Turn off your phone and as an optional do not disturb sign for your door will do.
What can I say? This book was perfect to get me started in mood for Christmas! This book had me giggle, smile, chuckle, and sigh with contentment . I actually thought it was going to be one of those cheesy Christmas novel but I was wrong. There were some delights in there. I love it when I'm glowing and thinking about Christmas at the end of the book! Whoever wants to get into Christmas needs to follow my direction with this book!
I received this sappy, wonderful, fuzzy warm feeling ARC from Net Galley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) in an exchange for my honest review. Thank you!
When I saw this book all over social media I knew I wanted to read this book and one thing I wasn't sure of if it would live up to all the hype. Well I was not disappointed it completely lived up to the hype I fell in love with this book. I have never read anything by this author and to be honest I can't wait to read more. I loved the small town of Sweetwater Springs and it seemed like one of those towns you just want to go visit, total small town America for sure. I loved the heart of the story and I loved how in the end you want to follow up with some many more characters wondering whats happening in there lives as well. I felt this book was a quick read even though its a larger book. I will also say that in the book it does imply adult situations but over all this is a good clean read which was completely refreshing. If you have never read or even if you have by Annie Rains grab this book you will not be disappoint at all totally worth the read and it will totally put you into the Christmas spirit.
I am a HUGE sucker for a cute, low-drama and low-angst, Hallmark channel movie-esque romance, and this one definitely lived up to my expectations! I have been trapped in the romantic suspense trope for months and I thought there was no end in sight. Christmas on Mistletoe Lane definitely snapped me out of that!
The ladies on the blog and I have been debating for weeks if it is too soon for Holiday romances, and I say it's NEVER too early! But they disagree with me. Apparently, we're supposed to get through at least Halloween first? But Christmas and the winter holidays are my favorite times of the year!
There's just something magical and special about the holidays. It's a time of the year that people remember what's important. People make time to spend with family. And it's a time where you can rekindle the romance, or find love. This book had all the makings of a good Hallmark movie; the down on her luck damsel, the broody, secretive hero. Something forces them to work together to better themselves, and voila! Everything I love about a holiday romance!
The chemistry between Kaitlyn and Mitch was definitely a slow burn. I love a good slow burn! The foundation of their relationship was laid before the romance stepped in, and it helped to make this a very believable love story!
Annie Rains is a new to me author, and I cannot wait to read more from this author!