This book has totally put me in the mood for Christmas!!

Kaitlyn and Mitch have inherited her grandparents' B&B. Kaitlyn is thrilled to start over. Mitch isn't looking to come home. Kaitlyn's grandmother had a plan in mind for these two: run the B&B together for six months or neither gets to inherit it.

Sweetwater Springs is such a cute town and I loved getting to know some of its quirky residents. This town is going to be an amazing place to visit during this series. I loved everything about Kaitlyn and Mitch and all of their friends. I can't wait for the next book in this series!!

*This is my voluntary review of an advanced reader copy*

Ms. Rains is a new (to me) author. This is the first book I have read by this author. I thoroughly enjoyed Christmas on Mistletoe Lane. When I received the ARC from Netgalley, I wasnt’ sure I was ready to read a Christmas story in September. It didn’t take long for me to get hooked on the story and the wonderful characters.

Kaitlyn’s grandmother was a matchmaker...even from the grave. She left her bed and breakfast to Mitch and Kaitlyn in the hopes that they would fall in love.

Kaitlyn left her home and interior decorating career in New York after being hurt by a lecherous client. She felt that operating her grandmother’s bed and breakfast was the perfect new start.

Mitch returned to Sweet Springs, his hometown, after serving in the military. He joined the service to escape the memories of a terrible time in his life. His plan was to turn down the offer of half ownership in the bed and breakfast and take a security job in a new city, but he didn’t count on the stipulations Kaitlyn’s grandmother had written into her will.

This is a delightful story. I highly recommend it. It will definitely put you in the Christmas spirit.

I truly enjoyed this fun holiday read which kicks off a new series from this author. It is wonderfully written with some pretty amazing characters. Kaitlyn Russo comes home to Sweetwater Springs after her job and life in the city implodes. With her Grandmother's recent passing she expected to inherit the family b&b. What she didn't expect is the rundown condition the place was in or the fact that she had to share ownership with Mitch Hargrove. Mitch just wants to sell the place and be done with it but the conditions of the will don't allow for that. Since he has two months to kill before his new job starts he agrees to stay and help get the old place up and running again. Never did he expect the bossy Kaitlyn to get under his skin and have him rethinking his future. I highly recommend this one.

Christmas on Mistletoe Lane by Annie Rains. A beautiful Christmas love story. I try to read every Christmas there is this story is definitely one of my favorite stories. I can see this story being on Hallmark. I love the descriptions of the bed and breakfast I can picture being there.

Christmas on Mistletoe Lane is the perfect book to get you into the holiday spirit. The main characters both inherited half of a bed and breakfast. They both are working on second chances. I had fun visiting the town of Sweetwater. It won me over. I can’t wait to get the chance to visit again.





I voluntarily read an early copy.

This is a delightful story how a grandmother’s will gives joint ownership of her home, the Sweetwater B & B, to her granddaughter and a man who took care of her, who as a boy grew up helping around the B & B, had cookies and milk, and did his homework while his Mom was working. The lawyer reading the will to Kaitlyn and Mitch explains the home is theirs if they share ownership for 2 months; if not the home will go to charity.
Kaitlyn has lost her interior designer job in the city and wants to make a go a bringing the home back to being the fine B & B it had been. Mitch, a kind man, but always on the move, agreed to stay in town for 2 months and do the handyman jobs that need to be done.
Kaitlyn uses her creativity to create a romantic retreat, Mitch does all the heavy work, and he cooks, he knows the recipes passed down from Katie’ s grandmother.
Kaitlyn learns about and is accepted into her community, even though she only visited in the past, the last time years ago. Mitch realizes the community supports him, though he made a mistake in the past, he has to give himself a second chance.
The romantic B & B is in Sweetwater Springs, NC.

Anne Raines writes a heartwarming story that defines true romance. It's sweet, honest and full of genuine moments between the characters. This book will tug at your emotions and leave you with a dreamy smile on your face. I think I'm going to be a huge fan of this author.

Kaitlyn and Mitch are both in flux when they meet. She has just moved from NYC and is now being told that she only owns half of her grandparent's inn, with Mitch owning the other half. Mitch is not interested in owning the inn and wants to get out of his hometown as quickly as he can. It takes a while but once you hear Mitch's story, you begin to understand where he is coming from.. The two of them do butt heads in the beginning and it takes a while for their admiration and attraction for one another to come to the forefront. The book had the usual Christmas cheer surrounding it. Both Mitch and Kaitlyn were likable characters and there was not much drama or angst in this book which I appreciated. I don't want to give too much away so I will end my synopsis at this point.
If you are looking for a nice, idyllic Christmas romance, then this book is for you.
I received an ARC from NetGalley for my honest opinion.

Christmas On Mistletoe Lane is the perfect way to start getting me ready for Christmas.

Broken hero? Check!
Independant woman? Check?
Run down B & B in a sweet little town? Check

Mitch and Kaitlyn's story is sweet and cute and adorable. There is plenty of snark that is hiding the spark of attraction between them. You can't help but wait for all that UST to fall to the ground and for our lovelies to make happy.

There is a great group of secondary characters that made me smile as I was reading.

It was a joy reading along as our lovelies fell in love, loved the small town vibe, especially loved it being set around Christmas. It has made we want to find a B & B to stay at this Christmas (even though it will be stinking hot, not nice and snowy!)

This is my first Annie Rains book, and it won't be my last.

5 - "Christmas will be here before you know it!" Stars!

Annie got her groove back with the first book in her new Sweetwater Springs series. Christmas on Mistletoe Lane is some of her best writing, and it is a book you want to add to your Christmas TBR.

"Everything changes…"

It’s no secret I am a fan of this authors work, her first series; Hero’s Welcome is one I remember really fondly and hope to have time to re-read at some point in the future, while it’s follow-up; Blushing Bay left me scratching my head somewhat in that it just didn’t have the same spark or feel to it as its predecessors. Kaitlyn and Mitch’s story however is up there with the best of them, and I think it was the added sprinkle of Christmas magic that just made it all the sweeter in its reading.

Sharing space with him felt entirely too good, like a warm blanket on a cold, snowy night…

This is a couple pushed together with match-making from the grave, and although both of them are dealing with some heavy personal demons, the author kept the drama that unfolded because of them on the down-low. I liked the plethora of secondary characters we get introduced too as Kaitlyn and Mitch get settled back into small town life, although for Mitch it may only initially be the two months up to Christmas that he is obligated to stay in order to fulfill the terms of Kaitlyn’s grandmothers will.

"Romantic is an understatement for this place."

But working and living in close quarters while trying to get the Sweetwater B&B back off the ground, also opens up other possibilities for this couple on a personal and romantic level, when they both start letting their carefully constructed emotional walls down around each other. But is it enough to make Mitch stay? especially as the reason for his long absence previously is something he has to face head on if he wants to make his life in Sweetwater a more permanent arrangement.

"For such a brave man… you always seem to be running..."

A perfect beginning, to the series. Annie has set expectations high for the next book Spingtime at Hope Cottage especially as it is going to give us widower; Tucker Locklear’s story, and I cannot wait to read it!

Absolutely adorable, sweet, small town, Christmas, romance story.

Kaitlyn Russo finds herself in the small town of Sweetwater Springs after losing her interior design job in NYC. She’s inherited her grandparents bed & breakfast & is ready for the fresh start. But there’s a catch that involves the swoony Mitch Hargrove.
Mitch grew up in Sweetwater but made a promise after one life changing night to never return for good. Together they have 2 months to get the bed & breakfast on Mistletoe Lane up, running & making money, then Mitch is gone.

This book needs to be made into a Hallmark Christmas movie! I love nothing more about the holidays then the feel good, sweet, holiday, romance books & Hallmark movies. What I love most about them (other than the romance) is the settings. I want to live in the small towns that I see in the movies or picture in my head while reading these stories. This book made me want to live in Sweetwater Springs & hang out with Kaitlyn, Mitch & the rest of the loveable town.
Christmas on Mistletoe Lane had me so invested in the characters, town & relationship. Not to mention I now have a major book crush on Mitch!
If you enjoy real, relatable characters, small towns with all the lovable residents, sweet romances with a touch of mystery, this is one book you won’t want to miss this holiday season! This story literally had everything I could want all wrapped up into one lovely book. I’m now impatiently awaiting book #2. I’m pretty sure Christmas on Mistletoe Lane will need a re-read closer to the holidays.

“What can I say? I’m a man. We like to hunt & gather.”
Something about that made Kaitlyn’s blood heat. He was a man, for sure. Big and strong, doing exactly what he was made to do. And she absolutely was not going to kiss him again tonight.

This book was exactly what I needed to kick off the holiday season. I know fall is just around the corner, but it’s this time of year when I like to cozy up with a good book and fall in love with the holidays all over again. That is exactly what Christmas on Mistletoe Lane by Annie Rains is–– a book about two people facing a massive change in their lives via the inheritance of a beautiful old bed-and-breakfast. Although this place needs some heavy TLC, these two characters, Kaitlyn and Mitch, will do their best to make it work while falling in love in the process.


I found Christmas on Mistletoe Lane to be sweet, fun, and adorable; and even though it’s fade-to-black, there is still heat within the pages. I can’t wait for you guys to find out for yourself when it releases on September, 25th. So do yourself a favor. Grab this book and dream of a Christmas where love is in the air.

Sweet love story. If you are looking for a sweet romance this book is for you. Katie inherits her grandma's B&B but grandma is trying to play matchmaker and leaves half the B&B to Mitch. Along with that she puts in a stipulation that for 2 months they have to actually get the B&B up and running and after that they can do what they want with it.

Mitch wants nothing to do with Sweetwater or the B&B ... Too many bad memories but then he meets Katie and she is perfect but she wants to run this B&B and stay in Sweetwater.

Will 2 months change Mitch's mind or will he turn his back on the one woman who made him feel loved?

I really enjoyed Mitch and Kaitlyn's story. Mitch had so much to work through, and Kaitlyn was there to help him through. This is not the first book I have read by this author, and have never been disappointed!

When I saw that Annie Rains was coming out with a new book, I knew that I had to read it. But I wasn’t expecting to get approved for the review. So, when I saw the email from NetGalley stating that I got approved, I was happy and excited to read this book.

Christmas on Mistletoe Lane is one of those books that will make you smile while reading it. Kaitlyn’s enthusiasm for running her late grandmother’s bed and breakfast was catching. I found myself getting excited with her when Mitch said he would stick around for the terms of the will. I laughed when she was coming up with names for each room. It was a happy book.

There were some sad parts. There were also parts that made me mad. The reason Kaitlyn lost her job made me furious. I wanted to go smack that guy so bad. I kept thinking to myself “The Me Too movement would have a field day with that guy AND her ex-employer.” I also wanted to shake her mother when Kaitlyn finally told her what was going on. I did say out loud “Are you freaking serious!!!” The other sad part was the reason Mitch didn’t want to be anywhere near Sweetwater. When he explained to Kaitlyn what happened, I felt awful for him. But, when everything came out, I got mad. Talk about abuse of power.

The romance between Mitch and Kaitlyn was cute. I like how it played out as it would in real life. I have read too many romances where the problems of the main character went away as soon as they hooked up. Kaitlyn and Mitch had very real problems. It made the book so much more enjoyable to read for me.

Mitch and Kaitlyn had some serious sexual chemistry going on between them. Even the other characters noticed it. Which made for some pretty interesting conversations…lol. What I liked about this book is that while they had sex, it wasn’t the main focus of the book. The author didn’t waste any time on it. They went to bed at the end of one chapter and woke up rumpled the beginning of the other one. That meant I had to use my imagination for the sex scenes.

I had a connection to both Kaitlyn and Mitch. I understood why they acted the way they did. I understood why Kaitlyn needed to make this bed and breakfast work. I also understood why Mitch didn’t want to be in Sweetwater any longer than he had to be.

The secondary characters made this book shine. Each character had their own personality and brought a bit of oomph to the plotline. I enjoyed the antics of the first guests at the bed and breakfast. I liked Paris (and hope that he has a book soon!!). I also liked Chris and Nate. What Kaitlyn did for them was amazing. If only more people did that.

The end of the book is a tear-jerker. I will admit that I cried during it. Let’s say that everything was wrapped up in a way that I loved. And the epilogue. It was everything that I hoped for and more.

What I liked about Christmas on Mistletoe Lane:

A) Book made me smile

B) Kaitlyn and Mitch’s romance

C) The secondary characters

What I disliked about Christmas on Mistletoe Lane:

A) What happened to Kaitlyn

B) What happened to Mitch

C) How Kaitlyn’s mother responded to what Kaitlyn told her

I gave Christmas on Mistletoe Lane a 4-star rating. This was a well written, cute romance. I had a smile the entire time I read the book. There wasn’t anything I didn’t like about the book that would affect my rating.

I would give Christmas on Mistletoe Lane an Adult rating. There is sex, not explicit. There is some mild violence. There is mild language. I would recommend that no one under the age of 21 read this book.

I would reread Christmas on Mistletoe Lane. I would also recommend this book to family and friends.

I would like to thank Forever, Grand Central Publishing, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review Christmas on Mistletoe Lane.

All opinions stated in this review of Christmas on Mistletoe Lane are mine.

**I chose to leave this review after reading an advance reader copy**

I received an ARC of this book for an honest review. I really enjoyed this book. I thought the characters where well rounded and very believable.

Kaitlyn Russo inherits half of her grandparents' B&B. Mitch Hargrove inherits the other half. The two must work together to get the B&B back on it's feet and make it profitable again. Stipulations in the will make it necessary for them both to stay there 2 months. The B&B is located in Mitch's hometown, a place that in his heart, he longs to be, yet feels that he needs to stay away from, due to what he believes is a tragedy during his teenage years. Kaitlyn is fighting her own demons, as well as parents that she feels is disinterested. With a caring cast of characters, who aren't above matchmaking, this is an uplifting holiday read.

Anyone who enjoys close family ties, in close knit community, will enjoy this book.

I absolutely loved this book. Christmas is my favorite holiday and this book gave me Christmas fever. It was sweet, romantic, and hopeful. I loved that it was set in a small town which made this book even more magical. The characters Kaitlyn and Mitch were fantastic and easy to fall in love with. I highly recommend this book to holiday reads lovers and readers who enjoy a slow burn romance. Christmas on Mistletoe Lane will have you excited for this coming Christmas season. Is it too early to start pulling out the Christmas decorations?? ;) I think not.

I love Christmas in September! After all, the stores are already putting out decorations (I'm looking at you, Costco), so why not? This was a really sweet Christmas romance, getting me in the Christmas spirit and wishing I could find my own town like Sweetwater Springs. These types of stories are also to blame for my dream of living in a small town where everyone knows me, because I love the sense of community it brings. It was so nice reading about the different stores, like Dawanda's Fudge Shop and her cappuccino readings. You'll fall in love with the town, the people, and the dreams created in the hearts of all who encounter Sweetwater B&B.

After her grandmother passes away and leaves Kaitlyn Russo the Sweetwater Bed and Breakfast, it is the lifeline that Kaitlyn needs to gain a new purpose in her life. Having lost her interior design job due to an incident with a famous client, she is in desperate financial straits. When she arrives in Sweetwater Springs, though, she finds that she's not the sole own of the bed and breakfast. Her grandmother also left it to a tall, dark, and broody ex-Marine named Mitch Hargrove. Mitch had no idea this was Mable Russo's plan, and he has a job to get to in Virginia. But the stipulations of Mable's will are clear - Kaitlyn and Mitch must run the bed and breakfast together for two months before parting ways, or else it will go to charity. Now, forced together by a matchmaking grandma from the grave, they work together to build a beautiful vacation destination, dancing around an attraction that could throw a wrench in both of their plans for the future.

I loved Kaitlyn's spunky personality and Mitch's heart of gold - they were a perfect match! The trouble came when Mitch's past came back to haunt him. He had a childhood tragedy that he caused, which led to his mother losing his job, him fleeing town to join the marines, and staying away due to a promise. Now that promise kept him from staying with Kaitlyn, despite how much they clearly loved each other. I loved the first 80% of the book, and then the last 20%, Mitch just royally pissed me off. Don't get me wrong - I still loved Kaitlyn and Mitch, and their romance won out in the end. But I wanted to shake Mitch a LOT. Why not just tell her the truth, Mitch? Huh? Is that so hard? Yes, yes it was. It took a long time for him to admit to her what happened, and why he couldn't stay in Sweetwater Springs. He hurt Kaitlyn emotionally, and I wasn't cool with that. Nevertheless, he realized eventually how stupid he was being, and so I can forgive him. But for a while there, I was strangling him in my head. :)

I love Annie Rain's writing! Her descriptions of the town brought it to life and made me wish it was real. Each character she created had a lot of depth to them, and I felt like they were all my friends by the end of the book. It was truly inspiring.

**I received a free copy via NetGalley and this is my honest review.**

Annie Rains has done it again with this heartwarming story of Mitch and Kaitlyn. I laughed, cried, and smiled throughout the whole book and got so into the story that I had a lot of trouble putting it down! I can't wait to see what she writes next!!

I really enjoyed this book. Great holiday spirit and the characters were well mixed. Nothing like a little Christmas romance to start the season.