Who doesn't love a Christmas book??
I may be a scrooge at Christmas but I love books set in the festive time, which I can happily read any time of year. I hadn't read any of Lucy Colemans' work before this so didn't know what to expect all I knew is that I loved the beautifully simplistic cover and the back blurb caught my attention instantly and I wasn't disappointed this ended up stealing my heart away and making me wish for Christmas.
Magic under the Mistletoe is charming, it's full of the joys of Christmas and love, the characters are realistic and incredibly likeable I became completely invested in their stories and wished for them to find their happily ever after. The writing is incredibly easy to read, it flows with real ease that I found myself completely immersed into the story, This has so much to love about it, it's fun and cheerful, yet emotional and full of glittery charm. A real winner!.

A totally sweet little Christmas book to curl up with this Christmas. Ticks all the right boxes. I really like this author and this one didn't disappoint. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the advanced copy

An enjoyable Christmas read I liked the premise and characters and the book flowed well so perfect for curling up with in front of the fire

Unfortunately, I have not been able to read and review this book.

After losing and replacing my broken Kindle and getting a new phone I was unable to download the title again for review as it was no longer available on Netgalley.

I’m really sorry about this and hope that it won’t affect you allowing me to read and review your titles in the future.

Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity.
Natalie.

I was looking forward to reading this book but was left a little disappointed. This book fell a way short of what I was expecting, it was dull and tended to ramble on and on and on and on and on....well you get the point. I started to skip huge chunks just to get through it, which is a real shame.

Also the Christmas charm just wasn't there and the characters were all a bit meh.

I really wanted to love this book but it wasn't a story for me.

Reading a Christmas book in the middle of the year? Why not.
I was in the mood for a romantic book set in the middle of winter, with Christmas lights and mistletoes… I got exactly that.

Magic Under the Mistletoe by Lucy Coleman was such a fun read.

3.5 stars

This is my first time reading a Lucy Coleman book and after reading the synopsis I wanted in!

Now I know the fake date trope has been done many times before but I have to admit I’m a big fan and I love those ‘will they won’t they’ storylines. But this story took me by surprise, it had a depth that I wasn’t expecting, the author putting her own little twist on it and I really enjoyed, it. There were also mini storylines for many of the characters running throughout the background making this so much more than a fake date trope story.

The story kicks off on the day before Christmas Eve on a long haul flight to London having not long left Australia. Having worked on a project together, Leesa and Cary are nothing more than work colleagues, so much so Cary leaves Leesa to sit cramped in economy while he settles into business class.

After a bad snow storm stops Leesa from getting to her final destination for the holiday season. Cary takes charge and offers to take her back to his Grandmothers rather than leaving her stranded at the airport. It’s not long before they both declare how much they are dreading the family festivities they have in store. This leading to them agreeing to a contract to be each other’s plus ones to keep the pressure off.

The whole book was written through the eyes of Leesa and at times I would have loved to have been able to get an insight into Cary’s thoughts but that’s me being nosey and wanting to know his thoughts and feelings which of course never happens like that in real life and so it had me hooked wanting to get through to the end to find out how the story ends.

As I said before running throughout the background of Leesa’s and Cary’s fake date trope was a series of mini storylines for the other characters either involved with Leesa or Cary and these little twists kept me intrigued but I won’t divulge any of them so as not to ruin the story for you!

I wanted to connect to the character of Cary much more than I did, I wouldn’t say he was cold or nasty but more of a closed book making it tough to warm to him. This goes back to me wanting to be able to read from his point of view; that might have helped me to feel connected to his character. It didn't spoil the book for me however, I just didn't fall in love with him as much as I have done previous male characters.

My favourite character had to be Cary’s Grandmother Cressida. A wonderful and interesting character that you wish you knew in real life. You could feel the love and warmth she showed to her family and even Leesa who she welcomed in as one of her own without a second thought.

This book had lots of festive moments which I loved but this can easily be read anytime of year. Magic Under the Mistletoe is an emotional and heartwarming read that will leave you feeling uplifted. I’m now intrigued to read another of Lucy Coleman’s books!

Big thanks to Lucy Coleman and Rachel Random Resources for the ARC which I have reviewed honestly.

Fantastic book. Charming, funny, and warm. Just what you want for the holidays, or anytime you want to recapture that holiday spirit. The characters were believable even though the story takes place in a somewhat heightened reality. Highly recommend.

Unfortunately I did not get on with this book and therefore cannot rate it very highly. I really struggled to connect with the characters and storyline.

This was such a cute read. It was not a book that I couldn't put down but it was an enjoyable and leisurely read.

There’s nothing better than to kick off the festive season with a gorgeous and uplifting Christmas read – and Magic Under the Mistletoe by Lucy Coleman is certainly that! I loved this book from the very first page right up until the magical ending that left me with a lovely warm glow in my heart.

It’s almost Christmas and workaholic Leesa Oliver is dreading leaving her office for the festive season. And it seems that her equally driven boss, Cary Anderson, isn’t looking forward to spending the Christmas vacation at his family’s country estate either. So together they come up with the idea of spending half of the holidays with each other’s families – pretending to be a couple!

But what will happen when sparks begin to fly between this unlikely pair? And will they be able to go back to being just work colleagues when the magic of Christmas is over?

Magic Under the Mistletoe is a light and fun story that had me spellbound from beginning to end. It’s a story full of hope, romance and light hearted moments that had me laughing out loud. Cary’s grandmother, in particular, was a fantastic character who I couldn’t help but fall in love with!

The perfect book to escape from the realities of real life with, I thoroughly enjoyed every word of this warm and cosy story.

A lovely festive read that I would recommend.

This is a perfect book to curl up with and I did that this Christmas.
Lucy Coleman has a lovely story telling style that captures you and draws you in.
A perfect Christmas romance.

Leesa Oliver is a workaholic. As the owner of Dynamic Videography, Leesa thrives on using her creativity to help organisations sell themselves and their causes. Her hard work is slowly paying off and she finds herself becoming busier, and winning herself some awards. Her work brings her to the attention of Cary Anderson, an equally driven CEO who requires her services to create a promotional video for his own company. Neither Leesa or Cary have the time or inclination for a personal life after having both been burnt in the past. As a result, they are both dreading returning to their homes for the festive season with their well meaning, but sometimes interfering families.

After a particularly long flight home from Sydney together, Leesa and Cary find themselves drawing up a contract which will see them getting through the holidays together, in the hope that it will make their time with their families a little easier, relieving the expectations placed upon them.

Well....I loved this novel! I wasn't sure what to expect when I picked it up, but wow! Leesa and Cary are both intricate characters, both of whom are scared of giving up their hearts to anyone but equally worried about disappointing their families. Their contract provides them both with the perfect opportunity to please their loved ones whilst protecting themselves. The setting of this novel is beautiful and it is full of Christmas - perfect for this time of year. I cannot recommend this novel enough - find yourself a blanket, grab a glass of wine and snuggle up!

I had a feeling I was going to enjoy this Christmassy treat from Lucy Coleman’s as I’ve loved all the other books by her that I’ve read. And I was right!
This is a charming and uplifting story that will get you feeling very festive. The theme of co-workers or friends pretending to relatives encountered over the holiday period to be in a relationship is one we’re familiar with but this author handles it in a very fresh and original way.
Cary and Leesa are both workaholics with emotional baggage that has made them close themselves off to an extent. They’ve poured their energy into their careers, but perhaps its time they gave priority to themselves.
The background of familiar, familial bickering and tension mixed in with the love that we get in the scenes with the relatives is very enjoyable, also warming and a wonderful reminded that although our families frequently drive us up the wall, we wouldn’t want to be without them. Not really!
Highly entertaining, this feel-good festive romcom will leave you with a smile on your face and a glow in your heart

it was the first time for me to read a book by Lucy Coleman. I really enjoyed the first chapters from "Magic under the mistletoe" but the more i got into the book the more I found myself a bit disappointed. It was not what I was expecting from this book. It was too sad, too serious for my liking. But the writing style is good and I am sure this book can a hit with many of you. It was just not for me.

Magic Under the Mistletoe by Lucy Coleman begins with a fun premise. Stuck on a work trip with a grumpy client, stranded in a snow storm, all the makings of a fun winter romance. Unfortunately, the rest of the story is a rambling mess. So many unnecessary side stories and big gaps of time during which relationships fall apart. So much is made of the the main character, Leesa's, dark secret of having a miscarriage that might have occurred because of domestic abuse. That is what keeps her from having a relationship with anyone else. Yet when she does fall in love, she never reveals this "secret" that has haunted her. Very frustrating read.

Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC.

This is Christmas themed book with an unusual premise which makes it memorable against the others. While most books have the premise of boy meets girl and fall in love under the mistletoe, the relationship between Leesa and Nate is one of convenience and allows them to have a partner when needed without commitments to prevent meddling from family and friends. This adds to the tension between them as they become closer and makes you keep turning the page.

Leesa is intelligent, driven and independent and despite his workaholic and aloof tendencies I was instantly attracted to Nate. As with her other book, Lucy Coleman adds depth to the characters and plot which increases the connection with the characters and makes you love them more as their backstories are revealed. Tissues are required as unexpected secrets are told which are handled sensitively.

The descriptions of Nate’s Grandmother’s home is detailed which immersed me in the festive spirit as it is everything I long my house to be. Within the first few chapters, I was hooked. Lucy Coleman has a talent for creating characters who feel real and Cressida is no exception. She came across as a warm, friendly, driven Danielle Steele like personality. As the queen of romance novels she dreams of seeing her grandson, Nate settled. Her intentions are good and is someone I would love to have a cup of tea with.

I felt the ending was rushed compared to the pace of the rest of the novel. It was suddenly over leaving some minor threads unresolved. The strength of writing, characters and plot means this does not affect Magic Under the Mistletoe being a wonderful book.

I have never read place descriptions like I have in this book. The descriptions are so detailed that you can clearly picture all of the locations with ease, I would personally love to visit. The details are not lacking in this book and the book is better with them. Time can be passed quickly within this book, several months going by between chapters. However it is done in such a way that adds to the book instead of taking away and you don't feel like you have missed anything.
My final thoughts on this book are that it is a great read and very well written. It definitely gets you in the mood for the upcoming festive season without being a Christmas read. Meaning you can read this lovely book at any point during the year. I will admit that I did find it hard to get stuck into this book at first. But then suddenly somewhere around Chapter 20 I was addicted, to the point that I finished it that night.

This book was enjoyable and filled with the spirit of Christmas. A good festive read recommended to others.

Leesa and Cary, both workaholics, are using work to help fill the gap from emotional wounds. They make a great couple! and even though their ‘relationship’ is a contract that suits them both, the friendship that develops is founded in respect and trust. The events that leave them vulnerable are slowly revealed. One scene over the Christmas period had me re-evaluating very quickly.

Spending time at the Anderson country manor introduces Cary’s grandparents, brother and neighbour who all bring even more intrigue and feeling into the story. My heart ached for Matthew and I loved Cressida. I wish I had known her as that unbridled young lady, full of energy and verve. Definitely a force to be reckoned with!

Magic Under the Mistletoe is such a heart-warming story. It has everything I want in a feel-good read. A great cast of characters that have hooked in my emotions and brought tears as well as a sense of belonging and warmth (I LOVED the Winter Wonderland party. Perfection!). Christmas romance movies are my guilty pleasure … I would love to see this on the screen!

If you’re looking for a romance read to warm your soul, this is for you.