I was drawn to this book by the gorgeous festive cover and I’m really happy to say that the novel really lives up to it!

Magic Under the Mistletoe opens on 23rd December as Leesa is flying back to England to spend Christmas with her ex in-laws. The man she is working for, Cary, is on the same flight but whilst he’s up in first class, Leesa is crammed in economy and he keeps sending her more edits to do. As they finally land in England the snow is falling heavily and there’s no way for Leesa to get where she’s going right away so Cary offers to take her to his family’s home. Misunderstandings happen immediately when Cary’s grandmother assumes Leesa is his girlfriend and no one corrects her. This leads to Leesa and Cary forming a pact where they’ll pretend they’re together to help each other out over the holiday season!

This novel spans the course of a year but it opens with Christmas and it ends the following Christmas so there is a lot of the festive season in the book, which I loved. The year-long timespan gives space to really get to know Cary and Leesa, and they both have issues in their lives. There is some tough themes in the novel but they are handled really well and in a believable way. It’s cleverly handled because it grounds the book in reality but there is a real sense of fun and festivity throughout, and this is how real life is.

I loved Cary’s grandmother Cressida, she was adorable and I want to adopt her as my gran! She is desperate for both of her grandsons to be happy and loved but she’s never too interfering. I also loved the house she lives in – it’s a huge house but it sounded so cosy and warm. I could totally picture the huge Christmas tree in the hall and the decorations running throughout the house. It really made me feel festive as I was reading, and I already want to re-visit!

This is the first book I’ve read by Lucy Coleman but it definitely won’t be the last! Magic Under the Mistletoe is a gorgeous, warm-hearted novel that will give you all of the Christmas feels! I recommend it!

Leesa is not having the best day before Christmas Eve, stuck on a flight with an energetic child, then when she finally gets to the airport she weather has taken a turn for the worse. It was fortunate that her client is on the same flight, but if her client didn’t keep moving the boundaries in a video shoot she had done, then she would have been home a few days earlier.

But sometimes fate intervenes. Her client Cary has a proposition for Leesa and it is something that could benefit them both. Leesa would get a to stay in a gorgeous house overnight, but only if she agrees to pose as Cary’s girlfriend.

In a world of deals, contracts and clauses, this agreement seems to be quite workable and it has surprising benefits as far as their respective families go. A handy pact to fill in the plus-one gap if you like.

This author has created a wonderful setting for this story that has characters who are stubborn and quite happily dig their heels in. Some are quite justified, but ramifications and truths will always rear their heads. Not everything that goes on in families is straight forward, and I gradually found out some surprising details within the families of this story.

Past loves and relationships leave there mark, it can affect how people react to others, how easy they trust people and also take advice. There are a few strong characters who don’t always want to listen to advice or suggestions. Sometimes it is what is not said that is the important bit to listen out for. There have been several things that had been skirted around and they do have a little habit of popping up and spoiling things.

This is another fabulous, one-sitting read from a wonderful author. It is a heartwarming story that at times took me by surprise, a fabulous story with brilliant characters and completely gripping from start to finish. Magic Under the Mistletoe was just that …Magic and I would definitely recommend it.

This novel covers a whole year so you get to see Leesa and Cary at not just one Christmas but two. I enjoyed the humour of the story in the opening chapters on the flight home when you begin to glimpse their true characters and to see what sort of people they actually are. They both have past lives which are impacting on them and explain why they are so determinedly self sufficient.

Of all the characters in the story, I loved Cressida and her estranged husband, Matthew. These are the sort of people who you feel see more than they let on and who understand what is happening beneath the surface. This novel looks at relationships and having a second chance, at what constitutes a family and how we can experience loss and yet move on. I loved the festive sections and could absolutely visualise the beautiful mansion house, all dressed for Christmas.

Thanks to the author for a copy of the book.

We all have to work for a living, but sometimes work becomes the most important thing in our lives due to some dissapointments in the love department. Throwing yourself into your job seems to be the only thing that matters and the right thing to do in order to protect yourself against another heaartbreak.

On the other side there is your family. They know what you went through but they hope you will find the strength to move on. They hope that Cupid is waiting around the corner, aiming one of his arrows your way.

There is one solution to make them happy, to get them off your back and keep the wall you have built intact. Sounds like a foolproof plan, doesn't it? 

A story full of love, lost and fourd. 4 stars.

Thank you, Lucy Coleman and Rachel's Random Resources.

Thank you to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for my invitation to the tour and for my copy of the book in return for a fair and honest review.

The story begins with Leesa returning on a  full and chaotic flight from Australia with her bossy and workaholic client Cary.  She is travelling in economy whilst Cary is relaxing in Business Class.

Leesa is spending Christmas with her ex in-laws and she has a past that she is not going to share in a hurry. Cary also has family issues and when the weather turns badly and Leesa is not able to travel due to the snow, she finds her at Cary's family home and in the presence of his formidable Grandma Cressida a famous romantic novelist.

When the snow clears Leesa heads off to Peter and Gwen's and her ex Nathan turn up and  things take a sinister turn and Leesa calls Cary for help.

They come to arrangement which suits them both but how will things turn out for them

all.

I found it took me a little while to get into the book, I did not take to Cary at all in the beginning but I did warm to him when I found out more about him and his family.

Leesa is a great character she has endured a lot but is a strong and successful woman as well as being compassionate and kind.

The story is set over a the period of a year and a lot happens to them both in this time and I really enjoyed discovering the back stories of them both.

It is sad, funny and heartwarming and  a perfect festive read for this time of year.

I’m going to start by saying I really enjoyed this story. It’s a mixture of Christmas, traditional snowy scenes, decorations and feelings of goodwill but also strained relationships, drama and conflict.

It took me a little bit of time to warm to Leesa and a bit longer to warm to Cary but I feel that may have been deliberate and it was good to see the development of their characters as the story progressed.

I don’t really know how to describe the story other than I found it comforting and cosy despite the drama because the characters rallied round each other, mostly anyway. There’s something that about Christmas that gives a feeling of a unified sense of occasion, most people are celebrating the same day and it seems to bring a unity that doesn’t exist at any other time or year. This book brought that to me in spades, despite the conflict and drama there was an over-riding feeling of peace and calm and cosiness that made me want to be snuggled in a blanket with a mug of hot chocolate gazing out at a snowy scene while reading. There’s few books that have that affect on me and I find it quite impressive that words on a screen or paper can have that much affect.

Highly recommended if you want something cosy that will put you in the Christmas spirit this is the book for you.

Two career-driven people burdened by familial expectations at the most wonderful time of the year!! 

Leesa Oliver and Cary Anderson are work colleagues, expected to spend the Christmas festivities with their families after returning to the UK from a hectic business trip in Australia. Both are lacking the seasonal spirit and bad weather on arrival at Cardiff Airport means plans must be changed. Leesa reluctantly accepts Cary's offer of help only for it to lead to a misunderstanding. Therefore they decide to split time between both families pretending to be a couple because of the potential impact it will have. Theoretically, it's the perfect plan but as the pair spend more time in each others company, it becomes clear the lines between them are becoming more and more blurred.

I really enjoyed this novel simply because it isn't overly packed with Christmassy sentiment as the time-line extends a full year. The author provides us with plenty of visual descriptions of the glamorous backdrop to feel it's a special time of the year when the story begins. Yet, there's an undercurrent mood reflected in the protagonists and their attitudes that projects feelings aren't as they seem. The narrative is realistic and believable. It's a wonderful portrayal of how seasonal holidays provoke mixed reactions for many. Ms Coleman captures this and it contrasts well with the snowy scenes we love to read about in festive novels. 

I've always liked the fake relationship trope and the fact the protagonists work closely together makes it all the more satisfying when they allow their heads to follow their hearts.  

"We've both discovered that all you need to do is listen to your heart…"  

This novel has so much to offer and the supporting characters add some thought-provoking plot lines. Therefore, it triggers plenty of mixed emotions but most importantly, love is always there in some form or another.

Well balanced and written to keep a reader invested in all aspects of the story, It's a book that will work well at any time of the year for a reader. This is my second Lucy Coleman novel and I'm looking forward to reading many more.

***arc generously received courtesy of Aria via NetGalley***

Leesa Oliver should have been home a week earlier with her feet up relaxing to prepare for spending Christmas with her ex-in-laws, not on a crowded plane with a rowdy toddler, kicking her in the face. Her boss, Cary Anderson, the reason she is so late getting back to the UK from Australia, also wishes he was not on the plane, but it is because he dreads spending Christmas with his family. Cary has a self-described dysfunctional family, and Leesa is supposed to buoy up her inlaws after the death of Gwen's mother and the defection of their son, Leesa's ex-husband who is now in a relationship with her best friend. Arriving in December 23rd in Cardiff with blizzard conditions, road closures and both dreading being with their families, they make it to Cary's family home with his grandmother, Cressida, assuming they are a couple. Cary's grandmother, who raised him, wants him to find a woman to love and settle down, Leesa wants to free herself from her ex-husband's family. They come up with a plan. They are going to split the holidays with each other’s families and pretend to be a couple. It’s supposed to be a business arrangement, but we all know the best laid plans do not always work out. This is similar to the trope of co-workers pretending to be dating to get their parents off their back, but this one is just a bit different.

I really liked the characters in this story. Cary and Leesa are both workaholics, running their own businesses. They have both been hurt romantically and decided that they do not need a romantic relationship. As they got to know each other I like how they share their secrets and feelings with one another. Cary was somewhat brusque at the beginning, but as he got to know Leesa, he loosened up. It was nice to see their relationship change and blossom slowly into a romance. I really liked Cary's grandparents. They were very different and had their own secrets and issues to deal with. That was another storyline that was very interesting and added another dimension to the story. This story takes it's time. It starts just before Christmas, but there is a full year before the characters get their Happily Ever After. It is not all light and airy, there is some turmoil and some difficult issues to deal with. My one complaint is that the story is a bit long. There is a lot of discussion about work, that I could have done without. Saying that, I did enjoy this story. It is a story where love and time helps heal emotional wounds and enables several characters to find magic under the mistletoe. If you enjoy romance, especially festive stories, with family drama, then you need to pick this one up.

From the opening scene on the airplane, bumping through turbulence and unruly child passengers, I loved the descriptive wording of this book. I could feel the chill in the air and the tension between videographer Leesa Oliver and her perfectionist boss, Cary Anderson. I think Cary, with his ever changing moods and somewhat hidden sense of humor, was my favorite character.
When a rare white-out blizzard closes the airport and Leesa fortunately is offered sanctuary at the home of Cary's grandmother, this dysfunctional holiday romance takes some very pleasant twists.
I could smell the blue spruce and cinnamon in the opulent vintage halls.
Learning that Cary's grandmother, who raised him and his brother, is the Queen of romantic fiction yet has a difficult and distracting romantic history herself, added depth to the desire for her to find a happy ending for her grandson.
Then, Leesa, spending the holiday with a family not of her genetics, but rather of her former marriage, with a recent heartbreak for all, added compassion to what could be construed as a shallow reason for faking a relationship.

What is supposed to be a one time arrangement to benefit both families turns into something more and made me feel warm and cozy overall.

Lessa Oliver is late back from working in Australia as the CEO of the company she had been working with, Cary Anderson, kept on changing his mind on what he wanted and now she is sat in economy on the long flight back to the UK for Christmas with a screaming toddler on one side and a fidgeting woman on the other, whilst Cary is relaxing in first-class and sending her email after email of more changes he wants.

On arriving at Cardiff airport it seems that a huge snowstorm has descended on Wales meaning that Lessa is going to have to stay at the airport as all the roads are shut. However, Cary is staying with his Grandmother just a mile from the airport and enlists the help of a friend to collect them on his rough-terrain vehicle. When they arrive at Cary’s Grandmother’s house she mistakes Lessa for Cary’s girlfriend and Cary doesn’t want to upset her so they decide to play along.

How will the two workaholics fair having to let down their guards and be open and relaxed with one another?

This is the first book by Lucy Coleman I have read and I enjoyed every minute of it. I was pleasantly surprised that it wasn’t like other fake romance novels that I have read or movies that I have seen.

The plot was superb and the book was really uplifting, comforting and festive. It was an emotional read at times and most certainly heart-warming. I loved the characters, though Cary did take some getting used to as he is a person who likes to be in charge of all situations and a bit of a control freak at times.

From the opening scenes on the flight back to the very last page, this book kept me captivated. I very much doubt this will be the last Lucy Coleman book I will read!

Leesa Oliver and her client, Cary Anderson, were flying back from Australia after filming a promotional video. Cary is a stickler for detail and the schedule had already over run. Even now, on the flight home, Leesa was inundated with texts from Cary, in his comfortable first class seat, with his ideas about improving the video, while she was stuck in economy next to an excitable toddler. All she wants to do is relax and unwind but that’s looking less and less likely. To make matters worse, Leesa isn’t looking forward to the pressure of spending Christmas with her ex in-laws and is trying to find a way to make a clean break while causing as little hurt as possible.

Cary is also under pressure from his beloved grandmother, Cressida, who is desperate to see him settle down. He prefers to put his efforts into energy conservation rather than risk the unpredictabilities of a relationship and the thought of Christmas fills him with dread.

Fate intervenes in the guise of a snow storm, closing all the roads around the airport. Cary is able to get home thanks to a lift in an all terrain vehicle and rather ungraciously offers Leesa a lift. Arriving at his grandmother’s with Leesa gives Cressida entirely the wrong idea but suggests to Cary a way they could create a plan which would be beneficial to both of them.

A relationship of convenience sets the scene for a slow burning story that takes place over the course of a year and includes family dramas, misunderstandings and second chances, so despite the title, Magic Under The Mistletoe isn’t the traditional festive romance you might be expecting. Cary was reluctant to disappoint his grandmother and desperately wanted her to stop worrying about him. Leesa needed to show her in-laws she was moving on with her life. The agreement she and Cary had seemed perfect for both of them but it did mean they had no choice but to become closer.

There are quite a few evolving story threads—Lucy Coleman includes some important topics and how they might realistically affect the people concerned. It took me a while to warm to Leesa and Cary but eventually they won me over. My favourite character was Cressida, a romantic novelist who wanted a happy ending for everyone. I loved the beautifully described and very festive ending.

The fake date trope has been used and reused by many authors but one could never get tired of this storyline. So when I got this book, I was expecting a very predictable albeit relaxing storyline. Suffice to say, I was never prepared for this unique take on such an age-old storyline.
Leesa Oliver is not a swooning heroine; she is a businesswoman keeping to the realities of life. Wedding? Been there, done that and now it is over. So a business contract to pretend to be someone's boyfriend (even if he is a hot CEO), is not supposed to be hard. Surprisingly, she keeps to her bargain. There is an attraction for sure, but both know from their experience that chemistry won't necessarily mean a happy marriage. As you must have guessed by now, this is a slow-burning romance. Written solely from Leesa's perspective, we come to know of a really powerful and caring woman who comes to her decision with the head as well as her heart.
And it is not simply about two lovers. This is also the story of two families mending their inner struggles with the help of these two brilliant, brave people. Spanning from one Christmas to another, this also brings the two families together as an ideal marriage should be. They are really an entertaining bunch, especially Cressida, Cary's grandmother. I relished each moment with her as if I have read all her romance works.
Beginning with a Christmas where winter roars with fury and ending in the next year under the mistletoe, Lucy Coleman has produced a well crafted, brilliantly engineered Christmas story to remind us once again that the season is magical whether we believe it or not. So hop on guys, we are in for a ride . . .

"This was always going to be the Christmas from hell and I knew that from the start."

Controlling client. Dysfunctional families. A Christmas contract.

Leesa's new client Cary Anderson is an arrogant, controlling workaholic who doesn't seem to have a clue about love and compassion...until it comes to his grandmother, Cressida Anderson, international bestselling romance author. Cary and Leesa agree on a contract to fool their families into thinking they are an item until the holidays are over.  Cressida wants her grandson to settle down with a nice woman and Leesa fits the bill. Leesa's Christmas with her ex inlaws is a bit more delicate, especially when her volatile ex shows up unannounced. When Cary comes to her rescue, the contract needs to be extended to keep everyone happy, but at what cost for Leesa and Cary?

This story is full of surprises and touches on subjects such as spousal abuse, miscarriage, infidelity and depression. Cary has an intimidating work ethic and a hot mess of a personal life. Raised by a famous domineering, but sweet, grandmother, he's not one to wear his feelings on his sleeve though Leesa seems to bring out the best in him. Leesa's past is shocking and sad and burying herself into her up and coming video production business is notable. However, the incident at her ex inlaws' home shows just how vulnerable she is with Cary coming to her rescue.

I enjoyed this sweet and complex holiday story filled with love, drama and best intentions. 

Thank you to Ms. Coleman for giving me the opportunity to review this book with no expectation of a positive review.

Leesa has been working on a producing a video for a company owned by Cary and they are both n their way back from Australia from Australia after a heavy working schedule. Christmas is days away but neither are relishing the thoughts of being at home over the festive period.  Stranded in Cardiff, they resign themselves to having a stay over at Cary's family manor and whilst there they make an agreement to spend time with each family under the pretense that they are actually a couple.  During this time they grow closer and realise that maybe there is more than a business arrangement to their relationship.  

This is one of those novels that you pick up to read a little of one afternoon and then suddenly get to the end and realise it's dark outside.  It's brilliant if you are in the mood to devour and festive, heartwarming romance.

 The plot is very character driven and both main characters have some past issues that affect how the relationship develops.  Leesa's background story deals with some deep issues and these are tackled in a gentle and sensitive way by the author.  As the book spans a year and we slowly find out about aspects of each main character's life, it was easy to fall in love with both Cary and Leesa and to understand their approach and perspective on relationships.                

This is such a cosy, heartwarming novel that left me with festive cheer and a big grin after reading.

Heartfelt, festive, and romantic!

Magic Under the Mistletoe is a lovely, character-driven rom-com that sweeps you away to the city of Cardiff and into the lives of the devoted, workaholic Leesa and the arrogant, successful Cary as they discover that there may be more to their relationship than just work, pretend feelings, and fake dating.

The writing is warm and light. The characters are hardworking, complex, and supportive. And the plot is an irresistible, wintery treat bursting with heart, humour, self-discovery, secrets, heat, spirit, chemistry, Christmas cheer, and familial drama.

Overall, Magic Under the Mistletoe is another cosy, uplifting, delightfully enchanting story by Coleman that is the perfect holiday choice for any blustery afternoon read.

What a delightful story this is! I thoroughly enjoyed the plot and likable characters in the complex ways their "story" developed. This book is sure to appeal to romance and Christmas enthusiasts however, the twists and turns of the plot make it pleasant and interesting to read as well!

This was a very sweet story. I really loved the concept of agreeing upon a contract between Leesa and Cary. This was a great holiday read, which I will reread around Christmas time. It was a romantic feel good story.

Leesa and Cary meet up whilst she is creating a video for his company. Its an intense rush job filmed in Australia. They finally fly back to the UK into the midst of a snow storm altering their plans and allowing them to see a different side to each other. I found all the business speak a bit heavy going and it felt as if it was dragging along. Maybe I just find it difficult to empathise with the super workaholics featured in this story. I considered stopping a couple of places along but persevered. If only someone told me I could just skip to the last couple of chapters and miss the tedious bits. I felt as if those rushed over the important bits after making us wait so long. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Although the characters were briefly in my homeland, Australia, leading into Christmas we didn’t get to see any of the country. We join Leesa and Cary on their flight back to England. Given how Leesa was describing Cary at this point I was pretty sure it was going to be an enemy’s to lover’s trope, and I was right. But it didn’t happen in the normal way this trope plays out.
I loved how practical these two are, in a way the way their relationship developed is quite like how my relationship with my partner started out. I loved how they didn’t need to be constantly talking to each other or being with each other for their relationship to develop. In the snippets of time we read about over a 12-month period it does feel like the key defining moments in their relationship.
We’re not weighed down by the everyday interactions. Instead, we can focus on those subtle shifts and changes that happen at significant times. Like when something happens in someone’s life. Seeing this from Leesa’s point of view only helped me feel more in the moment. I do like seeing how the other person is feeling, but I don’t get quite as emotionally invested when they’re written that way.
The only real downside to this story was that the dialogue felt a little bit stilted. Like when you over think the exact wording you want to say. Or when you’re trying to keep your thoughts so PC it reverts to like an 1800’s style of speech. It just didn’t feel as natural as it could have to me.

This book has everything you need to provide you with some light hearted escapism during the festive season (humour, warmth, love, celebrations, and hope) whilst also not shying away from those all-too-important themes that impact us all such as loss, heartache and hurt. A truly fabulous, festive read!