Sweet, romantic novella featuring two brainiacs from different parts of the world who meet thanks to a Pygmy goat. Ben is an itinerant vet who is covering for another doc and Avery is researching potential products using the lavender growing on the farm she and her 3 friends share. There’s an immediate attraction that is based as much on their shared brilliance and curiosity as their physical chemistry, but will a young woman who earned her 2nd PhD at 18 only to lose her parents a year later be able to fall in love with a man who is only in town temporarily?

Perfect short read for the holidays with a touch of sexy and a whole lot of heart.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Kensington Zebra through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

Avery Kent was part of a foursome who owned and ran the lavender farm in Blue Hollow. She was a brain and had earned two doctorates, the first before she was 18. She was referred to as the mad scientist.

Ben Chandler was an Aussie transplant who was filling in for the town veterinarian while he was away. He had an instant connection with Avery but she was blind to it, at first.

As they spent more time together and share intimacies, both conversations and deed, they both began to see how great there connection was. Ben’s time in town had an expiration date, though. Would this connection be worth the effort to make something more?

I liked this book, although I am not a fan of descriptive sex scenes. I prefer the behind closed doors approach. The story was well written and had a happy ending.

I was given an arc copy of this book and I willingly offer my honest review.

LAVENDER & MISTLETOE is a novella (#3.5) in the Blue Hollow Falls series that captured my attention from the start and held it, along with my heart, until the ending. Although I have not read all the titles in this series I was not the least bit lost as everything I truly needed to know was addressed in the narrative or dialogue. I need to go back and grab the ones that I’ve missed, but in the end, that made no difference to my enjoyment of Avery and Ben’s romance.

Who could have ever predicted that a tiny pigmy goat found along the side of the road would lead to romance and life changes for a young woman who is beyond genius intellectually, but still curious enough to need to understand exactly how love works? Certainly not Avery, that’s for certain. I enjoyed seeing Avery a bit gobsmacked when her plans for her friend’s romance turns into something far different for herself. Ben and Avery both would be considered child geniuses, with analytical minds, and the need to apply logic to just about everything. Each has grown up dealing with being a bit different from others, and each has found their niche in life – for the most part.

Watching Ben show Avery the true magic of falling in love, that there is no proven path only what is felt was pure joy. There were a few bumps in the road to their happy ending, but nothing that could eventually keep them apart. Each was smart enough to recognize that they’d found something very special and unique in each other – getting their life plans on the same page might take a bit more work though. I had such a good time with LAVENDER & MISTLETOE this holiday season and would not hesitate to recommend it to any reader who enjoys a really good love story with touches of the magic of Christmas sprinkled about quite perfectly.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

I loved this book. I was surprised at how well Avery adjusted to her romance. The fact that Ben was similar in capability really helped. Truly a sweet go around. Sorry Hannah was not in it.

Lavender & Mistletoe is a quick and easy read, but I wish it was a bit longer so it could have some more layers and a slower romance. I might add that I really liked that both Avery and Ben were a bit of braniacs, as braniacs deserve love stories too.

This is part of a series of books in the Blue Hollow Falls. I have not read any of the other books in the series. However, I read this one easily, without having read any other books in the series, though I could have used more back story on the characters and overall situation. Not having it did not hurt.

Super intelligent Avery Kent and Chey, her friend and partner in the Blue Hollow Lavender Farm, meet the new, substitute vet, Ben (their own, regular vet has taken a temporary leave and Ben is his substitute). Almost immediately, Avery, whose newest project involves researching what love is and how couples meet, figures Ben would make a great match for Chey, and begins plotting how she can make that happen. However, things do not lead that way. Chey and their other partner, Vivi, see the spark between Avery and Ben, and begin steering Avery in Ben’s direction. Avery is not used to having romance in her life and, after a short stint with a guy during her early college years, has abstained from romance, devoting herself to getting thru college and starting up the farm with her partners. As time goes on, Avery’s and Ben’s relationship grows. Ben and Avery must now fact major decisions. What to do when the regular vet returns from his leave, and how and if their romance will continue.

This is a quick, easy read. However, I would have preferred a longer book, to watch the romance between Avery and Ben grow more slowly and flourish. It seemed as if things moved in too much of a rush. As I said, more familiarity with the setting and characters would have been nice as it would have helped me understand and appreciate a lot of what happened and was said, but not having this did not keep me from fully appreciating characters and the setting of the book. The ending was not much of a surprise, as I could tell almost from the start where it was going, and the blurb on the book alluded to it. Still, it was kind of interesting to watch a super smart Avery come up against a super smart Ben, but I am not sure just how realistic two super intelligent people meeting up like they did is. Nevertheless, it is possible. I thought, from the title, this would be a book about Christmas, but it really wasn’t. The book took place around Christmas, but there was very little of the holiday mentioned in it and no mistletoe. Still, this is another good romance. I you enjoy Donna Kauffman’s books, or romances, you will like this one. I received this from NetGalley to read and review.

Review featured at www.books-n-kisses.com

4.75 Hearts What a great novella. With only 140-ish pages this is a quick read that will easily put you in the Christmas spirit.

Avery and Ben are just adorable. And visiting Blue Hollow Falls is like coming home and perfectly in time for the holidays.

Grab a hot cocoa, start a fire and snug up under a comfy blanket…. That and this book is all you need to enjoy a night reading.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Short Look at the “Science” of Love

This, to me, seems a little short for the story that it wanted to tell. I am new to this author, and I believe this is a series. I haven't, obviously, read any of the other books in it, and I wonder if the heroine, Avery, would have made more sense to me if I had read previous books. I don't know, though. I'm definitely a fan of an intelligent heroine, but Avery seemed to the extreme, and therefore, not quite believable. Is it actually possible to earn two PhDs by such an early age? I did like that the hero and the heroine were both brainiacs, though. In that way, they seemed well suited. Hiding beneath her brainy exterior, the heroine was actually a kind and considerate person, as shown by the way she treated the goat and her good friend, Chey. I found her scientific approach to love to be amusing, especially contrasting with the way it actually played out for her. As I said above, I thought this felt too short, so both characters and plot couldn't really be explored as much as the characters and the story warranted. All in all, I still found it a charming romance.

I have loved all the stories in The Blue Holliw Falls series. Lavender and Mistletoe was such cute story and Ben was a perfect match for Avery

This was a new author for me and I wasn't disappointed. What a great story of friends that become family and small town living. It's wonderful when love sneaks in at the most unexpected of times. Delightful characters and a truly magical story. Enjoy it!

I received a free ARC eBook from Net Galley and the publisher for my honest opinions.

Friends run a lavender farm together. Avery, is a genius and doesn't always understand simpler things. She needs something to do. She decides to learn about love. She wants to fix her friend Chey with Ben, the vet. Ben is also a child prodigy. Ben has different ideas though. Nice watching them find love. Avery needs to learn live wins over science.

4.5 Stars!

Very enjoyable novella! I think Avery is one of my favorite characters ever! Usually when I'm reading a book, I want to slap the main character because she never says what she is thinking. So not the case with Avery! She just let's it all out! I had predicted what was going to happen at the end but at one point I was worried it was going to go a different direction. So glad it didn't! I was able to skip over some very detailed information and didn't lose any of the story. I loved the goat in the beginning! Cute way to start the story! I can't wait for the next chapter in this series!

With the holidays approaching Avery is In desperate need of a project to keep her curious mind busy. She has decided that she must analyze love, how it occurs, what makes it happen, and the stuff inbetween. She thinks helping her friend Chey in this department will give her all the data she needs to come to some sort of hypothesis. When her and Chey come across a mini goat on the side of the road, half frozen, they race to the local vet to see what he can do for the tiny animal. They soon learn that their resident vet is on vacation and a much younger attractive man is helping him out while he is gone. Avery thinks he is the perfect match for her friend and can't wait to start taking notes on the twos interaction. The problem with this is Ben is attracted to Avery and Avery herself sees herself looking at Ben in a way she has never looked at a man before. Follow along as these two skirt their feelings for each other. Will Ben's stay just be temporary or will it end up being forever? Can Avery leave all she knows and follow a man that she must met in the name of love? This was a touching and romantic read that had my heart racing, hoping that love would find a way!!!

Lavender & Mistletoe is a very well written romance. I enjoyed the plot, setting and the character dynamics. Donna Kauffman at her best. I received an advance ebook from the publisher and this is my unbiased review.

Lavender and Mistletoe by Donna Kauffman is another wonderful installment to the Blue Hollow Falls series. This installment visits with Avery Kent and Ben Chandler. Both are child prodigies that find each other in Blue Hollow Falls and slowly allow the attraction to overtake them and finally find the love that Avery didn't think she'd find. A traveling vet and a brainy scientist/tea shop owner finding forever one Christmas.

Thank you to NetGalley, Zebra Books and Donna Kauffman for an ARC ebook copy to review. As always, an honest review from me.

Like:
- A good mix of romance and holiday time and friendship
- The adorable goat who started it all by hitching a ride where he shouldn't 🐐 💕
- Short story, so it's the perfect length if you want a quick romance or holiday read, but you're super busy

Love:
- set around animals and the veterinary practice
- the gorgeous cover art

Dislike:
- Avery's passion project that she finally found is actually based off her boyfriend's interests, but she stated that she wants her passion project to be all her own and for her --- blinded by love

Wish that:
- We got to know a bit more about the other 3 women of the friendship group, as her friendship is very important to Avery

Overall, a short read that's a wonderful mix of romance, friendship and exploring your own interests all set on a picturesque lavender farm during the holiday season. I definitely recommend it!

While Christmas shopping I often find the gift that is perfect for me. This is the line of thought that happens to Avery as she tries to match a friend up with Ben chandler in Lavender & Mistletoe by Donna Kauffman. He is not as perfect for her friend Chey as he is for her. Ben knows it but Avery must analyze it logically. Since when is love logical?

Delightful story with a quirky character who is brilliant but like so many who are never quite fits in. Enter veterinarian Ben Chandler, another brilliant mind who gets Avery, one pygmy goat and some true blue but meddlesome friends and you have a wonderful story. Plus it takes place in Blue Hollow Falls and at Christmas too. Reading just doesn’t get any better than this.

I loved this novella of Avery and Ben. They are two brainiacs that discover peace and harmony together around the holiday season. It was so great to see two people who were outsiders all their lives because of their unusual mental abilities come together and find a kindred spirit (and off the scale sexual attraction) to each other.
It was hilarious that Avery was intent on Ben being perfect for her friend even as she was having a high level attraction to him. So...maybe she wasn't always super smart. Ben, however, knew what he wanted right from the start and that is so sexy in a man.
There is something about Kauffman's writing that makes you feel at home--like the setting is just around the corner and the characters are just waiting to become your best friends. Blue Hollow Falls is the perfect setting.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.

Such a delightful story to prepare readers for the upcoming holiday season. The characters are so well suited for each other, the story just flowed.

This one came at the right time to escape into a world that also had whispers of magic of the season. I found that the characters in this one so suited each other but also gave such a delight in seeing something that was not so easy for them. I would say Avery and Ben take you away on their tale that right away wraps around you. Their personalities jump off the pages with the chemistry smoldering. Science and Magic come head to head in this one with that being the big factor that keeps you there. I know hands down who would come out on top but following these two and getting their story you have to see for yourself.