“Places don’t belong to us because of money.” Mistletoe & Mr. Right by Sarah Morgenthaler

3.5 stars. Maybe 4. I like it! This is cute and is the second book in the Moose Spring, Alaska series. It’s September so of course the Christmas stories are coming out. Though this isn’t really about some Christmas miracle or anything. Just a nice story that happens around Christmas. Sadly I don’t have a Santa Moose but I do have a cute reindeer.

Lana, we’ve met in the previous book, is the über rich best friend of Zoey and is such a hoot. Rick, Lana’s man, is a pool hall owner, good friend of the Locketts and Graham. They’re such an unlikely pair (she’s rich and he’s almost broke, she’s outgoing, he’s not) but they fit because deep down they’re just 2 lonely people who found each other.

And it all happened in the small town of Moose Springs. That Lana basically bought. Where a Santa Moose wrecks havoc on the innocent decorations of the town. That Lana said she’ll catch. Why? Read the book. 😊 It’s fun to read, promise.

Looking forward to reading more about the other residents/characters of Moose Springs soon.

Thank you Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for the arc of this book. I enjoyed it!

This book will be out October 6, 2020.

Mistletoe and Mr. Right is the second in a series from Sarah Morgenthaler, following Tourist Attraction, which I did not read. However I don’t feel like you need to read the first to read this one, it also acts as a great stand-alone. But if you want to invest some time in some of the more minor characters in Mistletoe and Mr. Right, I suggest reading Tourist Attraction.

The location really set the book for me, putting me in a Christmas mood with its snowy location of Moose Springs in Alaska. I think living in the south always has me wanting the cold and the snow when Christmas comes around, I mean Hallmark practically makes it mandatory in the movies. And yes, this book would fit perfectly in their seasonal lineup as a Christmas movie.

The main character Lana wants more tourism for Moose Springs, while the townspeople don't necessarily want change, especially when she is buying up all the buildings, so she tries to win them over by capturing the moose eating all the Christmas decorations. ( Honestly, I liked the moose better than anyone in the book ) . I did not connect AT ALL with Lana, her overuse of the word darling grated on my nerves quickly. I can’t imagine anyone using it that much, it just felt fake and forced.

The romance with Lana and Rick moved slowly, but I guess not everyone can find love at first sight. While I did like the way she helped him and he supported her, I found the lack of chemistry between the two very sad. It did have its moments, it is a rom-com, so there were some funny parts that I laughed at, and though the romance fell flat for me, it is in the book and others might find it perfect.

I didn't hate the book by any means, I just felt it was lacking something, it still made a great quick cozy read for winter. So grab a warm throw, curl up on the couch with it and some hot cocoa and enjoy!

This is a five star Christmas book for me! So disclaimer - I love Christmas and I especially love the cheesy Hallmark Christmas films. the cheesier the better! This is a hallmark Christmas film in a book and I loved it!

I was given this to review on NetGalley and I am so grateful. I didn’t realise that it was the second book in a series and I haven’t read the first one (I am definitely going to!) but I don’t think you need to follow the plot of this. Mistletoe and Mr. Right follows billionaire heiress Lana who is trying to win over the town in time for Christmas. She meats a man - Rick - who seems a little like Luke from Gilmore Girls and they begin a relationship. I can’t tell you any more than that without giving anything away!
•
I loved this I couldn’t put it down and was so invested in Lana and Rick. Yes, it is super cheesy but a Christmas rom-com has to be cheesy! This is released today and if you’re a hallmark movie fan like me then I think you’ll love this!

This was a sweet friends to lovers romcom. It featured lots of slapstick moments that had me laughing out loud (and rolling my eyes a bit). I enjoyed it overall, but I can't quite put my finger on why I didn't love it. The hero, Rick, is pure cinnamon roll goodness and the heroine, Lana, is caring, smart, and driven. I'm just not sure why they didn't mesh well together for me. I was certainly rooting for them, but I just didn't feel that spark or connection. There were a few too many side stories and characters that made the story a bit too drawn out as well. The romance built up very slowly and though I don't mind that it was closed door, I think I needed more chemistry and fire in their interactions overall. Fans of the first book will love the appearances and updates on Zoey and Graham as well as the other residents of Moose Springs. I am definitely excited that the elusive Easton is the next book in the series.

*I voluntarily read an advance review copy of this book*

Mistletoe and Mr. Right surprised me a little. I liked The Tourist Attraction but wasn't over the moon about Lana in that book. She was a wealthy socialite who loves Moose Springs and is trying to "fix" it. I wasn't sure how I felt about her character and relationship to the town. Then we have Rick, a divorced pool hall owner who has a crush on Lana and wants to help her win over the townspeople.

I'll admit that Lana grew on me in this book. I still didn't like her when I started reading this one, but throughout the story, her intentions became clear and I really started to like her. She did, however, overuse the "darling" pet name for literally everyone. I liked Rick from the very beginning. Falling for Lana only made me like him more...slightly more than Graham from the first book. He was sweet and vulnerable.

On the formatting side of things, the chapters were just as long as the first book in the series and did make it harder to read. Also, the ARC version only indented the paragraphs one space, which made it feel like I was reading one long, 30-minute paragraph. I hope that's something that gets fixed for the actual ebook.

I could read about Moose Springs for an infinite number of books. The first few sentences of this book dragged me in (IYKYK) and I couldn't wait to see what antics the small town got up to. Santa Moose?! Sign me up. I loved this love story amongst the classes and I can't wait to read the next one in the series.

This is the perfect book to read while curled up with a cup of hot cocoa! I highly recommend this book for a cozy winter read & if you want an amazing Alaskan rom com to hold you over before then, be sure to check out the first book in this series The Tourist Attraction (you do not have to read them in order, but I recommend it)! This book follows Lana as she tries to win over the townspeople’s hearts and open their minds to her ideas of bringing in tourism. After her family company purchased many of the buildings in town, people are giving Lana the cold shoulder. Desperate to gain their favor, she volunteers to track down the Christmas Moose that keeps eating everyone’s holiday lights. The only problem…? She is more Prada than Patagonia and she accidentally ends up shooting (with a tranquilizer dart) her crush Rick. Rick has been head over heels for Lana since she walked into his pool bar, but he knows he isn’t her type. And right now, he is behind on his rent and she is his landlord-- talk about awkward. And yet… something keeps drawing these two together. This book has the same quirky and fun Alaska setting that readers fell in love with in The Tourist Attraction. Morgenthaler rounds out the novel with ridiculous actions from Lana and adorable hedgehogs in sweaters. Seriously, it is impossible not to love the books in this series! One of the best parts of this book? Getting to see Zoey and Graham take their relationship to the next level!

While this book wasn’t as funny as the first book, it was still a great read. Getting glimpses into Graham and Zoey’s happy ending was everything. I also loved the slow burn between Lana and Rick. She built him up when he so desperately needed to feel worthy to another human and he gave her the support and companionship she was sorely lacking in her life. I also enjoyed getting a better view into race car Killian and I’m hoping he comes out of his “funk” and gets his happy ending. Easton once again intrigued and I can’t wait for his book next.

I wanted to read a Christmasy book and this one sounded perfect because it is set in Alaska which I loved when I lived there for almost 8 years, also Moose Springs sounds pretty close to Moose Pass which I passed every time I drove up to Anchorage. The moose wrecking havoc on the Christmas decorations was also why I wanted to read this book. Unfortunately this one was a miss for me. I would rate it 2.5 stars (very middle of the road) if I could but I will round up to 3. The lack of chemistry between Lana and Rick was one of the things that I didn't like but my major problem with this story was the overuse of the word "dearest" OMG! Every time Lana said dearest to someone and she called everyone dearest I would get annoyed. I rolled my eyes so many times while reading this book it's not even funny. Why would she call dearest a man she hardly even knows? She sounded to me like an eighty year old when she talked, which didn't match with her "persona" or at least what we knew of her to be which was a big business billionaire and posh woman. The dialogue in the story was just awful in my opinion and I thought it was very corny at times. Ok, so it wasn't the worst book I've read but definitely not one I would read again. The word dearest has been ruined for me, I do not want to read it again, ever!

Keeping the light flavor that disguises a surprising depth, Morgenthaler takes us deeper into the quirky, obstinate and often eccentric town of Moose Springs. We first met Lana as the wealthy sidekick to the first vacation ever Zoey, and her best friend. Now happily loved up, Lana has, against her usual patterns stuck around Moose Springs, hoping to convince the townspeople that the condos she wants to build (as part of her family’s development company) will be good for the town, not just push the townsfolk out and make it more ‘tourist’ than ever.

Because Moose Springs is a small town and people are on the ‘serve only locals or sell-out and serve the tourists’ line, she’s not making lots of friends. Being best friends with Zoey, while allowing her some leeway and getting to know Zoey’s fiance Graham and his best friend Rick also has given her some insight into the town’s dislike of tourists. But everyone is worried about the “Santa Moose” that is trashing the carefully planned Christmas decorations, and the need to ‘get the moose before someone gets hurt’.

Rick’s pool hall is struggling, and while Lana wants to help him (and all the other businesses in town) and hasn’t raised rents or chased for arrears, her own family is conspiring against her ‘pet project’ even as she’s struggling to do what she can FOR the townsfolk – all while dancing around her attraction to Rick, the fury from the town and her and Zoey’s plan to capture the “Santa Moose” the story moves from personal to laugh out loud, to struggling with insecurities and hang-ups, all in a matter of sentences. Full of laughter, hijinks, beautiful scenery and some lovely growth and revelations for both Rick and Lana, the story is lovely and clever. A quick read that dumps you into Alaska at Christmastime – minus the snow and cold.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

5 star review of Mistletoe & Mr Right (Moose Springs, Alaska #2) by Sarah Morgenthaler

I love stories based around Christmas, it’s my most favourite holiday of the year. I also love stories based in small towns so Mistletoe & Mr Right is a win/win for me. Sarah Morgenthaler is a new author to me and I enjoyed her writing style.

The writing was descriptive and I could easily see myself in Moose Springs, Alaska. Lana Montgomery and Rick Harding could not be more opposite and yet their is a connection between them that neither can ignore.

I liked the quirkiness of the story line and found the secondary characters just as entertaining as Lana and Rick. Getting to know one another , the chemistry between them intensifies. I really liked them both, particularly Rick, there was something about him that ticked the boxes for me. The story also had some numerous laugh put loud moments.

This is a feel good book that left me with a smile on my face and certainly got me in the mood for the holiday season.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

I’ve been getting in the spirit of the holidays with Sarah Morgenthaler’s second book in her Moose Springs, Alaska series, Mistletoe & Mr. Right. ⠀
⠀
Let me tell you, this book in no way suffers from second book syndrome and in fact might be even better than the first (though I gave them both 5 stars). ⠀
⠀
In this second book, Graham and Zoey take the back seat and we watch real estate mogul Lana Montgomery and pool hall owner, Rick Harding fall head over heals for each other in the most cute, funny and romantic way possible. Along the way, there is yet another mischievous moose, more Montgomery family drama and a town that still won’t accept tourists. ⠀
⠀
I highly recommend picking up a copy! Both of the books in this series would make for some wonderfully cozy winter reading! Thank you to @netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review! ⠀

Mistletoe and Mr. Right is the perfect combination of laugh loud moments and tender, heartwarming scenes. Lana and Rick seem mismatched, but they come together so sweetly, with humor and poignancy that makes their feelings seem so genuine and lovely. The setting of Moose Springs, the town’s endearing and quirky residents, and a rogue moose add to the hilarity and poignancy of this wonderful Christmas romance.

Okay so round two on festive e-arcs & this one turned out a lot better for me! I really enjoyed Mistletoe & Mr. Right and was super excited to find out this is the second novel in a Jasmine Guillory-esque series about a tiny Alaskan town, so I’ve got the first book of the series to catch up on and I’ve got a third book to look forward to in 2021!

Mistletoe & Mr. Right by Sarah Morgenthaler is all about defying expectations, finding love in the wrong place and of course, Christmas festivities! Lana Montgomery’s heart has always been in Moose Springs, Alaska — and now her & her family’s money will be too, as they’re planning to buy up and build out the town. The locals are... hostile to stay the least, except for Rick Harding, the pool hall owner, who seems to have a sweet blind spot for Lana that is growing into a full blown crush. Add to all this tension and confusion a rampaging Christmas-hating moose, and you’ve got a holiday season that Lana has only dreamed about!

Admittedly, it’s not a groundbreaking story or even all that inventive in the romance novel genre, but it was soft and sweet, a great weekend read! It made me smile, giggle and swoon just a bit — and it’s not heavy on the heat, if that’s what you prefer!

Mistletoe & Mr. Right is out on October 6th! Thank you to @netgalley and @sourcebookscasa for the e-ARC!

I am not one to quite on a book very often. Honestly, I have finished every galley I have picked up because I always hope there is something redemptive about it that I just haven't gotten to yet.
I almost stopped this one at about 32%. I just didn't really care what happened to these characters, I was annoyed with the feeling that I was missing out completely because I hadn't read the first of the series (thanks to the awful recap chapter). Now I'm sitting at 65% and I still don't really care what happens to Lana and Rick.
Sorry, I love a rom-com, I love holidays, I love cheesy hallmark movies, and strong successful heroines, but this one just didn't do anything for me.
total bummer.

Mistletoe and Mr. Right - a chick lit contemporary romance, is the second book in the Moose Springs, Alaska series by Sarah Morgenthaler. And is the perfect Winter/Christmas romance to read this season.

The story takes place in a small town in Alaska, called Moose Springs. The small town is quirky and knit in terms of their rituals and Christmas festivals. Lana Montgomery, comes in this town - a rich socialite with dreams of changing things for the better. She is set to prove to herself and the town that she belongs here.

Rick Harding, who has been living her since the time he was born. He has always had a crush on Lana and feels that she is out of his league. He has been having few tough years, and this year is going to be the same since the arrival of her crush Lana.

Overall, its a warm and sweet Christmas read which felt like any other hallmark movie, but at times the character was Rick was really hard for me to understand. The writing is in third person with both the perspectives. But its unnecessarily stretched at some points. Graham and Zoey from the first book still stands my favorite.
_________

Thanks to NetGalley and Publisher for the eARC in exchange for a honest opinion.
Expected publication: October 6th 2020 by Sourcebooks Casablanca

This book started with a large penis and I knew it would be a fun ride.

I enjoyed this one more than the first I think.. Sarah just has a way of writing such funny things, but following it up with something sentimental.

I think Lana and Rick are a perfect match and this book was lovely. Lana pushed Rick out of his comfort zone while Rick showed Lana how to prioritize herself.

This was such a fun read and makes me want to go to Alaska.

Mistletoe and Mr. Right

Moose Springs, Alaska #2
by Sarah Morgenthaler

⭐⭐⭐⭐ /5

I could return to Moose Springs again and again!

In the second instalment of the series, we follow wannabe resident, Lana Montgomery as she uses her family business and connections to solve all the problems facing Moose Springs, including a fenced moose bourdon the destruction of all holiday decor! It’s a lonely existence being on the outside Moose Springs society, looking in and trying her hardest to improve the town and it’s longevity.

In walks Moose Springs native, Rick Harding. A longtime widow, his friends don’t take too kindly to Lana and their budding friendship/ relationship. Because what kind of a future can they even have with Lana’s high profile job sending around the world for weeks on end?

The flirtation and growing relationship between Lana and Rich was a true delight to watch unfold. These characters seems so different from each other, but at their core they are both extremely caring and selfless people who totally deserve each other! In the previous book, we were introduced to Lana an d Rick, but I never know the true depths of their characters. This books added so many dimensions to each character.

I loved catching up with Graham and Zoey (from The Tourist Attraction) and the other characters. Sometimes the addition of many side characters can muddy a story, but Graham, Zoey and the rest of the friends help the story along and provide the extra support and motivation for Rick and Lana to reach for their desired happily ever after!

This was fun read, and I think I even enjoyed it more that the first book in the series! I highly recommend this book (and series) and suggest you prepare yourself for dreams of visiting small-town Alaskan ski villages in the future!

Mistletoe and Mr. Right by Sarah Morgenthaler is scheduled to release October 26th, 2020.

Thanks so much to Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for my review copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

#MistletoeandMrRight #SarahMorgenthaler #NetGalley #pinkcowlandreads

That's it - I want to move to Moose Springs. I don't care that it's a fictional town! Morgenthaler's Moose Springs series is what the world needs right now. This series is fun, fresh, and feisty.

We revisit Moose Springs (ideal if you've read book 1 but this book can standalone as well) and find that Lana is geared up to do great things for this town she has loved for many years. Unfortunately the locals can't stand her. Our quiet pool hall owner, Rick, tries to comfort her and well, you'll just have to read the book to learn more!

Oh and we have a NEW moose who has a rather odd fetish...

Special thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions my own.

I had not read the first book in the series (The Tourist Attraction), so I read it quickly before diving into this book. Perhaps reading them back to back wasn't the best idea because I found myself bored halfway through this book and I really couldn't wait for it to be over. Usually I'm not like that with books, but this one sadly just didn't do it for me.

This is the story of Lana, the heiress to a multi-billion dollar company, and Rick, the single divorced guy that owns the pool hall that appears to really never have any customers. Lana lives the life of luxury, but she feels that no one ever truly listens to her - until she makes her annual visits to Moose Springs, Alaska. There she can finally feel relaxed and at home. Except the entire town hates her because she bought the town. I found that hard to believe - if someone just bought my town, wouldn't I be nice to that person since they are really like my boss now? But this town snubbed her at every turn - that was really my first problem with the book that I just didn't feel was believable.

Rick, divorced for a few years after his wife walked out on him, is really rather pitiful. He still keeps his ex-wife's clothes in the dresser drawers (why didn't she take them with her?) and he seems to talk about his ex-wife all the time. Lana talks later in the book about his "washboard abs" and "clearly defined biceps", but how can he have those muscles? We never hear of him going to the gym. We only hear of him hanging around his pool hall serving (and I imagine drinking) cheap beer and then he eats cereal for breakfast every single day. How can someone get ripped with that lifestyle? That was my problem #2 with this book that didn't seem believable. But hey - maybe we are going for fairy tales here.

I think the gist of the story is to see if Lana and Rick can have a relationship, to see if her business deal will be completed and profitable, to see if her meddling cousin can get in the way of her inheriting her family's business, to see if the town ever likes her, ... the list goes on and on. I feel the author should have chosen just a FEW of those and not every single one - I had whiplash with all the side stories and that probably led to my boredom.

All in all, the book isn't terrible, it just isn't my favorite.

There's a 3rd book in this series coming out in January - I think I'll skip it.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. The opinions stated above are mine without biases.