All Anji wants is to grow her catering business but her mother has other plans. She wants Anji to work the family restaurant and get a boyfriend and with a child it tow adding a boyfriend to the list really in the cards. Gabriel is working his grandmother's shop while she gets the care she needs and used to be friends with Anji before she became a bully now he still has that distrust in her. Imagine his surprise she asks him to pretend to be her boyfriend to get her mother off her back and she'll help him get his grandmothers flower shop that's been going downhill. Both will benefit from the arrangement but can they keep their hearts out of it.

I enjoyed this book and if you are looking for a book that takes place during christmas time then check this book out. The whole relationship of Anji and Gabriel was pretty interesting. I mean they started as friends and eventually became his bully but while that was years ago Gabriel was dealing with the aftermath and Anji was dealing with the shame. In ways you can get why she turned that way, but it really didn't have to turn out the way and it was interesting seeing how that impacted her adult life. I mean she's in the town she grew up with and her old bully friends are in locals so you get to see how they are as well. Then theres the issue of her son getting bullied himself and going to Gabriel for a bit of help how to handle things. It was a mess but I liked seeing how everything played out. Then theres the family drama of the mother trying to get Anji up and the fake dating things. Theres plenty to enjoy about this book and recommend you lovely readers to check this book out.

When I think of romance, think of books just like this one, that gives all the feels and satisfies every romance junkies' heart. This is a perfect books to snuggle up with on any day. This one took by surprise!

This is another great book from Michelle Major. The two main characters are Angi and Gabe. Angi is a single mother, starting a catering business, and running the family restaurant. Gabe runs his grandmother’s florist shop because she is in a nursing home. They are both chosen to be co-chairs for the town Christmas dance. They have known each other all their lives. The each have some issues they need to work through.. they realize they love each other.

A fairly quick Christmas that while I didn't love it I did enjoy reading the book. I just don't think it will be one that will be a yearly Christmas read.

Mistletoe Season is an enjoyable holiday romance set it Michelle Major’s Magnolia, North Carolina world. I have to remind myself when I read these books that they are more women’s fiction with romantic elements that straight up romance. That’s not a bad thing per se, just need to remember. This childhood friends to teenage enemies to adults who don’t like one another to fake romance to falling in love story contained two individuals both dealing with stress in their lives and end up realizing that having someone to lean on isn’t a bad thing.

Angi was just getting her life on track and realizing her dreams when her mother had a heart attack and instead of being the exclusive caterer of The Magnolia Inn, she’s back working at the family restaurant, moonlighting behind her mother’s back to take care of the catering jobs she committed to, raising her ten year old son on her own, and taking care of her mother while she recuperates. With her mother pushing her to date, Angi decides to ask Gabe, her enemy but who has been good to her son, to pretend to be her boyfriend. I was a bit overwhelmed with everything Angi was doing especially after she gets roped in to helping organize and plan the town’s Christmas festivities along with Gabe. She impressed me with her optimism and her determination to make the best of things even if they weren’t the best for her. It was easy to see she was a good mom, a good daughter, and a good friend. Speaking of her friends, I was so thankful she had them in her life to give her a sounding board and perspective when she needed it.

Gabe came to Magnolia as soon as he could after his grandmother’s accident and is running her flower shop although he knows he’s not doing the best job of it. While he isn’t Angi’s biggest fan, he enjoys her son visiting the shop everyday and it determined to help him through a tough time. When Angi asks him to be her fake boyfriend to get her mother off her back, he refuses at first but seeing her putting up with the people who along with her treat her so badly he can’t help but step in.

I liked Angi and Gabe together, I just would have liked more time with them as a couple learning about each other, but their chemistry was undeniable. They did help each other through some problems and with Angi’s mother and Gabe’s grandmother which I enjoyed and Drew. It was also sweet the way they both were determined to make sure Angi’s son Drew learned to deal with his bully the right way and gain confidence to be a better person.

A story of redemption, loss, friendship, hope, love, and holiday spirit; Mistletoe Season was an excellent addition to The Carolina Girls series.

Stirring, compassionate, and charming!

Mistletoe Season is a heartfelt, magical tale that takes you to Magnolia, North Carolina and into the life of the overwhelmed, single parent Angi Guilardi as she juggles the family restaurant, her mother’s recuperation, a catering career she is truly passionate about, a son who seems to be the target of some nasty bullying, and an unexpected attraction to the man she turned her back on all those years ago, Gabriel Carlyle.

The prose is smooth and sweet. The characters are anxious, hardworking, and tentative. And the plot is a delightful tale of life, loss, love, drama, family, friendship, community, self-discovery, parenthood, strength, acceptance, undeniable chemistry, happiness, and moving on.

Overall, Mistletoe Season is another winsome, uplifting, cosy tale by Major that’s a lovely addition to the Carolina Girls series with its endearing characters, heartening storyline, and festive cheer.

A magical holiday season spent in Magnolia! MISTLETOE SEASON by Michelle Major is the second book in her Carolina Girls series and spreads a whole lot of holiday cheer to fans of the series. We get to enjoy Angi and Gabe's story as well as seeing old friends from the Magnolia Sisters series pop up at events as well. It's always a pleasure to spend time in Magnolia!

Angi is a really likable character and I felt for her throughout. She is a go-getter single mom who is determined to show her son a good life no matter how many obstacles she might have to cross over to get there. She wants more than anything to share her food creations far and wide, but her overbearing, guilt-tripping mother is bound and determined to keep her locked up in the family restaurant grinding away forever.

Gabriel came across as a bit of a grump in the first book, but he's actually a sweetheart. He's in town holding down the fort at his Gran's floral shop while she's recuperating, and reconnecting with his former friend turned bully isn't exactly his favorite occurrence.

I recommend this book and the entire series to anyone who enjoys a close knit small town where the residents always pitch in to make the town a special place all while a couple finds their forever love.

Mistletoe Season is the second book in The Carolina Girls series, but can be read as a standalone. This story features Anji Guilardi, who we met in Wildflower Season. Anji became a partner in Magnolia’s Wildflower Inn, as the chef and meal planner, but when her mother has a heart attack, she is needed back at the family restaurant. Trying to balance both jobs is crazy. At the same time, Gabriel Carlyle, Gabe, someone from her past has returned to Magnolia due to hid grandmother's health. He is going to try and bring her flower shop back to its former glory, until his mother informs him that it is her inheritance and as soon as his grandmother dies, she plans on selling the business. As they spend time together trying to support each other, they also develop feelings toward each other. Neither of them is ready or willing to get into a relationship, but will Christmas magic change that?

I enjoyed this story. Anji and Gabe had a past, as they were both bullied some in highschool. Gabe left to enlist and is not sure what is next for him, he does not plan in staying in Magnolia once his grandma is gone. Anji is crazy busy trying to run the restaurant, deal with her mother and not let her friend down, so has no time for a relationship, but feelings have a way of sneaking up on someone. Anji's mom is hard to like at times. She is that Italian mom who thinks she knows what is best of her daughter and that means finding her a man. She is also stuck in the past and has ideas about what is best for the restaurant and not changing anything about her memories of her husband who started the restaurant. She won't listen to Anji and bullies her to give in and give up. Of course Gabe is the perfect one for her fake romance to get her mom off her back as well as some of the nasty townsfolk from her past. Gabe's grandma is adorable. She loves him to bits and with dementia, she also supports Gabe and Anji in a relationship. All does not go smoothly in their budding relationship or in trying to make decisions in each of their futures, but eventually, they find their Happily Ever After. I really enjoyed this holiday romance and recommend it.

Mistletoe Season is a charming Christmas story! Angi is running own catering business and has no time for a man. Her mother has other ideas and thinks she needs a man for Christmas. Her mother falls ill and Angi’s business plans are thrown for a loop because now she has to help run the family business as well. She has no time for romance til she runs into Gabe. Gabe and Angi were so cute and fun to read about. I loved the small town setting as well!!

This holiday book caught my attention by it's description. I didn't realize it was part of a series, and I haven't read the prior book, It made sense as a standalone novel.

The flawed characters were easy to root for and relatable. If you like second-chance romances set in a small town, you'll likely enjoy this book.

Mistletoe Season by Michelle Major is the 2nd book in her The Carolina Girls series. I have become a big fan of Michelle Major, having enjoyed her Magnolia Sisters series, and the first book of her Carolina Sisters. Mistletoe Season continued this trend, as it was a wonderful story, with a terrific couple, and great secondary characters.

Anji Guilardi, our heroine, loves working at the Wildflower Inn, but with her mother recovering from an illness, Anji is stuck helping at the family restaurant. She is working overtime, between both places, trying not to leave her new friends (Emma and Mariella) in a difficult position (Anji does all the cooking for the Inn); and also help out at the restaurant, not to mention taking care of her young son, Drew. Anji’s mother makes things difficult for her, putting pressure on her handling the restaurant, even though her heart and new recipes are with the Inn.

Gabe Carlyle, our hero, is back in Magnolia to help out his grandmother run the flower shop. Gabe knows his mother wants to sell the shop and house they live in, but since she is far away, he ignores her, and puts most of his time with his grandmother. Years ago, when the was young, he had a crush on Anji, but things broke up. Now when he meets her at his shop, and despite his coldness toward her, he can still feel the chemistry between them; especially when they are forced to kiss under the mistletoe, and the sparks sizzle.

Between Anji’s mom, she pressures her to find a husband, and her son, Drew, who has become close to Gabriel, a bond begins to form. Anji asks Gabe for help to be her fake boyfriend, to get her mom off her back. Drew had become very close to Gabe, which brings him closer to Anji. Their relationship turns into a full-blown real romance, after they are both asked to run the town Christmas festival, and spend lots of time together. Gabe is also there for Anji, when he sees how much she loves working at the Inn, but is pressured by her mother to stay with the restaurant.

What follows is a wonderful heartwarming story with both Anji and Gabe dealing with their issues (both mothers). Michelle Major also created a wonderful group of secondary characters, as well as giving us a glimpse at the ladies we loved from the previous series. Mistletoe Season was written so very well by Michelle Major, with a great couple, and so many wonderful characters, many of the townsfolks, and the cute animals. I suggest your start this series, and if you have not read The Magnolia Sisters, you should start that one too, then read Wildflower Season, before you move to Mistletoe Season.

Michelle Major is back with another book in her The Carolina Girls series. This time we get a holiday romance between Angi and Gabe. Angi is having a hard time with things. She's running her mother's restaurant when she doesn't want to be, trying to hold onto the catering gig she wants, raising her son alone, and taking care of her recuperating mother. The last thing she has time for is dating. That's why she decides a fake relationship with Gabe, someone she doesn't get along with, is the perfect thing to take the stress off. I liked Angi. The stress she was buckling under made me sad, but I loved how she rallied to make the best of things. 

Gabe is also dealing with the stress of helping out a family member. He's running his grandmother's flower shop. He isn't Angi's biggest fan, as she and her friends bullied him in school. That changes as they get to know each other again and their fake relationship turns to more. I liked Gabe and Angi together. They had great chemistry. I loved that they worked through the tough stuff to turn into the couple they were. The way Angi's son helped bring them together was sweet. 

This was a good addition to The Carolina Girl series and a great holiday romance. The small town setting made the season.

I'm sorry but I could not get into this book. Several chapters in and no one was happy and too much angst.

Mistletoe Season is a wintery romance set in a small town. Michelle Major always knows how to captivate her readers and does so with her wonderful characters and setting.

Anji is a single mom who returns to work at her mother's restaurant when her mother falls ill. She is thrown back into this life and deal with the pressure of finding a man. So, when she runs into an old acquaintance from her childhood, Gabe, she feels like a fake relationship could solve her problems.

Gabe is a caring and attractive man who is helping out his grandmother at her flower shop. He doesn't expect to see one of his bullies, Anji. And he is surprised when they both land under the mistletoe and kiss. They share a kiss and it is full of chemistry and sparks.

I really enjoyed the small-town romance. Anji and Gabe don't really know each other as adults and it's interesting to see them avoid the past while trying to move forward from it. I think Anji's son is the catalyst to help them put down their walls and really get to talking. Once feelings become part of the equation, it becomes easier to imagine a life together. But it isn't as simple as it may seem. This relationship is both romantic and heartbreaking.

I give Mistletoe Season 4 stars. I think it's a great read to enjoy during the holidays. If you love a second chance romance and a small-town setting, then I know you will like it.

I love Christmas books! This one has wonderful characters and a sweet small town atmosphere. The characters have flaws and each make us feel like we know them better. I thought it was an enjoyable read that kept me involved in the story and wanting to get to the end--but not wanting the story to end. I hope she continues with this series!