This is definitely one of the better Xmas novellas I've read.

The Mistletoe is actually a name of a pub in a small regional Australian town where the heroine ends up staying (in a room upstairs/above) across the Christmas break. Angelette (I've got to admit, I hated that name) is American and I thought Madison could have highlighted some cultural differences a little more. Angelette just seemed to immediately fit in and understand our crazy Aussie ways immediately, so we should have all realised she and the hero, the pub's owner, were meant to be.

There were the usual romantic tropes and sad back stories (not going to lie, one part did make me cry) but at least I didn't ever become bored and skim as I tend to with this type of book.

3 1/2, heading for a 4, considering the book's format

3.5* On the Goodreads scale. Maybe 4* on Amazon
This was a slow starter for me. A New Yorker attempting to escape Christmas decides to travel to the opposite side of the world. Of course she ends up in a little pub in outback Australia called The Mistletoe that is full of kitchy Christmas traditions.

The heroine, Angelette, gets to know the family who own the pub, father, son and their grandaughter/niece. The niece is especially instrumental in forcing Angelette to confront her Chrismas demons.

It was nice to see how the kindness of the townspeople started to draw her out and the hero Mac allows her to open up.

Her backstory is sad and it was good to see her gain strength from her time above the mistletoe and decide to move forward.

What a perfect way to end my year! I loved this book, I have already recommend it to friends and family!!

I was drawn to this book when I saw the cover and read the description! I love anything related to Australia, so I knew that I had to read this book. Unfortunately, this was a miss for me. I didn't realize that this was a novella when I picked it up. While that's not necessarily a bad thing, I feel that this book was so short that the author was able to really build any major development in the characters and plot. I just wish that this had been a full length novel.

A wonderful short Christmas romance set in the Australian outback.

Angelette lives in New York and has had a bad time of it. The last three christmases have been terrible for her and this one is not shaping up to be any better. So on an impulse she decides to go somewhere where there is no snow, no glitzy decorations, carols or Santa’s. Somewhere no one would know her and she could spend the day alone. So she books into a cottage in outback Australia - which was as far from New York as she could get. However, when she arrives late at night the cottage has been double booked and there is no room nearby except at a local pub - which is stuffed full of everything Angelette hates - decorations, carols and Christmas spirit.

Mac is the owner and along with his six year old niece he gradually gives Angelette back her lost Christmas spirit. It’s not until way into the story that we learn why Angelette has lost her Christmas spirit, and it was heartbreaking, but to see Mac and his niece lead her back to being able to embrace the holiday cheer was inspiring.

If you’re after a short and sweet Christmas story then Above the Mistletoe will suit nicely. Heroine Angelette Beaumont seems to have had everything that could possibly go wrong in her life happen at Christmas and when faced with yet another New York festive season filled with carols, snow, decorations galore and happy people, she quits her job and flies half way across the world to a tiny Australian town where she hopes to weather the Christmas festivities alone with her book. The story stretches the imagination a little early on when she finds herself booked into an Aussie pub that lives and breathes Christmas, but I was happy to go with the flow and see where the story led me. It was worth the wait. Pub owner Mac is a great counterfoil to Angelette and his niece Tilly is just plain gorgeous. I loved watching these two lead Angelette out of her Christmas blues and into a place where she could let accept events from the past and move on.

A Christmas romance set in Australia. Angelette has unpleasant memories of Christmas in New York. She travels to outback Australia hoping to have a quiet holiday away from all the Christmas celebrations of New York.
When she arrives the cottage, she had book has been double booked and is unavailable so the only place available is room upstairs in the local Pub called the Mistletoe.
This is a romance bout families, grief and Christmas.

A warm and fun Christmas read. Angelette flees unpleasant memories in NYC and decides a change of location will help overcome her grief over the holidays. Heading to Australia is as different as she can get. Problems arise though when her reservation was taken away, but luckily a spot above the Mistletoe Pub had a room. Meeting Mac and his niece and father, was an added bonus. Easy read and one I enjoyed. Would recommend.

This heartwarming novella was a great way to kick off my holiday reading. It was quick, had me giggling and was packed with characters I couldn’t help but love.

My only criticism, the secret of why Angelette dislikes Christmas, was dragged out a bit too long for my liking. And the subject matter was on the heavy side. I generally like my Christmas romances to be light and fluffy to keep me in the holiday spirit.

When I think of romance, I 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!

I’ve read a few of Juliet Madison novels and most have been quite enjoyable. While this novella was an easy read I must admit that I really didn’t connect to the characters. I did have a hard time liking Angelette and while things were explained in the end why she didn’t like Christmas, it had come a bit too late for me.
If your looking for a light Christmas read with a happy ending, then this novella will fit the bill.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy to read.

Not wanting to experience another terrible Christmas Angelette decides to head to Australia to spend the holiday.
She stays in a spare room at very holiday filled pub after a mix up where she was supposed to be staying. Mac is a very good-looking man that happens to own the pub where she is staying.
When they start to know each other better will this be enough for them both to feel the comfort and holiday cheer they need. This is a quick read novella that will put you in a holiday mood as you read.
Thank you NetGalley, Juliet Madison and Escape Publishing for the copy of Above the Mistletoe. This is my personal review.

If you're in the mood for Christmas already, but still stuck in the Halloween and Thanksgiving chaos, escape in this fun and fast novella! I love to pick up novellas and short stories on the days I need to cleanse my palate after heavier books. It really resets my reading mood and gets me ready for the next book!

Above the Mistletoe is a WOW for me. Yes, this is definitely not your typical Christmas romance. It is better! Juliet Madison is new to me and I thoroughly enjoyed this romantic tale of hurt, healing and patience.

Spoilers are not part of my review m.o. and not going to start now. Just know that Angelette needs love in her life. Growing up an orphan, no love interest at present and no job make for a tough Christmas. Angelette is trying to escape her life and Christmas. Ends up in Australia. I loved the idea of having to stay above a pub for Christmas due to the mix-up in reservations. She met Mac and his family. They shared their life and hearts with Angelette with their quirky pub rules and eventually opened her heart and helped her on the way to healing.

One caveat - Angelette is supposed to be from New York, but there are indications that is not so if read by someone from the US. There are different terms for ‘items’ in the states. Just ignore those little things and enjoy the tale.

Anyone who has experienced life will connect with this sweet story. It may even help someone to see the power of healing love.

I received Above the Mistletoe as part of a NetGalley giveaway.

Fleeing from a streak of terrible Christmases, Angelette Beaumont flees to rural Australia to find refuge from a season that has caused here so much pain. By change she ends up in a spare room above The Mistletoe, a Christmas-themed pub owned by Mac, a handsome local. Hurt by her past, Angelette initially tries to combat the holiday spirit the town exudes, and in an effort to comfort her, Mac shares his own loss. As they both begin to acknowledge and heal, they find in each other a kindred spirit. But will their connection last after December 25?

This was a quick read, almost more of a novella, and has the issues that so many romance novellas do: trying to bring a relationship full-circle in a very limited number of pages. It felt rushed at times, and I wish it has been given a fuller treatment to flesh out the characters and plot more. It certainly has promise, but felt a little bare-bones.

This was okay.

It had me cringing a bit early on. To the extend I nearly quit at the window scene. I just figured it wasn’t the book for me. But I continued on. Unfortunately I ended up skimming, it just didn’t hold my attention. It didn’t help that I never really clicked with Angelette.

I voluntarily read a review copy kindly provided by NetGalley.

Trying to avoid Christmas, Angelette ends up in remote Australia, unfortunately in a place that loves Christmas. Will it be enough to change her mind about the festive season?
A great read.