I loved having the opportunity to go back to PEI in the form of a book, especially one set at Christmastime. It's always wonderful to read books set in my country, and even more fun to see some Canadian references sprinkled throughout the story. PEI definitely steals the scene with its quaint country charm and the precocious yet endearing children round out this story, along with the friends that Whitney has made over the years. This book shows the consequences of meddling and how it can affect other people's lives, packing a lesson into this Christmas tale.

If you haven't read the Prince Edward Island Dreams series before, there may be some questions that linger in your mind regarding the background stories, but this was only a slight detraction in what can be read as a standalone novel. If you're looking for a sweet Christmas story that gently develops into more romance, this continuation of the books about the Red Door Inn will welcome you in with both arms while referencing the true meaning of Christ's birth. Readers will enjoy seeing straight-laced Daniel mellow and Whitney bloom into the kind woman she is who seeks to bless others, making this book even more of a Christmas gift.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. This was a cute and cozy read. Whitney's stove breaks down right before she is set to go to Culinary School. Her and the innkeeper decide to switch services, she can use the stove there if she babysits for him.

Meddling With Mistletoe by Liz Johnson is a wholesome, enjoyable novel with characters that are lovable, and easy to root for. Whitney Garrett is at the heart of the story. Her determination to fund her culinary school tuition by baking pies for the Christmas market is both endearing and inspiring. I especially enjoyed her interactions with the Sloan family, because the children had so much enthusiasm and wonder about Christmas. There's an especially poignant scene where the true meaning of Christmas is described so perfectly by a sweet, spunky little girl. I loved it!

The sweet romance between Whitney and Daniel slowly builds throughout the novel, and I was fully invested in watching their relationship develop. The Christmas-themed storyline, full of festive cheer and community spirit, made me feel completely immersed in the holiday spirit. I also couldn't help but smile at the meddling antics of Aretha Franklin Sloan, who is hilariously determined to play matchmaker, adding humor and heart to the plot.

Johnson weaves together romance, family, and a dash of holiday mischief in a way that makes you want to savor every page. If you’re looking for a clean, heartwarming romance with the perfect blend of Christmas and Prince Edward Island, then Meddling With Mistletoe is the ideal read for you this season!

Unfortunately this one fell flat for me. Overly contrived to the point of silly with cliché characters. The plot doesn't make much sense, in my opinion.

Arc from NetGalley and Revell to read voluntarily.

Another fantastic read by Liz Johnson!

After visiting Prince Edward Island, I can honestly say that Liz Johnson has nailed North Rustico and Summerside. It was such a treat to travel back to one of Canada’s prettiest islands while reading Meddling with Mistletoe.

I haven’t read all the Red Door Inn series, but quite enjoyed this novel connected to it. I’m sure a couple of characters are featured in other books and after reading this one, it makes me want to read the previous books.

Whitney’s character is interesting - she’s the first character I’ve ever read that doesn’t have a goal. She literally has no goal in life and is floundering. The way the author handles this is creative and only endears readers to Whitney’s plight. Thinking she has a goal, she’s easily persuaded by an older character to follow a matchmaking plan so that she will gain the last of the finances she needs to go to culinary school.

Daniel’s character is a loveable grump! He’s concerned for his aunt and comes to the island to help her negotiate the sale of her antique store. His aunt has bigger plans for him than just to help her sell her store - which creates delightfully awkward moments.

This is a fun Christmas read, with a light faith thread. The slow-burn romance keeps readers turning the pages well into the night.

I loved every minute of this story.

I received a copy of the novel from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

I have a friend or fifteen who would probably love this book, because it’s a Christmassy matchmaker novel. (You know who you are.)

But really, this book is absolutely adorable. I’m not normally a huge fan of Hallmarky type books, but even though this book has all the necessary ingredients - a young woman finding her way through career changes, a grumpy young man home for the holidays, forced to work together, a meddling matchmaker aunt - it's not quite Hallmark, which is actually a good thing. …but there's a twist. Whitney has to help matchmake Daniel with someone else. If you love lighthearted stories with heartfelt themes, where the main characters fix themselves instead of expecting the other person to heal them-this is the story for you. It has Christian elements, but more of an undertone. It’s a great little book and I had a blast reading it. It’s sweet, has that small-town feel, you’ll want to eat all the bakery sweets in the world while you’re reading, and the characters are lovable for the most part. Definitely add this one to your TBR for the holidays!

I might be falling down the rabbit hole of loving fluffy Christmas stories. Ugh.


FTC: I read an advanced copy. All opinions expressed are my own; a review was not required.

Meddling with Mistletoe is a light and easy read that brought a smile to my face. Whitney Garrett agrees to help in a matchmaking scheme to connect the two Red Door Inn guests Daniel and Ruby, while attempting to earn the last of her tuition to pay for culinary school by babysitting and baking at the Inn. Unfortunately for her, or maybe fortunately, things do not go as originally intended, as she spends more and more time with Daniel. Of course there is the inevitable miscommunication trope that comes into play, but holiday romances promise happily ever after, right!?!
I finished this in a couple days after work. The book includes sweet characters, touching interactions and a small town feel that we all want in a holiday story. I would recommend grabbing this to read by the fireplace in late fall, early winter, or even read by the light of the Christmas tree to add extra joy to your season.

Whitney Garrett doesn't have a dream. But she's pretty good at cooking, so after a few "failure to launch" endeavors, she decides to go to culinary school. Her finances are proving an issue, but then her friend Aretha strikes a deal: Help my nephew fall in love with a visiting businesswoman and I'll cover the rest of your tuition.

How hard can it be to help two people fall in love?

Aretha's nephew Daniel is serious and studious. The holidays are not his favorite time of year, and his past heartbreak has made him guarded against all things romance. It's not his idea of a great time to spend December on Prince Edward Island helping his aunt close her business. But there's something endearing about his aunt's friend Whitney, and soon Daniel decides to brighten his own holiday by finding ways to make Whitney smile.

When Whitney realizes she's developing feelings for Daniel, will she decide to follow her heart or follow her desire to go to school? What will happen if she breaks her agreement with Aretha and can't make her school payment?

There was a lot to like about this book. A charming Prince Edward Island setting. Well-developed characters. Lots of references to pies and baking. The practical issues in the book made me shake my head, though, and I found a healthy dose of suspension of disbelief is required. I did love the way faith and the dreams of our heart were woven into the story. I really enjoyed seeing Whitney find her path, and I think this is a message a lot of readers can relate to.

If you're looking for a Hallmark-y holiday read, this short novel might be for you!

I received my copy of the book from NetGalley. All thoughts in this review are my own.

Meddling with Mistletoe by Liz Johnson is a sweet Christmas novella that takes place on Prince Edward Island. Whitney Garrett is saving money towards culinary school and she needs a place to make her pies to sell. Her friend at the Red Door Inn will allow her to use the oven at as long as she helps with Breakfast and babysits. Daniel is helping his Aunt her to sell her store. His aunt has plans for Danie that include falling in love with someone of her choice, but Daniel may have other plans.

This was a great Christmas novella and I enjoyed the characters and watching them grow through the story. The dual POV with Whitney and Garrett was engaging. The sweet children in the story reminded us of the true meaning of Christmas. I enjoyed this quick read that made we want to go decorate a tree, of the importance of family, and the beauty of friendship. I really enjoyed it.
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This was a sweet Christmas story with engaging characters, wonderful themes, and a lovely Christmas setting. I found it the perfect Christmas read. I recommend Meddling with Mistletoe by Liz Johnson.

I was given a copy by the publisher and not required to write a positive review.

This was such a sweet romance and I am a sucker for anything set around the holidays. It was full of familiar tropes but felt fresh.

Meddling with Mistletoe is the first book of Liz Johnson that I’ve read. I have heard so many great things about her books that I couldn’t wait to dig in. I was not disappointed. I think, from looking at the books in the front cover, this one goes with others in the series, however, not having read the others, I believe it can be read as a standalone and still be quite enjoyable, but now I want to go back and read the others to find out more layers about Aunt Aretha and Uncle Jack, whom Aunt Aretha had married later in life.

I met Whitney, Daniel, Seth, Marie and their three kids immediately in Meddling with Mistletoe. Any book that has to do with the holidays, and baking, is a great book in my opinion. This was no exception. I loved the witty characters, I loved Whitney’s fun-loving spirit and I loved Aunt Aretha the most. She was a hoot! I’m not one who likes to give away spoilers so I won’t say much about the plot, but just know it lives up to its name with clean, wholesome, fun romance. It was a book that made me laugh, and we definitely need more of those books right now. I would definitely recommend it to many – who can go wrong with Christmas goodies, little kids, Christmas, and romance?

I was given this book as a complimentary copy but was not required to write a review.

I have only previously read Ms. Johnson's suspense books, so this one was different. However, I did enjoy it, especially because it is set in Canada.

Whitney Garrett is preparing to enter culinary school in the spring, but first she has to sell enough homemade pies at the local Christmas markets to pay her tuition. When her oven breaks, Whitney asks Marie Sloan, proprietor of the Red Door Inn, if she can use the inn's kitchen to keep up with her orders. Marie agrees, if Whitney will watch the three Sloan children and cook breakfasts for the Red Door in return.

The inn has only two guests, Aretha Franklin Sloan's perpetually single nephew Daniel and Ruby, a businesswoman in town to purchase Aretha's antiques store. Aretha thinks Daniel needs Ruby and enlists Whitney to help get them together. Of course, things do not go exactly as planned.

Meddling with Mistletoe is an absolute laugh-out-loud romantic comedy, set in a charming small town that feels vividly brought to life through the author’s rich descriptions. One of the main characters is a resident of the town, while the other flies in to visit family, adding a delightful dynamic as their worlds collide in this quaint setting. The story is filled with intricate details that make the characters leap off the page, helping the reader to immediately imagine what the town looks like and how the characters fit within it.

The book is packed with humorous moments that had me laughing throughout. Each character is well-rounded, their personalities fleshed out with quirks and interactions that feel both genuine and entertaining. The author's skill in weaving these details together makes for an engaging, feel-good read that I thoroughly enjoyed from start to finish.

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC copy of this book from NetGalley, and I’m already excited to seek out more of the author’s work. If you're in the mood for a fun, heartwarming story with plenty of humor and romance, Meddling with Mistletoe is the perfect pick!

The characters in Meddling with Mistletoe are delightful - hardworking, kind, searching. Whitney is my favorite and the reason I was drawn to this book - baking is her joy and the focus of her plan for her future. When that love of baking and serving food to others seems to challenge her view of her future, it is just a delight to see her wrestle with and embrace her actual path and plan. The friendships formed along the way reflect a need that is innate in all of us - someone who understands who you are, desires to share laughter and moments with you, and brings a peace and understanding to your life that is not there otherwise. These characters all embody that, though each does it in a different way. It is a simple, clean story that brings life to the characters and joy to the reading.

Winter, common sugar, fresh baked pies, mistletoes and then add a meddling family member and you’ve got yourself the makings of a fun holiday read! Meddling With Mistletoe is a cute holiday story you’ll wanna add to those winter tbrs— it’s endearing with a dash of faith to lift your spirits! I thought it would be just a light read but definitely enjoyed the moments where things got deep. It’s a novella so it’s just under 300 pages and easily can be read in one sitting. This is one holiday read that I could see as a great Hallmark movie.

Want to get in the Christmas mood? Then pick up this darling short read! So fun to visit the Red Door Inn again!

Pick this book up this Christmas for all the feels!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

A delightful story with warm and friendly characters and the magical setting of the Red Door Inn on Prince Edward Island.

Our heroine is misunderstood by her father and maybe even by herself. She has a lot of self-doubt and not a whole lot of self-esteem. She meets our HEA by actually hitting him with a swinging door... isn't this how all great romances start...?

I loved Whitney's take on things and couldn't see why she had such low self-esteem. She has a wonderful group of people in her small area of PEI that help to support her and enjoy her company. Then one of the woman is selling her antique business in town so her nephew, Daniel, flies in to help check over the deal and be sure everything is on the up-and-up. Daniel's first night back on PEI in a while and he gets smacked in the ace with a door. Not a good first impression to say the least.

I enjoyed this Christmas story very much, in true fashion, Christ was kept in Christmas throughout the story. I loved the Innkeepers children and their antics. This is a wonderful, feel good, joyous romcom.

I was happy to see another Red Door Inn book. I've loved the whole series. The style reminds me of Irene Hannon's Hope Harbor series. It is fun to see characters from former books show up again. It's like a reunion.

I really liked Whitney. She's a great woman who doesn't realize it. She cares for people well. I appreciated how she brought some joy and light into Daniel's life and brought out his lighter side in the process. I liked watching Daniel get to know Whitney through the probing questions he'd ask her. And my heart was stolen by little Julia. What a sweetheart.

This is a pretty quick read. It's hard to put down. Thank you to Revell for providing me with a free e-copy of this book. I'd highly recommend it. All opinions are my own.

This is a sweet Christmas romance with growth and development for both the main characters.
Whitney isn’t sure what to do with her life, but feels pressure from her parents to stick with the most recent decision to go to culinary school, only she is struggling to come up with the tuition money.
Daniel is a numbers man, and personal relationships have him a little baffled. He has been hurt before.
The attraction that develops between Whitney and Daniel is sweet. It is lovely how he listens and seeks to understand Whitney and her self-doubt.
The mistletoe scene is pretty epic.
Thanks to Revell and Netgalley for the opportunity to experience the joy of Christmas early.

Meddling with Mistletoe by Liz Johnson ❤️
4 Stars

Well, this was adorable and put me in the Christmas mood! What a fun surprise! I may just have to read some more Christmas books early this year! Whitney is working to enter culinary school in the spring, but first she needs to sell enough pies at the local Christmas markets to pay her tuition. Her oven has other plans though and breaks down, so she asks Marie Sloan, proprietor of the Red Door Inn, to use the inn's kitchen to keep up with her orders. She agrees and we see so many cute moments of Whitney watching the three Sloan children and cook breakfast for the guests in return. The inn has many guests--including Aretha Sloan, our main guy's Aunt. She is in the business of matchmaking her nephew Daniel with Ruby, a businesswoman who is a bit too serious for Daniel. Aretha is determined to match up Daniel with Ruby so she makes Whitney an offer she can't refuse to help her with the matchmaking scheme.....little does Whitney know....her heart has some unexpected plans for Daniel herself... ❤️

The ending pushed this to a 4 star for me. I really liked the romance that developed between Daniel and Whitney. I am not always a matchmaking book girly, but this had some great cozy Christmas vibes that made it just fine. ❤️ The kiddos really stood out for me too, I loved their characters here. They really remind you of the innocence and sweetness of children, especially at Christmastime.

Honestly, the matchmaking made me laugh because it was so obvious Ruby and Daniel did not go together, even other characters noticed it, so it was more of a light play on matchmaking that was funny. Daniel had been through heartbreak before so he was not quick to give his heart away but the connection between him and Whitney was very clear to him.

There was some nice faith moments with Daniel and God too---he realizes God has not left him all from the sweet words of young Julia Mae. Loved that moment.

If you like matchmaking stories, small towns, cute Christmas inns and markets, plus sweet faith moments in books - give this cute Christmas romance a try this holiday season. (This also made me really want to read the Prince Edward Island Dreams series now!)

Thank you to the publisher for a copy to honestly read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.