Doubt, diversion, and darling.

The devoted memories of Molly’s Gran, just make this book sparkle in a special way at Christmas time. This short story was less of a mystery, but more of a cozy book about memories, the Christmas season, and appreciating/trusting the ones who mean the most in your life (with true Molly fashion, who we all love).

Thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Ballentine and NetGalley for giving me this opportunity to read this novella.

I want to preface this review by saying that I adore the other two books in this series. Molly is such a lovable character, and solving mysteries alongside her has been a delight. Of course I wanted to read a Christmas novella about her!

This book is undeniably charming - so sweet it’ll make your teeth hurt. Ultimately, it wasn’t for me. The “mystery” here is more of a lighthearted romantic comedy mishap that tugs at the heartstrings but offers little in the way of intrigue. I had hoped for a festive hotel mystery for Molly to unravel, something with a bit more substance even if not as complex as the full-length novels. I was looking for for a bit more substance and less fluff.

If you enjoy light romantic stories with touches of humor, especially those set at Christmastime, you’ll devour this novella. But if, like me, you prefer less romance and more corpses in your mysteries, you might want to skip this one and save those two hours for something darker.

The Mistletoe Mystery is a delightful and cozy holiday read that captures the festive spirit with a touch of intrigue. Molly Gray, a lover of Christmas traditions, is determined to make this holiday season joyful despite the absence of her beloved Gran. With her boyfriend, Juan Manuel, by her side, Molly is ready to embrace the magic of the season—until a Secret Santa gift exchange at the Regency Grand Hotel raises unsettling questions about who she can trust.

The mystery is lighthearted yet engaging, with Molly diving into her most personal investigation yet. As the holiday cheer is tinged with suspicion, readers will enjoy the twists and turns, while also rooting for Molly to uncover the truth. If you’ve enjoyed Molly’s previous adventures, The Mistletoe Mystery is a charming addition to her cozy mysteries. The holiday setting, fun gift exchange, and Molly’s endearing character make this a perfect read for those looking for a heartwarming mystery with a seasonal touch.

This is an adorably written cozy mystery/ romance. It's full of Christmas cheer. It's important to me that a Christmas title sprinkle it's pages with Christmas activities and decorations that wouldn't normally be in an author's typical work. This book carries its Christmas theme throughout the whole story and ends well. A maid for a large hotel is about to share her fifth Christmas with her boyfriend who cooks for the same hotel. Molly uncovers a mystery when participating in the annual Santa swap.. This is a very fun Christmas read and I love the characters.

The Mistletoe Mystery by Nita Prose
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I’m a fan of Molly and The Maid series. If you are too, I think you’ll enjoy this one too.

What I liked:
•in the spirit of Christmas this was a light fun read, without any dark undertones of the previous books.
•a novella easy to read in a couple of sittings in front of the fire and Christmas lights
•Molly’s usual tone ~ I think it’s important to have read the first two books to understand Molly and the wonderful cast of characters in her life.
•those characters all make an appearance and if you grew fond of them like I did, you’ll appreciate the little cameos they all make!

What I didn’t like:
•a little too predictable, but a nice departure from the previous stories.

Thank you to @netgalley & @nitaprose for the digital arc.

Book 56 of 2024
Read November 22-26

Thank you to the publishers of The Mistletoe Mystery and Net Galley for allowing me to review Nita Prose's The Mistletoe Mystery.

I am such a big fan of The Maid series by Nita Prose, I flipped out (in the best way) when I had a chance to review it for Net Galley. And, as hoped, Prose doesn't disappoint. Molly the maid is such an endearing character, and this novella features the best blend of holiday coziness, mystery, and the characters - like Mr. Preston and Juan Manuel, Molly's chosen family and boyfriend, respectively - that readers adore. This is also a great introduction for a reader new to the series, or someone who is maybe an Agatha Christie, Murder She Wrote, Matlock, Columbo, or Masterpiece Theater Mystery fan. A perfect gift for readers and mystery solvers alike, and sure to make a great stocking stuffer. Plus - look at that gorgeous cover!!

I enjoyed Nita Prose’s book ‘The Mistletoe Mystery’. Molly the Maid finds Holiday happiness..
Definitely a feel good holiday book.

Many thanks to Netgalley for the E-ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

I love Molly the maid. I love her relationship with her Gran and how Nita Prose tells us of moments between those two characters. They are heartwarming. I love how naïve Molly is. I love that she loves her job as head maid and her boyfriend, Juan Manuel.

Savvy readers will more than likely recognize what the "mystery" is in this book but it's still incredibly touching and loving. If you've read the Molly the Maid books you'll enjoy this book at Christmas time.

You see Molly and Juan Manuel decorating their apartment for Christmas. There are descriptions of holiday food and Nita Prose does a wonderful job of describing the overall look of the festive hotel. It was incredibly cozy.

It's quick read and would make a great Jolabokaflod gift for Christmas Eve with chocolate. Readers should note that this is more of a light Christmas romance than a full mystery. However, as a lover of all things "Molly" I was really happy with the outcome.

A quick novella featuring the ever lovely Molly the Maid. It was an enjoyable read with the same characters we have learned to love. I would not call this a mystery in any way though. It is a romance for sure.

Short and sweet! The author continues the voice of Molly seamlessly in this little novella following the deepening relationship between the maid and Juan Manuel. It was a heartfelt holiday tale.

I’ve come to realize this author is not for me. The characters are flat, especially the boyfriend, who can do no wrong. The plot twists are super obvious and unsatisfying.

Our favorite neurodivergent maid is back! And now it's Christmas!

Molly is such a delightful character, and this Christmas centered novella is the perfect length to stop and enjoy this busy holiday season. This short story focuses on the romance between Molly and Juan- is everything as wonderful and cozy as it seems?

If you enjoy audiobooks, I can't recommend listening to these books enough. Lauren Ambrose does such a great job bringing Molly to life, that I actually found myself preferring to listen to the maid books instead of reading them!

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group, and Nita Prose for the chance to read this story in exchange for an honest review.

This is a quick read featuring Molly the Maid. Molly is a younger modern version of the children’s book character Amelia Bedelia. Molly takes things literally which can often result in some humorous situations. She can also be awkward in social situations. These traits help make Molly a likable character.

This Christmas novella has a Secret Santa and a touch of The Gift of the Magi. There is a mystery that is easy for readers to figure out, but not for Molly.

“… love is the only gift that lasts.”

Molly the Maid is one of my favorite characters, so I enjoyed this novella about her HEA! I have seen some critique about the use of "mystery" in the title. I do see how that's a bit misleading based on the content of the other books in this series. However, there really is a mystery kept from Molly, even though it's pretty obvious to us as readers. I think part of the fun of Christmas-y books is about the predictability, so I had no problems with it! I loved it and as always, will recommend any book in this series.

Molly is wonderful! She deserved this Christmas miracle gift... but beware, this isn't a novella with a mystery. It's more a glimpse into her life with a few curious moments that all come together. So glad to see how things turned out for her years later. I hope there will be more mysteries tho.

Thank you very much to NetGalley and Ballantine for this advance copy of The Mistletoe Mystery, the Christmas novella of the Molly the Maid series. This one is on sale now for purchase.

This one was a cute little supplement staring our favorite characters from this series. I think Molly is such a fun character, and I like watching her interact with all of the people she works with. One of my favorite parts of this series is how Juan really seems to understand Molly, and although it was a novella, I didn’t love how there was introduced this sense of doubt in the one thing Molly took a chance on in previous books. I understand it’s to move along the plot, and while we get our happy ending at the end, I wasn’t totally sure about this. I’d like to see more interactions with other characters. I’ll be curious to how this leads into book 3 coming this spring.

Thank you again to Ballantine and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for this honest review. The Mistletoe Mystery is available now!

This was a super cute, sweet little Christmas novella. Only 128, it's an easy sit by the fire and enjoy a cup of hot chocolate and read in one sitting kind of book.

Molly the Maid is at it again. Except this time around she's not solving one of her hotel guests mysteries, but one of her own. Her beloved Juan Manuel is up to something and Molly has a pretty bad feeling about it.

Molly is her same literal self through the pages. The Molly we all know and love. And even with the writing on the wall, she can't seem to figure out what Juan has up his sleeves. (I know Molly loves some puns!)

There was a lot happening in a short amount of time. Totally easy to follow along and very predictable! Which is actually pretty comforting when it comes to a Christmas book. Happy endings are exactly what I'm looking for and this didn't disappoint.

"A successful marriage requires falling in love many times. But the trick is that it's always with the same person."

I am glad Molly is going to get her fairytale. (However that may look to her) She deserves it.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publishing company for this ARC.

In "The Mistletoe Mystery," the enchanting sequel to "The Maid and The Mystery Guest," we dive back into the life of Molly the maid and her boyfriend, Juan Manuel. Set against the backdrop of a secret Santa exchange, this delightful short story weaves intrigue and holiday spirit beautifully. Molly grapples with her past and the uncertainty of trust, making readers question what lies beneath the surface of festive cheer. The narrative captures the essence of Christmas, reminding us that love and magic are what truly define the season. A charming read that will warm your heart!

thank you Netgalley and Ballantine Books for the ARC in exchange of my honest review.

This was the cutest novella with a dash of mystery! I absolutely love Molly the Maid and her view of the world. In this novella, Molly and the employees of the Regency Grand are getting ready for their annual secret Santa party. However, somebody is being extra secretive and Molly is determined to find out why.

If you enjoyed the first two books in the series, I highly recommend this novella to put you in the Christmas spirit. Thank you Random House and NetGalley for this ARC!

Sweet little Christmas mystery. This was different than the first couple of books, but I love Molly the Maid and enjoyed reading about her again! This one was more on the romance side than mystery. I actually enjoyed this for the holiday and am looking forward to book 3.

3.5/5.0