The Mistletoe Mystery by Nita Prose is a light and quick holiday installment of the Molly the Maid franchise. The plot slightly moves Molly's story forward, and features the characters from the hotel that we've come to know. While this was not a resounding win for me (the plot was entirely predictable, and it was surprising that even Molly couldn't pick up on what her boyfriend planned . . . ) it was comforting to end this space again while we wait for the next, full length Molly book.

This was different from the first two Molly the Maid books, which featured an investigation into a character’s death. It was light and sweet. I know the way we read Molly’s character is through her particular habits and insecurities, but I find that I’m being pushed to question Juan Manuel in each book. There’s not always bad intention, and this was predictable. But I don’t really like feeling like he’s the bad guy when he seems so loving.

I would recommend this for previous fans of the Molly The Maid series, especially if you are looking for a quick and cozy holiday read! However, the plot was quite predictable and there really wasn't much of a mystery like in the full length novels. This novella has more of a romance spin which may be appealing to some readers, especially those who are rooting for Molly to get her happy ending.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for an arc of this novella in exchange for my honest review.

This book was exactly what I needed at this time!!! Such a quick yet enjoyable read especially during the holiday season!!!! Nita Prose did it again. Love her style of writing and her uniqueness with the characters in her books! Def recommend. ❤️💚

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC read!

Yes I definitely enjoy this book, it is super short but it adds to the story, I definitely enjoyed and I recommend this novella

2 predictable stars

Like a Hallmark movie, the plot is simple – romance, small dilemma, surprise, and you know it ends happily. Prose liberally borrows from O’Henry’s story, The Gift of the Magi, without crediting the original author other than, “She (Gran) also told a tale about a poor young couple who were very much in love and wanted to exchange gifts at Christmas. The wife cut her hair to buy her husband a chain for his watch, and he sold his watch to buy her combs for her hair.”

Prose’s writing is direct and clear, without any of the magic that makes reading stories worthwhile. The characters are extremely sweet, especially the perfect boyfriend. “I love his long curled eyelashes, which all the ladies coo over. In this cold weather, snowflakes catch on those beautiful lashes, framing his chocolate eyes in a rim of sugary white.” Like a Hallmark movie, this novella is rated G. “Before Juan, I had no idea that such a pure pleasure as this existed, that love could be expressed in this physical form. It is a delight I could never have dreamed of, a wonder for which I have no words. Later we rest in each other’s arms as the light streams through the crack in the curtains.” OK, that was rather uninspiring. I could comment sarcastically, but I think I’ll let the quotes speak for themselves in this spirit of Christmas, be nice, moment.

Molly and Juan even buy a Charlie Brown Christmas tree. “…our Charlie Brown tree quivering beneath his arm.” There isn’t any mystery in this novella and I guessed what was going to happen at the end. I’m just not into banal and predictable. That’s why I don’t like Hallmark Christmas movies. If you do, you will enjoy The Mistletoe Mystery more than I did.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I just love this series! This was the perfect little holiday story. I loved having a chance to check back in with Molly and the whole cast of characters at the hotel. Such a sweet story!

Short, cute, holiday themed, but just not a traditional “mystery.” In fact, half of the book was all mistletoe and no mystery. I eyeball read the first in the Maid series, so it was nice to listen to this one on audio and put a voice to the character which I thought fit perfect in this case.

Thank you to Nita, Random House Ballantine, and NetGalley for the e-book and PRHA for the free audiobook!

Molly the maid is back!! This time we don’t have any murderous mysteries to solve but we do have some mystery with Molly’s sweetheart, Juan Manuel, and trying to figure out what he is up to!

This novella was short and sweet and I really loved the framing of Molly and Juan’s holiday traditions and how they continued to grow through the years of their very sweet relationship.

If you’ve read the Molly the Maid series & found Molly to be a character you are rooting for, you will adore this. The plot of this novella was something you could see coming a mile away, but I still enjoyed it! The story was heartwarming and such a feel good story!

I’ve read all the prior Molly the Maid books on my kindle, and this was my first time going to audiobook route and enjoyed it!

If you have read and loved the other Molly books, I highly recommend adding this one to your holiday reads! Thank you to PRHA for my audiobook copy, and to Bantam for my eARC, physical ARC and finished copy! I am so blessed!

Cute little update story in the Maid series featuring Molly and Juan Emmanuel. Quick read, can take it or leave it. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

This one was cute and fun! A cute read for December, with very low stakes! I would've maybe liked a little more build up but it was nice that it was predictable.

A cute Christmas novella that gave a peak into Molly and Juan’s relationship. Although there wasn’t much mystery to the story and I guessed the plot within the first chapter, it was adorable.

Molly the maid is back in this holiday novella. When her boyfriend starts acting strange about their secret Santa exchange at work, Molly worries that there is something going on and becomes suspicious. She isn’t sure who to trust and begins to try to figure out what is going on with Juan Manual. This fun holiday novella made for a quick read and it was fun to be back at the Regency Grand Hotel with all of the quirky characters. I loved the ending of this one and thought this was a sweet way to kick off the holiday reading season.

The Mistletoe Mystery is a chance to check in with Molly the Maid over the holidays. It’s short and light on substance but fun enough for a quick read.

Thank you Nita Prose, Ballantine Books, and NetGalley for providing this ARC for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.

This is just a nice, short holiday read for those who love the characters in this series. It’s very predictable and the main character’s self-deprecation can get to be a bit much at times. However, the predictability and short-length can be just what is needed during the busy holiday season.

This was my least favorite book in the Molly the Maid series. I was expecting a legitimate mystery, but this was more like the least suspenseful romance novella I've ever read. I love the Molly-Juan Manuel dynamic, but not to the point where I need a whole book full of it. I liked it when it enhanced the existing mystery, not when it comprises the entire plot. Nita Prose should stick to cozy mysteries because this was a flop.

1.5 stars, rounded down

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was really surprising for me. It felt really just like a cash from the author to capitalize on the success of THE MAID. I did enjoy it, but it really could have been as side plot in her next book rather than an entire Novella. I just think it was missing a lot of excitement and after I finished, I was like what was the point.

The Mistletoe Mystery, by Nita Prose, is a delightful holiday novella set in the Molly the Maid world that we have come to know and love. In this 128 page novella, Molly is working hard to get in the Christmas spirit without her beloved Gran. Juan Manuel is hard at work to keep Molly in the holiday spirit, with a big surprise up his sleeve. There is no big mystery in this short tale, and the Christmas surprise is a little obvious from the start. I still really enjoyed this novella regardless, as I love the world Prose has created. 3.5 stars from me.

Mollys story is a perfect holiday read. I liked that the story is short and really entertaining. I hated that Molly was always stressing so much but loved that Juan was very patient with her.
The mistery was great but I found it very predictably.

THE MISTLETOE MYSTERY is a cute extension of the MOLLY THE MAID series. i’ve read the first two and appreciated this novella to get more of molly and juan manuel’s story/relationship. this book isn’t as focused on solving mysteries, but it’s worth reading if you like the characters from the regency grand!