
Member Reviews

This is a set of three festive stories of romance to get brighten your Christmas reading, all with mistletoe somewhere in the story. I really wanted to read Prince Arran's story by Pepper Basham as I had read the rest of the Skymar series. It was definitely a lovely addition to the series with Charlie (Charlotte) Edgewood, cousin of Luke, Izzy, and Penelope, and Arran, Prince from Skymar. Arran is working on a life do-over while in the Blue Ridge Mountains working with Luke, his sister and princess Ellie's husband. A lovely quick Christmas romance develops between Charlie and Arran.
Kathleen Fuller's sweet Christmas story is a Christmas romance between Emmy Banks and Kieran O'Neill, her best friend's brother. Emmy had a high school crush on Kieran and even filled in as a last-minute date for his senior prom. Kieran left right after graduation for Ireland and hasn't been back until now for his mom's 70th birthday. With his delicious Irish accent. Fun story.
In Sheila Roberts' story, Hailey goes to her Northwest hometown for Christmas. She grew up as an awkward, nerdy chubby girl. Now she has slimmed down and is a bestselling romance author. Her mom has her set up for all kinds of appearances and is somewhat of a celebrity, but she doesn't feel like one with her insecurities popping up. But she enjoys her visit and even gets to spend special time with her old crush and her brother's best friend Carwyn. I recommend this anthology for a series of quick, fun romance holiday reads.

Perfect holiday novellas! I enjoyed each of the stories but what I loved the most was this felt like a much more approachable Christmas book because it was three stories in one and it was refreshing to read clean romances as well. Pepper Basham’s was a favorite! This will be a hit at our library.
Thank you to publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this title.

Mistletoe Season is a lovely set of Christmas stories. I listened to them so I could get my heart and mind adjusted to this being the festive season. But the real reason was to listen to Pepper Basham’s The Mistletoe Prince. I read an early copy of this story and still want to listen.
Return to Mistletoe and Say No to Mistletoe are cute, fun stories, but Basham’s tale of rogue Prince Arran and awkward construction worker Charlie (Charlotte) are my focus. When your sister is married to a beloved builder and your reputation is in tatters, what else is a prince to do but go for an extended visit?
Arran travels Luke’s tiny Appalachian town to help with a charity fundraiser and complete some manual labor as he works out who he wants to be. His arrival is a little bumpy, but the gem hidden beneath a series of poor choices soon starts to sparkle, especially as he helps Charlie grow into her fundraising role. My heart remained fully engaged throughout. There’s a beauty in watching the Lord change lives, then allow, by his grace, his work to shine.
I received a copy of the audiobook of Mistletoe Season from the publisher via NetGalley. The enjoyment is all my own.
Grab a copy or read an excerpt here (US) or here (UK)

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)
Mistletoe Season: Three Christmas Stories is a delightful collection of heartwarming holiday romances, each with its own unique charm and festive flavor. With strong narration by Tanya Eby, this audiobook delivers a cozy, feel-good experience perfect for curling up with during the Christmas season.
Say No to Mistletoe by Sheila Roberts
Sheila Roberts kicks off the collection with a sweet and nostalgic story about Hailey Fairchild, a romance writer with a mistletoe phobia thanks to a series of awkward holiday kisses—including a particularly mortifying one with her teenage crush, Carwyn Davies. Roberts’ blend of humor and romance is pitch-perfect, as Hailey navigates her return home and finds herself face-to-face with her old nemesis. The banter between Hailey and Carwyn is playful and heartfelt, and their slow-burning reconnection feels natural and satisfying. The mistletoe superstition adds a fun and festive twist.
Highlight: Carwyn’s efforts to make amends for their high school mishap are endearing, particularly when he orchestrates an adorably awkward holiday gesture.
Return to Mistletoe by Kathleen Fuller
This story offers a charming small-town romance with Emmy Banks, an antique shop owner who’s never left her beloved Mistletoe, Missouri, and Kieran O’Neill, the globe-trotting adventurer who’s back in town for his mother’s birthday. The contrast between Emmy’s rootedness and Kieran’s wanderlust creates compelling emotional stakes, making their budding romance feel both tender and bittersweet. Fuller’s descriptions of the antique shop and cozy town add a vivid holiday backdrop that enhances the story’s warmth.
Highlight: The scenes in Emmy’s antique shop are filled with humor, nostalgia, and romantic tension, making it the heart of their connection.
The Mistletoe Prince by Pepper Basham
Pepper Basham closes out the collection with a fairytale-like romance featuring Prince Arran St. Clare, a royal exile in a small Appalachian town, and the down-to-earth woman who helps him rediscover his sense of purpose. Arran’s journey from spoiled royal to humble hero is heartwarming, and the Appalachian setting provides a unique and magical holiday atmosphere. The Christmas fundraiser, “The Mistletoe Wish,” is a clever plot device that ties the story together while emphasizing community and generosity.
Highlight: Arran’s transformation and his growing admiration for the heroine are beautifully written, with moments of humor and emotional depth that make their romance shine.
Narration by Tanya Eby
Tanya Eby’s narration is the icing on the Christmas cookie. She brings each character to life with distinct voices, infusing warmth and personality into every story. Her pacing and tone perfectly match the cozy, romantic atmosphere of the collection, making it an effortless and enjoyable listen.
Final Thoughts
Mistletoe Season is a perfect holiday escape for fans of lighthearted romance, festive settings, and happily-ever-afters. While some stories lean on familiar tropes, the strong character dynamics, festive charm, and Eby’s delightful narration keep things fresh and engaging. Whether you’re a fan of second-chance love, small-town romance, or modern fairytales, this collection has something for everyone. A wonderful addition to any holiday reading list!

DNF @ 17%. This just wasn’t for me. However, it was something I could see others enjoying. Great for Christmas time!

I received a copy of this audiobook from netGalley for a honest review.
I loved these 3 Christmas romances. They made me feel warm and cozy inside like a hot cup of hot cocoa. There was a mistletoe theme throughout the books but each was an individual story. Good clean fun.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
This short little Christmas stories were so cute! I loved all three of them and almost wished each one was longer. These were just adorable and were perfect holiday reads.

Mistletoe Season is a collection of three cute Christmas novellas! I listened on NetGalley and really enjoyed the lighthearted nature of the collection, the vivid imagery, and the talented narrators. Overall rating: ⭐️ 4.25/5. See below for my individual reviews.
⭐️ 3.5/5. I finished the first story of this collection, Return to Mistletoe, and while it was cute, it lacked the character depth that I was hoping for. I think this could have made a great longer-form small town romance novel, but it was just too short to accomplish all of its potential. There definitely were cute and unique plot elements, though!
⭐️ 4.75/5 for The Mistletoe Prince! The second book in this collection was a super cute Christmas royalty romance, perfect for fans of YA and closed door romance.
It was entertaining, endearing, and I felt invested in the characters. Little did I know that this is actually a novella that comes after 3 books-I'm definitely going to be going back and reading those!
⭐️ 4.5/5. I really enjoyed the third installment of this collection, Say No to Mistletoe! This was a second chance romance, family-oriented, small town Christmas rom-com. With funny situations like slipping on the ice, mishaps with hair dye, and more, this was all around a really cute read! The only thing that wasn’t my favorite was that the FMC had a glow-up that included getting thin, and this aspect was too emphasized in my opinion.

The first story was the best, and then they progressively got worse from there. They were a little too ‘perfect’ for me, and I just didn’t love them. Not very realistic.

<i>Mistletoe Season</i> contains 3 Christmas novellas by 3 different authors: <i>Return to Mistletoe</i> by Kathleen Fuller, <i>The Mistletoe Prince</i> by Pepper Basham, and <i>Say No to Mistletoe</i> by Sheila Roberts.
These stories are all your basic clean romantic Christmas stories, similar to what you could find in the Hallmark channel’s famous movies. If you like that sweet Christmas cheer, these will be up your alley! My personal favorite of the collection was <i>Mistletoe Season</i>. Fans of Skymar series will enjoy seeing those characters in <i>The Mistletoe Prince<i>.
Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an audio ARC of this book.

While I love these authors, I am not a fan of short stories. I really didn’t get to fall in love with their characters like I do during their full length novels. But that being said, these are fun and unique Christmas stories that will make you feel all the feels this holiday season.

A fun multi story series. It is a great way to get into the holiday season with lots of romantic stories!

The first two novellas in this collection were easily five stars. I struggled with the third one. There are some themes and character traits that I just could not get behind.
The first book had main characters that are older. The MMC is 44. It was refreshing to hear that perspective in a Christmas story.
The second book by Pepper Basham was a continuation of her Skymar Series, but follows Ellie’s brother as he tries to adjust to Appalachian life for a while. It was so charming and I enjoyed seeing those characters again.
The third book has a FMC that is literally having thoughts like “I’m going to this cookie party but I will not give in and eat a cookie.” A lot of her character make-up focused on how she used to be heavy, but now she’s thin. I think it’s great when people improve themselves, but this focus was off for me. There are many other reasons I didn’t bond with her, so for me this story was a miss.
Listen to this if you like quick, spunky stories to get you in the mood for Christmas.
Spice: 🫑 just kisses

This collection of three sweet and short Christmas Novellas was a decent read. My favorite was the Mistletoe Prince. All three novellas involved a good deal of eye-rolling and instalove, as is right and proper for this type of book. If you are like me and prefer to read rather than watch Hallmark movies, this is worth checking out!
Thank you for the ARC!

Say No to Mistletoe by Shelia Roberts follows the story of Hailey Fairchild who is determined to stay as far away from mistletoe as possible. Hailey feels like she is jinxed by mistletoe based upon a dare to kiss Carwyn. The kiss was a disaster and Hailey feels like that embarrassment has followed her around endlessly. As an unwed adult, can she keep her vow to stay away from mistletoe…especially when Carwyn is anywhere in close proximity?
Return to Mistletoe by Kathleen Fuller follows the story of Kieran O’Neill and Emmy Banks. Emmy has always found joy in Christmas…she loves everything about the holiday…but how can she not when she lives in a town called Mistletoe, Missouri. Keiran O’Neill moved about as far away from Mistletoe as possible and has spent many years preserving and constructing an old castle. Kieran returns to Mistletoe to spend time with his mother but he also finds himself wanting to spend more and more time with Emmy. Emmy guards her heart when she is around Kieran. Will Emmy be able to open her heart to love when she finds out that Kieran will be staying stateside?
The Mistletoe Prince by Pepper Basham follows the story of Prince Arran St. Clare who has lost his glamorous lifestyle in exchange for a three month hiatus (that Prince Arran considers to be punishment) in the small town of Ransom, North Carolina. Prince Arran’s goal is to participate in The Mistletoe Wish, a Christmas charity fundraiser, to prove that he is mature and ready enough to fulfill his responsibilities as royal highness. Prince Arran is very humbled throughout the process and begins to reflect upon what is most important in his life. He’s not so sure that the royal trajectory is all that it is cracked up to be.

Mistletoe Season is a collection of three short novellas set around the Christmas Season.
In Say No to Mistletoe by Sheila Roberts, Hailey thinks mistletoe ruins her relationships. She goes home for the holidays and finds that theory put to the test.
Return to Mistletoe by Kathleen Fuller focuses on Emmy who lives in a town called Mistletoe. When her best friend’s brother returns to Mistletoe for Christmas, so does her crush on him. 3 stars
The Mistletoe Prince by Pepper Basham is about a really likable prince who is temporarily exiled to live with his sister and learn the value of hard work. While there for Christmas, he makes a bad first impression on a young woman. As they get to know each other, both discover who they truly are. 2 stars
These were cute stories for the Christmas season. I listened to the audio and liked everything except for the Irish accent in Return to Mistletoe. The MMC is American and although he is living in Ireland, I found it was hard to believe he was that Irish sounding. 5 stars
The Mistletoe Prince was perfect for fans of Hallmark Christmas movies!
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Christian Publishing for an advance copy ahead of the publication date.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to listen and review Mistletoe Season.
A festive trio of cute romance stories including; Return to Mistletoe (by Kathleen Fuller), A Mistletoe Prince (By Pepper Basham), & Say No to Mistletoe (By Sheila Roberts).
The stories all focus on the holiday theme of Mistletoe. The first (Return to Mistletoe) and last (A Mistletoe) of the trio were my favourite with great story lines and likeable characters.
The trio felt like listening to hallmark movies and these are fun read to get into the Christmas season!

This one was fine but I skipped over the second story, I could not get into it at all. The last story was my favorite and these were just a sickly sweet hallmark esque romance.

Mistletoe Season is 3 short stories. It was perfect to listen to without a huge time commitment. The stories were funny and heartfelt. It's a great way to get into some holiday reading! Thanks NetGalley for the ARC audiobook. The narrators were great!

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read a copy of Mistletoe Season.
A trio of 3 cute festive romance stories - Return to Mistletoe (by Kathleen Fuller), A Mistletoe Prince (By Pepper Basham), & Say No to Mistletoe (By Sheila Roberts). All stories are well written with great story lines and likeable characters. Great read to get in the mood for Christmas.