Love at Mistletoe Inn

Summary:

They’ve helped orchestrate the perfect day for countless couples. Now twelve new couples will find themselves in the wedding spotlight in the second “Year of Weddings” novella collection. An owner of a Victorian inn and charming rustic barn is used to creating the perfect setting for other couples’ nuptials. But when she falls head over heels for the new man in her life, will she be prepared to walk down that aisle?  (Summary and book cover courtesy of goodreads.com)

Review:

This was a quick and festive novella that is a good reminder that life doesn’t always take the path you expect.  Hope finds out indirectly from a friend that her prom-night wedding to high-school love John is legal despite not having sent in the paperwork those ten years ago.  Just as she finds out the news, she has another shock that John has moved back to Harmony and is planning to stay.

Often the plot was a slight stretch to me, but I still enjoyed this book though occasionally feeling rushed.  I believe this book could have been stronger if the author had made it a full-length novel and had a little more character development, which is impossible in a novella.  I also acknowledge though, that I prefer full-length books so I am slightly biased.  Length aside, the story does a good job grappling with what makes a marriage successful and re-establishing the character’s connection from all those years ago.  I appreciated that unlike some romance books, Hope and John do acknowledge that they’ve changed quite a bit from the last time they were together.  All-in-all, this was a fun and festive read that put me in the mood for winter.

Please note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review courtesy of NetGalley.

Rating: 3 stars!

Who should read it? Romance fans looking for a quick and Christmas-inspired book.