Review: Mistletoe and Mr. Right by Lyla Payne

Mistletoe and Mr. Right by Lyla Payne

Publication Date: November 20, 2014
Page Count: 150
Published by: Bloomsbury Spark
Source: eArc received from publisher in exchange for an honest review

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring…but lust refused to settle in for a long winter's nap.
She might be all nestled, snug in her bed, by why, oh why, do visions of the wrong guy dance in her head?

Jessica, (not Jessie), figures that nothing could be better than a trip to the Emerald Isle for Christmas break. So she takes a flying leap and follows her boyfriend home for the holidays, not only sure that he will finally agree they're destined for each other, but also that Ireland will provide the perfect backdrop to the beginning of their happily-ever-after.

But it turns out his family--and his gorgeous ex-girlfriend--don't feel the same way, and even the family goat seems to be conspiring against her well-laid plans. The only person making the trip worthwhile is the very last one she should be thinking about, but Grady, the local farmhand, has a way of showing up when Jessica needs him most...and least.

I really enjoyed this sweet and fun holiday romance. Short and very easy to read, with likable characters and a lovely setting, Mistletoe and Mr. Right was a great Christmas novella with a wonderful and satisfying conclusion.

The protagonist, Jessica, was a bit clueless about relationships. She tried way too hard to make things go according to her 10 year life plan. We all know that life doesn't work according to plans, and Jessica finds this out the hard way when she chases after her boyfriend, Brennan, when he returns home for Christmas. Brennan seemed a bit reserved and not really invested in their relationship, and I never really felt drawn to him. Grady was cute and attentive and had a great sense of humor. He was also very understanding and patient, and I really liked him.

The plot was predictable, but that was okay with me because the writing was wonderful and I really enjoyed the story. This is one of those squeaky clean new adult romances that would work well as a Hallmark channel movie. I would recommend Mistletoe and Mr. Right to anyone looking for a quick and easy read for the holiday season.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars