Book review: Christmas Wishes and Mistletoe Kisses - Jenny Hale #BookoutureXmas

An uplifting, beautiful story about never letting go of your dreams, the special magic of a family Christmas… and the rush of falling in love under the mistletoe. 

Single mother Abbey Fuller loves her family more than anything, and doesn’t regret for a moment having had to put her dreams of being an interior designer on hold. But with her son, Max, growing up, when a friend recommends her for a small design job she jumps at the chance. How hard can it be? 

Nick Sinclair needs his house decorated in time for his family’s festive visit – and money is no object. What he doesn’t need is to be distracted from his multi-million dollar business – even if it is Christmas. 

When Abbey pulls up to the huge Sinclair mansion, she has a feeling she might be out of her depth. And when she meets the gorgeous, brooding Nicholas Sinclair, she knows that she’s in real trouble… 

With the snow falling all around, can Abbey take the chance to make her dreams of being a designer come true? And can she help Nick to finally enjoy the magic of Christmas?

My opinion.

Christmas Wishes and Mistletoe Kisses must be the best and most fitting title for a Christmas novel, ever. It's cute and fun and it fits the story perfectly.

I loved how the Christmas holiday played a central part in this book. Not just as a setting - gorgeous as it was with the manor, snow and Christmas trees - but a lot of the character's pivotal emotions, changes, events,... were situated around the holiday.

Speaking of the characters though, I struggled a bit to really "click". I loved Abbey's caring nature and creativity, but when it comes to Nick I found her forwardness pushy and it surprised me that Nick responded to that. Not a major issue, of course, but it's an example of how I didn't really "get" the characters as much as I would have wanted to.

Now, it's really easy to call a holiday read "heartwarming". It's the go to catch-phrase, especially with a setting as gorgeous as the one Jenny Hale created. But Christmas Wishes and Mistletoe Kisses is truly that: heartwarming. The story really moved me and I admit, there were tears! Jenny Hale paints the most warm and romantic scenes.

Christmas Wishes and Mistletoe Kisses is a wonderful festive story I truly enjoyed reading.