Customer Reviews

Love Finds You Under the Mistletoe

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
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I love Christmas books. But over the years, I've become somewhat of a Christmas book snob. When I pick one up and begin to read, the book has to offer the same kind of promise I expect on Christmas Eve ... anticipation for what's to come, a tingle of mystique and the same kind of satisfaction found in the perfect cup of hot cocoa ... in other words ... it has to grab me quickly or I'm on to another book. Love Finds You Under the Mistletoe did just that. The book is comprised of two tales. I began with the present day tale, Once Upon a Christmas Eve. I wasn't disappointed. When the famous novelist Van Keaton arrives in Noel, Missouri he quickly seeks out the beautiful co-owner of The Little Bethlehem Shoppe. It has recently been voted the best Christmas shop in America and the residents of the small Ozark town are delighted, especially the shop's co-owners Holly Rose Goodnight and her adopted father, Albert Goodnight. Keaton wants to showcase Holly's story of abandonment on Christmas Eve in his next book. While she finds the idea a bit hurtful, her friend encourages her to spend time with Keaton and find out more about the writer and his ideas. What her best friend, Owen Quigly did NOT expect, however, was a romance to develop between the two. He's been in love with Holly since they were children but has always been certain that she'd be available when he was ready to move things to the next level. Now, Holly is spending more and more time with the famous Van Keaton and Owen is regretting not telling Holly about how he feels.

When Owen realizes he is about to lose Holly, he begins an aggresive gentleman's campaign to win her back. Owen's actions will delight any reader who enjoys romance, tension, playfulness and sparks. Ms. Higman is a master at weaving those elements together. Who knew shampooing hair could be so enticing! Loved it.

In An Appalachian Christmas, Irene Brand tells a tale set in the 1940's. It too, takes place in the Ozarks in a small community called Mistletoe -- not far from Noel, Missoui. Just before Julia Mayfield's sister died, she made Julia promise to take her young son to meet his grandparents in Mistletoe. Julia agrees and sets off to grant her sister's wish. But her two-year-old nephew is more taxing than she imagined and when Julia finds that Mistletoe is no more than a post office and a holler, she's shocked. There's nowhere to stay and she has a weary and ill-tempered toddler to care for. The last straw comes when she and the kind old mail carrier get stuck in a creek. Near tears, she prays that God will deliver an answer. Within moments, David Armstrong appears and rescues the threesome. David even suggests she stay with his grandmother until Julia has a chance to take Bobby to his grandparents.

Being a city girl, Julia soon finds out she has a great deal to learn about country living. She also learns of hidden secrets and lost love. Through it all, she falls more deeply in love with David and realizes she will have to make the decision to walk away from a man who made a death-bed promise or risk losing her own identity.

The saddest thing happened yesterday. I finished Love Finds You Under the Mistletoe. The book has two stories, the first, An Appalachian Christmas by Irene Brand. Julia has returned from World War II and instead of finally hearing her folks tell her they're proud of her,she is given the responsibility of her nephew. She has agreed to take the child to meet his paternal grandparents in the Appalachian village of Mistletoe. She arrives thinking the grandparents will be thrilled to meet the boy, but instead the grandfather threatens her life. The story is a wonderful Christmas story of love, redemption and family.

The second story in this book is Once Upon a Christmas Eve, by Anita Higman. A contemporary tale of a young woman, Holly, her dad, Mr. Goodnight and her best friend, Quig. The relationships are rich, comfortable and fun. Holly has always known that she had been abandoned by her mother and adopted by Mr. Goodnight, owner of a delightful Christmas shop, but has found joy in bringing happiness to those around her. But then multi published author Van Keaton comes along wanting to write her story and life suddenly becomes confusing. One word to describe this story - delightful.

Two stories about love coming to fruition at Christmas. One story, a Christmas past, where Julia Mayfield returns from war to find her sister has passed away, and her dying wish was for her son to meet his paternal grandparents. Julia takes the child to Mistletoe, Kentucky, where a man named David changes her life forever. The other story, a Christmas present, where a girl named Holly works at a Christmas shop. She was abandoned as a baby on the steps of that shop in Noel, Missouri, and the owner adopted her. Now a man wants to write a book about her story. Will she be wooed by his words, or will she see what has been in front of her all her life?

I have said it a few times now, I am not much of a romance reader. But if I keep reading romance books like this, I may have to retract that statement. This is my first encounter with the Christian romance series "Love Finds You" and I already want to read more! Brand and Higman did a fantastic job of creating stories with lovable characters, solid story lines, and real romance. My biggest complaint about romance novels is that often they are just cleverly disguised literary porn. That is so not the case here, these stories are romantic, but chaste and appropriate for even teen readers.

One of the things I liked the best was there was a very tiny string of a storyline tying the two stories together. I loved that, it brought connectedness, continuity, to the two stories. I think these are two really lovely, and well written stories. While this is clearly a Christian book, it is not too overtly Christian, so it will appeal to a wide audience. I found the book to be just a couple of nice old fashioned love stories, with characters having traditional values. No one was shoving faith down anyone's throat.

Because these stories dealt with Christmas, I thought this was a great book to read while preparing my home for the holidays. The book would make a great Christmas gift for any romance lover!

Others have given full reviews of the plots so I won't repeat. I just want to say that I thoroughly enjoyed Irene Brand's portrayal of life in Appalachia. The story helped remind me of how far we have come as women in today's world and how much we still need to rely on the Lord for answers to life's hardest questions.

A promise to her dying sister compels Julia Mayfield to take her young nephew to Mistletoe, Kentucky, a tiny town tucked away in the Appalachian Mountains. Sparks fly when she meets David Armstrong, a World War II veteran like herself. Even as shadows from the past weave a dangerous web around Julia and David, will their love flourish like the mistletoe that blankets the nearby hills?

Love Finds You under the Mistletoe: Once Upon a Christmas Eve

Holly Goodnight's store has just been voted best Christmas shop in America. All the new publicity draws flamboyant novelist Van Keaton to the cozy town of Noel, Missouri, demanding to write Holly's story - a dramatic tale of misfortune and triumph. She is swept up in his world of beautiful words and fanciful interludes. . .until Owen Quigly, her lifelong best friend, launches a plan to win her back.

Love finds you is an interesting combination of a historical and modern day romance. In this warm yourself by the fire with a cup of hot cocoa book, the reader is given two endearing stories in one. The first novella is centered around a small, backwoods town in the Appalachian Mountains of Kentucky. Julia Mayfield, an independent city slicker and war veteran from Maryland, finds herself floundering in the old fashioned community of Mistletoe when her weeklong expedition turns into an extended stay. The lack of progress, resources, and transportation in the quaint town of Mistletoe infuriate and endear her at the same time. And perhaps if it weren't for dear Granny and her handsome, mysterious son, David Armstrong, her independence would win out. But the longer she stays in this isolated community, the deeper it penetrates her heart. Fighting against inner demons of unworthiness, she longs for the uncomplicated acceptance and sense of community Mistletoe offers. And yet, the city in her refuses to die. Will her love for David be enough to keep her in the hills?

In the next novella, written by Anita Higman, we travel forward in time some seventy years to an equally small town in Noel, Missouri. And if you were paying attention in novella number one, you will remember this is the same town Julia's parents traveled to when they abandoned her with their young, recently orphaned, grandson, her nephew. Now we dive into the life of another orphan, Holly Goodman. Deposited on a bachelor's doorstep on Christmas Eve, Holly Goodnight is welcomed with open arms. By the time we pick up the story, we see a young woman flourishing in a tight-knit community surrounded by people who adore her. And yet, despite the love and security pillowing her heart, a longing wiggles to the surface. If only she could meet her biological mom, the emptiness in her heart would be filled.

It isn't long before the media picks up her story, and this tale of abandonment turned adoption sparks the creativity of a struggling author. As citified, slightly neurotic, Van Keaton watches his writing career dwindle, he searched for the story that will salvage his dying career. He thinks he's found it in Holly, but he soon realizes Holly Goodnight represents much more than a best-selling story. It isn't long before he falls for this giggly girl from the Midwest, and Holly is equally taken by Van's eloquence and charm. But are the butterflies in her stomach love or excitement of the unknown? And what if it means losing her childhood friend, Owen, the one she promised to marry some ten years back? As Owen and Van duel it out for Holly's affections, Holly finds herself in a no-win situation. Either way, one of the men she's grown to love will be crushed.

Both of these stories did a great job of pulling me in and creating a heart-warming, cozy atmosphere that made me long for the simplicities of small town life. Irene Brand's novel was a bit more formal, and at times, didn't handle emotions as realistically as I would have hoped, but she still managed to evoke empathy in the reader. And although I appreciated the faith aspect brought into Irene's novel, it would have settled deeper had I seen more angst as Julia struggled with her deep emotional issues.

Anita has a very strong writing style, creating quirky characters that made me smile. Images of hiccup-burping Holly Goodnight quickly settled in my mind.

I really enjoyed these two stories. Both had excellent characters that I loved spending time with and was sad to say goodbye to.


An Appalachian Christmas, by Irene Brand is set around WWII. I'm normally not a fan of novels set in that time era, but I really, really enjoyed this one. Fabulous story about the power of forgiveness.

Once Upon a Christmas Eve, a contemporary novel by Anita Higman is set in a Christmas shop in Noel, Missouri. This story shows how love truly can find you anywhere. In your own backyard or even on a doorstep.

I highly recommend, Love Finds You Under the Mistletoe.

I've been a fan of all the Love Finds You books but for some reason this volume just didn't gel with me. I think it mainly has to do with the fact that the stories are novellas as opposed to one singular story. I'm not really a fan of novellas because I like stories where the characters have time to grow and so the reader can take the time to get to know them. I just couldn't find myself being able to relate to the characters because everything happened so fast.

The endings of both stories felt very unreal to me. It seemed as if the authors wanted tidy, happy endings because things started happening very randomly. Characters popped up out of nowhere and I felt that extra story lines were created to entice unnecessary drama. I like the first story, An Appalachian Christmas, until it got to the end of the story. Even though I'm not a fan of short romances, I had grown to like the characters. I found the post WWII storyline very interesting and also how both Julie and David were both veterans of the war. The actual plot of the first story is intriguing until the random ending happens and I just couldn't buy it. This is especially because it undermines the entire relationship of Julie's sister with her in laws and husband. As for the second story, I just never gelled with the characters. The story just happened so incredibly fast that I couldn't buy it. I could not connect with any of the characters and even though this was mainly about old friends finally discovering that they love each other I didn't really feel chemistry between the two of them.

Overall, I didn't find this book to be very Christmas-y at all. The stories take place in two towns that have Christmas-y names but apart from brief mentions there isn't really a lot of holiday spirit. If you do like romance stories, you probably will enjoy this book. It's a good combination of a historical read and a contemporary story combined in one volume which is a good value. I just didn't feel as if it was the right fit for me.

What a wonderful addition to the beautiful Love Finds You collection, and just in time for the holidays too! I am so thankful to review this book for both the authors, and for CFBA. Both Anita Higman and Irene Brand are incredible authors, whom captivate their readers instantly, with their words and plots.

Love Finds You Under the Mistletoe is a 2 book novella, with both a historical story and a contemporary story. The first novel, An Appalachian Christmas by Irene Brand, takes us to the the World War II era. Her characters, Julia, David, Granny and sweet little Bobby, were fascinatingly created to capture my heart immediately! The sparks that flew between Julia and David were electrifying! There was no denying the love there. Irene added suspense to the story with secrets from the past. Added to the history, mystery and love is a strong message of fully trusting in God's will and leaning on His understanding always. Fantastic!!!

Once Upon A Christmas Eve by Anita Higman is also wonderful! Anita Higman is one of my favorite authors, and I love each and every one of her stories. This one did not disappoint. I felt the instant tug into the story, and fell in love with Noel, Missouri. I loved Holly and Quig. They were just adorable characters and fit so well together! I had so much fun imaging the Christmas in Noel, Missouri and walking beside these two fantastic characters and sharing a beautiful holiday with them. God's love shined through the words Anita used to create this story, and the lessons shone through. Definitely a story I want to read again and again.

Deck the halls with Holly and Mistletoe, and grab your copy of this tender, charming novella. It's a 5 star book that will make a perfect relaxing end to any winter day. Or it would make a wonderful Christmas gift for those book lovers in your life! Well done and two thumbs up these amazing authors!

*Many thanks to the authors for providing a copy of this book for me to review*

Once Upon a Christmas Eve:
Holly Goodnight has the best job in the world. Who wouldn't love working in a charming little Christmas shop year round? Then when the shop receives the honor of the best Christmas Shop in America - the little town of Noel, Missouri is suddenly in the limelight and Holly finds herself in the public eye in ways she never dreamed. Although Holly's life has held loss, she has chosen not to focus on that , and rather celebrates the wonderful things in her life. Some things are just not discussed. When information about her private life is suddenly shared with the world outside her little town, Novelist Van Keaton shows up wanting to write the story of her life.

Holly has always been the one to help everyone else in town, not putting the focus on herself. She had a wonderful father and the best friend in the world. Does she really want to invite outsiders to look through a magnifying glass at her life? Owen, her best friend in the world, thinks it'll be good for her and encourages her to do it. Still unconvinced, Van and Owen team up to try to convince her - but for two very different reasons.

Will allowing this book to be written open up the wound or allow it to heal? Will Owen regret encouraging her to spend time with Van? Holly thought she knew everything there was to know about her old friend, Owen Quigley, but finds out he's held onto a secret of his own. Can dreams of happy endings and mistletoe really come true?

I loved this book. As I turned the last page, I actually released a contented sigh. Such a sweet, sweet story. This book kept me captivated throughout the entire novella. I love a good romance or Christmas story, so this Christmas romance was a win/win for me. You won't regret spending time with these wonderful people as you find yourself swept up in their lives.

An Appalachian Christmas:
Despite the disruption to her plans, Julia Mayfield fulfils her sister's dying wish and takes her young nephew to Mistletoe, Kentucky, a tiny village in the Appalachian Mountains. When she arrives, nothing is as she expects it to be. The isolation and backward ways of the people of Appalachia are strange to Julia. She's fulfilled her promise and wants to get back to civilization.

Complications arise that detain her and she not only finds herself drawn to the quietness of the Kentucky hills, but to David Armstrong, a World War II veteran like herself. She's not sure what to do with the feelings of attraction towards him. He's also drawn to her, but will both their pasts allow them to deepen their friendship and perhaps find love? Even so, could she possibly spend the rest of her life away from the city and its modern ways? Could the people of Mistletoe accept her? Can she accept their strange ways? And what about her plans for after the war? During the war, she thought God had forgotten her. What happens when she realizes He was there all along and she finds her way back to Him in Mistletoe, Kentucky?

This book is full of surprises. I enjoyed reading a Christmas romance set in the post-World War II era. The setting is beautifully described by Irene Brand. I felt as if I walked the trails, sat on the front porch, and lived alongside her characters.

I invite you to take a journey to the Appalachian Mountains where love finds you under the mistletoe with an Appalachian Christmas. You'll be entertained by a wonderful story that shares how all things are possible with God and that sometimes, the most complicated of situations can become clear in the right surroundings. We just have to listen to what God is telling us. I'll definitely be reading more of Irene's writing. I hope you will too.

I do not often read romances but these stories by Brand and Higman are very interesting and nice, quick stories to read. They are writen with christianity in mind as well which makes them even better. The characters were sketched out well and the plot was interesting. A good read.
J. Robert Ewbank author "John Wesley, Natural Man, and the 'Isms'"