Nita Prose’ Mistletoe Mystery & Tessa Bailey’s Wreck the Halls
Nita Prose’ The Mistletoe Mystery novel (Molly the Maid #2.5) and Tessa Bailey’s Wreck the Halls are distinctly different Christmas-themed romances but both feature good-hearted men who are charmingly protective of the ones they love. Read our reviews.
The Mistletoe Mystery Publisher Synopsis
Molly the Maid #2.5, a Novella
It’s the Christmas countdown at the Regency Grand Hotel, and Molly the maid is polishing up her holiday list.
- Deck halls
- Dust off decorations
- Buy Secret Santa gift
- Solve mystery?
A festive plot throws Molly off-kilter. Why does her beau, Juan Manuel, keep disappearing? And why are the hotel corridors filled with whispers?
Someone is keeping a secret. And, as Molly discovers, the answers to the mystery lie in a most unexpected gift…
Disclosure: If you click a link in this post we may earn a small commission to help offset our running costs.
My Review
As a big fan of commercial fiction that promotes understanding and acceptance of diversity, Nita Prose’ debut novel The Maid really struck a chord with me. On one level, it was a clever, cozy crime mystery. On another, it was a compelling character study with real emotional heft and a capacity to surprise even the most jaded readers. Book 2 in this Molly the Maid series, The Mystery Guest, while still a highly enjoyable read, was a lot more cozy mystery with a simpler plot. Now, #2.5, The Mistletoe Mystery, is a simplification one step further.
In this short story novella, the spotlight is on Juan Manuel and Molly’s relationship.
“As we decorate, it occurs to me that a Christmas tree holds so much more than ornaments. Resting on all those boughs is a treasure trove of memories that remain long after the tree is gone and Christmas itself is over for another year.”
Juan Manuel is Molly’s rock in a sometimes confusing world, and he absolutely dotes on her. Their means are small but the lengths he will go to in his quest to make her happy will bring a smile to even the most hardened souls.
“My gran used to say that a successful marriage requires falling in love many times. But the trick is that it’s always with the same person.”
.
But, The Mistletoe Mystery plot is very much linear and it is easy to see where it is going from very early on. Basically, the surprises are only surprises to Molly. In parts, I found that disconcerting.
So, while a great stocking-filler for existing Molly the Maid fans, I recommend getting Nita Prose’ The Mistletoe Mystery in ebook format (when it is discounted as I did). The hardcover ticket price is not justified for this super sweet but simple small morsel.
Book 3, The Maid’s Secret is scheduled for publication in April 2025.
My Rating
Story 3.5 / 5 ; The Writing 3.5 / 5
Get your copy of The Mistletoe Mystery
Compare retailers >>Update: I’ve since also reviewed the moving conclusion to this series, The Maid’s Secret.
–
Wreck the Halls Publisher Synopsis
Melody Gallard may be the daughter of music royalty, but her world is far from glamorous. She spends her days restoring old books and avoiding the limelight (one awkward tabloid photo was enough, thanks). But when a producer offers her a lot of money to reunite her mother’s band on live TV, Mel begins to wonder if it’s time to rattle the cage, shake up her quiet life… and see him again. The only other person who could wrangle the rock and roll divas.
Beat Dawkins, the lead singer’s son, is Melody’s opposite—the camera loves him, he could charm the pants off anyone, and his mom is not a potential cult leader. Still, they might have been best friends if not for the legendary feud that broke up the band. When they met as teenagers, Mel felt an instant spark, but it’s nothing compared to the wild, intense attraction that builds as they embark on a madcap mission to convince their mothers to perform one last show.
While dealing with rock star shenanigans, a 24-hour film crew, brawling Santas, and mobs of adoring fans, Mel starts to step out of her comfort zone. With Beat by her side, cheering her on, she’s never felt so understood. But Christmas Eve is fast approaching, and a decades-old scandal is poised to wreck everything—the Steel Birds reunion, their relationships with their mothers, and their newfound love.
My Review
Firstly, I want to address the many negative reviews out there for Tessa Bailey’s Wreck the Halls, which to my deep regret meant I’d avoided buying this one up until it was heavily discounted.
Many seem to have taken issue with it not being Christmassy enough. Well, the story is set in New York in the two weeks leading up to Christmas (in holiday mode) with a madcap Christmas Eve deadline, plus there are men in Santa suits involved at one point. But sure, this story is not all about the fact that Christmas is coming, like so many in this sub-genre. I actually really appreciated this fact, and think the novel is stronger for it — that is, it could be enjoyably read any time of the year.
“A star-crossed best friend.”
Others seem to find Wreck the Halls’ setup too trite. Now, don’t get me wrong… This story setup is super cutie-pie-sweet and requires suspension of disbelief, particularly with respect to the lead character names. But aren’t most romcom setups? At least this one was an original and knowing play on the genre tropes. They even mention Parent Trap and joke about ‘there being only one bedroom left’ at one point. Yes, they swoon very early. However, the broader story these characters find themselves within is sufficiently layered and eventful that it facilitates the development of deeper feelings, understanding and trust between the pair.
“Love doesn’t come and go that easily, Beat. You need to believe you can lean on it, even when you have to lean really hard.”
Obligatory cute romcom setup aside, this novel’s interwoven exploration of protectiveness, trust and open-door steamy scenes worked for me. Tessa Bailey’s Wreck the Halls is a love story, not a lust story — one that features great banter, wonderful comedy, redemption and a bad guy ultimately getting what he deserves. In my book, that’s a great recipe for leisure reading any time of the year.
My Rating
Story 4 / 5 ; The Writing 4.5 / 5 — Overall 4.25
Get your copy of Wreck the Halls
Compare retailers >>
.
More Christmas-themed reads:
Click on book covers for full reviews/book details.