Mistletoe on Main Street
by Olivia Miles
Release Date: September 30, 2014
Kindle Price: $5.99
Sleigh bells, snow, and second chances…
Briar Creek’s quaint shop windows, cozy homes nestled in snow, and neighborly residents are what Christmas dreams are made of – for everyone except Grace Madison. She left her hometown years ago to pursue a writing career. But when her father’s death leaves his bookstore empty, Grace must return to face why she fled Vermont in the first place: Luke Hastings, who still heats her up like a shot of smoky whiskey on a cold winter’s night.
Grace is back, and Luke is worried. How much has she changed as a bestselling author in the big city? What memories will she stir up? And was the choice he made five years ago the biggest mistake of his life?
Now, with their past, present, and future rocking around the Christmas tree, it’s time for Grace and Luke to face the music…and the mistletoe.
Mistletoe on Main Street is a wonderful holiday story about first loves, loss and following your dreams. Grace Madison is a feisty, determined and headstrong woman that moved from a small town in Vermont called Briar Creek to live an exciting life as an author in New York City. The eldest of three daughters, Grace has disappointed her family by her decision to move away without looking back. When tragedy strikes her close-knit family, Grace wishes that she had come home sooner, and begins to wonder if she made the right decision to leave home in the first place.
Luke Hastings is the first person Grace sees upon coming home, though he’s the last person she wanted to run into; Luke is the sole reason Grace has stayed away from Briar Creek for the past five years. Their attraction towards one another continues to grow, but their history keeps threatening to tear them apart. Grace is determined to leave their relationship in the past and Luke isn’t sure if he’s ready to move on from his last relationship. “He didn’t elaborate that he still liked that about her, aggravating as it was. It had never failed to escape him that the one trait he admired most in her was the one that had ultimately divided them.”
Once Grace gets home, she realizes that Luke is the least of her problems. Her mother, the reigning winner of Briar Creek’s Christmas decoration contest, hasn’t put up a single holiday decoration. Her sister Jane’s marriage is in trouble, though she’s not sure how serious the relationship has been damaged. And worst of all, her father’s bookstore is closed for good. Main Street Books was her father’s pride and joy, and is the reason Grace wanted to become a writer from a young age. “This bookstore was no different than her relationship with Luke in many ways: it represented a happier time in her life. A time she could never get back. A time better forgotten. Still, the thought of letting go of it was…unbearable.”
Can Grace manage to save Main Street Books? She’s determined to save the bookstore and thinks she might have the perfect solution. However, mending her relationship with Luke and figuring out how to fix her plummeting career is another story. “I do love you, you know.” She shot him a look as her fingers turned the door handle. “I know,” she said bitterly. “But we both know from experience that sometimes that isn’t enough.” Will Grace and Luke be able to work through their issues and end up together? Is their love strong enough to overcome their past?
Mistletoe on Main Street is well-written and entertaining, from the themes of love and tenacity to the compelling characters. I absolutely loved this novel and I can’t wait for the next one! I’m looking forward to seeing the progression of the relationships that are brewing between the other characters in Briar Creek.
Side note: All quotes have been pulled from a pre-published review copy. I apologize if any excerpts did not make it into the final published novel, however, they will give you a sense of the overall feel of the book and I’m sure that you will absolutely love it!
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review!
Olivia Miles is a Chicago-based romance writer. Having grown up in New England, Olivia attended McGill University in Montreal, Quebec before settling in Chicago where she lives with her husband, their daughter, and two ridiculously pampered pups.
When she is not chasing after her little ones, she is hard at work creating feisty heroines and alpha heroes with a heart. A city girl with a fondness for small town charm, Olivia enjoys highlighting both ways of life in her stories.
A Match Made on Main Street- Briar Creek #2: Available April 28, 2015 from Grand Central Publishing
[…] on Main Street is the second book in the Briar Creek series. Check out my 5-star review on book 1, Mistletoe on Main Street. This novel picks up with Grace’s sister Anna and her unexplained disinterest to the […]