Kissing-under-the-mistletoe rule #1: never kiss your ex-fiancée. Oops.My plans for the Christmas break include:1. Drive to Lake Tahoe, 2. Learn to ski,3. Enjoy hot, earth-shattering sex (and end my sex drought!),4. Meet my Forever Love under the mistletoe. Right—the last one was my friend’s prediction, but you never know. What I don’t count on is a flat tire, a major blizzard, and for Liam Quade, … flat tire, a major blizzard, and for Liam Quade, my ex-fiancé and the man who broke my heart ten years ago, to come to my rescue.
Oh, damn.
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While driving back to San Francisco to spend Christmas with my family, I discover Ava stuck on the side of the road. She’s the woman I was forced to walk away from ten years ago.
And now, she’s the woman who would rather be coated with honey and fed to a hungry bear than to be within ten feet of me. Ouch.
I drive Ava to a nearby inn to wait out the storm…and end up kissing her under the mistletoe.
But Christmas magic is in the air and I quickly realize that I never stopped loving her. As secrets from ten years ago begin to unravel, I have to prove to her our love is worth a second chance.
I have to prove to Ava that I’m her forever.
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Ava and Liam’s second chance love story was beautiful to read. My heart swooned for these two. I was shocked they broke up years prior, as they seemed so perfect for each other. But sometimes when you let something go and it comes back when you least expect it, you know for sure it was meant to be.
Another thing I absolutely loved about this story, is the inn they get stranded in. Ava’s car breaks down and Liam is her savior. Someone she least expected to see. This story was beautiful and well written. It was yes a Christmas themed story but their renewed love for one another can be enjoyed any time of the year!
I loved this story so much. I am a huge fan of Stina’s and will read/listen to everything she writes. She writes beautiful swoony love stories that make you wish you could live in her books! Check this out, it is a great Christmas romance book )but great to read too all year round)!!!
My Christmas reading binge is back on track! Like the rest of the books in the By the Bay series Decidedly with Mistletoe is a winner. This is the fourth book in the series. You do not have to read them in order for them to make sense. However, like most series there are shared characters and it may add to your reading enjoyment to know who they are and how they fit into the lives of the main characters. So, did I like Decidedly with Mistletoe? You betcha!
This is a second chance romance that neither Ava or Liam saw coming. Ava is defying her family, something she never did until recently, and is going to Lake Tahoe for Christmas instead of joining her family in the Bahamas. Liam is heading to his sister’s for Christmas after successfully finishing a search and rescue mission. Ava encounters a flat tire that leaves her on the side of the road in the middle of a snowstorm. Liam happens to stop to help, not knowing who it is. And the adventure begins…….
There’s some baggage to get through for both Liam and Ava. There’s also a lot of catching up to do. There’s a little drama, but nothing you wouldn’t expect. Decidedly with Mistletoe is a quick, cute, and captivating story.
Decidedly with Mistletoe
by Stina Lindenblatt
Narrated by Tim Paige, Isabelle Ruther
Series By the Bay #4
Ava has not had much luck at relationships. Dumped 10 years ago, she still has not found her soulmate. She decides to go on a Christmas holiday, away from her thoughtless family and with the luck of mistletoe find her man. But can it be that easy? Liam finds Ava stuck on the side of the road. And isn’t he surprised when he is the one that left her 10 years earlier? This second chance romance is sweet and put me right in the holiday spirit in September!!!! Ava is a great character. I love her spunk and independence. She is quirky and is comfortable in her own skin. Liam is lovable. He gives her a holiday to remember and in the midst of it all realizes she has always been the one for him. Will these two find their way back? Will the hurt of their separation every disappear? And what about Ava’s family? It’s short, but it is packed with fun characters, wonderful winter activities and peppermint hot chocolate! Nothing can be better than that!
Storytellers Tim Paige and Isabelle Ruther give a fantastic narration to this book. Paige as Liam is a perfect fit. Rugged, outdoorsy and definitely a romantic, Liam has a warmth in his voice easily performed by Paige. Ruther finds the quirky yet confident sound that fits with Ava. Together it’s a Merry Christmas!
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I really enjoyed this…my first book by this author
A quick easy to read novella. Liam finds Ava, his ex-fiancé, stranded by the side of the road in a snow storm. This leads to them finding a lovely inn to stay in and the joy of rekindling their relationship.
So I admit I read a Christmas novella in September just because it was the next book in the series. And I really missed the whole Christmas experience with the day not even being in sight but the book was still super sweet.
And I was so glad to get Liam’s story. He was someone I found interesting in the last book but I was kind of expecting a different story for the ex military man. But that’s just me and I was happy with the story.
Ava was awesome. She was so strong and self assured in every area of her life except her love life. I loved that she put her grandmother in her place and stood up for herself.
And although second chance romance isn’t normally my thing this one was focused on the present. And I was able to forgive their stupid miscommunication since it happened when they were both young. Plus I appreciated the circumstances that caused the earlier problems had already been dealt with.
For a quick novella this was a great well paced read that I really enjoyed and now I am off to read Decidedly by Chance.
4.5 Heartwarming, Quirky, Steamy Stars!
This second chance romance is quirky, heartwarming, and very sexy! After a couple failed relationships, Ava is determined to find true love. She is heading to the snowy slopes for a Christmas vacation. When a flat tire sends her into the ditch, she never expected to be rescued by the one man who truly broke her heart ten years ago. Liam, Kelsey’s older brother from the first book, Decidedly Off Limits, is that man. He is on his way to spend Christmas with Kelsey and his best friend Trent. When he sees Ava on the side of the road, he hopes he just might have the second chance he never thought would happen. He thought he was doing the right thing, leaving her before his deployment, but now he knows differently. As they get snowbound with some endearing, quirky characters, and the magic of the season, they realize they never stopped loving each other. I had so much fun reading this charming, heartwarming, steamy story. It was the perfect addition to this series.
Decidedly with Mistletoe is a sweet second chance romance from Stina Lindenblatt in the By the Bay series. I really like this series — it’s relatively low drama and perfect for when you want a romance that isn’t overly full of angst.
Ava hasn’t had much luck with men. Ten years ago, her fiance dumped her for money and the holiday season has her running to Tahoe to escape the thoughts of her cheating ex-husband’s wedding. In spite of this, she has a upbeat attitude and she loves what she’s doing as a grade school teacher by day and author by night, even if her rich grandmother doesn’t approve.
On her way to Lake Tahoe, she encounters a snowstorm and a flat tire and is rescued by Liam, the fiance who left her ten years ago. There’s a lot more to the story of why they split than either one of them knows, but it’s pretty clear from the start that the spark between them still burns.
A few days together stranded in the snow at a small homey resort is just the antidote for what both Liam and Ava need. I really loved Ava – she’s strong and sassy and even though she still has feelings for Liam, she doesn’t cave to falling back with him … immediately. Liam has to work for what he wants, since he still have feelings for Ava too. My only complaint is that I wished the story was just a little bit longer. It left me wanting more from these two.
Overall, a sweet, sexy story about a second chance at love that left me with a warm heart and a smile on my face.
An ARC was provided for review.