Chynna has loved and lost… grief—and Trevor makes taking that risk more than worthwhile, re-awakening Chynna to sensation and passion.
Trevor has never had time for love…
He’s always been focussed on building success. But now that Trevor’s financial ambitions are achieved, he’s realized that he has no one to enjoy the rewards with him. His friend Gabe’s wedding makes him aware that he doesn’t want to be alone anymore. Chynna is the most attractive woman he’s met in years and Trevor knows that it will take more one night together to satisfy him. Chynna is the woman he’s been waiting for—all he has to do is convince her to take a chance on love again, with him.
This book was previously published as Under the Mistletoe.
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Even though it’s been years, Christmas reminds Chynna of what she’s lost and makes her miss her husband even more and attending a Christmas wedding would be another reminder. After being persuaded to go, Chynna decides that a hook-up with Trevor could be a way to move beyond her grief. Always focused on building success, Treavor’s never had time for love. His friend’s wedding makes him aware that he doesn’t want to be alone anymore and Chynna is the woman he’s been waiting for.
This wonderful romance is a delightfully cheerful, heartwarming and can put anyone – even Scrooge – in the holiday spirit. This romance has strong, charismatic characters that easily draw readers into their story and the chemistry between Chynna and Trevor sizzles with lots of heat ensuring that resistance is futile. The story has lots of emotional turbulence that flows from the pages and while some is sad, the story is about healing and opening up one’s heart, which warms the heart as Treavor endeavors to convince Chynna that he’s worth the risk.
The plot is steady paced and flows smoothly through a busy time of the year, a wedding and a blizzard which adds some thrilling excitement to the story and that’s not mentioning all the scorching passion of the romance. This charming holiday story has a touch of whimsy and is a perfect one to read by the fire on a cold night and a hot chocolate.
Under the Mistletoe by Deborah Cooke is a story I have eagerly been waiting to read. While it is a holiday romance it is also part of the Secret Heart Ink series which is a spin-off from the Flatiron series. If you have read Ms. Cooke’s books in the past but not either of these series, know that there is more passionate and steam than I remember reading in her earlier books. Still exceptionally well-written with the passion fitting the scene or events not just thrown into the plot.
Chynna has always been a bit of a mystery in the previous books but her past is revealed in this story. Spice may be just what she needs to move forward in parts of her life after a tragic loss. Trevor has been a workaholic with business taking first place in his life. He has the realization that perhaps he is missing out on something special in life, sometime that has to do with Chynna now. His wooing of Chynna is as sweet as it is passionate. Both seemingly contracting words equally describe his actions. Beautiful story that has the bonus of taking place during the holidays.
The publisher/author gave me a complimentary ARC of the book which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
5 Stars
This is a great conclusion to the Secret Heart Ink series. Chynna started it all by giving three people special heart tattoos that supposedly had the power to bring true love to the recipient. Now we finally learn Chynna’s story. Why does she avoid celebrating Christmas? Where did the original secret heart tattoo come from?
All the characters in this series have had some major disappointments and traumas in their backgrounds. It was interesting to learn about Chynna’s background and why Trevor felt he needed to succeed. When they both realized they were ready for a new phase of their lives in which they could open up and share it with someone else, it was so satisfying to know they could be the perfect partner for each other. The romance was sizzling, and the connection between the two felt real.
It was fun to see all the couples from the previous stories, and I love a Christmas wedding!
I really enjoyed this well-written, sexy book. Chynna usually spends Christmas alone,mourning the husband who has passed away, but this year, she agrees to go help celebrate the joy of Lexi and Gabe’s wedding. Trevor has always been focused on business, but he’s starting to think about finding someone to share life with. When he decides to attend his friend Gabe’s wedding, he meets Chynna. Chynna is attracted to Trevor and agrees to a hook-up – but Trevor wants to convince her to take a chance on more. I would recommend this book to others and look forward to reading more books by this author.
Under the Mistletoe, Secret Heart Ink book 4, in the spin off series of Flatiron Five, was festive and delightful! All of the treasured characters we have come to love from this series have come together to celebrate the holiday season and love in Honey Hill. The story continues and brings closure to the tales begun in Snowbound, Spring Fever and One Hot Summer Night. And it also introduces us to Chyna. Yes, we have all met Chyna before. She was the tattoo artist who gave Lexi, Reyna and Olivia all their magical secret heart tattoos. Chyna was pivotal in bringing them all together with their exceptional partners. But aside from that, she was a mystery. Now we learn her secrets, her desires and her future, under the mistletoe. Deborah Cooke does a fabulous job of bringing this complex character to life. Who knew that Chyna was so deep!?!?! And then there’s Trevor…my new book boyfriend. He is the treasure that Chyna deserves. This was the perfect ending to the series. I’m sad to say goodbye, but fulfilled none the less.
UNDER THE MISTLETOE is the fourth ( and final) instalment in Deborah Cooke’s contemporary, adult SECRET HEART INK romance series –a spin off/companion series to the author’s Flatiron 5 series. This is tattoo artist Chynna, and thirty-eight year old, restaurateur Trevor Graham’s story line. UNDER THE MISTLETOE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous instalments is revealed where necessary but I recommend reading the series in order for back story and cohesion.
SOME BACKGROUND: Secret Heart Ink is a tattoo shop, owned by the mysterious Chynna, located in Manhattan’s Flatiron Five. Along with her sidekick Tristan, during the full moon, Chynna creates one magical tattoo to set two hearts afire in the hopes of the recipient finding ever-lasting love but now it was Chynna’s turn to find love.
NOTE: UNDER THE MISTLETOE runs parallel to, and crosses over with BAD CASE OF LOVING YOU (Flatiron Five #5)
Told from several third person perspectives including Chynna and Trevor UNDER THE MISTLETOE focuses on the building relationship between Chynna and Trevor at the Christmas wedding between Gabe and Lexi (One Hot Summer Night #3). Lexi had been the recipient of one of Chynna’s magical heart tattoos, and as such Chynna had been invited to Lexi and Gabe’s holiday ceremony but Chynna had destroyed her own chance at a happily ever after years before, and struggles with the idea of attending Lexi’s wedding. With the insistence of her ‘companion’ Tristan, Chynna makes the trip to Honey Hill, Maine where she will meet her future in the guise of restaurateur Trevor Graham. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Trevor and Chynna, and the potential fall-out as Trevor is offered a position far from the woman with whom he is falling in love.
Trevor Graham’s time at Wolfe Lodge in Honey Hill, Maine comes with an expiry date but meeting the beautiful and mysterious tattoo artist Chynna gave Trevor pause as he reconsidered his future plans. Having never settled down in one place long enough to fall in love, Trevor is hoping for something more with the enigmatic Chynna. Chynna has loved and lost, and in this she hopes for happiness and love for everyone else but something about Trevor Graham begins to break down the defences of our story line heroine, defences that have been in place for a very long time.
The relationship between Trevor and Chynna is quick to develop; a fast paced romance that brings together two broken souls who have become successful business people but struggle in their own personal lives. Chynna’s quiet persona hides a damaged heart, a heart that will begin to heal with our story line hero. The $ex scenes are passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.
There is a large ensemble cast of secondary including all of the previous story line couples: Olive and Spencer (Snowbound #1) , Reyna and Kade (Spring Fever #2), Gabe and Lexi (One Hot Summer Night), Theo Tremblay (Bad Case of Loving You #5), as well as several Lodge employees, family and friends.
UNDER THE MISTLETOE is an emotional and thought provoking story line. The premise is captivating ; the characters are enthusiastic; the romance is tender and seductive. UNDER THE MISTLETOE is a heart warming and welcome final chapter in the author’s Secret Heart Ink series.
Chynna finally find healing to her grieving heart. She opens her heart to the love magic from her own Secret Heart tattoo given to her by her deceased husband. This is a story of forgiving yourself and allowing love to fill your heart. It’s a magical Christmas story and so many weddings. Everyone gets their happily-ever-after.
Theo one of the partners of Flatiron Five, finds Chynna in her tattoo shop with her raven Tristan when he comes with some her mailed delivered to the front desk. Tristan brings to Theo’s attention an unopened wedding invitation to Lexi & Gabe’s wedding. He challenges her to go when she gives excuses why weddings and Christmas are difficult for her. He volunteers to take Tristan for her and has her give him her secret heart tattoo so she can go.
Once she arrives she meets Trevor Graham who’s come to cover for Gabe for the wedding. He and Chynna hit it off immediately and she goes home with him for the night. I really enjoyed their passion and opening up to each other to help with the holes they have in their hearts. Trevor realizes he’s lonely and lacks permanence in his life. He’s drawn to Chynna when he’s never felt that before with a woman. Chynna on the other hand finds her walls around her heart begin to crack and heal with Trevor’s patient steadiness. I love watching these two hearts open to the possibilities of love and life together.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.