Maverick ducked through the doorway and found her at the back door, shrugging into a coat. Right over her fancy party dress. She looked like a little kid playing dress up. He blinked, and it was a woman who looked back at him with soft eyes. Cash was gonna kill him if he didn’t un-screw this up.”Lacy’s books are just so darn cozy and wholesome, without being cloying.” WendyTheSuperLibrarian book … WendyTheSuperLibrarian book blog
Lacy Williams is the USA Today bestselling author of the acclaimed Wyoming Legacy and Cowboy Fairytales series.
About SOLDIER UNDER THE MISTLETOE:
One night. Make it count.
Mallory Trudeau can manage a five hundred acre ranch. She just can’t seem to break out of the Friend Zone with Sam “Maverick” Dunlop. She knows he thinks of her as Cash’s little sister, but that’s going to change tonight.
It’s just one night. Evade and retreat.
The Cattlemen’s Christmas Ball is one in a long string of reminders that Maverick doesn’t belong in Mallory’s world. He’s got thirty-six hours to report back to his military base. He can make it that long without giving in to the forbidden attraction he feels for Mallory.
He just wasn’t counting on the mistletoe…
Three couples. One unforgettable Christmas. The Snowbound in Sawyer Creek series includes these books:
Soldier Under the Mistletoe
The Nanny’s Christmas Wish
*The Rancher’s Unexpected Gift
Genre: Christmas romance (sweet)
Length: novella (120 pages)
”Williams delivers a smart, gentle, and uplifting novel.” Publishers Weekly on RETURN OF THE COWBOY DOCTOR.
”It’s the kind of story you want to curl up next to a fireplace with on a snowy Christmas Eve.” WendyTheSuperLibrarian book blog on A COWBOY FOR CHRISTMAS.
”…a gentle, family-friendly success.” Publishers Weekly on THE HOMESTEADER’S SWEETHEART.
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A good start to a sweet new Western series
It took me a while to get immersed in the story, but the second half of the novella was so good that I am so glad that I read it. I think that the author’s first book of each series tend to be a bit underwhelming, but the later books always please me. I really like that the other two novellas in this series have overlapping timelines that all start at the same Christmas party at a Texas ranch, and I am looking forward to reading them.
It is written in the 3rd person past perspective that alternates between the two main characters, with a few brief flashbacks. There is no sex, just kissing. It is Western-themed and has a Marine hero as well. It is a friends to lovers romance, specifically the best friend’s sister trope.
Our hero Sam, AKA “Maverick”, is a soldier off on leave visiting his best friend Cash in Texas. Cash’s sister Mallory has always had a crush on Sam, but Sam has always kept her at a distance despite wanting to be close to her. These two finally open up to each other on the snowy Christmas Eve night. I liked Mallory immediately, but it took a little while for me to warm up to Sam. FYI, there are mentions of how Sam’s father physically abused and neglected him in his youth. I found the book to be realistic and romantic, and only slightly gritty. The details of the ranch, barn, and horses show that the author is nicely familiar with horses.
I received a free advanced reading copy from the author, and I voluntarily wrote this honest review.
Soldier Under The Mistletoe by Lacy Williams is a very quick read, perfect for those with limited reading time. Ms. Williams has delivered a well-written book and filled it with amazing, lovable characters. Sam and Mallory’s story is packed with drama, humor and spice. I enjoyed this short read and look forward to reading more from Lacy Williams in the future. Soldier Under The Mistletoe is book 1 of the Snowbound In Sawyer Creek Series but can be read as a standalone. This is a complete book, not a cliff-hanger.
I won a copy of this book from Goodreads.
Soldier Under the Mistletoe – Lacy Williams – Mallory has decided that its time her brother’s best friend realized that she has loved him since they were kids. Fighting for her soldier’s heart won’t be easy, but Sam is worth it. This one is sweet and sad with a really satisfying ending! Happy Reading!
**1
4 stars
I purchased a copy of the clean novel Soldier Under the Mistletoe (Snowbound in Sawyer Creek #1) With Companion Sequel: Soldier Under the Mistletoe 2 and Christmas Ever After:Mallory and Sam by Lacy Williams and this review was given freely. This is a complete story in four segments. A poignant story of loss, hope, love and healing divided into four segments with some action and suspenseful movements, self examination, glimpses of two other romances and some local conflicts which spans about five years and involves the Trudeau siblings, their life long friend Marine Sam “Maverick” Dunlop and the Double Cross ranch in Sawyer Creek, Texas. As the ranch’s 40th Christmas Ball is about to start, tomboy, former Vet Student and ranch owner Mallory Trudeau laments the loss of her parents while plotting how to win over and keep the love of her brother’s best friend, victim of childhood abuse now Marine Sam “Maverick” Dunlop. Contains the negative undercurrent of child abuse.
I am a big fan of Lacy Williams and was thoroughly enjoying this book until the end which turned out to be a cliffhanger! If not for that I would have rated it 5 stars.
Another book that was okay, but could have been so much more. This was short, only novella length. I was somewhat surprised to learn that this was the first in a series. There was quite a bit of backstory that seemed rather important that we didn’t get a full picture of (namely, what happened to Cash and Mallory’s parents); it made me feel like I’d jumped into the middle of an ongoing series. The ending felt the same, rushed and not at all complete. I did discover that there are two more books in the set that give different versions of the night in question, and also some additional works afterwards, so maybe those will flesh things out a bit. But as it was, it felt like I was reading a sample instead of a complete story.
Loved It
Mallory was in love with Maverick her brothers best friend. Had been for years. They lost their parents the year before and they didn’t have the annual Christmas Cattlemen Association Ball. Now Mav is home for the night and she is going to tell him.
OooohLalaaaaa, is the first word/phrase that comes to mind when thinking about “Soldier Under the Mistletoe.” This short novella was expertly written, I just wish we wouldn’t have had to have the story-line cut short only to be picked up a year later in a completely different novella. I promise, if you are looking for romance and sweet young love, you will not need to look any further.
Mallory tries to convince long-term friend, Sam, that she’s no longer a kid and the crush that she has harbored all these years has not wavered, but only grown stronger into love. Sam is a career veteran, and coming from an abusive home, has never felt worthy of love, much less Mallory. The annual rancher’s Christmas ball gives them both a chance to see if the future holds hope for a relationship together or if it is time for them to go their separate ways. Good, clean, reading from Lacy Williams.