5☆ A warm, Romantic journey of New Beginnings! The Perfect Christmas read!

First of I want to start by saying how much i Adore this beautiful Cover!  It Oozes Christmas Charm!

Meet me under the mistletoe is a beautifully Heartwarming Christmas read, with enough Sprinkles of Romance and a dash of humour & Witt you definitely won't want to put this book down!

Rachel runs her mother's flower shop.... The Birdcage, it has a gorgeous vintage vibe, with a Shabby-Chic Twist!

Rachel hasn't had much luck with men! Her Ex-Fiancé Patrick started off great then her barely see her, she never met his family or visited his apartment! It just ended!

Things might just be about to change when Anthony walks into her shop, claiming to be her parents new tennant!

Anthony is simply irresistible! He is well dressed, well mannered, a gorgeous smile that lights up his whole face, and did I mention he sent a fizz of attraction running through Rachel's veins!!

Anthony asks out Rachel to dinner!
Rachel can't believe her luck!
She quickly accepts!
Whilst on their dinner date... Anthony questions Rachel non stop about her EX Patrick.
Why is Anthony sooo interested in Rachel's Ex!
Who is Anthony??

I loved Rachel and Anthony, I loved the witty banter between them, the obvious sexual chemistry, the steamy kisses, Anthony a commitment phobic, and Rachel who seems to fall in love quickly, can they overcome the obstacles to find happiness & Love?

Carla always writes with such warmth and passion. Her characters are always likeable and easy to relate too. Carla knows how to transport the reader right into the story and in this case, right into The Birdcage Flower Shop just in time for the Christmas decorations!!  My favourite part of Christmas!

Meet me under the mistletoe truly is a story of finding love, a journey of discovery, a charming and romantic Christmas read, the Perfect read for those looking for a Chick Lit, Rom Com with a magical wintery Christmas vibe!

I highly recommend snuggling up with a steamy hot coco a blanket, some marshmallows or chocolate and enjoy this Gem of a book!

Great festive read. Florist Rachel meets detective Anthony. She knows she is falling for his but he hates christmas while she loves it, and he doesn't want love and a relationship and she does. So where does it go from here?
Great characters, and well written. The story really draws you in.
Looking forward to the other books in this series now!

Absolutely loved the interactions between Rachel and Anthony in what felt like a book with two halves. For the first part of the book Anthony despite any blatant attraction can't get involved with Rachel due to a conflict of interest in his job.

However it was Rachel's assistant Bobbi's story that really caught my attention, and with what she is going through helped to illustrate the true meaning of Christmas being about family and friends, instead of material possessions.

This wa a quick and easy to read book that was certainly enjoyable, and certainly felt festive in Rachel's flower shop. Also really enjoyed meeting both families and seeing whether Anthony would ever agree to a relationship, or give in to Christmas given he has reasons to not like this time of year.

Thank you to Netgalley and HQ Digital for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

As soon as I seen the cover for Meet Me Under the Mistletoe I was so excited to read it. The cover is just like a winter wonderland! It is just so beautiful!

I loved the two main characters in the book, Rachel & Anthony.  You could tell from so early on in the book that they where perfect for each other.  Their relationship was fast paced and very exciting! However the bombshell that Anthony drops a few chapters in my heart just sank! I felt every emotion that Rachel was feeling, and my heart just went out to her. 

Rachel's parents where just hilarious and you really warm to them, they are such kind people, always looking out for everyone - just like Rachel.

The descriptions in the book where fabulous, the flowers etc I could just imagine what they all looked like! I loved imagining them and the wedding venue's.

The ending of the book was just perfect! I had a little tear in my eye!

This has got to been one of my favourite festive reads! It is heart warming and really makes you feel good when you read it! A real joy to read this Christmas!

Despite having copies of both of Carla Burgess' previous books, Marry Me Tomorrow and Stuck with You, on my Kindle Meet Me under the Mistletoe was the first book that I'd read and what a delightful treat of a read it was whilst laid up in bed ill.

I have to confess that I am someone who is drawn to a cover of a book, before I even read what the story is about, so was instantly drawn to the gorgeous Christmassy feel of this one. It felt so whimsical and romantic that I was hoping that the words inside would live up to the image and on the whole they did. It was your typical girl meets boy story but it wouldn't be fun if things were all rosy from the start...

Our main character Rachel Jones loves everything about Christmas but sadly she has no-one special in her life to share the magic with since her split with her fiance Patrick, until one day a handsome stranger Anthony walks into her florist shop. It turns out that he's the new tenant in her parents flat above the florist, but there's something mysterious about him and that maybe all is not what it seems. From the initial meeting there was an instant connection between them but it soon becomes clear that he is there under false pretences so Rachel finds her heart fighting with her head as to whether to trust that everything she is feeling is real, or is she going to be left broken-hearted again.

Anthony was the complete opposite to Rachel especially where Christmas is concerned, a tragic event in his past haves severely affected him so to him it's just another day that he'd rather just work and not celebrate the occasion with family or friends. He's also closed off to relationships and would rather enjoy the moment and not get into anything serious. Will his blossoming friendship with Rachel thaw his cold heart and enable him to recapture the magic of romance and Christmas through her eyes?

Although I've not read her previous two books, I did identify that a few of the secondary characters were the central characters in her previous books, Emily and Sam from Marry Me Tomorrow and Elena and Daniel from Stuck with You. I love it when characters make cameo appearances in other stories so now I need to go back and read how their own love stories began.

Overall Meet Me under the Mistletoe was the perfect pick me up I needed when feeling down. It was a heartwarming story about romance and trust and of course centred around Christmastime, what more could a girl want. Although I will confess there were a few minor elements that had me thinking would that really happen so soon but casting those doubts aside I was able to enjoy their unconventional love story for what it was but would love to catch up with them again sometime in the future to see how their relationship has developed.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. Early for me to read Xmas books but this was a wonderful, cosy read and I absolutely loved it.

This was my first Christmassy book of the season and it was so good it put me right in the mood for more winter stories.

I liked Rachel,our heroine,she is depicted really well and her behaviour perfectly reflects that of a woman who's trying to forget a not so nice ex-boyfriend.Unfortunately everything is more complicated when said man is wanted by the police and a charming detective decided that Rachel is important to close the case.

The chemistry between Rachel and Detective Anthony Bascombe is clear since their first encounter but their relationship grows day after day with more affection being shown.

I would have liked to read an epilogue but I hope to see these characters again in the next book.

Unfortunately the book was not for me, no review was publicly posted on Amazon, B&N, Goodreads or Twitter etc, so no ratings were affected in relation to it.

Sadly, this book didn't work for me at all. I struggled to buy the whole agreeing to go to dinner with a strange man literally minutes after you had met him, and then proceed to tell him your life story, over a virtual interrogation type questioning, Any sane woman would have said no to dinner, and any woman with any self worth would not have spilled her guts to a random guy just minutes after meeting him.

I love reading books like this, at Christmas...it's a lovely Christmas story with love, humour, friendship and heart. Get comfy with a bar of chocolate, grab a blanket and enjoy a wonderful feel good story

Rachel is a florist with her own shop and she loves her work designing floral arrangements but her love life is a definitely on the barren side, so when handsome policeman Anthony rents the flat above her shop she is quite excited

Anthony is a complete commitment phobe and Christmas hater who is married to his job so when he takes Rachel out to dinner his only interest in her is her ex Patrick who is part of his investigation.......... but can Rachel win him round and change all of his opinions

A lovely story and although obviously predictable it was written in such a warm manner I couldn't help loving it as with this authors previous work

"Meet me under the Mistletoe" is a wonderful and cosy read which is perfect for the winter/Christmas time.

I could easily dive into the story and enjoyed the setting with Rachel's flower shop. There suspense part a very entertaining and exciting bit to the story. Rachel and Anthony were great characters which worked really great together. I loved the chemistry between them and the love story was absolutely cute and heart-warming.

The wintery scenery was lovely and got me into Christmas spirit a bit. It could have a little bit more festive and the ending came a bit fast for my liking. I would have prefered another chapter or an epilogue.

I really enjoyed Carla Burgess writing style and I am looking forward to more of her books.

I received an ARC from Netgalley. This story had a light romance feel to it. A nice easy read to curl up on the weekend and enjoy. Just the right combination of banter, laughter and romance.

Rachel Jones is knocked for six by the handsome new tenant, detective Anthony Bascombe, who now lives above her florists shop, he’s polite, well turned out and gorgeous. Unfortunately when he takes her out for dinner she mistakes his intense interest in her past boyfriend, Patrick for romantic interest in her. When she realises that he’s enquiring as part of his investigations she’s heartbroken and takes a step back, especially as he fills her in on his commitment-phobe ways. He’s moving on in 3 months and she doesn’t want to get attached, a message her heart doesn’t seem to have received. We follow their tale of unrequited love in the run up to Christmas, Anthony’s least favourite time of the year. Very enjoyable read, recommended.

Such a delightful story. While reading this I felt warm and cozy as though in front of a fire with my warm cuppa tea. Rachel Jones is a floral designer owning her own shop. She spends her days creating gorgeous floral displays for others. Upon meeting the new tenant in the flat above her floral shop she almost swoons when he asks her out to dinner. Unknown to her detective Anthony Bascombe is not looking for a romance with her just answers to how to find her ex-boyfriend. Feeling betrayed when she finds out she knows she must answer his questions, after all he is a police detective. As the snow piles up outside her shop will Rachel be able to convince handsome,Anthony she really is the cat's meow and just what he is looking for even though he doesn't know it? A fun and magical Christmas story.
Pub Date 27 Oct 2017
Thank you to NetGalley and HQ Digital for a review copy in exchange for my honest review.

This book was so sweet that it melted my heart. I loved the story, the characters (even the secondaries), and the writing style, it was funny, sweet and lovely.

After falling in love with Carla Burgess' debut novel, 'Marry Me Tomorrow', and quite ironically at that, I couldn't help but be super excited to dive into her latest novel. So, after boiling the kettle for my nightly cup of tea, grabbing my Mickey Mouse blanket and curling up on the sofa, I ignored everyone by letting 'Meet Me Under the Mistletoe' envelope me good and proper.

The thing about Carla Burgess' novels is that she writes with such tenderness, it's as though she's writing a letter to an old friend. You can't help but fall under the authors spell based on that alone. 

Rachel Jones has taken over her parents florist. Well, by 'taken over' I mean more or less buying the premises and owning it sort of thing. For as long as she can remember, creating bouquets and floral delights have been as much part of her daily routine as cleaning her teeth. Although, for someone who lives and breathes the smell of roses day in day out, her own love life isn't as fragrant.

I'm sorry to say that I thought the arrival of an eye-catching gentleman was incredibly predictable. However, what I didn't expect was his true reason for arriving in the florist to begin with. Underhanded? A teeny bit, but he was only doing his job. I could see why Rachel was a bit miffed though considering the history with her ex. Let's just say that the whole 'Rachel and ex' situation makes for popcorn worthy reading. Ignoring people as soon as I started reading this book was SUCH a good call!

I'm not going to lie - I absolutely loved this book! Yes it was a 'boy meets girl' scenario, but it had an edge to it that caught me off guard and made me think 'ooooo, this could get interesting'. I am not the romantic type, yet I will quite happily read about fictional characters making eyes at each other over a bunch of begonia's. Not being the romantic type myself, I have to then be convinced by a characters love, flirting, relationship effort and so on, for the entire duration of the novel. I have to believe it. If it's not believable then to me, it's not done it's job. A Carla Burgess novel however, well, seeing as the author can transport me into the storyline itself, I have to then kick myself to remember that I am not Rachel Jones, I don't have an ex called Patrick, and I am currently not flirting with a detective.

I am being completely honest when I tell you that in a minimum of a few pages, Carla Burgess can make me feel as though I am living her characters lives and feeling their emotions. In my eyes, you cannot get more believable than that. Although, I do wish I had kept the floristry craft after doing my stint as Rachel Jones, I mean come on! Parting gift?

I savoured every word, every expression, every emotion - the lot, whilst my head was buried in the beautiful realm of Carla Burgess' storytelling. So much so, that when the book had ended, I went straight onto social media and asked the author whether there was going to be a sequel! Er helloooo, need my fix!

For a storyline to capture my ice-cold heart, it has to be something special. 'Meet Me Under the Mistletoe' is something special and more. I felt as though the author was giving me a hug through her words whenever I turned the page, no joke. The story was cosy, heartfelt, magical and for me, it just oozed everything I needed to be able to fall in love with every single page.

Some people take baths to feel cosy, I pick up a Carla Burgess novel.

Beautiful, enchanting and highly addictive. I cannot WAIT until the next book, eeee!!!!

Thanks HQDigitalUK.

Anti-relationship and anti-Christmas Anthony is the exact opposite of too-quick-to-jump-into-a-relationship and heavily-sentimental Rachel, so you’d expect sparks to fly when they meet. The dialogue is witty and quite funny, especially Anthony’s comebacks to Rachel’s teasing. Anthony is very much married to his work, and resistant to the thought that he’s missing out on anything.

“Happiness can be found in lots of places. Good food, a nice pint, a night out with the lads, solving a crime, sex.”

Rachel, of course, finds herself falling for him, but is initially resistant due to the investigation, and then later due to not wanting to get hurt when Anthony inevitably leaves. Of course, after a bit of Christmas magic, burst water tanks, mistletoe, and fairy lights, I’m sure you can guess what happens!

The plot meanders quite a bit, especially after the major non-romance plot line is resolved. The ending also was quite abrupt, though, in hindsight, I’m not sure how else I would’ve expected the book to end. I also feel like there were a lot of hints dropped around Anthony’s family background that were never resolved. I’m not sure if this is intended to be the first in the series or not, but I would be interested in reading more about Anthony and Rachel trying to make a relationship work. The ending had much more of a happily-ever-after-for-now feel then a regular romance HEA.

Overall, a fluffy and adorable Christmas read. Perfect if you’re looking for a comfy, relaxing bit of Christmas magic.

This was a sweet little romance and I enjoyed it because I liked the main characters so much, and liked their relationships with their friends and family. There were a couple of odd things about this story though. First, the main conflict in the novel was around Rachel's ex-fiance, and that got resolved pretty early in the book. Second, the book ended so abruptly. We were working up to Anthony's acceptance of being in a long-term relationship and boom! the story was over. It felt to me as though there would be a sequel, but I don't think their is, so instead I felt very unfulfilled.

Overall a very enjoyable snowmance but I honestly did feel the ending was too abrupt and not well thought out. Would have been nice to have the characters fleshed out more and not just a lopped off story at the end.