Wednesday, November 10, 2021

Review: Hate Me Under the Mistletoe by Kelly Jamieson

 

Hate Me Under the Mistletoe (Romancing the Rink #1) by Kelly Jamieson
Publication Date: October 26th 2021 by Garland Grove Books
Pages: 180  
Source: Publisher
Rating: 

My Thoughts:
Amy Heller is having one hell of a time. Finding out about betrayal both on a professional and personal level makes being festive impossible. When a friend offers a secluded cabin in the woods to decompress and nurse her wounds, Amy jumps at the chance. Alone time with wine, books, and bubble baths, away from holiday cheer sounds perfect. Unfortunately, a miscommunication has someone else showing up at a most awkward moment. And more unfortunately, it’s the man who broke her heart at sixteen. Looks like she’ll have to deal with it, though, since a nasty storm makes it impossible for to leave.

Ryder has been focused on his business for the last few years putting his personal life and family on the backburner. Finally with his business thriving he’s set to take some down time, first at a remote cabin, then traveling to meet up with his family for Christmas. He loves spending time with his family on Christmas, they have so many lovely traditions (who doesn’t love an ugly sweater competition?!!) in a Winter Wonderland small town, but first he’s looking forward to unplugging and relaxing for a few days.

Hate Me Under the Mistletoe was so much fun! I do enjoy a good enemies-to-lovers romance and I could totally understand why Amy was less than pleased with the situation when Ryan showed up. Not only did she want to be alone without any reminder of holiday festivities, but she especially didn’t want to spend it with her teenage crush she felt humiliated her.

Ryan was a complete sweetheart and didn’t realize how his action impacted Amy. Even before they cleared things up it was hard for Amy to hold her grudge, because he was such a good guy. I loved that these two got stuck together. They needed the escape and the forced time together to sort things out. Cooking together, snowball fights and board games made for fun times that made me smile.

Amy and Ryan had major chemistry and tension, even when Amy was being prickly, and things were super steamy! Hate Me Under the Mistletoe is the perfect short, sweet, and hot romance making me yearn for my own Winter Wonderland respite with family, friends, and love! 

4 Stars


Book Description:

What happens under the mistletoe stays under the mistletoe…

Amy’s life isn’t living up to the famous Heller family brand—her love life and her career—and she just wants to be alone for Christmas. So she takes off to a friend’s secluded mountain cabin. Ho fu*king ho.

Ryder’s workaholic tendencies have made him super successful in his business, but he hasn’t spent time with family for years. That’s all he wants this Christmas, plus a little down time at a cabin in the mountains. He loves Christmas and can’t wait for the family ugly sweater contest!

When Ryder walks in on Amy at an “awkward” moment, she can’t believe the man she’s hated since she was sixteen has shown up here. He has to leave. But Mother Nature has other ideas when a blizzard shuts down the entire region...

Amy thinks a good place for Ryder’s Christmas cheer is up his ass. Ryder thinks Amy’s grown up into a smokin’ hot babe. Christmas is all about giving, and he’s got a really big package for Amy. Maybe naughty is the new nice...


22 comments:

  1. Wonderful review! I'm just not quite ready to read holiday books but I'll have to jump in next week for the HoHoHo Read-athon.

    Anne - Books of My Heart

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  2. I saw people thinking Amy's behavior was out of line, but like you, saw what you saw. I felt I understood the whys, and yes, inside, she was not as mad at him because Ryan was a sweetheart. I loved that he helped her recover her holiday spirit

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    1. Yeah, I didn't feel it was out of line. She felt humiliated and didn't know that he didn't realize the impact of his treatment. So yeah, I got her, but I was also glad she didn't hold a grudge for long.

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  3. This sounds like fun. I'd be upset too if my secluded vacation came with an ex! Great review!

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  4. I'm glad she wasn't feeling the anger past time when they reconnected. I have never understood how people can't get over something (not heavy duty bullying stuff) from high school years and let it fester that long. But, I guess it makes for good fiction conflict. Sounds like this pair were just the right holiday cheer for each other.

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    1. I don't know, your first love and hurt can have quite an impact, and yes, it does make for some good conflict. I loved the way it all worked out.

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  5. That really sounds like a good one. I would probably like this one.

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  6. I do love that stuck-together-in-a-cabin-during-a-snowstorm trope. :D

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  7. This sounds such a heart warming and fun read!

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  8. This sounds really good! I also love enemies to lovers romances.

    Lauren @ www.shootingstarsmag.net

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  9. Its good to know she didn't hold a grudge for long. Lovely review.

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    1. Yay! It was fun and festive! Hope you love it, too, Carrie.

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  11. So much to love here! I've yet to read anything by Jamieson but there's a lot here that checks my boxes: short and sweet, holiday romance, forced proximity. I'll be checking Overdrive and Hoopla for this one. :)

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