Book Review - The Mistletoe Bet by Maren Moore

The Mistletoe Bet by Maren Moore

I know that I said I would take a break until at least the new year, but there's no better time to post a review about a Christmas romance than right after Christmas. This short story is just over a hundred pages, but I still really enjoyed reading it for the Christmas vibes. 

The Mistletoe Bet follows Quinn, an accomplished hot-shot executive who works in NYC, who's coming home to the small town of Strawberry Hollow for the holidays for the first time in many years. But the thing about Quinn is that she absolutely hates the holidays; she's basically Scrooge in the form of a young woman. While home for Christmas, she runs into her childhood crush and brother's best friend, Parker Grant, an accomplished and hot small-town doctor. Parker, unlike Quinn, loves everything Christmas and is convinced that he can turn Quinn into a Christmas lover again, so they make a bet. Will Parker be able to win their mistletoe bet and revert Quinn into a Christmas fan in just seven days?

The Mistletoe Bet was the first short story that I've read in a while and I didn't read any reviews before getting into it, so I wasn't sure what I was expecting. But now I can say that I agree with the other reviews: this book is like a Hallmark movie but with some extra spice. I loved it. The characters were super cute, albeit a little cliche, but that's part of what makes it good. I really liked the banter between Parker and Quinn, and the tension between them was palpable. 

Overall, a super low-stakes spicy romance but perfect for the Christmas-y atmosphere.