No Ordinary Christmas is the first book of a new series set in Mistletoe Maine. Mistletoe is the home of Hollywood actor Dante West and he has come back home to film his newest movie. He had returned home to help the local economy but also to make amends with the people he hurt when he left the way that he did. This includes his best friend and first love Lucy Marshall who he hasn’t spoken to since he left without a single goodbye. Heartbroken and angry, Lucy is not thrilled to have him back in her world but when he offers to film scenes from his movie at the local library she finds it hard to resist. She knows that this will help boost the popularity of the library and even after these years he is still so darn charming.
As head librarian, Lucy takes her job very seriously and does not like to be distracted. Dante West is a distraction. A charming good looking distraction. And the more time she spends with him, the more she finds herself unthawing towards him. Especially when she discovers that the movie being made is all about her relationship with Dante. It is obvious to Lucy that Dante has changed and deeply regrets what happened when he left town so abruptly but she is scared to open her heart to him again especially when all signs point to him returning to Hollywood when it is all over.
Dante and Lucy are each wounded characters but for different reasons. Dante has felt the pressures from his family and the disappointment that he would not join the family business. Unbeknownst to Lucy, this is why he left sooner than planned and left her behind heartbroken. This has caused and will continue to cause misunderstandings between them. Yet even with this, I could feel the connection between these characters and the yearning that is still there for each other.
The relationship between Dante and Lucy isn’t the only relationship in need of repair. Dante also needed to fix the relationship with the family that he had left behind. The way all this was set up gave the reader a picture of not only the family but also the small town of Mistletoe, Maine. It is a beautiful little place where everything seems to be inner connected. The backdrop of the holiday season also provided some beautiful moments. I just love small towns at Christmas time – there always seems to be this sense of magic and like anything could happen – even a second chance at love.
No Ordinary Christmas provides a wonderful introduction to the characters and setting of Mistletoe. It was easy flowing and I found myself getting lost within this world that was created and the characters who were introduced. I’m not sure who the next character is that is going to be features in a story but all of them have potential. I will be keeping my eyes open for my next opportunity to return to the magic of Mistletoe.
Rating: 4 Stars
**I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.**
welcome to the zoo! 