Review: Kissing Under the Mistletoe by Bella Andre

Title: Kissing Under the Mistletoe 

Author: Bella Andre

Series: The Sullivan’s, #10

Published: September 2013 Harlequin MIRA

Format: ARC e-copy, 400 pages

Source: Netgalley

For Mary Sullivan
Christmas is, and always has been, about family. And this year is no
different. As she awaits the arrival of her eight children and their
partners at the cottage in Lake Tahoe, she hangs the ornaments that they
made for her over the years. Each decoration brings with it a tide of
memories, all of which she holds dear to her heart. But when she comes
across the oldest ornament, the one her beloved husband, Jack, gave her
on their very first Christmas together, Mary is immediately swept back
to the first days of their whirlwind romance, to the love that would be
the foundation on which they built the family she is so proud to call
her own.

Join the Sullivans this Christmas for a story that
explores the wonder of the holidays, the meaning of family and a love
that transcends time.

My thoughts: I have fallen in love with Bella Andre’s Sullivan series over and over again as I’ve read each book, and while I’ve only read up to book 6 in the series, I just had to skip to this latest book as soon as I got approval from Netgalley.

This is by far the sweetest, most romantic story I’ve read and I have to say, it is definitely my favorite of the Sullivan books. Yes, I’ve said that with each of the stories so far, but this one is leaps and bounds above the rest. I actually had goosebumps reading this – it is that good!

Kissing Under the Mistletoe is Mary and Jack Sullivan’s love story. These are the Sullivan parents and boy do they have an amazing love story. What I loved most about it is that their romance was not filled with over-the-top gestures, but rather focused on the little things. I am such a firm believer in that sentiment.

Told through a flashback while Mary is decorating her Christmas tree at the Sullivan family cabin, we see just how sentimental Mary is. She had each of her eight children make an ornament for the tree and as she unwraps each one, she briefly remembers how the ornament came to be. Then come the ornaments that reflect her and her late husband, Jack. And from there, we step back in time to their first magical meeting.

I will, of course, be reading the rest of this series, but felt this story just calling to me. I usually try not to skip around in a series, but after reading this one, I can honestly say nothing is given away about the stories I skipped over. In this series, each book really does stand alone and I’m so glad I own every book as I can definitely see myself rereading these books over and over, especially this one!

Do you have a series of books or even just one book that you reread over and over again?

Books in this series:

1. The Look of Love                         6.  Let Me Be the One
2. From This Moment On              7.  Come a Little Bit Closer
3. Can’t Help Falling in Love        8.  Always On My Mind
4. I Only Have Eyes for You        9.  The Way You Look Tonight
5. If You Were Mine                      10.  Kissing Under the Mistletoe