About the Book

Title: The Mistletoe Countess

Author: Pepper Basham

Genre: Historical Romance

Publisher: Barbour Fiction

Publication Date: September 1, 2021

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Publisher's Book Description

“Will the magic of Christmas bring these two newlyweds closer together, or will the ghosts of the past lead them into a destructive discovery from which not even a Dickens’s Christmas can save them?

Mistletoe is beautiful and dangerous, much like the woman from Lord Frederick’s Percy’s past, so when he turns over a new leaf and arranges to marry for his estate, instead of his heart, he never expects the wrong bride to be the right choice. Gracelynn Ferguson never expected to take her elder sister’s place as a Christmas bride, but when she’s thrust into the choice, she will trust in her faithful novels and overactive imagination to help her not only win Frederick’s heart but also to solve the murder mystery of Havensbrook Hall before the ghosts from Frederick’s past ruin her fairytale future.”

My Review

A most appealing story, The Mistletoe Countess, by Pepper Basham, is beautifully written, thoughtful, and engaging! This captivating book is genuinely stunning and not to be missed! With a hearty blend of history, mystery, romance, and humor, Ms. Basham brings to life a memorable story that is remarkably enjoyable.

Within the pages of this book, Ms. Basham reveals characters who are unique, tenacious, authentic, brave, and wholly unforgettable. Their motivations, their needs, their interests, and their goals are truly fascinating. The opportunities, the choices, and the difficulties the characters face are thoroughly developed, and from them flows a story that is utterly riveting.

The Mistletoe Countess is a moving novel that offers a vivid and compelling marriage-of-convenience story full of secrets, regret, obligation, danger, and intrigue counterbalanced with love, faith, friendship, and redemption. Hope, perseverance, courage, and grace are also significant themes that strengthen this novel and make it especially meaningful and uplifting. Furthermore, the English countryside setting in the early 20th century with its small village, a grand estate, shadowy ruins, and wooded hillsides, enriches the novel and provides ample opportunities for the story to unfold. Abounding with Edwardian sensibilities, this British setting, rich in history and whispered secrets, is notably significant in a story that lingers long after the last page has been turned.

The Mistletoe Countess is a thoughtful story of grace, second chances, and truth. Offering new possibilities and fresh perspectives, it is a touching story of perseverance and the power of encouragement. This novel is a story of two hearts in search of being known, accepted, appreciated, and loved. I can easily recommend this book to readers of historical fiction who also enjoy elements of mystery and plenty of sweet romance. In The Mistletoe Countess, Ms. Basham has once again crafted a worthy novel that is honest, tender, emotionally-stirring, and ultimately uplifting. With every new book she publishes, my appreciation grows for how remarkably talented Ms. Basham is as a writer and storyteller. The Mistletoe Countess is a very special novel, and I eagerly recommend it to all readers.

*I was given a copy of this book by the publisher through NetGalley and JustRead Tours. A review was not required. The review I have written is voluntary and contains opinions that are entirely my own.

About the Author: Pepper Basham

“Pepper Basham is an award-winning author who writes romance peppered with grace and humor with a southern Appalachian flair. Her books have garnered recognition in the Grace Awards, Inpsys, and the ACFW Carol Awards, with The Thorn Healer selected as a 2018 finalist in the RT awards. Both her contemporary and historical romance novels consistently receive high ratings from Romantic Times, with Just the Way You Are as a Top Pick. Most recently she’s introduced readers to Bath, UK through her novellas, Second Impressions and Jane by the Book, and taken readers into the exciting world of WW2 espionage in her novella, Façade. The second novel in The Pleasant Gap series, When You Look at Me, arrives in October and her contribution to Barbour’s wonderful My Heart Belongs series hits the shelves in January 2019 with My Heart Belongs in the Blue Ridge. Her books are seasoned with her Appalachian heritage and love for family. She currently resides in the lovely mountains of Asheville, NC where she is the mom of five great kids, a speech-pathologist to about fifty more, and a lover of chocolate, jazz, hats, and Jesus.” Biography from Pepper Basham’s author page on Amazon.com.