holiday

Meet Me Under the Mistletoe by JoAnn Durgin – My Review

/ Dora Hiers / 2 Comments
About the book:
Jacob Marston, Starlight, Iowa’s hometown hero made a long-ago promise to the Lord: he won’t kiss a woman until he knows she’s “the one.” Now at age twenty-eight, the rugged firefighter questions if it’ll ever happen. Then, he meets his best friend’s sister, and Jake believes he’s found the woman of his dreams. But what will she think when she discovers his vow?

When Julia makes an unexpected confession on Christmas Day, Jake shares his secret with her, and it looks as though happily-ever-after will make a holiday appearance. 

But somehow, everyone in the tiny town of Starlight learns Jake’s secret, and he’s instantly transformed from town hero to laughingstock. Did Julia reveal his secret? Can Jake forget the humiliation and find his way under the mistletoe to share a forever kiss with Julia?


My thoughts:

Jake’s the ideal hero: a firefighter who exudes boyish charm, a kid magnet, a guy who’s been hurt by an ex-girlfriend who left him because she didn’t appreciate his values, his vows, or his town. Julia’s a pediatric nurse, who loves her family, but she’s grown tired of them fixing her up with any and all available males. Her heart is set on Jake, but distance and other relationships stand in the way.

Don’t you love books that leave you with an “awww” when you flip to the last page? Where the conflict stems more from the circumstances that keep them and their budding romance apart, rather than constant bickering between the hero and heroine? Meet Me Under the Mistletoe is one of those books,  immediately tugging you into the blooming romance between Jake and Julia and leaves you with a satisfied feeling.

Durgin plunks you into the heart of Starlight and weaves you into the lives of the characters. At 145 pages, Meet Me Under the Mistletoe is a good length to read during snatches of time during the holidays. It wasn’t too short, leaving me wishing for more, and not too long to stress me out. Just right for the holidays!  

Meet Me Under the Mistletoe is offered as part of Pelican Book Group’s Christmas Extravaganza for only 99 cents during December. To read an excerpt or to purchase Meet Me Under the Mistletoe, click here. 

Do you like reading stories that leave you with a satisfied feeling? 
Have you been able to squeeze reading into this already bustling holiday season?

Disclosure: I received this book from the author for a fair and honest review.

It’s not all about Santa…

/ Dora Hiers

it’s about Jesus, God’s love for us…
So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on
whom his favor rests.” ~Luke 2:4-14 NIV

Do you think Mary, being a virgin, asked “why me?”  
And Joseph? 
Knowing Mary was pregnant ~ and the babe wasn’t his ~ suffered humiliation and scorn. Yet he obeyed God and took Mary as his wife. They offered their very lives in obedience to God.
The angels offered their praise.

What about you?
What will you offer God today?
God, I give You all that I am. Use me for Your glory. In Your precious Son’s name. Amen.