Must Love Mistletoe

Bah humbug attorney Bailey Sullivan finds herself in the worst possible predicament she could ever imagine - back home in Coronado, California managing her family’s store, The Perfect Christmas. To make matters worse, her bad boy childhood sweetheart Finn Jacobson has returned also, ostensibly to care for his ailing grandmother. In reality Secret Service Agent Finn is desperate to find meaning for his life after a tragic incident cost him the eyesight in one eye as well as the life of his fellow agent whom he felt responsible for. As Bailey and Finn find themselves thrown together due to the demands of the holiday season as well as the circumstances that have brought them both home, they struggle to not only confront the painful ending of their teenage relationship but also the burgeoning passion that threatens to overwhelm them at every turn. Will these two star-crossed lovers find each other again under the ubiquitous mistletoe?

MUST LOVE MISTLETOE is the in turn hilarious then poignant story of what could happen when two childhood sweethearts find themselves back together due to effects of life. It is also the story of the family members who love Bailey and Finn and who are most directly responsible for shaping them into the adults they have become - afraid to live life at its fullest. At the very heart of the tale is a town who enthusiastically embraces the celebration of Christmas and all that entails. Ms. Ridgway has managed to take all of these divergent storylines and intertwine them into a holiday tale that is richly satisfying and reminiscent of the season itself - full of love, joy, laughter and yes, even tears. This reviewer enjoyed this modern tale featuring a female “Scrooge” and her battered rescuer. Ms. Ridgway did a wonderful job using flashbacks to tell the back story of Finn and Bailey and gives the reader a deep understanding of their actions that is both sympathetic and totally believable. Naturally a Christmas tale features a very happy ending, and this one is no exception. Readers who enjoy contemporary romance will enjoy this sexy holiday tale by Ms. Ridgway.

November 2006