The Mistletoe Countess - Book Review

Who doesn't love a Christmas romance wrapped in a murder mystery? Now that it's officially December, I'm diving into Christmas novels and The Mistletoe Countess by Pepper Basham is one of my favorites. If you're in need of a Christmas romance for the season, then The Mistletoe Countess is perfect.

Plot Summary

Frederick Percy, Earl of Astley, knows better than to expect to marry for love. With his sordid past and crumbling estate, he accepts his fate and his arranged bride who has enough money to save his home. Though as the second son he never expected to inherit the title, he vows to do his best to make amends for his past without regard to his heart.

Grace Ferguson's life turns into one of her novels when circumstances compel her to take her older sister's place and marry Frederick Percy. But she's sure her vivid imagination and fiction will help her win her husband's heart and solve the mystery surrounding Frederick's father's and brother's deaths. But as she and Frederick dig closer to the truth, the killer does everything possible to deter the couple; if Frederick and Grace want to celebrate their first Christmas together, they'll have to uncover the secrets surrounding them before someone stops them forever.

Personal Thoughts

Grace was simply wonderful! I adored her from the very first; her bookishness, humor, and accidental blunders had me grinning throughout the book. Frederick was serious and stiff but he loosened up soon after meeting Grace.

Their romance was sweet and steamy. I loved how Basham handled the marriage of convenience. While Frederick and Grace didn't plan on marrying each other, they were both determined to make it work. There were a few bumps along the way, but overall they were the most adorable newlyweds.

The mystery took a little time to develop, but the end had plenty of action. I love how Grace referred to fiction to solve crimes and how Frederick allowed himself to be her "sleuthing partner". I didn't know who the murderer was or how all the pieces fit together until the end.

Notes

Steam Level: 💋💋💋💋

This is the first book in the Freddie and Grace Mystery series.

Ramblings Inspired by the Book

Grace's love of fiction colored her outlook on life; early on she tells Frederick he is the hero of his own story and that it is up to him to fulfill that role. While Frederick doubts her at first, Grace quickly convinces him to think of himself as a hero. Unfortunately, he thinks being a hero means being perfect all the time. As he makes one mistake after another in his first week of marriage, he thinks this makes him less of a hero ... until Grace tells him:

"Perfect heroes are boring. The only heroes worth reading about are the broken ones. They have the greatest potential because they've learned what it takes to be truly strong."

What a lovely thought! Book lover that I am, I latched onto this idea. Our life is often called a story and it makes sense to view ourselves as a hero in our own story. As if this isn't inspirational enough, there's another layer to it. God knows every scene in our story from beginning to end. He has made us the main character in our story and only we can fill the spot. 

To top it off, it doesn't matter if we make mistakes. Who likes reading about a perfect hero or heroine? Not many. In fact, many readers complain when a character is "too perfect". So even when we're not the perfect hero, we can get back up again and continue on. The question is, will we live as if we're a hero in our story? Will we be brave enough to step into that role? Or will we shrink back and refuse to step into our potential?

For those of you who have read The Mistletoe Countess, what did you think of it? For those who have not read it, would you? Tell me in the comments below!