Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Mistletoe in Paradise by Jill Shalvis Narrator: Erin Mallon
Series: Wildstone #5.5
Published by HarperAudio on November 2, 2020
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Length: 2 hours, 28 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Publisher
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible, Libro.fm, Barnes & Noble, Apple
Problem Number One – Getting There
Old childhood friends each fly separately to join their families on what’s been an annual holiday themed yacht adventure. Secret ex-lovers, Hannah and James are determined to make the best of things…
Problem Number Two – Getting Stuck.
When everyone but Hannah and James gets held up in an airport snarl, it leaves them stuck together for four days, making Hannah’s already problematic trip a whole lot harder to face. Especially because she comes bearing more than just gifts…
Problem Number Three -- Falling In Love (again)
As the former lovers try to make the best of the Christmas snafu, they soon realize that the best things in life can’t be planned and sometimes love is sweeter the second time around.
The books in the Wildstone series don’t seem to have much connection as far as characters or even locations, so you don’t really have to read them in order. There is a romance or two in each, with much more of a life fiction feel.
In Mistletoe in Paradise, Hannah is the only one who lives in Wildstone. This is set in the Atlantic where her step-father has a charter boat. When she was young, her parents and their college friends went on the boat each year for the holidays. Until things changed 10 years ago. Hannah and James fell in love, but wanted different things. They were too young to figure it out and actually talk about the life they wanted.
Mostly, we get Hannah’s perspective or their dialogue when they are together. We do get some of James’ viewpoint which is a plus. Most of the story is told through the dialogue and descriptions of the actions.
This is a very, very short novella so things needed to move quickly. Hannah’s parents have always been the worst and that is the same here. James’ parents and James suffered a horrible loss and it has changed them over the last 10 years. Now Hannah and James are settled in their careers, still love each other, and are old enough to actually talk without making rash assumptions. It’s a sweet reunion.
Narration:
Erin Mallon is a popular narrator and I have heard her throughout this series. Her male and female characters are differentiated in each book. The male and female voices do sound the same as characters from another book though. I really enjoy the husky quality of her male voices. I was able to listen at my normal 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip:
About Erin Mallon
Erin Mallon is an actor, writer and voice artist in NYC. Her naturally warm personality and youthful sound have proven excellent tools for the many young adult and romance titles she narrates. She has originated roles in the theater with Ensemble Studio Theater’s Youngblood Company, The Drilling Company, Mabou Mines, Incubator Arts Project and many more. Erin is a devoted volunteer at The 52nd Street Project, the voice of many TV and radio commercials, and was one of BACKSTAGE’s “Career Dispatch” columnists for 2012.
About Jill Shalvis
New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis lives in a small town in the Sierras full of quirky characters. Any resemblance to the quirky characters in her books is, um, mostly coincidental. Look for Jill’s bestselling, award-winning books wherever romances are sold and visit her website for a complete book list and daily blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-mountains adventures.
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I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- COYER-20
That cover is giving me so many cozy Christmas vibes?
Jill Shalvis is one of the best for heart and grabbing me emotionally. Even in a novella, she is a master.
If characters and setting don’t connect these stories, what does? I thought they were all set in Wildstone.
I’ve been collecting the books and looking forward to starting them. Really happy you’re enjoying the series and narration! Wonderful review, Anne?
Many of them are set in Wildstone. In this one, Hannah lives in Wildstone but the story is on her step father’s boat. These are really great stories. Even in a novella, Shalvis makes it heartwarming. Every book in the series is fabulous.
I always enjoy Jill Shalvis, so I’m sure I’d enjoy this one. I like that, even though it’s a series, you can pick up anywhere. That helps since there’s just too many series on my tbr!
Jill Shalvis is one I always want to read. This series is very separate so you can read any of them without being lost or missing anything.
I love the cover of this one. I’m trying to get close to my Audio reading challenge and so I’ll have to consider this one since it’s very short. I’m way below my goal!
I love everything Jill Shalvis so I recommend it!
Oh yes, I always love the books by this author!
There is always so much heart in her books.
Second chance romances tend to do better in short novella form for me because the backstory and history of meeting is established ahead of time. Glad you enjoyed this one.
Exactly! And it doesn’t seem too fast since they already know each other / have been together.