Noelle’s predictable life is turned upside down by her ‘frost impressions’ of Maplemont’s newest resident two weeks before Christmas. A herd of reindeer, the scent of gingerbread, and a manor decked in mistletoe turn this heart-warming romance into a little Christmas magic.
Paperback, 335 pages
Published July 25th 2019 by Independently Published
Source: Publisher
Four stars: A cheerful, magical holiday romance that is packed full of warmth and Christmas cheer.
For Noelle, Christmas is a busy time in her little bakery. She has loads of Christmas cookies and gingerbread to bake, and more than anything, she wants to submit her own award winning fudge recipe in the local fudge competition. Noelle keeps trying to tweak her fudge recipe, but she can’t get it quite right. It doesn’t help that she has loads of obligations, from volunteering at the hospital, to cooking and serving holiday dinners. At one dinner, Noelle finds herself cooking at the Maplemont Manor, the town’s mansion. When someone enters the back door of the kitchen, Noelle assumes it is the person hired to help her serve the feast. Little does she know that the man she is ordering around the kitchen is none other than Grant, the owner of the manor. Noelle and Grant can’t deny sparks of attraction in their brief meeting, but each of them says some harsh things, and they part ways knowing they likely won’t be friends, or will they?
What I Liked:
- Christmas At Maplemont Manor is a delightful holiday romance packed full of sugary goodness and a charming antagonistic romance. This is a wonderful pick me up read.
- I loved the way Noelle and Grant meet. Their initial meeting starts out under false pretenses when Noelle mistakes Grant for the serving help. A frazzled Noelle who is trying to get a gourmet dinner prepped starts ordering a befuddled Grant around the kitchen, and for whatever reason, Grant goes along with it. Sparks fly, and then disaster strikes when both say some sharp words. This is how the fledgling romance is born. It starts out fiercely antagonistic. Both vowing to no have anything to do with the other, and yet... Grant feels it necessary to prove to Noelle he is not the person she presumes he is, while Noelle tries to deny her attraction. What follows is a cute and often times funny courtship. I liked this romance, it takes plenty of time to build, and when it finally gets to that moment, it is perfect. Nothing like a good holiday romance.
- I thought Grant was the perfect lead. He comes from wealth, but there is so much more to him than meets the eye. He is not the snobby, uptight, dashing rich bachelor everyone thinks he is. Instead he is quiet and rather unassuming. He donates plenty of money to charities often times anonymously, and he does so much behind the scenes without asking for recognition. I loved seeing his depth and his kindness. Time and time again, he proves to be a stand up guy.
- Noelle is a little harder to get to know. She has a tough exterior, and she has hardened her heart after a couple of heartbreaks. Even though she isn’t open to romance, she is hardworking, gentle and kind. She spends much of her spare time volunteering and doing good for the community while helping to raise her orphaned niece.
- This book is what I want when reading a holiday book. It has a light, cozy feel and it is packed full of holiday warmth and cheer. There is gingerbread house making, cookie baking, kisses under the mistletoe, ice skating, holiday parties and more. It was bursting with all things holiday.
- I liked that there was a lot of altruistic activity in this book, from helping at the hospital to raising money for the local cancer center. It is nice to read about others giving during the holiday season.
- The book ends with a big, climatic scene and then a lovely holiday moment. Just right.
- I was surprised and pleased to find this was an independently published novel. A gem if you are looking for a holiday treat.
And The Not So Much:
- I struggled with Grant’s mother and her smothering actions. I didn’t like how kept thrusting a shallow, self centered woman at her son because she thought she was a good match. I really detested the way she looked down on Noelle because she didn’t come from money. Furthermore, her actions at the end were deplorable. The mother’s character felt prefabricated and little cartoon villainy for my taste.
- I didn’t like that the romance would take a step forward and then two steps back because of Noelle’s insecurities. I hated that she retreated every time instead of talking things through.
- I felt like there was a lot of back story missing. I honestly thought I was perhaps reading a second novel in a series as there seemed to be an entire story line surrounding Noelle’s older sister, her bakery and her daughter. I was surprised to find that this is the first and only book?? I felt like there was detail missing regarding Carol, it felt like important pieces were missing.
Christmas At Maplemont Manor is a book that fits the holiday bill when it comes to holiday cheer. This book has a charming antagonistic romance that takes its time to build. Prepare for lots of Christmas activities and holiday treats. I loved the cozy, feel good vibe and the romance. If you want a delightful holiday read, this is one to pick.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for this review.
