Meet Me Under Under The Mistletoe by Carla Burgess

I finished this book a couple of days ago and couldn't remember what it was about until I read the publishers blurb again.  Not a good start that I couldn't even remember the main protagonists names let alone what happened between the pages.  From that quick read I remember it now but with a distinct sense of "meh" rather than any excitement.

The plot jogs along nicely with a couple of disparate storylines thrown in and plenty of Christmassy schmaltz.  The behaviour of Anthony (never, ever Tony) is deeply suspect though and I am pretty sure his methods of interrogation would see him summarily sacked from any Police Force in the UK.  They certainly do things differently in novel-land.

The unfolding romance is quite sweet and the verbal sparring is decidedly funny.  Right up until Anthony takes Rachel in after her water tank bursts and suddenly it becomes an almost predatory relationship with his constant pressure for her to sleep with him.  This steps up a whole gear when he takes her to a family function where Rachel appears to be so star struck by the opulent surroundings of this stately home that she just simply caves in to his demands.  All is okay though because despite being a self-confessed "player" Anthony has fallen in love with her.  I just came away feeling a little disgust at the relationship and that it was all more of a teenagers first attempt at love rather than two supposedly mature people people taking the first tentative steps on the journey.

Fortunately the book is saved by the good 80% or so that did not annoy the heck out of me.  The supporting cast of characters were believable and helped jog the story along quite nicely.  It was nothing to shout from the rooftops about but a pleasant enough book filled with plenty of tinsel and twinkly lights.

**Review originally published December 22nd, 2017**