No Mistletoe Required

by Jeanette Murray

[Cocktails and Books]

It's a bit early for the holiday reads, but this was one that I had to pick up as a "filler read" because it was on my phone and I needed something to read while I was waiting around. I'm glad I had it, because it was a very cute story about learning to appreciate the holidays and not fearing the future.

Anna Smith is full of Christmas cheer and to loves to spread it around...especially at the hospital's children ward, a place she spent time as a teen. She wants the children fighting cancer to have something that will put a smile on their faces while they fight for their lives. So each year, she organizes a Santa Workshop where the kids can come create gifts and get a little holiday cheer. What she doesn't expect to find while organizing the workshop was to run into the grinch, in the form of lawyer Dan Beckins.

Dan has dreaded Christmas since the death of his parents when he was younger. When he was tricked into helping at the hospital by his best friend, he was determined to find a way to get out of the project. But when he sees Anna, he suddenly finds that he doesn't mind the holiday cheer as long as it includes Anna.

I like Anna and Dan together, but at the same time they also made me a little sad because they were both holding onto the ugliness of death. It was funny to see that it was Dan who was able to finally get Anna to understand that her health issues couldn't rule her life. For a man that held onto the bitter feelings he had over the lose of his parents, it was great to see him let it all go for the chance to be with Anna.

A cute, funny and at times hot holiday story that will get you into the spirit of the season....even if it is before Thanksgiving.