Under the Mistletoe by Nancy Fraser is a Christmas and Holiday Festival pick #holidayromance #ku
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  • N. N. Light
    • Dec 4, 2023
    • 5 min read

Under the Mistletoe by Nancy Fraser is a Christmas and Holiday Festival pick #holidayromance #ku



Title: Under the Mistletoe


Author: Nancy Fraser


Genre: Sweet, Small-Town Holiday Romance


Book Blurb:


Alex Miller is used to his mother’s country club friends attempts to set him up with their eligible daughters. He’s been fighting a few of them off for years. He’s even dated a few, with disastrous results in a most cases. There is one woman who’s caught his eye, but not because she’s a debutant or society butterfly, but because she isn’t. Teri Kean is an author of children’s books, and the daughter of the Miller’s housekeeper. She’s been in and out of the Miller family home dozens of times, most often during her college years when she worked alongside her mother for parties and special events. She’s become friends with all the Miller daughters, and steered clear of the Miller sons. The last thing she wants is her picture on the society pages for dating a Miller. Yet, there’s something about Alex that sets him apart from the others and their friends. Alex has the typical traits of a skilled surgeon... confidence, bordering on arrogance, impatience with the mundane, and just a bit too much swagger. Can the handsome surgeon convince the introverted writer he has no interest in the women clamoring to marry a doctor? And, will his offer to help her write two books on facing childhood illness put him in her good graces? Only time, and a stolen kiss under the mistletoe, will tell?


Excerpt:


Teri let herself into her condo, nearly tripping over the large brown box the caretaker had set in the middle of her entryway. After hanging up her coat and stepping out of her ankle boots, she snatched up the box and carried it back to her office.


Scanning the mailing label, she read it aloud in a mocking tone. “Marie Terry, in care of Teri Kean. From Alabaster Publishing, New York.”


She’d no sooner read the return address when her cell rang, the specific ring tone assigned to Haley Walters, her editor.


“Hello, Haley,” Teri said loudly enough to be heard over the speaker.


“Hey, sweetie, did you get the package I sent you?”


Laughing, she admitted, “It would be great if Teri Kean, celebrated children’s author, got half the fan mail Marie Terry receives.”


“Well, what do you expect? Children don’t write reviews, or spend megabucks on romance novels... even sweet, small-town, love stories.”


“Tell me you’ve got some good news,” she cajoled. “A new cover for me to approve, maybe.”


“I’ve got the cover, but I’m not crazy about it, so I’m sending it back for some adjustments. I do have news, though.”


“About?” Teri prompted.


“I heard from marketing. That production company they approached is interested in looking at your Handley Farm books for a possible six-part mini-series.”


“Are you serious?”


“Yep, and you know what that means, don’t you?”


Teri pulled in a breath, and nodded... even though Haley couldn’t see her. “Yes, I guess I do.”


“If these books get turned into a made-for-television series, you’ll not be able to hide your alter ego from your family, friends, and the general public any longer.”


“My mom already knows,” Teri confirmed. “I told her when I moved back to Brant Mills. I have a feeling my friend, Cate, might have figured it out on her own.”


“Isn’t she the one helping you with your children’s books?”


“Yes, she is. When Cate stopped by a month or so ago to drop off her proofed copy of my next children’s book, she caught a glimpse of my manuscript for Derek’s Decision. I told her I was editing it... which I was.”


“And she assumed it was for another author?” Haley guessed.


“She didn’t say but, knowing Cate, she probably put two and two together.”


“These are sweet, Christian romances, Teri,” Haley reminded her. “The fact that you write them won’t hurt your sales for your children’s books. If anything, it might draw in more readers. Younger readers who already buy your other books for their kiddos.”


“I suppose,” she conceded.


“Unless you’re planning to branch out into steamy romance, you’ve got nothing to worry about.”


“That’s not going to happen. Ever.”


“Hey, there’s nothing wrong with a little tingle from time-to-time,” Haley argued.


“Given my limited experience with men, I’m not sure I could write ‘tingle’ the way it’s supposed to be written.”


“Surely there’s at least one fellow who’s got you all hot and bothered at some point,” Haley said with a snarky laugh.


“Just one. Even though he’s a big flirt, I’m almost positive he’s never thought of me in the same way.”


“This isn’t the stone age, girlfriend. Make the first move if you have to.”


Teri returned Haley’s sarcastic laugh with one of her own. “You’re assuming I’d even know where to begin.”


“Take my word for it... as someone who’s been married twice... if it’s right, it’ll come naturally.”


“Somehow, I don’t think the advice of a twice-divorced, flirtatious friend is what I need at the moment. I do appreciate you offering it though.”


“That’s your problem, you know,” Haley said boldly. “You’re too nice.”


“It’s the way I was raised, and the only way I know to be.”


“Don’t worry about it, sweetie. It seems to work for you.”


The moment the call ended Teri rushed off to the kitchen. Between her early afternoon meeting with Alex, the trip to the office supply store for more paper and toner, and the time spent on her call with Haley, she realized she’d not eaten since breakfast and she was starving. What she wouldn’t give for another helping of the Miller’s holiday dinner, or another of Betty’s sweet potato shortbread squares.


Or, better yet, a thick slice of pepperoni pizza.


Tugging on the handle of her refrigerator, she surveyed the contents before pulling out the fixings for her go-to staple grilled cheese and canned tomato soup.


Could a writer’s life get any more exciting than this?


Buy Links (including Goodreads and BookBub):






Share a holiday family tradition:


We really have no set traditions, other than the majority of the family together for the holiday meal. I’m blessed to have both of my sons and their families within a twenty-mile radius so it’s easy to manage the holiday. However, as the grandchildren grow older, they tend to want to do other things... as long as they still include their favorite holiday foods.


Why is your featured book perfect to get readers in the holiday mood?


Under the Mistletoe is the sixth of seven small-town holiday books featuring the same family of seven siblings. The Christmas holiday belongs to these two characters, but there is plenty of interaction with the entire, faith and fun loving family. The Miller family’s traditions, including charity cookie baking, are sure to put anyone in the mood.


Giveaway –

One lucky reader will win a $75 Amazon gift card

Open internationally.

Runs December 1 – 31

Drawing will be held on January 2, 2024.



Author Biography:


NANCY FRASER is a bestselling and award-winning author who can’t seem to decide which romance genre suits her best. So, she writes them all.


When not writing (which is almost never), Nancy dotes on her five wonderful grandchildren and looks forward to traveling and reading when time permits. Nancy lives in Atlantic Canada where she enjoys the relaxed pace and colorful people.


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