Review: Not to Be Missed Holiday Short (A- Grade)
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 12 22, 2010
Owen McKenzie's family has decided to spend Christmas in the picturesque town of Evergreen, Vermont where Owen has moved and will soon work as the town's new veterinarian. Along with his dog Jake, they'll stay at a local inn along with his player of a brother Ryan, their cancer stricken father, a matchmaking mother who doesn't know when to quit, and more than enough uncles and cousins who can't seem to stay away from the booze. Owen hopes this new change in scenery will give him the tranquility he's looking for. Unfortunately this Christmas may give him major heartburn instead. His mother has not only invited his recent ex-lover, Keith to stay with them, but a blast from Owen's past comes back to haunt him. Due to his mother's meddling, Owen's first love from high school, and Evergreen resident, Caleb Black, is staying at the same inn as well. It has been fifteen years since Owen last saw Caleb; and his attraction for the former rebel hasn't diminished. Caleb was his first everything, the boy he admired, had a bad crush on, and kissed.With Keith badgering him, and Caleb giving him mixed signals, Owen's entire world has become topsy-turvy. He can't help but think back to those times he and Caleb shared together as teenagers. And when a massive snow storm strands both men alone together in a cabin, Caleb is more than willing to move forward with Owen. For once in his life all Owen has to do is say yes, and take that chance before Caleb walks out of his life again for good.L.B. Gregg continues to astound me with her writing. Mistletoe at Midnight is the perfect example of how her skills as a writer have grown. This is a nice, tender romance that channels a bit of Dickens' holiday classic, A Christmas Carol. Caleb is not only Owen's past, shown in nice detail through flashbacks, but his present and future.L.B. has a great way of showing family camaraderie in all its lovable wackiness from drunk relatives; to a nuisance of mother who acts the way she does all because she wants her children happy. I wished Mistletoe at Midnight could have been longer, just to see more of Owen's interactions with his sick father. My throat clogged with emotion over this relationship because it shows how parents can be vulnerable, and how they look toward their children to keep them happy. We see perfectly through Owen's parents' eyes how proud they are of their son. I also enjoyed Owen and Ryan's brotherly teasing toward one other.Mistletoe at Midnight is a short, fast read that really tugs at the heart. It's a family saga combined with a long lost love reunion romance that's not to be missed.Katiebabs