Book Club Blog: Whiskey & Mistletoe

Ever hear the idea of saving the best for last? That's kind of how reading Whiskey & Mistletoe felt. This story is the final book club book of the year, it's the final story in the Near & Far Magazine trilogy, and it grabbed me from the first page.

Augusta Chamberlain is the third partner in Near & Far Magazine. She's an accountant, and for her Christmas vacation, she's the lucky one who gets to do a staycation in their town of Vernon, BC. Auggie has plans to help out raising money for charity at a skate-a-thon, then to pitch in at a Christmas dinner to feed the homeless. What she doesn't know is she won't be alone when any of this happens. One of her partners, Melissa Samms has seen to that.

Mellie has arranged for Irish Whiskey distiller, Josh Chamberlain, to crash Auggie's party.

Josh has come all the way from Ireland to check out the proprieters of Near and Far Magazine. It wasn't only the quality of his whiskey that has made him successful, but also listening to his instincts, so he isn't content to sign business papers across the internet. He wants to see for himself who he will be doing business with. When he first sees Augusta, she's pacing back and forth in the airport arrivals terminal, waiting for a late plan. She is all fidgety, restless energy, long-legged energy, and he is hooked before he's even interested to her lead foot and her reluctant hospitality.

Without even trying, Auggie has his number. Now Josh just has to convince her that she wants it. Sure, the man is successful, and gorgeous, and he has the lilt of Ireland on his tongue, but the thing is, no one told her he was camping out in the room next door. Auggie's just a little put out that Mellie has landed her with tourist duty for the holidays. That all changes when, with no real choice, she brings Josh along with her to the Christmas party she was attending. It turns out the man has moves on the dance floor, and when he takes the opportunity and kisses her, she begins to suspect having a guest for Christmas might not be so bad, after all.

The chemistry between these two is instant, and scorching, and yet there is also a truly playful element to the two of them together. Somewhere between snowball fights and serving mashed potatoes to the homeless, Auggie realizes that Josh is more than just good looking. He's just good. When he asks her to go to Ireland with him, she wants to say yes, but she knows she's falling for him. How in the world would they ever make the attraction they feel work as more than just a Christmas affair? Then again, when you meet the perfect man, and he wants to be your man, how do you let him walk away?

This is the dilemma the two have to overcome. Watching them make their way is fun, sexy, and will leave you with a warm feeling in your heart. This story will put you in the mood for Christmas cheer -- and for love. Five stars, for sure.