In the snowy mountains of Montana, widowed bladesmith Hart Amory guards his solitude like a treasure. Ten Christmases have passed since his wife’s death, leaving a hollow ache that echoes in the rhythm of his hammer on the anvil. With only Frank, his faithful furry friend, by his side, Hart endures each winter alone with his grief and pain.

But this year, a blizzard brings more than snow to his door. Five days before Christmas, Nessa, a spirited woman with eyes as bright as winter stars, and her teenage daughter Wren, become stranded when they travel up the mountain to interrupt Hart’s self-imposed exile with an impossible request: replicate the heirloom knife Wren’s late father gave her so she can take part in her family’s Christmas tradition.

Only Hart has the skill to pull off the miracle they need, but it means letting Nessa and Wren into his life. With each shared cup of cocoa, each whispered secret, and each smile cast his way, feeling returns to his frostbitten heart.

As Christmas grows nearer, Hart must make the choice between letting go of his grief and misery or letting go of Nessa and the hope she brings. Can he forge not just a knife, but a second chance at joy?

~Standalone~ (although some sites list this as the series:  Beneath the Mistletoe #2)

This story may contain language, possible violence, and/or sexual situations geared to an adult 18+ audience.

Title:  Mistletoe Miracle
Series:  Standalone title
Author:  Cate Tayler
Published:  December 23, 2023
My Rating:  4.5 stars

Mistletoe Miracle is a standalone novella set at Christmastime.  Sometimes a story, no matter how long or short, will wind itself around my heart, reminding me how devastating grief can be, and how bright healing can feel.  Hart, Nessa, and Wren brought those emotions to me, and so much more, in a heartfelt second-chance-at-life type of romance.  Hart has become a recluse after the death of his wife, more than a decade ago.  He’s a talented bladesmith, and his work, along with the companionship of his faithful dog, is what has kept him existing… even when giving up was his desire.  Hidden away on the mountain, Hart goes through the motions of each day… until strangers enter his world with an impossible request.

Nessa has lost her husband, and Wren lost her father, yet not even death will halt a family Christmas tradition.  One that Nessa and Wren desperately need Hart to fix, or a miracle if possible.  They need a unique heirloom knife replicated; it’s necessary for the teenager to take part in a family Christmas tradition.  Hart has the skill, but a snowstorm has trapped his unwanted visitors in the mountains, and to survive the storm, they’re going to have to work together.  Hart never expected the ice to melt from around his heart.  It was unthinkable, yet slowly this woman and her daughter were working another kind of miracle… one where Hart begins to see beyond his decade-old grief to a possible future, if he can take that risk.

Mistletoe Miracle by Cate Tayler is a novella-length story that packs a powerful emotional punch.  Watching these three people face grief, some newer than others, and begin the healing process while letting each other into their lives, perhaps their future, was an emotional journey that lingered in my mind long after the final page.  It’s well-written, emotional, and believable in all of the nuances of their story.  If you love a Christmas Romance that engages all the emotions and shows hope for the future, then you’d love this one.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the author or the author’s team via Booksprout, and I sincerely thank them for their trust. It is my choice to leave a review, giving my personal opinion about this book.*

This title is available at Amazon