Kissing Under the Mistletoe

A St. Helena Vineyard Novel

By: Marina Adair

Narrated by: Renee Raudman

Length: 8 hrs and 52 mins

Publisher's summary

Regan Martin stopped believing in Christmas miracles the day she discovered her fiancé was already married.

The fallout cost her everything - her career, her home, and her impeccable reputation in the wine industry. But now she has a second chance with a dream job in the Napa Valley, and a cozy cottage for her and her daughter, whose one Christmas wish is for a forever home.

But those hopes are threatened when Gabe DeLuca, the scorned wife’s brother, tries to drive Regan out of town - even if he can’t seem to drive the luscious beauty from his thoughts. When his attempts to get her to leave backfire, he sees that Regan may hold the key to tracking down his sister’s stolen start-up capital. As Christmas nears, Gabe realizes Regan might even be his Christmas wish and hold the key to his heart.

©2012 Marina Adair (P)2012 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Great Book, HORRIFIC Narrator

It is a testament to the author's skill and her ability to create a story interesting enough for me to power through the AWFUL narration. I had forgotten the name of the narrator for Ilona Andrews' Clean Sweep who ruined that book (and that author since she apparently narrates many of her books) for me. Renee Raudman...NEVER again. Weirdly, my problems with her are different in the two books. (In Clean Sweep, she made a 20-something girl sound like an 89-yo southern belle in an old folks home- which was a major turn off for me.) In this book, it sounded like she was narrating with a retainer in her mouth. The resulting "schw" sound for all the "s" sounds was like a cross between Humphrey Bogart and Daffy Duck, "Schweethearth, yer deschpicable." Sadly, you can't tell that from the audio sample since it is only seconds long and mostly consists of intro music. I'm guessing that's intentional.

As for the story, the characters were well-developed and interesting. There was great comedic humor mixed with pretty serious drama in a fairly realistic setting. It is romance, hence, "fairly realistic." I really liked the story, obviously, or I would never have gotten through the first chapter. I found myself liking these people and their town and wanting to know what will happen to them in the future and how they will grow and change. This is my first book by Marina Adair, and IF there is a different narrator for her other books, it will definitely not be my last. Unfortunately, I just DO NOT have the time to sit down and read, so if RR is contracted for more books, I will have to pass. This was a Kindle Unlimited Read and Listen for Free title. As such, I am satisfied with being introduced to a new-to-me author. However, had I spent a credit or cash, I'd have to ask for it back due to the heinous narration.

Good read..

Any additional comments?

I liked this story well enough. It kept me entertained and I admit I did tear up a couple of times. I liked Regen and Gabe, although him getting her fired from every job for six years was a little much since it was his sister Abby who was hurt and not him. I really liked the three Mrs. Clauses and Jordan. It was a fun and a little sad read but there was a HEA. And the sexual tension/sex was marvelous.

As to the narrator? She managed the voices just fine.

The Underdog

If you could sum up Kissing Under the Mistletoe in three words, what would they be?

Underdog, Fighter, Emotional

What did you like best about this story?

I liked that the main female character was strong. She's a single mother that has been through hell and she has so much pride and determination. She has her low moments but can really keep her chin up and keep fighting. It's a little heartbreaking to see the amount of pride of determination she has to survive a situaiton that mainly wasn't of her doing.

Any additional comments?

I'll admit to crying during multiple times during this story. I'm emotional and thinking of a single mother going through so much for things that she really didn't do wrong. It was very heartbreaking for me. I felt that she was doing nothing more than trying to do the best for her daughter with a past that just wouldn't go away and it was hard to endure at times. Though there is a happy ending it was hard to get past all the sadness to feel happy with the happy ending. I think if there wasn't SO MUCH of the hard times I could have been more happy, but I give Marina Adair props for creating a really strong female lead that I feel emotional about and definately was rooting for her till the end.

Aside from the story it took me a bit to get used to the narrator. I didn't favor her normal reading voice, but did enjoy her character voices.

Enjoyable Rainy Afternoon Story

This was a very enjoyable story and I always like Renee Raudmans narrations. I lots of times I find books by looking for a fav narrater rather then an author. This story had a good plot and enjoyable characters. It is a great curl up and relax book not a I can't put this down kind. Well worth the credit and one I will listen to again.

Mixed Feelings on this One!

I don’t know what my true feelings are about this book. Regan was nineteen years old when she was taken advantage of by an older man, who was her mentor, and who also neglected to tell her he was married. Absconding with the funds from the project he was overseeing, abandoning his wife, and leaving his lover pregnant, Regan becomes the target of the DeLucas, who believed she was in on the swindle with him. She was blackballed from every job she got, from California to Oregon, the only thing she knew was the wine industry,but whereever she went the DeLucas found her and used their influence to get her fired. This really bothered me because how long and how far will someone go to make someone’s life miserable, and to keep them from making a life for themselves. The De Luca’s are rich, powerful and with lots of influence in the wine business, was their hounding of this poor girl necessary? Was Gabe DeLucas sister so fragile that she needed her brothers to hound this poor woman for 6 years? Did they ever consider how young she was when she was involved with their brother in law? How suave his brother in law was, and how he used his position to manipulate this young woman, just as he manipulated the De Lucas and their sister, his wife?

Admittedly, Regan made some silly choices and mistakes in this story that annoyed me to no end. However, I loved the three Mrs. Clauses, it seemed to me they were the only ones in this story with an ounce of sense. Gabe DeLuca was redeemed later in my eyes, when he realized what his interference in her life had cost her and her daughter, his guilt kicked in, he then realized maybe she was the innocent she seemed and had been a victim as much as his sister had.
One thing I can say about Regan is that she never gave up, she was determined to make a good life for her daughter. Though the story ended happily, I was still unsatisfied, I never heard an apology from the rest of the family for their treatment of her for the past 6 years.

Renee Raudman did an excellent job with her narration of this story.

Had this been my first

I would never read or listen to this author again! Gabe is a complete jerk and continues being a jerk throughout the book! How or why he ends up with the girl is beyond me. I have read and listened to other books in this series prior to to this one that I like much more. If you listen to this one first please give her other books a try.

Awesome!

Where does Kissing Under the Mistletoe rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Top best!

What was one of the most memorable moments of Kissing Under the Mistletoe?

The beginning was kind of funny and of course the ending.

Which character – as performed by Renee Raudman – was your favorite?

The 3 Santa Ladies

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Yes, from laughing to crying, my emotion was like a roller coaster, this story line would be great for the movies especially during the holiday season.

Touching Story

This was my first book/audio by Marina Adair, but won't be the last. She's a wonderful author. She has a way with words that keeps the reader/listener interested, not using a lot of 'filler words' like so many authors do.

It's a sweet story that stirs a variety of emotions...some laughter and perhaps a few tears.

It's about the plight of a single parent, Regan, made harder by the head of the poweful Deluca family, whom she unknowingly wronged. Believing he is protecting his family, he makes her professional life a nightmare, stalking her all over the country, getting her fired and keeping her from getting jobs. Not able to support her daughter and herself in her chosen profession, she takes a job as a maid, but finds help and friendship in the most unexpected places.

Most of the characters are very likeable. Regans 5 year old daughter, Holly, is adorable.

Renee Raudman gave a good performance. At first I didn't think I would like her narration, but she got better, and better as the story progressed.

I would recommend "Kissing Under The Mistletoe" to all romantics.

Cute, but.....

Just missed the mark for me. The "hero" destroyed the main character's life for six years, but he was just being a good brother. :/ A few humorous moments, but more the roll your eyes kind. A little steam, but again just missing something for me. Of all the towns she could settle in to raise her daughter, she chooses right in the middle of family that she inadvertently hurt. Just not "real" enough for my enjoyment. Way too much angst and drama without enough of a pay off.

lighthearted

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

yes

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

ok

Which scene was your favorite?

they were all ok

What would have made this romance irresistible?

if the main female character stood up for herself a bit more

Any additional comments?

good lighthearted reading