Book Description: "A rowdy bar owner. A widowed pastor’s wife. And Christmas hope that brings them together.
After widower Eden Snow’s church almost burns to the ground, she’s compelled to find a temporary place to hold services and Christmas cantata practices.
Has-been hockey player, Knox Everhart, has a reputation for being fast on the ice and with women. Except Eden. She’s always been a fascinating mystery to him, which is why he agrees to let her use the back room of his bar—with one rule: No converting his customers.
But when Eden brings the church to the bar, it offers something the bottle can’t. Hope. And he finds himself falling in love with a woman and a Savior he feels unworthy to pursue."
That book description was exactly what hooked me into reading this book. That, and the fact that although I have my favorite authors whose every work I read, I'm always looking for new authors and what they have to offer. I must say that I have definitely found that in author Jessica R. Patch. If this is her debut work, I can only imagine what the rest of her works will be like.
Hope Under Mistletoe is first and foremost just that; a story of hope. Although the setting is Christmastime, it is a book that can be enjoyed any time of the year. Aside from being a story of hope, it's a story of redemption, forgiveness, love, and new beginnings. Eden Snow is a widow and mother. She is such an optimist, and her optimism seems to spill over onto others, even the ones that would presumably be immune, such as bar owner and "bad boy" Knox Everhart. Knox and Eden's past is connected by the fact that they’ve known each other for many years, as well as the fact that Knox and Nathan, Eden's husband, were best friends. Somehow Knox finds himself struggling to say, "No," to Eden, no matter what her request is. This includes the request to use a back room of his bar as a temporary church location while Eden's church is being rebuilt.
The author has written a beautiful story. She masterfully takes us through what seems to be the impossible and turns it into the possible which leaves you with a feel good feeling of hope. She just as masterfully unfolds a wonderful clean, sweet love story that is simply beautiful. Hope Under the Mistletoe will leave you with a sigh, a smile, and a desire to read more of this author's works. As for me, Jessica R. Patch has definitely earned a spot on my favorite author list.
