Susan's Review of Cindy Kirk's Holly Pointe and Mistletoe

The best gift of all is the one you share with someone else. . .

After losing her family, her boyfriend, and her job, Stella is on the verge of being ho-ho-homeless. Out of desperation, she accepts an assignment to write a story on Holly Pointe, Vermont, the tiny town recently crowned the ‘Capital of Christmas Kindness’. If she can prove the town’s holiday spirit is a sham, her Editor promises Stella will start the New Year with a new career.

Rancher Sam Johnson is Holly Pointe’s resident Grinch--at least in the eyes of the tinsel-loving townspeople. It’s not that he doesn’t like the lights and the carols. It’s that they remind him of the brother he lost. Christmas is a time for family, and if Sam can’t have that, then he prefers to spend the holiday alone. But when Stella blows into town on a wild winter wind, the frosty walls around Sam’s heart thaw.

Charmed by Holly Pointe, Stella is torn. She doesn’t want to betray the friends she’s made, but she’s scared to give up the life she knows. And then there’s Sam. She never expected to fall in love with someone so different from her, yet that’s exactly what has happened. While Stella searches for a solution, the real reason for her arrival in Holly Pointe is discovered. Now, it’ll take a true Christmas miracle for Sam and Stella to make this holiday a happy one.

I enjoyed reading Cindy Kirk’s Holly Pointe and Mistletoe. The premise of the story intrigued me. A journalist was sent to Holly Pointe, Vermont during the holidays to write an expose not a flattering piece, on the town. A negative article at Christmas? Despite my initial concerns, the novel’s small town setting and fabulous characters drew me into this holiday read.

Stella Carpenter is running out of options; she’s been unemployed for three months, she has nowhere to live and her boyfriend dumped her. Stella receives an all-expenses paid assignment from her former editor. Her editor doesn’t want a fluff piece-she wants Stella to write an expose about the town that’s been named the Christmas Capital of the United States. Stella grabs the assignment and hopes that it will lead to a full time job.

It took me awhile to warm up to Stella. She skates around the truth, cozies up to the town leaders and secures a job as a social media photographer on her first day in town. I adore Cindy Kirk’s small town slice of life stories and the characters who add color and depth to the story. Through her friendships with Faith, Melinda and Sam, Stella understands that kindness, friendship and trust are part of the fabric of this small town. I loved the scene which takes place at Faith’s gift shop; Stella is asked if being a reporter is much as who she is as much as what she does? This talk about integrity shakes Stella to the core.

With its message of forgiveness and kindness, Holly Pointe and Mistletoe is a fabulous holiday read. The characters are not perfect; instead they are relatable. Their stories are filled with love, compassion and hope. Reading this novel emphasizes the small town values of honesty, community and faith-each character exemplifies these values when they interact with Stella. Her personal and professional decisions drive the story towards its satisfying conclusion.

Grab a cup of tea and your favorite blanket or corgi—and settle in for a fabulous afternoon read. This book is a holiday treasure.

Reviewed by Susan Gorman

ARC provided by the author