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The Mistletoe Countess Kindle Edition

by Pepper Basham (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 513 ratings
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Will the magic of Christmas bring these two newlyweds closer together, or will the ghosts of the past lead them into a destructive discovery from which not even a Dickens’s Christmas can save them?

Mistletoe is beautiful and dangerous, much like the woman from Lord Frederick’s Percy’s past, so when he turns over a new leaf and arranges to marry for his estate, instead of his heart, he never expects the wrong bride to be the right choice. Gracelynn Ferguson never expected to take her elder sister’s place as a Christmas bride, but when she’s thrust into the choice, she will trust in her faithful novels and overactive imagination to help her not only win Frederick’s heart but also to solve the murder mystery of Havensbrook Hall before the ghosts from Frederick’s past ruin her fairytale future. 
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  1. Book 1 of 3
    Freddie and Grace Mysteries
  2. Print length
    322 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  5. Publisher
    Barbour Fiction
  6. Publication date
    September 1, 2021
  7. File size
    3830 KB
  8. Page Flip
    Enabled
  9. Word Wise
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  10. Enhanced typesetting
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“In The Mistletoe Countess, author Pepper Basham has composed absolutely endearing perfection. Grace is the most adorable heroine ever written, and readers will instantly find her a kindred spirit. And Frederick? Readers need to keep a fan or fainting couch ever close when he’s on the page. Grace’s imaginative but genuine heart, Freddie’s swoonilicious yet wounded soul, a haunted house, and a few mysteries afoot will keep you enthralled from beginning to end. I loved every word!”
–Carrie Schmidt, reviewer & blogger, ReadingIsMySuperPower.org

“With her trademark wit and whimsy, Pepper Basham has written a thoroughly charming story. The Mistletoe Countess, with its adorably quirky, mystery-loving heroine and dashing hero, pays homage to well-loved classic literature while also delighting modern readers. This marriage of convenience romance will make you wish for Christmas, mistletoe, and the magic of a kiss.”  
–Kimberly Duffy, author of A Mosaic of Wings and A Tapestry of Light 

"Charming and delightfully amusing, Pepper Basham has once again penned a story that will leave readers smiling long after the last page is turned".
—Jen Turano, USA Today Bestselling Author

Delightfully witty and full of vivacity, The Mistletoe Countess proves that Pepper Basham is not only the queen of romance, she's also the grande dame of characterization. Grace's quirky innocence and plucky spirit will remind readers of another beloved literary redhead from North America, and the story will thrill readers from the meet cute to the daring (albeit somewhat bumbling) rescue. Destined to be a Christmas favorite for years to come. Keep a cold compress handy for the characters' (and author's) abject devotion to that foreshadowing in the title—mistletoe.
—Chautona Havig, author of Deepest Roots of the Heart and the Aggie Series. 

A festive Christmas read, The Mistletoe Countess will really put you into the holiday spirit! Spunky heroine Gracelynn Ferguson is the perfect match for Lord Astley—too bad, though, that it’s her sister who’s supposed to marry him. There are so many fun twists and turns to this story that there’s just no stopping a huge grin as you read. Grab a hot chocolate and nestle down with a blankie for this winner!
—Michelle Griep, Christy Award-winning author of Once Upon a Dickens Christmas

Set in 1913, The Mistletoe Countess combines the energy of a new century with the formality of the British nobility. When Gracelynn Ferguson is made a substitute in her sister's arranged marriage, bewildered Frederick Percy, Earl of Astley, gets more than he bargained for. While Grace's unorthodox American behavior ruffles aristocratic feathers, the new couple soon learns that the biggest threat to their happiness isn't their differences but a murderer hunting for the earl. A laugh on every page and a swoon-inciting encounter in every chapter, you don't want to get caught under the mistletoe without this thrilling book. 
—Regina Jennings, author of Courting Misfortune and Proposing Mischief

The Mistletoe Countess is a must-read for all romantics. Basham delivers an evocative story that feathers the heart with humor and stirs the soul with moving prose. The witty dialogue, sparky romance, and clever antics of a memorable heroine will captivate readers from start to finish.
—Rachel Scott McDaniel, award-winning author of Undercurrent of Secrets

A richly romantic literary romp, The Mistletoe Countess sweeps you into the embrace of irrepressible Grace and her far from fictional English earl. Overflowing with hope, heart, and hilarity, Pepper Basham crafts a sigh-worthy love story for every season, a melding of two people on different paths into an unforgettable, faith-filled whole that will make your own heart skip a beat. Beautiful!
—Laura Frantz, Christy Award-winning author of A Heart Adrift

About the Author

Pepper Basham is an award-winning author who writes romance peppered with grace and humor with southern Appalachian flair. Both her historical and contemporary novels have garnered recognition in the Grace Awards, Inspys, and ACFW Carol Awards. Her historical romance, The Thorn Healer, was a finalist in the 2018 RT Awards. Her historical romance novels, My Heart Belongs in the Blue Ridge and The Red Ribbon, and her contemporary novels, the Mitchell's Crossroads and Pleasant Gap series, showcase her Appalachian heritage, as well as her love for humor and family. She currently resides in the lovely mountains of Asheville, NC where she is the mom of five great kids, a speech-language pathologist to about fifty more, and a lover of chocolate, jazz, hats, and Jesus.

You can learn more about Pepper at her website http: //www.pepperdbasham.com or connect with her on FB, IG, or Twitter

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B097Z6XL9H
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Barbour Fiction (September 1, 2021)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 1, 2021
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 3830 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 322 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 1643529862
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 513 ratings

About the author

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Pepper Basham

Pepper Basham

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Pepper Basham is a best-selling author who writes romance “peppered” with grace and humor. Writing both historical and contemporary novels, she loves to incorporate her native Appalachian culture and/or her unabashed adoration of the UK into her stories. She currently resides in the lovely mountains of Asheville, NC where she is the wife of a fantastic pastor, mom of five great kids, a speech-language pathologist, and a lover of chocolate, jazz, hats, and Jesus. Her twentieth book, The Cairo Curse, came out in February. Next up is Positively, Penelope, the sequel to her bestselling novel, Authentically, Izzy. She loves connecting with readers and other authors through social media outlets like Facebook & Instagram.

You can learn more about Pepper and her books on her website at www.pepperdbasham.com

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Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
513 global ratings
Delightfully hilarious!
5 Stars
Delightfully hilarious!
This book is hilarious. It was a complete delight to get lost in its pages. I cannot remember the last time I laughed SO much while reading a book. 😂 Grace is utterly endearing, and no matter what trouble she got herself into, I found myself believing it was all a good idea right along with her. Then there is Lord Astley…. all I’m gonna is say is… SWOON!!! Make sure you have a good old fashioned ladies fan nearby to fan off all the heat from his antics! This was a beautifully, fun story with the perfect amount of mystery and suspense woven in. Its definitely got a permanent place on my keeper shelf!
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Top reviews from the United States

Rachel K
5.0 out of 5 stars Uplifting, healthy romance within marriage!
Reviewed in the United States on January 8, 2024
Verified Purchase
I loved the characters. I mean, full-on loved them. And I loved the romance. I usually don't like the whole marriage-of-convenience trope, as it almost always feels forced and contrived. It made sense here. As did the fact that it was an arranged marriage (of sorts). But the best part was Basham's treatment of marital intimacy. She portrayed it perfectly -- as a joyful joining of two people's hearts, minds, and bodies.

We are not subjected to bedroom scenes, but we fully appreciate that both wife and husband enjoy each other thoroughly, and that their intimate moments serve to enhance their appreciation of each other in other aspects of their lives as well. This is not portrayed in a smutty or titillating way at all -- I never once felt like I should skim ahead or skip whole paragraphs (or pages). And that is absolutely phenomenal. I have never, ever read a book that treated marital intimacy in such a wholesome, healthy, practical, and uplifting way. So commendable.

The mystery was interesting, the side characters were all well-rounded, and the setting was great. Most of the historical details were just right.

However.

There were word choices scattered randomly about that made no sense, or that alllllllmost made sense -- as if someone wanted to make the writing more interesting and tried substituting "unusual" words for the correct words, only those unusual words didn't actually fit. And that jerked me out of the story time and again, interrupting the narrative flow with a "what in the world?" reaction. I'm hoping that smooths out in later books.

TL;DR: the storytelling and characterization and plotting and dialog are all excellent here, and the romantic marriage is phenomenal, but this book needed a better editor. If glitchy word choices don't bug you (and they probably really don't bug like 90% of readers!), then you might very well love this book with no reservations!
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MF Literary Works
5.0 out of 5 stars Sweet Romance and Wonderful Story! Great Book to Read to get you in the mood for the Holidays!
Reviewed in the United States on November 28, 2023
Verified Purchase
Oh, What a delightful book to before the holiday season! I simply loved it and enjoyed every page of this story!
This story was based in the regency time and had all the interesting customs of those days. However, it also had tons of fun quirks of an American girl trying to fit into a British Aristocratic role. Could Grace truly become a “Lady?”
I found myself laughing and smiling at all the many crazy moments Grace and Frederick had. She had such spunk and determination. I loved all her sleuthing. She brought life to those around her. It must have been her red hair!
All the characters in this book were so relatable. I could picture all the events in my head.
Pepper Basham is a wonderfully skilled author, and she writes stories that will touch your heart. Her writing is smooth, and the story flowed so well, that it held me spellbound. I look forward to picking up more of her books and digging into them.
I highly recommend you pick this book up for a delightful Christmas read. You just might find yourself dreaming of castles, mistletoe, and happily ever after.
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Stephanie McCall
4.0 out of 5 stars A Fun Mix of Romance and Mystery
Reviewed in the United States on September 4, 2021
Verified Purchase
The Mistletoe Countess does remind me of mistletoe--beautiful and romantic, yet dangerous. As another reviewer said, Countess is "Pepper Basham totally unleashed." I could feel her writing every word of this book, and having a blast doing it. The entire book radiates fun, and I'm not sure who had a better time--Pepper writing it, or me reading it.

My absolute favorite part of The Mistletoe Countess was its heroine. I love Gracelynn Ferguson Percy (isn't Gracelynn the most precious name)? She's an example of a sanguine and somewhat flighty heroine done right. Despite some naive or immature moments, Grace comes across refreshing and real. I loved the combinations within her character, such as extroverted, sanguine bookworm (I usually see more introverted bookworms) and potentially reckless sleuth who still made great use of her brains. (One of my pet peeves occurs when an author describes a character as smart, but then lets them do silly or stupid things in the name of solving mysteries or problems. With Grace, I never got that. It's more an adventurous, innocent-yet-prepared charm).

The secondary characters, especially Frederick, don't get as much development as Grace. Frederick in particular seemed underdeveloped at times, maybe because he was meant to be Grace's opposite and the opposites are easy to figure out. With that said, the secondary characters were charming, interesting, and fun to get to know, even if on a basic level. I absolutely loved Grace and Frederick's chemistry; it reminded me of Julie Lessman with a somewhat sweeter, less steamy edge, but with plenty of spice. :) I loved seeing Frederick fall for Grace and work through his problems and emotions with her help. I also loved watching him learn to appreciate her world and her insatiable thirst for life. I mean, how many other aristocratic ladies and gentlemen do you know who would bond over structure and pipes of an early 1900s bathroom?

The villains were a good mix as well. They're a bit on the stereotypical side in terms of looks and names (bushy eyebrows, a hooked nose, the name Blackmore, and so on). And yet, they are chillingly intelligent and calculating. Pepper even threw in a surprise with one villain who didn't fit the profile, who wasn't quite a villain as I'd normally think of one, and who got a chance at redemption without the plot becoming hokey. Combine those villains and the mystery with the spicy-sweet romance, and you get a heck of a plot.

Speaking of, it certainly is a heck of a plot, in the best way. Pepper managed to pull off a mystery that combines more physical and immediate dangers with more cerebral and hidden ones. For instance, in one book, you get a car plunging into an icy river because its brakes failed--and you get a "ghost" haunting the east wing. You get a potential knifing in the middle of the night--and you get a calculated scheme centering on hemlock. You get Grace riding at breakneck speed to find sanctuary, and you get her analyzing people and motives so she can put together puzzle pieces. Again, it's a great mix.

The Christmas backdrop is wonderfully understated, too. Usually, with a title like Mistletoe Countess, the Christmas presence saturates the book. Sometimes that works to its detriment. Here, I might've actually liked some more Christmas elements, especially to offset a life-threatening mystery (that chilly, delicious irony)! But what exists works well, and in truth, the Christmas spirit here is Grace herself. She embodies compassion, optimism, and hope, yet remains human and relatable.

The Mistletoe Countess was missing some, ah, blooms, I guess. As mentioned, some of the characters read a little flat next to Grace. In addition, some of Grace's flaws seemed played up too much, even for a 1900s aristocratic setting. Sometimes, her flaws weren't even flaws. For example, much is made of Grace's red hair, as if red hair itself is some crime. Grace also freaks out because she doesn't know much about fashion, but one, that issue isn't resolved in a meaningful way. Two, it seemed a frivolous issue when compared to ones like, say, etiquette. Then again, had Grace become a perfect lady, it would've taken from her character, so I'm sort of willing to excuse those issues.

Some characters and plot threads drop in and drop out of the story too quickly, or events are summed up too much for my taste. Also, characters or events that are set up to be a huge deal really aren't. Lily is a prime example, as is Lady Moriah's blackmail. These events or characters work, sort of. The issue is where they come into the story and how long they stay, or how important they are. Sometimes, between the ghost, the physical mystery, the blackmail, the poisonings, Edward's disreputable past, and Frederick's dalliances, I felt Pepper had way too much going on.

Finally, and this is an issue I've had with Pepper Basham's books for a long time: Where. Is. The. Editor???? I didn't notice any flagrant spelling or grammatical errors, and only one misuse, "hew" for "hue." But now Pepper seems to have developed the habit of hyphenating words when they're still on the same line, as in: mis-tle-toe, et-i-que-tte, etc. It's mildly distracting and again, irresponsible on the part of editors. I guess the intent was to hyphenate if a word went over into the next line, which is absolutely okay. But instead, the breaks are misplaced everywhere.

With all that said, The Mistletoe Countess remains a strong book with probably the most fun heroine I've met this year. If you haven't snagged a copy yet, do so and let Christmas come early--or save and savor by the fireplace, maybe with some cocoa, cider, or mulled wine.
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