Reviewed by Valerie
TITLE: The Mistletoe Problem
AUTHOR: Geneva Vand
PUBLISHER: Self-Published
LENGTH: 55 pages
RELEASE DATE: December 7, 2020
BLURB:
Noah’s winter holiday seasons tend to be busy but uneventful. Most of his time is spent running his mildly magical gift shop and trying not to obsess over Robin, his much too appealing seasonal employee. When Robin bursts into the back room of the shop to tell him that something is wrong with the mistletoe, Noah realizes this year is going to be a bit more interesting. But it’s fine. All he has to do is retrieve all the spelled mistletoe before it causes kiss-filled chaos all over town while keeping his hands—and lips—off Robin. Simple, right? No problem at all.
REVIEW:
Noah is the proprietor of Charming, a popular gift shop specializing in a whimsical collection of gifts for the average customer, in addition to magical tools and gifts for “those in the know”. The shop is a great success but Noah has a serious problem when the mistletoe he sells causes some unexpected reactions among his customers. And between his seasonal employee, Robin, and himself. Noah has had a crush on Robin for years, but as his employer he feels he can’t act on his feelings. Until the mistletoe takes that choice away from him. Noah and Robin have a difference of opinion on how to proceed, however. Amusement ensues as the men work together to collect the already purchased mistletoe from their customers.
I’m generally not a big consumer of short stories, but this year I accidentally stumbled upon one thinking it was novel length. I got hooked and have had success in choosing a number of excellent quality shorts since. The Mistletoe Problem is no exception. It’s light and fluffy, a perfect feel–good read that brings cheer in a brief amount of time. The plot is unique, the pace is brisk, and most importantly, author Geneva Vand doesn’t attempt to stuff more that she should into the short format. The main characters are endearing and the humor is abundant. Noah’s repeated objections grow a bit tiring, but they grant the opportunity for Robin to shine in a comedic role. Charming may be the best way to describe this story; I happily recommend it.
RATING: 
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