Book Review: Mistletoe and Mr. Right (Moose Springs) by Sarah Morgenthaler

Mistletoe and Mr. Right by Sarah Morgenthaler is the second book in the Moose Spring series. I did not know it was part of a series until I started reading and realized the town and characters had already been explained in the previous book. I did catch up quickly, and think most other newcomers will be able to as well. 

Lana Montgomery is everything the quirky small town of Moose Springs, Alaska can't stand: a rich socialite with dreams of changing things for the better. But Lana's determined to prove that she belongs...even if it means trading her stilettos for snow boots and tracking one of the town's hairiest Christmas mysteries: the Santa Moose, an antlered Grinch hell-bent on destroying every bit of holiday cheer (and tinsel) it can sink its teeth into. The last few years have been tough on Rick Harding, and it's not getting any easier now that his dream girl's back in town. When Lana accidentally tranquilizes him instead of the Santa Moose, it's clear she needs help, fast...and this could be his chance to finally catch her eye. It's an all-out Christmas war, but if they can nab that darn moose before it destroys the town, Rick and Lana might finally find a place where they both belong, together.

Mistletoe and Mr. Right is a book that captured my attention with the promise of quirky characters and a quirkier town. I loved the Santa Moose, taxidermy squirrels, and a town full of interesting but stubborn people. I found myself quickly caring about Lana and her struggle to balance family, business, and herself- particularly since family and business were so intertwined.  I was equally interested in Rick, his need to balance friends, business, and his nephew. I really liked the story building and getting to know some of the residents of Moose Spring. I will say that I think returning readers to this series will have a better understanding of most of the characters and the dynamics of the small town, going in. So they will likely enjoy the read more than newcomers like myself. I also found Lana's speech patterns a little distracting. I know some people use chosen words quite often, but her use of 'dearest' seemed odd to me. It just became distracting to me after awhile, particularly when being used towards just about everyone. I liked Lana and Rick together, and the cute animals involved even if they felt a little gimmicky in the bigger picture of the story. I found myself smiling often while reading because of them regardless. I was a little annoyed that I still do not know how everything with Lana's business side works out, and I have several unanswered questions about the town, the moose, and the resort. I hope those questions are answered as the series continues.

Mistletoe and Mr. Right is a fun romance with good characters and interactions. I was a good read, but will be even better to fans of the series.