I absolutely loved Nita Prose’s The Maid and The Mystery Guest. I love her writing style, I love the way she creates her story and mystery and the characters she’s created, over the course of two books have become friends.

So, when I heard there was a Christmas novella, The Mistletoe Mystery, I wanted to read it around the holidays. I missed out on reading it at Christmas, but I figure it’s close enough that I can still enjoy it.

There’s no murder, no foul play of any sort in this one, this is just a holiday story with the delightful Molly Gray, the head maid at the Regency Grand Hotel.

Molly, as previously established, has a hard time reading social cues, vocal tones, and often takes things literally. But she’s honest, warm, and dedicated to those around her.

Set about a year after the events in The Mystery Guest, the story finds Molly and her boyfriend, Juan Manuel getting ready for Christmas. They’ve created a series of traditions together, and it’s obvious to the reader what Juan wants for Christmas. It’s hinted at in a couple of the advent calendar gifts he’s created for Molly.

The advent calendar ties the story in nicely with how important Molly’s late Gran was, and still is, to her.

But Molly is growing suspicious of Juan, and wonders if he’s getting ready to move on from the relationship. She’s seen Juan secretly meeting with their landlord, her friends at work, and entering one of the guest rooms of the hotel with an attractive woman.

Is something going on? Molly doesn’t now how to process what is going on and it may jeopardize their relationship.

But, it’s Christmas, there’s a reason for everything, and sure, it plays out a little bit like a Hallmark movie, but I love these characters so much that just spending some time during the holidays was delightful. And I just want Molly to be happy, so hopefully this is a Christmas she’ll remember for a long time time come.

Prose has created such a wonderful character with Molly that I eagerly anticipate the next novel, and hope we get Maid stories for a long time to come. They’re so well told, so wonderfully crafted, and Molly, her family and friends are great creations. I can’t wait to see them again.

This one was a short, one-sitting read that was absolutely delightful and reminded us of the real reason for the season.