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Maid Under the Mistletoe
An upstairs-downstairs affair for Christmas…only from USA TODAY bestselling author Maureen Child!
Single mom Joy Curran needs this temporary holiday housekeeping job working for a reclusive billionaire. But her sexy, aloof boss pulls at Joy's heartstrings—and her long-denied desires—in unexpected ways…
Sam Henry never got over the loss of his wife and son, and he's shut himself off from happiness, love…and the holidays. But Joy and her sweet daughter bring laughter into his life. And living with his new maid ignites a passion he can't ignore. After one glorious night in Joy's arms, will this beauty be the Christmas miracle that changes the beast forever?
189 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 1, 2016
49 people are currently reading
82 people want to read
About the author
Maureen Child
1,151 books548 followersUSA Today best selling author Maureen Child is the author of more than ninety romance novels and novellas. Maureen is a five time nominee for the prestigious Rita award from Romance Writers of America.
One of her novels, A Pocketful Of Paradise, was made into a CBS-TV movie called The Soul Collector, starring Melissa Gilbert, Bruce Greenwood and Ossie Davis.
Over the years, she’s written under lots of different names and she prefers the term ‘pseudonym’ to ‘alias’. As Ann Carberry, she wrote western historical romances. As Kathleen Kane, she wrote not only Americana romances, but western paranormal romances as well. As Sarah Hart, she wrote one really spectacular western paranormal that is still one of her favorites. And once, Ann Carberry even wrote a Victorian historical which she absolutely loved doing.
Under her own name, Maureen writes short contemporary novels for Silhouette Desire—books she loves to write because of their fast pace and condensed story telling. Maureen is also writing funny, contemporary paranormal romances for NAL and darker paranormal stories for Silhouette Nocturne.
Maureen writes paranormal romance novels under the pesudonym of Regan Hastings
One of her novels, A Pocketful Of Paradise, was made into a CBS-TV movie called The Soul Collector, starring Melissa Gilbert, Bruce Greenwood and Ossie Davis.
Over the years, she’s written under lots of different names and she prefers the term ‘pseudonym’ to ‘alias’. As Ann Carberry, she wrote western historical romances. As Kathleen Kane, she wrote not only Americana romances, but western paranormal romances as well. As Sarah Hart, she wrote one really spectacular western paranormal that is still one of her favorites. And once, Ann Carberry even wrote a Victorian historical which she absolutely loved doing.
Under her own name, Maureen writes short contemporary novels for Silhouette Desire—books she loves to write because of their fast pace and condensed story telling. Maureen is also writing funny, contemporary paranormal romances for NAL and darker paranormal stories for Silhouette Nocturne.
Maureen writes paranormal romance novels under the pesudonym of Regan Hastings
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
December 27, 2017
The author breaks the fourth wall by having the heroine provide commentary on how some readers like to leave rude comments on author websites (What does this have to do with the story exactly? Nothing.). The first love scene involves the couple being so hot for each other well, oopsie they forgot to use a condom (even though there are condoms IN THE HOUSE!).
No. Just, no.
No. Just, no.
December 26, 2020
I wish we would’ve found out if Joy was pregnant or not. 🤷🏻♀️
December 14, 2016
Very good book. Sam is an artist who lost his wife and son in an accident six years earlier. He blames himself and has hidden himself away, no longer able to find the passion he used to have for his art. Instead, he expresses his creativity in the beautiful furniture he makes. One thing he won't do is let anyone close to him again.
As the book opens, Sam is complaining to his housekeeper of five years as she prepares to leave on her yearly cruise. She always has a friend that will come fill in for her, and this year she has asked her friend Joy. Kaye fusses at him not to make things difficult for Joy and she'll take good care of him. He gets quite a shock the next morning when he discovers that Joy is not an older woman like Kaye, but a young one with - horror of horrors - a child.
I loved their first encounter. Sam is determined to send them on their way and Joy is equally determined that they will stay. It was fun to see Joy shoot down every objection he had, not giving him a chance to really put his foot down. Joy's daughter Holly also got into the mix, talking a mile a minute about fairies, whether there are any in his woods, Christmas, the puppy she wants, until he doesn't know which way is up. He basically runs away to his workshop, hiding out there until he figures they've gone to bed. He's surprised to find Joy waiting up for him in the kitchen, with one of the best meals he's ever had. He agrees that they can stay, but makes his requirements known. Joy agrees, but has no intention of going along.
Joy can see that Sam has closed himself off and can't stand to see him facing such a lonely future. She is determined to bring him back to the land of the living. Sometimes it seems that her method is to talk to him until he agrees in self-defense. It was interesting to see their encounters go from mostly her talking, to slowly getting some participation from him. But it turns out that her secret weapon is Holly. For all of his gruff crabbiness, there is no way that Sam can be mean to little Holly and he quickly finds her burrowing into his heart. It was so sweet to see him stop his work and build fairy houses with her and listen to her stories about the fairies who would live in them. Seeing them together also showed Joy that Sam had a lot of love to give, if he would just allow himself to feel it.
I ached so much for Sam. His misery over the loss of his family was made worse by the way he blamed himself. Not only had he lost them, but the guilt made it impossible for him to paint again. I liked the way he lost himself in his furniture making, giving him an outlet for the creativity that was still there. I had a lot of fun watching him try to resist steamroller Joy and losing miserably. I especially loved the scene in town when she talked him into taking her to dinner and he had to put up with meeting so many people.
Both Sam and Joy also had to deal with the sparks that burned brighter between them with each day. The way he makes her feel is just one more thing to add to the feelings that are growing within her. Joy hopes that Sam feels the same way, and occasionally glimpses something in his eyes that feeds the hope. But when a crisis happens involving Holly, Joy can feel him start to pull away, back into his old protective habits. I ached for them both when she finally tells him how she feels, and Sam refuses to take a chance, causing Joy and Holly to return to their home. But in the spirit of Christmas, it's young Holly who brings Sam and Joy back together. I loved his big moment on Christmas Day, when he makes a lot of wishes come true.
As the book opens, Sam is complaining to his housekeeper of five years as she prepares to leave on her yearly cruise. She always has a friend that will come fill in for her, and this year she has asked her friend Joy. Kaye fusses at him not to make things difficult for Joy and she'll take good care of him. He gets quite a shock the next morning when he discovers that Joy is not an older woman like Kaye, but a young one with - horror of horrors - a child.
I loved their first encounter. Sam is determined to send them on their way and Joy is equally determined that they will stay. It was fun to see Joy shoot down every objection he had, not giving him a chance to really put his foot down. Joy's daughter Holly also got into the mix, talking a mile a minute about fairies, whether there are any in his woods, Christmas, the puppy she wants, until he doesn't know which way is up. He basically runs away to his workshop, hiding out there until he figures they've gone to bed. He's surprised to find Joy waiting up for him in the kitchen, with one of the best meals he's ever had. He agrees that they can stay, but makes his requirements known. Joy agrees, but has no intention of going along.
Joy can see that Sam has closed himself off and can't stand to see him facing such a lonely future. She is determined to bring him back to the land of the living. Sometimes it seems that her method is to talk to him until he agrees in self-defense. It was interesting to see their encounters go from mostly her talking, to slowly getting some participation from him. But it turns out that her secret weapon is Holly. For all of his gruff crabbiness, there is no way that Sam can be mean to little Holly and he quickly finds her burrowing into his heart. It was so sweet to see him stop his work and build fairy houses with her and listen to her stories about the fairies who would live in them. Seeing them together also showed Joy that Sam had a lot of love to give, if he would just allow himself to feel it.
I ached so much for Sam. His misery over the loss of his family was made worse by the way he blamed himself. Not only had he lost them, but the guilt made it impossible for him to paint again. I liked the way he lost himself in his furniture making, giving him an outlet for the creativity that was still there. I had a lot of fun watching him try to resist steamroller Joy and losing miserably. I especially loved the scene in town when she talked him into taking her to dinner and he had to put up with meeting so many people.
Both Sam and Joy also had to deal with the sparks that burned brighter between them with each day. The way he makes her feel is just one more thing to add to the feelings that are growing within her. Joy hopes that Sam feels the same way, and occasionally glimpses something in his eyes that feeds the hope. But when a crisis happens involving Holly, Joy can feel him start to pull away, back into his old protective habits. I ached for them both when she finally tells him how she feels, and Sam refuses to take a chance, causing Joy and Holly to return to their home. But in the spirit of Christmas, it's young Holly who brings Sam and Joy back together. I loved his big moment on Christmas Day, when he makes a lot of wishes come true.
February 24, 2017
I'm a sucker for tortured hero books. Unfortunately I never felt like I really warmed up to either character. Joy especially was not particularly likeable. This one was a little too strong in the clichés for me, but for those looking for a quick, heart-warming Christmas romance, this one will do it for you.
*I received a review copy from the publisher/author via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.*
*I received a review copy from the publisher/author via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.*
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February 22, 2017received 5 stars @ harlequin.com (as of 12/10/16). To view reviews, go HERE> http://www.harlequin.com/storeitem.ht...
Joy and her adorable daughter both work their magic and Sam has no chance at keeping to his hermit lifestyle once they enter his world. He tries. Joy will not let him. LOL Fun read, very heart-touching at times. Really loved Sam and the fairy houses. ~ Kim S
Joy and her adorable daughter both work their magic and Sam has no chance at keeping to his hermit lifestyle once they enter his world. He tries. Joy will not let him. LOL Fun read, very heart-touching at times. Really loved Sam and the fairy houses. ~ Kim S
September 14, 2017
Joy Curran was a single mother and had been approached by a good friend of hers to work in her place when she went on a month-long vacation. The maid and Sam's (our hero) mother worked together to acquire Joy for temporary employment. They were pretty certain she would be good for him. The mother really wasn't the meddling, overbearing sort but was trying to help her son return to the living instead of living a guilty and tortured life.
Sam Henry was an accomplished artist worth billions but he has never recovered from the death of his wife and child. His feelings of guilt are overwhelming. He doesn't feel he deserves a life after losing them so he lives like a hermit to punish himself, taking the blame for both their deaths. He is also terrified of loving and losing again. The pain has been enormous but he has done nothing to work through it as he feels it is his duty to suffer. He gave up painting as he strongly thinks it played into the accident.
It is my personal opinion that he was more riddled with guilt than grief at five years after their deaths and the guilt was heaped on even more because he was so attracted to Joy.
I highly recommend and it had a great HEA. Would have loved an epilogue a year later.
Sam Henry was an accomplished artist worth billions but he has never recovered from the death of his wife and child. His feelings of guilt are overwhelming. He doesn't feel he deserves a life after losing them so he lives like a hermit to punish himself, taking the blame for both their deaths. He is also terrified of loving and losing again. The pain has been enormous but he has done nothing to work through it as he feels it is his duty to suffer. He gave up painting as he strongly thinks it played into the accident.
It is my personal opinion that he was more riddled with guilt than grief at five years after their deaths and the guilt was heaped on even more because he was so attracted to Joy.
I highly recommend and it had a great HEA. Would have loved an epilogue a year later.
November 19, 2016
Gut wrenching! Maureen Child takes us on a roller coaster ride of emotion with her latest novel that showcases despair after loss, healing on the horizon and the sweet innocence of a child's heart. The characters are real, the emotion is high, and the hope of bringing peace to a broken heart follow you through each page. Quick, easy read that you won't want to put down!
Joy Curran really needs this temporary housekeeping job so she has somewhere to spend Christmas with her little girl, but the rumored gruffness of this reclusive billionaire has her a bit on edge.
Sam Henry locked himself away from the world and anything that reminded him of his old life after he lost his wife and son in an accident several years ago. He doesn't want to befriend anyone, he doesn't want to remember what the joy of a young child's delight feels like, he doesn't want to move on.
Will this be the Christmas blessing that he didn't even know he needed?
Joy Curran really needs this temporary housekeeping job so she has somewhere to spend Christmas with her little girl, but the rumored gruffness of this reclusive billionaire has her a bit on edge.
Sam Henry locked himself away from the world and anything that reminded him of his old life after he lost his wife and son in an accident several years ago. He doesn't want to befriend anyone, he doesn't want to remember what the joy of a young child's delight feels like, he doesn't want to move on.
Will this be the Christmas blessing that he didn't even know he needed?
May 7, 2017
Everyone deserves a second chance at love. Everyone deserves that love in return but sometimes it takes someone a bit longer to realize it.
This was a great short read. I love Ms. Child’s writing style. I was enthralled with Maid Under the Mistletoe because with her writing it felt as if I was experiencing the story right before my eyes. I knew it was going to take Joy some work on Sam. His heart is encased in ice because he blamed himself for the death of his wife and son. I can’t say that I understand how it feels to lose a child but I know how it feels to lose a spouse and how it feels to feel guilty. But you can’t close yourself off of living you have to live and if love finds back to you then take it and cherish. Joy and Holly were perfect for him and during Christmas time and a talkative little girl anything is possible.
I totally recommend this read!!
Received ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an Honest Review
This was a great short read. I love Ms. Child’s writing style. I was enthralled with Maid Under the Mistletoe because with her writing it felt as if I was experiencing the story right before my eyes. I knew it was going to take Joy some work on Sam. His heart is encased in ice because he blamed himself for the death of his wife and son. I can’t say that I understand how it feels to lose a child but I know how it feels to lose a spouse and how it feels to feel guilty. But you can’t close yourself off of living you have to live and if love finds back to you then take it and cherish. Joy and Holly were perfect for him and during Christmas time and a talkative little girl anything is possible.
I totally recommend this read!!
Received ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an Honest Review
December 16, 2020
El libro me ha encantado, poco más puedo decir. Es una historia preciosa, con unos personajes increíbles (su desarrollo es una de las cosas en las que más me fijo en este tipo de novelas; debido a su brevedad me llama mucho la atención ver cómo ddesarrollan la personalidad de cada personaje y este libro lo hace maravillosamente bien), además, la ambientación es ideal para esta época. Es una lectura que merece mucho la pena.
July 17, 2021
Una historia bastante bien construida, simple pero a la vez compleja por el hecho de perdernos en algunos momentos que después se hacen complicados, como es en este caso de nuestro protagonista masculino, Sam. Joy es una madre soltera que ama a su hija, y por necesidad, termina en el terreno de Sam, enseñándole a amar de nuevo, aunque sea una mujer que no esperaba y a una niña que lo adora a pesar de lo gruñón . Dulce, divertida y de rápida lectura.
November 26, 2020
#CW - adorable 5 y.o. so if you're in the "hate kids in romances" camp you may want to pass on this cute Christmas category romance.
I'm a big Maureen Child fan, have been since her very first book, and this one didn't disappoint.
I'm a big Maureen Child fan, have been since her very first book, and this one didn't disappoint.
June 25, 2017
A quick & fun read! You will not be disappointed! Christmas magic at its finest! Happy reading friends! Cheers! :-)
November 20, 2021
Do not read this author again. Characters are either desperate, or sad, pathetic and cowardly.
December 10, 2016
Loved it. Such a truly heartwarming book. Maureen Child did an excellent job with this book. Would highly recommend it
October 12, 2019
This was such a sweet Christmas book if a little over the top at times. The heroine and her daughter are kind and caring. The little girl is the true hero/heroine of the story. She shows what a little kindness towards a “grumpy” person can do.
I did find the heroine a little pushy at times, but I think that was more the author trying to write her as outgoing and bubbly as opposed to her true character.
This book was heading towards a solid 4-4.5 stars until the author (and I can’t believe the editor/publisher allowed it) made an awful dig at her readers.
Looking at other reviews I’m not the only annoyed and turned off by this. This reason alone I had to knock it down to three stars. This was a good way to turn a reader off of ever reading another of her book.
I did find the heroine a little pushy at times, but I think that was more the author trying to write her as outgoing and bubbly as opposed to her true character.
This book was heading towards a solid 4-4.5 stars until the author (and I can’t believe the editor/publisher allowed it) made an awful dig at her readers.
Looking at other reviews I’m not the only annoyed and turned off by this. This reason alone I had to knock it down to three stars. This was a good way to turn a reader off of ever reading another of her book.
December 31, 2017
Sam lost his wife and son in an accident and has been keeping to himself ever since. He has a housekeeper, who is about to go on an annual cruise and she always has somebody to fill in for her. Sam is expecting to have another older lady, but for his surprise arrives a young woman Joy with her daughter Holly. Joy and Holly bring life to Sam's home, but he tries to stay away and keep to himself, but slowly but surely they are breaking down the barriers Sam had built around himself.
It was my first book by Harlequin Desire and I very much enjoyed it. It was a heartwarming book about heartbreak, family and new beginnings.
It was my first book by Harlequin Desire and I very much enjoyed it. It was a heartwarming book about heartbreak, family and new beginnings.
December 10, 2016
Sam Henry is basically a hermit who hid himself away from the world after his wife and son died in a car accident. His housekeeper is going on vacation for the holidays and temporary replacement is single mom, Joy. She's cheerful and optimistic and is absolutely relentless in her determination to bring Sam out of his shell and to make him see that life is worth actually living. Helping her out is her daughter who is pure innocence and sunshine. Together, they melt the ice around his heart, but is he ready to come out of hiding?
This was good, saccharine sweet, but good. Some people may not appreciate how upbeat Joy is and how she never seems to take Sam's grouchiness personally. She never even gets hurt when he lashes out - she's good at reminding herself that if he's getting angry, she's doing a good job at breaking through his walls. She's not perfect though, which is why Personally, I didn't mind how upbeat she was, but I didn't love it either. Sam I did love. He was gruff, socially awkward and all around my favorite kind of hero. He resonated with me, not because he was in pain really, but because he just wanted to be left alone. Which kind of brings me to my only issue with this story - the heroine walks a fine line between wanting to help someone who she believes wants to be rescued and being judgemental about his solitary lifestyle. There are many times when she claims that it's just not healthy to be alone or that something is wrong with him because he's not interacting (and she doesn't mean just because he's hurting). Sometimes alone is what people want to be and there's nothing wrong with that...Social interaction is not a magical medicine that makes everyone's life better #introvertsrule!
This was good, saccharine sweet, but good. Some people may not appreciate how upbeat Joy is and how she never seems to take Sam's grouchiness personally. She never even gets hurt when he lashes out - she's good at reminding herself that if he's getting angry, she's doing a good job at breaking through his walls. She's not perfect though, which is why Personally, I didn't mind how upbeat she was, but I didn't love it either. Sam I did love. He was gruff, socially awkward and all around my favorite kind of hero. He resonated with me, not because he was in pain really, but because he just wanted to be left alone. Which kind of brings me to my only issue with this story - the heroine walks a fine line between wanting to help someone who she believes wants to be rescued and being judgemental about his solitary lifestyle. There are many times when she claims that it's just not healthy to be alone or that something is wrong with him because he's not interacting (and she doesn't mean just because he's hurting). Sometimes alone is what people want to be and there's nothing wrong with that...Social interaction is not a magical medicine that makes everyone's life better #introvertsrule!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 15, 2016
I really liked this book. It was well paced and it worked very well. I think that Joy was a little pushy, and she drove me nuts with her constant bombardment attacks on Sam. I loved the interactions between Sam and Holly. They were cute and not forced. I liked Sam a lot. The cover is excellent and portrays the two of them very well. Thank you for that. It means a lot. The end of the book as all harlequins was a bit on the overdrawn mush side for me, but I am not a mushy person. I just thought he would have kept his persona a little more him and not go all out pudding. But, I can skip that and still enjoy this nice,cute Christmas story.
*I was given this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!!
*I was given this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!!
December 24, 2016
Sam is a recluse. His wife and son were killed five years ago and now he does not go out..his housekeeper is going on vacation so she finds a friend to do the work while she is gone..He is shocked to see a young woman, Joy and her daughter Holly show up..he tries to shut them out like he does the rest of the world but Joy keeps breaking him down..She keeps including him and doesnt' back down from him..she ends up falling in love with Sam but he isn't ready..Holly wants him to be her daddy...They leave before Christmas to go back to their home..but no one is happy! Will they end up together as a family? A really sweet and lovely story to read at Christmas time
December 11, 2016
Loved how little Molly melts Sam's frozen heart. I found myself laughing out loud a few times while enjoying this book. If you are looking for a quick, sweet Christmas story, this fits the bill perfectly
November 29, 2016
A sad, sweet, sexy story about loss and learning to love again. The recluse finds that loving again is better than wasting away in loneliness. Another wonderful story from Maureen Child.
January 1, 2017
A perfect Christmastime read with all the feels. I just wish it had an epilogue worthy of the story.
November 3, 2017
After yrs of being a hermit after a tragedy that left him without a wife and son, Sam had to face reality when his housekeeper an cook took her vacation and decided to play cupid, not only did he think he had the upper hand when it came to joy and her daughter but he realized it was time to live
January 7, 2019
Мне очень понравилось 😍😍😍😍😍 Волшебный, легкий, приятный роман, который очень порадовал и подошёл мне 🐇 Возникает желание перечитать его под Рождество и познакомиться ближе с творчеством писательницы 💍
P.S. В жизни каждой девушки наступает момент, когда просто необходимо погрузится в идеальную и волшебную сказку женского романа :DDD
P.S. В жизни каждой девушки наступает момент, когда просто необходимо погрузится в идеальную и волшебную сказку женского романа :DDD
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews