Under the Mistletoe (Secret Heart Ink) by Deborah Cooke-a review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release date September 24, 2019

Chynna has loved and lost…
Even though it’s been years, Christmas reminds Chynna of her husband’s death and makes her miss him even more. Attending Lexi and Gabe’s Christmas wedding sounds like a reminder of everything she’s lost, until she’s persuaded to go and share their joy. Once there, a hook-up with Trevor, Gabe’s handsome partner, could be another way to move beyond her grief—and Trevor makes taking that risk more than worthwhile, re-awakening Chynna to sensation and passion.

Trevor has never had time for love…
He’s always been focussed on building success. But now that Trevor’s financial ambitions are achieved, he’s realized that he has no one to enjoy the rewards with him. His friend Gabe’s wedding makes him aware that he doesn’t want to be alone anymore. Chynna is the most attractive woman he’s met in years and Trevor knows that it will take more one night together to satisfy him. Chynna is the woman he’s been waiting for—all he has to do is convince her to take a chance on love again, with him.

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REVIEW:UNDER THE MISTLETOE is the fourth ( and final) instalment in Deborah Cooke’s contemporary, adult SECRET HEART INK romance series –a spin off/companion series to the author’s Flatiron 5 series. This is tattoo artist Chynna, and thirty-eight year old, restaurateur Trevor Graham’s story line. UNDER THE MISTLETOE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous instalments is revealed where necessary but I recommend reading the series in order for back story and cohesion.

SOME BACKGROUND: Secret Heart Ink is a tattoo shop, owned by the mysterious Chynna, located in Manhattan’s Flatiron Five. Along with her sidekick Tristan, during the full moon, Chynna creates one magical tattoo to set two hearts afire in the hopes of the recipient finding ever-lasting love but now it was Chynna’s turn to find love.

NOTE: UNDER THE MISTLETOE runs parallel to, and crosses over with BAD CASE OF LOVING YOU (Flatiron Five #5)

Told from several third person perspectives including Chynna and Trevor UNDER THE MISTLETOE focuses on the building relationship between Chynna and Trevor at the Christmas wedding between Gabe and Lexi (One Hot Summer Night #3). Lexi had been the recipient of one of Chynna’s magical heart tattoos, and as such Chynna had been invited to Lexi and Gabe’s holiday ceremony but Chynna had destroyed her own chance at a happily ever after years before, and struggles with the idea of attending Lexi’s wedding. With the insistence of her ‘companion’ Tristan, Chynna makes the trip to Honey Hill, Maine where she will meet her future in the guise of restaurateur Trevor Graham. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Trevor and Chynna, and the potential fall-out as Trevor is offered a position far from the woman with whom he is falling in love.

Trevor Graham’s time at Wolfe Lodge in Honey Hill, Maine comes with an expiry date but meeting the beautiful and mysterious tattoo artist Chynna gave Trevor pause as he reconsidered his future plans. Having never settled down in one place long enough to fall in love, Trevor is hoping for something more with the enigmatic Chynna. Chynna has loved and lost, and in this she hopes for happiness and love for everyone else but something about Trevor Graham begins to break down the defences of our story line heroine, defences that have been in place for a very long time.

The relationship between Trevor and Chynna is quick to develop; a fast paced romance that brings together two broken souls who have become successful business people but struggle in their own personal lives. Chynna’s quiet persona hides a damaged heart, a heart that will begin to heal with our story line hero. The $ex scenes are passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of secondary including all of the previous story line couples: Olive and Spencer (Snowbound #1) , Reyna and Kade (Spring Fever #2), Gabe and Lexi (One Hot Summer Night), Theo Tremblay (Bad Case of Loving You #5), as well as several Lodge employees, family and friends.

UNDER THE MISTLETOE is an emotional and thought provoking story line. The premise is captivating ; the characters are enthusiastic; the romance is tender and seductive. UNDER THE MISTLETOE is a heart warming and welcome final chapter in the author’s Secret Heart Ink series.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Snowbound
Spring Fever
One Hot Summer
Under the Mistletoe

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy