I’ve had this book on my Kindle and when I decided to make our holiday issue more focused on reading and giving books as holiday gifts this year, I knew I wanted to review Blame it on Mistletoe by Noelle Fox.

This is the first book in her North Pole, Alaska Series. North Pole is a fictional town in Alaska based on that other North Pole. The citizens work together to create a wonderland for visitors and a group of volunteers personally answers letters sent to Santa.

The story opens with a letter to Santa written by a little boy named J.D. who only wants Santa to bring his father home from Afghanistan for Christmas. It is the second letter he has sent to Santa and he wonders why Santa didn’t answer the first one. In this second letter J.D. announces that he’s coming to the North Pole to talk to Santa personally. He was told his dad will never be coming home again, but J.D. still doesn’t believe the men in uniform that came to his door and made his mom cry. He has a plan and it needs to work.

Abby Baxter wakes to an empty house. Her five year old son is missing. After losing her husband David last year, she can’t lose her son. Will J.D. make it to see Santa? Will the police find him or can David’s best friend Marine Sergeant Frank Machado save the day?

Fox’s writing is strong and she creates interesting and likable characters. Her plot is plausible though as the mother of three boys, I’m skeptical that a five year old could stick to a plan and execute it with the level of stealth necessary to avoid detection. My boys were pretty crafty at that age, but they were noisy and always in motion. I’d feel better if J.D. was eight or nine, but five year olds are cute and cute fits the story.

I’m not going to tell you what happens, but people fall in love and lives are changed. A little boy gets a version of his wish and we are introduced to the townspeople of North Pole, Alaska. It sounds like the perfect town for the holidays and these are people I’d like to read more about. It’s a feel good story that tackles a serious subject, death, with great sensitivity and hope.

Blame it on Mistletoe is a great holiday read and I purchased the next two books in the series for my virtual stocking.

Books in Noelle Fox’s North Pole, Alaska Series:

Blame it on Mistletoe

If Only in My Dreams

What Child is This?

The Christmas Spirits

Sleigh Ride Together

Dream by the Fire

Catch Me if You Can

Somebody Waits for You

We’re Happy Tonight

You Can Count on Me

All the Way Home

Five Gold Rings

Look for her Northern Lights Romance Series:

Written in the Stars

Guided by the Stars

Shoot for the Stars