What do you think?
Rate this book
Molly the Maid #2.5
The Mistletoe Mystery
Molly the Maid has a whole new mystery to solve in this heartwarming novella from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Maid and The Mystery Guest.
Molly Gray has always loved the holidays. When Molly was a child, her gran went to great lengths to make the season merry and bright, full of cherished traditions. The first few Christmases without Gran were hard on Molly, but this year, her beloved boyfriend and fellow festive spirit, Juan Manuel, is intent on making the season Molly’s mofinst joyful yet.
But when a Secret Santa gift exchange at the Regency Grand Hotel raises questions about who Molly can and cannot trust, she dives headfirst into solving her most consequential—and personal—mystery yet. Molly has a bad feeling about things, and she starts to wonder: has she yet again mistaken a frog for a prince?
A heartwarming, magical story about the true spirit of the season, The Mistletoe Mystery reminds us that love is the greatest mystery of all.
Molly Gray has always loved the holidays. When Molly was a child, her gran went to great lengths to make the season merry and bright, full of cherished traditions. The first few Christmases without Gran were hard on Molly, but this year, her beloved boyfriend and fellow festive spirit, Juan Manuel, is intent on making the season Molly’s mofinst joyful yet.
But when a Secret Santa gift exchange at the Regency Grand Hotel raises questions about who Molly can and cannot trust, she dives headfirst into solving her most consequential—and personal—mystery yet. Molly has a bad feeling about things, and she starts to wonder: has she yet again mistaken a frog for a prince?
A heartwarming, magical story about the true spirit of the season, The Mistletoe Mystery reminds us that love is the greatest mystery of all.
144 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2024
1,039 people are currently reading
57.2k people want to read
About the author
Nita Prose
15books7,427followersNITA PROSE is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Mystery Guest and The Maid, which has sold more than two million copies worldwide. A Good Morning America Book Club pick, The Maid won the Ned Kelly Award for International Crime Fiction, the Fingerprint Award for Debut Book of the Year, the Anthony Award for Best First Novel, and the Barry Award for Best First Mystery. The Maid was also an Edgar Award finalist for Best Novel. Visit Nita at nitaprose.com or on Instagram and X @NitaProse.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 5,059 reviews
August 18, 2024
Well, this is definitely a fresh twist in our beloved Molly the Maid trilogy! Christmas is a tough time for Molly, especially since her Gran used to make it magical. But guess what? Juan steps in, keeping Gran's traditions alive and throwing in some sneaky, heart-melting surprises of his own! Seriously, swoon alert!
As the Christmas work party gets closer, Molly starts feeling that something’s off, and Juan’s strange behavior isn’t helping. But don't worry, everything falls into place, and yet another mystery is solved!
I just adore Molly’s quirky phrases—they add so much charm to these books. It’s a short, fun read, perfect for getting into that warm, Christmassy spirit with a dose of love! But be sure to check out the other books in the series before diving into this one!
Big thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for letting me read and review this ARC!
As the Christmas work party gets closer, Molly starts feeling that something’s off, and Juan’s strange behavior isn’t helping. But don't worry, everything falls into place, and yet another mystery is solved!
I just adore Molly’s quirky phrases—they add so much charm to these books. It’s a short, fun read, perfect for getting into that warm, Christmassy spirit with a dose of love! But be sure to check out the other books in the series before diving into this one!
Big thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for letting me read and review this ARC!
October 2, 2024
NOW AVAILABLE!
The holidays were always a special time for our favorite maid, Molly Gray and her Gran. They shared many traditions including getting an Advent calendar and filling it with small things to treasure, like shiny silver spoons or chocolate covered cherries.
The first few Christmases without Gran were difficult for Molly, but this year her boyfriend Juan Manual is determined that she have a “MOLLY JOLLY CHRISTMAS “starting with their own Advent Calendar and adding to the celebrations with some new traditions of their own.
But, despite all of the wonderful surprises he plans, Molly notices some suspicious behavior which has her questioning his love.
Savvy readers that we are, we can figure out what he is up to-but Molly has always had trouble making sense out of what she sees and hears.
She will have to rely on both the wisdom of dear friends and the lessons that her Gran left her with until she catches up to the rest of us and the mystery is solved.
This was a delightful 124 page novella filled with all of the sights, sounds and tastes of the holiday season which will help advance the story in preparation for the next installment “The Maid’s Secret� (Molly the Maid #3) due to be released in April 2025.
I paired my reading with the Audiobook narrated by the talented Lauren Ambrose (2 hrs 38 minutes) but this time I preferred the written copy only because I have imagined a “different voice� for this character, which didn’t match hers.
I highly recommend that you read the books in order, or you may not be able to fully appreciate this charming Christmas short story. 🎄
Thank You to the Chandler Public Library for the loan of both formats.
The holidays were always a special time for our favorite maid, Molly Gray and her Gran. They shared many traditions including getting an Advent calendar and filling it with small things to treasure, like shiny silver spoons or chocolate covered cherries.
The first few Christmases without Gran were difficult for Molly, but this year her boyfriend Juan Manual is determined that she have a “MOLLY JOLLY CHRISTMAS “starting with their own Advent Calendar and adding to the celebrations with some new traditions of their own.
But, despite all of the wonderful surprises he plans, Molly notices some suspicious behavior which has her questioning his love.
Savvy readers that we are, we can figure out what he is up to-but Molly has always had trouble making sense out of what she sees and hears.
She will have to rely on both the wisdom of dear friends and the lessons that her Gran left her with until she catches up to the rest of us and the mystery is solved.
This was a delightful 124 page novella filled with all of the sights, sounds and tastes of the holiday season which will help advance the story in preparation for the next installment “The Maid’s Secret� (Molly the Maid #3) due to be released in April 2025.
I paired my reading with the Audiobook narrated by the talented Lauren Ambrose (2 hrs 38 minutes) but this time I preferred the written copy only because I have imagined a “different voice� for this character, which didn’t match hers.
I highly recommend that you read the books in order, or you may not be able to fully appreciate this charming Christmas short story. 🎄
Thank You to the Chandler Public Library for the loan of both formats.
October 27, 2024
The new holiday novella in the Molly the Maid series sees Molly and her love Juan Manuel preparing for a very special Christmas. Well � Juan Manuel is, I should say, and Molly is becoming more and more concerned about his secretive behavior!
There is no mystery in this one, despite the title. It seems plain to see where this is going, so the mystery is for Molly alone. It’s sweet, leaning heavily on author O. Henry’s classic short story The Gift of the Magi at times. Juan Manuel’s efforts to make Molly’s Christmas special, especially in the absence of her beloved Gran, were heartwarming, and the ending will leave fans of Molly with a full and happy heart.
All that said, while I had an "Awww� reaction by story's end, there was no particular zing behind it. It was hard to watch Molly be so confused and increasingly upset by Juan’s behavior, even knowing things would be OK in the end, because I’m already aware from previous books how hard it is for her to read others� behavior. I spent the bulk of the story just feeling sorry for her, instead of happy for where things were headed!
I read and listened to this, narrated well by Lauren Ambrose, who I’ve enjoyed in the previous books. Ironically, I wonder if I would’ve felt better about this story had I only read it, since the narration made me feel Molly’s growing frustration more intensely. I also deeply wanted more Gran in this. I think she’s my favorite part of the Molly books!
It’s a perfectly sweet story that should satisfy those who’ve grown to love Molly, and ultimately I’m still happy to see her get her most magical Christmas yet!
★★� ½
Thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, NetGalley and author Nita Prose for this digital ARC to honestly review. It’s out now.
There is no mystery in this one, despite the title. It seems plain to see where this is going, so the mystery is for Molly alone. It’s sweet, leaning heavily on author O. Henry’s classic short story The Gift of the Magi at times. Juan Manuel’s efforts to make Molly’s Christmas special, especially in the absence of her beloved Gran, were heartwarming, and the ending will leave fans of Molly with a full and happy heart.
All that said, while I had an "Awww� reaction by story's end, there was no particular zing behind it. It was hard to watch Molly be so confused and increasingly upset by Juan’s behavior, even knowing things would be OK in the end, because I’m already aware from previous books how hard it is for her to read others� behavior. I spent the bulk of the story just feeling sorry for her, instead of happy for where things were headed!
I read and listened to this, narrated well by Lauren Ambrose, who I’ve enjoyed in the previous books. Ironically, I wonder if I would’ve felt better about this story had I only read it, since the narration made me feel Molly’s growing frustration more intensely. I also deeply wanted more Gran in this. I think she’s my favorite part of the Molly books!
It’s a perfectly sweet story that should satisfy those who’ve grown to love Molly, and ultimately I’m still happy to see her get her most magical Christmas yet!
★★� ½
Thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, NetGalley and author Nita Prose for this digital ARC to honestly review. It’s out now.
September 15, 2024
Unnecessary??
I get that it’s a novella, but why did we need this? You could smell the ending from the first chapter of the story.
I get that it’s a novella, but why did we need this? You could smell the ending from the first chapter of the story.
December 26, 2024
In a Nutshell: A Christmas novella featuring Molly the Maid. Contains more mistletoe than mystery. The same setting and characters from the book series. Might be a good option for Molly fans, but not a must-read except for one plot development. Not a standalone.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
I had enjoyed the first two books of the Molly the Maid series, and am looking forward to the final book of the trilogy. This Christmas novella, being set in between Books Two and Three, seemed to form a nice bridge to the events of the next, so it made sense to grab it during the holiday season. There's one plot development here that will make Molly fans (and Juan Manuel fans) happy. Other than that, the novella has nothing great to offer.
The titular "mistletoe mystery" is connected to Juan Manuel's secretive behaviour and Molly's doubts about his reasons. But the thing is, we all know Juan Manuel's character from the earlier books, even though he has a blink-and-you-miss-it appearance in the second novel. As such, we know that whatever events were driving up Molly's suspicions have to be baseless. In fact, there are even enough clues to help us guess what Juan Manuel might be up to. All this makes the "mystery" of this story very weak. Unfortunately, as the title promises a mystery, this leads to greater disappointment. At least in the other books, even when the mystery wasn’t that enticing, we could still have some fun guessing the guilty party. But in this novella, there is just no suspense.
Molly, the 'Captain Obvious' of jumping to the wrong conclusions, fails to interpret her boyfriend's actions in any way beyond the literal. This is a bit disappointing, because it would have been nice to see her trust her beau after five years together. It's a little test of our patience to see how long Molly will take to discover the evident truth. She's in her thirties now, and has not been under her grandmother's sheltered influence for so many years now. Surely she should know her partner better!
Because Molly misses out on many clues related to the same mystery, her first-person POV gets a bit repetitive this time. She also tends to wander into flashbacks at random. While the books have always had more telling than showing, I had attributed this to Molly's personality. But this time, the telling gets a bit annoying as it's so clearly incorrect.
Juan Manuel is as awesome, and as cheesy, as ever. I was happy to see him get a proper role in the story this time around. His gen-z style slang makes for a funny contrast with Molly's dictionary-style speech.
Many other beloved characters also make a good appearance in this story. Other than Molly, every character gets a satisfying role that continues well from their established character arcs. It was lovely to see the wisdom of Molly's grandmother popping up even in this story through many worthy aphorisms.
The Christmas spirit is strong in this story, whether through the decorated hotel or the various festive events within the story. At least in that sense, the novella delivers well on the promise made by the title.
All in all, a good story, but not a great mystery. At just 128 pages (2.5 hours on audio), this is a quick read, and even fairly satisfying because of the ending.
Recommended only if you want more of Molly the Maid and to know the latest important update in her life. Don’t pick it up for the titular mystery because that will lead to guaranteed disappointment. The story proceeds from the events of the first two books, so it wouldn't be a good idea to try this as a standalone.
3.25 stars.
This was a library read.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
|| || || || ||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
Set a couple of years after Book Two, Molly is still the Head Maid at the Regency Grand. Her beloved Juan Manuel is now a pastry chef. While they had been happy over the past five years, Juan Manuel is now behaving strangely. Molly knows that something is wrong, but she can't figure out what it is. Has Juan Manuel finally grown frustrated with her?
The story comes to us in Molly's first-person perspective.
I had enjoyed the first two books of the Molly the Maid series, and am looking forward to the final book of the trilogy. This Christmas novella, being set in between Books Two and Three, seemed to form a nice bridge to the events of the next, so it made sense to grab it during the holiday season. There's one plot development here that will make Molly fans (and Juan Manuel fans) happy. Other than that, the novella has nothing great to offer.
The titular "mistletoe mystery" is connected to Juan Manuel's secretive behaviour and Molly's doubts about his reasons. But the thing is, we all know Juan Manuel's character from the earlier books, even though he has a blink-and-you-miss-it appearance in the second novel. As such, we know that whatever events were driving up Molly's suspicions have to be baseless. In fact, there are even enough clues to help us guess what Juan Manuel might be up to. All this makes the "mystery" of this story very weak. Unfortunately, as the title promises a mystery, this leads to greater disappointment. At least in the other books, even when the mystery wasn’t that enticing, we could still have some fun guessing the guilty party. But in this novella, there is just no suspense.
Molly, the 'Captain Obvious' of jumping to the wrong conclusions, fails to interpret her boyfriend's actions in any way beyond the literal. This is a bit disappointing, because it would have been nice to see her trust her beau after five years together. It's a little test of our patience to see how long Molly will take to discover the evident truth. She's in her thirties now, and has not been under her grandmother's sheltered influence for so many years now. Surely she should know her partner better!
Because Molly misses out on many clues related to the same mystery, her first-person POV gets a bit repetitive this time. She also tends to wander into flashbacks at random. While the books have always had more telling than showing, I had attributed this to Molly's personality. But this time, the telling gets a bit annoying as it's so clearly incorrect.
Juan Manuel is as awesome, and as cheesy, as ever. I was happy to see him get a proper role in the story this time around. His gen-z style slang makes for a funny contrast with Molly's dictionary-style speech.
Many other beloved characters also make a good appearance in this story. Other than Molly, every character gets a satisfying role that continues well from their established character arcs. It was lovely to see the wisdom of Molly's grandmother popping up even in this story through many worthy aphorisms.
The Christmas spirit is strong in this story, whether through the decorated hotel or the various festive events within the story. At least in that sense, the novella delivers well on the promise made by the title.
All in all, a good story, but not a great mystery. At just 128 pages (2.5 hours on audio), this is a quick read, and even fairly satisfying because of the ending.
Recommended only if you want more of Molly the Maid and to know the latest important update in her life. Don’t pick it up for the titular mystery because that will lead to guaranteed disappointment. The story proceeds from the events of the first two books, so it wouldn't be a good idea to try this as a standalone.
3.25 stars.
This was a library read.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
|| || || || ||
October 11, 2024
I couldn't resist diving into another adventure with Molly the maid, especially one with Christmas vibes. I was expecting a cozy mystery novella, as is typical for the series, but this time, Nita Prose surprised us with a Christmas romance. I won’t give away too much, but the only mystery here revolves around Molly’s second thoughts about her sweet boyfriend, Juan Manuel, and his suspicious behavior.
The story takes us down memory lane with Molly, revisiting moments when she was bullied by school friends and recalling an unfortunate Secret Santa experience at the hotel in front of her colleagues. We also see her deep love for her grandmother, whose wisdom and anecdotes shaped Molly into the person she is today.
The promising ending warms your heart. Just enjoy this book as a Christmas romcom, rather than expecting another of Molly’s murder mysteries. That’s what I did! But I’ll never say no to a new book, a brand-new adventure, and another mystery for Molly to solve. I’m also very curious about what’s in store for her in the future.
I’m rounding up my 3.5 stars to 4 romantic, heartfelt Christmas-with-Molly stars.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/Ballantine for sharing this brilliant novella’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
The story takes us down memory lane with Molly, revisiting moments when she was bullied by school friends and recalling an unfortunate Secret Santa experience at the hotel in front of her colleagues. We also see her deep love for her grandmother, whose wisdom and anecdotes shaped Molly into the person she is today.
The promising ending warms your heart. Just enjoy this book as a Christmas romcom, rather than expecting another of Molly’s murder mysteries. That’s what I did! But I’ll never say no to a new book, a brand-new adventure, and another mystery for Molly to solve. I’m also very curious about what’s in store for her in the future.
I’m rounding up my 3.5 stars to 4 romantic, heartfelt Christmas-with-Molly stars.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/Ballantine for sharing this brilliant novella’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
November 11, 2024
Ordinarily I would be bored to death by a holiday romance this sappy. But, given certain current events, a low-stakes, highly predictable non-mystery mystery hit the spot.
Amid a backdrop of snow and planning for a Secret Santa staff party at the Regency Grand Hotel, Molly the Maid and her boyfriend Juan Manuel grow increasingly affectionate. It seems life is perfect, except Juan keeps sneaking around, acting tired, and not being himself. What's going on?!
Molly works herself into a frenzy as she tries to figure out whether she's overreacting, or if something amiss really is afoot.
For fans of the prior two books, you'll get more Molly being her unconventional self. Juan is a great companion and I love reading about him too. If you are expecting an intriguing mystery to sleuth and solve, however, this is not it. We are fully in Hallmark movie territory with this book, not a bloody whodunit.
Based on the ending, I suspect The Mistletoe Mystery is purely designed to tee up a third book in the series. And even that is probably being too generous. Nevertheless, if you love Molly and don't mind a quiet interlude between murders, you won't be disappointed.
Or if you're like me and need something light to distract from the world's horrors, it serves that purpose too.
Happy Holidays everyone!
Amid a backdrop of snow and planning for a Secret Santa staff party at the Regency Grand Hotel, Molly the Maid and her boyfriend Juan Manuel grow increasingly affectionate. It seems life is perfect, except Juan keeps sneaking around, acting tired, and not being himself. What's going on?!
Molly works herself into a frenzy as she tries to figure out whether she's overreacting, or if something amiss really is afoot.
For fans of the prior two books, you'll get more Molly being her unconventional self. Juan is a great companion and I love reading about him too. If you are expecting an intriguing mystery to sleuth and solve, however, this is not it. We are fully in Hallmark movie territory with this book, not a bloody whodunit.
Based on the ending, I suspect The Mistletoe Mystery is purely designed to tee up a third book in the series. And even that is probably being too generous. Nevertheless, if you love Molly and don't mind a quiet interlude between murders, you won't be disappointed.
Or if you're like me and need something light to distract from the world's horrors, it serves that purpose too.
Happy Holidays everyone!
December 9, 2024
Our gal Molly is back with her most confounding mystery yet, but also the one with the most rewarding conclusion. A sweet, gratifying, well-written read that really captures the essence of Molly.
December 31, 2024
3 stars.
All romance, no mystery.
This latest release in the Maid series released in October 2024 and I figured December was the perfect time to embrace this Christmas themed book. I had the pleasure of seeing this author at an event in December which had me excited to dive in. She was a wonderful speaker!
Molly was as endearing as ever, but this story solely focuses on her relationship with her boyfriend. I would categorize this book as a romance, not a cozy mystery, as the last two books in the series have been. Unfortunately, I am not a romance reader so I did not connect with this as much as I had expected. For readers who enjoy romance and cute stories, they will surely love this. For others like me, who expect the same sort of mystery focused plot, this will likely be a letdown.
The setting was excellent, as with all the books in the series. The hustle and bustle of the hotel during the Christmas season was palpable. The secondary characters all make an appearance and they were easy to reconnect with. Gran’s wisdoms continue to whisper in Molly’s ear which continues to be my favourite part of these books.
Overall, this was an underwhelming instalment in the Maid series due to its heavy romance focus. However, if you enjoy romance, it will likely work out much better for you!
Audio rating: 4 stars! I enjoyed listening to this. The narrator added the perfect charm to the story.
All romance, no mystery.
This latest release in the Maid series released in October 2024 and I figured December was the perfect time to embrace this Christmas themed book. I had the pleasure of seeing this author at an event in December which had me excited to dive in. She was a wonderful speaker!
Molly was as endearing as ever, but this story solely focuses on her relationship with her boyfriend. I would categorize this book as a romance, not a cozy mystery, as the last two books in the series have been. Unfortunately, I am not a romance reader so I did not connect with this as much as I had expected. For readers who enjoy romance and cute stories, they will surely love this. For others like me, who expect the same sort of mystery focused plot, this will likely be a letdown.
The setting was excellent, as with all the books in the series. The hustle and bustle of the hotel during the Christmas season was palpable. The secondary characters all make an appearance and they were easy to reconnect with. Gran’s wisdoms continue to whisper in Molly’s ear which continues to be my favourite part of these books.
Overall, this was an underwhelming instalment in the Maid series due to its heavy romance focus. However, if you enjoy romance, it will likely work out much better for you!
Audio rating: 4 stars! I enjoyed listening to this. The narrator added the perfect charm to the story.
December 24, 2024
3.5 ⭐️ The Mistletoe Mystery: A Maid Novella by Nita Prose is a delightful short story that feels like a festive treat, with Molly’s endearing charm, a cozy mystery, and heartfelt moments that made me smile.
It’s the perfect holiday read for fans of the series—a cozy, heartwarming reminder of the true spirit of Christmas, even if its predictability adds to its charm.
It’s the perfect holiday read for fans of the series—a cozy, heartwarming reminder of the true spirit of Christmas, even if its predictability adds to its charm.
November 23, 2024
3.5�
Short and sweet for fans of the Molly the Maid series. I'm a bit surprised at this novella's dramatic arc, you wouldn't want to skip this one!🎄💚
Short and sweet for fans of the Molly the Maid series. I'm a bit surprised at this novella's dramatic arc, you wouldn't want to skip this one!🎄💚
October 1, 2024
HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY!
Feliz Navidad!
It’s Christmastime! Join Molly and Juan Manual as they get festive and keep traditions alive. Since her gran’s passing, Molly has had a difficult time during this merry season. However, Juan Manuel is determined to make this Christmas Molly’s most joyful yet. He fills Gran’s card catalog advent calendar with thoughtful gifts each day and sings Christmas songs while cooking delicious meals. Has Molly found her Prince Charming? When lazy Cheryl insinuates that Juan Manuel might not have good intentions, Molly begins to have doubts. Can she really trust Juan Manuel?
I was super excited to see that Nita Prose wrote a Maid novella. This short vignette is filled with misunderstandings and mischief as well as heartwarming romance. I really enjoyed getting a glimpse into Molly and Juan’s relationship. This is such a fun series filled with terrific characters. I highly recommend reading books one and two prior to this installment for best understanding. Is another full length Maid novel on the way? I sure hope so!
5/5 stars
Expected publication date: 10/1/24
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine books for the ARC of The Mistletoe Mystery in exchange for an honest review.
Feliz Navidad!
It’s Christmastime! Join Molly and Juan Manual as they get festive and keep traditions alive. Since her gran’s passing, Molly has had a difficult time during this merry season. However, Juan Manuel is determined to make this Christmas Molly’s most joyful yet. He fills Gran’s card catalog advent calendar with thoughtful gifts each day and sings Christmas songs while cooking delicious meals. Has Molly found her Prince Charming? When lazy Cheryl insinuates that Juan Manuel might not have good intentions, Molly begins to have doubts. Can she really trust Juan Manuel?
I was super excited to see that Nita Prose wrote a Maid novella. This short vignette is filled with misunderstandings and mischief as well as heartwarming romance. I really enjoyed getting a glimpse into Molly and Juan’s relationship. This is such a fun series filled with terrific characters. I highly recommend reading books one and two prior to this installment for best understanding. Is another full length Maid novel on the way? I sure hope so!
5/5 stars
Expected publication date: 10/1/24
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine books for the ARC of The Mistletoe Mystery in exchange for an honest review.
October 2, 2024
A cute & sweet "Molly the Maid" holiday novella about the true meaning of the holidays. The "mystery" is obvious to everyone but Molly, but it's quite heart-warming. Nice to learn a bit more about Juan Manuel, too. Looking forward to the next full length installment in the Spring!
October 10, 2024
“Happiness, like love, enters through the kitchen.�
For fans of Molly The Maid, if you are looking for a murder at the Regency Grand Hotel, you have come to the wrong place. This actually is a different mystery, one that invites holiday cheer, and love and opportunity for Molly The Maid fans to meet her true love, Juan Manuel.
And, for those who have been following this series, things will all make sense to everybody (including readers) before it does to Molly. If you are new to the series, please start with, “The Maid.�
So, what is going on with Juan Manuel this holiday season? Is he keeping secrets from Molly? And, that is the mystery that Molly ponders. Yet, for anyone else reading this delightful novella, the conclusion even if predictable, is still sweet.
For fans of Molly The Maid, if you are looking for a murder at the Regency Grand Hotel, you have come to the wrong place. This actually is a different mystery, one that invites holiday cheer, and love and opportunity for Molly The Maid fans to meet her true love, Juan Manuel.
And, for those who have been following this series, things will all make sense to everybody (including readers) before it does to Molly. If you are new to the series, please start with, “The Maid.�
So, what is going on with Juan Manuel this holiday season? Is he keeping secrets from Molly? And, that is the mystery that Molly ponders. Yet, for anyone else reading this delightful novella, the conclusion even if predictable, is still sweet.
December 31, 2024
I almost wish I skipped The Mistletoe Mystery and instead waited for the third Molly the Maid book to be released before diving back into the series. There’s just not much to the little novella. Sure, it’s cute and sweet, but there’s no mystery to it, and only Molly herself will be surprised at the end.
And raise your hand if you were also turned off by Molly lusting over Juan Manuel’s smooth, hairless chest. It did nothing for me. I’ll be skipping over any similar references in future audiobooks.
And raise your hand if you were also turned off by Molly lusting over Juan Manuel’s smooth, hairless chest. It did nothing for me. I’ll be skipping over any similar references in future audiobooks.
March 23, 2025
Molly is wonderful! She deserved this Christmas miracle gift... but beware, this isn't a novella with a mystery. It's more a glimpse into her life with a few curious moments that all come together. So glad to see how things turned out for her years later. I hope there will be more mysteries tho.
October 2, 2024
Perfectly cute like the other two books. No idea how Cheryl is still employed!!, but I suppose we all know at least one Cheryl at work 🤣. I need a separate book of just Mollyisms.
October 4, 2024
Really enjoyed the first 2 in this series but this was disappointing. Sappy. There is no real mystery as it is so obviously predictable from the start. Almost did not finish
December 23, 2024
i enjoyed the other books in this series much more and think it’s time to put this series/book universe to rest 🥲 like this was fine, semi-cute and a quick read which is what i needed right now, but there was no mystery like the others and i knew the entire plot from page 20 🤷🏼♀� to me 3 stars is generous!
December 4, 2024
This is short and extremely sweet. Molly the maid is back just in time for Christmas. I enjoyed once again being a part of Molly’s day-to-day life and experiencing it from her perspective. Molly is literal, meticulous with a genuine heart. This story stirs up all the emotions and sweetly exemplifies the essence of Christmas. Thank you, NetGalley and Ballantine Books for my copy.
October 8, 2024
The Mistletoe Mystery by Nita Prose is a charming novella set during Molly Gray’s first truly joyous Christmas since her gran’s passing. With the help of her festive and affectionate boyfriend, Juan Manuel, Molly is slowly rebuilding the cherished holiday traditions that once filled her life with warmth. However, when a Secret Santa exchange at the Regency Grand Hotel takes a suspicious turn, Molly’s holiday cheer is dampened by doubts, drawing her into a personal "mystery" that threatens to upend her newfound happiness.
At its core, this novella offers a heartwarming romance and a deeper glimpse into Molly’s evolving relationship with Juan. Fans of the Molly the Maid series will delight in the return of Molly's quirky observations and "Mollyisms," though the mystery element feels more transparent (or nonexistent) than the full-length novels. Rather than a true whodunit, the story reads more like a festive romcom wrapped in the sights, sounds, and spirit of the holiday season.
Though it lacks the complexity of The Maid, The Mistletoe Mystery is still a sweet, quick, cozy read that feels like an essential stepping stone in Molly’s world, possibly laying the groundwork for future developments in the series.
Thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the advance reader’s copy.
At its core, this novella offers a heartwarming romance and a deeper glimpse into Molly’s evolving relationship with Juan. Fans of the Molly the Maid series will delight in the return of Molly's quirky observations and "Mollyisms," though the mystery element feels more transparent (or nonexistent) than the full-length novels. Rather than a true whodunit, the story reads more like a festive romcom wrapped in the sights, sounds, and spirit of the holiday season.
Though it lacks the complexity of The Maid, The Mistletoe Mystery is still a sweet, quick, cozy read that feels like an essential stepping stone in Molly’s world, possibly laying the groundwork for future developments in the series.
Thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the advance reader’s copy.
December 29, 2024
Everyone’s favorite maid is back starring in her own Christmas novella.💚🎄
It’s time to celebrate the Christmas season with Molly and her loving boyfriend Juan Manuel.
But Molly is still reeling from last year's white elephant debacle.
And now Juan Manuel is acting very strangely.
Is he contemplating ending their relationship? Is he seeing someone else? How can Molly possibly enjoy Christmas when her boyfriend is keeping secrets from her.
🎧: I listened to the audio and Lauren Ambrose does an amazing job with Molly’s character.
I absolutely adore Molly and this was a sweet and heartwarming story. Loved it and the timing was perfect as I just received the next full length installment to this fabulous series. Merry Christmas to me! 🎁💃🏼
It’s time to celebrate the Christmas season with Molly and her loving boyfriend Juan Manuel.
But Molly is still reeling from last year's white elephant debacle.
And now Juan Manuel is acting very strangely.
Is he contemplating ending their relationship? Is he seeing someone else? How can Molly possibly enjoy Christmas when her boyfriend is keeping secrets from her.
🎧: I listened to the audio and Lauren Ambrose does an amazing job with Molly’s character.
I absolutely adore Molly and this was a sweet and heartwarming story. Loved it and the timing was perfect as I just received the next full length installment to this fabulous series. Merry Christmas to me! 🎁💃🏼
December 1, 2024
3.5 stars rounded up
A cute little holiday mystery following Molly the maid as her boyfriend Juan Manual begins to act strangely around Christmastime. A nice little extension of the series, this was a lot of fun to listen to.
A cute little holiday mystery following Molly the maid as her boyfriend Juan Manual begins to act strangely around Christmastime. A nice little extension of the series, this was a lot of fun to listen to.
August 10, 2024
This was a cute, Christmas themed short story. It involved Molly and her boyfriend preparing for Christmas and the staff Christmas party at the hotel they work at. Molly suspects that he is doing shady stuff after he starts acting suspicious.
It was very clear where the story was going from the beginning, but it was still a cute Christmas read. A very quick read. I’d say 3.5 rounded up.
Thank you to netgalley for this free advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
It was very clear where the story was going from the beginning, but it was still a cute Christmas read. A very quick read. I’d say 3.5 rounded up.
Thank you to netgalley for this free advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
December 7, 2024
The Mistletoe Mystery is a cute holiday mystery novella that sits between the second book in the series - The Mystery Guest - and the third book coming out in 2025.
Molly is ploughing through the festive period at work as the head maid at a prestigious hotel - the Regency Grand. But her boyfriend, Juan Manuel, is acting suspicious. As Molly navigates missing her grandmother over the festive period and being extra bust at work alongside the worries and doubts she has about her relationship, we find ourselves embroiled in the plot as innocent bystanders with an idea of what is really going on. This was such a sweet and cosy read, which brought tears to my eyes.
Molly is ploughing through the festive period at work as the head maid at a prestigious hotel - the Regency Grand. But her boyfriend, Juan Manuel, is acting suspicious. As Molly navigates missing her grandmother over the festive period and being extra bust at work alongside the worries and doubts she has about her relationship, we find ourselves embroiled in the plot as innocent bystanders with an idea of what is really going on. This was such a sweet and cosy read, which brought tears to my eyes.
November 24, 2024
A charming Christmas tale starring two beautiful souls in Molly and Juan Manuel!
October 7, 2024
3.5🎅 I enjoyed this cozy mystery, emphasis on cozy. Not a bad thing for a Christmas novella. While all my favorite characters were back, and then some (looking at you Cheryl), this story was about Molly and Juan Manuel’s relationship. Yay!
A little slow going until 80%, but it was worth waiting for the third act. Then it transformed into a chocolate eggnog truffle—sweet and dreamy.
Quibbly Question
What in the world does the Grand Regency Hotel pay their employees? Molly and Juan Manuel could barely scrape together the cost of a Charlie Brown Christmas tree.
A little slow going until 80%, but it was worth waiting for the third act. Then it transformed into a chocolate eggnog truffle—sweet and dreamy.
Quibbly Question
What in the world does the Grand Regency Hotel pay their employees? Molly and Juan Manuel could barely scrape together the cost of a Charlie Brown Christmas tree.
October 20, 2024
Sorry, but not having read the earlier books this story was sappy, obvious, and dull.
January 1, 2025
I loved this delightful Christmas short about Molly, head maid at the Regency Grand Hotel. The holiday is making her miss her grandmother but her boyfriend, Juan, is doing his best to make her feel better. At the same time he is being mysterious and poor Molly does not know how to interpret this.
This book is best enjoyed if you have read the previous books and understand how Molly thinks. It is a Christmas love story but there is a light if predictable mystery there too. Of course the resolution of the mystery brings happy tears - a perfect book to read at this time of year. I am looking forward to the third book being published soon.
This book is best enjoyed if you have read the previous books and understand how Molly thinks. It is a Christmas love story but there is a light if predictable mystery there too. Of course the resolution of the mystery brings happy tears - a perfect book to read at this time of year. I am looking forward to the third book being published soon.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 5,059 reviews
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get help and learn more about the design.