Get ready to cozy up with a delightful holiday romance that blends the warmth of fresh-baked treats with the magic of Christmas matchmaking! In this week's Jen's Jewels column, I sit down with New York Times bestselling author Liz Johnson to discuss her charming new novel, MEDDLING WITH MISTLETOE. Set in the enchanting Red Door Inn on Prince Edward Island, this heartwarming tale follows aspiring chef Whitney as she finds herself caught between helping the well-meaning Aretha Franklin (no relation to the singer!) match her nephew Daniel with a local businesswoman and confronting her own unexpected feelings for him. Through our delightful chat, Johnson reveals the inspiration behind her festive story, shares a mouthwatering family recipe, and gives readers an exclusive peek at her upcoming return to the Red Door Inn in 2025. Whether you're a fan of holiday baking, sweet romance, or both, this interview is the perfect accompaniment to your favorite Christmas cookie and a steaming cup of cocoa.
Jennifer Vido: What inspired you to mix baking and matchmaking into a festive Christmas tale?
Liz Johnson: I always think Christmas is such a romantic time of year, and I think people deeply in love want to see their loved ones find the same joy and happiness. That’s the case for Aretha Franklin (no relation to the singer), anyway. She just wants her nephew to have a good partner in life.
I also think the holiday season has the best food! There are always sweet treats to be savored and parties in need of another dessert. It just seemed natural to me to put backing and matchmaking together!
Jen: Whitney’s journey is all about pursuing her culinary dreams while navigating unexpected responsibilities. How did her story evolve as you wrote it?
Liz: When I first started writing Whitney’s story, she was singularly focused on culinary school. It had been her lifelong dream. But the more time I spent with her, the more I realized that learning to be a chef wasn’t so much her dream as her fallback plan. In fact, she’s not even sure what her dream is. She learned early on that dreams are dangerous, so she’s not going to put too much hope in anything for her future.
But when Daniel comes into her life, he nudges her to begin thinking about not only what she wants to do but really who she wants to be. It was fun to explore that for her.
Jen: Aretha’s matchmaking schemes add humor and heart to the story. How did you balance her meddling with Whitney and Daniel’s budding romance?
Liz: It could be easy to think of Aretha as meddling for no reason, but I wanted to make her intentions clear. She wasn’t only interested in having her way. Ultimately, she wants her nephew to be happy. She knows he’s been lonely and a little grumpy since breaking things off with his fiancée three years before, and she wants only the very best for him. She’s pretty sure that’s businesswoman Ruby.
And at first, Whitney is on board with helping Aretha make it happen. Or, at least, she’s not opposed to it. But she soon discovers that she’s the better fit for Daniel.
Jen: The setting of the Red Door Inn feels so warm and inviting. Is it based on a real place, or did you create it from scratch?
Liz: The Red Door Inn is entirely fictional, but it was inspired by the real people I’ve met and places I’ve visited on Prince Edward Island. When I went to the island for the first time in 2010, I discovered a place where broken hearts could find healing. That’s what I created the Red Door Inn to be.
Jen: This story has such a charming ensemble cast, including the Sloan children and holiday guests. How do you approach writing such dynamic secondary characters?
Liz: I always keep my eyes open for the secondary character’s goals. What is it that they want to accomplish and how does it affect the main characters? Julia Mae Sloan is one of my favorite characters, and she was so much fun to write. Her goal is always to have fun. And maybe to push her mom’s buttons. But mostly fun. And she’s discovered that Daniel is a bit of an easy mark. She can talk him into just about anything—like putting aside his work to read to her or donning winter gear to go sledding. She doesn’t intend to be a matchmaker, but her desire for fun only pushes Daniel and Whitney closer together.
Jen: Do you have a favorite holiday treat or pie recipe that inspired Whitney’s culinary creations?
Liz: My favorite holiday treat is an old family recipe that we pull out at Thanksgiving and Christmas. Apple-Cranberry Compote is a bit like apple crisp. A can of crushed pineapple, a can of cranberry sauce, and half a dozen apples—peeled and diced. Mix them up and top with a crumb mixture of flour (half cup), oats (half cup), brown sugar (three-quarters of a cup), and melted butter (third cup). It’s so good!
Jen: The holidays are often associated with matchmaking and romance. What’s your favorite holiday memory that feels straight out of a rom-com?
Liz: I don’t know if I have a memory that feels straight out of a rom-com. But I’ve had the joy of being part of several Christmas festivals over the years, and there’s something so fun about snuggling inside a warm coat with a cup of hot chocolate and chatting with readers who come by my booth to pick up Christmas gifts.
Jen: Can readers expect to return to the Red Door Inn in future stories, or do you have a new setting or series in mind for your next book?
Liz: Yes! I’m delighted to share that readers can return to the Red Door Inn with my May 2025 release. SOMETIMES YOU STAY is the story of Cretia Martin, a digital content creator who refuses to settle in one place, and Finn Chaffey, a local dog breeder with generations of roots on PEI. When these two literally bump into each other and Cretia loses all the tools of her trade in the harbor, Finn sets her up with his friends at the Red Door Inn. And as they work together to get her back on her feet, she begin to discover that love could be the biggest thing she’s been missing on the road.
Jen: You’ve connected with so many fans as a New York Times bestselling author. What’s been the most surprising or touching feedback you’ve received about your books?
Liz: I’ve received so many kind messages from readers, and every one holds a special place in my heart. I’m just so grateful for the readers who spend hours of their time with these characters I’ve created. Last summer I spent a week on PEI with about a dozen readers, and it was such a special time. I intended to share the island that I love with them, but they ended up inspiring me, telling me what my books have meant to them. They thanked me for writing books filled with love and hope, and I’m eternally grateful for those women and their words of encouragement.
Jen: How do you engage with your readers on social media during the busy holiday season, and what’s your favorite platform to share your festive updates?
Liz: I love to share festive posts during the holiday season on Facebook and Instagram. I also enjoy sharing some of the funny images and videos I see in my stories too.
Jen: Thank you for chatting with me, Liz! Your stories bring such warmth and joy to the holiday season, and I can’t wait to share Whitney and Daniel’s sweet and swoon-worthy romance with readers.
Liz: Thank you so much for inviting me to share! It’s always a joy to connect with other book lovers—especially at this time of year. Merry Christmas and happy holidays!
A Grumpy Sunshine Holiday Romance at a B&B with Matchmaking and Christmas Baking
Whitney Garrett is preparing to enter culinary school in the spring, but first she has to sell enough homemade pies at the local Christmas markets to pay her tuition. When her oven breaks, Whitney asks Marie Sloan, proprietor of the Red Door Inn, if she can use the inn's kitchen to keep up with her orders. Marie agrees, with a catch: Whitney has to watch the three Sloan children and cook breakfasts for the Red Door in return.
The inn is busy with holiday guests--including Aretha Franklin Sloan's perpetually single nephew Daniel and Ruby, a businesswoman in town to purchase Aretha's antiques store. Intent on making a Christmas match for the two, Aretha enlists Whitney's help in her schemes. But the deeper Whitney gets, the more she realizes that Ruby is definitely not the right woman for Daniel--and the more she thinks that she just might be his perfect match.
Cuddle up for some warm holiday cheer as New York Times bestselling author Liz Johnson explores the unforeseen consequences of meddling with mistletoe when love is on the line.
Romance Holiday | Inspirational Romance [Revell, On Sale: September 3, 2024, Paperback / e-Book, ISBN: 9780800744885 / eISBN: 9781493447213]
By day Liz Johnson is a marketing manager. She makes time to write late at night--that’s when she thinks best anyway. Liz is the author of more than a dozen novels, a New York Times bestselling novella, and a handful of short stories. She’s a Christy Award finalist and a two-time ACFW Carol Award finalist. She makes her home in Phoenix, Arizona, where she enjoys exploring local music, theater, and doting on her nieces and nephews. She writes stories of true love filled with heart, humor, and happily ever afters.
Jennifer Vido writes sweet romances set in the Lowcountry, earning acclaim as the award-winning author of the Gull Island series. Her debut novel, "Serendipity by the Sea," secured the prestigious Best First Book award from the New Jersey Romance Writers Golden Leaf Contest. In 2024, Vido's talent garnered further accolades, with Baltimore Magazine readers naming her Best Local Author in their annual Best of Baltimore poll, while the Baltimore Sun acknowledged her with an Honorable Mention in their Best of 2024 Author category. When not writing fiction, she interviews authors for her weekly Jen’s Jewels column, leads water exercise classes, and directs a legal nonprofit. Currently residing in Maryland, she and her husband are proud parents to two grown sons and a rescue dog named Fripp.
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