THE MISTLETOE EFFECT is a stand-alone Christmas-themed romance by Melissa Cutler. I love stories with pretend marriages and THE MISTLETOE EFFECT is a delightful example of how much fun that kind of storyline can be. Due to the machinations of her family, Carina Briscoe and James Decker find themselves going through with a pretend wedding and agreeing to live together for a month. Things get hot and heavy pretty quickly because they have each harbored a secret attraction for each other.

Even though Carina and Decker get physical fairly early on in the book, I didn't think it was rushed or felt forced because they have had about nine years of longing leading up to that point. I like that they both felt something and it wasn't a one-sided thing. The chemistry between them makes for some very sizzling scenes. I love that Decker is able to see her so clearly and only tries to give her exactly what she needs. The sweet side of that is his desire to see her follow her dreams. The extremely steamy side of that is his insistence that she asks for and take what she wants from him sexually. Since he believes her family pushes her around, he encourages her to make choices that she really wants. Being supportive as well as sexy makes Decker a great hero.

I like that there was no character trying to tear them apart. The biggest obstacles to their finding long-term happiness were Carina's internal struggle with deciding how she should live her life, and the fact that Carina and Decker are both so committed to wanting the best for each other -- even if that means they can't be together. Happily, I think there is just enough drama in THE MISTLETOE EFFECT, without being melodrama. Carina and Ben's friends and co- workers help create light moments to relieve the tension.

THE MISTLETOE EFFECT is a red hot romance with a sexy cowboy and a great story. The main characters are three- dimensional and add depth to the story. The story's resolution is very satisfying. I look forward to reading more books by Melissa Cutler.