HATE ME UNDER THE MISTLETOE is the first book in Kelly Jamieson’s “Romancing the Rink” series. This story is told from alternating perspectives, so the reader has a better understanding of what the two main characters are feeling and thinking. The book opens with Amy Heller overhearing her boyfriend in the act of cheating on her after butt-dialing her. It’s actually a double betrayal, because she also overhears him say that he secretly applied for the same job that she just did. After promptly dumping him, she retreats to a winter cabin that belongs to the family of one of her friends to decompress. Coincidentally, Ryder Long winds up heading to that same cabin to relax before the upcoming holidays as well. Amy and Ryder have a history, so it’s naturally a prickly reunion initially. Whether fate or dumb luck that brings them together again, they work through their bad history, and develop a romance.

Because HATE ME UNDER THE MISTLETOE is told from both perspectives, Kelly Jamieson gives the reader two sides to what happened (or didn’t) years ago between Amy and Ryder. Amy had a crush on Ryder, but circumstances made it so that Ryder wasn’t really in a position to take Amy up on her flirting. In fact, from his perspective, he was doing the honorable thing by rejecting her. I was originally a little worried that this story would be too much of an enemies-to-lovers story, and toxic for me to really enjoy. Happily for me, that was not at all the case. There may have been some hurt feelings from the past, but when these two get snowed in at the cabin, they open up and get to know each other better. They’ve matured over the years, and that maturity helps their attraction blossom into something beautiful. This is a good book for romance fans who enjoy the “snowed in” trope, as well as readers who like good character-driven storytelling mixed with lots of sexy zing.

HATE ME UNDER THE MISTLETOE has cozy Christmas vibes mixed with red-hot romance sizzle. Usually in stories like this, in which one character loves all things Christmas and one just isn’t feeling it, it’s the man who is the Scrooge and the woman being overflowing with Christmas giddiness. I like that Kelly Jamieson has those roles reversed – with Ryder being a softie for the holidays and Amy wanting to tune out when it comes to Christmas. Though not part of this series, an earlier book - YOU HAD ME AT HOCKEY – is about Amy’s brother Josh. I look forward to reading Kelly Jamieson’s next hockey-themed romance.