The Mistletoe Countess - (A Freddie and Grace Mystery) by Pepper Basham (Paperback)

About the Book

Can the wrong bride lead to the right romance? An unanticipated marriage unites an unlikely pair to unravel a ghostly Christmas mystery. Mistletoe is beautiful and dangerous, much like the woman from Frederick Percy's past, so when he turns over a new leaf and arranges to marry for his estate, instead of his heart, he never expects the wrong bride to be the right choice. Gracelynn Ferguson never planned to take her elder sister's place as a Christmas bride, but when she's thrust into the role, she will trust in her faithful novels and overactive imagination to help her not only win Frederick's heart but also to solve the murder mystery of Havensbrook Hall before her fairytale future is ruined.

Book Synopsis

Will the magic of Christmas bring these two newlyweds closer together, or will the ghosts of the past lead them into a destructive discovery from which not even a Dickens's Christmas can save them?

Mistletoe is beautiful and dangerous, much like the woman from Lord Frederick's Percy's past, so when he turns over a new leaf and arranges to marry for his estate, instead of his heart, he never expects the wrong bride to be the right choice. Gracelynn Ferguson never expected to take her elder sister's place as a Christmas bride, but when she's thrust into the choice, she will trust in her faithful novels and overactive imagination to help her not only win Frederick's heart but also to solve the murder mystery of Havensbrook Hall before the ghosts from Frederick's past ruin her fairytale future.

Review Quotes

"In The Mistletoe Countess, author Pepper Basham has composed absolutely endearing perfection. Grace is the most adorable heroine ever written, and readers will instantly find her a kindred spirit. And Frederick? Readers need to keep a fan or fainting couch ever close when he's on the page. Grace's imaginative but genuine heart, Freddie's swoonilicious yet wounded soul, a haunted house, and a few mysteries afoot will keep you enthralled from beginning to end. I loved every word!"
-Carrie Schmidt, reviewer & blogger, ReadingIsMySuperPower.org

"With her trademark wit and whimsy, Pepper Basham has written a thoroughly charming story. The Mistletoe Countess, with its adorably quirky, mystery-loving heroine and dashing hero, pays homage to well-loved classic literature while also delighting modern readers. This marriage of convenience romance will make you wish for Christmas, mistletoe, and the magic of a kiss."
-Kimberly Duffy, author of A Mosaic of Wings and A Tapestry of Light

"Charming and delightfully amusing, Pepper Basham has once again penned a story that will leave readers smiling long after the last page is turned".
--Jen Turano, USA Today Bestselling Author

Delightfully witty and full of vivacity, The Mistletoe Countess proves that Pepper Basham is not only the queen of romance, she's also the grande dame of characterization. Grace's quirky innocence and plucky spirit will remind readers of another beloved literary redhead from North America, and the story will thrill readers from the meet cute to the daring (albeit somewhat bumbling) rescue. Destined to be a Christmas favorite for years to come. Keep a cold compress handy for the characters' (and author's) abject devotion to that foreshadowing in the title--mistletoe.
--Chautona Havig, author of Deepest Roots of the Heart and the Aggie Series.

A festive Christmas read, The Mistletoe Countess will really put you into the holiday spirit! Spunky heroine Gracelynn Ferguson is the perfect match for Lord Astley--too bad, though, that it's her sister who's supposed to marry him. There are so many fun twists and turns to this story that there's just no stopping a huge grin as you read. Grab a hot chocolate and nestle down with a blankie for this winner!
--Michelle Griep, Christy Award-winning author of Once Upon a Dickens Christmas

Set in 1913, The Mistletoe Countess combines the energy of a new century with the formality of the British nobility. When Gracelynn Ferguson is made a substitute in her sister's arranged marriage, bewildered Frederick Percy, Earl of Astley, gets more than he bargained for. While Grace's unorthodox American behavior ruffles aristocratic feathers, the new couple soon learns that the biggest threat to their happiness isn't their differences but a murderer hunting for the earl. A laugh on every page and a swoon-inciting encounter in every chapter, you don't want to get caught under the mistletoe without this thrilling book.
--Regina Jennings, author of Courting Misfortune and Proposing Mischief

The Mistletoe Countess is a must-read for all romantics. Basham delivers an evocative story that feathers the heart with humor and stirs the soul with moving prose. The witty dialogue, sparky romance, and clever antics of a memorable heroine will captivate readers from start to finish.
--Rachel Scott McDaniel, award-winning author of Undercurrent of Secrets

A richly romantic literary romp, The Mistletoe Countess sweeps you into the embrace of irrepressible Grace and her far from fictional English earl. Overflowing with hope, heart, and hilarity, Pepper Basham crafts a sigh-worthy love story for every season, a melding of two people on different paths into an unforgettable, faith-filled whole that will make your own heart skip a beat. Beautiful!
--Laura Frantz, Christy Award-winning author of A Heart Adrift