Happy Release Day!
Congrats Ashley
on release today of
Messy Under the Mistletoe!
Messy Under the Mistletoe by Ashley Farley
Holiday Romance, Short Story, 98 pages
Published September 30, 2025, by AHF Publishing
She needed a model. What she got was a mess—and maybe the love of her life.
Sloane Delaney is one big pitch away from the promotion she’s worked for all year. All she needs is the perfect face for her new men’s grooming campaign—someone who embodies every version of the modern man. When she spots a flannel-clad Christmas tree vendor with an annoyingly perfect jawline, she sees more than lumberjack vibes—she sees potential.
Reid McAllister would rather stay behind the scenes at his family’s tree lot than be anyone’s holiday fantasy. But when Sloane dangles a paycheck big enough to solve his money problems (and maybe win back the girl who dumped him), he agrees to play along. One kiss for the camera turns into something that feels dangerously real—especially under the mistletoe.
Now Sloane has a campaign to launch, a fiancé who’s getting suspicious, and a growing she might have cast the wrong man in her real-life love story.
My thoughts about Messy Under the Mistletoe ~~
(I love to note the first lines of the books I'm reading. First lines can really grab a reader's attention and I love seeing where the author takes the reader after their first lines.)
First line—"I plaster on a smile as my senior team delivers the news."
Messy Under the Mistletoe is the perfect Christmas story, one you can get lost in to escape reality for a bit. It's a quick read, filled with loveable characters.
Sloane and Reid meet at the Christmas tree lot—the perfect way to meet in a Christmas story, right—and sparks fly. Sloane wants to keep it professional, since Reid is the perfect model for the role she is trying to fill, but the chemistry between the two of them is electric. There are definite ups and downs, as there are in any holiday romance story, but there's also a lot of growth and discovery right along with the angst. It's what makes for a fun, enjoyable story, right?
I loved Messy Under the Mistletoe, and Ashley did not disappoint with this one, another one of her great stories! I highly recommend it and if you love Christmas stories as much as I do, you will love this one for sure.
I received a copy of Messy Under the Mistletoe from the author and this is my honest opinion.
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About the author
Ashley Farley writes books about women for women. Her characters are mothers, daughters, sisters, and wives facing real-life issues. Her bestselling Sweeney Sisters series has touched the lives of many.
Ashley is a wife and mother of two young adult children. While she's lived in Richmond, Virginia for the past 21 years, a piece of her heart remains in the salty marshes of the South Carolina Lowcountry, where she still calls home. Through the eyes of her characters, she captures the moss-draped trees, delectable cuisine, and kindhearted folk with lazy drawls that make the area so unique. For more information, visit www.ashleyfarley.com ~ Goodreads
Ashley is a wife and mother of two young adult children. While she's lived in Richmond, Virginia for the past 21 years, a piece of her heart remains in the salty marshes of the South Carolina Lowcountry, where she still calls home. Through the eyes of her characters, she captures the moss-draped trees, delectable cuisine, and kindhearted folk with lazy drawls that make the area so unique. For more information, visit www.ashleyfarley.com ~ Goodreads
Connect with Ashley
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