Mistletoe and Mishigas

Mistletoe and Mishigas (2023) M.A. Wardell (Teachers in Love #2)

Not only is Sheldon moving to a new school in the middle of the term, he has also discovered the wedding invitation from his ex. Who broke up with Sheldon last year. On Christmas Eve. Sheldon’s favorite time of the year.

But Sheldon is nothing if not cheerful and bubbly and is determined to make sure his new students feel comfortable as soon as they walk in the door.

If only he had desks and chairs and tables.

Theo likes his job. He is good at keeping his head down and getting things done, and in general people leave the custodian alone. However, the new teacher needs help, so Theo has to help him–no matter how much he chatters.

“I don’t craft.”

“Well, lucky for you, I’m a first-grade teacher. We’re about to have a massive Martha Stewart moment up in here.”

This is the second book I’ve read by this author, and like the first, I felt it was… fine.

There wasn’t anything particularly wrong, but I also didn’t quite get what the two saw in each other. Theo finds Sheldon annoying. Sheldon decides to befriend Theo because… because he decides to?

They see each other because one of the students in Sheldon’s class finds Theo calming, and so is allowed to spend time helping him if he has behaved all day in class. But I never quite felt either had much of an interest in the other besides surface attraction.

Both characters had fears and issues–Theo has PTSD and permanent injuries from the war. Sheldon is often judged on his appearance and presentation and doesn’t trust people not to abandon him they way his parents abandoned did.

But it felt like those issues were somewhat glided over, and I never quite felt an emotional connection between the two.

Also, they way Sheldon’s ex’s wedding was described was just … mean. Wham’s Last Christmas is just plain wrong in that scene for so very many reasons, firstly because it felt like a slam at Sheldon. That’s just … icky.

I was lovely how Theo’s parents took in Sheldon and his sister and wanted to make them family, that felt real. But the relationship between the two just never worked for me.

Characters: Sheldon Soleskin, Theodore Berenson, Naomi Soleskin, Gianna DeGarmo, Rebecca, Kent Lester, Walker Stevens, Sylvia Berenson, Christian, Anna, Becky Mason, Jolene, Ricky Joven, Marvin Block, Olan

Cover Art and Design by Myriam Strasbourg

Rating: 6/10

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