Mistletoe Masquerade

I went into *Mistletoe Masquerade* expecting another saccharine holiday fling, but Ramsower’s twist on the Cinderella myth—complete with a detective hero and a mafia heroine—blew me away. The premise alone is genius: a prince who’s actually a PI tracking down his criminal Cinderella isn’t just clever, it’s *fun*. The audiobook’s strength lies in its pacing; every minute feels essential, with no wasted holiday fluff. Crais and Lee’s narration is a dream team—Crais nails the gruff, capable detective vibe, while Lee’s sultry, no-nonsense delivery sells the mafia princess angle perfectly. Their banter is electric, especially in the steamy scenes, which are hot enough to melt the snow on your rooftop. That said, the story’s brevity is both a gift and a curse. The resolution feels rushed, like Ramsower couldn’t quite stretch the plot to match the cozy mystery depth she hinted at. And while the holiday setting is clever, the mistletoe motif is leaned on a tad heavily—though to be fair, I’m not complaining when it leads to such delicious tension. The audiobook’s production is crisp, with no distracting pops or plosives, though the background music could’ve been subtler in the quieter scenes. But these are minor quibbles for a listen that’s as entertaining as it is unexpected. If you’re craving a holiday story that’s less ‘snowy kiss’ and more ‘smoldering suspicion,’ this one’s a steal.