Naughty, Nice, and Definitely Mated: Mistletoe Mates by Sedona Ashe Is the Paranormal Holiday Romance You Didn’t Know You Needed

What do you get when you mix shifters, soulmates, peppermint magic, and one chaotic holiday heroine? A Christmas romance that’s equal parts naughty and nice—with claws.

Sedona Ashe’s Mistletoe Mates: A Candi Cane Holiday is a festive, flirty, and fang-sharp paranormal romance that blends holiday cheer with shifter heat and emotional bite. Set in a quirky, snow-dusted world where fated mates are real and holiday magic comes with a side of trouble, this novella offers everything fans love about Sedona’s work—sass, spice, and swoon—but with a cozy winter twist.

If you’re the kind of reader who likes your holiday reads a little wild, a little weird, and a whole lot steamy, Mistletoe Mates will jingle your bells in the best way.

A Christmas Spirit with a Past… and a Pack of Problems

Candi Cane (yes, that’s really her name) isn’t your typical holiday heroine. She’s a walking peppermint disaster—a chaos magnet with a heart of gold and a past she’s not quite proud of. Her mission? Spread Christmas joy and keep her inner magic under control. Her problem? She just crash-landed into a town full of suspicious shifters… and apparently straight into the arms of her fated mate.

But this, mate? He’s not thrilled about the whole destiny thing. He’s broody, growly, and convinced he doesn’t need a candy-striped mess in his life—no matter how much she smells like sugar cookies and cinnamon sin.

As sparks fly, tempers flare, and holiday hijinks ensue, Candi must figure out how to prove she’s more than her past—and that sometimes, the most unexpected love stories make the best kind of magic.

Snowy Shenanigans, Soulmates, and Seduction

Tropes That Make This a Winter Winner

Sedona Ashe knows exactly how to twist classic romance tropes into something fresh and laugh-out-loud funny. Mistletoe Mates offers a holiday cocktail of tropes that work overtime:

• Fated mates romance: The pull between them is instant, undeniable… and totally unwanted, at least at first.
• Holiday redemption arc: Candi’s trying to rewrite her story and be someone worthy of love, even if the town sees her as trouble.
• Grumpy/sunshine dynamic: He’s cold as the snow outside. She’s a walking cinnamon roll dipped in glitter. Fireworks, obviously.
• Small-town shifter drama: Mating politics, alpha growls, territorial instincts, and one determined woman who doesn’t back down.
• Holiday magic + mayhem: From mistletoe mishaps to enchanted snowstorms, this is a fantasy wrapped in festive chaos.

Characters Who Melt Snow and Hearts

Candi is pure Sedona Ashe heroine energy: messy, magnetic, and deeply real beneath the sparkle. She’s funny, brave, and unapologetically extra—yet carries the weight of not being taken seriously. Watching her push back against judgment and carve out her place is the warmest part of this wintry tale.

Her reluctant mate is deliciously grumpy, emotionally guarded, and very much not ready to admit he wants her. And yet… he does. Their back-and-forth banter gives way to real vulnerability, making the eventual romantic payoff feel earned and oh-so-satisfying.

And while it’s a quick read, there’s depth here—about finding belonging, healing through connection, and choosing to believe you deserve joy, even if your past says otherwise.

For Readers Who Want Their Romance Spiced (and Spiked) for the Holidays

You’ll adore Mistletoe Mates if:

• You love holiday shifter romances that balance charm with cheek.
• You’re a fan of enemies-to-lovers with a fated twist.
• You want a novella with steam, heart, and humor—all wrapped in a tinsel bow.
• You enjoy quirky heroines who take up space unapologetically.
• You’ve devoured books by authors like Milly Taiden, T.S. Joyce, or Heather Guerre.

This is a one-sitting, soul-warming, laugh-out-loud kind of read perfect for winter nights—or anytime you need a reminder that even the messiest girls deserve magic.

Final Thoughts: More Than Mates, They’re the Holiday Miracle

Mistletoe Mates is fun, flirty, and surprisingly emotional. Sedona Ashe once again gives us characters who feel alive, dialogue that crackles, and a love story that wraps around your heart like your favorite cozy blanket—if your blanket happened to be on fire from unresolved shifter tension.

So whether you’re already in the holiday spirit or need a reason to smile (and maybe blush a little), this book brings the heat, the humor, and the heart.

Because sometimes fate delivers your soulmate in a snowstorm.

And sometimes… she’s wearing peppermint-striped leggings and wrecking your life—in the best way.