Review: Mistletoe Masquerade by Jill Ramsower
Mistletoe Masquerade is exactly what it promises on the tin: a spicy, mafia-lite Cinderella retelling wrapped in a holiday bow and dipped in delicious tension. If you’ve spent any time in Jill Ramsower’s Moretti Men universe, this novella feels like a treat you weren’t expecting but absolutely wanted. We’re back with Sachi—Dani’s best friend from Death’s Favor—and Detective Dean Malone, the guy who has always danced a little too close to the line between law and… let’s call it “creative cooperation.”
The setup is classic fairytale with a mafia twist: Sachi sneaks into a police masquerade ball for one night of freedom, immediately gets cornered by a creep, and Dean swoops in with a rescue kiss that absolutely does not stay just a kiss. The chemistry? Instant. Nuclear. The kind of heat where the hero’s hand finds the small of her back and refuses to leave like it pays rent there.
And Sachi—sweet, feisty, knows-what-she-wants Sachi—goes toe-to-toe with him in the best way. Their one-night stand is fiery, fun, and full of that “I know this is reckless, but oh well” energy I love in holiday novellas.
Of course, Sachi tries to ghost him like a rational girl surrounded by mobsters. Of course, it doesn’t work. Ramsower brings them back together quickly, and that’s when this novella really shows off. Dean is not just possessive—he’s bossy, he’s jealous, he’s convinced he’s been played, and honestly? It’s fantastic. The man spirals, and I ate it up. And when the Moretti crew shows up to straighten out his assumptions? Absolute chef’s kiss. I love a mafia pep talk that doubles as relationship counseling.
The novella moves fast, the tension stays high, and the payoff is satisfying—even in such a short page count. I would’ve happily read another hundred pages of these two circling each other like magnets, but what we get is tight, fun, spicy, and surprisingly sweet.
Final Thoughts:
If you want a quick holiday hit with:
• Cinderella vibes
• a jealous, alpha detective
• secret identities
• mafia cameos
• explosive chemistry
• and a great grovel
…then Mistletoe Masquerade will absolutely scratch the itch. I had a blast returning to the Moretti Men world, and Dean + Sachi make a perfect holiday treat.
