Mismatched Under the Mistletoe

Jess Michaels

Nov 2020 · The Passionate Pen

About this ebook

A 12 Days of Christmas Historical from 10 time USA Today Bestseller Jess Michaels

John Cavendish has carried a secret for most of his adult life: he has been in love with the wife of his best friend, Lady Emily Rutledge, since the first time he laid eyes on her. Years have passed, she’s been widowed and they have become the closest of friends, but that deep feeling has remained. However now the holidays have arrived and she has invited him to a country party with a Twelve Days of Christmas theme. A party where she intends to matchmake all her guests.

Emily has leaned on Cavendish during the lonely years since her husband’s death and she will lean on him once more at her party. Only nothing is going to plan. The couples don’t like each other, the birds are going wild and who knew drummers drumming would get so repetitive and LOUD? Plus, there is the fact that she and Cav are getting closer by the moment, igniting a desire in her that she never saw coming.

Will twelve days of revelry and seduction be enough to lure these two toward a future that could change their lives? Or will fear and angry geese keep love from blooming?

Heat Level: Should be the 12 Days of Steamy, Am I Right?

Ratings and reviews

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. 3.5 stars for this steamy Regency Christmas romance! Emily's husband died 5 years ago. Over that time, she has become closer and closer to his friend, Cav. Since she doesn't have love in her life, she throws a matchmaking party with the theme of the 12 Days of Christmas. She enlists Cav to help her. Who will end up matched at the party? The chemistry between Emily and Cav was amazing - especially in the bedroom! I haven't read many regency romances, and I did not expect it to be that steamy! I was pleasantly surprised! I was a little disappointed in this party. I loved the idea that it's based around the 12 Days of Christmas. But I felt like it could have been executed better. The party seemed like an afterthought. I wish more of the couples paired up or we could at least see if there was any chemistry! I felt like the romance between Emily and Cav could have just taken place in London. It wasn't a disappointing story. I just felt it could have been executed better. Definitely worth a read, though!

A wonderful Christmas romance as Jess does so well!! What is better than unrequited love that finally comes to fruition and in the middle of a madcap party with the theme of the Twelve Days of Christmas! He had loved he forever and even though she had married his best friend, the feeling never went away. When she is widowed, he helped her any way he could and they were the best of friends. Could they now be more? Simply romantic!

Mismatched Under the Mistletoe by Jess Michaels How hard it must be to hide your love from the woman married to your best friend…for years and years to have to be around the woman you love without being able to be more than a good friend. And then to have to continue even after the woman is a widow…will the time ever be right for John Cavendish and Emily Rutledge to be together? Hope springs eternal and at a matchmaking country house party the situation might change but will they change in favor of John finally achieving the love of his life…or not? Emily has the idea of playing matchmaker with the 12 Days of Christmas theme so invites a selection of people she hopes will find love while under her roof. She is not thrilled with the results or with some of the animals brought to be part of the entertainment BUT she hopes it won’t all be in vain. This book was so much fun! I felt so badly for Cavendish as he waited and waited and took such good care of Emily. I was hoping that she would realize what a good man he was and fall for him…as they both deserved to be happy. I also wondered about some of the guests at the party and hope they will show up in future books not yet written yet. Did I like this book? Yes Would I read more by this author? Definitely Thank you to NetGalley and The Passionate Pen LLC for the ARC – This is my honest review. 5 Stars

About the author

USA Today Bestselling Author Jess Michaels began writing full-time in 1999. In 2003, she sold her first novella and since then she has published over 50 novels and novellas under three different pen names with several major publishers, small presses and via self-publishing. Jess is the author of The Wicked Woodleys, The Notorious Flynns, The Ladies Book of Pleasures, The Pleasure Wars Series and other series and stand-alone titles.