Contemporary Holiday Romance Review: The Mistletoe Trap (Heart in the Game #2) by Cindi Madsen @CindiMadsen @EntangledPub

From the moment Julie sees her best friend, Gavin, in the airport, it’s like no time at all has gone by instead of months and months. No matter how long they’ve been apart, their relationship has always been steady, comfortable, and decidedly just friends. Even though their meddling parents have hung what seems like unlimited amounts of mistletoe everywhere she goes this holiday season, Julie knows some things will never change.

Gavin is well-aware his family’s wanted him and Julie to get together since forever, even though he’s been friend-zoned since they could talk—and he’s been happy to play that role. After all, as the new starting quarterback for the San Antonio Mustangs, he’s got enough on his plate without adding romance to the mix.

But between playing elves in the holiday bazaar to nights spent one-on-one watching rom-coms or soaking in their town’s hot springs, suddenly the “reverse parent trap” they’ve fallen into is actually starting to work. But this could be one scheme where letting themselves get trapped might be way too dangerous.

Each book in the Heart in the Game series is STANDALONE:
* The Wedding Deal
* The Mistletoe Trap

Publication date : November 16, 2020
Publisher : Entangled: Amara
ASIN : B08L1PKJ26
Print length : 269 pages
Purchase Link: Amazon

My Review:

The Mistletoe Trap is one of the cutest romance books I've read in a long time. Julie is a quirky heroine who spouts stories about her life in the lab, some of which would be considered inappropriate in certain circles. She and I would get along great. It takes a lot to gross me out and her stories about things she's dissected would be interesting to me. As such, though, she finds dating to be a problem and the last guy she dated called her boring. Talk about a low-blow to her self-esteem. Fortunately, she has her bestie, Gavin, a pro football player, who she's known since their days in diapers. They may live miles and states apart- Julie in Arizona and Gavin in Texas - they talk as often as they can and are about to join their families in their hometown in Colorado.

Gavin has just been signed as the new quarterback for the San Antonio Mustangs. When an injury sidelines him, he chooses to rest and relax with a little more time at home in Colorado. Knowing his family and Julie's family have been trying to set them up for years, Gavin takes their shenanigans in stride. That is, until feelings for Julie bubble to the surface and they find themselves falling for each other. Everything boils over, however, and Julie and Gavin wonder if changing their relationship could ruin what they have together.

I absolutely loved Julie and Gavin in this book. Everything I want in a romance is front and center with this one. There was laughter, tears, joy, and sadness, complete with meddling family members and a little bit of heat. The Mistletoe Trap is everything I expect in the friends-to-lovers trope and then some. The author's writing style is mesmerizing and I was engaged in the book from the minute I read the synopsis. I couldn't put the book down and read it in one day. I really need to read more by Cindi Madsen, she is a great writer.

I was provided a copy of this book to read but my opinions are my own.

Rating:

 

Visit the Author: http://cindimadsen.com/