In ‘The Mistletoe Trap’ we meet Gavin and Julie. Gavin and Julie have been best friend ever since they where babies, and their parents have always been trying to get them together forever. But they have always been just friends. Now they are in their twenties and living their lives in different states. Julie works in a lab, and Gavin is a professional football player. But no matter how busy their lives get, and how little they really see each other, they always try to call and just chat with each other. It’s the highlight of their days. And this year with Christmas, Gavin and Julie both go back to their hometown to spent the holidays together. And maybe it’s because of all the mistletoe hanging around.. and their meddling parents, but there is something different going on between them.

‘The Mistletoe Trap’ was from the beginning a very entertaining, nice and cozy romance that made me keep on reading. I loved the two main characters Gavin and Julie. They have this intense friendship, which honestly is something everyone would want. And I love the family they have. Since both their parents are also friends, they all grew up together and it’s just one big happy family. I loved that.

The romance between Gavin and Julie is very sweet and slow. I loved how we got to read this book through both their point of views, and how they slowly got to the realization there was more between them then just friendship. Their where also plenty of funny moments, which made me laugh out loud.

As a Christmas read, it wasn’t too big on the Christmas celebrations but just perfect enough to make it a fun holiday read to read while cozying up with a blanket and some hot coco. And as my first Cindi Madsen read, it definitely makes me want to read more books by her.

The Mistletoe Trap by Cindi Madsen is the perfect holiday read, especially if you enjoy friends-to-lovers romances. It has two best friends trying to spend as much time together over the Christmas holiday before heading back to their respective jobs states apart, a lot of meddling family members, and lots of laughs.

What I loved most about The Mistletoe Trap was that although Julie is an introverted scientist and Gavin is a pro football player, the story is simply about two best friends falling in love. I honestly think that their careers could have been anything, and the story would have still worked out. It’s also refreshing to see a story where a person’s popularity factors fairly little in the relationship, which often happens when one of the characters is considered famous. Julie and Gavin’s relationship and their chemistry truly made the story great, and it left me puzzled as to why it took them so long to fall in love.

The situation where Julie went on a date with Kory, a guy their parents set her up with, didn’t quite work for me. Although I understood how it factored into the overall storyline, he was a boring secondary character and felt almost like a throwaway character. I wish there was a bit more to him before his involvement with Julie towards the end of the story.

Anyway, I highly recommend The Mistletoe Trap by Cindi Madsen, if you enjoy friends-to-lovers romances, holiday romances, Hallmark movies, etc. It truly is a fun story to add to your holiday TBR if you like to read seasonal books.

The Mistletoe Trap!

The Mistletoe Trap by Cindi Madsen is a story about two friends discovering they want a relationship with each other beyond friends.

This holiday book wasn’t as holiday as I expected. I also found that Julie and Gavin were working really hard to make the relationship work. They are each fired by jealousy of the other’s relationships. Julie tries to find a guy to have a fling as she thinks she should get better in bed (her previous boyfriend told her she was bad in bed). Then Julie and Gavin become friends with benefits. I think I found Julie to be emotionally immature and this bothered me more than I expect others will find.

I did find the book to be okay, but it wasn’t my favourite of Cindi’s.

I received an ARC copy of this book courtesy of NetGalley and Entangled Publishing and am voluntarily reviewing it. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely.

If you’re looking for a feel good Christmas love story that also encompasses an epic friends-to-lovers romance, you NEED to read The Mistletoe Trap!

This book was adorable and I could not put it down! Julie and Gavin have been friends since they were in diapers and if their families had their way the two would be married with kids already. But Jules and Gavin are just friends, best friends in fact and with their busy lives and living in different states, the idea of being together like that just never crossed their mind. That is until this Christmas when the two are reunited after a long time a part and sparks start to fly. Couple that with their families mistletoe shenanigans and things definitely start to heat up. But is a relationship with the risk of the long standing friendship?

This is a Hallmark movie in the making! The Mistletoe Trap is a romantic, heartwarming Christmas romance. This is a bit similar to the move Midnight at Magnolia. There's two people who have been best friends forever but their families want them to be together. They never saw each other as romantic prospects but the "reverse parent trap" their parents have set is starting to work its magic. Julie and Gavin's relationship also reminded me of the type of relationship the Danny and Riley had on the show Baby Daddy. So if you're a fan of that couple you'll be a fan of this one.
Everything about this was good. The friends-to-lovers trope was so well done. The characters actually acted like longtime friends! Their relationship was sweet and endearing. I loved watching these two slowly fall in love.
The atmosphere was Christmas goodness. I loved the activities and traditions the characters participated in. There was a ton of humor here too.
If you're looking for a holiday romance, look no further! You won't be disappointed.

4 stars

The Mistletoe Trap by Cindi Madsen is a very enjoyable and entertaining read.
I enjoyed the storyline, it's well written and I loved watching Gavin and Julie's relationship unfold.

Overall, The Mistletoe Trap is a sweet and heartwarming read and perfect for the upcoming holidays.

*Thank you to the publisher via Netgalley for the advance copy.*

A delightful friends to lovers romance, Cindi Madsen’s The Mistletoe Trap is a feel-good and uplifting tale that will leave you with a great big smile on your face.

Julie and Gavin cannot remember a time when they weren’t the best of friends. Their parents might have been planning their wedding since they were both in diapers, but for Julie and Gavin, their friendship means absolutely everything to them and they would not jeopardize it for anything – not even for the sizzling attraction that neither one of them will ever admit to. Besides, with Gavin now being a starting quarterback for the San Antonio Mustangs in Texas and Julie working as a scientist, the two barely see each other anymore although they spend hours on end on the phone to one another chatting away. While their professional lives are soaring, their personal lives are another matter altogether. While Julie lurches from one romantic disaster to the other, Gavin has been so focused on his game that he hasn’t had much time for dating. But with Christmas just around the corner and a vacation in Colorado planned for the two of them and their families, who knows what might happen underneath the mistletoe…

When Julie spots Gavin again at the airport after not seeing him for months, it’s like the two of them have never been apart. Julie is over the moon to be reunited with her best friend, but as she begins to spend more and more time with him, her feelings towards him become anything but platonic. Julie had come on vacation to find herself a handsome hunk with whom she can have a no-strings holiday fling. But the more time she spends in Gavin’s company, the more she wonders whether her Mr. Right has been right under her nose all along…

Gavin is very happy focusing on his career. He doesn’t need the added complication of a relationship in his hectic life. However, cozy nights spent with Julie cuddling on the couch watching one of her romantic comedies have made him wish that she could be there by his side every night and not just for the holidays. Will Gavin and Julie ever find the courage to admit the truth about the depth of their feelings for one another? Will they take a leap of faith and a chance on love? Or have they been best friends for so long that a relationship is out of the question?

Cindi Madsen’s The Mistletoe Trap is a superb contemporary romantic comedy that will steal your heart this Christmas. Cindi Madsen has got such a wonderful sense of humor that she will have you laughing out loud from the very first page and keep you engrossed and entertained until the final heart-melting page.

I loved Julie who was an adorable, intelligent, kind-hearted and spirited heroine and Gavin was an absolutely gorgeous hero guaranteed to make you swoon.

An irresistible romantic comedy that is a joy to read from start to finish, Cindi Madsen has a winner on her hands with The Mistletoe Trap.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of The Mistletoe Trap by Cindi Madsen.

I will admit, this book had me smiling nearly the entire time. I absolutely loved this funny, sexy, and nerdy, Christmas read. It was just what I needed! I'm loving all of these Christmas feels lately.

This book was a perfect Hallmark Christmas read. What I liked most was the Friends to Lovers vibe. It's my favorite. I know I'm in the minority because most people seem to favor enemies to lovers but I'm a sucker for the friends to lovers. Throw in Christmas and I'm sold!

What a super fun Christmas romance! It was sporty, Christmas-y, and full of family fun. Being a Christmas person, that aspect of the book was one of the biggest reasons I enjoyed the book so much. It just gave off the Christmas feelings that everybody enjoys, not the stressful “bah, humbug” vibe that some people get when it comes to Christmas. Couple the good Christmas vibes with a best friends to lovers romance and you’ve got a great book!

In Mistletoe Trap we follow Julie O’Neil and Gavin Frost get caught up in the most intricate romance trap set by their meddling family. After spending 26 years as best friends, something changed and neither of them are sure if it’s for better or for worse. After a solid week together on a Christmas vacation they’ll never forget, their time together comes to an end. As they go their separate ways, they don’t know what the future will be like for their friendship or if they could possibly take the next step into being something more!

This book was a great read and had everything I enjoy. It had a great supporting family, super close friendships, a whole week of Christmas fun and football! It was a great read and I would easily recommend!

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving a free copy.

A fun holiday story. Julie is a nerdy and quirky character who is chock full of scientific information. Gavin is her very hot best friend. Their family is an entertaining cast of characters. The story provides several moments that will make you laugh out loud at the antics that Julie and Gavin alas well as the other family members get up to. It is a feel good story that will put you in the right mood for the holidays.

Gavin is the new quarterback on a pro football team. He needs to focus on his career, not on his love life. Besides, Julie has been his best friend since they were in diapers. He could never see her as more, no matter how hot she is.

Julie's ex complained that she was boring, but she's out to prove him wrong with a holiday fling. Definitely not with Gavin, though, because he's like a brother to her. Right?

This is a cute, low-drama holiday friends-to-lovers story. It's got humor, likable characters, and warm family relationships.

I received a NetGalley ARC, and this is my honest review.

There's a reason Cindi Madsen is one of my very favorite authors. She knows how to weave humor and tender moments into a story and make it impossible to put down! Once again, with The Mistletoe Trap, she delivered. Thanks for adding some holiday cheer to this gloom and doom 2020 year of COVID 19.

Thank you to Entangled Publishing and NetGalley for an arc of this book. My opinion is definitely my own!

This is a great friends-to-love story for the holiday. Easy to get involved in the story and stay engaged until the end. Great to read over a weekend.

This book was cute, I always tend to enjoy friends who eventually become more and these two had so many hoping they would become more and luckily for them they finally got there. I also enjoyed the secondary characters even though I felt like the parents needed to step back and mind their business. all in all enjoyable..

"Time spent in the pursuit of love is never a waste."

What a fun, heartwarming romantic comedy!

With one of my favourite tropes and set in one of my favourite seasons of the year, Cindi Madsen wowed me with her words and characters. I was hanging on to every scene, eager to see when and how Gavin & Julie would get together.

The Frost & O'Neill families were awesome! I loved their machinations and plots to get Gavin & Julie together - and they were absolutely shameless! I also loved Gavin's football team. They made for hilarious scenes, too.

Full of love, hope, shenanigans and Christmas cheer, this book is a must-read. I recommend it wholeheartedly and unreservedly.

I voluntarily read & reviewed an ARC of this book, which I received via NetGalley.

I've read a few of Cindi's books in the past and love them. So when I saw this seasonal read I just knew I needed to read it.

No shocker it was a fantastic read. I loved everything about this book.. From the storyline to the characters I loved it all.

What a fun and great book to read. If you haven't read this one i highly recommend it. I will read more from this author in the future.

There's a line between overly cheesy and just bad, and this one fell on the wrong side for me. The internal monologuing felt over-the-top and I felt like this couple would have so many issues in real life that I struggled to celebrate at the ridiculously unrealistic conclusion.

I wanted to like this, but it wasn't for me. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A funny Christmas romance. The main characters of Gavin and Julie have been best friends since they were toddlers. Add in their families that feel they should be more than friends.Everyone is pushing them towards a romance. As the family shenigans continue the laughter follows. It was a good weekend read.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley. I voluntarily read and the opinions are my own.

I really wanted to love this book but unfortunately it was a miss for me. I did enjoy some aspects of it and would be interested in trying another book by this author as I believe they have a very digestible writing style.

What I didn't enjoy: I did not feel like I really knew any of the characters and I could not easily distinguish the two male interests from one another until halfway through the novel. Additionally, while I am totally fine with a book being cheesy and cliche at times, the dialogue sometimes felt unnatural. Towards the 70% mark I lost interest in the story completely and I had to force myself to finish it.

What I enjoyed: The beginning of the story peaked my interest. I think that the book started off extremely strong. I also really enjoyed most of the banter between the two main characters. I also loved some of the quirky aspects of the book, such as the cat named Kylo Ren and the holiday themed scenes.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an arc to review.