With a creative spin on the Christmas house party, widow Emily attempts to set up known wallflowers with rakes in need of reforming.  With her best friend (deceased husband's best friend) Cav in tow to help manage the men, the 12 Days of Christmas house party ends up forcing Emily to admit her feelings for Cav.  And Cav, who has been nursing almost a decade of feelings for Emily, is under pressure to marry so decides to take his last chance with Emily.

This is a shorty with little angst and a lot of fun.  Some of the set ups are funny, the supporting characters sparkle (I want so many of their stories, too), and the romance is really hard won.

Cavendish is a reformed rake who fell in love with Emily the instant he was introduced, only to have his hopes dashed by learning she was engaged to his best friend.  He is able to play it pretty cool and controlled on the service, mostly after nine years of not showing his love for Emily, but underneath bubbles deep feelings.  Not quite a cinnamon roll...but definitely not Alpha or Beta.  With limited page count to cover his backstory, Michaels nonetheless manages to make him come alive and be tremendously sympathetic/loveable.

Emily is just a burst of sunshine, a bit impulsive, believing the best in a magical sort of way, and facing her uncertain future with a final push to spread some love and light in her life and among friends.  She is a woman who has suffered a lot of loss and grief, but makes the best of it by focusing on everyone else around her.  This makes her self discovery of feelings lower angst than it might have been and rather sweet.

This was a fun and great winter novella, that I would recommend especially for readers who love a friends to lovers or a secret crush that turns into love.

John has been in love with his best friend's wife since he met her. She is windowed now and they are the best of friends, but he hasn't told her how he feels because he doesn't want to ruin their friendship. When she asks for his help for a party she is throwing, he of course agrees.

Emily has a plan for her holiday party. She wants to pair up all her attendees, whether it be for a dalliance or marriage. But all of her carefully laid plans seem to be going amuck. There is also the fact that she seems to be developing feelings for her best friend that are definitely not just those of friendship.

Could this holiday season bring Emily a new love and give John the love that he has forever hoped for?

I adored John and Emily's story! My heart hurt for John for loving Emily from a far for so many years. He was such a good man, being there for her no matter what, even though he had to keep his love for her a secret. Friends to lovers is always one of my favorites and Michaels did an excellent job with this story. It is a must read this holiday season!

What a delightful holiday novella! I very much enjoyed getting to witness Emily and Cav's love story and for being as short as it was, I still felt like I was able to fully appreciate their friends to lovers journey. Emily is the widow of Cav's best friend and while they have both been grieving together Cav is also working through his feelings as a man of marrying age and someone who is in love with a woman he thinks he can never have.

I loved every scene with Emily and Cav together. You definitely can understand how much they respect and value each other and at every step of the way Cav is respectful to Emily's feelings in a way that never felt like he felt entitled to her love in any way which is always something I worry about in friends to lovers stories. Instead, he is willing to grant Emily the time and space she needs and I appreciated how much the friendship between the two means to them.

The scenes where the two of them are together are delightful and steamy and gripping. However, the background plot of the story involves Emily throwing a matchmaking party where she is attempting to set up some of the ton's most notorious wallflowers with some of their rake counterparts. Little is done with this story which is curious to me as it seems an elaborate ruse to place Cav and Emily together. I was hoping we would hear more about the couple that seemingly hate each other - that definitely could be it's own story (and maybe it will?).

I know this is a novella so I don't expect everything to be fleshed out and while I do wish there had been more going on or resolved with Emily's matchmaking schemes, the main crux of the story, Emily and Cav's romance, is the best and most valuable part.

If anyone wants a lovely (and steamy) way to get into the holiday spirit this is definitely the story for you!

Thank you so much to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this delightful story.

Two Turtle Doves
Jess Michaels presents a delightful, Christmas through New Year, romance with a satisfying happy ending. After the death of her husband, Lady Emily Rutledge wishes to find joy in the holiday season by helping some of her friends find love. She has arranged a Twelve Days of Christmas matchmaking party, with the help of her friend John Cavendish (Cav). Cav has loved Emily since the day he met her. For all these years, he has respected Emily and his best friend’s relationship by hiding his feelings. But time is running out, and Cav must marry soon even if it means leaving behind his love for Emily. This book definitely has an air of Emma, with a touch of heartbreak. Emily is honest and kind to everyone, except when it comes to her feelings for Cav. Cav has been clearly fiend-zoned, but he is still supportive and cares about Emily’s passions. Including passions in the bedroom. They are both authentic and open with each other, and their romance is built on mutual understanding and trust. Jess Michaels has a well-paced and fluid writing style, though there are a few “bawdy” words. Matched Under the Mistletoe is a steamy friendship to love romance.

Can you find the love of your life - twice?

Emily had married for love, only to lose her husband five years later. She and her husband's best friend, John, bond and become good friends. However John has loved Emily from the very first day he met her, yet she has no idea about it. Now that Emily wants to matchmake some of her friends over the holidays, John agrees to help her and decides it's time to show his feelings. Emily is shocked that he loves her, but realizes she has feelings too. The fact John is her friend worries her and she fears losing him. Can she allow herself to be happy again? I enjoyed this book and thought it was very sweet and romantic.

Thank you, Jess Michaels, NetGalley, and The Passionate Pen for the opportunity to read this book!

Mismatched Under the Mistletoe by Jess Michaels is a historical romance perfect for the holiday season. The author writes such a sweet dedication hoping that this book will help raise the reader’s spirits after this dreadful year. So I was sold immediately. We all need a little joy this holiday season. John Cavendish has been in love with Emily Rutledge for 9 years. However, she was married to his best friend. He did what is best and hid his feelings and supported his best friend and his wife…until his best friend died. John and Emily leaned on each other in their grief and became each other’s best friends. Now that it has been 5 years, the intense grief has passed and Emily decides to host a Christmas party to matchmake some of her friends…but it is her heart that is at risk, not her friends.

This is just what is needed for this Christmas season! It has a little bit of hope, love, friendship, and spice! Cav and Emily have such a beautiful relationship. But I have always had a weakness for a best friends to lovers trope. Cav is said to a rake but I saw no evidence of that. Emily is his world. He would move heaven and earth for her. The most touching part is that he gives her time. In so many books that I have read, the men want an answer immediately. He never pressures her into a situation that makes her uncomfortable. It is absolutely touching. Speaking of touching…their chemistry is off the charts.

The book is roughly 170 pages, so it is short and sweet. However, I do wish that we got some more details about the other guests and the matchmaking. They are only in the background of the story. I was hoping for at least one match! BUT! I do love that one of the characters is LGBTQ+ and that scene is both made me so happy but also broke my heart at the same time. I am always happy to see representation, maybe this character can star in their own story?

Overall, I read this book in just a few hours and loved it from start to finish! So I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars!

Such a sweet story. I loved the tie in the 12 days of Christmas. A beautiful message of never give up in love.

It was love at first sight for Cav when he saw Emily, but she was taken by his best friend. Nine years later, Andrew has passed and Cav and Emily are best friends, but when Cav agrees to help her with a house party, he wonders if this is finally his chance to profess his love.

Great Christmas romance and I love the twelve days of Christmas theme of the house party and Emily’s attempts at matchmaking.

Thanks to the publisher for a review copy via NetGalley.

I enjoyed this book I didn’t love it but it was a fun read. Friends to lovers is one of my favorite troupes.
Cavendish and Emily have been friends for ten years. Emily was married to Cav’s best friend, and he has loved her that entire time. When her husband died Cav was there for her every step of the way. She was there for him as well. This is Emily’s last party a the viscountess and she’s asked Cav to help. Cav is having a hard time keeping is distance. He will do anything to keep Emily in his life but can he keep her if she knows what he wants. Will I change everything for the good or will she turn her back?
This story will make you laugh and cry.

If you love Yuletide stories, sizzling romance and a fair bit of hilarity and hijinks, this is a perfect novella. The short, holiday themed tale uses a classic “friends to lovers” trope against a backdrop of matchmaking, holiday parties and merriment. The main characters are likable and clever, with a pre-established backstory so we can jump right into the romance. The setting and plot, while entirely a foil for how our couple will get together, is cheerful, fun, flirty and often hilarious. This reads as a comfortable story of two people figuring out how to move forward as more than friends. A perfect fireside read for this holiday season.

This book is a fun and sweet read to get you into the Christmas spirit. I loved the 12 Days of Christmas theme. We have a friends to lover romance about to take flight. Lady Emily Rutledge has been a widow for years now and her husband’s best friend, John Cavendish have been thrown together for Emily’s house party. Cav has been in love with Emily since the beginning but has kept his feelings a secret for the last nine years. Emily is completely unaware of Cav’s feelings but it just starting to have feelings of her own. Both are concerned that one may not feel the same so their close friendship will be ruined. I really enjoyed how this isn’t about two people that fell in love a long time ago but have been kept apart because Emily was engaged to another man. There is no cheating involved and Emily really did love her late husband, Andrew. Cav has kept silent because he knew Emily and Andrew were happily married. I also liked how she took time to explore her feelings. Thinking of Cav as more than a friend is new to her. It is unexpected and I liked that they had a physical connection but she really wanted to make sure of her feelings. I can easily see they have been friends for years and wanted to make they were in each other’s lives no matter what. I’m glad it worked out because there is something about them being close friends first that builds a solid long term relationship.

Also I’m thinking we met a few new characters and they may have their own books in her new series? We will see.

If you are a fan of Darcy Burke or even Erica Ridley, you’ll enjoy this books vastly.

It’s very steamy, the heat and chemistry was coming off the pages! Love it! A good winter’s night read.

I recieved a free copy from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was a enjoyable novella. Honestly I have loved pretty much everything I have read by this author.
While this book did feel slower and I didn't feel as invested in the characters overall it is a sweet book.
Cav fell in love with Emily at first sight but he also happened to meet her for the first time as his best friends fiance. He has loved her for almost a decade and half that time Emily has been a widow. Now during her 12 days of Christmas party while she intends to play matchmaker, Cav is taking his chance.

A splendid holiday historical romance. I really enjoyed the plot and the cast of characters. Loved the romance.

Cav has been in love with his best friend's wife, Emily for nine years. Five years ago his friend passed away. Always a friend to Emily, he's afraid if he told her he loved her she would cut off their friendship.
Emily decides to play matchmaker with a country Christmas party. Using each day to correspond with the song Twelve Days Of Christmas turns into a disaster. Cav is always there for support. When a kiss turns into more, will Emily choose with her heart over her head. An agonizing, emotional rollercoaster rooting for Cav.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

I just love historical romance Christmas novellas and I am pleased to recommend this one. The incorporation of the 12 Days of Christmas theme into the house party was perfect. This is going to hit the spot for readers who enjoy the friends to lovers trope, and this one has the added twist of of featuring a rake and his best friend’s widow. This has some steamy scenes and plenty of heart.

Loved this story! It was a fun, steamy Christmastime novella. My only complaint is I wanted a little bit more character development but got exactly what I expected for this story.

John Cavendish has been in love with his best friend's widow, Lady Emily, for nearly a decade. He's kept his feelings hidden out of loyalty to his friend. But time is running out. His grandfather the marquess wants Cav to marry to secure his legacy. If he doesn't win Emily's heart soon, he'll lose his chance forever.

After losing her husband and both her parents in quick succession, Emily is finally starting to come out of the fog of grief and feel like herself again. Still, she doesn't want any more changes in her life. Cav is her best friend. She can't bear the thought of any more loss. So despite the burgeoning desire she feels for him, is it worth risking their friendship?

This book is a desire-driven, friends-to-lovers holiday novella. I adored the idea of a house party with a 12 Days of Christmas theme—it was fun to watch that play out. And you can't help rooting for these two likeable characters to get the happily ever after they deserve.

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

Friends to lovers make the best stories, this one has a unique twist.

Do you believe in love at first sight? John Cavendish certainly didn't until he laid eyes on Lady Emily Rutledge, only one teeny tiny problem, she's marrying his best friend. For years he watched them and stayed close friends until tragedy struck leaving Emily a widow. Now Cav has become her closest friend and he's still secretly pining away. Until she decides to play matchmaker for wallflowers and rakes with a Twelve Day of Christmas themed house party. What could possibly go wrong with that many birds involved? Yet Cav sees this as possibly his last opportunity to move Emily from friends to do much more. All he had to do is take a leap of faith.

Mismatched Under the Mistletoe is a stand-alone book by Jess Michaels. Once again Ms. Michaels hits it out of the ballpark! You want a witty Christmas tale? It's here. A sweet romance? That too. A friends-to-lovers story? Yup. The steam and passion for which Ms. Michaels is known? Lawd have mercy, YES! Dive right in, but you may need to open the window so the cold wind can blow in and ice you down.

John (Cav) Cavendish, an avowed rake, falls in love at first sight. Unfortunately, the woman for whom he falls was just introduced to him by her intended...who happens to be Cav's best friend. Oh, dear. Years have gone by, and widowed Lady Emily Rutledge is now Cav's dearest and closest friend. She decides to throw a country party with the theme of The Twelve Days of Christmas, and use it as an opportunity to matchmake wallflowers with rakes. She of course wants help from Cav, though he's not sure it's a good idea; after all, there's a plethora of birds in that poem. Things could go better - her guests aren't drawn to one another and the birds run amok. But Emily is drawn to a guest: Cav. Desire sparks between them, but will Emily's fear keep her from allowing love to bloom for her dear friend?

This story started out rather sweet and witty. Though Cav secretly loved Emily, they were the closest of friends, teasing each other and their banter was humorous. Unlike a lot of romances, the widowed Emily totally loved her deceased husband, as did Cav. One of my favorite parts of the book was Cav's heartfelt discussion with his deceased friend about his love for Emily. Oh, how I cried! They were great as individual characters, but together they were divine. When Emily gave in to her passion for Cav, they positively ignited! I loved the humorous bits about the party mixed in with their romance. This has been a horrible year, and this was the perfect story to start getting me into the Christmas spirit. Don't miss this warm and passionate seasonal tale!

I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.