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The Mistletoe Trap (Heart in the Game Book 2) by [Cindi Madsen]

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Cindi Madsen

The Mistletoe Trap (Heart in the Game Book 2) Kindle Edition

by Cindi Madsen (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

252 ratings

Part of: Heart in the Game (2 books)

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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

Print length

332 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Entangled: Amara
Publication date

November 16, 2020
File size

2335 KB
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"This is a steamy and sweet read of friends to lovers with a holiday theme that will melt your heart this Winter!" -Rate the Romance

"I loved this book. The story was touching, without being cheesy, and had a little spice. I enjoyed the characters, who made me laugh and cry!" -Laura O., NetGalley

"This was a great story, a lot of funny parts, lots of characters who were all over the scale of insanity and pushiness. Fun, holiday-based romance with a super cute cover!" -Nocole W., Goodreads

"Great characters and fun banter!" -Rita T., NetGalley

"Found this to be an entertainingly humorous romance. The characters are delightful with deep connections and terrific chemistry. Was impossible to put this amazing book down. Well worth the read!" -Linda R., Goodreads

"This is a sweet and funny book to curl up with in front of the fireplace and get into the holiday spirit." -Tal L., NetGalley

"The Mistletoe Trap is a funny, sweet read with a quirky heroine and a hero who's the kind of best friend that dreams are made of." -Friday in April Reviews

"The Mistletoe Trap was such a fun holiday read and definitely did the job of getting me in the holiday spirit!!" -Laura F., Goodreads

"This was a wonderful read! THE MISTLETOE TRAP had everything I look for in a romance plus the holiday setting to make it even more romantic and enjoyable." -Shirley Q., Goodreads

"I loved it. This was truly a feel-good read." -Bender Dreamer Girl

"Festive and flirty. I loved it!" -Monica C., NetGalley

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08L1PKJ26
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Entangled: Amara (November 16, 2020)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 16, 2020
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 2335 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Print length ‏ : ‎ 332 pages
Lending ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled

Best Sellers Rank: #419,651 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #5,951 in Sports Romance (Kindle Store)
- #7,026 in Sports Romance (Books)
- #7,224 in Holiday Romance (Kindle Store)

Customer Reviews:
252 ratings

About the author

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Cindi Madsen

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Cindi Madsen is a USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romance and young adult novels. She sits at her computer every chance she gets, plotting, revising, and falling in love with her characters. She loves music and dancing and wishes summer lasted all year long. She lives in Colorado (where summer is most definitely NOT all year long) with her husband and three children. She and her family also take their Marvel addiction very seriously, as their one-eyed cat, Agent Fury, and their kitty named Valkyrie can attest.

You can visit Cindi at: www.cindimadsen.com, where you can sign up for her newsletter to get all the up-to-date information on her books.

Follow her on Twitter @cindimadsen

Find her on FB: Cindi Madsen Books

See her inspiration pins on Pinterest.

Want to read more from Cindi Madsen?

For more reads filled with laughter, witty banter, & happily ever after, check out these other titles:

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Sailing at Sunset

Getting Hitched in Dixie Series

Just One of the Groomsmen

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Country Hearts

A Cowboy Never Quits

Taking Shots Series

~These hockey romances can be read as standalone titles~

Getting Lucky Number Seven

Anatomy of a Player

Crazy Pucking Love

Confessions of a Former Puck Bunny

Romantic Comedies

~These are standalone titles~

Counterfeit Boyfriend

Cinderella Screwed Me Over

Just Jilted (Ready to Wed)

12 Steps to Mr. Right

Nailed It

Hope Springs

~These can be read as standalone titles~

Second Chance Ranch

Crazy for the Competition

The Bad Boy's Baby

Accidentally in Love

~These can be read as standalone titles~

Falling for her Fiancé

Act Like You Love Me

An Officer & a Rebel

Resisting the Hero

Teen reads

~Standalone titles~

Operation Prom Date

All the Broken Pieces

Demons of the Sun

Losing Romeo

~Cipher series~

Cipher (Book 1)

Rift (Book 2)

Resolution (Book 3)

Customer reviews

5 star		48%
4 star		33%
3 star		13%
2 star		5%
1 star		1%

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Top reviews from the United States

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Sarah O'Donnell

Romantically Fun Holiday Read

Reviewed in the United States on November 16, 2020

Verified Purchase

This book is a great best friends-to-lovers holiday read. Julie and Gavin have been best friends since they were little, but have only been friends, despite their parents trying to push them beyond that when the two of them find themselves both suddenly single. It takes some family meddling, a LOT of mistletoe, and some reminiscing for them to finally realize they do belong together and it's only ever been meant to be them together. This book was sweet, funny, and steamy, I loved it. I know it's book two in a series but it's easily read as a stand alone. I'd love to see more books about Gavin's teammates or or even about Julie's failed 'fake' set up date.

**Received an ARC for an honest review**

4 people found this helpful

Helpful

Patti Lucas

Love This Holiday Best Friends Love Story

Reviewed in the United States on December 25, 2021

Verified Purchase

I absolutely loved The Mistletoe Trap by Cindi Madsen, the second book in her Heart in the Game series. The Mistletoe Trap is a wonderful story and I loved reading every moment on every page and could not put it down. Who doesn't love a best friends love story! She provides her readers with the amazing characters, that I loved, who feel like close friends! Who doesn't love hot sexy men, strong, passionate females, and big loving families, who always support one another? I love how Cindi Madsen manages to create the "perfect" heroine, who is a strong woman on her own, to balance out the sexy, swoon worthy men. I so enjoyed the book and am looking forward to reading the remaining books in the series. Cindi Madsen shows her readers that she is an incredible storyteller. One of my favorite things that I love about The Mistletoe Trap is how Cindi Madsen incorporates the title of the book into the love story. I enjoy how Cindi Madsen writes from the perspective of the two main characters. That way you get to know what is going on in each of their minds. The Mistletoe Trap is a wonderful love story and is filled with heartbreaking and heartwarming moments. I love the lighter moments where I find myself smiling and laughing out loud and the bittersweet moments that pull at my heartstrings that cause me to sigh, as I read the heartbreaking moments eyes filling with tears. The Mistletoe Trap is filled with such moments, and with so much more. It is filled with all those things that we have come to love and expect in a love story, especially the poignant and bittersweet moments that filled this page turner. The Mistletoe Trap is the story of Julie O’Neill and her best friend, Gavin Frost, professional quarterback for the San Antonio Mustangs. Gavin has injured his shoulder in a recent game, and heads home to Crystal Lakes for Christmas to rest and rehab his shoulder. Julie and Gavin’s parents have always tried to get them together since they were toddlers in swim diapers. Neither one of them wants to jeopardize their friendship, so they have never crossed the line to becoming romantic. Julie is looking for a holiday fling, and Gavin offers to help her out. As Gavin and Julie begin spending time together, things quickly heat up between the two of them. I love the chemistry between Gavin and Julie. I love that both Gavin and Julie were both so vulnerable and that each of them changed because of their love for one another. I love that Julie becomes a much stronger woman. Then an unexpected plot twist that changes everything that they had built with each other. Gavin decides to take matters into his own hands and does the right thing. I loved his proposal and where and when he proposes to Julie. I loved the story and am so glad that both Julie and Gavin got their happily ever after. I love all the surprises that Cindi Madsen has included in The Mistletoe Trap. My favorite part in the book is the epilogue and how it wraps up all the details of the happily ever after, and it did not disappoint. The Mistletoe Trap contains all the elements that I have love most in a love story, romance, great characters and setting, bittersweet moments and the plot twist that ties it all together. Amazing story. I could not put it down. Highly recommend this love story.

Helpful

Dee S. Knight, Erotic Romance author

A fun friends to lovers holiday story

Reviewed in the United States on February 10, 2022

Verified Purchase

Julie and Gavin have never given serious consideration to being anything other than best friends. They can be separated for months and come back together like they’ve only been apart a few days. Things would be great if only their parents weren’t constantly pushing them together. Now they’re both home for Christmas and does it seem like there’s more mistletoe around the house than in years past? They’re thrown together for every cockamamie situation—like playing elves during the Christmas fair—and eventually, they’re finding depths in each other they haven’t paid attention to. Can they…actually be proving their parents right? Then the holidays are over, and they go back to their respective states. They should just forget that zap of electricity, that feeling of rightness. But can they?

What fun. I enjoy a romance with humor the most and this one is so cute. And yet the romance is sharp and sure. A very good book with great writing. Highly recommended.

Helpful

dogmom

Very slow and too much sex

Reviewed in the United States on November 27, 2021

Verified Purchase

I liked the characters and the beginning of the book was really good. Then it just became the same thing over and over - the parents trying to force them together and them resisting how they felt. I had to make myself read it. Then it had a very lengthy sex scene that was totally unnecessary to the story line. It just seemed like the author needed extra pages. I won't read anything else by this author.

One person found this helpful

Helpful

M. Fields

A Must Read Holiday Romance

Reviewed in the United States on December 11, 2020

Verified Purchase

Looking for a fun holiday read? The Mistletoe Trap will fulfill that need.
Julie is a nerdy scientist full of "fun facts" and Gavin, the star NFL Quarterback have been lifelong best friends. When their well intentioned family devise a plan to take their friendship to the next level sparks and mistletoe fly.

With just the right amount of angst, and a happily ever after, The Mistletoe Trap is 5-star holiday read that I thoroughly enjoyed and you won't want to miss.

2 people found this helpful

Helpful

Beckyrae99 (Becky Wise)

fantastic holiday read

Reviewed in the United States on November 23, 2020

Verified Purchase

The Mistletoe Trap is a fantastic holiday read. If you love a cute Christmas read that will put a smile on your face along with a sports romance then look no further then this one. Julie and Gavin have been best friends forever. Neither expected the feelings of more. You will laugh at the antics their families go through to finally make them a couple. You will get all the feels once Julie and Gavin give in. I love how strong Julie is and how she puts Gavin in his place and makes him work for it. Gavin never expected the one to be Julie and you will love the length he goes to keep her. I loved this one so much.

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Angie

Have a hanky handy!

Reviewed in the United States on December 21, 2021

Verified Purchase

Loved this book! Julie and Gavin were such good friends. Their parents, grandparents and Gavin's sister decide to try a reverse parent trap on them. The things the parents get these two to do are funny. Gavin and Julie take things to the next level and Gavin gets scared and says things he doesn't mean. The ending was awesome! Cindi Madsen is one of my favorite authors! Loving this series!

Helpful

JEANNE, REVIEWER

Who Knew?

Reviewed in the United States on November 19, 2020

Verified Purchase

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!

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Top reviews from other countries

Dini

A sweet best friends-to-lovers small town romance!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 3, 2021

Verified Purchase

*Squee!* Why are meddlesome mums/families so lovable in romances?! I adored this sweet best-friends to lovers romance. It’s set in a small town in Colorado over the holidays, although tbh I didn’t feel the holiday/Xmas vibe that strongly. I mean, even though the events were all Xmas themed and of course, the mistletoe was everywhere thanks to the evil genius-level scheming mums, I think I was so wrapped up in the fiery chemistry and fantastic banter that the holiday stuff fell a bit to the side for me—not a complaint but an observation!

I loved the closeness of both their families and the painfully obvious setups their mums orchestrated to get these two to fall in love. These parents, grandparents and siblings were the best kind of meddlesome family that you can’t help but laugh with and love! The inclusion of these characters really made it easy to enjoy this story more.

I also really loved Julie and Gavin—although he did annoy me towards the end a bit because wow dude, harsh much? But I digress!!! Julie was an adorably sweet geek who’s obsessed with her job as a pathologist and brings the awkward by constantly spouting random internal organ facts that most people don’t care to know 😂 I loved her awkwardness because it was so relatable and I honestly loved how Gavin complemented her quirkiness. He’s an NFL star and a charmer but he’s loving and caring and has a fierce protective streak, especially when it comes to her. Their banter was hilarious and so fire and their chemistry was clear as day to me from page one, even though Gavin’s a hotshot sports celebrity and she’s most comfortable in a lab.

This was definitely a slow burn romance although their thoughts towards each other start changing fairly early on but the escalation to more than friends happens around the 50+% mark. I didn’t mind it as you really see how strong their friendship and connection is. That said, I do wish we saw more of them exploring the romance of their relationship instead of the huge blow up at the end leading into their eventual HEA. It would’ve been nice to spend some more time in that “more-than-friends” zone and to get a feel for how their relationship would grow as lovers and BFFs. I felt the ending was also a bit rushed and the conflict was very easily resolved. I mean, I wanted them to get their HEA too but I guess I wanted a bit more grovelling from Gavin’s side cos as I said before, bro was a bit harsh! This did get a little steamy but it wasn’t overly so.

All in all, this was a fun and light holiday sports romance that will have you sighing with contentment, laughing with joy and perhaps even swooning with the fiery chemistry between our H/H! Would definitely recommend 🥰

MsMerylB

Really enjoyable.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 17, 2022

Verified Purchase

A very enjoyable read! Gavin and Julie’s parents and grandparents were a right hoot and great at matchmaking. This story shows the ups and downs of falling in love with your best friend.

Kindle Customer

Find I and Christmas a perfect festive match

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 27, 2020

Verified Purchase

Fabulous festive read. Snow, mistletoe, family, friendship and love. Who needs more in a book. The perfect story to snuggle up with in the glow of the Christmas tree lights.

A Grand Romance

Great Romantic Friends to Lovers Christmas Treat

Reviewed in Canada on November 25, 2020

Verified Purchase

Gavin and Julie are lifelong best friends who have resisted every effort of their families to push them together since birth. This Christmas Gavin is home from the NFL with an injured shoulder and Julie was dumped and wants to try a holiday fling and wants his help. This funny, festive, small town romance also has plenty of heat and tension. A really enjoyable read with a diverse cast of characters and a great HEA.

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