Maddie Hayward has been actively looking for a husband for nearly three years, but no gentleman will spare her more than a smile. Everyone thinks she’s destined to wed Kit Mathison…except neither of them is interested in a romance with the other. When Kit and his family come to visit the Haywards for Christmas, the whole village expects a proposal—but Maddie has other plans. Can she convince … everyone that her friendship with Kit will never be a courtship? Or will she have to choose between her closest friend and the chance at family of her own?
Thomas Mathison has loved Maddie since the day they were first introduced, but can’t ask for her hand until he can afford to support a family. When she suggests a sham courtship between them he agrees, despite his misgivings. Being seen with someone other than Kit would shatter the illusion of an arrangement between them and give Maddie a chance at a happy life. But while she would be feigning affection, Thomas would not. Can he conceal his true feelings from her while executing her plan? Will he have the strength to let her go when he returns home?
A standalone novella set in the same world as the Maitland Maidens series. Previous published in the anthology Christmas Ever After.
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Loved the book, the story was well written and the characters were intriguing. Once I started I could not get enough, from the start till the end I was engrossed I was even on the edge of my seat with twists and turns, lust and passion, strength, happiness with a happily ever after. Do yourself a favor and buy the book you want be disappointed.
Thank you for allowing me to review your book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
A sweet and traditional regency romance
Frustrated because her family and acquaintances have already betrothed her to her best friend, Kit, Maddie comes up with a pretend courtship with his brother. Thomas readily agrees, because he already loves her. As their relationship becomes more real, Thomas thinks of marriage, but a sudden change in circumstances may keep them apart. A very short read for the holidays.
Maddie wants to get married, but everybody believes she is going to get married to Kit, her friend since they were kids.
Kit loves Maddie but in a friendly way. However, his brother Thomas loves her, but as a man.
I like Kit. He is a good friend and a good brother.
The story is short and sweet with a lot of kisses under the mistletoe.
Loved this story! Best friends, Maddie and Kit tried to stem expectations of them marrying. It was to the point that all the men stayed away from her because they did not want to poach on Kit’s lady. But she was tired of being a wallflower and decided to take action! Going to Kit’s brother, Thomas, she proposes they act like they are are courting so that others will see she is not tied to Kit. But the problem is that Thomas has been secretly in love with Maddie forever. But as affections begin to evolve, there is a stumbling block for Thomas and it seems they might never be together!
Such a wonderful story as only Cora Lee can write and it left me with a smile as I turned the last page.
Kissing by the Mistletoe is a short, sweet, Christmas romance novel. A perfect novel for reading on a cold day, with comfy clothes and a warm drink. The Hayward and the Mathison families had been friends for years. Maddie Hayward and Kit Mathison were best friends with no intentions of marrying each other. Their parents and the entire village were expecting a marriage proposal this Christmas while the Mathison family visited the Haywards. Being aware that no other men would dance or court her since everyone thought she would marry Kit, she asked Thomas, Kit’s younger brother, to pretend to court her. She thought if it looked like someone besides Kit was courting her then other men might show interest in her. Thomas has secretly loved Maddie for years, but he didn’t have the income to support a wife so he never tried to court her. He agreed to her request but was secretly hoping it would become a real courtship. An unfortunate event happens that affects his employment leaving him destitute. Can they possible get past the problems of pride and finances in order to have their HEA? This was a really great book. It was well written and perfectly paced. The characters were so sweet and perfect for each other. I’d love to see Kit get his HEA since he was such a good friend and brother to the characters. I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving a review.
A short quick well written story to read. I enjoyed reading Maddie Hayward and Thomas Mathison’s story it had me smiling as I read. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
A very sweet Christmas time romance. I loved the fact that they included the younger brother and all three of the young adults spent time together. It portrayed the bond the three of them have. I also really enjoyed how you can fall in love and it surprise you when you do!
Great Christmas romance!
A Sweet, Brief Holiday Romance
This is a rather short novella that can be read quickly, in a sitting or two. For such a short book, it is actually pretty well done. The author didn’t do any significant information dumps, as seems to be common in novellas. I absolutely adored the relationship between the heroine and the Mathison brothers. They had long been friends, and it truly came across as such. In fact, everyone assumes that the heroine is going to marry the older brother. So much so that no other young man in the area has shown any interest in her in the slightest. She comes up with the brilliant idea to fake a courtship with the younger brother while keeping her distance from the older one so that others will not see them as an item. Unfortunately for the younger brother, Thomas, he actually has held a tendre for her and wishes the courtship could be real. As you might imagine, as they get to know each other in their faux courtship, she begins to warm to him as a potential suitor. I absolutely adored the scene with Thomas and the little boy, just like the heroine did. I thought the hero was perfectly swoon-worthy, even if he did have some awkward moments at the end. A fun little Christmas romance.
I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
Is Maddie destined to be a spinster? Maddie has been friends with Kit and Thomas Mathison her whole life. Kit is her best friend but that’s all they are. But society expects them to marry. Consequently Maddie is almost ignored at dances because the men think she is taken. She comes up with a scheme to change that. She will ask Kit to ignore her and ask Thomas to enter into a pretend courtship with her. But she doesn’t know that Thomas has been in love with her for years. He needs to get her to see him as more than a mere friend and Kit’s younger brother. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This was a quick, sweet story with charming characters and a happy plot. I especially enjoyed the lack of wishy-washy mental monologues as the friendship between Maddie and Thomas evolved into a deeper love for one another.
I was given a free copy of this novella, but that did not affect my review.
Maddie and Thomas HEA?
It is a little early for me to reading holiday books but Cora Lee is so talented that I could not past up the arc. What started out as fiction turn to something real very quickly for our characters. This quick read is a great one to read doing the holidays they can be so trying and this book will give you a breath of air and put a smile on your face. I did receive a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review it.
A delightful Regency novelette that left me so grateful for my modern-day blessings. Maddie, as an unwed young woman is forced to bow to the mores of society, in that because everyone assumes that she will marry Kit Mathison, she is no longer available on the marriage mart and she has no suitors from which to choose a husband. Thomas Mathison, as a younger son, can only earn his way by following a limited number of professions. When Maddie asks for his help, Thomas is more than willing to assist her, even though his heart may be broken. But it is the kiss under the mistletoe that brings this warmhearted, clean and delightful romance to a close. Although the story is short and can be read in an evening, it is nevertheless most enjoyable. I received a copy of this book as a gift and this is my honest and voluntary review.
Kissing by the Mistletoe
Cora Lee
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorCoraLee/
Release date 10/01/2019
Publisher More Than Words Press
Blurb
Maddie Hayward has been actively looking for a husband for nearly three years, but no gentleman will spare her more than a smile. Everyone thinks she’s destined to wed Kit Mathison…except neither of them is interested in a romance with the other. When Kit and his family come to visit the Haywards for Christmas, the whole village expects a proposal–but Maddie has other plans. Can she convince everyone that her friendship with Kit will never be a courtship? Or will she have to choose between her closest friend and the chance at family of her own?
Thomas Mathison has loved Maddie since the day they were first introduced, but can’t ask for her hand until he can afford to support a family. When she suggests a sham courtship between them he agrees, despite his misgivings. Being seen with someone other than Kit would shatter the illusion of an arrangement between them and give Maddie a chance at a happy life. But while she would be feigning affection, Thomas would not. Can he conceal his true feelings from her while executing her plan? Will he have the strength to let her go when he returns home?
My review :
What a young woman to do when everyone thinks she is promised to her best friend.
This lovely read was my first one by Mrs Cora Lee.
It is a sweet story about two people who have troubles to sort their feelings from their daily life issues.
Maddie is seeking a way to separate her name to be associated with her friend’s as there could be no more than brotherly love between them.
So when his younger accepts to help posing as a potential suitor, it is the perfect solution. And soon this faked courtship feels like a real one if only life and its contingences do not ruin all.
Thomas had always have a fondness, deeper than simple friendship for Maddie. And here he is, able to express his sentiments, even if it is only show except if it moves to something else.
This was a sweet tale about two peoples who need to compromise, accept another help as one does not live only from love and fresh air. It is not often commoners are made heroes. Life is no straight road, there will be dents, up to them to confront them together.
4.5 stars for this lively story.
I was provided an advance copy by the author but purchased my own too.
Here is my true and unbiased opinion.
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