Twelve Days and A Deadline

by Jenny Lake

She’s got twelve days to marry or lose everything.
one broody enforcer.Twelve days.
One vow.
No promises… except the ones that count.
Maria’s trust fund is on the line.
Brady’s reputation and career is on thin ice.
One marriage license—and a ticking clock—stand between them and their own happily ever after.

107 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 3, 2025

Reviews

[Bible_And_Bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jenny Lake’s Twelve Days and a Deadline (Book #1) is the perfect quick holiday romance to curl up with. The story follows Brady, a professional hockey player who must be married by Christmas, and Maria, who has her own reason for needing a marriage of convenience within twelve days. When the two are set up, sparks fly and their whirlwind romance turns into something surprisingly heartfelt.

I really enjoyed the fast pace and sweet tone—this novella hits all the cozy romance vibes without dragging on or being over the top. The hockey team dynamic was fun, and the chemistry between Brady and Maria felt playful and warm.

What made it even better for me was how easy it was to squeeze in around mom life—I read most of it during school pick-up lines and finished in just a few days! It’s exactly the kind of quick and lighthearted read I love during a busy season.

Tropes:
Marriage of convenience
Hockey Romance
Instalove
Closed-Door (Kisses Only)
Novella

I’m looking forward to the rest of the series and seeing the other hockey players’ stories unfold!

*Also the grocery store scene was absolutely the cutest!*

I received a complimentary copy of this book, but all thoughts and opinions are my own!

[Jodi Jensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Novellas are my favorite way to get out of a reading slump or simply experience a quick happily ever after. I mean what is not to love about a quick read that you gives you all the feels of a romance in one sitting. When I heard about a new novella series coming out that combined hockey and Christmas, of course, I knew I had to read them.

12 Days and a Deadline is the first novella in Jenny Lake’s new The Twelve Plays of Christmas series. The series follows a group of hockey players as they find love in the days leading up to Christmas. This first book focuses on Brady and Maria and follows them as they are set up by Holidate, but you do get briefly introduced to the other players who will be featured in the other books.

The book was full of banter, chemistry, and romance. Brady and Maria’s first meeting was so cute. It was fun to see them fight their attraction while managing the expectations of their first meeting. I loved how both Brady and Maria approached their relationship. It was so sweet and hopeful.

This book was the perfect before bed read. I enjoyed every minute of it, and I am so excited to read the rest of the series.

[Koren | the_blue_eyed_bluestocking · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

This introduction to Jenny's new novella series had me laughing from the start. The Snowcaps professional hockey team is done messing around, and everyone has to be a part of the team's new initiative, Holidate, to get married by Christmas. I'm sure you can imagine the shenanigans that ensue!

Maria and Brady's relationship has a rough start, but after a little reflection and an incredible grocery trip (so cute!), they recognize their chemistry. I love that what starts as a marriage of convenience turns into something intentional right away. Brady starts out so arrogant and rocky, but he becomes surprisingly reflective and in turn, a wonderful husband candidate.

I loved the novella length that let me sneak this in between activities. It was so cute, and I loved it!

I received a copy of this story from the author. All thoughts contained here are my own honest opinions.

[HEATHER · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great start to this new series! I can already tell these guys are going to be a handful in this series. I had so much fun reading this novella. This is a quick read but you will get everything out of it you need. I was smiling so much while reading it.

Maria and Brady were absolutely perfect for each other. I always love when there is insta love. My husband and I were an insta love story and we will be married 14 years this month. If you are looking for a book that will have you laughing, smiling, swooning and having you heart melt then this is the perfect book for you. I HIGHLY recommend this book and look forward to seeing what Jenny Lake has in store for us in this series!

Thank you Jenny Lake for allowing me to read this ARC for my honest opinion.

[Kimberly Prytherch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a marriage of convenience that turns into more! We are introduced to the Holidate, forcing 12 hockey players to get married in December. I wasn’t sure how it would go, but I loved every minute and can’t wait for the next one! The hockey players are hysterical and the first couple was so sweet. Maria and Brady both need something out of this Holidate, but will they fall in love? They both had an idea of how it should go, causing sparks to fly when they disagree. I also really loved the glimpses into some of the other players and how their dates are going. Have I mentioned that I can’t wait for the next one? I. Can’t. Wait.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up to 4

This is the first in a new romance series, The Twelve Plays of Christmas. It's set in the hockey world, with setting up 12 players on dates hoping to lead to love. When the premise is first introduced to us, I was a little concerned. It sounded overly cheesy. However, once you get into the story, it becomes a cute tale.

This first novella is about Brady and Maria. It's a quick read, and the romance is sweet. I wish we could have had a deeper story as it goes really quickly. I'm interested to see how the story develops.

Thanks to the author for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Sarah (tn.bibliophile) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hockey MMC
Marriage of convenience
Christmas
Novella
Closed door romance

This festive hockey romance had plenty of cozy holiday charm and a sweet premise. The twelve day marriage deadline definitely kept the tension high, but things moved very quickly and I wished for a little more depth to the relationship. If you enjoy fast paced novellas with holiday vibes, this one delivers a fun and festive escape.

Content Warnings:
-death of a loved one (past)
-kisses only
-no language

*Thank you to the author for a copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fun insta love, marriage of convenience novella! What Maria and Brady expected to find in their marriage was security for Brady's job and for Maria's inheritance of her grandfather's house. What they ended up finding was a spark and an attraction that made their quick marriage a much more exciting prospect after all.

This quick story was fun to read and sets up things for the future novellas in the series.

(4.5 stars)

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

[Booked On Romance · Rating 4 out of 5]

A huge thank you to Jenny Lake for this ARC! This is such a cute Christmas Sports Romance short story. This book follows Maria and Brady’s story. Brady is a hockey player for Snowcap Saints. He is placed into holidate, a secret matchmaking agency, with the other single players. Maria has 12 days to get married or she loses everything. I absolutely love that this is a series where one book will be released every week until Christmas. It’s definitely a read to get you into the holiday spirit!

Marriage of Convenience
Broody
Christmas Romance
Matchmaking

[Kerry Perry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fun Christmas novella! I'm a sucker for the marriage of convenience trope. It gets me every time. I loved how the author approached it for a whole hockey team. It was a novel approach that I think will be fun to see play out in the series. I am very much looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

It was the perfect length for a holiday read, long enough to be enjoyable, but short enough to fit in right when life starts getting crazy. Many thanks to the author for a copy of the book. As always, all opinions are my own.

[Melissa Burk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meet your first holidate couple, Brady and MariaMaria just found out in order to keep her inheritance, she has to get married before Christmas. Cue the crazy scheme to keep the single hockey players out of trouble, the Holidate. Brady is the first to meet his holidate because he doesn’t want to get kicked off the team.Will they be able to help each other keep what they want?
Brady is such a fun character. I wish I lived in this town so I could participate in the holidate program.

[Nic · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a voluntary ARC for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.

This was such a cute book/novella. It was sweet, short, and swoony! Full of instalove and a marriage of convenience-it’s the perfect start to the series. Can’t wait to see what hijinks all the others players get into!

Closed Door Romance (Spice happens off page)
No Explicit Language
No Violence/Gore
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️I really enjoyed this book! It was a great read. I had fun while reading this book.

[Alexis (IG: lexislimitlesslibrary) Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness! What an incredible start to this Holiday Hockey Romance series!!

Maria and Brady were the perfect couple to start this series off and I love the instant tension, the ability to work together, and the respect they both had for each other!

This is a quick read but includes everything to love in a marriage of convenience!!

Thank you to the author for my gifted copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Shauna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shout out to this cute novella length series starter by a new to me author. Meet the Snowcap Saints hockey team who need to get their less than saintly act together. The powers that be expect all the single players to be married by Christmas. Brody signs up first, but they’ve already matched him with someone. Maria needs to get married in 12 days to keep her house. Enter a marriage of convenience. Flirty and short made this like a little treat that put a smile on my face! 3.5 stars.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first book in this series was a grand slam! Okay maybe a shut down...or is it shut out? I know nothing about Hockey, but it doesn't even matter! This book drew me in and I loved it! I loved the characters and the swoon! The banter was so fun and quick! I am here for the rest of them.

Thanks to the author for this book, all thoughts and opinions are my own!

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a super quick read, perfect for a busy holiday season. This is an insta-love, marriage of convenience novella. Brady and Maria are both a bit feisty with great chemistry. The Holidate scheme of Brady's hockey team might just be the best thing that has ever happened to him.

[Abby Huffer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this one! Super cute for fans of insta-love, hockey and marriage of convenience! I love how Brady & Maria both found what they weren’t looking for but absolutely needed❤️

[Laramee · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun twist for Holiday Hockey romance! Perfect if you are looking for a quick read!

I received an ARC from the author and all opinions are my own.

[Sarah A. simply.sarahendipity]

This was a very quick short and sweet read with a novella it can be hard to really develop characters and a plot, but it was still a fun and festive read! A unique concept!

[Eliana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute christmas romance

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this story and the start of a series. The stories are short but don’t lack character or depth! I loved the plot and the romance was 😍😍 such fun, quick reads to get you in the holiday spirit!!

[Jennifer Maxwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐

This one is such a cute and quick read. The premises is a marriage of convenience situation. 12 single teammates have to get married by Christmas to stay on the hockey team, but they are each blindly set up with a woman that makes it their 'Holidate'. This one was about Brady and his chosen 'holidate' Maria. It was definitely an instant connection between the two, but my favorite part was the grocery store scene. You'll have to read it to find out what I mean.🥰

[Dev G · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun and quick read to start your holiday season. With sweet teasing and great chemistry between Brady and Maria, I was smiling the whole way through and admittedly sighing at the wedding ring part. Though this is a short read, there was still emotional depth in regard to Maria’s predicament that led her to apply for a Holidate.

I’m looking forward to more Holidates and hockey players!

Thank you to Jenny Lake for the copy. All opinions are my own.