Snow and Mistletoe

An Easton Family Christmas #1

by Jen Geigle Johnson

An alternative cover edition for this ASIN can be found here.

Mr. Easton must find a wife by Christmas or his brother will choose one for him.

Dosie is in no hurry to marry. She is starting her first season ready to spend as much time as possible diverting herself. But she is more awkward than clever when it comes to flirting, and she knows almost no one in the London ton. All these obstacles can be solved however with a little practice. She is sure of it. Early on, her plans are upset by the arrival of an undesirable suitor her father seems bent on accepting. He’s dark and looming where she is light and fun, and she is most desperate to rid herself of him as soon as possible.

Julian Easton wants nothing more than to free himself of any strapping to his brother. As a second son, he has little finances and up to this point has not discovered any way to increase his income besides the ever enticing betting on horses and the card tables. But as his debtors add up, he recognizes that he will need something else, anything else, and soon. His brother pushes him to marry a woman of wealth but a part of him recoils at the idea of using a woman in such a way and the romantic part of his heart wishes to one day marry for love or at least respect.

Everything changes for both of them as Dosie most desperately needs a hero and Julian steps in. But now they must accept the consequences and the arranged marriage that will come as a result.

Enjoy the journey of their love and the path to marriage that they may not have chosen but just might learn to treasure.

Genres: Christmas, Historical Romance, Romance, Historical Fiction, Regency, Regency Romance, Novella

130 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 1, 2020

About the author

An award winning author, including the GOLD in Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards and LDSPMA Praiseworthy's top award for Romance, Jen Geigle Johnson has more stories circulating in her brain than can possibly be told. She discovered her passion for England while kayaking on the Thames near London as a young teenager. HIstory is her main jam. Her literary heroes include the greats: Jane Austen and Charles Dickens. But she has modern sensibilities as well. Six children and an inspiring husband keep her going and make certain she doesn't stay glued to a keyboard or lost in obscure fascinating details of old castles. She once greeted an ancient turtle under the water by grabbing her fin. She waterskis like a boss and hits the powder, falling down steep moguls with grace. During a study break date in college, she sat on top of a jeep's roll bars up in the mountains and fell in love with the man who would become her everything.

Now, she loves to share bits of history that might otherwise be forgotten. Whether in Regency England, the French Revolution, or Colonial America, her romance novels are much like life is supposed to be: full of adventure.

https://www.jengeiglejohnson.com

Twitter--@authorjen
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Reviews

[Mandy · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was not what I expected. While there was a lot of potential for the story and the relationship between Julian and Theodosia had its own sweet moments, based on the cover blurb for this book, the story is nothing like I excepted. I don't understand the title in connection to the plot (it wasn't really a Christmas story at all). It is supposed to be a part of a Regency House Party Christmas series too, but other than mentioning a house party, nothing actually revolves around that. I felt like the author built up some suspense in the book particularly regarding why Theodosia's father wanted her to marry Lord Standish or things happening with her mother's health that fell completely flat. I know the author is a talented writer and I enjoy many of her books, but this one felt like it was rushed or underdeveloped. I had a hard time connecting everything that was happening and my expectations were honestly confused.
The content is clean. I received an advance reader copy of this novel. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Mara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lady Theodosia's (Dosie) father suddenly wants her to marry Lord Standish, but won't explain why. Dosie feels there's something not quite right about him, and is completely against the idea for several reasons. He's as pale as the dead, he looks unhappy all the time, I feel cold whenever he's near. Real gooseflesh and not the pleasant kind.

Julian Easton's elder brother wants him to leave his idle pursuits behind, find a wife and settle down. In return for paying off his gambling debts Julian must be betrothed by Twelfth Night.

This was a fun read. I liked Lady Theodosia's character right away. She was a strong character, knew what she wanted and didn't want. I didn't like Julian at first but when he came to Dosie's rescue and then started helping the tenants on their estate my attitude about him changed. I liked their sweet love story, and thought they were perfect for each other. I liked the mystery element (I'm a big fan of romantic suspense) and the excitement that lead to Dosie and Julian admitting their feelings for each other.

This is a novella so it's a quick read, but I wish it had been a little longer so we would find out the reason for Dosie's father's neglect of his wife, and his dealings with Lord Standish would've been explained.

I received a complimentary copy to review but also bought a copy from Amazon for my personal library.

[Trudy Cordle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great read! Dosie and Julian had grown up together. Her father tries to force her to marry a man she doesn't like. Julian had told her he'd come to her rescue at a ball. Little did he know it would be a rescue to save her reputation! The twists aren't done yet, though! It took a bit, but they finally get their happily ever after!

I received a complimentary copy of this book, was not required to leave a review, and the opinion expressed is my own.

[Kelly Bravo · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
This was a good surprise. I was not expecting much from this book, and although not much happens, it was entertaining and I liked the narrative.
It's not exactly a Christmas story, rather, it's a story that happens to take place around Christmas time.
During the second part of the story the romance begins to develop, and when it does it's sweet and nice.
But there are some things that are left unresolved.
I will be checking out other books by this author.

[Emily Flynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes novellas miss on the conflict that makes a story compelling. I did not find this to be true in reading this book. Jen Geigle Johnson writes strong characters who remain true in the midst of the conflict that naturally occurs in this type of story. This makes them relatable and it allows me to honestly escape into a story. For a story that is ultimately about a marriage rushed due to the contrivances of another, there is an honesty that exudes from each of the characters.

I found the story heartwarming and touching. I found the hero flawed, but able to be redeemed through the love of a good woman. I find that I have come to truly love novellas as a quick read that can ultimately be a way to enhance my day in a short time.

[Becky of Becky's Bookshelves · Rating 5 out of 5]

Snow and Mistletoe is a sweet Regency romance by Jen Geigle Johnson. The main characters Theodosia and Edmund must both change their expectations to find love. It is a short novella that pleasantly involves romance, a marriage of convenience, an awesome chase, a sweet friendship, and some intrigue.

This is a stand alone novel involving some other characters from Jen’s other books. It has a sweet happy ending. I enjoyed this story, and look forward to learning more about the other Easton brothers.

I was given this book by the author and not required to write a positive review.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m always in the mood for a great Christmas romance. This novella by Jen Geigle Johnson is one of those. I spent a great afternoon listening to it while I got some work done. And it was great!

I liked Lady Theadosia or Dosie. She is a young woman who was blindsided by her father about being engaged to Lord Standish. She knew she couldn’t marry him. There have been several books lately that I’ve read about fathers trying to make their daughters marry someone they can’t stand. It’s a practice that seems strange now. I’m glad that I didn’t have to deal with this!

I liked Julian to. He did need to change some habits, or grow up, or something. I liked that his older brother called him on his bad habits and gave him an ultimatum. Allowing Julian to be where he could help Dosie in her hour of need. And he was! He saved her just when she needed it most. Twice.

The plot of this one is cute and sweet. I really liked the chase scene. It was exciting. This book was a quick read. I can’t wait to find out what happens to Julian’s other brothers!

[Shaylin Maxwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. When I first started the book I was worried that I would hate it because I did NOT like Julian- he was a gambler and a drunk. But not long after I started to really love who he was becoming. My only complaint was that I would have liked another 100 pages of their story!

[Stacey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story is a clean and enjoyable read although at times it felt disjointed and there were a few areas that I just couldn’t imagine occurring as it did (especially in a Lords house) without any objections being raised - but I don’t want to give any spoilers. Personally, this story just didn’t set the same tone that I’m used to experiencing and enjoying whilst reading a regency novel. The premise of the story however is good. I enjoyed many aspects of the characters interactions, it’s just that it felt a bit disjointed for me and I guess I started the story with the wrong idea of what to expect, because although this is a House Party addition, very little of the story actually involved the house party.
Still, it is a clean and enjoyable read and it was nice to have characters from the first Regency House Party series reappear. I wouldn’t mind seeing if/how the author continues with the Easton’s family series as I think that holds great potential.
I received an ARC of this book from the author. This in no way influenced my opinion and I am under no obligation to leave a review.

[Maria Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I enjoyed reading this story. The beginning felt a bit scattered to me but I think that showed what Dosia was feeling as she knew something wasn't right but didn't understand what was going on in her home. I liked that Dosia was strong enough to try to talk her father out of his poor decision but wondered why that strength didn't propel her to check on her mother who had disappeared to her bedroom for two weeks. It seemed like a long time to wonder what was happening without pushing to find out.

I liked Julian but worried in the beginning that he was kind of a good for nothing and why would I want Dosia to end up with him? But he seemed to find himself when he finally had something to do with his life. It gave me hope that he would truly be redeemed. And once he got to that point, he was pretty swoony.

The villain was evil and easy to dislike but I was disappointed to never get a real explanation for why money was always exchanging hands when he met up with his men. I'm sure he was up to no good but I wanted to know what it was to further discredit him. Also wanted to know what kind of punishment he ended up with.

Although I enjoyed the story I was left with questions. Why did her mother take to her rooms and avoid the family? Was it just a headache? Seems like there had to be something more to it. Why didn't Dosia do more to check on her? Why was her father such a lout in caring for his daughter? Was he truly just distracted? I kept waiting to find out what the villain had on him. And what about the money with this villain? Perhaps my questions could have been answered better if the book had been a little longer.

I liked this story and I'm interested to find out what happens with the rest of the brothers in the upcoming books.

Sex: no
Language: no
Violence: sexual assault, kidnapping, capturing the bad guy

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book! I was riveted from the very start and could not put the book down as it was coming to a close. There was mystery, flirtation, fun, and of course, love. I am really enjoying getting to know the Easton family. I have read Tabitha's Folly and A Christmas Kiss, so this is my third book reading about them. I was so curious as to what was going on with the slimy Lord Standish, as well as Dosie's father. At some parts I felt like I couldn't read fast enough to find out what I wanted to know! This may be one of my very favorites of Jen Geigle Johnson's Regency romances.

[Alicia Cunningham · Rating 2 out of 5]

Snow and Mistletoe by Johnson. Quick review: Did she throw these characters together on a dare?⁣
⁣
Lady Theadosia has been set up by her distracted father to marry a cold and horrible man. Enter Julian Easton to save the day.⁣
⁣
The problem is that Julian is not your usual come to the rescue hero. He has a gambling problem and proposed when he was drunk. ⁣
⁣
All does indeed end well but is that the best we can come up with?⁣
⁣
⭐️⭐️/5⁣
⁣

[Cheryl A Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christmas Miracle

I really enjoyed this book wished it had been the first but maybe I will read the others at a later time

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a sweet marriage (engagement) of convenience story. Dosie was a stronger woman than I initially expected, and I was impressed when she would stand up for herself. I wasn't a big fan of Julian in the beginning, but once he had a wake up call he was very sweet and I was very impressed. I still have a lot of questions or things I had hoped would be clarified, but sometimes that is the trouble with novellas. I really like the Easton family and am excited to read these protective brothers stories.

[Alicia (Alicia Reads It) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 STARS
⭐️⭐️⭐️

I am typically a huge Jen Geigle Johnson fan, but I had a hard time with this Novella. While I really liked the premise and the characters in this story, I found the rest to be lacking.

First, the title was slightly misleading. While there was a Christmas party, it only occurs extremely briefly in the story and isn’t a central part of the story. This confused me because I had expected the book to revolve around a party since it was in the title.

Second, I found the story to be quite disjointed. It didn’t flow very well, and felt extremely rushed. It felt as if she wrote this story very very quickly and didn’t put as much development into it.

And yes, there were many grammatical errors, but I knew going into it that this would happen because all early review copies have that, so I’m not sure why so many people added that as a negative in their review, when that is such a common thing with ARCs. I thought I’d add this to mine for others reading multiple reviews.

Overall, because of my enjoyment of the characters and the story, I rated it in the middle. I really would have loved a full-length novel that was developed more heavily for this one though, and hope that maybe we will get longer stories for Julians brothers in the future.



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[Avery Frost · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was simply dreadful. I can honestly say this is the worst book I've read this year, which is a major disappointment, because I normally enjoy Jen's work. I was thinking the whole time what this reminded me of and I finally got it near the end. It reminded me of the awful Christmas romcom I wrote when I was thirteen. The dialogue was way too cheesy to be natural, there were too many times when I could not even follow who was speaking. For a book called "Snow and Mistletoe" there was zero snow OR mistletoe mentioned until the LAST chapter. That was the only part that felt remotely Christmasy. Like, the entire book it's supposed to be near Christmas time, but she mentions that it's green outside. I'm like, it's England in the Winter, there should be snow.
I feel like the mentions in the last chapter of Christmasy things was to justify it being considered a Christmas story, otherwise it could have just been a regular novel and it would have fit right in. This did nothing to put me in the Christmas spirit, in fact, I'm even more bah-humbug now than I was before.
I cannot even begin to express how bad this was. I didn't connect to, or even like ANY of the characters. Dosie was very vanilla and she really had no distinct personality. No hobbies. No interests. Nothing to make her character interesting. I really did not like Julian. The man is a drunk and a gambler. I do not believe for one second that any man who started out like that would change his habits for good as soon as he was married. Men do not change for women most of the time, especially if he does not want to and he's being forced to. I hate that Johnson has perpetuated that stereotype and not even attempted to make it remotely believable. And their relationship at the end. . . I can't there was no sweet build up to the closed door spice, it was only spice and it honestly made me feel icky inside. Very cringe. I cannot, do not, and will not recommend this to anyone. So disappointed. 1/5 stars.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novella is delightful! It is romantic, sweet, and adventurous! Whenever I picked up “Snow and Mistletoe”, I was whisked back to the Regency Era, and quite enjoyed this story.

I absolutely love Jen Geigle Johnson’s books, as she beautifully knows how to bring the world of her story to life. Her characters all feel like such incredibly real people, and you feel like you get to know each and every one.

Dosie is such a spunky, kind, and warm person who wishes to be able to follow her heart.

Julian is such a kind-hearted, romantic, and sweet man. When he sees his childhood friend Dosie is in trouble, he immediately jumps into action to help her.

(Possible Spoilers!)
Oh, Dosie and Julian are so cute and sweet together. Both have hearts of gold, and both want love and respect from the person they will marry. What they find with one another is simply beautiful, and many moments made me simply swoon.

I wish that this book was longer in order for some moments to be deepened further. I do think that, while this is a novella, events actually happened a bit too quickly at times, which felt a little jarring. Some moments felt rushed, and I would have loved to see more of the build-up in the romantic relationship between Julian and Dosie. I also feel like some major moments or plot points are mentioned, and while they are resolved, it is not quite clear how or what exactly happened. However, even with all of that said, it did not deter from my enjoyment of the story.

If you enjoy Regency Romance, I highly recommend this novella. It is short and sweet, and is sure to bring a smile to your face! And while I have not yet read “Tabitha’s Folly” I so look forward to after being introduced to the Easton Family in this story.

Thank you so much to the author, Jen Geigle Johnson, for sending me the ARC of this book. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

[Priscila]

Snow and Mistletoe is a sweet Regency romance novella. However, despite its short length, it took me about a month to finish it (and that's never a good sign).
WARNING: spoilery review ahead - read at your own discretion.
Also, just for reference, the story ended at the 87% mark in my e-reader.

While the blurb promises a marriage of convenience, and I guess the story does deliver it in some way, I never knew it was gonna take the main characters so long to get there (it's more the story of how they were forced into this marriage, rather than the MOC happening at the beginning and the rest of the novella focusing on them trying to figure their feelings while other things/situations are thrown at them), or that I'd have such a strong reaction to the Hero (not the good kind). His gambling was definitely an addiction (I can't believe he blew up so many of the chances his brother gave him), and he wasn't even the best of friends at the beginning (not when he was truly needed) - this took about a third if not half of the story. Thus, his later change of heart and falling in love didn't convince me. As for Theadosia, or "Dosie", I just couldn't connect with her, and it ended up being hard for me to try and root for her.
The writing was a bit jumpy for me, with parts being rushed and others just too drawn-out. Thus, while the ending (the last 3-4 chapters) does redeem the book, and it's a HEA, personally, I don't think I could recommend this story other than to fans of this author's work.

Not rating it because it'd be less than a 3-star rating (aka not being able to recommend it).

[Elda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Would you do what Julian did?

What dos the second son in the family have to do? It was either a commission in the navy or become a vicar. Julian was the second son who had no responsibilities and aimlessly went from one gambling site to another seeking a fast win. But he never won and accumulated more and more debt. However, his oldest brother covered his debts but warned Julian that if he didn’t find a purpose and meaningful life then he would purchase a commission in the navy for him. Theadosia’s father was considering Lord Standish’s offer of marriage but Dosie did not like Lord Standish. Julian and Dosie had been friends nearly all their lives. Julian promised he would do right by her and when it came time to step up and defend Dosie against an attack by Lord Standish he stepped up. Not only once but twice. I found it totally unexpected but once Julian found his purpose he became a wonderful supportive friend and more. I was very pleased by the outcome of this novella. I only wish it were a full length novel and learned about all the happenings that went on in the background. I’m hoping to hear more of this couple and the background characters in the next books of this series.

[Heather Green · Rating 2 out of 5]

Felt haphazard and thrown together

I didn't like Julian at first. I couldn't see how a relationship could develop with him being a gambler and penniless. I actually hoped one of his brothers would be the mc. It felt rushed- the story, the relationship, etc. Some of the dialog was confusing. Setting was also confusing at times. Some indicators as to time off day when she was taken at the end would have made the story more clear. I didn't know if the abduction was the same night as the balcony scene or the next day. I didn't know it was Christmas time until a ways into the book. More detail about that would have been helpful. As would more detail about experiences from Julian and Dosies childhood so we saw their connection instead of just inferring it. That would have made their proclamation of love more believable. As it was, I wasn't convinced that their love was anything more than infatuation. Why when her mother was sick did Dosie automatically believe her father was trying to kill her? It didn't fit. I liked the cover. I liked how Julian changed. It was good to see he was a gentleman in the end after his questionable character in the beginning.

[Our Book Confessions · Rating 3 out of 5]

Because of expectations that I went in with I didn't initially love this book. I expected more House Party, more jolly Christmas and less drama.
However, that said, when I let go of my expectations, the story was an entertaining read.
I was a little unsure of Dosie's past character development. I didn't feel like it was ever addressed exactly where her family fit in the social hierarchy and how long she had been out in society. That's probably a result of it being a shorter novella and not a full novel, but there were parts of the story that felt a little rushed.
On the other hand from the moment we meet the characters onward, Jen does a fantastic job of showcasing character motives and development. Watching their honor and gratitude grow to love was a well written evolution.
So even though the House Party and the Holidays were a smaller part of the story it was a fun and quick regency romance read.

[Kai · Rating 4 out of 5]

Julian has hit rock bottom and has been a spot upon his family name. His oldest brother forces him to either marry or get an occupation.

Lady Theadosia is recently out in society. Before she even thinks about marriage, she wants to flirt with as many guys as she can.

When Theadosia is threatened with ruination, Julian steps in to save her. However, something else is afoot and threatens to ruin everything.

Even when Julian is acting like a complete wastrel, there is a certain charm to him.

I have always loved stories when the characters knew each other as children before falling in love. I would have liked some memories or flashbacks of the two of them together.

This is a quick read. The Easton family continues in Tabitha’s Folly.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is another fun Regency novella with a likable main character Lady Theodosia or Dosie who hopes to marry for love even though her father has other ideas. Our hero, Julian Easton—one of 4 Easton brothers, agrees to help Dosie at a ball if she can’t get away from the odious man her father wants her to marry. Things take a turn for the worse but Julian steps up and rescues Dosie. I was glad to see Julian redeem himself throughout the story. He starts off as a bit of a wastrel but makes up for it in the end. I love Regency house party stories, but the house party here doesn’t take place until after the climax and exciting chase and rescue. Still, I look forward to reading about the other Easton brothers. ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5 stars.

I received a complimentary eARC for review. A positive review was not required and all opinions are my own.

[Jerry Jares · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had a hard time with Julian because he was such a wastrel. He did nothing but drink and gamble money he didn't have. I had difficulty accepting that he had turned his back on gambling forever. I didn't see him as a forever kind of husband.

Theodosia is in her first Season and is in no hurry to marry. However, a man comes forward and insists that she marry him. Unfortunately, Theodosia's father also wants her to marry Lord Standish. When Lord Standish horribly presses his suit at a ball, Julian Easton steps forward and offers for Dosia. 

Now, Dosia's father is caught in the middle. He wants Lord Standish (for his votes in Parliament), but Julian brings his solicitor, his titled brother, and pleads his case. Dosia insists she will not marry Standish. This makes for an interesting conflict.

[Kim Power · Rating 3 out of 5]

Potential...but

I usually love Johnson‘s work, but this book feels raw. There are some egregious spelling errors, and the characters lack the depth and complexity that she is capable of. The story is rushed and the Epilogue somewhat odd. I see a trend in Indie authors to publish multiple books per year, sometimes one a month. I understand the financial pressures, but inevitably the quality of their writing diminishes. When I experience this happening with a previously favourite author, it makes me wary of pre-ordering the next.

[Holly Bleggi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute Christmas story. I loved that the main characters were friends before they became more. I also loved that it took them being forced into a difficult situation to see that they would be great together. I liked how even though Julian has his vices, he still is a gentleman and will do anything to help those he cares about. I look forward to reading more books about the Easton brothers.

I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, and or authors.  A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Living in England had to have been difficult for a woman. An unscrupulous man, all of a sudden, can ruin her reputation. That is what Lady Theodosia faced when she goes to her first ball. Julian has his problem also but comes to her rescue, twice. But will they get their happily ever after? You will want to read to find out. I'm just glad I didn't live in those days. I received a free copy from the author. This is my voluntary review.

[Leann Arave · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun short story. I read it in a quick afternoon, which is nice when things get busy. I enjoyed the characters, the Easton’s are from a prior book. This story is about Julian Easton. He is the “knight in shining armor “. The plot is good vs bad guy and who will win the lady. Sweet with bits of suspense. The romance was clean, but swoony! The epilogue was more of a tie in to a previous book mentioned, Tabitha’s Folly. Good easy holiday read!

[Desiree · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a sweet Christmas story. I thought the couple were sweet together. There were some swoony moments. I thought it was wonderful we get to read about the Easton brothers! On occasion it seemed to me it was more modern speech and jerky flow. Though writing is a art form so of course another reader may disagree.

[Luci Jamison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clean Christmas romance

An entertaining story of drama, twists of fate and redemption.
The Easton family characters were introduced in “Tabitha’s Folly” and I am glad to see the other characters being given their chance at love.
This story keeps the pages turning due to twists in the plot.
I look forward to reading more by this author and the Easton family.