The Mistletoe Temptation

Faking Stitch #2

by Eve Pendle

Miss Gina Bains just needs to avoid marriage until Christmas—and her birthday. When she’s one-and-twenty she’ll receive inheritance from her father and be free to travel the world. In the meantime, she’s stuck with faking the accomplishments her mother insists on and “accidentally” stepping on the toes of her would-be beau.

Dancing with his best friend’s sister is Emmett Stanton’s duty to fulfill, like choosing a wife to keep the Earldom going. When Miss Bains inadvertently reveals her ploy, Emmett realizes a fake engagement can solve both their problems. Her condition that he can’t kiss her creates a challenge, but he can tempt her into kissing him…

Gina resists Emmett’s charm for months, but when Christmas and freedom are just days away a kiss under the mistletoe is irresistible. One kiss turns into Emmett educating her in the ways of love, and suddenly the future—without Emmett—looks gray. But how can she give up her travel dreams when he must settle down and produce an heir?

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

122 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 21, 2022

About the author

Eve lives in England and writes angsty, snarky and passionate Victorian era romance. She has National Trust membership, a prince-charming husband, and a crazy dog. She loves wearing dresses and eating chocolate.

You can get a free sexy historical romance story from Eve when you sign up for her new-releases email list at evependle.com

Reviews

[Tracy Emro · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars, rounded up.

Miss Geraldine “Gina” Bains is an expert at dissuading suitors right under her mother’s nose. Gina is months away from inheriting a fortune from her late father and has big plans to travel the world and those plans don’t include a husband! But despite her subtle tricks to ward off potential husbands, her mother is pushing her even harder to wed and has practically every minute of her day booked with instruction in womanly accomplishments, all of which she hates, save her embroidery “lessons”. So she is shocked when her brother’s best friend, Emmett Stanton sees through her ruse and blackmails her.

Emmett Stanton, son, and heir to the Earl of Hapthorpe had been dreading his promise to his best friend Marmaduke "Duke" Bains to dance with his younger sister, but when he sees Gina he is stunned and smitten. He claims his dance and soon figures out her scheme and thwarts her, much to her surprise, but it isn’t until she dances with someone else and runs out of the ballroom in tears that a plan forms and he gets her to agree to a temporary engagement. She agrees and they will act like the loving couple until she turns 21 on Christmas day, but makes it clear that there will be nothing more between them, especially no kissing, he agrees to only kiss her if she asks him to, to which she scoffs and makes it clear that will never happen and she will be breaking their “engagement” just as soon as she can, but Emmett has already decided that Gina is the perfect woman for him and plans to convince her to marry him, starting by tempting her into kissing him.

What a fun read, Gina and Emmett were such delightful characters that it was easy to root for their HEA. The book is filled with wonderful characters, secrets, lies, ulterior motives, spicy love scenes, a bit of heartache, compromises and finally a HEA complete with an epilogue (and an extended epilogue when you sign up for the author’s newsletter). This novella is part of the Faking Stitch series, but you can absolutely read them out of order. Note - This was previously published in the Twelve Lords for Yuletide anthology.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.*

[Pam Bereznak · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read Eve Pendle back in 2018 with Six Weeks with a Lord and really liked it. I wasn't taking very good notes back then so have no recollection of it. I just wrote down that I liked it. After that, I tried another of her books and didn't like it at all and actually returned it. Since then I haven't really gotten anymore of her books. But recently, while going through and cleaning out my book list, I saw she has more books out now so I decided to try her once more. I am glad I did. Even though this series books are super quick reads, so far Book 1 was a super cute read. I decided to go ahead and finish the series.

Gina and Emmett were a cute couple. I liked the storyline. Not a ton of depth in the characters but overall a cute quick read.

[Renee Ward · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gina Bains has managed to make it through 2 seasons without finding a husband. Just one more season until her 21st birthday and her ability to choose what to do with her own life. She wants more than anything to travel ther world. Her brother's friend returns from traveling the continent to see Gina at a ball and quickly figures out her tricks to avoid marraige. Since he is not all that interested in marraige himself he comes up with a plan for them to create a sham engagement to last until her birthday so that she will then be free to do what she wants with the rest of her life. I enjoyed this quick story. Both Gina and Emmett are likeable characters. I would have liked to have had a little more depth in the story line, but I enjoyed the story.

[Dorel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the 2nd book I read by Eve Pendle. This book's storyline was okay. Gina's character was okay. Emmett’s character was okay. I liked the ending.

[Elodie’s Reading Corner · Rating 5 out of 5]

🎄 The Mistletoe Temptation 🥀
A Regency Christmas Romance
Faking Stitch Book 2
✒️ Eve Pendle
https://www.facebook.com/EvePendleAut...
Release Date 12/21/2022
➪ https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BKH8CXWP?...

𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗿𝗯

A Regency enemies to friends to lovers romance, with a touch of brother’s best friend and a whole lot of banter and steamy scenes.
Miss Gina Bains just needs to avoid marriage until Christmas—and her birthday. When she’s one-and-twenty she’ll receive inheritance from her father and be free to travel the world. In the meantime, she’s stuck with faking the accomplishments her mother insists on and “accidentally” stepping on the toes of her would-be beau.
Dancing with his best friend’s sister is Emmett Stanton’s duty to fulfill, like choosing a wife to keep the Earldom going. When Miss Bains inadvertently reveals her ploy, Emmett realizes a fake engagement can solve both their problems. Her condition that he can’t kiss her creates a challenge, but he can tempt her into kissing him…
Gina resists Emmett’s charm for months, but when Christmas and freedom are just days away a kiss under the mistletoe is irresistible. One kiss turns into Emmett educating her in the ways of love, and suddenly the future—without Emmett—looks gray. But how can she give up her travel dreams when he must settle down and produce an heir?

Read with confidence: Happily Ever After guaranteed!

𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄

Would loving one another fit in their agendas…

Once more the author offers us a lovely story of a couple of flawed persons with their own dreams and expectations.
A love at first sight and dislike at first meeting kind of tale.
Gina has no envy to be the perfect debutante, she has other projects, to travel the world so marrying would definitely cancel her dreams. Why she is one of the worst dancer, crushing toes to scurry away any suitor’s hope to win her wealthy dowry. She is bad at all lady’s accomplishments and happy with it as they would be of no use to her on her travel’s journeys.
Emmett was in no hurry to do his father title’s duty or to fill his nursery. Yet when he sights for the first time his best friend’s sister and understands her ploy behind her dance missed steps, he is smitten and bewitched by the refined hoyden. She is not the dull witless Miss he would have expected, but the woman for whom he would settle down. If he can win her heart. To do such, he has to be cunning and shows her who he is behind his society’s mask.

Once he coerces her to a fake engagement, begins a fun and sweet courtship as he proves her day after day he has her well-being at heart, while she glimpses he is not who she tough him to be. Yet with any scheme drawn with a flaw, mistakes occur and when they are revealed, will feelings and compromises be enough to make up for broken promises…
5 stars

𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 onscreen foreplays and lovemaking scenes

I have been granted an advance copy by the author, here is my true and unbiased opinion.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CmEC8W...

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?stor...

#bookstagram #historicalromance #romance #romancebookblog #romancebookblogger #bookblog #romanceauthor #bookblogger #2022read #bookstagrammer #bookreview #romancebookreviewer #arcreader #evependle #romancestagram #readersofinstagram

[Bonnie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to BookSprout for a copy of this novella and this is my freely given opinion.

This is an enemies to lovers, steamy short story from Eve Pendle. Gina Bains is undermining her mother's marriage plans for her in the hopes of holding off a betrothal until her 21st birthday, which is only months away, at Christmas. At that time, she will come into her inheritance which means she will be free to do what she wants, which is to travel and find adventure. In the meantime, she rebels by making herself as unappealing to suitors and fortune hunters as possible, and sidelines her mother's attempt to force lady-like virtues and accomplishments upon her, with the help of her friends.

Emmett Stanton, the son and heir of an Earl, has spent much of the last many years travelling and building his private enterprise. He is aware he has a duty to the Earldom to find a bride and continue his family line, but has no enthusiasm for it. He attends his first ball in years this Season, with the promise to his best friend, Marmaduke Bains, to dance with his sister Gina. Despite her apparently atrocious dress sense and inability to dance, Emmett is intensely attracted to her, and as he observes her, he sees through her facade and strongarms her into a fake betrothal, or reveal her tricks to put off suitors to her mother. This will protect him from matchmaking and also give him a chance to win Gina over and hopefully make their fake relationship real, as he is fast falling for her.

Gina resents his manipulation, but does come to the conclusion that his plan for a fake relationship can benefit her, as she would break off their relationship when she comes of age and can continue with her plans.

During the months until Christmas they develop a truce, that becomes a friendship. Emmett hides his growing love, while hoping Gina will fall for him too, and be willing to make their false betrothal real. All he asks is that they be truthful to each other. Gina agrees, and as they spend more time together, she does realize that she is falling for Emmett and they decide to make their betrothal real... then on Christmas, Emmett realizes that Gina has not been completely honest with him and this breaks his heart, and breaks off their relationship.

This is rather a sweet and fun to read story for the most part. I enjoyed the dynamic between the characters and their banter, and the relationship tension and build. But I found Emmett's distress over Gina's secret to be quite overblown, and that his request for them to be truthful to be a bit hypocritical considering their entire relationship started with lies - he manipulated and lied to her about his intent behind their fake betrothal and his feelings throughout; they lied to their families, etc. That final conflict felt contrived and false overall. Also, Emmett was styled as the son and heir of an Earl - but he was referred to as "Mr. Emmett Stanton" throughout the story. If he was the son of a peer the level of an Earl, would he not automatically be Lord Emmett Stanton, or be given a lesser title if there was one in the family (such as being a baron or viscount)?

So a few big ifs there for me that detract a bit from the story.

3.25 stars out of 5

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish this was full length so it would be more fleshed out!

[Nic2416 · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Smut Report]

The Smut Report team is participating in Wendy the Super Librarian's #TBRChallenge 2023. Our goal: to dust off our TBRs once a month and talk about the book we read.

Read our full TBR Challenge update at The Smut Report

Look guys, I am a scrooge. I kind of hate Christmas romances, especially ones that are super Christmassy. With that said, there’s not a lot of Christmas content here, beyond the mistletoe hanging everywhere.

The basic premise is that Gina doesn’t want to get married. If she can just hold out for six more months, then she’ll come into her inheritance, and she can travel the world! So she stomps on feet at balls and wears hideous dresses. As any sane young woman hoping to avoid matrimony does, obviously. Enter Emmett, her brother’s best friend, who sees right through her little charade, and falls for her hook, line, and sinker. This dude has got it bad, my friends. So he blackmails her into a fake engagement with him. As any sane rake hoping to woo a woman does, obviously.

One nice thing about this book is that Emmett woos Gina by…asking her questions and actually listening to her. With so many romances centered on pants feels, that felt like a really unique take. The timeline is also such that, even though the reader isn’t privy to all of their conversations, it’s clear that Emmett and Gina have spent a lot of time together by the time the mistletoe shows up and Gina finally kisses Emmett. I would have liked to see a bit more of their interim time together to show how Emmett becomes Gina’s “best friend”—above and beyond her embroidery besties—but this is a novella, so I can give uneven relationship-building a pass.

I could see the black moment coming from a mile away and it was sort of dumb, but people aren’t always rational and these two figured their stuff out in a reasonable manner.

Overall, this book was cute and fine and a bit sexy and not too twee. Great turn-off-your-brain-after-wrapping-presents fare.

Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC from the author and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.

The Mistletoe Temptation is the second in Eve Pendle’s Christmas-themed Regency novella series Faking Stitch. It can be read as a stand-alone. This book is a lot of fun, with pretty much everything you want from a sexy historical holiday romp.

I liked both Gina and Emmett for the most part. Gina has a mind of her own, and isn’t super interested in the expectations for women of the day to marry and have children, even if her mother expects it of her, although she does long to experience life and passion. Emmett has the responsibility of the future of his family lingering over him, and while his father is still alive, the pressure to settle down to ensure the future of their line is there for him.

I generally really liked the execution of their relationship, especially how they initially agreed to a fake engagement and there’s a growing temptation between them toward kissing…and more. I wasn’t a fan of how their different desires got in the way when their relationship was finally consummated, with him more or less admitting to forgetting precautions in the heat of passion, and using it as an excuse to try and cage her into a situation she didn’t want, for fear she’s pregnant. They did come to a compromise at the end, but that tired plot device somewhat soured the story for me, even if it makes sense in a historical context.

This is a solid novella, and I’d recommend it to anyone looking for something short and fun to read for Christmas!

[Ingrid Vermeulen-Quakernaat · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another story that shows why I love HR so much.
Delicious, a little naughty and honest.

Another six months and Gina will be 21 years old and receive part of her inheritance. For years she has been dreaming of the long journeys she can make and no marriage to take that away from her. Therefore, she dresses in the most pompous manner, steps on men's toes while dancing, and pretends to be an airhead. Everyone falls for it until she goes dancing with her brother's best friend.
Emmett sees his friend's little sister and is instantly hooked. Until she steps on his toes while dancing. She can't do it a second time because he's on to her. He realizes what she is doing, avoiding any suitors. He makes a deal with her. He himself is also hunted by his family to find a bride as the only son of an earl and they agree to use a fake engagement until Gina is 21 years old. He won't kiss her unless she kisses him and won't touch her unless she wants to.

How long can Emmett keep his feelings under control and how can he make Gina find in him the man she wants to share her life with?

Great writing style with a lot of humor thrown in.
I found Emmett to be a relaxed man who does try to change Gina's mind but honorably keeps his promises.
In fact, from the first chapter you feel that the innocent Gina wants more but doesn't know how to achieve it.
Beautiful, respectful love scenes at the end of the story

Highly recommended!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Miss Gina Bains just needs to avoid marriage until Christmas when she'll be one-and-twenty & receive inheritance from her father and be free to travel the world. In the meantime, she’s stuck with faking the accomplishments her mother insists on and “accidentally” stepping on the toes of her would-be beau. Dancing with his best friend Duke’s sister is Emmett Stanton’s duty to fulfill, like choosing a wife to keep the Earldom going. When Miss Bains inadvertently reveals her ploy, Emmett realizes a fake engagement can solve both their problems. Gina resists Emmett’s charm for months, but when Christmas and freedom are just days away a kiss under the mistletoe is irresistible.
A fun, entertaining read with strong characters. I loved Gina who thwart’s her mothers attempts to get her married by wearing highly embellished tasteless dresses & stamping on partners feet whilst dancing. I also loved Emmett who fell for Gina & realised her ploys to remain single. Their fake engagement lasted for months & in that time they grew closer & closer until Christmas & Gina's birthday arrived. Would one lie end their relationship? Or will they realise how they feel? A well written captivating read
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved Gina and Emmett's story, fir Emmett it was practically love at first sight or rather an inexplicable need to not let her go. Gina doesn't wish to marry anyone hence the hideous dresses, the trodden on toes and disastrous social skills. Yet she still finds herself much sought after, what she wants more than anything is to explore the world. Gina mistakenly believes she is talking to her brother instead it is Emmett who hears her laughter and confession about purposefully treading on yet another Lords toes. Soon a bargain of sorts occurs one in which Emmett and Gina are betrothed much to Gina's horror. Emmett has 6 months to convince Gina that not only will they marry, but that love, truth and adventure are what awaits them if only they can both be honest with each other.

[Elizabeth Connor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has wonderful, quirky characters—Gina and Emmett. Her clever ruses to resist her mother's attempts to marry her are very amusing. Emmett sees right through the facade and is determined to make her fall in love with him because, for him, it's love at first sight. I love when Gina realizes how much she loves Emmett after all: “It had crept up on her, this love for him. It was as transparent as a spider’s web, and just as sticky. Because it wasn’t a brash love that announced itself, she hadn’t seen it until she was thoroughly caught.”

I read this as part of the Twelve Lords of Yuletide collection.

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just a little blackmail.
She will do pretty much anything not to get married she has plans and that is not one of them. Christmas Gina turn 21 and then she will have her inheritance and she will be able to travel. Emmett must fulfill his duty but getting married is not what he wants to do either. So he makes a proposal to Gina for a pretend engagement. The truth of the matter he wouldn’t mind it to be real. It was such a cute story written with humor and oh just a bit steamy too. Never fear you will find it is not always fun and games there is some great drama too. Excellent book I really enjoyed it. I did receive a free copy of this book from Booksprout and voluntarily chose to review it.

[Lesley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fab story. A young woman with attitude and a cunning plan for her freedom and a man who falls for her on sight and takes steps to disrupt her life. In many ways he is helpful, he has certainly got her mother off her back but as the time draws nearer for their fake engagement to end, Gina’s feelings have a sea-change. However Gina has lied to him about one aspect of her life, not knowing how much Everett has set store by it.
Read in the Twelve Lords for Yuletide anthology.

[Brenda Moser · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a well written regency romance with strong characters in Gina and Emmett. It's an entertaining story with Gina constantly sabotaging her odds of producing a husband. It doesn't work with Emmett. He blackmails her into a fake engagement. Although he has every intention in making it read. He just needs to convince her. I enjoyed reading their story.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own and freely given.

[Lisa H · Rating 4 out of 5]

Novella- faking it til Christmas.

Gina just needs to make it to her 21st birthday so she can reach her majority and her inheritance. She has plans to travel not wed.

Emmett needs to wed and produce heirs. He proposes a fake engagement but Gina insists on no kissing. There’s more than kissing going on.

[Bookish.n.caffinated (Shannon) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute and Angsty but not much Christmas

I have found that a lot of Christmas stories are not really Christmas at all but just mention Christmas or take place at Christmas which is not the same thing….having said that this was still a enjoyable read. I loved their banter and their slow burn as well as Gina’s education if you get my meaning. I read it in one day!! My only issue is the silly conflict which was overblown but quickly resolved once Emmett got over himself which in historicals is often par for the course.

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emmett, embroidery, and an engagement

Slow burn story. Nice because it’s a standalone within a friend group. Historical issues explored within the novel are lack of a woman’s independence and forced marriage. However, the romance btwn the MCs is a result of that. It’s a very cute romance! On the wholesome side of intimacy.

[Rod · Rating 4 out of 5]

A steamy story. A lady is avoiding suitors so she can have her money and go travelling when it’s her birthday. A gentleman needs a wife but wants to avoid being harassed by debutantes and their mamas. A fake engagement ensues but he is really trying to convince her marriage would not be so bad.
A classic fake engagement story, but it had its humorous moments, so I will go with 4 stars.

[Kimberley Stafford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Diverting Holiday Story

“The Mistletoe Temptation” is a fun, sexy fake engagement story that takes place in Regency England. It is a novella so it is a shorter story, but it still has a fair amount of internal dialogue. I enjoyed it.

[Di · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is sensual, quick and fabulous read, MS Pendle knows how to bring her characters to life on the pages of her stories they are very easy to fall for.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gina and Emmet each have different reasons for avoiding marriage-so why not do it together? It was enjoyable watching how best laid plans change and evolve over time.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kat Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! This was a refreshing enemies to lovers story. The characters were well written and enjoyable.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice, quick read. I liked his character until nearly the end - I get he was upset but felt his reaction was a little blown out of proportion but at least the conflict wasn't dragged out.

[Darlene Drouillard · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF…

[Gillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christmas set tale of trust and telling the truth

Gina and Emmett must learn to trust each other with the truth about themselves before they can find love in this Christmas set tale

[Antonia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars - a fun, spicy holiday historical romance. Basic but enjoyable.

[TheEditor · Rating 1 out of 5]

So bad...