Mistletoe and Mishigas

By: M. A Wardell

Narrated by: Mark Sanderlin, Kirt Graves

Two men with opposite personalities fake date during the holidays in this steamy romance that’s perfect for fans of Casey McQuiston and Anita Kelly.

Now including a new epilogue and bonus artwork of the characters!

"M.A. Wardell's stories are sweetness and spice wrapped into a big, warm hug." ―Alice Oseman, bestselling author of Heartstopper

Sheldon Soleskin should be having a horrible day. Even though he’s been unexpectedly transferred to a new school right before the holidays, has only one day to set up his new classroom, and just discovered his twin sister's been hiding an invitation to his ex-boyfriend’s Christmas Eve wedding, he’s still ready to take on the world with a smile on his face and a skip in his step.

Theo Berenson just wants to be left alone to his custodial duties. But when the chipper new first-grade teacher needs help moving furniture the Sunday after Thanksgiving, he's forced to do something he detests ... help. To make matters worse, Theo's overbearing parents are coming for Hanukah in a few weeks, and he's told them he has a boyfriend. Except he doesn't. Because who would want to date an oaf like Theo?

Working together, these opposites discover they might be able to help each other out. Agreeing to be each other’s dates, they become friends as they practice for their upcoming events. But when all the rehearsing starts feeling a little too real, and both men's pasts come roaring back to haunt them, will they be able to pull off the ultimate holiday masquerade?

"Sheldon and Theo's opposites-attract, Beauty-and-the-Beast chemistry grabbed me from the first chapter and never let go. Wholly delightful and full of Hanukkah spirit—Wardell's voice jumps off the page."—Anita Kelly, author of Something Wild and Wonderful

Really cute and wholesome

Both of the major characters were very distinct and done very well. I thought the chemistry between was pretty good as well. All around a really wholesome and fun read.

Trauma slows the burn but it is still perfect.

Big bear with ptsd and low self esteem snags the eye of a flamboyant bottom who also has low self esteem. Marriage of convenience and then only fooling themselves leads to spice and true love. Adorable.

Lovely opposites attract romance.

This was a lovely, heartfelt opposites attract romance. I really like both Sheldon and Theo and enjoyed the journey to their happily ever after.

Loved both the narrators, great choices!

Horny Hallmark in a good way…mostly

Must preface by saying, I’m both gay and Jewish, so it’s nice to see characters that I might identify with. I also love a cheesy Hallmark holiday movie and gay erotica, so again, this speaks to me. Overall enjoyed the storyline and characters. Nice to avoid the overplayed “catastrophe” tropes of most love stories. My biggest gripes are definitely from the Jewish perspective. The overuse of Yiddish for a character who says they are only culturally Jewish, the borderline caricatures of the parents, and flat-out wrong religious reference (lighting the menorah backwards) pulled away from an otherwise fun read.

Definitely worth the read, highly recommend

This book was hilarious and excellently written. I thought this book would be cliche or corny but it wasnt at all. The author is creative and has uniquely spun the cliche of jaded lover meets chipper lover cliche, and the fake lovers to real lovers cliche. Having characters with diverse body sizes is also an inclusive decision. As a plus sized person, I felt represented. Booster is a weird nickname. Never got used to it. Cute ending. Steamy scenes throughout.