The Mistletoe Arrangement: A Steamy Sapphic Christmas Romance

by Lauren Hart

She’s paid to pretend, until the pretending turns feral, filthy, and forever…

Kenna Vey is a free-spirited movie set designer who can read a room like a script. A paid plus-one for holiday events sounds like easy money… until the “fake” in fake-dating starts feeling dangerously real.

Sloane Kass, a PR executive, is an inexperienced late-in-life lesbian who controls everything except, apparently, her heart. One reckless lie has her hiring a beautiful stranger to play her girlfriend for a string of company holiday parties. Sloane never expects the kind of heat between them that melts the ice queen crown right off her very expensive composure.

Together, they strike a tidy arrangement under the mistletoe and promptly set the season alight in a steamy love affair. Expect witty banter, blazing chemistry, and a happily ever after.

This ice queen, age-gap rom-com is a Christmas romance that starts with two women faking it for the holidays before it melts into a very spicy WLW holiday classic in the making.

Genres: Romance

203 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 19, 2025

Reviews

[Siddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sloane is a high powered PR executive, recently out after divorcing from her husband. As yet she hasn’t had any women in her life, instead focusing on her work, and keeping her cold and efficient image with her colleagues.
Kenna is a set designer for movies and photoshoots. She loves her job, and is excellent at getting the right level of fantasy and reality to every set she designs and builds. In her spare time she also works in a local bar between movie jobs. She is approached by Sandi, one of the bar’s regulars, to pose as a fake girlfriend for her best friend Sloane for her company’s Christmas events.
A fast moving, great fun, ice queen fake girlfriend story.
I really enjoyed the way Lauren Hart wrote both the main characters. Sloane is good in her intense control, but also her underlying vulnerability. Kenna is a bright and loveable ray of sunshine, with a lot of depth and compassion. The way Sloane starts as buttoned up, but as soon as Kenna kisses her, she loses control is so cute. Their banter, especially about the age difference, is witty, and also warm without becoming cutting.
This is different from Lauren Hart’s usual recent books, but in a really good way.

[Sandi D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sheila the company HR director and busybody has been bugging Sloan about who she's bringing to the holiday events this year. In a moment of sheer panic Sloan says she’s dating and her girlfriend will be attending the events with her. Oops. Now she needs a date.

Desperate she reaches out to her best friend. Who finds Sloane a date the catch well she's not an escort thank goodness. Kenna is a bartender/set designer who’s supposedly willing, attractive, funny, and intelligent according to the best friend. This is strictly a business arrangement Sloan has even drawn up a contract to protect them both or that was the idea until Sloan and Kenna meet and there’s instant chemistry. Like Sloan can’t keep her hands to herself chemistry! This should be a good thing, but Sloan has built some high walls that crumble and then suddenly reappear. Confusing Kenna who's trying to be patient.

This is a cute Christmas story last years couple Cam and Reagan make an appearance. Always nice to catch up with former friends! You'll want to turn on your fan this book is hot and has some wonderful sizzling scenes that will have you craving ice water to cool off. Think you'll find you want to strangle Sheila. ; )

[Cathy R · Rating 5 out of 5]

“A Steamy Sapphic Christmas Romance”, indeed! Lauren Hart kicks “A Mistletoe Arrangement” off with a spark when Kenna first sets eyes on Sloane, and vice versa. But Sloane, PR executive with impenetrable walls protecting her heart, is an Ice Queen extraordinaire. An Ice Queen with a daunting dilemma - she has claimed to be in a serious relationship, and work colleagues challenge her to bring the mysterious girlfriend to upcoming Holiday celebrations and events. Challenge accepted, and now, with her back to the wall, Sloane must find an appropriate candidate to fill that role. Best friend, Sandi, introduces Sloane to gorgeous, charming bartender, Kenna. They strike a deal and sign a contract. Sloane will call the shots and retain all control over the “relationship”, and Kenna will dress right, look right, and behave exactly right, to pull off this deception and protect Sloane’s reputation. All good, except for a couple of things - nosy busybody Sheila doubts the relationship is real, and does all she can to expose the trickery. And, that spark from when Sloane met Kenna has turned to raging, flaming, overwhelming desire - for both Kenna and Sloane! Will Sheila embarrass the pair? Will Sloane’s ice wall melt? Will there be a Hallmark happy ending to this tale of deceit and lust (and very hot sex)? I won’t say, but I will tell you I really enjoyed my ARC of “A Mistletoe Arrangement” and this is my honest review.

[Rosemary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fakes date for work events over the holidays. Contract-Check, NDA-Check, age gap-Check, very steamy-Check.
Both characters, Sloane Kass, the PR executive who must find a date for company holiday events and Kenna Vey, referred by a friend of Sloane’s. Kenna is a set designer by day and bartender by night. Sloane is the buttoned up ice queen, but finds herself wanting to go beyond the contracts rules. Kenna, younger, fun loving, afraid of breaking the rules and losing this lucrative side gig, yet still feels the undeniable attraction to Sloane. Enjoy the witty banter, the will they or won’t they, and will their carefully crafted ruse be enough to avoid suspicion?

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even Ice Queens Deserve Love

Sloane Kass is a divorced PR executive who needs a date to a variety of company-related holiday events in the Denver area. Sloane’s friend suggests that she meet movie set designer and part time bartender, Kenna Vey. After their initial meeting, Sloane proposes a contractual agreement for Kenna to pose as her girlfriend for the various events to get HR Shelia off her back.

What entails eventually melts the ice queen’s resolve and leads to steamy, hilarious, and tender moments. Throw in some horse manure for HR Shelia and sexy descriptions of decorating a Christmas tree and the story is complete!

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

As this is my first holiday book this season, it has set a high bar for the others I pick up over the next month or so. Age gap and fake dating are two of my favorite tropes, so this was a very satisfying read for me. Sloane and Kenna may not be an obvious pairing, but Kenna finds a way to thaw ice queen Sloane. As always with Lauren's books, there's humor, fantastic dialog, and fully developed characters. This will definitely be added to my annual holiday reading rotation.

I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[MS J · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like a steamy story. Look no further.
Sloan needs a girlfriend for her employer's company Christmas programme of events after telling the head of HR a little lie. What was she thinking...
To the rescue is the free-spirited Kenna, movie set designer by day, bar tender by night.
The spark is instant, but this is a business arrangement with a contract and boundaries.
Sloan is so uptight with everything locked down, but can she resist Kenna who seems to be a hit with everyone she meets. That's everyone accept Sheila from HR who is determined to expose the lie.

[Looby Lou · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sloane needs a fake gf for the thanksgiving/Christmas period of work do’s.
Luckily for her her bff knows someone who can help and that’s Kenna who is a set designer / bartender but needs a bit of extra dosh to buy xmas presents with.
Watching the two of them slowly learn about the other, how to act around them and how to trust them was lovely.
Two wonderful characters and the heat is enough to thaw any ice that Sloane wraps herself in.
Lots of humour, some snark, and loved the ending.

[Robin Kenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great holiday read!

Lauren Hart has provided a warm, sassy and charming tale for the holiday season. I may just put this on my annual holiday read list! I enjoyed all the dad jokes, perfectly placed and paced! This delightfully sinful, after all, being an arranged contract could look like something else especially to a nosey HR bitchy woman. Yet the real emotions come across clearly and with good humor. Honestly Lauren this is one of your best!

[Tahra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely recommend this book. Lauren's fake dating sotry about Kenna a free spirited creative and Sloane, an ice queen public relations powerhouse is so engaging, humourous and engaging!! I love the interactions between Kenna and Sloane and despite their different backgrounds, they eventualy found themselves developing feelings for each other.I stayed up all night reading the story, very extremely steamy !

[Tammy Carney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christmas to remember

The characters are believable with each have every different view. A contract was set up with no room for intimate pleasures, but Kenna could not help it she wanted Sloane but Sloane has never been with a woman. After a few internet reviews she took notes, but Kenna show her the way. Sloane became more confident in her abilities and the spice levels picks up. A great Christmas store of two women the end a contract but fell in love.

[Cameo Burton · Rating 5 out of 5]

What started out fake soon becomes something neither Kenna and Sloane expected. Sloane has the ice queen persona but Kenna is learning how to allow Sloane to slowly melt. With some awesome LOL moments and amazing spice Hart pulls out another winner. Also loved the appearance of Cam and Reagan from a prior book.

[Lorraine Rusnack · Rating 5 out of 5]

This holiday story is sure to heat up the coldest night. Kenna is so sweet and charming. Sloane needs a date for some holiday parties and Kenna is perfect. She fits in anywhere. Their chemistry is undeniable and lines blur during their arrangement. I loved seeing Reagan and Cam again at the resort. There are some laughs and a whole lot of heart in the story. A great holiday romance.

[Xiaoqing · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet Christmas romance with fake dating,age gap and ice queen trope, weaving together seamlessly .
I always love this author's works, and this one is just as wonderful as I expected. I love that it's not a slow burn and the chemistry between the couple feels natural and real, and I always love a perfect happy ending!
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[Rhonda Boone · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Steamy Holiday Read to get you ready for the Season!! I loved reading this Age-Gap Christmas romance with romantic comedy themes, great chemistry with these two ladies and such banter between them!! Definitely recommend grabbing Kenna and Sloane's story as they navigate not only their attraction but those "Company Holiday " parties...

[Elizabeth M. Norman · Rating 5 out of 5]

sweet ice queen Christmas story

This story is set in winter time Colorado with an ice queen and cute fun young love interest. There is witty banter and hot flirting. The young woman holds her own while dating the ice queen and story gets hot. This is sweet and has good messages about letting go of a need to be perfect. Enjoy!

[Christine Reid · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow what a steamy story I loved the main characters their chemistry was hot and steamy its beautifully written with laugh out loud moments as well as tender once to balance it all unfolded perfectly its a phenomenal Christmas story definitely must read congratulations

[Ngoni Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kenna and Sloane are truly a match, in this book I love how their characters were portrayed. The energy between them was charged from the beginning and the story did not fizzle out. I totally recommend it.

[Kymbe · Rating 3 out of 5]

X mas cheer

What a cute but spicy story to get you in the mood for Christmas romance. The characters were relatable and the story had just enough drama to make the storyline interesting. This one can definitely get you warmed up for the holidays.

[Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fakers

Spice level 3 out of 5

Good characters with a storyline that flows smoothly

Add in HR Sheila as the ultimate Grinch and you have an amazing holiday plot that follows through to the end of the season

[Leslie J Holbrook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holidays!

This is a sweet holiday romance by Lauren Hart. Age gap, fake dating to love and happily ever after! Well done!

[Ian Sellers · Rating 3 out of 5]

plenty spicy and the characters are fun but the writing was rushed and felt like a very detailed outline than a story that flows naturally. still good fun with a HEA so there's plenty to like

[Kherri Bilbro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hotttt

This book was not only hot and spicy but it was sweet!! I loved this story of Sloane and Kenna! They have a beautiful HEA and I'm so here for it!

[Ramona · Rating 5 out of 5]

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

If you’re looking for a smutty sapphic read, this fits the description. Steamy is right 🥵 Definitely recommend if you’re wanting something low angst + 🌶️