Title: Happily This Christmas by Susan Mallery
Happily Inc Series Book Six
Publisher: HQN Books
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 283 pages
Book Rating: B+
Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley
Summary:
Susan Mallery, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Fool’s Gold romances, proves there’s no place like Happily Inc for the holidays…
There’s no place like Happily Inc for the holidays…
Wynn Beauchene has a thriving business, a great kid and a mildly embarrassing crush on the guy next door—local cop Garrick McCabe. She’s a strong, independent woman who can’t help dreaming what-if about a man she barely knows. Until he needs her help…
Garrick’s pregnant daughter will be home for Christmas, and his house needs a woman’s touch. Garrick and his little girl were tight once and he’s hoping a small-town Christmas will bring her back to him. But thawing his daughter’s frosty attitude will take more than a few twinkle lights. Maybe sharing the holiday with Wynn and her son will remind her of the joy of family.
As the season works its magic on these wounded souls, Wynn realizes it’s time to stop punishing herself for a painful secret, while Garrick remains haunted by the ghosts of past mistakes. Will he allow Wynn to open the only gift she truly wants—his heart?
Review:
Happily This Christmas by Susan Mallery is a deeply affecting romance that is quite captivating. Although this latest release is the sixth romance in the Happily Inc series, it can be read as a standalone. But I highly recommend the entire series.
Thirty-four year old Wynn Beauchene is a successful business owner and mom to fourteen year old Hunter. She is raising her son on her own and she has not been in a relationship for quite some time. But since her easy on the eyes neighbor Garrick McCabe moved in, Wynn cannot stop thinking about him. When he asks for her help preparing his house for his estranged pregnant daughter to stay with him, she is delighted to assist him. As they spend time together, an easy friendship forms between them. Soon Wynn is fighting a serious attraction to him, but does he just view her as a friend?
Garrick was always very involved with his daughter Joylyn and they once shared a tight bond. So he was absolutely crushed when she abruptly stopped wanting to see him when she was a teenager. He never stopped trying to reconnect with her, but since he was making no progress, he changed careers. Garrick’s new job meant long stretches of time away from home and the gulf widened between him and Joylyn. Garrick is hoping he and Joylyn can mend the rift between them but he is somewhat shocked at the changes in her personality.
Joylyn is at the miserable stage of her pregnancy and she misses her husband. She makes absolutely it absolutely clear to her father that she wants nothing to do with him. But Wynn’s sunny personality and positive outlook help temper some of Joylyn’s unhappiness. As Joylyn begins to thaw her frosty attitude toward her father, will they recapture the close relationship they once shared?
Wynn is enjoying getting to know Garrick and including him and Joylyn in her and Hunter’s life. Their evenings together are light and fun but underlying the easy camaraderie is her growing attraction to him. Wynn is uncertain whether or not he returns her desire and she is reluctant to ruin their friendship by pushing for anything else. Garrick is not quite as cautious and once he makes the first move, they act on their passion for each other. Wynn is ready to settle down, but does Garrick feel the same way?
Happily This Christmas is an enchanting holiday story of family, forgiveness and love. Wynn and Garrick are vibrantly developed characters who are well-rounded and three-dimensional. Joylyn is a frustrating character whose unhappiness is self-made. Garrick and Wynn’s relationship is fun to watch develop as they face realistic challenges trying to juggle family life with their budding romance. With a late in the story conflict, Susan Mallery brings this heartfelt romance to a joyous conclusion. Old and new fans of the delightfully charming Happily Inc series are sure to love this holiday romance.
