My first story from Susan Mallery is a sweet tale of small town America. A single Mom who has it together and a single Dad struggling to find his role in his daughter's life. For me it is a bit too 1980s Mills & Boon and the story was just that bit too predictable.

I liked the main characters and the storyline of this book, and I also liked the author’s writing style. She told the story very well. It was an interesting story that revolved around family dynamics. The pacing of the story was great, and the ending of the story didn’t seem rushed. I have to say, however, that the love scenes in this book were too “spicy” for me. This is not the fault of the author, as I’m probably not her intended audience. I should have checked out the book more closely before I requested it. My rating of the book won’t reflect that since it was my error in requesting the book.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Susan Mallery is just so amazing! I actually opted for the audio version of this one. Jumping in at book 6, I was nervous, but I've found a new series to devour. This one is rich with characters, emotion & had a great holiday feel. I can't wait to visit Happily, Inc again!

Author Susan Mallery's books are the perfect antidote when I am feeling glum. This book ticked all my boxes and made me happy during Christmas time.
Wynn, a single mother, wanted to start dating. A crush on the next-door cop and he was right on her doorstep asking for her help. Sparks flew and they genuinely liked each other too.
This was a feel-good romance that gave me warm feelings making me want to cherish love. The setting of the small town and lovable characters added to the Christmassy feeling. There was romance, family, and drama, the three things that I loved to read at the year-end. A sweet read

Really enjoyed this story. Loved the strong female lead and how she handled her teenage son so well. I appreciated the law enforcement background. Overall a very cute and well written romance

I absolutely loved this book from cover to cover. It had all the happy holiday vibes you could want in a Christmas novel while still keeping Me. Mallery's trademark sexiness, community, elements of humour, and "trouble." (I mean, how boring would a book be without some obstacle or opposition?). I didn't like every character at every time (I could say the same thing about those I love in real life, too) but they each grew and it was just a wonderful overall feel-good visit to Happily, Inc. - heartwarming and sweet!

My thanks to the publisher for a complimentary ARC of this title. All opinions are solely my own.

Mallery returns to Happily Inc with a Christmas story that works fine as a standalone.

Wynn is a single mom with a painful secret and Garrick a divorced father in a very estranged relationship with his daughter, who is coming to stay with him over Christmas in the last months of her pregnancy.

The relationship between Wynn and Garrick is a slow burn, and almost a little two perfect. To me, the real meat of the story was between Garrick and his daughter Joylyn, who is spoiled and bitter. So bitter and untenable that her mom sent her to live with her dad because the situation was getting uncomfortable at home with her two younger, boisterous sons. (Which was code for "we can't deal with her here, you take care of her.)

Joylyn has held a grudge for a long time for reasons unknown to Garrick, and honestly, I'm a little disappointed in Garrick for not working to resolve things when she was younger. HOwever, Joylyn's behavior was a little over the top for me.

It's a nice holiday story about forgiving and moving on. It was a solid book but not my favorite in the Happily series.

I wanted to love the story, but I was a little bit disappointed.

Wynn is single, by choice. She has a son, a business, and a huge crush on a cop next door, but is too afraid to do anything about it.

Garrick has a pregnant daughter, who has to move in with him. They use to be tight, but she pushed him off the last few years. He is excited about a new chance to reconnect and asks Wynn to help him decorate the house before she arrives.


The more time they spend together, the more they grow closer until they fall helpless in love.

But the romance is not the focal point, it's more about them coming to terms with their past and for Garrick to reconnect with his daughter.

I like the storyline, but the writing wasn't my cup of tea especially the dialogs, they didn't seem real somehow. I wanted a bit more tension, but it was all too perfect for me to love.

The Review

This was such a passionate read. Author Susan Mallery does a great job of interweaving the characters of previous entries into the series into a wholly original novel, while also crafting two great protagonists that feel real and vulnerable yet incredibly strong. Their pasts are thoroughly explored in the actions of the modern-day storyline, and highlight their individual struggles as well as the impact it has on their own shared experiences, making for two incredibly flawed yet well-rounded characters readers can get behind.

The twists and turns that each character’s past takes are truly engaging and highlight the scars both physically and emotionally each has. The setting itself feels alive and vibrant, and the author’s previous novels when combined with this one make the feeling of a true community setting feel even more real and relatable all at once.

The Verdict

Entertaining, romantic, and a dramatic holiday must-read, author Susan Mallery’s “Happily This Christmas” is a brilliant novel and great entry into the “Happily Inc” series. With well-rounded characters and a vivid sense of imagery that brings this town and it’s inhabitants to live, this is the author at her best and is not to be missed this holiday season. Be sure to grab your copy today!

2.5 Rounded Up.

I received a reviewer copy of Happily This Christmas by Susan Mallery from the publisher Harlequin from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

CW: Divorce, Post-Traumatic Stress, Strained parental relationship, military spouse abroad, police shooting, references to torture and kidnapping

What It’s About: Wynn is happily living in Happily Inc (yes, that’s the name of the town) raising her son as a single mother. She hasn’t found the right relationship but her hunky neighbor Garrick, the chief of police, is very cute. When Garrick reaches out for advice on getting his pregnant daughter, visiting for Christmas, comfortable and with a sense of community given their strained relationship. From there their relationship. PS this is a series but I haven’t read any of the other books and I was fine.

What I Loved: This book was easy to follow and a good story for Christmas. I liked that this book focused on people who were in their late 30’s instead of 20 somethings falling in love. I loved the little community that this town had. It was fine.

What I Didn't Like So Much: There were a lot of issues for me with this story, First, we have a strained relationship that was strained for a really dumb unbelievable reason. Like I don’t understand how this didn’t get solved and also the anger that festers here was silly, no one in their right mind would think some of these things as a slight. A lot of the drama seemed silly too. I also didn’t like some of the police content it really seemed unnecessary to the storyline (to clarify there is a storyline in the past and I think that’s important but there was no reason to have the present timeline, it seemed weird and problematic). There’s some discussion of women and relationships in a slightly sexist way, it almost made me stop.

Who Should Read This: People who want a Christmas story that has a bit of conflict and drama but is mostly fluff. People who like traditional gender roled characters but with a little open-doorness

Quick Summary: A Christmas story about finding love and piecing family back

I thought this was a very cute book. It is the perfect read if you’re looking for a holiday book. I loved the small town vibe in this book. It makes me wish I lived in a small town. This is a neighbors to lover romance, which I haven’t read before and actually enjoyed it! I thought Wynn and Garrick made a cute couple, even if it wasn’t very realistic. There is healing and falling in love in this book. The only thing that bothered me was there was too much repetition in the book. Overall, I would recommend it, if you’re looking for a cute holiday read!

This latest novel by Susan Mallery does not disappoint. I have already recommended this book to many for a sweet Christmas romance novel. It is a fast read but goes deeper into one of the characters that we haven't learned much about from her previous Happily Inc. series.
I received a free advanced copy from Netgalley for an honest review.
#Netgalley

Wynn is a single mom who yearns to ask her sexy neighbor out but has no idea how to do it. Garrick, a local cop seems like a great guy but all Wynn has been able to do is wave and say hi in the year since he moved in next door. She's surprised when he comes over asking for her advice getting his house ready for his daughter, Joylyn, to move in. They've both been burned in the past so they take it slow and learn to trust each other. This enjoyable holiday romance is part of the Happily Inc. series. Recommended.

Happily Inc is a town full of companions, good neighbors, and a community that helps when others are in need.

Wynn is a bright, easy going single mom with a great business and tons of friends! She is a strong friend, mother, and neighbor, and knows what she wants and he let success shows this!

Garrick is her neighbor, divorced, and living alone until his pregnant daughter, Joylyn, comes to live with him. Their relationship is rocky, as Joylyn hasn’t seen or talked to her father in years, and to top things off, Chandler, her husband, is deployed and won’t be home until a week before Christmas, about the time their child is due.

Wynn and Garrick have a great relationship. They are very friendly with one another, and do what they can to help the other, but is there more?

A delightful story of two families strengthened by the bond of friendship and love!

After reading The Friendship List, I was excited to see another Susan Mallery title, and being a holiday title was just an added bonus!

While I wish I had realized it was a part of a series, it did not take away from the story too much - I did have to double-check that it WASN'T the family from The Friendship List because the family setup was so much the same - single mom of a teen, crushing on the friend, but who doesn't love those tried and true tropes?!

I'm a sucker for any small-town romance, especially at Christmastime, and there were some great characters in this particular book. It was a perfectly fine book about becoming a blended family, a bit of drama, romance and the holiday feels, all wrapped up with a bow on top - it was almost TOO neat for me, which is why I am giving it 4 stars. I think I may have enjoyed it more if I was invested in the characters before this title, and instead had read the other books.

Wynn is a single parent of a 14 year old son, has a thriving business and has a crush on her next door neighbor. When he comes to her door asking for help decorating his house she immediately agrees. They bond over the decorating and she becomes friends with his pregnant daughter. Their own romance ensues. This is book 6 in the Happily Inc. series and a great holiday read. It can be read as a stand alone. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This is a very heartwarming small town Christmas romance. This is the second book that I have read in the Happily Inc series and I think this one might have to be my favorite. I love how natural Garrick and Wynn's relationship felt and how it morphed from genuine friendship and interest to a full blown love story. I also really liked the elements that their kids both brought to the story. Joylyn especially brings a lot of drama and sweetness (in her own way) to the story and I ended up enjoying her storyline more than our main couple. My biggest issue with this book is how frequently outdated gender norms were brought up. I also hope to go my whole life without ever again hearing adults say boy girl relationship when referring to themselves. There was no reason for Mallery to even need to bring up gender in this story and it made me uncomfortable with how much it was brought up. Other than that, I did really enjoy these characters and I am always a huge fan of the Happily Inc world. The characters all get into the festive spirt and this book would make a cozy weekend read.

HAPPILY THIS CHRISTMAS (Happily Inc Book #6) by Susan Mallery is the latest installment in the Happily Inc. contemporary romance series set in Happily Inc, a wedding destination themed town. I love when these books are set around the Christmas season and I get to visit all the characters again. This can be read as a standalone, but many of the characters overlap in this small town and I have enjoyed reading them in order.

Wynn Beauchene has a thriving graphic design business and a happy and responsible fourteen-year-old son. Starting out as a scared, single mother with a secret, she is now a strong independent woman who has a crush on her handsome next-door neighbor. She keeps trying to come up with a reason to say more than a passing “Hi”.

Garrick McCabe has returned to his hometown to take over the Happily Inc police department. When he gets a call that his pregnant daughter, Joylyne will be staying with him for the holidays until her Marine husband returns from deployment, he is excited because they have been estranged for many years. Garrick wants everything to perfect and asks Wynn if she can help him get his home ready.

Wynn becomes more and more attached to Garrick and his daughter, but Garrick has a long way to go to patch up misunderstandings with his daughter. Can Wynn and Garrick find time and forgiveness for themselves as they become closer?

I always enjoy going back to Happily Inc. Ms. Mallery’s characters are small town neighbors that anyone would love to meet. They care about each other are helpful when needed. I enjoyed Wynn and Garrick’s Christmas HEA and am looking forward to checking back in with them in future books. The story just flows with realistic dialogue, believable characters, family drama and reconciliation.

This is a feel good romance for the holiday season.

This was a really cute Christmas read that has all the romance and drama you want in a book! It was heartwarming to see families overcome their past struggles and getting a chance at a new relationship. This was a great Christmas read and I definitely recommend it!

This is the sixth book in the Happily Inc series, yet Susan Mallery seamlessly drops us into Wynn Beauchene’s life for some holiday romance and cheer.

Wynn runs a designer business, “Happily Inc,” she’s a single mom to Hunter and she’s sweet as a peppermint candy. Truth is though, she has a bit of a crush on her next-door neighbor, Garrick McCabe. But relationships haven’t gone well for Wynn since Hunter’s dad, fourteen years ago.

When Garrick tells her that his very pregnant daughter, Joylyn, is moving in with him, Wynn sees this as an opportunity to help out. Garrick and Wynn work together to make his house cozy and inviting for Joylyn, but when she arrives, her attitude could give a person frostbite! She seems to think that Garrick had abandoned her when she was younger. Garrick is confused and trying to understand how to be the dad his daughter needs. He turns to Wynn, finding sound advice and a bit of romance. In helping Garrick be a better dad, Wynn discovers that what her heart has been longing for may have been next door all along.

There is some fun dialogue and relatable moments, although Wynn seemed a little too perfect to me at times - maybe I was just envious. This is a charming holiday read about family, forgiveness, and the joy of helping others.

I highly recommend Happily This Christmas for some warm and fuzzy holiday feels.

Thank you @harlequinbooks @susanmallery and @netgalley for this digital copy.