What a lovely story to put readers in the holiday spirit. Susan Mallery's characters are so realistic and relatable. I could easily imagine being friends and neighbors with both Wynn and Garrick, along with the rest of the town. Wynn and Garrick had great chemistry and developed a sweet friendship, followed by a slow slide into more. I had to laugh at the obstacles to the "more" that kept appearing to sidetrack their plans. Welcome to romance with kids.

I love how Mallery delves into the everyday challenges within families, guiding characters through issues many of us encounter. I enjoyed Wynn's relationship with her teenage son. She's a good mom, a good person, but still punishing herself over something that happened fifteen years earlier. Her son's such a great character, even when he messes up. Maybe especially when he messes up as it gives them both the opportunity for growth and forgiveness. Then there's Garrick and his estranged daughter. My heart ached for him. He's such a good man and trying so very hard to be a good father. His daughter wasn't a very likable character at the start but her growth over the course of the book was significant. Their path to understanding was rocky but also poignant, heartwarming, humorous (birthing class), healing, and real.

The Christmas event that brings them all together was an added, feel-good bonus that had me crying tears of joy.

Happily This Christmas can be enjoyed as a standalone but a word of warning: by the time you finish, you may have fallen in love with the town and her citizens so much that you immediately buy the first five books in the series. Like I did.

*ARC received for fair and unbiased review

Happily This Christmas is such a cozy Christmas story, made me want to curl up by a fire and read for hours. There are two different story lines happening in Happily This Christmas. The first of which is a brewing romance between Wynn and Garrick. The second, and more important story line (imo) was Garrick rebulidng a relationship with his daughter Joylyn.

First let's talk about the romance. Wynn and Garrick are in their mid 30's, both with children. Garrick's daughter Joylyn (21) and Wynn's son Hunter (14). Their romance was sweet and the perfect slow burn. There was the usual little tiff at the end, but I didn't mind this one.

The stronger part of the story was Garrick's relationship with his daughter. At the start when Joylyn arrives she is pregnant and her husband is stationed overseas. She comes to live with Garrick because her mom's house is crazy with her three younger half brothers. I didn't particularly buy this, but also don't care enough to harp on it. Joylyn was quite the spoiled brat at the beginning, almost annoyingly so. Can't do anything "because I'm pregnant". Her and Garrick also haven't spoken in a long time so there is a lot of tension there. I really appreciated how they worked through things.

A wonderful holiday read.

In the charming town of Happily Inc it’s almost Christmas time! Wynn is a successful business owner and single mom, Garrick is the police chief and single dad. Spoiler alert! They are going to fall in love, with each other, at Christmastime and I am here for it!
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Garrick’s grown daughter is married and pregnant and she is coming home to stay with him. Her husband is in the military so she is alone in the weeks leading up to birth. Spoiler alert the baby is due at Christmas time. I have a Christmas baby myself. I can assure you there is nothing more magical then a Christmas baby! Garrick turns to the attractive neighbor next door to help get his house ready for his daughter. Garrick and Joylyn used to be inseparable but the teenage years weren’t kind to their relationship and he’s looking for a second chance to rebuild their relationship.
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With the help of Wynn and her 14 year old son, Hunter, they help Joylyn change her bitter attitude and see what’s important in life and in her relationship with her father, as she’s about to become a mother herself. This is a story about second chances and risking it all for love.
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Thank you to #netgalley and #HQN for an arc in exchange for an honest review

Okay, I have to say that I was kinda hesitant in reading Happily This Christmas. I really thought it was going to be the typical Christmas romance read. But boy was I surprised when I started reading Happily This Christmas, and it was such an easy romance read. Like I enjoyed reading every chapter. I didn't even know I was coming to the end until the very last page. It was that good. Happily This Christmas will bring Garrick and Wynn together. I did not even realize that they had great chemistry with each other until I read their interaction. Their chemistry just starts popping off whenever they are near each other or spend more time together. And they are going to spend more time with each other since Garrick's daughter is coming into town and spending time with him. And he definitely needs the help and support cause his daughter is a handful. I am trying to be more understanding about Garrick's daughter but oh my goodness she is too much. She really needs to grow up and communicate. That was the main issue with their strained relationship. Garrick may have never expected that he had another opportunity to mend his relationship with daughter but it definitely set him up to bring into his life especially with Wynn. Wynn has everything together especially since she is a single mother. But lately she wants something more. It may be strange for her because she always closes off any relationship. But as more time passes, the more she wants out of life: loving relationships and maybe more kids. It's definitely manageable especially since she is spending more time with Garrick, her sexy neighbor. I am definitely excited for her because she has accomplished so much in her life that she deserves to be happy. And have more kids later in life too if she wants. I see no problem but love does not work that way. It's complicated, messy but it's the best thing to happen.

In the newest novel, Happily This Christmas, single mom Wynn has a terrific thirteen year-old son and owns her own thriving printing business. She has lots of good friends, but no man in her life. When her handsome police officer neighbor Garrick comes over and asks for assistance decorating his home for the arrival of his pregnant 21 year-old daughter, Wynn thinks this might be her way to get to know him better.

Both Wynn and Garrick had their children when they were young. Wynn was on her own with her son, and Garrick is divorced from his wife, who remarried and now has three young sons with her new husband.

Garrick's daughter Joylyn is not happy coming to see her father, they have been somewhat estranged, much to Garrick's dismay. Joylyn's husband is away overseas on active military duty, not due home until close to the baby's due date right after Christmas. She also feels that her own mother is abandoning her.

Wynn takes a reluctant Joylyn under her wing, introducing her to the women in her ladies' weekly lunch group, and Wynn's son likes having someone closer to his own age like Joylyn around. Garrick wants to take this chance to get to reconnect with his daughter, to be as close they used to be when she was just a liitle girl.

I really enjoyed my visit back to Happily, Inc. and watching Wynn and Garrick's relationship move in an exciting new direction. The Christmas setting is wonderful, and this being a wedding destination town, there is a wedding to plan.

After reading the last two books in the series, I immediately ordered the first two books so I could get to know all of the characters from the beginning. Reading this series is like catching up with old friends, and if you are a fan of Hallmark's Christmas movies, the Happily, Inc. books are for you. I highly recommend Happily This Christmas to help get you in the holiday spirit, and don't we all need that now? (And the cover looks so festive you could use it as holiday decoration.)

Thanks to Harlequin for putting me on their Harlequin Holiday Blog Tour.

When Wynn’s neighbor Garrick comes over, Wynn’s in shock. You see, the neighbors never do more than wave hello to each other, even though Garrick has starred in a few of Wynn’s daydreams.
Garrick needs some help, his pregnant, married daughter is coming to stay with him for a little while before her Marine husband comes home from being stationed overseas. They haven’t really spoken in years, but her mother can no longer take her crankiness when she’s got her other children to raise. Garrick knows that he needs a woman’s touch to let him know what he needs to stock his home, since he’s never really picked up a lot of stuff. After all, he’s a single man who lives alone. When Wynn agrees to help, Garrick can’t believe his luck.
As Garrick and Wynn get his house ready for a very pregnant Joylyn, feelings get stirred up between both Garrick and Wynn, and things spill over the more they spend time together. But are those feelings enough to overcome Wynn’s fears and let her move on with her life, or will Garrick be another man who’s tried to break down her barrier and failed?
I’ve read other stories in the Happily Inc series and have loved every one of them. Ms. Mallery is a master storyteller who brings you in and keeps you engaged with all the characters until the very end. You really don’t want to leave Happily Inc when the book is done, and you’re left wanting more. In a really good way. I loved to see Joylyn come around from such an angry young woman, to a loving young woman and new mother. I wanted to cry when the town rallied together to put a stunning wedding together for Holly and Rex. If you’re looking for a wonderful Christmas romance, put this book at the top of your must-read list.
**I received an ARC of this story from NetGalley and the publisher and this is my honest and voluntary review.

I love the Happily, Inc series. I really enjoyed Winn's story.. This book is a stand alone in the series, but it was nice to catch up with old friends.

I highly recommend this book you will enjoy it.

Thank you netgalley and harlequin for allowing me to read this title for an honest review.

Favorite Quotes:

His words made her feel a little floaty, which was silly. She was in some serious trouble here— she hadn’t been this flaky even in high school. If she wasn’t careful, she was going to start flipping her hair and saying “like” in every sentence.

Most guys don’t like shopping, which I’ve never understood. All you have to do is pretend you’re hunting. You stalk, you pounce, you strap it to the car and take it home. A total win, but men don’t see it that way.

Wynn did her best to keep her happiness to herself. Being cheerful was one thing, but giddy tended to confuse her employees and frighten the customers.

The whole process is insane and unnatural… The cliché is true. If it were up to men to have babies, the human race would be dead in a generation.

My Review:

While I haven’t read all the books in this series, the ones I have read have been golden. I have thoroughly enjoyed every trip I’ve taken to Happily, Inc. and fervently hope Ms. Mallery never runs out of residents to feature. The main characters in this installment were highly likable, thoughtful, and admirable people I’d like to know and spend more time with. The writing was wittily amusing, smooth, expertly paced, and flowed through my gray matter like a ribbon of film through a movie projector while eliciting sighs, smirks, and contented smiles throughout a highly satisfying perusal.

All of the Happily, Inc. books are little bundles of joy that you hold in your hands and sigh over all of the emotions evoked as you read. I loved this book from beginning to end! The story itself was magical, with single mother Wynn living next door to the county sheriff, hunky and magnetically attractive Garrick. When Garrick asks for her help decorating his house in a manner suitable for his pregnant daughter, the real fun begins. Joylyn, Garrick’s daughter was not at all likable at first, so I did enjoy the metamorphosis, which just happened to coincide with her advancing pregnancy. I also liked getting to know Hunter, Wynn’s very wise and mature son. There was conflict, resolution, more conflict and more resolution, and I enjoyed every moment of reading this book. The only sad part was when it ended because I could have continued to read more about Christmas in this perfect little town for days to come. The plot was absolute perfection; the characters were so well-developed that they seemed to jump off the page onto the stage of my mind. I love it when a good story comes together well, and this one certainly did. Fans of romance will delight in this wonderful story of finding happiness after so much disappointment.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

Happily This Christmas follows Garrick who's estranged daughter - who is heavily pregnant - suddenly comes to stay with him. He enlists the help of his neighbour Wynn. With the attraction between Garrick and Wynn heating up it's a big contrast to the cold shoulder and open hostility from his daughter Joylyn when she arrives.
This was a lovely festive read with a nice mix of romance, relationships and drama. All four of the main characters were lovely and it was just a really lovely feel good read.

There is one rather sexy scene in it and while I'm not adverse to a bit of raunch, it was a little full on and explicit compared to pretty much the rest of the book. It wasn't awful to read but the style just seemed such a contrast to the rest of the novel, it ended up being a rather odd random chapter before the book then returned to it's normal "fluffy and nice" style.

Overall, this is a sweet read that will give you all the festive feels for the holidays.

Title: Happily This Christmas
Author: Susan Mallery
Genre: Romance
Rating: 4 out of 5

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?

I haven’t read any of the previous books in the Happily Inc series, but that isn’t an issue with these standalones. I enjoyed this read a lot! Wynn’s snark made me laugh and Garrick—usually so capable—is totally useless when it comes to dealing with his pregnant daughter. Who is, frankly, awful to everyone. I really disliked her until the last third of the book. This is a solid read with great characters, and I recommend it.

Susan Mallery is a bestselling author. Happily This Christmas is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Harlequin in exchange for an honest review.)

(Blog link live 12/10.)

Thank you so much to Harlequin for having me as a part of their Holiday Blog Tour (and thank you to them and to Netgalley for giving me access to an e-ARC of Happily This Christmas)! I love Susan Mallery so much- I started reading her Fools Gold books back in college maybe and then I started her Happily Inc. books last year I think, so I was super excited to read the last book (I think?) in her Happily Inc. series and to see what she had in store for Wynn and Garrick.

Happily This Christmas 5/5 Stars

Summary from Goodreads:

There’s no place like Happily Inc for the holidays…<br><br>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?

<p>I loved getting to know Wynn throughout the other books, so it was nice to finally know more about her story and watch her fall in love. In all of the other books, the core Happily Inc. group played a pretty big part throughout the book and it seemed like in Happily This Christmas, there wasn't as much with their friends (neither Wynn's friends nor Garrick's)- like don't get me wrong, we see the crew a few times and there's even a wedding that everyone helps out with (none of the main characters got married during the book, so don't worry, this wasn't a spoiler at all), but it felt like less than a normal Happily Inc. book. It could be because this book took place during the holiday season, so people were busy and everyone else had kids and families, but whatever, not seeing them a lot didn't change the fact that I loved the book! I liked Joylyn a lot- she started out as a brat for sure, but I thought that Wynn was the perfect amount of no nonsense and compassionate with her and I think once she realized how much of a brat she was being, she really seemed to become more of an adult and I loved how her relationship with Garrick evolved throughout the book. I also loved how mature Hunter was and while I don't think I've ever met a 14 year old who acts like that, it's nice to be able to believe that it could be possible. I loved all of the fun Thanksgiving and Christmas decorations and foods and this was the perfect book to read during the holiday season. I highly recommend it!

I didn’t realize this was part of a series, it seems to stand alone. This was a nice feel good book with very likeable characters and story line. I enjoyed the story
Thanks to the publisher for the early copy

I only like Holiday themed Contemporary romance and this book really hit the mark for what I love. This book is Holiday comfort read for the heart. The main Lead Wynn is a successful businesswoman and caring woman who is grateful for her life but longs for love. Her longing is super close. next door actually, her yearlong crush Garrick .

When Garrick's pregnant daughter moves in with him he turns to Wynn for help to make his home comfortable. The two of them grow closer as their families come together for Thanksgiving and many other holiday rituals. Wynn and Garrick have tremendous chemistry together but pain from their past relationships haunt their chances of a future. However the magic of Christmas is strong their town and the two carve a path to happiness.

This was a cute and at times steamy Christmas read. I was here for it. Although that daughter's attitude at times had me wanting to jump into the book and shake her (not too hard though she was pregnant) because she always looking at things in a "glass half empty" kind of way instead of being thankful for what he had.
I really enjoyed the love story and at times clutched my heart because of how adorable it was!

<i>ARC from Netgalley</i>

One of the things this book had going for it was it's flawed characters. Wynn and Garrick both had made some pretty significant mistakes in their past, but they had both overcome them and were living their lives in Happily, Inc. as neighbors who barely knew each other. It was the impending arrival of Garrick's pregnant daughter that was the catalyst that brought them together. In an effort to be as welcoming as possible for his estranged daughter, he approaches Wynn and asks her to help him get his house in order so that Joylyn his daughter, can be as comfortable as possible in the latter part of her pregnancy. The arrival of Joylyn's character in this book wasn't fun. She was absolutely insufferable, and while the reason that was finally revealed was credible enough, it felt very contrived. Which brings me to a few of my other issues. Aside from Joylyn, I feel like the characters in this book are too together all the time to be realistic, and that includes Wynn's son, Hunter. Also, this book was very color by numbers, in my opinion. It was as if the characters were sketched out first and then the problems added as an obligatory part of the story.

Having said that, I found this book to be enjoyable enough. And if you're looking for a quick holiday read to while away an afternoon, then this fits the bill.

Happily This Christmas (Happily Inc #6). By Susan Mallery. 2020. HQN Books (ARC eBook).

Happily This Christmas is a neighbors falling for each other romance set in the small town of Happily Inc. Wynn Beauchene is a single mom and business owner who has been admiring next-door neighbor and police officer Garrick McCade from afar. But then he’s knocking on her door asking for her help in making his spare room welcoming and comfortable for his pregnant 21-year-old daughter, Joylyn, who will be staying with him through the holidays, or until her military husband returns on leave. Now, the two are finding more reasons to spend time together, but will they really be able to adjust their lives to commit fully to a relationship?

This is the second book I’ve read by Mallery and the first I’ve read in the Happily Inc series. I have to admit that this story just didn’t resonate with Christmas-y to me. There is drama from several outlets and I didn’t care for how the characters responded. I can appreciate flawed characters, I love flawed characters, but Joylyn’s attitude, conflict reveal and resolution was disappointingly handled. As was Wynn’s complete meltdown over her 14-year-old son doing something behind her back. Final complaint was what felt like a pretty big exclusion of life as a police chief. Yes, Happily Inc is apparently a small town, that doesn’t make the administration of a police force disappear. There is some cute banter throughout but nothing about the background characters (who would be familiar faces for readers of the series) to interest me in following this series. But I’m not ruling out other series or stand alones from this author in the future.

This one didn’t bring the Christmas spirit like I had hoped. The cover totally tricked me into thinking I was getting a Hallmark movie kind of read but fell flat! It’s book 6 in the “Happily Inc.” series this can be a standalone read. This was any first Mallery novel — any others by her I should consider? Overall it was an quick light read that has a bit of drama, loads of characters and not enough Old Saint Nick.

*** I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review ***

Susan Mallery is one of my go-to authors. But this is the first book I've read in the Happily Inc series. For me this book was just good. It is the story of Garrick and Wynn who are next-door neighbors but barely acquaintances until Garrick's estranged and pregnant daughter, Joylyn plans a visit. I have a feeling that I would've enjoyed Happily This Christmas more if I had read the other books first and been more acquainted with the other characters in the town. I did enjoy the story though- it is well written, light, and just Christmassy enough. This is a story of forgiveness, family, love, and trust. I would recommend it for anyone that has previously enjoyed Susan Mallery's novels and anyone looking for a light, HEA Christmas story.

Great book in a nice series! This book is the sixth in the series but could be read as a stand alone. I really enjoy Susan Mallery's work. The story was well written and engaging. Very holiday story!