Happily This Christmas (Happily Inc #6)

I probably say this a lot about Ms. Mallery’s books however…I started laughing at the first pages and didn’t stop for a few chapters! We’ve met Wynn in previous stories but this is a standalone book. I just adore the Happily Inc. series – and all the others before it – and I do so enjoy visiting with previous characters, too. Oh, and animals. (No worries; when you read this story, you’ll know what I mean.) HtC is about Wynn Beauchene, her son Hunter, and Garrick McCabe; and eventually, his visiting pregnant daughter, Joylynn. Wynn and Garrick don’t really know each other very well, they are just neighbors who nod and say ‘hello’, but he shows up on her doorstep asking for her help. I won’t retell the story; I’m not any good at it. Suffice it to say, the first few chapters are HILARIOUS. The first in-house conversation between Wynn and Garrick had me in tears I was laughing so hard. And then we move on to the shopping trip… Just trust me. You have to read it. Wynn has some soul-searching to do while she works on this…new closeness she is experiencing with Garrick. And Garrick has much to work on in his relationship with his daughter and IMHO, his self-confidence, before these two can work on an HEA. There are some very touching scenes for Garrick as he tries to once again get closer to his daughter but she really acts…like a toddler (again, IMHO) and he gets the short end of the stick. Thru it all, he and Wynn muddle thru life together, until they don’t. I think folks were a wee bit harder on Garrick than they needed to be. Again, I thought Wynn acted just as stoopidly but as it happens, most folks side with her. But all goes well and we get a wonderful holiday story that made me laugh, made me cry (from laughing and sadness), and made smile and sigh at the ending. Oh yeah. Can’t forget about the fur baby crashing the party… Read it. You won’t be sorry.

Wynn, a single Mom, has a bit of a crush on her neighbor Garrick. While trying to see how she can get to know him better, she answers her door to find Garrick hoping to get her help. Garrick needs some decorating help before his married, pregnant daughter arrives while her husband is deployed. A leather sofa and a giant tv won’t look too cozy. Slowly these two hesitant souls learn to help each other with parenting difficulties. Loved how relaxed yet competent Garrick is and the wisdom of Wynn as they cope. These are two characters you want as friends and this heartwarming story will have to be read again closer to Christmas.

My first Christmas story of 2020, so happy it was a Susan Mallery story!! Love returning to Happily Inc for the heartwarming story of Wynn and Garrick. I have been waiting for Wynn’s story and did not disappoint. She is neighbors with Garrick, who is a police officer and she has had a secret crush on him. He has asked for her help in getting his bachelor pad ready for his married pregnant daughter’s arrival. They have been estranged and he wants everything perfect for her arrival. Both struggling with mistakes from the past but with this holiday season will the magic heal all.

Small-town charm prevails in Happily Inc! Wynn is a successful single mother to a teenage boy named Hunter. Her life is fulfilled in every aspect, except the love department. Garrick is her next door neighbor, a police officer, and single. He seeks Wynn’s help to get his house ready for when his pregnant daughter arrives. This book has a little bit of drama, a lotta romance, and is dripping in Christmas traditions. My only qualm about this one is how rushed the ending was. I, perhaps, just wanted to stay in Happily Inc for a little bit longer.

I have a soft spot for Happily Inc. books, as my introduction to Susan Mallery was this series. Happily This Christmas is a fine addition to the series, with the bonus of a Christmas setting Single mom Wynn Beauchene lives next door to Garrick McCabe, the local police chief. Both have shied away from serious relationships because of events in their pasts. Garrick’s 21 year old married, pregnant daughter is coming to visit, and while the two are estranged, Garrick desperately wants to reconnect with his daughter. He turns to Wynn for advice on decorating his house and how to warm things up with his daughter. That’s not the only relationship that warms up! Of course there are problems along the way for both Garrick and his daughter as well as Garrick and Wynn. Romance novels often have a final hurdle for the couple to overcome. Here, Garrick says the wrong thing to Wynn, but what I found unlikely is that he couldn’t figure out what he said wrong. This bone-headed statement comes from Garrick, who as police chief instantly analyzes, understands the problem, and gives sage advice to one of his deputies who brings a marital problem to Garrick. The same Garrick who takes a week to figure out what he said wrong to Wynn! One beautiful homage to service members comes when one of Garrick’s daughter Joylynn’ friends from the Marine base is marrying a fellow Marine, and the Happily Inc. community pitches in to give the couple an amazing wedding. The five co-best men are all real Marines, who shared with Ms. Mallery (and she shared with fans last year) how her books helped them thru their deployment in the Middle East. She honored these five Marines by including them in the book. Semper Fi! Despite my concern with Garrick’s lack of awareness, this is an amazing book, perfect for the holidays. Highly recommended!

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