Happily This Christmas: A Holiday Romance Novel (Happily Inc, 6)

Wynn is a single mother of 14 year old Hunter. She owns her own graphic arts business. She has many friends who care for her. She has a good life, but a lonely life.Next door to Wynn is Garrick. He is a police officer who is destined to become the chief in their small town. He has a daughter, Joylynn, who is pregnant with her first child. Her husband is a deployed Marine. Garrick and Joylynn were very close at one time, but she turned away from him when she was 15. He never found out why. Now, because of family issues, Joylynn is coming to stay with Garrick until Christmas when her husband comes home.Joylynn hates the idea and makes certain that Garrick never has a moment when he does not realize her disgust for him.This is a story about family. Family can mean many things. And the reader sees many ideas of what constitutes a family.Ms Mallery is known for creating stories filled with warm, caring and charming characters. And plots which show the human condition and all the ups and downs that entails. This story is no exception.Having children can have difficulties. No matter how much they are loved, children can be difficult. And Joylynn is a child from hell. Until she isn’t. Hunter is an angel. Until he isn’t.Wynn is a strong, successful woman. She is smart and funny and cares for others. In fact, that is what her friends admire about her. That she is willing to help others at the drop of a request. When Garrick asks her for help making his home welcoming for Joylynn, she immediately agrees. At the same time, the two of them learn about one another. And begin to admire one another. And are attracted to one another.Garrick has a dark and difficult past. He did undercover work for police as well as the DEA. He was also tortured by a Columbian cartel and those scars are physical as well as psychological. He is a good and honest man who wants the best for his daughter and works very hard to be a good father. In spite of his past difficulties, he is a good and caring man.I liked this book a lot. In fact, it kept me up late in order to finish and find out about lives of characters and stories of those same characters.

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 Beauchene is trying to move on with her life after realizing it has been fourteen years and she has to stop punishing herself. She has a great business, a wonderful son, Hunter and a great and caring group of friends she is however missing a love life. She is not sure she will find true love although she did date and have a the serious relationship now she is rethinking her life and feels a change is necessary.Garrick her next-door neighbour is excited and scared as his married daughter is coming to stay with him, since her mother, his ex has actually thrown her out. She is in her 9th month and angry at her dad for all the years they missed and the fact her husband, Chandler is not with her and won't be home from leave until Christmas.Afraid and scared as to how to deal with all of this he asks Wynn for her help. They decorate the house and enjoy each others company. When Joylyn, his daughter arrives she is unhappy and all Garrick wants to do is make her happy and let her know that "she will always be his little girl."During the process of Garrick relying on advice from Wynn, they both notice that there is an attraction brewing and wonder if and where it will go. A great easy read for the holidays.

Susan Mallory, one of my favourite authors, I have read all of her books. This is the latest of the Happily Inc Series. I enjoyed this book lots of good humour and great characters Wynn Beauchene is attracted to her next door neighbour Garrick and eventually learns that he is attracted to her as well.

While I wasn't looking for anything complicated and love the happy ever after kind of love story every once in a while, the characters in this story had (almost?) no trouble at all, nothing - which doesn't make a good story, it's basically a dream with no ups and downs, quite boring.Now, the book itself is not all bad necessarily because of that. I really liked the characters, strong Wynn who raised an honest, way to noble son Hunter, and Garrick trying to make his own (not-so-)adult daughter Joylin feel comfortable in his home while she is moody and emotional due to her pregnancy. But every possible disaster, problem or trouble - Hunter's lie on an application, why joylin thought her dad didn't love her, why Wynn doesn't allow herself to get attached (she does so very quickly anyways, despite claiming she doesn't), even an unexpected wedding to organize, and the final misunderstanding of wanting kids. - Everything is cleared up within the next millisecond, everyone is supportive, all is happy and works out right away.I've read much better books from this author, this was nothing more than 'okay'. If you like to read an everything is fine novel over Christmas, go ahead with this one, but if you want some excitement and tension in a story, this isn't for you.

I thoroughly enjoy a book which has characters from previous stories in them and Susan Mallery never disappoints. Her characters are all believable, likeable characters who could be my neighbours or people I meet in the street. I can't wait for the next book to be out.

Another great read into the lives in Happily Inc. If you are looking for a good book start with this series. You won't be disappointed

True to form Mallary does not disappoint. A warm Christmas read. Good characters we have met in the Happily Inc collection add charm to Wynn’s story.