HAPPILY THIS CHRISTMAS is the next installment in The Happily Inc series about a group of friends that support each other and are openly honest with each other. This is a spin-off series from the Fool's Gold series that is a very entertaining, fun to read series. The series began with the Mitchell brothers (Nick, Mathias and Ronan) who ended up leaving Fool's Gold and moving to Happily Inc because of family issues and secrets that will tear the family apart. Each of the brothers will meet the women that will complete them. Sculptor Nick Mitchell meets wedding venue owner Pallas Saunders and they both have parental issues. Artist Mathias Mitchell follows his brother Ronan to Happily Inc and meets gameskeeper Carol Lund.
A family secret split the family apart and Mathias is trying to re-establish a relationship with his twin Ronan. Artist Ronan Mitchell is devastated when he discovers a well-kept family secret. He moves to Happily Inc and cuts himself off from everyone, including his family. This family secret has him questioning his identity and where he belongs. There he will meet art gallery office manager Natalie Kaleta. Natalie helps him to come to terms with his feelings and his family.
Friendships and families grow and expand the series. The women form a group where they get together over drinks and food and give and receive advice and encouragement. The guys get together over drinks and sports and talk about family and get advice when they mess things up. Susan Mallery does a great job of showing how relationships and friendships grow and how to handle adversity and hardships.
This latest story is about a single mother with a teenage son and a successful business who has a crush on her next door neighbor, a local cop.
Wynn Beauchene is an independent woman who knows what she wants but has been punishing herself for decisions from her past as a young woman. Garrick McCabe is anxious about his pregnant daughter coming to stay with him for Christmas. From her birth, he and his daughter had an ideal relationship. Then during her teenage years, their relationship changed and became almost non-existent-- leaving Garrick wondering what changed. Hoping to mend their relationship Garrick asks Wynn to help make his home more welcoming for his daughter. Trying to win back his daughter's affection will be a challenge for Garrick. But with the help of Wynn, her son and their friends her heart will eventually begin to thaw.
Wynn and Garrick develop a relationship but both of them are haunted by their pasts that may be a roadblock to happiness.
Told with Susan Mallery's trademark humor and charm, Happily This Christmas is the irresistible story of two neighbors in Happily Inc who become close friends, supporting one another through the ups and downs of single parenthood at Christmas...only to realize that they could be one another's second chance at love--and family.
Single mom Wynn Beauchene has a thriving business, a reputation for strength, and a mildly embarrassing crush on the swoon-worthy cop next door. When Garrick McCabe asks her to help make his home cozy for a very special young woman, Wynns romantic hopes are dasheduntil he says his daughter is coming for Christmas.
Garrick and his little girl were tight once, but they lost that when an undercover mission took him away. Now hes hoping that a small-town Happily Inc Christmas will bring her back to him. But it will take more than a few twinkle lights to thaw his daughters frosty attitude. Wynn and her son join in the festive traditions to keep the focus on fun. Then, after the kids go to bed, Wynn and Garrick succumb to the mistletoe...and to each other.
As the season works its magic, Wynn realizes its time to stop punishing herself for a shame so secret even her closest friends dont know. But Garrick is still haunted by the ghosts of past mistakes. Although smart, sexy, beautiful Wynn is a genuine temptation, he doesnt know if he can give her the only gift she truly wants: his love.