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Merry with Me
NYT and USA Today Bestselling author Kaylee Ryan brings you a new grumpy-sunshine standalone holiday romance.
Blakely
When my boss tells me I’m taking over the planning of the annual Christmas gala, I can barely contain my excitement. Not only is it a huge opportunity, but I also love all things Christmas.
I’m on cloud nine until I realize I have to work closely with the grumpy doctor, who is my opposite in every way. He loathes the holidays. At least that’s what he says. His eyes tell me a different story.
That’s why I make it my mission to make him fall in love with Christmas. That’s our family motto after all. I’ll make him love the holidays harder than ever before. How hard can it be?
Oliver
My contract states I have to serve on a committee. When I fail to submit which committee I’d like to work on, I’m assigned the Christmas gala. Me… the guy who detests the holiday.
In years past, I let the marketing manager handle it all. I was there if she needed me. She never did. I expected more of the same this year, but it turns out, I get more than I bargained for. I didn’t anticipate her. Miss Ray of Sunshine, assistant manager.
That’s how I find myself attending holiday events and attaching myself to her any way I can. She’s trying to make me fall in love with Christmas. Instead, I'm falling in love with her.
Blakely
When my boss tells me I’m taking over the planning of the annual Christmas gala, I can barely contain my excitement. Not only is it a huge opportunity, but I also love all things Christmas.
I’m on cloud nine until I realize I have to work closely with the grumpy doctor, who is my opposite in every way. He loathes the holidays. At least that’s what he says. His eyes tell me a different story.
That’s why I make it my mission to make him fall in love with Christmas. That’s our family motto after all. I’ll make him love the holidays harder than ever before. How hard can it be?
Oliver
My contract states I have to serve on a committee. When I fail to submit which committee I’d like to work on, I’m assigned the Christmas gala. Me… the guy who detests the holiday.
In years past, I let the marketing manager handle it all. I was there if she needed me. She never did. I expected more of the same this year, but it turns out, I get more than I bargained for. I didn’t anticipate her. Miss Ray of Sunshine, assistant manager.
That’s how I find myself attending holiday events and attaching myself to her any way I can. She’s trying to make me fall in love with Christmas. Instead, I'm falling in love with her.
213 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 26, 2024
477 people are currently reading
453 people want to read
About the author
Kaylee Ryan
102 books6,388 followersNew York Times and USA Today bestselling author Kaylee Ryan has earned the affectionate title of “Queen of Swoon” from her devoted readers. With over sixty romance novels to her name, Kaylee has built a beloved catalog of heartfelt stories that celebrate love in all its tender, emotional, and undeniably swoony forms. Her signature blend of charm, chemistry, and genuine happily-ever-afters has captivated readers around the world.
When she’s not crafting new love stories or dreaming up her next unforgettable couple, Kaylee can usually be found with a book in hand, fueling her creativity as a lifelong reader. She cherishes the time spent with her family and friends, embracing the moments that inspire the heart of her stories.
When she’s not crafting new love stories or dreaming up her next unforgettable couple, Kaylee can usually be found with a book in hand, fueling her creativity as a lifelong reader. She cherishes the time spent with her family and friends, embracing the moments that inspire the heart of her stories.
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November 28, 2024Well...😐
I had high hopes for Blakely because she's an adorable kid in the "Kincaid Brothers" series. I wanted her to experience a love that she sees every single day, the kind her dad and uncles have, who adore and cherish their wives beyond measure. I wanted her to find that man who understands from the start that she deserves everything and nothing less. But then she ends up with Oliver. 🤷♀️
It wasn't all bad, because he wasn't completely insufferable; he's just a grump, but still somewhat decent. But he is ten years older than her, carrying an enormous chip on his shoulder and completely driven by his past. Someone who has completely lost faith in love after being betrayed by his ex-girlfriend and ex-best friend. I guess I have to at least appreciate that he was upfront with Blakely about only being able to offer a casual arrangement that wouldn't go anywhere. But honestly, that's not much to be proud of. That was incredibly selfish of him to pursue her knowing she's the type of girl looking for a serious relationship, especially when he could only give her a "for now". 😐
I can't believe I have to say this, but I can't put all the blame on Oliver since Blakely actually went along with his offer. It wasn't implied, but I can't shake the feeling that she's attempting to "fix" him, all while trying to convince him to love Christmas again. It really frustrated me when the people around her kept saying she shouldn't give up on Ollie, insisting that he needed a lot of patience and someone to help him open up. I just don’t get why it often seems like women are the ones who have to fight for a relationship to make it work. 🤦♀️
They did all the adorable, romantic things, and Oliver even got to meet her family. He mentioned that he doesn't want to keep their relationship a secret, but I just don't understand why they feel the need to bring their families into it when it's just a temporary thing (based on him). Up until the 87% mark, Ollie was hellbent that what they had wouldn’t turn into anything more than casual. It's incredibly frustrating that it took his ex-girlfriend to finally make him see that he loves Blakely and wants her in his future. And this realization happened to him before that last chapter. 🤦♀️
Another thing that ruined my mood is that this features an innocent FMC. I steer clear of books with those kinds of leads unless it's dual V. This fact was only revealed in the last chapter. If I had any idea, I definitely wouldn't have bothered with this one. 😒
Besides the sexual imbalance. He really loved his ex and was ready to propose to her, but then he caught her and his ex-best friend doing the nasty. Ruining his plans and the next four years of his life. Even though he mentioned that what he has with Blakely is nothing compared to his past relationship, it still bugs me that he has all this experience while Blakely doesn’t.
I really shouldn't dive into this too deeply, but it frustrated me for numerous reasons, and most of them were just my own preferences.
Anyway, the story was okay, but it just didn't really click with me for personal reasons. But I'm pretty sure this will resonate with some readers.
Book info:
- Novella-ish length
- Grumpy x Sunshine
- Age gap (10)
- Workplace romance
- Insta-something
- Christmas-themed
- No cheating, OM/OW, or separation.
- V fmc 🙄, Celibate mmc (4 yrs)
- HEA (1 yr later: engaged; 3 yrs later: married with newborn daughter)
I had high hopes for Blakely because she's an adorable kid in the "Kincaid Brothers" series. I wanted her to experience a love that she sees every single day, the kind her dad and uncles have, who adore and cherish their wives beyond measure. I wanted her to find that man who understands from the start that she deserves everything and nothing less. But then she ends up with Oliver. 🤷♀️
It wasn't all bad, because he wasn't completely insufferable; he's just a grump, but still somewhat decent. But he is ten years older than her, carrying an enormous chip on his shoulder and completely driven by his past. Someone who has completely lost faith in love after being betrayed by his ex-girlfriend and ex-best friend. I guess I have to at least appreciate that he was upfront with Blakely about only being able to offer a casual arrangement that wouldn't go anywhere. But honestly, that's not much to be proud of. That was incredibly selfish of him to pursue her knowing she's the type of girl looking for a serious relationship, especially when he could only give her a "for now". 😐
I can't believe I have to say this, but I can't put all the blame on Oliver since Blakely actually went along with his offer. It wasn't implied, but I can't shake the feeling that she's attempting to "fix" him, all while trying to convince him to love Christmas again. It really frustrated me when the people around her kept saying she shouldn't give up on Ollie, insisting that he needed a lot of patience and someone to help him open up. I just don’t get why it often seems like women are the ones who have to fight for a relationship to make it work. 🤦♀️
They did all the adorable, romantic things, and Oliver even got to meet her family. He mentioned that he doesn't want to keep their relationship a secret, but I just don't understand why they feel the need to bring their families into it when it's just a temporary thing (based on him). Up until the 87% mark, Ollie was hellbent that what they had wouldn’t turn into anything more than casual. It's incredibly frustrating that it took his ex-girlfriend to finally make him see that he loves Blakely and wants her in his future. And this realization happened to him before that last chapter. 🤦♀️
Another thing that ruined my mood is that this features an innocent FMC. I steer clear of books with those kinds of leads unless it's dual V. This fact was only revealed in the last chapter. If I had any idea, I definitely wouldn't have bothered with this one. 😒
Besides the sexual imbalance. He really loved his ex and was ready to propose to her, but then he caught her and his ex-best friend doing the nasty. Ruining his plans and the next four years of his life. Even though he mentioned that what he has with Blakely is nothing compared to his past relationship, it still bugs me that he has all this experience while Blakely doesn’t.
I really shouldn't dive into this too deeply, but it frustrated me for numerous reasons, and most of them were just my own preferences.
Anyway, the story was okay, but it just didn't really click with me for personal reasons. But I'm pretty sure this will resonate with some readers.
Book info:
- Novella-ish length
- Grumpy x Sunshine
- Age gap (10)
- Workplace romance
- Insta-something
- Christmas-themed
- No cheating, OM/OW, or separation.
- V fmc 🙄, Celibate mmc (4 yrs)
- HEA (1 yr later: engaged; 3 yrs later: married with newborn daughter)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 1, 2024
Merry With Me (ARC review)
Thank you to Grey's promo for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review
Oh my what a beautiful holiday romance! Blakely and Oliver were perfect! I loved the Grumpy x Sunshine trope so much. Seeing Blakely all grown up with a wonderful career and life made me so proud of her. I loved how close she still was with her family and how she loved them all fiercely. She brought so much joy to the book and I truly adored her a lot. Oliver was a true grump and I was there for it. Seeing him battle his feelings for Blakely and slowly letting her in made everything so special. I adored that man and his soft yet shielded heart. Watching Blakely break down his walls and showing him what true love is made everything magical. Seeing Oliver fall in love not only with Josie but also with Christmas was magnificent. These two shared so many beautiful and special moments together and they truly were meant for each other! The epilogues were truly what these two deserved!
Book by: Kaylee Ryan
Tropes:
• Holiday romance
• Small town romance
• Age gap
• Workplace romance
• Grumpy x Sunshine
My rating: 5/5 ⭐️
Spice level: 2/5 🔥
Thank you to Grey's promo for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review
Oh my what a beautiful holiday romance! Blakely and Oliver were perfect! I loved the Grumpy x Sunshine trope so much. Seeing Blakely all grown up with a wonderful career and life made me so proud of her. I loved how close she still was with her family and how she loved them all fiercely. She brought so much joy to the book and I truly adored her a lot. Oliver was a true grump and I was there for it. Seeing him battle his feelings for Blakely and slowly letting her in made everything so special. I adored that man and his soft yet shielded heart. Watching Blakely break down his walls and showing him what true love is made everything magical. Seeing Oliver fall in love not only with Josie but also with Christmas was magnificent. These two shared so many beautiful and special moments together and they truly were meant for each other! The epilogues were truly what these two deserved!
Book by: Kaylee Ryan
Tropes:
• Holiday romance
• Small town romance
• Age gap
• Workplace romance
• Grumpy x Sunshine
My rating: 5/5 ⭐️
Spice level: 2/5 🔥
November 24, 2024
What do you get when you pair up a Grinch with a Christmas lover? You get one hot and sizzling read that ends up in HEA.
Of course its not that simple and our MCs are far from easy as they're both kinda holding back at the beginning, but Blakely is determined to make him leave his past behind, if they want to make their relationship work.
Oliver is not giving up easily and is fighting it but when he imagines his life without his sunshine, being without her is not an option.
This was one of my favorites in the series and that's saying a lot considering how big this family is.
***Review copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads Blog***
Of course its not that simple and our MCs are far from easy as they're both kinda holding back at the beginning, but Blakely is determined to make him leave his past behind, if they want to make their relationship work.
Oliver is not giving up easily and is fighting it but when he imagines his life without his sunshine, being without her is not an option.
This was one of my favorites in the series and that's saying a lot considering how big this family is.
***Review copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads Blog***
November 11, 2024
5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Tropes:
❤️grumpy x sunshine
🎄holiday
❤️age gap
🎄he has emotional baggage
❤️large family dynamic
🎄workplace romance
❤️dual pov
I swear every Kaylee man gets better and better. I absolutely loved this book. Merry with Me from Kaylee is a cute sweet holiday romance that gives us the story of Blakely Kincaid and Oliver Thompson. Although this is a complete standalone it would make a better reading experience for minor side characters to read the Kincaid brothers series.
Our FMC, Blakely Kincaid, is the oldest grandchild from the Kincaid series. She works in the hospital in the marketing department. Her boss Hilary, is close to retirement and assigns her to the gala fundraiser and her partner in planning… none other than the grumpy Dr Oliver Thompson, an orthopedic surgeon at the hospital.
Dr Oliver Thompson, is a bit of a grump. He doesn’t like Christmas, for reasons later revealed, and just wants to sign off on letting Blakely plan the gala. Oliver has been on this committee for years, as his contract has that requirement, but has always taken a back seat and let the marketing department handle it and would just be there to assist if he was needed. But this year Blakely is in charge and she is insisting he help. Her Sunshine demeanor is starting to chip away at his armor. She quickly becomes everything he didn’t know he wanted and needed.
Merry with me is a standalone set in the Kincaid Brothers world. This is a standalone second generation book. I was happy to see little Blakely all grown up and her story will hit you in your feels and get you ready for the holiday season.
Tropes:
❤️grumpy x sunshine
🎄holiday
❤️age gap
🎄he has emotional baggage
❤️large family dynamic
🎄workplace romance
❤️dual pov
I swear every Kaylee man gets better and better. I absolutely loved this book. Merry with Me from Kaylee is a cute sweet holiday romance that gives us the story of Blakely Kincaid and Oliver Thompson. Although this is a complete standalone it would make a better reading experience for minor side characters to read the Kincaid brothers series.
Our FMC, Blakely Kincaid, is the oldest grandchild from the Kincaid series. She works in the hospital in the marketing department. Her boss Hilary, is close to retirement and assigns her to the gala fundraiser and her partner in planning… none other than the grumpy Dr Oliver Thompson, an orthopedic surgeon at the hospital.
Dr Oliver Thompson, is a bit of a grump. He doesn’t like Christmas, for reasons later revealed, and just wants to sign off on letting Blakely plan the gala. Oliver has been on this committee for years, as his contract has that requirement, but has always taken a back seat and let the marketing department handle it and would just be there to assist if he was needed. But this year Blakely is in charge and she is insisting he help. Her Sunshine demeanor is starting to chip away at his armor. She quickly becomes everything he didn’t know he wanted and needed.
Merry with me is a standalone set in the Kincaid Brothers world. This is a standalone second generation book. I was happy to see little Blakely all grown up and her story will hit you in your feels and get you ready for the holiday season.
November 25, 2024
Blakely is tasked to organise the hospital’s Christmas gala song with Dr Oliver Thompson. As she works with him, she picks up on his kind heart beneath his grumpy demeanour. Hence, she sets up to help him fall in love with the Christmas season.
Along the way, Oliver can’t help but succumb to her charms but his past is holding him back. Can he overcome it to give him and Blakely a chance?
I love those moments where Oliver calls her “baby” without realising it! 😍 And those protective and jealous moments were blazing hot. Those simple moments where he ensured her car was warm before she drove just proves how caring and loving he was to her. It’s not the grand gestures but the small little things that I love!
Though the book is not very long, it was more than enough time for me as a reader to fall in love with the couple. The ending was just so perfect and I loved how it wraps up nicely during Blakely’s favourite season.
Along the way, Oliver can’t help but succumb to her charms but his past is holding him back. Can he overcome it to give him and Blakely a chance?
I love those moments where Oliver calls her “baby” without realising it! 😍 And those protective and jealous moments were blazing hot. Those simple moments where he ensured her car was warm before she drove just proves how caring and loving he was to her. It’s not the grand gestures but the small little things that I love!
Though the book is not very long, it was more than enough time for me as a reader to fall in love with the couple. The ending was just so perfect and I loved how it wraps up nicely during Blakely’s favourite season.
November 14, 2024
From wiener pants to arm porn, our little girl Blakely is all grown up and ready to take on the world! You're going to love the grown up version of her! 5 stars for this!
Blakely is all grown up and out in the real world, and her first big job is handling the Christmas gala, her favorite time of year! But when she finds out she has to work along side the doctor who despises all things Christmas, she swears she will have him loving the holiday by the time she's done.
Oliver hates the holidays, and with good reason, but when he's assigned helping with the Christmas gala, he would rather do anything but that. But then he meets his co-planner Blakely, and she stirs something in him he hasn't felt in a long time, and he needs to keep his walls up for this one!
Follow along and enjoy their story as it unfolds! You will fall in love with these two, and my goodness, Kaylee did an amazing job with grown up Blakely! You don't want to miss out on this one! Grab it asap!
Blakely is all grown up and out in the real world, and her first big job is handling the Christmas gala, her favorite time of year! But when she finds out she has to work along side the doctor who despises all things Christmas, she swears she will have him loving the holiday by the time she's done.
Oliver hates the holidays, and with good reason, but when he's assigned helping with the Christmas gala, he would rather do anything but that. But then he meets his co-planner Blakely, and she stirs something in him he hasn't felt in a long time, and he needs to keep his walls up for this one!
Follow along and enjoy their story as it unfolds! You will fall in love with these two, and my goodness, Kaylee did an amazing job with grown up Blakely! You don't want to miss out on this one! Grab it asap!
November 26, 2024
4.5/5 ⭐️ | Dual POV: Blakely & Oliver
Merry with Me is a delightful and swoony Christmas romance! Having read and loved the Kincaid Brothers Series I was so excited for Blakely’s story! It was everything I wanted and more! Blakely and Oliver were so perfect together, and I just loved their banter!
Blakley loves Christmas! She works in the marking department at the local hospital and is put in charge of organizing the Christmas Gala. To help plan the event Blakley is paired up with Dr. Oliver Thompson who hates Christmas. Blakley is determined to show Oliver the joy of Christmas. However, instead of falling in love with Christmas, Oliver falls head over heels in love with her.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭:
🎄 Age Gap
🎄 Grumpy/Sunshine
🎄 Workplace Romance
🎄 Slow Burn
🎄 Swoony Hero
🎄 Christmas Romance
Merry with Me is a delightful and swoony Christmas romance! Having read and loved the Kincaid Brothers Series I was so excited for Blakely’s story! It was everything I wanted and more! Blakely and Oliver were so perfect together, and I just loved their banter!
Blakley loves Christmas! She works in the marking department at the local hospital and is put in charge of organizing the Christmas Gala. To help plan the event Blakley is paired up with Dr. Oliver Thompson who hates Christmas. Blakley is determined to show Oliver the joy of Christmas. However, instead of falling in love with Christmas, Oliver falls head over heels in love with her.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭:
🎄 Age Gap
🎄 Grumpy/Sunshine
🎄 Workplace Romance
🎄 Slow Burn
🎄 Swoony Hero
🎄 Christmas Romance
November 26, 2024
Having watched Blakely Kincaid grow up in the Kincaid Bros. series, I was so excited to see her as a young woman who finds her own person in Merry With Me!
Oliver is a fantastic grumpy hero. He was badly burned by a past relationship and has hated Christmas for the past four years as a result. When they are paired together to work on a fundraiser for the hospital where they both work (along with Uncle Brooks!), Blake makes it her mission to restore Oliver's faith in the season and the magic of Christmastime. Oliver resists, of course, which just makes it all the more enjoyable to see him soften as Blakeley breaks down his walls.
There are some great winks to the OG Kincaid series in here, like Blake's references to her childhood "weiner pants" and Oliver's arm p@rn. There are also some great cameos from all of Blakeley's aunts and uncles, who naturally give Oliver a hard time.
This book gave me hope that the next generation, Blakeley's cousins and siblings, will get a spinoff series of their own! I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.
Oliver is a fantastic grumpy hero. He was badly burned by a past relationship and has hated Christmas for the past four years as a result. When they are paired together to work on a fundraiser for the hospital where they both work (along with Uncle Brooks!), Blake makes it her mission to restore Oliver's faith in the season and the magic of Christmastime. Oliver resists, of course, which just makes it all the more enjoyable to see him soften as Blakeley breaks down his walls.
There are some great winks to the OG Kincaid series in here, like Blake's references to her childhood "weiner pants" and Oliver's arm p@rn. There are also some great cameos from all of Blakeley's aunts and uncles, who naturally give Oliver a hard time.
This book gave me hope that the next generation, Blakeley's cousins and siblings, will get a spinoff series of their own! I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.
November 26, 2024
ꍏꋪꏳ ꋪꏂ꒦ꀤꏂꅐ
𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐨 - 𝖮𝗅𝗂𝗏𝖾𝗋
𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐞 - 𝖡𝗅𝖺𝗄𝖾𝗅𝗒
4 𝘔𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬
𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐎𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐧
𝘔𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘔𝘦 𝘉𝘺 𝘒𝘢𝘺𝘭𝘦𝘦 𝘙𝘺𝘢𝘯
Loved heading back into the Kincaid family's world.
This is a short, sweet novella, it's all about christmas and the joy that surrounds it.
Blakely, growing up she watched her dad and all of her uncles fall in love and that has set a level of expectations for her. She knows what she wants and she won't go for anything less.
Oliver, he has worked hard for his success but he also had his heart broken, and due to it happening during Christmas, he has started disliking that time of year.
Blakely and Oliver, honestly I didn't want this book to end. And I just wanted more of the Kincaid's!!!
Oliver might hate the festive period but he didn't count on Blakely Kincaid bringing all the happiness back into his life. Absolutely enjoyed this slow burning novella!
𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬
The Kincaid Family 🩷
𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬
𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐨 🏥🩺🏥🩺🏥
𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐞 🏥🏥🏥🏥🏥
𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 🔥🔥🔥🔥
𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥 🌶️
𝐏𝐥𝐨𝐭 📚📚📚📚
𝐄𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥
𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐨 - 𝖮𝗅𝗂𝗏𝖾𝗋
𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐞 - 𝖡𝗅𝖺𝗄𝖾𝗅𝗒
4 𝘔𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬
𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐎𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐧
𝘔𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘔𝘦 𝘉𝘺 𝘒𝘢𝘺𝘭𝘦𝘦 𝘙𝘺𝘢𝘯
Loved heading back into the Kincaid family's world.
This is a short, sweet novella, it's all about christmas and the joy that surrounds it.
Blakely, growing up she watched her dad and all of her uncles fall in love and that has set a level of expectations for her. She knows what she wants and she won't go for anything less.
Oliver, he has worked hard for his success but he also had his heart broken, and due to it happening during Christmas, he has started disliking that time of year.
Blakely and Oliver, honestly I didn't want this book to end. And I just wanted more of the Kincaid's!!!
Oliver might hate the festive period but he didn't count on Blakely Kincaid bringing all the happiness back into his life. Absolutely enjoyed this slow burning novella!
𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬
The Kincaid Family 🩷
𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬
𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐨 🏥🩺🏥🩺🏥
𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐞 🏥🏥🏥🏥🏥
𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 🔥🔥🔥🔥
𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥 🌶️
𝐏𝐥𝐨𝐭 📚📚📚📚
𝐄𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥
January 19, 2026
Blakely is all grown up, graduated from college, and working in Marketing at the Willow Springs Hospital. Never mind that I was trying to figure out what a hospital needs with a marketing department, especially in a small town.
Oliver is an orthopedic doctor, and he hates Christmas, since he caught his ex cheating on him 4 years ago at Christmas. He's been a grump ever since. Until Blakely took over planning the Christmas Gala (which is also a fundraiser for the hospital) and he's on the committee with her.
It is fun to see Blakely all grown up, and watching her win over this grinchiest of grumps is adorable.
Sweet Scale: 5/5
Spicy Scale: 2.5/5
Oliver is an orthopedic doctor, and he hates Christmas, since he caught his ex cheating on him 4 years ago at Christmas. He's been a grump ever since. Until Blakely took over planning the Christmas Gala (which is also a fundraiser for the hospital) and he's on the committee with her.
It is fun to see Blakely all grown up, and watching her win over this grinchiest of grumps is adorable.
Sweet Scale: 5/5
Spicy Scale: 2.5/5
November 26, 2024
4,5
Give me a grumpy man, a Christmas story, and I'm in love. Coming back to Willow River was so good and I was so happy to finally read Blakely's story. It was sweet and swoony. I loved how grumpy Oliver was. It was a really good Christmas story.
I would recommend this book, sit on your sofa, have a hot chocolate and read this book, you won't be disappointed.
Give me a grumpy man, a Christmas story, and I'm in love. Coming back to Willow River was so good and I was so happy to finally read Blakely's story. It was sweet and swoony. I loved how grumpy Oliver was. It was a really good Christmas story.
I would recommend this book, sit on your sofa, have a hot chocolate and read this book, you won't be disappointed.
December 10, 2025
Oh my goodness! I couldn’t get enough of Blakey and Oliver! I loved how she made it her mission to have Ollie fall in love with Christmas! It was so much fun seeing all the holiday magic! I loved how he finally gave in and never said no to Blake! They had this special connection you knew it was going to be magical! They were definitely meant to be! So happy they had each other! 🥰🎄❤️
November 26, 2024
Loved it!!
December 21, 2024
sweet story
I’m not a fan of second generation stories, but Blakely always seemed mature as a child, so reading her story made me happy.
I’m not a fan of second generation stories, but Blakely always seemed mature as a child, so reading her story made me happy.
December 2, 2024
The story we’ve all been waiting for and Kaylee delivered! Total swoon worthy and not going to lie, kinda a tear jerker watching Blakely find her happily ever after, after watching her grow through the series.
November 26, 2024
Ahh blakley and Oliver gave me all the feels in this Christmas story. Highly recommended read
November 26, 2024
Amazon
Blakely is so excited when her boss tasks her with organizing the hospital's annual holiday gala, but less so when she finds out which doctor she's been paired with. Oliver gives off major bah humbug vibes and Blakely's not thrilled to be working with him during her favorite time of the year. But perhaps her Christmas cheer will rub off on Mr. Grinch himself this year, and she can make him fall in love with the season?
Oliver has very good reason to dislike the holidays, and he has no plans on changing his opinion. Then he's paired with a sunshiney beauty who's making him rethink his grinchey ways a little. But, his heart is still bruised, and he doesn't think even Blakely's warmth can thaw him out. The spirit of the season, and the sparkle in Blakely's eyes will have to work overtime to makeover this grouch.
I love it when a sunshiney heroine takes a grinch to his knees and he doesn't know what hit him. Oliver was a hard sell but he really didn't stand a chance in the face of Blakely's determined cheer. She's such a sweetheart and her gentle but persistent kindness really got under Oliver's skin and made their way into his bruised heart. This is a heartfelt and sweet holiday romance, with spicy chemistry and an adorable grumpy/sunshine couple.
ARC provided by Grey's Promotions for an honest review.
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November 18, 2024
I absolutely loved Merry With Me by Kaylee Ryan; it is an incredible opposites attract age gap love story. I loved catching up with all the characters in her Kincaid Brothers series. Kaylee Ryan continues to prove that she is an amazing storyteller and is a must-read author for me. It was impossible to put Merry With Me down and I loved every moment on every page. It is one of the most enjoyable books that I have read recently. It filled me with a rollercoaster of emotions. Who does not love hot sexy men, strong females, loving families, and friends, who always support one another? I really enjoy how the book is told in the first person from the perspective of the main characters. I love getting the insight and feelings from the different characters. Merry With Me is the story of Dr. Oliver Thompson, an orthopedic physician at Willow River Orthopedics and Blakley “Blake” Kincaid, assistant director of marketing at Willow River General. I love the chemistry between Blake and Oliver and the conversation flows so easily, with innuendos and playful banter. Blake loves all things Christmas and Oliver lets an incident from his past affect how he feels about Christmas. Blake has taken over the responsibility of planning the hospital’s Christmas gala, and Oliver is the co-chair. In the past, her boss, Hilary, has been responsible for the gala and Oliver had very little input and he was fine with that. As Blake and Oliver spend time together planning the gala things change between them, not admitting their true feelings for one another, since Oliver is concerned with their age gap. I love all the little things that they do for one another. I love how Blake calls him “Ollie.” I love the heart-to-heart conversation between Blake and Oliver especially when he tells her what happened to change his feelings about Christmas and her attending his parents’ Christmas party. I love the texts between Blake and Oliver. My favorite part of Merry With Me is the ending of their love story. Another favorite part is the two epilogues, one is told from Blake’s perspective, that takes place one year later and includes Oliver’s proposal and the second epilogue told from Oliver’s perspective that takes place three years later and the surprises revealed. My favorite part of the book is how Kaylee Ryan incorporates the title of the book, with a simple statement from Blakley, and the picture on the cover into the love story. Merry With Me is filled with heartbreaking and heartwarming moments, and with so much emotion. It is filled with all those things that we have come to love and expect in a Kaylee Ryan love story, and she did not disappoint, especially with the poignant and bittersweet moments and plot twists that filled this page turner. I love how Kaylee Ryan always manages to create the "perfect" heroine, who is a strong, sassy woman on her own, to balance out the sexy, swoon worthy man. I love that Blakley explains her “Blakley-isms” to Oliver. I especially love the family motto of “Work hard and love harder” and how Oliver incorporated it into his proposal. I love the characters and the family dynamic in Merry With Me, the characters feel like family and friends. I enjoyed all the interactions between the Kincaid siblings, it feels like real family love and makes me laugh at their teasing. I love the descriptions of the Willow River location. I loved all the characters in Merry With Me. Merry With Me I loved getting another chance to catch up with the Kincaids for one final farewell. It was a bittersweet story saying goodbye to the Kincaids. Who does not love family and friends that always have each other’s backs? I love the storyline, I love the romance, and thoroughly enjoyed Merry With Me, who does not love an opposites attract/age gap love story. I loved catching up with all the Kincaids, and all their children, one final time. Highly recommend this incredible love story. Received an advanced copy from the author.
December 29, 2024
My reviews always contain spoilers, I write them so I can remember the story.
This is Blakely’s story. I enjoyed it but I really wished Blakely had gotten a less damaged hero. (That’s a personal preference, nothing negative towards the author or her story) He’s supposed to be grumpy but I felt he was damaged and he was holding on to his trauma/betrayal. That made it seem like he still had feelings for the ex girlfriend. I felt Blakely deserved a grand love that she didn’t have to coax into loving her or enjoying what she loved.
Oliver is an orthopedic doctor at Willow River General Hospital and Blakely is the new assistant director of marketing. Part of her job is to coordinate and run point for the Christmas Gala. Every doctor at the hospital has to work with a committee, unfortunately Oliver never signed up for a committee so he was assigned the Christmas Gala. He is not happy about it. In the past the director took care of everything and he just agreed with what ever was decided. But Blakely is very excited for this opportunity and takes it upon herself to involve Oliver at every level. She pretty much drags him kicking and screaming into the spirit of Christmas. It got a little annoying how much she pushed good cheer and Christmas spirit on him.
He did start to thaw and a friendship developed along with an attraction. He is upfront with Blakely about not wanting to commit to a relationship and she agrees to still date him. I think she was sure that she was going to change his mind. She pretty much succeeds, they spend a lot of time together and plenty of sexy times, although no sex yet. He does meet her whole family and it goes well.
Oliver’s trauma comes from his ex girlfriend and ex best friend, while he was busy with his residence his girl and is best friend were busy with each other. On the day Oliver was going to propose at his families holiday party he finds the two of them having sex. He is devastated and has carried that hurt, anger, and betrayal with him for four years. He doesn’t attend his families annual holiday party because he knows the two ex’s will be there since the families are close.
When Blakely meets his parents and they invite her to the holiday party she attends even though Oliver asks her not to go. So he goes to bring her home, but instead Blakely asks him to put the past behind them and look to the future with her. She asks him to be merry with her. She tells him she’s in love with him. He does get a bit of closure when his ex girlfriend who is now married to his ex best friend tells him they would have never have worked because he never looked at her like he looks at Blakely. He sees it now, he sees the two ex’s together and sees that he never had that with his ex. He never felt for her what he feels for Blakely. He finds her with his parents and tells her he loves her too, he’s ready to be merry with her. More I loves yous at his place and they finally have their first time together, she’s a virgin he’s been celibate for over four years. He gets the Kincaid stamp of approval and promises to be merry with her always.
Epilogues one year later with a sweet proposal at the Kincaid family Thanksgiving dinner, which included his parents too. Three years later with a baby boy born on Christmas Day.
Oliver definitely grew on me by the end of the book, he was good to Blakely and I felt he really did love her. It was great seeing all the Kincaids again.
This is Blakely’s story. I enjoyed it but I really wished Blakely had gotten a less damaged hero. (That’s a personal preference, nothing negative towards the author or her story) He’s supposed to be grumpy but I felt he was damaged and he was holding on to his trauma/betrayal. That made it seem like he still had feelings for the ex girlfriend. I felt Blakely deserved a grand love that she didn’t have to coax into loving her or enjoying what she loved.
Oliver is an orthopedic doctor at Willow River General Hospital and Blakely is the new assistant director of marketing. Part of her job is to coordinate and run point for the Christmas Gala. Every doctor at the hospital has to work with a committee, unfortunately Oliver never signed up for a committee so he was assigned the Christmas Gala. He is not happy about it. In the past the director took care of everything and he just agreed with what ever was decided. But Blakely is very excited for this opportunity and takes it upon herself to involve Oliver at every level. She pretty much drags him kicking and screaming into the spirit of Christmas. It got a little annoying how much she pushed good cheer and Christmas spirit on him.
He did start to thaw and a friendship developed along with an attraction. He is upfront with Blakely about not wanting to commit to a relationship and she agrees to still date him. I think she was sure that she was going to change his mind. She pretty much succeeds, they spend a lot of time together and plenty of sexy times, although no sex yet. He does meet her whole family and it goes well.
Oliver’s trauma comes from his ex girlfriend and ex best friend, while he was busy with his residence his girl and is best friend were busy with each other. On the day Oliver was going to propose at his families holiday party he finds the two of them having sex. He is devastated and has carried that hurt, anger, and betrayal with him for four years. He doesn’t attend his families annual holiday party because he knows the two ex’s will be there since the families are close.
When Blakely meets his parents and they invite her to the holiday party she attends even though Oliver asks her not to go. So he goes to bring her home, but instead Blakely asks him to put the past behind them and look to the future with her. She asks him to be merry with her. She tells him she’s in love with him. He does get a bit of closure when his ex girlfriend who is now married to his ex best friend tells him they would have never have worked because he never looked at her like he looks at Blakely. He sees it now, he sees the two ex’s together and sees that he never had that with his ex. He never felt for her what he feels for Blakely. He finds her with his parents and tells her he loves her too, he’s ready to be merry with her. More I loves yous at his place and they finally have their first time together, she’s a virgin he’s been celibate for over four years. He gets the Kincaid stamp of approval and promises to be merry with her always.
Epilogues one year later with a sweet proposal at the Kincaid family Thanksgiving dinner, which included his parents too. Three years later with a baby boy born on Christmas Day.
Oliver definitely grew on me by the end of the book, he was good to Blakely and I felt he really did love her. It was great seeing all the Kincaids again.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 24, 2024
Merry With Me by Kaylee Ryan is a seasonal romance. Blakely and Oliver’s romance is technically a spin-off from Kaylee Ryan’s Kincaid Brothers Series. If you’ve read that series, you will definitely understand my excitement when it comes to this novel!
Blakely Kincaid loves all things Christmas. Everything from the tree, decorations, and picking out the perfect presents is just the icing on a very merry cake. What could be better. When Blakely get’s her dream promotion of her marketing career by being in charge of the holiday gala, she couldn’t be any more excited. But that excitement is short-lived when she finds out the man who is the co-organizer happens to despise all things holiday and celebration. But our Blakely isn’t one to give up. She’s bound and determined to make Mr. Grump finds the true meaning of the holiday spirit, even if it means losing a bit of her own.
My Thoughts:
If you are looking for a seasonal/holiday/Christmas themed romance with all the feels, do not hesitate on Merry With Me by Kaylee Ryan!!!! Blakely Kincaid and Oliver Thompson’s story is definitely one I will not forget anytime soon. My heart feels extremely full of holiday cheer. Thank you, Kaylee Ryan, for FINALLY writing Blakely’s story! I have been waiting for what feels like an eternity!
You may recognize the name Blakely from Kaylee Ryan’s Kincaid Brother’s series. She’s the adorable first-born niece that always had a way of making an impression. I can’t even begin to describe how excited I became when I first found out this character was going to get her own story and, most importantly, her own shot at love. It was pretty interesting to see her as an adult. I loved her extreme love for all things Christmas! Of course, she had to be matched up with a man who, unlike her, despised everything to do with the holiday season! This made for some pretty hysterical moments!
But most importantly, I loved diving back into the Kincaid family and witnessing their strong family bond. My heart felt so warm the whole time I was reading this novel. A sense of nostalgia overwhelmed me a bit. Oh my heart!!
I gave Merry With Me a 5 star rating simply for the fact that I couldn’t stop smiling from the beginning to the very end of this novel. My heart felt light and warm. Even through those moments of despair, I never once doubted that Blakely and Oliver would rise above it all. These two are couple goals, and even more so, these two are my new favorites in a long line of Kincaid Family Stories! I’ve never been a ‘seasonal reads’ type of reader. However, after finishing this novel, I have a sudden urge to hit up amazon and search for more holiday reads! So if you want to feel all the love that comes along with holiday themed romance novels, you should 100% pick up Merry With Me by Kaylee Ryan!!
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December 1, 2024
A Kincaid romance and Christmas for the win. Merry With Me was everything I wanted it to be.
Blakey Kincaid is all grown up but there are still plenty of traces of the sweet character that we loved in the Kincaid Brothers series and now she finally understands arm porn :P
Blakey has grown up with a family full of love and as each of her uncles (and stand-in aunt) fell she watched them live by the family motto "work hard, love harder". While she was too young to understand at first she learned exactly what she was looking for when it came to love.
Oliver is Blakey's opposite in her outlook on life. He's not looking for love, he's not even looking for someone to hook up with. He's sworn off love and the whole holiday season. He wasn't always like this though, his holiday spirit and trust in others was crushed and he's never really moved forward.
When Blakey's role as marketing for the hospital pairs her up with Oliver as the representative doctor on staff to plan the holiday gala it's not a match made in heaven. Oliver wants nothing to do with the plans and Blakey is determined to get him involved.
This leads to lots of moments that push Oliver out of his comfort zone and it also has Blakey feeling things for a man she hasn't before.
I am so glad that Kaylee wrote more of the Kincaid family and I'm still kind of hoping there will be more from this second generation.
.
.
.
Blakey loves her job in marketing for the hospital and when her boss approaches her about taking on the big charity Christmas Gala she's excited for the opportunity. She has to work with a doctor on staff and the doctor assigned to the gala is Oliver Thompson.
Oliver hates the holidays but is willing to be the doctor advisor for the gala because he never has to participate in any of the actual organizing. This year though with a new staff member taking it on she's determined to make him participate and he's not happy about it.
Blakey Kincaid is not just a ray of sunshine, but she is incredibly gorgeous and she's making Oliver feel things he hasn't wanted to feel for a long time. Not only that, but she keeps forcing him to participate and bringing Christmas back into his life when he vowed he was done with holidays altogether.
'I want him to feel the joy. I want him to experience the love. I want him to celebrate the season. Trust me, I'm fully aware that I have my work cut out for me, but I'm up for the challenge.'
Despite his grumpy demeanor, Oliver Thompson has a sweet side and no matter how much he tries to avoid the holiday Blakey is determined to bring the joy of the holiday back into his life. Resisting the pull towards him is a problem though, because grumpy Oliver is a little bit irresistible.
'I have a goal - make Dr. Grumpy fall in love with the holidays. I'm not trying to make him fall in love with me.'
The more he's with Blakey the more he wants her. He won't go into another relationship though because he knows how badly they end. Trusting someone again is not something he's prepared to do, but maybe he can have something with her for a while.
'As of right now, in my mind, it's The Blakey Show, and I'm riveted to every scene.'
It's not like Blakey to spend her time with someone who isn't worth it, and despite that Oliver doesn't want a commitment she wants him like he wants her. If he breaks her heart she only has herself to blame, but for now, they could have something amazing for the holidays.
"I know you don't want more. You don't want permanent, but I think you're worth my time, Oliver Thompson."
Happy Reading.
Blakey Kincaid is all grown up but there are still plenty of traces of the sweet character that we loved in the Kincaid Brothers series and now she finally understands arm porn :P
Blakey has grown up with a family full of love and as each of her uncles (and stand-in aunt) fell she watched them live by the family motto "work hard, love harder". While she was too young to understand at first she learned exactly what she was looking for when it came to love.
Oliver is Blakey's opposite in her outlook on life. He's not looking for love, he's not even looking for someone to hook up with. He's sworn off love and the whole holiday season. He wasn't always like this though, his holiday spirit and trust in others was crushed and he's never really moved forward.
When Blakey's role as marketing for the hospital pairs her up with Oliver as the representative doctor on staff to plan the holiday gala it's not a match made in heaven. Oliver wants nothing to do with the plans and Blakey is determined to get him involved.
This leads to lots of moments that push Oliver out of his comfort zone and it also has Blakey feeling things for a man she hasn't before.
I am so glad that Kaylee wrote more of the Kincaid family and I'm still kind of hoping there will be more from this second generation.
.
.
.
Blakey loves her job in marketing for the hospital and when her boss approaches her about taking on the big charity Christmas Gala she's excited for the opportunity. She has to work with a doctor on staff and the doctor assigned to the gala is Oliver Thompson.
Oliver hates the holidays but is willing to be the doctor advisor for the gala because he never has to participate in any of the actual organizing. This year though with a new staff member taking it on she's determined to make him participate and he's not happy about it.
Blakey Kincaid is not just a ray of sunshine, but she is incredibly gorgeous and she's making Oliver feel things he hasn't wanted to feel for a long time. Not only that, but she keeps forcing him to participate and bringing Christmas back into his life when he vowed he was done with holidays altogether.
'I want him to feel the joy. I want him to experience the love. I want him to celebrate the season. Trust me, I'm fully aware that I have my work cut out for me, but I'm up for the challenge.'
Despite his grumpy demeanor, Oliver Thompson has a sweet side and no matter how much he tries to avoid the holiday Blakey is determined to bring the joy of the holiday back into his life. Resisting the pull towards him is a problem though, because grumpy Oliver is a little bit irresistible.
'I have a goal - make Dr. Grumpy fall in love with the holidays. I'm not trying to make him fall in love with me.'
The more he's with Blakey the more he wants her. He won't go into another relationship though because he knows how badly they end. Trusting someone again is not something he's prepared to do, but maybe he can have something with her for a while.
'As of right now, in my mind, it's The Blakey Show, and I'm riveted to every scene.'
It's not like Blakey to spend her time with someone who isn't worth it, and despite that Oliver doesn't want a commitment she wants him like he wants her. If he breaks her heart she only has herself to blame, but for now, they could have something amazing for the holidays.
"I know you don't want more. You don't want permanent, but I think you're worth my time, Oliver Thompson."
Happy Reading.
December 11, 2024
I loved this story so much. Not only did we get to see Bailey all grown up, but we got to visit the Kincaid family again. Bailey is the sunshine to Oliver's grumpiness and he stands no chance. I love Bailey's persistence and Oliver's resistance slowly fade away because of her. This book also has all the Christmas cheer I needed. Absolutely recommend! It is a stand alone but everyone needs to read the Kincaid brothers too! ~Andrea
Blakely and Oliver just work together. Oliver has sworn off love after being burned. Blakely always dreamed of the love that exists for the family's couples. Forced to work together, Blakely makes it her mission to get Oliver to fall back in love with the Christmas season and maybe fall for her. Blakely is sassy and smart and goes after what she wants. Oliver is the grumpy to her sunshine. Cute story. ~Cindy
"Kaylee Ryan delivers a heartwarming holiday romance in Merry with Me, a delightful blend of opposites attracting, festive cheer, and slow-burn passion. The story alternates between Blakely, a spirited and Christmas-obsessed marketing assistant, and Oliver, a broody, Christmas-averse doctor. Their chemistry is undeniable as they navigate the challenges of planning a holiday gala together.
Blakely's infectious enthusiasm for the holidays is as endearing as her determination to bring joy to Oliver’s humbug existence. Oliver, in turn, is a refreshing take on the grumpy hero trope; he’s not just closed-off but also irresistibly drawn to Blakely’s warmth and positivity. Their banter and mutual growth drive the story forward, making their journey from colleagues to lovers both charming and believable.
The holiday backdrop adds extra magic, with cozy winter moments, heartfelt traditions, and festive activities that immerse the reader in the Christmas spirit. Ryan balances humor and romance perfectly, ensuring the story stays lighthearted while delivering emotional depth through themes of family, vulnerability, and finding happiness in unexpected places.
If you enjoy a feel-good romance with a sprinkle of holiday charm, Merry with Me is the perfect read to curl up with this season. Kaylee Ryan's ability to craft lovable characters and a swoon-worthy love story makes this book a festive treat. ~Stephanie
Blakely and Oliver just work together. Oliver has sworn off love after being burned. Blakely always dreamed of the love that exists for the family's couples. Forced to work together, Blakely makes it her mission to get Oliver to fall back in love with the Christmas season and maybe fall for her. Blakely is sassy and smart and goes after what she wants. Oliver is the grumpy to her sunshine. Cute story. ~Cindy
"Kaylee Ryan delivers a heartwarming holiday romance in Merry with Me, a delightful blend of opposites attracting, festive cheer, and slow-burn passion. The story alternates between Blakely, a spirited and Christmas-obsessed marketing assistant, and Oliver, a broody, Christmas-averse doctor. Their chemistry is undeniable as they navigate the challenges of planning a holiday gala together.
Blakely's infectious enthusiasm for the holidays is as endearing as her determination to bring joy to Oliver’s humbug existence. Oliver, in turn, is a refreshing take on the grumpy hero trope; he’s not just closed-off but also irresistibly drawn to Blakely’s warmth and positivity. Their banter and mutual growth drive the story forward, making their journey from colleagues to lovers both charming and believable.
The holiday backdrop adds extra magic, with cozy winter moments, heartfelt traditions, and festive activities that immerse the reader in the Christmas spirit. Ryan balances humor and romance perfectly, ensuring the story stays lighthearted while delivering emotional depth through themes of family, vulnerability, and finding happiness in unexpected places.
If you enjoy a feel-good romance with a sprinkle of holiday charm, Merry with Me is the perfect read to curl up with this season. Kaylee Ryan's ability to craft lovable characters and a swoon-worthy love story makes this book a festive treat. ~Stephanie
November 21, 2024
4.75/5 ⭐️ 1/5🌶️
Merry With Me has us returning to the Kincaid’s with Blakely’s story.
There was no surprise that this was a quintessential Kaylee Ryan story. A meet-cute, banter, denial of feelings and an epiphany. The writing was beautiful executed and had me feeling all of my feelings.
Blakely is still the outspoken, determined girl we met in previous books. She is all grown up and starting her life after college. Being forced to work with the grumpy older doc didn’t deter her for one minute. Not once did she deny her attraction and feelings toward Oliver, so happy to see the woman she grew up to be.
Oliver, the grumpy and jaded doctor couldn’t think of anything worse than organizing a Christmas gala. It only took one look at Blakely to have him rethinking his opinion. Wholeheartedly refusing to accept the depth of his feeling for her but unable to stay away made for an interesting journey. I loved that Oliver was forward enough without being overly pushy and insistent on his need to protect and provide for her.
I was a little frustrated with how Oliver absolutely refused to deal with his past. Ignorance was not bliss in this situation. I feel like if he accepted and moved on, we could have had a little more on him and Blakely together in their official relationship before the end of the book. Otherwise, I absolutely loved this and hope that Kaylee decides to continue with a Kincaid second generation series!
Tropes:
Holiday Romance
Small Town Romance
Grumpy x Sunshine
Age Gap (10 years)
Slow Burn
Thank you Kaylee and Grey’s Promotions for an eARC in exchange of my honest review.
Merry With Me has us returning to the Kincaid’s with Blakely’s story.
There was no surprise that this was a quintessential Kaylee Ryan story. A meet-cute, banter, denial of feelings and an epiphany. The writing was beautiful executed and had me feeling all of my feelings.
Blakely is still the outspoken, determined girl we met in previous books. She is all grown up and starting her life after college. Being forced to work with the grumpy older doc didn’t deter her for one minute. Not once did she deny her attraction and feelings toward Oliver, so happy to see the woman she grew up to be.
Oliver, the grumpy and jaded doctor couldn’t think of anything worse than organizing a Christmas gala. It only took one look at Blakely to have him rethinking his opinion. Wholeheartedly refusing to accept the depth of his feeling for her but unable to stay away made for an interesting journey. I loved that Oliver was forward enough without being overly pushy and insistent on his need to protect and provide for her.
I was a little frustrated with how Oliver absolutely refused to deal with his past. Ignorance was not bliss in this situation. I feel like if he accepted and moved on, we could have had a little more on him and Blakely together in their official relationship before the end of the book. Otherwise, I absolutely loved this and hope that Kaylee decides to continue with a Kincaid second generation series!
Tropes:
Holiday Romance
Small Town Romance
Grumpy x Sunshine
Age Gap (10 years)
Slow Burn
Thank you Kaylee and Grey’s Promotions for an eARC in exchange of my honest review.
November 26, 2024
Oh my goodness I absolutely adored this novel! I love Kaylee Ryan! Ryan is an author that just works for me. Her writing is clear and comfortable, her tone is richly romantic, and her characters are relatable. Merry With Me is such a delightful and romantic holiday romance! I easily fell in love with this story, these characters and it is such a lovely standalone romance in Ryan's Kincaid Family world! If you need a romance that is full of the holiday spirit and one that you will fall in love with than this is a must read!
Blakely and Oliver are the perfect match, when these two are tasked with the Holiday Gala for their hospital this grumpy/sunshine romance shines. I loved watching Blakely slowly break down the walls of Oliver's holiday grumpiness. I love that Blakely brings in this layer of sunshine and hope that has been missing from Oliver's world. Their romance is deliciously endearing, from soft and sweet moments to grand gestures these two find the perfect balance with the other. I love that there is this beautiful pull and tension between them, I love that they want to spend time together and that they are constantly making the effort to be around each other. Blakely and Oliver are just absolute perfect, and my heart warms just thinking about the lovely romance that Ryan builds between them.
If you are looking for the perfect holiday treat, Merry With Me will definitely hit the spot. This novel is the perfect quick read for a cozy winter's night! I adore Kaylee Ryan and she is an author I would so highly recommend if swoon-worthy heroes and strong heroines are what you are in the mood for!
Thank you so much to Grey's Promotions for an eARC, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Blakely and Oliver are the perfect match, when these two are tasked with the Holiday Gala for their hospital this grumpy/sunshine romance shines. I loved watching Blakely slowly break down the walls of Oliver's holiday grumpiness. I love that Blakely brings in this layer of sunshine and hope that has been missing from Oliver's world. Their romance is deliciously endearing, from soft and sweet moments to grand gestures these two find the perfect balance with the other. I love that there is this beautiful pull and tension between them, I love that they want to spend time together and that they are constantly making the effort to be around each other. Blakely and Oliver are just absolute perfect, and my heart warms just thinking about the lovely romance that Ryan builds between them.
If you are looking for the perfect holiday treat, Merry With Me will definitely hit the spot. This novel is the perfect quick read for a cozy winter's night! I adore Kaylee Ryan and she is an author I would so highly recommend if swoon-worthy heroes and strong heroines are what you are in the mood for!
Thank you so much to Grey's Promotions for an eARC, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
November 30, 2024
I recently finished Merry with Me by Kaylee Ryan, and I have to say, it was a delightful read that left me feeling warm and fuzzy inside. This book beautifully captures the essence of an opposites-attract romance, complete with a charming age gap twist that kept me engaged from start to finish.
The story revolves around two main characters who initially seem like they come from completely different worlds. I loved how Kaylee Ryan developed their relationship, showing how their differences not only create tension but also lead to unexpected chemistry and personal growth. The pacing felt just right; I was able to savor those moments of tension and tenderness without feeling rushed.
Ryan’s writing style is so approachable and fluid that I found myself completely immersed in the story. The dialogue felt natural, and the interactions between the characters were relatable, making their connection all the more believable. I also appreciated the themes of personal growth and self-discovery woven throughout the plot, which added depth to the romantic storyline.
That said, there were a few moments where I found the plot a bit predictable, following familiar tropes of the genre. I could see certain developments coming from a mile away, which took away a bit of the surprise factor for me.
Overall, I would give Merry with Me a solid 4 stars. It’s a perfect choice for anyone looking for a light yet meaningful love story. Kaylee Ryan has once again proven her talent for creating memorable characters and engaging narratives that resonate with readers like me. If you enjoy contemporary romance, this book is definitely worth picking up!
The story revolves around two main characters who initially seem like they come from completely different worlds. I loved how Kaylee Ryan developed their relationship, showing how their differences not only create tension but also lead to unexpected chemistry and personal growth. The pacing felt just right; I was able to savor those moments of tension and tenderness without feeling rushed.
Ryan’s writing style is so approachable and fluid that I found myself completely immersed in the story. The dialogue felt natural, and the interactions between the characters were relatable, making their connection all the more believable. I also appreciated the themes of personal growth and self-discovery woven throughout the plot, which added depth to the romantic storyline.
That said, there were a few moments where I found the plot a bit predictable, following familiar tropes of the genre. I could see certain developments coming from a mile away, which took away a bit of the surprise factor for me.
Overall, I would give Merry with Me a solid 4 stars. It’s a perfect choice for anyone looking for a light yet meaningful love story. Kaylee Ryan has once again proven her talent for creating memorable characters and engaging narratives that resonate with readers like me. If you enjoy contemporary romance, this book is definitely worth picking up!
November 25, 2024
Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️
Merry with me was absolutely amazing! Like couldn’t put it down AMAZING! I loved every bit of this book from the plot, the romance, the side characters, and all the Christmas shenanigans… this book may as well be a Hallmark movie wrapped up in a book it was that good!
When Blakely and Oliver are thrown together to plan the Christmas holiday gala Christmas hater Oliver is determined to have as much involvement in the Christmas gala planning as he has had in years past… a whopping zero. Unfortunately for him Blakely is a Christmas fanatic and can’t wait to plan this gala even if it is with a Scrooge. If there’s one thing Blakely is determined to do alongside planning an amazing gala it’s reignite Oliver’s Christmas spark. And while Oliver is steadfast in his view that there’s no love lost between him and Christmas he can’t help but get caught up in the whirlwind that is Blakely, and after a few swoon-worthy romance moments and some Christmas season shenanigans…maybe just maybe he’s ready to open his heart not only to Christmas but to a new romance with one Blakely Kincaid!
So if you’re looking for a grumpy/sunshine, age gap romance between a grinch who has locked his heart and Christmas spirit away after a betrayal he never saw coming and a sunshiny Christmas loving girl who comes from a crazy big family who love and care for each other in everything, with a few spicy moments thrown in, hilarious banter, more than one adorable romantic moment, and a super cute happily ever after then make sure you grab a copy of Merry with Me ASAP!
Spice: 🌶️
Merry with me was absolutely amazing! Like couldn’t put it down AMAZING! I loved every bit of this book from the plot, the romance, the side characters, and all the Christmas shenanigans… this book may as well be a Hallmark movie wrapped up in a book it was that good!
When Blakely and Oliver are thrown together to plan the Christmas holiday gala Christmas hater Oliver is determined to have as much involvement in the Christmas gala planning as he has had in years past… a whopping zero. Unfortunately for him Blakely is a Christmas fanatic and can’t wait to plan this gala even if it is with a Scrooge. If there’s one thing Blakely is determined to do alongside planning an amazing gala it’s reignite Oliver’s Christmas spark. And while Oliver is steadfast in his view that there’s no love lost between him and Christmas he can’t help but get caught up in the whirlwind that is Blakely, and after a few swoon-worthy romance moments and some Christmas season shenanigans…maybe just maybe he’s ready to open his heart not only to Christmas but to a new romance with one Blakely Kincaid!
So if you’re looking for a grumpy/sunshine, age gap romance between a grinch who has locked his heart and Christmas spirit away after a betrayal he never saw coming and a sunshiny Christmas loving girl who comes from a crazy big family who love and care for each other in everything, with a few spicy moments thrown in, hilarious banter, more than one adorable romantic moment, and a super cute happily ever after then make sure you grab a copy of Merry with Me ASAP!
December 5, 2024
4.5 stars
This is a Hallmark movie in book form, and it's just as enchanting. This is a small-town, holiday, grumpy-sunshine, age gap story.
I ADORED Blakely from watching this charming child grow up in her uncle's and aunts stories, and I loved grown-up Blake just as much in this story. She's taking her new role as Asst Marketing Director at the hospital seriously, so when she's assigned to work with Dr. "Grump" for the Christmas gala, she takes his rehabilitation from Scrooge just as seriously. Finding there's some angst behind his grumpiness just makes her even more determined that she finds a way to make him merry, no matter what it might do to her heart.
Oliver hates Christmas and well love in general. The last he needs is to work alongside one of Santa's elves for a gala he doesn't even attend, no matter how beautiful and distracting she may be. Despite his best efforts at holding onto his grudge against any kind of joy, he finds himself utterly charmed by her. Deadset against anything long-term, they have a fling, but when presented with the real possibility of losing her, he must find a way to stop allowing his past to control his future.
I loved this grumpy sunshine story. I'm not a fan of virgin stories, but this wasn't a major storyline, so it wasn't a huge deal to me. Despite Ollie being a tad annoying, ultimately, his love and care for the girl won me over. The Kincaids were charming! A great Christmas read!
AnnMarie - Alphas Do It Better Book Blog
This is a Hallmark movie in book form, and it's just as enchanting. This is a small-town, holiday, grumpy-sunshine, age gap story.
I ADORED Blakely from watching this charming child grow up in her uncle's and aunts stories, and I loved grown-up Blake just as much in this story. She's taking her new role as Asst Marketing Director at the hospital seriously, so when she's assigned to work with Dr. "Grump" for the Christmas gala, she takes his rehabilitation from Scrooge just as seriously. Finding there's some angst behind his grumpiness just makes her even more determined that she finds a way to make him merry, no matter what it might do to her heart.
Oliver hates Christmas and well love in general. The last he needs is to work alongside one of Santa's elves for a gala he doesn't even attend, no matter how beautiful and distracting she may be. Despite his best efforts at holding onto his grudge against any kind of joy, he finds himself utterly charmed by her. Deadset against anything long-term, they have a fling, but when presented with the real possibility of losing her, he must find a way to stop allowing his past to control his future.
I loved this grumpy sunshine story. I'm not a fan of virgin stories, but this wasn't a major storyline, so it wasn't a huge deal to me. Despite Ollie being a tad annoying, ultimately, his love and care for the girl won me over. The Kincaids were charming! A great Christmas read!
AnnMarie - Alphas Do It Better Book Blog
November 26, 2024
Kaylee Ryan can do no wrong and when I found out that Merry With Me was going to be about Blakely Kincaid I was so excited! If you don’t know Blakely we get to see her as a child in the Kincaid series by Kaylee. We get to watch her grow up and I was excited that she got her own little holiday Novella.
Blakey is all sunshine. She is given the opportunity to plan the hospital’s annual charity holiday gala. However, she will have to work with the grumpy Doctor Oliver. Oliver despises Christmas. He had something happen to him in the past that has affected his love for the holiday. But Blakely takes that as a challenge and is determined to help him fall in love with Christmas again but Oliver isn’t just falling for Christmas again he is also falling for Blakely.
I LOVED these two together so much! Blakely’s determination to get Oliver to cheer up and the little things she does for him to start thawing his heart. Blakely’s love language is most certainly gifts with her cookies, lunch etc that she surprised Oliver with. But we can’t leave out Oliver…the way this man shows interest in Blakely is everything! Oliver is definitely an acts of service man. I swooned over the little things he did for Blakely like starting her car for her before she left to go back home.
I loved how determined Blakeley was with Oliver and stood her ground with him at his parent’s house for the Christmas party. She really made him open his eyes to what he had in front of him and I loved every minute of it!
Blakely like her family loves hard and these two were the perfect match for each other.
Thank you to Kaylee Ryan for the arc of this book
Blakey is all sunshine. She is given the opportunity to plan the hospital’s annual charity holiday gala. However, she will have to work with the grumpy Doctor Oliver. Oliver despises Christmas. He had something happen to him in the past that has affected his love for the holiday. But Blakely takes that as a challenge and is determined to help him fall in love with Christmas again but Oliver isn’t just falling for Christmas again he is also falling for Blakely.
I LOVED these two together so much! Blakely’s determination to get Oliver to cheer up and the little things she does for him to start thawing his heart. Blakely’s love language is most certainly gifts with her cookies, lunch etc that she surprised Oliver with. But we can’t leave out Oliver…the way this man shows interest in Blakely is everything! Oliver is definitely an acts of service man. I swooned over the little things he did for Blakely like starting her car for her before she left to go back home.
I loved how determined Blakeley was with Oliver and stood her ground with him at his parent’s house for the Christmas party. She really made him open his eyes to what he had in front of him and I loved every minute of it!
Blakely like her family loves hard and these two were the perfect match for each other.
Thank you to Kaylee Ryan for the arc of this book
November 24, 2024
This Christmas, author Kaylee Ryan returned to the small town of Willow River, where the huge Kennedy clan of eight brother lived, to write Merry With Me, a holiday romance about Blakely Kennedy and Dr. Oliver Thompson. Blakely is the oldest child born to one of the Kennedy brothers. She was working at the local hospital in the marketing department and was assigned the task of organizing the holiday gala. Dr. Thompson had always been happy with the arrangement that he assisted in name only, but Blakely was determined to pull him into the project. Both initially avoided the attraction between them, but the more time they spent together, the more impossible it was. This is a dual POV, small town, grumpy/sunshine, contemporary Christmas romance with a relationship adverse, Christmas hating hero and a Christmas loving, virgin heroine. I really liked grumpy Oliver, who was simply shielding a wounded heart and it was impossible not to like Blakely, whose cup runneth over with love and happiness. The addition of Blakely’s many Uncles (and Aunts) really brought home the feelings of family, and her roommate was the perfect sounding board. There is a moderate amount of spice, no third act break up, and boundless holiday cheer. The book was short, easy to read without feeling rushed. I recommend this book for readers who enjoy contemporary Christmas romance.
I would like to thanks Grey’s Promotions for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
I would like to thanks Grey’s Promotions for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
November 24, 2024
This is the perfect Christmas novell. Kaylee can write romance with the best of them, but she said “step aside” when she wrote this Christmas novella. First, the MMC is named Oliver and that is perfect for our Blakely. She loves all things Christmas, and being in charge of the Christmas gala for her job is icing on her Christmas cookie! Not even finding out that she has to work with Dr. Oliver Thompson who hates all things Christmas can dampen her spirits.
She brings sunshine and light to his grumpy darkness. Soon they are trading Christmas activities in her quest to get him to love Christmas again. She doesn’t know the hurt that he has experienced and my heart really broke for him. He doesn’t want to like her and tries to keep her at arms length, but Blakely will not be denied. I loved that Kaylee wrote her with compassion, and a steel spine. Showing that women can be both strong and soft. When Oliver realizes that she is everything he needs in his life and more than he ever thought he could have. He fights for her despite the age gap, and his past heartache.
I really enjoyed this book and the whole Kincaid family. They truly work hard and love harder. This was a joy to read and warmed my heart for Oliver and the love he finds in Blakely. Written in a way that only Kaylee can do. She gave us all the angst, tortured moments, spice and romance that made me smile and my heart sing.
She brings sunshine and light to his grumpy darkness. Soon they are trading Christmas activities in her quest to get him to love Christmas again. She doesn’t know the hurt that he has experienced and my heart really broke for him. He doesn’t want to like her and tries to keep her at arms length, but Blakely will not be denied. I loved that Kaylee wrote her with compassion, and a steel spine. Showing that women can be both strong and soft. When Oliver realizes that she is everything he needs in his life and more than he ever thought he could have. He fights for her despite the age gap, and his past heartache.
I really enjoyed this book and the whole Kincaid family. They truly work hard and love harder. This was a joy to read and warmed my heart for Oliver and the love he finds in Blakely. Written in a way that only Kaylee can do. She gave us all the angst, tortured moments, spice and romance that made me smile and my heart sing.
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