A review by beckyyreadss
Merriment and Mayhem by Alexandria Bellefleur

funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

When Amazon announced this short series of books by some of my favourite authors, I was all for it. This is the second book that I've read out of the five and this is by an author I've not read before. This is how a short festive story is supposed to be, all about Christmas and ends with smut and an ending that could be left alone or could be extended if the author wants to.  

This book is based on Everleigh Dangerfield, and she has had a baking disaster which resolves in her neighbour calling 9-1-1. Firefighter Griffin Brantley comes to save the day and douses the flames in the kitchen, but the ones he stokes in Everleigh are an entirely different story. Unfortunately, Everleigh’s only visiting and doesn’t do casual hookups, no matter how smoldering the temptation. But Everleigh’s holiday mishaps have just begun. And Griffin is seemingly always on call. If Everleigh is game for a change of plans, he can give her the merriest Christmas of her life.  

I liked that this one was surrounding Christmas, it started with a disaster from cooking and then she gets stuck trying to put up Christmas lights, all whilst dealing with her own grief at Christmas. It just reminded me of an episode of 9-1-1 and yes, I was thinking that Oliver Stark was Griffin Brantley. Just because it would be a season 1 Evan Buckley thing to do, fall in love with a woman on a case, not getting her details and then calling her trouble and then seeing her multiple times and calling it fate. I just loved that there was some chemistry then and it wasn't just all smut. 

Even though it was a short story, and I knew what I was getting into, I wanted more. This could have been a whole 200–300-page book and I probably would have devoured it. I wanted the background of the town. I wanted dual POV, I wanted to know more about Brantley and why he became a firefighter. I wanted to see more of the firehouse and Everleigh being there more often, maybe even learning how to cook so she brings more treats over. 

As stated, I liked that it could be left alone or that the author could carry this on. I am hoping that the author carries it on, even if it’s a case of the small-town and different members of the fire department because I would love to see Miller get his happy ending. This was my first time reading this author and I am going to make sure, it’s not the last time I read this author.  

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