Book: Merry Mayhem by Erin Nicholas
Reviewed by Maggie Hayes
Rating: 4/5
📚 ARC REVIEW 📚
Merry Mayhem by Erin Nicholas
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 (4.5/5)
Thank you to the author for providing an ARC!
Christmas in Rebel, Louisiana, is pure chaos, and firefighter Josh gets swept right into it when he agrees to pose as a stranger’s fake boyfriend for the town’s holiday competition. When Violet (the stranger) lands in the hospital and can’t compete, Josh is suddenly paired with her sister, Thea — the woman he met months earlier and hasn’t been able to forget.
Josh and Thea can’t ignore the sparks between them, even though the entire town (and most of Thea’s family) thinks he’s dating Violet. What starts as a temporary stand-in gig quickly feels real, and Josh realizes he wants more than a holiday fling. The question is whether Thea believes it, too.
Merry Mayhem indeed — this book was loud, zany, and delightful. Cue the confetti cannon! 🎉
Thea is the kind of heroine you instantly root for. A hardworking single mom who puts everyone else first, she’d sacrifice her own happiness for her sister without hesitation. My heart broke when she believed Josh and Violet were together, and thought she missed her opportunity to be with her dream man (and mine).
And Josh… my goodness. How many fires does a girl need to set to find a sexy firefighter with a troubled past who cares deeply about enthusiastic consent (asking for a friend)? I love a “he falls first,” and Josh delivers. He’s all in from the moment he meets Thea and would do anything for her.
Together? They’re EVERYTHING. The spice is spicing, and the communication is top-tier. It’s refreshing to see two adults who actually talk, support each other, and build something real. I have zero doubt these two make it far beyond the holidays.
If you’re craving a chaotic, laugh-filled holiday romance with fake dating, quirky townspeople, and over-the-top Christmas competitions, add Merry Mayhem to your TBR!
Tropes: 🎄 Holiday romance | 👩👧 Single mom | 🔥 Firefighter hero | 💑 Fake dating | 🏠 Forced proximity
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