A surprise baby…

And a Christmas Island wedding?

Hadley Pierce prides herself on being practical, but even she won’t accept a marriage proposal from a man who doesn’t love her.

Mike Martin is a good friend. Soon he’ll be the father of her baby, and yet…Hadley can’t say yes.

As Christmas Island comes alive for the busy tourist season, can friendship bloom into something more for this little family-to-be?

Titles in the Return to Christmas Island series include — I’ll Be Home for Christmas —♥— Home for the Holidays —♥— A Merry Little Christmas —♥— Last Summer on Christmas Island —♥—

This is a romance that includes no swearing, no violence, and no sexual content (beyond a few light kisses).

Title:  A Merry Little Christmas
Series:  Return to Christmas Island #3
Author:  Amie Denman
Genre:  Contemporary Romance
Published:  January 24, 2023
Publisher:  Harlequin Heartwarming
My Rating:  4.5 stars

A Merry Little Christmas is the third title in the Return to Christmas Island series, and while it doesn’t precisely deal with the Christmas season in this story (we’re getting ready for the season), well, you’ll find that Christmas is celebrated every single day in some small fashion on this island full of interesting stories, quirky residents, and a couple who may have known each other since childhood… but a vow made in their youth has some interesting repercussions right now.

Harper and Mike have been friends forever it seems, but one night after a celebration party they took that friendship to another level… and now Harper is pregnant, Mike is about to be a father and life will never be the same for these two ever again.  Mike impulsively proposes “for the baby’s sake” (wrong move) and Harper shuts him down fast.  She won’t settle for less than love, the romantic kind of love that we all wish for but life isn’t a storybook, and love comes in all shapes, sizes, and hidden places.  Something that Harper will take a long time to figure out.

I loved everything about A Merry Little Christmas, but I have to admit that Harper frustrated me to no end in her denial of what every single person on this island could see what she refused to acknowledge… Mike loved her – and she loved him.  She kept letting that silly, half-hearted childhood vow that if neither was married by the age of 30, then they’d marry their best friend meaning each other.  Yet they both showed each other in gestures, actions, and support that they loved each other.  But this couple needed to hear the words.  They could admit, to themselves, that they were in love but the other had never said the words so their love must not be returned… which lead Harper to continually turn down Mike’s numerous proposals.  Harper is frustrating, Mike is at times clueless …and I adored them each, but until they took the risk to be the first to say those three important little words they were stuck in the friend zone.

I believe that if you want to take a life lesson from a story then there’s an important message in A Merry Little Christmas… say the words, don’t be stingy and don’t be a Scrooge with words.  If you love someone tell them… you might be surprised at the results.

I had such a good time (even the frustrating moments) back in this world.  If you love a well-written, realistic, emotional romance with all the feels you could possibly desire then head to Christmas Island, and you won’t regret the trip.

I own a Kindle edition of this title.

Available in print or for your favorite e-reader