She doesn’t believe in miracles, but maybe this holiday, her son’s Christmas wish will change her mind.

Single mom Riley O’Sullivan isn’t one to complain, but with her closest family members now settled in Marietta, Montana, while she still calls Portland home, finding good help isn’t as easy as it used to be. With Christmas approaching, Riley and her young son Dylan are excited to be in Marietta with family for the holidays, but she certainly doesn’t need maddening Mitch Miller coming to her rescue, awakening her senses, or making Dylan ask questions about what dads do.

Mitch Miller left his successful financial career behind him when he moved to Marietta with his two sisters. He’s not looking for love, but Riley captivates him like no other woman ever has. She thinks he’s an overprotective Grinch–with good cause–but it’s clear to everyone that Riley and Dylan could use a little Christmas magic, and he’s willing to help. It’s not as if he’s offering his heart.

Perhaps all it will take to bring them together is the Christmas wish from one special little boy.

Titles in The Millers of Marietta series include — My Montana Valentine —♥— A Match Made in Montana —♥— Merry Christmas, Montana —♥—

This is an adult 18+ story that may contain language, possible violence, and/or sexual situations geared to an adult audience.

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Title:  Merry Christmas, Montana
Series:  The Millers of Marietta #3
Author:  Elsa Winckler
Genre:  Contemporary Romance
Published:  October 16, 2023
Publisher:  Tule Publishing
My Rating:  4.5

Merry Christmas, Montana brings The Millers of Marietta series to a conclusion with our grumpy, extremely over-protective Mitch finally understanding what all the fuss is about… and, perhaps, getting some well-deserved comeback and ribbing from the men he gave such a hard time to about loving his sisters.  Karma strikes again in the most romantic, funny, perfect way when Mitch meets his match in Riley and gets his heart melted by one adorable little boy.

What struck me the strongest in Mitch and Riley’s romance wasn’t just the stubbornness of this couple, the determination to remain single, to not let anyone in for fear of being hurt.  Yes, that was all there and played out as barriers are slowly lowered, and they get to know each other more.  The physical attraction was never an issue for the sparks fly whenever they were near to each other, but the emotional flames took a bit longer for either of them to acknowledge.  What’s that saying? “The eyes are the windows to the soul?”  For me, the perfect moment in this story comes later in the book, after the passion, the misunderstandings, or even the wrong choice.  It was when Riley’s photographs of the wedding were shown.  That is what sort of broke my heart for two stubborn people who clearly were perfect for each other after all.  Riley’s photos at the wedding show Mitch’s soul and his attraction to her from before they even began their journey.  Neither noticed it then and would certainly deny it along the way, but that was the moment that made me smile the hardest and sigh the deepest in contentment.

Merry Christmas, Montana, was the perfect wrap-up story for me.  All the loose ends are tied up neatly.  All the happy ever-after moments were emotional, funny, sexy, and so worth the fight to get to that point.  I would gently suggest reading this trilogy in order for the events from one book do lead into and are mentioned in the next – but if that isn’t possible for you then this could stand on its own, and you’d find a delightful romance to make you smile while you swoon a bit.  If that sounds like your kind of romance, one that’s well-written, engaging, emotional, with a few tears and some laugh-out-loud moments, then this is a story that you will love.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the author or author’s team via Booksprout, and I sincerely thank them for their trust. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

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