"Codi Hall brings all the feels."―Monica Murphy, New York Times bestselling author
Holly Winters is not about to let her grumpy neighbor Declan steal her holiday joy…even if he does look rather handsome under the mistletoe.
Holly Winters owns the jolliest holiday shop on Main Street and this season is shaping up to be the best yet. The only pit in her figgy pudding? Declan Gallagher, the owner of the hardware store next door. He's the scroogiest man in all of Mistletoe, Idaho. Then Holly's revenge prank escalates into an all-out war with her Grinchy neighbor, and the situation turns sticky when she realizes she needs his help.
Declan can't believe the nerve of his oh-so-cheerful neighbor hiring him to set up her holiday lights display, but the money is too good to pass up. Despite his utter loathing of excessive decorations, he throws himself into getting the job done, only to encounter sabotage at every turn. To his astonishment, Declan finds himself championing the very woman who used to get under his skin. Then one rooftop kiss has him thinking maybe the season's traditions aren't as heinous as he believed. Declan's heart has grown three sizes since Holly came along, but how can he admit he's falling for the one woman he shouldn't want?
"A fun, engaging, and romantic read that is perfect for Christmastime!" ― The Nerd Daily for Nick and Noel's Christmas Playlist
Description: Holly Winters owns the jolliest holiday shop on Main Street and this season is shaping up to be the best yet. The only pit in her figgy pudding? Declan Gallagher, the owner of the hardware store next door. He's the scroogiest man in all of Mistletoe, Idaho. Then Holly's revenge prank escalates into an all-out war with her Grinchy neighbor, and the situation turns sticky when she realizes she needs his help.
Declan Gallagher can't believe the nerve of his oh-so-cheerful neighbor hiring him to set up her holiday lights display, but the money is too good to pass up. Despite his utter loathing of excessive decorations, he throws himself into getting the job done, only to encounter sabotage at every turn. To his astonishment, Declan finds himself championing the very woman who used to get under his skin. Then one rooftop kiss has him thinking maybe the season's traditions aren't as heinous as he believed. Declan's heart has grown three sizes since Holly came along, but how can he admit he's falling for the one woman he shouldn't want?
What I Loved: 1. Leo the Cat 2. Grumpy/Sunshine Trope 3. Dual Points of View 4. Small Town 5. Close Knit Community and Friends 6. It gave me a few good laughs 😃
What I Didn’t Love: 1. The Dialogue: At times it felt unrealistic and awkward. I know friends rib each other, but it felt like they didn’t know how to communicate any other way. 2. The MMC: His anger at his parents divorcing, even though he was an adult at the time, was a stupid reason for hating Christmas. (Especially since he had such wonderful memories.) 3. The Sex. I know. I’m beating a dead horse here.
This is book #3 in the Mistletoe Series. I have not read the other two books, but it didn’t seem to matter, so this can be read as a standalone.
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the opportunity to read this book for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.
But how can an audio-only book produced by an audiobook company have such terrible narration? Seriously, the voices were cringey, the story was weak and the relationship was ridiculous. Not for me.
My favorite new tradition is listening to a Codi Hall Christmas book while prepping for the holidays. This latest Winters love story didn’t disappoint. Fun, quirky, and heartwarming.
Along Came Holly is a cute small-town romance featuring a grumpy x sunshine couple and a cast of fun side characters. If you're looking for a romance book with a Christmas hallmark movie vibes, then you're in the right place!
My main issue is midway through the book everything slowed down and I did find the FMC and MMC kind of annoying. I would've enjoyed this more if I was able to connect with the MCs.
Sigh…I had the best time reading this! I read the first two books last Christmas, but this one was still only on audible. So imagine my excitement when I saw this adorable cover at my local indie bookshop! Holly and Declan were totally worth the wait! We travel back to Mistletoe, Idaho, where everyone LOVES Christmas, especially Nick, Merry, and Holly Winters. Except for Declan Gallagher, who does NOT. Declan runs the hardware store next to Holly’s holiday shop, and he can always be counted on to come running when Holly turns on the Christmas music…to yell at her to Turn That Shit Down! So, understandably, Holly hates his grumpy guts.
Declan cannot understand the commercialism and bullshit that goes along with the holidays every year. The avarice, the greed, the idiotic competition over decorations…it’s all too much. And the epitome of Too Much is Holly the Jolly Elf Next Door. He’s as annoyed with her as he is (grudgingly) attracted to her. But he’s not going to turn down the money she offers to him as a last resort to help her with her holiday display. The time they spent together coupled with the built up angst brought on by their fiery prank battle culminates in the best way…this is a romance, after all!
I loved every bit of this, as much as I wanted to push Declan’s cranky ass down in the snow and force hot cocoa down his throat! Man, did he have The Grinch role down pat. Holly was hilarious and feisty and I was so happy to get more glimpses of Nick and Noel and Merry and Clark!!! I can totally see myself rereading this series every few Christmases, a definite seasonal favorite!!!!
So it had an HFN for what I think is the end of a series, booo. At least the other couples in the previous books got their HEAs, finally.
Other than the crap ending this was an ok Christmas book. I am personally not into asshole heroes disguised as grumps. I do not like when a man uses a woman as his emotional punching bag and takes out all his issues on her. A true grumpy/sunshine trope imo, has the grump be grumpy to the world but soft to the heroine. This one he was mean to her more than anyone in town. Yes, it’s enemies to lovers but his anger wasn’t about her, he hated women because his dad soured him against them. Men who hate women are not good hero material.
There was development, he did overcome his issues and the heroine took no shit from him about it, so for that it gets three stars.
Note on the audio: the male narrator did decently for the narrator voice and the hero’s voice by every other side character had the most annoying cartoon voices. Also his female voice was terrible. Why do male narrators choose to make women sound like little babies?
The books in this series are all a little silly and fluffy but this was a fun and easy read for the holiday season. I liked Holly and Declan’s story. The enemies to lovers/grumpy sunshine tropes worked well and I liked getting to see their relationship progress and grow over the course of the book. I enjoyed all of the Christmasy elements in this. It’s really over the top with the character names and even the name of the town being Mistletoe but if you just go into it embracing that, it doesn’t come across in an annoying way. This book felt just like a Hallmark Christmas movie with a little spice.
The final book in the Mistletoe Eomance series. I wasn’t sure if this could top the second book that I loved so much and I was kind of right. But! Even tho I liked second book best, I still enjoyed this one too. Overall this series is short, sexy, and has so much holiday fun! Def recommend.
I liked #2 better... narrator's on this one were terrible and Codi needs a lesson or two on writing a romance scene... cute little story to soft porn in seconds... terrible.
3.75 stars. Solid Christmas rom-com. I appreciated that it had good substance to the story. However, I found several grammar/editing mistakes throughout the book and that really annoyed me.
giggling greening laughing smirking wheezing screaming throwing up
Okay, well… this one is definitely my favorite in the series. And yes, people have their opinions, but I’ll admit I felt a little down seeing that this book leans more toward mixed or negative reviews. I get that everyone reads differently. But for me, I had such a good time with it. The main couple is fiery and fun, shifting from rivalry into something more meaningful, all with a refreshing dose of healthy communication. Sure, the pacing still stumbles here and there but the humor and dynamic kept me engaged and so worth trying.
Along Came Holly is a festive, lighthearted holiday romance that leans into the classic grumpy x sunshine trope. It follows Holly Winters—cheerful, feisty, and determined to make her Christmas shop sparkle—and Declan Gallagher, her cranky neighbor who runs the hardware store and despises all things holiday. Their rivalry plays out through pranks, banter, and plenty of tension, until Holly hires Declan to help with her Christmas display. What begins as reluctant cooperation turns into undeniable attraction, culminating in a rooftop kiss and a slow shift from hate to love banter.
Declan embodies the perfect Grinch energy, while Holly’s warmth and wit balance him out. Their push‑and‑pull chemistry is sharp, fun, and engaging, and Holly’s influence gradually reshapes Declan—not only in romance but also in his friendships with Clark and Nick, which add tenderness and humor to his arc. The small‑town meddling and glimpses of the Winters family make the setting cozy and interconnected with the rest of the series.
The pacing can feel a little slow at times and some conversations lean corny, but the humor keeps things lively. A miscommunication subplot explains Declan’s grumpiness without undermining his relationship with Holly. One standout example is the scavenger hunt during Clark and Merry’s bachelor/bachelorette party, where Holly is paired with Sam and Declan with Sally. Sam’s attempt to stir jealousy was frustrating, but it ultimately pushed Declan to admit he wanted more than casual benefits with Holly. Holly’s matching honesty made this moment feel like a genuine step forward, and the humorous resolution underscored how strong their dynamic really is. Even with its slow-burn banter, the payoff is worth it. Holly and Declan’s romance is spirited, funny, and full of holiday charm. 🎄🌟
Likewise, huge props to Veronica Worthington and Skyler Hutchinson for bringing every chapter to life with nuance and emotion. Their delivery captured both tenderness and intensity, making the characters feel vivid and authentic. The chemistry between them elevated the narration into one of the most memorable aspects of the experience.
Overall, binge‑reading this series was such a joy. Even though the first book wasn’t exactly to my taste, the next two more than made up for it. Sure, there were a few bumps along the way, but the mix of festive vibes, cozy cheer, and delightful banter had me grinning and giggling through the rest of the journey. Each couple brings their own signature rom‑com flavor, and while the books do run a bit long (patience required), they’re still worth the ride.
Technically, you could read them out of order, but I’d recommend following publication order to really feel the found‑family connections click into place. And if you’re craving a holiday romcom stuffed with sparkle, warmth, and that “home for the holidays” feeling, this series need to be added on yout TBR-pile ASAP! 🫵🏻💥🏃🏻♀️
Along Came Holly is book three in the Mistletoe Romance series by Codi Hall. Last year, I read the first two books. Although these can be read as standalones, I do recommend reading them in order. Each book is about one sibling, and the third book tells Holly’s story.
Holly is all about Christmas! Growing up in a town named Mistletoe with parents who run a Christmas tree farm and named their children Nick, Merry, and Holly kind of makes someone love the holiday, but Holly’s grumpy office neighbor, Declan, is more of a bah humbug. When Holly hires Declan to help with her Christmas display, they realize there is some chemistry between them. Could it be something more?
This was a cute Christmas story, and I really enjoyed the banter between Holly and Declan. Narrators Veronica Worthington and Skyler Hutchinson did a great job bringing them to life and showing the chemistry between them. I loved the holiday window and house decorating competitions in the story.
I did feel the book dragged a bit in the middle, and I just wanted these two to get together already. There were also too many miscommunication moments in my opinion. I’m kind of over that trope though so that might just be me!
Read this is you like: ☀️ grumpy/sunshine romance 🎄 Christmas 🌶️ a little spice 🛌 forced proximity 🐈 cats
This book is available for free as an Audible Original.
Really cute story! I loved the banter of our MCs you get a little sneak peek of it from the previous book. Them playing pranks on one another and getting to know each other better was adorable! I love a grumpy x sunshine and this was exactly it!
If you want small town holiday romances this is the series for you
Along Came Holly is the 3rd book in the Mistletoe Romance series, a small town holiday series that has followed the Winter siblings. This one has an enemies to lovers vibe between neighbors, he’s the grump who owns the hardware store and she owns a holiday shop when not doing her online “Adventure Elf” things.
This one was probably my least fav in the series. I listened to it on the audible plus catalog, the narrator was really not it! The story as well, I just didn’t find it as charming or quirky and fun as the other 2. I still did like seeing the entire Winters clan. Holly Winters is the heroine in this one and her siblings, Merry and Nick, have both had books in the series. Their family owns a Christmas tree farm in Mistletoe, Idaho. Declan is the grumpy neighbor who owns the hardware store and is the construction guy. Declan and Holly have been pranking one another for quite a while and always trying to one-up the other. Declan has a lot going on with his family life, after his dad’s diagnosis with dementia, Declan moved back home to Mistletoe to take over the shop. Now his mom is back around and he learns some truths and lies about his parents divorce years ago. Holly has her own things going on to think about, she wants to retire from being the online-popular “Adventure Elf” and to do something different with her life.
As I approached the end of this book, I was so annoyed with myself for not DNFing it earlier. The MMC is a walking red flag that only MARGINALLY improves over time. He’s:
- emotionally immature and needs therapy, for real - punishes the women in his life when he doesn’t know how to process human emotions - toxic jealousy when he’s unwilling to express how he feels AND the FMC has reassured him multiple times that the other dude is her friend - FMC is required to manage MMC’s unhealthy emotions
She’s dickmatized and they’re going to be divorced in less than five years.