Stay this Christmas: A Sweet Small Town Romance

Magnolia Ridge #3

by Genny Carrick

Christmas with my ex is anything but jolly

My ex-boyfriend is back in town. It’s fine. I’m fine.

Who cares that Sam Donnelly has spent the last ten years having adventures all over the world? Not me. Who cares that he’s become a Christmas-hating Grinch since we dated? I sure don’t. Who cares that the years have only made him hotter and an even bigger flirt? Hadn’t noticed.

I’m too busy jump starting my social life before it completely flatlines. Even my patients at the retirement community lead more exciting lives than I do. I’ve got a list of activities to try, but my awkward attempts would go a whole lot smoother if Sam didn’t keep turning up to witness them.

When he offers to help me tackle my list, I agree on one condition—he has to let me get him back in the holiday spirit. If he’s going to coax me up a rock climbing wall, I’m going to rekindle his love of Christmas.

But that’s the only rekindling I’ll allow. Because if we reignite the spark between us, I’ll just wind up heartbroken all over again when he leaves on his next adventure.
Stay this Christmas is a swoony closed door second chance romance without implied intimacy.

Genres: Christmas, Romance, Second Chance, Contemporary, Fiction

318 pages, Paperback

Published December 21, 2022

About the author

Genny Carrick is a sucker for an HEA, especially if there's a whole lot of laughter along the way. She writes romances and rom-coms about stubborn women and the men who fall for them.

When she's not lost in swoony reads, she's probably up to something crafty or trying to get her dog and two cats to love her.

Genny recently moved to Texas from the Pacific Northwest with her brilliant husband and two hilarious kids.

Reviews

[Larissa (That Baker That Reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Synopsis:
Harper’s ex-boyfriend is back in town, and he’s working in the same place as her. She will try to find joy in life again, and the easy-going Sam is more than willing to join her adventures and to try to get her back.

Includes:
✨Second Chance
✨Reverse Grumpy / Sunshine
✨Bucket List
✨Small Town
✨Opposites Attracts

🌶️Heat Level:
Kissing Only
Innuendo
Mild Language
Attraction/Tension:🔥🔥🔥

My Opinion:
Just like Harper, the second chance romance trope is not my favorite and needs to be well written so I can enjoy it. And that’s exactly what Genny did with this story. Harper and Sam are such a cute and fun couple. I love how you can see their emotions developed, and the way they get closer and closer is so swoony, that’s impossible not to enjoy their journey. Sam is such a romantic hero that all his declarations melted me, and whenever they are together, the chemistry is on point. This was just one of the books that I didn’t want it to end. So yes, Genny Carrick made me fall in love with a second chance book.

TW:Divorced Parents (Past).

[Kristy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second chance romance isn't always my favorite, but this one was cute. It takes place around Christmas, but doesn't necessarily scream "Christmas!" while you're reading.

I really love the family dynamics in this book, and will likely read the rest of the series.

[Abby Wall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stay This Christmas

What a cutie little Christmas romance! Brimming with Christmas cheer, quirky banter, and nosy family, this second-chance romance was a fun read.

Sam broke Harper’s heart in high school, and he has regretted it ever since. But now, he’s come back home, hoping for a chance to fix things. After dealing with his dad’s infidelity, he worries he’ll never be enough for the woman he loves. Harper’s heart never forgot her first (and only) love, but she’s battling major fears of failure and disappointing those she loves. A bucket list rekindles their friendship and sends them on a journey back to each other.

This is a closed-door novel with mild swearing, references to infidelity, some innuendo, moderately descriptive kisses, and a whole lot of sweet Christmas moments.

[Lynn Hyman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second Chances

I'm binge reading this series because I love the family dynamics and small towns and swoony romances. Sam is new in the series and back in town after being gone more than a decade. Harper has gotten her doctorate in physical therapy and has worked in Magnolia Ridge this whole time since Sam broke her heart. He's back to win her heart again, and she needs to break out of her routine life and carefully laid plans. It's a sweet story of facing truths, figuring out priorities, and the courage to live life to the fullest. Great happily ever after.

[Raye Verdin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do enjoy a good second chance romance. Sam and Harper were high school sweethearts, but their plans for after high school took them in different directions and they broke up. But they never really got over each other. Sam returns to Magnolia Ridge after 11 years and is determined to see if the spark is still there with Harper. Harper tries to fight it, but realizes her feelings never went away either. These two were so cute together and I enjoyed seeing them work through their fears and insecurities together.

[H · Rating 3 out of 5]

I kind of wish all the elderly people in Sam and Harper’s lives had gotten more screen time. I like a good set of geriatric characters, especially when they’re sassy and meddling and unrepentant. We got a little of that here, but I would have been happy for more. The actual story, and Sam and Harper as characters, was nice, though. I like a second chance romance done well—it’s surprisingly easy to NOT do it well—and this was sweet and well done.

[Susanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this second chance romance. I was a little disappointed in the main male character and his reason for leaving in the first place and his unwillingness to let her know why. However, the author did a good job of bringing the story full circle and having both characters come to terms with things.

[Tiffany · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars. Contains: one or two uses of mild language, kisses, mentions of infidelity, suggestive dialogue

I skimmed this book quite a bit. I really didn’t care for Sam. He didn’t seem very sincere. I really wanted him to have a heart-to-heart with his dad just as I wanted to be there for Harper’s conversation with Olivia.

[Jeri Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of Stay this Christmas

I really enjoyed this book and I will definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves romance novels. She is a very good writer and she is a new writer to me.

[Amelia S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super sweet!

Cute, heart flutteringly sweet, and adorable. Loved how the whole thing worked out! I read this specifically for a project, but I think I'll check out the rest of the series now.

[Mary Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

The life changing lists

This is a very good second chance Christmas romance. He broke up with her in their senior year. Ten years later he still missed her. Working part time at the sane place he kept eying her. It's a nice read.

[Marianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful small town romance.. perfect for the holidays. I loved this adorable couple! Romantic, funny, and will totally make you fall in love with second chance romance...

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

A light, fun read with both lead characters helping each other discover how to make their “opposites attract” and still hold on to what was important for their long term happiness.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

This was a great book. A swoony second chance romance, this book kept my interest from page one. I can't wait to read the next book.

[PollyAnna Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bah humbug!!

Second-chance romance. I didn't realize until Stay this Christmas that I am a fan of them, but clearly I loved Sam and Harper's story very much!

[Lindsay Rankin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story!

I enjoyed the story, the characters, and the writing style! This was a cute second chance romance.

Content:
Infrequent mild swear words
Occasional PG-13 innuendo

[Shreya Atul Mudgal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh my god...this was so adorable!! I couldn't stop giggling the whole time. I loved the banter, and the characters the most. A fluffy read.

[Daisy Dandelion · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wholeheartedly agree that it is better that your other half has a job he enjoys than suffering through a job he hates as a show of sacrifice. Been there, done that.

[S.C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not normally a second chance romance fan, but this book was beautiful. Harper and Sam were gold. Absolute gold.

[PottWab Regional Library]

O

[Lexee]

I DNF at 46%
I could not care less about any of the characters. I was just so bored the whole time

[Danielle Rebant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good one to add to your Christmas TBR

[Lilly Guirguis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a lovely funny book!

Sam and Harper were a lovely couple.

“I went and fell madly in love with you.”

[Abby Huffer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this one! A super cute second chance story. I loved Sam and Harper together, and that he came back to Magnolia Ridge because he realized what mattered most🤎

[Mia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ish the first second chance romance i’ve ever enjoyed. this series is super cute

[E.L. Irwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yet another fantastic 5 ⭐️ read from Genny Carrick. Adorable and heartfelt.

[Katherine Tedder · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stay This Christmas is a cozy second-chance, small-town holiday romance that blends Christmas magic, personal growth, and rekindled love into a heartwarming story. When Sam Donnelly returns home after a decade of globe-trotting, the last thing his ex, the ever-grounded heroine, wants is for him to disrupt her life again. But as fate (and her bucket list of new experiences) keeps throwing them together, old feelings resurface. She’s determined to bring back his holiday spirit, and he’s set on helping her break out of her comfort zone. But with Sam’s adventurous soul still longing for the open road, is she setting herself up for heartbreak all over again?

Tropes & Themes
Second-Chance Romance – Old love rekindles amidst holiday cheer.
Grumpy x Sunshine (With a Twist) – She’s full of Christmas spirit, he’s a Grinch.
Opposites Attract – A homebody and a world traveler clash in the best ways.
Bucket List Challenge – A fun, lighthearted way to push both characters outside their comfort zones.
Small-Town Holiday Charm – A close-knit community, festive traditions, and heartwarming moments.
Spice Level 🔥 (Closed Door)
This is a sweet romance—plenty of chemistry but no explicit or implied intimacy.


A warm and uplifting holiday romance that captures the magic of Christmas and the bittersweet tug of first love. Stay This Christmas delivers a heartfelt, slow-burn love story with playful banter, personal growth, and festive small-town charm. If you love closed-door, second-chance romances packed with holiday spirit, this is the perfect Christmas read! 🎄❄️❤️

[Sarah (tn.bibliophile) · Rating 5 out of 5]

holiday romance
exes rekindling
adventure bucket list
closed door romance

This holiday romance wrapped me in festive magic as the heroine’s adventure list meets the ex she thought she left behind. The blend of Christmas spirit and unresolved tension kept me turning pages late into the night. It is warm funny and beautifully nostalgic.

Content Warnings:
-kisses only
-no language