Big and Grumpy: A Mountain Man Instalove Grumpy Sunshine Romance

by Celia Skye

MARIGOLD
Moving to a remote cabin was supposed to be my fresh start after catching my fiancé cheating. I wasn't looking for a neighbor, especially not one as surly as Holt Hartwell. The man practically growls when I offer him homemade cookies. But when a fallen branch damages my porch, he shows up with tools and quiet competence. Beneath that grumpy exterior beats a heart that's been broken before, and despite my best intentions, I find myself determined to bring light back into his solitary world—one baked good at a time.

HOLT
Two years after my divorce destroyed both my marriage and my business, I've perfected the art of keeping people at arm's length. Then Marigold moves in next door with her sunshine smile and endless optimism. I should be annoyed by her persistent cheerfulness, but watching her stand on her porch with determination in her eyes, something protective stirs inside me. When a storm forces us to shelter together, the walls I've built begin to crumble. She sees past my gruff exterior to the man beneath, and for the first time since everything fell apart, I'm wondering if second chances are possible after all.

Big and Grumpy is a heartwarming instalove romance featuring a sunshine-grumpy pairing that melts even the coldest hearts. With forced proximity during a storm, emotional healing, and neighbors-to-lovers tension, this second book in the Big Boys Love Curves series delivers the perfect blend of brooding hero and determined heroine for readers who believe true connection can break through the toughest walls.

40 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 4, 2025

Reviews

[Chandra Luna · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you've ever wanted to knock on your grumpy neighbor's door with a plate of cookies and accidentally end up stealing his heart, then Celia Skye’s Big and Grumpy is exactly the cozy, emotionally rich romance you didn’t know you were craving.

Marigold is the kind of heroine you root for from page one. After catching her fiancé cheating just three weeks before the wedding, she doesn’t crumble—she packs up her heart, her oven mitts, and her optimism, and moves into a cabin in the woods for a fresh start. Honestly, her strength hit me right in the feels. She’s been hurt, but she hasn’t lost her spark—and that made me fall for her even faster than Holt did.

Speaking of Holt... the man is a mountain. Big, bearded, and built like a grizzly in permanent hibernation, he wants nothing to do with anyone—especially not the too-sweet new neighbor with the sunny smile and a plate of cookies. But what Marigold doesn’t know (and what we, the lucky readers, start to see) is that Holt’s not rude—he’s wounded. He’s lonely in a way that seeps into his bones. He’s hiding behind solitude not because he wants it, but because he thinks he deserves it.

But Marigold? She doesn’t give up that easily.

The moment that tree crashes across her porch and Holt comes to the rescue like a reluctant lumberjack guardian angel, the tone shifts—and it’s so satisfying. From there, Marigold does what she does best: she loves with quiet kindness. Fresh-baked bread. Thoughtful meals left on his porch. No expectations. No pressure. Just warmth. And Holt… starts to thaw.

And let me tell you—watching this man crumble slowly, softly, and then all at once? My heart was gone. There’s something so real about the way their connection unfolds.Just two bruised hearts learning how to trust again—one cookie at a time.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Mafia Wife · Rating 3 out of 5]

She is looking forward to staying i the cabin as a new start. She works remotely so she can work from anywhere, why not a cabin in the woods. It doesn't hurt that the neighbor is a huge handsome mountain man. He seems to have sworn off love, until the night of the storm and a tree lands on her cabin. He brings her back to his and can no longer deny the chemistry between them. He has to take a chance and believe he might be worth fighting for, and she isn't his ex. They have some steam. I love her name. I think they have a decent little story, but I wish they had a little more interaction, I felt they needed a little more push and pull to really make you feel when the tension finally blows.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Smart Cookie · Rating 5 out of 5]

“We stand there in comfortable silence, two people who've been burned by love and are still figuring out how to trust again.”

Celia Skye has done it once again! Her writing is effortlessly captivating, and she always creates characters you can’t help but root for. This book is a standalone with a satisfying HEA (Happily Ever After), but it also feels like the perfect continuation of the Hartwell cousins' journey.

This spicy sunshine vs. grumpy romance features two characters who've been through heartache and are trying to rebuild their trust in love. Marigold and Holt have deep trust issues to overcome, but the can they find love again? You’ll have to read to find out!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lisa Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marigold needed a fresh start after finding her fiancé cheating on her. She was not looking for anything but there is something about her grumpy neighbor, Holt Hartwell that makes her want to sweeten his disposition. He is there to help on when her porch is damaged by a fallen branch. Marigold keeps leaving him baked goods and finally gets thank yous.

Holt's divorce took away everything he built and had him leery of starting over and lose it all again. Marigold makes him want something more, is he willing to take the risk? Marigold is just sweet enough to break through his shell.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Curvy Girl Book Nerd (Jen S) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marigold and Holt

Big and Grumpy is Book 2 of the Big Boys Love Curves series. It's a short and steamy, instalove, OTT, opposites-attract, forced-proximity, curvy girl gets her mountain man romance. Marigold is a curvy ray of sunshine who just moved to town after finding her fiancée cheating. Holt is her burly, hunky, grumpy neighbor with a heart of gold. These two were great together. They had both been hurt before and were able to help heal each other. The chemistry was pure fire and  the ending was happy.

[Angi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holt has been hurt and is trying his hardest to keep the world out. Marigold is full of happiness and sunshine. They circle around being neighbors and Holt tries to keep her at a distance and she refuses to back away. This adorable book is a fantastic short read that proves sometimes you just need to give love a chance.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marigold moves next to Holt when she decides to move away to Alberta. She offers cookies but it’s when a big branch falls on her porch that they really start interacting. This is a wonderful story about two people who have been hurt by loved ones who learn to take another chance on a relationship. A great book!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is both sweet and steamy. Holt has become a hermit since his divorce two years ago, which was a painful and messy experience for him. Now he has a new neighbor, Marigold. Marigold is a daily ray of sunshine, and Holt can't understand why she is being kind to him, a grumpy hermit. I love these two, Holt and Marigold. It’s an excellent low-drama plot with the perfect happily ever after.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Ineta · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Marigold comes into Holt's life, with her aggressively cheerful disposition, it was not what he expected. But her dramatic life change move changed their both lives. They are so right for each other. Loved both wonderful characters and their interactions. Beautiful instalove romance to enjoy in one go.
And it is great addition to the beautiful series - Big Boys Love Curves. Can't wait for more.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

The attraction may have been instant, but Holt fought it as long as he could. Fortunately, Marigold didn’t give up, she just kept being her happy, optimistic, giving self.
This beautiful love story has wonderful characters, and a great storyline.
This was the perfect quick read, with a fabulous ending.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maybe it's true that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach. Just kidding it's probably through his pants. Another great short story by Celia Skye. Good setup and hot action with a happy ending.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Teri Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Celia Sky’s books. The ones I’ve read have been as sweet as they can be. The main characters and even most secondary characters are kind and giving. They feel genuine. This was mostly a happy book and it gave me a warm feeling. I loved it and would recommend it.

[Debbie Benson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and voluntarily leaving a review. I liked how Marigold's sweetness captures Holt's heart and how they heal each other's hearts so they can be happy together.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marigold and Holt’s characters seem pretty realistic in some ways. I think Celia did a wonderful job writing their story as well as this romance book. It makes you feel like no matter how bad things may be at times there is a rainbow waiting to show up after the storm.

[Julie's Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book of the Big Boys Love Curves series and a standalone story. Ms. Skye gives a fun, quick read and a HEA.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jennifer D · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a sweet second chance love story. Grumpy-sunshine, Mountain man vibes. It was very sweet, low angst, low spice, easy to read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Vicky Reynolds · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable read on a quiet day

The mountain community seems to draw women recovering from bad relationships. To lonely mountain men who find what they didn't know was missing from their lives.

[Nate · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed big and grumpy which was Holt and Marigold’s story. It was an entertaining read. I received an early copy. And voluntarily leaving this review.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fairly quick read is actually a lot of fun. A grumpy broken Man meets a woman who sees thepugh the crankiness and helps him find happiness again. Love the cousins dynamics.