Merry Little Matchmas: A Collection of Winter Holiday Romances with Mischievous Matchmaking Ghosts

by Chanel Schwartz, Jessica Krueger, Emelia Stonefield

Merry Little Matchmas is a collection of four sweet and spicy holiday romance novellas.

The historic Bryson House Hotel is renowned for its indoor botanical gardens, natural hot springs, and five-star restaurant. Oh, and matchmaking ghosts.

While the staff won’t confirm it publicly, social media knows #mistletoemanor is where to go when love needs more than just a sign—it needs a supernatural shove. Bryson House’s resident spirits have a knack for pairing the right souls at exactly the right moment.

Last Christmas by Chanel Schwartz

After a decade of decking the Bryson House halls, holiday decorator Nicola has given up any hope for a ghost-made match with the hotel’s manager, her childhood friend West.

-Forced proximity
-Brother’s best friend
-Everyone else can see it


All I Want for Christmas Is Sparks by Jessica Krueger

After their one-night stand, Byrson House’s botanist Sadie thought she’d never see Clive again. Then he walked in with the power to destroy everything she loves.

-One-night stand
-She sees auras
-He’s a skeptic


Oops, I... Married A Demon by Emilia Stonefield

Nia doesn’t have much enthusiasm for the institution of marriage after being ditched at the altar. So, naturally, she’s more than a little taken aback when Carwyn, the demon she drunkenly summoned to be her fake date for her best friend’s destination wedding, reveals he’s technically her husband.

-Accidental marriage
-He falls first
-Clandestine communications


A Medium Rare Romance by Cassandra Trevelle

An obstinate ghost haunting the hotel kitchen gives Celeste, a flighty medium, and Angus, a five-star chef, their second chance at love.

-Second-chance romance
-She’s allergic to commitment
-Found family


Content Although these stories are stuffed with cute and cozy holiday vibes, they also feature characters who must process past traumas along the path to happily ever after.


In Last Christmas, Nicola and West must address their shared grief after the death of her brother (off-page). West has to address his PTSD and untreated anxiety disorder (on-page).In All I Want for Christmas Is Sparks and A Medium Rare Romance, Sadie and Celeste are childhood friends who met through the foster care system.In Oops, I… Married a Demon, Nia is still dealing with her emotionally manipulative ex.

382 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 21, 2025

About the author

Chanel Schwartz is a Pacific Northwest-based author and editor. On the rare occasion she isn't on her couch with a cat and a book, you can probably find her at a cocktail bar with a daiquiri in hand, lurking in the back at a punk show, or in some dive with a massive plate of nachos.

Reviews

[Sam Blevins · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a collection of stories at the Bryson House Hotel with meddling ghosts in each story. I absolutely loved that each author intertwined their stories with the other stories in the quartet.

Highly recommend this collection of stories to anyone who loves a Holiday HEA with meddling ghosts. Both seen and unseen but always helping!

Book 1 - Last Christmas by Chanel Schwartz @authorchanelschwartz
FMC Nic shows up to Bryson House Hotel for her last season and tries to come up with ways to tell her best friend, the manager, West. He, of course, only has eyes for her since it's always been her. The ghosts help the couple out by locking Nic in rooms and leading West to find her.
Tropes: Friends to lovers, forced proximity

Book 2 - All I Want for Christmas Is Sparks by Jessica Krueger @authorjessicakrueger

Sadie can see Auras and has a hard time telling anyone about it. Clive is the hotel's new consultant that may put Sadie's plant job on the line. They meet during a one night stand and hit it off but then get reintroduced in their respectful roles the following day at work.
Tropes: mistaken identity, one night stand

Book 3 - Oops, I…Married a Demon by Emelia Stonefield

Nia managed to summon the demon Carwyn from a cookie recipe and now they have a bargain between them. She gets invited to be part of her best friend's wedding who also happens to be marrying to the family of the man that left Nia at the altar.
Tropes: Fake Dating, jilted bride, Accidental marriage


Book 4 - A Medium Rare Romance by Cassandra Trevelle

Celeste has always been able to see ghosts and now Angus needs her help communicating with the restaurant's old head chef who is now a ghost.
Tropes: Second chance romance

[Sam Yaworski · Rating 5 out of 5]

A warm and cozy town, a tree lighting and matchmaking ghosts to keep you on your toes.

Take a ride on a funicular in the small town of Summer Springs to the famous holiday hotel the Bryson House aka Mistletoe Manor. A warm and cozy Tale that tackles the pain of loss and how it affects people especially during the holiday season. Nicola and West are perfect for each other and if they can move through their pain and loss they will be stronger together.

Auras and plants Clive and Sadie create the perfect opposites attract couple. I love the way he is so honest and truthful. Her ability to cross breed plants is also rather fascinating. I enjoy a good HEA.

Accidentally summoning a demon husband? This was my favorite story in the collection. Nia and Carywyn have such a charming relationship. Very love at first sight vibes. Accepted her deal just to protect her from other demons? And that Jake, what a fool! Nia is a relatable character and it's a unique story premise to be at a wedding with a runaway ex groom. Breaks the traditional trope of the runaway bride and for the setting to take place at a close family relation wedding so he can truly see what he lost. Maginfique!

Celeste and Angus also have such a unique story. A man who doesn't push the boundaries, and waits for her to be ready. She fled town last year and yet he still wants to try again. I really loved the way the 4 stories intertwined in the same location while each being their own Tale
A collaboration between four unique authors created a truly warm and cozy holiday masterpiece.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

[Kathryn Paluszak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Last Christmas-A sweet story that brings two childhood friends together while battling grief and PTSD. The chemistry between Nic and West is immediate and the tension is just ✨chefs kiss✨ I loved their story!

All I Want for Christmas is Sparks-This sweet tale brings together the ultimate gold retriever boyfriend and the sweet but shy emo girlfriend. The growth of the relationship as they except themselves and each other is so sweet! I absolutely adore Clive and Sadie’s story!

Oops, I…Married a Demon-Carwyn’s absolute devotion to Nia is the most precious thing EVER! The way he supports her and loves her is just adorable. As Nia learns to love him back their relationship grows and is such a treat to get to see! They both deserve their happily ever after.

A Medium Rare Romance-A flighty medium and a steadfast cook make the most unusual pair but their chemistry is off the charts! The caring and understanding Angus absolutely adores Celeste and is not planning on giving up on her. Their relationships ebbs and flows in a way that is perfect for them, and so adorable!

Overall this collection of short stories all were so fun to read. The way they all fit together and brought the Bryson House Hotel alive with Christmas spirit and love was such a fun experience to read! I fully enjoyed every page and look forward to reading more by these authors!

[AngieA Allen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I only finished Merry Little Matchmas: A Collection of Winter Holiday Romances with Mischievous Matchmaking Ghostsbecause I hate to abandon a book where someone is looking forward to my review. I even went back to the blurb on BookSirens, where I got this ARC, to see if I missed any of the usual code words (spicy, steamy, hot, etc.) that would lead me to believe I would be treated to f-bombing and open door sex scenes; it didn't. The word "spicy" does appear in the Goodreads blurb. The trigger/tropes did not include anything, either. So, I gave this book (4 stories in one) a 2 rating. The stories themselves were well thought out and plotted. I liked the idea of the haunted hotel and the mischievous ghosts. The characters faced things like childhood trauma and anxiety and it was handled well; but I found the expletives distracting and the descriptive sex scenes unnecessary. I would have avoided them altogether if the code words had been in the blurb. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Megen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this collection of short stories. All of the stories are centered around a haunted hotel and the people who orbit it.

Each story referenced people who would get their own story in the next story.

I loved that it was centered around Christmas. I loved that the ghosts always were involved and I appreciated the generalized anxiety representation with each story.

For me, it was 2/5 on the spicy meter but I get why it was. The stories centered around the romance more than the spice. I tend to like it a bit spicier but I get it for this collection.

The only reason I gave it a 4 instead of 5 stars is because of the last story in the collection and the spice level. While stories 1-3 were cohesive, felt longer than it actually was and made sense with each other, story 4 felt out of place and rushed. It wrapped up the final characters story but it didn't really revolve around the hotel like the rest of them did. It was fine but I would have ranked it higher if it were even somewhat similar to stories 1-3.

I would definitely recommend it for a cute, short holiday read

[Nathalie DeSousa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a collection of short paranormal romance stories around the Bryson House Hotel -aka The Mistletoe Manor. Each are fun, entertaining and laced with a bit of paranormal edge. Here are the books in this collection:

- Last Christmas - Nicola & Wes' story, best friends who with the help of the ghosts are brought together and find healing and love. A heartfelt story with heavy subjects and sweet relationship.

- All I Want For Christmas is Sparks - Sadie & Clive's story, a one night stand turns emo girl into an aura reader who reencounters with an skeptic but lovable man.

- Oops, I Married A Demon - Nia & Carwyn's story, a funny tale of a drunken night summoning by Nia ends with a marriage to a demon who will sweep her off her feet.

- A Medium Rare Romance - Celest & Angus' story, a second chance at love fueled by the kitched ghosts. An adorable story of care and understanding!

These are all short but entertaining reads you will devour!

-.

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

[Cat1 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kindle

Merry Little Matchmas is four quaint stories set at Bryson Hotel where matchmaking ghosts reside. Delightful novella for a charmed day of reading. These are very pleasant love stories with their own happily ever after.

Each story has its own theme. Last Christmas covers grief and PTSD, but Nic and West find love despite their jobs and meddling ghosts.

In All I Want for Christmas is Sparks, Sadie sees auras. Sadie has a hard time telling Clive this, since he's skeptical. Clive doesn't give up on Sadie and ends up very understanding of her talents.

Oops, I...Married A Demon. Carwyn seems more like an angel, than a demon. Carwyn helps Nia get through a tough breakup and they find love at last.

A Medium Rare Romance. Celeste speaks to ghosts and helps them. Celeste helps Chef Angus find his confidence as they fall in love. All four novella are a joy to read.

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

[Ingrid]

Nice Paranormal Christmas Collection with One Odd Story

This short story collection is a fun and cozy paranormal Christmas read, mostly centered around a hotel setting. I really enjoyed the concept — in the first three stories, you get to know each couple, and the next story always connects to the previous one. It’s a clever and engaging idea that ties the stories together beautifully.

However, story four felt a bit out of place. It didn’t really fit with the others and ended quite abruptly, which threw off the pacing a bit for me. Still, the collection as a whole was enjoyable and festive, and I liked the world the authors created.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Bookish.n.caffinated (Shannon) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Holidays in a beautiful small town hotel with hi jinxing ghosts? Yes please!! This compilation of paranormal romance novellas all taking place at the same hotel. Each story was sweet with a little spice and touch of ghostly encounters. I really enjoyed reading each story and liked that 3 of the 4 involved characters who were introduced in previous stories. The wedding story was odd in the set as it wasn’t as connected and felt the least Christmasy of the 4. Having said that there is very little Christmas at all which was a bit disappointing. I really enjoyed the wedding story and thought it might have been better as a full length novel as it felt a bit rushed to find the HEA in the end. Overall, I thought they were enjoyable and cute reads for the holiday season.

[Lucille Lachlan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great collection of stories. The start of this book is a really cute second chance with a sprinkling of the paranormal. The way anxiety is presented felt very relatable, especially how it overrides your ability to think. I love the themes of acceptance through the second story. They are drawn together and have work through the challenges between them, super sweet. There is a build up on the paranormal aspect that felt natural. In the third story we see a dive into the paranormal aspect and it is more prevalent through the story.

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

[Glenna Turney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Little Merry Matchmas is a wonderful Christmas read by Four Authors. All tying the story together with their story around the Bryson Hotel and its ghosts.

The haunted Bryson Hotel is the backdrop for the Christmas Season in each story. Characters know one another in one way or another. The relationships and meddling ghost will warm your heart and make you smile during a stressful time of the year.

Take a break, put your feet up and drink that hot chocolate while embracing the time in this book. This book is just that amazing!

*I received this book from BookSirens. Thank You!

[Diamanti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hello, people!
Today I will talk to you about a book that consists of 4 stories by different authors. All the stories are complete, unfold at the Bryson House Hotel and also have ghosts.
Each story has common and different tropes, it has couples that create different emotions in you, as is the case with their writings.
The reader experiences the cozy, funny and sweet atmospheres that each creator wants to capture on her paper canvas through their romances and rom-com plots.

Thank you very much to the authors and Booksprout for the eARC!

This is my honest review!

[Nicole Kowarsch · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such an adorable collection of novellas that all center around the Bryson House Hotel! Every single one of the characters in these 4 novellas were my favorite because all of their friendships were so adorable! The match making ghosts and the mischief they got into had me cracking up, like when they trapped Nic in the closet in Last Christmas 🤣 I also LOVE when authors cowrite stores like this because it gives each of the sections their own personality and spicy 😍

I received an ARC copy of Merry Little Matchmas, and all opinions are my own

[Heather Molin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Merry Little Matchmas is the perfect blend of paranormal, cozy, and romantic. This collection includes four holiday romances written by four different authors, all set in a hotel famous for its matchmaking ghosts. Each story is short but full of focusing on personal growth, overcoming past trauma, and learning how to accept true love. Despite their length, the stories feel complete and emotionally satisfying. With festive vibes and heartfelt moments this book is a sweet and comforting holiday read.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Gabriella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute, cozy, teeny dash of spice

Most of the times when authors work on a “shared world”, I have unfortunately found it comes across like they haven’t taken the time to read each other’s contributions. For once, that was not the case. You could technically read each story as a stand alone, but reading all 4 won’t leave you shaking your head at continuity errors.

All 4 stories are sweet, cozy, show moving, heart warming character growth, have cute, individual plot arcs resolved and the leave the reader feeling satisfied and uplifted.

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

Merry Little Matchmas is a fun holiday read. A great mixture of cozy ghosts - some with attitude - and Christmas cheer. Absolutely loved how each author kept to the overall theme and each story tied into the other stories seamlessly while maintaining their own styles. The overall writing style kept me engaged and rooting for the characters to get their happy ending. I received an advance review copy for free, however, I was really enjoying the book and love the cover so much that I purchased my own copy. I am leaving my review voluntarily.

[Berta Greenleaf Richardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such an enjoyable Christmas story with matchmaking ghosts thrown in. Each story has its own unique style but keeps the same theme running through it. Also the authors have kept true to the characters and had them continue through each story, Each story has its own quirks and plots but my favorite was "Oops… I Married a Demon". It was hilarious and sweet at the same time. These authors work well as a collaboration. I recommend this book to all romance readers who enjoy a little "spirit" with their romance.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Johanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful holiday romance collection with a touch of the paranormal.

The stories were all so well written and developed. The characters were very appealing and likeable. Plot was perfection and world building was excellent and solidly drawn. All in all a great read! Enjoyed immensely and highly recommend.

Grab a copy, kick back and enjoy!.

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

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

These 4 stories were all completely different but wove together really well. I love when I get to see a peak into the life of a character I've met before, especially after their HEA. A great read heading into the holiday season

[Desiree Glauner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to say, I’ve never really read “Christmas” books. But this one caught my eye and I just had to read it. Let me tell you.. absolutely was not disappointed. The story line in each “book” was phenomenal. The comedy, the romance, the plot.. I couldn’t put the book down. Read it within 24 hours. Even if you’ve never read a Christmasy book, I definitely recommend this one!

[Ally · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute, short, and sweet Christmas romance stories plus a haunted hotel. What else can you ask for? This was such an easy read and I thoroughly enjoyed each story and character. There is a little something for everyone in this.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Stacey Nadine Smiley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay these short stories are actually so dang amazing!

They could each be turned into a whole story themselves and I would read the shit out of all of them!

If you like Hauntings (but they're matchmakers) Historic Hotels, Cozy Sweet Winter Vibes and Characters sorting their shit out.. Then these are for you!

[Lindz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first holiday read of the season and it was so endearing. A book compromising of four different couples all with differing dynamics plus the hilarious addition of meddling match-making ghosts. What's not to love and enjoy about this read!.

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

[Scarlet · Rating 5 out of 5]

🎄Arc Review ❄️

Bryson Hotel where matchmaking is a job and the ghost inhabitants live to do it. This book contains multiple novellas revolving all around the Bryson hotel. If you want a cozy holiday read that'll make you want to team up with the paranormal and match those who need a push, this is the book for you. I highly recommend and this will personally be a reread for me every year.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an anthology by 4 writers who's stories are separate and complete, but also intertwine and all take plan in and around Bryson House during the holidays.

I loved each story and that they were connected, but standalone. While the stories overlapped some, it was nice to see a little of the 'after' from previous stories. A definite fun and easy read.

[The Book Ssirren · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a pretty cute collection of holiday novellas. I love the idea of this taking place in the hotel as well as the ghosts taking a part in these. I found it to be more spice with great romance. The story for each one was fun. I found this to be a warm and cozy holiday read.

[Danielle Vasquez · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you love Christmas and romance then this is a good book for you. Awesome if you like ghosts too

[Amy MamaBoreSnake · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved how all 4 books took place in the same hotel but the stories of each couple were so different. I am not sure I could pick a favorite.

[Roberta Godoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although all the stories take place around Christmas time, I was very happy to read them during Halloween. After all, ghosts, auras, and demons go well with the celebrations, don't they?

I can't say which of the four stories I liked best, whether it's the one where the ghosts trap the couple, or the one where the demon is afraid of them; I just know I liked them all.

Even though the book was written by four different people, the writing is coherent and fluid, making the pages fly by and a quick read.