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Grump Hard: A Scrooge vs Sunshine Small Town Christmas Romance
He hates Christmas. She's the ultimate fruitcake fan. This is war.
Billionaire Luke Ratcliffe is trapped in small-town Vermont for the holidays, forced to honor his late grandfather's dying wish. His survival plan? Avoid the locals, skip the festivities, and definitely don't get caught breaking into the town hall to destroy the town's hideous Christmas tree topper.
Too bad pet photographer Holly Hadley has him on tape.
Now Silver Bell Falls' resident sunshine enthusiast has blackmailed him into being her Grinchy holiday assistant: Tree lightings. Gingerbread competitions. Wrangling cats, dogs, and a chipmunk (don't ask) into Santa hats for the camera.
It's Luke's version of hell.
But somewhere between the forced holiday cheer and Holly's infectious laugh, the ice around his heart begins to thaw. She sees the man who's forgotten what it feels like to belong somewhere. To someone.
Can Sunshine and Scrooge really live happily ever after? Or is this mismatched holiday love doomed from the start?
Grump Hard is a re-imagining of the novella, The Grumpy Billionaire who Stole Christmas. The first two chapters are the same, but the following 50,000 words are brand new! This longer, steamier, full-length novel gives Luke & Holly an even more satisfying happily-ever-after and launches the Silver Bell Falls holiday series!
(Look for new books from Silver Bell Falls every November, just as it starts to smell like snow...)
Billionaire Luke Ratcliffe is trapped in small-town Vermont for the holidays, forced to honor his late grandfather's dying wish. His survival plan? Avoid the locals, skip the festivities, and definitely don't get caught breaking into the town hall to destroy the town's hideous Christmas tree topper.
Too bad pet photographer Holly Hadley has him on tape.
Now Silver Bell Falls' resident sunshine enthusiast has blackmailed him into being her Grinchy holiday assistant: Tree lightings. Gingerbread competitions. Wrangling cats, dogs, and a chipmunk (don't ask) into Santa hats for the camera.
It's Luke's version of hell.
But somewhere between the forced holiday cheer and Holly's infectious laugh, the ice around his heart begins to thaw. She sees the man who's forgotten what it feels like to belong somewhere. To someone.
Can Sunshine and Scrooge really live happily ever after? Or is this mismatched holiday love doomed from the start?
Grump Hard is a re-imagining of the novella, The Grumpy Billionaire who Stole Christmas. The first two chapters are the same, but the following 50,000 words are brand new! This longer, steamier, full-length novel gives Luke & Holly an even more satisfying happily-ever-after and launches the Silver Bell Falls holiday series!
(Look for new books from Silver Bell Falls every November, just as it starts to smell like snow...)
232 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 17, 2025
103 people are currently reading
90 people want to read
About the author
Lili Valente
150 books4,081 followersVisit Lili at www.lilivalente.com
Author of over forty novels, USA Today Bestseller Lili Valente writes everything from steamy suspense to laugh-out-loud romantic comedies. She can't resist a story where love wins big. Because love should always win. She lives in Vermont with her two big-hearted boy children and a dog named Pippa Jane.
*Lili rarely visits this site as it is a site intended for readers, not authors. If you have questions, the best way to reach Lili is through her website contact form. Happy reading!
Author of over forty novels, USA Today Bestseller Lili Valente writes everything from steamy suspense to laugh-out-loud romantic comedies. She can't resist a story where love wins big. Because love should always win. She lives in Vermont with her two big-hearted boy children and a dog named Pippa Jane.
*Lili rarely visits this site as it is a site intended for readers, not authors. If you have questions, the best way to reach Lili is through her website contact form. Happy reading!
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
December 7, 2025
A grumpy grinch billionaire falls for the sunshiniest Christmas loving small town girl over the holidays when she blackmails him into helping her get the town ready for the holidays. This was a hilarious slow burn, opposites attract, dual POV romance that was also great on audio. Perfect for fans of Tessa Bailey and Meghan Quinn!
December 10, 2025
I’ll keep this short because… unfortunately, this one flopped for me.
First red flag? Holly’s mom saying she can eat more cookies because “calories don’t count in this house during the holidays.”
Listen — maybe this rolls off other readers, but for me, that line immediately made me side-eye the book. It felt unnecessary and set an off tone right away.
Now onto the characters.
Holly herself? Adorable. Funny, bubbly, sunshine-coded, and genuinely trying her best to keep Luke on his toes.
Luke, however… Really said: “I am the Scrooge, and while I’m at it, let me also behave like an overgrown child.”
I just don’t get it. How is this billionaire — a man supposedly handling massive business deals with strategy and logic — yet unable to apply the most basic communication skills??? The entire third-act conflict is him seeing Holly hug a random guy and immediately leaping to the most dramatic, nonsensical conclusion possible.
Sir, be serious. *insert mega eyeball roll here*
And here’s the thing: I get what the author was trying to do. He’s the Scrooge. He’s cold. He snaps. He doesn’t know how to people. Fine. But this all happens at the 65–70% mark, so we spend most of the book watching him slowly melt, open up, grow, soften…
And then the VERY FIRST inconvenience (the “test” that wasn’t even a test — it was literally Holly hugging someone), he regresses harder than Barney Stinson in the How I Met Your Mother finale. Plots where character development gets tossed out the window at the last minute? WHY. Genuinely, why!?
At the end of the day, the miscommunication trope + infantilized reactions + off vibes from the start = just not a match for me.
Anywaaaaaaaays… not for moi.
First red flag? Holly’s mom saying she can eat more cookies because “calories don’t count in this house during the holidays.”
Listen — maybe this rolls off other readers, but for me, that line immediately made me side-eye the book. It felt unnecessary and set an off tone right away.
Now onto the characters.
Holly herself? Adorable. Funny, bubbly, sunshine-coded, and genuinely trying her best to keep Luke on his toes.
Luke, however… Really said: “I am the Scrooge, and while I’m at it, let me also behave like an overgrown child.”
I just don’t get it. How is this billionaire — a man supposedly handling massive business deals with strategy and logic — yet unable to apply the most basic communication skills??? The entire third-act conflict is him seeing Holly hug a random guy and immediately leaping to the most dramatic, nonsensical conclusion possible.
Sir, be serious. *insert mega eyeball roll here*
And here’s the thing: I get what the author was trying to do. He’s the Scrooge. He’s cold. He snaps. He doesn’t know how to people. Fine. But this all happens at the 65–70% mark, so we spend most of the book watching him slowly melt, open up, grow, soften…
And then the VERY FIRST inconvenience (the “test” that wasn’t even a test — it was literally Holly hugging someone), he regresses harder than Barney Stinson in the How I Met Your Mother finale. Plots where character development gets tossed out the window at the last minute? WHY. Genuinely, why!?
At the end of the day, the miscommunication trope + infantilized reactions + off vibes from the start = just not a match for me.
Anywaaaaaaaays… not for moi.
December 6, 2025
This was a cute and heartwarming story. It’s about putting caution to the wind and placing your heart on the line. In this case it was a group effort between Holly and Luke. There was some dancing around feelings but the attraction was there, even if it wasn’t physical. In this story, the interest was strictly based on how Holly made Luke feel mentally and she just wanted to fix him and bring back the magic he felt years ago during Christmas. When we first meet Luke he was a shell of a man. He lived to work and had banished anything merry or good about Christmas from his mind because of how his father raised him and set him up to take over the company. Like Holly, I think he just needed to be shown all that is good for the holidays and see it through different eyes which is why she embarks on a volunteer blackmail journey. You have to read the story to find out, there’s nothing sinister or evil about it. The blackmail ends up being all in good fun and was used as a way to get Luke to enjoy the holidays again while also giving room for a relationship to build. Luke didn’t know it at the time but he wasn’t opposed to the idea since he had this pull and interest towards her which surprisingly doesn’t end up being sexual, not until the end. I think what I enjoyed about the book is Holly’s attitude and way she views the world. She looks at it with so much trust, wonder and what could be. This is also how she decides to see where this connection with Luke will lead. I also liked how she so easily turned Luke’s views of the holidays around and gets him to embrace and enjoy it again. What was a nice change too, though wasn’t exactly welcome was what ends up putting a wedge between Holly and Luke. Instead of the heroine seeing something that gets her to question everything, this book had Luke go through this. Towards the end of the book he ends up overthinking and worrying that he jumped to conclusions too quickly and has a change of heart. What follows is a journey of self reflection, searching his feelings and embracing his newfound emotions that get brought out by Holly and envelopes him back to that sense of excitement, wonder and beautiful things, which is hard to do when you are surrounded by wealth and how it easily can get forgotten. It was a good message but I think it was just missing that extra dose of lust that I’m used to. I know this book wasn’t really about that but I would have liked to see more playful trysts, passion induced moments and more desire oozing in the pages which is why this gets a 4 from me. It wasn’t exactly a wholesome story but more about the message regarding the holidays and what they are all about. I’m not mad about it, I just would have liked that, with more sensuality and seduction. It seems l might get that with the next segment though so I’m looking forward to that but I guess that’s a year out which would make sense.
November 12, 2025
I love when a grumpy man finds the happiness he didn’t know he was looking for. “Grump Hard” is a fun, flirty and heartfelt grumpy/sunshine holiday romance that was a fun romance to help kick off the holiday season.
Christmas is definitely not Luke Ratcliffe’s favorite time of year but he’s in Vermont with his siblings honoring his grandfather’s last wish. He wanted to hide out at the house and not get caught breaking into the town hall to destroy their ugly tree topper. But when Holly Hadley, local town and pet photographer catches him and blackmails him into being her holiday helper. But as they spend time together spreading the holiday cheer, Luke’s heart starts to defrost and he sees what he’s been missing all these years while building his empire.
From the first chapter, I was hooked on Luke and Holly. Luke is a classic grump who is close with his family, a hard worker, and spent his whole adult life building his empire. He was forced by his father when he was younger to give up his childhood and learn to become the successor that he wanted. That definitely put a damper on any Christmas spirit he might have had. Holly is sunshine in a Christmas sweater and I loved her so much. She’s a photographer who loves taking pictures of animals. She’s kind, genuine and has a big heart. She’s been in the small town her whole life and loves the community they built. These two started out as just friends but I loved the slow ice melting around Luke’s heart for them to realize that they had potential to be more than just friends. The two have a slight misunderstanding which brings the Grump back out but thankfully they work on it like adults. Cheeks the Chipmunk was adorable and I love when we get a quirky animal in a story. The ending was so romantic and I can’t wait for the next book.
Christmas is definitely not Luke Ratcliffe’s favorite time of year but he’s in Vermont with his siblings honoring his grandfather’s last wish. He wanted to hide out at the house and not get caught breaking into the town hall to destroy their ugly tree topper. But when Holly Hadley, local town and pet photographer catches him and blackmails him into being her holiday helper. But as they spend time together spreading the holiday cheer, Luke’s heart starts to defrost and he sees what he’s been missing all these years while building his empire.
From the first chapter, I was hooked on Luke and Holly. Luke is a classic grump who is close with his family, a hard worker, and spent his whole adult life building his empire. He was forced by his father when he was younger to give up his childhood and learn to become the successor that he wanted. That definitely put a damper on any Christmas spirit he might have had. Holly is sunshine in a Christmas sweater and I loved her so much. She’s a photographer who loves taking pictures of animals. She’s kind, genuine and has a big heart. She’s been in the small town her whole life and loves the community they built. These two started out as just friends but I loved the slow ice melting around Luke’s heart for them to realize that they had potential to be more than just friends. The two have a slight misunderstanding which brings the Grump back out but thankfully they work on it like adults. Cheeks the Chipmunk was adorable and I love when we get a quirky animal in a story. The ending was so romantic and I can’t wait for the next book.
November 17, 2025
Love and holiday revelations
I loved Holly and Luke’s opposites attract, grumpy-sunshine small town holiday romance with shades of Scrooge and Grinch. This was a sweet swoony funny and heart warming tale about embracing love and kindness in order to live your best life. Holly is a happy pet photographer in small town Jingle Bell Junction. Luke is a billionaire who returned to town only to comply with a stipulation in his grandfather’s will. When Holly catches a tipsy Luke attempting to steal and destroy the Town’s weird peg leg Christmas tree topper, she blackmails him into helping her at three holiday events. The “blackmail” starts the journey to their HEA and oh what a fun, hilarious and healing journey it is. Luke and Holly are portrayed as real, relatable and likable characters who have flaws and scars but are just doing their best as messy humans. The book has a little bit of everything - sweet moments, spice, hilarity, painful pasts, big feels, a quirky chipmunk, and all the life revelations a good Christmas story should include. The book is well written, with characters with depth who grow and an engaging storyline. Definitely a book worth adding to your holiday reading list. I’m excited there will be more sibling books in the future.
I loved Holly and Luke’s opposites attract, grumpy-sunshine small town holiday romance with shades of Scrooge and Grinch. This was a sweet swoony funny and heart warming tale about embracing love and kindness in order to live your best life. Holly is a happy pet photographer in small town Jingle Bell Junction. Luke is a billionaire who returned to town only to comply with a stipulation in his grandfather’s will. When Holly catches a tipsy Luke attempting to steal and destroy the Town’s weird peg leg Christmas tree topper, she blackmails him into helping her at three holiday events. The “blackmail” starts the journey to their HEA and oh what a fun, hilarious and healing journey it is. Luke and Holly are portrayed as real, relatable and likable characters who have flaws and scars but are just doing their best as messy humans. The book has a little bit of everything - sweet moments, spice, hilarity, painful pasts, big feels, a quirky chipmunk, and all the life revelations a good Christmas story should include. The book is well written, with characters with depth who grow and an engaging storyline. Definitely a book worth adding to your holiday reading list. I’m excited there will be more sibling books in the future.
December 26, 2025
Another Lili Valente winner!
I am a huge fan of Lili Valente and devour everything she releases, so I was thrilled to dive into Grump Hard. This book is a total holiday delight!
Luke and Holly have such incredible chemistry. Watching a stony, "Scrooge" billionaire get completely unraveled by a small-town sunshine enthusiast is one of my favorite things to read, and Lili handles the trope with her signature wit and heat. The Vermont setting is incredibly cozy, and the plot kept the pages turning fast. I also loved the fun touch of Holly's pet photography business—it added such a charming, unique flair to her character! The HEA ride off into the sunset with a chipmunk pal is an adorable touch, too.
If you’re looking for a perfect blend of "grumpy/sunshine," holiday magic, and some steam in a shorter holiday read, you can’t go wrong with this one. I can't wait to see what else happens in this series!
I am a huge fan of Lili Valente and devour everything she releases, so I was thrilled to dive into Grump Hard. This book is a total holiday delight!
Luke and Holly have such incredible chemistry. Watching a stony, "Scrooge" billionaire get completely unraveled by a small-town sunshine enthusiast is one of my favorite things to read, and Lili handles the trope with her signature wit and heat. The Vermont setting is incredibly cozy, and the plot kept the pages turning fast. I also loved the fun touch of Holly's pet photography business—it added such a charming, unique flair to her character! The HEA ride off into the sunset with a chipmunk pal is an adorable touch, too.
If you’re looking for a perfect blend of "grumpy/sunshine," holiday magic, and some steam in a shorter holiday read, you can’t go wrong with this one. I can't wait to see what else happens in this series!
January 16, 2026
Grump Hard ended up being a three-star read for me. While I liked the idea behind the story, the execution didn’t quite land the way I hoped.
The biggest issue for me was the pacing of the romance. There wasn’t much buildup, and the relationship progressed so quickly that it was hard to feel invested. One chapter in particular felt like a complete shift in direction, with Luke’s character doing a sudden 180 that didn’t feel earned or believable to me.
I also struggled a bit with the writing style, which just wasn’t my personal preference. That made it harder to connect with the characters and stay fully engaged in the story, even during moments that were clearly meant to be emotional or romantic.
This wasn’t a bad book, but it felt rushed and underdeveloped in ways that kept it from being more enjoyable for me. I can see how readers who prefer faster-paced romances or this author’s writing style might still enjoy it, but overall it didn’t quite work for me.
The biggest issue for me was the pacing of the romance. There wasn’t much buildup, and the relationship progressed so quickly that it was hard to feel invested. One chapter in particular felt like a complete shift in direction, with Luke’s character doing a sudden 180 that didn’t feel earned or believable to me.
I also struggled a bit with the writing style, which just wasn’t my personal preference. That made it harder to connect with the characters and stay fully engaged in the story, even during moments that were clearly meant to be emotional or romantic.
This wasn’t a bad book, but it felt rushed and underdeveloped in ways that kept it from being more enjoyable for me. I can see how readers who prefer faster-paced romances or this author’s writing style might still enjoy it, but overall it didn’t quite work for me.
November 24, 2025
*4.5 stars*
Squirrelly, good Christmas fun…
The holidays are all about family, emotions and (unfortunately) fruitcake. Luke’s take on it all is the grumpiest for sure (he earned that title) but I laughed at the circumstances around his meet cute with Holly. With her very appropriate name) sounding the Christmas bells, she ropes Luke into his worst nightmare – Christmas, Christmas all the time. While this is not a second chance romance, this was not their first meeting and what followed was an uproariously funny back and forth made only better by the emotional tugs along the way. THIS. This is what Christmas is about – love, laughter and of course a chipmunk (that stole my heart).
Loved it!
*I happily reviewed this story
Squirrelly, good Christmas fun…
The holidays are all about family, emotions and (unfortunately) fruitcake. Luke’s take on it all is the grumpiest for sure (he earned that title) but I laughed at the circumstances around his meet cute with Holly. With her very appropriate name) sounding the Christmas bells, she ropes Luke into his worst nightmare – Christmas, Christmas all the time. While this is not a second chance romance, this was not their first meeting and what followed was an uproariously funny back and forth made only better by the emotional tugs along the way. THIS. This is what Christmas is about – love, laughter and of course a chipmunk (that stole my heart).
Loved it!
*I happily reviewed this story
January 20, 2026
What a cute holiday read. Grumpy Grinchy meets Sunshine. Although Luke and Holly Jo use to play together when they were kids. Until his father took that all away from him. When in a drunken state Luke decided he's going to steal and burn the smelly rotten peg leg the town uses as their tree topper little Miss Sunshine Holly Jo catches him in the act and blackmails him to do her will for three weeks. She's got three weeks to turn his grumpy butt and black heart around. Can she do it? Hmmm not telling you'll have to read hand find out. Oh yeah you're going to love cheeks (a chipmunk with spunk). I can wait the read Elliot's and Nancy's story when it comes out November 2026. UGH we have to wait so long.
November 22, 2025
Quirky, fun holiday read.
This is a fuller size of the former novella, “The Grumpy Billionaire Who Stole Christmas”. The beginning is the same, but you get more this time around.
Holly is just jolly and full of holiday spirit, so basically the exact opposite of Luke who is bah humbug about all things Christmas. These two knew each other growing up, but with the age gap - they’ve lost touch.
Luke definitely has different feelings towards Holly as an adult and Holly’s long-standing crush on Luke is now in full force.
Cute holiday read with quirky fun and of course a quirky animal that is always a special Lili Valente treat.
I voluntarily requested and read an advance reader copy.
This is a fuller size of the former novella, “The Grumpy Billionaire Who Stole Christmas”. The beginning is the same, but you get more this time around.
Holly is just jolly and full of holiday spirit, so basically the exact opposite of Luke who is bah humbug about all things Christmas. These two knew each other growing up, but with the age gap - they’ve lost touch.
Luke definitely has different feelings towards Holly as an adult and Holly’s long-standing crush on Luke is now in full force.
Cute holiday read with quirky fun and of course a quirky animal that is always a special Lili Valente treat.
I voluntarily requested and read an advance reader copy.
January 18, 2026
**My thanks to the author for providing me with a free copy for an honest review**
ALERT: Grump Hard is a re-imagining of the novella, The Grumpy Billionaire who Stole Christmas. The first two chapters are the same, but the following 50,000 words are brand new! This longer, steamier, full-length novel gives Luke & Holly an even more satisfying happily-ever-after and launches the Silver Bell Falls holiday series!
I loved the book the first time and I love the re-write just as much, especially as there is more of it.
Luke certainly changes his way, not without a little hurt for both the main characters, but he pulls his thumb out and realises his mistake.
Holly is a character that sees the bad in the world, but chooses for show love and kindness.
I loved the characters and cannot wait to read Nancy and Elliots story.
ALERT: Grump Hard is a re-imagining of the novella, The Grumpy Billionaire who Stole Christmas. The first two chapters are the same, but the following 50,000 words are brand new! This longer, steamier, full-length novel gives Luke & Holly an even more satisfying happily-ever-after and launches the Silver Bell Falls holiday series!
I loved the book the first time and I love the re-write just as much, especially as there is more of it.
Luke certainly changes his way, not without a little hurt for both the main characters, but he pulls his thumb out and realises his mistake.
Holly is a character that sees the bad in the world, but chooses for show love and kindness.
I loved the characters and cannot wait to read Nancy and Elliots story.
December 1, 2025
Perfect holiday quick read/quick listen romance. Lili Valente is a very talented narrator. I had no idea until this book! Jason Clarke ate… as always 👏 no crumbs, sir!
I’d recommend anything she writes, but this was especially perfect given the season. I’m off to her fake dating a hot Brit book yet.. cannot wait to dive in to that story!
I’d recommend anything she writes, but this was especially perfect given the season. I’m off to her fake dating a hot Brit book yet.. cannot wait to dive in to that story!
December 6, 2025
Luke and Holly will make you swoon and fall in love with them!! If you love a sunshiny, fun loving woman and a handsome grinch then this book is for you!! Holly breaks down his walls and he finally realizes that she is his soul mate!! Grab this book and enjoy the journey this couple must get through!!
December 14, 2025
I enjoyed this book so much! Really love Lucas the grumpy grinch and Holly the Golden Retriver combo ☺️ Almost every chapter made me giddy and giggle, their interaction is just cute and sweet! Really love Holly's outlook on life and people, I could learn a thing or two from her. Rated this read 4.25/5.00.
December 25, 2025
Very cute!!!
The characters are all so lovable!!!! Everyone in the town, both families, Cheeks....I love them all! Even Luke in his prime grumpiness is very lovable. 100% recommend!
The characters are all so lovable!!!! Everyone in the town, both families, Cheeks....I love them all! Even Luke in his prime grumpiness is very lovable. 100% recommend!
December 11, 2025
Had a great time 😊
December 15, 2025
this book was the perfect y/n and ceo fan fiction!! LMAOO it was cute
December 23, 2025
This was a cute grumpy/sunshine Christmas book. Everything just came together so quickly in the end it felt rushed a little bit
December 23, 2025
DNFed, likely a mood readin DNF more than anything.
It was just too over the top
It was just too over the top
December 24, 2025
4,5 stars
December 26, 2025
started off fine, nothing spectacular. the last chapter and epilogue were written like it was a different author. luke's sudden understanding of cheeks was ridiculous to say the least
January 3, 2026
2.5 stars rounded down... pretty boring.
January 7, 2026
Great holiday read even if it's January. Loved Luke and Hadley together. Great cast of characters and of course "cheeks".
January 12, 2026
THIS BOOK WAS SO GOOD! I wasn’t sure about it at first but I ended up liking it so much! It was a great Christmas read!
January 31, 2026
Luke and Holly’s Grinch/Sunshine holiday romance is an absolute delight from start to finish. When Mr. Bah Humbug steals the town founders decaying peg leg he finds himself blackmailed by the town’s pet photographer and ambassador of good cheer. Silver Bell Falls is a charming holiday town absolutely dripping in Christmas spirit and the emotionally stunted, workaholic billionaire gets stuck performing good deeds with a pint sized woman in a reindeer costume complete with antlers and a colorful bulbous nose. It’s a holiday extravaganza where Luke’s heart expands more than two sizes, a pet chipmunk named Cheeks steals the show, and Holly is bound and determined to turn his frown upside down with the magic of Christmas. It’s a charming, emotionally appealing, opposites attract romance that I read in one sitting. I can’t wait for the next Silver Bell Falls adventure coming in November of 2026.
December 18, 2025
Lili Valente could teach a master class in how to write a romantic comedy. Every book I have read by her has multiple laugh-out-loud moments; fun, funny, flawed characters; steamy scenes hot enough to melt your face off (in a good way); and often a mischievous pet causing tomfoolery and mayhem. In short, they're perfect. In Grump Hard, you will find all of these things.
If the first two chapters sound familiar, that's because they are. Lili co-wrote the novella The Grumpy Billionaire Who Stole Christmas with Erin McCarthy back in 2022, and with Erin's permission, expanded it into a full-length holiday novel. I loved both stories and the narration of Grump Hard is terrific, with Jason Clarke as the grumpy billionaire to Lili's festive pet photographer. Jason has the perfect voice for a grump, and Lili is the perfect perky holiday junkie.
So if you're looking for something lighthearted to listen to while you're baking holiday cookies, give Grump Hard a listen. I promise you will laugh, you will swoon, and you'll only want to scream a little.
If the first two chapters sound familiar, that's because they are. Lili co-wrote the novella The Grumpy Billionaire Who Stole Christmas with Erin McCarthy back in 2022, and with Erin's permission, expanded it into a full-length holiday novel. I loved both stories and the narration of Grump Hard is terrific, with Jason Clarke as the grumpy billionaire to Lili's festive pet photographer. Jason has the perfect voice for a grump, and Lili is the perfect perky holiday junkie.
So if you're looking for something lighthearted to listen to while you're baking holiday cookies, give Grump Hard a listen. I promise you will laugh, you will swoon, and you'll only want to scream a little.
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December 22, 2025Loved this.
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