A Grumpy Christmas

Cheerful #3

by Alexa Riley

Molly runs the local bakery in Cheerful, which means she's constantly busy. Combine that with an inability to advocate for herself, and it's a lot of big emotions being bottled up. When the grumpiest man she's ever met literally smashes the cake she's trying to deliver to him, all she can do is paste a smile on her face and try not to cry. What she doesn't expect is for the grouchy jerk to hunt her down and vow to make it up to her.

Noah has been told by plenty of people that he scowls too much, or that he's flat-out rude. He doesn't mean to be, but he also doesn't soften his words to play nice. He's direct and to the point, and that can come across as him being a jerk. It's not until the town's baker drops a cake on his porch that he realizes he's made a huge mistake. One look at Molly and he's ready to do anything to get in her good graces.

Welcome to Cheerful, a town that loves Christmas almost as much as it loves Happily Ever Afters. This is the place to be if you need a hefty dose of holiday cheer, or you're looking to have your stocking stuffed. Grab your coziest pajamas and hot chocolate because it's about to get festive.

Genres: Romance, Novella, Holiday, Christmas, Forced Proximity, Contemporary Romance, Small Town Romance

105 pages, ebook

Published December 9, 2025

About the author

Alexa Riley is two sassy friends who got together and wrote some dirty books. They are both married moms of two who love football, donuts, and obsessed book heroes.

They specialize in insta-love, over-the-top, sweet, and cheesy love stories that don’t take all year to read. If you want something SAFE, short, and always with a happily ever after, then Alexa Riley is for you!

Feel free to follow us each on twitter @smut_sasshole & @SassNSmut

Reviews

[Milica's Bookshelf · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's cute, xmas novella... perfect for holiday reading.

[Kellyythoralabatalla · Rating 2 out of 5]

si me cayó mal el MMC 🤨 pero bueno, no puedo pedir más.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

AR books are always a hit or a total airball. This one worked for me. Characters were flushed out and the love story was cute. Just dirty enough.

[Serena Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

’¿Acaso estaba yo viviendo antes de besarla? No estoy seguro de nada antes de hoy. Antes de este beso.’



•Mi opinión puede contener Spoilers.
•Esta destinada a ser un descargo personal no para que alguien más lea pero si lo haces y te ofende, me disculpo porque sé lo que es que te guste un libro y otros lo critiquen.



A Grumpy Christmas de Alexa Riley serie Cheerful libro 3

Argumento:

Molly regenta la panadería local en Cheerful, lo que significa que está siempre ocupada. Si a eso le sumamos su incapacidad para defenderse, tenemos un montón de emociones fuertes reprimidas. Cuando el hombre más gruñón que ha conocido le destroza el pastel que intenta entregarle, lo único que puede hacer es sonreír y no llorar. Lo que no espera es que el gruñón la persiga y le prometa compensarla.

Mucha gente le ha dicho a Noah que frunce el ceño demasiado o que es completamente grosero. No es su intención, pero tampoco suaviza sus palabras para ser amable. Es directo y conciso, y eso puede parecer un imbécil. No es hasta que al panadero del pueblo se le cae un pastel en el porche que se da cuenta de su grave error. Con solo mirar a Molly, está dispuesto a hacer lo que sea para congraciarse con ella.

Bienvenidos a Cheerful, un pueblo que ama la Navidad casi tanto como los "Felices para siempre". Este es el lugar ideal si necesitas una buena dosis de alegría navideña o si buscas llenar tus calcetines navideños. Ponte tu pijama más abrigado y disfruta de un chocolate caliente porque se acerca la Navidad.


Mi humilde opinión:

Romance con atracción instantánea, gruñón-sol, vibras navideñas.

La historia de amor de Molly y Noah tuvo sus momentos divertidos y sexys. Me gustó el ambiente navideño y que me mostraran un poco del trabajo de Molly en su pastelería, se me hizo agua la boca con los dulces que nombraron. Por supuesto que le rosa es un color navideño! Me encanta combinarlo con los tradicionales.

Noah al principio fue un total imbécil con Molly, cuando se conocen su pastel de bienvenida queda destruido y no tiene las mejores palabras para ella, yo no le hubiera aceptado las disculpas fácilmente pero después de cocinarle a Molly a modo de disculpas no pasa mucho antes de que vea un futuro con ella. A pesar de que al principio Cheerful y toda su eterna alegría le molesta, él esta dispuesto a mudarse para estar con ella y eso es amor para mi. Lo único que me sacó de quicio es la falta de comunicación, Molly es la reina de enviar señales confusas a Noah y él que no es bueno hablando era peor! Por suerte Noah toma la decisión y hay un romántico momento de confesiones y un epilogo a siente años que me gusto mucho.

[Sue · Rating 2 out of 5]

A Grumpy Christmas by Alexa Riley is a cozy, romance-first holiday novella that embraces festive charm, devotion, and the comfort of a guaranteed happily-ever-after.

Molly owns and runs the local bakery in Cheerful, a town that wholeheartedly celebrates Christmas. Always busy and reluctant to stand up for herself, she keeps her stress and emotions neatly tucked away. When she delivers a cake to Noah—the town’s notoriously grumpy resident—an unfortunate accident leaves the cake destroyed and Molly humiliated. Expecting nothing more than an awkward encounter, she’s surprised when Noah seeks her out afterward, determined to make things right. Though known for his scowl and blunt honesty, Noah isn’t intentionally unkind. From the moment he meets Molly, his focus shifts entirely to earning her forgiveness and proving himself worthy of her trust.

The romance takes center stage, unfolding quickly and with complete certainty. Noah’s gruff exterior gives way to intense devotion as he commits fully to Molly, offering protection, reassurance, and unwavering attention. His determination to fix his mistake and prioritize her happiness drives the relationship forward and establishes a strong sense of emotional security. Molly responds to this steadiness, finding comfort in being seen and cared for in ways she hasn’t allowed herself to expect.

Their relationship fits comfortably within the grumpy/sunshine dynamic, softened by the warmth of the Christmas setting. Cheerful itself enhances the romance, surrounding the couple with holiday traditions, small-town support, and an atmosphere designed for love to flourish. The festive backdrop—complete with baked goods, cozy moments, and seasonal cheer—adds to the story’s comforting tone.

Overall, A Grumpy Christmas delivers a sweet, straightforward holiday romance centered on devotion, reassurance, and festive joy, making it an inviting seasonal read for fans of cozy, love-driven stories.

[ManuYoliLu · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Molly's laughter dances through the house, and it's like the world stops spinning."

"Her soft lips are like magic against mine, and every cell in my body comes to life. Was I even living before I kissed her? i'm not certain of anything before today. Before this kiss."

OMG!!! Este libro fue el mejor de los tres. Noah definitivamente me enamoró 😍

Me encantó ver cómo Noah se empieza a enamorar de Molly... ¿Esa visión que tuvo sobre ella y su nieta? OMG!!! Fue lo mejor de la historia.

"Your granddaughter had my eyes. So I think I have to kiss you."

¡Sí, definitivamente me enamoró! 🥰

[Edit · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 stars

So I need to know who is responsible (Alexa or Riley) for the first 2 books of this series because it was actually good, cute and wholesome. Unfortunately I can not say that about this one...


* Hero(s) - 1/5
* Heroine(s) - 2/5
* Secondary Characters - 2/5

* Plot/Storyline - 2/5
* Romance/Steam - 1/5
* Drama/Conflict/Angst - 2/5
* Worldbuilding/Atmosphere - 3/5

* Writing Style - 2/5

This review is based on my personal preferences and the rating reflects how much I enjoyed reading this book.

[Mary · Rating 2 out of 5]

44 pages in and still have absolutely no idea what the female main character looks like. I really dislike this fill-in-the-blank trend. I don't care if she's white, black, or brown like me. I have a good enough imagination to see myself in most body types.

[Stella · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Kyareth14 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect story for Holidays

[Cristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Moly & Noah

[romance_lover · Rating 2 out of 5]

Insta-love, no angst, comfort read but didn’t feel any emotional bond

[Abraham · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was just a good short read on Christmas I liked it sweet, romantic a little dirty and funny.

[☆ · Rating 1 out of 5]

1,75/5

[Alicia Rolon · Rating 2 out of 5]

son muy vuelteros, el prota me cae medio mal y la prota es muy boluda

[mands · Rating 2 out of 5]

Esse foi bem mais legal e interessante que o primeiro. Mas ainda sim é um livro mais rápido, sem grandes enredos, por isso a nota não é tão alta

[★♡︎SweettLov3♡︎★ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Muy Lindo una chica que ama la navidad y un chico que odia cualquier festividad pero es su flechazo por ella que cambia toda su forma de ver el mundo.

Me encanto 💖

[Vivi · Rating 5 out of 5]

weno weno

[Angela Rojas · Rating 5 out of 5]

otra linda historia de amor navideña, solo me faltó un día para leerlo. está sería mi última lectura del año, fue ligero y rápido.

[Daniela Azua · Rating 3 out of 5]

3⭐️

[Gabs✨ (LadyAbril.books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ✨

[TDReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun holiday read

[Flo₂₂ · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5

[Keila Devitt · Rating 1 out of 5]

tarde para un libro navideño, pero que mal