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Holly
Christmas and kitties, a match made in Hamlet.
Holly Hansen doesn’t know what she wants to do with her future.
For as long as she can remember, she’s lived most of her life either behind a computer screen or—due to her social anxiety—going off on her own. Because of that, she has passable relationships with people all over the world, and the travel blog she’s been running since high school is more successful than she ever dreamed.
So why isn’t she happy?
Simple. Because she’s lonely.
Last Christmas, her only IRL friend moved to a small town in the middle of nowhere to fill some strange clause in a dead relative’s will. This year? Gloria has decided to stay—and she wants Holly to come for a visit.
Spend the holidays in a place where there isn’t any television, telephones, or internet? Really?
It sounds impossible… but it also sounds tempting. Figuring why not, she decides to spend the month of December offline— and that’s when she meets Xavier Miller.
Xavier is the mayor of Hamlet, but he’s also the man who takes care of any animal in need. When Holly finds a lost cat, she’s told to bring him to Xavier. It should have been as easy as dropping him off.
Should have been.
Why, then, does Holly now have a cat of her own—not to mention a sudden crush on Xavier?
Oh, boy.
When Xavier mentions the upcoming Christmas gala in town, Holly jumps at the chance to get closer to him by helping him set up for it. Even though she knows she's only staying for a few weeks, as the kindhearted mayor gets under her skin, Holly starts to wonder what's better: traveling the world on her own, or settling down in one place with the man of her dreams?
* Holly is a full-length low stakes, low angst Christmas novel (60,000+ words) set in Hamlet, a cozy small town in the middle of nowhere—where everyone knows your name and your business, too.
Holly Hansen doesn’t know what she wants to do with her future.
For as long as she can remember, she’s lived most of her life either behind a computer screen or—due to her social anxiety—going off on her own. Because of that, she has passable relationships with people all over the world, and the travel blog she’s been running since high school is more successful than she ever dreamed.
So why isn’t she happy?
Simple. Because she’s lonely.
Last Christmas, her only IRL friend moved to a small town in the middle of nowhere to fill some strange clause in a dead relative’s will. This year? Gloria has decided to stay—and she wants Holly to come for a visit.
Spend the holidays in a place where there isn’t any television, telephones, or internet? Really?
It sounds impossible… but it also sounds tempting. Figuring why not, she decides to spend the month of December offline— and that’s when she meets Xavier Miller.
Xavier is the mayor of Hamlet, but he’s also the man who takes care of any animal in need. When Holly finds a lost cat, she’s told to bring him to Xavier. It should have been as easy as dropping him off.
Should have been.
Why, then, does Holly now have a cat of her own—not to mention a sudden crush on Xavier?
Oh, boy.
When Xavier mentions the upcoming Christmas gala in town, Holly jumps at the chance to get closer to him by helping him set up for it. Even though she knows she's only staying for a few weeks, as the kindhearted mayor gets under her skin, Holly starts to wonder what's better: traveling the world on her own, or settling down in one place with the man of her dreams?
* Holly is a full-length low stakes, low angst Christmas novel (60,000+ words) set in Hamlet, a cozy small town in the middle of nowhere—where everyone knows your name and your business, too.
- GenresChristmasContemporary
298 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 8, 2020
91 people are currently reading
87 people want to read
About the author
Jessica Lynch
65 books167 followersJessica Lynch loves to write! She's been writing ever since she was a child, and spent years writing fan fiction before deciding at the end of 2017 to begin focusing on her original works of fiction. A 14-time winner of NaNoWriMo, Jessica has tons of manuscripts waiting to be formed and shaped and introduced to the world -- plus countless more milling around in her brain. She just wishes she could type fast enough to get them all out!
When she's not writing or working, she's either reading, playing with her family of cats in Central New Jersey, rooting for her beloved Mets, or working on her graphic arts skills to bring her characters and cover art to life.
When she's not writing or working, she's either reading, playing with her family of cats in Central New Jersey, rooting for her beloved Mets, or working on her graphic arts skills to bring her characters and cover art to life.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
January 30, 2021
This is book two of the Holidays in Hamlet series and the main character is Holly Hansen, who runs her own travel blog, Party of One. She started it as a way to cope with her social anxiety, using lots of forward planning and going on her own is more comfortable for her, and the rest of the time she can spend behind her computer screen. She has an agent who deals with all the booking details for everything she needs on her trips, she has to pay him well and rarely meets him face to face, which is perfect for her. She has run this blog since high school and it is really successful now and she has plenty of followers waiting to see where she will introduce them to next! She is lonely since her best friend Gloria moved to the little town of Hamlet nearly a year ago after she inherited a cabin from family, and found there was a clause in the will stating she had to live there for a full year, before it will belong to her properly. The town is in the middle of nowhere and Gloria has tried to tempt her out there numerous times, but she has always cried off saying she was busy with work. Never mind the place has no internet or even phone service!
Holly is still waiting for news from her agent of her possible next job in Europe, but her agent is always really slow at getting her the confirmations, leaving her little time to research what she would want to do and see. Gloria basically blackmails her to come up for the Christmas holidays this year, saying she needs her there as she is going to propose to her boyfriend Franklin, who she moved in with and who lives next door! Gloria gives her very specific instructions on how to get to the main coffeehouse on the main street of Hamlet. From when she gets off the main highway. It was a good thing she was so specific, as she would never have found the place otherwise and drove past a few times, not finding anything easily in a town with no street names. When she enters the coffeehouse, she finds it full of locals, who all turn to stare at her, something her social anxiety hates! Gloria grabs her and they quickly leave and she shows Holly up the mountain to the cabin. She has it to herself, since Gloria is next door with her boyfriend, who isn’t quite so easy to get along with. Residents use radios to contact each other, in a place with no TV, phones or internet and Holly makes it almost a week before she has to leave town to get some connectivity.
On her way out she almost hits a cat that is just standing in the middle of Main Street. When she gets out to check on the cat, it falls over limp and she doesn’t know what to do. She knows there is not vet in town and only one doctor, so has to use her radio, to ask Gloria for help. She suggest a man who helps out with stray or unwanted animals in town and the sign outside his home only says X. Miller. Turns out he is the mayor of Hamlet, having been given the job after his father retired from the post, as well as looking after the town’s library that is in the back of the house, and looking after stray animals until he can get them adopted. His first name is Xavier, not a name Gloria will ever utter since it is the same as her ex! Whilst there, Xavier recognises the cat and it jumps out of her hands and is fine. Apparently he is an escape artist and likes to do a fainting trick, to get attention. He calls the owner and Holly gets fascinated by some other kittens in cages, who had just been found at the outskirts of town. She ends up offering to take one, but Xavier will only allow her to foster it, until he is sure she and the Grinch, as the kitten has been named, are a good fit. He gives her all the supplies she should need to a few days and she ends up going straight back to the cabin.
The Grinch puts her into a few interesting situations, as she is not really used to a pet and even ends up stuck up a tree until Xavier rescues her, when she doesn’t turn up as arranged to help with the town’s Christmas gala celebration setup. Hamlet goes overboard for the holidays and her volunteering to help with the gala gives her attraction to Xavier a perfect chance to spend loads of time with her. She is only supposed to be staying at the cabin for a few weeks to visit with Gloria, but she can’t stop her attraction to Xavier. A busybody town gossip and fellow volunteer Willie, helping with the decorations at the community hall for the gala, hangs up some mistletoe to try and push the obvious attraction between Xavier and Holly! When her agent turns up in person during the holidays, it throws jealousy into the mix, as well as questions about what Holly wants to do with her future. Does she still want to keep travelling around remote locations by herself, to share with her followers, or is she ready to give her heart a chance to stay in one place with the man of her dreams, who seems to have already stolen her heart? Big decisions to be made and miscommunications between the two to be resolved. Another nice read in small town romance genre, showing how tech free life can be rewarding and everyone knowing you and your business is not necessarily a bad thing! I received an ARC copy of the book from BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
Holly is still waiting for news from her agent of her possible next job in Europe, but her agent is always really slow at getting her the confirmations, leaving her little time to research what she would want to do and see. Gloria basically blackmails her to come up for the Christmas holidays this year, saying she needs her there as she is going to propose to her boyfriend Franklin, who she moved in with and who lives next door! Gloria gives her very specific instructions on how to get to the main coffeehouse on the main street of Hamlet. From when she gets off the main highway. It was a good thing she was so specific, as she would never have found the place otherwise and drove past a few times, not finding anything easily in a town with no street names. When she enters the coffeehouse, she finds it full of locals, who all turn to stare at her, something her social anxiety hates! Gloria grabs her and they quickly leave and she shows Holly up the mountain to the cabin. She has it to herself, since Gloria is next door with her boyfriend, who isn’t quite so easy to get along with. Residents use radios to contact each other, in a place with no TV, phones or internet and Holly makes it almost a week before she has to leave town to get some connectivity.
On her way out she almost hits a cat that is just standing in the middle of Main Street. When she gets out to check on the cat, it falls over limp and she doesn’t know what to do. She knows there is not vet in town and only one doctor, so has to use her radio, to ask Gloria for help. She suggest a man who helps out with stray or unwanted animals in town and the sign outside his home only says X. Miller. Turns out he is the mayor of Hamlet, having been given the job after his father retired from the post, as well as looking after the town’s library that is in the back of the house, and looking after stray animals until he can get them adopted. His first name is Xavier, not a name Gloria will ever utter since it is the same as her ex! Whilst there, Xavier recognises the cat and it jumps out of her hands and is fine. Apparently he is an escape artist and likes to do a fainting trick, to get attention. He calls the owner and Holly gets fascinated by some other kittens in cages, who had just been found at the outskirts of town. She ends up offering to take one, but Xavier will only allow her to foster it, until he is sure she and the Grinch, as the kitten has been named, are a good fit. He gives her all the supplies she should need to a few days and she ends up going straight back to the cabin.
The Grinch puts her into a few interesting situations, as she is not really used to a pet and even ends up stuck up a tree until Xavier rescues her, when she doesn’t turn up as arranged to help with the town’s Christmas gala celebration setup. Hamlet goes overboard for the holidays and her volunteering to help with the gala gives her attraction to Xavier a perfect chance to spend loads of time with her. She is only supposed to be staying at the cabin for a few weeks to visit with Gloria, but she can’t stop her attraction to Xavier. A busybody town gossip and fellow volunteer Willie, helping with the decorations at the community hall for the gala, hangs up some mistletoe to try and push the obvious attraction between Xavier and Holly! When her agent turns up in person during the holidays, it throws jealousy into the mix, as well as questions about what Holly wants to do with her future. Does she still want to keep travelling around remote locations by herself, to share with her followers, or is she ready to give her heart a chance to stay in one place with the man of her dreams, who seems to have already stolen her heart? Big decisions to be made and miscommunications between the two to be resolved. Another nice read in small town romance genre, showing how tech free life can be rewarding and everyone knowing you and your business is not necessarily a bad thing! I received an ARC copy of the book from BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
December 8, 2020
Jessica Lynch has done it again! She has written a second book in her “Holidays in Hamlet”* and we couldn’t be more pleased. “Holly” has once more all the characteristics of a delightful small-town romance.
Holly is a successful travel blogger with online friends all over the world, but nevertheless lonely at heart. Her life takes place behind her computer screen with scarce IRL interactions. After her best and only friend relocated to Hamlet a year ago, her social life is almost inexistent. It was supposed to be a temporal relocation, but now Gloria has decided to stay forever, and Holly feels lonelier than ever. Fortunately, Gloria has invited Holly for the holidays and Holly, while somehow reluctantly, agrees; after all a social media detoxing could be a good thing; and thus, Holly arrives in Hamlet, determined to give analog life a chance for the month of December. It could be relaxing, enjoying real life, doing nice and unexpected things, she even just found a lost cat… and went to the town hall to hand it over… and now she has her own new (formerly lost) cat and a crush on the mayor…. Real-life is a little more complicated than expected and it cannot be turn off with a taste, to Holly despair and much to our own delight 😊
Jessica Lynch has a very distinctive writing-style that captivates readers from the very first page and takes them along effortlessly for the ride. “Holly”, like its predecessor (Gloria) is not exception, even if the theme is lighter and ‘fuzzier’ than any of her other books, the book is a wonderful reading, which all characteristics that make Jessica Lynch one of our favorite authors, while offering a very nice and relaxing lecture, perfect for the season, that reminds us of a very tasty Christmas cookie, full, tarty, sweet, fully satisfying. “Holly” follows seamlessly the events stated in “Gloria” (the first book in the series), but can be read as a stand-alone story, but seriously why will you want to do that? You would like to have a single Christmas cookie either, would you 😉
The “Holidays in Hamlet” series is set in the same world as “Hamlet”, but it can perfectly be read independently from the prime series: it takes place some years previous, and has an easy going, romance theme analog to Hallmark Christmas movies, in contrast with the dark suspense that characterizes the prime Hamlet series.
Holly is a successful travel blogger with online friends all over the world, but nevertheless lonely at heart. Her life takes place behind her computer screen with scarce IRL interactions. After her best and only friend relocated to Hamlet a year ago, her social life is almost inexistent. It was supposed to be a temporal relocation, but now Gloria has decided to stay forever, and Holly feels lonelier than ever. Fortunately, Gloria has invited Holly for the holidays and Holly, while somehow reluctantly, agrees; after all a social media detoxing could be a good thing; and thus, Holly arrives in Hamlet, determined to give analog life a chance for the month of December. It could be relaxing, enjoying real life, doing nice and unexpected things, she even just found a lost cat… and went to the town hall to hand it over… and now she has her own new (formerly lost) cat and a crush on the mayor…. Real-life is a little more complicated than expected and it cannot be turn off with a taste, to Holly despair and much to our own delight 😊
Jessica Lynch has a very distinctive writing-style that captivates readers from the very first page and takes them along effortlessly for the ride. “Holly”, like its predecessor (Gloria) is not exception, even if the theme is lighter and ‘fuzzier’ than any of her other books, the book is a wonderful reading, which all characteristics that make Jessica Lynch one of our favorite authors, while offering a very nice and relaxing lecture, perfect for the season, that reminds us of a very tasty Christmas cookie, full, tarty, sweet, fully satisfying. “Holly” follows seamlessly the events stated in “Gloria” (the first book in the series), but can be read as a stand-alone story, but seriously why will you want to do that? You would like to have a single Christmas cookie either, would you 😉
The “Holidays in Hamlet” series is set in the same world as “Hamlet”, but it can perfectly be read independently from the prime series: it takes place some years previous, and has an easy going, romance theme analog to Hallmark Christmas movies, in contrast with the dark suspense that characterizes the prime Hamlet series.
January 10, 2021
Holiday-Filled Small-Town Romance
This sweet holiday romance has the low-angst, character-driven plot that makes for the best Christmas reads, at least to me. The eponymous Holly is a complicated character as she has moderately severe social anxiety, yet she is a travel blogger. Her only IRL bestie moved to a small town a couple of hours away, and she invites Holly to visit for the month of December to not only be the bridesmaid for her wedding (hopefully) but to also perhaps consider the tiny town as the next place to blog about. She only does so after much hemming and hawing, and some of her first scenes in the very small town (pop. 191) set her nerves on edge. Honestly, it's hard to imagine her existing in the real world, let alone as a travel blogger, as her social anxiety seems to be so intense. I loved the hero. How can you not love a man who takes such good care of animals? The small-town setting is fantastic, especially because it pulls out all the stops for the holidays. If you're looking for a low angst, sweet Christmas read, this novel could certainly fill the bill.
I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
This sweet holiday romance has the low-angst, character-driven plot that makes for the best Christmas reads, at least to me. The eponymous Holly is a complicated character as she has moderately severe social anxiety, yet she is a travel blogger. Her only IRL bestie moved to a small town a couple of hours away, and she invites Holly to visit for the month of December to not only be the bridesmaid for her wedding (hopefully) but to also perhaps consider the tiny town as the next place to blog about. She only does so after much hemming and hawing, and some of her first scenes in the very small town (pop. 191) set her nerves on edge. Honestly, it's hard to imagine her existing in the real world, let alone as a travel blogger, as her social anxiety seems to be so intense. I loved the hero. How can you not love a man who takes such good care of animals? The small-town setting is fantastic, especially because it pulls out all the stops for the holidays. If you're looking for a low angst, sweet Christmas read, this novel could certainly fill the bill.
I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
December 19, 2020
Sweet, entertaining Christmas story! Cute romance too! I wasn’t sure about Holly, but by the time kittens entered the story, I liked her. She’s a travel blogger type person, who isn’t very good being social. She’s also a bit awkward, but she has a good heart. Her only friend, Gloria, practically begs Holly to come visit her in Hamlet for Christmas; it’s been a really long time since they’ve seen each other. I felt that Holly could’ve been a bit of a better friend to Gloria at times, but Gloria didn’t seem to mind. Hamlet is a very small, quirky town. Way out of the way; hard to find, no cable, spotty phone service and no internet. Holly is very unsure how she feels about the town, but starts appreciating its values; especially after meeting good-looking mayor, Xavier. Sweet chemistry! Fun Christmas read!
December 22, 2020
I loved being back in Hamlet again where anyone not from there is an outsider and the townsfolk are quirky and aren't that fussed on technology. Holly finally comes to Hamlet after Gloria her bestie twists her arm and boy what an adventure she is in for when she meets Xavier due to a fainting cat (I kid you not!). There are plenty of laughs, awkward moments, The Grinch, soul searching, and a Gala to organise as we watch Holly fall in love and not just with Hamlet as well as learn more about Xavier aka Mayor, animal rescuer and hot single guy.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 20, 2021
A holiday in a small secluded town? Checked
A very wintery and Christmas-y vibes? Checked
A shy, attentive, very cute gentleman to drool over? Checked
A sweet easy romance novel to live up your day? Checked
Honestly, what else would you asking for? It gives me hallmark movies’ vibes. Totally worth it.
A very wintery and Christmas-y vibes? Checked
A shy, attentive, very cute gentleman to drool over? Checked
A sweet easy romance novel to live up your day? Checked
Honestly, what else would you asking for? It gives me hallmark movies’ vibes. Totally worth it.
December 17, 2020
This is a lovely small town romance.. complete with kitties... I loved it! It is sweet and fun to read, with lovable characters..
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 21, 2020
I have a great time reading books by this author and this well written and developed storyline is no exception. The characters are engaging and entertained me throughout the pages.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 21, 2020
It Grabbed My attention and focus so strong I could not put it down. A word of advice when you get your copy. Grab a snack, a comfy seat, kick back and relax. You will not be moving until you finish this bad boy here. Remarkable job. Thanks for sharing.
January 18, 2025
Holly
Just as with the previous book in this series I really enjoyed reading this cute and well written book and highly recommend that you read it as well. Onto the next in this series.
Just as with the previous book in this series I really enjoyed reading this cute and well written book and highly recommend that you read it as well. Onto the next in this series.
January 6, 2026
Small town stories seem to be more popular these days. Jessica Lynch has woven a delightful novel relating the adventures of Holly, as she starts a life in a new town. It was very engaging to follow her budding relationship with the town mayor.
December 19, 2020
A perfect holiday book!
This book definitely gave me the warm fuzzies.
A romance, animals, snow, etc. What more could you want?
The H/h were made for each other. A great HEA.
This book definitely gave me the warm fuzzies.
A romance, animals, snow, etc. What more could you want?
The H/h were made for each other. A great HEA.
December 29, 2020
She lives her life through her computer and yet she is very lonely. Her only friend has left but she wants her to visit. Will she go? What could she find there? What if she finds love? See if her life improves
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 27, 2025
3.25 stars
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews