I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.
Merry Mayhem by Erin Nicholas Published by EN Fiction on November 21, 2025
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In Rebel, Louisiana, Christmas isn’t a holiday—it’s a full-contact sport.
As a firefighter, I thought I’d seen holiday chaos before—fires caused by too many string lights, a Santa stuck in a chimney, one unfortunate incident with a candy cane—but this small town takes Christmas to a whole new level.
It all starts when I'm asked to pose as a fake boyfriend for the town’s annual holiday competition. Easy gig: play games, drink cocoa, smile big, take home the trophy.
But my "date's" plans go sideways—literally—and while she’s in the hospital, I’m left to handle all the plastic candy canes, Grinch impersonators, and deconstructed gingerbread houses with her sister instead. Single mom Thea is the calm, practical one who wants nothing to do with small-town drama… or me.
Too bad sparks fly anyway. Between her no-nonsense attitude, that soft heart she tries to hide, and the way she looks at me in the dark hallway when everyone else is asleep? It's not the tree at risk of going up in flames. Because this feels real and now I know exactly what I’m asking Santa for this year.
Christmas in Rebel isn’t just Merry—it’s absolutely Mayhem.
Humorous and downright addictive! Nicholas sure knows how to deliver on unforgettable characters and humor! This book will hit a particular high for her die hard fans because we get a cameo from a few of our favorite cajuns! I loved the premise of the book and it was fast paced and highly entertaining. The development of their backgrounds and their relationship wasn’t top notch, but it was enough to make me feel comfortable with them and want to see them succeed and be together. There’s almost a separate story playing out with the fun loving comedy of the holiday contest event being front and center, but the side note of trying to get Josh and Thea panned out into a believable match up. I loved their characters and loved the laughter. If it was an ongoing series, I would definitely want better development, but as a one off filled with Christmas spirit, I was happy!
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