When the heiress of a toy empire lands in a small town to fix her family’s reputation, the last thing she expects is to fall for the man who wants nothing to do with her company—or her Christmas charm.
Holiday romances are meant to feel like a mug of cocoa in book form, and Holiday Ever After by Hannah Grace delivers exactly that. Set in the snow-dusted town of Fraser Falls, this story mixes the glitz of big-city ambition with the warmth of small-town community. Grace—best known for Icebreaker—switches gears from college romance to cozy redemption arc, bringing humor, heart, and enough Christmas spirit to light up a tree farm.
Title: Holiday Ever After
Author: Hannah Grace
Genre: Contemporary Romance / Holiday
Tropes: Enemies to Lovers, Workplace Rivals, Small Town Romance, Opposites Attract, Redemption Arc
Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5)
Heat Level: Mild – slow-burn tension, heartfelt emotion, closed-door chemistry
Buy on Amazon Shop on Bookshop Find on Goodreads
This post contains affiliate links to Bookshop.org and Amazon. If you purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting Forever Book Lover. When you purchase from Bookshop, you’re supporting local, independent bookstores.
Book Description
Clara Davenport wants to solve Fraser Falls’s biggest problem. According to Jack Kelly, Clara is Fraser Falls’s biggest problem.
All Clara Davenport has ever wanted to do is climb the ladder at Davenport Innovation Creative, her family’s toy business. Everything was going according to plan, until the company was accused of stealing a doll design from an independent toy maker, creating a flurry of bad publicity. With a promotion dangled in front of her like a carrot to a reindeer, Clara is tasked with charming the locals of the small town to solve the PR nightmare, by any means necessary.
Jack Kelly would be happy to never hear the name Davenport ever again. Less than a year after a guy in a fancy suit appeared on his doorstep with a sleigh-full of promises, the company that once falsely claimed they wanted to sign him to their small business program has copied his design. So when Clara prances into town hoping to convince Fraser Falls that her company is not the enemy, Jack is determined not to be fooled by Davenport twice.
But Clara has a plan to win over the community only to realize that beneath Jack’s frosty demeanor lies the key to the town’s heart—and maybe her own.
My Review
Holiday Ever After sparkles with classic “big-city-meets-small-town” charm and Hannah Grace’s signature wit. Clara Davenport is the quintessential overachiever—driven, determined, and desperate to prove herself in her family’s toy company after a PR disaster nearly topples their image. Her assignment? Mend fences with Fraser Falls, the town her company wronged. Her problem? Jack Kelly, the local craftsman who lost everything because of her company’s mistake.
Their first encounters are pure friction: sharp words, cold shoulders, and that undeniable pull that makes enemies-to-lovers such an addictive trope. But as Clara’s glossy PR plan melts in the face of real small-town warmth, she starts to see that success doesn’t always mean climbing higher—it can mean slowing down long enough to find joy, purpose, and maybe even love.
Jack, on the other hand, is an easy hero to root for. He’s grounded and principled, but not brooding for the sake of it. His protectiveness over his town feels earned, and his gradual softening toward Clara is satisfying without losing his edge. Together, they strike a perfect balance: she brings light to his cynicism, he brings calm to her chaos.
Grace’s writing is breezy yet heartfelt, full of charming side characters (a meddling shopkeeper, a too-honest mayor, and plenty of nosy neighbors) that give Fraser Falls texture and warmth. There’s humor, community, and just enough romantic tension to keep the story glowing brighter than a strand of Christmas lights.
Character Spotlight
Clara Davenport: Ambitious, well-meaning, and a bit of a perfectionist. She starts as the face of corporate charm but becomes the heart of Fraser Falls once she learns that authenticity can’t be scripted.
Jack Kelly: The local craftsman with a grudge and a golden heart. He’s loyal to his town, skeptical of outsiders, and far more romantic than he’d ever admit.
Why You’ll Love It
- Hallmark warmth, Hannah Grace humor: Cozy, festive, and effortlessly funny.
- Enemies to lovers done right: Sparks without the snark overload.
- Community at its heart: Small-town shenanigans that feel like family.
- Perfect winter read: For fans of Jenny Hale, Christina Lauren’s holiday romances, or anyone who believes in second chances wrapped in twinkle lights.
Related Reading: If you love festive small-town charm and redemption arcs, explore more Holiday Romance favorites for cozy reads that’ll melt your heart faster than a snowflake on cocoa.
Join the Conversation
Would you give Fraser Falls a second chance—or pack up your suitcase and your pride like Clara? Tell me your favorite holiday rivals-to-lovers story in the comments below!
This post contains affiliate links to Bookshop.org and Amazon. If you purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting Forever Book Lover. When you purchase from Bookshop, you are supporting local, independent bookstores.
0 comments
Thanks for being here! I love hearing from readers, so please leave a comment below. Just a heads up - I have comment moderation turned on to keep the spam bots at bay, so your comment might take a little while to appear.