The Santa Suit
Fiction
St. Martin's Press
September 28, 2021
Hardcover
224
Free from publisher
When newly-divorced Ivy Perkins buys an old farmhouse sight unseen, she is definitely looking for a change in her life. The Four Roses, as the farmhouse is called, is a labor of love—but Ivy didn't bargain on just how much labor. The previous family left so much furniture and so much junk, that it's a full-time job sorting through all of it.
At the top of a closet, Ivy finds an old Santa suit—beautifully made and decades old. In the pocket of a suit she finds a note written in a childish hand: it's from a little girl who has one Christmas wish, and that is for her father to return home from the war. This discovery sets Ivy off on a mission. Who wrote the note? Did the man ever come home? What mysteries did the Rose family hold?
Ivy's quest brings her into the community, at a time when all she wanted to do was be left alone and nurse her wounds. But the magic of Christmas makes miracles happen, and Ivy just might find more than she ever thought possible: a welcoming town, a family reunited, a mystery solved, and a second chance at love.
My review:
You can always count on MKA to deliver a fun and whimsical Christmas story (check out her Blue Christmas and Christmas Bliss, if you want some other great options). This one had all the makings of a light mystery, with a bit of romance and small town cheer thrown in. I loved the setting, characters, and holiday atmosphere. As we always get with this author, the great writing moves the story along at a steady pace. Even though I'm not one for cheesy romance, I'm a bit more forgiving when it comes to holiday stories, so I didn't even mind that aspect of this book. I loved the history behind Ivy's new (or should I say OLD) house and its owners, which we learn about as the story progresses. The fixer upper house was fun to imagine, and the towns Christmas spirit made me want to start decorating my house in October 🙂 To top it all off, there is also a cute and endearing dog in this one. The end was just a bit too convenient and tied up for my taste, but as I said before, it's a holiday book, so I'm giving it a pass.
It's like a Hallmark holiday movie wrapped up in book form. Perfect for the season! May the holiday season commence!
