Cover Image: Dear Santa

Dear Santa

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Member Reviews

What a great book to get you in the Christmas spirit. I have such a soft spot for a good Santa story.

Lindsay goes home for the holidays and want to her wondering eyes does she spy, her elementary school friends.

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Debbie Macomber is the queen of sweet holiday romance & she doesn't disappoint with this one. I enjoy how a lot of her novels are set in the Pacific Northwest. I want to visit Leavenworth, WA at Christmas time after reading this book. Lindy is a strong female lead with some good friends & love interest. Highly recommend reading this book with a cup of cocoa & some Christmas cookies to get into the holiday spirit.

Thanks to the publisher & NetGalley for advanced copy in exchange for my honest review

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This is a wonderful Christmas story that I read in 2 day! Lindy has a life in the city, but when she comes home for 2 weeks, she begins to wonder if the city life is for her. I absolutely loved Lindy and how she was able to work through her dilemma. If you are looking for a heart-warming book this Christmas, you won’t be disappointed!

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There is something absolutely heartwarming about Debbie Macomber’s Christmas stories. These are like sitting down with hot cocoa in front of a fire, but let’s discuss Lindy and Billy, aka Will.

She comes home to spend Christmas with her parents, and after telling her mom about a rough few months, her mom brings out her old letters to Santa, including one asking that her tormentor, Billy, goes away. Now she decides that she should write a new letter, and boy, I think I need to start writing letters to Santa!

She meets up with her childhood bestie, then finds out Billy - who now goes by Will - is back in town and owns a wine bar/restaurant, and several other things happen.

Seriously, each year Macomber tops the previous year’s Christmas story, told with more love, joy and hope.

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2.75 out of 5. I was a bit disappointed in this one because I love Debbie Macomber Holiday movies, but i had never read one of her books. The good thing: its a very quick read, 2 hours and you are done. That's also part of the problem, its simple and sweet, but maybe too simple and sweet. I'm all about the go back home and all your problems will be fixed holiday trope but this took it to a both work, friendship and love life got fixed in the span of 2 days. So as much as I really loved the sentiment of asking to Santa for what you wanted and the story of her childhood letters it just was a bit too perfectly wrapped up in a box even for me.

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This was just what I needed to get in the holiday spirit! I remember writing letters to Santa as a child. There was so much hope and excitement woven into those written words. As an adult, I’ve ceased to reach out to the jolly old elf. But this book has me second guessing that.

It’s been a hard year for Lindy. As she returns home to celebrate the holidays with her family, her mother encourages her to tap into old traditions in hopes of recreating some of the Christmas joy she knew as a child.

This book is full of all the holiday charm you could want…. sleigh rides in the snow, visits to Santa, Christmas cookies, connecting with hometown friends, and a (possibly too perfect) mistletoe fueled romance.

Dear Santa is a delightfully easy and tinsel draped read that will rival any Hallmark holiday movie.

Thank you Debbie Macomber, Random House Publishing Ballantine, Ballantine Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy of this book.

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Perfect for the season, this is another winner from Debbie Macomber! The characters are great and the story will warm your heart. Grab a cup of cocoa and cuddle up with this book to get in the holiday spirit.

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I think of Debbie Macomber’s Christmas stories as being like packaged hot chocolate. They are sweet, warm and festive and nice for a quick fix of cheer. That’s certainly true for her newest novel, Dear Santa.

Lindy Carmichael thought this would be her year but her dream job at Media Blast has proven to be more challenging than she expected, and her boyfriend left her for Lindy’s best friend. She’s looking forward to leaving behind what has proven to be a very long twelve months by spending two weeks at home, eating cookies, drinking cocoa and enjoying time with her family. Once she arrives, her mother, concerned Lindy has lost her sense of wonder and seeking to help her rediscover it, pulls out the letters to Santa that Lindy wrote when she was little.

As Lindy and her mom share laughs and expound on memories centered around the letters, Lindy realizes something: Santa always came through. He gave her a new dad when she requested one, delivered a baby sibling just in time for the holidays and even got rid of her childhood nemesis Billy Kincaid when she’d asked him to. Would it be silly to write another letter, appealing for a boyfriend and a new best friend? Feeling foolish but hopeful, she puts pen to paper and composes a missive asking for what she longs for.

And wouldn’t you know it, the ink is barely dry before Jolly Ol’ St. Nicholas begins to fulfill Lindy’s every wish. The next couple of days see her reconnecting with her elementary school best buddy Peggy, and learning that her playground bully, Billy, has grown up to be a hunky restaurateur who now goes by Will. He’s recently moved back to the area, opened a wine bar and is delighted to reconnect with Lindy. After an awkward start, Lindy and Will find themselves joyfully hanging out together. A new/old bestie and dating someone spectacular make the days of her vacation fly by. Being home for the holidays is turning out better than Lindy could ever have imagined but what will happen to all her burgeoning relationships when the season ends, and Lindy has to return to real life?

The positive of this story is that Macomber includes lots of holiday magic in her tale – snow, presents under the tree, visits to Santa, sleigh rides, sledding, hot drinks, cookies, pies, decorations – it’s like stepping onto the set of a Lifetime Christmas movie. The narrative is completely lighthearted and much like store-bought sugar cookies, the point of the book is to be quick, easy holiday fun and it delivers at that level.

Whether you enjoy it or not will depend upon your tolerance for saccharin, small town stories, and your acceptance of lackluster romance wrapped up in holiday tinsel and glitter. Lindy and Will are fairly bland, and their connection lacks passion. They share some warm kisses which apparently knock their socks off, they hold hands and cuddle but even though that’s as far as they go on the page, even the desire to do more seemed missing. I was able to appreciate their love story in large part only because it was so brief and covered in shiny, festive trappings.

There is a strong nostalgia factor here. While computers and cell phones are mentioned, I felt a bit of time displacement since the story read much more like it was set in the fifties or sixties than modern day America. I have a feeling that Macomber’s audience has aged along with her, and this is probably exactly what they want from a holiday story, but I’m not sure a younger reader would connect with what’s on offer here.

This isn’t technically an inspirational, but church attendance, and sermons on forgiveness play a small but critical role in the tale. Readers looking for a narrative devoid of the religious overtone of the holiday will need to look elsewhere.

Christmas is a season which is uniquely suited for indulging in trite sentimentality and Dear Santa, with its holiday mojo mired in the ideals of yesteryear, is perfect for that. Readers searching for a tale brimming with old fashioned yuletide cheer need look no further.

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A fun holiday romance, filled with familiar feeling characters who you root for throughout the book.

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I love this book! Debbie Macomber is an amazing author. I love the way her characters come to life and become part of my family. The cross between the past and the present; friends, family, work, love and deciding what’s important…. This story is a must for the holiday season.

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Cozy, warm feelings is what to expect when reading this book. Perfect for an escape from real life. What I enjoy about Macomber as an author, is that it is pure enjoyment. Well written not trashy or filled with sex. Just a good read to make you feel good about our world and the people in it. '

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A light, quick, happy Christian romance.

Lindy is back in town visiting her parents for Christmas. Things have been a bit crazy in her life. Her boyfriend left her for her best friend and she’s been working her butt off on a big project at work. She also moved apartments recently. She’s not as happy as she’d like to be.

While visiting and confiding in her mom, her mother suggests that Lindy reread her old letters to Santa. After all, Lindy always got what she asked Santa for. Lindy points out that she got what she asked for because of her mother. But her mom reminds her of one very big thing that Santa seemed to bring Lindy that she had no part in.

She says Lindy needs faith and maybe she should write another letter to Santa to ask for what she wants this year.

Lindy asks for a new best friend, for the love of her life, and to get the big project at work.

Once Lindy runs into her childhood best friend, then connects with a charming man from her past, she starts to wonder if she can really have everything she wants. Does she have to move back home to keep the man and the best friend? Is she willing to do that?

I enjoyed this nice light read, it can easily be read over a weekend.

I got to read an early ebook edition from NetGalley, thanks!

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I received this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Lindy comes home heartbroken and needing her family. She gets so much more. This would make the perfect Hallmark movie. Love, great characters and Christmas.

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BOOK REVIEW: Dear Santa by Debbie Macomber

This book is what I am always looking for at Christmas! Taps all my holiday buttons to remind us that Santa is real & ready to grant wishes!!... Watch out Santa. I'm making my list & checking it twice... Chimney or not. I'm ready for you!... ✨😎✨

Pages: 272 (Bonus: A super-quick 5 hour audiobook read!)
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Sub-Genre: Christmas Romance | Home For The Holidays Romance | Second Chance At Love Romance
Time Period: Contemporary
Location: Washington (Wenatchee)

IF YOU LIKE THIS BOOK THEN TRY…
Book: The Holiday Swap by Maggie Knox
Movie: The Family Man

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All my reviews can be seen at This Is My Everybody | Books, Lifestyle & Home Ideas for Simple Living | Denise Wilbanks at www.thisismyeverybody.com

♡ Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to review it and the opinions contained within are my own.

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When I think of romance, I think of books just like this one, that gives all the feels and satisfies every romance junkies' heart. Throw in some holiday cheer and this is a perfect books to snuggle up with on any day.

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I thought this was a very cute book. A bit predictable but an enjoyable read. We all need to read books like this from time to time and Debbie Macomber never disappoints. The characters are relatable and (mostly) likeable. You felt the warmth of the family and I personally found myself routing Lindy on. Santa seems to be her biggest cheerleader and never lets her down. I highly recommend this book to all.

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If you ever doubt that Santa is real, read this book. The letters that Lindy wrote to Santa and the way her wishes come true leave no doubt that Santa hears and sees all. The wishes that Lindy have are so real, they are not just for toys and gifts.

Debbie Macomber wrote a sweet, sexy, and fun Christmas book. She tells the story of a woman coming home for Christmas after having her world shattered by her boyfriend and best friend. When an old letter to Santa reminds her of a 9-year-old boy and then she meets him again there was no doubt that hearts would be involved. I loved watching Lindy come into her own again, become a woman who knows what she wants, and a woman who will take risks to get it. The way she reconnects with old classmates, makes new friends, and spends time with her family shows what an amazing woman she is. She comes home with a broken heart and then opens her heart to her hometown.

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This is an easy-to-read, predictable, and sweet feel-good book perfect for the holidays. We know what's going to happen every step of the way (way before the characters do). But that's okay. Everybody needs some sweetness and light in life once in awhile.

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Lindy Carmichael's story is heartwarming, magical, and all Christmas should be.

After going through quite a rough time with her soon-to-be ex-best friend and ex-boyfriend, Lindy is reeling as she heads home to her parents for the holidays. Her creativity is gone, and she just wants the warmth and spirit of the holidays to wrap her up like a warm, cozy, blanket.

Once home, Lindy's mom tries to liven her spirits by showing her the old letters she wrote to Santa. Even though Lindy didn't get exactly what she wanted, what she often got was even better. Her mom encourages her to write a new letter, just for fun, to see what magic the Christmas season will bring.

The Christmas season has started with a short, sweet, book like this one. Make sure you add it to your TBR list!

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So sweet. Absolutely love her books and especially her Holiday ones. Romance is alive and all is well. Debbie never disappoints. Her books make me so happy.

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