I really love Christmas books and this one has to be marked as my favorite so far this year. It was really good.

A troubled teen is forced to move from a big city to live with his Dad in a small town. His Dad buys a ranch to give his son something to do. They lease out the land so they only have a dog and a few horses. Just a few things to keep him busy. He has long hair and doesn't really fit in with the other kids in this area so two boys decided to pick on him.

It's a great cast of characters, the storyline is really good and I read the book in one afternoon I just could not put it down. Check out this if you want a great Christmas book to read.

This was a wonderful Janet Dailey story. Cooper and his son Trevor moved to a very small town to give Trevor a new start. He had fallen in with a bad crowd in Seattle. He didn't fit in at first but gradually made friends he could count on. Jess was a counselor of sorts at his school and helped guide kids that needed help. She had a back story that she was unwilling to share. I loved the character of Abner - such a sweet old man. He really helped Trevor learn responsibility. Maggie was another sweet character. Nothing is ever going to stand in her way
A very fun story to resad

I got this book from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review

So good! You literally keep asking yourself “WHEN WILL THEY FIGURE IT OUT!?” And then BOOM it happens. A sweet story, clean with the exception of a few minor curse words. I enjoyed it - my first book by Janet Dailey and I will be back for more!

This is the fifth book in The Christmas Tree Ranch series. I haven't read the others, and I found that this can be read as a standalone novel. If you're looking for a heartwarming Christmas story full of love, family, and holiday cheer, then this is one to add to your TBR pile. The characters are well-crafted and realistic (and the children are particularly enjoyable). There's a bit of something for everyone, from romance to suspense.

A huge thanks to Kensington Books for my complimentary copy and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Somebody like Santa is book 5 in the Christmas Tree Ranch series and follows Cooper a freelance writer who moves with his teenage son to Branding Iron hoping for a fresh start. They both find a fresh start in this small community. The book will make you want to move to a small town.

An exciting, fast paced story that has a lot of love, lessons learned and redemption in it. Quick read as well.

Somebody Like Santa by Janet Dailey is the fifth book in The Christmas Tree Ranch series. Once again this author has treated her readers to a heartwarming Christmas story full of love, fun, family and Christmas cheer. The characters are very likable; so much so that I felt like I knew them just from reading this story. The kids are the best part of the story. I enjoy Janet Dailey's writing style and how her stories light up my Christmas spirit.

Oooh la la, I love a good small town country Christmas book!!! Somebody Like Santa is the fifth book in The Christmas Tree Ranch series written by Janet Dailey. I remember reading this series last year, and loving it, so when I saw the fifth book was coming out, I knew I had to grab it quickly. I mean, come on, what's not to love about a Christmas book with a cowboy on the cover? Somebody Like Santa was just, so so so perfect. Janet Dailey passed away in 2013, I recently just found out, but i'm so happy someone is continuing her work. I loved every minute of this story, and getting to know these wonderful characters. I devoured this book like a big ole Hershey chocolate bar. I hope there is a sixth book in the future, because I don't want this series to end anytime soon. I love how eventually all the characters came together and formed a big family. If you ever get the chance to read this amazing series, I highly recommend you do, because you won't be disappointed. THANK YOU NETGALLEY AND KENSINGTON BOOKS FOR AN ARC OF THIS BOOK!!!!! Cooper Chapman is recently divorced, and now a single father to his son, Trevor. Cooper and Trevor are from Seattle, Washington, but Cooper decided to relocate to Texas. Trevor's mom choose her new husband over her own son because they didn't want to have Trevor around. After reading about this, my heart just automatically shattered for this young boy. Trevor had a troubled past in Seattle, from hanging with the wrong crowd of friends, being on probation, and being in juvenile detention. Cooper is hoping this move to Texas will help Trevor get out of his rut. Moving next door to his newlywed sister Grace in Branding Iron, Texas is the biggest best Christmas blessing Cooper could have ever asked for. When Cooper and Trevor first move in, Maggie, Cooper's niece and Trevor's cousin comes over and invites them over for dinner, but Trevor thinks Maggie is one annoying little girl. I absolutely adored Maggie and her enthusiasm. After attending his first day at his new school, Trevor starts falling in line with the wrong crowd again, but he soon realizes they're not his friends. Soon, Cooper meets, Jess Graver. Jess is pretty good friends with Cooper's sister, Grace. But, Jess is also a school youth counselor. The minute Trevor meets Jess, a reg flag instantly goes up: she sounds like a cop. Cooper believes he has seen Jess somewhere before, but he can't remember where. Jess has a secret past, but not even her close friends know about it. As Cooper starts falling for Jess, he stumbles across Jess's past. Jess starts telling Cooper about her past slowly, but Cooper goes behind her back and does some research on her. After Jess catches Cooper snooping behind her back, she is determined that she doesn't want to fall for Cooper. Also, kudos to Cooper for stepping up and being the best parent for Trevor. As the Christmas season grows closer, Trevor finds himself forming a bond with the local farmer. Trevor and Abner met when Trevor was hiding in Abner's barn when he was hanging with the wrong group of friends. Abner gives Trevor some very potential information on staying with the right group of friends. As Trevor is hiding, he finds a sleigh in Abner's barn. With the Christmas parade coming up, Maggie, Abner, and Trevor start building a horse drawn sleigh. Cooper starts realizing that his son is doing better and is more happier, but now the only thing that would make Cooper's new year better would be making Jess his. I love the bond that Trevor built with his cousin Maggie but also getting closer with his neighbor, Abner. I thought Jess was sweet, but I just wish she would have told Cooper about her past sooner. All in all, I just loved this book so much. It was so heart warming and beautiful.

I enjoyed this book. The sleigh was definitely my favorite part. A very nice addition to the story. A great read.

Nice story with enough ups and downs to keep the pace steady. Interesting characters with a bad guy to boot.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Cooper Chapman is a freelance writer and moves is teenage son to Branding Iron, Texas to get him out of Seattle. Trevor has been running with the wrong group and already has a record. Jess Garver moved to Branding Iron a few years ago and is the guidance counselor for the school system. Cooper's sister is trying to help everyone by having everyone to dinner.
Jess has no desire to date Cooper and his son is not cooperating with her at school either. Jess is a very private person and Cooper feels he knows her from somewhere even if it just a news article.
Cooper buys a farm and Trevor meets the older next-door neighbor and finds instant connection with him.
Can everyone get a Merry Christmas?
I have read all the Branding Iron series and love to read about Texas.

Somebody Like Santa, was predictable. As soon as a comment was made I knew that is going to have something to do with the ending, at least 3 or 4 times. And sure enough everyone of them is in the final chapters. I like a little bit of wonder in my books. I did enjoy the story line. Cooper puts his son first for most of the book and Jess totally gets it. She is cagey about her past and has a right to be. In the end it's that lack of trust because of this that brings their relationship into question. I would reread this book.

Somebody like Santa (The Christmas Tree Ranch, #5) by Janet Dailey
A heartwarming story of a small western town and how the holiday and melding of lives and the solving of problems. Cooper Chapman (single father of teenaged son, Trevor) he moved to the small town to help his troubled son. Jess Graver (youth counselor) is a big help - but what is she hiding.
Wonderful family ( one I can't wait for you to meet), new friends, a Christmas sleigh, laughter, tears, some violence, misunderstandings, forgiveness and lots of feelings all get us to a HEA.
Reasons I enjoyed this book:
Easy-to-read Scary FunnyGreat world building Romantic Action-packed Page-turner Entertaining Tear-jerker Informative Wonderful characters Happily Ever After Unpredictable. I was happy to read and review this ARC on NetGalley.

I have loved this entire series. This is book #5 of The Christmas Tree ranch series. Cooper can work from anywhere, so he moves his very troubled son to Branding Iron, Tx hoping a small town will keep him from getting into more trouble. But trouble seems to find Trevor. Jess is the school counselor. It's her job to help Trevor. She doesn't want to be attracted to his very handsome father and the universe seems to continually throw them together. How long can a person resist! This one has it all - romance, mystery and danger! Janet Dailey creates fabulous characters. I love her books!
Thank you to NetGalley and Zebra Books for this advanced review copy. In return, I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

Somebody Like Santa
By Janet Dailey

Trust, forgiveness, moving on after loss, and love are all front and center in Janet Dailey’s Somebody Like Santa. Cooper and his son Trevor move to a Branding Iron, TX to give Trevor a chance on a better life after getting into trouble in their past home. Being close to his sister and only family he has left, Cooper is not interested in looking for romance, only helping his son move on and hoping for a better life with him.

Jess is the school psychologist who helps at risk kids in her district. Her friend Grace wants her to meet her brother Cooper and Travis. Yes, to help Travis, but mostly she thinks Jess and Cooper can be good for each other. But Jess has a secret past she doesn’t want anyone to know about and finds it had to trust anyone.

Janet Daily’s characters are beautifully flawed and real. I loved how she made them true to who they are, yet willing to take that leap of faith to discover something miraculous. This book moved me as we got to truly understand what motivated Jess, Cooper,Trevor, and his friend Skip. We never fully understand someone unless you walk in their shoes. Wonderfully written. This is my voluntary review.

Janet Dailey always writes such wonderful and heartfelt Christmas stories and when you finish reading one of her books, you just feel all toasty warm inside:) I really loved Cooper and Jess' characters but I must say, it's the kids in the story that really had my heart.

Cooper has his work cut out for him when he moves with his son to a small Texas town, hoping to steer his son on the straight and narrow after being in trouble with some city school kids. When he meets Jess, it's instant attraction but she's keeping secrets that she has no intentions of telling him. As Christmas approaches and more problems arrive, it's up to love, trust and understanding to make a stand!

I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

Cooper is a divorced single father trying to raise his teenaged son, Trevor, who has been getting into trouble at school. Cooper makes the decision to move them both to Branding Iron, Texas, to be closer to his sister and her family in hopes that it will turn Trevor’s life around. However, things don’t start out well for Trevor until he meets a local farmer.

Jess is a youth counselor who was notified about Trevor before his enrollment in school in Texas. Jess is also a friend of Cooper’s sister. The three of them meet at his sister’s house.

There are other issues going on in the small town. Twists, turns, danger, secrets, hope, new beginnings, and a HEA. I enjoyed this story very much.

At the end, it seems as though there’s a hint of something regarding Ruth and Judd but why tease us if this is book 5 of 5?

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley, Janet Dailey and Kensington Books for the ARC of Somebody like Santa. This is my personal review.
What a wonderful book to read! This book had everything in it to make a good story- love, friendship, family, suspense, and Christmas.
It is set in a small town of Branding Iron. Jess and Cooper had an instant attraction but things in their lives were keeping them at a distance from each other.
The story had a lot of twists and unforeseen events that made every character for me perfect.

Christmas + romance + cowboys

Sounds like a perfect combination to me!

Any time there's a stranger moving to cowboy country, you know the familoar tropes are going to come out. Trucks, dogs, kids and mamas, horses and a ranch. It's the stuff we crave, honestly, when we pick up a favorite. And the added holiday spirit in this one (from Halloween shenanigans to Christmas joy) is just that extra touch we need. The centerpiece of this particular story is a harse-drawn sleigh, old-fashioned but worth the magic. Is there anything more magical than Christmas snow? And the happily ever after we all want during the holidays.

"I want you to be happy here. I want you to make friends."
"I know. But I won't do it by pretending to be somebody I'm not."

The sleigh? "A lesson in hard work, responsibility, and devotion."

This is a good book. The two main characters are Jess and Cooper. Jess is a psychologist for the school system and Cooper is a writer and father There is an instant attraction when they meet. Jess has a tree to fall into her house. Cooper offers for her to come live with him till her house is fixed. They both have issues but together they work them out and find love.