I'm usually iffy on love triangles, but holiday romances are the only ones that can win me over, so I'm glad I read this one. Will definitely recommend, cute, fast, and packed with Christmas magic.

This was a lovely and endearing Christmas read with great characters and a fun premise. I'm not a big fan of the love triangle trope, but this one has me enthralled all the way to the end.

I don’t usually like a love triangle but this was fantastically done. I loved Nick and feel like I really identified with him and his love of Christmas. It was a fast comforting read, easy to get lost in.

Two rival toyshops are in competition as to who has the best Santa in the yearly Santa's Grotto! Elodie Martin's toyshop usually wins hands down, but this year their Santa has retired and Elodie needs to find a competition winning replacement! Enter, Nick Winter, a budding actor who may not have the body of Santa, but certainly has the enthusiasm!

This was a fun, festive read with more Santa references than you can shake a stick at! Elodie is a character who does take a bit of warming to - she's a bit grumpy at times, and not very festive at all! But the charming, fun Nick Winters works his Santa magic while he works alongside her and actually gets her into the Christmas spirit! The book flowed along well, with plenty of laughs along the way. I really liked Nick's character and he really made the book for me!

The romance was in the form of a love triangle, which surprised me at that Elodie had two men fighting over her considering how surly she could be! The "who will win her heart" triangle held my attention although it was obvious who she would be with by the end of the book! This was a nice easy read and didn't require any concentration. It was fun, light-hearted and very Christmassy! Perfect for this time of year!

This was the perfect christmas read to get me in the spirit!

Definitely on the look out for more books by this author.

A fun, enthralling and festive read by an author who I love, if I see a book by Mary Jayne I eat it up!

Got me in the Christmas feeling even when it wasn't Christmas 😂😂😂

A cute, festive rom com! I was attracted by the cover. The story was a fast read, a pleasant way to pass an afternoon in the middle of winter (here in NZ) dreaming of Christmas and all the magic it brings. Beneath the fun there were some serious topics touched upon, poverty, especially at Christmas is heartbreaking. The love triangle was interesting (trying to guess who’d she’d end up with) but I did feel that the romance side of the story could have done with a little bit more tension.

I was really excited to read this one, but unfortunately it just wasn’t for me and I couldn’t quite get into it.

With a sprinkle of Christmas cheer can Eloise and Callum get it together. With all the romance and magic of the season, I devored this with my Santa hat on.

Who doesn’t love a festive tale, something to brighten up the long winter nights or to make you look forward to the coming season, this is one to add to your romcom shelf

Very enjoyable read, it’s Funny feel good book. Definitely a happy book to read. I really enjoyed it.

Get ready to roar with laughter with Mary Jayne Baker’s uproarious and enchanting new novel, Santa Maybe.

Elodie Martin might own a toy shop, but she’s got far more in common with Scrooge than with one of Santa’s little elves. She has always had issues with getting into the spirit of the holidays, but if there is one thing guaranteed to get her fired up is getting one over on her arch-nemesis who just riles her up the wrong way: department store owner Callum Ashley. Frostier than a snowman and as handsome as sin, Callum is the most infuriating man Elodie has ever met, if only he wasn’t so darned attractive…

It is becoming close to impossible to compete with Callum’s department store, but Christmas is the only time Elodie comes up trumps thanks to her grandfather Jim, everyone’s favourite Santa Claus. Jim is always a surefire hit, but this year he’s had to hang up his suit and Elodie is desperately trying to fill the massive void her granddad has left behind. Could out of work actor Nick Winter be the answer to all of her prayers? Or the final nail in the shop’s coffin?

With a sprinkling of Christmas magic, everything is possible and happiness can be within both Elodie and Callum’s reach, but only if they know where to look…

Fun, feel-good and festive, Santa Maybe is vintage Mary Jane Baker! I absolutely adored reading this fabulous Christmas romp and not only did I laugh out loud on many an occasion, but I also find myself wiping away a tear or two.

Enjoyable, magical and wonderfully romantic, make sure Father Christmas leaves you a copy of Santa Maybe under the tree this December!

Thoroughly enjoyable, festive fun!
You can always rely on Mary Jayne Barker to make you feel all the Christmas magic (no matter the time of year) plus have you giggling like a hyena faced with a prized kill, and this is no different.
Santa Maybe is happiness in your hand, it will make you smile and cry (with happy tears) sprinkle festive magic over your day and will leave you feeling satisfied. Just loved it!!
A light-hearted, fun and believable story, with great characters, a gorgeous setting and lots, and lots of Christmas magic., a real winner!

This was a great story. Ending was a little confusing and a let down, but it was enjoyable none-the-less. Read it in one day.

I thought this was one of my favourite books that I read around Christmas. I think it had the Christmas spirit and got me excited for the holidays, which can often be hard in books.

This is a cute Christmas romance that I enjoyed. Elodie Martin owns a toy store that’s famous for their Santa grotto. She hasn’t liked Christmas since her parents died.
Santa is her grandfather, Jim, and generations of children sat on his lap. Unfortunately, he suffers a stroke so she has to find a new Santa.
A young, good looking guy named Nick Winter gets the position. Jim trains him on how to be Santa Claus, and he’s very popular.

Martin’s grotto competes with Ashley’s, owned by Callum Ashley. The stores have competed for years. He and Elodie are frenimies since childhood, but this year he’s determined to get Elodie to fall in love with him.

Nick has fallen for Elodie too, but can’t find a way to tell her. Which guy is the right one for her?

I liked the characters and the plot, it will put you in a Christmas frame of mind!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed as in this review are completely my own.

I firmly believe in keeping the spirit of Christmas alive all year round, and this book certainly does that! A school for Santas is a brilliant idea!

The wonderfully named and Christmas-loving Nick Winter is a perfect foil for bah-humbug Elodie, and also for profit-focused Callum.

I loved the way the author led me in one direction, then in another, only for the story to take a different path yet again, with the love triangle that was a big part of this book. However, things aren't always what they seem, and as the story unfolded I found myself rooting first for one, and then for the other.

Alive with glitter and tinselly sparkle, this book is filled with lots of warm fuzzy feelings.

MARY JAYNE BAKER: SANTA MAYBE.

Toy shop owner Elodie is not one to throw herself into the festive season. One thing she does get a kick out of though, is to get one over on local department store owner, Callum Ashley. He’s cold and aloof - but annoyingly handsome.
As Christmas approaches both businesses set out to provide the best Santa’s Grotto around.
Elodie is confident, but when her secret weapon - her grandad is forced to pull out, she needs to find a new Santa for her grotto.
Can out of work actor, Nick Winter save the day.
Maybe a bit of Christmas magic can warm cold hearts and possibly help Elodie find her happily ever after…. but who with???

#SantaMaybe is everything you need in a festive read.
It’s funny and sweet and warm and touching. You’ll cry happy tears and be left with all the Christmas feels.
You NEED to pop this on your list of festive reads.
It will warm the heart of even the most hardened scrooge.

A true festive delight.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

With thanks to #Netgalley and Head Of Zeus for a digital arc of this title.

Santa Maybe by Mary Jayne Baker

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and Aria and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

Toy Store owner Elodie Martin is not one to get into the festive spirit but nothing gets her fired up more than the chance to get one over on her nemesis, Callum Ashley – the frosty, infuriatingly handsome owner of the local department store. Christmas is the only time she can compete thanks to her grandad Jim, everyone's favourite Santa Claus. But when he has to unexpectedly hang up his red suit, Elodie is at risk of losing the business for good and has no choice but to rely on last-minute replacement out-of-work actor Nick Winter.

Can a sprinkling of Christmas magic warm Callum's heart and help Elodie find her happily-ever-after? Or is it just possible that love is to be found a little bit closer to home?

My Opinion

First of all, after reading this I feel like I would really enjoy joining the Santa lessons with Nick. Elodie runs a toy shop but doesn't actually enjoy Christmas - is this the year that will change that fact? Mary Jayne Baker has written a really festive book that I thoroughly enjoyed. Please make sure this is on your list of festive books to read this year.

Rating 4/5

What a lovely light hearted, festive read this is!
Easy to follow, lovely characters, heart warming moments, and a story the gives you a warm and fuzzy feeling.
This is the second book I’ve read from this author and I’m finding I really enjoy how she writes and I look forward to reading more of her books