A cute story about love, friendships and family. I enjoyed the Christmassy theme to this book and I liked the characters. Jim was my favourite and I could really picture him in his role of Santa.

I found the story was predictable and it was obvious quite early on how things were going to pan out. I liked seeing a different side to Callum because at first I was not a fan. I didn’t however like the part where he was angry, I thought it was really aggressive and mean and uncalled for.

The story was cute and the ending was exactly what you would want it to be. The book was easy enough to read but I just wanted more from it.

A five-star read that is worthy of any Santa list. This was so sweet and funny and had me so wrapped up that I sobbed buckets!! For the first third I was a little mmmm and undecided about who I wanted Elodie to end up with in the end, as I almost didn’t care but I think I was just in an odd place. Once I got to the halfway point this one picked me up and span me round and had me all aflutter. I have loved this authors stories in the past, and this one just had the usual presence and spark. As well as so much Santa I am well into the Christmas spirit now.

I really feel terrible for this, but I DNF'd this book at 40%.

However what I did read, I would give 2 stars.

This book was not for me.
It's not a bad book by any means, and I have zero doubt that it will find its audience who will love it dearly. I just found the characters to be a little flat, particularly Elodie and Callum. For me, Nick and Elodie carry the book, but they didn't do it all that well. Nick was mildly annoying to me in some places, and I couldn't feel the spark between them. It's there, it's just not jumping off the page (FOR ME)

Pops was pretty good though.

There was also some run on dialogue with few tags or actions surrounding it, but this is just something that *I* prefer in the books I read, and again I'm sure there are others who love scenes like that.

I can't judge the second half of the book because I DNF'd. Because of this, I don't feel like I have the right to post my review online anywhere other than Net Galley as I really don't want to influence any other readers who definitely will enjoy this book when I only have knowledge of less than half of the story. For all I know, the second half of the book is amazing and I'm missing out. So I guess you better read and judge for yourself, ;)

I will say I did enjoy MJB's style. She has a nice flow in her writing, and I would be open to reading other books from this author. I just think this particular story isn't to my taste.

* I received an ARC of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you NetGalley, MJB, and the publisher for this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

Loved this christmassy read. Lovely story very enjoyable will be rereading come December

Many thanks for the arc

I read another book by the author through net galley and the marketing group for the publisher reached out to me about this book thinking that I may be interested because I really enjoyed the last book so I decided to request it.

Unfortunately I think this book really missed the mark. I did not care about Elodie or Callum throughout the entire book. I thought they were incredibly boring characters with no personalities and I really only liked Nick and Pops. I thought that the book would just be about the bet that Elodie and Callum have for who could earn the most money with their Santas, but that only lasted about 20% of the book and then the rest was just boring. I really couldn’t understand where the author was going with it. I would rather this whole book have been about the bet and Elodie and Nick. I’m giving this three stars because the ending was not bad but could have been much better.

I would not recommend.

Loved, loved, loved this amazing book. Poignant, heartbreaking and yet joyful. A wonderful book… It is an absolute triumph!

Lovely Christmassy read, love how the day to day living entwines with the plot. The correct man gets the girl, but felt sorry for the other too.. must have for Christmas

I feel AWFUL rating a book this low but this book just was not it for me. I struggled so hard to get to 40% and then I skim read the final 60% and I was so close to just giving up at 40%, and the only reason I continued was because this was a Netgalley ARC. I hate to say it but I found this book incredibly boring. To me, it had no depth to it. The characters were superficial and not relatable at all. I felt that Elodie and Callum in particular were devoid of a personality. The conversations between characters made me cringe and weren’t realistic of how people would speak to each other in real life. The relationships between the characters felt very juvenile considering they are all supposed to be in their thirties. Callum and Elodie has zero chemistry so how they ended up together is beyond me. I just couldn’t find anything to like about this book, as much as I hate to say it. This is just my opinion and I’m sure other people will absolutely love this book but I was given a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review and unfortunately, this is me being completely honest.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you so much Head of Zeus/Aria and NetGalley for this opportunity.

Well, I could say there’s a first time for everything. I read a Christmas novel in August. It felt kinda strange at first, but then I just tried to imagine myself on my comfy armchair with my From Blood and Ash blanket and a cup of hot chocolate.

This is my second book written by this author. "The 24 Hour Dating Agency" was one of my first reads on NetGalley, and, as I stated in my review, I loved the way the characters' imperfections were portrayed because I had the chance to relate to the characters.
But what about this one? Phenomenal since page one. I like how this writer can put lots of stuff in the caldron and still create and unique and successful novel. I remember I was worried about having three main characters in “The 24 Hour Dating Agency”, but the writer did a marvellous job since none overshadowed the others. The same thing happened here, you came across so many themes that every taste will be satisfied.

Can’t wait to read this story again during the Christmas season.

P.S. I think this book needs a screen adaptation 👀

Most heroines nowadays are sweetness and light, not Elodie Martin who runs the family shop, Martin's Toy Kingdom. She dislikes everyone except her grandfather, Pops, she even hates Christmas. She's easily annoyed and her remarks are frequently waspish. Too many female leads are portrayed as perfect. Elodie seemed a real person for a change. Her verbal barbs were often very funny.

This year, due to ill health, Pops can no longer be Santa Clause in their Christmas grotto and Elodie needs to find a substitute quickly. With the popularity of the local department store, the Toy Shop relies on the Grotto's profits or their business will likely fail.

My first Christmas novel this year and managed to read it in one day during the heatwave. Most of what I expected to happen, did happen, that's not a criticism. Santa Maybe was amusing and entertaining, a seasonal comfy read.

Thank you Head of Zeus and NetGalley for the ARC, this review is my personal, unbiased opinion.

Absolutely adored this book! Read it in one sitting. This is my idea of a perfect Christmas read.

Christmas is my favourite time of the year and this novel has really got me excited for the festive season. Everything about this novel was cosy and Christmassy - the two toy stores competing against each other for the best Christmas grotto experience, the search for a new Santa and new love made the perfect Christmas storylines. I loved the characters and the writing style and was hooked from the first sentence.

I can imagine this book being made into a fabulous Christmas film.

The ideal novel to curl up with a hot chocolate on a Christmas night - I'll be putting this on my 'to read' list again for December!

if i do love something, then that it is a really cute romance read based on christmas - and this one did not fail! it felt a little bit weird to read this during the summer but i am sure that if you find yourself cozing up with this book next to a really warm fireplace, you are going to love this as much as i did, if not more!

Elodie's toy shop relies on its Christmas grotto to stay afloat - however, she's not a great fan of Christmas and unfortunately her grandad (best Santa in the business) is retiring for health reasons. Throw in an unexpected replacement who doesn't seem to tick any of the classic Santa boxes, and an ill-advised wager with her childhood nemesis, and this Christmas season looks like being a disaster. Maybe...

Slightly bizarre to be reading a festive-themed book in a heatwave, but I got over that very quickly; in fact I could hardly put it down. The author deals with a number of serious themes, but with her trademark deft touch, and it's a delight to watch Callum, Nick and Elodie develop as characters as the story progresses over the course of a year. Plus, random Christmas trivia and festive movie bingo; what's not to love? A keeper of a novel.

Fabulous Christmas story that was funny and sweet. Nick Winter was adorable and I loved how he helped Elodie overcome her dislike of Christmas.
A fantastic love triangle that kept me guessing!
A real gift of a book!

I didn't love this, I'll be honest.

I don't like giving negative reviews but this just seemed very predictable and I didn't really like any of the main characters. I'm usually a huge fan of MJB's writing but I think the fact that I didn't click with any of the characters was the main reason I didn't enjoy this story.

Not to say that it was enough to put me off future books, just that this wasn't the one for me.

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A quick and easy read that I found myself picking up after a long day to unwind. The characters are beautifully written and I came to love them within the first few pages and was rooting for them all the way to the end. At times I wanted to stop reading because I just wanted the experience to go on for longer.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I have never read a Christmas novel in August before. And I have never read a Mary Jayne Baker book I didn't love. This one was no exception. Baker's heroines are always a little quirky but tough and determined, and it may take a little time for them to figure out what and who they want, but they get there in the end. Elodie has had some sad knocks in life but she loves her granddad and the old toy shop the family has been running for years. But rivalry with the big department store in town and its cocky millionaire owner Callum, and her granddad's poor health meaning that he can no longer be the store's Santa, bring extra challenges this Christmas, including a bet that she won't back out of, even if it could ruin her. But hope arrives in the form of a friendly supermarket worker and out of work actor called Nick, the most unlikely of Santa substitutes, but one who is about to turn all their lives around. A fun book which I enjoyed reading, whatever the season.

Brilliant from the first page.

And so many themes going on as the story progresses.

From unrequited love and enemies to lovers, there is a little bit of something for every reader to enjoy.

Our main protagonist is Elodie Martin.

She is a woman that's known hardship. Losing her parents at a young age and being bought up by her grandparents. Her heart has hardened a little over the years and after losing her Nan only recently, even her Christmas spirit has started to dwindle.

The final nail in the coffin, when her Grandad decides to retire from being Santa Claus at their family run toy store.

And then Nick comes into her life.

With some big shoes (boots) to fill, could he be not only the magical replacement Santa needed to keep the business afloat, but also the reason to make Elodie believe in the enchantment of Christmas again?

I just loved this story.

OK, I admit, I knew what direction the story was heading in. But sometimes that's a good thing.

We all long for a happy ending right?

Barker has got it just right.

With a balance of drama and laughter and a quirky bunch of characters, Santa Maybe has all the feels held within its pages.

A charming tale that will be perfect for cosying up with during the winter season

Santa Maybe by Mary Jayne Baker is such a wonderful Christmas read, and I highly recommend that you read this book

This is such a wonderful Christmas book. You should really add it to your Christmas book list to read this year. Because it is filled with so much love, warmth and Christmas spirit. Wonderful.