This book has a cute story and the details are very explicit regarding boating. I was hoping for more Christmas themed, and didn’t quite get the Christmas-y, winter vibes until the end of the book. It was very well-written and had cute, classic romance vibes.

I was hoping for more of a Hallmark vibey book and that’s what landed it at the 3 stars.

Let me preface this with the book involves a lot of talk about COVID and the pandemic.

Santa Overboard is a cute, cozy romance that makes you think of television romance movies. It revolves around a group of women, with Katie as the main female character. Katie seems to constantly be in the thick of messy things in her community.

I was gifted the audiobook version if this book from NetGalley. The description sounded so good, it was supposed to be this cute fluffy story about a small town and their Christmas tradition. I feel like it ended up being completely the opposite. It was very heavy focused on Covid, which I did not enjoy at all. The narrator for the audiobook sounded a bit too monotone for my liking. I almost didn’t want to finish this book.
There was moments where the story didn’t feel like it was connecting, and it was trying to give you too much information that was irrelevant and didn’t make sense for the plot.

Santa Overboard: A Potomac Shores Holiday written by Carolyn McBride and narrated by Maria Marquis is a part of a small-town rom-com series. This is my first Carolyn McBride book and I can say I was impressed with the wording and tone of the book. I also enjoyed all the food talked about and the fast facts mentioned throughout the book. What also brought the story to life was the narrator who did a great job with giving personality to each character. I will personally say I believe this book would most likely be loved by a more mature audience (not in a rated-X way but a book for older readers). This is a book I can’t wait to suggest to my many sophisticated reading friends. Yet, the book itself and the author's message at the end of the story did leave me wanting more from Carolyn McBride.

First I would like to thank NetGalley and Make Waves Press for the audio arc of this book. In exchange for this arc I will be leaving an honest review.

„Santa overboard“ is a very relaxed holiday read about Katie, her friends, her romance with Deke and a holiday boat parade. It is the second part in a series (I didn‘t know this when I got it, so I haven‘t read the first book), however I believe it can also be read as a standalone.

Personally I found the book to be a quite enjoyable holiday read, however if I hadn‘t been in the mood for it, I think it would have fallen short for me in a couple different ways. The main one of those being that the book seemed unsure about what it was. There was some romance, but in the first half there wasn‘t enough to properly categorize it as a romance novel and midway through there was a tiny element of mystery, that was then never explored again. I was expecting a more fleshed out romance, however I did enjoy this slice of life story.
I‘d say if you want to pick up an enjoyable slice of life book about love, friendships and the holidays, this one would be a good pick.

This is a cute story, but the pandemic references are strange. It feels a couple of years behind pace, but not far enough removed for Christmas nostalgia yet? Overall, a quick, cozy, inoffensive read.

The story here was ok - but just ok. The audiobook was a cute way to spend a few hours to get into the Christmas spirit, but I found I couldn't connect with the main characters or central plot. I also found the constant mention of COVID incredibly distracting and felt like it didn't actually add anything to the story.

I enjoyed that the romance was focused on an older couple, but I couldn't relate to the conflicts between them. Kate, the FMC, is unhappy that Deke, the MMC, takes an annual work trip every Christmas and feels unsupported by him and I just could not get behind this. As someone who often works over Christmas I couldn't understand why they couldn't celebrate another day and found Kate's reaction annoying and selfish. I did like the friendship group in the story, but given that it's a very short book, we don't spend that much time with them. I wanted more from them and less from Kate, which probably isn't a great sign, given that she is the main character. I feel like if this was a full length novel, rather than a novella, I might have enjoyed it more. This might also have helped me connect with the central romance, which just fell flat.

I listened to this as an audiobook and I did enjoy the narration. The performance actually made me enjoy the story more and I she really brought the characters to life. I think without such a great narrator, I probably wouldn't have finished the story.

Holiday Rom-Com

Audiobook:

Maria Marquis-My first narration by Maria. She held down a variety of flexes in her voice to represent the various characters. Narrated in third person POV.

She is a narrator that resonated well.

Santa Overboard:

I jumped into this series on book 2 without any problems. The story recaps the trials Katie had been through. I appreciate that it had realistic clips of life. It addressed real world elements like the pandemic and concerns of only seeing each other during funerals and weddings.

The evolution with Deke was sweet. I would rate this book 3.75 stars.

I received a free copy of this book from Carolyn McBride, Make Waves Press and Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Audiobooks. I am voluntarily leaving a review. All opinions are my own.

I wanted to love this one but it just really fell short for me. I never felt invested in the characters or storyline.

On the bright side I did really enjoy the narrator of the audiobook!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Santa Overboard
Audiobook
NetGalley
Make Waves Press

Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️.75 ❤️

About the book: Katie Young is settling into her new life in a picturesque riverfront town in Virginia, surrounded by her close-knit group of friends, the Beach Bonfire Babes. With a budding romance with a charming scientist and her daughter home for the holidays, this season feels like a fresh start. As the captain of the town’s Christmas boat parade, Katie is ready to steer Santa to the dock in festive style—until mishaps turn the holiday cheer into chaos, forcing Katie and her friends to weather midlife storms with humor, cocktails, and plenty of holiday magic.

My thoughts: I was in the mood for a fun holiday quick read and I really liked this one so much. I loved connecting with Katie in the sense that we are a little bit older in life (all the books I read lately are characters in their 20’s or even early 30’s). I feel a sense of power that comes with “coming into my own” a bit later in life and I feel that was Katie too. I also loved the bond with her friends! Old and new! She forms an instant friendship in the beginning of this book that is fun and they bond quickly. The love story is sweet between her and Deke. Very realistic and fitting for her stage of life.

One thing that brings my rating down was the Covid references. I am in my phase of life where I’d love to forget about that time and it was referenced throughout the whole book.

I love the narrator Maria Marquis. She did an excellent job and really made the story come to life for me!
All in all if you’re in the mood for a really quick fun holiday read set in an adorable small town. This is your go to.

Santa Overboard: A Potomac Shores Holiday by Carolyn McBride, narrated by Maria Marquis, offers a unique take on the holiday romance genre. The story follows Katie, a 50-something thrice-divorced mother of a college student, as she navigates her new life in a charming riverfront town. While the premise of a "coming of middle age" romance is refreshing, the execution falls short of expectations.

As a regular romance reader, I found myself struggling to connect with the group of older women at the center of the story. The generational gap between myself, a 30-something, and the characters became apparent, making it challenging to fully immerse in their world. Additionally, the occasional religious undertones felt out of place and uncomfortable for someone not raised in a religious environment.

Despite giving it multiple chances during my holiday travels, I reluctantly abandoned the audiobook halfway through. While the mature protagonist initially intrigued me, the lack of relatable moments and the disconnect from what I expected in a seasonal rom-com left me unsatisfied.
Overall Rating: 2/5 stars (DNF at 48%)

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

The book is a cute holiday story, featuring a 50+ year FMC finding love again after failed marriages and her kids "leaving the nest". In my opinion, it's nothing revolutionary but it takes you back to the town if you liked book 1 and you see the characters grow and change. I will say though, specifically the narrator was really good! Her tone shifted with each character and she put on quite the performance! I'd love to hear her narrate other stories.

2.5 ⭐️

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the audio-ARC.

I didn’t realise this was a sequel and was expecting a seasonal rom com type deal.

So when at the start of the book we already have our love interest I was a bit confused and when he remained the love interest even more so. But this being the second book in a series makes it make more sense…

Despite my mistake having not read the first book I found the FMC a bit cringey and she didn’t really act like the 50 something she’s described as. Although kudos for not having a 19 year old skinny girl as the MC.

This is like a hallmark movie. It’s cosy, it’s cutesy, it’s cringey and predictable.

I couldn’t relate to the MC (why are we having a tantrum about our boyfriend/not boyfriend going away for work for 6 weeks?)

I probably would’ve DNFd if this was longer or if I wasn’t able to do it in one sitting as it doesn’t didn’t grip me, nothing really happened and the thing that did eventually happen had me rolling my eyes.

The overall message was cute but this didn’t hit the spot for me sadly.

Narrator did a fabulous job!

This audio novella was a good length for the busy holidays when time is limited. While I enjoyed seeing older characters represented, as well as real life issues, the repetition of Covid dampened my enjoyment of the book. It felt like it was every chapter, sometimes multiple times in a single chapter.

The premise was cute and the characters were enjoyable, but it didn’t give me that cozy holiday feeling I like in a holiday read. The narrator was excellent though!

This was my first experience with the author & I might give her another try, but I’ll definitely listen to the narrator in the future.

This was such a cute listen! The narrator did a excellent job of portraying the characters. Katie and deke's story was such wholesome and sweet story about love later in life. It's so inspiring! All in all this one was am easy 5 star listen for me. Thank you for letting me listen and review.

Santa Overboard was a fun, cozy mystery. It follows a 3 time divorced woman in her 50s trying to follow her dreams and find her path.
I would recommend it to those in their 40s+, I think that audience would get the most out of it.

A fun “coming of middle age,” to borrow a phrase from the book. It’s nice to hear from women characters coming into a new life. This was a refreshing read with its immediate post-Covid timing—the perfect opportunity for mostly single (again) women to search for their new/next selves. I loved the occasional open comment about menopause, a topic fiction mostly seems to leave unmentioned. Romance, hope, creativity, and boating — and the winter holidays — make for plenty of tension and humor.

Thank you NetGalley for this audiobook!

Honestly if this was any longer I would have DNF'd and I was tempted to do so anyways. The main character is insufferable and if you took her kid and three previous marriages out of the equation, she could easily be a YA character with the way she behaves. Pitching a fit bc your new boyfriend is gone for 6 weeks on a work trip?? Be so serious right now. Also being dramatic about her brother not flying back from India for Christmas in the middle of covid?? Grow up truly.

This was a sequel which I'd not realized initially so maybe that's why I was lost with some of the characters but it felt more like an overlong epilogue with all the side notes about various characters and events. I was looking forward to a holiday romance with a bit of intrigue and this gave me nothing unfortunately.

“Santa Overboard: A Potomac Shores Holiday by Carolyn McBride and wonderfully narrated by Maria Marquis is a sweet, wholesome holiday romance that is sure to put a smile on some people’s faces. Unfortunately, it really wasn’t my cup of tea, but I have a feeling that might be just the mood I was in when I listened to it. I have a feeling others will love it, so I recommend giving it a try.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for receiving an ARC of this audiobook. My opinions are my own.

This is a sweet, lighthearted holiday romance that offers just enough warmth to thaw your icy resting bitch face. The novella has a cozy charm that can make for a pleasant read when you're in the mood for something tame.

In terms of writing, Carolyne McBride's style is accessible and soothing. While the narrative doesn’t venture into any deep or complex territory, it’s a pleasant way to unwind. The dialogue flows smoothly, and the holiday-themed details add a layer of warmth that will appeal to readers craving the magic of Christmas. The audiobook narrator, Maria Marquis, does a lovely job.

If you’re looking for something gentle and festive to fill a quiet afternoon, "Santa Overboard" offers a sweet, low-key escape into the world of holiday love.