e-Audio, 10:07:38
Narrated by: Mark Sanderlin & Zach Barela
Release Date: October 1, 2024
Published by: Macmillan Audio
Read from: November 10-11, 2024
Stand-alone
Source: Netgalley (I received an ALC from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for a just and honest review. This did nothing to influence my review.)
Content Warning: Homophobia, Abandonment, Death, Grief, Car Accident
For Readers Interested In: Romance, Holidaze, 2SLGBTQ+ (Gay, Ace), Dual POV, AdultThe Santa Clause meets Husband Material in this delightful holiday novel!
Fixing Christmas? Easy. Fixing their marriage? Not so much.
Patrick Hargrave and Quinn Muller have been married for less than a year, but their passionate romance is cracking under the pressures of domestic life and a cumbersome mortgage. That’s until Christmas Eve when Patrick wakes Quinn up ‘I think I’ve killed a man.’
Quinn realizes the ‘burglar’ Patrick knocked out is none other than Mr. Claus himself. Instructed by a harried elf to don the red suit and take the reins of the reindeer-guided sleigh up on the roof, Quinn and Patrick work together to save Christmas.
But as the sun rises on Christmas morning, the sleigh brings them back to the North Pole instead of New Jersey, and they’re in for a massive shock. The couple must assume the roles of Santa Claus and the first ever Merriest Mister or Christmas will be cancelled . . . permanently.
With Christmas – and their marriage – on the line, Patrick and Quinn agree to stay together for one year. But can running a toy shop together save their relationship, or will Patrick and Quinn be stuffing coal in each other’s stockings come next Christmas?
*MY THOUGHTS*
I’m either a hit or miss with Timothy’s books, and it seems like his Christmas ones are the biggest green flags for me. I love them so so much! The Grinch one is still my favorite, but this one was still very good too.
I waited a long time to read this because I wasn’t in the mood for Christmas stuff just yet when it released, but when I finally was, I ATE this up! It was so good. And I have to say, I am so excited for people to read this one. If you’ve seen The Santa Clause trilogy with Tim Allen and loved it like I did, you will get that same magic from this story. It was so much fun.
I will say I was a bit weirded out about the romance because…. I mean, dude is who he becomes and stuff and I just felt weird about that. But then again, I have read a book with smut and a Santa soooooo (please no judgement) But idk. It was weird to think about. I appreciated that Janovsky really only made it them do things like touches and they kept getting interrupted. I imagine he thought some might feel the same way lol
I LOVED the characters tho. I was a little mad at the person who becomes that person at the beginning of the story. But he definitely took responsibility for the things that happened that were his fault. The other husband started out good for me, but made me mad the more it went. Why? Because he was so confused at the end? SPOILER: He didn’t want him to do something so he did what he did….. And then when the other person said I figured it out, he said ok END SPOILER I just didn’t think he was making any sense.
The holiday part of this was so cute! This is definitely one of the books that help me remember why I love holiday romances. There is so much Christmas cheer in this one and it felt so cozy and comfortable. And the way the elves were so inclusive and loving to the Other Mister completely warmed my heart. I LOVED the way they made them realize that the laws were outdated and they needed to be revamped. If everyone in the world made it that easy to be inclusive to everyone, the world would be a much better place. Fitting that this magic happened in the North Pole because these idiots down here would never.
This book was hella fun. I really hope this y’all read this. And then go and watch The Santa Clause. You will definitely be in the mood for it after you finish. So much fun and so much love. I hope y’all love it too!
Overall, I give this
