With the festive season drawing close, I’m on the hunt for inspiration for Christmas-time reads to get in the spirit of the season. Thank you to Love Book Tours for gifting me a digital copy of The Santa Secret by D Thrush and the chance to join the book tour in exchange for a fair and honest review for this jolly read, which definitely can boast ticking all the boxes all the festive must-haves to be a Christmas book.

The Santa Secret is a sweet seasonal romance about a grumpy Santa-heir falling in love with a sunshine-loving former Olympic figure skater from Florida. Two opposites attract trying to make it work between the climates of extreme cold to extreme humidity while keeping the crucial secret about Santa’s identity. D Thrush’s writing is easy to read and full of festive charm and wintery vibes. The plot brings to life the challenges and stresses of being Santa and his wife in a thoughtful, human way. Relationships are never easy around Christmas time with loved ones and family, especially when your husband is Santa.

The conflicts are relatable for every average person with the life challenges of aging family members, sibling rivalries and favourites, job pressures, and finding the balance between life, work, and Christmas. The characters are well-developed and likable, with nicely fleshed-out personas, flaws and quirks. Nick and Clara’s romance forms quickly, and they don’t get much time to be a couple before they launch into marriage, parenthood, and taking on the family business with all its complications, secrets, and pressure to make sure there is an heir and a spare for the Santa dynasty.

A prequel novel introducing us to the Claus family, who are in the business of Christmas, toys, and magic to make one extraordinary delivery upon Christmas Eve with the help from the community of humans, elves, and reindeer from the North Pole. I’m looking forward to getting the chance to delve into the Santina Series, which sounds like a hoot with the first female Santa and facing the problems of taking on roles dominated by men in the past. I think this series could be some fun, festive reading for December with a hot beverage and a mince pie or two. Suppose you love movies like Santa Claus with Tim Allen and Arthur Christmas. In that case, I think you’ll enjoy reading about this version of the Santa family, who are as messy, weird, and troubled as the rest of the world – only with a lot more reindeer and magic.

lisahamer's review

4.0

I really enjoyed this story a great festive read.
Clara has an instant attraction to Nicky but when he finally tells her his secret - that’s he is next in line to become Santa, she finds it hard to believe.
This is a prequel to the Santina Series but can be read as a standalone.
Full of great characters, I just love Walter and the reindeers, the descriptive writing means it’s easy to visualise everything.
A cute festive read with lots of humour written in and the most gorgeous book cover
fantasybookworm01's profile picture

fantasybookworm01's review

3.0

This is a prequel to the Santina series and is a really cute, wholesome romance perfect for winter. The story focuses on Clara, who is from Florida a former world champion ice skater, now coach, and Nicky who is from up North, way way up North, and is part of a bobsled team and is also set to inherit the family business. Clara and Nicky meet via mutual friends at the Winter Olympics and a whirlwind romance quickly follows.
There is no spice to be found, it is just a sweet, wholesome romance and is the perfect palette cleanser for all my dark romance or fantasy girlies! It is a perfect pre-Christmas read for anyone who is a sucker for a Christmas romance!
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kezmarie36's review

4.0

I really enjoyed the festive atmosphere in this, it had elves, talking reindeer, and the whole north pole experience with the letters, toy workshop and festive cheer.
Clara meets brothers Kris and Nicky at the Winter Olympics, she has an instant spark with Nicky, even through Kris continues to flirt with her, but she knows they are hiding something from her. She decides to spend more time with Nicky before heading home and their connection deepens. Nicky decided to confess his secrets to Clara, and hopes she'll accept and choose him.
The big secret is Nicky is Santa's son and heir, so if they want a life together, Clara will have to leave everything behind, move to the North Pole and vow to keep their secret, even from her own family.
This is a story about love and sacrifice, unexpected responsibilities, and family legacies. There is sibling rivalry between Kris and Nicky that causes tension, as well as interferences and drama from Kris's fiancee.
You get a sense of the immense pressure Nicky is under to become Santa, and the conflicts it causes with Clara, especially when it comes to the next generation. Clara certainly shows her commitment by supporting Nicky, uprooting her life and settling into the role of Mrs Claus.
This is a sweet and festive standalone, and prequel to the Santina series.
bluefairybug's profile picture

bluefairybug's review

3.0
funny lighthearted relaxing slow-paced

This was a really fun, cosy Christmas read. It was a bit slow to start for me, but when it got going I thoroughly enjoyed it.  

I loved the descriptions of the North Pole, it was so clearly described that I could easily imagine I was there. The talking reindeer were another favourite part for me.  

I also really liked Clara. I could definitely identify with her always imagining how things could go wrong, I do that a lot too. 

Overall, this was an enjoyable read, perfect for the winter season.  

kirstylou22's review

5.0

What a cracking little seasonal read this book was. It’s definitely got me in the festive reading mood. 

This was an endearing romance read, the FMC and MMC are both athletes who meet at the Winter Olympics. She’s a skating coach and he’s on a bobsled team. Nicky lives in the North Pole and Clara comes from the sunshine state that is Florida. 

No one would believe you if you said your Dad was the actual Santa Claus! But that really is the case for Nicky. Clara is willing to give everything up to move to the North Pole and keep his secret. 

This had everything a Christmas read should have. A beautiful romance story, weddings, babies, reindeer and elves. This could not have been more perfect. I can’t wait to read Santina’s story and continue this festive reading spell I have fallen under. 

I loved the writing in this book, how time passed seamlessly and how easy the story line was to follow.

madianderson49's review

4.0
lighthearted medium-paced
bookwormchez's profile picture

bookwormchez's review

4.0
adventurous hopeful lighthearted medium-paced