From the Queen of the summer beach reads, Mary Kay Andrews, comes a delightful holiday story. It's a wonderful story of second chances, healing and acceptance. Strong, well developed characters give substance to this entertaining holiday tale. MKA never disappoints. Sit back and enjoy!
Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a very short and sweet Christmas story about a woman going through a difficult time who decides to move away from Atlanta to a farm in North Carolina for a fresh start. The previous owners of her farmhouse used to go all out to celebrate Christmas. They decorated their home and played Mr. and Mrs. Santa among other things. The townspeople have really been missing their Christmas spirit and are hoping the new owner, Ivy, will pick up their traditions.

For the most part, this book was just what I expected it to be. It was short, sweet, and fun. There were new friends to be made and a simpler, small town life to be started. There was a lot of Christmas spirit and a bit of romance for good measure.

The story was a little convenient at times, the relationships developed quickly, and it all wrapped up a bit too neatly, but that is all something that you expect from this type of story. Overall, it was really enjoyable, even if not completely realistic.

3.5★ Rounded up for the Christmas spirit.

Short a sweet. A cozy book perfect for a fireplace and a thick blanket, like a Hallmark movie. I put off reading this one a bit because I felt like it was just too early for Christmas but this week it was cool and crisp and it felt just right. Now I'm kind of looking forward to Christmas already.

Mary Kay Andrews has written a gem of a Christmas novel with The Santa Suit!

Newly divorced, Ivy Perkins sets out on a new adventure, buying a farm house without seeing it. While working on the house, she finds a Santa suit. Inside the coat pocket, Ivy finds a speacial letter from a girl written many years before Ivy reads it. She is determined to find the story behind the letter.

The Santa Suit is a story of second chances and new friendships. It is worth your time. It is one that I’ll be re-reading every holiday season.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

#FirstLine - “There it is!”

I loved this book! It was just what I needed!

I have to admit that I am a sucker for anything Christmas. Then you give me a book by Mary Kay Andrews that is Christmas themed, it is a match made in heaven.

This book was so wonderful! It was everything I wanted it to be and it got me in the mood for the holidays! We have all been through so much over the last few years, so to be given a book that takes me to someplace else is such a gift.

I loved the setting, story and themes in this book. It was heartwarming and had a depth that made the story and characters those you can relate too. It was perfection and a great book to get to into the holiday reading season. It really is never to early to start! I promise you will love it!!!

Wonderful book - loved it and cannot recommend it enough.

I received a copy of this from the publisher in exchange for fair and honest review.

Reeling from her recent divorce, Ivy purchases her dream farmhouse from online photos and moves her life to a small town in another state. With help from her hunky real estate agent, Ezra, Ivy starts over by giving new life to the crumbling property and learning to love her neighbors. When she discovers an old Santa Suit in the closet, it sends her on a mysterious search for the author of a childhood note in one of its pockets.

The Santa Suit is just simply delightful. A perfect holiday novella with new beginnings, mystery, family reunions, and romance tucked into a quick, easy read.

I love a story that leaves me with a warm and fuzzy feeling. The Santa Suit by Mary Kay Andrews even gave me goosebumps! I can definitely picture it being made into a Hallmark Christmas movie. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this delightful novella.

Ivy Perkins has purchased the Four Roses Farm. Newly divorced, she moved to North Carolina from Atlanta. She bought the 100 year old farmhouse, barn, and land via pictures on the interest.

When Ivy drives up to the farmhouse with her dog, she is dismayed to see that it looks rather more dilapidated than she thought. The realtor she dealt with, Ezra Wheeler, is waiting with the keys to the house for her. With a name like Ezra, she is surprised to see he is a young and handsome man.

Inside, she sees the farmhouse that has not been lived in for many years is filled with old furniture and even clothes in the closets. As she checks the place out more, her list of improvements starts getting longer.

She learns that the original owners were really big on Christmas and decorated with lights outside for years. She has even found the original Santa suit worn by the owner of the farm.

An outgoing person, Ivy soon meets lots of townspeople, making friends along the way and learning about the traditions of the area. While she is not necessarily big on Christmas, she starts to get into the spirit from the friends she has made and the history of her new home.

A sweet, clean, humorous story of Christmas, I enjoyed this book. While I am also not necessarily “big” on Christmas, I smiled quite often as I saw the holiday through the eyes of these characters. Enjoy!

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

My first holiday book of the year goes to The Santa Suit which comes out on Tuesday - September 28th!

Nothing like sitting on the beach in Florida on the last day of summer reading a Christmas book 🤣

This was such a sweet and wonderful holiday book. If you're into Hallmark-esque movies then this is holiday magic in book form!

Ivy has just moved to small town North Carolina after her divorce and buys an old farmhouse. When she finds a Santa Suit with a letter to Santa from the past she wants to learn more about the little girl who wrote it. She becomes part of the community through this.

This was such a feel good Christmas book with your usual Mary Kay Andrews charm! Definitely add this to your holiday book list!

I can imagine some of you might be saying 'A Christmas review already?' Well....it is less than three months away!

Mary Kay Andrews has just released The Santa Suit, a great seasonal novella perfect for stocking stuffing (and don't forget yours!)

I love Mary Kay Andrews books. There's always a likable lead character. In this tale, it's Ivy Perkins. (And Punkin the dog!) She's lost her business, her marriage is kaput and her best friend betrayed her. What's a girl to do? How about buying an old farmhouse - sight unseen? From a really nice, and yes handsome, real estate agent. Uh huh, the possible romantic thread of the plot. And in a really friendly little town populated with quirky, amiable folks. Well, all the elements are there for a classic MKA read!

But where does the Christmas bit come in? Well, most of the furnishings and bits of the previous longtime owners came with the farmhouse. And in a closet, in the pocket of an old Santa suit is a Christmas wish from a little girl many years ago...

The Santa Suit is just such a warm-hearted read. I loved Ivy and hoped she would find happiness again. Punkin was a most excellent dog character. ;0) The romantic thread is believable and written just right. The supporting cast is just as likable, with a mix of players, each with their own story. And the setting made me want to move to town. But the Christmas pièce de résistance is that note in the Santa suit. Andrews weaves together a resolution that I didn't see coming, but it's the perfect ending.

The Santa Suit was a wonderfully festive novel that makes for warm, fuzzy, heartwarming reading. Best served with a cup of cocoa, a comfy chair and a warm blanket.

I love Christmas stories; I usually start them in October and read tons of them till January.
This is my first Christmas story so far this year, and it was a wonderful way to start. I loved that this story has real life problems and true to life characters. Anyone who has ever lived in a really small town will understand this. Nothing is secret in small towns.
Ivy Perkins has just gone thru the worst betrayal by someone your trust, and is now divorced and on her own. She and her dog Punkin are starting over in a new town and hopefully new life. Ivy has started talking to Punkin, not just a word here or there but full conversations !! I love it(all animal lovers will too). Ivy bought an old farmhouse that is called "The Four Roses" off the internet sight unseen ! Oh, my she has a more than a few surprises when she gets to her new home. The house and the pictures don't look the same. Meeting the realtor is other shock, with a name like Ezra she was expecting an older white hair county gentleman not someone her own age and handsome too.
Her third surprise is that the house is just as the last owners left it, furniture, clothes, dishes everything !! She finds a beautifully handmade Santa suit with a note in it.
This starts a journey for many. Ivy needs to see if Santa was able to answer a little girls wish.
This makes her get out and meet people in the community. Solving the mystery gives her more to think about then all the stuff wrong with the farmhouse and her own problems.
As she and her new friend Phoebe work together with Ezra helping her at every turn life is changing. The attraction between them is slowly becoming something more, romance is in the air.
This story has so much Holiday spirit and warmth without being overly sweet.
Will they be able to solve the mystery, can Ivy learn to trust again before it's too late.
So much going on is a short book, you will laugh out loud, almost cry and jump for joy before it's over. I must also note that I loved the chickens (and I don't even like birds) they are great and a large part of the story!! Now you have to get a copy just to find out what am talking about... Ha Ha
I received and ARC from the author and wish to thank her. This is my honest opinion and am freely giving it.

*3.5 stars

A sweet, heartwarming, Christmas romance!

Ivy Perkins has just bought an old farmhouse in a small town in North Carolina. Just the change she has been looking for after her recent divorce. Since the house was purchased sight unseen, it was fully furnished and full of the previous owners belongings. This story starts when Ivy finds an old Santa suit tucked away in a box and a note inside the pocket. The note is from a little girl who is asking Santa to please bring her daddy home from war. After reading the letter, Ivy feels drawn to discover what happened to this little girl and her family.

The setting and characters were what made this story for me. I love the old farmhouse and the quaint little small town setting. Seeing Ivy make friends and fall in love after divorce was so nice!

I recommend The Santa Suit if you are looking for a Christmas romance with a touch of mystery.

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
*All opinions are my own.

I really don’t read many Christmas books because they just don’t feel real to me, but since I read everything MK Andrews writes and has written for many, many years, I knew a Christmas book from her would be special. And boy was I right. Ivy, recently divorced, decides to leave Atlanta for a fresh start in the mountains of North Carolina and buys an old farm house sight unseen, and in need of a loving hand. As she moves to the very small town, it is close to Christmas. The house needs a lot of work, but Ezra, the very cute realtor who brings her the keys to the house, seems interested in Ivy and begins to come around to help her with repairs. Ivy meets some of the townspeople and as any good Christmas story should go, gets involved in their lives. There are many interesting and relevant circumstances that occur between Ivy, Ezra, new friends, Phoebe and dear Lawrence which all come together beautifully by the end. What a wonderful, magical story

This is Christmas Magic in the pages of a book! If I could give it 10 stars I definitely would! This is the must read holiday feel good book of the season. I absolutely loved this holiday book by Mary Kay Andrews. It is magical! Her writing style has always drawn me in and kept me turning the page. This is a wonderful story about a woman, Ivy Perkins, who sets out on her own to make a change in her life and buys the Four Roses estate. The secrets that she finds in the old house take her on a journey to find hope and the joy of Christmas again. The towns people and the town make for a wonderful story line that puts you in the holiday spirit. A little mystery, a little romance, and a great holiday tale. I did not want this one to end.

The Santa Suite is a sweet small town romance and the magic of the Christmas holidays. Ivy Perkins moves to a small town and an old house for a total fresh start on life when she meets her handsome neighbor and finds herself very invested in the town and her new friends. This story is uplifting, sweet, and a fun read. Highly recommend to anyone looking for a little holiday boost to their day.

This was an adorable Christmas story. The setting was fabulous and makes one want to visit. Great characters.

Sweet and spicy

I enjoy Mary Kay Andrew's books, and this long Christmas novella made me think of lounging by the fire with a nice hot drink and reading in my pj's. Spoiler: It isn't set at the beach!

We have a strong woman who isn't used to rural living, an old house with its secrets, a town with traditions, some no longer carried out but missed, people with secrets, etc, what's not to love about this story. I agree with other reviewers that this could have been longer, a full fledged novel.

Thank you to the publisher who lent me a time-constrained e-arc via Netgalley. This review is optional and my own opinion.

Have you ever read a book by a favorite author and thought you were reading a book by another favorite author? Mary Kay Andrews threw me for a loop with The Santa Suit! Some authors roll out a Christmas book every year. And the books are sweet and everyone lives happily ever after. The reader can usually tell where the storyline is headed. But, nonetheless, we read the new Christmas story every year and look forward to getting in the holiday spirit. The Santa Suit kept pulling me into the typical Christmas story but then Andrews would throw in her sassy, unexpected twist and I would remember I was reading one of her books. I have to say the ending caught me off guard and I loved it!! Is it too early to begin wishing for snow and getting out my Christmas decorations? Sure, it's only May but after reading The Santa Suit I may not be able to help myself.
I voluntarily received a copy of this book from NetGalley.

This is a short novel, a whimsical book about Christmas wishes and dreams that do come true. It was just what I needed to calm my thoughts about the upcoming holiday season. Ivy Perkins is newly divorced and feeling more than a little rejected when she decides to buy an old farmhouse without ever even seeing it. It’s more than a fixer upper because the previous owners left most of their things in the house, so it falls to Ivy to sort through everything at The Four Roses. During her hard work, she finds a handmade Santa suit with a note from a little girl whose only wish for Christmas is to have her daddy come back from war. The pace of the story moved along quickly and once Ivy found the note, it seemed to race to the conclusion. Ivy takes it upon herself to find the author of the note and to discover if she was ever reunited with her father. Thus a small mystery is also involved in the plot, a simple one that is timeless and written in such a descriptive way that I could put myself right into the farmhouse along with Ivy. The themes of family connections, friendships and love are well portrayed and there is a satisfying conclusion to this absorbing book. It has a precious lesson to teach about life in general and Christmas miracles specifically. I loved this story that can be read in only a few hours but will leave a lasting memory of how delightful our own precious time with others should be.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”