Member Reviews
I have loved all of the MKA books I have read. This is my first Christmas book by MKA and no surprise - I loved it!
This book reminded me of a great Hallmark movie, a blanket and cocoa, visiting an old friend - and all things cozy and satisfying.
Ivy Perkins moves to an old ramshackle farmhouse - (complete with a hot Realtor!) - and finds an old Santa suit hidden in a closet with a letter hidden in the pocket. Ivy is convinced that she needs to solve the mystery of who Carlette is, the little girl who wrote the letter.
This book is a quick little novella and just a great holiday gift for yourself or a friend - or both!
What an awesome Christmas story!! I loved it!! Ivy takes a chance or was it destined to be? I love her, her girls and Punkin. She has such a huge heart, as do most of the people in Tarburton. This is a heartwarming story with an abundance of love. As you may know, moving to a small town isn’t always the easiest thing to do, but Ivy does it with style and grace. I would like to have another book with these characters and location so I could not only hang out with them again, but see what they are up to. I received this book from NetGalley, but my opinion is my own.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advanced electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Ivy Perkins is newly divorced when she buys an old farmhouse in a town she's never visited that loves Christmas. She discovers an old Santa suit in the house, as it wasn't cleared out by its previous owners, and in the pocket of the suit, a letter to Santa from a little girl. Ivy begins making connections through the town, with her Christmas spirit coming to life as she gets closer to finding out what happened to the little girl who wrote that letter.
This story was just so wholesome and unproblematic. There was a problem in the story, yes, but no unnecessary conflict, which was a DREAM. The ending was too perfect to criticize anything else. I'm so happy with how it ended. I didn't expect it, but it's very "Hallmark Christmas" in that happy ending feeling.
Bask in the warm cozy glow as a spirited newly-divorced city girl, Ivy Perkins, looks to change her life by buying - sight unseen - a fixer-upper farm house in the country.. Turns out that the old house belonged to a local couple who kept the Christmas tradition for the community every year. - which is a lot of pressure for someone who wants to keep life low-key! Join the fun as Ivy and her hunky real estate agent navigate the perils of the simple life.
Mary Kay Andrews writes such enjoyable books and I’ve read most of her work. This was a quick read but just so cute, sweet, and loving that I just felt so happy when the story ended.
When Ivy decides to buy a farmhouse, she has no idea what’s she in for but quickly makes friends with the realtor and the citizens of the small town. When she finds a box with a Santa suit in the closet, she begins a journey of finding herself, solving a mystery, helping others in extraordinary ways, and a second chance at love.
Finding the Santa suit piques Ivy’s interest in locating someone and she meets more and more people that include some very interesting coincidences. She learns that the farmhouse was known in the past for over-the-top Christmas lights but after going through a divorce, she’s not in the mood for celebrating. As the story unfolds, Ivy learns to let Ezra and many others provide friendship and assistance and she begins to feel the magic of the season.
The relationship with Ezra seemed to move quickly and I would have liked to read more about their connection.
This was such a feel-good story and know that it would make a great TV Christmas movie!
Thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for providing the opportunity to read this new work.
I discovered Mary Kay Andrews a while back because she wrote many books set in Savannah, Georgia, which was close to where I use to live. The Santa Suit was a fun, uplifting, quick read. Ivy moves to a small town for a fresh start and an old farmhouse she bought sight unseen. I love the characters of Ivy and Ezra and their developing relationship, as he helps her buy the farmhouse and repair things there. When Ivy discovers a Santa suit left behind by the previous owner, the note in the pocket causes her to go on a quest to discover more about the author.. Ivy's search for answers leads to new friendships and becoming part of the small town community just in time for Christmas. This is an excellent "feel good" Christmas read.
Adorable, heartwarming holiday story. Andrews' most recent books have had more of a mystery angle, but this one seemed like a throw-back to her earlier books which, for lack of a better term, I would call southern chick-lit. I've had a pretty hard time rustling up a holiday spirit for the last few years, but I found that this book actually managed to give me a glimmer. A charming, cheerful and easy read.
Thats to NetGalley for providing an ARC copy for my review.
I have been a huge fan of Mary Kay Andrews for a long time. When I saw her most recent book, The Santa Suit, pop up on NetGalley, I jumped to request the book. The book itself will be released in just shy of two weeks, but if you're a mood reader like me, you'll want to wait until Thanksgiving for this one. Since reading the book, I've been craving mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie, and Christmas cookies (what a combo!).
Many of Mary Kay Andrews' books have an element of mystery and this one continued the trend. Although, this book is far more sweet and comforting than many of her books. The story itself brings joy. The characters are from a quaint, tight-knit, quirky town that love Christmas.
I'm a firm believer that everyone deserves a second-chance. For Ivy, her second-chance comes when she impulsively buys a house sight unseen after her divorce. She packs up and moves to the farmhouse, The Four Roses and quickly realizes her charming home, might need more love and money than she anticipated. Determined to not let life set her back further, Ivy gets to setting up. The previous family has left almost all of their belongings and when Ivy starts hauling out the junk, she stumbles across the most incredible Santa Suit. The Four Roses Farmhouse never ceases to surprise Ivy. The Santa suit is beautifully made and feels magical. When Ivy discovers a note in the pocket from a little girl writing to Santa, she gets the gut feeling she needs to find out what happened.
Light-hearted and heart-healing, Mary Kay Andrews has written a book that will give you the warm and fuzzies around the holiday.
Ivy moves away from Atlanta to an old farmhouse after her divorce. Her realtor turns out to be a very cute and helpful neighbor. Then she finds the Santa suit from the home's old owner, along with a note, and she tries to figure out what happened to some of the people mentioned.
It's a nice short Hallmark-ish small town book. Little bit of romance, lots of townspeople, holiday cheer. Nothing super exciting happened, but it was a sweet and light story.
I love Christmas and Mary Kay Andrews' books, so I knew I would devour this book... and I did! If you're a fan of Hallmark movies and second chance love stories, this is the novella for you! After her husband cheats with her best friend, Ivy moves to a sight-unseen farmhouse where she finds an old Santa suit. This is definitely a fun, quick read that's not as long as Andrews' summer stories, but every bit as satisfying.
This novella was the perfect read after finishing a few heavier books! Ivy moves to Tarburton, North Carolina, after she decides that she wants a fresh start after her divorce. She buys Four Roses Farm, meets her attractive realtor, and sets out to solve the mystery of a letter that was found in the previous owner’s Santa suit. Ivy does all of this while adapting to small-town life and fixing the never-ending issues that crop up when you’re the owner of a hundred-year old farmhouse. Overall, this was a fun, quick read that embraced the holiday spirit.
Santa Suit needs to be read in your comfiest pajamas snuggled into your sofa cushions in front of a crackling fire with a cup of hot cocoa. This book had all of the feel goods for me. A well loved old house in need of repair, a lovable heroine with her trusty canine companion, and a burgeoning love story. What a sweet book about bringing strangers together at Christmastime, and about the good in people who just want to look out for and take care of their neighbors.
I would like to thank the publishers for an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I prepare myself for that holiday mood by watching Hallmark holiday movies...yet this year decided to bring my pre holiday spirit in with holiday books.
The cover of a Santa Suit caught my eye for a ACR from Netgalley .
What a delighful holiday novella! Ivy Perkins,just divorced,wanting a fresh start moving from Atlanta ,she buys a farmhouse , Four Roses Farm in N.C. over the Internet , I know people DO buy properties on the Internet, one of my relatives did. Almost like an auction,you also buy surprises that come with the property, as Ivy did!
The farm needing alot of upgrades, including planting roses because in the pictures,there were alot of roses outside. She forgot its December and flowers dont bloom there in December!
Her job in Atlanta allows her to work remotely. Her savings allows her to make this move and have the financial means to make these changes.
She brings her companion / freind with her... her dog Punkin. Oh, and " the girls"..who are her chickens!
Her online realtor Ezra is a surprising help all throughout the novella. He seems to know history of the small town as well. She has him remove all the furniture and belongings left behind. There is alot of clutter that she wants to ride of, which turns out as a mistake, we will see!
She comes across a Santa Suit.. It looks too nice to give away especially when she finds a note inside one of the pockets.
A little girl ,Carlette, has one wish for Santa.. her father .to come home from the war.
This is how Ivy researches who deceased Bob and Betty Rae were and their connection to the little girl .
Bob and Betty Rae were well known and loved by the town. Their farmhouse was the holiday greeting entrance to Christmas, with lights decked out on the farm . There is a candy store in need to revive, and the rebirth of the holidays in this town. The possibiities that help Ivy find trust again in romance too.
I enjoyed reading this romance mystery by Mary Kay Andrews . It gives a pleasant description and I visualize this to someday be a Hallmark movie.
Thank you St MArtin's Press and Netgalley for this ACR for my own personal review.
I enjoy Christmas-themed stories, and I found this to be a quick, lighthearted read. It reminded me of Hallmark movies I've seen over the year, with the city girl moving to a small town and finding love along with a bit of Christmas magic. It's a good book to help get the reader in the holiday mood.
I really really wanted to love this book, but I just didn't. It has all of the things I love in a Christmas book. A newly divorced woman moves into a fixer-upper, there's a cute handyman and a small-town gossip mill, and she rediscovers the magic of Christmas while finding her place. What's not to like? I can't quite put my finger on exactly what didn't work. A lot of the characters felt the same, and a lot of the dialogue felt choppy or awkward. The pacing seems quick, but it's not a long book. It felt very Hallmark-esque, which isn't a bad thing. I'm sad to say it didn't grab me or keep my attention, I just didn't love it.
4.5 stars
This book was like a warm mug of hot chocolate with whipped cream and marshmallows! It made me feel warm and cozy and I smiled all the way through!
Ivy Perkins is starting over after a bitter divorce. She leaves Atlanta behind and takes a chance on a run-down farmhouse in the middle of nowhere. Little does she know the backstory of her new home - the previous owners made Christmas special for their little town. As Ivy digs through the layers, she uncovers a mystery. In her quest to find answers, she helps the people of her new town find their happily ever afters, and even gets one for herself!
I've been a fan of Mary Kay Andrews for a long time! I think this is my favorite of her books. It's a perfect Christmas read. It will make you believe in magic - not the hocus pocus kind, but the kind that comes from good people doing the right thing.
Mary Kay Andrew's delivers again.This is not only a Christmas story but so much more.Some romance, some mystery, a small town with hospitality and just a great enjoyable read. Thank you to the author,publisher and Net Galley for this Advance Reader Copy in exchange for my honest review
What a sweet Christmas Read. Can be read in one sitting, it moves that fast. Great characters with a heartwarming storyline. Another fun read by an Author that doesn’t disappoint. I may not have read this at Christmas, but the feelings were all the same. Think cozy blanket, fireplace and hot cocoa or tody…perfect escape when the Season becomes too crazy.
Ivy buys an old farmhouse on the internet, after her world falls apart and needs redirection. She gets more than she bargains for…hunky real estate agent/handyman, mystery, friendship and a huge sense of community.
Thanks to Ms. Andrew’s, St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for this ARC. Opinion is mine alone!
What a fantastic story! I absolutely adore Mary Kay Andrews' books. I think her characters and storylines are always amazing. Her characters are always so fun to read about and I constantly enjoy every word! Must read!
Need a hefty dose of holiday spirit? Look no further than this book. Allow the power of the Santa Suit to warm your heart and make you forget all about the real world. Like Ivy, you’ll want to move, site unseen, to Tarburton, NC, too.
This was the first book I’ve ever read by Mary Kay Andrews and it won’t be the last. I will be buying many copies to give to friends and relatives for Christmas this year!
<I>Many thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for providing a free copy for review.</I>