I am sorry for the inconvenience but I don’t have the time to read this anymore and have lost interest in the concept. I believe that it would benefit your book more if I did not skim your book and write a rushed review. Again, I am sorry for the inconvenience.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for giving me free access to the advanced copy of this book to read.

Unfortunately this book wasn't really for me. The writing was fine but the main character was frustratingly obtuse at times. I found the synopsis that made me pick this up in the first place misleading. Maybe I'll try it again next year when I'm more in the Christmas spirit.

I received this book for free for an honest review from netgalley #netgalley

Sweet and sexy with a good plat thrown in. Makes you have the Christmas spirit all year

HIGHLY recommend if you are at all interested in Christmas stories, awesome characters, politics, or fantasy/myth retellings. This is one of my favorite reading seasons because there is absolutely nothing better than curling up under a fuzzy blanket with a good book A wonderful magical Christmas book. Reminds me of holiday movies but in print.

Thank you to netgalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to have access to an eARC for this book in return for an honest review.

Apologies for taking so long with the feedback.

This is such a great take on a Christmas tale as I loved that the main character is female and its her journey on how to become santa claus and I love this with all my heart

Miss Claus by J. R. Hart

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and NineStar Press and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Kris Claus has spent her entire life preparing to become the next Santa Claus. After all, she’s Santa’s daughter, so she’s certain to be next in line for the title. She’s gotten the degrees, served as his assistant… nothing can stop her. Well, nothing except her lawyer ex, who is trying to sneak his way into the title by bringing up an archaic gender law that says women can’t be Santa.

Steeped in small-town politics and a rivalry for the ages, Kris won’t stop until she’s gotten what she’s fought for her whole life, but she won’t give up who she really is — a proud woman — to reach her dreams. When a letter from a transgender girl down South reminds her of herself as a child, Kris knows exactly what’s at stake, not just for her own dreams, but for the dreams of girls everywhere

I read this book in less than two hours as it is so short. This is a unique book crafted in such a beautiful way - although uncomfortable in places due to the very real issues around gender roles. This was a well-paced festive book, that will tug on the heart strings.

Rating: 4/5

Lovely festive read.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for letting me access an advance copy of this book in exchange for my feedback.

This book was one I would not normally read, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. I am still thinking about the main character. The premise was nice. I will recommend is book to many people.

Believe in the magic of Christmas.
Kristin Claus, daughter of the infamous Santa has been trained to inherit the role of her father. She has done her homework, trained, assisted and is ready to step into Santa’s shoes as he readies to retire. The members of the North Pole council see things differently as does Kris’s ex-fiancee who is prepared to take on the role. After all, a female, let alone a trans ,will completely shake up the traditionally male Santa.
Backed by the support of her parents and friends, Kris faces the challenge but is also becoming doubtful with her ability to uproot tradition. When Kris receives a letter from a trans girl, she realizes the strength and support she is giving to those feeling alone and alienated for who and what they are. This is a journey of finding oneself, of acceptance and of learning to love yourself.
The characters are well developed, the prose heartfelt and filled with the gifts of the human spirit.
Highly recommended.
Thanks to NetGalley, J.R. Hart and NineStar Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest book review.

NetGalley ARC Educator 550974

Different spin on the traditional Santa Claus narrative. Chris is Santa's MtF transgendered daughter. The North Pole counsel is trying to keep her from her birthright. Will she be able to save Christmas and change the status quo at the North Pole?

A great story that can be another Lifetime Christmas classic.

This was such a lovely Christmas read. I right away loved Kris's character and the relationships she has with Ian, Megan and her dad. It was great to see these bonds grow as the story unfolded and Kris needed their support more.
The whole world that JR Hart has created is magical without being silly. Completely believable and I would love to do the cookie workshop! I will definitely be looking up more books by JR Hart.

I recommend making this part of your winter holiday reading, BUT make sure you have (a) tissues, because there were a couple of moments that really got me, in a good way, and (b) cookies, if you like cookies, because after reading the descriptions of cookie baking in this you'll really want some!

So I love to read all the fun queer Christmas books that flood us this time of year, but rarely are they actually about Santa Claus and the mythology that accompanies that. But Miss Claus seeks to shake that put with a book centered around Santa's daughter. And this book tows that line between a fun Christmas story and a story about fighting systematic oppression in an overall enjoyable way.

Miss Claus is about Kris Claus, Santa's daughter.. She has been trained and expected for years to take on the Role of Santa when her father retires. But when that time nears she comes up with a surprising amount of resistance to her taking on that mantle in the name of "tradition", rejecting Kris because she is a woman, and in particular a transgender woman. Kris feels like giving up, but when santa receives a letter from trans child fighting for her identity it inspires Kris to want to fight for her place as Santa Claus.

Like I said at the beginning, this book does have the setting of the North Pole and has a lot of the story of Santa as a backdrop, and that brings a level of joy and whimsy to a really touching and emotional journey of self acceptance and fighting hegemonic power structures.

Kris was a really compelling and deep character. She cares so deeply about everyone around her and this tugs her heart in so many directions. I loved her and she was a perfect character to root for- the epitome of a Santa Claus but with real issues too.

Watching Kris have to navigate around all of these people that don't approve of her, either just as Santa or don't approve in general was really heartwrenching. It does feel a little absurd to say that a story about Santa Claus brought out some deep emotions but it really did!

I might have like the ending to be a little less "wrapped up in a bow" but also, like, it's a Santa themed story- of course it needs a perfect ending!

I really enjoyed this book. It's a Christmas story but with some real emotion too. 4.5/5

Thank you for netgallery for providing me with this arc for review.

Firstly let me say how much I love the cover, this is what initially captured my interest.

This is a truly wonderful Christmas read, with a unique take on the traditional tale of Santa Claus. I absolutely loved the characters, right from the start I was rooting for Kristen to overcome all the twists and turns of her story.

This is definitely a story that will stay with me, one to read with tissues in hand and a plate of cookies on the side.

"Miss.Claus by J.R. Hart was about Kiris Claus the Daughter of Santa Claus. This book takes you on Kris' Journey about being TRUE to yourself and standing up and FIGHTING for what you BELIEVE IN!!! With HOPE, PERSEVERANCE AND FAITH IN HERSELF Kris faces many obstacles on the way to achieve her DREAM of replacing her father as the New Santa Claus!!


💫THANK YOU to the Author, NineStar Press and Netgalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an Honest Review!!
⭐⭐⭐

#MissClaus
#NetGalley

Santa Claus is ready to retire and normally if falls to his child to take up the role. His daughter Kris has prepared for years being his assitant and constantly thinking of ways to improve life in the North Pole. But small town council maneuverings all of sudden put the position in question. There is a push to remove her from consideration because, as her fiancé Mark puts it, she should focus on being Mrs. Claus and be happy with that. This is a cleverly written narrative because it is easy to fall into the trap of not wanting to break tradition versus who is the best qualified. Mark is a master manipulator making her think stepping aside is for the greater good. Can you say emotionally abusive? I love watching her thinking and fighting the system. This is fun and interesting (women's) fiction and I enjoyed the story more than I expected. It isn't as light as of a holiday read as I was expecting but I liked how it ends. Thank you to NetGalley and NineStar Press for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Not your typical Christmas read, this one gives you the North pole, Santa feel but it is like no other I have read before.

Very early on you discover that Kris (Santa's daughter) is a transgender woman. This shouldnt be a problem until small town politics and The Council are adamant that Kris cannot take over being Santa after her father retires due to an archiac law.

There are characters you love (Kris, Santa, Megan and Ian) and then there are characters that you will truly hate - the Marks.

This really is a well written book, brilliant world building, well developed characters and happily surprised me. I definitely recommend.

OH MY GOD. I'll be honest, when I started this book, I didn't read the whole back blurb and was like, "Oh this sounds cute and fun!" Miss Claus definitely was that, but SO MUCH MORE! This book went from, "I'll read this quickly and get kind of in the mood for Christmas" to truly one of my absolute favorite books of the year.

Miss Claus is a book about Kristine Claus, the daughter of Santa, and the apparent heir to the role. As the daughter and assistant to Santa, she is the most qualified for the role in several areas. When her father announces his retirement, the North Pole Council decides to enforce a law stating that women can't be Santa, and she is barred from the role that she has prepared for her whole life.

I loved Kris. She felt like a real person who cared about people and fought for her beliefs using available channels and when that failed, took a different approach. Kris was constantly coming up with new ideas to revitalize the North Pole based on efficiency, economic impact, and also her personal feelings. I honestly only expected to see the last one as that's usually how it is in other books. I loved how assistant to Santa was a real role where she had to take notes, go on business trips, and manage schedules, without falling into traditional tropes. She was in a relationship with the wrong person and I thought the portrayal of emotional abuse via lying and gaslighting felt really real. I want to read 5,000 more books about Kris.

Kris also happens to be trans. I loved hearing about her journey and why she decided to fight or not fight and how she decided to fight for what she believed in. I really appreciated the level of representation in this book. There were a couple of times where I thought, "what about..." and then the next sentence would acknowledge what I was thinking. Amazing. I love how these really important topics are fit seamlessly into a fun, fantasy setting.

Overall, I was blown away by how much I liked this book. I have never read a seasonal book that I enjoyed, and Miss Claus blew right past enjoyment to love. J.H. Hart proved me so wrong that that makes me so happy. HIGHLY recommend if you are at all interested in Christmas stories, awesome characters, politics, or fantasy/myth retellings. 10/5 stars! Thank you to NetGalley and NineStar Press for this electronic advanced reader's copy!

Thanks to Netgalley & NineStarPress for providing me with a free copy of this book.

4.5/5 Stars

I remember reading Jodi Picoult's Ninteen Minutes and complaining about her depiction of emotionally abusive relationships. I'm bringing this up, because THIS is what I would have wanted to see in her books instead.

Emotional Abuse is more than "I'm gonna end myself if you leave me". It's about small and subtle things too. Bringing you down, gaslighting, manipulationg, making you doubt yourself, making you second-guess yourself and ultimalty using you.
One could argue that, Kris is telling us, that Mark Jr. wasn't that bad and that they had oh so many good things and that he did love her and that therefore this relationship wasn't an abusive one. But I'd argue that, no, the fact that she says that is not proof at all. Besides, abusive relationships aren't abuse 100% of the time. That's what makes it so tricky to realise you're in one and so tricky to escape, because 'Oh, but they do treat me nice!'. Which is the case with Kris & Mark Jr. too. It's only when you look beyond the surface, that you see all the not so good stuff.
Especially since we get to see all the red flags and all the manipulation first hand, while she just sits there and takes it. Not because she isn't a strong person. Being in an emotionally abusive relationship has nothing to do with ones strenght. She takes it, because he has managed to put her in that position.
When she opens herself up to him, he doesn't take her seriously, makes her doubt her own worth and capability. When she expresses her desires, he makes her believe that X would be something she ACTUALLY wants instead and something she would want even more. When she talks about her feelings, he trys to guilt trip her, making this about him.
There is a sentence in there, that I think is really interesting.

"If you want I can turn it down."

I love this sentence. Because it pretends like she has a choice. It - and he - pretends like she could have agency. But the truth is, he's already gotten her to a point, where he KNOWS that she's gonna say "No, it's alright." He isn't offering because he would actually do it, or because he cares, but because he knows that the outcome is already in his favour. That's the exact same mindset he has around the end of the book. When they have this big show down and I LOVE the parallel.

I also loved the characters. Especially Kris. Which I'm blaming the author for by the way.
Why, you may ask? Because the book really takes its time to showcase the impact the story has on her emotions ans psyche. Everything she stands for, everything she loves, the person she is, it feels like all those things really matter. Because she matters.
The other characters were also nice. Some more than others, but honestly, I didn't mind that much.

I'm not trans, so I don't know if my opinion on that matter is the most quallified, but I just wanted to say, that I loved the way the rep was done. I also loved the "Oh by the way this character is trans" reveals. (Yes, the plural s was intentional)
I hate when books make it this big story-altering thing, that requires half of the cast to gasp in shock, because "OH MY goooooooood you're trans? Wooooooooow. What a twist, right?"
That's not just a trans-exclusive thing. I've seen this for all kinds of LGBT+ rep and everytime it's done I'm wondering "Do we really need to alienate the queer cast? Couldn't there have been a better way to do this?" The answer is obviously yes. There could have been a better way. And this book is one of those "This is how you do it" books, because the way the character is 'outed' feels natural and casual. Take notes my fellow authors.

Shoutout also to the fat rep, which yeah, Santa is fat, so I shoud have expected it, but still. As a fat girl myself, it was nice to see this become some smaller side plot. Made me smile.

Oh, not like it's important, but I also enjoyed the baking scene very much. I appreciate books that dedicate page time to food in a way that makes me want to bake/cook said food myself a lot.

I know I've spend 90% of this review talking about the relationships and cast, but I just want to mention that the political aspect of this was also really well done. Just like the family one. Santa & his daughter have a really sweet relationship and he deserves all the best dad of the year awards.

I'm looking forward to reading more from this author and world.
Can absolutly reccomand this book. Even if you don't celebrate christmas or are a grinch - just like myself.