I loved this story! It has snow, Christmas trees, cowboys romance and intrigue! This is the story of Cooper and Jess who were both brought to Branding Iron for different reasons One of them has a secret and the other wants to find out what it is. As the two grow closer; fate and the past will do their best to keep them apart.. Branding Iron may need a Christmas miracle to get these two together! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Love me a good ole clean roomance. Although this book does touchon a few touchy topics is works good. Even when you know they end up together in the lon fun you gotta read it and love the journey. Two thumbs up!! Might hav to go and find me the previous books in this series.

Thank you netgalley

This story was like a warm hug. Sweet, charming, swoony, and the perfect holiday time read. The relationship between the main characters is so adorable and it all played out like a Hallmark movie. Def recommend.

❄️ Small Town
🎅 Single Dad
❄️ Cowboy/Rancher
🎅 Slow Burn
❄️ Clean Romance

This was such a sweet romance between Cooper who is a single dad who just moved into the area from Seattle and Jess who is a ex-fbi agent living the small town life after a horrible hostage situation went south!

This is clean, no spice but it was super cute. It's quite slow burn and Jess isn't too sure about getting into a relationship with Cooper.

This is set around October through December and speaks here and there of holiday things but not set heavily around Christmas.

I really enjoyed everyone coming together to set the Christmas parade up and getting a real sleigh built and ready to go.

This does take a shocking twist but it was done so well and really loved how it ended!

Definitely recommend picking this up for a quick paced read!

This book was so sweet and heart warming, I loved the romance and the setting. The characters were well written, and the storyline was interesting. I will definitely be reading more books from this author! I highly recommend this book to everyone!!

Cooper Chapman is moving to Branding Iron, Texas. He’s coming to town so he’s near his sister and get his son away from bad influences. Cooper isn’t looking for love and wants to focus on his son. Jess Graver is a former FBI negotiator who turned school counselor. She gave up her former life when the situation went bad. Jess has kept her past quiet and is closed off to any type of romance. When Cooper and Jess meet sparks fly but they aren’t ready to acknowledge them. As they get to know each other by working on helping his son they’ll find the attraction undeniable. Somebody Like Santa just maybe what these two need to figure out their future.

Janet Dailey continues her Christmas holiday series Christmas Tree Ranch with the fifth book Somebody Like Santa. Two people not looking for romance may find themselves in the middle of it during the Christmas holiday. A man wanting to take care of his son and the problems he’s facing. A woman who wants to keep her past in the past just may face it head on. They’ll discover working together to help that the unexpected they weren’t counting on just maybe what they need. Somebody Like Santa has a little town feel at Christmas time in 1970’s Texas. A man finds that family is just what he and his son needed to heal. A woman keeping her past a secret just may have it revealed. Old and new characters are brought to life through the story telling of Janet Dailey. We get a look into the story of the younger versions of some of the grownup characters we’ve already met in previous stories and how the town of Branding Iron’s holiday traditions got started. Like the sleigh and Santa in the parade. Janet Dailey’s Somebody Like Santa brings two reluctant characters and shows a way to a happy life and that given time and help from friends and family life just maybe better with love in it. A must read for readers of Janet Dailey’s Christmas story fans or just a great way to read an emotional story that will show how love and kindness from strangers and family just maybe what you’ve always needed in your life. A look back into the town of Branding Iron and the Christmas Tree Ranch brings to life the characters and their parents who readers came to love in the earlier Christmas Tree Ranch books and how it all came to be. The fan of Janet Dailey is already looking forward to seeing what’s next for the citizens of this small town in Texas at Christmas time.

I tried 3 times to get into this book, but it just wasn’t grabbing me.

I will keep it on my shelf and give it another try soon, but for now, this book wasn’t for me.

~~~ I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review ~~~

Somebody like Santa is a nice, sweet holiday romance novel. It is the story of struggling single father (Cooper) and a school counselor who is hiding from her past (Jess). Their lives become connected due to Cooper's son Trevor and a variety of other circumstances that keep bringing them together. This is a holiday story about healing, trusting, family, and love. Believe it or not, this is the first book by Janet Dailey I've ever read. Overall it is good, but Cooper is an idiot- I mean can one man be that naive in real life? (probably). Somebody like Santa is a perfect feel-good, HEA, holiday read to snuggle up with.

This is the fifth book in the Christmas Tree Ranch series.
Branding Iron, Texas is the home of Cooper Chapman's newlywed sister and her husband, it's convenient that there is a rental next to her for him and his young teenaged son to move into for their new start. Moving to the middle of nowhere in this "redneck hell of Branding Iron, Texas" is not Trevor, the thirteen-year-old son's idea of a good time, he desperately misses Seattle with his friends and where he fit in.
School counselor Jess Graver more than once comes to the aid of Cooper Chapman, calming his worries when his son falls in with a wild crowd at school trying to prove himself worthy.
Jess and Cooper have an immediate attraction to each other, but I wouldn't call this book a romance as each of them seems to keep pulling away from the other one emotionally for one reason or another.
There are a lot of side stories that could have taken on a book of their own, a hidden secret discovered, working as redemption to right a wrong as an older man gives the teen a chance to make things right, a Christmas parade, violence and abuse, kidnapping.
I did not particularly like the female lead character in this book, in my opinion she is standoffish and not willing to listen to reason. My favorite characters would have to be Trevor the troubled teen who gains confidence and turns his life around and even goes out of his way to show empathy and help a troubled friend. Another favorite character is Maggie, that firecracker of a little girl, the take charge kind who is everyone's friend.
For a novella length book, I think there was too much packed into it and some of these side stories should have explored the possibility of their own book.

Pub Date 27 Sep 2022
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

This is book 5 in the Christmas Tree Ranch series and can be read as a stand alone love story. Cooper and his teenage son have moved to Branding iron, Texas to be near family. His sister introduces him to a counselor at his son's new school. Together they work to help the boy accept the fact that his mother chose her new husband and sent him to his dad isn't the most terrible thing in the world. Trevor is helping their older neighbor restore a sleigh in time for a Christmas parade. A nice story that is slightly predictable. I enjoyed the characters and the setting.

Somebody like Santa is a delightful, quick read with some heart! Janet Dailey follows similar paths of a cowboy romance with some mystery but has fresh characters. A father reconnecting with his son bringing him to a new town. A woman whose past is coming back to visit her for a second chance. The Christmas elements are delightful. I would highly recommend this if you love a cowboy romance with some high stakes action at the end and a sprinkle of Christmas. I love the world Dailey has set up and can't wait to read what is next!

Thank you to #Netgalley for the early read. All opinions are my own.

Somebody Like Santa (The Christmas Tree Ranch #5). By Janet Dailey. 2022. Zebra (ARC eBook).

I always enjoy reading Janet Dailey’s cowboy romances and Somebody Like Santa was no exception. I however enjoyed the preceding stories in the series more. I found Jess’s attitude and actions to be frustrating. But I did enjoy the outcome of Cooper and his teenage son, Trevor, moving to Branding Iron; which was friendships with an elderly neighbor and a troubled kid. But you’ll have to read to see how Santa and his sleigh make an appearance in the Christmas parade.

As usual, Janet Dailey delivers a sweet Christmas romance that has you wishing for snow and cozying up by the fire to read. I love the character development, and since Christmas is my favorite holiday, there was nothing about this one not to like!

Cooper a single father to Trevor decided to relocate to Texas, to be near to his sister’ family. Trevor’s mom has abandoned Trevor and this make Trevor to rebel. He hang with the wrong crowd, on probation and being in juvenile detention. Jess being a school counselor aware about Trevor’s past and when she met him, Trevor dislike her. Cooper being a reporter , believes he saw Jess before and start to do a research on her and when she found out, she determine not to fall for Cooper.

This is a small town holiday story and I love the push and pull relationship between Jess and Cooper. The book is not merely about romance and there are other issues going on in the town. Overall it is a fun read to me.

*review post scheduled to be posted on 12/12/22 on my blog*

Somebody Like Santa seems like it will be a light hearted feel good story about a single dad finding love and building a relationship with his son, but actually has really heavy themes and twists I didn’t expect. I recommend reading the trigger warnings to make sure you are comfortable with the subject. It was interesting and a fairly quick read, but don’t expect small town charm and an uncomplicated story.

I kept having to double check that this was a new book, as it is set in 1997, and the writing reminds me of old school contemporary romance. The language and depiction of the women feels out of date and just didn’t work for me. There is some sexism as well, though that would be par for the course of 90s life. It’s just not what I want in my Christmas reading.

It focuses on a single dad, Cooper who moves to a small town in Texas to try to keep him out of trouble. We get a lot of Trevor’s experiences along with the romance. If you miss 90s romance and want some angst in your Christmas romances, this might work for you. But it was not a good fit for me.

I have not read the other books in the series. So that might make it more fun.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher.

Thank you to Net Galley for the advanced copy of this book. It is the 5th book in the Christmas Tree Ranch series by Janet Dailey. I enjoyed the first four books and I also enjoyed this book. It was a heartwarming story dealing with many issues that are prevelent in today's society, While the main characters were forced to deal with many uncomfortable issues the story and the characters managed to work through those issues and end happily like you expect holiday romance books to do. If you are looking for a good holiday roomance then pick this book up.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and I am voluntarily reviewing it.

While this is a part of a series, you don't have to read the prior ones to fully understand and enjoy this one. I would highly recommend that the one prior to this one, Santa's Sweetheart, should be read first as the characters are interconnected. You would have a better understanding of the dynamics involved.

I adore the multiple POV format here. Not only the two main protagonists but Cooper's son, Trevor as well. This made for some very highly fascinating scenes.

Cooper moves him and his son, Trevor, to Branding Iron, Texas to be near his sister and new brother-in-law, Sam. Their story was Santa's Sweetheart. Trevor's mom just remarried and the new husband doesn't want Trevor around. Cooper meets Grace's BFF, Jess and he is immediately attracted to her but he knows he needs to focus on his unhappy son. Jess is a school district employee who looks after the kids in the district. She is hiding a secret from everyone regarding an event from her past. She prefers to keep the secret. Cooper, a freelance journalist, is naturally intrigued with Jess. Will his curiosity kill any chance of romance with Jess?

Cooper frustrated me at times with his need to keep discovering Jess' background. But that really made for a more interesting read.

This is a clean romance that anyone would enjoy.

Janet Dailey is one of my most favourite authors of feel- good romance and it has been long since I got an opportunity to read one of her works. And so, I am ever so glad I got to read "Somebody Like Santa" which is the 5th book of the "Christmas Tree Ranch" series.

In this book, the author has adopted the familiar trope of a small-town romance, featuring troubled protagonists who must learn to trust again and to battle their inner demons. Cooper Chapman, a freelance journalist, decides to move to Branding Iron, Texas, near his newly-wed sister, Grace, in an effort to stop his teenage son Trevor's wayward ways. And Trevor has been acting out since his mother dumped him at his father's, to marry another man.

He happens to meet Jess Graver on his first day in this place, courtesy of his sister and feels instantly attracted to and intrigued by her. Jess, who is the youth counselor of Trevor's new school, feels drawn towards both the father and the son. However, the trauma of her past and the way she had been brought up from her childhood, render her unable and unwilling to form deep bonds with any person.

Do these emotionally damaged people find the antidote to the emptiness in their lives? Are they willing to take a chance and open their hearts again? Author Janet takes us on a lovely journey filled with a multitude of emotions through these characters and she has managed to tell a wonderful story of second-chances that makes us fall in love with love, again.

All the characters, including the secondary ones, have been sharply defined and so well- written that they feel like real people. The various emotional conflicts of the primary characters are well- drawn too; I would have liked if the author had gotten into much more depth on these conflicts, but since these novels were written for shorter formats that's understandable.

This book is like a warm and feel-good soup on a cold day. Be sure to check this out if you are looking for a feel- good, light reading this Christmas season.

Great book.
Romance and Christmas in one book
About a single father moving back to his hometown with his son.