Suspend disbelief and enter into the world of talking snowmen and reindeer, not to mention a Santaland citizenship of mostly elves. It's a world April Claus entered after falling in love with northerner Nick, ruggedly handsome. You guessed it. Nick is the real Santa Claus. At least until his nephew Christopher turns 21. In the meantime, April is dealing as well as she can with her husband setting out in a reindeer powered sled, sans seat belts, she notes, to deliver Christmas gifts and cheer around the world. What's a wife to do? And, what's a wife to do when three injured "normal" humans are brought into Santaland after being found nearly dead in the desolate northern area.

April and the residents of Santaland take on what may be their most impossible task ever, to pretend Santaland is simply a small, isolated village with a Christmas obsession. They'll pretend to be "normal". To complicate matters, it seems one of the notoriously cranky reindeer may be guilty of stabbing one of the humans with its pointy antlers. Did you know reindeer can indulge, and do, in antler toupees? They've also been known to overindulge in sweets and one of April's personal reindeer is working on losing weight. Hmm, maybe these reindeer aren't so unlike us humans after all? In any case, the gored victim ultimately mysteriously dies while the other two recover, meaning the not-so-well-taken plan to pretend to be "normal" must go on. All the harder when, well, I'm not telling. But it gets even more complicate, not to mention funny, as the plot moves along. Even romance gets some space with April's human friend Claire's budding romance with Jake Frost. You guessed it, a relative of Jack Frost, Their relationship turns frigid....rather literally, actually. And, his Uncle Jasper? Oh, don't ask. He's an artist and....well, again, not telling. You're going to have to read the book.

Seriously, this is one of those series I love to read when I'm simply looking for a fun read. The fact there is a murder mystery involved is just a plus. The whole "let's pretend to be normal humans" plot line is what really holds it together, especially with April's tendency to snoop. If nothing else, it gives her something else to focus on besides the worrisome fact that Nick is late in returning. April is likable, although at times seems overwhelmed, and the various other characters, human, snowmen, reindeer, and elves, not to mention a witch, all exhibit unique personalities that make you feel like you know them. Cannonball may be my new favorite although I think that varies from book to book. In any case, a fun holiday read with both laugh out loud humor and some tense moments. Thanks #KensingtonPublishing for allowing me this early look at what is up for April and the quirky residents of Santaland this holiday season.

This series is probably not for everyone as it’s very tongue in cheek with all the Santa and Christmas themes in it, but I just love this series. April is left at home while her husband does his yearly duty to all the children of the world, and three out-of-towners are found almost frozen to death. Hilarity ensues as first one of them is murdered, then the inhabitants have to disguise Santaland as a “normal” town to the visitors. Poor April is run ragged running to all the Christmas events, trying to solve the murder, keep the visitors in the dark about the town, and worried as Nick is late from his trip. I loved this latest installment, I love all the characters, and I love the happiness and chuckles this brings me when I read a book in this series. Highly recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this arc!

What a good book!!! Such a good story and great writing style. This was my first by this author and will not be my last! Gotta live Santaland. I loved the Clauses!!

MRS. CLAUS AND THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE NEW YEAR’S is the fifth book in the Mrs. Claus Mysteries by Liz Ireland. I look forward to each installment in this charming series and always move it directly to the top of my TBR pile as soon as I receive a copy. This whimsical, humorous cozy mystery caught my attention and held it as protagonist April Claus tries to protect Santaland from turning into a tourist destination while sussing out a murderer. The attempts of the elves to dress and behave like humans produced chuckles and I couldn’t help but admire the author’s vivid imagination in world building Santa’s North Pole. All of the characters, be they human, Elven, snowmen, or reindeer, have such unique and fun personalities that each scene became a grand adventure. The murder mystery itself was well-plotted but is only part of the story instead of the driving event. If you enjoy humorous fantasy with fun, adorable characters, while trying to solve a mystery, then you’ll love Ms. Ireland’s newest release!

Santaland almost being discovered and commercialized? Oh no! This installment seemed to drag at times.

The fifth Mrs. Claus mystery, Mrs. Claus and the Nightmare Before New Year’s, is another delightful cozy by Liz Ireland. This time, April Claus has to recruit everyone to help keep Santaland a secret when three human strangers show up.

It’s bad enough that Nick, Santa Claus, is missing just after his round-the-world trip. April’s already worried when word comes that three strangers, human, were found unconscious and in poor condition, and brought to Santaland. They might be in the hospital, but April asks everyone to appear differently. No singing snowmen or racing reindeer. And, the elves all dress as humans, which causes all kinds of problems when they slip wearing unfamiliar shoes.

But, the worst problem is how to keep Santaland a secret so no one turns it into a tourist trap. That’s a worry, until one of the strangers dies, and April knows he was murdered. Now, she has two strangers, a murder, and a missing Santa to worry about.

As always, Ireland’s book is filled with mishaps and humor, but, of course, everything will end well in Santaland, even if it takes a doughnut loving witch to help.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for providing this book, with my honest review below.

I love cozy mysteries when done right, and this has a cute spin with the Clauses angle. I just think maybe it’s a little too much cute spin and not enough depth to engage my attention long term.

Taking place in Santaland Mrs. Claus has to hide the fact that there is any such thing as Santa Claus, elves, snowmen, etc from a few explorers that were rescued after one of their party was stabbed by a reindeer antler. The elves are not happy about having to put their post Christmas celebrations aside- or at hiding their identities, non curly toed shoes just don’t work for them. This aspect of the plot was adorable. Where this fell a little flat for me was everything else, from the (I think revisit) to Mrs. Claus, despite attempts to bring up her back story, and the lack of vibrancy around the non elf characters. This sounds a bit ridiculous given this is about Santa land, elves, and abdominal snowmen but it just didn’t flow naturally leaving me with the cute ideas but not a lot of follow through.

Hopefully this will be someone’s fun and cute Christmas tale as it’s got great ideas and is an easy read, it’s just not mine.