Four friends are off to Italy for the holiday! Bellissimo!
It was fun to read what each lady did and the reactions.
I liked the descriptions of Pompeii and the Roman attractions because those are the ones I’m most interested in.
I did have to keep sorting out who was with whom in the first few chapters.
I wish a bit more advancement had been made in the relationships like Gio and Frankie.
It’s a fun holiday read——in Italy/

If you are a fan of Fern Michaels and liked her other books then you might enjoy this one.

I had not read any of the other books and found the frequent references to previous books in this series repetitive and, quite frankly, annoying. I also did not appreciate all the references to money. How much the apartment cost, what they paid for plane tickets, host gifts, etc.

Not for me.

Thank you to NetGalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this story but I wouldn’t exactly call it Christmasy. You get a delightful story and lovely descriptions of Italy. There are lots of characters to keep track of and I belittle is best to read the previous stories first. I would recommend this book.

"Give them time to un-lag-a the jet." Said by a man raised in America. Offensive and annoying.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC for an honest review.

I really enjoyed the characters and the imagery in this novel. Although, I have not visited Italy I feel as though I have been there…just wish I could taste the food that was described!

Thank you Net Galley, Fern Michaels and Kensington Publishing for the opportunity to preview this title. The opinions shared are my own.
This book is now available for your holiday reading.

The four friends, Frankie, Amy, Rachel and Nina are planning theri 3rd holiday excursion. This year's destination is Italy. Frankie's beau wants them all (significant others, best friends and some family are included) to visit his family home on the Amalfi coast. A delightful holiday for all, with good food, missing luggage and missing guests.

Santas’s Secret brings the group of friends back together for an adventure. Frankie, Amy, Rachael, and Nina this year are off to Italy to spend with Frankies boyfriend Giovanni’s family.
Spending time in Italy for the holidays and to follow them on this adventure really a smile on my face and gave me a warm hug. The friends have such a wonderful friendship and gave the story the bond so many needs in their lives.
Fern Michaels is one of my favorite authors and I always enjoy what she has written for her fans.
Santa’s Secret is book three in the Santa's Crew series. I highly recommend this entire series.
Thank you Netgalley, Fern Michaels and Kensington Publishing for the copy of Santa’s Secret. This is my personal review.

The secret to panettone...

The secret to panettone just may be the secret to life. Well, Ciao Bella.
Frankie and her three gf's Amy, Rachel and Nina set off to Italy with Frabkie's BF, who wants the secret to his mama's panettone.
Christmas, Italy and all the things these people are searching for....

A holiday adventure in Italy for four long time friends and their partners and family. They got to sites in Italy and have some adventures along the way that most travelers have. To me, it wasn't much of a holiday read, but still was a good read.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and the Publisher and leaving a review by my own choice.

Third in this fun series. The crew are all here and this year they head to Italy. Fun hijinks while hearing about the sites and history of the region. Very enjoyable book to read. Fast and lighthearted.

Third in Santa’s Crew series by Fern Michaels. The series is about four high school friends in their 30s that have been getting together at Christmas since they met up at their 15 year class reunion. In the book series the group, Amy, Frankie, Rachel and Nina, have gone on a singles cruise and to a ski lodge with at least someone finding romance. In this book the group is off to Italy to spend Christmas with Friankie's boyfriend Giovanni, and his family. It is a celebration of love and friendship.

These are cute, fluffy stories and an easy escape during the holiday season. There are a lot of characters to keep track of so it does help if you’ve read the other books in the series to keep them straight. There are adventures in Italy and lots of Italian food. I’ve enjoyed touring Italy so that added to my enjoyment of the book. There is an added bonus of recipes at the end of the book. (3.5 Stars)

This is the third book in Fern Michaels' *Santa's Crew* series, focusing on the friendship of Frankie, Amy, Nina, and Rachel as they embark on their annual Christmas trip with their families—this time to Italy. The story introduces Giovanni and Marco, brothers who run a family restaurant in Manhattan. Though their Italian restaurant is famous for its family recipes, they still haven’t learned their mother’s secret panettone ingredient. Eager to discover it, they close the restaurant for the holidays and head to Italy to reunite with their family.

The novel combines the warmth of family traditions and the beautiful setting of Italy, where the group navigates both personal journeys and travel misadventures. While it offers rich descriptions of Italy’s culture and cuisine, the story is not deeply rooted in typical Christmas themes. Despite this, it remains a heartwarming tale about love, family, and friendship. Though the holiday connection may not be as strong as expected, the book provides an enjoyable, feel-good story.

This is an entertaining, well-written book. It was fun, sweet, warm and kept me reading. I enjoyed this book and will look for more books by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for gifting me this book for free in exchange for my review! All opinions are my own.

This was a delightful Christmas romance, perfect to read on a cold and snowy day, while curled up in a warm blanket, sitting by a fire, and drinking a nice cup of hot cocoa. Fern Michaels is one of this decades greatest romance authors and I can see why she is so popular. And yes, I do realize that I am a bit younger than most of her readers seeing as I am in my twenties, but because I am a huge romantic, (and a big fan of the Hallmark Channel), I can't resist a cozy Christmas romance.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Elin Hilderbrand, Nancy Thayer or Debbie Macomber!

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Many Thanks again to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this book in exchange for my honest review.

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The girls are back!

When Frankie's boyfriend, Giovanni, decides that he wants to spend the holidays in Italy to see his mother, he talks to Frankie and she invites her 3 best friends and their significant others. Everyone but Rachael has a partner, so she invites Randy, to be her plus one.

Italy turns out to be a wonderful vacation. But when Gio sees his Mama, he's shocked at her drastic change. Gone are the bright colors, makeup, and beautifully colored hair. She's wearing all black, like his Aunt Lucia, who has dressed like a grieving widow almost as long as he's known her. It's been 18 months since his father died, but it's Frankie and the girls who perform a major makeover on the women. Making them see that they only live once.

Cute story.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I usually enjoy the books that Fern Michaels writes. I have read a lot of them. I have read the other two books in this series. I loved the Italy references and languages. It makes me want to travel to Italy and eat pizza. I did love the friendship between the women. I liked Frankie the best. I just wish I was able to finish this book. It didn't grab my attention like the other two books. . I'm grateful that Netgalley and the publishers let me read this in exchange for an honest review.

I have read several of Fern Michaels' books and have always enjoyed the characters in them. "Santa's Secret" was a bit different from what I expected. The story follows Francesca and her high school friends Amy, Rachael, and Nina as they travel to Italy to spend the holidays with Frankie's boyfriend, Giovanni, and his family. I found it a bit challenging to connect with the main characters, but I did appreciate the detailed descriptions of Italian tourist attractions and delicious Italian food.

Francesca and her friends get together annually at the end of the year and this year they are all going to Italy. As can be expected, everything does not go smoothly but in the end all turns out well although there are some surprises. As you read the story, you feel as if you are right there with the characters in Italy.

Another fun trip with the group of friends…and this time to Italy! This is a quick, enjoyable read. Fans of light reading and descriptions of beautiful scenery will love this one!

I have read all the previous books in this Christmas series which I would suggest. The whole crew is back and planning their next Christmas/ New Year adventure. This time 3 of the 4 friends now are in relationships but Rachael who invites a friend along. There really ain’t the crazy antics as in the other books. This truly was a site seeing story with great food on the side in beautiful Italy. A story of friends bonding, new friendships being made. A fun read. Thank you #NetGalley for this ARC. All opinions expressed are my own. #SantasSecret