I'm not one for Christmas stories, but as a parent I was intrigued but the idea of a dad desperately trying to persuade his child that Santa exists by going the whole hog and pretending to be him on Christmas Eve, reindeer, sleigh, costume, chimney and all.

George Kronenfeldt is an engineer, one who loses his job two weeks before Christmas for not being able to work well with others. His nine-year-old daughter Megan is just at the point of giving up in her beliefs regarding Santa Claus (mostly due to her bitter, about-to-retire teacher). After failing badly to cope with this situation by the two children from his first marriage, the engineer with time in his hands decides he's going to plan out a Christmas Eve where Megan will film the Real Santa and keep her childhood dream alive a little longer. Will his bank balance and second marriage survive this insane project? can he pull it off?

It all starts fairly sensibly, with engineer-like plans, schemes and lists. But as real (defecating) reindeer, a movie director and special effects and a towering pair of ramps become part of the plan, the insanity of George's plan becomes clear. And yet - what wouldn't you do for your own children?

I had a lot of fun reading this in the weeks before Christmas. George is a bit of an eccentric, but I liked the history we learned about his previous marriage and kids (even if the daughter is absolutely foul). Megan needed more screentime, a great young scientific brain who is the catalyst for the book but doesn't get quite enough to say. her evil teacher is great, screen villain with her own messed-up memories guiding her judgements.

The idea fuels the book. It's not going to win literary awards but it is a great look at parenting, belief, and how our childhoods can affect our adult lives.

I loved seeing George's plans come together and just had to see how it turned out, if Megan filmed her dad and didn't realise, if the reindeer broke the roof, if George made it down the chimney.

Great idea and the ending, while a little convenient, suits the material pretty well. I can guess that this has been written with a mind to turn it into a film (there is self-referential material here pointing that way) and it would actually make a fantastic seasonal and heart-warming comedy.

It did make me think about how I'm going to cope when my son reaches the stage of doubt, both how I'll feel about that magic period being over and how we will broach it. But I don't think I'll do a George!

Review of a NetGalley e-copy.

Recently fired George sets out to prove to his daughter that Santa is real. He risks life and limb, not to mention bankruptcy in his quest. Along the way he must battle several embittered people whose hearts are several sizes too small.

Cute Christmas story.

Enjoyable. Quick read. I hope the movie is good.