Customer Reviews

Here Comes Santa Claus

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I LOVE Sandra Hill, so this was the reason I wanted this book and boy was I surprised! It was written 'round-robin' style. Each author takes a chapter and writes her own characters and intertwines the story. There are 15 chapters of pure fun here that will make you laugh out loud and wish you were right there on that bus with them!
The story consists of Sandra Hill's characters, a Navy Blue Angels Pilot named Sam Merrick who is stranded in Philly at the airport trying to find a way to Snowdon, Maine for his old friend and mentor's wedding. The problem with this is that a huge snowstorm has forzen the roads and all transportation! The only way there? A Santa Brigade bus full of cherry and escentric seniors on their way back to Snowdon and his old flame, Reba Anderson, the senior's director who wants nothing to do with the gorgeous Tom Cruise wannabe! She still remembers him dumping her 14 years ago! Sparks are again ignited as these two find each other again, but will love be enough to keep the flame alive?

In comes Sam's best friend, also on his way to Maine and also stranded at a train station in Allentown, PA. Trish Jensen's characters Kevin Wilder, a bounty hunter for the NYPD, runs literally right into his quarry, a woman named Callie Brandt, a woman wanted by the law for running out on her court date. But she isn't what she seems. Kevin, now trying to find a way out of Allentown, hops on the Santa Brigade with Sam's help and Callie cuffed to his wrist. Sparks soon fly when Kevin realizes that Callie is no criminal but her body should be outlawed!

Last, but not least is Kate Holmes's characters, an ex-football quarterback for the SanDiego Typoons named Stan Kijewski who finds himself stuck in a snowbank in the middle of nowhwere Vermont when he spots a lone cottage in the distance. Not wanting to freeze before he makes it to Maine for the wedding, Stan decides to try and walk to the place. He is dumbfounded when he finds the place is run by the forest ranger Dana Freeman that he was supposed to pick up along the way for his mentor and friend in Maine. He discovers that Dana is no rough woman he thought she'd be and is fastly becoming tempted by her cool attitude and very womanly curves under the heavy sweater she wears. After realizing they are stuck, Stan calls his best friend Sam and they too are picked up along the way with the Senior Santa Brigade!

A bus full of wacky and nosey seniors, the trio of friends and trio of women soon learn that getting to Snowdon is going to have to be a group effort! Amid storms, strandings in lodges, snowbanks that can't be moved,(but with the wily ways of the bus's driver, a NASCAR driver from tears past and a list of old boyfriends that owe her favors, anything can happen) charity stops along the way, two 'Dr. Ruth' wannabes, Mr. Senior-Studmuffin, A Retired Marine Drill Instructor, Cyber Granny, and the rest of the wacky bunch, love blooms between the three couples. Although there wasn't nearly enough room for real in-depth introspection into each couple's thoughts and feelings, the story was well worth the read and extremely funny and touching. If only I could've been on that bus...Stan, watch out hahahaha

Tracy Talley~@

Typically for holiday romance novels I love the old fashioned traditional scenes, but this off-the-wall contemporary had me enjoying the quirkiness of these trio. I really loved the round-robin style of writing. Of course happy endings with men loving their "today's woman" kept it full of humor. You could actual see and hear the laughter and feel frustrated at the antics of the matchmaking santas. I througly enjoied this book!! Will definitely re-read this again and again!

Three men received invitations to a Christmas time wedding of their dear friend, George, in their old hometown of Snowdon, New Hampshire. They are making their way there as a snowstorm swirls and blows across the New England landscape, blocking roads. Charismatic, handsome Sam Merrick is stuck in an airport. Kevin Wilder, affectionately knows as JD (juvenile delinquent) to his friends, is stuck in Schenectady when the trains stop running. Ex-football quarterback, Sam, is on his way to pick up another friend of George's but he is hampered by the inadequacies of his rental car in the storm.

When Sam calls George to tell him the bad news, George's wife comes up with what she thinks is the perfect solution. She tells him that a well-equipped, weather fortified bus full of Snowdon residents, most of them senior citizens in Santa outfits, is making their way there, too. Tall, handsome, Blue Angel Sam is aghast at the suggestion that he join them, but when he finds out that his childhood soulmate, Reba, is also on that bus, he literally leaps at the opportunity by parachuting down to their location. Soon JD and Sam are paired up with female companions and they, too, are on the bus, helping the Santa Brigade as they make their way north, assisting needy children and families along the way.

The plot (such as it is) reminds me of the old film, White Christmas: snow is falling, people are stuck, good deeds need to be done, and couples fall in love-but it's all more than a bit sillier. Reading it is like eating candy canes. The first half tastes great but after a while it gets to be a bit much. However, if you like screwy romances (pun intended), drop-dead gorgeous characters and a moderate amount of action, it might warm you up on a cold winter's night.

If you only read one book this holiday season, make sure it is "Here Comes Santa Claus". This is a humorous, fun, touching and entertaining collaboration by Sandra Hill, Kate Holmes and Trisha Jensen. Anthologies are usually produced when more then one author is involved. This is one story combining the romances of three bad-boys-gone-good centered around the good works of a group of comical geriatric Santa's. A long time fan of Sandra Hill's, this book went right into by shopping bag with no hesitation. However, I got more for my money then expected. This well coordinated piece of work will make you laugh, cry and smile as Sam, "Slick" and "JD" find a love to last with three unique and special heroines. Put it at the top of your shopping, must read or gift request list. You will not regret it.

The structure of this is new. Rather than just three short stories about Sam the Blue Angel and his old girlfriend re-united, Stan the ex-football star and the beautiful forester/football fan, and Kevin the bounty hunter and his fashion designer prey, thes three authors created a chapter format, switching periodically between characters. It was intersting, but I'm sorry to say that it didn't have the desired effect. Rather than creating continuity, the jumping really kept the reader from getting close to the characters and their stories. I never felt myself truely connect, and as a result, I couldn't really enjoy this book. It has it's cute and hot moments, but if you like to feel that the characters you read about are real, I'd skip this one.

I have read this book every year since it came out and would LOVE to see another by these three authors. This book is the perfect holiday read.....romance, laughter, heart warming characters with an underlying theme that will touch your heart and raise your spirits for the holidays. I buy several copies every year for new friends in my life. How about another one gals?

I loved this book. The round robin approach is unique, but well done and everything ties together perfectly. If I didn't know there were 3 different authors, I wouldn't have recognized it in the book. It is very funny, fast paced and well worth the read. I can't wait for the holiday season to get here so I can read it again.

SINCE I PAID FULL PRICE FOR THIS CLUNKER, I MADE MYSELF READ IT. INJECTED WITH A BIT MORE REALISM,COULD HAVE BEEN A CUTE STORY. I LIKED THE PREMISE OF THE TRAVELING SANTA BUS VISITING THE HOMELESS SHELTERS AND GIVING SOME HOLIDAY SPIRIT TO THOSE LESS FORTUNATE, BUT SO MUCH OF THE "LOVE" SCENES WERE UNBELIEVABLE IT WAS HARD TO PLOW THRU!