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Apartment Door Santa
It's a secret Santa whodunnit!
"No doughnuts on Tuesdays!" "No Christmas trees allowed!"
When their Grinchy landlord posts a stack of crazy proclamation flyers, it rattles an oddball assortment of residents in an apartment complex.
But then on a quiet night in, festive gifts mysteriously appear on doorknobs and doormats-- and the game of Guess Who is afoot.
The evening turns into a maze of clues as tenants tally gifts, prowl the halls, chase shadows and even run into a little romance before the surprising culprit is caught. And no, it's not the landlord! Ha-ha
This holiday short story is quick fun read for cozy comedy, mystery, and romance lovers.
"No doughnuts on Tuesdays!" "No Christmas trees allowed!"
When their Grinchy landlord posts a stack of crazy proclamation flyers, it rattles an oddball assortment of residents in an apartment complex.
But then on a quiet night in, festive gifts mysteriously appear on doorknobs and doormats-- and the game of Guess Who is afoot.
The evening turns into a maze of clues as tenants tally gifts, prowl the halls, chase shadows and even run into a little romance before the surprising culprit is caught. And no, it's not the landlord! Ha-ha
This holiday short story is quick fun read for cozy comedy, mystery, and romance lovers.
- GenresChristmas
54 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 15, 2023
2 people are currently reading
19 people want to read
About the author
Chele Pedersen Smith
19 books158 followersChele {Shell} is in love with love, mysteries, spirituality and time twists, and because "life's a sitcom," she is a sucker for comedies. She loves adding humor and mystery to any situation and genre.
She enjoys the wild ride of writing "off the cuff," not knowing exactly where the 'what ifs" will take her. You'll often find her nestled in the breakfast nook overlooking a woodsy Massachusetts view with her golden retriever and a mug of decaf-- if it's not waiting under the brewer for hours, forgotten as usual. Add snow and writing chocolate: Perfect!
When not immersed in imaginary characters, Chele is a pharmacy technician and college writing tutor. She loves going to movies and plays, traveling to new places, and thinks any day is Taco Tuesday.
Besides mystery and romance, she writes contemporary and speculative fiction, short stories, poems, and spiritual fiction and nonfiction.
In the works are several romantic comedies, and a sequel to Behind Frenemy Lines.
She enjoys the wild ride of writing "off the cuff," not knowing exactly where the 'what ifs" will take her. You'll often find her nestled in the breakfast nook overlooking a woodsy Massachusetts view with her golden retriever and a mug of decaf-- if it's not waiting under the brewer for hours, forgotten as usual. Add snow and writing chocolate: Perfect!
When not immersed in imaginary characters, Chele is a pharmacy technician and college writing tutor. She loves going to movies and plays, traveling to new places, and thinks any day is Taco Tuesday.
Besides mystery and romance, she writes contemporary and speculative fiction, short stories, poems, and spiritual fiction and nonfiction.
In the works are several romantic comedies, and a sequel to Behind Frenemy Lines.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
July 29, 2024
This was an enjoyable short story.
For me, any time reading a christmas book is pleasant.
Christmas is my favorite time of year.🎄
This story had me chuckling. It was funny in parts.It gives you what you need.
you have mysteries.
And by that, I mean, someone is going around and doing mystery door decorations. Guess who..
It's simply a mystery.
And then you have the grumpy apartment manager.
Oh he's a hoot.
This short story was simply refreshing.
I Truly enjoyed this story.It was refreshing for me.
For me, any time reading a christmas book is pleasant.
Christmas is my favorite time of year.🎄
This story had me chuckling. It was funny in parts.It gives you what you need.
you have mysteries.
And by that, I mean, someone is going around and doing mystery door decorations. Guess who..
It's simply a mystery.
And then you have the grumpy apartment manager.
Oh he's a hoot.
This short story was simply refreshing.
I Truly enjoyed this story.It was refreshing for me.
March 25, 2023
Entertaining
A fun short story, Residents in a Apartment complex are baffled by the gifts left on their doors, and doorsteps. This was entertaining as the residents look for clues , and find unexpected and unusual gifts along the way .
A fun short story, Residents in a Apartment complex are baffled by the gifts left on their doors, and doorsteps. This was entertaining as the residents look for clues , and find unexpected and unusual gifts along the way .
March 6, 2023
A fun story
I enjoyed this fun and quick read. It's perfect for any time of the year because who doesn't like a story that makes you smile? The secret Santa was quite unexpected. Lol And I also loved the hint of romance between Annie and Allen. My only complaint is that it ended so soon...
I enjoyed this fun and quick read. It's perfect for any time of the year because who doesn't like a story that makes you smile? The secret Santa was quite unexpected. Lol And I also loved the hint of romance between Annie and Allen. My only complaint is that it ended so soon...
February 20, 2023
Hits the spot any time of year
Apartment Door Santa is a fun, festive read that hits the spot any time of year. The character s seem like I know them. plot has many twists and turns with a surprise ending. I thoroughly enjoyed this lighthearted read that left me with a warm smile. I recommend this book if you are looking for a quick feel good mystery story with just a touch of Hallmark like romance.
Apartment Door Santa is a fun, festive read that hits the spot any time of year. The character s seem like I know them. plot has many twists and turns with a surprise ending. I thoroughly enjoyed this lighthearted read that left me with a warm smile. I recommend this book if you are looking for a quick feel good mystery story with just a touch of Hallmark like romance.
December 27, 2023
This is such a cute story that will get you in the giving spirit. When Annie and all the other tenants in her apartment complex see the flyers that were posted by the Grinch landlord, they felt like they weren’t allowed to have a normal Christmas. No real Christmas trees, only one piece of mail allowed except bills ( they all love receiving Christmas cards) , how could he do that? Allen , the building maintenance man was the one that got the job of relaying the message and no one was happy. But Annie sorta felt a little attraction to Allen, but nah….that couldn’t happen. When all the tenants started receiving small gifts on the doorstep, and cute handmade decorations, they all started trying to figure out who the secret Santa is. They all started sleuthing and guessing, but at the same time, they all started coming together and getting closer as friends and thinking of ways that they could give to make Christmas special! I love that Chele asked sone of her friends and readers for their special Christmas memories and for us to share recipes and special crafts, and she incorporated them into this awesome book.
February 22, 2025
This is a quick, easy, enjoyable read. It is packed with humor and is completely centered around Christmas. I know that short stories are very popular right now, but I really think this storyline is so fun and the characters are so interesting, that it would be great to have it fleshed out to give time for more character development. I would like to have gotten to know them better.
The story would also be a great beginning for a holiday movie script.
The last part of the book is Christmas memories, recipes, craft, etc. from various other people. I found most of this content to be enjoyable.
The story would also be a great beginning for a holiday movie script.
The last part of the book is Christmas memories, recipes, craft, etc. from various other people. I found most of this content to be enjoyable.
May 31, 2024
What a delightful book! The residents of an apartment building are receiving surprise gifts of decorations on their doors, fruitcakes and cheese wheels placed in front of their doors. Who is the mysterious Secret Santa? Annie, one of the residents is determined to find out and in her quest also finds a surprise of her own. This is a fun, short read which takes place during the Christmas season but it can be read anytime of the year.
November 26, 2023
Adorably Delicious
Novella mystery takes place in a multi storied apartment building that has an interesting cast of characters living there. Let's just say, fruitcake is heavily involved in the story. I did not guess Santa s identity and was so pleasantly surprised with the reveal. Truly a HEA that I heartily recommend 🎄
Novella mystery takes place in a multi storied apartment building that has an interesting cast of characters living there. Let's just say, fruitcake is heavily involved in the story. I did not guess Santa s identity and was so pleasantly surprised with the reveal. Truly a HEA that I heartily recommend 🎄
December 5, 2024
Too cute
Chele's short funny stories always cheer me up. I love how she has the ability to make the corniest sayings quite humorous. I really enjoyed reading the antics of the quirky apartment residents.. definitely recommend reading this if you're looking for a cheerful Christmas story!
Chele's short funny stories always cheer me up. I love how she has the ability to make the corniest sayings quite humorous. I really enjoyed reading the antics of the quirky apartment residents.. definitely recommend reading this if you're looking for a cheerful Christmas story!
August 3, 2024
This was a really quick Secret Santa cozy mystery novelette with less than 40 pages to it. While there's not a lot of character development or world building because of its length, it's still a fun little holiday story.
There's a grinchy landlord, quirky neighbors, with a little age gap romance brewing behind the scenes. The biggest mystery though is that someone is secretly leaving little gifts for everyone around the building & no one can figure out who it is! Even you will be left guessing until the very end!
While it is a stand alone story, there are recurring characters from the author's other Christmas novella "Snow Angels" which was a fun little revelation. So to learn a little more about them, pick that one up as well!
There's a grinchy landlord, quirky neighbors, with a little age gap romance brewing behind the scenes. The biggest mystery though is that someone is secretly leaving little gifts for everyone around the building & no one can figure out who it is! Even you will be left guessing until the very end!
While it is a stand alone story, there are recurring characters from the author's other Christmas novella "Snow Angels" which was a fun little revelation. So to learn a little more about them, pick that one up as well!
May 15, 2024
Cute!
A cute, short mystery that started by referencing one of my favorite movies! Well done!!! Can't wait to pick up another one
A cute, short mystery that started by referencing one of my favorite movies! Well done!!! Can't wait to pick up another one
June 18, 2024
Adorable
This was so cute and fun. My brain did wonder where the hallway security cameras were, but then this adorable story wouldn’t exist.
This was so cute and fun. My brain did wonder where the hallway security cameras were, but then this adorable story wouldn’t exist.
December 18, 2024
Cute Christmas tale!
This little Christmas story was tons of fun and adorably funny. I think it would cute to become a little minnie series.
This little Christmas story was tons of fun and adorably funny. I think it would cute to become a little minnie series.
February 19, 2025
A very cute story. I loved finding out who the gift givers are. Fun and adorable read!
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews