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Santa's Crew #2
Santa & Company
Fern Michaels, author of over 90 consecutive New York Times and/or USA Today bestsellers, gifts readers with a fun and heartwarming holiday tale filled with romance and adventure that fans of Debbie Macomber will love, as four close friends get together for a holiday ski vacation to remember.
When longtime friends Amy, Frankie, Rachael and Nina reunited for a holiday singles cruise, it not only deepened their bond, it changed their lives. Now they’re getting together for another adventure, and what better winter setting than a fabulous ski lodge? Crisp snow and fresh air by day, cozy fires and delicious food by night, capped off by meeting up with their significant others for a New Year’s Eve celebration—it’s perfect.
At least, it’s perfect until Frankie decides to go snowshoeing alone. When she twists her ankle right after losing her phone in the snow, Frankie wonders how she’ll be able to summon help—only to be rescued by a reclusive Grizzly Adams lookalike who lives nearby and introduces himself as Troy Manchester.
Troy saves the day by helping the injured Frankie back to the ski lodge, but in the process, encounters a part of the L.A. life he’s tried to leave behind. Nina, visiting the gift shop to buy magazines for a recuperating Frankie, is similarly shocked to glimpse someone to whom she was once connected.
Even in this unlikely spot, it seems there’s no way to avoid their pasts. And as the mischievous Rachael and her sidekick Amy go to great lengths to patch up old friendships and spread the spirit of the season, the New Year may contain all kinds of new beginnings. . .
When longtime friends Amy, Frankie, Rachael and Nina reunited for a holiday singles cruise, it not only deepened their bond, it changed their lives. Now they’re getting together for another adventure, and what better winter setting than a fabulous ski lodge? Crisp snow and fresh air by day, cozy fires and delicious food by night, capped off by meeting up with their significant others for a New Year’s Eve celebration—it’s perfect.
At least, it’s perfect until Frankie decides to go snowshoeing alone. When she twists her ankle right after losing her phone in the snow, Frankie wonders how she’ll be able to summon help—only to be rescued by a reclusive Grizzly Adams lookalike who lives nearby and introduces himself as Troy Manchester.
Troy saves the day by helping the injured Frankie back to the ski lodge, but in the process, encounters a part of the L.A. life he’s tried to leave behind. Nina, visiting the gift shop to buy magazines for a recuperating Frankie, is similarly shocked to glimpse someone to whom she was once connected.
Even in this unlikely spot, it seems there’s no way to avoid their pasts. And as the mischievous Rachael and her sidekick Amy go to great lengths to patch up old friendships and spread the spirit of the season, the New Year may contain all kinds of new beginnings. . .
337 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 26, 2023
903 people are currently reading
15636 people want to read
About the author
Fern Michaels
429 books6,546 followersFern Michaels isn’t a person. I’m not sure she’s an entity either since an entity is something with separate existence. Fern Michaels® is what I DO. Me, Mary Ruth Kuczkir. Growing up in Hastings, Pennsylvania, I was called Ruth. I became Mary when I entered the business world where first names were the order of the day. To this day, family and friends call me Dink, a name my father gave me when I was born because according to him I was ‘a dinky little thing’ weighing in at four and a half pounds. However, I answer to Fern since people are more comfortable with a name they can pronounce.
As they say, the past is prologue. I grew up, got a job, got married, had five kids. When my youngest went off to Kindergarten, my husband told me to get off my ass and get a job. Those were his exact words. I didn’t know how to do anything except be a wife and mother. I was also a voracious reader having cut my teeth on The Bobbsey Twins, Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, Cherry Ames and the like. The library was a magical place for me. It still is to this day. Rather than face the outside world with no skills, I decided to write a book. For some reason that didn’t intimidate me. As my husband said at the time, stupid is as stupid does. Guess what, I don’t have that husband any more. Guess what else! I wrote 99 books, most of them New York Times Best Sellers.
Moving right along here . . . Several years ago I left Ballantine Books, parted company with my agent, sold my house in New Jersey that I had lived in all my married life and in 1993 moved to South Carolina. I figured if I was going to go through trauma let it be all at one time. It was a breeze. The kids were all on their own at that point. The dump was a 300 year old plantation house that is listed in the National Registry that I remodeled. Today it is beyond belief as are the gardens and the equally old Angel Oaks that drip Spanish moss. Unfortunately, I could not get my ghost to relocate. This ghost has been documented by previous owners. Mary Margaret as we call her, is “a friendly”. She is also mischievous. It took me two weeks to figure out that she didn’t like my coffee cups. They would slide off the table or counter or else they’d break in the dishwasher. I bought red checkered ones. All are intact as of this writing. She moves pillows from one room to the other and she stops all the clocks in the house at 9:10 in the a.m. at least once a week. When the Azaleas are in bloom, and only then, I find blooms on my night stand. I have this glorious front porch and during the warm months I see my swing moving early in the morning when the air is still and again late in the day. She doesn’t spook the dogs. I always know when she’s around because the five of them line up and look like they’re at a tennis match. As of this writing we’re co-habiting nicely.
Most writers love what they do and I’m no exception. I love it when I get a germ of an idea and get it down on paper. I love breathing life into my characters. I love writing about women who persevere and prevail because that’s what I had to do to get to this point in time. It’s another way of saying it doesn’t matter where you’ve been, what matters is where you’re going and how you get there. The day I finally prevailed was the day I was inducted into the New Jersey Literary Hall of Fame. For me it was an awesome day and there are no words to describe it.
I’ve been telling stories and scribbling for 37 years. I hope I can continue for another 37 years. It wasn’t easy during some of those years. As I said, I had to persevere. My old Polish grandmother said something to me when I was little that I never forgot. She said when God is good to you, you have to give back. For a while I didn’t know how to do that. When I finally figured it out I set up The Fern Michaels® Foundation.
READ FERN MICHAELS' FULL BIOGRAPHY HERE: http://www.fernmichaels.com/biography/
As they say, the past is prologue. I grew up, got a job, got married, had five kids. When my youngest went off to Kindergarten, my husband told me to get off my ass and get a job. Those were his exact words. I didn’t know how to do anything except be a wife and mother. I was also a voracious reader having cut my teeth on The Bobbsey Twins, Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, Cherry Ames and the like. The library was a magical place for me. It still is to this day. Rather than face the outside world with no skills, I decided to write a book. For some reason that didn’t intimidate me. As my husband said at the time, stupid is as stupid does. Guess what, I don’t have that husband any more. Guess what else! I wrote 99 books, most of them New York Times Best Sellers.
Moving right along here . . . Several years ago I left Ballantine Books, parted company with my agent, sold my house in New Jersey that I had lived in all my married life and in 1993 moved to South Carolina. I figured if I was going to go through trauma let it be all at one time. It was a breeze. The kids were all on their own at that point. The dump was a 300 year old plantation house that is listed in the National Registry that I remodeled. Today it is beyond belief as are the gardens and the equally old Angel Oaks that drip Spanish moss. Unfortunately, I could not get my ghost to relocate. This ghost has been documented by previous owners. Mary Margaret as we call her, is “a friendly”. She is also mischievous. It took me two weeks to figure out that she didn’t like my coffee cups. They would slide off the table or counter or else they’d break in the dishwasher. I bought red checkered ones. All are intact as of this writing. She moves pillows from one room to the other and she stops all the clocks in the house at 9:10 in the a.m. at least once a week. When the Azaleas are in bloom, and only then, I find blooms on my night stand. I have this glorious front porch and during the warm months I see my swing moving early in the morning when the air is still and again late in the day. She doesn’t spook the dogs. I always know when she’s around because the five of them line up and look like they’re at a tennis match. As of this writing we’re co-habiting nicely.
Most writers love what they do and I’m no exception. I love it when I get a germ of an idea and get it down on paper. I love breathing life into my characters. I love writing about women who persevere and prevail because that’s what I had to do to get to this point in time. It’s another way of saying it doesn’t matter where you’ve been, what matters is where you’re going and how you get there. The day I finally prevailed was the day I was inducted into the New Jersey Literary Hall of Fame. For me it was an awesome day and there are no words to describe it.
I’ve been telling stories and scribbling for 37 years. I hope I can continue for another 37 years. It wasn’t easy during some of those years. As I said, I had to persevere. My old Polish grandmother said something to me when I was little that I never forgot. She said when God is good to you, you have to give back. For a while I didn’t know how to do that. When I finally figured it out I set up The Fern Michaels® Foundation.
READ FERN MICHAELS' FULL BIOGRAPHY HERE: http://www.fernmichaels.com/biography/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 312 reviews
November 10, 2024
Santa & Company by Fern Michaels
Santa Crew series #2. Contemporary chick lit with romance. Best read in series order.
After their successful reunion via a single cruise, longtime friends Amy, Frankie, Rachel, and Nina decide to go on another Christmas vacation together. A fabulous ski lodge in Tahoe is just the place to celebrate friendship and the holidays. Drama follows everywhere and not everything goes perfectly but in the spirit of the season, differences are put aside with new promises for the New Year.
Each of the friends have their own stories with questions on their lives, loves and futures. They come together when Frankie goes missing.
It’s a renewal of their friendships and their own personal lives.
Charming.
3.5
Santa Crew series #2. Contemporary chick lit with romance. Best read in series order.
After their successful reunion via a single cruise, longtime friends Amy, Frankie, Rachel, and Nina decide to go on another Christmas vacation together. A fabulous ski lodge in Tahoe is just the place to celebrate friendship and the holidays. Drama follows everywhere and not everything goes perfectly but in the spirit of the season, differences are put aside with new promises for the New Year.
Each of the friends have their own stories with questions on their lives, loves and futures. They come together when Frankie goes missing.
It’s a renewal of their friendships and their own personal lives.
Charming.
3.5
September 28, 2023
I was disappointed with this book. Very slow starting and it wasn't a Christmas story at all. Didn't really have a story line till almost half way through the book.
January 13, 2025
This book is about four friends who go on a Christmas trip. I actually picked up this book while on a Christmas trip with my friends. During the trip, I was recovering from bronchitis and was taking antibiotics. So the first night, before we hit the streets for winter festivities, I took an edible, put on some light up reindeer antlers, and we went to CVS.
While there, I developed what must have been a temporary psychosis. I spent $60, including $10 on this book. I was so zooted that when the lovely local cashier said “ah! Here for a girl’s weekend?” I thought he was going to arrest me and ran away, leaving my friends to deal with him. Then, I stumbled across a couple who looked like both a male and female version of Justin Bieber, and I freaked out because I thought they heard me whispering to my friends about that. Then we drove home, two of my friends started fighting, I started laughing so hard the my windpipe actually closed (due to bronchitis) and I almost passed out.
Then, finally, we arrived home. I put on my pajamas, we got some Christmas treats out, I opened this book, and realized it was a sequel.
The story that I just told you here, while pointless, is somehow better than every page in this book combined.
While there, I developed what must have been a temporary psychosis. I spent $60, including $10 on this book. I was so zooted that when the lovely local cashier said “ah! Here for a girl’s weekend?” I thought he was going to arrest me and ran away, leaving my friends to deal with him. Then, I stumbled across a couple who looked like both a male and female version of Justin Bieber, and I freaked out because I thought they heard me whispering to my friends about that. Then we drove home, two of my friends started fighting, I started laughing so hard the my windpipe actually closed (due to bronchitis) and I almost passed out.
Then, finally, we arrived home. I put on my pajamas, we got some Christmas treats out, I opened this book, and realized it was a sequel.
The story that I just told you here, while pointless, is somehow better than every page in this book combined.
December 1, 2023
Ok this book is NOT a Christmas story - the story line takes place over a Christmas/New Year holiday but the story has nothing to do with Santa or company. I found this fact to be troubling as I kept waiting for a Santa reference.
The story is about four life long friends who have drifted apart only to come back together again on a cruise take two years ago. So basically the story is about them trying to get together again, gathering, and finding their joy. The story line is weak. The characters are likable but shallow. The plot really rambles before it finds its voice.
It was an easy read so if you like easy non Christmas stories this is the book for you.
The story is about four life long friends who have drifted apart only to come back together again on a cruise take two years ago. So basically the story is about them trying to get together again, gathering, and finding their joy. The story line is weak. The characters are likable but shallow. The plot really rambles before it finds its voice.
It was an easy read so if you like easy non Christmas stories this is the book for you.
September 19, 2023
Santa and Company is a light cozy story about friendship between four women. A group of friends take a trip to ring in the New Year together at Lake Tahoe. This story has a little romance and a bit of a mystery and is a fun way to start thinking about the holidays. It's a quick, humorous read, and even though it's the second in a series, I had no problem getting to know Frankie, Nina, Amy, and Rachael, especially since there were chapters from all of their points-of-view.
Frankie is the leader of the group and my favorite of the characters. The part of the story that is about her romance with her chef boyfriend is very sweet. I like Nina and Amy as well, but Rachael was often hard to take and seemed immature compared to the others. The mystery element of the book wasn't hard to figure out, but it was still interesting. I enjoyed the lengthy epilogue and if there is another book with these characters getting together for another adventure, I'm in!
I won an advance copy of this book in a giveaway from Kensington Books and Between the Chapters, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.
Frankie is the leader of the group and my favorite of the characters. The part of the story that is about her romance with her chef boyfriend is very sweet. I like Nina and Amy as well, but Rachael was often hard to take and seemed immature compared to the others. The mystery element of the book wasn't hard to figure out, but it was still interesting. I enjoyed the lengthy epilogue and if there is another book with these characters getting together for another adventure, I'm in!
I won an advance copy of this book in a giveaway from Kensington Books and Between the Chapters, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.
September 26, 2023
Santa and Company by Fern Michaels
Story starts out with the past cruise the gang all got together.
This year they are planning ladies only days in Tahoe. Only three are going but a fourth was invited.
Love hearing what they all do for career and how they find time to relax.
Problem arise when one gets injured, fourth shows up and it's new years eve. Creepy, scary things pop up out of nowhere... Stalkers are following one of them...
Love the location and especially all the activities. Fashion and food are described in detail also, love this. Lots of twists and turns
Love the charity work, as a team they can do anything.
Love these holiday reads, they are so involved.
Received this review copy from Kensington Books, Kensington via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.
#SantaandCompany #NetGalley.
Story starts out with the past cruise the gang all got together.
This year they are planning ladies only days in Tahoe. Only three are going but a fourth was invited.
Love hearing what they all do for career and how they find time to relax.
Problem arise when one gets injured, fourth shows up and it's new years eve. Creepy, scary things pop up out of nowhere... Stalkers are following one of them...
Love the location and especially all the activities. Fashion and food are described in detail also, love this. Lots of twists and turns
Love the charity work, as a team they can do anything.
Love these holiday reads, they are so involved.
Received this review copy from Kensington Books, Kensington via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.
#SantaandCompany #NetGalley.
January 13, 2024
Except for being set between Christmas and New Years that was the extent of being anything Christmas. Dialogue was silly and the point (?) of the story went nowhere. Very disappointing read.
December 5, 2025
DNF. 50 pages in and the four main characters are still being painfully slowly introduced, there’s nothing Christmasy happening and the characters are still not on their way to their chalet destination. Much too slow to keep my attention
September 17, 2023
I received this book as an arc through Goodreads.
This book was a big meh for me. I read it pretty quickly but it had no substance. I read a lot Christmas romance (my guilty pleasure from October-January) and I had certain expectations. This was neither romance nor Christmasy.
This was really a story of friendship but I didn't ever get a sense of who the characters were. There was just description and details and more description and more details but no character development. Also, the author is 90 years old and writing characters roughly my age and she's out of touch. Shopping at Chico's, the outfits they were wearing, how they spoke to each other...I felt like it was way off.
This book was a big meh for me. I read it pretty quickly but it had no substance. I read a lot Christmas romance (my guilty pleasure from October-January) and I had certain expectations. This was neither romance nor Christmasy.
This was really a story of friendship but I didn't ever get a sense of who the characters were. There was just description and details and more description and more details but no character development. Also, the author is 90 years old and writing characters roughly my age and she's out of touch. Shopping at Chico's, the outfits they were wearing, how they spoke to each other...I felt like it was way off.
October 5, 2023
Santa & Company by Fern Michaels
Santa Crew's # 2
8h 58 m narrated by Susan Bennett 368 pages
Genre: Women's Fiction, Holiday - Christmas [NOT], Contemporary Romance [Nope]
Featuring: 2 Years After Santa Cruise, No Sex, High School Friends, Jersey Girls, Thirty-Somethings, Vacation Planning, South Lake Tahoe, California; Why Research When You Can Make It Up, Italian, Food, Holidays, Family Drama, Shopping, Traveling, Horrible Pet Names, Work Talk, Music, Tricenarians That Sound like Quinquagenarians Becoming Sexagenarians, Babycakes, Post-Covid-19, New Jersey, Boston, New York City, Los Angeles, Reno, Non Mysteries, Skiing Resort, Reunions
Rating as a movie: PG for adult situations
My rating: ⭐️⭐️🎿
My thoughts: 📱12% 1:03:20 Ch. 4 - I haven't heard Yes Siree Bob in ages. Dutch and Mexican aren't races or ethnic groups and will not show up on 23andMe. I don't recall the drama between Frankie and Rachael. I going to stop now and just get this over with, later. I need a break from this nonsense. 11 people are waiting but they need to start their vacation already, it went from nineties daytime sitcoms to eighties daytime soaps.
📱17% 1:31:09 Ch. 6 - This first half is awfully slow.
📱87% 5:54:13 Ch. 13 - The TSA scene seemed off for Pre-Check, the club music was dated, those songs were old when I was little so I doubt most younger folks know or would be jammin' to those artists. Every decision made so far has been sitcom ridiculous. Finally, that's not how you play 6 degrees of separation, it's 6 people or less, you don't try to make 3 degrees 6 degrees, the connection is made, game over. I cannot stand the dialogue in this story I think overall all this stuff is supposed to be funny but it's not. I've been with this book all day off and on but after 116 minutes of chapter 12 with tons of nonsense, I need a break. Hopefully, it won't put me to sleep tonight.
📱90% 8:01:53 12 of 61 minutes Ch. 13 "When she got back to her room, she unpacked the box, plugged it in, activated the Bluetooth, and hit a button from her music playlist. All was in working order. She heard boomboxes were back, but now they had much more advanced technology. Pretty cool! She also heard cassette tapes were making a comeback, why not, vinyl did? She disliked the phrase, old-school. How about smart-school or we-did-a-lot-of-stuff-before-you-were-born-school?" Ain't no way these ladies are thirty-somethings! You should have made them 62. Honestly, my mom is more hip than these girls, and the spoon-fed dialogue and commentary are unreal.
This will probably be my last Fern Michaels book. The amount of Christmas in this book was zilch and the character's mannerisms didn't fit their descriptions. I would have enjoyed it more if it were 60-year-olds on vacation, a lot of the conversations and actions made no sense and nearly everything seemed forced, including the drama and bland romance. It felt like a 3-star read but then chapter 12 happened and it just got worse from there. The storyline made no sense, they really should have left this one alone. The ending was rushed but I was just glad they stopped. Tons of unnecessary hijinks. Hopefully, in 3 months, I won't remember this story but I'll remember I didn't like it. Too bad because her covers are beautiful.
Recommend to others?: No. Don't be fooled by the cover and timing, this isn't a Christmas book and it's so dated.
Santa Crew's # 2
8h 58 m narrated by Susan Bennett 368 pages
Genre: Women's Fiction, Holiday - Christmas [NOT], Contemporary Romance [Nope]
Featuring: 2 Years After Santa Cruise, No Sex, High School Friends, Jersey Girls, Thirty-Somethings, Vacation Planning, South Lake Tahoe, California; Why Research When You Can Make It Up, Italian, Food, Holidays, Family Drama, Shopping, Traveling, Horrible Pet Names, Work Talk, Music, Tricenarians That Sound like Quinquagenarians Becoming Sexagenarians, Babycakes, Post-Covid-19, New Jersey, Boston, New York City, Los Angeles, Reno, Non Mysteries, Skiing Resort, Reunions
Rating as a movie: PG for adult situations
My rating: ⭐️⭐️🎿
My thoughts: 📱12% 1:03:20 Ch. 4 - I haven't heard Yes Siree Bob in ages. Dutch and Mexican aren't races or ethnic groups and will not show up on 23andMe. I don't recall the drama between Frankie and Rachael. I going to stop now and just get this over with, later. I need a break from this nonsense. 11 people are waiting but they need to start their vacation already, it went from nineties daytime sitcoms to eighties daytime soaps.
📱17% 1:31:09 Ch. 6 - This first half is awfully slow.
📱87% 5:54:13 Ch. 13 - The TSA scene seemed off for Pre-Check, the club music was dated, those songs were old when I was little so I doubt most younger folks know or would be jammin' to those artists. Every decision made so far has been sitcom ridiculous. Finally, that's not how you play 6 degrees of separation, it's 6 people or less, you don't try to make 3 degrees 6 degrees, the connection is made, game over. I cannot stand the dialogue in this story I think overall all this stuff is supposed to be funny but it's not. I've been with this book all day off and on but after 116 minutes of chapter 12 with tons of nonsense, I need a break. Hopefully, it won't put me to sleep tonight.
📱90% 8:01:53 12 of 61 minutes Ch. 13 "When she got back to her room, she unpacked the box, plugged it in, activated the Bluetooth, and hit a button from her music playlist. All was in working order. She heard boomboxes were back, but now they had much more advanced technology. Pretty cool! She also heard cassette tapes were making a comeback, why not, vinyl did? She disliked the phrase, old-school. How about smart-school or we-did-a-lot-of-stuff-before-you-were-born-school?" Ain't no way these ladies are thirty-somethings! You should have made them 62. Honestly, my mom is more hip than these girls, and the spoon-fed dialogue and commentary are unreal.
This will probably be my last Fern Michaels book. The amount of Christmas in this book was zilch and the character's mannerisms didn't fit their descriptions. I would have enjoyed it more if it were 60-year-olds on vacation, a lot of the conversations and actions made no sense and nearly everything seemed forced, including the drama and bland romance. It felt like a 3-star read but then chapter 12 happened and it just got worse from there. The storyline made no sense, they really should have left this one alone. The ending was rushed but I was just glad they stopped. Tons of unnecessary hijinks. Hopefully, in 3 months, I won't remember this story but I'll remember I didn't like it. Too bad because her covers are beautiful.
Recommend to others?: No. Don't be fooled by the cover and timing, this isn't a Christmas book and it's so dated.
October 28, 2024
This is the 2nd book in the Santa's Crew series, a celebration of friendship. In the first book, Amy, Frankie, Rachael and Nina reunited for a holiday singles cruise, that deepened their bond and changed their lives. This year they are heading to a skiing lodge, being joined by their significant others for New Year's Eve. Rachael has been acting a bit strange and said she wasn't coming this year, which caused some problems, but also gave me a poor opinion of her and the way she was treating her friends. When Frankie goes off skiing on her own and doesn't return in the specified time, as well as not answering her phone, the friends and their partners spring into action. The fellows charter a plane to get to Tahoe to help in the search. Meanwhile Rachael comes out of hiding to help in the search, and the other help. Luckily for Frankie, she is rescued by a recluse, Troy Manchester. There is a bit of a mystery, some romance, a crisis the friends help the lodge with and some relationships mended.
This was a relatively short novel, with a lot of drama, but not a lot of Christmas festivities. It was an okay read, but not one that really pulled me in. The epilogue was the best part of the book. I have enjoyed Fern Michaels books in the past, but this one just didn't have a lot of meat to it. Susan Bennett narrates this audiobook and does a nice job with the voices, pacing and tone. She is a performer that I have listened to often and she does a good job.
This was a relatively short novel, with a lot of drama, but not a lot of Christmas festivities. It was an okay read, but not one that really pulled me in. The epilogue was the best part of the book. I have enjoyed Fern Michaels books in the past, but this one just didn't have a lot of meat to it. Susan Bennett narrates this audiobook and does a nice job with the voices, pacing and tone. She is a performer that I have listened to often and she does a good job.
November 11, 2023
just finished reading Fern Michael’s Santa & Company. This is the 1st holiday themed book I have read by Ms. Michaels.
This was pretty light reading. Group of friends who have known each other go on Tahoe getaway.
There is a lot going on her: stalker, friends showing up out of nowhere, lots of food descriptions because of the chef, tense situations..
Lots of stuff that has this book a little all over the place but somehow comes together like a Christmas package.
I did receive this from NetGalley but it was archived before I could read and fortunately for me I was able to get the title again so taking the opportunity to publish an honest review. All opinions are my own.
This was pretty light reading. Group of friends who have known each other go on Tahoe getaway.
There is a lot going on her: stalker, friends showing up out of nowhere, lots of food descriptions because of the chef, tense situations..
Lots of stuff that has this book a little all over the place but somehow comes together like a Christmas package.
I did receive this from NetGalley but it was archived before I could read and fortunately for me I was able to get the title again so taking the opportunity to publish an honest review. All opinions are my own.
November 7, 2023
I kept thinking I was reading about women in their sixties in this book, not in their late 30s. And what was up with Rachael and her plot of leaving gnomes around the hotel? Why would staff allow this?
The characters are basically appealing, but trying to tell the story of four women, their careers, families, and their romantic relationships, all in 200 pages, didn’t work, but to make the book longer wouldn't have made it more enjoyable.
The characters are basically appealing, but trying to tell the story of four women, their careers, families, and their romantic relationships, all in 200 pages, didn’t work, but to make the book longer wouldn't have made it more enjoyable.
December 30, 2025
3 stars simply because I used to manage a motel in Tahoe City, CA. and it was great fun to re-visit areas that I am very familiar with.
These ladies would have been classified by the locals as "Tourons" which is a combination of the words tourist and moron.
A more suitable title would have been, "Hold my wine and watch me do something stupid."
These ladies would have been classified by the locals as "Tourons" which is a combination of the words tourist and moron.
A more suitable title would have been, "Hold my wine and watch me do something stupid."
October 4, 2023
Fern Michaels gets readers ready for the holiday season. Last year it was with a cruise and now, the friends are Tahoe bound. Shenanigans ensue with a chef caper, disappearance, stalker and a surprise encounter. If you're ready for holiday hijinks, Michaels delivers a cozy read.
Thank you to #NetGalley and the publisher for the early edition of #SantaandCompany in exchange for an honest review. I grew up reading Fern Michaels books and my mom introduced me to her books.
Thank you to #NetGalley and the publisher for the early edition of #SantaandCompany in exchange for an honest review. I grew up reading Fern Michaels books and my mom introduced me to her books.
October 22, 2023
Quick read. Didn’t have anything to do with Christmas except having Santa in the title. Little things bothered me like having a bunch of 40 year olds shopping at Chico’s. Author should probably write about an older generation.
October 31, 2023
What a fun loving Christmas story. Never a dull moment and full of surprises.
November 13, 2023
Cute and quick read.
November 25, 2024
I love this group of ladies and their adventures. Reminds me a bit of my friends group.
February 3, 2025
Fun book! I like the characters & the travel. Next stop Italy
December 29, 2025
Cute book to round out my holiday reads.
December 31, 2025
3.5 stars. Light holiday-based friend gathering bringing together women who’ve known each other since high school. They set off for Lake Tahoe and engage in winter sports. But one of them is being followed and one injures herself, meaning plans have to be adjusted. The friends come together and work it all out for a happy ending. A good book to close the year on.
November 3, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
May 7, 2025
The adventures of the 4 friends continue. Loved how several "coincidences" played into the "six degrees of separation". Cute story - quick read. 6 out of 10.
August 26, 2023
I received this book as a result of a Goodreads Giveaway. This is my first Fern Michaels book. Although this is not my preferred genre (historical fiction or thriller), it was an enjoyable quick read.
I enjoy reading many series, but I always read the books in order. This is the second book in the Santa Crew series, so it was clear from the outset that I was at a disadvantage, having not read the first book.
While the author recaps the first book in the first chapter of this book...it was so much information named into this sort narrative it put me off to start.
The plot was contrived with not much payoff with its ending. The moralistic wrapup was almost too much for me.
I appreciated the author's restraint... no bad language or graphic sex scenes. With four main characters, the construction of the novel was confusing as it would jump from one woman to another without any obvious transition.
Don't misunderstand me, I didn't hate this book. I never finish a book I don't enjoy reading at some level, and I breezed through this in one day.. it just wasn't my cup of tea. I read it in one day as a break from the typical challenging books I choose.
I enjoy reading many series, but I always read the books in order. This is the second book in the Santa Crew series, so it was clear from the outset that I was at a disadvantage, having not read the first book.
While the author recaps the first book in the first chapter of this book...it was so much information named into this sort narrative it put me off to start.
The plot was contrived with not much payoff with its ending. The moralistic wrapup was almost too much for me.
I appreciated the author's restraint... no bad language or graphic sex scenes. With four main characters, the construction of the novel was confusing as it would jump from one woman to another without any obvious transition.
Don't misunderstand me, I didn't hate this book. I never finish a book I don't enjoy reading at some level, and I breezed through this in one day.. it just wasn't my cup of tea. I read it in one day as a break from the typical challenging books I choose.
November 4, 2024
***I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.***
If you are looking for an easy, breezy minimal plot line of a book that checks the wintry/holiday vibes, this one may be for you.
For me, too much but not enough was going on. As a result, I felt like there were too many characters that were underdeveloped. Like what did Rachael do for work now that she sold her studio? How could Giovanni pay that much money to charter a jet? How did Amy let Stanford know her decision and did she even talk to Peter about it? At one point, the author threw in a childhood story about Amy getting ice skates that seemed completely irrelevant/didn’t add to the storyline. They were all in romantic relationships that seemed immature for their ages as well. They were all dating for two years, one ended her relationship, two moved in together, and the author doesn’t really mention anything about where the other one (Nina and Richard) was going. It just left me feeling like there was more to be desired. The climax was Frankie falling over in snowshoes and spraining her ankle. Lol. Give us more of Troy! It kind of ruined him for me that he was Jane’s ex. I was hoping maybe Rachael would end up with him.
Also, why is the book called, “Santa & Company”? Santa was not mentioned once that I can remember. There was definitely room to develop the setting a little more as well to illuminate holiday cheer.
If you are looking for an easy, breezy minimal plot line of a book that checks the wintry/holiday vibes, this one may be for you.
For me, too much but not enough was going on. As a result, I felt like there were too many characters that were underdeveloped. Like what did Rachael do for work now that she sold her studio? How could Giovanni pay that much money to charter a jet? How did Amy let Stanford know her decision and did she even talk to Peter about it? At one point, the author threw in a childhood story about Amy getting ice skates that seemed completely irrelevant/didn’t add to the storyline. They were all in romantic relationships that seemed immature for their ages as well. They were all dating for two years, one ended her relationship, two moved in together, and the author doesn’t really mention anything about where the other one (Nina and Richard) was going. It just left me feeling like there was more to be desired. The climax was Frankie falling over in snowshoes and spraining her ankle. Lol. Give us more of Troy! It kind of ruined him for me that he was Jane’s ex. I was hoping maybe Rachael would end up with him.
Also, why is the book called, “Santa & Company”? Santa was not mentioned once that I can remember. There was definitely room to develop the setting a little more as well to illuminate holiday cheer.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 24, 2023
I wanted to like this book as I am a sucker for Christmas novels. I just couldn’t get into it. There were so many details that reading it became confusing. Those details didn’t add to the story and didn’t develop the characters. It required a lot of concentration to figure out what was fluff and what was important to the story. The friends don’t leave for Lake Tahoe until you’re already 25% into the book. The big climax of Frankie getting lost was over as quickly as it started. There was a missed opportunity to really give the novel some substance here.
December 4, 2023
I received an Advance Reader's Edition through a Goodreads giveaway.
I like a good ending. And this book has that. Things wrap up nicely. (Pun intended. Since this is a "Christmas" book.)
I thought the storyline was scattered. I found it difficult at times to focus on the narrative because of the jumping around from character to character. It's a short book, with four main characters. So, I guess the jumps were inevitable. But it was just too choppy for me to rate above a three.
I like a good ending. And this book has that. Things wrap up nicely. (Pun intended. Since this is a "Christmas" book.)
I thought the storyline was scattered. I found it difficult at times to focus on the narrative because of the jumping around from character to character. It's a short book, with four main characters. So, I guess the jumps were inevitable. But it was just too choppy for me to rate above a three.
December 22, 2023
Not as good as first book
This is a really dull book that should never have been published. Unlikable characters, no plot and a dragging style make this a don't bother to read book.
This is a really dull book that should never have been published. Unlikable characters, no plot and a dragging style make this a don't bother to read book.
October 26, 2023
It never Got off the ground. I read 60 pp. Then the epilogue. Quit.
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