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Santa's Crew #3
Santa's Secret
Fern Michaels’ sparkling Christmas novels have become a holiday tradition in their own right, and fans will love the chance to spend the holidays in Italy with four high school friends and their loved ones in a tale perfect for those who love Mary Kay Andrews, Debbie Macomber, and RaeAnne Thayne. Christmas is filled with beloved and long-kept traditions, but sometimes, there’s nothing better than creating brand-new ones. That’s why Francesca and her high school friends Amy, Rachael, and Nina are traveling to Italy to spend the holidays with Frankie’s boyfriend, Giovanni, and his family. Giovanni and his brother, Marco, run a small Italian restaurant in Manhattan, where cherished family recipes delight tourists and locals alike. But there’s one recipe that eludes the brothers. Their mama refuses to divulge the special ingredient in her coveted panettone, claiming it is “Santa’s secret.” While Frankie joins Giovanni and Marco in the kitchen, hoping to uncover the mystery of Mrs. Lombardi’s mouthwatering panettone, Amy, Nina, and Rachael are on their own quests. Amy wants to see the statue of David in Florence, Nina needs career inspiration, and Rachael longs to meet some eligible Italian men. Can one trip provide the answers everyone seeks? With a stunning Italian backdrop and a sprinkling of holiday magic in the mix, there may be all kinds of sweet surprises in store…
304 pages, Hardcover
Published September 24, 2024
528 people are currently reading
22928 people want to read
About the author
Fern Michaels
427 books6,541 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 221 reviews
October 31, 2024
If you’re in the mood for a light, funny, and airy women's fiction book, set mainly in Italy and taking place around the end of the year, look no further than
Santa’s Secret
by Fern Michaels. This is the third book in the Santa’s Crew series and features Frankie, Nina, Amy, Rachael and their significant others, friends, and family.
The four have been friends since high school and are now in their 30’s. They have started getting together at the end of each year. This year Frankie’s significant other, Giovanni, wants to go to Italy to see his family in Salerno, Italy. They all decide to go when Giovanni arranges for a nearby villa for the others.
The characterization is well-done, especially for a book that has so many characters. Filled with old and new traditions, friendship, laughter, family, grief, food, wonderful descriptions of Italy, secrets, and romance, this book was uplifting.
Overall, this is an entertaining and funny read. The imagery was wonderful and the story was delightful. If you love Italian food, the back of the novel has several recipes. While this can be read as a standalone book, if you plan to read the series, I recommend reading them in order as there are references in this one to events in the earlier novels.
Kensington Publishing provided a complimentary physical copy of this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date September 24, 2024.
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My 4.22 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.
The four have been friends since high school and are now in their 30’s. They have started getting together at the end of each year. This year Frankie’s significant other, Giovanni, wants to go to Italy to see his family in Salerno, Italy. They all decide to go when Giovanni arranges for a nearby villa for the others.
The characterization is well-done, especially for a book that has so many characters. Filled with old and new traditions, friendship, laughter, family, grief, food, wonderful descriptions of Italy, secrets, and romance, this book was uplifting.
Overall, this is an entertaining and funny read. The imagery was wonderful and the story was delightful. If you love Italian food, the back of the novel has several recipes. While this can be read as a standalone book, if you plan to read the series, I recommend reading them in order as there are references in this one to events in the earlier novels.
Kensington Publishing provided a complimentary physical copy of this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date September 24, 2024.
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My 4.22 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.
January 31, 2025
This is a well-written, entertaining, contemporary fiction, holiday novel. It has likable and engaging, intelligent and successful female protagonists, a touch of humor, a bit of romance, vividly described settings, adventure, culinary delights, and the wonderful bond between friends. The recipes provided at the end of the book are a nice touch. This is the third entry in Ms. Michael's Santa's Crew series, and it can be read as a stand alone, but would be better enjoyed after reading the first two entries in the series because of the references to past events contained in this novel.
I received a gift of this lovely book as a member of Kensington Books Between the Chapters book club. This is my honest opinion.
I received a gift of this lovely book as a member of Kensington Books Between the Chapters book club. This is my honest opinion.
November 14, 2024
Santa’s Secret by Fern Michaels
Santa’s Crew series #3. Contemporary chick lit with romance. Multiple POV. Can be read as a stand-alone but better as part of the series for the relationship history.
The Christmas holidays have become a destination favorite for long time friends Francesca, Amy, Rachel, and Nina. In this third installment, the women and their important others travel to Italy for the holiday. Each has their own goal, but together they have created a tradition they can treasure: friendship.
Charming and filled with touches of Italy for the armchair traveler. These women are doing a great job of living their best lives.
Santa’s Crew series #3. Contemporary chick lit with romance. Multiple POV. Can be read as a stand-alone but better as part of the series for the relationship history.
The Christmas holidays have become a destination favorite for long time friends Francesca, Amy, Rachel, and Nina. In this third installment, the women and their important others travel to Italy for the holiday. Each has their own goal, but together they have created a tradition they can treasure: friendship.
Charming and filled with touches of Italy for the armchair traveler. These women are doing a great job of living their best lives.
October 21, 2024
Bottom line is that I just cannot do most romance novels. This one is way to corny for me. I apologize to the millions of you that love these novels. I do understand that it is a huge and very popular market.
It's supposed to be about Christmas, right? But it's not really, so that makes little sense. Another part of the turnoff in this particular book for me was the frequent dialog in Italian. Very annoying and I have no idea what's being said, although sometimes it is explained. I'm just a dumb guy that only understands English.
The story meant nothing to me. Now that I'm done with it, I have noticed that there are a fair number of negative reviews out there. I disliked it so much that I cannot take the time to write a well thought out review.
A very reluctant three stars - I'm torn between two and three stars because she is a very popular author with a tremendous following but because of the fact that I had no use for this novel I didn't think I was being fair giving it two stars.
Thanks to Kensington Books for the free copy of this book to read and review.
It's supposed to be about Christmas, right? But it's not really, so that makes little sense. Another part of the turnoff in this particular book for me was the frequent dialog in Italian. Very annoying and I have no idea what's being said, although sometimes it is explained. I'm just a dumb guy that only understands English.
The story meant nothing to me. Now that I'm done with it, I have noticed that there are a fair number of negative reviews out there. I disliked it so much that I cannot take the time to write a well thought out review.
A very reluctant three stars - I'm torn between two and three stars because she is a very popular author with a tremendous following but because of the fact that I had no use for this novel I didn't think I was being fair giving it two stars.
Thanks to Kensington Books for the free copy of this book to read and review.
August 17, 2024
Francesca is excited about her upcoming vacation with her friends. Her friends are all interested in going to Italy for many reasons. I liked this book and can't wait to read her next one.
August 30, 2024
I’ve read quite a few of Fern Michaels’ books and have always enjoyed the antics of many a character in those books. Santa’s Secret was a little bit different from what I expected, though. Yes there were some crazy adventures going on with each of the couples, but I had a hard time gathering them all coherently into the story as Christmas was approaching. And I kept waiting for the ‘secret’ that was implied in the title. I won’t give a spoiler alert, but it didn’t come until the very end of the book, and it was a bit of a let down for me. I do appreciate NetGalley for the advance copy of this book, in return for my honest review.
November 22, 2024
This book was full of “tell-don’t show,” unrealism, expensive gifts, and a complete lack of conflict. Basically, 300+ pages of boredom with no real plot, no exciting action, no conflict, and a lot of telling, which made it all worse.
October 13, 2024
Maybe at some point in her writing career Fern Michaels wrote good books and amassed a fan base. That’s the only reason I can think of for why a book I thought was profoundly bad has as good of reviews as Santa’s Secret does. Apparently the four women at the center of the story (loosely speaking) have been the focus of at least one other book written by Michaels. The only evidence of this in the book itself is reference to events where no explanation is provided. There’s no plot to the story. According to the synopsis it’s supposed to be the four women getting together in Italy for a vacation after Christmas, but this takes up less than a third of the book. A disproportionally large part of the story is Frankie and Giovanni celebrating Christmas with his family in Italy. Then it shifts to what Nina, Amy and Rachael are doing before getting together, and Frankie disappears entirely. The fact that Michaels starts tacking “a’s” onto the end of Giovanni’s words and makes Amy an absent minded professor are both cliche and kind of offensive. Meanwhile Rachael and her travel partner spend the entire part of their part bickering, and Richard, Nina’s significant other spends a decent amount of their time being a jealous jerk because she wants to spend time with an old friend that’s a man. Because he’s being a jerk Nina doesn’t bother to tell him that Jordan’s gay. None of these relationships move forward in any way. The story isn’t even saved by its scenic setting because Michaels spends more time spouting off factoids than engrossing the reader in the environment itself. A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
December 24, 2024
I received this book from Kensington Books for my honest review, thank you for the opportunity. While this read had some enjoyable moments, overall, it fell short for me.
The plot was very blunt and lacked any complexity, which made the story feel too predictable. Additionally, the narrative was incredibly redundant, with the author repeating the same points multiple times, this made the book feel stretched unnecessarily.
On the brighter side, the characters were somewhat enjoyable, and I appreciated the inclusion of Italian family traditions, which added some charm. However, those details weren’t enough to really wow me or make up for the lackluster storytelling.
A decent read if you’re in the mood for something light and festive, but don’t expect anything too memorable.
The plot was very blunt and lacked any complexity, which made the story feel too predictable. Additionally, the narrative was incredibly redundant, with the author repeating the same points multiple times, this made the book feel stretched unnecessarily.
On the brighter side, the characters were somewhat enjoyable, and I appreciated the inclusion of Italian family traditions, which added some charm. However, those details weren’t enough to really wow me or make up for the lackluster storytelling.
A decent read if you’re in the mood for something light and festive, but don’t expect anything too memorable.
December 6, 2024
I feel like nothing happened in this book. There was no plot, really no conflict, and I was not attached to the characters or their friendship at all. I actually found it a bit confusing keeping track of who was who with so many names. All in all not for me
September 20, 2024
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
October 21, 2024
Thank you Kensington and Between the Chapters for the gifted book.
SANTA’S SECRET is the third installment in Fern Michaels’ Santa’s Crew series. Having read all three, I believe the series has now run its course for me. I enjoyed Book Two the most. This one was quite disappointing overall. Being very light on plot and with lacking character development, it was difficult to stay engaged. The writing relied heavily on stereotypes. I found the addition of ‘a’ on the end of many words for a character that’s Italian to convey his accent to be offensive, though I believe this was meant to be a lighthearted “Haha, he has a funny accent” as it’s actually brought up between the characters once. There was a lot of description of Italy that felt like it was right out of a travel guide. I kept waiting for something big to happen and then when ‘Santa’s Secret’ was finally revealed, it was underwhelming. I did enjoy the characters of Giovanni and Marco’s family. In the end, SANTA’S SECRET fell flat for me.
SANTA’S SECRET is the third installment in Fern Michaels’ Santa’s Crew series. Having read all three, I believe the series has now run its course for me. I enjoyed Book Two the most. This one was quite disappointing overall. Being very light on plot and with lacking character development, it was difficult to stay engaged. The writing relied heavily on stereotypes. I found the addition of ‘a’ on the end of many words for a character that’s Italian to convey his accent to be offensive, though I believe this was meant to be a lighthearted “Haha, he has a funny accent” as it’s actually brought up between the characters once. There was a lot of description of Italy that felt like it was right out of a travel guide. I kept waiting for something big to happen and then when ‘Santa’s Secret’ was finally revealed, it was underwhelming. I did enjoy the characters of Giovanni and Marco’s family. In the end, SANTA’S SECRET fell flat for me.
October 26, 2024
It’s a Christmas trip to Italy for Frankie and her high school friends, along with Frankie’s boyfriend Giovanni and his family, to visit with Giovanni’s mother and aunt. The novel starts out slowly, with little happening except for a lot of chatter and trip planning. Things pick up when the group gets to Italy. There are some madcap adventures, makeovers for the elderly women, and lost luggage. It’s not a great tale, but does have some entertaining moments. And yes, Santa does have a secret. It’s a light and quick read, with nothing to offend, and with a few sweet surprises.
July 27, 2024
i've yet to read book 1 or 2 ...this was a Goodreads giveaway. comes out September 24, 2024. holiday romance. (kindle store & books). women's friendship fiction. i was super lucky to have won. i love reading author i have read in the past. so fun!! i love holiday reads. i love family traditions, they keep the memories, folks you wish to honor, past times, fun, jokes, laughter, it just keeps it alive and way awesome!! love it!! fun book cover.
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Santa Cruise (book 1)
September 28, 2021
single women fiction. women's friendship fiction. women's domestic life fiction.
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Santa & Company (book 2)
"Santa's Crew" series.
came out September 2023.
women's friendship fiction. contemporary women's fiction. contemporary women fiction.
----
Santa Cruise (book 1)
September 28, 2021
single women fiction. women's friendship fiction. women's domestic life fiction.
------
Santa & Company (book 2)
"Santa's Crew" series.
came out September 2023.
women's friendship fiction. contemporary women's fiction. contemporary women fiction.
August 19, 2024
What a delightful romp through the Italian countryside with four friends, their boy friends and a few other key characters.
I'm not sure if these characters show up in other books, but I thought they were well fleshed out and I could keep everyone straight. (I hate it when I can't remember who is who or what the relationship is!) I loved the descriptions of the Italian locations and the food - oh! the food!
There is a satisfying conclusion yet it leaves you hoping there will be another story. The big secret is a recipe for Pannetone - Italian Christmas fruit bread. There are several traditional recipes at the end of the book.
I received this book as part of a Goodreads giveaway - so tickled that I was chosen! #SantasCrew
I'm not sure if these characters show up in other books, but I thought they were well fleshed out and I could keep everyone straight. (I hate it when I can't remember who is who or what the relationship is!) I loved the descriptions of the Italian locations and the food - oh! the food!
There is a satisfying conclusion yet it leaves you hoping there will be another story. The big secret is a recipe for Pannetone - Italian Christmas fruit bread. There are several traditional recipes at the end of the book.
I received this book as part of a Goodreads giveaway - so tickled that I was chosen! #SantasCrew
November 10, 2024
I received Santa’s Secret as a giveaway from Kensington Publishing – thank you!
Four friends plan their annual adventure for the holidays. Frankie wants to go to Italy – her significant other is going to spend time with family. She convinces the others to join them. They have a place to stay – they just need to get there. Through a series of side trips and incidents, they all meet up for a few days of fun and adventure.
When I won this, I did not realize that it was book #3 in a series. I would recommend reading the others first. I felt like I was missing a piece of the story, but made my way through it.
Four friends plan their annual adventure for the holidays. Frankie wants to go to Italy – her significant other is going to spend time with family. She convinces the others to join them. They have a place to stay – they just need to get there. Through a series of side trips and incidents, they all meet up for a few days of fun and adventure.
When I won this, I did not realize that it was book #3 in a series. I would recommend reading the others first. I felt like I was missing a piece of the story, but made my way through it.
November 16, 2024
"Vivere, ridere, amare!"
Lovely, cozy fiction about a group of friends and their lovely time in Italy around Christmas to New Years. There were many different POVs from all the characters so it was entertaining from chapter to chapter to read about their own adventures. Amy was hysterical, maybe it is the scientist in me that makes me relate to her. I would love to go to abroad and venture around like them, sightseeing, eating plenty of food, but I would skip the shopping because I don't do fashion.
The book came with recipes in the back and I cannot wait to try them out!
Thank you to Kensington, between the chapters and Fern Michaels for the copy of Santa's Secret.
Lovely, cozy fiction about a group of friends and their lovely time in Italy around Christmas to New Years. There were many different POVs from all the characters so it was entertaining from chapter to chapter to read about their own adventures. Amy was hysterical, maybe it is the scientist in me that makes me relate to her. I would love to go to abroad and venture around like them, sightseeing, eating plenty of food, but I would skip the shopping because I don't do fashion.
The book came with recipes in the back and I cannot wait to try them out!
Thank you to Kensington, between the chapters and Fern Michaels for the copy of Santa's Secret.
December 6, 2024
Although I have read a large portion of Fern Michaels' books I was a little let down by this one. It didn't really catch my attention so much and a disproportionally large part of the story is Frankie and Giovanni celebrating Christmas with his family in Italy. Then it shifts to what Nina, Amy and Rachael are doing before getting together, and Frankie disappears entirely. The secret that is referenced in the title is found out in the last minute of the book and a little bit of a let down. I appreciate the opportunity to review and rate this book.
June 4, 2025
There was a lot of extra fluff in this story - a lot of the "couples" travel stories could have been left out and it would have been just as good. The life of this series is when the ladies and their companions are all together, making mischief and having fun! I especially loved when the girls took Giovanni's Mom and Aunt out shopping and then did makeovers at home. Looking forward to the next story! 7 out of 10.
November 15, 2024
I received this book free from a giveaway (thank you!) and wanted to love it so much. Unfortunately the writing style was too confusing and frantic to start and not enough description as it progressed - again just my personal preferences. It had a super fun part towards the end which I did enjoy:)
January 7, 2025
A very cute Christmas book with great writing. I enjoyed reading about all the Italian culture and geography. It made me want to go back to Italy! Bravo!
October 5, 2024
Great book for the holidays by a
fun author 😄
fun author 😄
November 3, 2024
The cover of Ms. Michael’s book is beautiful and certainly makes it look like there is a Christmas story here. Instead, the book reminds me more of a travel book. There are a myriad of facts about Italy and places there both past and present. A few descriptions placed appropriately while the characters are sightseeing would provide interest, but there’s just too much and not a strong plot in the book.
As far as the characters, I thought there would be more interaction among these long time friends. Instead, Frankie,Nina, Amy, and Rachel go their separate ways with their significant others for parts of the story. This seemed to be a way of giving the reader more travel information of what to do and see in Italy. I was expecting the ladies to have an adventure together. While all the characters were together at the end, I didn’t find the conclusion to be very realistic or satisfying.
I thank Kensington Publishing Company for my copy of SANTA’S SECRET. #Betweenthechapters
As far as the characters, I thought there would be more interaction among these long time friends. Instead, Frankie,Nina, Amy, and Rachel go their separate ways with their significant others for parts of the story. This seemed to be a way of giving the reader more travel information of what to do and see in Italy. I was expecting the ladies to have an adventure together. While all the characters were together at the end, I didn’t find the conclusion to be very realistic or satisfying.
I thank Kensington Publishing Company for my copy of SANTA’S SECRET. #Betweenthechapters
December 17, 2024
Should of left this book in the shelf unread! So boring! No real story! Waste of time.
October 14, 2024
Fern Michaels has done it again with Santa’s Secret, the third instalment in her charming “Santa Crew” series. This festive novel takes us on a delightful holiday escape, following Francesca (Frankie) and her lifelong friends Amy, Rachael, and Nina as they embark on an adventure to Italy, each in search of something special. Although it’s part of a series, you can easily enjoy this book as a standalone, though long-time readers will savour the return of these well-loved characters.
What I enjoyed most about this book was the sense of place and food. Italy during the Christmas and New Year’s period is beautifully brought to life through vivid descriptions of the Italian countryside, bustling cities, and, of course, its delectable cuisine. Giovanni and Marco, Frankie’s boyfriend and his brother, run a small Italian restaurant in Manhattan, but it’s their mother’s elusive panettone recipe that adds an extra layer of mystery and fun. I found myself just as eager as the characters to uncover ‘Santa’s secret’ ingredient. The joy of family recipes, particularly around the holidays, was captured so warmly.
Each of the four women has her own personal journey, and I appreciated how their individual pursuits—whether Amy’s quest to see Florence’s famed David or Rachael’s search for romance—added a fresh, layered dynamic to the story. I could easily picture myself travelling alongside them, experiencing the unique charm of Italy. Their stories, both heart-warming and humorous, blend into the fabric of the book seamlessly. The mishaps that occur, from misunderstandings to amusing adventures, lend a light-hearted tone that makes this book all the more enjoyable.
One of the book’s most touching themes was Frankie’s determination to help Giovanni’s mother and aunt. Both widows, they’ve been living more in memory than in the present, and Frankie, with her typical generosity, brings them back to life in a way that’s both thoughtful and transformative. The whirlwind shopping tour in their Italian village was a particular highlight, filled with moments of warmth and camaraderie.
The Narration:
I listened to the audiobook version of Santa’s Secret, narrated by Susan Bennett, who also brought the earlier books in the series to life. I was thrilled to hear her voice again in this instalment, as her narration truly enhances the experience. Her pacing is impeccable, and she delivers the story with warmth and enthusiasm, making each character feel distinct and vibrant. Bennett’s tone captures the heart of the story perfectly, adding depth to both the humorous and heartfelt moments. I highly recommend the audiobook for anyone looking to be immersed in the magic of this festive tale.
4.5 stars (rounded up to 5).
What I enjoyed most about this book was the sense of place and food. Italy during the Christmas and New Year’s period is beautifully brought to life through vivid descriptions of the Italian countryside, bustling cities, and, of course, its delectable cuisine. Giovanni and Marco, Frankie’s boyfriend and his brother, run a small Italian restaurant in Manhattan, but it’s their mother’s elusive panettone recipe that adds an extra layer of mystery and fun. I found myself just as eager as the characters to uncover ‘Santa’s secret’ ingredient. The joy of family recipes, particularly around the holidays, was captured so warmly.
Each of the four women has her own personal journey, and I appreciated how their individual pursuits—whether Amy’s quest to see Florence’s famed David or Rachael’s search for romance—added a fresh, layered dynamic to the story. I could easily picture myself travelling alongside them, experiencing the unique charm of Italy. Their stories, both heart-warming and humorous, blend into the fabric of the book seamlessly. The mishaps that occur, from misunderstandings to amusing adventures, lend a light-hearted tone that makes this book all the more enjoyable.
One of the book’s most touching themes was Frankie’s determination to help Giovanni’s mother and aunt. Both widows, they’ve been living more in memory than in the present, and Frankie, with her typical generosity, brings them back to life in a way that’s both thoughtful and transformative. The whirlwind shopping tour in their Italian village was a particular highlight, filled with moments of warmth and camaraderie.
The Narration:
I listened to the audiobook version of Santa’s Secret, narrated by Susan Bennett, who also brought the earlier books in the series to life. I was thrilled to hear her voice again in this instalment, as her narration truly enhances the experience. Her pacing is impeccable, and she delivers the story with warmth and enthusiasm, making each character feel distinct and vibrant. Bennett’s tone captures the heart of the story perfectly, adding depth to both the humorous and heartfelt moments. I highly recommend the audiobook for anyone looking to be immersed in the magic of this festive tale.
4.5 stars (rounded up to 5).
October 26, 2024
Thanks to Kensington Books for the free copy of this book.
When I received a copy of Santa's Secret, the first thing I thought of was that it is well outside my genre of reading and the publisher must have sent this to me by mistake. And then I opened the book and looked at the list of Holiday Novels and thinking that I just stepped into the world of the six months of Christmas on the Hallmark Channel (as an aside, at least two of her books are on the Hallmark movie list including Christmas in Montana and Unlocking Christmas). But I am open to reading anything, so onwards to page 1.
Reading some of the other reviews, the four friends (Amy, Rachel, Nina, and Frankie) have obviously had some other holiday reunion adventures in previous books. But the newcomer reader (me) had no issues getting the flavor of the characters and their roles in the play. Every year, they meet in a new location, and for this book, the latest destination is to be determined until Frankie's boyfriend, Giovanni, invites the crew and partners, as well as her parents, to visit the ancestral family home along the Italian Amalfi coast for the holidays. With the added lure of free lodging, the crew makes their plans to visit - each with an earlier separate excursion to a place of interest in Europe before meeting at Giovanni's homeland.
Lots of beautiful scenery, lots of delicious sounding food, some disappointing detours for a couple of characters, and the renewal of Giovanni's mother and aunt (the resident hosts), and it makes for another Made for Hallmark book. That's not a knock, as the story moves along well, gives each main character their time in the sun, and has a unique setting for the final party scene.
BTW - we find out by the end that the title refers to panettone - that heaven sent loaf of deliciousness - and the family's traditional recipe held secret by Giovanni's mother Rosavita.
When I received a copy of Santa's Secret, the first thing I thought of was that it is well outside my genre of reading and the publisher must have sent this to me by mistake. And then I opened the book and looked at the list of Holiday Novels and thinking that I just stepped into the world of the six months of Christmas on the Hallmark Channel (as an aside, at least two of her books are on the Hallmark movie list including Christmas in Montana and Unlocking Christmas). But I am open to reading anything, so onwards to page 1.
Reading some of the other reviews, the four friends (Amy, Rachel, Nina, and Frankie) have obviously had some other holiday reunion adventures in previous books. But the newcomer reader (me) had no issues getting the flavor of the characters and their roles in the play. Every year, they meet in a new location, and for this book, the latest destination is to be determined until Frankie's boyfriend, Giovanni, invites the crew and partners, as well as her parents, to visit the ancestral family home along the Italian Amalfi coast for the holidays. With the added lure of free lodging, the crew makes their plans to visit - each with an earlier separate excursion to a place of interest in Europe before meeting at Giovanni's homeland.
Lots of beautiful scenery, lots of delicious sounding food, some disappointing detours for a couple of characters, and the renewal of Giovanni's mother and aunt (the resident hosts), and it makes for another Made for Hallmark book. That's not a knock, as the story moves along well, gives each main character their time in the sun, and has a unique setting for the final party scene.
BTW - we find out by the end that the title refers to panettone - that heaven sent loaf of deliciousness - and the family's traditional recipe held secret by Giovanni's mother Rosavita.
September 24, 2024
Santa's Secret is the third book in the Santa's Crew series by author Fern Michaels. In this latest addition to the series, Frankie and her friends (Amy, Nina, and Rachel) decide to travel to Italy for their annual Christmas getaway with their families.
Giovanni and Marco are brothers running a small Italian restaurant that's been in their family for three generations. Located in Manhattan, their family recipes are always a hit with the locals as well as the tourists. They know every family recipe by heart, except for one... their mama's panettone recipe that contains a secret ingredient. This year, they have decided to close the restaurant for Christmas thru the New Year and are looking forward to visiting their family in Italy. In addition to seeing their family, they are also hoping to finally learn what the secret ingredient is!
I have decided not to give away too many details about the story, but I will say that I did enjoy reading it. The story that unfolds is full of the sights and tastes of Italy, as well as the wonderful bond between family and friends. As in real life, there are some mishaps during the trip, but everything works out in the end. I love following the different journeys each character has while traveling throughout Italy.
Overall, this was a wonderful story about love, family and friendship. Although the story takes place during the holiday season, I didn't find it to be the typical Christmas themed story, and I felt a bit let down by that. With that being said, it was still a great story.
I won an ARC of Santa's Secret on Goodreads. My views are my own and are in no way influenced by anyone else.
Giovanni and Marco are brothers running a small Italian restaurant that's been in their family for three generations. Located in Manhattan, their family recipes are always a hit with the locals as well as the tourists. They know every family recipe by heart, except for one... their mama's panettone recipe that contains a secret ingredient. This year, they have decided to close the restaurant for Christmas thru the New Year and are looking forward to visiting their family in Italy. In addition to seeing their family, they are also hoping to finally learn what the secret ingredient is!
I have decided not to give away too many details about the story, but I will say that I did enjoy reading it. The story that unfolds is full of the sights and tastes of Italy, as well as the wonderful bond between family and friends. As in real life, there are some mishaps during the trip, but everything works out in the end. I love following the different journeys each character has while traveling throughout Italy.
Overall, this was a wonderful story about love, family and friendship. Although the story takes place during the holiday season, I didn't find it to be the typical Christmas themed story, and I felt a bit let down by that. With that being said, it was still a great story.
I won an ARC of Santa's Secret on Goodreads. My views are my own and are in no way influenced by anyone else.
December 30, 2024
Reconnecting with high school friends at Christmas can be difficult with all of the family obligations, but Frankie comes up with a plan to combine both. Besides inviting her parents to spend Christmas in Italy with her boyfriend Giovanni's family, Frankie reaches out to her old friends Amy, Rachael, and Nina. Giovanni and his brother, Marco, have an extra reason to want to travel home for the holiday. Will they be able to uncover the secret to Mama's panettone, so that they may serve it in their Italian restaurant in Manhattan? Amy, Nina, and Rachael have their own reasons for going on the trip. Will all of their Christmas wishes be granted?
Having read the prior novel, I knew what to expect with Santa's Secret. The characters had an adventure and there was a little bit of romance sprinkled within the pages. The biggest issues that I had was that the book had no depth and the characters were not relatable to many readers. Most people I know would not spend hundreds of dollars on a scarf and gloves, or go to an expensive store for an article of clothing as a host gift. I enjoyed the hunt for the secret recipe more than anything else in the novel.
Santa's Secret is not a novel I would recommend, though I have liked other books by the author in the past. The book is fast paced and short, with characters to which I feel no connection.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of Santa's Secret through a publisher giveaway. The decision to review this book was entirely my own.
Having read the prior novel, I knew what to expect with Santa's Secret. The characters had an adventure and there was a little bit of romance sprinkled within the pages. The biggest issues that I had was that the book had no depth and the characters were not relatable to many readers. Most people I know would not spend hundreds of dollars on a scarf and gloves, or go to an expensive store for an article of clothing as a host gift. I enjoyed the hunt for the secret recipe more than anything else in the novel.
Santa's Secret is not a novel I would recommend, though I have liked other books by the author in the past. The book is fast paced and short, with characters to which I feel no connection.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of Santa's Secret through a publisher giveaway. The decision to review this book was entirely my own.
November 12, 2025
I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway.
Frankie, Amy, Nina, and Racheal are four friends that reconnect at a high school reunion and begin to have annual trips to celebrate their friendship. These trips have occurred in past books in the series I have not read but this book also operates as a standalone.
This year, Frankie’s boyfriend Giovanni invites Frankie to Italy for Christmas and she uses that invitation as inspiration for the location of this year’s girls’ trip. The girls will all converge at Giovanni’s family villa and celebrate New Year’s Eve.
Despite the title, the book is not particularly Christmasy, aside from the very beginning of the novel, and Santa’s secret is underwhelming. However it serves as more of a travelogue of Italy’s famed sights and experiences which created some fun moments and imparted interesting facts.
The biggest issue I have is the dated language and ideas that were almost clanging like wrong music notes throughout the novel. Although the book refers to present day and recent events such as the pandemic and the women are described as not quite 40 years old, there is a disconnect between the language they use.
Some examples:
slacks
toots and dearie (as terms of endearment)
hiney
Bossy Pants
floozy
I could go on-but you probably get the idea. I felt like I was trapped in a novel meant to depict 1950s grandmothers instead of modern women.
I appreciate the giveaway win but was looking for more of a modern Christmas romance and this wasn’t quite it.
Frankie, Amy, Nina, and Racheal are four friends that reconnect at a high school reunion and begin to have annual trips to celebrate their friendship. These trips have occurred in past books in the series I have not read but this book also operates as a standalone.
This year, Frankie’s boyfriend Giovanni invites Frankie to Italy for Christmas and she uses that invitation as inspiration for the location of this year’s girls’ trip. The girls will all converge at Giovanni’s family villa and celebrate New Year’s Eve.
Despite the title, the book is not particularly Christmasy, aside from the very beginning of the novel, and Santa’s secret is underwhelming. However it serves as more of a travelogue of Italy’s famed sights and experiences which created some fun moments and imparted interesting facts.
The biggest issue I have is the dated language and ideas that were almost clanging like wrong music notes throughout the novel. Although the book refers to present day and recent events such as the pandemic and the women are described as not quite 40 years old, there is a disconnect between the language they use.
Some examples:
slacks
toots and dearie (as terms of endearment)
hiney
Bossy Pants
floozy
I could go on-but you probably get the idea. I felt like I was trapped in a novel meant to depict 1950s grandmothers instead of modern women.
I appreciate the giveaway win but was looking for more of a modern Christmas romance and this wasn’t quite it.
December 13, 2024
This is the third book in the Santa's Crew series, but it can be read and enjoyed as a standalone. Frankie and her three high school friends; Amy, Rachael, and Nina; have begun a tradition of spending New Year's Eve together. This year, Frankie is planning to spend Christmas in Italy with her significant other, Giovanni Lombardi. He and his brother, Marco, own an Italian restaurant in Manhattan and they are going to close it for ten days at Christmas so they can visit their relatives in Italy. One of the things they hope to accomplish on this trip is to get their mother's recipe for her coveted Panettone. She claims it is "Santa's secret."
Frankie suggests to her gal pals that Italy would be the perfect place for their New Year's rendezvous. Everyone is on board and plans are made for everyone to meet a few days before New Year's Eve. Frankie's friends each bring a friend or significant other and have a quest of their own that they hope to accomplish while on the trip.
In addition to being a romance, this book reads like a travelogue, and I enjoyed traveling vicariously with all of the characters as they took side trips on their way to the New Year's destination. I've never been to Italy, but I got to see it through the eyes of Frankie and Giovanni's family and friends in this book. This was a delightful holiday book.
Thank you to Kensington Publishing for the gift of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Frankie suggests to her gal pals that Italy would be the perfect place for their New Year's rendezvous. Everyone is on board and plans are made for everyone to meet a few days before New Year's Eve. Frankie's friends each bring a friend or significant other and have a quest of their own that they hope to accomplish while on the trip.
In addition to being a romance, this book reads like a travelogue, and I enjoyed traveling vicariously with all of the characters as they took side trips on their way to the New Year's destination. I've never been to Italy, but I got to see it through the eyes of Frankie and Giovanni's family and friends in this book. This was a delightful holiday book.
Thank you to Kensington Publishing for the gift of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
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