A Date with Santa

by Debbie Macomber

Romance blooms when an unlikely couple plans to surprise a child in need of some Christmas magic in this sparkling holiday romance from #1 New York Times bestselling author Debbie Macomber.

For single career woman Clare Madison, Christmas means pre-made cookies and artificial trees. But when her sister needs her help, Clare volunteers to care for her six-year-old nephew, Ricky.

Determined to give Ricky a memorable Christmas, Clare enlists help from her best friend Erica, who loves kids, and her colleague Ethan, who agrees to dress up as Santa . . . if Clare goes on a date with him.

As Clare navigates the challenges of caring for her nephew and the prospect of romance with Ethan, she begins to discover the true magic of the holiday season. Ethan's bond with Ricky and his kindness towards Clare bring unexpected joy and new adventures—filled with ice skating, baking, and a sense of fulfillment she never expected.

But when her old life threatens to interfere with the festivities, Clare must decide what she truly wants before the season’s magic slips away.

Genres: Christmas, Romance, Holiday, Fiction, Chick Lit, Clean Romance, Contemporary

256 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication October 13, 2026

About the author

Debbie Macomber is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and one of today’s most popular writers with more than 200 million copies of her books in print worldwide. In her novels, Macomber brings to life compelling relationships that embrace family and enduring friendships, uplifting her readers with stories of connection and hope. Macomber’s novels have spent over 1,000 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. Fifteen of these novels hit the number one spot.

In 2023, Macomber’s all-new hardcover publication includes Must Love Flowers (July). In addition to fiction, Macomber has also published three bestselling cookbooks, three adult coloring books, numerous inspirational and nonfiction works, and two acclaimed children’s books.

Celebrated as “the official storyteller of Christmas”, Macomber’s annual Christmas books are beloved and six have been crafted into original Hallmark Channel movies. Macomber is also the author of the bestselling Cedar Cove Series which the Hallmark Channel chose as the basis for its first dramatic scripted television series. Debuting in 2013, Debbie Macomber’s Cedar Cove was a ratings favorite for three seasons.

She serves on the Guideposts National Advisory Cabinet, is a YFC National Ambassador, and is World Vision’s international spokesperson for their Knit for Kids charity initiative. A devoted grandmother, Debbie and Wayne live in Port Orchard, Washington, the town which inspired the Cedar Cove series.

Reviews

[Natalie]

🎄🎁 Merry Christmas in July!! 🎁🎄

Debbie Macomber always brings the holiday spirit! Her Christmas books deliver every single time. I’ve read many of them at this point, and I look forward to her new Christmas book each year.

This book was absolutely CRYING to be adapted by the Hallmark Channel. The main character is a workaholic and a career woman left to care for her nephew during the month of December.

I really enjoyed this one, reading it in a single day. The nephew Ricky was really sweet and cute. I loved his funny comments (kids say the darndest things!) and I could really see the connection between Ricky and Sage deepen the more time they spent together. Sage barely knew Ricky at the start of the book and I could really see her come to care for him.

The romance was also very Hallmark-y with a business rival turned friend. Ethan wasn’t my favorite love interest ever but I liked how open he was with Sage. Sage was nursing a broken heart and was a bit jaded and he was really good to her and for her.

There were some humorous scenes and the story was very heartwarming. I liked the relationship between the sisters and of course the Christmassy elements!

Definitely one to add to your Christmas TBR!


Thank you to the publisher, Ballantine, for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[June Price]

How can anyone resist a kind, loving man who cooks? To top it off, Ethan's good with kids and has a warm, loving family, and, oh, yeah, experience at playing Santa. Seriously, I kept wanting to somehow reach into virtual land and give Sage a shake and tell her to open her eyes to what's right in front of her. Of course, the story probably wouldn't be half as good were it now for the self-made obstacles of one or the other characters in a romance, so just kick back and enjoy Sage's journey to finding balance and coming to understand what is really important in life. Having been burnt in the past, she's not only wary of being disappointed in love again but, well, she's also spent her life being a workaholic who has allowed her job goals to overshadow everything else.

Then, she's asked, well, maybe guilt tripped into watching her sister Saffron's son Ricky while her sister, who is military, is deployed to Florida to help after hurricane disaster. Needless to say, anytime being away from family is tough for a mother but, whoa, December, probably gone through Christmas. Ricky is at the age where he still believes in Santa and Sage is determined to give him the best Christmas she can, even finding the "real" Santa for his insistence that he has to have homemade cookies only to give to the real Santa while sharing his secret wish for Christmas. Enter Ethan, who has managed to fool even his own family members with his portrayal of Santa Claus. In the process, Sage slowly realizes she is actually enjoying not only Ethan's company but all the little things that make Christmas special to so many. Well, let's ignore her baking experiences. Baked shoes anyone? Seriously, that scene alone made me laugh out loud, all the more when Ricky innocently shares the experience having only sworn not to share with his mother. Kids do have a way of blurting out truths, don't they?

Bottom line, as with any good romance, just when things seem to be looking up, of course, there is a major bump in the road. In this case, the competition for promotion at work and the shenanigans of a competing co-worker. Troy, Troy, Troy, you given ambition and competition a bad, bad name. Of course, there is lots that goes on in the interval, including meeting Ethan's boisterous, loving family, Christmas tree decoration (Ricky has only disdain for the store bought/decorated one), learning to bake, cook, and then all the fun things we'd expect of a winter holiday season. This is Debbie Macomer, so you know it's going to have a happy every after ending but the fun and magic is getting there. My only "Huh?" moment as a former Floridian was the idea of hurricanes so late in year but, well, I gave that one a pass, too, figuring Mother Nature has been erratic of later. In other words, I thoroughly enjoyed meeting Sage, Ethan, and getting to know Ricky and Saffron. Thanks #BallantineBooks for the early peek at this delightful, sweet holiday romance. Honestly, as much as I enjoyed the adults, I think Ricky turned out to be my favorite character. Hey, this kid had his priorities straight.

[Sondra Arthur Garcia]

This book is filled with Christmas magic, romance, family bonding, workplace enemies, holiday festivities, and Christmas traditions. It was so much fun to read!
Sage is a workaholic who learns through taking care of her young nephew during the holidays that slowing down and being present is more important than climbing the corporate ladder. Through spending time with Ricky, Sage soon realizes how much living she has missed out on!
As for love, Sage has been hurt in the past; she has gone on a few dates with Ethan; she likes him a lot, maybe too much, and that scares her, so she has backed off using the excuse that they are co-workers, and workplace relationships are not allowed. She's also working hard for a promotion; she doesn't have time for love.
When her nephew makes a Christmas request to meet the real Santa, Sage doesn't know what to do, so Ethan kindly steps in to help. Ethan says that he needs to spend time with Ricky, to get to know him, so that Ricky will believe that he is the real Santa when they meet. That means spending time with Sage too. Sage easily falls in love with Ethan after spending quality time with him. If it weren't for Ricky, she would never had taken the time to get to know Ethan, she would have continued to push him aside and put work first, she would have missed out on a chance at love.
What I liked most about this story is the gentle reminder that work can consume our lives if we let it. And I loved that Ricky encourages Sage to make homemade cookies for Santa rather than store bought ones, and to cook food at home rather than ordering door dash every day. Sage learns to cherish those moments!
This story has me looking forward to Christmas! It's heartwarming and cheerful! A must read during the holiday season!

[Barbara Schultz]

Title: A Date with Santa
Author: Debbie Macomber
Publisher: Ballantine/Ballantine Books
Genre: Christmas Romance
Pub Date: October 26, 2026
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pages: 258

Romance blooms when an unlikely couple plans to surprise a child in need of some Christmas magic in this sparkling holiday romance.

Sage Madison has always kept Christmas simple - store-bought cookies, a fake tree, certainly no time to baby-sit. However, her widow sister Saffron (who is in the Armed Services Reserved) needs help with caring for her five-year-old son Ricky because she has been deployed to Florida to help them after a terrible hurricane disaster area. Sage’s first reaction is ‘on no!
Saffron will be gone the whole month of December and hates the thoughts of missing Christmas with her son as he still believes in Santa. She wanted it to be special as next year when he is in school, he probably will question Santa’s reality.
Normally Grandparents would be happy to help but have planned an Anniversary Cruise for December. So, Aunt Sage is the next best!
Sage is in line for a big promotion, so the timing is not good but agrees to help. Her friend Erica suggests the Daycare where she takes her daughter and is sure there is room for Ricky. So, this arrangement will work!

Sage then decides she will give Ricky a special magical Christmas as she knows he will be sad without his mom.
First on the first is - cookies for Santa. Sage happily goes to the bakery and picks expensive but beautifully decorated Christmas cookies. Only Ricky is disappointed as he wanted to give Santa homemade Christmas cookies. Next ~ on the list homemade cookiest!
However, things do not exactly work out the way Sage had hoped.
Now she is fearful that she is not going to be able to deliver a ‘Special’ Christmas.
Ricky wants to tell the ‘real’ Santa something and needs cookies as well as the real Santa not a fake.

Sage knows she needs help, so she enlists help from her assistant who is also a best friend Erica Leeman. Erica suggests office colleague Ethan Cornwell as he plays Santa for his nieces and nephews. However, Ethan is her competition for the promotion so not sure appropriate. However, when asked he agrees to play Santa. But first he wants to get to know Ricky as Ricky wants to tell the ‘real’ Santa something.

I loved watching their romance grow, however when I reached this point there were many pages to read-I knew there was going to be an obstacle!!!
In this case it is the promotion competition.

Hmmm will there be HEA?

Okay no shocking surprise!
Yes! it turned out to be a fun enjoyable read.
Great characters plus five-year-old Ricky stole my heart!

Additionally, I have a strong feeling this will be a Christmas 2027 Hallmark movie!

Want to thank NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group ~ Ballantine/Ballantine Books for this another great Debbie Macomber delightful Christmas story.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for October 13, 2026.

[Katie Mettner]

Debbie Macomber delivers another heartwarming Christmas story that reminds us what truly matters in life.

When Sage unexpectedly takes over caring for her young nephew, Ricky, for a month, she quickly discovers that balancing a demanding career and a child was as difficult as she imagined. Ricky, however, becomes the unexpected bright spot in her life, teaching her that there’s more to life than climbing the corporate ladder. She’s been so focused on work that she's forgotten about the rest of life.

Enter Ethan, a coworker she's gone out with a few times, who steps in to help with Ricky. Watching Sage and Ethan grow closer as they share Christmas traditions, holiday festivities, and the everyday moments of caring for a child is both sweet and believable. Their romance unfolds naturally, offering the cozy, full of hope feel to every page.

Of course, no workplace romance would be complete without obstacles. Sage is competing for a big promotion and her rival, Troy, isn't above using her temporary family responsibilities against her. The push pull between them creates just enough tension to keep the story moving while reinforcing the story's central message.

What I loved most about A Date with Santa is its reminder that work can consume our lives if we let it. Promotions, deadlines, and titles will always be there, but the people we love, the memories we make, and the joy of simply being present are far more important. It's a message that feels especially meaningful during the Christmas season.

If you're looking for a heartwarming holiday romance filled with family, love, Christmas magic, and a gentle reminder to slow down and cherish what matters most, A Date With Santa must be on your holiday TBR.

A Date With Santa wraps your heart in Christmas magic and reminds us that life's greatest gifts are the moments we share with the people we love.

[Ashleigh Brown]

If you are in the mood for a sweet, heartwarming, holiday romance then look no further than A Date with Santa! In true Debbie Macomber fashion, readers a given a book that proves love can overcome anything, family finds a way, and sometimes you just have to believe in miracles.

I read this story in one day. The characters and story line were compelling and the Christmas season made it a must read. I always love stories were the fun aunt who doesn't really want kids is "forced" to take on their niece or nephew for a few short weeks. In this case, Sage the workaholic fun aunt is asked to watch her nephew, Ricky, while her sister is deployed. Sage hasn't been around much and doesn't know a lot about kids. But she' about to get a crash course in kids and holiday magic.

The best part of this book was watching the bond between Ricky and Sage form. Ricky was uniquely blunt in a way that only five year olds know how to be. Sage was a mess for a part of this book, but she never gave up and listened when Ricky offered advice and helped her navigate getting to know what he needed. Their relationship was so wholesome and fun. It was magical watching it all unfold.

I also liked the romance between Sage and Ethan. In the early stages, it definitely would have been categorized as an office romance. But instead of staying there, you got to see Sage and Ethan develop a friendship. What starts as Sage asking Ethan to play Santa turns into a friendship that turns into dating. It is sweet. I couldn't help but root for Sage and Ethan throughout the story. I was going to be sad if we got to the end and they weren't together.

And in true Christmas fashion, miracles happen. The ending was icing on the cake for this perfect Christmas story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballentine for this early digital ARC. All thoughts and opinions are myh own.

[Patty Duplechin]

After she was heartbroken by the man she loves and her friend, Clare Madison decided to become a career woman. She is up for a manager position at her job , the one she worked long hours for. When her sister, who’s a single mom with a little boy who was called to duty, Clare was the only one who can take care of her son , Ricky for her. . She’ll be gone for a least a month. Now Clare isn’t use to kids but she’ll do her best for her nephew. All he wants is to talk to the real Santa’. That’s the least she can do because she’s not good a baking cooking, cooking meals or decorating for Christmas.. Where can she find someone to play Santa that will convince her nephew.?
Ethan is a co-worker with Clare and is up for the same position even though he’s the accountant there. He’s always been attracted to Clare and they’ve dated a few times but when he was offered a chance at the position, he quit dating Clare. Ethan also plays Santa for his nieces and nephews. Can he help Clare out?
He agrees but ask to spend time with Ricky and Clare. She agrees. Anything for her nephew. As they spend time together,, Ethan knows that she’s the one for him. Ethan falls hard for Clare and Ricky. All he wants is to make sure Ricky has the best Christmas. Will he do a good job as Santa for Ricky? Clare navigates around all the challenges and learning to trust Ethan. She also is finally enjoying everything Christmas. Now she knows there’s more to life than just work. The characters are great. I was rooting for Ethan and Clare. I really wanted Ricky to the best Christmas and have his mom home in time for it. Christmas miracles and Christmas magic at the best time of the year. What a wonderful story? I didn’t want to put it down. Worth the read. A feel good story. I received this book from NetGalley for my honest review. I give it voluntarily.

[Firetruckmama]

I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher, for which I thank them.

“A Date with Santa” is by Debbie Macomber. Ms. Macomber is the queen of romances and has had a number of her books made into Hallmark movies - and I can see this one joining them. This is a really sweet story about Clare Madison, a woman focused on her career, getting news that she’s up for a potential promotion - at the same time that she’s asked to care for her five-year-old nephew for the month of December. While Clare wants the promotion badly, she also knows she needs to help out her family (Sis is being called up to assist in the National Reserves and their parents are going on their trip of a lifetime). So, Clare discovers over the month how to adapt - to having a child underfoot (there’s a kitchen mishap), finding daycare (she’s lucky that someone has a recommendation), dealing with workplace issues (the other co-worker up for the promotion plays dirty), and also discovering the joy of the holiday season. I have to admit - I found five year old Ricky rather sounding too on-the-nose and too mature for his age (a five year old requests It’s a Wonderful Life and manages to stay awake for a good portion of it? Huh … ). Was the book predictable - yes, but it wasn’t that bad a ride to the conclusion. I think at the end that Clare’s outlook about life has been changed - which wasn’t a bad thing. For me, this book screams Hallmark movie - a bit too sweet for my taste, but the joy of Christmas was found in hearts. :-) For me it was a solid 3 stars, but that doesn't mean it was bad - this was a quick cozy romance read.

[Julie Barrett]

A Date with Santa by Debbie Macomber
This story starts out with Sage and she's talking to her sister Saffron about watching Ricky her son because she's been deployed to a hurricane disaster area to help them, for the whole month of December. Sage has a huge opportunity to win the companies contest and become the person to take over for the president who's leaving. She has to really dedicate herself a lot more to accomplish this, Taking care of Ricky will make it a lot more difficult as he has to be picked up from daycare at a certain time of the day just right after she leaves work. Her parents are on a cruise that they've been planning for years so they will be no help. So Ricky arrives from a plane ride from Chicago and Sage is there for him. Through thick and thin. He educates her on what is not healthy for his body, a lot of the take out food that she eats will have to be physically made like his mom does. Saffron is also able to call and talk for a few minutes at the end of her day and to say good night to Ricky. Love the small little moments they share. Ethan also works with Sage and he's out of the picture after a miscommunication while seeing one another. They pick up the relationship but she doesn't have much time unless they also take Ricky which works out great because eh has siblings that have kids his age. Love how this story evolves through the time and love the cherish the family time.
Great holiday read, has everything for a celebration, family food and laughs.
Received this review copy from Ballantine Books via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

[Pattie Tierney]

I’m usually all about gritty police procedurals, but I decided to switch things up with Debbie Macomber’s A Date with Santa for some Christmas-in-July vibes, and I’m so glad I did! I went in expecting pure Hallmark-on-the-page fluff, and while it absolutely delivers that warm, feel-good charm, it still managed to be genuinely darling.

Workaholic Sage suddenly finds herself caring for her five-year-old nephew Ricky while her sister is deployed to help with hurricane relief. Ricky’s biggest wish? To talk to the real Santa. What starts as a simple favor from coworker Ethan turns into something much sweeter as the three of them dive into holiday traditions and everyday life with a child. I loved watching Sage loosen her grip on the corporate ladder and remember there’s more to life. The romance between Sage and Ethan feels natural and believable i.e. sweet without being saccharine, and their growth together is truly heartwarming.

Yes, the names Sage and Saffron as sisters felt a tad cutesy, but I got over it quickly. The workplace promotion conflict adds just enough tension, and the resolution perfectly captures the spirit of the season. Bonus: the shoes-in-the-oven scene had me laughing out loud! Boy, have I been there!

If you’re craving a cozy, hopeful holiday read filled with family, kindness, and just the right touch of Christmas magic, A Date with Santa delivers exactly that. It left me smiling from beginning to end. Perfect fireside reading!

[Stephanie Herron]

Sage is a career woman with the potential for all her hard work to pay off. The only problem is that her sister Saffron is being deployed and her parents are going on an anniversary cruise which means she is the only one available to watch her five-year old nephew Ricky. Luckily, her assistant helps her find daycare and provides a list of foods children like. As Sage slowly discovers, her nephew is used to healthy food and making food rather than ordering from Door Dash or Uber Eats is not in her repertoire.. Sage definitely is definitely challenged in the kitchen but gets some help from Ethan, a coworker and potential rival for the management job she has been pursuing. She and Ethan briefly dated until he pulled back a bit once he was offered the chance at the promotion. While she needs help with her nephew, she isn't sure she can trust Ethan. As the days go by, Sage begins to realize there is more than just work in life. Her encounters with Ricky show her love for him growing while also learning lessons about what is important. Ethan works his way into her life and despite being somewhat jaded by a previous relationship, she realizes he is worth taking a chance on. Of course, there has to be a bad guy and that's Troy who is doing all he can to get the promotion instead of Sage. It's a heart warming story that has a nice progression in learning important lessons in life that lead to happy endings.

[Melissa Widener]

A Date with Santa by Debbie Macomber
4.1⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 0.3/5
Cursing: none
Format/Source: ebook from NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group
Genres/Tropes: romance, Christmas
Settings: Seattle
Audience: Adult
Characters: Sage, Ethan, Ricky, Saffron, Erica, Troy
👍 short chapters, Christmas, praying, no cursing, cute/sweet, military rep
👎 needs more umphh

Description:
For single career woman Sage Madison, Christmas means premade cookies  and  artificial trees. But when her sister needs her help, Sage volunteers to care for her five-year-old nephew, Ricky.
Determined to give Ricky a memorable Christmas, Sage enlists help from her assistant and close friend, Erica, who loves kids, and her colleague Ethan, who agrees to dress up as Santa—if Sage and Ricky join him in holiday fun to get in the spirit.
As Sage navigates the challenges of caring for her nephew and the prospect of romance  with  Ethan, she begins to discover the true magic of the season. Ethan’s bond  with  Ricky  and his kindness toward Sage bring unexpected joy and new adventures—filled with ice skating, baking, and a sense of fulfillment she never expected.
But when her old life threatens to interfere  with the festivities, Sage must decide what she truly wants before the season’s magic slips  away.

I enjoyed this novel, especially how sweet and clean it was. I recommend this book to those who love cozy Hallmark Christmas movies.
#bookstagram #booklovers #romancebooks #Christmasbooks #realsanta

[Baby Girl]

A Date with Santa
Debbie Macomber is one of my favorite authors. Her stories are so homely, loving, kind, heartfelt, emotional, and real. A Date with Santa had all those qualities and more. We have Sage who is working hard to move up the ladder at her job, her sister Saffron who is in the Army Reserves, a widow, and has a five-year-old named Ricky. They have wonderful parents and help each other out when times are or get difficult. Saffron is called and has to deploy to Florida to help with the hurricane disasters. Sage is asked to step in and take care of Ricky while Saffron is gone during the holidays because their parents are not able to. As Sage takes care of her five-year-old nephew, she begins to reflect on her life and realize that life is not all about work. Enter her coworker Ethan and things get even more complicated. I loved Ethan from the beginning because I could tell that he was real and had a big heart. Sage needed him in her life, but because of her past relationship, she found it hard to trust again. Bottom line, between Ethan, her adorable nephew, Ricky, her assistant Erica and Ethan's family, Sage began to see a future she never believed she could have. The shoes in the oven incident was too funny. Add a little Christmas and Santa magic and the story instantly become one of my favorites! I could read this book over and over again because it brought so much warmth and sunshine to me as a reader.

[Sherri]

***I received an ARC from Net Galley in exchange for my honest review

Sage Madison is dialed in on a big campaign at work that, if she lands it, would mean a big promotion. So the very last thing she needs is the phone call she gets, asking her to care for her five-year-old nephew, Ricky. for an entire month. She knows absolutely nothing about caring for a five year old, but fortunately her assistant and close friend, Erica has a child of her own & therefore has plenty of advice to give. Her sister has one request - thiis is probably the last year Ricky will still believe in Santa, so she wants her to make it a special Christmas for him, and make sure he goes to see Santa. After Ricky refuses to talk to the Santa at the mall, because he wasn't the "real" santa, Sage enlists her friend Ethan to play Santa, since he plays Santa for his nieces & nephews every Christmas. Ethan & Sage begin spending time together & she soon discovers her priorities have changed. She begins to discover the true magic of the season & the time spent with both Ethan & Ricky doing things as a family, made this Christmas full of unexpected joy and new adventure

This quick read, was a feel-good holiday romance with a great story. There were several funny moments as Sage attempts to navigate "motherhood", especially in the kitchen. It will definitely put you in the holiday spirit. This is one you are absolutely going to want to add to your TBR Christmas list!

[Anne Wolters]

Clare Madison is single and career focused, but when her sister is deployed for the month of December, she suddenly becomes the only option for caring for her five year old nephew, Ricky. Clare has never bothered with a Christmas tree, never baked homemade cookies, and rarely cooks at all—Uber Eats is her go to. Ricky, however, is used to home cooked meals, decorating a real Christmas tree with his mom, and delivering homemade cookies to the real Santa.
Before Ricky’s arrival, Clare’s world revolved around winning a major promotion. To her surprise, creating a magical Christmas for her nephew quickly becomes her top priority. With the help of her best friend and coworker, Erica—who offers plenty of mom tested advice—and her colleague Ethan, who even agrees to dress up as Santa, Clare begins to discover a joy she didn’t know she was missing. But when work threatens to overshadow her newfound holiday spirit, she faces a difficult choice.
This is a heartfelt, delightful story filled with lovable, memorable characters. More than once, I had to pause reading just to catch my breath from laughing out loud. Every time I open a Debbie Macomber novel, I know I’m in for a warm, uplifting, often humorous experience—and this one is no exception.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All comments and opinions are my own.

[Katie]

Debbie Macomber always knows how to deliver a cozy Christmas story, and A Date with Santa was exactly the kind of heartwarming holiday read I was hoping for.

When Sage unexpectedly becomes the temporary guardian of her young nephew, Ricky, her carefully planned, career-focused life is turned upside down. I loved watching her discover the joy of slowing down, embracing Christmas traditions, and realizing that success isn't measured only by promotions and long hours at work.

The romance between Sage and Ethan developed naturally, and I enjoyed seeing their relationship grow through simple moments of caring for Ricky and celebrating the holiday season together. Ricky was easily my favorite character and brought so much warmth and heart to the story.

While the workplace competition added some conflict, this book is really about finding balance, making time for the people who matter, and remembering what Christmas is all about. It's a gentle reminder that the moments we share with family and loved ones are often life's greatest gifts.

If you're looking for a sweet, feel-good holiday romance filled with family, hope, and plenty of Christmas spirit, this is one to add to your holiday reading list.

Thank you to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Sara (sarasbooksandcoffee)]

Christmas in July!

This was a cozy little holiday ready that leaves you smiling from the beginning to the end. Filled with warmth, family and just the right touch of Christmas magic, it's everything you have to love about a Debbie Macomber story.

When Sage unexpectedly takes over caring for her young nephew, Rick for a month because his mom/her sister has been deployed to a hurricane disaster area to help out, Sage quickly discovers that balancing a demanding career and a child was as difficult as she imagined. Ricky, however, becomes the unexpected bright spot in her life, teaching her that there’s more to life than climbing the corporate ladder. She’s been so focused on work that she's forgotten about the rest of life.

Ethan, a coworker she's gone out with a few times and steps in to help with Ricky. Sage and Ethan grow closer as they share Christmas traditions, holiday festivities, and the everyday moments of caring for a child is both sweet and believable. Their romance unfolds naturally, offering the cozy, full of hope feel to every page.

Sage and Ethan are easy characters to root for, the romance is sweet without being over-the-top.

Gotta love the shoes in the oven scene as well, that made me laugh out loud.

Thank you to NetGalley, Ballantine Books, and Debbie Macomber for this ARC

[Danielle]

Premise: When her sister is deployed to aid with hurricane relief in Florida, career-minded Sage steps up to care for her five-year-old nephew during the month of December. The problem is she’s also competing for the executive management position at the marketing agency where she works, She tries to find a balance between achieving her work goals and giving her nephew the best Christmas ever. Good thing coworker and love interest Ethan (who also happens to be a very convincing Santa impersonator) knows a thing or two about the ingredients required to make an epic Christmas.

This story is so cute and I definitely agree with those who have mentioned this would make an excellent Hallmark movie.

I think at Christmas time we often reflect on what’s important in life, what’s truly important. And in this story, that’s the kind of growth we witness in Sage. Thanks to this unexpected time with her nephew, she ultimately gets her priorities straight and learns that there’s so much more to life than just her career.

I read an uncorrected proof of this book thanks to Ballantine and Netgally. I am definitely curious to see what this story looks like after a final polish.

That said, I think if you are looking for an easy, heartwarming read this Christmastime, you should prioritize A Date With Santa.

Pub Date: October 13, 2026

#NetGalley #ADateWithSanta

[Jodi]

A fun holiday romance which shows the true importance in life. There is a lot of heart in this book and the story line. Clare Madison is single and career focused, but when her sister is deployed for the month of December, she suddenly becomes the only option for caring for her five year old nephew, Ricky. Clare has never bothered with a Christmas tree, never baked homemade cookies, and rarely cooks at all; Uber Eats is on speed dial. Ricky, is used to home cooked meals, decorating a real Christmas tree with his mom, and delivering homemade cookies to the real Santa.
Before her nephew's arrival, Clare’s world revolved around winning a major promotion. To her surprise, creating a magical Christmas for her nephew quickly becomes her top priority. With the help of her best friend and coworker, Erica offers plenty of mom tested advice and her colleague Ethan, who even agrees to dress up as Santa, Clare begins to discover a joy she didn’t know she was missing. When work threatens to overshadow her newfound holiday spirit, she faces a difficult choice. I like the way the relationship developed between Ethan and Clare with of course the assistance of Ricky. The little surprises in the book with definitely warm your heart. Many thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity.

[TsarinaTyna]

In true Debbie Macomber style, this story brings friendship, family, overcoming difficulties, and romance seamlessly together. This story just so happens to take place in December, so there's the added bonus of a touch of Christmas magic, too! The main character is career-driven Sage Madison who is vying for a promotion at work and is thrown a humdinger of a curveball when she is asked to watch her 5-year-old nephew, Ricky, for the entire month of December while her reservist sister is deployed to Florida to help with cleanup after a hurricane. Sage has never had children and is certainly feeling more than a little nervous by the prospect but she takes on the challenge and soon Ricky is in her life teaching her how to grocery shop, make oatmeal, and bake cookies for Santa. Things don't go exactly as planned and Sage is truly overwhelmed! She finally decides to heed her assistant's advice and enlist the help of her friend and coworker, Ethan, to help her find things to do with her nephew. Ricky is bound and determined to meet The Real Santa so he can tell him what he wants for Christmas ... and this little guy isn't fooled by the department store Santas in the least. Will Ricky get to tell Santa his heart's desire? Will Sage get that big promotion? Will she find love before Christmas, too? You'll just have to read the book yourself to find out!!

[January]

A Date with Santa by Debbie Macomber (Oct. 2026) [read in September]
256-page Kindle Ebook

Genre: Women's Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Holiday > Christmas

Movie Rating Equivalent: PG

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🎅🍕🥡🥠🍪⛸️🎄

Another Heartwarming Holiday Gem from Debbie Macomber!

My first experience with Debbie Macomber was Trading Christmas (originally published as When Christmas Comes), and I quickly followed that up by reading as many of her holiday books as I could find. Since then, reading her new Christmas release each year has become a seasonal tradition for me, and A Date with Santa gave me all the laughs and heartwarming moments I’ve come to expect.
​Her opening letter was spot on, setting the perfect festive tone for the story. I adored these characters—especially Ricky, who completely stole the show. It’s a sweet, cozy, and uplifting story that delivers pure holiday comfort from start to finish.

​Recommend to others: Absolutely! This is definitely one you want on your seasonal reading schedule this winter.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Ballantine via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Featuring: Author’s Note, Bibliography for Debbie Macomber, Seattle, Washington; Single Mother, Army Reserves Deployment, Emergency Care Plan, Aunt, Chicago, Illinois; Trust Issues, Workplace Setting, Christmas Wishes, Author’s Links

[Misty (Red's Romance Reviews)]

Sage Madison has been tasked with caring for her young nephew over the holidays, and she is determined to give him a Christmas to remember... even if it means agreeing to go on a date to achieve it!

A Date with Santa is a heartwarming holiday romance that is destined to stir up your feels and holiday spirit! In this one we meet a young single woman who has agreed to help out her very busy sister and take care of her nephew through the holidays. She recruits her friends to help make sure that he has the best time while in her care, even agreeing to go on a date with a colleague whom she convinces to play Santa and visit her nephew.

It doesn't take long for her to see all that she has been missing out on, she's been so focused on work that somewhere along the way she forgot how to enjoy life and all the good things it has to offer. Maybe it's time to change her focus...

This wonderfully penned tale touched my heart and left me smiling! What a great reminder about taking time to embrace the smaller things in life and finding your own joy! Highly recommend!

I requested an advanced copy of this title from the publisher, via NetGalley request, and I am voluntarily leaving my honest and unbiased opinion.

[Jenny]

A Date with Santa was a wonderful holiday read. I read it all in one sitting and had such a blast. I laughed so hard and got a bit emotional too.

Debbie Macomber never fail to deliver a heartwarming story that grabs your attention from the first page and doesn't let go until the story is over.

Sage has just found out that she is going to have to watch her nephew Ricky for the month of December. Her sister had joined the Army Reserves and has just been deployed to help out with hurricane relief. Sage's job is the most important thing going on in her life and taking care of a kid was not in her plans. She is unprepared and I do mean unprepared. However, her nephew brings something that Sage has been truly lacking in her life for a long time. Perspective. Perspective on what is truly important.

Between her nephew, her close friend and Ethan the man she has been falling in love with, Sage is going to have the best Christmas of her life.

I love Debbie Macomber Christmas stories and A Date with Santa has just moved it's way to the top of my favorite list. I highly recommend.

*Thank you NetGalley & Ballantine Books for providing me with an advanced readers copy for a honest review*

[Ann-marie]

Looove Ms. Macomber, she is known for her uplifting Christmas books and this one touches the heart so warmly. Sage has been working overtime in her marketing job after the owner let her know that when he retires, she and another coworker is in the running to oversee the company. Sage realize this means she will have to put more time in working if she is going to get the position. Sage becomes in shock when she gets a call from her mother asking Sage to take care of her five year old nephew Ricky since her sister who is in the army reserved is called for duty and her assignment will be for one month, and Sage's mom and dad already has plans to go on a cruise. Sage is upset and thinks of the many times since they were kids that she had to step in and help Saffron out. Realizing there was no other person to take Ricky she agrees. I enjoyed the slow growth and adjustment of Sage dealing with having a young child living with her and now have to have work and home life balance. As the title mentions there is a cute story of why the book is called that and its sweet and touching and Ethan(who is the love interest) is the man we as woman would all want to be a husband or boyfriend material. Giving arc by netgalley.

[Amy]

It's officially Christmas in July for Debbie Macomber fans. When Sage 's mom enlists her services taking care of Ricky, it couldn't have come at a worse time. Competing for a promotion, Sage's attention needs to be razor-focused on her latest campaign but having a child around the house means fully celebrating the season.

Ricky's contagious spirit lulls Sage into a festive mood and instead of competing with her colleagues for the promotion she reprioritizes what's important in life. Seeing her nephew smile when she buns her shoes while baking cookies or enlisting Ethan's help to have Ricky meet the real Santa, is a date that brings the two of them together. Will love commence under the Christmas tree or instead of hanging ornaments are they they both hanging their hopes on securing the group director role?

Thank you to #NetGalley and the publisher for the early edition of #ADatewithSanta in exchange for an honest review. Debbie Macomber pens a story that's filled with the real meaning of the holidays.. Save the 'date' for the October publication as the novel is the perfect stocking stuffer.

[Mandy]

Thank you to NetGalley, Ms. Debbie Macomber, and Ballantine Books for a pre-publication copy of this book in exchange for my honest feedback.

When I saw the title of this book, I knew I had to read it, and it did not disappoint. I was thrilled to have been chosen for an advance copy. It reminded me of a Hallmark movie in book form, and I love a good Hallmark movie! The book was easy to read, the characters were likeable, and the romance was “sweet” not “spicy”, which I prefer.

This isn’t a silly story about someone pretending to actually be Santa Claus. You’ll have to read the book to know where the title comes from. But I liked that the story was all based in reality, not magic, while still capturing the fun and whimsy of Christmas.

Even though this was a light, easy read, there was still good character development, and all of the main characters were likeable. My favorite scene involved baking Christmas cookies and fancy shoes. You’ll have to read the book to find out what happens!

Because this is a sweet romance, you can expect a happy ending. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves Christmas, Hallmark movies, sweet romance, and happy endings.

[Gylene]

Sage is a single, career-driven woman. She is up for a promotion at work and is determined to get it. When her sister has to be away, Sage steps up to take care of her nephew, Ricky, during the month of December. Ethan and Sage work together, and when he finds out she will be caring for her nephew, he offers to help if she needs anything. Between Sage and Ethan, can they make Christmas magical for Ricky while his mother is away?

I truly enjoy Debbie Macomber’s books, and this one definitely did not disappoint. It was a lot of fun, highly entertaining, and a really sweet story. I instantly liked Sage and Ethan and felt they made a great couple. Ricky was absolutely adorable, and I enjoyed his parts in the book. I loved how Sage and Ethan’s romance played out and how they finally admitted their feelings in the end. The ending was truly delightful, and I was really happy with it. Overall, the book was well-written, the characters were wonderful, and it is guaranteed to put a smile on your face. This is definitely a must-read Christmas romance book for the holiday season! I highly recommend this book!!

[Karen Axnick]

Claire Madison has been burned by romance before and subsequently channeled all her energy into her job developing marketing plans for clients. Now is her chance to rise to the level of executive manager, a dream she has pursued for years. There’s only one hitch – her sister is being deployed to help with hurricane recovery efforts and Claire is designated by her family as the caretaker of Ricky, her delightful five-year-old nephew whom she barely knows. What starts out as an unwelcome burden transforms into an opportunity to embrace the spirit of the Christmas season and to risk falling in love…with the “real” Santa.

In true Macomber style, the author offers up another annual novella that captures everything good about the holiday season. If you are a fan, you will enjoy this latest offering.

My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This review will be posted on Amazon upon publication.

[Sallie]

I am always a huge fan of the stories that Debbie Macomber shares with us and this one is not a disappointment in any way. It is a wonderful Christmas story and certainly sets the pace for the holidays later this year. A single career minded woman is tasked with taking over the care of her nephew for a month during the holidays and she has no idea how to do it. Her sister is deployed with the national guard to a disaster site for the entire month of December and has asked Sage to take over his care. This is a charming story of family bonding and learning how to be a parent when Sage never planned on any of that. I loved it and feel sure her fan base with give this story high marks. All the characters are fun and it is a book you will never want to put down. Thank you for a very special read.

I wish to thank Net Galley and Ballantine / Ballantine Books Publishers for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book. I have voluntarily read and reviewed this advanced copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Tracey Dorus-black]

I have always LOVED a Debbie Macomber Christmas novel and this year I was lucky to be chosen for an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of her 2026 Christmas book entitled A Date with Santa!

This was a really sweet story with three central characters; Sage, her coworker, Ethan, and Sage’s nephew, Ricky. Sage becomes the caretaker of six year old Ricky for the month of December while her sister is working in a devastated region after storms ravaged it. Sage doesn’t have children of her own so she lets Ricky form her “mom” persona into one very much like his mother! From what they eat, when he can play his video games and how they decorate the tree Sage splurged on just for him.

Ricky is also determined to leave homemade cookies for Santa because that’s what he and his mom have always done. Trouble is, Sage doesn’t bake! Sage tries really hard to make the season magical for Ricky so when he tells her he has to talk to the “Real” Santa, Sage enlists her coworker, Ethan, a guy she also had a crush on, to dress up and pretend to be him. All she has to do is go on adventures with Ethan so Ricky can get to know him. The more they hang out, the more Sage finds Ethan to be a fun, interesting, caring and all-around nice guy she enjoys being with! Could they have a future together? You’ll have to read the book to find out but it’ll be worth it! Debbie Macomber once again delivers a charming, festive and romantic novel for the holidays! I loved it!

I received an advance review copy of A Date with Santa for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.