Believe

by Liz Botts, Amanda Powell (Reading)

Eighteen-year-old Virginia didn't ask to be the oldest daughter of the current Santa Claus, nor did she ask to be betrothed to a complete stranger. When the elf elders turn her world upside down by announcing that she must convince her fiancé, Nick, not only to marry her but also to become the next Santa Claus, Virginia has no desire to have any part of the craziness.

From the beginning Virginia's interactions with Nick are filled with awkwardness, tension and disbelief. Despite Nick's love of the holiday, he has no openness to the magical or the mythical. Still, somehow the two forge their way toward one another. Meeting a special little girl named Merry helps Nick and Virginia bond and focus on the true meaning of the Christmas season. Virginia quickly grows to love and trust Nick, with the only dark spot being his disbelief in all the things she tells him. Nick for his part must come to grips with meeting his real father, the King of Winter, and the fact that he does indeed possess magic.

Will the Nick and Virginia be able to overcome all of the exterior forces seeming to control their lives and fall in love with one another in time to save the future of Christmas?

MP3 CD

First published November 24, 2011

Reviews

[J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

[SPOILER ALERT] This clever story stands the entire Christmas fable on its head, and it took some remarkable imagination to produce. I'd never have thought of casting Santa Claus as a jerk, taking kickbacks from toy companies, or the elves as evil little monsters with the ability to freeze you in place. The book centers on eighteen-year-old Virginia, the current Santa's eldest daughter, who has no choice but to marry the King of Winter's son because she has no brother to take on the toy-delivering role. Not only must she marry him, she must go into the mortal world, where he's been fostered, and convince him that a) she's not crazy, and b) he has to marry her. It helps that he's beyond good looking and attracted to her, too, but still, that's not an easy task!

Author Liz Botts gets points not only for imagination, but also for an easy writing style. It doesn't compel continuation and there are places where the reader can pause, but you never have to wonder what she means. I'd have liked some more description, not only of settings but also at the end, to help me follow the climactic twist. But these are very small detractions, and my enjoyment of the concept and characters [especially Grandma] outweighed it with ease.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short Christmas story. Intriguing story that opened up a lot of possiblities. Wish it was a novel and not a short story. Good way to spend an afternoon.