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The Clumsy Santa
Charlie discovers love amongst the tinsel.
Falling in love with Santa is the last thing Charlie Johnson expects when he takes a holiday job as an elf in Santa’s Grotto. Nick is the shyest and clumsiest man Charlie has ever met, but that’s just part of his charm. Charlie falls for Santa, whilst Santa falls head over heels onto the floor. At least they can laugh together about it!
But after several weeks, Charlie starts to despair he will ever be more than Santa’s helper. His holiday job is nearly over, yet Nick hasn’t declared anything more than friendship. Will Charlie ever get his real Christmas wish?
Falling in love with Santa is the last thing Charlie Johnson expects when he takes a holiday job as an elf in Santa’s Grotto. Nick is the shyest and clumsiest man Charlie has ever met, but that’s just part of his charm. Charlie falls for Santa, whilst Santa falls head over heels onto the floor. At least they can laugh together about it!
But after several weeks, Charlie starts to despair he will ever be more than Santa’s helper. His holiday job is nearly over, yet Nick hasn’t declared anything more than friendship. Will Charlie ever get his real Christmas wish?
62 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 24, 2017
53 people are currently reading
142 people want to read
About the author
Sue Brown
140 books843 followersHot guys, big hearts, Sue's world.
Sue Brown is a Londoner with a dream to live on a small island. Coffee fuels her addiction to writing romance with hot guys loving each other, and her Adorkadog snores in harmony as she creates.
Sue Brown is a Londoner with a dream to live on a small island. Coffee fuels her addiction to writing romance with hot guys loving each other, and her Adorkadog snores in harmony as she creates.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
December 4, 2020
I wanted to love this one...I mean, the elf falling in love with Santa?
But...as much as I tried, I failed to connect with them.
I just wasn't vested and although it had some cute moments, I was left feeling pretty 'meh'.
The ex didn't help matters any.
Hopefully, it won't be so clumsy for someone else.
But...as much as I tried, I failed to connect with them.
I just wasn't vested and although it had some cute moments, I was left feeling pretty 'meh'.
The ex didn't help matters any.
Hopefully, it won't be so clumsy for someone else.
November 28, 2017
2.5 stars
I was sure this was going to be a winner. This started out like a feel-good story with so much potential. But while everything else in the story felt right (authentic dialogue, solid secondary characters), the romance just plain sucked.
Charlie is working in Santa’s Grotto as an elf this year. He’s got a secret crush on Santa, even though he has never seen him without his costume.
When Santa gets fired for ruining the grotto with his clumsiness, Charlie thinks he will never get another chance with Santa again. But then a cute guy is waiting for him after the mall closes to ask him out on a date…
I was enjoying this a lot, right until Charlie and Nick met without the Santa costume. For some reason all their interactions after that felt weird and awkward.
When Nick took Charlie to his favorite bar I thought it was weird that Nick’s exes suddenly popped up and how they made Nick look like a playboy (why was that even added to the story?). I also didn’t get why they kept going back to the bar The Duke while Charlie hated it there and felt very uncomfortable every time.
I was also quite disappointed the relationship happened off page. We get one kiss and then ‘a year later’.
Lots of potential, but the awkwardness of the relationship really ruined this otherwise cute story for me.
I was sure this was going to be a winner. This started out like a feel-good story with so much potential. But while everything else in the story felt right (authentic dialogue, solid secondary characters), the romance just plain sucked.
Charlie is working in Santa’s Grotto as an elf this year. He’s got a secret crush on Santa, even though he has never seen him without his costume.
When Santa gets fired for ruining the grotto with his clumsiness, Charlie thinks he will never get another chance with Santa again. But then a cute guy is waiting for him after the mall closes to ask him out on a date…
I was enjoying this a lot, right until Charlie and Nick met without the Santa costume. For some reason all their interactions after that felt weird and awkward.
When Nick took Charlie to his favorite bar I thought it was weird that Nick’s exes suddenly popped up and how they made Nick look like a playboy (why was that even added to the story?). I also didn’t get why they kept going back to the bar The Duke while Charlie hated it there and felt very uncomfortable every time.
I was also quite disappointed the relationship happened off page. We get one kiss and then ‘a year later’.
Lots of potential, but the awkwardness of the relationship really ruined this otherwise cute story for me.
December 10, 2017
3 Stars
While working over the holidays as an elf in Santa's Grotto, Charlie, a shy and inexperienced college student, becomes smitten with the store's resident Santa, Nick.
Nick is sweet with the kids but he's as clumsy as all get-out, causing one ridiculous mishap after another. Charlie finds this all endearing and the two eventually go from Grotto flirting to real-world dating.
This was one odd little story, that's for sure - cute and fluffy, but odd. Some of the situations were amusing but many scenes just came across as awkward, sometimes painfully so. I liked Charlie and his innocence, but I'm not sure Nick was portrayed all that well. His clumsiness was meant to be sweet and endearing but many of his misadventures simply read as foolish. I could put all that aside for some mindless Christmas fun, certainly, but then some of the scenes that played out between Charlie and Nick outside of Santa's Grotto were even more awkward, leaving me with raised eye-brows where Nick was concerned.
Overall, light and fluffy fare, with a few cute moments thrown in, but it could have been so much more.
While working over the holidays as an elf in Santa's Grotto, Charlie, a shy and inexperienced college student, becomes smitten with the store's resident Santa, Nick.
Nick is sweet with the kids but he's as clumsy as all get-out, causing one ridiculous mishap after another. Charlie finds this all endearing and the two eventually go from Grotto flirting to real-world dating.
This was one odd little story, that's for sure - cute and fluffy, but odd. Some of the situations were amusing but many scenes just came across as awkward, sometimes painfully so. I liked Charlie and his innocence, but I'm not sure Nick was portrayed all that well. His clumsiness was meant to be sweet and endearing but many of his misadventures simply read as foolish. I could put all that aside for some mindless Christmas fun, certainly, but then some of the scenes that played out between Charlie and Nick outside of Santa's Grotto were even more awkward, leaving me with raised eye-brows where Nick was concerned.
Overall, light and fluffy fare, with a few cute moments thrown in, but it could have been so much more.
December 7, 2017
Hmm...
This story started off good but slowly descended downwards for me. I think after Charlie and Nick' s trip to the Duke, , I loss interest in them as a couple. The author did not do much to redeem Nick as a good suitor for Charlie after that incident. There was no real connection and worse the actual relationship starts off page and all we really get is a chaste kiss.
It just was not for me.
This story started off good but slowly descended downwards for me. I think after Charlie and Nick' s trip to the Duke, , I loss interest in them as a couple. The author did not do much to redeem Nick as a good suitor for Charlie after that incident. There was no real connection and worse the actual relationship starts off page and all we really get is a chaste kiss.
It just was not for me.
December 22, 2021
Wonderfully sweet with all the feels!
I think I read this one last year, though it was not marked as Read on there. Regardless, I thoroughly enjoyed this story about a mall Santa and his elf!
I think I read this one last year, though it was not marked as Read on there. Regardless, I thoroughly enjoyed this story about a mall Santa and his elf!
December 25, 2017
3.3 Stars
Cute and sweet.
Cute and sweet.
December 13, 2020
Good
3.5 stars
Not bad Christmas short. There were some funny moments to lightened it up.
I wished it was a little longer as I didn’t fully get the connection between the two characters, but still ok for an hours read.
3.5 stars
Not bad Christmas short. There were some funny moments to lightened it up.
I wished it was a little longer as I didn’t fully get the connection between the two characters, but still ok for an hours read.
December 11, 2019
"Santa’s Rule No. 5: One is not playing an elf. One is Elf."
“Clumsy” is not a trait I would normally expect to be associated with Santa – it is usually the elves who struggle a little. So it was a refreshing change to read a story where Santa is the one with issues, even though, in this case, he is a department store Santa who is a man named Nick in real life. Not that Head-Elf (a terror in charge of all the happenings at the store) would be happy to hear that Santa is not real. As far as this guy is concerned, Santa is real and he has the Five Rules to prove it! Then imagine Charlie, a shy student in desperate need of work, in the middle of his huge crush on Santa and having to obey all the rules if he wants to keep his much-needed job, and you’ve got the makings for a very entertaining story.
Charlie has never had any friends, so when he finds one of his coworkers, a charming woman named Katie, support him, he is as surprised as he is happy. It makes work just a little more bearable, even if it doesn’t solve his dilemma around what to do about his feelings for a man he has only ever seen in costume. Charlie is adorable as he tries to figure out how to get closer to his “Santa”, and I loved following his efforts as they work their way through the Christmas season.
If you like sweet Holiday stories sprinkled with a little humor, if two shy men trying to figure out how to get closer are your thing, and if you’re looking for a lovely romance among all the tinsel and fake snow, then you will probably like this novella.
NOTE: This anthology this story was published in was provided by Jocular Press for the purpose of a review.
“Clumsy” is not a trait I would normally expect to be associated with Santa – it is usually the elves who struggle a little. So it was a refreshing change to read a story where Santa is the one with issues, even though, in this case, he is a department store Santa who is a man named Nick in real life. Not that Head-Elf (a terror in charge of all the happenings at the store) would be happy to hear that Santa is not real. As far as this guy is concerned, Santa is real and he has the Five Rules to prove it! Then imagine Charlie, a shy student in desperate need of work, in the middle of his huge crush on Santa and having to obey all the rules if he wants to keep his much-needed job, and you’ve got the makings for a very entertaining story.
Charlie has never had any friends, so when he finds one of his coworkers, a charming woman named Katie, support him, he is as surprised as he is happy. It makes work just a little more bearable, even if it doesn’t solve his dilemma around what to do about his feelings for a man he has only ever seen in costume. Charlie is adorable as he tries to figure out how to get closer to his “Santa”, and I loved following his efforts as they work their way through the Christmas season.
If you like sweet Holiday stories sprinkled with a little humor, if two shy men trying to figure out how to get closer are your thing, and if you’re looking for a lovely romance among all the tinsel and fake snow, then you will probably like this novella.
NOTE: This anthology this story was published in was provided by Jocular Press for the purpose of a review.
December 19, 2017
Cute, no heat, and a genuine Christmas miracle at the end.
November 18, 2018
This was okay, but I felt more connection between Charlie and Katie than I did between Charlie and Santa. It would've been nice to have a little more interaction between the two of them outside of Santa's Grotto at the department store. Still, a nicely written little story.
December 16, 2022
This was a short quick read that I liked. Charlie Johnson takes a holiday job at Santa's Grotto where he falls hard for Santa. Nick is a shy and clumsy. Charlie is working to make money to pay is rent and to by Xmas gifts. The head elf in charge was a drill sergeant. This book was well written with no errors in grammar or spelling.
November 16, 2018
A cute little Xmas story that has no sex and bought a tear to the eye. Didn't quite feel the connection between Nick and Charlie, felt more between Katy and Charlie but as everything except for a few kisses was behind closed doors one has to believe.
December 30, 2020
This is a fun lighthearted Christmas story of a department story elf and the clumsy Santa he falls for. Or is it the other way around. This are just two ordinary guys who hit it off and have a good chance at HEA.
November 25, 2017
Sweet and light-hearted
This is a cute Christmas short - no sexy times at all, which may or may not be a plus for the reader, but still should put a smile on your face.
This is a cute Christmas short - no sexy times at all, which may or may not be a plus for the reader, but still should put a smile on your face.
February 12, 2021
I’ve read this author before. This is a mm contemporary novella set in the UK at Christmas time. Charlie is a new elf in a department stores Christmas Grotto. A sweet love story with lots of laughs.
November 26, 2021
3.5 stars
Sue Brown is hit or miss for me. I’m happy to say I enjoyed The Clumsy Santa. Maybe I enjoyed it because I really was in a good mood, whatever! It sat well with me. Some folks referred to the scene with the ex as being a drain on the story agreed. That scene didn’t really stick in my brain because it was soooo unnecessary to the story but it didn’t affect me at all, selective reading, that’s me.
I thought this was a cute story and I enjoyed it so…ding, ding, ding.
Sue Brown is hit or miss for me. I’m happy to say I enjoyed The Clumsy Santa. Maybe I enjoyed it because I really was in a good mood, whatever! It sat well with me. Some folks referred to the scene with the ex as being a drain on the story agreed. That scene didn’t really stick in my brain because it was soooo unnecessary to the story but it didn’t affect me at all, selective reading, that’s me.
I thought this was a cute story and I enjoyed it so…ding, ding, ding.
December 9, 2017
2.5*
Is cute Xmas romance! But it has a pair of scenes that I really don´t like...
One is including "ex-boyfriends" and very oblivious reaction of one of the main characters and the other involves a character with an ilness. I don´t like how it was a bit shallow.
Is cute Xmas romance! But it has a pair of scenes that I really don´t like...
One is including "ex-boyfriends" and very oblivious reaction of one of the main characters and the other involves a character with an ilness. I don´t like how it was a bit shallow.
December 8, 2017
2.5*
Wasn't for me two sugary sweet insta love if the author had not mentioned the ages ( both in their 20s ) I would have thought it was teenagers.
December 10, 2017
3.4 stars
December 17, 2020
Very low heat and maybe just a smidge boring.
December 9, 2025
This is a sweet and short story. Nick is clumsy, and I think somewhat shy on the social side of things.
Charlie, on the other hand, is a fun guy, but unfortunately, he always meets the wrong guys. Perhaps the reason that Charlie falls (no pun intended) for Nick is because of Nick's clumsiness.
Charlie, on the other hand, is a fun guy, but unfortunately, he always meets the wrong guys. Perhaps the reason that Charlie falls (no pun intended) for Nick is because of Nick's clumsiness.
December 26, 2020
Comical
A light-hearted romp through a London Santa display and an elf meeting his first love. The tone is light-hearted but more as an observer. Reading Elf after everyone's name gets repetitious. As with every book there is a slip in proofing by referring to Nick and Santa rather than Charlie and Santa.
A light-hearted romp through a London Santa display and an elf meeting his first love. The tone is light-hearted but more as an observer. Reading Elf after everyone's name gets repetitious. As with every book there is a slip in proofing by referring to Nick and Santa rather than Charlie and Santa.
December 15, 2019
2 stars.
Charlie gets work as an elf in Santa's village over the holidays. Even though the head elf is kind of a jerk, Charlie likes Santa. Santa is kind of a klutz, but he seems to care about everyone, including the elves in the village, and Charlie develops a crush, even though he doesn't know what Santa looks like, or how old he is, or even if Santa likes him as anything more.
Wow. That précis has NOTHING in common with the actual plot. Well, Santa is clumsy, but after that...Charlie and Nick didn't even really talk until after the incident, which was just before the end of the book. Assumptions were made, mistakes were definitely made, and Charlie was a little annoying. The only person I really liked was Katie-elf.
Charlie gets work as an elf in Santa's village over the holidays. Even though the head elf is kind of a jerk, Charlie likes Santa. Santa is kind of a klutz, but he seems to care about everyone, including the elves in the village, and Charlie develops a crush, even though he doesn't know what Santa looks like, or how old he is, or even if Santa likes him as anything more.
Wow. That précis has NOTHING in common with the actual plot. Well, Santa is clumsy, but after that...Charlie and Nick didn't even really talk until after the incident, which was just before the end of the book. Assumptions were made, mistakes were definitely made, and Charlie was a little annoying. The only person I really liked was Katie-elf.
November 24, 2017
4 Stars!
Charlie has been hired as an elf in Santa's Grotto and finds himself falling for Santa, who is shy and so clumsy, he practically needs a handler just not to fall down everytime he walks. Santa/Nick seems interested in Charlie, but after several weeks of working together, Charlie is starting to wonder if he's not just imagining it.
Charlie is completely adorbs! So sweet and nice, it was fun seeing him so smitten with Santa. I wasn't too sure about Nick/Santa at first. He seemed interested in Charlie, but it took him forever to make a move and when he did, ugh, that first date made me want to scream at him. He made up for it, though, and I enjoyed seeing Charlie and Nick fall for each other. They had great chemistry together!
I loved reading Charlie's interactions with Katie, who was awesome, too. I found the Head-Elf annoying and I wanted the Grotto to fall over him so he could be out of commission for a bit. Hee.
This was such a lovely holiday story! Cute and sweet, for the most part, although there was a part with a little boy that had me in tears more than once, and just perfect for the season. Very recommendable!
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
Charlie has been hired as an elf in Santa's Grotto and finds himself falling for Santa, who is shy and so clumsy, he practically needs a handler just not to fall down everytime he walks. Santa/Nick seems interested in Charlie, but after several weeks of working together, Charlie is starting to wonder if he's not just imagining it.
Charlie is completely adorbs! So sweet and nice, it was fun seeing him so smitten with Santa. I wasn't too sure about Nick/Santa at first. He seemed interested in Charlie, but it took him forever to make a move and when he did, ugh, that first date made me want to scream at him. He made up for it, though, and I enjoyed seeing Charlie and Nick fall for each other. They had great chemistry together!
I loved reading Charlie's interactions with Katie, who was awesome, too. I found the Head-Elf annoying and I wanted the Grotto to fall over him so he could be out of commission for a bit. Hee.
This was such a lovely holiday story! Cute and sweet, for the most part, although there was a part with a little boy that had me in tears more than once, and just perfect for the season. Very recommendable!
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
December 27, 2020
The Clumsy Santa is a cute short story about Charlie Johnson, who takes a job as an elf in Santa’s Grotto. He’s smitten by shy and clumsy Nick, who is playing Santa. Their interactions take place almost exclusively at Santa’s Grotto and we see it all through Charlie’s pov.
There isn’t much conflict except for the grouchy head elf. Since the story is told from Charlie’s pov, we get a good idea of why he likes Nick, and we even get a pretty good idea about Katie, one of the other elves. What I would have liked to have seen, is why Nick was attracted to Charlie. It was more as if the story was about Charlie’s crush rather than reciprocation on Nick’s part even though Nick was attracted to Charlie. It just wasn’t shown well.
This is a cute, fluffy, quick read. It’s meant to be an easy read without any stress or strain to it. It’s like eating cotton candy. If you’re looking for that kind of story, then this would fit the bill.
I give The Clumsy Santa, 3 Stars
There isn’t much conflict except for the grouchy head elf. Since the story is told from Charlie’s pov, we get a good idea of why he likes Nick, and we even get a pretty good idea about Katie, one of the other elves. What I would have liked to have seen, is why Nick was attracted to Charlie. It was more as if the story was about Charlie’s crush rather than reciprocation on Nick’s part even though Nick was attracted to Charlie. It just wasn’t shown well.
This is a cute, fluffy, quick read. It’s meant to be an easy read without any stress or strain to it. It’s like eating cotton candy. If you’re looking for that kind of story, then this would fit the bill.
I give The Clumsy Santa, 3 Stars
December 1, 2017
Charlie has taken a job as an Elf in Santa’s Grotto. Enter Santa, a rather tall but clumsy man who Charlie falls for. As time progresses, Charlie’s not sure if he will get to see who Santa is without the beard.
This was one of those stories I couldn’t stop reading. Charlie was adorable, and the rest of the supporting characters were great. The Christmas Rules and Head Elf certainly made you feel as though you had to keep on my toes to make sure the grotto was run on schedule. The romance was quick, but you could tell that it was blossoming in the lead up to Christmas. It had a great happy ending, which I admit caused me to weep.
I would love to have known more, and maybe seen more of how Charlie and Santa aka Nick, got on. Nick was a bit elusive to me, but the description was enough to whet my appetite and Charlie was smitten enough.
This was a cheery Christmas ready which kept me entertained and got me into a festive mood.
This was one of those stories I couldn’t stop reading. Charlie was adorable, and the rest of the supporting characters were great. The Christmas Rules and Head Elf certainly made you feel as though you had to keep on my toes to make sure the grotto was run on schedule. The romance was quick, but you could tell that it was blossoming in the lead up to Christmas. It had a great happy ending, which I admit caused me to weep.
I would love to have known more, and maybe seen more of how Charlie and Santa aka Nick, got on. Nick was a bit elusive to me, but the description was enough to whet my appetite and Charlie was smitten enough.
This was a cheery Christmas ready which kept me entertained and got me into a festive mood.
December 6, 2017
3.5 Stars Sweet Christmas Tale
Do you believe in the magic of Christmas? What if the magic is stripped away and reduced to the everyday drudgery of a job? A job with a high turnover rate. A job that though you don't want to be there you have to make sure you keep from being fired from it? This is the setup for what turns out to be a sweet Christmas tale set in England.
Playing a Christmas Elf is a lot less fun than it would seem. You have to like over excited children and be able to deal with irate parents. Even more nerve wracking would be playing Santa. Why would someone do either job? What would the parents and young children do if the Santa Claus North Pole set ups weren't available each year?
This is the setting for a sweet Christmas tale of approximately 900 locations. Sue Brown captures the realism of the daily grind and the wonder of a miraculous time of year. New friendships are formed, there are first crushes, clumsy & shy men, young adults escaping the insanity of family life, and some adorable children are featured in this story.
Do you believe in the magic of Christmas? What if the magic is stripped away and reduced to the everyday drudgery of a job? A job with a high turnover rate. A job that though you don't want to be there you have to make sure you keep from being fired from it? This is the setup for what turns out to be a sweet Christmas tale set in England.
Playing a Christmas Elf is a lot less fun than it would seem. You have to like over excited children and be able to deal with irate parents. Even more nerve wracking would be playing Santa. Why would someone do either job? What would the parents and young children do if the Santa Claus North Pole set ups weren't available each year?
This is the setting for a sweet Christmas tale of approximately 900 locations. Sue Brown captures the realism of the daily grind and the wonder of a miraculous time of year. New friendships are formed, there are first crushes, clumsy & shy men, young adults escaping the insanity of family life, and some adorable children are featured in this story.
December 14, 2020
I love Sue Brown's books and I first read this novella in Stocking Stuffers vol 1 which had a bundle of holiday stories. I grabbed this gem when it was a holiday freebie because I love Charlie-Elf and Nick. Charlie is a college-student who has a holiday job as an elf in Santa's Grotto in the mall. He needs the extra cash to pay rent and purchase gifts for his mother and sister. He starts crushing on Nick the Mall Santa when he meets him but Nick is so clumsy that Charlie-Elf keeps watching him trip over his feet or other objects. Both men are so sweet, clumsy and adorable around each other as they secretly watch the other while having to deal with a Drill Sergeant as Head Elf. Very low-angst and sweet and romantic read ;) Hilarious and funny as well.
December 30, 2017
Really cute story with a tiny amount of tears!
This book was so sweet.. Loved Santa and Charlie-Elf. Charlie was funny. I'm so glad he bonded with Katie-Elf. Having Santa be both hot and clumsy made for some funny moments. I couldn't wait for them to actually hook up. I actually liked that their first date wasn't perfect. It made things more interesting.
Santa was so good with the kids. He made my heart feel good. Too bad Head-Elf had to be such an arrogant jerk. Somebody should have fired him. Maybe he can get his own book and be redeemed.
This book was so sweet.. Loved Santa and Charlie-Elf. Charlie was funny. I'm so glad he bonded with Katie-Elf. Having Santa be both hot and clumsy made for some funny moments. I couldn't wait for them to actually hook up. I actually liked that their first date wasn't perfect. It made things more interesting.
Santa was so good with the kids. He made my heart feel good. Too bad Head-Elf had to be such an arrogant jerk. Somebody should have fired him. Maybe he can get his own book and be redeemed.
December 1, 2020
A very heart warming story of Santa in his Grotto at the store, he and his cute Elf meet many children, some are nice meetings and some are so very sad Santa cries. Once out of the grotto these two are attracted to each other and fumble their way into a date, a date that ends up kind of a disaster. A cute short holiday story, funny, sad, and sweet. One thing that's wrong? The cover! Neither of them look like a Santa actor.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews