Locking Up Santa

by Nikki LeClair, Karan Eleni (Editor)

Join Phoebe, Edie, and the gang at Lavish Looks as they navigate through the muddy waters of what should be a joyous Christmas season.Seven months have passed since Phoebe Mercer’s life was flipped on end. After being knocked out by a runaway hot dog cart, she quickly went from being an overworked and underpaid legal assistant, happily living with her new fiancé in a small loft, to the CEO of a multi-million-dollar beauty company and living with a ghost in a mansion.Whether it’s getting used to being a public figure, having a Chief Operating Officer who hates her, or a ghost who is just too passionate about everything, Phoebe is having trouble getting a grip on her new life. And understandably so.Just when she thinks things can’t get any worse, Phoebe’s friend and business mentor is arrested for a string of Christmas-related crimes, and the town is ready to lock him away for good. As Phoebe races to prove his innocence—and stop Lavish Looks from going under—a too-familiar face from the past, an unwanted visitor, and old friends who seem to have abandoned her throw her into disarray.Can the spirit of the holiday season, and her ghostly companion, help end the year on a high note? Or will Phoebe spend the new year hiding?

440 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 7, 2018

About the author

Nikki LeClair, also known under her pen name Vivian Brooks, wasn't always a avid reader or writer. She picked it up during high-school when she came across Sophie Kinsella's Shopacholic series and the works of Jane Austen. Suddenly she found herself with high marks in her English and Writing classes, and part of the Yearbook club. Since then she's read more romantic comedies than she can list and until recently had the privilege of releasing her very first novel; All Because of You.
Her heroines are often over the top, but fully relate-able to any woman whose had to struggle with her love life, suitors, work environment and family.
She credits her work and the ability to force herself to keep up with her passion to her brother who was one of her first mentors in writing.

Reviews

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars

Locking Up Santa is the second book in the Haunting Me series by Nikki LeClair. It’s a fantastic paranormal story full of mystery, drama, intrigue and suspense.
As we discovered in book one, Haunting Me, things were not going too well for Phoebe Mercer- she was working as a legal assistant at a prestigious law firm, but her boss was horrendous, and she was overworked and treated terribly. Her engagement ended when she discovered that her fiancé was cheating on her. Then to cap it all off, she gets run over by a hot dog cart, ends up in hospital where she wakes to discover that she can see and hear a ghost. Edie- the ghost, needs Phoebe’s help in solving her murder and find her missing Will. This sets them on a journey that Phoebe will never forget. Solving the mystery and bringing some closure for Edie was not all Phoebe gained from the adventure. She was given a position as CEO at Edie’s beloved company, Lavish Looks Beauty, and then given Edie’s million-dollar waterfront mansion, in Cedar Springs.
This story follows on from the first book and this begins eight months after Phoebe Mercer’s life was turned upside down, forever changed. Phoebe has moved into the mansion and has been living there for the past seven months. She took quite some time to settle in, and having Edie around is both a blessing and a curse. She is still trying to find her feet as the CEO of such a large and well-known company. Her adjustment to the job isn’t made any easier by the C.O.O of the company, who doesn’t try to disguise her hate for Phoebe. There are things happening in the company that need to be addressed and it’s going quite badly. The new fragrance that was supposed to become the company’s next best seller smells more like a toilet than the beautiful scent they were aiming for. What on earth is happening there? Then, to make matters worse, the one person who really believed in her and had her back, her mentor Henry, is arrested for a heinous crime and it looks like he’s going to be locked up for a very long time.
Somehow Phoebe, and Edie, will need to find a way to prove Henry’s innocence, as well as discover what has happened to the batch of fragrance to make it so vile. Add to the story a spate of robberies, having to deal with someone from her past, an unwanted visitor, the relationship with her friend is suffering, the possibility of sabotage, the chance of her ending up behind bars herself ---- and we have an incredibly captivating read.
The story is witty, funny, very entertaining, and kept me guessing with some twists and turns. It had a fast pace, flowed well and was very easy to read. I really loved the ending and am already anticipating what may happen in the next book!

Thank you, Nikki LeClair!

[Andria Henry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in the Edie Edwards cozy mystery series. You could absolutely enjoy this story without reading the first one, but truthfully I also enjoyed the first book so do yourself a favour and read that too.
Phoebe Mercer has taken on a new role as the CEO of a company based in a quaint small town. Things are looking up, but her GHOST roommate Edie Edwards, the former CEO of the company, needs her to prove the innocence of a mutual friend in a local crime. To do so, she's going to need the help of Edie's handsome nephew Porter. Phoebe must solve the crime in time for Christmas!
This is a fun read with some action and adventure and butterflies over handsome but brooding Porter. Humour and subplots keep this story moving, as you'll want to spend more time with Phoebe, Edie, and Porter.