Comet's First Christmas

The North Pole Chronicles #1

by Delilah Night

ASIN B08J3XQPF4 moved to the most recent edition

A bad Santa is turning believers faster than melting snow. Can the mystery be solved in time for Christmas?

Claudia

I’ve dreamed of this day for years, and now it’s reality. I’ve been called up for the Big Show. Official Pole phone and email, Naughty-or-Nice login, and upgraded I.D. with my new job title—Comet. In three weeks, I’ll be part of the team flying Santa around the world.

In an instant my life goes from peaceful, if boring, to a blizzard of last-minute flight preparations, route planning, and anxiety-triggering stress.

The moment I meet my P.A., Jillian, her beautiful smile and sparkling blue eyes are an oasis of calm. But I’ve barely got enough time to wonder if her plump lips taste as sugarplum sweet as they look. Disturbing news has popped up on Santa’s radar.

Someone is turning Santa’s most fervent believers into non-believers overnight. If we can’t find and stop this hacker, there won’t be enough reindeer cutout cookies and hot chocolate in the world to restore balance to Santa’s Naughty-or-Nice list in time for Christmas Eve.

Note to reader: What sweet Christmas romance would be complete without reindeer, The Nutcracker, ice skating at Rockefeller Center, and New York pizza?

Genres: Lesbian, Christmas, Paranormal, Romance, Contemporary, Shapeshifters, Holiday

132 pages, ebook

First published October 20, 2020

About the author

Although I spent the first thirty years of my life in the Northeast of the United States, I lived in Southeast Asia from 2010-2017. I currently live near San Francisco with my partner, our two kids, and two cats.

I’m a writer who doesn’t take myself too seriously–my characters range from parents trying to reconnect post-kids to shape shifting reindeer to photographers to a would-be pirate lass.

Pick up any of my deliciously naughty bedtime stories for a solid plot and steamy romance.

Reviews

[Jude Silberfeld-Grimaud · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the most unexpected workplace romance ever, at least for me. I love romance novels, and sometimes it feels like I’m reading the same story over and over. With Comet’s First Christmas, I have to say I had never read that blurb before.

Claudia’s dream is to become one of the nine reindeer flying Santa around the world on Christmas Eve but she never expected to be called less than a month before the Big Show. In the blink of an eye, she becomes the new Comet and is sent to New York, where she meets her Personal Assistant, Jillian, who is nothing like the elves she’s met at the Pole. While she tries to learn everything she needs to know to do her new job, the number of believers start to fall and all reindeer and elves are called to the rescue.

Everything is new to Claudia: the job, the human food, the breathtaking New York elf. At first, she has an almost childlike quality – being thrown in at the deep end will do that to a reindeer – but as she finds her footing in her new role, she grows into it and into herself.

While I was enjoying Comet’s wonder at discovering New York and marvelling at the fact that Santa’s reindeer are all lesbians, my wife asked what I was reading, so I began telling her about this shape-shifting reindeer with imposter syndrome and anxiety who falls for an elf, and she was looking at me with huge round eyes. There’s this very famous ad in France for Milka chocolate, where a marmot wraps chocolate in foil. When something is unbelievable or absurd, we often say “Et la marmotte…”:

That's how my wife was looking at me. I tried to explain about suspension of disbelief, which is all the more on point here. Beyond the fun and cuteness, this story is about allowing yourself to enjoy simple pleasures. One of these being believing in Santa and all that goes with Christmas. I was so immersed that, at one point, I mentally made a note not to forget to leave carrots out for the reindeer next Christmas. One more victory for Comet, I guess: she made me want to believe.

It doesn’t get more Christmas-y than a romance between one of Santa’s reindeer and an elf. If you’re in full Halloween mode, wait a few days before you read this book. It would be a shame if Comet and Jillian got drowned by zombies and ghosts. This novella is fun and silly and cute, and we all need exactly that sometimes, especially this year.

I received a copy from the author and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

[AnnMaree Of Oz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kindle Unlimited. Well we all knew Santa's reindeer were female, right? But did you know they were shapeshifters!?

Claudia has become the newest; Comet. One of Nine titular places. She's nervous and excited! She will be heading up the New York section of gift delivery.

When she meets elf Jillian in NYC an attraction ensues as they enjoy a classic New York style Christmas tourist romance. While also trying to go after some bad guys who are trying to ruin the belief and joy in Christmas, for children and adults alike. BahHumBug!

A cute fluffy story just for fun. Lots of neat magic lore and how the Christmas system works. I enjoyed meeting all the reindeers especially! The adorable sweet romance is the icing on the Christmas cake!

There's a sequel I will read next.

[S · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really fun sweet Christmas novella. I enjoyed the both the setting and the storyline and particularly enjoyed the balance between the intrigue, mystery and romance.

Claudia is a reindeer from the Pole, she’s a prospect for the sleigh team. At the last minute she gets called up, to fulfil the role of Comet.

Jillian is an elf, she’s based in New York as a personal assistant, looking after the North East America part of the sleigh route.

When Claudia is drafted into the team she’s assigned to Jillian’s part of the world. A big part of what makes this such a fun sweet read is her exploration of the human things and her experiences with New York at Christmastime. I really liked that Night manages to describe these experiences so you feel like you’ve shared them with Claudia, but doesn’t go overboard on the descriptors.

There’s some mystery and intrigue in the storyline, as someone is trying to ruin Christmas by creating non-believers, leaving the reindeer having to track down the culprits. This works in keeping the storyline interesting, it would have been a very different narrative were it to just discuss the getting reading for delivering presents.

This was an enjoyable read with a refreshing take on a Christmas romance.

I received an e-ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

[Danika at The Lesbrary · Rating 4 out of 5]

As we enter into the end of 2020, if you're someone who celebrates Christmas, you're probably having some strong emotions about it right now. Maybe you want to forget the whole holiday, because we probably can't celebrate it the way we usually do. Or maybe you, like me, are filling your Netflix queue with holiday romances and stocking up on eggnog, because we deserve a tiny sliver of hope and happiness this year! If you are looking to dive headfirst into Christmas, Comet's First Christmas is a great way to kick it off.

This is about Claudia, a reindeer who has just been brought in to act as Comet this Christmas season. Yes, this is about reindeer shifters. And yes, all nine of Santa's reindeer are lesbians. As you might expect, this is a book overflowing with Christmas cheer. Everything is themed: Claudia drinks candy cane coffee, her assistant is an elf, and her phone comes equipped with a Naughty-Or-Nice app.

This overwhelming festivity reminded me more of a classic kids' holiday movie, initially: it is an unapologetic celebration of Christmas that can verge on the tooth-achingly sweet, but is perfect for if you want to be completely immersed in the holiday. I'd love to see this series get cartoon covers in the style of Shira Glassman's Mangoverse series, Clare Lydon's holiday books, or even Talia Hibbert's Brown Sisters series, because I think that would better match the mood of the this story.

The conflict is that someone is going around convincing people to not believe anymore. Claudia has to try to stop this nefarious villain before they lose any more Christmas magic! Although it sounds like a kids' movie, this is a romance novel, which means we see 25-year-old Claudia earnestly asking other adults why they've stopped believing in Santa. It was a little jarring, but in this world, adults who believe do get gifts from Santa every year, so it makes sense in this context.

Did I mention that this is a romance? Of course, you're coming to the Lesbrary not just for generic holiday cheer, so you'll be happy to know that this includes a very sweet romance. It definitely falls into the instalove category, but it works for this very cute book. Claudia crushes on Jillian hard when they meet. Jillian is technically her assistant, but because the role of Comet changes and Jillian's job stays the same, it didn't feel like a power difference to me: they both seemed like equals. They made for an adorable romance, starting with clueless lesbian flirting (she's obviously hitting on you, Claudia!) and including lots of healthy communication.

Although this is a sweet book with a pretty straightforward plot, there are a lot of details to enjoy as well. I loved seeing Once & Future by Amy Rose Capetta and Cori McCarthy get a shout-out (I've got the sequel on my bedside table right now!), and there's a Star Trek-loving reindeer who swears in Klingon. Claudia is visiting New York for the first time, and she revels in getting the classic Christmas in New York experience, including going to Macy's, Times Square, seeing The Nutcracker, and more. Claudia also has anxiety, which is own voices representation. She manages it with breathing exercises and other techniques, which it was nice to see included.

This is the first book in the series, so it's not surprising that everything isn't tied up completely, but it did feel a bit anticlimactic in terms of the overarching plot, though Claudia's story concludes nicely. I feel like I guessed the mystery really early in the book, but I'm not sure yet if I'm right. I look forward to the next book in the series, which seems to be about Prancer--will every reindeer get their own story?

In the afterword, Delilah Night says she wrote this because "after how bruising 2020 has been, can anyone blame us for wanting something a little sweet?" This definitely fits the criteria for sweet, but be prepared: only pick this up if you're ready for a heavy dose of Christmas cheer!

[Jammin Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this quirky Christmas tale about a reindeer called up at the last minute to join Santa's team. It was a fun idea of reindeers morphing into human form, and working with elves and snowmen to bring Christmas to life. I also liked the mystery that Claudia (aka Comet) and Jillian (Comet's Personal Assistant) had to solve, and the romance that bloomed between them.

[Vicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a cute Christmas story, with so many fun characters such as Rudolph...but it's not what you think. Imagine those who are non-believers in Santa. Now picture someone willing to pay others to get people to stop believing in Santa. Add to that some adorable characters, such as a half-elf/half-human, and others I won't spoil for you. This is a short, fun, and surprisingly enjoyable Christmas read. And add just a sweet, "hot" romance. Well, not all that hot but if kissing till your lips swell then count it as hot.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author, Delilah Night, for a free ebook for my honest opinion.
#CometsFirstChristmas #NetGalley

[Alex Can Read]

Comet’s First Christmas is a cute workplace romance that takes place at the heart of Christmas – Reindeer and the North Pole. Elves and Christmas cheer about throughout the story, all with interesting twists. The reindeer leading Santa’s sleigh are technologically savvy, dedicated shapeshifters. Rather than settling for the basic elements of Christmas we all expect, Night plays with expectations and turns them on their heads. It’s still as wholesome and kind as you’d want a Christmas story to be, but with details and elements that surprised me and made for a richer, more unique setting.

Of course it wouldn’t be a Romance, without some romance and the love story at the center of Comet’s First Christmas was very sweet. A little insta-love never hurt, especially in a story as short and sweet as this one. Claudia and Jillian are fun characters to get to know and I was definitely rooting for them from the page they met.

It was fun to read something outside of my usual repertoire and the HEA at the end was satisfying and left me feeling pleased and cozy – ready for hot cocoa, sweaters and Christmas jingles.

If you’re in the mood for a cute cozy romance brimming with Christmas Cheer, Comet’s First Christmas should definitely be on your wishlist – whether you’ve been naughty or nice!

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was exactly as advertised - a quick, sweet, enjoyable romp - and just what I wanted. I have to admit that I wasn’t sure what to expect, as this is my first Delilah Night title, and I was pleasantly surprised. I took advantage of the ‘Look Inside’ feature before buying, and the quirky nature of the Christmas Magic, as well as the good writing, made my decision to buy an easy one. That quirkiness continues throughout the book, as does the solid writing, and gave me a fun, sweet story that I thoroughly enjoyed. My only issue is that the story is fairly short, which means the relationship develops rather quickly and there isn’t much resolution with the Bad Santa aspect. I’m certain that will be an ongoing arc in the other books, and it will be interesting to see what comes next. I’m looking forward to Prancer’s story next Christmas.

[mònica • nightingfae · Rating 3 out of 5]

Originally published on nightingfae's blog

"You're never too old to believe."

Claudia is a wannabe Santa Claus's reindeer, her dream is to be part of his team, and the opportunity arrives when she's offered to supplement Comet's place, then she becomes the new Comet. She's presented to the whole team and instructed to know how everything works to make sure the Big Show is perfectly curated and executed. But a threat appears around the world, turning believers to non-believers, and Comet and the rest of the team will have to fix it before the Big Show, risking revealing the truth to the world.

My first thought right after starting the book was that Claudia's adventure starts too suddenly, you don't even get a sneak of what would be a normal day in her life in the North Pole that she's joining Santa's troops. I missed a little introduction of her, who she is, what she likes, her whereabouts during a regular day, etc. And maybe a depiction of how the North Pole in this new fantastic world. But then I liked how Delilah Night writes Claudia's first experiences, how she lived, discovered and absorbed all those new things for the first time. The writing in those parts was great, I could really feel how amused and excited Claudia was for going through all that.

And talking about the writing, it saddened me that sometimes it wasn't as descriptive as I wished it was. It was a bit simple sometimes and the character's reactions were somehow childish at times, which for the main character could be attributed to the fact that she's leaving her home for the first time in her whole life, that she's is living new experiences and has to deal with people she doesn't know much about. But even so, I felt something was missing in the writing style. Just like the romance, it felt weak, too spontaneous and fast, a bit expected and somehow superficial.

"Gifts aren't meant to be an obligation."

What I liked the least was that cliffhanger at the end of the book. The villain is introduced by the second half of the book, but the mystery is not resolved, you don't even know their real name. And I personally dislike these type of cliffhangers where you will have to read the upcoming books to find who's the villain of the story, or to know how the main character will develop, because it makes the first book look like just an introduction for the rest of the books.

But what I liked the most was that Claudia is realistic, she has anxiety and suffers from panic attacks, that makes her human –though she's actually a human-morphing reindeer– and we don't get enough characters with such real problems and illnesses, we need more representation(!!!). And I also liked that this book does talk about deeper issues than apparently it may seem –it touches topics such as feminism and feminine empowerment, equality, and how the rules at the workplace make all of us lose our own personality at work, materializing it with the elves' uniforms in the North Pole. That was quite a subject to think about.

You should read this book if you're looking for a light Christmas read, to get into the holiday spirit and to enjoy a beautiful f/f romance.

Thanks to Delilah Night for sending me an ARC of her book in exchange for an honest review.

[Lorraine Rusnack · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet Christmas romance story with a twist. I like the originality of this book. It has all the things you think about at Christmas reindeer, elves,snowmen, Rockefeller center and Santa. You’ll have fun reading this book.

[Marzie]

Comet's First Christmas, first book in the North Pole Chronicles follows a shapeshifter reindeer named Claudia who is called up to assume the Comet position among Santa's reindeer when Wendy, the current Comet (the classic reindeer names are all titles), finds out she's pregnant with twins. (Let's face it, Wendy's wife is simply not having her fly while pregnant with twins...). Claudia's posting is in the Big Apple- New York City- and there she has to deal with the stress of her first big job in the Christmas organization, figuring out who is going around ruining Christmas for Nice believers, and even more challenging, her attraction to her personal assistant, Jillian. But still, it's absolutely the most exciting thing to happen to her in her twenty-five-year lead up to becoming one of Santa's reindeer. Add the promise of seeing Broadway musicals and eating cheese pizza and Claudia has arrived at a very exciting place.

This is a light and fun paranormal romance centered on the Christmas holidays with Santa Claus and his famous reindeer. The writing is imaginative and fun. Night has put a lot of thought into the technology that would be required to run a modern Santa enterprise and even things like a Nordic diet for reindeer shapeshifters. All in all, this is diverting and happy, which is perfect for the present times. If you're looking for something to put you in the mood for Christmas, this is a book you should check out!

In full disclosure, since many of my readers know I don't go for a lot of romance, Delilah Night is a personal friend. Her book put a smile on my face!

[Yahli Rot · Rating 4 out of 5]

So sweet

The universe described in this story is amazingly detailed and believable. I had so much fun reading it, it's cute and Christmasy. Highly recommended.

[Greg Dixon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Comets first Christmas 1

A good read for people who are in to the series recommend highly can't wait for the next one of the series a really enjoyable read but quick shaping up to be a enjoyable series must read the next one of the series

[Kassandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review contains minor *Spoilers*

I'm normally not much of a romance reader, but the unrelenting misery of 2020, the anxiety around the election, and the potential collapse of our civil society have made untenable my usual go-to's of dystopian science fiction or political histories on the rise of authoritarianism, which is why I really appreciated Comet's First Christmas. The main character, Claudia, is an engaging young, um, were-reindeer(?) from Santa's workshop at the North Pole who is assigned to the New York office in preparation for her role as "Comet" during "the big show". She is anxious to prove herself and eager to take in all that Christmas in New York City as to offer. She becomes involved not only in a heady romance with another of Santa's helpers but also in a plot to undermine the very spirit of Christmas. Again, not my usual bag, but I really enjoyed the interplay of the characters, the mashup of magic and tech (a reindeer that speaks Klingon? Whaaat?), and the walk down memory lane. Having grown up in the NYC suburbs, I could actually smell the roasting chestnuts from the sidewalk vendors on 5th avenue. The story left me wanting more, which is always the mark of a good read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recommend this book

Sweet Christmas romance. Fun read I enjoyed the elves and the reindeer. Thanks for a fun read and a sweet Christmas story.

[Lesbian Romance Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paranormal romance/mystery series. In this world, reindeer are shapeshifters. They can take human form or magical reindeer form. Claudia is picked to take over Comet's place on the Big Show.

[Nini]

Rep: many lesbians, panic attacks/disorder
CWs: panic attacks/disorder, stalking
The only saving grace of this book was that it’s sapphic. There were MANY lesbian characters, and their queerness was fully normalized. Which was really nice. The anxiety rep was *okay.* I loved the normalization of mindfulness/grounding/coping techniques that a lot of people dismiss as silly or childish or unrealistic. These are things that genuinely do help a lot of people with anxiety and panic disorders (myself included), and we need to stop making fun of them. But overall the rep felt a bit forced and stilted? It’s certainly not bad rep, and I won’t say it’s inaccurate, especially since the author based a lot of it off her own experiences. What I mean is the way it was written was awkward and forced.
Other than that, I won’t hesitate to say I hate this book. I went into it hoping to just laugh at the ridiculousness of a reindeer shifter romance, and obviously that part was indeed ridiculous. The main character ate hay in human form, and the shifters don’t own actual clothes?? They just morph to be wearing whatever outfit they want instead of putting on clothes. But the entire premise was really creepy and uncomfortable??
The plot of this book is that someone is going around and talking people out of believing in Santa. The reindeer and elves have magic phones that allow them to track who believes and who doesn’t and who’s naughty and nice (including lists of exactly the “naughty” and “nice” things they do). So to “fix the issue,” the reindeer and elves stalk the people who stopped believing, and convince them to believe in Christmas again. It’s not okay to fully STALK people, use that information to visit them at their houses, places of work, etc., and take it upon yourself to change their beliefs.
I do not have much else to say about this book. It was a disappointment, and that’s saying a lot considering how low my expectations were. And apparently there’s a sequel coming out this October which is..ridiculous. And no, I will not be reading it.

[Ela The Queer Bookish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read the whole review on The Queer Bookish

A sweet F/F christmas romance, finally!

And it even offers fantasy/paranormal features too! Though I do admit that I was slightly worried there could be bestiality in Comet’s First Christmas – with Claudia being a reindeer and all. Luckily this is not the chase! The reindeers can shift between their human and their animal form and I love how Delilah Night incorporates this aspect into the story.

But more about the world building later because first I have to gush about Claudia’s anxiety.

Read more here

[Lauren Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

At Christmas time, all I want to read are happy, cheery books that will help me get into the festivities. Comet’s First Christmas has that in spades. With a shapeshifting reindeer protagonist and her workplace romance with an elf, this novella will take you traipsing through New York at Christmas. There are practice sleigh rides, mall Santas, ice skating, and plenty of holiday goodies. If you want a lighthearted, seasonal romance, this one will check your list. The only thing that left me disappointed was that the mystery wasn’t solved in the end, but I’m guessing we get those answers in book 2.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a digital ARC for review purposes.

[Mx Phoebe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Comet’s First Christmas is a fun cozy mystery written by Delilah Night. Night takes us around New York City at Christmas time as Claudia and Jillian try to solve the mystery. Night infuses the story with comedy, romance, magic, and of course holiday cheer. I love New York during the holidays and Night gives the city that fresh-eyed look through Claudia. The mystery is fun, but not truly solved, but no worries because Night is giving a sequel next year! Make sure to be on the lookout for Prancer���s story as this is an annual mystery you want to read.

[Phylis Carpenter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I must say that this book took me by surprise when I first started reading it. I was not expecting Santa's reindeer to take human form and to have an Assistant. But that's exactly what happened.

There was a lot to learn to become one of Santa's reindeer and usually others have had a little longer to learn what they needed to. Unfortunately Comet was thrown into this and had very little time to go to New York or to learn what she needed to know. She had to learn about the Naughty and Nice list among other things.

Just a cute whimsical book that I think you will enjoy.

[Tina Layner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It was so entertaining. I laughed throughout the entire book. When Claudia, aka comet, dreamed of flying on the big day, she never thought it would be in a few weeks. She then met Jillian and they became friends. Jillian took her under her wing and helped her with her anxiety problems. Will her and Jillian become more than friends and will she be invited to pull the sleigh next year?

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first book in The North Pole Chronicles series a well written short story that heldmy interest until the end, this is a F/F story. I enjoyed reading Claudia/Comet and Jillian's story. A story that had me smiling as I read. This is a new Author to me. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Scarolet Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Comet's First Christmas by Delilah Night is a wonderful story to read. This is book number one in this wonderful start to a brand new series that I am so hooked on and can not wait to read more, I highly recommend this story to everyone who loves reading about LGBT, fantasy and holiday romance.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kerri · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really want to give it 4 stars but I think that's holiday me talking lol. This is so cute, and so charming. Turns the reindeer tale on its head in the best possible way and I will be seeking out the next in the series. Don't let the cringy cover dissuade you, if holiday magic is your vibe this book is for you.

[Delia Smyth]

Felt like it was a child’s book

[Remi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn’t expect this book to be good, and it…wasn’t! Buuuut it wasn’t bad in a way that made it really hard to read, it was just funny how bad it was.

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fluffy and cute, also a quick reading. Loved the whole idea about how the Pole works, the reindeers bring gay etc. Buying book 2 ASAP

[Maisie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was sent a copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Delilah Night describes Comet's First Christmas as being like a lesbian Hallmark movie - so how could I resist reading it?

This book definitely has a lot of the elements which make a Hallmark movie enjoyable - it's lighthearted, has a good dose of humour, lots of Christmas magic, and (of course) a sweet romance. This particular romance is between one of Santa's reindeer (who can shapeshift - all kissing is done in human form) and an elf. They are colleagues, but their romance seems very genuine and not inappropriate, which is my main concern when it comes to workplace romances! The romance is served up alongside the main plotline of saving Christmas, which is a classic for a reason but written with a modern twist.

Some of my favourite aspects of this book:
* All of Santa's reindeer are lesbians.
* The MC has anxiety, which I think (from my own experience) was represented well.
* Nerdy reindeer. Think along the lines of being fluent in fictional languages, being a tech whiz, Star Trek themed gifts, and (best of all) recommending "Once & Future" by Amy Rose Capetta and Cory McCarthy
* I most definitely needed to read this kind of short & sweet holiday romance to help me de-stress!

Although I liked this book, there were a couple of reasons why I didn't love it. I did feel that the pacing was a little rushed in places, though that didn't detract too much from the book as a whole. A few parts of the book did leave me with questions which I don't think were resolved, but more in terms of worldbuilding than plot (e.g. parthenogenesis, reindeer-human relationships). One thing which I do want to warn my trans friends about is that the word "genderbend" is used at one point (context: in a conversation about how women can't play Santa in 'Santa's Grotto' type attractions
Heads up: the ending of this story is definitely set up for a sequel, so readers who prefer all plot to be wrapped up in one book may find the conclusion a little disappointing.

Overall however, if you want to read a contemporary, lighthearted Christmas story full of magical realism this month I would definitely consider giving this one a try.

(A note on my reading dates for anyone who looks at those things - The time between my date started and date finished does not reflect the book itself at all. I could have read this book in a day or two in terms of its length and content, but unfortunately a few personal factors made it basically impossible for me to read anything for about a month not long after I started reading this! Many apologies to the author for my delay.)

[MIPat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Comet's First Christmas presents a unique version of Santa, reindeer and the North Pole. Lesbian reindeer shifters? Blue Snowmen as Security? Undercover elves? A Naughty or Nice database and magic phones? Check, check, check and check. That said, the story is well written with relatable characters and a solid plot. Ms. Night gently urges the reader to think about Christmas rituals and their impact on personal value systems, and most of all, to cherish the special magic of the holidays.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.