All I Want from Santa

by Lisa Jackson

A much-loved early classic from #1 New York Times bestselling author Lisa Jackson, this heartwarming holiday tale is set in small-town Oregon, where a little girl’s letter to Santa ends up bringing the gift of romance to a widowed mom and a single dad.


Christmas wishes do come true…

Dear Readers,

The type of novels I write may have changed since I was first published, but even an early story like this one still has familiar traits. There’s the location, for All I Want from Santa (originally published as New Year’s Daddy ) is set in Oregon, a place I truly love and have made the backdrop for many of my other novels…

The small town of Cascadia is home to Veronica Walsh and her young daughter, Amy. If Ronni still believed in Santa, she’d ask for a chance to buy the rundown old lodge next door and turn it into a B&B. Amy’s Christmas wish list, on the other hand, includes one item that catches Ronni a new daddy. But four years after losing her husband in a tragic accident, Ronni doesn’t plan to get involved with anyone—least of all the lodge’s new owner.

Travis Keegan has moved from Seattle to get his wayward teenaged son back on track. Yet the moment he meets Ronni, he wonders if this could be the fresh start they all need. Healing from loss and melding their two families won’t be easy, but Christmas in Cascadia has a magic that may just prove irresistible…

All I Want from Santa is a heartwarming holiday romance—the kind that never goes out of style, and the kind I still love to read. I hope you do too.

Happy Holidays!

Lisa Jackson

Genres: Christmas, Romance, Holiday, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Fiction, Unfinished

320 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1995

About the author

Lisa Jackson is the number-one New York Times bestselling author of over ninety-five novels, including the Rick Bentz and Reuben Montoya Series, the Pescoli and Alvarez Series, the Savannah series, and numerous stand alone novels. She also is the co-author of One Last Breath, Last Girl Standing, and the Colony Series, written with her sister and bestselling author Nancy Bush, as well as the collaborative novels Sinister and Ominous, written with Nancy Bush and Rosalind Noonan. There are over thirty million copies of her novels in print and her writing has been translated into twenty languages.

Before she became a nationally bestselling author, she was a mother struggling to keep food on the table by writing novels, hoping against hope that someone would pay her for them. Today, neck deep in murder, her books appear on The New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly national bestseller lists.

With dozens of bestsellers to her name, Lisa Jackson is a master of taking readers to the edge of sanity—and back—in novels that buzz with dangerous secrets and deadly passions. She continues to be fascinated by the minds and motives of both her killers and their pursuers—the personal, the professional, and the downright twisted. As she builds the puzzle of relationships, actions, clues, lies, and personal histories that haunt her protagonists, she must also confront the fear and terror faced by her victims and the harsh and enduring truth that, in the real world, terror and madness touch far too many lives and families.

Visit http://www.LisaJackson.com where you can find a Media Kit with photos and more information.

Reviews

[Carrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

All I Want from Santa by Lisa Jackson is a contemporary romance that of course takes place during the Christmas season. This is not a new book but one that is being republished this year having originally been released in 1995.

Veronica, or Ronnie as she prefers to be called, lives alone with her daughter Amy in a small cabin next to a wonderful property Ronnie would love to purchase to start an Inn. In the meantime Ronnie does whatever she can to provide for her daughter and herself.

When Ronnie is working as on the slopes as part of the ski patrol she comes across an injured boy. When the boy’s father picks him up Ronnie finds that these are her new neighbors having bought the property Ronnie longed for. Travis Keegan moved to escape the corporate world and begin again after his divorce and Travis begins to enjoy the time with is new neighbor.

All I Want from Santa by Lisa Jackson was a Christmas story that had a good foundation but ended up being one of those books I felt was just alright for me in the end. I wanted there to be a lot more depth to this one as I felt it spent a lot of time on the characters past and building who they were but not much at all on making me see and feel what they would be together so it felt rushed into an insta love situation. The foundation was a cute heartwarming read but it needed to go deeper in my opinion.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/

[Deanne Patterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in small-town Oregon, a young woman and her toddler daughter are preparing for Christmas. Young daughter, Amy asks Santa in a letter for a daddy. Mom's wish is to buy the rundown old lodge next door and turn it into a B&B but when it's sold her hopes are dashed.
Moving in next door is a man who at first she can barely tolerate but things start to warm up as they discover they have a lot in common.
Sweet,quick read. I read it in several hours while my husband watched the Steeler's game tonight.
Nice holiday romance, the kind that never goes out of style.


Pub Date 28 Sep 2021
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick read. I really enjoyed the beginning of this story, but had a hard time with Ronnie and Travis' relationship, i wished this was developed more for the pace of the book. I did find my self agreeing with Brian alot that it was all a little fast.

[Nadene (Totally Addicted to Reading) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

All I Want from Santa is my first read for the HoHoHo Readathon hosted by Kimberly over at Caffeinated Reviewer. Originally published in 1995, All I Want From Santa delivered a heartwarming Christmas romance. 

All I Want From Santa introduced Veronica aka Ronnie and her four-year-old daughter Amy. Ronnie dreams of owning the lodge next door to operate as a bed-and-breakfast. If only she still believed in Christmas miracles. Amy, on the other hand, who firmly believes in Santa, wishes for a puppy and, most of all, a daddy. Getting the puppy for her daughter would be easier than getting the daddy. Ronnie is not looking to get involved with anyone, as she is still mourning the loss of her husband. While carrying out her duties as a Ski Patroller, she meets Travis Keegan.

Recently divorced Travis Keegan moved to Cascadia to escape the corporate world and keep his son, Bryan, away from bad company. However, Bryan’s dissatisfaction with the move manifested in his belligerent behaviour. The property Travis bought happened to the one Ronnie dreamed of one day owning. Travis’s focus was on building a relationship with his son and had no room for intimate relations. However, meeting Ronnie had him reconsidering his priorities.

The gorgeous cover influenced my decision to pick up All I Want from Santa. The story between the pages of this heartwarming story elicited feelings of nostalgia. Of all the characters featured, Amy stole the show. Precocious, outspoken and just plain adorable. She will steal your heart. Brian’s behaviour was typical of what one would expect from a teenager who resented changes which came with divorce, relocation and loss of friends.

The romance proved to be a disappointment. The timeline between their initial meeting and the development of their relationship developed in the blink of an eye. Before you know it, marriage was being proposed. All of this took place with little time spent getting to know each other. Also, there were other sections of the story, which could have benefited from further development.

Narration
This is my second experience with Susan Bennett narration. She did a great job capturing the voices and the emotions of the characters. She brought life to the story and her pace and tone were spot on. 

Conclusion/Recommendation
Overall, All I Want From Santa was a charming read, with wonderful characters and suitable for readers who enjoy Christmas themed romance.

This review was originally posted on Totally Addicted to Reading

[Wendy W. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three and a half Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭒

All I Want From Santa, by Lisa Jackson is a cute, stand-alone romance book that is a sweet lovely story about second chances.

Ronnie (Veronica) Walsh and her daughter Amy live in the small, mountain town of Cascadia. Ronnie has a warehouse business and works as a ski patrol on the nearby slopes. Ronnie is a widow, her husband Hank died three years ago, just after Amy was born.

Amy wishes for a puppy and a Dad for Christmas. The puppy is easy, but Ronnie is still morning her husband and doesn't need a man in her life. But, when Travis Keegan and his 15-year-old son move in across the street, Ronnie starts to question her devotion to staying a single mother.

All I Want From Santa is a very sweet, and hopeful book. This is a re-issue of a much earlier book by Lisa Jackson, and it did feel a bit dated to me. Not only were the characters using landlines instead of cell phones, but some of the thoughts and actions of the main characters were also dated. But, I put myself back in the 90s and just enjoyed this old-fashioned love story, and enjoyed it for what it is, instead of mentally trying to update this book!

The writing is very good, and the story did grab me and my heart. It’s very sweet and a bit predictable, but still fun and enjoyable. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a reissue of an old category romance, but even for a category romance the main couple got together and married at a breakneck speed.

[☠Kayla☠ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a perfect way to start and end my Christmas this year. Such a cute little story about love and family.

[Amy Ingalls · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway.

This book was just what you would expect from a Christmas romance of this length. I thought the beginning held a lot of promise-- I liked getting to know Ronnie and her experience with grief and being a single parent, and I also liked Travis's story-- moving for his son, going through a divorce, and looking for a fresh start. The only problem is that all this background was introduced and then there was no development. Travis was suddenly proposing to Ronnie. They never once said they loved each other. Most glaringly, they never discussed this with their children. No wonder Bryan is pissed. My kids were 12 and 14 when I married my husband-- after dating for 4 years-- and he still took them out and "asked" for their blessing. It was a sweet, predictable, and insta-love story with characters and a setting that I liked, and it made me wish this was a full-length, fully developed book.

[Bree · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel like this book moved too fast, and there were some very large holes in the plot. However, it was a very sweet story!

[Vickie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a sweet romance that was originally published in the 1990’s with a different title and publisher and is a little dated without today’s gadgets and technology, but it was still a lovely story. Veronica (Ronni) Walsh is a widowed single mom who lives in the mountains in a small town and is raising her precocious daughter Amy. Ronni ships packages from a warehouse and volunteers with the ski patrol, but what she really wants to do is own a B & B. On her duties as a rescuer, she meets Travis Keegan, a single dad dealing with his rebellious and resentful teen son named Bryan. The plot is predictable, but getting to the ending was quite entertaining. The two kids stole the show in this book, both of them equally demanding in different ways. Amy decides that she wants a puppy for Christmas and Bryan just wants to be anywhere that his dad is not. With insight and empathy, the author weaves a story that ties these two together in a way that is filled with coincidences. This is a standalone Christmas romance that was engaging with likable characters.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Kensington via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

[Cathy Geha · Rating 3 out of 5]

All I Want from Santa by Lisa Jackson

A timeless holiday romance written by one of today’s leading authors. It is always fun and interesting to see what a favorite author wrote like earlier in time, what changes and directions were changed and what might have remained the same. In 1995 times were different, and that shows up in places within this story, but it is still all about family and holiday cheer, making wishes come true, and a happily ever after.

What I liked:
* Seeing what Lisa Jackson wrote for Harlequin long ago
* Revisiting the era that the book was written in and thinking about how times have changed and yet remained the same
* Watching Veronica “Ronnie” Walsh as she dealt with her business, worked ski patrol, took care of her four-year-old daughter, interacted with extended family, dealt with mourning her husband, and eventually fell in love.
* Seeing Travis Keegan deal with a major crossroads in his life while taking care of his fourteen-year-old rather obnoxious son.
* Amy: four-year-old daughter of Ronnie who has a list of wants for Santa
* Bryan: fourteen-year-old son of Travis who has a chip on his shoulder, surly attitude, and rather disagreeable “see-me” attitude.
* The side story of Ronnie’s sister and sister’s family
* Watching Bryan’s journey
* The way Amy’s wish list was achieved by…Santa?

What I didn’t like:
* Remembering the stereotypical male with ideas about “a woman’s place and duties”
* The obnoxious teenager – though I did understand him
* Thinking about: the pain experienced by Ronnie losing her husband, Bryan’s upheavals due to move and mother leaving, the trauma that can occur on ski slopes, and how fragile life can be.
* That it was a bit formulaic and dated

Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Will I read more by this author? Yes

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the ARC - This is my honest review.

3-4 Stars

[Lyndsey Bookish Nature · Rating 3 out of 5]

~~~ I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review ~~~

All I Want from Santa is a fun holiday read. This book is is actually a re-release of a holiday title ("New Year's Daddy") by Lisa Jackson from 1995. This story encompasses everything Christmas-y from decorating trees to a budding romance! The themes of this book are healing, family, and love. A couple annoyances to me as a reader, and probably since this book was written in 1995- it just seems a little outdated, especially in the relationship between the main characters, Ronnie (Veronica) and Travis (who is a tad chauvinistic); a couple more examples: Ronnie buckling her 4-year-old daughter in the front seat of her van and Ronnie then leaving her sleeping alone in the house while she was making love in the barn... not plausible (or at least I hope not!)... Overall, however, pretty good read, I enjoyed Ronnie and Travis' chemistry and the Cascades location. This is a good book for any holiday to-read-list.

[Kaitlin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wow wow wow....

This one was not a hit for me, at all. I feel like when authors want to write a sexy lovable grump, they sometimes hit a little too hard on the anger, and instead of loveable grump I just think man with too much of a temper.

I almost DNFed at the end. I was annoyed at the whole thing but only had like 30 pages left so I powered through.

.
.
.

Spoilers ahead... this couple got married without even saying, "I love you" to each other or having a conversation with the FMC's stepson to be. Just... eww. Like I get that they're both supposed to be a bit impatient and stuff but come on.
Also there was an almost sex scene and a sex scene and they both took place outdoors, in December, in the cold. Maybe they were steamy. I dunno, I was too distracted by how miserable both scenes sounded to me. Taking off your coat, sweater, and bra, outside while it's snowing, and the kids are both home, and like, having them go inside and act like nothing happened afterwards, she'd be soaked or have frostbite. I said aloud to my husband after the first scene, "I bet this author has never been in an actual snowstorm in her life."

Oh and Travis's constantly changing name annoyed me. If different people called him by his first name and some called him by his last name it'd be fine. But people kept switching it up and no one else called each other by their last names. The inconsistency was irritating.

[Irene · Rating 3 out of 5]

All I Want from Santa by Lisa Jackson A pleasant and heart warming Christmas story for little Amy and her mom, Roni. Amy's Christmas list was filled with not one but two puppies, a new Dad and a grinchy older brother.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet romance featuring single parents. The setting was magical and the plot lovely.

[Ciara Reads 5 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book, I originally bought it because I thought it was a mystery because that's the majority of her books that I've read. I was pleasantly surprised, though!

[Diana Wanek · Rating 1 out of 5]

Warning Pornography Enters at Chapter 7 😩

Had I known there would be sexually explicit writing in this book I would have passed. Chapter 7 brought the heartfelt sadness of this writing. Again in chapter 10. The story for me would have gotten a higher rating had sexual acts been left out. I would have also liked the characters to address the many main issues in their lives rather than just brush them off. I do become attached to characters when I read and my heart breaks for the many poor choices each character made in this story. Thankfully they are fictional.

[Steph Macisso · Rating 2 out of 5]

I want to start by saying that I hardly ever write bad reviews because I believe that everyone has different taste in books and a book that someone hates might be someone else’s favorite. With that being said I think this may be my least favorite romance I’ve ever read.

Not only was the love interest a possessive jerk, he was also a pretty shitty father. The main couple had no chemistry and they got married without dating, before talking with their kids, and without saying they love each other. The whole thing was very odd.

Terms like “women’s work” and “leave it to the men” were also used way too often for my liking

[🌻Sarah Long🦋 · Rating 1 out of 5]

I ended up DNFing this book. I loved it from the start. I was into the characters and the story. They lost me around the 70% mark when they decided to get married… okay, I get it, romance books usually go to that fast sometimes but geez. The words I love you hadn’t even been spoken and she agrees to this? She has a 4 year old daughter to think about here. After that, I just couldn’t get back into it because it was just soooooooo fast. I’m talking probably less than a month of knowing each other.

[Christina DeSalva · Rating 2 out of 5]

The love story was just peripheral for me. I read for the vibes. snowy mountains around Christmastime.

Everything was great until the last third of the book, when the male love interest got super pushy and toxic. We’re just supposed to believe he’s a strong, take-charge man, whatever that even means.

The pacing was also off. Nothing much happens in the first 2/3, but I liked it that way. Then when the book is nearly finished these plot lines come out of nowhere and fizzle out like they never happened.

[Elyse · Rating 4 out of 5]

The ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Enjoyed this read over the my mid semester break, loved the plot twists and events occurred throughout the novel. I enjoyed the love story in this read, makes me wish I read this during the holidays and have the same thing happened to me. Regardless this reignited my younger self when I was absorbed with romance. I love this so much.

[DAISY READS HORROR · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved Ronnie & Travis’ love story. This book has one of the most beautiful covers I’ve ever seen too!
& Jackson did a great job 👏 on writing the love scenes in the snow ❄️. Pure delight! I love her thriller books, but I’m hoping she writes more like this one in the future as well!

[Kori · Rating 1 out of 5]

*Tyra Banks voice* If I could give this a 0/5 I would, but since that is not possible, I give this a 1. I had many issues with this book. Based off of the synopsis, I was expecting a kind of gooey, Hallmark-esk book to read over Christmas. However it kind of felt like an unedited, rushed mess. The relationship between Victoria and Travis was so rushed it felt like whiplash. One minute, Victoria was still pining over her dead husband from 4 years ago, and then in the span of 2-3 weeks (to be honest, the timeline wasn't very clear but I am assuming that this all happened in the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas) married to some random man she just met. Travis is uncomfortably pushy towards her, regardless of the fact that HE JUST MET HER, and his son CLEARLY is having a really hard time adapting to moving to a state he knows no one, in a house that's really run down and needs fixing, and that his mother really only wants him when it's convenient. Travis basically pushed Victoria into marrying him when they haven't even dated or started a relationship, which was weird, and wouldn't take no for an answer, despite how often she would express that she wasn't ready for another relationship/husband yet. It also bothered me that after she said yes to marrying him and even after they rushed off to get married the literal next day - she kept saying "love with surely come later" as if she KNEW they weren't in love because they had really only kissed a couple of times and had sex once in the 3 weeks of knowing each other. Travis also kept putting a lot of mysoginistic tones onto their relationship; saying that he wanted a woman who would raise his kids, clean his house, and take care of him, when he knew that Victoria was a strong, independent woman who wanted an equal partnership (which she let all his comments go as if they were jokes when they didn't have a sarcastic/jokey tone to them at all and he kept saying it to her as if he was trying to drill it into her head that if she wanted him, that was how she was to behave). All of this adding to the fact that Travis' son, Bryan, was CLEARLY not okay with anything that was going on and wasn't even included in the decision for his father to start dating someone, let alone get married and have her along with her 4 year old daughter move in with them in a matter of weeks of knowing them. I spent this entire time cringing at how fast everything was going between these two and screaming that they needed to pay more attention to Bryan. Speaking of the children, Amy, who was 4, had characteristics of a 8-10 year old. This book could have really benefitted from some editing and updating. Not only because of the copious amount of grammatical errors I kept running into, but also from the fact that things kept being repeated, but in different formats, there was no character development, the pacing was SEVERELY off, and there were tons of scenes that just felt unnatural and uncomfortable. It was really had to believe that these two main characters could ever possibly be together with their lack of chemistry and it was really hard to believe that Victoria's character was so consumed by the loss of her husband, Hank, and then all of the sudden she just wasn't anymore? All in all, it was not the fun, lighthearted, Christmas book that I thought it was going to be. It wasn't even a whirlwind romance that I couldn't help but root for. Lisa Jackson being one of my favorite author's really missed the mark for me on this one. I know this was a reprint of the story she had written (in the 80s?), but I really feel like if she was going to rebrand this, this year, she should have reworked it and had it reedited so that it would have made sense and wasn't so awful. She has grown so much since this story was written and the fact that she didn't put an ounce of thought into a rework with her current skillset just tells me that this was a cash grab for the holidays.

[Catherine · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a really disappointing first book for my holiday reads. It was kind of like a plane crash. Everything started fine and then out of nowhere it just really took a nosedive and then everything was a big hot mess. I could totally get behind everything in the beginning: Ronni is the single widowed mother of Amy, Travis is the single divorced father of angsty teen Brian. Ronni and Travis are super attracted to each other at first sight (despite the description of Travis’ thin lips 🤮). They start to get to know each other and then BAM! He is fully clothed while she’s almost fully naked in the snow. Suddenly Travis realized it’s moving too fast and then WHAM! Ronni is butt ass naked in the barn while, surprise surprise, Travis is FULLY CLOTHED. Lmao idk why but the fact that she was stark naked outside in the snow while he was all bundled up and cozy, really just took me out. And I could get behind two single parents being attracted to each other and maybe thinking they’re ready to date, but no. They’ve known each other for like 2-3 weeks max and Travis decides to pop the question. AND RONNI SAYS YES?! AND THEY GET MARRIED THE NEXT DAY. How is this a good decision to two smart, business minded individuals. Travis is a BILLIONAIRE and never brings up a prenup? They never talk finances. They kind of never talk about anything. Like how Ronni had already gotten Amy a dog for Christmas and instead of asking Ronni if it was okay to get Amy a dog for Christmas (and she would have said “no, I already got her one,”) Travis just goes and gets one and thrusts another mouth to feed upon Ronni. He could even have offered to keep the 2nd dog, but he didn’t. Oh my god, and Ronni saying she thought she loved Travis more than she had her deceased high school sweetheart and father to her child, possibly because “so much time had passed”?! Fuck OFF Ronnie. That’s bullshit. You’ve known Travis LITERALLY less than a month and Hank has only been dead for four years! Get some goddamn therapy. #justiceforhank

[Christine Gardner · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book from Goodreads First reads in exchange for an honest review.

All I want from Santa is sweet, predictable love story set in Cascadia Oregon.
Ronnie Walsh is a single mom who has her own business and works part-time with the Ski Patrol rescuing injured people from the mountain. 4 years prior, she lost her husband Hank, who was the love of her life, to the mountain. She has resigned herself to be both mom & dad to her daughter Amy and has no plans to entertain any future relationships. Amy is a lovable, strong willed kid, and all she wants for Christmas is a puppy for herself and a new daddy for her mommy.

Travis Keegan is a divorced, single dad to a rebellious teenage boy named Bryan. Travis has spent his life in the corporate world focusing on his career and making money. He made a decision to start a new life inclusive of moving to a remote town and building a relationship with his son. Creating this new life is his primary focus and he has no plans for any long term commitments, until Ronnie & Travis meet, after she rescues Bryan from the mountain when he is injured in a ski accident. Their chemistry is instant.

This book is a little rushed. The timeline from when they meet and their joint feelings about relationships, to the culmination of their own relationship is unrealistic. There are segments in the book that seem like it may cause some drama but fizzle out and others where the storyline direction is good but ends before it gets started.

I wouldn't go into this book with high expectations for a thorough plot and expect to be fully satisfied by the end. However, if you like romances and are looking for a light, easy read then this book is a good escape for a few hours. It is cute, sometimes fun and I enjoyed it.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ronnie is busy raising her daughter as a single mother after the tragic death of her husband shortly after their child was born. She works on the ski patrol rescue team, helping people who run into trouble on the very mountain that claimed her husband's life. It's been four years, and she still hasn't been able to let him go. She still loves him. When her daughter asks for only two things for Christmas...a puppy, and a new daddy, Ronnie is forced to realize that her daughter can see just how sad she still is.

Travis Keegan is newly single, divorced and raising his son as a single dad. Worried that his son is falling in with a bad crowd, he moves them to a small Oregon town next to a ski resort. He hopes to start a quieter, new life away from the business empire he built. His son, Bryan, is cantankerous and despises the move. When Bryan has an accident on the ski slopes, he is rescued by Ronnie. When Ronnie and Travis meet, there is an undeniable connection. What follows might just be a Christmas miracle.

This story had the potential to be a charming love story. Two single parents bonding over their commonality, falling in love, and saving Christmas. I feel like it could have been that...but it fell a bit short of me. The characters didn't really interact enough for me to believe their connection was genuine. What happened on the page was more the characters' daydreaming and fantasizing about each other, but they really only met a few times on the page before their romance bloomed. I had a hard time connecting with the love story and feeling any kind of desire to see the characters together. For what should have been an emotional love story...I did not really feel it with this one.

[Jennifer Ritter · Rating 5 out of 5]

All I Want from Santa by Lisa Jackson, originally published as New Year’s Daddy in 1996, has been rereleased just in time for the holidays. Veronica (Ronni) Walsh is a busy woman running her own mail order company, raising 4 year old Amy, and working part time as part of the ski patrol on Mt. Echo. When Amy says all she wants for Christmas is a new daddy so her mommy isn’t so lonely, it goes straight to Ronni’s heart. Amy was an infant when her ski patrol daddy was lost in an avalanche. Amy doesn’t remember but Ronni is swamped with memories.

Ronni is dwelling on her loss at this time so Amy isn’t far off. On one of her ski patrol shifts, Ronni rescues a young teen who had gone into a closed area to run the spine of the devil. The boy was very lucky to only suffer a soft tissue injury, but it was Ronni who had found and brought him in. The boy’s intense father wasn’t terribly grateful, too worried to be so. But soon after he showed his gratitude for rescuing his child.

Surprisingly they were neighbors. The father, Travis Keegan, had purchased the large lakeside lodge on the next property, the one that Ronni had dreamed of buying to develop as a bed and breakfast. But this was a dream with no way to come true with Ronni’s low funds.

Once Ronni and Travis begin seeing each other as more than anxious dad and rescuer the relationship changes as does the future. This story is so much more than a family blending. It is about love and hope and making young ones feel loved and valued. It will definitely touch heartstrings and reflect the love that is at the heart of the Christmas season. I did enjoy this book and I do recommend it!

[Happily Ever After Romance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed at Happily Ever After Romance

I can read a Christmas romance at any time of the year and completely enjoy myself. In addition to that fact, I love Lisa Jackson’s work and always enjoy going back to some of her earlier stories… ones that are far different from the suspenseful tales she currently writes.

I loved Travis’ and Ronni’s story. Adults with pasts, with children to consider, somehow manage to fall in love and blend their families together during the holiday season. But not without this couple’s initial hesitation, some acting out from one teenager, or adorable requests from a little girl who simply wants a family again.

As much as I enjoyed this story, I do wish that it had been given just a little editing to bring some aspects of the storyline up-to-date since this was originally released in 1995 under a different title. It didn’t make any difference to the enjoyment factor, yet I did hesitate when outdated information or devices were mentioned.

If you love Christmas romance year-round, or if you gather up books throughout the year to binge during the holiday season, or if you simply enjoy a sweet holiday romance, then All I Want From Santa would be a perfect fit for you.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own – good, bad, or indifferent.*

[Lynne Wagner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review: This is a standalone romance by Lisa Jackson that combines a light-hearted romance with the magic of Christmas.

Veronica (Ronni) Walsh and her daughter Amy live in Cascadia, where snow sports are the main attraction. This Christmas is a little different, because Amy’s decided to ask Santa for a new daddy. Ronni is a bit dismayed, since she’s still feeling the loss of her husband from a ski accident 4 years earlier. Secretly, she’s dying to buy an old lodge next door and turn it into a bustling bed and breakfast, even asking the realtor to call her whenever someone’s ready to put in an offer. Imagine her surprise when someone moves in next door without any word!

Single dad Travis Keegan is trying to make a fresh start, after his ex-wife walked out on their marriage and moved overseas. He’s struggling to make the best of it, despite the pushback and attitude from his teenage son Bryan. After Ronni rescues Bryan from the same mountainside that took her husband, she faces mixed feelings about a new relationship with the new next-door neighbor. Overall, an easy read and an uplifting ending.

Note: I received a free copy of this ebook from the publisher via NetGalley. My review is my own. #AllIWantFromSanta #NetGalley

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story of a woman, Ronni, heartbroken from the loss of her husband just months after the birth of their daughter, Amy. It's been four years but Veronica just can't seem to move on with looking for a new relationship. She thought she was fine but when her four-year-old daughter's Santa letter wrote she wanted a pulpy and a daddy, which surprised Ronni. She thought she was being a good mother and father to her precocious little girl. But her daughter thought her mommy was sad and needed a husband, and Amy would like a daddy like other kids. Can she move on? Can she love again? Who is the new neighbor who moved into the house she'd always wanted?

This is a good beach-read, woman fiction story that has some interesting twists and turns. Some surprising events that both make you happy and sad. Rebuilding lives is not simple. I felt the events in the story, were both believable and a stretch. I liked the book and feel it to be a Hallmark typical story. A strong female lead character that I liked and very heartwarming in parts. A good read for all who like a good love story with a tragic element and life challenges. Thank you, NetGalley, Kensington Books, and author Lisa Jackson for allowing me to read this eARC this is my honest opinion.