4 Wine Glass #Review for Do You Believe in Santa? by Sierra Donovan

Title: DO YOU BELIEVE IN SANTA?
Series: Evergreen Lane #1
Author: Sierra Donovan
Format: Mass Market Paperback,  312 Pages
Published: September 29th 2015 by Zebra
ISBN-10: 1420134221
ISBN-13: 978-1420134223
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N
Reviewer: Linda
Source: Library
Rating: 4 out of 5 Wine Glasses

Miracles don’t just happen on 34th Street. They can happen right in your living room—if you’re willing to believe…

What grown woman claims to have seen Santa Claus? Mandy Reese, for one—on a very special Christmas Eve when she was eight years old. These days, Mandy works at a year-round Christmas store in Tall Pine, California, where customers love to hear about her childhood encounter with Saint Nick. But when Jake Wyndham arrives in town—charming, gorgeous, extremely practical—Mandy faces a dilemma. Deny what she saw, or let Jake think she’s sugarplum crazy?

Jake scouts hotel locations all over the country, but he’s never met anyone quite like Mandy before. Her warmth and sparkle are irresistible, but…meeting Santa? Really? Jake’s no Scrooge but he’s definitely skeptical. Then again, there are all kinds of things Jake never experienced until he came to Tall Pine. Like autumn snow. Mind blowing kisses. And the magic of falling head-over-heels, madly in love…

Linda's Thoughts:
When Mandy Rose was eight years old, she saw Santa Claus.
She slipped out of her room on Christmas Eve after her mother went to bed. As Mandy tiptoed down the hall, trying to be silent, she thought of the poem: ‘Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse…’
The Christmas tree was still lit up in the living room, as if it, too, were waiting. The nighttime cold of the house bit through her flannel nightgown, and Mandy wished she’d grabbed her robe and slippers. But she didn’t want to risk going back down the hall and waking her mother. So she pulled a heavy blanket down from the back of the sofa and curled up under it. She laid her head on the arm of the couch to get a good view of the tree at the end of the room near her head, and the fireplace at the other end, down by her feet.
Barely daring to breathe, she waited…

DO YOU BELIEVE IN SANTA? By Sierra Donovan is the cute, heart-warming debut installment in her Evergreen Lane series. As I was reading it, I kept thinking it should be one of those Hallmark Christmas movies! It would be perfect! The story is mostly set in lovely Tall Pines, California, a small town with a homely feel where everyone knows everyone else. Small business still rule in this haven surrounded by gorgeous mountainous scenery and loads of pine trees. I would swear I could smell the pines as I immersed myself in the story.

This is the story of Mandy Reese and Jake Wyndham. After seeing Santa Claus in her living room when she was eight – REALLY SEEING HIM – Mandy is a true believer, even though she’s all grown-up now.  She works in a Christmas store and Christmas plays a big part in her life year-round.

On the other hand, Jake is a realist and, while he believes in the spirit of Christmas, he hasn’t believed in the red-suited figure since childhood. I mean, everyone knows that Santa isn’t real, right? He works for Regal, a large hotel chain, and his job is to scout possible new sites for their inns. While the sleepy, quaint town of Tall Pines  certainly appeals, the townsfolk aren’t exactly welcoming.

Mandy and Jake certainly have chemistry, but will pragmatic Jake walk out of her life once he discovers that Mandy’s a fervent believer? This romance is light and sweet with a plethora of smokin’ hot kisses.

Following please find a few of my favorite quotes from this read:

“You don’t think I’m Satan, do you?”
“Of course not.” She smiled across the table at him. “Snidely Whiplash, maybe. But not Satan.”
---

He reached up and traced her cheek with the outside of his fingers. “Guys like me look for reasons. We look for explanations. I’ve been trying for hours to make sense out of this, and I only know two things. When it comes to you and Santa Claus, ‘sense’ doesn’t work. And I love you.”
---

Jake looked down at Mandy’s face in the firelight. He didn’t know if he believed in Santa Claus, but the soft glow of those blue eyes made it a lot easier to believe in peace on earth, good will toward men. 

I discovered this author when I picked up and read Sierra’s NO CHRISTMAS LIKE THE PRESENT, another endearing Christmas read. I enjoyed it so much that I had to pick up this one. AND this certainly won’t be my last as I already have the second book in this series, WE NEED A LITTLE CHRISTMAS, on my reader.

I love to read Christmas romances year-round. This is a charming keeper overflowing with the wondrous magic of the season. If you enjoy fun, cozy and clean holiday romances with loads of Christmas enchantment and cheer, I highly recommend that you pick up DO YOU BELIEVE IN SANTA?



Suggested Reading Order: 
Do You Believe In Santa? (Book #1)
We Need A Little Christmas (Book #2)