Book Review -- Santa is a Lady by L. J. Holmes

Acey likes to sit in my desk drawer and supervise.

Having read Santa is a Lady in one sitting, I found the story touching and funny. The heroine, Angie Brightwell, has survived a car crash that should have killed her. She has defied her doctors’ prognoses and fought to walk again. Legally blind from the crash, she has even found a car with a complicated navigation system that allows her to get around without a driver. Feisty and independent definitely describe Angie. But, she has practically become a recluse to avoid pity. So it takes a lot for her friend, Beck Cavington, to talk her into playing Santa when the professional Santa she hired is arrested four days before Christmas.

Cameron Drayton has gone through the wringer trying to retrieve his half-Iraqi daughter after her vengeful uncles had their own sister murdered for the sin of not only loving and eloping with him, but of bearing a girl. One would think allowing the infidel to take her back to his country would solve their problem, but in their rage against Cam, they kidnapped Johara, produced a fake birth certificate, and left her in an orphanage. It took two years and thousands of dollars in ransom to find out where she was, more money to prove he was her father to both the U.S. and Iraqi governments, get custody and bring her home. Needless to say, he wants her first Christmas to be perfect and a lady Santa isn’t part of that plan.

One of my cats, Acey Deucy, supervised me while I read the story. He was quite taken with the antics of Mama Bear, Angie’s cat. (Not that way; he’s been neutered, fer gossake!) He was very angry at me when I laughed so hard at her I dislodged him. He stalked off with his tail in the air, flicking it in disdain. At me, not the book. I’m sure he liked it as much as I did. I know he’d like to see more of Mama Bear. (No, really— he’s neutered!)

My heart went out to Angie and Cam as they struggled to heal the wounds that don’t show—the ones that hurt the worst. I highly recommend this book. Have tissues ready, and be sure you’re in a chair you can’t roll out of when you’re laughing. Oh, and if you still text while you drive, read this book; and then think again.

Santa is a Lady is available now at MuseItUp Publishing. This is the first of several books L. J. Holmes has coming out over the next year and the first of the Christmas Miracles series. I, for one, can’t wait for her next book, Forever with You, due out February 1, 2011 from MuseItHOT, just in time for Valentine’s Day.