The Santa Suit: A Novel

Mary Kay Andrews

Sep 2021 · Sold by St. Martin's Press

About this ebook

From Mary Kay Andrews, the New York Times bestselling author of Hello, Summer, comes a novella celebrating the magic of Christmas and second chances in The Santa Suit.

When newly-divorced Ivy Perkins buys an old farmhouse sight unseen, she is definitely looking for a change in her life. The Four Roses, as the farmhouse is called, is a labor of love—but Ivy didn't bargain on just how much labor. The previous family left so much furniture and so much junk, that it's a full-time job sorting through all of it.

At the top of a closet, Ivy finds an old Santa suit—beautifully made and decades old. In the pocket of a suit she finds a note written in a childish hand: it's from a little girl who has one Christmas wish, and that is for her father to return home from the war. This discovery sets Ivy off on a mission. Who wrote the note? Did the man ever come home? What mysteries did the Rose family hold?

Ivy's quest brings her into the community, at a time when all she wanted to do was be left alone and nurse her wounds. But the magic of Christmas makes miracles happen, and Ivy just might find more than she ever thought possible: a welcoming town, a family reunited, a mystery solved, and a second chance at love.

Ratings and reviews

This is a short novel, a whimsical book about Christmas wishes and dreams that do come true. It was just what I needed to calm my thoughts about the upcoming holiday season. Ivy Perkins is newly divorced and feeling more than a little rejected when she decides to buy an old farmhouse without ever even seeing it. It’s more than a fixer upper because the previous owners left most of their things in the house, so it falls to Ivy to sort through everything at The Four Roses. During her hard work, she finds a handmade Santa suit with a note from a little girl whose only wish for Christmas is to have her daddy come back from war. The pace of the story moved along quickly and once Ivy found the note, it seemed to race to the conclusion. Ivy takes it upon herself to find the author of the note and to discover if she was ever reunited with her father. Thus a small mystery is also involved in the plot, a simple one that is timeless and written in such a descriptive way that I could put myself right into the farmhouse along with Ivy. The themes of family connections, friendships and love are well portrayed and there is a satisfying conclusion to this absorbing book. It has a precious lesson to teach about life in general and Christmas miracles specifically. I loved this story that can be read in only a few hours but will leave a lasting memory of how delightful our own precious time with others should be. Disclaimer Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher 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.”

The Santa Suit by Mary Kay Andrews is a delightful, heartwarming story about family, love, loss, and determination. It’s a novella, but it’s packed with great characters, a lovely small town, and a bit of mystery and romance. Ivy Perkins is determined to start over. After a divorce, and leaving her job, she buys an old farmhouse named the Four Roses sight unseen. When she arrives at the farmhouse she’s dismayed to realize that it’s much more of a fixer-upper than she was lead to believe by the photos. However, also at the farmhouse to greet her is the handsome realtor Ezra. Ivy finds an old, but, still functional Santa Suit in one of the closets in her new home. She finds out that the previous owners used to play Santa and Mrs. Claus at many events in the town and around. Inside the pocket of the suit, she finds a note, written by a little girl asking if Santa can bring her father home from the war. This novella has everything you’d expect in a full-length book and I enjoyed it very much. The farmhouse was exquisitely described, and I just want to move into Four Roses despite all the work it needs. Both Ivy and Ezra were well-developed characters, and I loved them both and thought they were perfect for each other. It didn’t take them long to figure that out too, but, it is a novella. Although a Christmas book, it’s also about connections, and friendships, and love. I didn’t feel like I was hit over the head with Christmas as I have in other Christmas books. This one had just the right amount of Christmas magic in it. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a holiday romance. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Ivy Perkins has been divorced nine months to the day when she arrives to move into the Four Roses Farm. She finds the farmhouse not looking quite like it did in the pictures and the house full of furniture the seller did not want. In master bedroom closet, she finds a box contains a beautiful Santa suit. In the pocket, she finds an old letter addressed to Santa asking him to bring the little girl’s father home for Christmas. Ivy is curious as to what happened to the girl and her family. She begins asking questions which allows her to meet various townspeople. Christmas magic is at work and Ivy finds soon finds herself swept up into town happenings and helping others. The Santa Suit by Mary Kay Andrews is a sweet, uplifting Christmas story. I thought The Santa Suit was well-written with steady pacing (it was over too soon). It contains developed, realistic characters. There are some great characters in the story. I liked Ivy and her adorable dog, Punkin. The mystery was fun to follow, and I love how it turned out. I liked the town of Tarburton and Four Roses Farm. I would love to own Ivy’s lovely farm. There is some romance in the story, but it is not the main attraction. The Santa Suit is a story that will make you smile and put you in the mood for the holidays. The Santa Suit is a sweet Christmas tale with cuddly canine, a striking Santa Suit, pictures from the past, a lost letter, creative candy creations, fairy-tale lights, and second chances.

About the author

MARY KAY ANDREWS is The New York Times bestselling author of Sunset Beach, The High Tide Club, The Beach House Cookbook, The Weekenders, Beach Town, Save the Date, Ladies’ Night, Christmas Bliss, Spring Fever, Summer Rental, The Fixer Upper, Deep Dish, Blue Christmas, Savannah Breeze, Hissy Fit, Little Bitty Lies, Savannah Blues, and Hello, Summer. A former journalist for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, she lives in Atlanta, Georgia.