Perhaps Santa Claus should have known better than to allow Rapz, a well-meaning but perennially misguided elf, to try his hand at match-making. But, by the time Santa learns there’s a problem, Rapz has the situation completely tangled up in knots. Santa hastily dispatches a team to Galveston to try to straighten things out. They soon discover that not only has Rapz’s error in judgment caused a … stand-off between two lonely senior citizens, it also threatens to derail a budding romance between Marisol Jimenez and Declan Shaw, who are caught on opposing sides of this Texas-size fiasco.
Can Mrs. Claus, Saint Nick, Jolly, and Rapz all work together quickly enough to save not only a meant-to-be friendship but a true Christmas romance?
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Whimsical, Quick-Read Christmas Romance
I have to say that I absolutely adore this series; it may be one of my all-time favorites, not just of Christmas ones. Each book I’ve read has been so enjoyable. This one is no exception. I love the idea that Santa, the elves, and the North Pole are all real… and that Santa and crew all impact the humans on the rest of the globe, whether it’s magic or mayhem (or a little bit of both). In this story, well-intentioned but often misguided elf Rapz has made a bit of a bungle, but fellow elf Jolly will try to help him sort out the mess. I love the whimsy of this story and the surprisingly well-drawn characters for such a short tale. If you enjoy Christmas romances that have a fantasy, speculative fiction element fiction (because—sniff, sniff—Santa isn’t real), this delightful book as well as I did.
I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
A charming Christmas treat!
With his beloved wife gone, Marisol Jimenez’s grandfather, Timoteo, decides to fulfill his lifelong dream of living by the ocean, so he signs a ten-year-lease at a brand new senior living facility in Galveston, Texas. His selected apartment, Number 5, has a beautiful view of the Gulf of Mexico, and Marisol has the movers place her grandfather’s favorite chair and the one that had belonged to her grandmother, in the best spot in the apartment to enjoy the magnificent view.
Everything is perfect, well, until the wealthy and equally aged Olivia Grayson and her attorney, the single and handsome Declan Shaw, show up to claim the same apartment. Olivia, with no family left and no close friends, had also signed a ten-year-lease on apartment 5, sold her mansion and extraneous possessions, and had no intention of living anywhere else. As the leases were both signed on the same day and the management company is clueless as to who signed first, neither party is willing to compromise and accept a different apartment. So Olivia moves into the second bedroom, hoping to force Timoteo out eventually. To protect and support their respective senior citizen, Marisol and Declan both decide to camp out on couches in the apartment’s living area until a resolution is reached. Unfortunately, as it’s only nine days until Christmas, that resolution is not going to be happening any time soon.
What the couples do not know is that the temporary leasing agent that had double leased the apartment is none other than one of Santa’s elves, Rapz, who was trying to develop an off-season side hustle as a matchmaker. But fearing Rapz’s double leasing ploy isn’t having the desired effect of getting the two couples together, Santa sends him and a fellow elf named Jolly back down to Texas to clean up the mess.
“A Very Marisol Christmas” is the 7th entry in the holiday-themed “Christmas Central” series by author Caroline Mickelson. It is a fun and charming story that won’t disappoint when the time comes for a happily ever after in more ways than one. I recommend this book to romance readers looking for a quick and happy holiday pick-me-up.
I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Readers Copy from Hidden Gems Books.
What starts as a legal disaster ends up being something very sweet and charming. It’s not a very long book, but it’s got some meat on its bones and I was more than happy to dig in. As Marisol and Declan are quietly falling for one another, Olivia and Timoteo are rediscovering the fine art of compromise and learning that there’s no age limit on friendship. It was so much fun to come back to the characters from Christmas Central. This was exactly the sweet fun I needed.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through Hidden Gems Books.
This was another delightful romantic comedy story in the Christmas Central series. It had me chuckling at Rapz and Jolly and the mess Rapz got himself into. This series is so much fun to read and I sure hope this won’t be the last. Wonderful job Caroline Michelson for making Christmas, Santa and the North Pole a happy place for us to spend some time.
A Very Marisol Christmas is a clever Christmas tale. Rapz’ has done it again. This poor elf can muck up any assignment. Can Mrs. Claus, Nick and Saint Nick, Jolly and the other elves get this situation back on track and still get ready for Christmas? Rapz has leased a very desirable apartment to different and determined seniors – neither one willing to settle for a different apartment. Marisol is willing to help her grandfather Timoteo fight to retain possession. Olivia is accompanied by her attorney Declan. Olivia does not compromise. I thoroughly enjoyed the tale of how this is all resolved. It made for a very enjoyable afternoon escape.
4 stars
I received a free copy of A Very Marisol Christmas by Caroline Mickelson and this review was given freely.
Attorney and financial adviser Declan meets teacher Marisol when they both are visiting different people who both apparently purchased Seaview Estates Senior Apartments number 5.
A bumbling elf brings drama and strife which ultimately turns to friendship and love in this complex romance set half at the North Pole and half in Texas.