From USA Today bestselling author Nancy Naigle, The Christmas Shop is a heartwarming Christmas story about finding your passion for life and love. A holiday retelling of You’ve Got Mail that will make you fall in love with the Christmas Season! Angela Carson wants nothing more than to be the third-generation to run her family’s holiday store, Heart of Christmas, successfully. They’ve weathered … Heart of Christmas, successfully. They’ve weathered over sixty tourist seasons, major hurricanes, and urban sprawl, in their old decommissioned lighthouse. But the national chain that set up shop in their small North Carolina town of Pleasant Sands may be more than Heart of Christmas can survive.
Encouraged by her niece to ask Santa for help through the Dear Santa app, Angela gives in and lets the words fly in a way that, if Santa were real, would no doubt land her on the naughty list. What’s the harm when it’s just a computer-generated response?
Geoff Paisley has been at his mother’s side running the mega-chain Christmas Galore for the last ten years. When his mother falls ill, Geoff promises to answer the Dear Santa letters in her stead. Soon he realizes the woman he’s been corresponding with on Dear Santa is Angela. How could the woman that grates his every last nerve in person have intrigued him so deeply through those letters?
When Geoff reveals that he’s her Dear Santa, will Angela be able to set aside their very public feud to embrace the magic of the holiday and possibly find true love?
* Originally published as Dear Santa
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I am such a sucker for a Christmas novel, and when the novel is a Christmas retelling of the movie “You’ve Got Mail” – well, sign me up!
This is the first book by Ms Naigle that I have read, and I really did enjoy it. If you have seen the movie, there is nothing in the book that is going to surprise you, however that didn’t bother me in the least. After a run of thrillers and crime books, a cute, sweet fluffy book was just what I needed.
I love the people of Pleasant Sands. I love the sense of community, the friendships, the family.
I also love the push/pull between Angela and Geoff, watching them fall in love when they didn’t even like each other.
Dear Santa is a quick, sweet read that couldn’t help but make me smile.
Bring on Christmas!
I was super in the middle with this book, there were parts I liked and others not so much. Maybe its was just me but in the beginning of he book Marie came of super conceded and seem to look her nose down at there sister. I also felt in the first portion of the book the author seemed to repeat herself and spend a lot of time on one thing but then it became rushed in the end. I did really enjoy the small town and how no matter what the town seem to rally around people. I loved how in the end of the day Marie and her husband stood by Angela and supported her, and I loved how Geoff came across as a hard soul but also had a heart for him mom and those close to him. The book is a good clean read, and its the perfect book to get you into the Christmas spirit.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley. I was under no obligation to post a review and have given my honest opinion
Nancy Naigle’s latest, Dear Santa, is a perfect Shop Around The Corner or You’ve Got Mail story. Much of the interaction between Angela and Geoff is separate, but the pull between them in undeniable. I couldn’t wait to keep reading. I’m a longtime Naigle fan, and this does not disappoint. If you are looking for a perfect Hallmark holiday read, this is a book for you.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this novel.
Dear Santa: A Novel (Kindle) by Nancy Naigle This is a sweet Christmas story with Anglea Carson (owner of THE HEART OF CHRISTMAS and Geoff Paisley (owner of CHRISTMAS GALORE) thanks to the publisher and #NetGalley for letting me preview and review this book. Anglea inherited her store from her grandmother who raised her… Geoff and his mother own a chain of discount stores and open one up the road from Angela… This is a sometimes sad and touching also funny and interesting story. I have to admit that I shed a few tears when Angela found the red envelope in her grandmother’s desk. I also enjoyed her letters to Santa and his response… This great story gets to a wonderful HEA.
This is a perfect type of story I love to read. It made me happy and to feel good. It’s a delightful book. Dear Santa is a fun Christmas story about Angela, who owns a long time family Christmas business in an old light house in the small beach town of Pleasant Sands. Things become complicated when Geoff Paisley opens up his chain of businesses called Christmas Galore and becomes competition for Angela’s store. The two are like fire and ice to each other and feelings are hurt, competition is tough and struggles ensue.
I love how this book is put together. There are either endearing letters from children to Santa or trivia facts about Pleasant Sands at the beginning of each chapter. I was tickled at the letters and how different what each child wanted from Santa was. The trivia facts were interesting and made the little town feel cozy and historic.
I know I’m probably in the minority in that I have not watched hardly any Hallmark movies but this book was so wonderfully pleasant that I now want to watch those movies. Nancy Naigle wove the magic of Christmas and love into a traditional type of Christmas story of finding love and forgiveness. This is a touching, warm, and very entertaining novel.
I want to thank Nancy Naigle and Netgalley for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book. I love it and enjoyed it so very much
3.5 Stars
Angela Carson wants nothing more than to be the third-generation to run her family’s holiday store, Heart of Christmas, successfully. They’ve weathered over sixty tourist seasons, major hurricanes, and urban sprawl, in their old decommissioned lighthouse. Then a national chain sets up shop in their small North Carolina town of Pleasant Sands .
Encouraged by her niece to ask Santa for help through the Dear Santa app, Angela gives in and lets the words fly in a way that, if Santa were real, would no doubt land her on the naughty list. Geoff Paisley has been at his mother’s side running the mega-chain Christmas Galore for the last ten years. When his mother falls ill, Geoff promises to answer the Dear Santa letters in her stead. Soon he realizes the woman he’s been corresponding with on Dear Santa is Angela.
From reading the blurb I was expecting more & was a little disappointed as I thought there would have been more emails. I didn’t warm to Angela & Geoff, I found her bitter & him cold & calculating. However I did overall enjoy this light Christmas novel & would recommend it for a non angsty read over the holidays
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
Dear Santa started out kind of slow for me. I had a hard time getting to the point that I didn’t want to put it down, but I did get there. The comparisons to the movie “You’ve Got Mail” are inevitable–a man and a woman emailing each other, falling for each other and then discovering that he is the owner of the business that is playing a part in the death of her small, quaint business that has a strong emotional and family tie for her. Since that is one of my favorite movies, I had absolutely no problem with the resemblance.
I loved that Angela’s business was unique in it’s location and in the quality of items that she sold. Geoff’s business was much more commercial. Ms. Naigle added enough different qualities to the story to make it fresh and enticing. I really liked the letters to Santa that started every chapter. They were amusing and precious. This was a different type of Christmas story…one I enjoyed very much!
Dear Santa by Nancy Naigle is very similar to “You’ve Got Mail” only this is a Christmas Version. This book is my first book written by Nancy Naigle and it will not be my last. I loved the movie “You’ve Got Mail so I totally enjoyed this book with their similarities. This book was a very quick and easy read. If you liked the movie “You’ve Got Mail” you will definitely love this book. It makes you laugh and sometimes cry.
As you can tell from the description and if you’ve read any reviews, this story reminds most readers of You’ve Got Mail, a 90s era sweet romance movie when email was still new and exciting. In Nancy Nigle’s version, the stores have a holiday theme and the communications go back and forth via an electronic app. Two rival business owners compete for the last shoppers of the year. One has the newest business in this small tourist town. His focus is on profits and numbers. The other is running a family business with a specialty focus. Her merchandise is more expensive, higher quality and can not be affordable to every shopper. While she is proud of the family business, her true love is the history of this town and her lighthouse location. Sadly, trying to keep tradition alive and not changing with the times, her store is struggling to survive. Will this new competition make the Christmas lights go dark forever? Both business owners are single minded about their careers, not leaving much time for anything else.
I enjoyed the characters created for this story. Both Angela and Geoff have fine qualities and are wonderful to their family and employees. Both also are just beginning to realize their lives are not balanced and complete. When they meet, not understanding who the other is, sparks do fly. There is mutual interest and attraction. When they find out who is who, their stubborn streaks make an appearance.
The prose is passionate and heart tugging. There are many moments that will make you smile.
This is a beautiful book to get lost in while curled up in front of a fire, real or electric.
I can see this being an annual read for me.
Thank you to St Martin’s Press and Netgalley for allowing me to enjoy this book.
A warm, sentimental holiday story with strong allusions to the movie “You’ve Got Mail” (which happens to be one of my favorites). Rather than dueling bookstores, these are Christmas-themed stores, and more to the point, it’s nostalgic/handmade/family-generational versus cheaper/mass-produced/chain store. I enjoyed it for its feisty heroine and her commitment to her family legacy. Nothing new here but a fun read.
Thanks to #NetGalley and #StMartinsGriffin for providing the ARCs. The opinions are strictly my own.
This is a sweet, heartwarming story about family, matters of the heart, tradition , new beginnings and the miracle of Christmas.
Angela Carson owns a struggling Christmas store in Pleasant Sands. When a new store moves into town, she fears her store, which has been in the family for a few generations, will be forced to close. To make matters worse, the owner of the new store, Geoff and Angela seem to be constantly at odds. It’s fun to watch these to interact. Specially when she doesn’t realize that the letters she has been sending to Santa, are being read by Geoff.
Another entertaining story by this talented author.
I was entrusted this copy by Netgalley and St Martin’s. The opinions expressed are solely my own.
This was a very well written, heartwarming tale about family, traditions & love. Angela is trying to keep up the tradition of running the Heart of Christmas, a boutique Christmas store. Her family has always been from Pleasant Sands & Angela has fell into being the keeper of history & the stories. As her business is failing, she blames it on a new Christmas superstore that has opened up. She clashes with the owner in person but is developing a relationship with him by email without knowing it’s him.
Geoff co-owns & operates Christmas Galore, the new superstore Angela blames for everything. He’s attracted to her before they get into it. His mother finally tells him that this is where his father was from & the connection she feels. He also finds out she has health issues & it throws him for a loop. The only thing she asks of him is that he personally answers the Dear Santa emails that come in.
This is a wonderful holiday story. From the beginning, as a reader, you experience Angela’s despair over the store & the feeling she’s letting her grandmother down. At the beginning, I didn’t like Angela’s sister, Marie. She seemed hard & unfeeling about all Angela was going through. She grew on me though & I realized it was her version of “tough love”. Geoff came across as a tough single minded business owner with no heart or compassion but as the story grows, you see the place & situations begin to change him. Ms. Naigle has written a wonderful story of new beginnings, traditions & love that was a joy to read.
When a national chain starts building a shop right across the street, small business owner Angela Carson knows she is in trouble, for the last few years her family business has been struggling to stay afloat, and this might just be the one thing to finally take them down. Heart of Christmas has been her families livelihood for over sixty years, and it’s finally been passed down to her hands, and now it’s all going to come to an end, before she really gets a chance to really put her own touch on it… that is unless she can work a Christmas miracle or two!
Geoff Paisley has been helping his mother run her national chain of Christmas Galore stores for the last ten years, and hopes that someday he will take over when she is ready for a quieter life. But that day is about to come a little sooner than he anticipated, his mother has fallen ill, and that means there are Dear Santa letters to be answered, and businesses to run. Little does he know those letters are about to bring him a little Christmas miracle of sorts too… but first he must work himself into her good graces!
Dear Santa is a heartwarming tale that is sure to bring you joy, inspire some Christmas spirit, and leave your heart overflowing! This was a fun one to devour, the light-hearted story line and charming characters pulled me in from the first page, and took me on quite the enjoyable literary journey filled with many moments that had me smiling! Highly recommend!
I requested an advanced copy of this title from NetGalley, and I am voluntarily leaving my honest opinion.
Perfect romance book to read to get you in the holiday spirit! Story flows well, characters are likeable, story line is loosely reminiscent of You’ve Got Mail.
Angela inherits an old lighthouse Christmas shop from her Momma Grace (a little too much references to her IMHO). Geoff is the owner of a competing store. Love at first site, dislike at second. Angela writes a Dear Santa letter, Geoff answers it. A little far fetched, but it’s a Christmas story, so it’s expected and allowed!
Pick this book up around Thanksgiving and get in the Spirit of the season. Quick and Easy diversion during the hectic holiday season.
Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for this ARC. Opinion is mine alone!
This was my first book by Nancy Naigle. It was definitely a fun read. Sort of like a Hallmark movie and the movie You’ve Got Mail combined.
Angela Carson is managing a Christmas store called Heart of Christmas. It is a lighthouse that has been her family for 3 generations. Unfortunately, a national chain store called Christmas Galore just opened their latest store in their small town. It is a huge chain store and offers discounted items that Angela cannot compete with.
Geoff Paisley goes with his mother from town to town opening and managing each new Christmas Galore store. One of his mother’s ideas is a Dear Santa website that answers letters to Santa from children. When she falls ill, she wants Geoff to answer the letters. One of the letters is from Angela, asking Santa for help. He answers her letter, and Angela writes back thinking this must be a computer-generated reply.
Angela and Geoff don’t start out with good impressions of each other. They have a very public disagreement. Angela dislikes him for opening that store that is taking away her business. Geoff originally thinks both stores could survive and doesn’t understand Angela’s dislike of him. Once Geoff realizes Angela is writing the letters, he tries to encourage her to see a bigger picture.
This was a very pleasant romance story. I loved the characters. I will definitely read more books by Ms. Naigle and I do recommend this book to anyone looking for a small town romance. I requested a net galley copy of this book by the publisher in return for an honest review
Dear Santa is a fabulous holiday read by Nancy Naigle. Ms. Naigle has delivered a well-written book that readers would love Santa to drop in their stockings. Hats off to Ms. Naigle for her phenomenal cast of characters, I love their interactions. Angela loves her Heart of Christmas store that she inherited from her grandmother. Geoff and his mother own a chain of large Christmas stores and open one in Angela’s small town. Geoff and Angela’s story is a heartwarming tale that will put a smile on the reader’s face. I loved reading Dear Santa and look forward to my next book by Nancy Naigle. Dear Santa is a complete book, not a cliff-hanger.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This the first book I have read by Nancy Naigle. I am so happy to find a new author! I read the summary of the story and after reading that it was similar to the movie “You’ve Got Mail”’ I thought I would really enjoy this book. My feelings were so true. The basic storyline is very similar, in that the couple meeting in person do not get along, but as hidden identities in emails, they connect well.
Angela owns and operates Heart of Christmas, an upscale Christmas store that has been in her family for generations. The store has been struggling to stay afloat. She is trying to come to terms with closing the store, which she has worked in since a young child and finding a new direction for the rest of her life.
Christmas Galore is a new superstore that opened in town and it sells all things cheaply made – especially made in China; beach towels to artificial Christmas trees. Geoff and his mom own this superstore and several others.
Angela and Geoff first eye each other and are attracted. Then comes the conflict of their businesses, that mean so much to them. The story unfolds and is fun to experience.
The book is very easy to read and it flows in a good pace. The characters are very well developed and I feel like I know and care about them. The location is described in such detail that I wish I could visit Pleasant Sands, North Carolina.
Each section begins with a letter to Santa, which I thought was a heart-melting touch. Some were funny and some a bit sad. Even though I read this book in August, it makes me feel like Christmas is around the corner.
Many types of relationships were explored in the book: sisters, husband/wife, long-time friends, mother/son, mother/daughter. All of the relationships were realistic and written exceptionally well. The core story was a romance but there were many plots revolving throughout, which made the book a page-turner.
This book would make a fantastic Hallmark Holiday movie!
I want to thank St Martin’s Press for giving me the ARC of this book and introducing me to this author, Nancy Naigle. I am so happy to find her books and wanted to write a review in hopes others will discover her also.
If you love You’ve Got Mail /, then you will love this book. Angela runs a small, unique, and expensive Christmas Store in her small town. Her Great-Great-Grandmother started it and she inherited it from her Grandmother. It’s a tie the the Grandmother who raised her. A new Christmas Store moves into town with cheap merchandise and lots of glitz. They other stuff besides Christmas as well. Angela’s shop is floundering. Even though I knew what the ultimate outcome would be, this is a darling, clean read. I love the writing style, so easy to read and the story pulled me in immediately. Angela is sweet, but having a struggle coming to grips with the end of her shop. She feels the loss because of her heritage and because she truly loved what she did. Geoff loves what he does, which is run the competition. The characters are wonderful, the writing style comfortable, and the story is sweet. This is the first book by this author that I have read. I definitely would read another book by Nancy Naigle.
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.