"Christmas Joy"

Here Comes Santa Claus has a unique twist on the traditional Christmas Anthology. Instead of the 3 novellas appearing separately they are intertwined! The fun part is that these 3 authors pulled it off seamlessly. The characters are consistent and the writing voice is not jarring as one moves from chapter to chapter, each written by a different author.

The premise of the book is the wedding of George Garrison, a man who took in 3 young boys headed for trouble and straightened them out. The 3 young men are separately enroute to Maine for the Wedding, when a major storm hits the east coast.

Hero number one is Sam, a Blue Angel who has always loved Reba but when he went away to the Academy she felt deserted and married someone else. Though the marriage was short- lived, Sam does not realize Reba is divorced. George tells him that her bus will pick him up. Sam decides to make a grand entrance by parachute, to Reba's shock.

Reba has taken over a retirement home from her father and she and a band of residents are on the Santa Express appearing in homeless shelters and old folks homes all over New England. The band of residents are extremely colorful and one of them is named after our own Maudeen Wachsmith and with her multi-colored hair and fun sex-life Maudeen is a fun character indeed.

The second man is Kevin, known as J.D. (Juvenile Delinquent) who is a bounty-hunter and his heroine is Cassandra who he arrests but then hauls onto the bus with him as there is no other transportation available. Kevin discovers that Cassandra's arrest warrant is not all it seems and falls in love with her heart and beauty. But, she spends most of the book hand-cuffed to him or a piece of furniture.

Stan is a pro-football star who was injured and had to retire. He is trying to come to terms with his injury, finding a new career and his fast life-style. When he meets Dana a quiet forest ranger who has created a warm and welcoming home, he finds himself drawn to her like a magnet.

As the band of Christmas Warriors wends it's way towards Maine, many miracles happen and lives are changed. In-other- words the perfect Christmas book--a little schmaltz is welcome at this time of the year and this book provides it with dash and humor. This one could easily make my Christmas re-read shelf. I am still amazed at how seamlessly these ladies wove these 3 stories together--one completely loses track of the fact that the book was written by 3 authors--a tour de force and the secondary characters are so terrific that one hopes the Santa Express might head out again next year. Linda Hurst

Reviewed by Linda Hurst
Posted September 20, 2001

Original issue October 2001

Summary

The three bad-boy bachelors of Snowdon, Maine, have to make it to the church on time, or die trying. Due at a friend's wedding on Christmas Eve, the Fearsome Threesome find themselves dashing through the snow in the goofiest bus on Earth--a bright red vehicle filled with a bunch of senior citizens known as The Santa Brigade. Ho, ho, ho! Decked out in red and serving up holiday cheer to the masses, a Blue Angels pilot, a bounty hunter, and a former pro football player discover 'tis the season for folly as each trips over his heart to capture the love of the one special woman for him. And who is to say what they'll find nestled in their beds as the stockings are stuffed and the gifts placed under the tree.