All I Want from Santa

Lisa Jackson

Sep 2021 · Kensington Books

About this ebook

A much-loved early classic from #1 New York Times bestselling author Lisa Jackson, this heartwarming holiday tale is set in small-town Oregon, where a little girl’s letter to Santa ends up bringing the gift of romance to a widowed mom and a single dad.

Christmas wishes do come true . . .

The small town of Cascadia is home to Veronica Walsh and her young daughter, Amy. If Ronni still believed in Santa, she’d ask for a chance to buy the rundown old lodge next door and turn it into a B&B. Amy’s Christmas wish list, on the other hand, includes one item that catches Ronni off-guard: a new daddy.  But four years after losing her husband in a tragic accident, Ronni doesn’t plan to get involved with anyone—least of all the lodge’s new owner.

Travis Keegan has moved from Seattle to get his wayward teenaged son back on track. Yet the moment he meets Ronni, he wonders if this could be the fresh start they all need. Healing from loss and melding their two families won’t be easy, but Christmas in Cascadia has a magic that may just prove irresistible . . .

Ratings and reviews

This is a sweet romance that was originally published in the 1990’s with a different title and publisher and is a little dated without today’s gadgets and technology, but it was still a lovely story. Veronica (Ronni) Walsh is a widowed single mom who lives in the mountains in a small town and is raising her precocious daughter Amy. Ronni ships packages from a warehouse and volunteers with the ski patrol, but what she really wants to do is own a B & B. On her duties as a rescuer, she meets Travis Keegan, a single dad dealing with his rebellious and resentful teen son named Bryan. The plot is predictable, but getting to the ending was quite entertaining. The two kids stole the show in this book, both of them equally demanding in different ways. Amy decides that she wants a puppy for Christmas and Bryan just wants to be anywhere that his dad is not. With insight and empathy, the author weaves a story that ties these two together in a way that is filled with coincidences. This is a standalone Christmas romance that was engaging with likable characters. Disclaimer Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Kensington 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.”

All I Want From Santa, by Lisa Jackson is a cute, stand-alone romance book that is a sweet lovely story about second chances. Ronnie (Veronica) Walsh and her daughter Amy live in the small, mountain town of Cascadia. Ronnie has a warehouse business and works as a ski patrol on the nearby slopes. Ronnie is a widow, her husband Hank died three years ago, just after Amy was born. Amy wishes for a puppy and a Dad for Christmas. The puppy is easy, but Ronnie is still morning her husband and doesn't need a man in her life. But, when Travis Keegan and his 15-year-old son move in across the street, Ronnie starts to question her devotion to staying a single mother. All I Want From Santa is a very sweet, and hopeful book. This is a re-issue of a much earlier book by Lisa Jackson, and it did feel a bit dated to me. Not only were the characters using landlines instead of cell phones, but some of the thoughts and actions of the main characters were also dated. But, I put myself back in the 90s and just enjoyed this old-fashioned love story, and enjoyed it for what it is, instead of mentally trying to update this book! The writing is very good, and the story did grab me and my heart. It’s very sweet and a bit predictable, but still fun and enjoyable. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

All I Want from Santa by Lisa Jackson A timeless holiday romance written by one of today’s leading authors. It is always fun and interesting to see what a favorite author wrote like earlier in time, what changes and directions were changed and what might have remained the same. In 1995 times were different, and that shows up in places within this story, but it is still all about family and holiday cheer, making wishes come true, and a happily ever after. What I liked: * Seeing what Lisa Jackson wrote for Harlequin long ago * Revisiting the era that the book was written in and thinking about how times have changed and yet remained the same * Watching Veronica “Ronnie” Walsh as she dealt with her business, worked ski patrol, took care of her four-year-old daughter, interacted with extended family, dealt with mourning her husband, and eventually fell in love. * Seeing Travis Keegan deal with a major crossroads in his life while taking care of his fourteen-year-old rather obnoxious son. * Amy: four-year-old daughter of Ronnie who has a list of wants for Santa * Bryan: fourteen-year-old son of Travis who has a chip on his shoulder, surly attitude, and rather disagreeable “see-me” attitude. * The side story of Ronnie’s sister and sister’s family * Watching Bryan’s journey * The way Amy’s wish list was achieved by…Santa? What I didn’t like: * Remembering the stereotypical male with ideas about “a woman’s place and duties” * The obnoxious teenager – though I did understand him * Thinking about: the pain experienced by Ronnie losing her husband, Bryan’s upheavals due to move and mother leaving, the trauma that can occur on ski slopes, and how fragile life can be. * That it was a bit formulaic and dated Did I enjoy this book? Yes Will I read more by this author? Yes Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the ARC - This is my honest review. 3-4 Stars

About the author

LISA JACKSON is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than seventy-five novels, including Paranoid: Liar, Liar; One Last Breath; You Will Pay; After She’s Gone;Close to Home;Tell Me; Deserves to Die;You Don’t Want to Know;Running Scared; and Shiver. She has over thirty million copies of her books in print in nineteen languages. She lives with her family and three rambunctious dogs in the Pacific Northwest. Readers can visit her website at www.lisajackson.com and find her on Facebook.