Mary Kay Andrews's The Santa Suit is advertised as a novella. It's a quick read, and if you go in not expecting much of a plot, you might come away enjoying it. For me, it was just so-so.
Ivy Perkins is recently divorced and impulsively buys a farmhouse from afar without even touring it first. Not only does the farmhouse need a lot of work, but it's also filled with the previous owner's furniture. Ezra, the real estate agent who sold her the house, helps her with some of the work, along with other people she meets in the charming town.
In a closet, Ivy finds an old Santa suit with a note from a child in the pocket. The child has one wish -- that her father will return safely from the war. Ivy tries to find out information about the child, like who she was and if she ever got her wish.
I wish The Santa Suit focused a little more time on this mystery. It (and the book) is resolved rather abruptly, and it would have made for a richer experience if we could have learned more. But it's a holiday novella, so I might be asking too much.
MY RATING - 3
