A droll and eccentric tale with a cast of legends.
Jolly old Saint Nick’s infidelity has outlandish and unpredictable consequences in this erotic urban-fantasy series opener.
Santa Claus is making his Christmas Eve rounds in 1970 when he runs into the Tooth Fairy. It’s the first time he’s ever seen her in person, and though she tries seducing him, Santa initially resists having sex with her. However, he succumbs to his desires on successive encounters on the next two Christmas Eves, and Santa feels guilty enough to confess them to his wife, Anya, at their North Pole home. But he doesn’t keep his promise to avoid the Tooth Fairy, as he’s smitten with her. The two continue an affair for years, even at the North Pole after one of the elves loses a tooth and Santa later finds a disturbing way to “summon” the Tooth Fairy. Meanwhile, the fluffy, white Easter Bunny is green with envy: Santa is beloved by kids worldwide and also has the adoration of two attractive women. When he witnesses a tryst between Santa and the Tooth Fairy, he decides to tell Mrs. Claus. Meanwhile, just as Santa screws up his determination to end the affair, he falls in love with mortal Rachel Townsend, who has a curious link to his past; she’s a woman whom Santa can see as his wife—except, of course, for the fact that he’s still married to Anya. The Tooth Fairy, however, isn’t about to let Santa cut ties with her, and she’ll do whatever it takes to show her jolly lover that no one is allowed to leave her.
In this book, originally published in 1998, Devereaux effectively pokes plenty of fun at mythical figures. Santa, for example, is portrayed as perpetually conflicted, arguing with the voice of “not-Santa” in his head. Meanwhile, the alarmingly forbidding Tooth Fairy regularly munches on the teeth she collects. Sadly, much of the cast comes off as hateful or unsavory; Santa blames Anya for his unfaithfulness because her lack of libido denies him his “needs.” That said, this book also features lyrical, amusing passages that fuse its abundant erotica with a touch of comedy: “Like a smith’s beaten iron plunged hissing into water,” the author writes, “Santa drove his fiery rod into his lover’s boiling stewpit, so that their flesh seethed and sizzled there.” There’s diverting fantasy, as well, such as “magic time,” which essentially allows beings to hide from mortals and do things secretly, such as deliver gifts to millions of homes. As the story turns increasingly violent, Devereaux scales back the humor; a significant character’s death is a rather grave event, and the fallout from Santa’s infidelity isn’t treated lightly. The tale has a pronounced religious element (with intermittent appearances of God and angels), and this series starter hints that there’s more to Santa and the others than meets the eye. This becomes abundantly clear in the hectic final act, which offers big reveals but leaves clarifications for future entries.
A droll and eccentric tale with a cast of legends.Pub Date: Nov. 23, 2011
ISBN: 9781621050131
Page Count: 294
Publisher: Eraserhead Press
Review Posted Online: June 13, 2023
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A thoughtful and pensive tale with intelligent characters and a satisfying romance.
A promise to his best friend leads an Army serviceman to a family in need and a chance at true love in this novel.
Beckett Gentry is surprised when his Army buddy Ryan MacKenzie gives him a letter from Ryan’s sister, Ella. Abandoned by his mother, Beckett grew up in a series of foster homes. He is wary of attachments until he reads Ella’s letter. A single mother, Ella lives with her twins, Maisie and Colt, at Solitude, the resort she operates in Telluride, Colorado. They begin a correspondence, although Beckett can only identify himself by his call sign, Chaos. After Ryan’s death during a mission, Beckett travels to Telluride as his friend had requested. He bonds with the twins while falling deeply in love with Ella. Reluctant to reveal details of Ryan’s death and risk causing her pain, Beckett declines to disclose to Ella that he is Chaos. Maisie needs treatment for neuroblastoma, and Beckett formally adopts the twins as a sign of his commitment to support Ella and her children. He and Ella pursue a romance, but when an insurance investigator questions the adoption, Beckett is faced with revealing the truth about the letters and Ryan’s death, risking losing the family he loves. Yarros’ (Wilder, 2016, etc.) novel is a deeply felt and emotionally nuanced contemporary romance bolstered by well-drawn characters and strong, confident storytelling. Beckett and Ella are sympathetic protagonists whose past experiences leave them cautious when it comes to love. Beckett never knew the security of a stable home life. Ella impulsively married her high school boyfriend, but the marriage ended when he discovered she was pregnant. The author is especially adept at developing the characters through subtle but significant details, like Beckett’s aversion to swearing. Beckett and Ella’s romance unfolds slowly in chapters that alternate between their first-person viewpoints. The letters they exchanged are pivotal to their connection, and almost every chapter opens with one. Yarros’ writing is crisp and sharp, with passages that are poetic without being florid. For example, in a letter to Beckett, Ella writes of motherhood: “But I’m not the center of their universe. I’m more like their gravity.” While the love story is the book’s focus, the subplot involving Maisie’s illness is equally well-developed, and the link between Beckett and the twins is heartfelt and sincere.
A thoughtful and pensive tale with intelligent characters and a satisfying romance.Pub Date: Feb. 26, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-64063-533-3
Page Count: 432
Publisher: Entangled: Amara
Review Posted Online: Jan. 2, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2019
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Henry fans, rejoice: This is her best yet.
A recently dumped librarian finds herself fake dating her polar opposite.
When Daphne Vincent’s fiance, Peter, dumps her, she’s shocked—but the worst part is that he’s leaving her for his gorgeous best friend, Petra, the woman he’d always told Daphne not to worry about. Now Daphne has to move out of Peter’s home and restart her life in the small Michigan town where she’d moved to be with him. Salvation comes in the form of Miles Nowak, Petra’s ex—he has a tiny spare room in his apartment, and he understands what it’s like to wallow in heartbreak. Daphne feels lucky to have her dream job as a children’s librarian, but other than that, she feels adrift and friendless in Waning Bay—and then she and Miles get invitations to Peter and Petra’s wedding. In a momentary lapse of judgment, Daphne not only says she’ll attend the wedding, but tells Peter she’s dating Miles. It would be the perfect way to show Peter and Petra that they’ve moved on…if only it were true. In the grand tradition of fake-dating romances, Daphne and Miles pretend to be in love, getting to know each other while having various adventures and misadventures. Daphne quickly learns that although she’d dismissed Miles as a pothead with a lack of direction, he’s actually a good time—and a loyal friend. But Daphne knows she needs to get out of Waning Bay, so this fake relationship can’t lead anywhere…can it? Reliable bestseller Henry has written another surefire hit that manages to be dramatic, sexy, and fun. Miles and Daphne have chemistry that leaps off the page, and their will-they-or-won’t-they energy propels the story to its satisfying conclusion. Daphne is an immensely likable character, one whose past realistically informs her current relationships. The world of Waning Bay is charmingly quirky, and Daphne’s co-workers at the library are endearing. As always, Henry’s biggest strength is the sharp, often hilarious dialogue that makes the story a joy to read.
Henry fans, rejoice: This is her best yet.Pub Date: April 23, 2024
ISBN: 9780593441282
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Berkley
Review Posted Online: Feb. 17, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2024
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