A Kiss for Santa was a great and fun read. Susan Hatler did a great job in weaving a story that kept me interested.

Synopsis:
This holiday season, practical and rational Anna Bell will do anything to save her family’s mini-mart from going under in her small beach town known for its traditions. But with all of the debt and bill collectors her dad accumulated before his passing, she’s aware her mom may have to sell to the buyer who has just made an offer.

Impetuous and optimistic Peter Locke is known as the new billionaire in town who is buying up failing businesses, presumably to inject them with “new life” and turn them around for a quick profit. When Anna discovers Peter is the buyer who made an offer on the Main Street Mini-Mart, she’s determined to convince him that keeping with tradition is the way to go so he doesn’t make changes to all her dad built with such love and care.

This is the first Susan Hatler book I have read. It reminded me of “You’ve Got Mail;” store in trouble, buyer for store, and how to keep the store. It is set in Blue Moon Bay, a small beach town on the California coast.

Anna’s plan is to get close to the new buyer, Peter Locke, and have him include in the contract to buy a clause that states he can’t make any changes to the store. She hopes this will keep her family history associated with their business.
Catch is she begins to fall for Peter and is afraid if he finds out her true motive, the store will no longer be associated with her families history and Peter will want nothing to do with her.

See what happens.

I will be reading more from this author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book and I am voluntarily reviewing it.

This was a very quick but cute read. It continues in Blue Moon Bay and especially the legend of the two star-crossed young lovers that were never meant to be. Here we have Peter Locke who comes to town and is buying up all the failing businesses and turning them around. Anna Bell's family owns the mini-mart. Unfortunately it isn't doing so good and the family is being forced to sell. Anna hates change, especially since her father just passed away in November. It is her last link to him and his dream.

Unfortunately this book isn't written in a dual POV so we only see Anna's side. There were times when she was a little stubborn and childish. But as the story evolves more, we see where she really starts to understand that change can be good.

If you love a really sweet, clean romance, then you will love this one. There are only a few scenes that the two characters just kiss. While this is a part of a series, you really don't have to go back and read them all to understand a few of the characters and the legend. The author did a really good job of explaining things.

Susan writes these books that I really like and enjoy. Each one gets better, like fine wine. I really liked this book.

I wanted a little more from this romance; more romantic scenes, more Christmas feels. Sadly, although an easy enough read, it did not connect me to the Christmas mood all that much.

The author did a fantastic job with this couple and it was admirable the way she was able to suggest who the lovers in the Blue Moon legend were without actually naming names.Peter was a gentle,loving hero who was patient and never gave up on Anna as she went off the rails in her attempts to secure her family legacy.Easy read and the characters' emotions came through authentic and lasting.

Tradition, tradition vs change. Honoring the past vs modernization. This is how two people attracted to each other can embrace terms of the celebrate Christmas and the future of a town. A lovely book for the season. A typical highly enjoyable book by Susan Hatler. You can never lose by reading any of her nooks.

Soooooo good! I didn’t want to put it down. What girl doesn’t want to feel loved, wanted and so many emotions? I could completely connect with Anna and loved the story of her journey to HEA, after everything she has to go through to get there. Plus it’s a Christmas story, so what’s not to love 💕 Happy reading!!

With all this talk about Christmas in July, I just couldn't resist picking up a copy for Susan Hatler's latest book. It's part of the Kissed by the Bay series, which I have enjoyed reading several of the books. How can you not enjoy another sweet and witty read by this fabulous author? I love the banter. I love the legend of kissing under a blue moon in Blue Moon Bay. Plus, her characters always have some sort of flaw or struggle that keeps them feeling real. And sometimes those struggles might make you want to yell through the book, telling them to "just speak up and it'll all be ok." But you can't because it's a fiction novel. And they're just characters. But people, I'm telling you, I get connected to my characters and speak to them.

Anna has had some heartache and loss and has come back home to Blue Moon Bay and the traditions she's expecting for Christmas time have changed. Her sweet little tourist town is changing as well. She wants it all to stay the same. Then a chance meeting has her thinking she can just teach Peter a thing of two and everything will work out and her traditions and town won't change. Until she realizes that she's falling for Peter.

That's all I'm telling you plot wise. I'll tell you that I laughed, possibly shed a couple tears, and most definitely sighed over these two characters! They're great. And everything is not as you think it seems. And that fun surprise of it all connecting together. I knew it! I caught the clue at the beginning and kept thinking...hmmmmmm. If you haven't read previous books in the series, it's ok, it's all explained and you'll figure it out in the end.

If you've never read a Susan Hatler book, what are you waiting for? I've been reading her books for several years now after I stumbled across a freebie from her, Better Date Than Never Series. I was hooked and love reading them any chance I can. An author, and book, that I recommend snagging and enjoying her fun sense of humor and sweet romance stories.

Content: Clean. Some kissing but nothing further.

I received a copy from the publisher, Hatco Publishing, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.

Happy Reading!!!

A Kiss for Santa is a well written story. A very quick and enjoyable read. Thanks to the publisher for my advance ebook. This is my unbiased review.

Anna tries to safe a (big-time failing) mini-mart from being bought and brought back to life by millionaire Peter. When they meet they fall for each other right away, in less than a seconds time. But Peter can not know that Anna owns the mini-mart. She tries to manipulate him to her needs while they fall deeply in love.

I have read a few books by this author now and she always writes a heart-warming story and this one was no different. I thought that it was a nice story even though it was very predictable and I had guessed what would happen with a few chapters, it was a nice, relaxing read and the characters were well suited and they worked well together. 4 stars from me - highly recommended

Anna's father owned the mini-mart at Blue Moon Bay, and since his death the family has been doing their best to keep it going in memory of him - but it's going broke. When Peter, a billionaire who has made an offer to buy it, appears in town, Anna is afraid that he'll change everything and that her father's legacy will be lost - so she comes up with a plan to get to know him and convince him of the joys of tradition rather than change. But the plan backfires when they connect in ways she never expected, and she ends up reluctant to broach the subject lest it destroy their budding relationship. Can their two worlds ever really meet?

As always with this author, this book is an enjoyable light, clean read, perfect for a brief escape from 'real life'. While not the sort of thing I want all the time, I do thoroughly enjoy it for a change - and this book was no exception. The conclusion was a nice twist, too! All in all, well written and a good read if you're wanting something on the lighter side but that's more than just fluff.

Note that I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review and this is my considered opinion of the book.

I love Christmas Romance at any time of the year, I especially love Susan Hatler’s Christmas stories so this short holiday story that in some ways wraps up the Kissed by the Bay series is a lovely holiday romance with just a touch of “I’m going to miss these characters” feeling. However! Keep a look out for the new spin-off series Do Over Date with the first release due in August 2019.

A Kiss for Santa brings us the story of the new rich guy in town, Peter, who is buying up property – and Anna, who has recently lost her father and fears that Peter’s offer to buy the family business will destroy all the love that her father and her family has poured into that little mini-mart. Hmmm. You know what is said about assumptions, right?

Anna may have started out wanting to convince Peter to not make any changes to her family business or the traditions that their small town has held dear for generations, but along the way she’s going to get to know a man who isn’t at all what she thought – and maybe she might just be falling for the man. Only thing is, she hasn’t exactly been straightforward with him about her intentions or her fears and now Anna’s between a rock and a hard place.

I had such a good time with A Kiss for Santa. Anna and Peter work so well together even when they seem at odds. Get an early taste of the coming holidays with this short story that delivers all the joy, magic and love of not only Christmas but two unlikely people falling in love.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

A Kiss for Santa is a very sweet romance. One that was easy to fall in love with. Peter and Anna are both grieving and choose different ways to channel their feelings and overcome their personal loss. This is a quick, easy, well written story. I enjoyed all of the characters and the town details.

This was a shorter quick read that I devoured in no time. Susan Hatler has given us a quick read with romance and Christmas traditions wrapped up all in one. I fell in love with the characters quick and loved the Christmas atmosphere that Susan gave us in this story!

Anna is caught up in tradition and is determined to keep tradition alive in Blue Moon Bay. When failing businesses are being bought up by a certain man that has come to live in Blue Moon Bay, Anna has an idea that she thinks will keep her family's mini mart from being bought by him. What Anna does not expect is to quickly come to like Peter. Peter is nothing what Anna expected him to be at all.

Peter is very intrigued by the legend of a kiss that is known to be from Blue Moon Bay. Anna has heard about it but has never really believed in it and wonders why Peter is all caught up in it. When Peter and Anna first meet, Anna is very deceptive about her intentions. Can a relationship grow if only one person is being truthful?

You will not regret reading this cozy Christmas story. I love the way that Susan Hatler wrote this one and has us guessing what is going to happen to Peter and Anna up until the end. Great job. I am anxious to see what Susan Hatler has in store for her readers next.

All opinions are voluntary and my own. Thanks to Netgally, the publisher and the author for an advanced copy of this book.

This was such a cute book! This was the first book I've read from this author and I really enjoyed it. The story was different from anything I've read recently and really captured my attention. It was so well written and the characters were fantastic.

Such a festive cosy read I really enjoyed it.

This is the story of Anna who moves home to try and save her family's mini-mart after the death of her father.
Peter Locke has made on offer on the mini mart and Anna does her best to convince him to stick with tradition. In the process she falls for him and as their relationship progresses shes worried that he will find out her initial reasons for spending time with him was to save her familys business! Whatever could happen next?!

Such a perfect read for this christmas season and perhaps one I would quite happily re read in the future!

A cute, short read.

What I liked:
The writing style
The characters
Part of a series: Kissed by the Bay
Standalone
HEA
Epilogue

I look forward to reading the other books in this series.

Anna recently returned to her hometown of Blue Moon Bay following her father’s death. She has felt rather out of step, since returning home. Her family has made the difficult decision to sell their family’s struggling food mart to a new arrival in town who has purchased numerous struggling businesses.

Peter moved to Blue Moon Bay following his father’s death. He decided to move somewhere with a slower pace. His late father was very successful, but Peter believed that stress led to his early death. Peter wants to be successful himself, but values happiness and helping others above stress.

Can a woman who values traditions and fears change find happiness with a man bringing change to her beloved hometown?

Like all of Susan Hatler’s stories,A Kiss for Santa is short, yet incredibly sweet! This will be sure to add Christmas cheer to readers’ lives!