We loved the first instalment of this last year and, in our opinion, this sequel is even better. This is my reluctant middle reader's favourite festive find and she devoured it whilst smiling all the way through. There's something about L.D Lapinski's writing in this series that is just so light and readable and we found ourselves absolutely racing through the pages...

Harper's family unit has changed beyond recognition. Not only is her mum's partner Father Christmas but now she and Will have a new baby sister, Yula. But soon it becomes apparant that Yula has inherited some of her father's magic. How on earth can they keep their Christmas secret underwraps now?

With one foot firmly planted in reality and the other foot playing with very fun fantasy, this story is the perfect mix for readers who, like my middle reader, are not keen on high fantasy. The text is accessible and akin to a Lottie Brooks type narrative but with the added addition of some Christmassy capers. Yula is just an adorable addition to the series and so are the elusive gingerbread figures. Tosie Mistle also makes a fab 'Dolores Umbridge' baddie and then there's all the cosy descriptions of food and the relatable issues that come with most families - working parents, change, new relationships and feelings. I particularly loved Harper's struggling emotions as she works out what Nick means to her and the lovely conclusion.

Top marks for a quick, fun, Christmassy read.

Ahh this was so much fun. I loved the first book (Step Father Christmas) and it was so nice to be back with Harper and Will and also Nick.

Nick and Helen have had a little girl since we last saw them, called Yula, and as the story goes on, we find out she has Christmas Magic like her dad. However, she's 11 months old and has no control over her magic and therefore, could risk ruining Christmas and spoiling Nick's identity. The Elf and Safety Sargent turns up and says she's to take Yula to the North Pole HQ and raise her there, to prevent this from happening. But Nick, Helen, Harper and Will aren't having any of it, and this is the story of them trying to keep this secret whilst also trying to keep Yula with them.

A lot of fun, and I'd love to see more from the Hall/Claus family in the future.

A fun story to get you into the Christmas spirit.

Harper and Will have got used to Father Christmas being their mums boyfriend, but now there is baby Yula, with her own Christmas powers....what could possibly go wrong? Well quite a lot!

A lovely Christmas story told in the POV of Harper, and how her family are getting to grips with the magic of having Father Christmas as part of the family.

4.5 stars
I loved the first book in this series and could not wait to dive into this one to see what happened next with these amazing characters.

This can be read almost like an advent calendar with 25 chapters to count you down to Christmas Day however I could not put it down and ended up devouring it!
I love these characters and I just love how emotionally invested I was in this story and what wound happen with Yula!

This is a great middle grade Christmas novel that I absolutely recommend!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Last time round (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6000838869) it ended up being a charming experience to have the real, echt Santa Claus as your mother's boyfriend called Nick. It was also a charming read. But this is a year on, and a Family Event of capital letters scale has occurred – and it's not the kind of Santa Baby Eartha Kitt sang so well about. The family already knows that Nick is to be kept top secret as an embodiment of Christmas magic, but his newborn daughter Yula doesn't know that. And when she can summon snow at the drop of a rusk, there's going to be no end of strife in keeping her skills secret. The result if she does get revealed? The very end of Christmas as we know it...

There are multiple other subplots here, too – ranging from our narrator's surprise at her brother deciding Nick's status is father, as opposed to not-quite-step-dad, to Nick getting stuck doing a parade with his real flying reindeer and potentially letting the Christmas cat out of the stocking, in a way to equal his daughter's risk of revelations. But the key thing here is the baby, and that is an issue. Dislike them, dislike reading about their every personal quirk to do with noises, actions and where they throw their food? You can't really expect to like this.

That risk aside, this still has the made-for-TV movie feel of the original, which probably is part of its appeal I guess. The intended readers probably watch more Christmas movies than nativity plays or pantos, after all, and this once more likes to play with and deliver the expected, formulaic and comfortably cosy Christmas lore of so much else. Get past the baby and you do see a Christmas message done in nicely charming way, and you do find a story that is good enough to be adapted by Sky, if you ask me and my limited experience of what they offer.

It also repeats – but doesn't declare it front and centre – the shtick of being in 25 chapters, one for every day of December until the big day. It's much too pacey and energetic to deserve to be rationed so religiously, though. I can't say if a third one will turn up, unlike this time last year when I knew this second was due – although things are still left wandering the wild in unresolved fashion. Personally I'd probably be on board for finishing off a trilogy – even if this one's baby talk makes this more a three and a half star read for me. The intended readers aren't that way inclined, I guess, though – and for them this gets the four stars I have swung to. All in good, fair Christmas spirit, mind.

Original, silly, humorous, completely unbelievable and absolutely perfect for reading in the run up to Christmas. Escapism reading at its finest for those old enough to know the truth yet young enough to still want to believe in the magic.

I adored meeting Harper, Will and their mum in the first book and discovering their new addition with his super secret job!

Nick blended in perfectly to their family. Now a year later, there is another member of the family, Yula. She is a much loved baby and has brought the family together in new ways. This new dynamic has Harper considering the use of the word, “Dad” for Nick but she feels conflicted about it.

However, the main focus of this story is that baby Yula is causing some magical Christmas events in front of people meaning that Elf and Safety have gotten involved and are threatening to take her away. While the family and Nick think her magic is great, it is very hard to hide!

What will become of Yula and her Christmas magic? Will Harper call Nick dad? Will Nick be too late for Christmas this year?
So many questions to answer but I guarantee you a brilliant story that you will not want to put down. Imaginative, heartwarming and filled with Christmas magic! Perfect for Christmas or any time of year

Give me a children's book by L.D. Lapinski, sprinkle a bit of Christmas on top and there you have it, the perfect book to get you in the Christmas spirit. Loved every second of it!

Another fun, Christmas tale. Harper is getting used to life with stepdad Nick (Father Christmas). She now has a baby sister and is adjusting to life and looking forward to Christmas. When baby sister, Yula, makes it snow, it seems she has special Christmas magic she can't quite control, leading to some Christmas chaos.

What a fabulous second book about what happens when your mum gets a new boyfriend and he turns out to be Father Christmas; the REAL one. Lots of fun and adventures to be had by all and this series need to be on the list for reading as part of the annual countdown to Christmas.

Told by Harper, our young MC, The Biggest Christmas Secret Ever is a fun and well-paced Christmas story with secrets that are hilarious and hard to guess.
Will, Harper and baby Yula are siblings and their Christmas becomes more adventurous than ever this year.
This is an engaging read for KS2 readers and Christmas time. It is funny and warm.
My favourite character was Yula. My child is still deciding if they liked Harper more.