I believe this is the first that I've read by this author.
Santa Overboard is a cute, quick, kind-of-Christmas-y read by Carolyn McBride.

🛑🛑 Loose outline of the book follows, so if you don't want to know, STOP here!! 🛑🛑

What I liked: The women in the book coming together for each other in good and bad times, as well as the acceptance of a newcomer when the time arrives!
I like how they all work together and SUPPORT each other...regardless of religion, race, etc. This is the way it SHOULD be in life, and I'm so happy to see it in a book! :) I also like how her daughters are there for the holiday season, with friends from school, and they still make time for Mom (and even Dad, although they are divorced.)

What I didn't care for: The PROCRASTINATION between Katie and Deke. I mean really?? They are grown adults...with kids of their own. What's up with that? I understand that we all have our doubts, etc...but this was just a bit too much for me!

The whole debacle with Kendall and the boat was interesting, and I liked how she was accepted into the friend group. Also loved the Santa boat theme, but other than that, I feel like Christmas was just a mention in the book...
I did like the Christmas Spider synopsis. I have never heard of that, and I really liked the way it was incorporated into the book.

And just FYI...Covid is VERY prevalent in this book. I thought maybe the audiobook was just being released, but the book/e-book had already come out? But, it looks like they all were just released yesterday, 9/24/24, so I'm not quite sure WHY Covid was such an integral part of this story? But, it was. I do understand that the MFC lost her Mom to Covid...so maybe that's why? I just feel like it was brought up A LOT.

3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me!
#SantaOverboard by #CarolynMcBride and narrated nicely by #MariaMarquis.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #MakeWavesPress for an ARC of the audiobook. As I mentioned, it was released yesterday, so if this sounds like something you'd like, take a look for it now!

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Quaint audiobook, that has a Christmas family traditions focus. It shines a gentle light on non-Christian’s at this time of year, of other countries traditions, romance and looking back at past mistakes and trying to find a better way forward. There’s lots if humour too. As a guy listening, I think this is a book more suited for women. Not for the story itself which does have men playing a role as the title suggests, but for the feel of the whole which seemed more about women supporting women. Thank you to Make Waves Press and NetGalley for the audio ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given. (PS, I thought the publishing companies’ name is very apt for this particular book)

Darling short Christmas book to get you in the Christmas spirit! I think I will read the course one now so it tires everything together! Loved the narration!!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher!!

Santa Overboard is the second installment in the Potomac Shores series. While it's helpful to read the first book for context, it stands well on its own. This novella offers a delightful blend of friendship, romance, and holiday spirit.

Special thanks to NetGalley, Carolyn McBride and Make Wave Press for advanced access to the audio book. Santa Overboard is narrated by Maria Marquis and she does a fantastic job.

Publication date- September 24, 2024
#SantaOverboard #NetGalley

The only downside I noted was the frequent references to Covid.

After a run of bad luck with men and the loss of her mom during the pandemic, Katie is starting over in Occoquan. She leans on her best friends to help her sort out her budding romance and save the town’s Christmas festival.

This was a cute short story to kickstart my Christmas reading. I have not read the first story in this series, so this was my introduction to all the characters in Katie’s world. I liked that the characters felt real and relatable, but I would recommend reading the first one before this, as I found it a bit hard to keep up with everyone. I initially picked this up, because I grew up near Occoquan. The author provided a lot of natural imagery and scenery to really paint the picture. There was a prevalent theme of the Covid pandemic, so read with care if that is a trigger for you. Overall, I liked the boating viewpoint of the Christmas season.

Thank you to Carolyn McBride, Make Waves Press, and NetGalley for the advanced listener’s copy in exchange for my honest review.

In case you forget this story takes place in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, the author will remind you at least once a chapter! I understand it was probably meant to make the book more relatable but it almost seemed a little obsessive. I also couldn't find it quite believable how quickly the main character, Katie, was willing to accept Kendall into her life as one of her new best friends. That being said, I like that this is a romance featuring an older couple. I found Katie and Deke's relationship sweet and I was rooting for them. That made it worth finishing for me.

This short novel (just under 200 pages) is the second in the Potomac Shores series. Incidents in the first book, Cicada Spring (April 2024) are lightly recapped so you can read this as a stand alone. Katie Young is still trying to get things right after her short-lived disaster of a marriage. Covid is a big part of the storyline as the book is set in the past a few years. Everyone is still reeling from losses including deaths of loved ones to businesses that didn’t survive. New boyfriend Deke is great and love is in the air till he announces he is going to the Galapagos Islands for research during the holidays. She struggles because he doesn’t want to spend their first holidays together.

I thought the drama element was a little over done considering they haven’t dated long and this was planned before they were together. But the rest of the story is sweet and engaging. Her female friend group is welcoming to new members. And everyone is up for second chances. I listened to the audio version and enjoyed the narrator. I would gladly read this on KU or from my local library.

Thank you to Netgalley and Make Waves Press for my ARC copy.

I ended up liking this so much more then I thought I was going to. It was a really easy to listen to Narrator, with an easy to follow story. It is a really quick and well worth it listen.

Thank you to Netgalley, Make Waves Press, and Carolyn McBride for the chance to listen to this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

I did not read book one, Cicada Spring, when it was available on NetGalley, because your girl was Cicada'd out here in Missouri. That's the honest truth. So I went into it without the tension of the backstory, but do feel the author referred back to the previous story with enough detail that this can be enjoyed as a standalone.

COVID/the pandemic is more than just the time frame- it's practically a character. If that grates on you, as it did start to for me, this book might not be for you.

The narration was done really well- I would happily listen to this narrator again!

It was a sweet little story, but I didn't really gel with the characters.
I listened to the audiobook version and I didn't hate the narrator, but she didn't grip me.
Either way, it's a nice short holiday read - audio or book.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I just finished a fun holiday read (actually a listen). Santa Overboard was a fast paced, enjoyable listen.

Okay so this is on me, but I was definitely expecting more of a romcom than an emotional story. That’s on me, and the book was still good. It is definitely a sweet story of women coming into their own and flexing their power as they deal with loss of love and youth. The camaraderie among all these women is also really refreshing. A wonderful dose of women supporting women to be their best, independent selves. That said, I struggled with Katie. I understand her being upset to find out Deke is going on his research trip for the holidays, but the fact that she keeps punishing him for it when he explained it was planned before they were a couple is total bullshit. I like that Deke called her out on it and the fact that she’s projecting her own issues on to him. I like that he specifically said she wasn’t meeting him halfway. And I guess I’m proud of him for stepping up to make the first gesture in the end. Overall, it was very short and sweet, and a great novella for the upcoming holiday season. Maria’s voice was perfect for how I would have heard Katie sound in my head. She did a great job with expressing emotions and accents.

This is a novella. This was a fun mix of romance and women finding themselves, with a touch of humor, and, obviously, Christmas magic. Having not read the previous book, this was my intro to the series. It did take me a bit to sort of the various characters although I swiftly admired their strength both as individuals and a group. First time reading this author. Katie Young has had quite the year. After discovering her new husband’s infidelities and losing her mother during the COVID-19 lockdown, she moved home to the Potomac shores and her childhood home in Occoquan. The past few months have been full of memorable moments with her daughter and their friends, and even meeting a new beau. When her new relationship turns rocky and a new friend has her own relationship drama, Katie’s new life starts to unravel. This ia a light holiday read, easily completed in a day. 3.5 rounded up. Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for the opportunity.

This is a novels. I think it was too short for the story. I wanted more.


Many thanks to Net Galley and Make Waves Press for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review

It was great to be back at the Potomac Shores with Katie and friends.
As Katie and her friends navigate their new normal post pandemic, they try to keep their holiday traditions alive while adding new ones.
I love reading about Katie and her circle of friends. They are all over 50 and it is refreshing to read about more mature characters. I love that they are always willing to add another woman to the "Beach Bonfire Babes". Every woman should have friends like that.
If you are looking for a run Holiday rom com I highly recommend Santa Overboard.

Katie has had one hell of a year. She lost her mother and her marriage ended due to infidelity. She is trying to live her best life and start over. She has been leaning on her daughter and is part of many wonderful family moments with her. Katie also starts dating someone new named Deke.

Everything about the story was charming and heartwarming. Katie has to deliver the town Santa in her boat but everything seems to unravel and in the moment looks like it’s not going to work out, starting with her boat not being ready and needing to find a new boat.

This was a short holiday story that may not have the snowy cozy vibes of most holiday books but it will still get you in the holiday spirit.

I received an ALC from NetGalley and Make Waves Press in return for an honest review. The cover for this book is very inviting and jolly. I love a small town holiday book and the setting in Potomac Shores came to life and made me want to visit the location, especially with all the talk of boating.

I enjoyed the fact that Katie is middle aged, which is a refreshing change. The themes of a single Mom and life after divorce are relevant. Deke is a good MMC who is honest and does a good job of reassuring Katie’s insecurities about her changing body. Maria Marquis does a wonderful job as narrator.

Given this is a short book, I felt that too many characters were introduced very quickly, and I think it would have been easier to keep track if I had read the first book in the series. There is a lot of talk about Covid, including people having died during the pandemic, so this may be triggering for some and did not feel very festive. I prefer my holiday books to stay away from heavy topics. Given these factors, I rate this book 2.5stars.

Unfortunately, Santa Overboard didn’t connect with me as much as I had hoped. I loved the idea of a small-town romance, especially one set in Virginia, which introduced me to some interesting local details. However, for a short story, it moved at a slower pace than I expected, and at times it felt bogged down by the sheer volume of facts. There were moments that seemed to go on for 3-4 minutes just listing historical or local information.

Additionally, I wished the tradition of the Christmas spider had played a more prominent role. It was introduced with its own backstory but barely mentioned afterward, which felt like a missed opportunity for a unique and festive element to shine. There were also several mentions of COVID throughout the story, but in some cases, it didn’t add much to the narrative. If you’re someone who enjoys stories rich with facts and history, this might be a great pick for you. But for me, it disrupted the flow of the story in general.

Katie’s relationship with Deke isn’t going well, and she feels like everything is falling apart. She’s now set on saving the holiday festival, with the help of her friends. Santa Overboard is a cute holiday novella with a coming of middle age theme.

My main issue with this book is that the COVID-19 pandemic was mentioned way too many times…to the point that it was practically a character in the book and should have been included as a content warning. I didn’t really feel a connection with any of the characters. It’s advertised as a rom-com, but I didn’t really feel much romance or get the comedic aspect of it. The book did have really lovely holiday vibes, but it just didn’t quite work for me.

I listened to the audio and the narrator, Maria Marquis, did a great job with the book and gave each character a unique and distinct voice.

Thank you to NetGalley and Make Waves Press for the ALC.

This story was just okay for me. I felt like it was really rushed. I would have loved a little more story to get more details.