Everyone has fond memories of going to see a department store Santa. In this anthology Carly Alexander presents a new twist to that cherished childhood experience. All her stories revolve around the Rossman Department store chain's Santaland and Mrs. Claus. In the early lean years, the store's founder created a Mrs. Claus suit to add a little extra holiday cheer. Made from crimson velvet trimmed with fur and elaborate beadwork, the beautiful costume plays a pivotal role in the lives of three women in successive holiday seasons.
In the first, The Nutcracker Olivia, a professional dancer, is back home in Baltimore recovering from a knee injury and hoping to be hired as an elf for the holiday season. Instead she gets the Mrs. Claus role. It's not all cookies and hot cocoa, but Olivia ends up getting her Christmas wish; a "do over". Christmas Mouse finds Cassandra, a window dresser in San Francisco, having to double up at work due to corporate cutbacks. All she wants for Christmas is a full-time father for her young son. Miracle On the Magnificent Mile brings the suit back to the company's flagship store in Chicago and the future CEO, Meredith Rossman, with a bit of a scrooge complex. She dons the suit in the hope of a seat on the board of directors. No sugarplums for her.
THE SECRET LIFE OF MRS. CLAUS is a delightful book to get you in the holiday spirit, remind you of a childhood tradition and add a little romance to a cold winter day.
Olivia Neuman had hoped the worst was behind her after she
broke her ankle, lost her chance to be a Rockette, and had
to come home to Baltimore to live in the same city as her
ex, Bobby (a.k.a. โBoobyโ). Of course, that was before she
saw her face plastered all over billboards for Bobbyโs
wildly popular cable show about an evil, conniving
girlfriend namedโฆOlivia. To top it off, the only job Liv
can get is playing Mrs. Claus at Rossmanโs department storeโ
a nightmare gig of wrangling bratty kids alongside a biker
Santa. Her first Christmas wish is for a โDo Over,โ but at
this time of year, wishes have a tendency to come true in
unexpected waysโฆ
...A Tight Leather Beltโฆ
Single mom Cassie Derringer fantasizes about the lives of
the wealthy women coming through the doors of Rossmanโs,
lives of cashmere (sigh), winter white (practicalโnot!),
well-behaved children (via cattle prods?) and involved dads
(yeah, right). Cassieโs son, Tyler, is a ball of wild
energy, and sheโs sure itโs because he has no contact with
his father, a TV star whoโs staked his claim on a whole new
level of narcissism. Cassie didnโt know her own dad, but
sheโs determined to give Tyler one. And when she finds a
note with her Mrs. Claus suit that reads, โThis suit brings
luck. Go with it,โ sheโs sure sheโs on her wayโฆ
โฆThis Christmas, You Are What You
Wear
Bah, humbug. As heir to the Rossmanโs dynasty, the only
Christmas spirit Meredith Rossman feels is the kind brought
on by ringing cash registers. If she doesnโt get sales up
by 50% this holiday, her jerk cousin Daniel will become
CEO. Dressed as Mrs. Claus, Meredith can keep an eye on
operations and on Nick, the Christmas hire Santa who makes
Meredith want to sit on his lap. Maybe retail and magic
donโt mix, but something about Nick inspires Meredith to be
a better person. Suddenly, she wants nothing more than to
make wishes come trueโฆespecially one in particularโฆ
For
three very different women trying to get what they want,
itโs a Christmas where miracles happen; love is magical;
and changing their lives is as close as changing their
outfits.
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