I will read anything Lauren Kung Jessen writes and Santa Claus Con was just up my alley. Growing up on serial investigation tv shows, Santa Claus Con was thrilling! Keep reading this book review of Santa Claus Con for my full thoughts.
Summary
It’s the hap-happiest con of the year …
Scarlett Payne and Nathan Lambros agree on exactly one thing: they both despise Christmas. But when Scarlett receives a cryptic letter—from someone claiming to be Santa and threatening to sabotage New York’s Santa Claus Con—they’re the only two FBI agents who can stop the holiday spectacle from turning into a national disaster. Unfortunately, the last time Scarlett saw her former rival, he was breaking her heart. So she’s not exactly eager to ask the grumpiest agent she knows for help, but he’s sadly great at going undercover.
After years of deep cover, Nathan was ready to hand over his badge … until Scarlett pulls him into one last operation. He’s not sure which is worse—pretending to be Santa or working with the woman he loves but had to push away.
Beneath fake beards and forced cheer, old feelings refuse to stay buried. With one day, one Con, and one mysterious enemy closing in, these two self-proclaimed Grinches are about to find out what’s more difficult: saving Christmas … or risking their hearts all over again.
Review
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
Santa Claus Con combines rivals and exes. I love the former rivals to lovers to exes to rivals again. I loved the mixture of FBI investigation and romance all mashed together. There’s their past history and heartbreak combined with their commitment to the job. I adore the kind of High Potential vibes of Santa Claus Con and the hidden messages. These hidden clues are only rivaled by the stories and hidden notes exchanged between Nathan and Scarlett in inside jokes and wounds. We also love the irony of saving Christmas as non-Christmas enthusiasts. Santa Claus Con is full of action and romance, my only note is that the action kind of outshines the romance in places.
(Disclaimer: Some of the links below are affiliate links. For more information you can look at the Policy page. If you’re uncomfortable with that, know you can look up the book on any of the sites below to avoid the link)
The past sections were interesting and gave tons of context, but for me the pacing of these sections felt difficult. It slowed it down for me to remember the past and I had a tricky time balancing their feelings from before to now. Santa Claus Con asks us if the thrill of a chase can light the sparks again in the ultimate forced proximity. Full of hijinks and chases, Santa Claus Con delivers high peak action with humor and romance. Find Santa Claus Con on Goodreads, Storygraph, Blackwells, Bookshop. org & Libro. fm.