Santa’s nephews have come to Crystal Falls to run a cookie business. If they fail, they’ll have to go back to the North Pole and fill their uncle’s black boots when he retires. But sick of toys, elves, and the North Pole’s influence, that’s the last thing Landon and Aaron want. They’re looking for love.

Jayne isn’t much for sentimental family holidays and she certainly doesn’t believe in magic. Working in the Crystal Falls post office, she is mystified when she handles mail bearing a North Pole postal mark.

When Landon and Jayne meet, their attraction for each other is undeniable, but will the truth about Landon’s life make Jayne a believer, or will it be his love that finally melts her heart?

The bell over the door tinkled.

She glanced up. Barbara had taken the rest of the afternoon off so it was up to Jayne to take care of customers. She didn’t mind, especially if all of them looked like the man standing in the lobby. Uncertainty clouded his face as his gaze darted from the wall of locked post office boxes to her counter with the old-timey mail slots behind her. When he saw her, he smiled.

“May I help you?” Jayne’s heart skipped a beat as he focused his hazel eyes on her. “I haven’t seen you around town. Did you just move here?” She lifted a brow. His short-cropped chestnut hair danced about his head as if it wanted to curl but couldn’t quite make up its mind.

About six feet tall, the man appeared to be in good physical shape if the way his green turtleneck clinging to his biceps was any indication.

He ducked his head, embarrassment oozing from him in waves. “Uh, I wanted to talk to Barbara. Is she here?” He strode forward, drumming his long fingers on the countertop in nervousness.

“She left early.” Jayne smiled. Maybe it had to do with the sunlight flooding in from the plate-glass windows or perhaps she had mistaken their original color but his eyes now appeared a muted moss green. “I can try to answer any questions you have.” She wished she weren’t wearing the regulation blue-gray uniform. It didn’t exactly show her curvy figure at its best.

“Do you know anything about baking?” He scratched the tip of his nose. “I have a bit of a situation.”

Jayne squinted. Was that flour on his cheek? She resisted the impulse to brush the white powder away. “What’s the problem?”

The man’s shrug lifted powerful shoulders. “Can you revive burnt gingerbread men?”

“I don’t think so. You’ll have to start over.”

“That’s what I thought.” Dejection flooded his voice. “No one was ever good at anything the first time they tried it.” The corners of his mouth tipped upward. “I may as well get the mail while I’m here. Hi, I’m Landon Bernhart.”

“Hi. Jayne Edgers.” She turned toward the appropriate slot, and then paused as she recognized the name. He was one of the men who received mail from the North Pole.

As she handed him the six letters, her fingers brushed his. Warmth spread up her arm to settle in her chest. It was like happiness and comfort food all in one. “Nice to meet you.” She noticed his grin was a tad lopsided and he had one slightly crooked tooth in a line of otherwise straight ones.

“The pleasure’s all mine.” When he held her gaze, Jayne clutched the edge of the counter, suddenly fearful her knees would no longer support her. “I might have to stop by more often.”

The bell on the front door chimed, breaking the tension of the moment as a mother and four rowdy kids spilled into the lobby.

“I’ll see you next time, Landon.” She frowned, wondering at the interest she felt for him. He saluted her with his mail then headed to the door. Jayne had a quick glimpse of faded blue jeans that hugged his nicely rounded rear end before the door closed and obliterated her view.
She shivered, and it had nothing to do with the cool blast of air that raced through the post office.

Rating:

Reviewer: Cheryl

Jayne Edgers does not believe in Santa Claus or the North Pole. She has had horrible Christmases ever since she was a little girl. She wrote Santa asking him for a microscope but never got it. So when Crystal Falls newest residents say they are from the North Pole, Jayne thinks someone is pulling her chain.

Landon Bernhart and his brother Aaron agreed to run Just Cookie Bakery. Landon and Aaron didn’t accept so easily though. Their Uncle Chris “Santa Claus” gave them two choices…either run the bakery or get into the family business. Neither choice appealed to the guys but they decided to choose the lesser of the evils.

From the first moment Landon meets Jayne, he falls head over heels for her. There is just one problem…Jayne thinks Landon is crazy. Can Landon convince Jayne that Santa Claus is real?

Exiles from Christmas is book one in the Holiday Magic series. This is a quick, sweet read that will fill you up with the holiday spirit. I like that Sandra Sookoo added a fun twist by making Landon and Aaron the nephews of Santa Claus. Who knew that the Santa’s nephews were so H-O-T! Jayne and Landon make a cute couple. I can’t wait to read all the rest of the books in this series.

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