I DNF’d this at 46%.

I was so pulled out of the story with the incessant COVID/lockdown/pandemic mentions - I counted 20 mentions from chapter 2 to 6.

I didn’t find the characters relatable, maybe I’m not the target demographic but also the Insta-besties relationship between Katie and Kendall gave me pause.

The writing itself wasn’t bad, but I just couldn’t finish it.

I listened to this story on Audiobook via NetGalley, I was SO excited for this one because the cover and the description seems adorable, but for me this one fell flat. It was difficult to connect with the characters in a romantic sense, and even though I was excited to read a story with adult characters rather than characters in their early 20’s it just didn’t resonate with me.
It is a cute holiday themed story if you’re looking for some fluff in between series, quick and not too complex.

Santa Overboard* by Carolyn McBride is a lighthearted and charming holiday adventure that brings together festive cheer with a dash of mystery and fun. The story follows an unexpected turn of events when Santa Claus finds himself in an unusual predicament—overboard on a ship, far from his North Pole home, during the Christmas season.

McBride’s writing style is engaging, blending humor with warmth in a way that will appeal to readers of all ages.

The plot unfolds at a steady pace, with the tension building around Santa’s efforts to get back on track and deliver presents to all the good boys and girls. McBride’s imaginative take on how Santa handles the challenges of the modern world is both funny and heartwarming, keeping readers hooked with the mix of suspense and holiday spirit.

The book also stands out for its holiday-themed settings, from snowy landscapes to the festive cheer aboard the ship, making it a perfect read for the Christmas season. It captures the magic of the holidays without feeling overly sentimental or predictable, allowing readers to enjoy a fresh perspective on a beloved holiday icon.

In terms of pacing and readability, *Santa Overboard* delivers a quick and enjoyable escape into a world of holiday magic and adventure. It’s perfect for those seeking a light, feel-good read to get into the Christmas spirit, and it’s suitable for both younger and older readers alike.

Overall, *Santa Overboard* is a delightful holiday romp that reminds us of the importance of perseverance, kindness, and the magic of the season. McBride’s creativity shines through, making it a fun addition to any Christmas reading list.

🎧Audio Book Review🎧

Santa Overboard
Carolyn McBride

🌟🌟🌟🌟

Heading into the festive season, I couldn't resist grabbing this one, which just from the front cover, I knew I was going to love.
It looked full of festive fun and I was expecting lots of laughs along the way.

This did deliver in lots of ways, but it wasn't at all what I'd expected.

This is actually the second book in the Potomac Shores series and although is set around the festive period and did reference the holidays a lot, the main storyline seemed to follow on from the first book, which was mentioned a few times.
The story still worked ok as a standalone - but I do wish that I'd read these in order and met the characters from the start of their journeys.

I enjoyed the premise of this which was a lovely uplifting story about new beginnings and second chances later in life.
I could relate to so many of the characters, especially Katie.
Not that I'm in the same situation, but being a similar age allowed me to connect with the ladies better and it got me thinking about how I'd cope in a similar situation.

I loved the friendship that the ladies of the Beach Bonfire Babes had with each other.
The support they gave each other both professionally and emotionally was so heartwarming and I really wanted to join in!

It was lovely to see the relationship between Katie and Deke develop further.
I'm assuming that they meet in book one (but I haven't read the blurb) and that this was a continuation of that.
This highlighted some of the issues that people face when getting together after already having a previous long term relationship.
The new routines and old traditions causing some soul searching, but it was nice to watch as this progressed.

I really loved the diversity of all the other characters. Learning a little about how other cultures and religions celebrate their own holiday season - some of which I already knew, but seeing some new traditions too.

Overall a great (fairly) quick read which was well written and with some intriguing characters that I'd like to see more of.
I've added book 1 to my wishlist already and can't wait to catch up.




💕Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my ARC copy - this is my honest review 💕

This story/series is pure chick lit (which admittedly isn't really my thing)--it's the story of a middle-aged woman trying to figure out her life with her teenage daughter, some good friends, and a lot of wine.

Santa Overboard is actually the second in the series and follows Katie as she's settling into her new life in Occoquan, Virginia and learning that she'll be spending her first Christmas with her new life without her boyfriend who will be in the Galapagos Islands.

It was a find story if you enjoy that kind of reading, but it just isn't really my thing to have that kind of unnecessarily emotional drama. (I do live near Occoquan, though, so it was fun to read about a small town I know fairly well.)

My biggest complaint is that the cover of this audiobook makes the story seem more fun/funny/silly than actually it is, so I had certain expectations and I just felt let down.

Book: Santa Overboard
Author: Carolyn McBride
Format: Audiobook
Genre: Fiction, Women's Literature
Places Featured: Occoquan, Virginia
Review Score: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

A cosy Christmas romance with humour, heart and a second shot at love. An easy seasonal read that fans of this genre will lap right up.

Thank you for my review copy - all views my own.

Small town, holiday themed, strong female characters in 40s-60s!!! Great presentation of women "of a certain age" supporting one another and being real! A bit of suspense and a bit of yearning, but I appreciated the female bonds, rediscovering yourself, and pulling together of the community just as much as the romance. The only thing that I did not like was the narrator attempting various male voices, but that's a personal pet peeve of mine.

One I don't post a bad review. The book was overly predictable. By the midpoint, the outcome was quite clear. Additionally, I did not find myself engaged with the characters.

2.5 Stars
This book picks up right where "The Cicada Spring" left off. However, I think this book could be read as a standalone for the Christmas season as well!

The author and her editors definitely took note of feedback from her first book. The Beach Bonfire Babes were a highlight in the first book and have now become an even larger focus in this short novella.This friend group was a personal favorite of mine, so I am happy to see this shift. The author also picked up the pace in this book compared to the first, which suited the novella format well and was a huge improvement considering how slow the first book felt. The narrator continues to do a wonderful job bringing Katie's voice to life!

While the story was fun, I don't think the story was for me. The author has sadly abandoned some of the hallmarks that made her book so unique in an attempt to reach a wider audience (which, from the average rating on Goodreads, it appears to have failed miserably). The author has shifted the Beach Bonfire Babes away from Bible studies to only casual conversations that start with prayer. The overall tone of the book also seems to have set faith and Christian conversations to the side. The author even included scenes of the main couple having premarital sex when I feel like I distinctly remember a large focus of the first book being Katie and her (now ex) husband waiting to have sex until they were married, even though they were in their 50s and both had previously been married. It just seems like an odd choice to change those morals now, given that it felt like a large feature in the first book from what I remember (given my memory could be incorrect). Also, Deke sounds very creepy in this book compared to the last. He went from sounding so sweet and considerate in the first book to sounding pretentious and sex obsessed.

Overall, the book was an enjoyable read with a pretty fast-paced, lighthearted plot. However, considering the tone shift, I don't think I will be continuing the series in the future. I love that the first book felt so distinctly unique with a focus on wildlife preservation and Christianity/faith. Sadly, those features seem like they may be a much smaller focus in the books moving forward.

Thank you, NetGalley for an advanced ALC of this book

I have always been a sucker for romcoms and something funny so seeing the cover I was instantly intrigued, the story was OK and to me didn't go anywhere that pulled me in and fill invested in the characters, did I read it in one sitting yes but it just wasn't for me.

A woman always falling in love too fast looking to do things differently and steal falling into the same trap haha

It's sweet but takes a while to get into

I did not enjoy this book. Part of my problem was I did not realize that this was the second book in a series and so there were SO many characters that were just mentioned and I didn't really know who they were. That being said I thought the main character was slightly annoying and immature for a 50 year old woman. I thought the book jumped all over the place and the events of the book were disjointed. Maybe reading the first book would have resolved some of these issue for me but overall this book was not for me.

I didn't have a great time reading this. My main annoyance is the number of times COVID is mentioned. It just felt unnecessary to me. The main characters are older which I typically do not like in a romance. The audiobook narrator was ok but a little cringe when the male voice was done. The Christmas vibes were pretty good but overall, this book just wasn't for me.

Thank you NetGalley and author for an ARC of this audiobook. #NetGalley #SantaOverboard

First things first - I continue to be amazed at the ability of these characters to appreciate sounds that are…shall we say acquired tastes? After the blaring cicadas in the last book, this round of romance involves the bonging of a grandfather clock, evoking memories of being awakened every fifteen minutes when visiting clock-loving relatives. I can’t wait for the air horn symphony in the next one.

Seriously, though - I’m looking forward to this series hitting its stride. There was a bit more interaction with the other beach babes this go-round - although we never did check back in with Rhiannon- and I’m hopeful that the rapid pairing off that filled this book will set the stage for future installments focused more on the friendships and business partnerships and less on the men in their lives.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

santa overboard - Carolyn McBride
3 ⭐️

the FMC is a more older and mature character
this book is the 2nd book in the Potomac Shores series. However i have not read the first book which i didn't really think it was necessary with it only being a short book! I was fine picking up all of the details from the previous book.
In my opinion i think that is as too heavily focused on covid, the book is set in 2021 when it was still such a large topic but it made me get annoyed when covid was brought up again further in the story, if you are sensitive around this topic i would choose a different book. another improvement would be that the plot could be more focused to go somewhere. I just felt like nothing was moving and there was no initial goal.
overall, easy and cosy read perfect for your christmasy shelf. enjoy with some hot chocolate and snacks!
merry christmas and a happy new year x

i would like to say a huge thank you to NetGalley for the audio ARC! (advanced reader copy). this review will be on NetGalley and Goodreads.

Santa Overboard was a quick read, but unfortunately, it didn’t meet my expectations. The book lacked the mystery element I was hoping for, and the frequent references to COVID felt out of place and distracting rather than adding to the story. While it was an easy book to get through, it didn’t offer much in terms of plot or engagement.

This was a cute story but it didn't really engross me like I hoped. The narration was good, Thanks for the ARC, it was great to listen to a "clean" story while in the car.

This was my first audiobook ARC and it did not disappoint.

I found it interesting that the author decided to point out that this book took place Post Covid times and referenced how things were beginning to open up again. It allows the reader to go back to a very specific time period to put themselves in the mind of the main character.

Another thing I thought was more unique was that the main character wasn't a hot young 20 something, but a woman in her 50's who had been married before and has grown kids. Spice level wise, it was probably a 2/5 but the story was so good enough that I didn't really miss it, when it wasn't there.

I liked that after the book, the author took the time to wish the reader/listener a Happy Holidays and to stress the importance of leaving a review, even if the book isn't something you normally read. Hearing the author say they take the time to read each and every review, really made it clear that her book was a work of the heart and that she really cares about it.

Thank you to NetGalley for an audiobook ARC of this book! Santa Overboard is the second book in a series. I wish I had had the chance to read the first book, as I think some context and background was established in that storyline that I was missing while listening to this second book in the series. Overall, this was a short and sweet little holiday installment in the Potomac Shores series. While I was jumping into the world and learning as we went, I really enjoyed hearing about Katie's developing relationship with Deke, seeing her friendship blossom with a new friend, and the overall atmosphere of the cozy little town. Overall I agree with what some of the other reviews here say, where it just felt like because it was so short, it was lacking some depth or further exploration of characters, like you'd expect in a series as it goes on. There were some plot holes, yes, but honestly for what this book is, it's not too irritating (like if you were to compare to some of the bigger promoted series out there where plot holes are glaring). If you're looking for something short, fast, and fun with some heartwarming Christmas elements, this is for you.

I was not a fan of this book. The plot felt all over the place and the concept of bringing in Covid felt pointless. Why does a Christmas story need to mention Covid so much?

I tried to give "Santa Overboard" a chance, but, unfortunately, this book is not for me. I could see his book being hit for women in their 40s who feel like they are adrift (boat pun intended) in life.

I received this audiobook as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, Carolyn McBride, and Make Waves Press for the opportunity to review this book. This review has been posted across my socials under the username @tinynightingales, check out my GoodReads profile https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/62314863 my bookstagram account https://www.instagram.com/tinynightingales/ and booktok https://www.tiktok.com/@tinynightingales?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc