Publisher: Samhain
Publish Date: November 29th
How I got this book: eARC from author
It’s the most wonderful time of the year. The season for mistletoe, Christmas lights…and a killing spree. When Secret’s friend, Detective Mercedes Castilla, asks for help to solve a series of murders longer than a string of lights, Secret resigns herself to the fact her holidays will be anything but peaceful.
It seems someone is killing New Yorkers in an unusually gruesome way, and as the bodies pile up faster than presents under the tree, the police are no closer to finding the killer than Secret is to finding the perfect present for one of her boyfriends, Lucas.
Tracking down a monster in Manhattan the week before Christmas is almost as difficult as shopping for her ever-expanding collection of loved ones. When tragedy strikes close to home, Secret must do everything in her power to put an end to the horror in time for Santa to come down the chimney.
Warning: Contains a less than merry McQueen with a sword and a reason to use it; a festive new use for mistletoe; and a promise that will haunt Secret like the Ghost of Christmas Future.
*Blurb from Goodreads*
Dean is back again with another installment of the Secret McQueen series, and a cute little Christmas novella at that.
Secret is trying to figure out what to get all her friends for Christmas. It’s the first year she has had to worry about buying for anyone else besides her grandma. But shopping ends up being the last thing on Secret’s mind once she gets pulled in to assist on a case of grizzly murders. Once Desmond’s sister goes missing, Secret fears that it is connected with her murders. With Holden at her side, Secret will search the city to try and find her before it’s too late.
I absolutely adore this series. I love that Secret is such a fun and snarky heroine. I love that despite her bad ass skills, she is still clumsy and unsure of herself. I absolutely loved the mystery plot surrounding this novella. It was action packed, gruesome and totally twisted. I liked the way Dean combined the plots with the killer and the missing children, especially Penny.
I have to say, I love Secret with Desmond. They are such fun together, and the sexy times as totally hot. The only thing that I am nervous about with this series is the love triangle aspect. Although there is no page time with her other werewolf boyfriend Lucas, there are so many love interests in Secret’s life, and I am not a fan of that uncertainty. Add in the fact that Secret made a promise to Holden that she is worried about keeping, I’m not seeing any resolution to her love life anytime soon.
Although this is listed as a Christmas novella, the Christmas moments are few and far between. I do wish we would have seen a bit more of Secret’s time with Demsond’s family, and their Christmas traditions, but I understand why the plot moved the way it did. I did love the fact that Secret was able to have her own little Christmas celebration with the new friends and family in her life though. It’s nice to see her have more people to rely on.
All in all this was another great addition to the Secret Series. The novella is action packed while trying to chase the killer, but there are also some really sweet and tender moments between Secret and Desmond that are setting up their relationship in a beautiful way. I just hope that Dean doesn’t drag on Secret’s love life for the remainder of the series.
I give Secret Santa a B-
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