March Online Book Club: A Damsel for Santa by Terry Ambrose

I’m new to this author and series, but love anything set in Hawai’i.

A Damsel for Santa did not disappoint. Wilson McKenna is a former skip tracer who retired to Oahu and spends his days as a landlord. Bad luck follows McKenna in his new slacker lifestyle leaving behind a trail of dead bodies.

In this book, the damsel in question is a nine-year old child acting prodigy who steals the show at a community Christmas charity event. When McKenna’s pageant director friend convinces him to step in as a last-minute emergency Santa, chaos and hilarity ensues. However, a freak hurricane and power outage further messes up plans and when the lights come on … boom! Dead elf. The entire cast become suspects until McKenna can follow the clues to find the killer, all while wearing his uncomfortable Santa costume.

Even though this is a holiday novella, you can read it any time of year. I haven’t read the previous six books, but easily caught up on the characters and followed the action. Ambrose’s fun cast of misfits and the quick, fast-paced story had my attention to the very end. A locked door-style mystery, I thought I knew who did it but I guessed wrong. 

I look forward to reading more from Terry Ambrose! You can tell his former unique work expertise informs his writing.

Here’s his bio: Terry Ambrose started out skip tracing and collecting money from deadbeats and quickly learned that liars come from all walks of life. He never actually stole a car, but sometimes hired big guys with tow trucks and a penchant for working in the dark when “negotiations” failed. A resident of Southern California, he loves spending time in Hawaii, especially on the Garden Island of Kauai, where he invents lies for others to read. His years of chasing deadbeats taught him many valuable life lessons including—always keep your car in the garage.

Ambrose writes three series. Trouble in Paradise has 10 books. A Seaside Cove Bed & Breakfast Mystery has three books. And License to Lie has three books. Find them all here!

Terry’s website: You might enjoy his website and blog where he has posted book reviews and tips to avoid email and credit card scams. https://terryambrose.com/

Kelly Brakenhoff is the author of 15 books and a seasoned ASL interpreter. She splits her writing energy between two series: cozy mysteries set on a college campus and children’s books featuring Duke the Deaf Dog.

Parents, kids, and teachers love the children’s books and activity guides because they introduce ASL and the Deaf community through fun, engaging stories. And if you enjoy a smart female sleuth, want to learn more about Deaf culture, or have ever lived in a place where livestock outnumber people, the Cassandra Sato Mystery series will have you connecting the dots faster than a group project coming together the night before it’s due.

A proud mom to four adults, head of the dog-snuggling department, and grandma to a growing brood of perfectly behaved grandkids, Kelly and her husband call Nebraska home.