{25 Days of Holiday Book Reviews}: Holly Claus

Today's guest poster is Brittney Ryan, author of Holly Claus.  She's writing today about Holly Claus, which is great because this is one of the few holiday books that I've yet to read!   Also,  here is a link to the book's website. 

Image and summary from Amazon:
Santa Claus is the King of Forever, Land of the Immortals. When one special boy writes to Santa asking what no other child has ever asked, a miracle occurs: Santa and Mrs. Claus are blessed with a daughter. But the birth of Holly Claus also brings about a terrible curse--from an evil soul named Herrikhan. Holly's heart is frozen, and the gates to Forever are locked, barring exit or entry.

As she grows into a beautiful and selfless young woman, Holly longs to break the spell that holds her people hostage. With four faithful and magical animal friends, she escapes to the wondrous world of Victorian New York, where she will face countless dangers, adventures, and a miracle all her own.

Discover a New Holiday Classic with The Legend of Holly Claus

By Brittney Ryan

Christmastime. It has finally arrived. I simply love Christmas, and everything about Christmas. Holiday books, Christmas carols, Christmas cards, Christmas cookies, Christmas trees, Christmas movies, Christmas shopping. But my favorite moments of Christmas are always when I am telling the story of Holly Claus to large groups of children and their families. True Christmas magic happens. 

The twinkles in the children's eyes, the smiles on their faces, the love and wonder in every family's heart—it all takes me back to a time when I was a teenager, starring in a Christmas musical. A little girl dressed in a red velvet dress sat on my lap and whispered in my ear, “Are you Santa’s daughter? I will keep your secret forever . . .” And in that moment everything became crystal clear. My whole life changed forever. I had a story to tell: The Legend of Holly Claus, how Santa’s daughter would help the world’s children fulfill their dreams.

You will recognize the land . . . Imagine a place in time where King Nicholas Claus, known to many as Santa, receives a letter from a poor boy. The boy writes: “Dear Santa, What do you wish for Christmas? Love, Christopher.” Through all the centuries of Nicholas’s life, no child had ever asked him what he wished for! How astonishing it was that this little piece of parchment covered with a child’s determined scrawl had the power to change everything.

Entwining his fingers with Queen Vivianne’s, King Nicholas looked across the cozy room to the snow-covered world outside and realized that this letter would change Christmas and the Land of the Immortals for all time. This enchanted letter contained the magic that would allow Santa and his Queen to finally have the child they had dreamed of for centuries.

But their daughter, Holly the Christmas Princess, must face a curse that was cast upon her and the Kingdom of Forever. Would she be able to break the spell? Would the dreams of children all over the world be held hostage . . . or would her dreams and theirs come true? With her four faithful and magical animals friends, Holly Claus escapes to the wondrous world of turn-of-the-twentieth-century New York, where she faces countless dangers, adventures, and a miracle all her own. She saves the children of the world and shows them how to dream again and truly believe in their dreams. And she shows us all that love conquers time. Forever.

Come, dreamers! Let us journey together. I am the storyteller of The Legend of Holly Claus. Come sit beside me and I’ll tell you a tale of whimsy and wishes and the wonders of Christmas . . . and more. Set aside the Santa Claus story you think you know of elves and candy canes and chimneys and such—that’s the tiniest part of oh, so much. Let’s share a legend that will be passed down through the ages, a tale of a place where you can continue to dream. Let me take you to Forever where you will meet Holly and her world . . .

Thank you, Brittney!  And thank you for including such beautiful artwork from the book!