Santa Overboard: A Potomac Shores Holiday by Carolyn McBride
Narrated by Maria Marquis
Women’s Fiction | 2nd in the Potomac Shores Series
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Santa Overboard by Carolyn McBride is the second book in the Potomac Shores Series. While it can stand alone, it’s best enjoyed if you start with The Cicada Spring.
The series follows Katie, a single, empty-nest mom who’s had her share of bad luck with men and recently lost her mother to COVID. Returning to her hometown along the Potomac River, Katie finds support from her group of mature, diverse friends, “The Beach Bonfire Babes,” who are always there for each other. Katie’s romantic relationship with Deke, (which started in The Cicada Spring) however, feels stagnant due to her past experiences.
“How do I know all these amazing entrepreneurial women? Katie asked. “It’s not we Katie, it’s you. You brought us all together and tapped into our hidden talents.”
The story revolves around the boating culture, and in this holiday novella, Katie, working toward her Captain’s license, runs the town’s holiday boat parade—which doesn’t go quite as planned. The events occur during the height of the pandemic, likely Christmas 2020. While I appreciated the realistic references to COVID in The Cicada Spring, here, the pandemic is mentioned so often that it becomes distracting. Carolyn McBride’s writing reflects the intense focus on COVID that marked that time, but the frequent reminders dampen the lighter moments.
“Coming of Age isn’t just for young people. I feel like we’re starting over again but with experience.”
Likes:
- The Beach Bonfire Babes and their friendship scenes
- Katie’s daughter being home for the holidays
- A unique Christmas setting focused on boating
- Older characters
- Realistic relationships and interactions
Dislikes:
- The cover is adorable—but the story isn’t. I don’t mean it’s a bad story, it’s just not cutesy. And while there were some light and fun moments, it’s not a romcom, and this makes it look like one. The cover should coordinate with The Cicada Spring. This one doesn’t fit the tone of the book.
- If there was a little reminder here or there that it’s COVID, no problem. But it was mentioned SO MANY TIMES that you could have made a fun drinking game for every time she mentioned Covid or the pandemic.
- The plot is light and lacks major developments.
The Narration:
Maria Marquis’s mature voice suits the lead and her friends perfectly, but her narration may have emphasized the emotional aspects more than the humor in the story.
The Down & Dirty:
Rating: 3.5 Stars, 4 Narration
Purchase Santa Overboard: A Potomac Shores Holiday by Carolyn McBride
Kindle | Paperback | Audible
The Potomac Shores Series
See my review for The Cicada Spring
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