Dear Ms. Mooney,
By this point, I know to expect some fantasy,
some paranormal, something different when I pick up one
of your books. This time it’s a Badass dude riding a red
Harley and delivering justice for kids who have written
to Santa pleading for food, or for their dad not to hit
them or mommy anymore, or to save their father from his
heroin addiction. You know – the usual stuff that some
unfortunate kids wish for in place of an Xbox, or doll,
or bike.
Deputy Babs Mero is stunned when the perp she’s
trailed (based on the stolen plates that don’t even
match the [no doubt] stolen SUV) is confronted by a
tall, white bearded (and man, he looks built)
guy riding a hog who whips out a sledgehammer and
delivers quick justice and an aside about the man
beating his wife and child. Badass Santa disappears
before Babs can question him but following up, she
discovers that what he said is true.
Then when she pulls a woman based on speeding
and a broken tail light, what the strung out woman yells
about “Santa” busting her light plus the child seat and
toys on the woman’s back seat, have CPS taking in three
young children left alone and with no food. Is there a
vigilante man or – based on the number of sightings the
sheriff’s database search yields – group out there?
Meanwhile, Kris quickly notices that his twin
brother Dom seems to be smitten by the dedicated
sheriff. Talk to the woman, he suggests. Take her out
for coffee and tell her all. Whatta ya know, Santa not
only delivers toys but also seems to be a matchmaker.
It’s a short novella so I accepted the almost
immediate attraction between the MCs, Babs’ willingness
to believe the whole set up regarding Kris and his twin
brother Dom meting out justice (usually not too violent
as Dom’s choice is to bring things to the notice of LEOs
or others who can legally intervene to help these
children), and that Kris has an eye on his brother’s
lack of a love life. I also pegged what might happen
before the end of the book but hey, it worked and next
Christmas, there will be two people dealing with the
people on Santa’s naughty “oh,
hello no” list. B
~Jayne, DEAR AUTHOR
|