The Novel: The Santa Pageant

The Author: Lillian Barry

The Guest: Amanda, from Talk About Swoon

The Synopsis: Ten years ago, best friends Effie and Tove kissed in the bushes at Winter Ball…and then stood there like lemons, as if they weren’t crushing on each other so hard it hurt. In the confusion, their friendship fizzled, and Tove walked into the sunset with some guy who had nice hair.

Now a cocksure twenty-five-year-old with secretly appalling self-esteem, Effie enters the Santa of the Year Pageant to prove to her unsupportive family that Santa could, in fact, be a lesbian. Enter Tove, the grumpiest Santa in the grotto, back on the island after a harrowing break-up with Nice Hair Guy and using the Pageant to reconnect with the world.

As the Pageant eliminates Santa after Santa, Effie and Tove clash over their past: the kiss that drove them apart, and the fears the last ten years have etched into their worldviews. Effie must let go of others’ opinions and learn to love herself, and Tove must move forward despite there being no guarantee they won’t be hurt again… Or they risk losing each other a second time.

Show Notes:
- The 9th Day of Boobsmas
- Amanda's Santa Romance Recs are FIRE
- What's your Christmas Aesthetic?
- A few words on nutcrackers...
- Introducing today's Boobsmas pick (00:11:41)
- A synopsis for The Santa Pageant plus a LOT of Britishisms (00:12:58)
- Sunshine characters that aren't really sunshine-y
- Holiday romance that takes place in other countries and climates
- Identifying your needs (00:25:30)
- A few steamy sexcerpts... that are worth the LONG wait (00:30:57)
- Some surprising heat
- Santa Trivia! (00:37:24)
- The 9th Day of Boobsmas jingle courtesy of Cooper Baldwin

Other News:
December 1st marks the start of The 12 Days of Boobsmas. Tune in for new podcast episodes, new giveaways, and more holiday romance recommendations, all month long!

Purchase MY holiday novellas, Meet Me in Los Feliz and Venice Actually now!!

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