Reviewed by Sadonna
TITLE: Secret Little Elf
SERIES: Elves After Dark
AUTHOR: Sophie E. Russell
PUBLISHER: Self-published
LENGTH: 132 pages
RELEASE DATE: November 20, 2020
BLURB:
When I first see Ignacio Angel Ortiz Santana, his broad shoulders slump and hopelessness clouds his deep brown eyes. Even still, he sparkles for me.
After getting fired from Santa’s workshop for “not being a good fit,” I’m sent to Florida to work for Mr. “Santa” Santana and help him find a miracle. Under my new boss, I find more than a miracle, though, including a place where I fit just right. But does Mr. Santa agree?
Six weeks after drunkenly writing a letter to Santa Claus, Arlo applies at my shop claiming to be one of Santa’s elves. He’s joking, right?
After the innocent Arlo enters my life, things go from bad to worse, but I can’t shake the feeling he’s special. When I finally see Arlo’s true nature, sparks fly, miracles happen, and I can’t ignore just how special he is. But will he stay as my boy after he finds my miracle?
Secret Little Elf is a standalone MM Christmas Romance novella. This low-angst journey of a virgin boy finding his fated mate and discovering how much he needs a Daddy will keep you warm on a cold winter day. Happily Ever After is guaranteed.
REVIEW:
Ignacio Santana, or Santa, to his friends, is having a really bad time. His ex has sabotaged him and he’s got all kinds of trouble – from no boyfriend, to money, to even his reputation being in tatters. He’s got his cousin Dom and his accountant Clive who support him, but he’s about at the end of his rope, so in a night of drunken self-pity, he writes a letter to Santa Claus asking for a miracle.
Arlo Miracle is an elf who really doesn’t fit in with Santa’s workshop. None of his toys are “age appropriate” and he’s being sacked from his job. However, this assignment comes to him to find a miracle for one Mr. Ignacio Angel Ortiz-Santana. As a Winter Elf, being sent to to Florida is indeed rare. But he’s determined to redeem himself and find “Mr. Santa” his miracle.
Sadly, Mr. Santa is extremely skeptical of Arlo when he applies for a job his shop, Santa’s Toy Chest. However, Arlo is wonderfully suited to the work and makes the customers happy. Turns out there is some magic that helps him. Arlo also sees Mr. Santa sparkling for him and this has a special meaning to a Winter Elf 🙂 But regardless of how he tries to help, Arlo continues to be rejected. This gets worse and worse until he is almost to the point of disappearing.
Luckily for Mr. Santa and Arlo, it seems that there are those who also can see what’s happening. When Arlo is near to the point of failure, he is swooped up and finds a friend who is willing to help him. And finally it seems that Mr. Santa is coming to his senses after all 🙂 And maybe, just maybe Arlo IS his miracle.
This story was interesting, but I felt like the pacing was a bit off. I would have like it to have been a bit tighter as I felt some parts of the story dragged. Also, Daddy kink is not my thing personally so that didn’t really work for me – as usual YMMV. I liked the magical parts of the story quite a bit and also I would really love to get the story of Dom and Clive 🙂 In keeping with the rest of this series, the whole North Pole enterprise is fun and Arlo’s issues with his job at the workshop was particularly clever. Arlo himself is very sweet and Mr. Santa is his polar opposite, so if you’re a fan of opposites attract and Daddy kink in particular, give this one a go.
RATING: 
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