Are you looking to add a little Christmas reading to your holiday? Princess Claus and the Great Escape by JL Gillham is a YA magical romance that will warm you up on a chilly day.
About the Book
Noelle, the daughter of Santa Claus, lives in Winter Wonderland. Princess Claus and the entire town have been kept inside a picture-perfect snowglobe to protect them from all the dangers of the outside world—specifically, the evil elf who wants to kidnap Noelle and ruin Christmas. Can Noelle break free without getting caught, or will the elf catch her and steal everything Santa loves most?
Princess Claus and the Great Escape (affiliate link) is a fun read that really got me into the Christmas spirit. It’s light and brings the adult reader back to their childhood. I enjoyed the interactions with the elves, reindeer, and especially her pet polar bear. Noelle may have felt trapped, but Winter Wonderland seemed like a nice place to be stuck (or at least, it was fun to read about). I kept imagining it as one of those Christmas villages that people visit during the season.
I loved that this was a clean read that covers topics I think many teenagers can relate to. Even when things are good, curiosity still has a heavy pull. And like Noelle, a lot of us find possibly disappointing our parents to be too much. Also, the dash of romance was a nice addition. After all, what’s Christmas without a little romance?
This is a great read for those looking to step into the Christmas season with a little mischief, mystery, and heart. I recommend it to fans of Rachel Morgan’s books or those who enjoyed the movies Noelle with Anna Kendrick or The Santa Clause Trilogy with Tim Allen.
Twas the Night Before Belsnickel’s Christmas by JL Gillham
‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house,
Not a creature was stirring, except my pet mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that my former boss soon would be there.
The children were nestled all snug in their beds.
I loomed over them, shaking an open jar of lice onto their heads.
Mamma was blind from wearing her eye mask.
I burped in her face after a swig from my eggnog filled flask.
Dad was snoring as loud as a banshee.
My pet mouse scattered droppings from Dad’s toes to his knees.
I drank and ate until the cabinets were bare.
Then onto the plate of cookies for Santa, shook my dandruff filled hair.
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I ran to the living room window knowing what was the matter.
While pulling the curtain back, I was filled with dread.
I saw eight flying reindeer and the man clothed in red.
More rapid than eagles his reindeer they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;
“Now, DASHER! now, DANCER! now, PRANCER and VIXEN!
On, COMET! on CUPID! on, DONNER and BLITZEN!”
Then Santa led his reindeer from the lawn to the roof.
Soon I heard the prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
Time to hide in the closet, I’d better be quick.
I knew in a moment soon would enter St. Nick.
I peeked through a crack in the closet door, barely enough space to gaze around,
When down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.
His joy overflowed. He was so merry!
I wanted to vomit, like after eating a rotten cherry.
He sang while he worked, as fast as lightning were his moves.
It took all my patience not to shout a chorus of boos.
He was as chubby and plump and unobservant as ever.
And my plans to undo his goodness were indeed quite clever.
As he looked all around and couldn’t spot a hair on my head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
A sneeze had escaped out of my nose,
But after a quick glance at his good deeds, up the chimney he rose.
While he climbed and prepared for flight,
I got to work undoing his good deeds of the night.
The gifts were flung into the newly lit fireplace.
The stockings were filled with coal at a quick pace.
Into the doilies I blew my nose,
And let my pet mouse bite off the trimmings of the nails on my toes.
Then scattered them around in case of toddlers with bare feet.
To ruin Santa’s reputation, oh what a treat.
I consider more mischief, but to the next house I must hurry.
To ruin Christmas and Santa’s good name, my mouse and I scurry.
By now Santa has moved on, and I exclaim as I race out of sight,
“A ruined Christmas to all, and to all a Belsnickel night!”
Twas the Night Before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore (The Original)
‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;
And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled down for a long winter’s nap,
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;
“Now, DASHER! now, DANCER! now, PRANCER and VIXEN!
On, COMET! on CUPID! on, DONNER and BLITZEN!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!”
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my hand, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.
His eyes — how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD-NIGHT!
About JL GILLHAM
Jennifer Gillham writes snarky and sweet young adult fiction under the name JL Gillham. Her current project takes place in Winter Wonderland. It features the next Santa in line, nicknamed Princess Claus. In addition to writing, Jennifer loves to work on all sorts of creative projects. Her most recent one was an original song called “Snow Globe Prison” that she co-wrote for The Winter Wonderland Chronicles. This January she produced the music video filmed in some of Colorado’s gorgeous blue ice caves. A good day for her starts with sipping coffee while writing in the morning, followed by brainstorming content market in the afternoon over a cup of tea.
