Chasing Tinsel

In Ellie Ashe's Chasing Tinsel, the 5th installment in the Miranda Vaughan Mystery Novella series, this short 62-paged novella would keep you in the holiday spirit beyond the Christmas Season. Two years after she was acquitted from fraud, Miranda's back to work and hoping to look for some money. But during this holiday season, she works at a mall as a retail clerk for a makeup counter. Though a temporary job, she sells cosmetics and make-up supplies with Brianna, another clerk. But when she suspects two people shoplifters dressed as elves, she makes a run for it and chased them. Except she's not allowed to. But she befriends a mall Santa Claus named John Murphy and gets to know him better. She later learns that looks can be deceiving when the other mall Santa Clauses rob the jewelry store. The FBI sworn him and arrest John Murphy on the spot. While she tried to keep up with the holiday spirit, she'll spend her holiday birthday alone with her aunt and opens a charming gift from "John" that cheered her up. It had a charming ending to put a smile on your face.

This is an endearing and lovely short Christmas caper to read in one setting. I did care for Miranda and how she made some money at the mall. I hated to see people rob the mob and for her to spend her birthday alone with her aunt. It makes me wonder if FBI Agent Jake Barnes would make an appearance in her life again. I did like how she befriended "John", though she didn't know his whole story until the end. I like the holiday setting to take place around Christmas, though it was hard to pinpoint the location of Point Pleasant. The theme is be careful on people you trust in any season and never judge a book by its cover because looks can be deceiving, too.

If you loved a great short read with a hint of humor, plenty of charming drama, some nonstop action and a spark of mystery, check out Chasing Tinsel today!