Nothing can ruin the magic of Christmas. Enter the U.S. House of Representatives.

Award-winning political fiction author Mikael Carlson spins an uplifting tale of romance, adventure, and political maneuvering that is part Hallmark Christmas movie, part House of Cards.

Banning Santa is a heartwarming story about setting aside political differences, finding love, and celebrating the spirit of Christmas. Will Stowe and Wyatt find the perfect jolly old St. Nick to rekindle the magic of the holiday, or has a jaded public had enough of the commercialization that sucks all the joy out of the season?

"Banning Santa takes readers on a rollercoaster ride, quickly gathering momentum to pull you into its captivating plot." -- Literary Titan ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The holidays should be a special time to enjoy with friends and family

This novel is not a partisan or ideological right vs. left slugfest. There is enough of that in the world already. Banning Santa is an inspirational story about defending beliefs, setting aside differences, falling in love, understanding mythology, and capturing the true meaning and spirit of Christmas. It is the perfect novel for anyone weary of holiday stress and could use a light romance novel to bring some Christmas cheer!

Santa Claus is not unlike Congress: They both hand out gifts, keep naughty and nice lists, and don't work most of the year. The only difference is people like Santa.

The holidays are here. Christmas parties are scheduled, and the egg nog and hot chocolate are flowing. It’s a time for family, merriment, and joy. But not for everyone. When an incident with an unruly mall Santa goes viral on social media, it presents an opportunity for an unknown politician to gain attention before the next election. Her plan? Schedule hearings on legislation that bans public depictions of Santa Claus.

Not wanting to see Christmas spoiled for millions of families, two representatives reach across the aisle in a bipartisan effort to kill the legislation before it gets traction. As party leadership applies pressure while jockeying for political positioning, the fate of the “Save Santa” effort hinges on one thing – finding the right Santa Claus to testify against the bill.

Legislative aides Wyatt Huffman and Stowe Bessette are entrusted to track down suitable Santa candidates to find the perfect one. The difficult task is complicated by one immutable fact: they despise each other. Forced to work together for the greater good, they must reconcile while embarking on an unexpected journey in a high-stakes, last-ditch effort to save Christmas.

"The narrative is crisp and descriptive, the dialog is easy to follow, and the plot is entirely captivating as it leads to a heartwarming ending. " -- Anne-Marie Reynolds for Readers’ Favorite ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"Mikael Carlson has created an enduring story with a message that will stay with readers." -- Entrada Publishing Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

WINNER - NYC Big Book Award, Holiday
BRONZE MEDAL - Readers' Favorite, Fiction-Holiday
FINALIST - American Book Fest, Romance-Contemporary

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