The Legally Binding Christmas

Book excerpt: Small town lawyer Thad Raker represents an eccentric client living in an old house with a Christmas secret. When the county moves to condemn the house, Raker takes the case. If he doesn’t win, Christmas won’t come for hundreds of thousands of children. Twirly Masters is an affable man who talks in circles and who believes that evil forces within Santa’s operation are up to no good in taking his property. He calls on Thad Raker to handle his case, as much to help Raker as to save his house, because life’s misfortunes have caused now widowed and single dad Raker to become a non-believer, a fact Twirly intends to change. When the county goes to court to take his new client’s property, Raker must battle conspiring adversaries, a cantankerous judge, a formidable female lawyer he cares for, and his own personal feelings and doubts. Can Raker save Christmas once more, and in the process, save himself? As the fate of Santa and his legion of helpers hangs in the balance, the courtroom battle comes down to where it is always won or lost – the human heart. –Mark de Castrique, award-winning author of the Sam Blackman and Buryin’ Barry mysteries If you don’t feel like watching It’s a Wonderful Life for a third time this holiday season, mix things up a bit and read this sweet Christmas story instead. –Mary Laura Philpott, author of the national bestseller, I Miss You When I Blink If you don’t believe in Santa when you start this book, you will when you finish. A perfect complement to The Christmas Heist, with just the right mix of suspense, humor, and magic. –Bud Schill, co-author of Not Exactly Rocket Scientists and Other Stories