All I Want for Christmas is You!

by C.M. Guidroz

She used to keep the darkness away but now that she's gone, I'm losing control.

I try to be good. I don't want to be this monster.

I am Santa, I am Santa, I am Santa.

I keep telling myself this to help keep my head straight, but those dark urges keep trying to take over. I know what's missing. This missing piece of the Christmas puzzle is her. Mrs. Claus. I have to find her this year. If I don't find her soon, I'm scared the darkness will surely win.

18+ Warning!
This book is not for the sensitive reader. This story has flesh eating reindeer and a knife wielding Santa whose looking for love. If you don't like blood, gore, or campy Christmas horror jokes, this is not the book for you. You have been warned!

Genres: Horror, Christmas, Novella

100 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 16, 2022

Reviews

[Peter Topside · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an absolutely bonkers concept that paid off. I loved the in-depth dive into 'Santa's' mind as he just undertook atrocity after atrocity. Really well thought out and put a very innovative spin on the typical killer Santa lore. Also, good placement of the horror elements and bloodshed. Now, I didn't love the ending, which was left open, and sort of took away from the big finish. I wanted closure and to allow Bobby and Holly to be done with the terror. There were also quite a bit of typos, and it was a bit jarring when things transitioned from 'Santa's' POV to alternating between him and Holly. It happened after 11 chapters and just made everything feel disrupted. Easy fix there, whether keeping that format from the very beginning or just eliminating Holly's somehow. Most of my critiques were focused around how this was written and not the content itself, which I was a big fan of. A good outing for the holidays from CM Guidroz.

[Nikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aaaand she does it again. As someone who was always terrified of the mall Santa’s as a kid, this one really messed me up. The author writes an incredible bad guy! Perfect for a quick read once you’ve had too much family time this holiday season and just need to sneak off for a bit.

[Sam (samantha_sahm_reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️
3.5🔪

Santa is that you? 🎅

This novella is told in “Santa’s” pov well not the real Santa but a mall Santa who owns land (the North Pole) and reindeer and a sleigh?! But Santa needs a mrs. Claus, right? Santa will do anything…including kidnapping to find his perfect women…

This book is twisted and gross and I loved it. Make sure to check TWs before reading!

[kellyjo walters · Rating 3 out of 5]

Upgraded to 3.5

[Imani Chestnut · Rating 5 out of 5]

Walking away I quickly turn back, “I’m sorry, but what’s your name?” I call out to her. She turns slowly, “Holly, my name is Holly.” She answers.

//

Ms. Guidroz has done it again with bringing us horror, comedy, and romantic longing all rolled up into one. Is this a romance? No, but if you were to ask Santa, then yeah, it might be. This novella was perfect for the season, but also is not for the faint of heart. Because don't let Santa fool you, when things get dark, they get DARK.

I thought Bobby was so cute, as well as Holly. I felt bad for her because I could understand why she wanted to leave; however, I'm not gonna lie and say that there weren't times when I felt like her need to be combative overrode any possibility of her calming down long enough to see the bigger picture, aka be a portion more understanding to avoid the immediate trauma of *waves hand at the last 25% of the book*. Which leads me to the fact that I did like Santa! Was he insane? Yes. Was he delusional? Also, yes. But the main thing is that he was, at the very least, self-aware in his delusion. All things considered, in terms of kidnappers and serial killers he was more on the tame side...most of the time, at least. But I will say that I did like the ending, though, as it definitely had me grinning like the Cheshire Cat.

//

I’m thankful Bobby’s dad was a fucking idiot. How does that saying go? One man's trash is another man’s treasure. Holly is definitely a treasure and I struck gold.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing it was short, we have Santa who just lost his wife his mrs clause and she was the one that kept his darkness at bay but when she passed he feels the darkness again so he wants to find a new mrs clause, while on a lunch break he meets a young boy and his mother holly and Santa believes she is perfect so he plans to kidnap her and her son and bring them to “the North Pole.” Santa is a lonely man who isn’t taking his wife’s passing very well and you can’t help but feel bad for him but then good lord the things he has and does, The reindeer was crazy and weirdly enough I hoped they made more an appearance cause they added to the horror, I hope this book will continue with a second book but even though it was short I didn’t want to put it down.

[Veronica ☠️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Santa is just looking for his Mrs. Claus! He wants to live a happy life with his family and provide for them. And he'll do anything to get her......anything. This is not the Santa that we all grew up with, he's sadistic, angry, lonely, and has a darkness that's itching to come out!

When Bobby interrupts his lunch break one day, Santa is extremely annoyed....until his smokin hot blonde bombshell of a mom comes up and now Santa has fallen head over heels. And he'll do anything to get her....and Bobby

This was quick, fun, gory, and so damn good! We also get 2 cute Reindeers with an appetite very.....unique. If you want a great Christmas read, go pick this up!

[Areadingsunflower · Rating 5 out of 5]

*NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART*

Hallmark meets lifetime with some razzle dazzle!
There were a few grammatical errors but nothing that would distract from the story. The development and pacing of the story was great and the idea of the story was amazing to me (im not one for traditional christmasy stories). In the beginning I even felt a teeny weeny bit sad for "Santa" but that doesn't last long at all. Haha! The type of underlining humor was fantastic because I have a similar taste in humor myself. I truly enjoyed this story and can't wait to read more from this author!

[DA · Rating 4 out of 5]

Santa stalker!

A psychopathic mall Santa searching for his perfect Mrs Claus. I really enjoyed the fast pace of the story and how it wasn't overly graphic even though there was plenty of opportunities for extremely graphic content. The psychological horror aspect of the story is what really makes this a chilling read!

[momaddictedtobooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well this was a fun read! Disturbing, but fun. Poor Santa just wants a Mrs. Claus. He wants to be loved, and will do anything to get it. This was a great read for this time of year. I loved the ending. Definitely add this to your Christmas TBR. Especially if you like dark and gory books.

[Tina Kroh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing! I couldn’t put it down! Santa was so much fun and I caught myself actually liking him. Lol. Some parts were horrifying but made me laugh…which…maybe there is something wrong with me. But oh well. I loved Santa and I really hope we see more of him in a sequel.

[Amber McCollum · Rating 5 out of 5]

A deranged Mall Santa, flesh eating reindeers and some very uh… interesting assembled snowmen?! Hell yes!

There are movies you love and watch over and over, well this will be one I read each holiday season! I loved it!

[Kassybetweenpages · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is going to be my new go to holiday horror book every Christmas for now on because WOW! it was horrifically entertaining.

Santa is a certified psycho, the reindeer are downright cannibalistic, and the snowmen built are made with real body parts. I can't wait to reread it already.

[Sam Millwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bobby gonna need the best of the best therapy after that. 🫣

[v0id_93 · Rating 5 out of 5]

not your average Santa

This is my second book by Candy and I love her short horror stories! She has a way of writing realistic scenarios that add to the creepiness of the stories and just make them that much better

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

It should be illegal to end a book like that. That is all.

[Kyla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deranged killer Santa and fleshing eating reindeer, what more do you need for the holiday season.

This book made me not want to trust an old man or a mall Santa ever again!

[Misty Pierce · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love it.

I love it I did not expect the ending though. I would recommend. To family and friends as a must red.

[Quanisha · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is only 100 pages but took me a month to read because it was so terrible! 😭

[LJ🥀👻 · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you thought Santa was all cookies and jingling bells, think again. C.M. Guidroz swapped milk and sugar cookies for chaos, terror, and a love interest who may or may not be psychotic; but somehow you can’t look away.
John, the Santa of this story, has all the dark, broody charm of a dark romance lead…if your romance lead also enjoys terrorizing you while holding a knife. He’s equal parts ‘dark romance fantasy’ and ‘please don’t actually exist in real life.’ And yes, I found myself very sporadically drawn to him. That says more about me than him, right? Totally normal.
Holly’s fear is practically palpable, John’s desperation is…almost adorable (in a “maybe I should call the cops” way), and the ending? Let’s just say it didn’t go quite how Holly might’ve hoped.
This book is chaotic, twisted, deliciously messed-up, and exactly why I keep coming back to Guidroz. It’s like Christmas…if Christmas had blood, suspense, and a dash of questionable romantic tension. I laughed, I panicked, I loved every horrifying, hilarious moment. 10/10 would hide under the blanket and read again.

[BrooklynBookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Comedy, Horror, and dare I say.. some kind of romance all rolled into one!

C.M. Guidroz does it again! She puts her creepy spin on a mall Santa Claus who just lost his Mrs. Claus and he’s looking for a new one to keep his “dark desires” at bay. He’s on lunch from Santa-ing, when he meets Bobby who’s so excited to meet Santa. When he sees Bobby’s mother, Holly, he becomes fascinated with making her his. You see, Santa has to have a Mrs. Claus to tame him. Otherwise he craves the kill. And he wants Holly to do just that.

This was great! I couldn’t put it down. Finished it in one second. I definitely needed a break from all the fluffy, feel good Christmas reads, so I picked up this novella and had a great time! It’s sick, it’s twisted, and it’s a merry good time! You won’t think of Santa and his reindeer the same after you read this!!

[s.shadereads]

“Tis the sea- son to fuck- ing di- e- e, Fa la la la la la, la la la la.” I sing with each sawing motion as I cut into flesh and bone. “Sor- ry I decked your halls with your fucking bl- oo- ood. Fa la la la la, la la la la!”
.
.
C.M. Guidroz your writing stresses me out in the best way possible. The anxiety and anticipation of something horrible happening had me on pins and needles the entire story. It was dark, depraved, and downright terrifying. Being a mother myself, I couldn't imagine being in Holly's position.

Watching "Santa" slowly spiral, trying to fight the darkness within him, and then watching that switch flip in an instant was so fascinating and utterly horrifying.

I may forever be traumatized by mall Santa's now. Thanks for that. 🤪😂 Haha, if you guys are looking for a little horror this Christmas, this one's for you!

Make sure to check those triggers!

[SeveredTherapy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christmas Spirit!

Ive always had a sneaking suspicion that Santa was a murderous little freak and this one just goes to prove that!

Jokes aside, this was a fun little jaunt through holiday shenanigans. A few editorial issues that had me rereading a few times, though.

The ending, however, was absolutely perfect. The epilogue just put the bow on the present and made it even better.

It did feel a bit drawn out in the middle, with the ex and dealing with him. But, overall, an entertaining read.

3.75 out of 5 severed thumbs-up.

[ChanaReadsHorror · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have ever been afraid of mall Santa's then this is not the book for you.
We follow a mall Santa who is trying to find his new Mrs. Clause and the search is not going well. The ones he brings home, do not live up to what his now deceased wife once was. He thinks he has finally found the perfect new Mrs. Clause in Holly and her son, Bobby.
As he takes them back to the "North Pole", Bobby is beyond excited to live with Santa and Holly knows things are not going to end well.

[Josie · Rating 5 out of 5]

so good I couldn’t put it down

This book was absolutely amazing. From the South Pole to the pancakes and snowman. I felt the fear Holly had. You never want to be on the naughty list.

[Felicia Dorsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book definitely gave off cheesy horror Christmas movie vibes! I didn't find it as intense or gory as I expected and the writing/grammar was a bit rough at moments so that why the 3 stars instead of 4. Still could totally see this as a Christmas horror movie and would watch it too! ☃️🔪🩸

[Marley Ghostfern · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was looking forward to a very gory, unhinged Christmas story. This one was a little less gory and unhinged than I thought and hoped it would be. I love this author and the other books that I’ve read by her, so I really wish I liked it more, but I did not.

[Leeann Phipps · Rating 5 out of 5]

So this book is a quick read! Amazing not what you expect read and I will NEVER look at eggnog the same again!!!!

[Nikki reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crazily good!

A fantastic short story, super messed up but loved it. But that ending I need more! Please tell me there is a book 2?

[Indi · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was definitely something. Read this if you want to get into the Christmas mood :)