Confined to desk work and going stir-crazy, FBI agent Scarlett Payne thinks she might have finally caught a break when someone claiming to be Santa Claus sends a cryptic riddle to her office and the star atop the tree at Rockefeller Center explodes. When a second letter addressed to Scarlett arrives and threatens the well-being of attendees at New York’s biggest holiday to-do, Santa Claus Con, she realizes they’re mere days away from a national disaster. Worse still, the only person who can help is her former rival—and love interest—Nathan Lambros. Nathan has spent years undercover and is ready to turn in his badge when Scarlett convinces him to attend Santa Claus Con disguised as the big man himself. While Scarlett and Nathan’s romance plays second fiddle to the mystery they’re trying to solve (which is delightfully reminiscent of the Sandra Bullock movie Miss Congeniality), the chemistry between them is undeniable. Flashback scenes are interspersed throughout, helping to flesh out their relationship and clue readers in on what drove them apart in the first place. Scarlett and Nathan might both claim to hate Christmas, but the holiday cheer is unavoidable and begins to rub off on them as old feelings are rekindled as the agents work together to catch the Santa Claus Con culprit before they strike again. Scarlett and Nathan’s interplay is particularly delightful, driving home the point that sometimes absence really does make the heart grow fonder. Jessen’s writing gets stronger with every novel, and this time she’s created a charming romance that can be read at any time of year, despite its wintry setting.