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joo13's review
4.0
This is another Emily Castles short story. I like the character of Emily. This time she has volunteered to help at Santa's grotto.
I thought this story was very sweet, but after finishing it, it was nagging me that I'd read it before. The ending seemed so familiar. As it turns out, it was similar to a real-life story, so at least I'd solved a mystery as well as Emily.
I thought this story was very sweet, but after finishing it, it was nagging me that I'd read it before. The ending seemed so familiar. As it turns out, it was similar to a real-life story, so at least I'd solved a mystery as well as Emily.
lucycatten's review
5.0
I love Emily Castles and I love Christmas so I was thrilled to be sent a copy of this to read. Despite its short length it is a thoroughly amusing (in true Helen Smith style!) but also satisfying Christmas-sy mystery. I didn't guess the ending and I was so glad to find Dr Muriel nestling amongst the pages too! A lovely, curl-up-in-front-of-the fire-and-smile story.
bigotterbooks's review
5.0
What a wonderful story-a great introduction to the Emily Castles world. As the book opens, Emily is helping at a Santa's Christmas Forest set up in a department store. When they invite Sophie and her grandfather to take a pre-opening tour to test the display, Sophie goes missing. But she is still standing beside her grandfather. What has happened? Is it magic or something more sinister? Will Emily get to the bottom of it before the police arrive?
This is one of those stories that make readers say "wow, I MUST read every other book this author has written!" It's a cozy mystery in every sense of the genre. Nothing vulgar, no blood, no violence; just a cracking good little mystery with quirky characters and so well written it was as if I was right there with them!
Helen Smith graciously gave me a copy of the book, this review is my own opinion. 5 stars, read this book and the entire series!
This is one of those stories that make readers say "wow, I MUST read every other book this author has written!" It's a cozy mystery in every sense of the genre. Nothing vulgar, no blood, no violence; just a cracking good little mystery with quirky characters and so well written it was as if I was right there with them!
Helen Smith graciously gave me a copy of the book, this review is my own opinion. 5 stars, read this book and the entire series!
carolsnotebook's review
3.0
Real Elves is a cute little mystery, a little silly maybe, but it has a light-heartedness that fits Christmas. And I would love to visit the Magic Forest, pick a golden apple, and see Santa. It's a short story, only 35 pages or so, so I don't want to give away too much of the plot. I will say that there's no violence and it has a happy ending all around.
kikiandarrowsfishshelf's review
4.0
This was a really cute story. I haven't read any others in the series, but I will now. The mysterty takes place at a Santa forest in the store. At first, I was wondering about one of characters, but that is dealt with at the end of the story. It is funny and actually quite nice. The use of magic isn't the standard Christmas magic. It makes for a nice change.
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