Kaitlyn Stafford is the solo mother of ten-year-old Liam. Liam has been diagnosed with General Anxiety Disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, and Autism Spectrum Disorder (GAD, ADHD, and ASD). Kaitlynâs sister announces sheâs getting married at Christmas, which is going to be a big and possibly difficult disruption to Liamâs Christmas routines.
What could have been a difficult trip is made easier when Liam recognises his favourite YouTuber, Beckett Walsh, as they are about to board the plane. Beckett turns out to be the best man at the wedding they are about to plan.
Yes, thatâs totally the setup for every Hallmark Christmas movie ever: an unlikely couple thrown together in a small town for a white Christmas.
The romance between Kaitlyn and Beckett develops quickly (well, this is a novella so it kind of has to), but it never feels rushed. Thatâs quite an achievement. Itâs also based on an attraction to the inner person, which is something I like in romance. The developing relationship was perfectly paced and had all the feels.
What sets this story apart is Liam. Stories with sole parents (usually mothers) arenât unusual, but stories with characters with ADHD or ASD are rare to non-existent. (If you can think of any, let me know.) It wasn’t just that Liam was a neurodiverse chararacter. It was that he was such an endearing and likeable character and was portrayed so realistically.
Kaitlyn and Beckett were inspiringly patient with Liam and their willingness to engage with him on his terms. They also taught him how to engage with other people. Kaitlynâs interactions with her mother were particularly touching in this area.
Sarah Monzon has partly based Liam on her son, Elijah (with his permission). This is why Liam comes across as such a believable and well-rounded character. However, Monzon also points out in her Authorâs Note that Liam is unique:
“If youâve met one person with autism, youâve met exactly one person with autism.”
Itâs been a long time since Iâve read a novel (or novella) I want to re-read, but this is definitely on the list.
Recommended for fans of Christmas romance, or those looking for Christian fiction with neurodiverse characters.
About Sarah Monzon
A Carol award finalist and Selah award winner, Sarah Monzon is a stay-at-home mom who makes up imaginary friends to have adult conversations with (otherwise known as writing novels). As a navy chaplainâs wife, she resides wherever the military happens to station her family and enjoys exploring the beauty of the world around her.
Find Sarah online at:
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About Kiss Me on Christmas
Single mom Kaitlyn Stafford has never considered Christmas a balancing act, but when her sister calls with the news that sheâs getting married in less than two weeksâon Christmas Dayâthatâs exactly what the holiday looks like becoming. Helping with the out-of-state wedding will be fun. The challenge will be doing so while accommodating her neurodivergent sonâs need to keep every single one of their Christmas traditions while theyâre away from home. Itâll be tricky, but she can do it.
At least, thatâs what she thinks before her sonâs favorite YouTuber, Beckett Walsh, shows up on the scene, knocking her world off-kilter with his speaking glances and knowing smiles. How on earth is she supposed to pull off her balancing act when her worldâs just tilted on its axis?
Kiss Me on Christmas was published as part of the multi-author Destination Christmas novella collection.
Find Kiss Me on Christmas online at:
Amazon (Novella) | Amazon (Collection) | BookBub
