Mackenzie enjoys her job as a graphic designer, where she works with her best friend and housemate. But she’s less than thrilled when her boss says she’s up for a promotion to a supervisory role that will mean supervising staff and working more closely with clients, even though it will mean a pay rise—which she needs to pay for her mother’s nursing home.

Sofiya has pitched Mackenzie against Jeremy Fletcher, her longtime secret crush, and someone who always has the right words to say. But Mackenzie has to try, for her mother’s sake. And she’s noticed something about Sofiya’s promotion strategy: promotions always happen around Christmas, and always go to the person who does the best job of bringing Christmas cheer to the office.

I have mixed feelings about office romances in general, and about the trope that pitches the hero and heroine against each other for a promotion (which is probably a hangover from years working in HR).

I think Sarah Monzon managed those two aspects of the plot brilliantly.

It was funny and believable and romantic. And while the story certainly delivered on the romance front, that wasn’t what made it special.

I loved the way the story featured a main character with a mental health issue—social anxiety–in a sensitive and realistic way.

I loved the way the story struck just the right balance between believing God for healing while acknowledging that God sometimes uses modern medicine to perform that healing.

I appreciated the acknowledgement that mental health issues are health issues, that doctors can help, that it’s not enough to think positive or practice gratitude or even pray for healing.

I especially loved the way we gradually got to know the real Jeremy and watch as he began to see–and fall for–the real Mackenzie, social anxiety and all.

Like Kiss Me on Christmas, All’s Fair in Love and Christmas is a fun Christian Christmas romance which delivers all the romantic feels along with a healthy view of people with mental health challenges. (If you enjoy this, I also recommend checking out Sarah Monzon’s 2022 release, Kiss Me on Christmas).

Recommended for anyone looking for a Christmas rom-com or for a Christian workplace romance with a serious side.

Thanks to Bethany House and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

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 chaplain’s 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 All’s Fair in Love and Christmas

Two workplace rivals. One festive competition. And a romance that upends it all.

Every December two things are guaranteed for graphic designer Mackenzie Graham–Christmas celebrations and the annual promotion at her workplace. Those two things are by no means mutually exclusive. In fact, the better an employee is at harnessing the Christmas spirit, the more likely they’ll win the new job. With her social anxiety, Mackenzie never thought she’d be a contender in her company’s holiday competition, so how exactly has she found herself dueling her workplace crush with wrapping paper tubes and using tinsel as her weapon of choice for a much-needed raise?

Jeremy Fletcher’s life is meticulously planned out, including how to win this year’s promotion at work. Not only will the new position fulfill some of his career goals, but as a single guardian to his twin niece and nephew, he needs the salary increase to support his family. Jeremy has barely noticed Mackenzie Graham around the office, but now that she’s his rival, he can’t stop thinking about her. Her quirkiness intrigues him, and he’s afraid that if he can’t get his head on straight, the promotion isn’t the only thing he’ll end up losing to Mackenzie.

Find All’s Fair in Love and Christmas online at:

Amazon | BookBub | ChristianBook | Goodreads | Koorong

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