When Noel Ford decides to fulfill Kyle Kelly’s Christmas wish, he does it in style. Noel wants to make a difference in someone’s life this Christmas, and when he reads Kyle’s letter, asking for a baseball mitt and a date for his mom, Noel knows he’s found the perfect candidates.

Maura Kelly works two jobs and is busy raising her nine-year-old son, Kyle. There may not be a lot of money in the house, but there is plenty of love. However, when a man comes to her door claiming to fulfill Santa’s wishes, she’s very wary. But Noel Ford is not going to give up. He’s determined to give Kyle and Maura everything they deserve this Christmas. Perhaps in the process, the lonely businessman will finally find somebody worth giving his heart to.

Santa’s Helper is a sweet and sentimental Christmas story. It’s a fairly typical story. Hard-up on her luck single mother gets a chance to make some of her wishes come true with the aid of a handsome and rich man. However, Cassidy Kent breathes new life into this story, making Maura and Noel two characters to be admired and enjoyed. Their story is definitely a whirlwind romance with a bit of reality thrown in, but it’s nevertheless a pleasurable reading experience. Though I found the sudden reappearance of the conflict at the end to be a bit clichéd, I think the author handled it fairly well, leading to a satisfying ending. In Santa’s Helper, Cassidy Kent uses predictability to her advantage by making the characters stand out, rather than the plot.


Reviewed by: Sarah W