Christmas Exodus

by Jessica Williams

Friends-to-lovers festive romance.

The holidays arrive at a life-altering crossroads. Should Kiera re-enlist and commit to a military career? Cash in her GI Bill and chase a college degree? Or accept Alan’s unexpected proposal and build a new kind of life with him?

Before she can answer any of that, duty calls: her Signal unit is ordered into the field for a winter training exercise. That’s when she meets Staff Sergeant Scott Wilson.

Thrown together on night shift, Kiera and Scott form a fast bond that deepens with each passing hour. When he invites her to spend Christmas with his family in Helen, Georgia, her initial hesitation is overridden by circumstance.

Helen is straight out of a dream: sprawling land, horses, warmth, family chaos, laughter. And Scott’s daughter, Dee, who captures Kiera’s heart instantly.

What begins as a quiet escape quickly turns into a rollercoaster of adventure, secrets, and a spark of unexpected romance—one that just might change everything she thought she wanted.

Genres: Romance, Christmas

238 pages, Paperback

Published November 1, 2025

About the author

As a passionate educator and HR professional, a retired-military spouse, a mom, and a veteran, I know a thing or two about resilience and personal transformation. Those experiences shape my writing, helping me create characters and stories that feel real and relatable.

I write stories where women’s fiction, historical fiction, and a touch of sensual romance come together. My novels explore women’s lives with emotional depth, historical authenticity, and just enough sizzle to keep things exciting—without being explicit. Set in vividly imagined 20th- and early 21st-century California, Chicago, and Georgia, my books follow bold, resilient women as they navigate love, change, and self-discovery.

If you enjoy the heartwarming charm of Katherine Center or the drama of Marie Bostwick, you’ve just found your next go-to author.

Reviews

[Samantha✨ [reads everythinggggg] · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to receive a copy of Christmas Exodus by Jessica Williams, and it was an absolute treat to read. Before I even get into how much I enjoyed the story, I want to say that—as a female veteran and a military spouse, similar to the author—I really appreciated this read. It not only made me feel proud, but also sentimental.

I don’t often read books that center a female point of view in the military, and this one did it so well. I loved the friendship and strength displayed among the women in these roles. I also found the military details to be spot on. I’ve read books in the past where things just didn’t make sense, and as someone who’s lived this life, that always pulls me out of the story. But here, everything felt accurate and true to experience.

Now, onto this wonderful friends-to-lovers romance. I thought the pacing was great, the flow was engaging, and the length was perfect. The descriptions throughout the book painted such a vivid picture in my mind. As someone who has visited Helen, GA, and the other areas mentioned in the story, I felt like I was right back there.

Thank you, Jessica Williams, for allowing me to read your book!

[Barbara Selman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jessica Thank you for gifting me an ebook. This is my first book by her and I hope i have the opportunity to read another one of her books. I really enjoyed this quick great read. The story is centered around Military life and how females deal with that life. Kiera is a strong female in the Army surrounded by males and her bestie roommate. Right before the holidays she and her boyfriend break up. So she decides to take up an offer to go away for the holidays with Scott to his family’s home. Little did she know what she would discover about herself and the lifelong decisions she would make. I absolutely loved this story and Kiera’s journey to finding happiness. And I loved the characters I this story, especially the females.

[Sydney Ely · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This review contains minor spoilers related to tropes but no specific details.

The author is a very strong writer, I was able to feel enveloped in this story and understood the characters fairly well. However, this book was not a hit for me, I simply could not connect with it.

I felt like the story moved way too fast with too little development, there was a lot of technical language that your average, non-military personnel would not know, and some of the “side characters” weren’t as developed as I would like them to be. I’m also not a huge fan of the concept of the third-act breakup, it almost ALWAYS puts me off a story.

That being said, the story may fit a movie fairly well. The epilogue in particular felt like something you’d see in a historical fiction piece, which I did like, it just isn’t something I enjoy in my books.

This book simply wasn’t my cup of tea, but language and storytelling ability is there! The if you love a quick, closed-door/fade to black military romance, you may enjoy this book!

[Francesca ⭒₊ ⊹ ☾ ₊ ⊹⭒ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was lucky to receive an e-book copy of Christmas Exodus from Jessica Williams!
Although this is not my reading style, I really enjoyed the book!

Military life is central to the book, and I think/hope she portrayed it in the best way (as I do not know much about military life 😅).
I loved the romantic relationships of the book, maybe a bit cliché, but who doesn't love a chiché thrope?? I think she portrayed the feelings and thought process of Kiera amazingly throughout the entire book.

For me, the most important theme of the book was the representation of the female characters: They were members of the army, fearless, powerful, strong, life-saving women, as well as mothers, daughters, friends, and lovers! I'm sure that's one of the aspects Jessica wanted to show most in the story!

[Jamie Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was a lucky lady to receive an e-book copy of Christmas Exodus by the author and i highly enjoyed reading it.
Its not my usual genre to read but romance is romance after all and this one was so sweet and had me giggling like a school girl.
The depth of description the author went into really made me feel like i was there myself and who doesnt love the Christmas feeling.
I also loved the depth of knowledge about the US military, especially as a UK girlie, but it wasnt so deep that i had no idea what was being talked about.

**I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily**

[K Mayo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christmas Exodus is a sweet friends to lovers/co-workers to lovers military romance set in the charm of the late 90s. With the main character Kiera being at a crossroads in her life, she needs to decide if she wants to reenlist in the military, living a life she’s grown accustomed to, or pursue a college education with a dream in journalism, along with a surprise proposal, and an unexpected new romance. I found my emotions being taken along for a ride in this beautiful story, and I loved the warmth of the holiday setting.

[Read, Run and Rescue · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a different genre then I typically read, however I did enjoy this story very much. The dynamics of the relationship of our FMC and MMC was so genuine dare I say heart felt but it wasn’t overly done in a sappy sentimental way . The crossroads of life is often a very uncomfortable place but helps create depth in a story. That book did this.

[Mariah Martinez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great holiday read. It was well written with very relatable situations. This is a great add to your holiday tbr if you love unexpected romance. I definitely recommend it!

[Eunice Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christmas Exodus is the kind of holiday romance that feels tender, reflective, and quietly transformative. It doesn’t rush love or decisions,instead, it allows space for uncertainty, growth, and the kind of connection that forms when two people meet at exactly the right moment, even if neither of them realizes it at first.

Kiera’s crossroads felt incredibly real. Her struggle between duty, independence, and the longing for a different kind of life is handled with so much care. You feel the weight of every option she’s considering, and that emotional honesty makes her journey deeply relatable. Meeting Scott during a winter training exercise might seem like chance, but the slow, natural way their bond forms especially during long night shifts, feels grounded and authentic.

Helen, Georgia, is beautifully portrayed, not just as a festive setting, but as a place of warmth and possibility. Scott’s family, the horses, the laughter, and especially Dee, bring a sense of home that contrasts perfectly with Kiera’s uncertainty. The way Kiera connects with Dee is especially touching and adds an emotional depth that elevates the romance beyond just attraction.

This is a friends-to-lovers story filled with heart, gentle tension, and the quiet magic of Christmas the kind that doesn’t shout, but stays with you. Christmas Exodus is about choosing what truly matters, even when it’s unexpected, and trusting that sometimes the path forward begins with a simple invitation to stay.

[David Carriere · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christmas Exodus is one of those romances that sneaks up on you with its quiet emotional power. Kiera is relatable from the very first page a soldier standing at a turning point, pulled between expectations, comfort, and the life she secretly wants but hasn’t found the courage to choose yet. The late ‘90s setting gives the story a nostalgic warmth that makes the holidays feel even more tender and meaningful.

Her connection with Scott is slow, intimate, and beautifully grounded. Their conversations feel real, their chemistry is subtle but undeniable, and their growing bond has that perfect friends to lovers sweetness. The Christmas setting, the military backdrop, and the swirling questions about identity, love, and direction all blend into a story that feels heartfelt and deeply human.

This is the kind of romance you finish with a full chest and a soft smile, cozy, emotional, and quietly transformative.

[Maria Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christmas Exodus weaves together military duty, personal crossroads and unexpected romance in a way that feels thoughtful and uplifting. Kiera’s conflict between reenlisting, college dreams, and a surprise proposal is grounded and relatable, while her nightshift assignment and the Christmas-day invitation bring just the right dose of serendipity. The holiday setting adds warmth without holiday clichés, this isn’t sugar-coated, it’s honest.

[Leanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Military industry is prominent role in this book but it is also about being at a crossroads and unexpected romance with a little bit of Christmas cheer without being over the top. I felt like my emotions were at a standstill until they weren't and they all came bursting out at the most unexpected moment.

[Jessica Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

This friends-to-lovers festive romance explores women in the military, the power of friendship, and the value of knowing yourself.

Helen, GA is straight out of a dream: sprawling land, horses, warmth, family chaos, laughter. And Scott’s daughter, Dee, who captures Kiera’s heart instantly. During a visit to Scott’s grandfather in a veteran’s home, Kiera connects with a feisty retired woman vet. What begins as a simple visit turns into a mission of joy, as Kiera, Scott, and the entire Wilson clan come together to bring the residents a Christmas they’ll never forget.

"Christmas Exodus" is cross genre book: Women’s Fiction, Historical Fiction (1999), and Holiday Romance (heat level 3 - sensual).