Emily Parker is set to have the worst Christmas ever! Her flatmate’s moved out, she’s closed her heart to love and she’s been put in charge of the school original Christmas show – with zero musical ability. Disgraced superstar, Ray Stone is in desperate need of a quick PR turnaround. Waking up from a drunken stupor to a class of ten-year-olds snapping pics and Emily looking at him was not what he … looking at him was not what he had in mind.
Ray needs Emily’s help to delete the photos, and she needs his with the show. As they learn to work together they may just open their hearts to more than a second chance…
more
Full of humor, quirky characters, a few hedgehogs, and all the feels you need over the holidays, ONE CHRISTMAS STAR is the perfect December 2020 romance.
Surrounded by a class of primary school kids, an unlikely couple meet in a school shed. She’s a devoted teacher delegated the task of creating a Christmas musical with enough God for the local bishop and enough advertising for the local shopkeepers (both are sponsoring the event). He’s a disgraced, broke pop-star with nowhere to live and a career disappearing down the nearest loo. Together they might be able to pull off a show that will warm everyone’s hearts, including the kids… Falling in love is not part of the plan.
But the story also shines a light on serious issues of grief, domestic abuse, alcoholism, and mental illness. Emily and Ray, two damaged souls with big hearts, are both trying to process the season of joy while wading through grief and darkness.
There is NOTHING I enjoy more than a second chance love story for broken souls, and ONE CHRISTMAS STAR hit all the right notes for me. And now I have a horrible book hangover …
Favorite Quotes:
‘Say that you respect Ida’s opinion of your relationship, but that she is… deeply troubled. Deeply troubled says you are “caring” and “compassionate”, but it also eludes to Ida being “slightly batshit crazy”.’ She sipped at her drink. ‘And then you say you hope Ida reaches out for the help she needs. That will infer to everyone that she’s one step away from a psychiatric ward.’
That man was an animal. And did you smell him? He didn’t just smell like he’d been to the pub. He smelled like Guinness had distilled him for thirty-odd years.
I have a natural talent for reading people. I’m like that Patrick Jane from The Mentalist, without the three-piece suit, but with all of the ginger hotness.
Your father has bought another hat. This one has a ridiculous feather. I don’t know what it is with him lately. It’s like he’s experiencing a middle-age crisis that only millinery can solve.
My Review:
This was my second exposure to the clever wit and crafty humor of the deeply talented Mandy Baggot. Her vibrant creation was a delight for all the senses and conjured colorful visuals to dance through my gray matter. Her inventive and engaging plotlines held a delicate balance of compelling issues and cunningly crafted levity. But what stole my heart was her bevy of quirky and highly original and dynamic characters including hedgehogs, a candy addicted coworker, a vintage clad heroine, a scandal-ridden singer with an unstable and vindictive ex, snobbish social-climbing parents, and an unending grab-bag of unusual ten-year-old students who presented their own unique challenges and real-world issues.
The storylines were compelling and relevant, and held my interest throughout and kept my curiosity primed while Ms. Baggot’s nimble and highly amusing writing kept me pleasantly entertained and glued to my kindle. I am in awe of her craft and covet her word skills.
I didn’t enjoy this story. I couldn’t relate to the character, and the pace of the plot is too slow. In my opinion, it was the pace of the plot, and how long the book is, that stopped the characters from developing and connecting. The female protagonist is spineless, afraid, and the male protagonist isn’t much better than she is. This is not a case of me, and it’s not you. This is a case of Less Is Better
One Christmas Star is the fourteenth novel by British author Mandy Baggot. Primary school teacher Emily Parker is not looking forward to the Christmas holidays. Her best friend Jonah has moved in with his boyfriend Allan. Her spare room sits empty as does her heart. And her relationship with her parents is virtually nonexistent.
Emily’s main focus currently is to impress her head teacher in hopes of being considered for deputy lead teacher when the person holding that position retires after the first of the year. When her head teacher puts Emily in the position of being in charge of the Christmas extravaganza, Emily needs to write the script and original songs. The biggest problem is that Emily feels she has no musical talent.
Ray Stone understands the ups and downs of the music business. Recently at a high, Ray is now at his lowest. His ex-girlfriend Ida is bashing him in the media. Having not managed his earnings well, Ray is now at a point where he is tossed from his apartment. Recording is not going well, and, perhaps even worse, Ray needs surgery on his vocal chords.
When Emily and her class find a hungover Ray sleeping in the school shed protecting an injured hedgehog, the story takes off. Putting these two very different people in such proximity brings forth a funny, touching, heartwarming story that brings clarity to the true meaning of Christmas. This is a wonderfully constructed story. I did enjoy this book very much and I do recommend it!
One Christmas Star by Mandy Baggot a four-star read for you to wish upon. This was okay for the most part, it was a little slow at times, but overall a great story. The thing that made this story was the children and that was odd for me as I’m not a huge lover of children generally, but these kids just warmed me. They made up for the moments I wanted to make Emily stand up for herself. But even when I wanted to tell her, I also warmed to her, the story has some dark moments, but they are done well and well balanced within the story. Enjoy this on a winter afternoon while counting down the days till your Christmas as it’s a coming.