From the New York Times bestselling author of The Christmas Hope series comes another heartwarming, inspirational story for the holidays. Thirty-two-year-old Amy Denison volunteers at Glory’s Place, an after school program where she meets seven-year-old Maddie, a precocious young girl who has spent her childhood in foster care. Unbeknownst to Amy, Maddie is a mini-matchmaker, with her eye on just … mini-matchmaker, with her eye on just the right man for Amy at Grandon Elementary School, where she is a student. Amy is hesitant – she’s been hurt before, and isn’t sure she’s ready to lose her heart again – but an unexpected surprise makes her reconsider her lonely lifestyle.
As Christmas nears and the town is blanketed in snow and beautiful decorations, Maddie and the charming staff at Glory’s Place help Amy to see that romance can be more than heartache and broken promises.
In The Christmas Star, Donna VanLiere delivers yet another sweet, joyous story that is sure to capture readers’ hearts.
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Let’s think back 20 years to 2008. Don’t roll your eyes and groan at me! Play along. Do you remember the heartbreaking book “The Christmas Shoes”? Maybe you didn’t read the book but I bet you saw the movie. If you are a church goer, I bet your choir even performed the Christmas program. I know my choir did. My husband was cast as the male lead who sang the, now infamous song, and I played the dying mom. “The Christmas Shoes” was the first book in the Christmas Hope Series by Donna VanLiere. I am so excited to share “The Christmas Star” with all of you! It is the 9th book in the Christmas Hope series and just a warning…you will need a box of tissues close by.
Maddie is a precious seven year-old with mild cerebral palsy that has been in foster care since birth. She is living with a sweet lady named Linda who is like a grandmother to her. Maddie, like most kids in foster care, dreams of having a family. Maddie, who has never met a stranger, develops a close bond with Gabe who is over the maintenance department at her elementary school. She decides that Gabe, whom she finds out as been married before, needs a wife and that wife should be Amy, a volunteer at Glory’s Place where Maddie attends the after school program. I’m stopping right there with this story line because I don’t want to spoil anything. There is also a story line involving Lauren, a florist at Clauson’s Supermarket and a volunteer at Glory’s Place and her fiancé Travis that is equally as strong and inspirational as the one I previously described.
This book gets a very strong 5 out of 5 propellers from me! I didn’t realize that Donna VanLiere’s wrote “The Christmas Shoes” until I starting creating the blog post. Give me a break…it has been 20 years. I knew that the feel of this book was familiar but I couldn’t put my finger on it. You will fall in love with all of the characters and, hopefully, will be inspired to do something nice for a stranger or give someone a second chance after all Christmas is a time for miracles. Buy it today! You won’t regret it!
The Chhristmas Star (Christmas Hope #9) by Donna VanLiere …this was the first book by Donna that I have read…. I will be reading more…. thanks to the publisher and #NetGalley for letting me preview this wonderful book. This is a second change romance for Gabe and Amy who had a past…and Maddie an adorable 7 yr old little girl. The are so many other great people in this book and they all have great side stories. This books really tugs at your heart…the true meaning of Christmas comes through.. I shed quite a few tears and really enjoyed all the twists and turns getting to all the HEA’s.
After seeing a couple of Hallmark movies made from Ms. VanLiere’s books I grabbed an early copy of this book when I saw it on NetGalley. I really enjoyed the movies, but reading this book was even better! It’s everything that a good Christmas story with all the warm and fuzzies should be. A warm, welcoming small-town setting, a touching storyline, flawed but loveable characters, family of the heart rather than blood, and a story of second chances during the time of year when anything seems possible.
It’s great to watch a movie, but somehow reading this book made the store even more alive. I could see every scene as it played in my mind’s eye and felt like I was a part of these characters as they experienced every high and low. This is a beautiful story of two people getting their second chance, but only once they open their hearts, let go of hurts, and let love bloom and forgiveness heal. I adored Gabe and Amy and was certainly pulling for them, but it was a seven-year-old precocious matchmaker who stole the show and owned my heart. If you’re looking for a sweet, heartwarming, uplifting Christmas read, you can’t go wrong with this one!
Maddie is an adorable little girl who this year has made it her mission to get Mr G hitched. In this beautiful small town there’s a gazebo in the town square. This year a star is added to the decorations, Maddie considers this a sign and declares it to be a year for miracles. There are a number of Christmas miracles that happen. The joy and peace of the season touches hearts and lives in this beautiful Christmas story.
I am a sucker for a good Christmas story, one that remembers the reason for the season. This is my first read by this author and I absolutely loved it. Throughout the story the message of God’s love and the spirit of Christmas miracles remind you to share love and peace and touch someone, you may be their miracle.
Amy Denison decides to do something worthwhile in her spare time and offers to volunteer at Glory Place which has an after school program. Amy loves kids and this is a great place to get to spend time with some children. At Glory Place Amy meets Maddie, a littel seven year old girl, and after spending some time with her just falls in love with her. Maddie lives in a foster home with a wonderful older woman who works long hours as a nurse. This is why Maddie spends a lot of time at this after school program. Maddie attends Grandon Elementary School and one of her favorite people there is Gabe Rodriguez, the school’s handyman and janitor. Maddie decides to play matchmaker and get two of her favorite people together. Little does she know that these two people were together a number of years ago. What will happen when they meet up with each other again? Will Maddie be a successful matchmaker? You will find the answers to these questions when you pick up this book, The Christmas Star.
Author Donna VanLiere brings us a wonderful story of redemption and second chances in this book. It is especially heartwarming to read as the story takes place at Christmastime. Donna VanLiere does a good job of sharing the Christmas spirit in this story. It is a super Christmas romance story.
Thirty-two-year-old Amy Denison volunteers at Glory’s Place, an after school program where she meets seven-year-old Maddie, a precocious young girl who has spent her childhood in foster care. Unbeknownst to Amy, Maddie is a mini-matchmaker& Maddie sets her sights on Gabe who she has a special relationship with at Grandon Elementary School.
Both Gabe & Amy have been through a lot & are now emerging through the other side. An easy to read faith based book that’s ideal for the festive season. The book is well written & the characters well portrayed. I enjoyed the book but it wasn’t an engrossing read for me, Gabe & Amy whilst likeable didn’t reach out to me & I found the chemistry was missing
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
3.5 stars
I have not read any of Donna VanLiere’s stories before, and although this is Christmas Hope #9 this did not affect my reading of this book at all.
Amy and Gabe’s story is sweet and cute, a whole lotta the Christmas spirit and a manipulative (in a good way, not a bad way) 7 year old who will steal your heart.
I will say, I kinda had a guess where part of this story was going to go, but there were still some surprises in stall for me too.
There are lots of secondary characters in this story (whom probably have their own stories in the series) that make this a well rounded out group of friends. Some made me laugh, some got me frustrated, but together they all made me laugh.
A bit too much of the God stuff than I would like, but don’t let this stop you from reading.
I was given the chance to review this book via Netgalley. I’m almost shocked to say this is the first book I can recall reading by Ms. VanLiere, since apparently she has written quite a few Christmas books. I’ll be going back to read more.
I loved the story of Amy, Gabe and Maddie. All three are hurting for one reason or another. Maddie is a little girl who happens to have a disability. She knows Gabe because he works in her school. She meets Amy when she volunteers at the after school program that Maddie attends. Little Maddie takes her huge heart and decides that Amy and Gabe should get together. She starts working her loving magic to get them to meet. Things don’t go as planned, but Maddie isn’t about to give up. This is a story of second chances, forgiveness, healing, hope and love…and Christmas!
I gave this book 4 stars instead of 5 because is was written in the present tense. It just seemed awkward to me and the present tense kept distracting me from the plot. I don’t know why the author chose this, but it was just something my brain couldn’t deal with.
“The Christmas Star” by Donna VanLiere
I loved this story. I laughed and there were times my eyes sprung a leak or two. A clean, sweet, contemporary, romance, and a journey of faith, all wrapped up with a circle of friends. I need to go back and re-read Christmas stories I have previously read by this author… and should I find I have missed one… I will need to read that story also. I was gifted a copy of this story by the publisher via NetGalley.. and I am thankful for this gift. A holiday must read story. But a good read any time of the year.
Gab has changed his life. After his wife divorced him, he realized he needed to better himself & he became the custodian at the school. Maddie is a foster child that has managed to worm her way into his heart with her sunny personality & quick smile. When she wanted him to meet another “single” friend, he couldn’t turn her down.
Amy has just started volunteering at a program providing help to school children called Glory’s Place. While she’s working there, she opens her heart to Maddie. She feels this enforces her decision to foster children. When Maddie decides to try to set her up with her friend Gabe, she decides to humor her. Boy was she in for a shock.
This was a cute heartwarming story about a young foster child and her quest to make things better for the adults around her. Gabe has received a second chance & is determined to make up for the jerk he was younger in life. Amy doesn’t want hurt again & isn’t sure if she should give him a chance. There is a secondary plot thread running through the story about a wedding, the star on the gazebo, a young lady & a wedding dress. This is really a sweet Christmas story.
This book is a quick read. I personally did not like all the religious references in this book, it was way too much. If that doesn’t bother you then this book is for you. Also I feel the book was based more on Lauren and Trent and not Amy and Gabe. I believe Amy gets over her past too quickly with everything that has happened in it. Maddie steals the book and if it could have been all about her I would have loved this book. I am not saying this is a bad read, it just wasn’t the right one for me.
*I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.*
The Christmas Star by Donna VanLiere is an easy to read touching and heartwarming story that has the Season’s message of hope and giving. This is the perfect Christmas read but can be read any time of year. Even though this is book 9 in the Christmas Hope Series it can very well be read as a standalone. I am definitely going to read the first eight books in the series. Warning this will make you cry but also it will make you smile.
The Christmas Star by Donna VanLiere is a fabulous holiday story. Ms. VanLiere has provided readers with a touching, well-written Christmas romance that may have you shedding a few tears. Gabe is the school maintenance person at Grandon Elementary School. He adores his little friend Maddie. Amy volunteers at Glory’s Place, helping children with homework, playing games and enjoying the kids. Gabe and Amy’s story is packed with drama, humor and Maddie. Kudos to Ms. VanLiere for lightening what could be a dark book with her skillful weaving of humor into the story, and everyone needs a little Maddie in their lives. I totally loved reading The Christmas Star and look forward to reading more from Donna VanLiere. The Christmas Star is book 9 of the Christmas Hope Series but can easily be read as a standalone. This is a complete book, not a cliff-hanger.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This was a cute story about an orphan seven year old who is determined to do some matchmaking with Gabe, the custodian of her elementary school and Amy. the volunteer at Glory’s Place, an after school daycare . One of them feels he has to atone for his past mistakes and the other one has experienced a great deal of heartaches.
It’s a story about hope , redemption and second chances.
That said, I found the style of the writing not one I enjoyed , and at times, felt at a loss since I had not read the previous books in the series.
I was entrusted a copy of this book by Netgalley and St Martin’s Press. The opinions expressed are solely my own.
This was a charming, sweet but also emotional story. I fell in love with seven-year-old Maddie much like many of the other people in the book. To me she was the star of the story with the rest of the people satellites around her.
Amy is one of those people quickly charmed by Maddie. She can see that life has not been easy of Maddie. It hasn’t killed Maddie’s zest for life though. And she often sees the best in people and often brings out that best in people.
Gabe works as a custodian at Glory’s Place. He is also one of those people that Maddie helps become more of his real self. The more tender side of himself that he didn’t realize that he had.
It was fun to watch the relationship between Maddie, Amy and Gabe develop. There is a surprise twist coming that I didn’t see coming but added another level of depth to the story.
Lauren and Travis have their story included as part of the story and it is woven into the people of the community. A community that has basically “adopted” Lauren. Lauren has her part to play with Glory’s Place too, so it’s not a side story at all. Like I said, it is a part of the story. And as the story goes on you will begin to see the ways that it unexpectedly connects with other main people in the story.
Glory is a woman with a big heart and it even includes her friend Miriam. Miriam who often says things that she shouldn’t, causing hurt and problems because they come out harsh and thoughtless. Glory calls her on it every time and that led to some humorous conversations. They kind of bicker back and forth. Later we do get to see that there is a tender heart underneath all that British brashness.
There will be a H.E.A. for Amy and there was also a H.E.A. for Maddie. It was one I was hoping for although it did come about in a slightly unorthodox way.
If you are wondering, yes God will also play a part in this story. I didn’t see that mentioned in the original book blurb. But if that is not something that you, don’t let it stop you from enjoying this book. It was definitely a good story of overcoming difficulties.
“I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy of this book via Netgalley and this is my honest opinion of it.