The Christmas Star |
by Ace Collins
5 Stars~*****
Reviewed by Teresa Mathews
In this nostalgic Christmas story Ace Collins leads us back in time to post-war Arkansas. There we meet 16 year old Jimmy Reed, a young man with a huge chip on his shoulder yearning to grow up and make a name for himself. But as we all know teenagers even in 1945 have been known to make wrong choices.
Jimmy Reed is trying his best to cope with the life he has been dealt; a father that died fighting a war in a foreign land, although a hero, Jimmy is angry that his father had to die. Now he watches as his mother works so very hard to try to make ends meet. All because of that day in May 1942 when they received word that Robert Reed, beloved husband and dad had been killed, nothing has been the same for Jimmy or his mother, especially Christmas, the day that used to mean the world to the Reed family. Now at Christmas instead of reading the Christmas story and happily putting up their traditional star on top of the tree his mom now put up his dad’s Congressional Medal of Honor in its place. Even hearing that his dad was a hero doesn't make it any easier.
Jimmy is struggling to do the right thing with his life and the more he hears about his father the more he feels he can never measure up especially now that he has committed to do something that will forever change his life and possibly send him to jail. When a complete stranger comes to town and tells Jimmy and his mom another unbelievable story of his father‘s courage, the more Jimmy wants to be the son his father would be proud of. Is it too late for Jimmy to change what he has done? Will Jimmy get a Christmas miracle??
Ace Collins sure knows how to draw you into his stories with his characters that literally pop out at you from the pages. This was a beautifully written story that will have you wanting to cry one minute and then cheer the next. This is definitely an uplifting Christmas story that will warm your heart and make you smile. Ladies this would make the perfect stocking stuffer for the guys in your life. Thank you Ace for writing a story that deserves to become a Christmas Classic!
*I was given an arc of this by the publisher, Abingdon Press via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.
You Can Find This Treasure and more books by Ace at Amazon, CBD and LifeWay and other bookstores. You may also purchase Ace's books at his website www.acecollins.com
This sounds like a fantastic heartwarming story ACE!! And just perfect for Christmas that's coming up so quickly. Thanks for the fabulous review TERESA!
ReplyDeleteAnother great review, TERESA! I think you found a new favorite author. :)
ReplyDeletesounds like a great book! rhonda_nash_hall@comcast.net
ReplyDeletesounds like a great read.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to read this book! A bunch of Ace's books are available on audible.com, too, for download. My subscription just renewed so I have lots of credits available now!
ReplyDeleteNOELA when I saw that this was a WWII era story I thought I might not like it, I don't usually read those type of books. But after the first couple of pages I was hooked!! I didn't want to put it down!! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks MARIAN, I believe you might be right! I'm going to go back and read some of ACE's other books! :)
ReplyDeleteRHONDA this is THE PERFECT story for Christmas. Good luck in the drawing!
ReplyDeletePAT it is a wonderful story, I know you will enjoy it. Good Luck in the drawing. :)
ReplyDeleteCARRIE you should be proud of me...I didn't give any hints about the miracle...that was hard! LOL!! I know you will enjoy this one!!
ReplyDeleteThis does sound like a wonderful Christmas story.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Jo
azladijo(at)aol(dot)com
Sounds like a great story.
ReplyDeleteKatie J. (johnsonk133@yahoo.com)
JO I know you will enjoy this as much as I did. It's a great story! Good Luck in the drawing!!
ReplyDeleteKATIE this is one you won't want to put down! :) Good Luck!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the wonderful review. This was one of the books that brought such joy as I wrote it. There was one character who simply charmed me. I think he was combination of every unique person I have ever met.
ReplyDeleteAce
I loved the review. It sounds like an awesome book. I hope I win a copy, thanks for the opportunity. God bless you guys.
ReplyDeleteGlenda Parker
GLENDA thank you, I hope you win also! I know you will love this book by Ace. It's a perfect Christmas story!!
ReplyDeleteGOOD LUCK!
ACE thank you, I loved the book!! Thank you for writing it, I could tell you put your heart into it. :) It was a blessing to read.
ReplyDeleteWow, what an awesome review, TERESA! Your love of this book "that deserves to become a Christmas classic" truly shines through! This one sounds as though it would make a great Hallmark Christmas movie, doesn't it!!
ReplyDeleteDIANA I agree.. I loved Jimmy and how he struggles with his dad's death and his mom's working too hard. It would make a great Hallmark Christmas Movie. Might want to grab it on NG before it's gone. :)
ReplyDeleteI have been watching this book go around! I would love to win The Christmas Star. I would like to read about this time period. Kathleen
ReplyDeletelanehillhouse[at]centurylink[dot]net
LANE here's hoping you win. It's a wonderful book and I know you'll like it. Good Luck! :)
ReplyDeleteI love this nostalgic cover, too! So pretty! Reminds me of my childhood!
ReplyDeleteThis looks like a wonderful book!! makeighleekyleigh at yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteCARRIE it is very pretty, Christmas is my favorite time of the year. :)
ReplyDeleteMEGAN it is a wonderful book and I know you will enjoy it. Good Luck in the drawing! :)
ReplyDeleteThis looks like a wonderful book!
ReplyDeleteamccalli(at)gmail(dot)(com)
SHADOWWOLF it's great! Good Luck! :)
ReplyDeleteThis book sounds like a "read every year" Christmas story. I'd love to win a copy!!! Thank you for offering this beautiful review and offering a giveaway!
ReplyDeleteNancee
quiltcat26[at]sbcglobal[net]
Thanks for stopping by NANCEE! Good luck in the drawing.
ReplyDeleteI really love Christmas, and would love to win this Christmas story.
ReplyDeleteMaxie ( mac262@me.com )
Good luck in the drawing, MAXIE!
ReplyDeletethanks for the chance to win
ReplyDeleteABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com
I've heard great things about this one! Thanks for the giveaway. shopgirl152nykiki(at)yahoo(dot)com
ReplyDeleteCongrats to GLENDA PARKER FICTION WRITER! You have won your choice of one of ACE'S wonderful books!!
ReplyDelete