CHRISTMAS HOPE #9

This is another heart warming and faith-based book in the series.

This time we meet Maddie, a little girl who has been through so much but has the most positive outlook on life.

Amy is ready to get out there and stop mourning the marriage that didn't work out. What better place than Glory's Place as a volunteer. Maddie has already captured her heart.

Gabe has messed up plenty in the past but for the past 5 and a half years he's gotten sober, works at Maddies' school and is almost done with college and getting his teaching certificate. Maddie is the highlight of Gabe's day and she is determined to set him up with her new friend at Glory's.

Will they all have a Christmas miracle? With this group they just may.

This series is always inspiring. And full of really good characters. It's not all sunshine and rainbows but they always have each others backs.  Faith, Family and Love.

Well Done!

Netgalley/October 16th 2018 by St. Martin's Press

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.

I love a really great Christmas. It always makes me smile. It's always a very happy book. This is the first book I have read by Donna and I was really glad I did

Gabe is a man who has been clean and sober for over five years. He is divorced and, working as a janitor in a middle school. and also, volunteering at Glory's Place. .Amy moved to a new town and, is working as an accountant. She decides she needs to volunteer and, signs up at Glory's place, a place for at risk kids. When Amy and Gabe meet again, sparks fly but, they are both gun shy after the divorce six years ago..Gabe knows that he treated Amy horribly during their marriage and, is afraid that she has never forgiven him. Amy has never stopped loving Gabe but, can't forget the type of person he used to be. A cute little matchmaker named Maddie is determined to get these two back together!
This is a wonderful, inspirational story that will warm your heart!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review

I always look forward to a Holiday story because the message is cheery and bright. This story did not disappoint.

Gabe works at the school that Maddie attends. Maddie is a foster child who divides her time between school and an after school program. She and Gabe have a special friendship and she wants him to meet Amy, who is single like Gabe, at the after school program. It is Maddie's mission to get the two to meet because she thinks they are perfect. She succeeds with the introduction but their meet does not go as planned. Maddie stays vigilant and you find yourself on a journey of hope and second chances.

This story was a quick and enjoyable read that left you with a smile at the end.

Maddie isn’t your typical seven year old girl. She’s bright and spunky with an irresistible personality and an eye for matchmaking.

One of Maddie’s favorite people is Mr. G (Gabe Rodriguez) one of the maintenance men who works at her elementary school. Mr. G. is a lot of fun and Maddie enjoys talking with him and asking lots of questions about anything and everything. So she knows that he was married, but now he isn’t and he has no kids. This is not a good thing and she tells him that she is going to find him somebody perfect for him.

Growing up in foster care, Maddie spends her days at the local elementary school and her after school hours at Glory’s Place, an aftercare program run by volunteers. Amy Denison has just begun volunteering at Glory’s Place and the first child she encounters is Maddie. Amy is pretty and single and Maddie’s wheels are in motion. She just knows that Amy is the perfect person for Mr. G. and she’s going to make sure they both know it too!

This story is filled with warmth, love and holiday cheer. The cast of characters surrounding Maddie, Amy and Gabe all have their stories to tell and Donna VanLiere interweaves all of those stories seamlessly with tears, laughter, spirituality and above all love

...Because sometimes you just need a Christmas miracle.

A precocious little girl in need of a forever family, a school custodian in need of forgiveness and love, and a woman who has known true heartache when her dreams of a happily ever after go up in smoke.

Maddie was determined to get the school custodian, Mr. G., a wife. She was equally determined that she knew the perfect lady, the new volunteer at Glory’s Place.

Little did she know, her matchmaking couldn’t have hit either Gabe or Amy any harder in their long broken hearts? Could they have finally found their happily ever after?

The miracles of the Holiday Season, the joy of shared love and happiness in a small town and a little girl caught up in the foster care system, longing for her own family. Could her “meddling” be more magical than even she could imagine? Could it have been the magic of THE CHRISTMAS STAR with a story of its own?

Donna VanLiere’s tale of love and Christmas magic is heartwarming, easy reading that brings the season’s message of hope.

I received a complimentary ARC edition from St. Martin's Press!

Publisher: St. Martin's Press (October 16, 2018)
Publication Date: October 16, 2018
Genre: Holiday Romance
Print Length: 240 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
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I received this book for free to read and review for St. Martin press. This first that I read by author Donna VanLiere and can't wait go look up what other books she has written. I loved this book this a feel good book. Yes the setting is at Christmas time, but I think that you could easily read this anytime. This would make a great Christmas gift. But if you read this before Christmas it will get you in the mood. And remind you that people are good and can do thing and not for selfish reasons. You will fall in love with Maddie, Gabe, Amy, Lauren, Gloria and many more. When you get to the end you will be disappointed that the book has ended. This is for any reader.

Amy Denison is looking for something to give her life meaning, so she volunteers to work at Glory's Place, an afterschool program. There she meets Maddie, a precocious little girl who has spent her entire life in foster care. Mr G works as a custodian at Maddie's school and Maddie adores him. Maddie becomes determined to set Amy and Mr G up together. Will this Christmas be a Christmas to remember?
I really enjoyed this book. It was a very light-hearted, quick read. There was more story than there was romance, so that is good for those of us who aren't big fans of romance novels. This will be a great Christmas book to help you get in the Christmas spirit.

So did he go to college?

Ah, the days of extra credit.

Maddie comes to school in a van?

I always thought Florence Nightingale was American. I learned something new.

Aw honey, I have spina bifida. You're doing great.

Haha, Luke, wait until you're a little older.

Travis is right. Life happens now.

Poor Gabe! Fifty!

The kid has quite the vocabulary.

That's a fun idea.

There's tasteful and frugal, and then there's no wedding cake. Get the cake.

Er, guys? What is the big deal?

Awkward.

Ben made it sound so simple. I like that.

I wonder if Miriam actually believes everyone else is wrong.

Gabe was born to be a father.

I was hoping Lauren would do something like that.

Damn, Gabe can give one romantic speech!

Lovely wedding all around.

This is a delightful, feel good Christmas book.

You will fall in love with the wonderful cast of characters the author has put together for this sweet book. Amy, a woman who has been hurt in the past and afraid to open up her heart to others, Maddie, a precocious child who is in foster care, and Mr. G, a maintenance man in the grade school where Maddie attends, along with a delightful group of people who all work at “Glory’s Place”, an after school program for kids bring us to laughter and tears.

A Christmas Star placed on the tree at the gazebo in the center of town becomes a guide to several in the community to develop a miracle of forgiveness and love in relationships.

This is a special Christmas book that you don’t want to miss reading during this holiday season. It is a true joy.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for my honest opinion.

I received an arc copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for my honest opinion of it. This is a typical sweet Christmas romance feel good book.

A perfectly sweet Christmas romance. I adored this one and think you will too! Perfect to read any time of year!

Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

First, I'd like to thank Netgalley, St. Martin's Press, and Donna VanLiere for allowing me to have this ARC of The Christmas Star.

I desperately needed a feel-good, heartwarming read tonight and I'm so glad I read The Christmas Star! This story is filled with love, family, and forgiveness. I smiled and teared up and I felt amazing after reading this.

All the characters are heartfelt, warm and relatable. The characters are all intertwined through an organization called "Glory's Place". This after school program introduces a great cast of kids, with one in particular that really stole my heart, Maddie. Amy meets Maddie through Glory's Place and her life is forever changed. Maddie is a 7 year old girl, who adores her school's maintenance worker, Mr. G. Maddie is determined to set him up with the new woman who is volunteering at Glory's Place.

Through this story, the lesson of love and forgiveness is taught in the warmest way. I loved every page in The Christmas Star and will definitely read it again for the holidays!

Donna VanLiere never fails to send a heartfelt message in her books. This novel sends the news that hope, faith and miracles do exist. We need to remember to look up.
"God nudges us throughout our lives but I wonder how many actually act on it." This quote holds the key to the plot and it is a perfect read no matter the time of year!
Definitely uplifting!

I read a book by the same author last year that has some characters from this one, so it was nice to see the next episode of their story. Picking up this book was a happy accident! The story is one of overcoming the past, giving and accepting second chances, and learning to be perfect in our imperfections. It's a story of grace, both from God and from / for others. I love Glory's Place - and Ben (who is only a minor character in this book) - and think that the premise behind it is one I'd love to see implemented other places. The center itself is a bit of a character. In this story, we follow two couples - one is from last year's Christmas story, and we see their wedding; the other must overcome their tragic past to build a future. At the heart of it all is a precocious little girl!