One minute Arlene and her husband are on their way to see their new grandchild, and the next thing she knows, she wakes up in a longterm care facility. Unsure of most things, except her faith and the love of her family, she begins a new and somewhat confusing chapter of her life. This touching, insightful, and at times quite funny story points out that most of the things we busy ourselves with in life don't really matter in the end. When everything is stripped away, faith, hope and love remain. Good read! Recommend!
(Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the copy of this book in exchange for my honest, unsolicited review.)

Review copy provided via NetGallery in exchange for an honest review

Summary: Beautiful Star of Bethlehem

Meet Arlene Santana, a vibrant wife and young grandmother whose life suddenly takes a confusing and often laughable turn into a new reality framed by a severe brain injury. As one holiday after another speeds by, Arlene takes comfort in the amusing old people who surround her in the rehabilitation center and one special friend who relates well to Arlene. But when will her husband, whose love is more real to her than anything, come to visit her?

Review:

This has to be the best novella I’ve ever read. Your heart goes out to Arlene as she deals with this new world she lives in, which is new every day. She has moments where she seems to be all there, but then it flashes away and you realize just how tough brain injuries are on the whole family. There moments that have you laughing, there are moments where the tears run down your face. This novella leaves you feeling warm inside at the love her family shows and to the length they go through to see that she is happy.

The development of the story line as well as the characters is complex. The editor did an awesome job as I found now grammatical or punctuation errors, which just adds more appeal to the story.

Conclusion:

Would I Recommend this novella to other? YES

Will I read other stories written by this Author? YES

This book is a Novella, which feels complete, yet does leave you wanting more, but any good story we don’t want it to end. I will be buying my own copy so I can read this again and again.

I have enjoyed every one of Lori's books, however, thought to myself,, "Will a novella be interesting??" After all, I enjoy a long complicated plot and usually am rather sad when the last page is read. This book was certainly no disappointment. The first page grabbed my attention and I could NOT put it down. Upon reading the end of the tale, I was left in deep thought . LIfe is uncertain. Our lives can change in a twinkling of an eye. We need to appreciate each moment we are given with our loved ones and have those wonderful memories to look back on;. A loving couple is on their way to celebrate Christmas with a new granddaughter when the tragedy occurs. I couldn't help but grieve for the main character. Waking up in a long term care facility with no recollection of the horrible events are beyond comprehension. I felt her fears, challenges and her confusion. The plot moves quickly with unexpected twists and turns. I must say I had no idea how this story would end. Would it be happy ever after, or not?? The Christmas theme is throughout the story and the special meaning of the title becomes clear. Definitely a five star book!!

This is a great novella. I loved it. My heart was touched by Arlene as she deals with the new world she lives in. Each page was wonderful and exciting. This book makes you feel so happy when you are done. I love when books do this. I wish it was it never ended.

This is not your typical warm fuzzy all the way through Christmas book. This book will run through the whole gambit of your emotions at one time or another during the span of this book. Even though there are sad and disturbing part in this book that might make you mad there are also many warm loving and funny parts the make this book the beautiful gift to us the reader I believe it was meant to be. It is a awesome and powerful read the kind that will want you to slow down and appreciate what you have and tell the people you love that as well. Take the time now to give this book a try especially if you have never tried Traci Copeland before this is a good quick read from her to get you started.

I can't think of a more beautiful Christmas story. It's about love and family, life, death, and dignity. Arlene has a brain injury that leaves her with only hints of her memory. She's is in an assisted living facility, coping the best she can. Her family comes to visit but she never remembers their visits or at times, their names. She is such a loving, giving woman who still keeps her deep faith and relies on the kindness of others to move forward one day at a time. The book revolves around various holidays, mainly Christmas. You laugh and smile, you cry and are thankful for the love and life you live. A must for almost everyone on my Christmas list.

Beautiful Star of Bethlehem is a pretty good read. It is a fast read and I recommend it.
5 stars.

Is Christmas really so close that it’s time to start reading your holiday novels? I hate to tell you, but it is. Beautiful Star of Bethlehem by Lori Copeland is a great one to read first. It’s actually a novella, so it’s a pretty short read—I read it a couple hours—but it’s a great story. In the book’s opening chapter, Arlene Santana and her husband, Jack, are taking off in their brand new plane from Vermont for a visit to their new granddaughter in Atlanta. On the way they hit an ice storm, and their plane goes down. The second chapter begins nearly a year later when Arlene is transferred from the hospital to a long-term care facility. The book takes snippets from her life over the next four or five years, mostly focusing on the holidays. Arlene has amnesia, and doesn’t recognize any of her family members, and sometimes doesn’t recognize herself. But she makes a few friends in her new home, and relates some heartbreaking and hilarious events that occur during her time there. I think Ms. Copeland does a wonderful job of portraying how a person with amnesia might feel placed in a new environment where they don’t recognize anyone. Since Arlene doesn’t remember or understand many of the things that happen around her, the reader has to read between the lines, and sometimes draw your own conclusions about what happened. Several times members of her family come to visit her, and ask for her advice, but since she doesn’t remember their visits, we can only wait to see what happens in their lives the next time they come. Don’t think that this book is too sad to read at Christmas time. I will admit to you that I shed a few tears in the first chapter, but it gets better after that! It’s a sweet, heartwarming novel, and a totally unique apporach. I may have gotten a little teary-eyed at the ending, too, but those were happy tears. This book deserves a place on your shelf, and is a great way to begin your holiday reading this year. I highly recommend it!
Happy Reading!
Lyndsie

I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for this review. All opinions are my own, and a favorable review was not required. Look for Beautiful Star of Bethlehem on or around October 1.

This book is amazing. I couldn't put it down. It has such a wonderful unusual storyline and I know I will never read another book like it. I was in tears reading this book. Arlene who is in her mid fifties, has a plane crash in a small private plane. Her husband Jack was the pilot and dies in the crash. Arlene loses part of her memory and has to live in a nursing home. She has no concept of time and it is always Halloween or Christmas to her. She believes Jack is away on business and will come for her soon. Arlene's story is beautifully told and is so good I have awarded 5 stars in this review.

Oh. My. Goodness. This was not at all what I was expecting from a Lori Coopeland novel. As an empty-nester and one who loves her husband more than breathing this was my worst nightmare come true. The story of Arlene Santana is by far the most poignantly touching one I've read in a long time.

The subject is traumatic brain injury. Lori does such an amazing job of letting us see the reality from the patient's perspective. It brought me to tears and then made me laugh with Arlene and her friends. Her very special friend Una broke my heart. I can't imagine having so much erased from my life yet having just enough left to know I miss it.

One of my favorite parts was how even though Arlene didn't understand all the nuances of what was going on she still had the instinct to love those around her like the mother she was. Just beautiful!

If you are looking for a quick read this holiday season that is sure to tug at your heart strings (and your tear ducts) then treat yourself to this beautiful story about love and loss by a very talented author.

Being a young grandmother in my fifties as the main character, Arlene Santana, is in the book, this book resonated with me. It could just as easily happen to me or my friends. This book really held my attention as I just felt so bad for Arlene who was trapped in a world that seemed entirely foreign to her. Her family discussed whether or not the rehabilitation center was best for her, but for the majority of the book, she remained locked in it. Yes, it seemed to be one of those centers that is far above others due to the money they charged. Arlene waits and waits for her husband but her family only tells her that he is away and can't come ......for years. I had to wonder here if honesty wouldn't have been a wiser option to answer Arlene's desperate pleas. This is definitely a 5-star book and will give readers a great deal to ponder.
I received a copy of this book from netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

BEAUTIFUL STAR OF BETHLEHEM is filled with twists and turns and kept me on the edge of my seat. I loved this story from beginning to end. Once I started I couldn't put it down. I had to know what was going to happen. Lori Copeland had me and my emotions all over the place. I can't wait to read more by this wonderful author!

This was a touching, heartwrending seasonal selection that will allow you to gain entrance into the world of a woman with a traumatic brain injury. You will have a glimpse of who she os before and after. You will weep and you will hope. The main chacter as well as aupporting characters are very well done. The author expertly crafts the storyline. I highly reccommend this story but bring kleenex with you to your favorite reading spot.