I´m a huge sucker for sweet christmas stories and The Christmas Star by Donna VanLiere fits all my points.

Meet Gabe Rodriguez. He's working maintenance at a highschool. He's divorced, but all in all he's a good guy. And he has a weakness for a special little girl. Sounds a bit creepy, but it's totally , literally platonic. Maddie is a special little girl. She's had a rough upbringing, has some health issues, but she's pure sunshine. And this wonderful girl manages to reunite Amy and Gabe. Amy is a new volunteer at Glory's place and she's about to meet her fate in form a girl and an ex.

The christmas Star is a beautiful and sweet story about second chances and true love. I'm a strong believer in Christmas miracle , just like Gloria, Lauren, Amy and Gabe.

This was a really sweet Christmas read. I loved all the character but especially Maddie. This did bring out all the emotions and one part had me laughing so hard.

If you love a good christmasy book with a meddlings matching making child then you'll want to check this book out. I love a good second chances kinda books. I love seeing people work out problems and seeing themselves improve. Although the romance was rushed I think because there was the history it was pretty okay, there was also the limited amount of space with this book being somewhat short so things did have to be rushed. I loved seeing Maddie work her magic in trying to set the two up it was adorable seeing her antics in trying to get these two together. Overall it was a pretty cute book I really enjoyed it.

This was a good short read filled with the magic of Christmas!!
Maddie is a little girl in the foster system who’s set her mind on finding a wife for Gabe, the custodian in her school. And she knows just who she wants for him— Amy, the new volunteer at her after school program.
Maddie puts her plan in place and the rest is all Christmas magic. There are bumps in the road of course! But with Christmas nearing, the air is lighter and anything is possible! Maddie’s scheme may just put a few broken hearts back together again!

I had never read this author before! But this is book 9 in her Christmas hope series. I have seen some of the movies on the Hallmark Channel! I don’t think I missed anything not having read the books before this one. It’s really a sweet book and usually not my cup of tea but it was a worthwhile read. The author is definitely Christian and has a few uplifting messages. It’s the perfect book for a Sunday afternoon and it will definitely lift your spirits.

This book was provided to me by St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley for my review.

#AChristmasStar #DonnaVanLiere #ChristmasHopeSeries #FosterChild #StMartinsPress #NetGalley #HallmarkChannel

A quick story about a young girl, Maddie, very precocious, who ends up acting as a matchmaker for Amy, the volunteer at Glory's Place, and Gabe, a teacher. All this with everything that Christmas represents.
3,5 stars

"Jesus was born..."

"Jesus was born for the one whose life is falling apart. Christmas is for the lonely and forgotten and for the one who is crippled in spirit."

Maddie is a little girl with cerebral palsy that has been a foster child for her whole life. But there's no need to feel sorry for her - she's a wonderful little girl with an indomitable spirit.

She decides one day that she's going to find a girlfriend for a friend of hers, Gabe Rodriguez, the janitor at her elementary school. And she starts working on it right away.

This is a wonderful Christian Christmas story with big hearted characters and some happy-crying moments.

I received this book from St. Martin's Press through Net Galley in the hopes that I would read it and leave an unbiased review.

Anyone who knows me is well aware that I LOVE Christmas stories. I can read them all year round. So when I was given a widget of this book by a publisher I HAD to check it out. This was my first time reading anything by this author. I like her writing style and the plot helps my attention. I loved the little girl Maddie in this book. She was so cute and she really made this story for me. If I’m being honest I had a hard time connecting to Gabe and Amy. Don’t get me wrong I liked them but I just didn’t feel the romantic connection. They have a past history which we are told about but I rather have liked to watch it unfold with flashbacks. I do have to say I love how diverse the characters are in this story. They all come from different walks of life but they are still a family. This was a feel good Christmas that shows you what the holiday season is all about and even though I had some issues, I was still left with a smile when I finished.

Christmas is a magical time of the year. There is this gazebo in the town square in Grandon. This year a star was gifted to the town and the light shines brightly. People have come to the belief that the star lights the way to true love and God. The cast of characters will pull at your heartstrings. Maddie is a precocious 4th grader. Gabe Rodriguez AKA Mr. G by the kids in the school, is the custodian. Amy Denison is a new volunteer at Glory's Place. There is Glory, Miriam, Lauren, and Heddy. The kids that are at Glory's Place are so cute. This book is about faith and being right where God wants you to be. You will love the ending of this book.

This was a nice Christmas story. Amy is looking to add more to her life so she begins volunteering at an after school program. She meets Maddie who captures her heart right away. Maddie has plans.to match Amy with the school custodian but Amy is very hesitant because of past heartbreak.

This is part of a series. I have not read any of the other books and I felt a little lost as some chapters were dedicated to past characters. The story between Gabe and Amy was lovely and I really liked Maddie.

This book will make you believe in Christmas miracles. A Beautiful written book of the magic of Christmas, second chances and forgiveness. Amy and Grant had a hard time and now little Maddie, will play matchmaker and bring them back together.

This is a heartwarming romance that will leave you smiling at the end. It is faith based. Loved little Maddie, the star of the book. This is part of series but can be read as a stand alone. I always look forward to reading Donna's Christmas story every year.

This book was a study about second chances and proving that people can change. Maddie was adorable and didn't let her get circumstances bring her down. Any was a woman who was trying to start over after a divorce and a breakup. Mr. G was the custodian at Maddie 's school who was a reformed man. When Maddie decides to set Me. G and Amy up, she is in for a surprise. A sweet story that will have you believing in the magic of Christmas. I received an ARC in exchange for an honest, voluntary review.

I received an Advanced Reader Copy from St. Martin's Press for my unbiased opinion of the book. This is a cute Christmas story about a little girl Maddie in an who plays matchmaker for her school janitor, Gabe and Amy Denison who is a volunteer in her after school program. It is funny how she finagles the two together both with their own issues and makes it work between. I love reading Christmas stories in the fall to get me geared up and excited when it arrives!

This is a feel good book where a small community comes together and helps each other no matter what. They all volunteer there time at a shelter for children and it brings everyone loser.

A clean book with the spirit of Christmas all around.


** I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review**

A heartwarming Christmas story! Maddie, the sweet seven year girl was the true star of the story. She had such a positive outlook for her young age all while dealing with cerebral palsy. Her way of matchmaking was funny. All the characters were truly likable, even grumpy Miriam. And Glory's Place was special for all. Recommended!

Donna VanLiere is an inspirational author for me!
I thought I had read all of her books, I just found out that there are some that I missed, so I searched for them.and read them all. I love reading her books.

You can't go back to start again,
start now to make a new ending.

Christmas is a time for miracles!

There are multiple viewpoints with various stories that will wrap you up, and keep you reading.
There are fresh starts, big decisions
There is sadness, loneliness which transforms to love.

I highly recommend this book

Wow, The Christmas Star by Donna VanLiere is my pick for the best Christmas story of the year 2018. It has one sweet bright child that stole my heart from the moment the words, Florence Nightingale, came out of her mouth. Then she sets her sites on two broken people, who have found peace apart. Perhaps with a Christmas miracle and one young child they can find peace together.

Maddie is a force of one in the matchmaking world. Then the twist when Gabe and “Miss Jenson” finally meet just blew me away. I was NOT expecting that. Still the Christmas Star does not gloss over the heartache in life, nor does it allow the characters to wallow in it either. Instead it is a heartwarming story of hope, restoration, second chances, and love.

No doubt, Maddie made this book for me. She is an unforgettable character. However, to be fair there are other remarkable characters, along with a wedding being planned, but none I loved more than Maddie.

An ARC of the book was given to me by the publisher through Net Galley which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is a sweet Christmas story. Many of the characters have overcome difficulties and show just how strong they are. How could anyone not love Maddie? She is such a happy little girl and so lucky to have had her foster mom. Ms. Glory is an awesome person who has a huge heart. She and Miriam are a hoot together! How much fun is it for these children to have a place like this to go after school? This is a book about second chances and forgiveness also. It shows with hard work and trust in the Lord that you can turn a horrible way of life around and become an awesome person. There is also a wonderful story about how the star came to be on the Gazebo. These are some characters I would love to spend more time with. I received this book from NetGalley, but my opinion is my own.

I thought this was a heartwarming story of second chances, redemption, and love. It’s a sweet romance with the spirit and magic of Christmas weaved in nicely. Maddie is such a precious angel and stole my heart from the beginning.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for an advance copy, and these are my unbiased opinions.

This is a brand new to me author and I didn't realize this book was part of a series. So it can definitely be read as a stand alone and still understand everything that happens. There are couple of stories that are being told in this book but the main one is about Amy Denison and Gabe Rodriguez along with a little girl named Maddie. Amy has decided that something is missing in her life and in order to figure out what it is, she decides to volunteer her time at Glory's Place, which is an after school program that helps children in need. There she meets Maddie, who is a very precocious little girl (and she will win over your heart in an instant!). Maddie decides that Amy and her friend Mr. G. from school need to meet since they are both single. What she doesn't know is what will happen from there and how much things will change in all of their lives.

I absolutely loved this book!! This may have been the first book I read by this author but it certainly won't be the last! Maddie is absolutely adorable and I love her sweet and loving attitude even with everything she has gone through in her young life. Amy had a very hard time before and has tried to move on but she is still missing what she thought she would have. And she certainly never expected for Gabe to come back into her life. Gabe made a lot of mistakes when he was younger. And he definitely put his family through hell. But he owned up to his mistakes and made the changes that were necessary to not only become a better man but to become a better human being. He is literally a different person now and I loved him! And when he and Gabe meet again and they both realize how much they still care about each other and fight to see if they can make things work? Absolutely beautiful!! And then you throw in the side story about the wedding and the wedding dress and it just shows that there are still people who truly know what the Christmas season is supposed to be about!! A great read!!

I wanted to like this book so much, but unfortunately it was not my cup of tea. My mom absolutely adores this author, and I think it would be perfect for her. However, it read too much like a Hallmark movie. Everyone was so nice it didn't feel believable, and there just wasn't much realistic about it. It was like it should have started off by saying, "In a perfect world, here's how this would play out...", because it all just went too smoothly.

**Spoiler Alert**

It also wrapped up too neatly as well - they get married again (happened really fast and at someone else's wedding - come on, now) and then they adopt Maddie, and no thought is given to her foster mother, Linda. Did anyone even talk to her about it? She's supposedly this woman who loves Maddie, has cared for her for years, but then suddenly Amy and Gabe are back together and want her. First of all, given their history and their whirlwind second chance, I would never let them adopt right away. They just got back together after a long time apart, and now they want to adopt a child? It was just...too much. I didn't feel the romance, I didn't understand why things happened so quickly, and it felt like reality was missing from much of the book.

I also will say that there was way too much Maddie time and not enough Gabe/Amy time, which probably contributed to my getting super confused when they were suddenly getting married. Wait, what? This was a story about Maddie, with Gabe and Amy along for the ride.