Thank you to Net Galley for an advanced copy of this book. While I thought the plot of the story had a lot of potential and it had a wonderful lead up, I felt that after the great lead up it was kind of a quick finish up. I did enjoy the way the story ended but I felt it could have been given more substance within the parameters of the book and story. All in all it was a good story and an easy holiday read,

The Brightest Star will put you in the Christmas mood. A daughter comes home to help her parents and ends up with another job writing the life story of a billionaire., falling in love with his son .

This is a sweet story that is easily a one day read. It is a story of family. One that centers around the family’s holiday store and their need to work together to save it. I did like the characters and found the story enjoyable. However, there were pacing inconsistencies. Parts were very repetitive and others rushed or glossed over. The male character didn’t come into play until the latter part of the book and their relationship seemed contrived and rushed. I also couldn’t get a good grasp on what was going on with her parents and couldn’t tell where the story was trying to lead me. Her Dad’s illness and moodiness was finally explained, but it was iffy for a while. There was even a bit where I was beginning to think that her mother was going a senile. It was confusing. Overall, the story has good bones, but needs more tweaking to make it worthy of what we usually get from a Fern Michaels read.

Lauren is been back in her hometown for three years, helping in the family store since his father illness. But this year seems to be the last one for the store if she can’t convince their parent to enter the twenty first century. Can she change their point of view and achieve a new life for everyone? Meeting a handsome man and his father will bring all she needs in life. Sweet bright story

I love Fern Michaels' books and this one is no exception. It's cozy, it's heartwarming and it's Christmas. So enjoyable! My thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Lauren. moved home to Fallen Pines when her dad became ill and quickly realize the only way to keep their shop going is to go online, a plan her parents oppose. She's also a writer and when her agent tells her John Gerald Giompolo, an internet mogul, wants a biography, she has to take the job. His company has squashed many many shops like her parents' store. When she meets his son, John Jr,, she's surprised = she's smitten! This one has echoes of Sleepless in Seattle updated to the on line age but Michaels has created unique characters. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. It's a nice, sweet read when you can guess what's going to happen and will enjoy the journey.

The Brightest Star is an entertaining and well written romance. Ms. Michaels never fell to serve up a good read. I love Christmas and Christmas books so this one was perfect. I highly recommend it. I received an advance ebook from the publisher and this is my unbiased review.

While a cute sweet little story, it was a bit unbelievable. But, that is somewhat the purpose of holiday books. SPOILER ALERT for what follows.

Lauren, a successful author of biographies, returns home to assist her parents in their small store near Asheville, NC.. having a small Christmas-themed store in this area is not unusual at all. While the store is barely hanging on, a Lauren’s career as an author is rocketing. This is where things become somewhat unbelievable when it comes to her expected salary. She is offered a totally unbelievable amount for an author of biographies. Now, maybe I a, totally off-base here, but I do not believe she would receive a multi- million dollar contract. It takes multiple best sellers, which are not usually biographies, plus probably movie deals to be offered something like Lauren was offered.

Of course there was a love story but it all moved so quickly. I think I wanted more but I was like the author said, “ Okay, they have met, fallen in love at first sight, married, had a family, and they all lived happily ever after.” I guess I expected more of the romance to be included.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing Corp for a copy of "The Brightest Star" in exchange for an honest review.

The story starts out in October of 2016 on Santa Maria Island in Florida. Lauren Montgomery is an author but she has to drop everything and return home home after her father's health suffers a setback. The story then continues on Black Friday of 2019 where Lauren is working in Razzle Dazzle Décor a company that was opened by her great-grandfather Alfred Montgomery in 1935 as the Montgomery General Store. These days it is hard for family owned 'mom and pop" style businesses to compete with the big box stores and especially online shopping which is all but destroying the smaller shops with the unique items. Christmas has always been a special time for her family and the business. However this might be their last Christmas in business if their sales don't go up. Her latest writing project is none other than the main reason that small family style businesses are going out of business. When the competition's son also arrives at a meeting Lauren realizes that this Christmas is not just about the business but also about the survival of her heart.

Another heartwarming story from Fern Michaels who always draws you into the plot with lovely characters.

Lauren Montgomery is an author, who has moved back home to North Carolina to help her parents. Her father was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. She takes over the family store Razzle Dazzle - a Christmas store. It’s a feel good Christmas story. I enjoyed the book except I felt the ending was too rushed. I felt the author could’ve introduced some of the characters earlier. Still it was a Feel good Christmas story. Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington for the E-ARC. This is my own opinion.

Very enjoyable story with likeable characters! I love Lauren's love for her family even when she doesn't see eye to eye with them. The small town closeness is quaint but realistic. While this book didn't revolve around Christmas as much as others, the giving spirit is definitely there. Recommended!

The Brightest Star
Fern Michaels
September 29, 2020

Lauren Montgomery was happy and content in her life in Florida. She owned a condo on the beach, on the Gulf of Mexico. A renowned biographical author of two bestseller novels and was on her way to start her third. One morning while nursing a cold and feeling sorry for herself, her mother Ilene called from North Carolina. She and her father had just returned from a doctor’s appointment. Her dad had been diagnosed with a rare form of arthritis. Running the family store would be impossible for her folks. With the holiday season approaching they asked Lauren to return home to help out with the business. Feeling the prognosis would be permanent, she listed her condo on the market, put her furniture in storage and headed home to help out at Razzle Dazzle Home Decor. The quaint little store had been in the family for generations. She would look at the financial status of the business and try to keep it going through the new year. Her father felt technology would ruin the quality therefore - no internet, no cell phones, no advertising, etc. Lauren was not certain how she could make the 1935 general store float, let alone successful.
This holiday story gives us reason to believe that helping others, especially our parents should not just be a yearly gift. Despite Lauren’s talent she chose to delay her next project to keep the business running. At the same time she finds that a friend is ill and needs assistance with her daughter. Michael’s methods of showing generosity are excellent. The Brightest Star will boost your spirit as a great holiday read as well as make you consider other ways to display love to your family and friends. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story. During this time of pandemic we need to examine other ways to assist our neighbors.
The Brightest Star by Fern Michaels will be published on September 29, 2020 by Kensington Publishing Corporation. I give Kensington my deepest gratitude for allowing me to read and review this latest novel of Fern MIchaels. It has given me reason to think of how I might handle this particular holiday season.

Charming but predictable story. Lauren, a writer returns home to help out with her family business, Razzle Dazzle Decor. It specializes inChristmas decoration handmade by North Carolina artisans. The store has been. Her family for generations, but her father is resistant to change and modernization. Lauren the gets a contract to write the biography of a tech giant and online retailer. She meets his son, falls in love and you can guess the rest. The store modernizes, she marries the son and has a baby, who is the brightest star.

Sweet, feel good story complete with Christmas miracles reminding us that as weird as this year has been it's marching on and the holidays will be here before we're ready.
Lauren leaves her life in Seattle behind to come home and run the family business Razzle Dazzle Décor the shop that's has been in her family for generations.  Unfortunately her father refuses to embrace modern technology and with the pivoting of retail into internet and online businesses, Razzle Dazzle is dying on the vine. But all is not as dire as Lauren feels. It's almost as though the planets align and a series of events will bring lasting change and definitely holiday cheer to her family.
she gets a call from her agent about a lucrative commission to write a biography of non other than the internet giant of the modern world.
A young handsome man comes into her shop and buys out a whole shelf of one of a kind ornaments which will keep the shop afloat through the holiday season. Turns out he's the son of the man she's going to be writing the biography for.  The only man who makes her want to have babies with.
Three teenage girls come into the shop looking for a gift for one of their moms who's in the hospital struggling with cancer and the ability to pay her hospital bills.
Lauren adopts a family of kittens from the local pet shelter.
As Lauren's life grows and enriches beyond the boundaries of her little corner of the world and things change it definitely appears as though a higher power has a hand here and every thing falls smoothly into place.  Perhaps too smoothly but it does feel warm and cozy and leaves you feeling good.

I always love a good Fern Michaels book and The Brightest Star did not disappoint. Fern Michels always has a way to draw you into her stories and make you feel a part of what is going on. All of her characters have always been likeable to me, even if some of them are stubborn and hard headed.

Christmas has always been an important part of Lauren's family's life. With the family store being one of the main spots in Fallen Pines, NC for the town to do their Christmas shopping, Lauren has always known the importance of having the shelves stocked and everything ready for the holiday season. Lauren has moved away and started her own career as an author writing best selling biographies, but when she gets a call from her mom about her dad's failing health, Lauren drops everything and returns home to help with the store. Lauren sold her house and pretty much everything she had and moved in with her parents.

Lauren has always known that her dad was dead set against upgrading Razzle Dazzle Deals to an online store. Her parents don't even have internet at their house or the store. When things begin to slow at the store, Lauren knows that she has to do something to convince her dad to put the store online in order to keep the doors open. While Lauren is trying to figure out how to deal with the store, she gets a call from her publisher. Lauren has been requested to write one of the most famous people in the internet world's biography. He has requested her and doesn't want anyone else.

Lauren knows that she has to take this offer to write the biography but how is she going to keep the store open and write at the same time? One day her parents come in the store and her dad has made tremendous progress with his illness and is determined that he and his wife are going to run the store again. Lauren is hesitant and sort of hurt that they are taking the store back. Her dad even said that he is not sure that she can run the store the way that it needs to be run. Truth is, her dad needs to step into the present and pick up on using the internet but there is no way that Lauren is going to be able to convince him of that, or is there?

Of course there is a "Mr. Hunk" that turns up at the store and Lauren has never been more swept off of her feet than with this one. Is he the one for her? You will have to see how everything turns out for Razzle Dazzle Deals, Lauren and "Mr. Hunk". You will get lost in this story and get that warm fuzzy feeling that most people experience with Christmas. I really enjoyed this book by Fern Michaels as I am sure you will too.

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book and all opinions are my own. Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for an advanced copy of this book!

A cozy, heartwarming story! I loved all of the Christmas packed into this book and it made for a fun read. I was looking for a cheery, predictable read and that’s exactly what I got! I wish the ending wasn’t so rushed, it was a lot of build up throughout the book only to be let down a bit by the conclusion. It felt hurried, and like the author was trying to wrap things up quickly. Overall, a great Christmas read that will definitely get you in the holiday spirit! My thanks to the publisher for the advance reader in exchange for my honest review.

Sweet Christmas romance, my favorite! Combine that with the great author Fern Michaels and The Brightest Star is what you get. Thanks to NetGalley and the author and her publisher for letting me read an advanced copy of her book The Brightest Star.

I love Christmas books and My idea of heaven around Christmas is to visit the shops. Razzle Dazzle Decor shop has been passed down through the generations and remains unspoilt but sales are falling. Lauren moves back home to help out at the shop when her father is taken Ill

Lauren is a writer and when she is whisked off to Seattle to meet the man she will be writing about her life changes. I enjoyed the book but felt the last quarter of the book was rushed. There was so much more we could have read about John and Lauren

A light holiday read. The end was very rushed and could have been expanded if parts of the middle hadn't been so drawn out. The issue of conflict in the book is made out to be a much bigger deal than it seemed on presentation. The main character escalated random comments to make it seem like there was a big issue but it wasn't fully developed. The same thing with the romance. We are introduced to the "man" and then everything develops off-stage. After that, there are only repeated comments that the main character was "madly in love" and we had to take her at her word. Feels slightly unfinished.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

The Brightest Star
by Fern Michaels
Kensington Books
Kensington
Romance | Women's Fiction
Pub Date 29 Sep 2020 | Archive Date 02 Oct 2020

I love reading Christmas stories. It fills my heart with love, joy, and magic. Thanks to Net Galley and Kensington's books I was able to read this story. I will recommend it to our patrons also.

5 star