I love doing Advent devotionals at Christmastime. This one started out so good, and I wanted to do it with my family at Christmastime, but it ended up horribly disappointing. First let’s go with what I liked about it. I love how it went through the different places associated with Jesus’ birth, as well as the prophecies, people, and many purposes of Christmas. The historical information that is included was extremely helpful. I mean things like exactly how far the walk from Nazareth to Bethlehem was, or that Mary historically probably would have walked, not rode a donkey. Facts like these (and the many more throughout the book) really give you a better understanding of what was happening at that time. I learned so much from most of the book. The one MAJOR flaw I came across (and to me is just downright blasphemous) and the one thing which will keep me from reading it with my family, or recommending it to you, is that almost at the very end of the book, the author has a whole chapter about how Christ came to defeat our sin…..had we stopped there I would TOTALLY agree, however she goes on to claim that Jesus was born with a sin nature. This is something I find totally false and feel the Bible totally backs that He did in fact NOT have a sin nature as His Father was God who’s nature is holy….because of this I cannot in good conscience recommend a book to you that makes such claims.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

Star of Wonder - An Advent Devotional - Angela Hunt - 5 Stars

This advent devotional invited deep reflection on the historical aspects of the first Christmas, delving into prophecies, people, places and the overarching purpose of it. Angela Hunt's in depth research and clear explanations in each chapter are truly commendable. So much goodness here. I found myself learning a great deal and experiencing emotional moments, often responding with heartfelt, "Amens"!

I loved the "Moment for Wonder" sections with the prayers each day as well that wrapped up what was explained for the day. So much biblical truths were explored here - not just in the New Testament - but even back into the beginning in the Garden of Eden. Loved it. The historical aspect of this was fascinating too! She explained so much I never would have thought about that now, I want to know more! Specifically the Jewish culture, as that information was previously unknown to me. This devotional has not only deepened my understanding of Christmas and the reason for the season, but has also sparked a desire to further explore these rich historical and cultural contexts.

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy to honestly read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Christmas devotional, Star of Wonder, by Angela Hunt is a wonderful way to prepare for the upcoming Christmas season. Unlike many devotionals today, Star of Wonder takes you deep into the culture and history behind Scripture to help you understand the full Christmas story. I especially loved learning more about the Jewish culture and traditions working in the background. They help paint a rich landscape for a story I’ve known by heart most of my life. And yet my familiarity with the Christmas story didn’t make this devotional redundant. There is something meaningful in each entry no matter how many times you’ve read through the prophecy and history of Jesus’ birth and early life.
I would highly recommend Star of Wonder to any Christian wanting to prepare their hearts for Christmas without worldly influence. This would also make an excellent gift for anyone seeking to know Jesus more.
I was given a copy of this book by the publisher with no expectations of a positive review. All opinions are my own.

Star of Wonder is a lovely Advent focused devotion. It’s not just your run of the mill daily devotion centered around the Christmas season. Each day’s reading includes both rich history of the time of Jesus and moments of reflection for our current times, as well as a prayer. This devotional is separated into four parts and the author has done a great job researching the biblical people and places surrounding the time of Jesus’ birth. I learned a lot that surprised me! While this seems to be geared towards adults, I think my three young children will benefit from us reading it together as a family as well. I really enjoyed starting this devotional and look forward to going through it closer to the holiday season.

I love this unique devotional! I have enjoyed many of Angela Elwell Hunt's stories over the year, so I was thrilled to read this devotional by her. I love how it dives into the prophecies and customs of Biblical times. I have often wondered how different the first Christmas looked in comparison to what we portray today, and this book did a wonderful job of filling in that picture. I love that there are family activities sprinkled in, giving one a chance to include the whole family in this devotional. I look forward to picking this book up again for the holidays!
I received this book from Just Read. This is my honest review.

A wonderful book to expand your knowledge and appreciation for the Christmas season. It would be a great book for families or anyone wanting to study this time of year with more depth.


Thank you Netgalley for this free advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

If you ever wanted to focus your heart on the truth of Christmas, Angela Hunt’s Star of Wonder: An Advent Devotional to Illuminate the People, Places, and Purpose of the First Christmas is the book for you! This isn’t a “quick bite” devotional that you can read in a few minutes. Hunt delves deeply into biblical events and illustrates how they connect to Jesus as Messiah.

The book is divided into four parts: The Places of Christmas, The Prophecies of Christmas, The People of Christmas, and The Purpose of Christmas. I particularly liked the Prophecies section. Lately I’ve taken a more intense interest in how Jesus is the fulfillment of so many prophecies in the Old Testament, and this section of Star of Wonder fits right in with my studies. I also like Hunt’s focus on a couple of people that we might not necessarily think of in terms of Christmas. The fact that it goes beyond the expected is one of my favorite parts of this devotional!

Hunt ties in a good deal of Jewish history with the Christian faith here. I grew up in church. I’ve heard about Jesus since I was a wee girl. But the churches I attended when I was young never really made the connection of the Jesus we followed to the Jesus who was born into and a part of the Jewish culture. I can appreciate the richness of that tradition, and it informs my reading of Scripture to have information about Jesus’ historical and cultural background.

Each daily devotional includes “A Moment for Wonder” that gives you something to contemplate, and each closes with a prayer. I really like the prayers. Sometimes having something structured to pray helps me focus.

If you’re looking for an Advent devotional that lets you go beyond the traditional Christmas stories and songs, I highly recommend Star of Wonder.

The cover of this book completely drew me because there is something so special about the time when our Savior was born. I love doing these types of devotions during the holiday season because it keeps me grounded on what the holiday is truly about.

Angela Hunt breaks this book into four different parts: The Places of Christmas, The Prophecies of Christmas, The People of Christmas and the Purpose of Christmas. Within these four parts she gives you detailed information about these four parts. She has a section in which gives you a historical background on the topic and then she gives what she calls a Moment of Wonder in which you can reflect on what you have read and then she finishes it off with a prayer.

I know for myself I tend to do a quick devotion time in the morning before I start the day with my kids so this book would be more part of my nightly devotion reading as it is lengthy and doesn't quite read like a devotion book but rather a historical one especially towards the beginning sections.

Overall I thought it was a good book and I will continue reading it during the holiday season. This would make a great gift and addition to your library.

I received a copy of this book from Just Read. I was not required to post a positive review. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

I love the idea of an Advent devotional, and the approach Angela Hunt takes to it in Star of Wonder is, well, wonderful. Focusing first on the places, then the prophecies, people, and purpose of Christmas, each day’s devotion illuminates more of The Story and provides insights, while the closing “Moment of Wonder” adds even more food for thought.

Star of Wonder is a great way to focus and gain a deeper understanding of the real meaning of Christmas. I can easily see this becoming a part of my personal annual traditions and with family activities sprinkled in, this devotional lends itself to shared reading as well.

Highly recommended.

This review refers to a finished copy that I voluntarily received and read, courtesy of the publisher. A positive review was not required and all opinions expressed are my own.

I do not normally request devotionals to review. However, I have really been enjoying Angela Hunt’s books over the last few years, so when I saw Star of Wonder, I thought it might be interesting. Because it was a devotional, though, I didn’t look into it any further until after I found a preview and read the first couple of chapters. Then, I was hooked. I wanted to read the whole book.
Mrs. Hunt has divided this devotional into four sections. Part one is titled The Places of Christmas. She has one chapter devoted to each of seven places that are important in the Christmas story, including, of course, Nazareth and Bethlehem, but also the Kingdom of the East. I found each of these to be quite informative, and also inspirational.
Next is The Prophecies of Christmas. This is another six chapters, each one about a different theme in the prophecies of Jesus’ coming. This includes prophecies of place and timing, as well as a chapter that talks about patterns in prophecies.
The third section is about The People of Christmas. This includes the people you would expect: Joseph, Mary, the shepherds and the Wise Men, but also some that were unexpected. Those included the Maccabees, which gave some background to the chapter about Herod.  
The last section is about the purpose of Christmas. What would the world be like if Christmas had not come? Of course, more properly we should see if Jesus had not come. So, why did he come? Two chapters tell us that you came to bring God to us, and to bring us to God. I appreciated this section, too, the grand finale of the entire book.
While I cannot vouch entirely for the historical accuracy of everything Angela Hunt has written in Star of Wonder, I found it thought provoking and inspiring. I appreciate everything she has shared. It definitely makes the Christmas story more meaningful. I have been appreciating her Biblical fiction for several years, and now I will be watching for her nonfiction as well.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley, and these are my honest thoughts about it.

The cover of Star of Wonder by Angela Hunt is beautiful and eye-catching.

Star of Wonder does not read like a devotional in the true sense of the word. In some ways, the book dispels what we have known to be true, or myths that have been toted as truth. Don't get me wrong, there is a lot of Biblical Truth as one would expect with this kind of book. However, it also reads like a historical novel, as it is rich in historical details. It's interesting how the book explores the different places of Jesus' birth, including the prophecies from the Old Testament.

There are four sections in the book: The Places of Christmas, The Prophecies of Christmas, The People of Christmas, and The Purpose of Christmas. Star of Wonder will take you deeper into the stories and people of Jesus' time. The author also explores how things would be if Jesus had not come.

Each chapter ends with a section called "Moment of Wonder." It is a time to go deeper while applying what you have read. Each chapter ends with a prayer.

Thank you to Justreads and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book. I was not required to provide a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Do you typically look for a devotional book for you or your family for the Christmas season or Advent? While this is not a typical Advent book, this one would call you to think more about the places, prophecies, people, and purpose of Christmas. Devotional books are not my thing, for the most part. They are pithy, short, and seem to glaze over the depth of scripture and what God desires from His people. Star of Wonder is not that. At all. I found Star of Wonder challenged me and made me think differently about Christ’s birth and the prophecies that came before, pointing the way to Him.

There are four parts to Star of Wonder: The Places of Christmas, The Prophecies of Christmas, The People of Christmas, and The Purpose of Christmas. Each of these has five readings and the section ends with a family activity. The readings cover important aspects of the nativity and how God brought it about. It is not simplicity but is rather a look at scriptural context alongside historical accuracy. Now, I am not certain of much of what Mrs. Hunt includes as far as some of her history as I have learned some things differently from what are considered accurate sources. But, as we are looking back into the 1st century, much of what is considered historical accuracy (such as where Mary would have given birth) is up for debate. What this allows is for thinking critically about the event and the information shared and drawing logical conclusions. Some of these conclusions are that there is no definitive answer. And that can be challenging but enlightening at the same time.

Mrs. Hunt approaches these readings with a strong Jewish background to them. This is helpful in that the history of the Jews is highly influential in Christianity. Knowing the background she is writing from allows the reader to consider some of the parts of the nativity in a different light. This brings new thoughts and ideas to light and can enrich the understanding of Christ’s birth and what it means for the world.

I have truly enjoyed these readings. I did find that I wanted a Bible open alongside them so I can read the passages shared in a translation I am familiar with. I also wanted access to a lexicon for some of them because Mrs. Hunt included some original language words and applied them to scripture differently than I had heard them. I am still considering what she wrote. She did approach a lot of scripture with the phrase “I believe” and that bothered me because we should approach scripture with the fact of what God included and leave out personal supposition. All in all, this was a unique and interesting look at the Christmas season and what came to influence what we call Christmas. I would certainly recommend it with the reminder to open God’s word alongside it to discern what is right and true.

When I first learned that Angela Hunt was releasing an Advent devotional, I was so looking forward to reading it. As a fan of Hunt’s Biblical fiction novels, I have always been amazed at the amount of research she does for each book (and I know there is no way she can share all of that research in the author’s notes).

Star of Wonder is an educational twenty-five-day devotional that highlights the places, people, prophecies, and purpose of Christmas. This little book is filled with short daily devotionals which take about ten minutes to read followed by some application and a prayer. There are also some unique family activity suggestions at the end of each section (every five days or so) that will help older children through teens look at the birth of Christ in a different way.

My absolute favorite part of this devotional was the prophecies section. I love reading through the book of Isaiah during the Christmas season (give this a try if you haven’t done so before). I also really enjoyed learning a little bit more about Mary and Joseph’s lives may have been like.

Disclosure statement: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book and was not required to write a positive or negative review. All opinions are my own.

This book wasn’t quite what I was expecting to be honest. I was hoping for a great book to do with my family, and expected an advent countdown for them, and this wasn’t exactly that. There was a few activities but it’s mostly an educational read on activities surrounding the Saviors birth and life. It had a lot of education, which is really interesting and it was cool to learn how someone else’s view of something around Christ differed from what I had been taught. It’s a very educational book, but not one I plan on using with my family as a Christmas countdown.
Thanks to Baker House publishing for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

'The miracle of Messiah's arrival did not end with the baby's birth.'

When I saw that this book was written by the author of The Tale of the Three Trees I knew I had to grab this one. That book is such a staple in my library and has been a book that has stayed with me for years.

What I loved most about this book is the complete timeline of the Savior's life. From birth to crucifixion this was a deep dive into it all. I loved how it was organized. It was a great break-down for characters, settings and a lot of things about the Savior's life that I never really connected with the Christmas season.

This is a non-denominational advent booklet and did a great job with adding in so many Jewish customs and traditions. There were a couple of family activities sprinkled in throughout the book that were really great suggestions for older kids, young adults and adults. I liked that it gave me so much to think about. The section on Mary was my favorite and I loved learning more about the Mother of Jesus.

There were several things that this book told me that I had never learned before or was slightly different from my own understanding and I'm excited to do some more research through my personal beliefs and the footnotes for better understanding.

If you're looking at taking a deep-dive into Jewish and Christian customs/traditions this should be one worth considering!

Thanks to the publisher and the author for the copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.