"The Christmas Star" by Ace Collins"

The Christmas Star

By Ace Collins

Can the broken heart of a child be healed by an unexpected Christmas letter?Robert Reed gave his life for his country in the early days of World War II. His sacrifice was honored when his widow and son were presented with the Congressional Medal of Honor. At Christmas, the final decoration Marge Reed hangs on the family’s tree is that medal. Rather than being a symbol of honor for young Jimmy Reed that shining star represents loss, pain, and suffering.

Yet a message delivered by one of Robert’s fellow soldiers and a mystery letter found in a Bible put a father’s sacrifice and faith into perspective and bring new meaning to not just the star hanging on the Christmas tree but the events of the very first Christmas. Then, when least expected, a Christmas miracle turns a final bit of holiday sadness into a joy that Jimmy has never known.

To read an excerpt go here ://bit.ly/1bB6JDe

Interview Questions:  

1.      Will you tell us your favorite Christmas traditions?

We do Christmas big and decorate both the inside and outside of the house. We have 7 trees that are over 7 feet tall inside including one 14 footer in the living room. It takes a couple of weeks to finish the project. Even the 45 RPM records in our 1957 Wurlitzer jukebox are replaced with all Christmas music. This sets the table for us to have lots of friends and family come over including more than 50 kids from local universities. So, in truth, I love all the traditions and you can find everything from gifts to music to nativity scenes to a 22 foot inflatable reindeer at our house.

2.       What is your favorite Christmas memory?

I think it was when I was five and got an electric train for Christmas. It was a big Lionel. I still set it up and let it run around one of our trees each year. Someone dressed up like Santa and delivered it to my grandparents house on Christmas Eve and I was awake to see it.

3.       What is your least favorite memory of a certain Christmas?

I think my least favorite Christmas happened about fifteen years ago. When my grandparents died the home where they lived was sold and the place where Christmas had always happened for our family no longer existed. The cedar tree grandpa cut each year in the fields behind their house never made it into the house. The blue lights weren’t hung by my grandmother. All the aunts and uncles and cousins stayed home. The big meal was not cooked and fun games were no longer played. The tradition I had known all my life of being on the hill in Salem, Arkansas had ended. And, even though each of the various branches of our family have started new traditions at new places with new generations, I still miss the magic of a Christmas at my grandparents.

“The Christmas Star” by Ace Collins is most assuredly a five star book. It is a story about Christmas but about honesty and doing the right thing also. This book teaches Biblical truths along with the story. This story takes place in 1945.

The story begins when Christmas vacation starts for Jimmy Reed. While all the other students are looking forward to Christmas, Jimmy isn’t, because his father was killed in World War 2. His Medal of Honor is the final decoration on their tree. Jimmy is invited to go to church by a girl he likes, to hear her sing, but he tells her no because he has other plans! Sounds like he is up to something no good! I was intrigued from the first page of this novel.

Jimmy is befriended by the school bus driver, Calvin Jenkins, who teaches him the real meeting of “ being rich”  Calvin tells Jimmy stories about his dad and takes him along with him when he delivers Christmas presents.

Jimmy does something that he regrets and is really sorry but feels he has no way to get out of it. The way he does is like something out of “The Christmas Carol” . 

This book has Jimmy going on a scavenger hunt to find items that helps Jimmy understand his father’s sacrifice. 

This story tells the history behind some of our favorite Christmas Songs and the reason we use the mistletoe. It makes the songs so much more special when you know the story for the words.

Jimmy  does learn to valve his father’s life and death.. This story will leave the reader feeling good and with a much more appreciative for the sacrifices of our Service men and women. It will also help us realize that when you give to others, you are the richest.

The ending in this book was wonderful. It was a complete surprise but so fitting! I encourage you to read “The Christmas Star”! You won’t be disappointed.

I was given a free copy of this book by Abingdon Press Fiction  for my honest review to be in the 2013 Christmas Blog Tour!

 To see the book trailer : http://bit.ly/17lq3Gn