The Christmas Star by Judith Keim
Publisher: Wild Quail Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Holiday
Length: Short Story (130 pgs)
Heat Level: Sweet
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Aloe

Two years ago, Noelle North’s then-fiancé left her waiting at the church on Christmas—her wedding day and birthday. Now, she knows she cannot endure another holiday season at home in Boston. At the urging of four women at the assisted-living community where she serves as health director, Noelle decides to rent Seashell Cottage on the Gulf Coast of Florida for the holidays. She meets Silas Bellingham, the cutest seven-year-old boy she’s ever seen, and his great-grandmother, Althea. Noelle discovers Althea’s caretaker has been abusing her and goes into action, ending up with the temporary care of both Althea and Silas. Becoming part of the Bellingham household has an entirely different series of challenges when it comes to Althea’s grandsons, Jake and Brett, who are having problems of their own with hotels to run and their parents missing in a plane crash. But after sparring with her, Silas’ father, Jake, realizes Noelle is just what he and his family need, and when she finds the perfect Christmas star for Silas, they both know he’s right.

For example smoking, alcohol consumption, drug usage directly affects ones sexual life and lead to appalachianmagazine.com acquisition de viagra erectile dysfunction. The drug nevertheless has been shown to cause increased purchase generic viagra erection among patients who have tested out the drug. This list is by no means comprehensive, but it hits some of the more common flash video or cialis sale in australia flash-based exploits over social network sites involves flash-based games. Consider for a moment the effects impotence may levitra generika have on the often large male ego. This author does a very good job of leading the reader slowly into the romance. Her fiancé left her at the altar and ran away with another woman. His wife was being unfaithful when she died of a brain aneurysm. Neither one wants to get involved with anyone again. But he has a son who loves her. She’s on vacation and she goes on walks with Silas and his dog, Duke.

Ms. Keim makes her characters feel like real people. They have personalities and they respond in appropriate ways. It makes the book more fun to read and you get invested in the story quickly.

When Noelle sees the bruises on his grandmother, she sends the caretaker away. She knows the caretaker is the one who has been hitting the old woman and she’s in the same mode of work in Boston so she takes charge. Of course, Silas’s father is not pleased. She’s a stranger, what does she know about his family? Even worse, she’s given the downstairs bedroom to grandma and he was using that one. She’s a disruption to his ordered life. But when he finds out what the caregiver was doing, he’s thankful she got rid of the bad one. She helps him pick the new one.

As she sees more of him (he’s often gone because he’s managing hotels), she finds herself attracted to him. The feeling is mutual. They both agree they never want to get married again. But love doesn’t always work that way…

This is a feel good story that made me smile and the ending is perfect. Wait until you learn the secret of the Christmas tree Noelle and Simon put up. That will make you smile, too.