Sam and Jessica Morgan have recently got their Christmas tree from Jack Sawyer's Tree Farm. All the decorations are hung and the family is looking forward to Christmas. Everyone is sleeping soundly in bed, when Jessica hears a noise: the fire alarm. She awakens Sam and they quickly get their children out of the house before their wonderful home is engulfed in flames. They know they are grateful for everyone getting out alive, but Darrell, their son, goes back inside to retrieve their dog, Reilly. Sam goes after him and after a long while they come out from the back of the house with the dog. Reilly isn't doing so well and Darrell has gotten some smoke inhalation also. The fire department arrives and works on putting out the fire; paramedics look at the family and check the dog out also and give him some oxygen. But, Reilly isn't fairing so well. Officer Tucker Tulley is also on the scene and offers to take the dog to the vet and have him looked over much to the relief of Darrell.Now the Morgan family is depending on living with others; first, her sister Emily and husband, Dan; then with Molly, Sam's sister, and husband, Matt Harding. It just doesn't seem to work out whereever they live; either not enough room or not getting along as well with the others, especially the children. An option arises where they are able to live at one of the cabins at the New Horizons campus. It is small and the rooms are tight. Somehow they manage. Jessica has decided to go back to work without talking it over with Sam. He comes to agree as they can use the money since the insurance will not pay much for their lost home. And, Christmas is coming and they want to give the boys a good Christmas. There is a lot of tension, however, between Sam and Jessica at times. Jessica so loved their house and so did Sam. But, as Sam has told her many times their lives were more important than a house and he would build them some other type of home.The holidays seem so hard for Jessica this time around. She is grieving their loss and not accepting that things will get better.On another note, Jack Sawyer, the gentleman with the tree farm, gets an unexpected visitor at his front door: Julie Newton and her small daughter. Her car has broken down and the weather isn't the best, and on top of that her cell phone also has up and died. Jack, still mourning the loss of his wife after many years, feels no holiday spirit, but feels he cannot put them out. He offers for them to stay at his home and call the garage to come and tow the car to town. With the snow so deep, it is impossible to get someone to come out to get the car. The next day Jack and Julie dig the car out and Jack gets it running enough to follow her into the garage. The car will take some time to repair. So Julie and her daughter stay with Jack. As the days go by, Jack is becoming used to the idea of having Julie and daughter with him. She has cleaned up his place a little and is helping with the Christmas Tree Farm. Are they starting to get closer to each other? Will she leave soon as the car is fixed? What about Christmas?A lot takes place both for the Morgans and for Jack Sawyer, Julie and her daughter. Will everything turn out for the best? Will everyone have a wonderful Christmas after all? An interesting story with a satisfying ending. There are a few somewhat boring parts. Overall, it's definitely not the most well-written book. It could have used a little more editing; there were several grammatical errors, and I felt that the author just kept going around and around, describing how everyone's emotions over and over without really getting anywhere. I did still enjoy reading it, but I doubt I'll ever read it again. Summary: Jessica and Sam Morgan's house burn down a few days after Thanksgiving. They stay in several different family members' homes. Their marriage threatens to crumble under the strain of finances. Finally, on Christmas Eve, they come to an understanding with one another and are able to eventually rebuild their home. Meanwhile, Jack Sawyer is still grieving over the death of his wife when Julie and her daughter Kate appear on his doorstep. They change his life completely, and Jack and Julie eventually get married.
What do You think about A Christmas Star (2008)?
Part of my Christmas reading, an easy read but I found the main character annoying.
—Nikolina
