Ace Collins

A friend (MH) sent me this book in a box of books. I would classify it as a YA book.

I was impressed with how the journey of Jimmy Reed is portrayed in the book as well as the role Christian faith plays in the book. I liked that Calvin Jenkins is a man who tries to live by the verses he gives to Jimmy--verses he may have learned from Jimmy's dad, Robert (who is presumed dead in the war).

The star in the title has several meanings:
*the star that the wise men followed to find Jesus
*the glass show more star that used to adorn the top of the Reeds tree
*the star (medal) that was awarded to Robert Reed via his wife--which she used in place of the tree topper star.

I am not sure if I would read this book again--maybe--but I am passing it on to another friend and her mother who enjoy reading. show less

Loved this! This literary Advent calendar is meant to be read a bit at a time, one small chapter each day of December, leading up to Christmas. Naturally, being the ardent Christmas-lover that I am, I binge-read the whole thing one day in September. And it was still wonderful.

Each chapter is a short vignette. Collectively, they are meant to help curb holiday stress. They offer suggestions for charitable acts, or they explore the origins of beloved Christmas songs, or they simply offer new show more ways of thinking about the holiday. Each chapter is a brief moment of peace for the hustle and bustle of December. (Or that one random day in September . . .) This book is religious, uplifting, and inspiring. I think it would be valuable to anyone looking for spiritual calm, or to people who are simply seeking to broaden their understanding of the holiday. show less

What a beautiful book this is. As the holidays get closer , I am always looking for something to read to lessen the stress of the holiday rush. When I started going through this treasure, I immediately knew this would be something I would return to every year.

I love that the book is a devotional that you can share with your family. The recipes look great and the book is filled with wonderful stories that fill your heart with joy. Sometimes holidays can be hard for people, but this book will show more certainly cheer anyone up. I loved how each day in the book is a different topic. The Christmas songs that are in the book are so nice to see and really gives families a time to talk about their favorite Christmas song. One of the traditions my family does every year for Christmas is attend the Christmas Eve service and then return to our home. We have light snacks and a special gift for each kid to open. The kids are grown now with spouses, but we still do this every year. It is a nice time to spend with our family relaxing and enjoying being together.

I loved when the author said. " The warmth of your home is the warmth others will first see in you." It is such a great reminder for us to spread joy to others by being kind and make them feel loved and welcomed. Make sure you pick up a copy to enjoy with your family and grab an extra copy for a friend.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from LitFuse. The review is my own opinion and I was not compensated for it. show less

"I want...to own their souls..."

Ace Collins is a master storyteller and historian. He has made me view war so much differently than my simplistic views before. Never before had I considered that there could be masterminds behind the major powers, minds not claiming loyalty to one nationality or another, but simply addicted to power. In this episode, we see Dr. Bauer for who he truly is, a great mastermind on the chessboard of the world, pitting Hitler against the Allies. He is using Alistar, show more Grace Lupino, and others, as long as they serve his purposes. When they don't, it's time to die. Helen and her group are trying to stop Bauer, but he seems to hold sway over souls. Only one thing appears able to stop Bauer, and it appears to be his own Achilles' heel.

Unfortunately, we will have to read the next episode to see if Helen strikes that heel or he strikes a deadly blow to her instead! Riveting as always. One episode flows seamlessly into the next.

I received this book from bookfun.org in exchange for an honest review. show less