The Christmas Star: A Love Story

Though this book wasn't entirely what I had anticipated it to be, it was a touching, emotional, and inspiring Christmas read.

Paul didn't always hate Christmas. How could he when he had so much good in his life? Married to his high school sweetheart and having two daughters together, his life was what he'd always dreamed of. But as they say, all good things come to an end. One Christmas, everything changes, and he comes to detest the holiday. 

Each year, Christmas passes more bitterly than the last. His life is falling apart. Just when he thinks things couldn't get any worse, he finds himself in Bethlehem after an accident. Not sure of who he is or where he came from, he joins a familiar family as they follow the Christmas Star.

I'd expected more of the book to be set in Bethlehem. The first half was entirely focused on Paul and Rebecca's meeting/relationship after the first chapter. I was losing interest, but once it reached the present time of the book (or the years closer to it), I became invested again. The scenes in Bethlehem were also not what I'd expected, but they were touching. All in all, this was a sweet, emotional, and hopeful read.