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Ellery #5
Oh My Stars
A heartwarming, hilarious Christmas story with a Southern twist.
Like most things in Ellery, Tennessee, this year's Drive Thru Nativity is a little unconventional. The Dollar General parking lot doubles as a Bethlehem stable, and widowed writer Ivy Long, who's been roped into playing Mary, sure as heck isn't a virgin. But then comes an unexpected development: a genuine, real-life baby left in the manger, with only a brief note. And somehow, in the kerfuffle that follows, Ivy finds her life is about to
change . . .
The holidays are a bittersweet time for Ivy--filled with memories of her beloved late husband and reminders that life doesn't always offer the happily-ever-afters her readers expect. So when Ivy ends up with custody of the baby, she can only chalk it up to a Christmas miracle. She doesn't know if it will be forever, but with help from family, she'll make little Zuzu's first Christmas a good one. The nativity's Joseph, aka Gabe Ledbetter, has a pediatrics background that's coming in mighty handy. In turn, Ivy is helping Gabe find his place in the quirky community. If that place turns out to be somewhere near Ivy, well, maybe this particular Christmas story will turn out to be merry and bright after all . . .
Praise for Sally Kilpatrick's Novels
"Do yourself a favor and grab this book and hide away with its laugh-out-loud and cry-out-loud moments all mixed up in one place." --Patti Callahan Henry, New York Times bestselling author on Bless Her Heart
"Don't miss this quirky, fun love story. I couldn't put it down."
--Haywood Smith, New York Times bestselling author on Better Get to Livin'
"A pleasantly engaging take on Romeo and Juliet." --Library Journal on Bittersweet Creek
Like most things in Ellery, Tennessee, this year's Drive Thru Nativity is a little unconventional. The Dollar General parking lot doubles as a Bethlehem stable, and widowed writer Ivy Long, who's been roped into playing Mary, sure as heck isn't a virgin. But then comes an unexpected development: a genuine, real-life baby left in the manger, with only a brief note. And somehow, in the kerfuffle that follows, Ivy finds her life is about to
change . . .
The holidays are a bittersweet time for Ivy--filled with memories of her beloved late husband and reminders that life doesn't always offer the happily-ever-afters her readers expect. So when Ivy ends up with custody of the baby, she can only chalk it up to a Christmas miracle. She doesn't know if it will be forever, but with help from family, she'll make little Zuzu's first Christmas a good one. The nativity's Joseph, aka Gabe Ledbetter, has a pediatrics background that's coming in mighty handy. In turn, Ivy is helping Gabe find his place in the quirky community. If that place turns out to be somewhere near Ivy, well, maybe this particular Christmas story will turn out to be merry and bright after all . . .
Praise for Sally Kilpatrick's Novels
"Do yourself a favor and grab this book and hide away with its laugh-out-loud and cry-out-loud moments all mixed up in one place." --Patti Callahan Henry, New York Times bestselling author on Bless Her Heart
"Don't miss this quirky, fun love story. I couldn't put it down."
--Haywood Smith, New York Times bestselling author on Better Get to Livin'
"A pleasantly engaging take on Romeo and Juliet." --Library Journal on Bittersweet Creek
311 pages, Paperback
Published September 1, 2018
48 people are currently reading
303 people want to read
About the author
Sally Kilpatrick
16 books392 followersSally Kilpatrick writes...stuff. She prefers fiction to biographies, but here we are. When not fretting over her biography, Sally writes southern fiction, mystery, and lots of to do lists. She lives with her dashing husband, two precocious kids, and two persnickety cats in Marietta, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta. Visit her author website at sallykilpatrick.com or follow her on BlueSky as @SuperWriterMom.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews
August 11, 2018
Reviewing for Harlequin Junkie
Cute holiday romance!
http://www.harlequinjunkie.com
Cute holiday romance!
http://www.harlequinjunkie.com
September 24, 2018
Oh My Stars by Sally Kilpatrick is the fifth book in the contemporary romance An Ellery Novel series. As with most romance series these books change the main couple of the story as they go along but are set in Ellery, Tennessee which brings them altogether as a series.
Ivy Long has been working at the Dollar General while she’s been suffering from writer’s block since the death of her husband. And of course when it comes to small town life sometimes things can be a little unconventional with the town nativity scene being set up in the parking lot of the Dollar General and Ivy gets roped into playing Mary.
What Ivy never expected during her time playing Mary was to find a live baby in the manger with only a brief note. Luckily Joseph was being played by Gabe Ledbetter who is a pediatrician who Ivy also couldn’t help but notice his good looks. After getting the baby checked out Ivy finds herself becoming a foster parent and looks to Gabe for a bit of help in the new role.
Oh My Stars was a lovely little Christmas romance but it took me some time to settle in and get to know and like these characters. It sort of felt like something was missing from the beginning to pull me into the story and I question if it’s not from jumping into the series so late in the game. The story does alternate between Ivy and Gabe with both having a lot going on for themselves and those around them so I may have missed some background to pull me in faster. However for those like myself that love the festive romances this one was still a nice story.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
Ivy Long has been working at the Dollar General while she’s been suffering from writer’s block since the death of her husband. And of course when it comes to small town life sometimes things can be a little unconventional with the town nativity scene being set up in the parking lot of the Dollar General and Ivy gets roped into playing Mary.
What Ivy never expected during her time playing Mary was to find a live baby in the manger with only a brief note. Luckily Joseph was being played by Gabe Ledbetter who is a pediatrician who Ivy also couldn’t help but notice his good looks. After getting the baby checked out Ivy finds herself becoming a foster parent and looks to Gabe for a bit of help in the new role.
Oh My Stars was a lovely little Christmas romance but it took me some time to settle in and get to know and like these characters. It sort of felt like something was missing from the beginning to pull me into the story and I question if it’s not from jumping into the series so late in the game. The story does alternate between Ivy and Gabe with both having a lot going on for themselves and those around them so I may have missed some background to pull me in faster. However for those like myself that love the festive romances this one was still a nice story.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
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April 20, 2021In keeping with tradition, I write this, ahem, review immediately after turning in my page proofs. I wrote this book on a boat and about some goats. I foiled a cat and battled bureaucrats. I wrote over Christmas and while near an isthmus. I wrote with a rogue uterus and kids who were similarly mutinous.
Whew. This one has had such highs and lows. On the whole, I hope you enjoy my first complete homage to Christmas. Hallmark, if you want this one for a movie, it's your best bet. No sexytimes, and you can just replace the relatively few cursewords. Have your people call my people. (My people is Sarah Younger BTW)
Oh, and don't ever actually leave your baby in a manger. It wouldn't go well. Llamas and goats, though? Bring 'em on.
Oh My Stars--wherever fine books are sold on September 25, 2018. Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah!
Whew. This one has had such highs and lows. On the whole, I hope you enjoy my first complete homage to Christmas. Hallmark, if you want this one for a movie, it's your best bet. No sexytimes, and you can just replace the relatively few cursewords. Have your people call my people. (My people is Sarah Younger BTW)
Oh, and don't ever actually leave your baby in a manger. It wouldn't go well. Llamas and goats, though? Bring 'em on.
Oh My Stars--wherever fine books are sold on September 25, 2018. Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah!
December 9, 2018
I adored this sweet, touching love story, and it is PERFECT for the holiday season. Ms. Kilpatrick writes with warmth and humor, and every character in the book is authentic and unique. I even wish I could read Ivy's historical romances (my favorite kind of books) and am putting out a call that this author write them as well.
Ivy and Gabe meet while playing Mary and Joseph in a "live" nativity (with a cast that includes a petting zoo). Both of them come to the story with realistic heartache (hers in the form of bereavement, his having to do with his medical practice), and each has some family baggage to deal with as well. I loved getting to watch all those relationships change and grow, particularly with respect to Gabe's family. Then there is baby Zuzu. My heart ached and grew along with everyone's in the book.
And on top of a delightful read, there is a recipe for sausage meatballs (basically a sausage cheese biscuit) in the back of the book.
Do yourself and favor and pick up this book for the holiday! It's a perfect stocking-stuffer for your friends, too!
Ivy and Gabe meet while playing Mary and Joseph in a "live" nativity (with a cast that includes a petting zoo). Both of them come to the story with realistic heartache (hers in the form of bereavement, his having to do with his medical practice), and each has some family baggage to deal with as well. I loved getting to watch all those relationships change and grow, particularly with respect to Gabe's family. Then there is baby Zuzu. My heart ached and grew along with everyone's in the book.
And on top of a delightful read, there is a recipe for sausage meatballs (basically a sausage cheese biscuit) in the back of the book.
Do yourself and favor and pick up this book for the holiday! It's a perfect stocking-stuffer for your friends, too!
June 6, 2021
Classic humor and warmth are a hallmark of Kilpatrick's work, and this holiday book is the epitome of that. This author is a master of world building small-town southerness. I mean, there is a drive-thru nativity in the dollar store lot! That pretty much says it all. But there is delicious romance, family complications, and a baby. It's a fun Christmas read!
October 25, 2018
Neither Ivy Long nor Gabe Ledbetter could have predicted the chain of events that led them to serve as Mary and Joseph at the drive-through nativity in the small town of Ellery, Tennessee.
A published romance author, Ivy has suffered writer's block since her husband passed away and plans fell through with their foster child. Gabe has returned home from Memphis, with a failing marriage and a looming malpractice suit.
So, when a baby is left in the drive-through Nativity, neither Ivy nor Gabe expected they would become her care givers. Nor could they predict the impact this little girl would have on their hearts. Could this be a Christmas present or miracle to help them both move on from their past and maybe find a new love -- not just for the little girl, but for each other.
Rich in authentic characters, situations, and romance, Sally Kilpatrick's latest novel, Oh My Stars hits all the right notes and tugs on your heart strings in all the right ways. Whether it's laughing out loud at Ivy and her sister's feud over who killed their mother's sacred vacuum cleaner with excessive tinsel years ago or the lump-in-your-throat moments as Ivy and Gabe allow the little girl to get into their hearts and lives and possibly give these two a new definition of a happy ending,Oh My Stars hits all the right emotional beats. If you can walk away from this book without getting a bit of a lump in your throat or misty-eyed, you're a better reader than I am.
And you can bet this long-time Star Trek fan loved seeing Gabe drop in references to that universe early and often. It's just icing on the cake of what is a near-perfect novel and a wonderful reading experience.
In the interest of full disclosure, I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
A published romance author, Ivy has suffered writer's block since her husband passed away and plans fell through with their foster child. Gabe has returned home from Memphis, with a failing marriage and a looming malpractice suit.
So, when a baby is left in the drive-through Nativity, neither Ivy nor Gabe expected they would become her care givers. Nor could they predict the impact this little girl would have on their hearts. Could this be a Christmas present or miracle to help them both move on from their past and maybe find a new love -- not just for the little girl, but for each other.
Rich in authentic characters, situations, and romance, Sally Kilpatrick's latest novel, Oh My Stars hits all the right notes and tugs on your heart strings in all the right ways. Whether it's laughing out loud at Ivy and her sister's feud over who killed their mother's sacred vacuum cleaner with excessive tinsel years ago or the lump-in-your-throat moments as Ivy and Gabe allow the little girl to get into their hearts and lives and possibly give these two a new definition of a happy ending,Oh My Stars hits all the right emotional beats. If you can walk away from this book without getting a bit of a lump in your throat or misty-eyed, you're a better reader than I am.
And you can bet this long-time Star Trek fan loved seeing Gabe drop in references to that universe early and often. It's just icing on the cake of what is a near-perfect novel and a wonderful reading experience.
In the interest of full disclosure, I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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January 3, 2024DNF
November 23, 2025
3.5 stars. Easy, bouncy, romantasy hidden in a cutesy Christmas themed story. The requisite widow-too-soon, divorcee, and a stranded baby in a Christmas manger all make up a wild jaunt in western Tennessee filled in with some sausage balls. Book club.
July 18, 2020
This is the fifth book of the Ellery season. I read this series in order and I do recommend that. The books can be read separately, but the reader gets a boarder view of the small town if they read all the books. I do not know if there will be additional books in this series, but I hope so.
I love Sally Kilpatrick's writing style and reading this series, I feel like I am part of the town. She created a community of warmth and caring and I have enjoyed it so much. This book might be my favorite of the series, which I have said after every book in the series that I have read.
I am so happy to have found Sally Kilpatrick's books. She is definitely on my favorite author list.
I love Sally Kilpatrick's writing style and reading this series, I feel like I am part of the town. She created a community of warmth and caring and I have enjoyed it so much. This book might be my favorite of the series, which I have said after every book in the series that I have read.
I am so happy to have found Sally Kilpatrick's books. She is definitely on my favorite author list.
December 18, 2019
Sweet and somewhat sappy? I may have overdone it by reading one too many seasonal books to get in the spirit. She works at Dollar General, is a widow, lives with here sister and mum, and is a writer on the side. Or at least tries to be...
Falalalala its a live nativity and SHE gets to play the part of Mary! And finds the baby in the manger! And falls for the fake Joseph!
There ya go.
Falalalala its a live nativity and SHE gets to play the part of Mary! And finds the baby in the manger! And falls for the fake Joseph!
There ya go.
September 28, 2018
I’d read the last Ellery book and enjoyed the voice, characters and setting – it was a fun read with lots of laughs as it navigated change, choice and Christianity in ways that were unexpected and clever. Expecting another light-hearted story that didn’t bog down in an overload of angst, I’ve been back and forth with my reaction to this book. See, both of the main characters are stalled and struggling with grief, Ivy’s from the loss of her husband and her seemingly permanent writer’s block, and Gabe who is back in town after being sued by a pediatric patient’s parents, dealing with a father who sent him away as a child. Right off the bat, the ‘live nativity’ in front of the Dollar General, and the introduction to Ivy and Gabe is giggle-worthy, and gives a sense of the pratfalls to come .
Ivy is still reeling from the loss of her husband to cancer, and back home in her mother’s house, a move for support both financial and emotional, has her at odds. Unable to commit words to paper, with a half-completed book due in a few short weeks, Ivy’s rather stuck - and unable to rectify the situation with a job at Dollar General, a pile of leftover medical bills and a letter from her husband that she’s yet to open. When you ad in the fact that her younger sister is also living in the house – the return to teenaged behaviors and strops is prevalent. Gabe’s story is a bit different – taking a break from his pediatrics career, he’s back in Ellery and living with the father he barely knows, having been sent to live with his aunts and come home only for summer visits. Truly out of his element and unprepared for the livestock duties, conversations with his father and his questions about Julian’s motives – he’s got a ton on his mind.
But then, apparently after one of Ivy’s many pleas to the stars, asking her husband to send her a sign, an actual infant is left in the manger a the drive by nativity – and Ivy and Gabe now have more questions and answers, and something to occupy their time in ways unexpected. And with Christmas around the corner, and Ivy’s sister suddenly having a ‘need’ for decorations and a celebration, a rarity in their household, the story soon becomes a way back to the light and a life previously unexpected for everyone. I’ll be honest and say that the dual points of view in alternating chapters also had the effect, for me, of keeping the characters a bit slow to grab onto, and Ivy was so very prickly and determined to wear her grief and the unfairness of it all like a shield and spear, that she took far more effort to understand. Gabe was a bit more open, if slow to reveal his backstory – and the bomb dropped about Julian without any real resolution just felt splashy and unnecessary to continue reader’s interest in these people in this tiny Tennessee town. While I didn’t enjoy this one as much as the other I’ve read from this series, it’ was loaded with the things that Christmas should mean: family, forgiveness, hope and a bit of unexpected miracles.
I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
Review first appeared at I am, Indeed
Ivy is still reeling from the loss of her husband to cancer, and back home in her mother’s house, a move for support both financial and emotional, has her at odds. Unable to commit words to paper, with a half-completed book due in a few short weeks, Ivy’s rather stuck - and unable to rectify the situation with a job at Dollar General, a pile of leftover medical bills and a letter from her husband that she’s yet to open. When you ad in the fact that her younger sister is also living in the house – the return to teenaged behaviors and strops is prevalent. Gabe’s story is a bit different – taking a break from his pediatrics career, he’s back in Ellery and living with the father he barely knows, having been sent to live with his aunts and come home only for summer visits. Truly out of his element and unprepared for the livestock duties, conversations with his father and his questions about Julian’s motives – he’s got a ton on his mind.
But then, apparently after one of Ivy’s many pleas to the stars, asking her husband to send her a sign, an actual infant is left in the manger a the drive by nativity – and Ivy and Gabe now have more questions and answers, and something to occupy their time in ways unexpected. And with Christmas around the corner, and Ivy’s sister suddenly having a ‘need’ for decorations and a celebration, a rarity in their household, the story soon becomes a way back to the light and a life previously unexpected for everyone. I’ll be honest and say that the dual points of view in alternating chapters also had the effect, for me, of keeping the characters a bit slow to grab onto, and Ivy was so very prickly and determined to wear her grief and the unfairness of it all like a shield and spear, that she took far more effort to understand. Gabe was a bit more open, if slow to reveal his backstory – and the bomb dropped about Julian without any real resolution just felt splashy and unnecessary to continue reader’s interest in these people in this tiny Tennessee town. While I didn’t enjoy this one as much as the other I’ve read from this series, it’ was loaded with the things that Christmas should mean: family, forgiveness, hope and a bit of unexpected miracles.
I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
Review first appeared at I am, Indeed
September 25, 2018
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for an ARC ebook copy to review. As always, an honest review from me.
How can you go wrong with a real life Christmas miracle? A baby found in the manger of a modern day nativity scene. Romance, from a kind, well educated, handsome guy, after years of heartache. Finally attempting to patch up your relationship with your mom and sister. All good things that made for an enjoyable read.
Bonus! The sisters’ names are Holly and Ivy. It doesn’t get more Christmasy than that.
At first I wasn’t a huge fan of either sister, but over time I grew to understand and like them. Ivy is a romance writer. Writers, bloggers and author as characters in books are all good thing in my opinion. I really enjoyed the relationships between parents and their children and also the siblings. One of my favorite aspects of the book.
The romance is good but not an over the top sweeping romance. There were so many other strong storylines vying for dominance along with the romance, which makes for a realistic complex novel. The book also didn’t gloss over some of the downsides to living in a small Southern town.
The story isn’t all fairytales and roses, but it is realistic, hard work, with a happily ever after.
How can you go wrong with a real life Christmas miracle? A baby found in the manger of a modern day nativity scene. Romance, from a kind, well educated, handsome guy, after years of heartache. Finally attempting to patch up your relationship with your mom and sister. All good things that made for an enjoyable read.
Bonus! The sisters’ names are Holly and Ivy. It doesn’t get more Christmasy than that.
At first I wasn’t a huge fan of either sister, but over time I grew to understand and like them. Ivy is a romance writer. Writers, bloggers and author as characters in books are all good thing in my opinion. I really enjoyed the relationships between parents and their children and also the siblings. One of my favorite aspects of the book.
The romance is good but not an over the top sweeping romance. There were so many other strong storylines vying for dominance along with the romance, which makes for a realistic complex novel. The book also didn’t gloss over some of the downsides to living in a small Southern town.
The story isn’t all fairytales and roses, but it is realistic, hard work, with a happily ever after.
October 21, 2018
The people of Ellery, Tennessee loves to celebrate Christmas. Well, except Ivy Long, who somehow finds herself playing Mary in the Dollar General’s drive through nativity scene. She’s been drifting aimlessly since her husband four years ago, living with her mother and sister, unable to return to writing romance novels. Don’t you need your own happily ever after to write one? The arrival of good-looking Gabe Ledbetter to play her Joseph and the discovery of an abandoned baby left in the manger has Ivy starting to see Christmas a little differently, and she may just find her happy ending after all. Kirkpatrick’s fifth outing captures all the sweet and sassy we love in our Southern towns, complete with wacky neighbors, family secrets, and farm animals roaming the steets. Ivy and Gabe are multi-dimensional, each with their own baggage, each looking for something they haven’t yet identified. Alternating narration takes the story beyond a romance to a novel about self-discovery. Fans of fun southern towns, Christmas miracles, or city-boy bumbles in the country novels will rejoice.
First sppeared in Booklist September 15, 2018
First sppeared in Booklist September 15, 2018
September 10, 2018
Sally Kilpatrick writes Christian Rom Com with characters that are complicated yet easy to love and Oh My Stars is another' leave you smiling' novel.
When the live nativity scene at the Baptist Church has an abandoned baby in the manger, Ivy Long finds herself fostering again with the help of her Mom, Genevieve, and sister, Holly. Having a pediatrician, Gabe Ledbetter, playing Joseph to Ivy's Mary comes in handy. That romantic sparks ignite under the mistletoe keeps the new-found families learning to forgive and move on. Can Ivy find inspiration to finish her romance novel and make a living writing more of them? What happens to this adorable baby girl?
Book includes Reading Group Guide and a recipe for Sausage Balls. The latter looks pretty easy and tasty.
I volunteered to read an ARC from Kensington through Net Galley.
When the live nativity scene at the Baptist Church has an abandoned baby in the manger, Ivy Long finds herself fostering again with the help of her Mom, Genevieve, and sister, Holly. Having a pediatrician, Gabe Ledbetter, playing Joseph to Ivy's Mary comes in handy. That romantic sparks ignite under the mistletoe keeps the new-found families learning to forgive and move on. Can Ivy find inspiration to finish her romance novel and make a living writing more of them? What happens to this adorable baby girl?
Book includes Reading Group Guide and a recipe for Sausage Balls. The latter looks pretty easy and tasty.
I volunteered to read an ARC from Kensington through Net Galley.
April 5, 2019
This was a heartwarming Christmas story about Ivy Long a widow who works
at Dollar General because at the moment she has writer’s block. She is also
playing Mary in the Drive Thru Natavity in the parking lot which doubles as
a Bethlehem stable. One night she finds a live baby in the manger with a
note. Ivy ends up with custody of the baby.
The chapters go back and forth between Ivy and Gabe who plays Joseph
And has a pediatric background.
It is a story about family, love,and hope in a small Tennessee town. You will
fall in love with the characters and their quirky ways and things that go on.
Enjoy!
at Dollar General because at the moment she has writer’s block. She is also
playing Mary in the Drive Thru Natavity in the parking lot which doubles as
a Bethlehem stable. One night she finds a live baby in the manger with a
note. Ivy ends up with custody of the baby.
The chapters go back and forth between Ivy and Gabe who plays Joseph
And has a pediatric background.
It is a story about family, love,and hope in a small Tennessee town. You will
fall in love with the characters and their quirky ways and things that go on.
Enjoy!
September 16, 2018
Gabe and Ivy certainly did not expect a real baby would be added to the nativity scene but there baby Zuzu was. The small town of Ellery, Tennessee, is a happy place but some, like both Gabe and Ivy are hiding heartache. Trust Kilpatrick to write a heartwarming, positive story of two people and a baby who become more than just that. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC (and the recipe). Try this when you want to smile when you finish the book!
October 17, 2018
What a sweet, quirky Christmas love story. I really enjoyed this take on Romeo and Juliet.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for my ARC. All opinions are my own.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for my ARC. All opinions are my own.
December 10, 2018
Endearing and heartwarming, delightful and poignant....I loved this book!
December 22, 2019
This was a delightful and slight different than your average Christmas story. I really enjoyed reading this one at this time of the year :)
December 22, 2019
Perfect for the holidays. Made me giggle and smile.
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January 22, 2024See my review here. https://oldoriginalthoughts.blogspot....
March 28, 2019
I love how Sally writes she really paints a wonderful picture of her scenes , and characters . I feel like i am ghost invisible to them but in the story feeling what they do..Such a beautifyl story i highly recommend.
November 13, 2018
Thank you to Sally Kilpatrick and Kensington Press for a copy of Oh My Stars. I was given this copy in exchange for an honest review.
We are back in the town of Ellery Tennessee for one of their traditional festivities their live nativity located in the Dollar General’s parking lot. It is not your typical nativity. Mary is a chain smoker. Joseph is a reluctant doctor. Oh and did I mention that Joseph also does farm work with one of the wise men.
“Like most things in Ellery, Tennessee, this year’s Drive Thru Nativity is a little unconventional. The Dollar General parking lot doubles as a Bethlehem stable, and widowed writer Ivy Long, who’s been roped into playing Mary, sure as heck isn’t a virgin. But then comes an unexpected development: a genuine, real-life baby left in the manger, with only a brief note. And somehow, in the kerfuffle that follows, Ivy finds her life is about to change . . .
The holidays are a bittersweet time for Ivy—filled with memories of her beloved late husband and reminders that life doesn’t always offer the happily-ever-after her readers expect. So when Ivy ends up with custody of the baby, she can only chalk it up to a Christmas miracle. She doesn’t know if it will be forever, but with help from family, she’ll make little Zuzu’s first Christmas a good one. The nativity’s Joseph, aka Gabe Ledbetter, has a pediatrics background that’s coming in mighty handy. In turn, Ivy is helping Gabe find his place in the quirky community. If that place turns out to be somewhere near Ivy, well, maybe this particular Christmas story will turn out to be merry and bright after all . . .”(Amazon)
My Thoughts:
I loved this novel! I thought the nativity was a little unorthodox with its characters such as chain smoking Mary, a lost baby, and Joseph who is a doctor but also farms. It made for an entertaining read. The town of Ellery is a place that readers will want to come back and visit time and again. I have loved the characters that Sally Kilpatrick introduces to her readers. This book creates a magical setting for the holidays. Readers will enjoy finding out if this family will stay together or not.
We are back in the town of Ellery Tennessee for one of their traditional festivities their live nativity located in the Dollar General’s parking lot. It is not your typical nativity. Mary is a chain smoker. Joseph is a reluctant doctor. Oh and did I mention that Joseph also does farm work with one of the wise men.
“Like most things in Ellery, Tennessee, this year’s Drive Thru Nativity is a little unconventional. The Dollar General parking lot doubles as a Bethlehem stable, and widowed writer Ivy Long, who’s been roped into playing Mary, sure as heck isn’t a virgin. But then comes an unexpected development: a genuine, real-life baby left in the manger, with only a brief note. And somehow, in the kerfuffle that follows, Ivy finds her life is about to change . . .
The holidays are a bittersweet time for Ivy—filled with memories of her beloved late husband and reminders that life doesn’t always offer the happily-ever-after her readers expect. So when Ivy ends up with custody of the baby, she can only chalk it up to a Christmas miracle. She doesn’t know if it will be forever, but with help from family, she’ll make little Zuzu’s first Christmas a good one. The nativity’s Joseph, aka Gabe Ledbetter, has a pediatrics background that’s coming in mighty handy. In turn, Ivy is helping Gabe find his place in the quirky community. If that place turns out to be somewhere near Ivy, well, maybe this particular Christmas story will turn out to be merry and bright after all . . .”(Amazon)
My Thoughts:
I loved this novel! I thought the nativity was a little unorthodox with its characters such as chain smoking Mary, a lost baby, and Joseph who is a doctor but also farms. It made for an entertaining read. The town of Ellery is a place that readers will want to come back and visit time and again. I have loved the characters that Sally Kilpatrick introduces to her readers. This book creates a magical setting for the holidays. Readers will enjoy finding out if this family will stay together or not.
August 20, 2018
Oh My Stars by Sally Kilpatrick is one of those books that will stay with readers for a very long time.
Ivy is a widow and a past writter since she hasn't written anything after her husbands death. Gabe is a pediatrician being sued for by the dead patient's family. They both get teicked into playing Mary and Joseph in the Nativity scene. There is even an abandoned baby and it's that magical time of the year.
Incredibly sad and hopeless at the beginning it evolves into something so special and precious and not just because of the holiday season. I found myself rooting for each and every person.
It introduces many characters and deals with so many issues and relationships and talks about so many topics that are we all deal with every day.
Sweet and heartbreaking, warm and touching it made me laugh and cry as well.
Characters are so real to me and have left such an impression that I couldn't stop thinking about for days after finishing the book.
For those who believe in love no matter what and who dare to dream of happier timea this is the perfect choice.
Ivy is a widow and a past writter since she hasn't written anything after her husbands death. Gabe is a pediatrician being sued for by the dead patient's family. They both get teicked into playing Mary and Joseph in the Nativity scene. There is even an abandoned baby and it's that magical time of the year.
Incredibly sad and hopeless at the beginning it evolves into something so special and precious and not just because of the holiday season. I found myself rooting for each and every person.
It introduces many characters and deals with so many issues and relationships and talks about so many topics that are we all deal with every day.
Sweet and heartbreaking, warm and touching it made me laugh and cry as well.
Characters are so real to me and have left such an impression that I couldn't stop thinking about for days after finishing the book.
For those who believe in love no matter what and who dare to dream of happier timea this is the perfect choice.
September 9, 2018
Thank you to NetGalley.com and the publisher for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
I'm not usually one for Christmas books,,,or sappy love stories...or anything like that but this was something special. Maybe it was because Ivy couldn't seem to get her life together...maybe Gabriel sounds like a the perfect husband..maybe I have a soft spot where my heart is after all.
What I loved:These characters are human - flaws and all which makes them more lovable. The entire drive by nativity scene is a little odd for me (don't have all of the animals at our disposal here) but now I want to track one down to experience it. My heart (and knees) weep for the participants if they can't move...
What I didn't love: So you drop the bombshell about Justin and never really go into the lineage? And all of those questions towards Holly but never explain who or why? Perhaps the author is setting up for future Christmas sequels - I could live with that as I would definitely want to re-visit this extended family again.
Overall Grade: B+
I'm not usually one for Christmas books,,,or sappy love stories...or anything like that but this was something special. Maybe it was because Ivy couldn't seem to get her life together...maybe Gabriel sounds like a the perfect husband..maybe I have a soft spot where my heart is after all.
What I loved:These characters are human - flaws and all which makes them more lovable. The entire drive by nativity scene is a little odd for me (don't have all of the animals at our disposal here) but now I want to track one down to experience it. My heart (and knees) weep for the participants if they can't move...
What I didn't love: So you drop the bombshell about Justin and never really go into the lineage? And all of those questions towards Holly but never explain who or why? Perhaps the author is setting up for future Christmas sequels - I could live with that as I would definitely want to re-visit this extended family again.
Overall Grade: B+
August 28, 2018
In her latest novel “Oh My Stars,” Sally Kilpatrick has once again created a story that elicits emotions so deep that the reader will laugh and cry right along with the characters she created. Ivy is home living with her mom and sister as she is trying to get her life on track after the death of her husband several years earlier. Gabe has come home to lick his wounds after his divorce and trying to resolve a malpractice suit that was brought against him by two grieving parents. When both of these two imperfect people are coerced into taking part in the local live nativity scene they are bound to see at least one Christmas miracle. Ms. Kilpatrick is talented writer who creates real life characters that allows each reader to see a bit of themselves in each novel she has written. I was given an advanced copy of this book, and all of the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
November 3, 2018
Love this author. Kilpatrick writes small southern tales with such authenticity. In Oh My Stars, Ivy finds herself playing Mary in a living nativity scene reminiscent of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. Lucky for Ivy, Joseph is played by the town pediatrician. Why lucky? Because the baby Jesus turns out to be a real swaddled child in need of help.
So what else? Well…
Heartwarming, realistically seasonal (Christmas is never actually all ice skates, snowflakes, and hot cocoa), and uplifting. Paints the picture of a dysfunctional family without pejorative connotation. And makes me want to read more Sally Kilpatrick, Christmas or not.
https://randombookmuses.com/2018/11/0...
So what else? Well…
Heartwarming, realistically seasonal (Christmas is never actually all ice skates, snowflakes, and hot cocoa), and uplifting. Paints the picture of a dysfunctional family without pejorative connotation. And makes me want to read more Sally Kilpatrick, Christmas or not.
https://randombookmuses.com/2018/11/0...
December 30, 2018
This is book 5 in the Ellery series. Set in Ellery, Tennessee at Christmas the town is doing a drive by Nativity in the Dollar General parking lot. 30 year old widowed Ivy sure isn't the perfect pick for Mary but her mother has decreed it as so. New comer to the town is Gabe who was roped into playing Joseph. They discover a real baby in the manger and the town decides that Ivy should keep her. This is a fun read about a serious subject but the perfect Christmas miracle for everyone involved. An easy to read Christmas romance that can be read as a stand alone but you'll want to catch the other 4 as Ellery is a great place to visit. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
September 10, 2018
OH MY STARS by Sally Kilpatrick is a quick heartwarming read to kick off your holiday. The story is told with duel narrators (with lots of inner dialog) so you get a lot of insight into both Gabe and Ivy. They both are dealing with instability in their own careers and families but find that the little baby left in the manger while they play Mary and Joseph may just be the miracle that brings everything together. It’s sweet, funny, and generally full of likeable characters. If you are a fan of Kilpatrick’s style, you’ll enjoy this next addition to your collection.
I received an ARC of this novel from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
I received an ARC of this novel from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
August 20, 2018
A sweet and beautifully written love story revolving around the Christmas season.
The main character Ivy, is an author and loves to write. However, since the loss of her husband, she has been unable to concentrate on her next novel. In fact, she now works at a Dollar General as a means to make just a little bit of money until she has the energy to look for another job and resume her writing.
She asks her late husband for a sign and maybe a little "miracle" and it's exactly what she receives!
I truly enjoyed this book and know it will be a Christmas classic!
.
The main character Ivy, is an author and loves to write. However, since the loss of her husband, she has been unable to concentrate on her next novel. In fact, she now works at a Dollar General as a means to make just a little bit of money until she has the energy to look for another job and resume her writing.
She asks her late husband for a sign and maybe a little "miracle" and it's exactly what she receives!
I truly enjoyed this book and know it will be a Christmas classic!
.
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