Silent Night, Star-Lit Night by Ruth Logan Herne, A Second Chance at Star Inn Story


"Lack of chocolate noted.  Remedy situation ASAP.

Title:  Silent Night, Star-Lit Night 
Collection: Second Chance at Star Inn
Author:  Ruth Logan Herne
Publisher:  Swerve
Release Date:  October 25, 2016
Genre:  Inspirational Contemporary Novella



Welcome to Heywood, Oregon where three lost women find healing, hope and love under the bright light of the town's old Star Inn this Christmas season.

Jed Taylor knows how to cowboy up on the range, and on the sales’ floor of his family’s rapidly growing western and ranch store in Central Washington, which is exactly where he would normally be a week before Christmas… but when he heard Mia O’Loughlin was planning a trip north, pregnant and alone, Jed’s promise to her late husband kicked in. More Grinch than grace, he boarded a plane and headed to the coast, determined that his best friend’s widow wouldn’t make the long trek alone.
It wasn’t supposed to be like this, widowed, pregnant and all alone on the West Coast.

E.R. nurse and Red Cross emergency responder Mia O’Loughlin had always taken life in full stride, but losing her deployed husband the week before she realized they were expecting their first child knocked her off-kilter. With Christmas and her due date approaching, all she can see is getting back home to Kittitas County for the birth of her child… their child… and seeing her failing Grandpa Joe one last time. Determined to do it on her own, she reluctantly allows Jed to accompany her, mostly because the gruff cowboy showed up and won’t take no for an answer.

But when a blizzard grinds their progress to a stop in Northern Oregon, the light from an old inn beckons them into a town hunkered down to ride out the unexpected storm. With the help of the inn’s wise and wonderful “angel,” Mia realizes the old white church has been turned into a shelter. She insists on leaving the inn to help those forced out of their homes and off the highway. As she and Jed improvise to provide comfort to others, they begin to see that facing this once-dreaded Christmas together could be the very best way of all. 



What a beautiful story Silent Night, Star-Lit Night by Ruth Logan Herne is! I mean, besides an opening about chocolate, just look at that cover, the title, and the image of the Christmas season floats to mine. And when you read the story, the love of our Lord Jesus, shone brighter than the star-lit night!  A story of forgiveness, of second chances, and of love - what more do we need?

I don't know about you, but during the holidays, December especially, I love reading Christmas stories. The themes, the atmosphere and the imagery all brings this holiday season to life. That's the power of a good Christmas story, no matter the length of the book. Ruth Logan Herne gave us just that in this novella. True, I wish there was more to see when Jed and Mia returned "home," but it was enough, because they are home and learning what love is about, be it romantically or the love of family and friends, that's what Christmas is.

"...that's what true love was all about. Waiting and trusting.

Speaking of Jed and Mia, boy, o boy, do we not just love Jed? That cowboy sure knows what to say.

 '"You let two women boss you around?" (Mia)
"Sure did." He (Jed) flashed her a lazy grin...' 
With Mia, how could we not relate to her innate desire to please others? How could we not relate to her pain in feeling unloved or not good enough? And with what happened in her life, how could we not understand her desire to be independent?  We do and we relate. That's what great characters are. The supporting characters, from the nurse to Angel and Lorrie, are all well executed in their mannerisms to their insightful dialogues.  In all, a great story to let the true Star shine.



Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the author/publisher. I was not required to write a positive review, and have not been compensated for this. This is my honest opinion.

For my review policy, please see my Disclosure page.


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Ruth Logan Herne has more than a million books in print, including eighteen Love Inspired contemporary novels and Back in the Saddle, Book 1 in the Double S Ranch series. Ruth is a founding member of Seekerville, a popular writing collective blog. A country girl who loves the big city, Ruth and her husband live on a farm in upstate New York.

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5 comments:

  1. I've found myself really looking for books about the holidays this year. I guess I'm just in the spirit! I'll definitely be adding this one to my list!

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  2. All of Ruth's books are so good. I'm sure this one is too!

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  3. Haven't read this one yet.. One of my fav. authors!

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