All Fanny wants for her birthday is a Connie doll.  She wanted it at Christmas and last birthday too, but her mother continues to deny her this deepest wish of her heart.  According to her mom, those dolls are “just too. . . much.”  (Love it!).   But Fanny will not be discouraged.  If her mom won’t buy her one, she’ll make her own!  Using what she can find, Fanny pieces together her own Connie doll.  The result is sweet Annabelle.  Fanny loves her creation, but will her friends accept Annabelle as well?

This is a sweet story that both moms and daughters can relate to.  I think we all know the kinds of dolls that all our daughters want and we are loathe to buy for them.  And yet I loved Fanny’s solution – and loved even more that she was so proud of what she had made and truly cared for it.  And the way she incorporates Annabelle into her next play date with her friends and their Connie dolls . . . well, it will make you giggle.

Two thumbs up for a cute story from Holly Hobbie that hits the nail on the head of the Bar- I mean, Connie doll situation in our own lives!

Beatrice Smith Shakespeare has grown up in the Theatre Illuminata, a special magical theater where the characters of all the plays ever written live to act out their parts. The theatre is magic, and the key is The Book. Bertie is different though, she’s not a character nor an employee and she’s quite the mischief maker. She loves the Theatre with all of her heart, but the Theatre Manager tells her she must leave or find a way to make herself indispensable. Meanwhile, not everyone loves the Theatre as Bertie does and some long to be free. Can Bertie find a way to both stay at the Theatre and save it?

I have to admit it took me awhile to get into Eyes Like Stars. The reason is that the world of the Theatre Illuminata is so fully realized as a separate world and has such a huge cast of characters that it took me while to really get into it. But once I did, I really enjoyed this story. The characters, while there are many, are sharply drawn. I especially adored the fairies who kept me simultaneously giggling throughout the pages and feeling exhausted by their boundless energy. I also enjoyed the many theatre references with all of the different characters and lines that were quoted throughout. I think any fan of Shakespeare would enjoy that part! I felt for Bertie, who was struggling to find a strong sense of self–both where she came from and how to make her life significant in the present.

There is a bit of a love story, but it’s not overwhelming at all, and in some ways could have been done without as there was plenty else going on in the story at all times. Apart from a very very minor bit of language and a few jokes, the book is mostly clean.

If you’re looking for a totally different kind of read and/or if you love theater, than I really suggest you check out Eyes Like Stars!

You can check out Lisa Mantchev’s website and blog for more information.

Eyes Like Star is on blog tour right now! Check out these other great sites that are featuring the book:

The 160 Acre Woods, A Christian Worldview of Fiction, A Patchwork of Books, Abby the Librarian, All About Children’s Books, And Another Book Read, Becky’s Book Reviews, Dolce Bellezza, Fireside Musings, The Friendly Book Nook, Homeschool Book Buzz, Homespun Light, Hyperbole, KidzBookBuzz.com, Never Jam Today, Reading is My Superpower, Through a Child’s Eyes

From back cover:  After her brother dies in a trauma room, nurse Claire Avery can no longer face the ER.  She’s determined to make a fresh start–new hospital, new career in nursing education–move forward, no turning back.  But her plans fall apart when she’s called to offer stress counseling for medical staff after a heartbreaking day care center explosion.  Worse, she’s forced back to the ER, where she clashes with Logan Caldwell, a doctor who believes touchy-feely counseling is a wast of time.  He demands his staff be as tough as he is.  Yet he finds himself drawn to this nurse educator…who just might teach him the true meaning of healing.

My Review:  I enjoyed this book and the hospital setting.  It is a Christian romance novel and followed along the familiar Christian romance pattern.  It was also based on the Grey’s Anatomy model, with characters such as McSnarley, and McMuffin.  If you enjoy that television program but long to see something cleaner, you will love this book.  Hope is offered in difficult situations.  Our female main character is beautiful, but doesn’t realize it.  She has fears that need to be conquered due to her tremendous nursing skills.  Our male main character recognizes those skills immediately, and although he understands the reasons behind those fears, still wants Avery for his nurse.  Christianity plays a huge role in the healing of our characters in a believable way.   This book is written by an ER nurse with personal experience in this type of setting.  I look forward to more books by her in the future.