We Three Kings beautifully blends historical and contemporary fiction into a multi-generational story.
*I received a free copy of this book through NetGalley. The review is my personal opinion.
We Three Kings is a novella that combines two of my favorite things: historical fiction and Christmas. What more could a Christmas-loving, history fanatic ask for?
The beauty of Christmas novellas is that they often combine the writings of several authors, and this one was no exception.
Star of Wonder is written by Crystal Caudill and takes place in 1884. Crystal’s expertise lies in the original workings of the Secret Service, and she brings this to life in her plot that introduces us to Aldrich Weise and Celestia Isaacs. She shows how trusting God and putting his will first could bring you the desires of your heart (Psalm 37:4).
Cara Putman’s Beauty Bright takes place in 1945 just after World War II. Cara’s expertise is World War II, and focusing on the aftermath of World War II in Germany was both humbling and astonishing to read. The Weise story continues as Aldrich’s grandson, Charles Weise becomes the hero of this tale. We learn through the hero and heroine that acts of love, no matter how small they may seem, make a difference.
The novella finishes with Angela Ruth Strong’s Perfect Light. I had not had the pleasure of reading her books prior to this writing, so I didn’t know what to expect from her. I was pleasantly surprised by how well she drew me into her story. She brings Charles’ great-grandson, Brendon Wise into this heartwarming story helping us realize that offered help is not always because one is weak but because one is loved.
What I liked about this book: I really liked the fact that the stories were so connected not only by the Wise (Weise) men and star theme but also by the family connection throughout. While the Weise family was introduced in Star of Wonder, each subsequent story made reference to the family member(s) of the previous book. This brought the feel of family history to the forefront of the novellas and tied the stories together.
Favorite characters:
Celestia Isaacs (Star of Wonder) – She carried just enough caution to blend with her independence in an era where independent females wasn’t the norm.
Captain Lillian Thorson (Beauty Bright) – In a time when women were still somewhat looked down upon, Captain Thorson held her ground as a woman in charge, yet also was able to be compassionate and open her heart to those in need.
Brendon Wise (Perfect Light) – He cared enough to not only offer assistance when he thought it was needed but to humbly ask for forgiveness when his generosity was misunderstood.
Who would like this book?
Anyone who enjoys blending history and contemporary, sweet Christmas stories with heartwarming messages, and those who enjoy following a family through generations and change.
Meet the Authors
Crystal Caudill is the author of “dangerously good historical romance,” with her work garnering awards from Romance Writers of America and ACFW. She is a stay-at-home mom and caregiver, and when she isn’t writing, Crystal can be found playing board games with her family, drinking hot tea, or reading other great books at her home outside Cincinnati, Ohio. Find out more at crystalcaudill.com.
The award-winning, best-selling author of more than 35 books, Cara Putman graduated college at 20 and completed her law degree at 27. FIRST for Women magazine called Shadowed by Grace “captivating” and a “novel with ‘the works.’” Cara is active at her church and a full-time Clinical Associate Professor on business and ethics to undergraduate and graduate students at Purdue University’s Krannert School of Management. Putman also practices law and was a second-generation homeschooling mom for twelve years. Putman obtained her Master’s in Business Administration from Krannert and her J.D. from George Mason University Antonin Scalia School of Law. She serves on the executive board of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), an organization she has served in various roles since 2007. She lives with her husband and four children in Indiana. You can connect with her online at: caraputman.com.
Angela Ruth Strong survived breast cancer, works as a flight attendant, and uses her own crazy life experiences as inspiration for the stories she writes. Her books have earned TOP PICK in Romantic Times, been nominated for a Christy, won the Cascade Award, and become Amazon bestsellers. She and her husband also got to play extras when her novel Finding Love in Big Sky was adapted for film. To help aspiring authors, Angela started IDAhope Writers where she lives in Idaho and blogs regularly on inspyromance and learnhowtowriteanovel.com.