During Isabella Alcantara’s seventh month of pregnancy, her parents and siblings are murdered in gang- and drug-related violence, simply because their home was targeted by mistake. Isabella knows she was spared only because she now lives in a different location, but she knows too that the same thing could easily happen to her and her husband, Francisco. When her grandfather offers to hire a “coyote” to bring them across the border to America, she agrees. But Francisco and Isabella are abandoned by the coyote and left to die. Francisco then valiantly sacrifices himself to get Isabella to safety. Homeless, nearly penniless, pregnant, and alone, Isabella determines to find a way to honor her promise to her beloved husband. Living on one of the smaller spreads along the Arizona border, Miriam Nelson becomes furious with God and turns from her faith when her border patrol agent husband, David, is killed in a skirmish with drug smugglers. Though her mother and young son do their best to woo her back from the anger and bitterness that have overtaken her, they make little headway. Two widows—one driven by fear and a promise, the other by bitterness and revenge—must make their journeys along different pathways, but with the same destination: a barn full of animals that stands waiting for them on Christmas Eve. Forced to face their personal demons, Isabella and Miriam soon discover a common yearning that will bind them together in a most miraculous way.
A Christmas Journey Home: Miracle in the Manger
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About the Author
Award‐winning author Kathi Macias has written more than 20 books, including the “Extreme Devotion” series of novels for New Hope Publishers. Kathi has won many awards, including the Angel Award from Excellence in Media, fiction awards from the San Diego Christian Writers Guild, and the grand prize in an international writing contest. With women’s ministry as her primary interest, Kathi is a popular speaker for women’s retreats, conferences, and churches. A mother and grandmother, Kathi and her husband, Al, call California home.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By Fitzysmom
Format:Paperback
Kathi Macias has a unique way of taking a seemingly impossible situation and turning it on end to show the amazing way that nothing is impossible with God. She has done it once again in The Christmas Journey Home. In this story she tackles the subject of illegal immigration and all that surrounds it.
At the beginning of the book I started thinking that I'm not going to like this one because of the views that I have on the subject. I should have known better! If you think it is a pro illegal immigration book, it is not. If you think it is a hate the illegals book, it is not. It is a story of two women in a seemingly impossible situation. One is by choice and one is thrust into the situation.
This is a story about decisions made and the repercussions from those decisions on both sides. In my opinion that is the beauty of this book. A solution to the problem of illegal immigration is not provided. A story is told about two flawed individual families. The solution that is given is the grace of God. We are told in the Bible that we are to obey the laws. Often times we do not. We not only disobey man's laws but we disobey God's laws. There are consequences to those actions. The amazing thing about it is that through all of it God walks alongside us and gently guides us through bringing us to the place that He originally intended.
If you are looking for a warm fuzzy Christmas read, you might be disappointed in this one (unless you hang on till the very end). But, if you are looking for something that will provoke thought and discussion be sure and pick this one up. I promise you won't be disappointed!
At the beginning of the book I started thinking that I'm not going to like this one because of the views that I have on the subject. I should have known better! If you think it is a pro illegal immigration book, it is not. If you think it is a hate the illegals book, it is not. It is a story of two women in a seemingly impossible situation. One is by choice and one is thrust into the situation.
This is a story about decisions made and the repercussions from those decisions on both sides. In my opinion that is the beauty of this book. A solution to the problem of illegal immigration is not provided. A story is told about two flawed individual families. The solution that is given is the grace of God. We are told in the Bible that we are to obey the laws. Often times we do not. We not only disobey man's laws but we disobey God's laws. There are consequences to those actions. The amazing thing about it is that through all of it God walks alongside us and gently guides us through bringing us to the place that He originally intended.
If you are looking for a warm fuzzy Christmas read, you might be disappointed in this one (unless you hang on till the very end). But, if you are looking for something that will provoke thought and discussion be sure and pick this one up. I promise you won't be disappointed!
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
If you want a sweet romance, don't pick up Kathi Macias' books. If you like easy Christianity stories, avoid her novels. No sloppy agape' there.
Kathi's works of fiction are inevitably leave you thinking about how much faith you have--or don't have. They leave you praying for certain people and those who help them.
A Christmas Journey Home is no exception. Isabella's abuello feared for her and her esposo Francisco's lives, as well as the life of their unborn bebito. Isabella's parents and siblings were all killed by a murderous gang of drug runners. Several other random households around their little village suffer the same fate. Don Alfredo gives them his savings, and they find a coyote to guide them across the border. Instead, the coyote takes their money and leaves them in the desert south of Phoenix, Arizona, with no food or water.
Meanwhile, on a small acreage near there, a bitter young widow lives with her little boy and her mother. Her border-patrol husband had been killed recently by Mexicans crossing the border illegally.
It was inevitable they will meet--after all, this is a novel, and both families were introduced at the beginning of the book. I won't ruin your reading of the book by telling you all the in-between stuff, but I'll let you in on a secret--it ends in a very Christmasy way.
A warning, however. Be prepared to wonder if your faith equals the faith of the heroes of this beautiful little book. You will be inspired to draw a little closer to God yourself.
Kathi's works of fiction are inevitably leave you thinking about how much faith you have--or don't have. They leave you praying for certain people and those who help them.
A Christmas Journey Home is no exception. Isabella's abuello feared for her and her esposo Francisco's lives, as well as the life of their unborn bebito. Isabella's parents and siblings were all killed by a murderous gang of drug runners. Several other random households around their little village suffer the same fate. Don Alfredo gives them his savings, and they find a coyote to guide them across the border. Instead, the coyote takes their money and leaves them in the desert south of Phoenix, Arizona, with no food or water.
Meanwhile, on a small acreage near there, a bitter young widow lives with her little boy and her mother. Her border-patrol husband had been killed recently by Mexicans crossing the border illegally.
It was inevitable they will meet--after all, this is a novel, and both families were introduced at the beginning of the book. I won't ruin your reading of the book by telling you all the in-between stuff, but I'll let you in on a secret--it ends in a very Christmasy way.
A warning, however. Be prepared to wonder if your faith equals the faith of the heroes of this beautiful little book. You will be inspired to draw a little closer to God yourself.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I've got strong opinions about illegals sneaking over American borders, and I bet some of you do, too. Well, thanks to Kathi Macias's A Christmas Journey Home, I have a whole new perspective on the issue! Isabella, an illegal immigrant hoping for a better life, and Miriam, mourning the death of her border-patrol husband, seem to be separated by more than a boundary line. One woman's journey has brought her closer to God, while the other woman's journey has brought her further from God. But, miracles happen on Christmas Eve.
Written with sensitivity and insight, A Christmas Journey Home drew my sympathies on both sides of the border. Instead of the fluffy, easy holiday read I expected (I should have known better with Kathi's book!), I received a thought-provoking fictionalization of the real-life drama that happens every day here in our country as well as in Mexico.
I highly recommend A Christmas Journey Home, and it would make a perfect gift for the readers on your list.
Written with sensitivity and insight, A Christmas Journey Home drew my sympathies on both sides of the border. Instead of the fluffy, easy holiday read I expected (I should have known better with Kathi's book!), I received a thought-provoking fictionalization of the real-life drama that happens every day here in our country as well as in Mexico.
I highly recommend A Christmas Journey Home, and it would make a perfect gift for the readers on your list.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great book.
Everyone should read this book it shows that there is still good hearted people in the world. This is how everyone should be and to not judge someone by their looks. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Donna Lynch
5.0 out of 5 stars
Searching
Laughed, cried and found myself totally engrossed in the story. Hope to see it continued in another book. Would definitely read Macias novels again.
Published 3 months ago by joan j pedersen
3.0 out of 5 stars
I wouldn't recommend this book.
The story premise was good, and I really looked forward to reading it. But it was written poorly. I think the main problem was that the author tried to put too much Christian... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Raku Rudy
4.0 out of 5 stars
Modern Christmas story
Two stories run parallel until they come together to form a beautiful modern day Christmas story. Isabella follows her husband to the US in hopes of a better life than the one they... Read more
Published 4 months ago by F. Murrell
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Journey to Challenge the Reader's Compassion
A Christmas Journey Home : Miracle in the Manger by Kathi Macias is not your sweet little Christmas Story that leaves you with a warm fuzzy feeling. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Cindy_Huff
5.0 out of 5 stars
Christmas Story
Great reading for anytime of the year but best at Christmas. Really enjoyed it ~ Bought it for my kindle and read it when ever I have some down time ~
Published 5 months ago by Deb
5.0 out of 5 stars
thought provoking
we never know what other peoples stories are until we allow ourselves to look at them through a child/s eyes and with God's grace
Published 6 months ago by Cathy Heard
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Nativity Updated For Today
Kathi Macias did it again. She took a modern issue, then infused it with faith and anchored it in the Biblical story of a Savior born to free humanity from the dregs of... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Cassandra Wessel
2.0 out of 5 stars
a christmas journey home.
Isabella's parents and siblings were murdered during her 7th month of pregnancy through a gang-related incident. But the ultimate tragedy is that they were killed by mistake. Read more
Published 10 months ago by amy clark
5.0 out of 5 stars
A book for all year round on a sensitive subject
Once I started reading this book, I couldn't put it down. The issue of illegal Mexican's in the Us is a highly charged topic with a lot of strong opinions. Read more
Published 16 months ago by DvoraElisheva
