Nava (The Christmas Collection)

This is the best of the series. I love the story of Jesus's birth and hearing it from Nava's eyes is wonderful
I enjoyed the narrator. This series is heartwarming and will be on my December reading rotation for years to come.

Once again, another short story/novella by D.P. Conway in his collection of 5 Chrstmas stories.

This one is based on the birth of Jesus and the 3 Kings following the North Star to the place he is born.

We open up with Nava, a young woman, and her husband-to-be (Aaron). They live in the B.C. years and are in love and to be married. Aaron receives a prized sword from a friend of his in the Roman Army and he teaches Nava how to use it.
One day, a tragedy occurs, and cuts short the life the two expected to have.

Nava goes into a deep depression.
She has no reason left to live.
Her family moves in an effort to improve her mood, but not much changes.

One day her father receives word for them to return to Jerusalem as there is something special about to happen. He takes Nava with him.
Along the way they encounter thieves and problems, but forge through.

And, by chance, encounter a group of men who will help them on their journey. They later find out that these three men were very special indeed...

When they finally reach Jerusalem, they meet baby Jesus and his parents.

Beautifully told in a captivating way that brings some new light to the times of Jesus' birth...and what better way to celebrate Christmas than by reading Christmas stories revolving around the reason for the season?!

Thanks to #NetGalley and #BooksGoSocialAudio for an ARC of this audiobook which has already been released.

#DPConway. #Nava. Short Christmas Story Collection.

4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me!

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I enjoyed this story so much. It was a hard read at some parts. It definitely made me cry. Nava is just such an awesome character. She is so strong and brave. Thank you to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial Audio for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

Great and heart warming holiday Story. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook

Nava by DP Conway was a heartbreaking story of a young lady who had so much loss and suffering during her twenty-something years than most know in a life 4 times as long.

Nava’s loss and resultant depression led to her family rallying around her and moving far away from the lands of her birth, in an effort to help her find her happiness again.

On the way back from this move, she and her father run into the biblical three kings, who help them get to safety.

The bravery and loyalty illustrated by Nava and her companions’ actions were lovely, but there were real tears that I shed, due to the story’s twists and turns. It’s a lovely and sweet story for the ages.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for this audio ARC!!

Nava is a young woman in biblical times. This book describes her journey to see the newborn King of Jews and her interaction with the 3 Kings. It's an interesting story. It's a little disconcerting to read about Nava saying "okay" repeatedly, but otherwise a good story. It has an unexpected ending.

I listened to the audio version of the book. The narrator was very good.

Great short story! I would highly recommend! thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for a chance to read and review this book in exchange for an honest review.

Nava is a young woman who is set to marry Aaron. He is given a sword and he teaches her how to use it. The day after her uncle finds out Aaron is pushed down the villages well. Nava becomes in an extremely depressed state and her parents decide to move them to another area. It only helps so much.

Her father receives notice from her grandfather to return and she goes with him. During their travels, they come across three Kings following the three stars. They return to Bethlehem to see that Josiah was born. The kings were headed to see Josiah.

King Harold is after Josiah. Nava does everything she can to protect baby Josiah. Then when Harold starts attacking young boys, Nava runs to her friends house to get her and her son out. She is too late. Nava jumps the wall to their courtyard with the sword from Aaron. She kills the solider of Harold and gets the son and daughter over the wall to safety but at the cost of her own life.

I really enjoyed Nava's story. I am glad I found the audiobook on NetGalley.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial Audio for my copy of Nava by D.P. Conway Narrated by Danielle Gensler in exchange for an honest review. It published October 25, 2023.
As usual, Danielle Gensler did a wonderful job narrating.
I found this story to be pretty interesting, not my favorite in this series, but still quite engaging. I had a hard time distinguishing what was the author's imagination, and what is Catholic tradition. If I took it as mostly fiction and made up, (like the wise men coming when Jesus was first born), then the story was fun to read, but if it was meant to teach, it did not follow what is in the Bible.

This book gave a fresh take on the nativity story from a different pov.

I loved the powerhouse female characters in this story.

The underlying message of fighting through your pain was very powerful.

All in all this was a great holiday story that had me everywhere from cheering to tearing. My 2nd favorite of this Christmas collection, so far.

Nava is a young girl in life... until life takes a devastating turn and Nava loses her inner light for many years.

Eventually, though, her story intertwines with what many readers will recognize at the birth of Jesus. Although not a religious person, I enjoyed the different perspective to the story I grew up hearing about in CCD. It was refreshing and Nava as the MC brought new ideas to add on to the classic story.

Overall: 4 stars

I'll tell my students about: religion, death, trauma/mental health

**Thank you to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial Audio for the free ALC. All opinions expressed are my own.**