Maria DiMarco helps people find closure by thoroughly checking every lead she can until she finds the answers, but even a private investigator cannot solve all problems. When she receives a tip that her brother might still be alive after eleven years, she grasps at the lifeline given to her if only for her peace of mind. To further boost her spirits and shedding a bit of hope, she spots a shooting star and makes a wish. She knows the odds are against her, and even her sister petitions against her checking it out, but she will search every nook and cranny in Key West looking for her brother. Will she be able to give her family a Christmas they will never forget? Or will she finally have to accept that her brother died when the World Trade Center collapsed?

Logan Collier should be on a flight home to New York instead of changing flights to head to Key West in search of one Maria DiMarco. He knows how impulsive and emotionally driven she can be, and he will be there for support when she does not find whom she seeks. He will help her track down any leads even though he holds no illusions that her brother is alive. After all, he dropped him off for his job at the World Trade Center on that fateful day. Maria still stirs feelings in him, but she likes to keep him at a distance reminding him of their past. Will their journey prove fruitful in more than one way? Or will they once again take off to their separate lives?

Darlene Gardner writes a splendid romance infusing it with the promise and the spirit of Christmas. Her characters become fast friends dragging us along on a fun-filled yet answer seeking ride. Maria is a lovable PI who will stop at nothing to find her brother. Logan is a man on a mission who will try to protect Maria from bitter disappointment. Together, they fondly remember the past, test out their present compatibility, and try to figure out if they have a future all while trekking all over Key West and helping out on a local case.

WISH UPON A CHRSTMAS STAR celebrates the season by reminding us about the joys of family whether related or chosen. Ms. Gardner continues to uplift and inspire with her heart warming romances. I am always willing to relax, and enjoy the emotional journey her stories take me on.