Star Bright!

Not your average Christmas tale, this big-hearted but saccharine short novel sets up callow Boston College student Jack Flanigan with beautiful, soulful Harvard undergrad Tatiana Alexseevna Shuskulya, just in time for Advent. A Russian studies major, Jack first glimpses Tatiana reading a Russian newspaper and, trying to show off his meager command of the language, succeeds only in making her acquaintance. As the two pious but hormonally healthy virgins become friends, Jack worries that Tatiana will spend Christmas alone, invites her (with some trepidation) home to Chicago for the holiday, then watches the Scripture-citing Orthodox girl with the ""rich and glorious breasts"" sweep his pugnacious Irish family off its feet. Scattered throughout the book are poems, songs, stories from Tatiana's homeland--and more blarney about Mother Russia and the True Meaning of Christmas than most readers will be able to swallow in such a concentrated dose. As usual, former priest Greeley is a kindly matchmaker and a forgiving Catholic: fans may gobble down his latest confection like so much Christmas rom-baba. (Oct.)