0 of 1 copy available
Wait time: About 2 weeks
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Creators
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Series
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Publisher
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Release date
October 15, 2005 -
Formats
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OverDrive Listen audiobook
- ISBN: 9781621881995
- File size: 80473 KB
- Duration: 02:47:39
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Languages
- English
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Levels
- Lexile® Measure: 680
- Text Difficulty: 3
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Reviews
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October 31, 2005
Nathan Andrews, who at eight bought shoes for his dying mother (The Christmas Shoes) and as a medical student fell in love with a young heart patient (The Christmas Blessing), takes a backseat in Van Liere's latest Christmas confection. The focus this time is on Patti and Mark Addison. Patti is a devoted social worker, but she can't seem to feel anything for her handsome pilot husband (they sleep in separate bedrooms), and she can't understand why anyone could feel happy during the holidays. Leave it to a child to teach Patti the meaning of Christmas: Emily is a beautiful five-year-old who, against the rules, Patti brings home rather than take her to the local orphanage. Emily-who believes in angels and is possibly the gentlest, sweetest child to ever cavort across a novel's pages since Little Nell-quickly insinuates herself into the Addison hearts. Another child's illness introduces the Addison gang to Nathan, now a doctor expecting his own first child. Too much coincidence binds their stories together, but Van Liere serves up another heart-tugging holiday tale. -
Donna VanLiere does a superior job dramatizing her story in THE CHRISTMAS HOPE. She is professional, but her Midwestern and Southern roots slip into her delivery from time to time (mostly in the thoughts of the female lead character), adding background to the characterization. Her writing isn't as good as her acting--the plot is predictable, the story unfolds slowly, and a number of the phrases are clichéd. But the core story of a child healing a broken family at Christmas is still heartwarming, and she has a fine eye for realistic detail in her descriptions. Sentimental listeners will enjoy evident VanLiere's affection for her characters. G.T.B. (c) AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine -
September 19, 2005
Nathan Andrews, who at eight bought shoes for his dying mother (The Christmas Shoes
) and as a medical student fell in love with a young heart patient (The Christmas Blessing
), takes a backseat in Van Liere's latest Christmas confection. The focus this time is on Patti and Mark Addison, whose son, Sean, was killed in a car accident on Christmas Eve four years ago. Patti is a devoted social worker, but she can't seem to feel anything for her handsome pilot husband (they sleep in separate bedrooms), and she can't understand why anyone could feel happy during the holidays. Leave it to a child to teach Patti the meaning of Christmas: Emily is a beautiful five-year-old without a place to live (her mother died in a car accident; her foster parents had to leave town suddenly) and, against the rules, Patti brings her home rather than take her to the local orphanage. Emily—who believes in angels and is possibly the gentlest, sweetest child to ever cavort across a novel's pages since Little Nell—quickly insinuates herself into the Addison hearts. Another child's illness introduces the Addison gang to Nathan, now a doctor expecting his own first child. Too much coincidence binds their stories together, but Van Liere serves up another heart-tugging holiday tale.
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