Ingrid picked up the cup of coffee realizing it had long turned cold—again. She got up from the warmth of being nestled under the blanket to warm the coffee in the microwave. While waiting on the ding of the microwave, Ingrid opened the bottles of ibuprofen and acetaminophen. She was in no way an expert and these sorts of things.
With her cup and the two bottles in hand, Ingrid settled back under her blanket on the sofa. She took a big gulp of coffee to wet her throat thoroughly.
- The Christmas Hope (Christmas Hope, #3) by Donna VanLiere?
- Drake Makes a Splash! (Galaxy Zack).
- Ménage d’autrefois (French Edition);
The plan was about to be put into motion. She would take both bottlefuls, finish her coffee while she smoked the pack of Camels and watched TV alone and waited on the last fire to burn down to what would soon be nothing but cold ash. Ingrid put a Camel between her lips, flicked the lighter and breathed in long and deep. She held the smoke for a few seconds and exhaled even slower. Tears formed in her eyes, blurring her vision. Her heart ached harder and deeper than she could ever recall. Between the four of them, why would no one call?
She had tried to call them each several times, leaving voice messages. No one returned her call. Ingrid picked up the first bottle of pills, pouring out half the contents into her hand. She raised her hand to her mouth, her cup of coffee in the other hand ready to wash them down. She realized she would not be able to take so many at once—they would literally make her throw up as she hated taking pills.
Instead, she decided to take five or six at time while finishing off the pot of coffee and pack of Camels. To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.
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Lists with This Book. Yes, I'm giving a Christmas novella 5 stars! Totally unheard of, but true! This is more than a fun, sappy, romance, under the mistletoe story. This is a story of love, loss, and HOPE. I believe that without hope, you have nothing. It's a beautiful love story on so many levels, I cried and cried and cried. If you only read one Christmas novel this year, read this one. I read it in one evening. This story is number 3 in a series, but it reads like a stand alone novel.
View all 4 comments. Dec 21, Deanne Patterson rated it really liked it Shelves: Thanks for the recommendation, Rebecca. Luckily for me I had already checked this out of the library and had it waiting for me to read: I enjoyed this heartwarming Christmas story! Dec 12, Julianna rated it it was amazing Recommends it for: Fans of Heartwarming Holiday Stories.
Not so with Donna VanLiere's books. She somehow manages to impart an inspiring message full of depth and meaning that utterly warms my heart without ma Reviewed for THC Reviews I loved the first two books in Donna VanLiere's Christmas Hope series, and now I can add The Christmas Hope to my list of all-time favorite holiday-themed stories. She somehow manages to impart an inspiring message full of depth and meaning that utterly warms my heart without making me feel like I'm being beaten over the head with it. In my opinion, she doesn't water down the faith aspect of her stories, but neither is it exactly overt which I think makes the books accessible to people of many different faiths and backgrounds.
VanLiere just has a very gentle way about her writing that really speaks to me. The Christmas Hope is told primarily in first-person from the main protagonist, Patricia's point of view. Patricia is a dedicated social worker who goes above and beyond the call of duty in loving and caring for the kids she helps.
Inspirational Christmas Stories
She had a rather rough life growing up. When her father left them, it was only through the kindness of strangers that her mother, brother and she survived. Now she seems to be paying it forward to other people through her work, but when the story opens, she has no Christmas spirit left and hasn't celebrated the holiday in four years. Patricia is a little on the OCD side, but I later came to understand that her obsession with tidiness was her way of trying to feel in control after the chaos that has been wreaked on her life by the death of her son.
Her marriage is failing, with she and her husband acting like little more than polite strangers which I found quite sad especially after learning about their closeness and the very romantic start to their relationship. Everyone grieves in their own way, but I occasionally had a hard time relating to Patricia's way of dealing or not, as the case may be.
On the surface, she seems to have it all together, but inside she had buried herself so deeply in her grief that she wouldn't let anyone in to share it, not even her husband. Patricia frustrated me a little when she kept saying that she didn't know what to do to stop her marriage from crumbling and her husband from leaving, but her friend and co-worker, Roy, had it right when he said that she did know.
It was at those moments that I kept wanting to jump into the story and tell her, "Just do it! Just hug him or do something, anything, to show him you still care. Patricia's husband, Mark, seemed like a really great guy who was very kind and loving. Since we don't get any scenes from his point of view, I can't be absolutely certain what he was thinking, but I always got the feeling that he didn't really want his marriage to be over.
He was just at the end of his rope and didn't know what to do to reach his wife and couldn't stand living in the same house like strangers anymore. Emily inspires Mark every bit as much as she inspires Patricia, and he seemed a little quicker to respond. He saw what Emily needed and was ready to give her that long before Patricia was willing to admit it.
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He really got into the holiday spirit, buying the perfect gifts for Emily like a regular Santa's helper and excitedly putting up decorations. I just love how when the door opened a crack he eagerly walked through it, more than happy to soak up the love Emily gave and give it in return, as well as being there for Patricia when she was finally ready.
Emily was an absolutely adorable little girl who was a ray of sunshine in Patricia and Mark's lives. Even though she's been through a lot, she has a generosity of spirit and a peace about her that is like a gentle rain on this couple's parched souls. In fact, she touches the lives of so many people just by being herself. Since the main characters weren't familiar to me when I started The Christmas Hope , I wasn't sure if it had a direct connection to the first two books of the series or not.
I was very pleasantly surprised when Nathan and Megan Andrews The Christmas Blessing showed up, eagerly awaiting the birth of their first child. Nathan is a wonderful doctor who is amazing with children.
A Christmas Hope (Christmas Stories, #11) by Anne Perry
It's obvious that he's finally found his true calling in life. It almost seems like Donna VanLiere has a preoccupation with death especially around Christmastime, but I have to admit that I really like the way she handles this ofttimes difficult topic. As someone who has had trouble with this issue, I can say that she really imparts an inspiring message about death being another step in life.
- Maupassant : Oeuvres complètes - 67 titres (Annotés et illustrés) (French Edition).
- A Christmas Hope.
- Relax. Read. Repeat.?
It also wasn't quite as sad for me in The Christmas Hope , because no major characters were dying. In fact, I was surprised to find that this book actually had some lighthearted moments too, with characters gently teasing each other which made me smile. Overall, The Christmas Hope was a heartwarming story that was an inspiration to read, and I'm proud to put it on my keeper shelf to be enjoyed again and again during future holiday seasons.
I love Donna VanLiere's way with creating stories in which the characters lives intricately intertwine in wonderful, miraculous and unexpected ways. I can't wait to see what's in store for the next book of the Christmas Hope series. Nov 13, Carolina rated it really liked it. This one was definitely more tear jerking than the other ones but it is also more about children, which I have a special place for in my heart.
It was beautiful and tragic and a book full of miracles. I also like how the author somehow ties all the characters together. Dec 17, Carole rated it really liked it Shelves: If you're in the middle of a busy Christmas season, and want a short, sweet, touching Christmas story, look no further! It brought a tear or two, and touched my heart.
The perfect December book! Dec 03, Sarah rated it liked it Shelves: Dec 06, Loraine rated it it was amazing Shelves: Once again Donna Van Liere has penned a lovely Christmas story. Just as Jesus came into the world to give us second hope, joy and light, Emily and Mia come into Patricia and Mark's lives at Christmas and lead the way to second chances, hope, peace, and light in the darkness restoring the miracle and true spirit of Christmas. Nov 25, Betsy rated it really liked it Shelves: The story is touching and shows how God can bring hope into your life when you least expect it.
Dec 06, Dharshini rated it really liked it. These Christmas series books are cliche and designed to touch the heart strings, but in good way! We all need a feel good pick me up book once in a while. Dec 03, Linda Collings rated it it was amazing. Dec 26, Dawn rated it it was amazing Recommends it for: Anyone who loves Christmas Holiday stories. Recommended to Dawn by: I read the first two books in the Christmas Hope series.
Although I've enjoyed the first two books in the series, so far, this one has been my favorite. It didn't make me cry like the first book The Christmas Shoes , but I was really invested in what happened to the main characters in this story. Nathan, the young boy from "The Christmas Shoes" makes a few appearances during this story. I like how it keeps you updated on his life now as a doctor and I hope he is in the rest of the Christmas Hope series. This book makes you realize that God gives us h Although I've enjoyed the first two books in the series, so far, this one has been my favorite. This book makes you realize that God gives us hope to get us through the dark times.
There may be events in your life that will make you not want to continue living, but God just might send you an angel to help you through and see the hope for your future. Mar 29, Natalie Widener rated it it was amazing. A very enjoyable read! Dec 02, Staci rated it really liked it Shelves: What a heartwarming story! Another well done Christmas story by the author of The Christmas Shoes.
Dec 22, Kim. In my prior life as a professional, I was a social worker and later an intensely trained clinician that provided special care to the most vulnerable and endangered in our human population. This book was not only a spirit of hope and love, but of the everyday miracles that come in this field. This series has been the greatest surprise for me throughout this holiday season, and a gift I will hold onto so much longer than a new pair of pajamas or a piece of my favorite pie only served on Christmas E In my prior life as a professional, I was a social worker and later an intensely trained clinician that provided special care to the most vulnerable and endangered in our human population.
This series has been the greatest surprise for me throughout this holiday season, and a gift I will hold onto so much longer than a new pair of pajamas or a piece of my favorite pie only served on Christmas Eve. Family is messy, and we all do not live in Norman Rockwell paintings, but this series is the closest I have found.