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Saturday, December 24, 2011

Book Review: The Christmas Shoes by Donna VanLiere

Title: The Christmas Shoes
Author: Donna VanLiere
Publisher: St. Martin's Press (November 2001)

Summary from Goodreads:
Sometimes, the things that can change your life will cross your path in one instant-and then, in a fleeting moment, they're gone. But if you open your eyes, and watch carefully, you will believe....

Robert is a successful attorney who has everything in life-and nothing at all. Focused on professional achievement and material rewards, Robert is on the brink of losing his marriage. He has lost sight of his wife, Kate, their two daughters, and ultimately himself. Eight year old Nathan has a beloved mother, Maggie, whom he is losing to cancer. But Nathan and his family are building a simple yet full life, and struggling to hold onto every moment they have together. A chance meeting on Christmas Even brings Robert and Nathan together-he is shopping for a family he hardly knows and Nathan is shopping for a mother he is soon to lose. In this one encounter, their lives are forever altered as Robert learns an important lesson: sometimes the smallest things can make all the difference. The Christmas Shoes is a universal story of the deeper meaning of serendipity, a tale of our shared humanity, and of how a power greater than ourselves can shape, and even save, our lives.
Review:
I was in the mood for a Christmas read, so I finally picked up The Christmas Shoes after seeing it for years at Costco and other bookstores. The cover art and small-size of the book drew me into picking up the book and I'm glad I finally figured out what the fuss was all about with the "Christmas" books.

I loved this story. It was a very quick read and just what I wanted in a Christmas book - full of love, family and redemption. However, I think the deeper parts of the story were a bit unexpected for me because I didn't think it would go deeper than the normal Christmas fluff. It really reached deep down into my heart and made me cry several times throughout the book.

I'm a sucker for characters' lives being woven together by the author in unexpected ways and VanLiere did an excellent job of tying unlikely characters together. Even though it was expected based on reading the summary on the back of the book, it was still very powerful and moving.

I think anyone looking for a good "Christmas" book should definitely start with VanLiere's books. You won't be disappointed.

Rating:
5 out of 5 stars

3 comments:

  1. Very good interest to read. By Regards Wholesale Printing And Trade Printer

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  3. This is number 1 of the 4 book series. It's sad but a very good book. Continue with the series to get the full effect. All the people intersect as the series continues. You will be glad you read all of them.

    Jasmine
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