Customer Reviews

All I Have to Give: A Christmas Love Story

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This was a beautiful inspirational heartwarming story. Michael and Anna are a lovely couple who are truly in love. I think that the author handles the subject of infertility in a compassionate and understanding manner. My only complaint is that I wish Anna had been a stronger heroine. I was disappointed when she thought she had cancer, but wouldn't do anything about it or talk to anyone about it. Also, I was disappointed when she didn't approach Michael about some doubts that she was having. Despite the fact that she is not a strong heroine, this is still a very good story and a quick read.

Anna and Michael have everything they want in life except for one thing: a child. Now approaching her forties, and after trying almost every option, it looks as if that door is closing for good. Just when Anna is ready to accept her fate, she fears that she has the same symptoms of an illness that claimed her mother. Worried that this is the last Christmas she will ever spend with her husband, she tries to do everything in her power to give him the best possible Christmas. She sacrifices what she cherishes the most to make him happy.

This is a sweet modern retelling of the classic story The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry. It makes one wonder--if you knew this was going to be your last Christmas, what would you do to make it one to remember for your loved ones? I really liked the way that Anna wanted to do everything to make her husband happy even to the point of giving up what she loved the most. It's refreshing to see a Christmas story where the focus is on others and not on one's own self. I also appreciated her outburst during the mom's group as people need to be aware that couples without children are not always childless by choice.

The only negative thing about this book was the way that Anna acted when she first thought she had cancer. If someone has had a history of cancer in their family and they start to believe they have the same symptoms, now is not the time to be a protector from bad news. She should have told her husband immediately and gone to see a doctor. Even if funds were short, this was not something to push back. Furthermore, keeping such an important secret like this from her husband would also hurt their relationship in the future. Other than that, it is a great way to spend an afternoon to get yourself ready for the holidays.

This is a wonderful addition to the Christmas short stories that Melody Carlson has written throughout the years. It's a story that takes only a day to read yet the spirit of the Christmas season will remain with you throughout the entire year.

Anna and Michael have everything they want in life except for one thing: a child. Now approaching her forties, and after trying almost every option, it looks as if that door appears to be closing for good. Just when Anna is ready to accept her fate, she fears that she has the same symptoms of an illness that claimed her mother. Worried that this is the last Christmas she will ever spend with her husband, she tries to do everything in her power to give him the best possible Christmas. She sacrifices what she cherishes the most to make him happy.

This is a sweet modern retelling of the classic story The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry. It makes one wonder if you knew this was going to be your last Christmas what would you do to make it one to remember for your loved ones. I really liked the way that Anna wanted to do everything to make her husband happy even to the point of giving up what she loved the most. It's refreshing to see a Christmas story where the focus is on others and not on one's own self. I also appreciated her outburst during the mom's group as people need to be aware that couples without children are not always childless by choice. The only negative thing about this book was the way that Anna acted when she first thought she had cancer. If someone has had a history of cancer in their family and they start to believe they have the same symptoms, now is not the time to be a protector from bad news. She should have told her husband immediately and gone to see a doctor. Even if funds were short, this was not something to push back. Further more by keeping such an important secret like this from her husband would also hurt their relationship in the future. Other than that, it is a great way to spend an afternoon to get yourself ready for the holidays. This is a wonderful addition to the Christmas short stories that Melody Carlson has written throughout the years. It's a story that takes only a day to read yet the spirit of the Christmas season will remain with you throughout the entire year.

Melody Carlson is a very prolific author with over 200 books published. I have become aware of her through seeing her Christmas stories but this is the first book of hers that I have picked up and read. A relatively slim volume of 167 pages, this novel (novella?) is a perfect read for a night or two around the holiday season. As soon as the calendar closes on Thanksgiving, I begin to work my way through by TBR stack of Christmas reads and decided to start with this particular volume.

The book opens with the Thanksgiving celebration hosted by Anna and Michael in their cozy bungalow home. Anna's family has joined them for the holiday and we get to meet all of them -- father, step-mother, brother, sister-in-law, etc. - and learn a little bit about their stories. Michael is starting to get his own business off the ground and Anna is a school teacher. Both are busy and happy in their jobs but the child they haven't been able to have haunts them as they are getting older and the likelihood of having a baby diminishes. In addition, Anna hasn't been feeling well and the illness that took her mother's life is always in the back of her mind. As a result, she decides to make this the best Christmas ever but (as usually happens) the best laid plans don't necessarily pan out and things don't progress as she hoped. As we follow their story during the month of December, there are bumps as well as victories along the way culminating in a wonderful resolution to the story by Christmas.

For folks who like sappy, uplifting Christmas stories, this is a good one. Not everything is sugary sweet but yet the overall storyline is happy so it feels a bit more "real" than some of the books out there you see. Well written, uplifting, somewhat predictable - a good read for the genre.

I found this book to be simple yet filled with charm. It is a love story that most of us need to think about with the person closest to us. Henry O never is loved by all generations.

Very entertaining ,and a fast read . A good reflection novel that encourages you to think about the real issues of life. A not so sure, how its going to turn out, untill you get to the end of the book.

It's a classic plot. Updated version. A value new/used. A 3-4 hour book worth reading on an annual basis for Christmas book lovers. Melody Carlson writes the romance into the Christmas gift classic story that so many came to know. A married couples swap of watch chain and hair combs. But the cost of one gift was the selling of the other. But love prevails in the end.

So, predictable? Yes. At the end of the book, Carlson even quotes O. Henry's own story ending. But it's a contemporary twist and added plot woven into the book to make it a convenient holiday read length. Not too long, but yet doable each year. If you have guests staying over, leave it lay on the table. It's Christmas decorative, and they might just pick it up and have a read. Or, for the reduction pricing after a couple years of release, it could be used as a Christmas card for a bookworm friend. Or spouse! Better yet, read it WITH your spouse. It' will take about the time of 2 evening DVD movies, or 2 sports matches.

I'd also recommend many other Carlson books. I like her. "The Christmas Bus" is another older holiday favorite by this author.

Anna and Michael love one another and believe their lives are almost perfect except for two major things. First Anna has had recent health issues that have shaken the couple with the mortality reminder of how short life is; each of the loving pair is more concerned over how her illness mentally harms the other. Second the pair is saddened over their seemingly inability to have children; a desire both want.

In their late thirties and having tried seemingly forever, they have given up on kids. Being pragmatic Anna considers changing their once planned nursery into a guest room. Meanwhile Anna and Michael consider what would be the ideal Christmas gift to give to their beloved mate to cheer them up.

ALL I HAVE TO GIVE in some ways will remind the audience of the Gift of the Magi as an uplifting inspiring holiday drama. The support cast like Anna's sister enhances the plot by bringing enlightenment to the audience re how much the lead couple love one another. Anna and Michael are a wonderful duet who's caring for one another makes for a delightful warm Christmas tale of love.

Harriet Klausner

I RATE ALL OF HER BOOKS WITH 5 STARS BECAUSE MELODY CARLSON IS A 5 STAR AUTHOR. I HAVE NEVER HAD ANYTHING BUT GREAT THINGS TO SAY ABOUT HER WRITINGS. THEY KEEP ME INTERESTED FROM PAGE 1 TO THE END. SOME I HAVE READ OVER THEY WERE GO GOOD.