The Christmas Basket [Hardcover]

Debbie Macomber (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2002

No one tells a Christmas story like Debbie Macomber. The Christmas Basket is filled with gifts for the reader -- gifts of warmth and laughter . . . and emotional truth. This Christmas, let Debbie make you smile!

That summer -- more than ten years ago, while they were still in high school -- Noelle McDowell and Thomas Sutton fell secretly in love. Secretly because their mothers had been locked in a bitter feud for decades. But despite the animosity between Sarah McDowell and Mary Sutton, Noelle planned to elope with Thom. Until he jilted her.

This Christmas Noelle McDowell is home to celebrate the holidays with her family. (After all, December 25 is also her birthday.) Unfortunately, Noelle's feelings about home -- or rather, her hometown of Rose, Oregon -- were changed forever the day Thomas Sutton broke her heart.

This Christmas the feuding mothers find themselves working together to fill Christmas baskets for charity. What irony! And what an opportunity for reconciliation . . . if only they could see it.

This Christmas Noelle and Thom discover they're still in love. Regardless of their mothers' reactions, they want to be together. Is that possible? Can old rivalries be set aside? Will Sarah's Christmas daughter have a second chance with Mary's charming son?

Maybe she will . . . this Christmas!

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Prolific, bestselling romance novelist Macomber offers fans a stocking stuffer for the Christmas season. Twenty-eight-year-old workaholic Noelle McDowell takes a rare vacation from her high-powered computer company in Dallas to come home to smalltown Rose, Ore., for the holidays and help plan her sister's wedding. Noelle hasn't been to Rose in 10 years-ever since her high school sweetheart jilted her. Theirs was a secret romance because their mothers, one-time best friends, had long been engaged in a bitter feud that began when Sarah McDowell borrowed Mary Sutton's antique tea service and never returned it. A silly popcorn-throwing incident at the movies brings Noelle and her ex, Thom-now a handsome executive at a prosperous startup-together again. They discover they're still in love. But will their warring families ruin their second chance for happiness? Their mothers, coincidentally assigned to the same volunteer job-filling Christmas baskets for the needy-begin their charity mission with a vicious toy-throwing fight at a local mall. Will an accident during an ice storm provide an occasion for their reconciliation? There aren't exactly any hairpin plot turns in this formulaic, feel-good, PG-rated contemporary romance. Still, the mom-against-mom catfight adds a dash of hilarity to this lightweight confection. The good, clean holiday fun should satisfy Macomber's fans.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Home for the first time in years for her sister's holiday wedding, Noelle McDowell is forced to face Thom Sutton, the man who jilted her when they were both teenagers. Complicating matters is the longstanding feud between their mothers, which, although it will likely seem silly and shallow to most readers, is actually at the root of Noelle and Thom's problems. Fans will likely demand this light, little Christmas hardcover romance by one of the genre's favorites, especially if they enjoy sweet, contemporary romances of the Americana variety. Macomber (Between Friends) lives in Port Orchard, WA.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Mira; 1ST edition (October 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1551669447
• ISBN-13: 978-1551669441
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 5.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #561,415 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful holiday indulgence, November 22, 2002

By 

Sandi Jones (Cincinnati, Ohio USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Christmas Basket (Hardcover)

As a relatively new reader of the romance genre, I was surprised by the great development of the characters in this book. Seeing good people at their worst was so much fun. It had great humor. I was cracking up through most of the book. This is NOT one of those sappy sweet sticky books. It is not the least bit smutty. I would be quite comfortable to let a young girl who likes romances read this. If you need a quick read to lift your holiday spirits, or to give you a holiday spirit any time that you need it, pick up this book. I will pick up more from this author. This would make a great chick film. (Sorry, not for they guys, not explosions, no nudity!)

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Heart touching, April 17, 2003

By 

Detra Fitch (USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Christmas Basket (Hardcover)

Two events changed two families' lifelong friendship years ago. When Sandy MacDowell borrowed Mary Sutton's tea service, loaned it to someone, and it was then stolen, their families became enemies. Despite this, Noel MacDowell and Thomas Sutton managed to fall in love and plan to marry. However, a misunderstanding shattered this relationship and the two parted, not to see one another for ten years.

When Noelle comes home to be part of her sister's wedding, it is inevitable that Thomas is one of the first people she sees, and keeps on seeing. At first, both pretend that their love turned into hate, but before long, they realize it did not and try to be just friends, though secretly. Their mothers still hate each other; however, they are being forced to work together on their club's annual Christmas basket project.

In an effort to mend the feud, Thomas and Noelle begin a search for a duplicate tea service, and in the process find that friendship is not all they feel. As Christmas draws nearer, can two miracles occur and two sets of hearts be healed?

... With trademark humor and warmth, Debbie Macomber spins a tale sure to touch your heart. Both storylines are endearing and captivating, as you can always expect with this writer. Her characters, as always, are easy to relate to, as if you already knew them, or someone just like them. This is perfect reading with a cup of warm cocoa, even in the deep south where it might be iced hot chocolate instead.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars These mothers are something else!, November 19, 2002

By 

Calico Cat Lover "Cathy" (Burbank, CA USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Christmas Basket (Hardcover)

Debbie Macomber is a romance author and that is just what I expected from this wonderful writer. I wasn't prepared for what I would call the "show stealing" characters of Sarah Mc Dowell (Noelle's mother)and Mary Sutton (Thom's mother). Although this book is about Noelle and Thom, their mothers antics make this a comedy about two women who have been feuding for 20 years about a stolen silver tea service that belonged to Mary. If anyone is looking for a quick read and a fun time, then read this book.