Customer Reviews

The Gift: Home For Christmas\All I Want For Christmas\Gabriel's Angel

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

 

 

I just finished "The Gift" and knew they were dated and must be re-issues but since I had never read them before, that part was okay. The first story "Home for Christmas" was all pretty predictable. There could have been a lot more to this one. I liked all the characters but it was really just too short. It just ended and I would have liked to have seen Clara's reaction to knowing her real father. Then the second story: the only saving grace in this one are the twins. I couldn't get into liking Nell or Mac either one. They fight-have sex-fight some more and then it ends! Gabriel's Angel is worth buying the book. There is some depth to this story. However, I kept thinking why don't they talk about what is bothering them instead of it going on and on with their thoughts of each other but each afraid to share their feelings. I was thinking they both needed therapy but finally got it all solved. The book is okay; just not great!

I don't know why people are making such an issue about the fact that these are republications of her older works. It's pretty obvious, especially since her publishers have pretty much made a hefty profit from doing it with so many of her other silhouette books. I actually bought this a couple of years ago from CVS and to tell you the truth I just loved the cover. It's so gorgeous and glittery. Then I looked inside and found recipes and cute little stories. I didn't read all 3 stories at once. They're also very predictable, but they're also pretty short and nicely written so no harm done. I have one piece of advice: DO NOT TRY HER RECIPES!!! The pancakes are absolutely horrendous, very old fashioned which usually means zero taste and heavy, not fluffy. The cookies are a little tasteless, but they work well if you intend to spread icing on them for decoration; that way they don't end up too sweet and overpowering. I don't even like the look of bread pudding and I honestly wasn't about to try hers if she can't even give a good recipe for pancakes. Overall, I'd advise her to stick to writing and don't try to share her recipes. They're for people with an acquired taste meaning they're for people that live in log cabins and haven't deviated from their family recipes for the past 80 years. Search on allrecipes if you're really in the need for a recipe, don't rely on this book.

The other reviewer might be upset that this is older material, but I discovered Nora this year. Since January I've bought and read about 60 Nora Roberts. This is classic, perfect Nora Roberts.

I started reading this book in the morning and had it finished by lunch. It is a wonderful, holiday read. If you believe that the spirit of Christmas is alive and well, Nora captures just a brief hint of that spirit and shares it with her readers in "The Gift".

Even if you've read the stories before, read them again under one cover. With a tear or two in your eyes, you will be glad you did.

The First story "Home for Christmas" was a cute Christmas Story. It was a little fast paced and a little predictable. I wished that Jason and Faith didn't jump into sex so fast, but it was a sweet story of love and hope. If Nora had just made it longer,instead of making it fast paced it'd have been better. Over all it's a cute story that i enjoyed.

The Second Story "All I Want for Christmas" is the cutest story. About twin six year old boys, Zack and Zeke, and how this write a letter to Santa asking for a mom, wait not a mom "THE mom". It's a totally cute story, and you totaly fall inlove with The boys as well as with Nell and Mac.

Now, "Gabriel's Angel" was my favorite, and the reason i bought this book. I had previously read it, and i loved it so much i had to have it for myself! i ordered it with the other two novells instead of by itself because i wanted to read the others as well, but lets get to my review. This is about Laura, pregnant and alone, she is running from her baby's father's parents. She finds herself in the hands of Gabriel Bradley, a famous artist, in a cabin by themselves. Stuck in a snow storm for days, she must put her and her baby in his hands. A bit of a scrooge, Gabe is, but he takes them in. Little by little she opens up her story to him, and little by little they fall inlove. What started out as a marriage for money to help Laura keep custody of the baby, ended up with love, hope, and trust.

I HIGHLY recomend this book, if mostly for Gabriel's Angel.!!

Gabriel's Angel makes this worth the purchase. I read it every few months! Strength, self-knowledge, hurt, and finally healing and acceptance and love all wrapped into one well-written story. The details of the story are a bit exaggerated for everyday life, but the emotions are real. Most of us struggle with doubt, disappointment, hurt, and hope on a daily basis. This book is a larger version of that - with the greatest of all endings: respect so completely entwined with love that the romance has the expectation of being forever because the characters respect each other enough to communicate with each other.

This is a romance in the best sense. The other 2 books in this omnibus are forgettable and trite. This one is worth the purchase!

I purchased this book for my daughter in law for Christmas. She has flown thru it and has enjoyed it very much. She says it is one of Nora Roberts best...

This book is one of my favourites from Nora Roberts! It's a fun, light read, and the fact that it's three shorter stories makes it perfect for the reader on the go. All of the stories are fun, but "Gabriel's Angel" is definitely the standout, being both the most lengthy and having the most developed characters. The stories, though recycled, are perfect for the Holiday season.

If you haven't read Nora Roberts before this is an excellent book to start with. It has many stories in it and all of them were exceptional! I read all of her books and this one came out in time for Christmas. I gave it as a gift as well to someone else.

Each story pulls you in only to be let down in the romance scenes.
As a huge Nora Roberts fan who has read all of her books I was very sorry I had paid money for this book. The scenes in each story where the couple got together was just blah blah blah! This is not the Nora Roberts or
J.D. Robb I know and love!!!! Are these made for tv movie stories? rated G for general audience.

I'm giving this one star because I am fed up with recycled rubbish from well-established authors and publishers who are, in my view, ripping off the reading public. I bought this in a rush to an airline departure gate so it's partly my fault but why does the author and publisher feel the need to recycle stories that are, in one case, over 20 years old? There surely is no need for this with an author who sells as well as Nora Roberts. By the way, Gabriel's Angel was naff and so dated (the hero smokes for heaven's sake!) that I could not finish it. All I Want for Christmas was cute but not worthy of being brought out again. I see that this collection was even brought out in hardback several years ago and it was all old hat then. I hate to rubbish a book or an author but this really is unforgivable.