Customer Reviews

Hannah's List (Blossom Street)

5 star:		(37)
4 star:		(19)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

Dr. Michael Everett's wife Hannah died after a very short battle with ovarian cancer. She was stage 4 when she was diagnosed. Her husband has carried an enormous burden of guilt thinking that he was a doctor, he should have known sooner.

On the anniversary of her death, her brother, Michael's best friend, gives him a letter Hannah wrote to him shortly before she died. It was a heartbreaking letter that reminded him of her love and the wonderful years they had together, but it also had one final request. She wanted him to marry again and not spend his years grieving her. She even included a list of three names of women she thought he should consider.
Her cousin, Winter Adams, who is a chef and owns a cafe on Blossom Street.
Leanne Lancaster, who was Hannah's oncology nurse.
And Macy Roth, an artist Hannah had met.

Over the next few month's he spends time with each of them, learning about them, but also learning quite a bit about himself.



This is a true love story although the list idea is not entirely new. I remember an old episode of Everyone Loves Raymond where this idea was dealt with using a great deal of humor. Debbie's version really tugs at the heart strings. The good thing is that you know that when your are reading a Debbie Macomber book you are almost assured of a happy ending. While this book does take place around Blossom Street and a few of the characters from that series make an appearance, this is definitely a stand alone book. Although I do hope Dr. Michael Everett shows up in some way in the Blossom Street series, so we can see how things continue in his future. He is truly an endearing character. This was a truly enjoyable read for an early Spring day.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free.. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

It's been a year since his beloved wife Hannah's death and Dr. Michael Everett still grieves for as much today as the day he lost her. He manages to get himself to the gym and to his practice, where he is a pediatrician, each day. But nothing else much matters to him. And then on the one year anniversary of her death, her brother Richie, who is also Michael's best friend, gives him a letter Hannah wrote months before her death. She asks him for one last favor - to not grieve for her forever. She wants him to find love again, to marry again and to have the family that they were unable to have. But Hannah takes it one step further and gives Michael the names of three women she feels will bring him happiness and love again.

Winter Adams (from the Blossom Street series) and owner of The French Cafe is Hannah's cousin. She is a strong, professional woman trying to figure out where she and Pierre, her long time on-again off again boyfriend stand.

Leanne Lancaster was one of Hannah's nurses who helped her through the last months of her illness. She has just gone through divorce, a decision she is now second guessing, and can empathize with Michael and his feelings of loneliness and grief as she is going through similar emotions over the loss of her marriage.

Macy Roth is the wild card. She's young, impetuous, carefree, and counts her three cats, a stray dog, and a crotchety old neighbor as her family. She is habitually late, stubborn, terrified of love and everything that Hannah was not.


Winter, Macy and Leanne each have issues in their private lives they need to settle before they can give romance with Michael a chance. But each of these women also has something different to offer Michael in terms of learning to find his way back to the land of living and to opening his heart to love again. Over the next few months Michael will spend time with each of them, getting to know them and often wondering what Hannah could possibly have been thinking when she picked each one. But most importantly Michael finds himself again, and with some help from his beloved Hannah, he also finds love. A moving story of three woman, each struggling to find their way in their own relationships and one mans struggle to realize that life does go on after loss and that you can find happiness again.

Maybe it's just me, but as a faithful Macomber reader I had high expectations for this book. I had had its release date noted on my calendar for a couple months. Sadly, at least for me, this is a weak effort. I had just finished reading "Twenty Wishes" for the third time so maybe the excellence of "Twenty" made it a hard act to follow. I found "Hannah's List" a bit saccharine, predictable and too easy of a read. Even the font's point size is larger than previous releases (making me think the publishers are trying to make something more out of it than it really is). I have been eager and willing to pay hardback prices for the other "Blossom Street" books; this one just isn't worth it. It's an OK read...just not of the caliber and complexity that I've gotten used to.

Hannah's List is the latest book by Debbie Macomber and while a few of the Blossom Street characters make cameo appearances, it is a stand-alone book. Michael Everett lost his wife, Hannah, a year ago and they truly had a great marriage. Still grieving, on the one year anniversary of her death, Hannah's brother hands him a letter he was given by her. In the letter, Hannah encourages Michael to begin living again and includes a list of three women she thinks would potentially be good candidates for his partner for the remainder of his years.

One of the things that is different about this book is that the primary character and narrator is male. Most of Ms. Macomber's books are written from the female point of view, so there is a slightly different tone to this one. I don't think it is necessarily a problem, but it is different.

Something the potential reader should know before deciding to read this book. All of Ms. Macomber's books are an easy read. I can go through one of her books in a couple of days so quick is what I expect. In this case, it was even more so. The type is absolutely huge - while the book is 412 pages, that number is misleading since it could easily have been closer to 250 if a normal font size was used. I sat down and read over 200 pages in about 2 hours - way above my "normal" reading pace!

While I largely love her books and faithfully read the Blossom Street and Cedar Cove series and find them comforting, sometimes comforting translates to boring and this one verged on boring. It was so linear and the outcome so telegraphed from the beginning that there was no tension or even a twist or turn to keep my interest. Most of the characters, including the main character of Michael, were one-dimensional and uninteresting. The supporting characters just make appearances rather than adding anything to the story. While I enjoy a feel-good, light read this one was just too fluffy for me. Definitely not bad, but nowhere near the quality of her other books - I almost think she needed to get something published and hurried through this one. I'll give it a 3-star since there is some halo-effect from liking her other works.

Michael Everett's beloved wife Hannah died one year ago from cancer. During this time, Michael has grieved and allowed no one close. He doesn't go out, he doesn't socialize much, and he basically has shut down in his sadness. On the one year anniversary of her death, Michael's brother-in-law gives him a letter his wife wrote before she died. In it, she gives Michael the names of three women she wants him to meet and possibly fall in love with. Michael is shocked, angry, and somewhat dismayed to find out that Hannah knew before her death exactly how he would act once she was gone. He doesn't want anything to do with any of the women, but feels he at least should see why his wife felt the need to suggest their names. He doesn't expect to fall in love, nor does he expect his world to turn upside down. But it does and Hannah's List guides him along the way.

I am sad to say that Hannah's List left me feeling empty. Michael's grief is real, but his ungallant behavior towards one of the women on the list shocked me to the core so much that I forgot about Michael hurting. His treatment of her was so despising that I almost couldn't finish this book. I found no connection between Michael and any of the women on the list and frankly, by this time, I hoped he would be alone forever. I most definitely will not ever read this book again.

Talia Ricci
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

Michael's wife Hannah succumbed to ovarian cancer, and when she has been gone a year her brother, Ritchie, presents Michael with a letter she wrote before her death. She asks Michael to date again, and gives him the names of three women. They are each very different: Winter owns a restaurant on Blossom Street, Leeanne is an oncology nurse, and Macy is an artist. Macomber is a consummate storyteller and creates wonderful characters--this novel is escapist reading at its best.

This book lead you through the greving process with pain, thought and humor. I would recommend it to anyone.

Okay, the publisher's review states that Michael should still be grieving, not looking for another wife a year after his wife dies of cancer. She states this is unrealistic. Not so! I have a dear friend who died of cancer and knew her husband could not be alone. She told him to remarry within the first year. Surprisingly, he was introduced to a friend's aunt and after talking on the phone for a few weeks, flew from Ohio to Florida to visit her. They hit it off! He came home and continued to run up the phone bill until the Pastor told him to marry the woman! Six months from his wife's death he fulfilled her wish for him. I think a higher power was involved! They have now been married nearly 20 years and both are much in love! So, Hannah's list, while somewhat serious with spousal death and all, turned out to be highly entertaining and funny. Let's face it, free-spirited, Macy, was hilarious! Don't tell me there are no more Blossom Street stories! I have loved every book!
Dawn Kurtz author of Christian novel: Secret of the Mexican Doll

The book was very good. It touches your heart and shows the strength and love that a person can have even in times of crisis.

The book also shows how the ability to think about and help others is really a blessing to you as well as them.

I would recommend this book to anyone.

I had not read a fiction book in 40 years but knew I would enjoy "Hannah's List" because of what I had read and seen of Debbie Macomber. The book satisfied my built-up expectations and proved to be a nice little vacation. I look forward to reading more of Macomber's work.