The Gift: A Novel [Deckle Edge] [Hardcover]

Richard Paul Evans (Author)

Book Description

Release date: October 9, 2007

There is no hurt so great that love cannot heal it

Nathan Hurst hated Christmas. For the rest of the world it was a day of joy and celebration; for Nathan it was simply a reminder of the event that destroyed his childhood until a snowstorm, a cancelled flight, and an unexpected meeting with a young mother and her very special son would show him that Christmas is indeed the season of miracles.

From the beloved author of the international bestseller The Christmas Box comes another timeless story of faith, hope, and healing.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster (October 9, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416550011
• ISBN-13: 978-1416550013
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 5.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (104 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #88,409 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Evans (The Christmas Box) returns with narrator Nathan Hurst, a frequently traveling, Tourette's-suffering security chief for a retail chain. When Nathan gets snowed in at the Denver airport at Thanksgiving, he offers half his hotel suite to a stranded needy family: recently divorced single mom Addison (a massage therapist), and her two children, Lizzy and Collin. Collin, who has leukemia, cures Nathan's Tourette's with his gift of healing touch. Exercising his secret gift makes Collin sicker, though, and as news of his healing powers eventually leaks out, leading to a demand for his services, his condition worsens. Nathan, meanwhile, feels emboldedened by his cure, and moves to address childhood woes when visiting his nursing home–bound mother. The tightly honed narrative, brimming with good intention to find courage in shared suffering, soon brings everyone together. (Oct.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

About the Author

Richard Paul Evans is the #1 bestselling author of The Christmas Box. Each of his more than twenty novels has appeared on the New York Times bestseller list; there are more than seventeen million copies of his books in print. His books have been translated into more than twenty-four languages and several have been international bestsellers. He is the winner of the American Mothers Book Award, two first place Storytelling World Awards for his children’s books, and the Romantic Times Best Women's Novel of the Year Award. Evans received the Washington Times Humanitarian of the Century Award and the Volunteers of America National Empathy Award for his work helping abused children. Evans lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, with his wife, Keri, and their five children.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster (October 9, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416550011
• ISBN-13: 978-1416550013
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 5.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (104 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #88,409 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Richard Paul Evans
When Richard Paul Evans wrote the #1 best-seller, The Christmas Box, he never intended on becoming an internationally known author.

Officially, he was an advertising executive, an award-winning clay animator for the American and Japanese markets, candidate for state legislature and most importantly, husband and father. The Christmas Box was written as an expression of love for his (then) two daughters. Though he often told them how much he loved them, he wanted to express his love in a way that would be timeless. In 1993, Evans reproduced 20 copies of the final story and gave them to his closest relatives and friends as Christmas presents. In the month following, those 20 copies were passed around more than 160 times, and soon word spread so widely that bookstores began calling his home with orders for it.

His quiet story of parental love and the true meaning of Christmas made history when it became simultaneously the #1 hardcover and paperback book in the nation. Since then, more than eight million copies of The Christmas Box have been printed. The Emmy award-winning CBS television movie based on The Christmas Box starred Maureen O'Hara and Richard Thomas. Two more of Evans's books were produced by Hallmark and starred such well-known actors as James Earl Jones, Vanessa Redgrave, Naomi Watts, Mary McDonough and Academy award winner Ellen Burstyn. He has since written 10 consecutive New York Times bestsellers and is one of the few authors in history to have hit both the fiction and non-fiction bestseller lists. He has won three awards for his children's books including the 1998 American Mothers book award and two first place Storytelling World awards. Evans's latest book, The 5 Lessons a Millionaire Taught Me About Life and Wealth, is now available.

Of his success, Evans says: "The material achievements of The Christmas Box will never convey its true success, the lives it has changed, the families brought closer together, the mothers and fathers who suddenly understand the pricelessness of their children's fleeting childhood. I share the message of this book with you in hopes that in some way, you might be, as I was, enlightened."

During the Spring of 1997, Evans founded The Christmas Box House International, an organization devoted to building shelters and providing services for abused and neglected children. Such shelters are operational in Moab, Vernal, Ogden and Salt Lake City, Utah and Lucre, Peru. To date, more than 16,000 children have been housed in Christmas Box House facilities.

As an acclaimed speaker, Evans has shared the podium with such notable personalities as President George W. Bush, President George and Barbara Bush, former British Prime Minister John Majors, Ron Howard, Elizabeth Dole, Deepak Chopra, Steve Allen, and Bob Hope. Evans has been featured on the Today show and Entertainment Tonight, as well as in Time, Newsweek, People, The New York Times, Washington Post, Good Housekeeping, USA Today, TV Guide, Reader's Digest, and Family Circle. Evans lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, with his wife, Keri, and their five children.

Amazon Author Rankbeta 

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#37 in Kindle eBooks > Religion & Spirituality

#46 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Literary Fiction

#47 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Literary

#53 in Books > Religion & Spirituality

#66 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Contemporary

#37 in Kindle eBooks > Religion & Spirituality

#46 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Literary Fiction

#47 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Literary

#53 in Books > Religion & Spirituality

#66 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Contemporary

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 32 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars The Gift January 1, 2008

By Ratmammy VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

THE GIFT by Richard Paul Evans
January 1, 2008

Amazon Rating: 4/5 stars

In Richard Paul Evans latest novel, a man witnesses a series of miracles performed by a young, terminally ill boy, and learns lessons in love and giving. Nathan Hurst doesn't realize what is missing in his life, but upon the start of this new relationship, Nathan makes some changes in his own life and also learns the lesson of forgiveness.

Nathan works for a retail store in which he is to prevent and catch employees who are stealing from the company, in particular, merchandise. During one of his business trips visiting one of the stores, he encounters a boy and his family while waiting at the airport on a very snowy night. This young boy is terminally ill, but Nathan discovers a gift that this young boy has. It's a type of gift that is kept secret, because once it is known, the boy's mother knows that the media will be on their backs, as will the rest of the world. For the sake of the boy's health, his mother tries her best to hide this special gift from the public.

Nathan gets involved with the woman and her two children by volunteering his hotel room for the night, as their flight has been cancelled due to the snowstorm. This act of kindness leads to one thing and another, and soon he has fallen in love with the woman, as he also learns lessons in unselfish love from the young boy.

THE GIFT is the type of book geared toward the holidays, a story filled with miracles. It's an emotional story, so be sure to have a box of Kleenex by your side! Readers who enjoy reading books by Mitch Albom will love THE GIFT.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Fulfilling Story October 9, 2007

By Anonymous

Format:Hardcover

Richard Paul Evans has written his best novel in years! I was not planning to read this book in one sitting, but I could not put it down. This was a wonderfully emotional book. I enjoyed so many relationships from Addison to Nathan, Collin to Elizabeth and Nathan to his mother. I was completely enthralled in their world and it made me reflect on my own life and relationships. As always, the diary entries are such a great part of the story. My favorite "Small kindnesses often, unintentionally, produce the biggest payoffs." It's what life is all about. This is a truly amazing book from an incredible writer.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Wonderful, Inspiring Story from Richard Paul Evans! November 26, 2007

By JJ Stark VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

What can I say that hasn't already been said? If you enjoy reading Richard Paul Evans' novels year after year, you certainly won't want to miss this one. If you've never read a RP Evans before, this is as good a place to start as any. The story moves along at a nice pace and the characters are well defined. We understand their thoughts and actions and the reasons that they do things. Under the pen of other authors, this is not always accomplished. RP Evans knows how to bring characters to life and make us feel like we know them personally. As you read a RP Evans novel, you'll think you're reading an article in your local newspaper or magazine. The characters and stories feel that real.

Inspirational without being mushy or over-dramatic. He tugs at just enough heartstrings without leaving you feeling overwhelmed or exhausted with emotion.

I look forward to Mr. Evans novels year after year and he never disappoints. My only complaint is that I get through the book so darned quickly, I'm left hanging for another 11 months looking for something to fill that void (nothing ever really does!) I look forward to many more books and wonderful reads from truly one of the most inspirational authors of the 21st century!

If you like Nicholas Sparks, Debbie Macomber, Luanne Rice, Kristin Hannah then you'll love Richard Paul Evans!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Rich characters. Compelling story. Wonderful book. October 11, 2007

By K Kline

Format:Hardcover

I anxiously await Richard's books every year and this year was no different. I knew it would be in bookstores on October 9th so I went right down and got mine. It may seem weird but I savored every page. It was wonderful. I loved the character of Nathan Hurst and, if I wasn't already married to the perfect man, I'd marry Nathan! I loved the tender little boy, Collin, and his family. The characters are so rich and the story so compelling that I have to say this is my favorite Richard Paul Evans book--at least until next year's comes out!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great read October 13, 2007

By Bob

Format:Hardcover

I've read all of Mr. Evans books and this one reminds me of how I felt after reading The Christmas Box trilogy. It was a wonderful, moving book. One of the best yet.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book! October 11, 2007

By N. Heggen

Format:Hardcover

Wow! His books just keep getting better and better! I also couldn't put this book down once I started. We can only hope for a movie!

Keep writing Richard Paul Evans, can't wait until the next one!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Grab some tissues while reading this October 29, 2007

By A. Hughes

Format:Hardcover

I have a serious problem with ANY of Richard Paul Evans books .. once I start reading them I cannot set it down until I have finished the book. Richard Paul Evans has the most amazing books and each one will sparka tear in your eye. If I had to choose just one of his books I couldnt do it because they are all fantastic !

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars I LOVE this book!!! October 14, 2007

By M. Schaufelberger

Format:Hardcover

God has truly blessed Richard Paul Evans with an ability to touch our hearts and pull us into the lives of the characters he writes. As like the other reviewers, I could not put the book down and read the entire book in one sitting! The only problem is now I have to wait another year for the next one! I highly recommend this or any of his books. Thank you thank you THANK YOU!!!!