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The Christmas Note

(Christmas Hope #6)

Donna VanLiere (Goodreads Author)

4.07 · Rating details · 2,502 ratings · 339 reviews

Donna VanLiere's Christmas books have enthralled millions of readers. Now she delivers a new inspirational novel about an unlikely friendship between two women—a friendship that will change each of their lives forever.

Gretchen Daniels has recently moved into a condo with her two children to be closer to her mother, Miriam. As they build a life together in their new comm ...more

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Hardcover, 208 pages

Published October 25th 2011 by St. Martin's Press

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· 2,502 ratings · 339 reviews

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Dec 12, 2015 Jean rated it really liked it

What do a mother of two young children whose husband is in a military hospital in Germany after being seriously wounded and an anti-social divorced woman who works two jobs to make ends meet have in common? Not much, it would seem. Gretchen Daniels has just moved into a condo with her two kids to be closer to her mother. Soon after they get settled, Gretchen must be the bearer of bad news. Melissa McCreary’s mother has passed away, according to the mother’s landlord. Gretchen offers to help her What do a mother of two young children whose husband is in a military hospital in Germany after being seriously wounded and an anti-social divorced woman who works two jobs to make ends meet have in common? Not much, it would seem. Gretchen Daniels has just moved into a condo with her two kids to be closer to her mother. Soon after they get settled, Gretchen must be the bearer of bad news. Melissa McCreary’s mother has passed away, according to the mother’s landlord. Gretchen offers to help her Melissa go through her mother’s things, and she is startled to learn that the woman does not seem sad or upset to receive word of her death. Melissa does, however, relent and allow Gretchen to help her clean out her mother’s shabby apartment. Most of what they find is not worth saving, except for a scribbled note that changes everything for Melissa.

Despite some character flaws and predictability in the plot, I really enjoyed Donna Van Liere’s The Christmas Note. Gretchen is extremely pushy. Instead of giving up and respecting her neighbor’s desire for solitude and privacy, she nags and practically forces her to follow up on the note that she found. And Melissa lets herself be pushed! She has virtually zero social skills, which she always, always, always blames on her late mother, Ramona, for whom there was no love lost, obviously. Somehow, I found myself intrigued by the bond form between these two women and also the connection between Miriam, Gretchen’s mother, and Gloria, Miriam’s best friend. Melissa was welcomed into the group, and I enjoyed watching her come out of her shell.

I felt that the other characters were realistic, for the most part. The two kids, Josh, Mrs. Schweiger – I found them all rather endearing. This story could have been set at any time of year, but the fact that it is set around the Christmas holiday makes it more special. Gretchen is missing her husband Kyle and more than ever wants to see him at Christmas. Everyone gets caught up in the Christmas spirit, but this is a story about friendship, love, transformation, and forgiveness, which could be appropriate for any season.

There are no loose ends in The Christmas Note. Things come together and are nicely packaged and tied up with a pretty bow, just the way I like my Christmas reading to be.

4 stars
...more

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Dec 07, 2018 Staci rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-in-2018

Another well written Christmas novel by Donna VanLiere. What I loved the most is the way the author showed that sometimes we should get out of our comfort zone to be kind to strangers, show affection for new friends, etc and the risk just may be worth it.

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Nov 24, 2018 Mayda rated it really liked it

Shelves: christian, christmas, relationships

Just because people are neighbors, it doesn’t mean that they’ll have enough in common to be friends. Gretchen and Melissa seeem to have nothing in common except their proximity as neighbors. Gretchen is new to the neighborhood, and Melissa is as unwelcoming as can be. But when a landlord tells Gretchen that Melissa’s mother has died and since he can’t reach Melissa, Gretchen must tell her that her mom is dead and Melissa now has one week to clear out her mother’s things. Gretchen doesn’t want to ...more

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Dec 13, 2018 BookishStitcher rated it really liked it

It's great to be back in the wonderful Christmas novel world where things always work out well and the craziest of coincidences happen and are called miracles. I shed some Christmas tears, I'll admit it.

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Nov 27, 2014 Loraine rated it it was amazing

Shelves: christmas-stories, modern-christian-fiction, challenges-2014

SUMMARY: Gretchen Daniels has recently moved into a condo with her two children to be closer to her mother, Miriam. As they build a life together in their new community, they notice a mysterious young woman, Melissa McCreary, who lives next door. She has few possessions, little personality, and keeps to herself. One day a local landlord who is looking for Melissa knocks on Gretchen’s door for assistance. Melissa’s mother has died and in the coming weeks the landlord needs Melissa to empty her mo SUMMARY: Gretchen Daniels has recently moved into a condo with her two children to be closer to her mother, Miriam. As they build a life together in their new community, they notice a mysterious young woman, Melissa McCreary, who lives next door. She has few possessions, little personality, and keeps to herself. One day a local landlord who is looking for Melissa knocks on Gretchen’s door for assistance. Melissa’s mother has died and in the coming weeks the landlord needs Melissa to empty her mother’s apartment. Gretchen reaches out and offers to help Melissa, but the apartment is a gut-wrenching shamble of a home. There is little worth saving except for a few photos and a note that is discovered on the crate beside the bed. It is unfinished, but in the two scribbled lines, Melissa discovers secrets about her family that she never could have imagined. Can two very different women embark on a journey that explores a long-buried need for forgiveness, hope, and redemption?

REVIEW: Donna Van Liere is a Christmas story writer par excellence. Every one of her Christmas books has made me laugh and cry and given me inspiration. The Christmas Note does not fail. The characters are true-to-life and the storyline filled with twists, turns, and surprises. The introduction of each chapter with a quote, was a great touch and many warmed my heart or caused me to do some pondering. With a smidgen of mystery and intrigue, family problems, and characters who all have their own strengths and weaknesses, this story definitely keeps you turning the pages. Another lovely and heartwarming Christmas read from a fine author.

FAVORITE QUOTES: "Grief can't be shared. Everyone carries it alone. His own burden in his own way." (Anne Morrow Lindburg quote)

"It's harder to let go of a bad relationship than a good one. With a good one you've got sweet memories and kind words. With a bad one you just got a whole lot of unanswered questions and open wounds."

"Grief takes a while but joy does come."

"When you say 'I believe" it has the same power as letting a tiger out of its cage." ...more

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Oct 25, 2011 Tima rated it it was amazing

Shelves: christian-fiction

The Christmas Note is one of several books in a Christmas series. It doesn't have to be read with the other books, although after reading this one you are likely to go looking for the others.

Gretchen and Melissa become next door neighbors right before Christmas. Both are dealing with their own brand of grief and loss. But neither would have imagined that the other could be of any help.

If you like predictable, but sweet Christmas stories (and I do) than this book is great. There were several unex ...more

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Nov 11, 2011 Julie Ford rated it it was ok

I feel bad being the first reader to give this book only two stars but I really didn't like it all that much. I've read other books by this author and really liked them but this one... The plot moves slow, the characters are flat and the ending sort of contrived. I think the story idea was a good one but it didn't fall into place. It was like looking at a bunch of puzzle pieces that didn't quite connect so someone simply pushed them haphazardly together just to be done.

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Dec 21, 2016 Hannah rated it liked it

Shelves: 2015-outread_aubrey, christmas, contemporary-fiction, owned-books, veterans-and-uniforms

One of those books that escaped my reviewing for almost an entire year....thanks to a friend's rating and review, I realized I'd never marked this as read. I actually enjoyed this Christmas story last year!

It wasn't the greatest story ever, but the relationships felt authentic and interesting. The writing is stilted or weak at times, sometimes as though too much was being told within a paragraph for the actions to be shown...perhaps this was done for space, since it is a novella length work.

The ...more

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Mar 03, 2018 Jennifer Robb rated it really liked it

Recommends it for: readers who like Nicholas Sparks

Recommended to Jennifer by: A. Cramer

A friend loaned me this book to read. I was surprised to find it was a signed copy--most people don't loan out signed copies of books!

I enjoyed this book, which was mostly about friendships. Gretchen Daniels and her two children move to a new home. Melissa is their neighbor. At first, Melissa seems stand-offish but then, as life events continue to put the two together, the neighbors become friends. I also enjoyed the friendship between Gretchen's mother, Miriam, and Gloria.

While cleaning out M ...more

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Dec 20, 2017 Mom2triplets04 rated it really liked it

Great story adding more characters. Told by 2 POVs. Glad author finally noted the POVs at each chapter making it easier for the reader to follow along. 1st POV is Gretchen. She is a mother of two who moves into the town where her mother is. Her husband is in the military overseas. The 2nd POV is Melissa she’s the next door neighbor of Gretchen. Her mom just passed away and we learn she’s from an abused home. Lots of twists I didn’t see coming. Great Christmas read of friendship, family, adoption ...more

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Jan 06, 2019 Stefanie (foreversweetserendipity) rated it really liked it

Not my favorite of the series, but still sweet and inspirational.

Melissa grew up rough with her mother. When her mother finally passes, is this the time for Melissa to start over?

Gretchen just moved in next door to Melissa. She’s looking for a way to distract herself from her own life and current situation.

Gretchen and Melissa’s story unfolds and intertwines in a very sweet and unexpected way. The book brings hope and faith just in time for Christmas.

A truly great story all around.

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Feb 09, 2019 Elizabeth Lapp rated it really liked it

I just love these little heart warming stories!

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Dec 15, 2018 Jenny rated it liked it

Shelves: 2018-bookshelves

Cute story! Good read for the holidays.

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Nov 07, 2017 Anita rated it it was amazing

Great little story

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Dec 17, 2015 Julianna rated it really liked it

Recommends it for: Fans of Heartwarming Holiday Stories

Shelves: general-fiction, holiday-stories, inspirational-fiction, read-2015, womens-fiction

Reviewed for THC Reviews
The Christmas Note is another gentle, heartwarming Christmas story from the pen of Donna VanLiere. This one has a little more of a women's fiction vibe, as it primarily follows the growing friendship of two very different women who are next-door neighbors. It is written in first-person POV, alternating between the two main female protagonists. As with all of Ms. VanLiere's books, this one has a touch of serendipity in the form of unexpected – perhaps even miraculous – con Reviewed for THC Reviews
The Christmas Note is another gentle, heartwarming Christmas story from the pen of Donna VanLiere. This one has a little more of a women's fiction vibe, as it primarily follows the growing friendship of two very different women who are next-door neighbors. It is written in first-person POV, alternating between the two main female protagonists. As with all of Ms. VanLiere's books, this one has a touch of serendipity in the form of unexpected – perhaps even miraculous – connections being made. The only reason I gave this one four stars instead of the usual five that this author's books typically receive from me is that for some reason, it didn't speak to me in as deep of a way as her other books I've read to date have. It still has a nice message and was enjoyable to read, but at the same time, it wasn't quite as engaging. I also thought that occasionally the author's word choices were a little too simplistic. Stronger, more interesting words, might have helped draw me in a little better. But overall, it was another nice Christmas story from this beloved author.

Gretchen is the daughter of Miriam (The Christmas Promise). She has just moved to the little town of Grandon with her two young children. At the outset of the story, it's unclear where her husband is. We know that he was in the military and there was an explosion, but we don't know whether he's dead or alive. Gretchen is simply trying to get moved into her new home and gets drawn into her mother's best friend, Gloria's plans for a “bake a difference” fund-raiser for Glory's Place, her charity for women and children in need in the community. Initially Gretchen is off-put by her new next-door neighbor, Melissa. The woman is extremely quiet, almost to the point of being rude, even when Gretchen is trying to be friendly. When Melissa's mother's landlord stops by, insisting Gretchen give Melissa the message that her mother has died, Gretchen doesn't want to get involved. Not only does she not like Melissa much, but she barely knows her. Informing her of her mother's death would be incredibly awkward. Gretchen thinks of what her husband, Kyle, would do in this circumstance and knows she has to “man up.” Not only does she finally tell Melissa about her mom, but she also offers to help her clean out the woman's apartment, which leads to some very unexpected information being discovered.

Melissa is a loner. She had a rough life as a child, growing up with a mom who was an abusive alcoholic and who didn't have any trouble finding a man but couldn't keep one around for more than a week. Melissa doesn't even know who her father is. She has low self-esteem and no real friends. She merely goes to work at her two jobs every day, in the morning at Wilson's department store and in the afternoons at Layton & Associates law office, but doesn't really know any of the people she works with. Melissa basically wanders through life, never experiencing any joy or happiness until Gretchen moves in next-door. At first, Melissa doesn't like Gretchen much. She views her as the type of woman who unlike her, has the perfect life and has everything together. Gretchen's small acts of kindness eventually get Melissa to let her guard down and allow someone to share her life. Eventually she meets Miriam and Gloria too and begins to feel like she's found the family she always wanted but never had. I enjoyed watching Melissa grow throughout the story. Keeping to herself like she's done in the past, Melissa never really did anything for anyone else, but Gretchen begins to inspire her to do more and helps her see how good it feels to do something nice for someone else.

Some of the characters from the previous books of the series pop up again. Gloria and Miriam whose equally unlikely friendship began in The Christmas Promise are front and center, baking up a storm and helping Gretchen and the kids get settled. Marshall Wilson isn't actually seen, but he is mentioned a few times. It seems the lonely widowed department store owner married Gloria somewhere in between books. Robert Layton (The Christmas Shoes) is Melissa's other boss, and he also helps her search for her missing and previously unknown siblings.

As I mentioned, The Christmas Note is a nice, touching Christmas story. I liked the building of the friendship between Gretchen and Melissa. They may not have liked each other at first, but they do give each other a chance and are surprised by what they find. I think more people need to have open minds and hearts like these two ladies did. I also really enjoyed seeing how the little town bands together at the end for a welcome home celebration. The way they help Gretchen and her family was extremely heartwarming. The Christmas Note may not have been quite as compelling as some of Donna VanLiere's other stories, but it was still an enjoyable read that brightened my holiday season. ...more

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Nov 08, 2011 Bluerose's Heart rated it really liked it

Shelves: christian, little-no-romance, novella, christmas

4.5 stars

I just cried all the way through The Christmas Note! If you are emotional, make sure you grab some tissues before you sit down with it. My momma loves the Donna VanLiere books, so I've read several of them. It has been a few years, though, so apparently I forgot just how emotional her books are. My memory of the characters in Donna's other Christmas books is very vague, but I did recognize several of them. Like the other books, we get new characters as the main focus, but the previous m 4.5 stars

I just cried all the way through The Christmas Note! If you are emotional, make sure you grab some tissues before you sit down with it. My momma loves the Donna VanLiere books, so I've read several of them. It has been a few years, though, so apparently I forgot just how emotional her books are. My memory of the characters in Donna's other Christmas books is very vague, but I did recognize several of them. Like the other books, we get new characters as the main focus, but the previous main characters are still very much in the background.

In The Christmas Note, we meet Gretchen and Melissa. The chapters mostly alternate from each of their points of view. They become next door neighbors when Gretchen and her two children move into the same condominium as Melissa. Melissa isn't overly welcoming to the family. The story unfolds from there, slowing adding in details about the past. Being a novella, it is a very quick and entertaining read! It will definitely get you into the Christmas spirit, in many different ways!

"She was still as she listened to the reading from Luke and wiped her eyes when all the children sang "O Holy Night" and "Hark! The Herald Angel Sing." I cried, too, and I caught Dad rubbing his eyes. For Kyle's first tour of Afghanistan the soldiers sang "Silent Night" together on Christmas Day, and Kyle said nobody dared look at one another because there wasn't a dry eye in the whole bunch. Seems like the songs of Christmas have the same effect no matter where you are in the world. I cried through the entire service again."

There was just so much to think about in The Christmas Note! I had to set the book aside quite often, because I couldn't see the words past all my tears. That's really not saying all too much coming from me, though. To prove that, does anyone know the "new-ish" Lowe's commercial where a couple is dancing their way through life? I cry...every time! Like I said, that's not saying much! ;)

I still cry thinking about a scene in the book involving cookie dough. It completely breaks my heart at what horrible parents there are in the world. I'm nothing to brag about when it comes to parenting. It's hard!!! But, I can't imagine anyone being so horrible to a child! I know it gets much worse than that, unfortunately. There are just so many hurting children out there, and they need our prayers. Constantly!! I do LOVE the message that the worth of a mother isn't determined by how she cooks. It doesn't matter if the cookies come from a store bought roll of dough or if they are made from scratch out of the pantry. While I am trying very hard to cut most processed foods out of our house(slowly!), it won't make me a "better" mother.

While the story touches on very difficult topics, it is a bit sugary sweet at times. Especially with my Christmas stories, sugary sweet is perfect for my tastes, but if that's not your thing, you might not appreciate the way some things work out in the book. The Christmas Note will be a perfect addition to my momma's Christmas book collection!

*There's no profanity in here, but God's name is used in vain: My ***, etc.

*I was provided a review copy through the Booksneeze program in exchange for my honest opinion. ...more

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Oct 03, 2011 Jasmine Marie {#thebookishmama} rated it it was amazing

Shelves: christian-fiction, christmas-reads, received-from-publisher

If it were up to me, I would celebrate Christmas all year long. In a way I do because there is no discrimination in our home of when we play Christmas music and when we don't (never). Now that Halloween has passed and we find ourselves in November, not only am I ready for the holiday songs, movies, decorating and gift planning, I am definitely in the mood for feel-good Christmas stories.

This was my first Donna VanLiere book. I have been curious about her books for years and constantly find mysel ...more

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Dec 15, 2011 J rated it liked it

I loved that the book had a holiday theme and involved the military. I also liked that the author was from Franklin, TN. I was pleasantly surprised that this wasn't the expected sugar sweet story I expected, at least initially.

I didn't like how "Southern" it was - i.e. white trash and overly invasive/co-dependant characters. Almost all the women in the book had been divorced at least once. One main character didn't know who her father was because her mother was transient and promiscuous. The "st ...more

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Dec 14, 2011 Lesa rated it liked it

This year, Donna VanLiere, author of The Christmas Shoes and The Christmas Hope, brings us The Christmas Note. To be honest, the note actually has nothing to do with Christmas itself. The note sparks a change in a number of lives, though, and the book is set during the Christmas season, so I guess that makes it a Christmas note.

The day they move into their new condo, Gretchen Daniels could tell her new neighbor, Melissa McCreary won’t welcome her and her two children to the neighborhood. Melissa ...more

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Nov 14, 2011 Mason Canyon rated it it was amazing

Throughout the year and especially around this time, we look for hope.

THE CHRISTMAS NOTE by Donna VanLiere is an enchanting story of hope, forgiveness, and redemption. It’s a reminder we never know what’s around the next corner for us or how our lives can impact others.

Greetchen Daniels and her 2 children move into an apartment to be closer to her mother, Miriam. Moving in, the family encounters one of their neighbors, Melissa McCreary. Melissa is a loner and has very little to say to the noisy ...more

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Nov 15, 2011 Kristin rated it liked it

Shelves: christian-fiction

This was my first book to read by Donna VanLiere. I have always heard
good things about "The Christmas Shoes" so I chose to get this book
when it was offered for a free review. I had high hopes but simply
couldn't get into it.

This book is written in journal format yet the voice and writing
completely betray the feeling of reading a journal. When the chapter
opener sets up for a journal you expect first-person, past tensed
writing. Instead, for example, one character explains where she works
to her jou ...more

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Dec 15, 2017 Kathy rated it really liked it

11/30/18. I read this holiday book last year. As Christmas approaches, it helps to remember what makes the season so memorable. Take a moment, enjoy a cup of tea and a Christmas story. 12/15/17 My third Christmas book this season was also my third Donna VanLiere book. I enjoy this little town and the recurring characters and the messages of acceptance and love. Gretchen has just moved to Grandon with her two children to be closer to her mom. Her husband is in the military, but for most of the st ...more

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Nov 11, 2011 Rhonda rated it liked it

I have read many of the author's other works and had high hopes for this one. Don't know why I couldn't connect and get emotionally connected to the story, perhaps it was the voice and tone, didn't work for me. The story is a heartfelt, emotional story, however,there was no passion for me, normally I would be in tears over such a tale, but not with this one. I also felt as if the story was too quickly and easily resolved. I believe in God's hand with circumstances but this one had too many, too ...more

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Nov 02, 2015 Sharon Huether rated it it was amazing

I won this Freebook from Goodreads First- reads. When Melissa and her neighbor were cleaning out her mother's apartment she found a note her mother deceased mother had written "you have 2 siblings". This news gave Melissa hope.

Her neighbor helped her in so many ways. She was like a life coach to her.

Melissa asked her boss to help her find her missing siblings . They had been adopted . It turns out her neighbor is her younger sister and she made phone contact with her brother . A wonderful story ...more

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Nov 12, 2011 Nancy rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: audio-books, christmas

I enjoyed this audio book very much. It's a feel good novel. I have done some searches for people looking for their birth parents, and this was a fun and perfect reunion of sister's with the same birth mother. There were positive changes in the lives of all those who were involved in this story.

I found this book on CD at the library, and listened to it last night and this morning. This is my second time to listen to this book. It's just four CD's long. It had me crying at the end. This is a swe ...more

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Dec 05, 2013 Nancy Brady rated it really liked it

An unlikely friendship between two women, Gretchen and Melissa, turns into something much more when a note is found at the home of Melissa's mother, Ramona. This is a touching tale that defines family in a different way. A bit of a tearjerker that is perfect for the holiday season.

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Jan 13, 2014 Lisa Matheny rated it it was ok

Quick read, but entirely too many coincidences or as the author says "God snaps" to be believable. Schmaltzy. I'm sure it will be a Hallmark Channel movie soon.

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Jul 16, 2018 Chuck Neumann rated it really liked it

I wanted to read this book so I could compare it to a TV movie they made from the book. It was a Hallmark Christmas movie, which I normally aren't crazy about. This film was different, one of the few that was not about a young man and a young woman, usually one has children, falling in love with Christmas playing some kind of role in the love affair. This story was about a wife and mother (Gretchen) moving to a new town to be close to her family to await the arrival of her wounded army husband f I wanted to read this book so I could compare it to a TV movie they made from the book. It was a Hallmark Christmas movie, which I normally aren't crazy about. This film was different, one of the few that was not about a young man and a young woman, usually one has children, falling in love with Christmas playing some kind of role in the love affair. This story was about a wife and mother (Gretchen) moving to a new town to be close to her family to await the arrival of her wounded army husband from a hospital in Germany. She meets and befriends an aloof neighbor (Melissa) who just lost her mother. Melissa disliked - with good reason - her mother but was shocked to discover she had a sister or brother she never knew about. Gretchen and her family helped Melissa discover who that sibling is. No love affair, just a heartfelt story with a Christmas background. Except for a scene late in the film, Christmas had little to do with the story. I always like to compare books to films based on them. In this case the author (Donna VanLiere) had no role in the screenplay, according to the credits. Even so, the film stayed very close to the book. There were changes of course. In the book Gretchen had two children, a boy and a girl, but in the film only a boy remained. In the booth Melissa discovers she had a brother and a sister, in the film only the sister remains. A key character in the book, Gloria, is gone from the film. Her role is taken by Betty, a minor character in the book Most of these changes reduce the number of characters which help the film. A big change is in Melissa's mother Ramona, who we never meet in either the book or film. In the book she is a terrible mother, abusing her daughter and with a different John every night. In the film she was a single mother who spent most of her time working and little time with Melissa. The break between the two was more of Melissa's fault than her mother's. But, overall the two stories were the same. The film was note worthy also in the people involved were middle class with money concerns and everyday troubles unlike most Hallmark Christmas films which usually show wealthy and beautiful people. The book was a fun read and well worth reading. A good plot and interesting characters. Recommended. ...more

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Dec 25, 2018 Becky rated it really liked it

Shelves: christmas

Everything about this book is perfect--even if the ending is a bit sappy. It's Christmas, and if you can't handle sap at Christmas, when can you, eh? It's a story about love and that is the whole point of Christmas.

After reading a couple of holiday books with rocky beginnings punctuated by juvenile writing, I was hesitant to pick up another. But I'd brought it along on a road trip and was limited on options, so I dove in. I have zero regrets. Immediately I could tell that VanLiere doesn't mess Everything about this book is perfect--even if the ending is a bit sappy. It's Christmas, and if you can't handle sap at Christmas, when can you, eh? It's a story about love and that is the whole point of Christmas.

After reading a couple of holiday books with rocky beginnings punctuated by juvenile writing, I was hesitant to pick up another. But I'd brought it along on a road trip and was limited on options, so I dove in. I have zero regrets. Immediately I could tell that VanLiere doesn't mess around with goofy phrasings and saying things she could show with the story; she is a legit storyteller with a knack for dialogue and character development.

I admire Gretchen's tenacity and courage, pushing herself beyond her walls of comfort even while she struggles with her own situation. I feel for Melissa, whose past isn't pretty through no fault of her own, and her choice to allow that past to negatively affect her present without seeming to care about any possibility of a pleasant future. I adore Gretchen's mom and her friend--their unhindered love for Gretchen, her kids, and, immediately upon meeting her, Melissa.

The mystery of the unknown in this book is just right; it's not painfully suspenseful or simply a side note--it's a solid, appropriate, non-distracting thread throughout the book, and VanLiere weaves it carefully within the story to create, in the end, a beautiful tale of friendship, bravery, loyalty, determination, support, rebirth, and love.

There are elements, in the end, that aren't realistic. But, let's be honest, if you're looking for a Christmas book, it's bound to have "magic" of a sort, and in my opinion VanLiere does this well. In the end, I fell in love with this book, I cried a little, and I was very inspired to aim to be a bit more open in my life like Gretchen. The side story of (view spoiler) was also extremely adorable and just made the story that much more perfectly magical.

In short, I very much enjoyed this book and hope to explore VanLiere's other Christmas books in the future. ...more

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Dec 20, 2017 Cathy rated it really liked it

Shelves: christmas, cosy, cozy, friendship, friendship-fiction, friendships, sisterhood, sisters, friend, friends

I met this author at a Christmas tea at my mother-in-law's church. To be honest, I bought a copy of this book because of the cover, with a mailbox. (I love mailbox pictures and letters and stories of correspondence.) I know, I know, you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but in this case, I loved the book, too, although, the letter in the book had nothing to do with a mailbox.

I put this author on a mental list of authors of whose works, I'd like to read other Christmases.

It's more a friendship ...more

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About Donna VanLiere

Donna VanLiere

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Donna is a New York Times and USA Today best-selling author. She's an in-demand conference speaker and gifted teacher and has 14 published books including four that have been adapted into movies.

Donna is the recipient of multiple industry awards including a Retailer's Choice Award for Fiction, a Dove Award, a Silver Angel Award, two Audie Awards for best inspirational fiction, a nominee for a Gold ...more