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Angels Everywhere #2
The Trouble with Angels
When those irrepressible angels—Shirley, Goodness, and Mercy—set out for the City of Angels to grant three rush Christmas prayers, they soon find it will take more than one miracle to teach their precious lessons of love—as well as make three special holiday dreams come true.
337 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1994
317 people are currently reading
2650 people want to read
About the author
Debbie Macomber
890 books20.3k followersDebbie Macomber is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and one of today’s most popular writers with more than 200 million copies of her books in print worldwide. In her novels, Macomber brings to life compelling relationships that embrace family and enduring friendships, uplifting her readers with stories of connection and hope. Macomber’s novels have spent over 1,000 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. Fifteen of these novels hit the number one spot.
In 2023, Macomber’s all-new hardcover publication includes Must Love Flowers (July). In addition to fiction, Macomber has also published three bestselling cookbooks, three adult coloring books, numerous inspirational and nonfiction works, and two acclaimed children’s books.
Celebrated as “the official storyteller of Christmas”, Macomber’s annual Christmas books are beloved and six have been crafted into original Hallmark Channel movies. Macomber is also the author of the bestselling Cedar Cove Series which the Hallmark Channel chose as the basis for its first dramatic scripted television series. Debuting in 2013, Debbie Macomber’s Cedar Cove was a ratings favorite for three seasons.
She serves on the Guideposts National Advisory Cabinet, is a YFC National Ambassador, and is World Vision’s international spokesperson for their Knit for Kids charity initiative. A devoted grandmother, Debbie and Wayne live in Port Orchard, Washington, the town which inspired the Cedar Cove series.
In 2023, Macomber’s all-new hardcover publication includes Must Love Flowers (July). In addition to fiction, Macomber has also published three bestselling cookbooks, three adult coloring books, numerous inspirational and nonfiction works, and two acclaimed children’s books.
Celebrated as “the official storyteller of Christmas”, Macomber’s annual Christmas books are beloved and six have been crafted into original Hallmark Channel movies. Macomber is also the author of the bestselling Cedar Cove Series which the Hallmark Channel chose as the basis for its first dramatic scripted television series. Debuting in 2013, Debbie Macomber’s Cedar Cove was a ratings favorite for three seasons.
She serves on the Guideposts National Advisory Cabinet, is a YFC National Ambassador, and is World Vision’s international spokesperson for their Knit for Kids charity initiative. A devoted grandmother, Debbie and Wayne live in Port Orchard, Washington, the town which inspired the Cedar Cove series.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 191 reviews
March 15, 2016
The Trouble With Angels is the second book in the Angles Everywhere series by popular American author, Debbie Macomber. Once again, Christmas is fast approaching and, against his better judgement, Archangel Gabriel sends three angels, Prayer Ambassadors Shirley, Goodness and Mercy, down to Los Angeles to deal with the desperate prayers of certain LA supplicants.
Karen prays that her mom, Maureen can stop hating her dad, Brian, even though he left them for someone new, and get on with her own life. Oh, and she’d like a horse too, if it’s not too much trouble. Shirley delights in this assignment, finding that Thom Nichols and his riding school might just answer both prayers.
Goodness is sent to Pastor Paul Morris, a widower who has been unable to deal with the grief of losing his wife to cancer. His friends and parishioners have flooded Gabriel’s prayer book, and Goodness sees this is a challenging assignment that will need some careful thought.
Mercy is sent to see the elderly Catherine Goodwin, who prays for the right partner for her beloved grandson, Ted. She believes that Joy Palmer, resident service director at her home, Wilshire Grove, is the right candidate, so when Ted turns up to visit with the gorgeous Blythe in tow, she may have to rethink. Mercy is quietly confident, though, that she can see this prayer answered.
Macomber gives the reader three separate, slightly Christmas themed, stories that are linked only by the Angels. They are sweet tales, mostly fairly predictable, although a twist or two keeps them interesting. The Queen of Feel Good keeps her title with this little collection.
3.5 stars
Karen prays that her mom, Maureen can stop hating her dad, Brian, even though he left them for someone new, and get on with her own life. Oh, and she’d like a horse too, if it’s not too much trouble. Shirley delights in this assignment, finding that Thom Nichols and his riding school might just answer both prayers.
Goodness is sent to Pastor Paul Morris, a widower who has been unable to deal with the grief of losing his wife to cancer. His friends and parishioners have flooded Gabriel’s prayer book, and Goodness sees this is a challenging assignment that will need some careful thought.
Mercy is sent to see the elderly Catherine Goodwin, who prays for the right partner for her beloved grandson, Ted. She believes that Joy Palmer, resident service director at her home, Wilshire Grove, is the right candidate, so when Ted turns up to visit with the gorgeous Blythe in tow, she may have to rethink. Mercy is quietly confident, though, that she can see this prayer answered.
Macomber gives the reader three separate, slightly Christmas themed, stories that are linked only by the Angels. They are sweet tales, mostly fairly predictable, although a twist or two keeps them interesting. The Queen of Feel Good keeps her title with this little collection.
3.5 stars
December 10, 2016
Cute book. The blurb made it sound like it was going to be saccharine and cloying, but it was well written and dodged the danger of being too sweet by a mile. So props to the author on avoiding the typical pitfall that most Christmas books makes, too sugary and cavity inducing.
This would have been five stars, except. SLIGHT SPOILERS AFTER THIS PART.
The Joy/Ted/Blythe triangle.
Ted was dating Blythe, was planning on popping the question. She was obviously the wrong woman for him. She was beautiful, selfish, focused on looks and money and was basically a witch on Manolos. Ted meets Joy, who is sweet and giving, the complete opposite of Blythe. Ted falls for Joy immediately, kisses her and then wants to date her.
Without telling Blythe he wants to date other people or breaking it off with her.
Joy says no, but never says that he needs to tell Blythe or break it off with her. She gives in to his demands for dates.
But this all becomes ok, because Blythe ends up being pregnant by the married man she's been seeing on the side.
No, just no. Ted should have respected Joy's no. He should have been honest with Blythe when he realized he wanted to see Joy too.
This whole plot line drops the book two stars for me. I don't abide with cheating, period.
The rest of the book was good and realistic. Well, I guess the triangle WAS realistic, but I like my realism to not be TOO realistic, not so realistic that it leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Books are for escaping reality, not wallowing in it.
Well, the other two plots involved a pastor who lost his faith when he lost his wife to cancer and a bitterly divorced woman who's bitterness was affecting her daughter and her chance at happiness. The bitterness after divorce was realistic and the moving forward from that felt realistic and hopeful to me. Good HEA for that. The pastor's issues also felt very real to me, despite never having gone through what he did, I could FEEL his utter depression and despair and then his hope after going through it all.
The angels were cute and not too hokey.
Cute and sweet read for Christmas. Not the best, that JTB triangle irked me, but the rest of the book made up enough for it to earn this book three stars from me. You can definitely read worse Christmas themed books than this. I would read other books by this author for sure.
This would have been five stars, except. SLIGHT SPOILERS AFTER THIS PART.
The Joy/Ted/Blythe triangle.
Ted was dating Blythe, was planning on popping the question. She was obviously the wrong woman for him. She was beautiful, selfish, focused on looks and money and was basically a witch on Manolos. Ted meets Joy, who is sweet and giving, the complete opposite of Blythe. Ted falls for Joy immediately, kisses her and then wants to date her.
Without telling Blythe he wants to date other people or breaking it off with her.
Joy says no, but never says that he needs to tell Blythe or break it off with her. She gives in to his demands for dates.
But this all becomes ok, because Blythe ends up being pregnant by the married man she's been seeing on the side.
No, just no. Ted should have respected Joy's no. He should have been honest with Blythe when he realized he wanted to see Joy too.
This whole plot line drops the book two stars for me. I don't abide with cheating, period.
The rest of the book was good and realistic. Well, I guess the triangle WAS realistic, but I like my realism to not be TOO realistic, not so realistic that it leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Books are for escaping reality, not wallowing in it.
Well, the other two plots involved a pastor who lost his faith when he lost his wife to cancer and a bitterly divorced woman who's bitterness was affecting her daughter and her chance at happiness. The bitterness after divorce was realistic and the moving forward from that felt realistic and hopeful to me. Good HEA for that. The pastor's issues also felt very real to me, despite never having gone through what he did, I could FEEL his utter depression and despair and then his hope after going through it all.
The angels were cute and not too hokey.
Cute and sweet read for Christmas. Not the best, that JTB triangle irked me, but the rest of the book made up enough for it to earn this book three stars from me. You can definitely read worse Christmas themed books than this. I would read other books by this author for sure.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 28, 2009
One of my all-time favorite Christmas books. Debbie's meddlesome angels, Shirley, Goodness, and Mercy, make their first appearance - and it's a memorable one. I often reread this during the holidays. And I rarely reread anything.
December 16, 2016
You can find this review in English below.
My Trouble with angels. Angels Everywhere. Oh, yes…
Pues creo que esa línea prácticamente lo resume todo. O casi todo. Lo de los ángeles me ha sacado de mis casillas, he intentado saltarme los párrafos que protagonizaban porque, de verdad, me tenían los nervios hechos cisco. Ejem, aunque para ser sincera tampoco es que yo sea una persona calmada o paciente… ;)
Pues esta historia consta de tres historias de personas que lo están pasando realmente mal: un pastor que perdió a su mujer dos años atrás y con ella a su fé, una divorciada que aún no se ha recuperado de los sinsabores de su matrimonio y una anciana que ve acercarse el final de sus días y le gustaría ver a su nieto favorito enamorado de la mujer ideal.
Las tres historias parecían interesantes, pero creo que esta autora tiene debilidad por el melodrama, si es dentro de la famila, mejor que mejor, y eso ha empañado el resto de la trama. Eso y, ¿cómo lo diría yo?, lo superficiales que son las historias. Buenos muy buenos, malos muy malos y resoluciones que, no saldrán de la manga, pero sí de las alas.
No me han gustado y no he encontrado el sentimiento navideño por ningún lado.
:(
***
My Trouble with angels. Angels Everywhere. Oh, yes…
Well, I think that line almost sums it up everything. Or almost everything. The angels got on my nerves, I tried to skip the paragraphs starred by them because, really, my nerves were on edge. Hem…, although to be honest I am neither a calm nor patient person... ;)
So this story consists of three stories of people who are really going through a bad spell: a pastor who lost his wife two years ago and with her his faith too, a divorcee who has not yet recovered from the troubles of her marriage and an old woman who longs to see his favorite grandson in love with the ideal woman.
The three stories seemed interesting, but I think this author has a fondness for melodrama, and if it is within the family, all the better, and that has tarnished the rest of the plot. That and, how would I say it? That, and the shallowness of the stories. Good people are extraordinary good, bad people are very bad and the stories´ resolutions well, they weren´t pull out of a hat but a halo.
I did not like them and I did not find the Christmas feeling anywhere.
:(
My Trouble with angels. Angels Everywhere. Oh, yes…
Pues creo que esa línea prácticamente lo resume todo. O casi todo. Lo de los ángeles me ha sacado de mis casillas, he intentado saltarme los párrafos que protagonizaban porque, de verdad, me tenían los nervios hechos cisco. Ejem, aunque para ser sincera tampoco es que yo sea una persona calmada o paciente… ;)
Pues esta historia consta de tres historias de personas que lo están pasando realmente mal: un pastor que perdió a su mujer dos años atrás y con ella a su fé, una divorciada que aún no se ha recuperado de los sinsabores de su matrimonio y una anciana que ve acercarse el final de sus días y le gustaría ver a su nieto favorito enamorado de la mujer ideal.
Las tres historias parecían interesantes, pero creo que esta autora tiene debilidad por el melodrama, si es dentro de la famila, mejor que mejor, y eso ha empañado el resto de la trama. Eso y, ¿cómo lo diría yo?, lo superficiales que son las historias. Buenos muy buenos, malos muy malos y resoluciones que, no saldrán de la manga, pero sí de las alas.
No me han gustado y no he encontrado el sentimiento navideño por ningún lado.
:(
***
My Trouble with angels. Angels Everywhere. Oh, yes…
Well, I think that line almost sums it up everything. Or almost everything. The angels got on my nerves, I tried to skip the paragraphs starred by them because, really, my nerves were on edge. Hem…, although to be honest I am neither a calm nor patient person... ;)
So this story consists of three stories of people who are really going through a bad spell: a pastor who lost his wife two years ago and with her his faith too, a divorcee who has not yet recovered from the troubles of her marriage and an old woman who longs to see his favorite grandson in love with the ideal woman.
The three stories seemed interesting, but I think this author has a fondness for melodrama, and if it is within the family, all the better, and that has tarnished the rest of the plot. That and, how would I say it? That, and the shallowness of the stories. Good people are extraordinary good, bad people are very bad and the stories´ resolutions well, they weren´t pull out of a hat but a halo.
I did not like them and I did not find the Christmas feeling anywhere.
:(
December 7, 2018
The books in this series can be read as stand alones. This series features Shirley, Goodness, and Mercy, three angel guardians who are sent by Gabriel to fulfill 3 special Christmas prayers. Unfortunately, Shirley, Goodness, and Mercy, through their own bumbling create more problems than solutions.
I have really enjoyed this series over the years. The high jinx of the angels is always enjoyable yet the reader knows in the end that the Christmas prayers of 3 different people will be filled. This is the first book I have given a 3 rather than a 4 or 5 as it was sprinkled throughout with a few obscenities that could have just as well have been left out.
I would still recommend the series as a whole for its delightful plot and the fun created by Shirley, Goodness, and Mercy.
I have really enjoyed this series over the years. The high jinx of the angels is always enjoyable yet the reader knows in the end that the Christmas prayers of 3 different people will be filled. This is the first book I have given a 3 rather than a 4 or 5 as it was sprinkled throughout with a few obscenities that could have just as well have been left out.
I would still recommend the series as a whole for its delightful plot and the fun created by Shirley, Goodness, and Mercy.
January 9, 2018
Reviewed for THC Reviews
The Trouble with Angels is the second book in Debbie Macomber’s Angels Everywhere series that follows the exploits of Shirley, Goodness, and Mercy, a trio of prayer ambassador angel friends who have a penchant for getting into trouble. In this one, their boss, the archangel, Gabriel, is reluctant to send them to Earth to help humans because of all the mischief they caused the previous Christmas, but he’s overruled by a higher power. Each of the three angels are sent to help three different people for whom many prayers are being said, but they occasionally try to help each other with their respective assignments as well. This time around, they’re a little more grounded than before, trying their best to stay out of trouble, but they do still engineer a few events that they fear Gabriel might frown upon. In the end, though, all is well, and since there are more books in the series, I’m sure they’ll be back for more high-jinks and heartfelt assistance in the next volume.
Shirley, the oldest and most experienced angel, is sent to help Maureen, a woman who is so mired in hatred and resentment for her ex-husband, it’s causing stress in both hers and her daughter, Karen’s lives. Karen wants more than anything to get a horse for Christmas. Knowing that isn’t feasible, Maureen brushes off her daughter’s Christmas wish, until Shirley works a little angelic magic to gently drive Maureen toward the compromise of Karen getting riding lessons instead. It just so happens that Thom, the owner of the stable, is a widower whose daughter, Paula, is the same age as Karen. The two girls hit if off and become instant best friends. Thom is also instantly attracted to Maureen and begins pursuing her almost immediately. Of course, Maureen is slow to warm up because of what her ex put her through which has soured her on men in general. Thom is maybe just a teensy bit too pushy in the beginning, but I grew to like him as their part of the story progressed. He’s a great influence on Maureen, encouraging her to forgive her ex in order to relieve some of the bad feelings that are causing Karen to have terrible nightmares. He also has a gentle and supportive side that is very much unlike Maureen’s ex, and despite my slight misgiving early on, Thom ended up being my favorite of the male leads in the book.
Goodness is tasked with helping Paul, a minister whose faith has been wavering ever since his wife died two years earlier. Now he’s being drawn into the life of one of his congregants, who is facing losing his own wife to the same form of cancer that took Paul’s. This sends Paul into a downward spiral of depression as he tries to balance his ministerial responsibilities with taking care of his own emotional health. He’s also looking forward to spending Christmas with his son, Joe, but Joe comes home with a surprise fiancée in tow and the announcement that they’ll be spending the holiday with her family instead. Paul is a man at loose ends with whom I could relate. After going through something as traumatic as losing a spouse to cancer, he’s understandably feeling betrayed by God, and then having to watch yet another woman succumb to the same disease is devastating for him. This part of the story was by far the darkest one, and at times, came close to being a tearjerker of a read for me. The reader can palpably feel the heaviness on Paul’s heart. He eventually receives a message that gives him the closure he so desperately needs, but it doesn’t come until the very end. This is also the only one of the three story lines that doesn’t really contain a romance.
Last but not least, Mercy is sent to help Ted, whose grandmother, Catherine, has been praying that he’ll find the right woman for him. Everyone, including Mercy, seems to think that the perfect person is Joy, the resident service director at Catherine’s assisted living facility. The only problem is that Ted is already involved with Blythe, a co-worker who it seems he’s close to proposing to. However, one “arranged date” with Joy reminds Ted of all the things he doesn’t like about Blythe and proves to him that Joy is the better choice for him. But Joy is reluctant to get more deeply involved with Ted when he was so recently close to getting engaged to Blythe. She thinks it’s just Ted having cold feet about making a commitment. Ted is pretty sure that isn’t the case, but Blythe may still hold sway over him in an unexpected way. Although it wasn’t perfect, this was probably my favorite of the three sub-plots because it’s the closest to a traditional romance. However, the characters gave me cause to question their actions a couple of times. Like Thom, Ted is a tad pushy, saying he won’t take no for an answer once or twice, which isn’t really my cup of tea. Also Joy was crushing on Ted until he went out with her, and then she suddenly didn’t entirely trust him. The feelings that Ted and Joy develop for one another come about a little too quickly to be entirely believable, too. But the angelic intervention and their obvious rightness for each other helped to make it more credible.
Overall, The Trouble with Angels was a heartwarming book that was a nice conclusion to my holiday reading this year. I liked all three of the story lines and felt that each of the people the angels were sent to help experienced admirable growth throughout the book, especially Maureen and Paul. Shirley, Goodness, and Mercy are also a treat. They care so much for their charges and always try to do their best to help even though they sometimes feel like they might be messing up or occasionally get a little off track. Due to a small amount of mild bad language, I wouldn’t really categorize this book as an inspirational, but it does have a pretty overt faith message that might not be for everyone. However, I felt that it was handled with a pretty light touch that should resonate well with anyone who believes in God and angels. While it might not have reached the heights of perfection, The Trouble with Angels was still a very pleasant read that already has me looking forward to finding out what new mischief this angel trio might get into in the next book, Touched by Angels.
The Trouble with Angels is the second book in Debbie Macomber’s Angels Everywhere series that follows the exploits of Shirley, Goodness, and Mercy, a trio of prayer ambassador angel friends who have a penchant for getting into trouble. In this one, their boss, the archangel, Gabriel, is reluctant to send them to Earth to help humans because of all the mischief they caused the previous Christmas, but he’s overruled by a higher power. Each of the three angels are sent to help three different people for whom many prayers are being said, but they occasionally try to help each other with their respective assignments as well. This time around, they’re a little more grounded than before, trying their best to stay out of trouble, but they do still engineer a few events that they fear Gabriel might frown upon. In the end, though, all is well, and since there are more books in the series, I’m sure they’ll be back for more high-jinks and heartfelt assistance in the next volume.
Shirley, the oldest and most experienced angel, is sent to help Maureen, a woman who is so mired in hatred and resentment for her ex-husband, it’s causing stress in both hers and her daughter, Karen’s lives. Karen wants more than anything to get a horse for Christmas. Knowing that isn’t feasible, Maureen brushes off her daughter’s Christmas wish, until Shirley works a little angelic magic to gently drive Maureen toward the compromise of Karen getting riding lessons instead. It just so happens that Thom, the owner of the stable, is a widower whose daughter, Paula, is the same age as Karen. The two girls hit if off and become instant best friends. Thom is also instantly attracted to Maureen and begins pursuing her almost immediately. Of course, Maureen is slow to warm up because of what her ex put her through which has soured her on men in general. Thom is maybe just a teensy bit too pushy in the beginning, but I grew to like him as their part of the story progressed. He’s a great influence on Maureen, encouraging her to forgive her ex in order to relieve some of the bad feelings that are causing Karen to have terrible nightmares. He also has a gentle and supportive side that is very much unlike Maureen’s ex, and despite my slight misgiving early on, Thom ended up being my favorite of the male leads in the book.
Goodness is tasked with helping Paul, a minister whose faith has been wavering ever since his wife died two years earlier. Now he’s being drawn into the life of one of his congregants, who is facing losing his own wife to the same form of cancer that took Paul’s. This sends Paul into a downward spiral of depression as he tries to balance his ministerial responsibilities with taking care of his own emotional health. He’s also looking forward to spending Christmas with his son, Joe, but Joe comes home with a surprise fiancée in tow and the announcement that they’ll be spending the holiday with her family instead. Paul is a man at loose ends with whom I could relate. After going through something as traumatic as losing a spouse to cancer, he’s understandably feeling betrayed by God, and then having to watch yet another woman succumb to the same disease is devastating for him. This part of the story was by far the darkest one, and at times, came close to being a tearjerker of a read for me. The reader can palpably feel the heaviness on Paul’s heart. He eventually receives a message that gives him the closure he so desperately needs, but it doesn’t come until the very end. This is also the only one of the three story lines that doesn’t really contain a romance.
Last but not least, Mercy is sent to help Ted, whose grandmother, Catherine, has been praying that he’ll find the right woman for him. Everyone, including Mercy, seems to think that the perfect person is Joy, the resident service director at Catherine’s assisted living facility. The only problem is that Ted is already involved with Blythe, a co-worker who it seems he’s close to proposing to. However, one “arranged date” with Joy reminds Ted of all the things he doesn’t like about Blythe and proves to him that Joy is the better choice for him. But Joy is reluctant to get more deeply involved with Ted when he was so recently close to getting engaged to Blythe. She thinks it’s just Ted having cold feet about making a commitment. Ted is pretty sure that isn’t the case, but Blythe may still hold sway over him in an unexpected way. Although it wasn’t perfect, this was probably my favorite of the three sub-plots because it’s the closest to a traditional romance. However, the characters gave me cause to question their actions a couple of times. Like Thom, Ted is a tad pushy, saying he won’t take no for an answer once or twice, which isn’t really my cup of tea. Also Joy was crushing on Ted until he went out with her, and then she suddenly didn’t entirely trust him. The feelings that Ted and Joy develop for one another come about a little too quickly to be entirely believable, too. But the angelic intervention and their obvious rightness for each other helped to make it more credible.
Overall, The Trouble with Angels was a heartwarming book that was a nice conclusion to my holiday reading this year. I liked all three of the story lines and felt that each of the people the angels were sent to help experienced admirable growth throughout the book, especially Maureen and Paul. Shirley, Goodness, and Mercy are also a treat. They care so much for their charges and always try to do their best to help even though they sometimes feel like they might be messing up or occasionally get a little off track. Due to a small amount of mild bad language, I wouldn’t really categorize this book as an inspirational, but it does have a pretty overt faith message that might not be for everyone. However, I felt that it was handled with a pretty light touch that should resonate well with anyone who believes in God and angels. While it might not have reached the heights of perfection, The Trouble with Angels was still a very pleasant read that already has me looking forward to finding out what new mischief this angel trio might get into in the next book, Touched by Angels.
November 29, 2016
I enjoyed these three intertwined holiday stories that kept my attention throughout but most of the book was negative. It did a good job establishing the problems then in the last few pages everything turned around. Not real believable. Three angels help 1) a bitter divorcee and her 12 year old daughter, 2) an adult grandson find the right girl, and 3) a widowed pastor losing faith after his wife's death.
November 2, 2015
Enjoyable quick read. Lots of life, laughter & love.
December 9, 2021
Adorable , laugh out loud fun. Leaves a smile on your lips
December 14, 2020
A nice Christmas story. Again, the Angelic Intervention series is my favorite series by Debbie Macomber.
December 14, 2011
Angels Shirley, Goodness and Mercy have been sent to Los Angeles to act as prayer ambassadors for three difficult cases. Shirley finds herself assigned to Karen Woods, a young girl who has been having nightmares since her parents painful and messy divorce. Mercy is sent to Catherine Goodwin who is praying her grandson finds a love that will rival the one she experienced years before and Goodness finds herself with a demanding case. Assigned to Paul Morris, Goodness must help the pastor to regain the faith he has lost since the death of his wife.
This is the second book in the Angels series (after A Season of Angels) and I was really looking forward to reading it. I fell in love with the irrepressible Shirley, Goodness and Mercy in the previous book so I couldn't wait to see what they'd get up to next. As with the previous book, each angel is assigned their own case but frequently join together to help each other out.
The three stories are well paced with realistic plots and unique storylines, and switching between them created some mini cliffhangers that kept me glued to the page. Shirley, Goodness and Mercy continue with their unusual ways of connecting with their charges, often with hilarious results. At times I wished for a little more depth on some background characters, like Karen's father, but their motivations weren't really relevant to the story so I can understand why they were skipped.
Faith is a key part of the story, but the book isn't pushy or aimed at forcing you to believe in religion. It simply shows how having faith (in anything) can make your life easier. Most problems have mundane solutions and the majority of the book revolves around honesty and trust between characters not divine intervention, although sometimes people just need a nudge in the right direction.
I did find the ending of the previous book to feel a little contrived, but I'm happy to say that this ending flows beautifully out of the story tying up the loose ends in a believable way. The whole book has a really positive uplifting feel which makes it an ideal holiday read.
All in all, this was a great read and I'm really looking forward to reading Touched by Angels.
Plot: 9/10
Characters: 9/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 10/10
Cover: 9/10
Overall: 47/50
This is the second book in the Angels series (after A Season of Angels) and I was really looking forward to reading it. I fell in love with the irrepressible Shirley, Goodness and Mercy in the previous book so I couldn't wait to see what they'd get up to next. As with the previous book, each angel is assigned their own case but frequently join together to help each other out.
The three stories are well paced with realistic plots and unique storylines, and switching between them created some mini cliffhangers that kept me glued to the page. Shirley, Goodness and Mercy continue with their unusual ways of connecting with their charges, often with hilarious results. At times I wished for a little more depth on some background characters, like Karen's father, but their motivations weren't really relevant to the story so I can understand why they were skipped.
Faith is a key part of the story, but the book isn't pushy or aimed at forcing you to believe in religion. It simply shows how having faith (in anything) can make your life easier. Most problems have mundane solutions and the majority of the book revolves around honesty and trust between characters not divine intervention, although sometimes people just need a nudge in the right direction.
I did find the ending of the previous book to feel a little contrived, but I'm happy to say that this ending flows beautifully out of the story tying up the loose ends in a believable way. The whole book has a really positive uplifting feel which makes it an ideal holiday read.
All in all, this was a great read and I'm really looking forward to reading Touched by Angels.
Plot: 9/10
Characters: 9/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 10/10
Cover: 9/10
Overall: 47/50
February 22, 2015
Another lovely read. Something light and feelgood and fluffy...perfect for a rainy day.
September 8, 2021
This is a book that reads like a Hallmark Christmas special, which isn’t entirely a bad thing. I did enjoy this story but there were a couple things that I wish had been a little different.
1. The story actually is three story lines in one book which does mean that the stories get a little rushed and which does leave some holes.
2. There are typos. These are not horrendous typos where you can’t figure out the words that actually were meant based on context but they are numerous so grammar fanatics may get stuck on this.
3. This is the one that honestly bothers me the most. Two of the three story lines are of a romantic nature, which in itself is fine, but my problem lies in the main heroes of the story line. Both are really pushy “won’t take no for an answer” men which to me is more of a red flag than something to be romanticized. They also drive at least one heroine to unhealthy extremes like buying really expensive stuff they can’t afford just to impress the guy who they aren’t even guaranteed to be with, instead of being themselves. But also there are scenes where the guys literally follow the women around without their knowledge which should register as creepy but doesn’t. I personally was able to push past this and keep reading but those personalities were huge in ruining the story for me and may be for others who have been through trauma at the hands of overbearing or over domineering, controlling, possessive partners. Personally, I think the story would have been greatly improved if such story lines were not romanticized.
4. This one was more of a personal wish. The story starts in the first chapter or two from the point of view of the angels but then takes off from the point of view of the people they were sent to help and only maybe 3-4 more times do we return to hearing from the point of view of the angels for a page or two through out the rest of the story, until the end. I would have liked to read more from the angel’s point of view instead of trying to guess how much was them and how much wasn’t. I just would have liked to see them get a little more attention because I think it would have been fun to read a little bit more about their antics, disappointments, and successes. Don’t get me wrong! We do hear SOME but there are usually huge lengths in the story where they seem to have been completely forgotten and then suddenly, three chapters later, they appear again but only for a couple pages before being left behind for a considerably long time again.
Again, over all, I did enjoy the story. I think I enjoyed it overall because of my nostalgia for things like love conquering all, and the universe helping us out, the idea of what is meant for us will come to us, and finally for the Hallmark Christmas story and everything working out in the end, but I did really feel the need to point out the areas that would have improved this reading experience for me.
1. The story actually is three story lines in one book which does mean that the stories get a little rushed and which does leave some holes.
2. There are typos. These are not horrendous typos where you can’t figure out the words that actually were meant based on context but they are numerous so grammar fanatics may get stuck on this.
3. This is the one that honestly bothers me the most. Two of the three story lines are of a romantic nature, which in itself is fine, but my problem lies in the main heroes of the story line. Both are really pushy “won’t take no for an answer” men which to me is more of a red flag than something to be romanticized. They also drive at least one heroine to unhealthy extremes like buying really expensive stuff they can’t afford just to impress the guy who they aren’t even guaranteed to be with, instead of being themselves. But also there are scenes where the guys literally follow the women around without their knowledge which should register as creepy but doesn’t. I personally was able to push past this and keep reading but those personalities were huge in ruining the story for me and may be for others who have been through trauma at the hands of overbearing or over domineering, controlling, possessive partners. Personally, I think the story would have been greatly improved if such story lines were not romanticized.
4. This one was more of a personal wish. The story starts in the first chapter or two from the point of view of the angels but then takes off from the point of view of the people they were sent to help and only maybe 3-4 more times do we return to hearing from the point of view of the angels for a page or two through out the rest of the story, until the end. I would have liked to read more from the angel’s point of view instead of trying to guess how much was them and how much wasn’t. I just would have liked to see them get a little more attention because I think it would have been fun to read a little bit more about their antics, disappointments, and successes. Don’t get me wrong! We do hear SOME but there are usually huge lengths in the story where they seem to have been completely forgotten and then suddenly, three chapters later, they appear again but only for a couple pages before being left behind for a considerably long time again.
Again, over all, I did enjoy the story. I think I enjoyed it overall because of my nostalgia for things like love conquering all, and the universe helping us out, the idea of what is meant for us will come to us, and finally for the Hallmark Christmas story and everything working out in the end, but I did really feel the need to point out the areas that would have improved this reading experience for me.
January 24, 2024
Cute story of three angels who help regular people work out their problems. I especially liked the realness of the minister who lost his wife. I was glad the book wraps up with what happens to each person in the future. It doesn’t leave you hanging.
December 8, 2019
An easy-to-read, sweet Christmas book. Three angels help three groups of people get their lives straightened out in time for Christmas.
March 4, 2025
An Ok read, light romance, some humor and three unpredictable Matchmaking Angels. My only gripe is that everything happens too fast romance wise, but still an enjoyable read.
August 2, 2010
Cute!
December 26, 2024
I read the first book in this series years ago - fun to come back to it! I enjoyed the three story lines and meeting so many fun, likable characters.
Favorite Quotes:
• Karen closed her eyes and bowed her head. Then, remembering the pictures she’d seen in religious books, she gravely folded her hands. She wasn’t entirely sure why people laced their fingers together when they prayed, probably so they wouldn’t get distracted and wind their hair around their fingers or that kind of thing. (p4)
• “That’s where you’re wrong,” It was as though Karen had been impatiently waiting for this very argument. She disappeared into her bedroom and returned breathless a moment later. “This is the address I got from the library. Did you know you can get a horse free from the United States government?” (p12)
• She’d gotten adept with guilt of late. She’d acquired the skill by hanging around with Catholics, who were proven experts. (p17)
• “This is very . . . nice,” Blythe said with a lack of sincerity. It was as if she had to say something, and “nice” was the only word she could think to utter. Until that moment Catherine had never noticed how weak the word nice could be. (p33)
• He was lonely, the same way she was lonely. Only he was willing to admit it, whereas she preferred to ignore the obvious. (p88)
• It wasn’t like her to beat around the bush. When she had something to say, she generally said it. He had often admired that trait in her. He didn’t always like it, but he found himself in her debt enough to appreciate the woman she was. (p161)
• “That can be arranged, you know.” Goodness was ever the optimist when it came to planning the impossible. (p174)
• He discovered he couldn’t talk to God the way he had before Barbara’s death. He had a chp on his shoulder, he guessed, although a pastor generally wasn’t supposed to possess negative feelings. After all, what possible good would it do to be angry with almighty God? (p193)
• “I’m feeling just great,” Joy insisted, forcing a smile. Physically she was, but emotionally she was searching for an excuse to burst into tears. A sentimental advertisement on television would do the trick. (p196)
• Every time he was with Joy, he came away feeling better about himself in some small way. This was her gift, her God-given talent: to draw out the best in others. (p235)
• By then she’d accepted Earl’s death and made her peace with God. The battle had been hard won. Catherine had told God that if this was the way he treated his friends, it was little wonder he had so few. (p279)
• The conflict came when his mind declared war on his emotions. Faith merged with doubt, and like water and oil, the two refused to blend, and soon Paul couldn’t tell the difference between hope and despair. Both felt the same to him.
Once, a long time before, someone had told Paul that the greatest beauty was watered by tears. He’d shed his tears, mourned the loss of his wife, and had yet to find any beauty in her death. (p284)
• Why was it the unattainable was always the most appealing? (p291)
• There was always something to be grateful for, she reminded herself, but at the moment she was hard-pressed to decide what. (p291)
• He knew that his own grief had been all-encompassing and severe for several months now. Only recently had it occurred to him that his capacity for pain was indicative of his capability to experience joy. He was ready for the pendulum to spring in that direction. (p296)
Favorite Quotes:
• Karen closed her eyes and bowed her head. Then, remembering the pictures she’d seen in religious books, she gravely folded her hands. She wasn’t entirely sure why people laced their fingers together when they prayed, probably so they wouldn’t get distracted and wind their hair around their fingers or that kind of thing. (p4)
• “That’s where you’re wrong,” It was as though Karen had been impatiently waiting for this very argument. She disappeared into her bedroom and returned breathless a moment later. “This is the address I got from the library. Did you know you can get a horse free from the United States government?” (p12)
• She’d gotten adept with guilt of late. She’d acquired the skill by hanging around with Catholics, who were proven experts. (p17)
• “This is very . . . nice,” Blythe said with a lack of sincerity. It was as if she had to say something, and “nice” was the only word she could think to utter. Until that moment Catherine had never noticed how weak the word nice could be. (p33)
• He was lonely, the same way she was lonely. Only he was willing to admit it, whereas she preferred to ignore the obvious. (p88)
• It wasn’t like her to beat around the bush. When she had something to say, she generally said it. He had often admired that trait in her. He didn’t always like it, but he found himself in her debt enough to appreciate the woman she was. (p161)
• “That can be arranged, you know.” Goodness was ever the optimist when it came to planning the impossible. (p174)
• He discovered he couldn’t talk to God the way he had before Barbara’s death. He had a chp on his shoulder, he guessed, although a pastor generally wasn’t supposed to possess negative feelings. After all, what possible good would it do to be angry with almighty God? (p193)
• “I’m feeling just great,” Joy insisted, forcing a smile. Physically she was, but emotionally she was searching for an excuse to burst into tears. A sentimental advertisement on television would do the trick. (p196)
• Every time he was with Joy, he came away feeling better about himself in some small way. This was her gift, her God-given talent: to draw out the best in others. (p235)
• By then she’d accepted Earl’s death and made her peace with God. The battle had been hard won. Catherine had told God that if this was the way he treated his friends, it was little wonder he had so few. (p279)
• The conflict came when his mind declared war on his emotions. Faith merged with doubt, and like water and oil, the two refused to blend, and soon Paul couldn’t tell the difference between hope and despair. Both felt the same to him.
Once, a long time before, someone had told Paul that the greatest beauty was watered by tears. He’d shed his tears, mourned the loss of his wife, and had yet to find any beauty in her death. (p284)
• Why was it the unattainable was always the most appealing? (p291)
• There was always something to be grateful for, she reminded herself, but at the moment she was hard-pressed to decide what. (p291)
• He knew that his own grief had been all-encompassing and severe for several months now. Only recently had it occurred to him that his capacity for pain was indicative of his capability to experience joy. He was ready for the pendulum to spring in that direction. (p296)
March 12, 2025
If you think angels spend Christmas floating quietly in the background, think again. In The Trouble with Angels, Debbie Macomber lets her trio of celestial troublemakers—Shirley, Goodness, and Mercy—loose on Earth, and as usual, they’re breaking every rule in the heavenly handbook. This is book two in the Angels Everywhere series, and it doubles down on everything that makes these stories work: big emotions, bigger messes, and angels who just can’t help but meddle.
This time, their assignments are all tangled up in heartbreak and hope. Karen, a young girl, prays that her mom, Maureen, can finally move on from her bitter divorce—and maybe (if it’s not too much trouble) get her that horse she’s always dreamed of. Shirley, never one to be subtle, decides Thom Nichols, the handsome horse trainer running the local stable, might be the solution to both prayers—whether Maureen’s ready for him or not.
Meanwhile, Goodness, usually the fun-loving one, is faced with something heavier: Pastor Paul Morris, a man still paralyzed by grief after losing his wife. His congregation has practically overloaded heaven with prayers, and Goodness realizes this isn’t going to be a quick fix. Watching her try to help Paul rediscover life—and love—adds a thoughtful, emotional weight to the story that balances out the angels’ usual antics.
And then there’s Mercy, tasked with answering the prayers of Catherine Goodwin, a sharp-tongued grandma who wants her beloved grandson, Ted, to find a woman worth keeping. Catherine’s convinced that Joy Palmer, the sweet, no-nonsense staff member at her senior residence, is the one—but when Ted strolls in with the painfully glamorous (and obviously wrong) Blythe, Mercy knows she’s got her work cut out for her.
What makes The Trouble with Angels shine is that even when the angels are staging accidental run-ins or "helpfully" nudging people toward each other, there’s real heart in every storyline. These aren’t just cute Christmas fluff pieces—Macomber digs into real emotional struggles: grief that won’t loosen its grip, broken families trying to heal, and the fear of starting over. But don’t worry—this is a Debbie Macomber Christmas story, so the angels’ "help" comes with a side of comedy, and yes, everything wraps up into a neat (if slightly miraculous) bow by Christmas Eve.
If there’s one thing to know before diving in, it’s that subtlety is not on the guest list. The angels are as extra as ever—setting up not-so-accidental meetings, staging romantic mishaps, and generally ignoring all the rules about non-interference. But that’s the charm of this series: you know what you’re getting, and you get it in full, sparkly force.
In the end, The Trouble with Angels earns a 4 out of 5 stars—a sweet, light, funny, and heartwarming reminder that sometimes what we need most is a little push from beyond (or a shove, if Shirley’s in charge). If you’re craving a holiday story where love wins, family heals, and angels do everything but play it safe, this is the Christmas miracle you’re looking for.
This time, their assignments are all tangled up in heartbreak and hope. Karen, a young girl, prays that her mom, Maureen, can finally move on from her bitter divorce—and maybe (if it’s not too much trouble) get her that horse she’s always dreamed of. Shirley, never one to be subtle, decides Thom Nichols, the handsome horse trainer running the local stable, might be the solution to both prayers—whether Maureen’s ready for him or not.
Meanwhile, Goodness, usually the fun-loving one, is faced with something heavier: Pastor Paul Morris, a man still paralyzed by grief after losing his wife. His congregation has practically overloaded heaven with prayers, and Goodness realizes this isn’t going to be a quick fix. Watching her try to help Paul rediscover life—and love—adds a thoughtful, emotional weight to the story that balances out the angels’ usual antics.
And then there’s Mercy, tasked with answering the prayers of Catherine Goodwin, a sharp-tongued grandma who wants her beloved grandson, Ted, to find a woman worth keeping. Catherine’s convinced that Joy Palmer, the sweet, no-nonsense staff member at her senior residence, is the one—but when Ted strolls in with the painfully glamorous (and obviously wrong) Blythe, Mercy knows she’s got her work cut out for her.
What makes The Trouble with Angels shine is that even when the angels are staging accidental run-ins or "helpfully" nudging people toward each other, there’s real heart in every storyline. These aren’t just cute Christmas fluff pieces—Macomber digs into real emotional struggles: grief that won’t loosen its grip, broken families trying to heal, and the fear of starting over. But don’t worry—this is a Debbie Macomber Christmas story, so the angels’ "help" comes with a side of comedy, and yes, everything wraps up into a neat (if slightly miraculous) bow by Christmas Eve.
If there’s one thing to know before diving in, it’s that subtlety is not on the guest list. The angels are as extra as ever—setting up not-so-accidental meetings, staging romantic mishaps, and generally ignoring all the rules about non-interference. But that’s the charm of this series: you know what you’re getting, and you get it in full, sparkly force.
In the end, The Trouble with Angels earns a 4 out of 5 stars—a sweet, light, funny, and heartwarming reminder that sometimes what we need most is a little push from beyond (or a shove, if Shirley’s in charge). If you’re craving a holiday story where love wins, family heals, and angels do everything but play it safe, this is the Christmas miracle you’re looking for.
August 5, 2017
This was a fun, lighthearted Christmas romance involving angels. Although I hadn't read the first book, I enjoyed this book immensely and felt that I understood the angels without knowing their full backstory. Shirley, Goodness, and Mercy are assigned as prayer ambassadors for three individuals in Los Angeles (the city of angels).
Maureen Woods is a single mom who went through a terrible divorce and has a daughter who suffers from nightmares because of all the trauma in her life. She begs her mom to let her have riding lessons. When Maureen finally locates a stable, the handsome cowboy who runs the place catches her eye.
Ted Goodwin is going to marry the girl of his dreams. Blythe is model-gorgeous, successful, ambitious, and smart. But his beloved Aunt Catherine really wants him to pay attention to Joy Palmer, the cute, compassionate, loving director assistant at the rest home where Catherine is staying.
Paul Morris lost everything when his beloved wife died. He lost his faith, his energy, and his will to live. As the pastor of his congregation, he feels a need to convey love and spirituality, but he can't get past his own hurt and grief.
The angels use tricks, miracles, and coincidences to get these three people back on track again. It's a fun, entertaining read. My one disappointment was the smattering of swear words throughout the book. They were totally unnecessary and took away from instead of adding to the story.
Maureen Woods is a single mom who went through a terrible divorce and has a daughter who suffers from nightmares because of all the trauma in her life. She begs her mom to let her have riding lessons. When Maureen finally locates a stable, the handsome cowboy who runs the place catches her eye.
Ted Goodwin is going to marry the girl of his dreams. Blythe is model-gorgeous, successful, ambitious, and smart. But his beloved Aunt Catherine really wants him to pay attention to Joy Palmer, the cute, compassionate, loving director assistant at the rest home where Catherine is staying.
Paul Morris lost everything when his beloved wife died. He lost his faith, his energy, and his will to live. As the pastor of his congregation, he feels a need to convey love and spirituality, but he can't get past his own hurt and grief.
The angels use tricks, miracles, and coincidences to get these three people back on track again. It's a fun, entertaining read. My one disappointment was the smattering of swear words throughout the book. They were totally unnecessary and took away from instead of adding to the story.
January 9, 2024
Debbie is one of my all time favorite authors. I love a good easy going Hallmark style story. This is the second book in the Angels everywhere series, but could also be read as a stand alone. Three prayer ambassador angels (Shirley, Goodness, & Mercy) are sent from Heaven to help three different families in need at the holidays. Maureen who is bitter from a horrible marriage/divorce, Paul who is suffering from depression after loosing his wife, and Joy who is looking for her true love. I did enjoy the stories and characters (especially Thom) but I felt like the book overall was a bit slower than the first one. Still a great feel good read.
January 11, 2018
This is a nice fluffy book with happy ending...I recommend series for someone wanted a nice happy light read to get away from the crazy of the holiday. It is my goal to read a book from this series every Christmas to help cope with the stress that usually involved. It reminds you to wonder what forces are behind life. This one especially hit home if the Pastor dealing with his own emotions and passing of his wife. That was interesting to see how he lifted himself up from his situation.
January 8, 2020
Yet another heartwarming holiday read by Debbie Macomber. I always enjoy the hijinks of Shirley, Goodness, and Mercy, but this particular book struck a chord with me because there was so much wisdom and emotion involving all 3 main characters. I especially loved learning about Paul, and felt his pain as clearly as if I was the one grieving my spouse. This has been one of favorite books in this series so far (having read them all out of order, of course)
November 7, 2021
This is a delightful book, well written and very easy to absorb. In my case I listened, and was captivated by the antics of Debbie MACOMBER'S three Angels.
It was rather special listening to such a warm story and, knowing all would be OK in the end, anticipating how MACOMBER would sketch the ending.
If you want something different; fanciful, no swearing (simply wonderful) that has lovely endings I would recommend this one for you.
Highly recommended.
It was rather special listening to such a warm story and, knowing all would be OK in the end, anticipating how MACOMBER would sketch the ending.
If you want something different; fanciful, no swearing (simply wonderful) that has lovely endings I would recommend this one for you.
Highly recommended.
January 2, 2023
First let me say that I could not find the edition I read of this book published by Goodreads, so I chose this one. Of course, any book by Debbie Macomber is a favorite of mine and I really enjoyed this one, but I think I got the galley copy. There were so many errors. Examples: "Let's take a look at Pauf" instead of Paul. Words run together: ifhe; ofcourse;. That was just a few. They were all throughout the book and I had to figure out what it was supposed to be.
November 10, 2018
I do not apologize for being in love with this series featuring angels Shirley, Goodness, and Mercy sent to earth to help answer prayers. Yes, the books are silly, fluffy, and formulaic...but they are also heart warming, have a touch of heart breaking, and come with sweet happily ever afters that leave you with warm fuzzies in the end. What could be bad about that?!
January 14, 2019
Debbie writes with love and understanding about tough situations , and the interactions of Shirley, Goodness and Mercy give the reader unexpected chuckles and laughter.
Debbie writes with love and understanding about tough situations. The interactions of Shirley ,Goodness and Mercy give the reader unexpected chuckles and laughter.
Love these books!
Debbie writes with love and understanding about tough situations. The interactions of Shirley ,Goodness and Mercy give the reader unexpected chuckles and laughter.
Love these books!
January 4, 2020
All For The Love of Angels
Debbie Macomber did an excellent job of showing kindness, love and forgiveness in this book. The angels Mercy, Shirley and Goodness could not have been cuter. They touched all the places that needed to be touched in these humans lives with the help of Gabriel and just made you feel good. Thank you for this wonderful book.
Debbie Macomber did an excellent job of showing kindness, love and forgiveness in this book. The angels Mercy, Shirley and Goodness could not have been cuter. They touched all the places that needed to be touched in these humans lives with the help of Gabriel and just made you feel good. Thank you for this wonderful book.
November 11, 2021
Shirley ,Goodness and Mercy are at it again
While the angels struggle to help their charges, the stories of a depressed and lost pastor, a bitter divorcee and her daughter and a young woman in charge of the elderly ring so true. You cry with the pain of grief, hope with the promise of new love and laugh at the antics of our angels. I just love this series.
While the angels struggle to help their charges, the stories of a depressed and lost pastor, a bitter divorcee and her daughter and a young woman in charge of the elderly ring so true. You cry with the pain of grief, hope with the promise of new love and laugh at the antics of our angels. I just love this series.
November 23, 2022
Shirley, Goodness and Mercy have new assignments at Christmas. Each angel faces struggles with their human charges which brought a deep poignancy to this book. Ms. Macomber writes with a deft hand for her characters development. A warm holiday story with some tears for the struggles of both humans and angels.
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