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The Christmas Promise

(Christmas Hope #4)

Donna VanLiere (Goodreads Author)

4.13 · Rating details · 3,152 ratings · 279 reviews

Each Christmas we are given a promise from heaven. And each year on earth we make promises to each other.

This is a story about how a promise from one person to another shows us the true meaning of faith, remembrance, and love.Seven years ago Gloria endured a family tragedy that almost shook her faith entirely. Each Christmas she places a card in an envelope on her tree, r ...more

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Hardcover, 206 pages

Published October 16th 2007 by St. Martin's Press (first published October 1st 2007)

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4.13 ·

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· 3,152 ratings · 279 reviews

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Dec 14, 2015 Staci rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-in-2015

It took me a bit to get into this one, but I'm so glad I kept reading. Once I got hooked on the story, I was hooked in a major way. This was a very good Christmas story!

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Dec 13, 2012 Julianna rated it it was amazing

Recommends it for: Fans of Heartwarming Holiday Stories

Shelves: desert-island-keepers, general-fiction, holiday-stories, inspirational-fiction, read-2012

Reviewed for THC Reviews
The Christmas Promise was another great Christmas story from Donna VanLiere. The first three books in the Christmas Hope series embodied a sense of sadness with death taking center stage in each of them. While I loved all those books, it was nice to have one with a more whimsical tone where no one dies or is struggling mightily with someone else's death. There are some heavy themes, such as loneliness, alcoholism, domestic abuse and a missing child, but there was enough h Reviewed for THC Reviews
The Christmas Promise was another great Christmas story from Donna VanLiere. The first three books in the Christmas Hope series embodied a sense of sadness with death taking center stage in each of them. While I loved all those books, it was nice to have one with a more whimsical tone where no one dies or is struggling mightily with someone else's death. There are some heavy themes, such as loneliness, alcoholism, domestic abuse and a missing child, but there was enough humor and lighter moments to keep those things from becoming depressing. This book also had more of an ensemble cast than the first three with several characters playing significant roles. Overall, The Christmas Promise was a heartwarming Christmas story that I would recommend to anyone needing to lift their spirits this holiday season.

As with the other books in this series, The Christmas Promise is written in alternating first and third person POV. The first person narrator this time is Gloria aka Miss Glory. She is a retired widow whose adult son has been missing for seven years. He left home just before Gloria's husband, his father, died, and she hasn't seen or heard from him since. She somewhat recently moved to the unnamed small town that has been the setting for all the Christmas Hope books. In an effort to keep busy and to help others in lieu of helping her son, she collects and sorts donations of food, clothing, household items, and even the occasional car, which she them redistributes to the needy in the community. I have to say that Gloria has my dream job. Being a philanthropist is something I've always longed to do. Gloria is a very kind-hearted and loving woman who cares about everyone she meets and helps, maybe a little too much, as it takes her a while to figure out that she can't always help everyone in the way she would like to. Still she is generous to a fault with the only possible exception being her next-door neighbor Miriam. The woman is something of a snob, who always threatens to call the city on Gloria each time someone leaves donations in her driveway. Even Miriam has her own story though. Gloria just hasn't heard it yet. They've spent so long as rivals, she hasn't really taken the time to get to know the other woman, but that all changes when an unfortunate incident leaves the two of them living together temporarily. It was really fun to see these two develop an appreciation for one another and a deep friendship after feuding for so long.

Then there is Chaz who just moved to town and got a job as a security guard at Wilson's Department Store. At first, he's very much a loner and a drifter, who only intends to stay long enough to earn a little money. He obviously harbors some secrets he doesn't want anyone else to know and on top of it all, is a functioning alcoholic who spends all his free time at the bottom of a bottle. He isn't exactly the most likable character initially, but things begin to slowly change for him as he discovers a caring side to himself he didn't realize existed. He works the night shift, and the turnaround starts with him caring for the little boy of a cleaning lady, who had nowhere else to take him and so brought him with her to work. Chaz develops a strong friendship with the little boy, Donovan, and to the extent she will let him into her life, the boy's mother, Carla, who is being abused by her boyfriend. Chaz also begins to feel a connection to Mike, the homeless man who sometimes stands outside Wilson's, and worries when Mike is hit by a car. Last but not least, Chaz falls in love at first sight with Erin, a pretty but very pregnant young woman who Gloria is helping.

What impressed me most about The Christmas Promise is how the author manged to seamlessly weave together all the lives of these characters until it was like they became one family unit. She even brought back a few favorites from past books like Robert Layton (The Christmas Shoes) and Jack and Nathan Andrews (The Christmas Hope). The Christmas Promise was very much a story of new beginnings. Each one of the characters in the book received some sort of second chance after life had thrown them a curveball. This time they chose the right path, but it wasn't without the help of strangers. The one thing I loved most about this book is the serendipitous nature of the characters' meetings which underscores the It's a Wonderful Life principle that each person's life touches so many others in ways that we often don't even know. The Christmas Promise is simply a warm, feel-good story that was a welcome respite from the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. ...more

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Nov 04, 2015 Pamela rated it really liked it

Shelves: christmas, inspirational, top-picks-read-in-2015, tennessee, own, love, humor, friendship, grief

LOVELY <> LOVELY <> LOVELY!!

FESTIVELY LOVELY.....

"Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around." - Leo Buscaglia, as quoted in The Christmas Promise

Absolutely delightful, like a comfy quilt on cold winter's day. And humorous....

"When I was young I always envisioned myself being fit and lean at this age in the middle of a race with runn ...more

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Dec 04, 2016 Camilla rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: my-unfinished-series, winter-reads, own-and-read, 2016, my-book-collection, keepers, favorites

3.75 stars.

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Dec 30, 2018 Stefanie (foreversweetserendipity) rated it it was amazing

I cannot deny it! I absolutely love this series. The books are always the perfect Christmas remedy for feeling in the spirit. I also fully believe you can read these books any time of the year and still find some Faith and Hope in life.

This book was a little darker than the others have been. It dealt in depth with abuse and alcoholism. I was surprised how far the books went. But the books always teach something and it brings you back from the brink of hopelessness to find hope and a way for a n ...more

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Dec 16, 2017 Mom2triplets04 rated it liked it

I didn’t enjoy this as well as the other 3 books. We meet many more characters and the writing just confused me when she switched between characters without warning. I was hoping to see characters from first books but they only appeared for a short time.

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Feb 15, 2019 Sandra Bašić rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Another nice Christmas story!

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Dec 03, 2011 Rayni rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Recommends it for: anyone looking for a feel good Christmas book.

Recommended to Rayni by: author recognition

Shelves: christmas, audio, fav-authors, christian, 2011-reads

I listened to this book with my mother. The author read the book & did a wonderful job. I had a hard time following as it jumped back & forth between Chaz & Gloria. Not realizing this was part of a series, I enjoyed meeting Mr. Wilson, Robert Layton, Jack & Nathan Andrews again from Christmas Shoes & Christmas Blessings. Christmas Promise could definitely be read as a stand alone book. As Nathan & Jack briefly appear. Mr. Wilson & Robert Layton play more prominent par ...more

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Jun 17, 2012 Jana rated it liked it

Shelves: won-t-bother-to-read-again

This is a good story, but the reason I didn't rate it higher is because I detest books that introduce a dozen or so characters in a short story...It takes me several chapters to figure out who everyone is and then BAM! the book is ended! Maybe I'm just slow witted...

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Dec 08, 2008 Malinda rated it really liked it

I was surprised by how much I liked this "Christmas book." It has many lessons for the reader, but the one that struck me the most was that we need to be careful who and how we judge others. I recommend this book to you!

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Dec 14, 2016 Trudy Gleason rated it it was amazing

Totally enjoy book. This is what the true spirit of Christmas is all about. Loved it.

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Nov 22, 2010 Eomicheli rated it really liked it

Nice to read a "feel good" book during the holidays! Definitely on the light side, but enjoyable just the same.

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Sep 24, 2018 Tiffany Shelhorse rated it really liked it

If you want a book with no huge conflict this is the book for you. In the best way possible it is like a Hallmark story without the overdone love story. Nice and short, an easy read to relax at the end of the day.

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Dec 18, 2017 Dana Leet rated it it was amazing

This book was amazing. It was miraculous that the main character glory was looking all this time for her son with a porch light constantly on. I think that we all should really strive to find a miracle with every Christmas that occurs and even if it is a small one realize that they still happen to every family today.

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Dec 01, 2017 Deann Doolittle rated it liked it

Shelves: christmas-reads

Nice Christmas read!

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Jul 21, 2009 Stephy rated it liked it

Sadly this is book 3 in a 4 book series and I read only this one.
It was good a feel good book. A very quick read though. And I might have teared up once or twice.

Seven years ago Gloria endured a family tragedy that almost shook her faith entirely. Each Christmas she places a card in an envelope on her tree, restating a promise she made to her husband before he died. Now, having moved from her small town and all the painful memories it held, she is building a life by caring for people in need. Wh ...more

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Nov 13, 2017 Norah Baron rated it really liked it

Loved this book. I didn’t even guess the surprise until almost the end of the book.

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Jun 25, 2012 Ronna rated it it was amazing

Shelves: audio

Donna Van Liere has numerous books about Christmas hope, love, and God's working in people's lives. This particular book is especially good as it is basically about God's grace. Sixty something, Gloria, lives alone since the death of her husband seven years ago, when her 17 year old son ran away and her other children were grown and living away with their own families. She has a special wish that has been hanging on her tree for years--a prayer for God.

Gloria spends her day helping people. She t ...more

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Oct 22, 2018 Monica rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2018-reads, 2018-christmas-reads, audiobook, series

This is the type of book that in my opinion embodies what Christmas is. In The Christmas Promise, we have Gloria and Miriam who are neighbors and who couldn’t be more different. Gloria is very friendly always offering a helping hand to everyone she meets and Miriam well she is more about herself but when Miriam house floods Gloria offers to let her stay in her house until her house is fixed. While there Miriam sees all that Gloria does for everyone and can't believe it, she thinks no one could b ...more

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Jan 10, 2012 Bonnie rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2012, chick-lit, christian

Miss Glory lives her life for others and yet her neighbor, 'critical Miriam' sees very little without suspicion and disapproval. What happens when Miriam and Miss Glory are thrown together and must endure each others company? Within the same house?

Chaz is a loner who goes from job to job, dwelling to dwelling. He takes a job in security at a department store to pad his wallet until he decides to move on. During this job he meets and works with several people whose lives have him looking at himse ...more

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Nov 07, 2011 Loraine rated it really liked it

Shelves: christmas-stories

Once again, Donna VanLiere has delivered a great Christmas read. Once again Christmas approaches and Mrs. Glory aka Gloria wonders if she will ever see her son again who disappeared just before his father's death 7 years earlier. As she works her out of home project, to help the needy (including her obnoxious next door neighbor Mary), Mrs. Glory's life becomes intertwined with many who really need her help. Will this be the year that her Christmas promise is delivered?

I really liked the characte ...more

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Dec 15, 2014 Sally rated it really liked it

A surprisingly good, quick, unrealistic Christmas read. But that's OK - I don't usually read books for reality.
There was, however, a lot of hope and very real, flawed characters. A great little study of God's grace and how He never gives up even when we do. Yet not overly "christiany".

The author did a very good job at slowly revealing the little mysteries of the characters without dragging them (and my patience) out. This wasn't your typical sappy holiday book by a cheesy author.
This is an au ...more

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Sep 30, 2017 Elizabeth Meadows rated it really liked it

Shelves: christmas-books, audio-books-2017

Another wonderful installment to this series. I love how Donna VanLiere starts with flawed characters and helps them grow and change. This book was not quite as heart wrenching as the first two in the series (Thankfully).

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Jun 30, 2017 Jeanette rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2017-books, apr-june-2017, christian-romanc, hardback-book, series-books, 5-books

I enjoyed reading this book.

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Dec 01, 2016 Jennifer rated it it was ok

Cute story but a little cheesy at times.

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Dec 20, 2016 Jodi rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2016, library-audiobook

This was such a sweet, uplifting book with many unique and fun characters. I listened to this on audio and it was narrated by the author; she did an amazing job.

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May 29, 2017 Kelly Adamcik rated it it was amazing

great book
easy read
couldn't put down

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Nov 25, 2012 Betsy rated it really liked it

Shelves: z-2015-nov, wom-2015taming

Another heart-warming story in the series. 4 stars

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Sep 01, 2017 Angie rated it liked it

Shelves: advent-reads, contemporary

Synopsis: "Each Christmas we are given a promise from heaven. And each year on earth we make promises to each other.

This is a story about how a promise from one person to another shows us the true meaning of faith, remembrance, and love.Seven years ago Gloria endured a family tragedy that almost shook her faith entirely. Each Christmas she places a card in an envelope on her tree, restating a promise she made to her husband before he died. Now, having moved from her small town and all the painf Synopsis: "Each Christmas we are given a promise from heaven. And each year on earth we make promises to each other.

This is a story about how a promise from one person to another shows us the true meaning of faith, remembrance, and love.Seven years ago Gloria endured a family tragedy that almost shook her faith entirely. Each Christmas she places a card in an envelope on her tree, restating a promise she made to her husband before he died. Now, having moved from her small town and all the painful memories it held, she is building a life by caring for people in need. Whether it's a young mother who can't pay her electric bill or a family who needs some extra food, Gloria always finds a way. Miriam is a thorn in Gloria's side. Miriam is a constantly critical, disapproving neighbor who looks with suspicion at all the good things Gloria does. When a twist of fate makes them roommates instead of neighbors, it's the ultimate test of patience and faith.

Chaz has a good job as head of security at Wilson's Department Store, but each night he returns home to an empty apartment. He longs for a wife and family of his own but realizes that the life choices he's made have alienated him. He befriends a young boy whose mother has fallen on hard times, giving him a chance to have a life he thought impossible.In The Christmas Promise, the lives of these characters collide and we learn that even as we move ahead, the past is never far behind. And when we are forgiven much, we love much.

In this warmly humorous and deeply poignant story, we are reminded that the Christmas Promise is the promise of second chances."

My Review: Now this was definitely more of a companion story rather than a continuation of the series. It is set in the same town as the previous books and a couple of the characters made a very brief appearance but other than that there really wasn't the same connection as the previous three books in the series had. It does however have the same common theme of small kindnesses being passed down the line and Christmas miracles happening to those people who really deserve it. Instead of reading this one I listened to it on audio and I don't know if that affected my experiences or not, but I didn't have the same connection to this story as I had with the other books. I actually didn't even tear up where as the other three had me sobbing. It was still a great book with a great message and I did love how the characters came to support one another. It is a good story to read during the holidays. ...more

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Dec 25, 2018 Chloe rated it liked it

Shelves: christmas-winter

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This one has been my least favorite of the series. It's about an older lady named Gloria. She is widowed and spends her time doing good deeds for others and helping those in need. She often gets stuff delivered to her house that nobody else wants and she finds a good home for it. Her neighbor, Miriam, is a snobby lady who hates that her neighbor's house often looks like a junk yard. The 2 quarrel but when Miriam's house needs repairs, she has no choice but to stay at Gloria's for a couple weeks. This one has been my least favorite of the series. It's about an older lady named Gloria. She is widowed and spends her time doing good deeds for others and helping those in need. She often gets stuff delivered to her house that nobody else wants and she finds a good home for it. Her neighbor, Miriam, is a snobby lady who hates that her neighbor's house often looks like a junk yard. The 2 quarrel but when Miriam's house needs repairs, she has no choice but to stay at Gloria's for a couple weeks. The 2 find a friendship that is so fun to watch grow. Miriam's walls come down and she's still a snobby lady, but she definitely softens and allows herself to have moments of vulnerability.
The book is also about Chaz. He works security in a department store and then has nobody to go home to so instead he goes to the bars and drinks a lot. He works at Wilson's with a young mom named Carla and her son Donovan. She often has to bring him into work with her and Chaz and Donovan form a fun friendship. She even asks him to watch him for awhile because her abusive boyfriend is going on a tear and she doesn't want Donovan to be around it. Donovan also stays at Gloria's for awhile.
Chaz seems to be a lonely old guy, but we see his heart soften a little bit with Donovan and Mike, the homeless guy who is often outside Wilson's. Mike gets hit by a car and taken to the hospital and there we run into Nathan Andrews from the earlier books. Chaz is also not old. I felt like he was written as a middle aged character, but we find out later is a young man probably in his 20's.
Gloria's son, Matthew, ran away from home 7 years ago and she can't get ahold of him and nobody has any idea where he is. In the very end, he comes home and we find out that Matthew and Chaz are the same person! He falls in love with Erin, a, very pregnant girl that Gloria is helping. He goes to rehab and gets clean and its happily ever after.
My complaints about this book are that I felt Chaz was written way older than he actually is. I also thought this book was not nearly as connected as the others were. There was the brief mention of Nathan and then there was a reference to Patti and decorating the trees, but they weren't much of the story. ...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