The Unfinished Gift in Christian Fiction Devourers

Dec 09, 2012 Shari Larsen rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This story is set at Christmas time in 1943. Patrick Collins is 7 years old, and has just lost his mother in a car accident. His father is in England, a fighter pilot who is missing in action. He wants the Army to find his father, and he wants to leave his grandfather's house, who is a bitter and grumpy man. He had a falling out with his son Shawn, Patrick's father, before Patrick was born and has never met his grandson, until the social worker brings Patrick to him, to stay until his father is ...more

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Dec 06, 2024 Sherri rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction-christmas, challenge-audio-2024, challenge-author-of-the-month-2024, challenge-monthly-2024, challenge-finish-the-series-2024

Oh be still my emotional heart! Narrator Roger Mueller weaves an excellent tale of a 7-year old boy, his very grumpy grandpa, and the spirit of forgiveness.

Patrick has lost his mom in a car accident and his dad is away as a pilot in WWII. He is now taken to his grandfather's house whom he has never met due to hurt feelings, lack of forgiveness, and assumptions.

Government lady Katherine Townsend care too much for her case and becomes involved in Patrick's life and home.

Wonderful characters brough ...more

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Nov 18, 2012 Kate rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favourites

This is the first Christmas Kindle freebie I downloaded earlier this year, and I am grateful that I picked it up! At its heart, this is a book about forgiveness, and second chances, and the redeeming power of Christ's love. All wrapped up in a Christmas miracle.
I truly loved this book, and am eagerly looking forward to reading the sequel!

16 June 2017 (second reading/review)
While I still really enjoyed the themes of forgiveness, second chances, and redemption, this time, my heart was drawn to th ...more

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Dec 10, 2009 Ruth rated it really liked it

It’s December 1943, and seven-year-old Patrick’s world had been rocked by the sudden death of his mother in a car accident. Sent to live with Ian Collins, the paternal grandfather he’s never even met, and who disowned Patrick’s father for his marriage and renewed faith in Christ – Patrick’s wishes are simple. He wants his father to come home and save him from his cold, unfeeling grandfather, and he wants the unfinished, hand carved wooden soldier hidden in his grandfather’s attic. The wooden sol It’s December 1943, and seven-year-old Patrick’s world had been rocked by the sudden death of his mother in a car accident. Sent to live with Ian Collins, the paternal grandfather he’s never even met, and who disowned Patrick’s father for his marriage and renewed faith in Christ – Patrick’s wishes are simple. He wants his father to come home and save him from his cold, unfeeling grandfather, and he wants the unfinished, hand carved wooden soldier hidden in his grandfather’s attic. The wooden soldier just happens to be a very painful reminder to Ian of the long standing rift between him & son. Ian has no intention of giving up that very tangible symbol of years of anger and bitterness, until unexpected truths are revealed and he may have a chance to restore his fractured family. But has his change of heart come too late to save a wounded little boy?

The Unfinished Gift is a sweet little story, especially heart-tugging this time of year, when families tend to be uppermost in one’s mind – those with us physically and those with us in spirit. This is the type of story that should definitely appeal to fans of Richard Paul Evans or even Nicholas Sparks’s at their heartwarming best. Gift is a nice, light diversion but personally, the message of reconciliation and forgiveness got just a bit overly didactic. Also, I had real trouble buying Patrick’s voice as that of a seven-year-old. He’s an adorable kid, but he comes off as way, way too mature for his age and too completely, well, perfect. By the time we meet him in the novel, his mother’s been dead just about a week – one week, and it felt like the narrative just barely scratched the surface of the pain and confusion that must surely be there, somewhere. However, as the impetus for facilitating reconciliation between father & son, Patrick’s character fits the bill perfectly.

Walsh does a commendable job evoking the setting of America during World War II. It’s a treat to read stories set in the homefront, especially ones like this that give you a real sense of the hardships war imposed on those left behind, waiting for and hoping loved ones would return safely from the conflict. That nostalgic sense of time and place is one of the novel’s greatest strengths. I think this story would make an ideal made-for-TV movie. The story is a great little reminder of the importance of faith and family. Though stylistically it’s a little too preachy for my tastes, Walsh does such a good job bringing the time period to life and introducing the Collins family that I want to check out the sequel – The Homecoming releases June 2010. ...more

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Nov 27, 2009 Cindy rated it it was amazing

Dan Walsh
2009
Revell
Fiction/Christmas/Christian

Reviewed by Cindy Loven

Set in World War II, The Unfinished Gift is a wonderful story of family redemption. Little Patrick Collins is taken to stay with a grandfather he has never met. A grandfather, full of bitterness, anger and sorrow of all the things he feels had gone wrong in his life.

Patrick's mother was killed in a car accident, and his father is in England fighting in the War. Patrick has to stay with his grandfather until his daddy comes hom ...more

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Nov 12, 2009 Michelle rated it really liked it

Shelves: forpleasure, forreview, christianfiction, blog-tour-book

Dan Walsh's debut novel was impressively written for a first book. The story reminded me of one I'd read several years ago by Tracie Peterson that took place during WWI. It was titled Silent Star. That story also made me tear up toward the end. I really enjoyed this book and the author's characterization of Patrick and his grandfather even though I'm not a big fan of Christmas stories. The WWII setting, including the role of the social worker and the police in the story, felt genuine to me. Whil ...more

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Dec 27, 2012 Stacy rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: kindle

Wonderful book, just what I love to read right before Christmas. Predictable ending, but I loved it and would have been so disappointed if it had not turned out "right". :) I look forward to reading the follow-up to this one, The Homecoming. ...more

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Dec 02, 2009 Carly rated it it was amazing

Every once in a while a very special book comes along that touches your heart on a deeper level. The Unfinished Gift is one of those books. This is the perfect book to read during this Christmas season. It has filled me with hope and warmth. I found myself thinking about this book, especially thinking about young Patrick, even when I wasn’t reading. There were so many times when I just wanted to reach into the pages of this book and wrap my arms around Patrick. He is such a sweet little boy who ...more

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