The Gift: Home for Christmas / All I Want for Christmas / Gabriel's Angel

by Nora Roberts

Home for Christmas

After years spent abroad, reporter Jason Law returned home determined to win back the girl he left behind. It would take all his skills—and then some—to win Faith back. But this time, nothing would stand in his way—it was time faith was rewarded.

All I Want for Christmas

Identical twin boys Zeke and Zach wanted only one gift from Santa this year: a new mom! But convincing their love-wary dad that their music teacher, Miss Davis, was his destiny and part of Santa's plan wasn't as easy as they'd hoped—.

Gabriel's Angel

All Gabriel Bradley wanted was solitude. But when Laura ended up at his remote cabin during a blizzard, desperate, alone and on the run, the modern-day Scrooge couldn't turn her away. For she brought him the gift of passion, life, hope—if he had the courage to reach for it.

Genres: Romance, Christmas, Fiction, Holiday, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Chick Lit

442 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published September 18, 2007

About the author

Nora Roberts is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 200 novels, including Hideaway, Under Currents, Come Sundown, The Awakening, Legacy, and coming in November 2021 -- The Becoming -- the second book in The Dragon Heart Legacy. She is also the author of the futuristic suspense In Death series written under the pen name J.D. Robb. There are more than 500 million copies of her books in print.

Reviews

[Lissette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad read but a little mushy. I tend to like a little more story line but it was a good read.

[Milly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Three great short stories all in one book. I especially enjoyed Gabriel's Angel.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

2007 - three books in one & three recipes - Keep It

[Connie N. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a holiday collection of three of Roberts' early books, and my enjoyment level was fairly clear depending on how old it was since I tend to like her later books better.
Home for Christmas - Pub 1986 - 3 stars - When Jason comes back to his hometown ten years later and very successful journalist, he finds himself drawn again to his first love. Nice, sweet, although I didn't feel any particular pull towards the characters.
All I Want for Christmas - Pub 1994 - 4 stars - Two young twin boys are asking Santa for "the mom," unbeknownst to their dad. When they meet the new music teacher, she fits the bill. But dad is not cooperating with their plan.
Gabriel's Angel - Pub 1989 - 2.5 stars - This was a lengthy story about a pregnant woman who gets into an accident outside Gabe's winter cabin, and they end up spending time together. When she reveals her tragic story, he wants to help. Supposed this is a play on the "no room in the inn" story, but I didn't really get any sense of holiday or meaning in it. It just didn't work for me. The best part was the very end because of the confrontation, but all of the lead-up was slow.
This was an OK Christmas collection, although it didn't really set the holiday mood for me.

[Debbie Gill-ty Bookworm · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars⭐️⭐️⭐️
This book is comprised of two short Christmas love stories by Nora Roberts. Warm, fuzzy and definitely a good holiday read. “Home For Christmas” and “All I Want For Christmas”, both were filled with people yearning for love. What a better time than Christmas to find a love match! The holiday spirit speaks loudly, holiday gifts are given and lives are changed forever.

[Christy Chabassol-Moynham · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not necessarily bad — just not for me. I’m a romantasy and dark romance reader. It is rare that a more traditional romance gets my interest. I got this as a gift from someone who knows I like Nora Roberts books with magical/fantasy elements to them, so I figured I’d give it a try. Turns out…her more traditional romances aren’t for me. 🤷🏻‍♀️

[Ilse · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 verhalen in 1boek
het middelste verhaal is echt een boek, de 2 anderen zijn kortverhalen

de kortverhalen zijn met een vlotte pen geschreven, vlot leesbaar dus

het middelste verhaal heeft een fijne verhaallijn, met wat zijsprongetjes en een mooi kerst happy end
geen hoogstaand verhaal, maar wel een fijn verhaal om te lezen

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice collection of Christmas-themed romance short stories by Nora Roberts. I have to say, though I love the plot of the second story with the twins, Zeke and Zach, my favorite couple would be Laura and Gabe in Gabriel's Angel.

The first story was too unrealistic in my opinion but well, it is meant to be optimistic.

[Sandra Jackson - Alawine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had read Home for Christmas and Gabriel's Angel awhile back so didn't read them again. Really enjoyed All I Want for Christmas. What happens when twin first graders ask Santa for "The Mom" for Christmas and the new music teacher checks all the boy's requirements?

[Karla Haller · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually read this a few years ago and forgot until I started reading it again. Sweet little short stories but the last one, Gabriel’s Angel was def my fav.

[Vicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful collection of well-written romance short stories.

[Anchal Sharma · Rating 3 out of 5]

These stories just make you happy! 😍 Nora is magical ☺️

[Pam Leeper (Kutella) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Typical Nora Roberts with the warm fuzzies with a little holiday flair.

[24th $Aint · Rating 4 out of 5]

SPOILER ALERT:
Love is everything. Everything

[Jody Gritters · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gabriel's angel was the best out of the three books. I have read better books by nora Robert's though. It was an easy read. A good book to have if u need a break from reading difficult books.

[Ana Ramirez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always enjoy Nora Roberts. Of the 3 stories I enjoyed All I want for Christmas the most. Fell in love with the twins and Mac's reaction to his son's christmas wish is adorable.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was pretty predictable. But a nice fluffy romance is nice after all my murder mysteries:)

[Kathy Krieg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good heart warming stories. Quick read.

[Carla H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet short stories that warm the heart!

[Kristin Hermanson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Feel good endings for feel good feelings

[Adrienne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a quick read that was difficult to put down. Each of the stories were romantic and touching in their own way.

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful Christmas collection

[Stephanie Moyle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three sweet stories all rolled into one book. A quick read!

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Last story was the best IMO.

[Joanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not my favorite Nora, but christmassy and cute. Enjoyable for the season for sure

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was the perfect easy Holiday read. During this busy time, being able to read a 'heavy' book is just not possible. This book contains three really good, sweet stories that are not only a pleasure to read but also leave you full of the feeling of Christmas as the love of family.

In the first story, we meet Jason and Faith who are high school sweet hearts who lose touch when Jason leaves to begin his career. After ten years of longing and bitterness, Jason return home to find that he left more that behind than he thought. This is the story of two people learning to accept the love for each other that never stopped.

The second story is about Mac, his young twin sons Zack & Zeke, and their wish for 'The Mom'. In steps Nel, the new music teacher in town. This story is not only romance and happy endings, it's about the magic of the young and Christmas. One of the sweetest stories I've ever read.

The thrid, is my absolute favorite. I had read it once in the past and had forgotten how good it is. This is the story of Gabe, who is mourning the tragic loss of his brother and of Laura who is running from a nightmare marriage and will do anything to protect her unborn child. Fate brings the two together in a mountian cabin in Colorado during a blizzard. Events bond them to each other, and together they fight to keep their small young family together.

I may read this durning every Christmas Season.

[What to read next ....... · Rating 4 out of 5]

Home For Christmas: What a sweet story. Nora Roberts is always someone to count on for a good romance.
This story is a little predictable and a little disappointing, because it was so short and you wanted to drag on a little more, it was a bit rushed at the end, it was finshed before you knew it.

All l Want for Christmas: The Characters were adorable, and the storyline was very much like a fairytale.
A single dad with twin boys Zeke and Zach wish for a 'Mum' for christmas. Zeke and Zach love their music teacher Miss Davis, so the boys try and match their dad with their Music teacher.
You know what happens next always a happy ending.

Gabriel's Angel : Gabriel's Angel is such a heartwarming story.
A woman on the run, and a grieving man find salvation in each other.
Heavily pregnant widow Laura is fleeing from her former in laws who are determined to get custody of her baby.
A car accident and a snow storm strand Laura in a remote Colorado cabin with Gabriel, who at first resents the imposition on his solitude, but soon cant imagine a life without Laura and the arrival of the new baby.

[Siobhan Ward · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've never read Nora Roberts before, but this was an ok read. It was hard to gauge her writing since this was a series of short(ish) stories, rather than a single story. The first two stories were solid. Things absolutely moved way more quickly than they would in real life and problems were solved in a single page, but that's kind of the point of these stories. The third story just wasn't great though. The premise was ok but it just dragged on and on. It just felt like there was chapter after chapter of not a whole lot happening, which was kind of a bummer.

I will say that the first two stories felt like Roberts had outlined a couple books but then wasn't sure what to actually do with them so she just wrapped them up and called them a short story. There wasn't a whole lot of detail or plot, but they were still fun reads. The third story was the only one where I wasn't really impressed, and unfortunately as the longest story it kind of dominated the book. Ah well, this delivered what it promised.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Home for Christmas
I really loved the small town feel of the first story, and of course the surprise at the end. I loved Faith's doll business and how Jason dressed up as Santa in order to help her. I loved Clara and her relationship with Jason. I do wish it had been longer because it is that good and so perfect for the Christmas season.

All I Want for Christmas
I loved the twins and how they had a plan to make Nell their mommy. I loved their chemistry as a little family, and again wished this had been longer.

Gabriel's Angel
This one was a little longer, and I loved how wholeheartedly Gabe accepts Laura and Michel as his own. I loved how he loved painting Laura and how they named the baby after Gabe's late brother. It was a little angsty at times, but the scenery of the woods at the beginning and the Gabe's rescue were so ideal.

Overall, a nice book to relax with during the holdiays!

[Tama · Rating 4 out of 5]

My mom gave me this book about this time last year but I didn't get to read it until this year. It was a good way to kick off the Christmas season with the three stories in this book. In the first, the world known reporter comes back to his small town and reunites with his former girlfriend. Just love small town literature, even if it is a bot hokey. In the second, twins Zeke and Zack ( really?? People do not name twins like that any more!) wish for a mom for Christmas. She comes in the form of the high school music teacher. Loved that twist. The final story focused on the relationship between a pregnant woman and the artist who comes to her rescue in a snowstorm. Of course they fall in love, but their/her constant rationalization as to why the relationship won't work dragged on a bit too much. Like how her relationship developed with Gabe's family. Easy, fun read overall. Thanks, mom!