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Angels Everywhere #3
Touched by Angels
New York City is always in need of miracles...
And this Christmas is no exception. Thank heavens the divinely inspired, if somewhat ditsy, angelic trio -- Shirley, Goodness, and Mercy -- is available to answer three heartfelt prayers this sacred holiday season... and to impart important lessons along the way. And Goodness knows (as do Mercy and Shirley) that the three lonely women to whom they've been assigned have a lot to learn:
A dedicated inner-city school teacher, Brynn needs to teach her troubled students how to dream...
Shy and dutiful Hannah must learn to follow her own heart...
And frustrated small-town-girl-turned-Broadway-wannabe Jenny needs to discover that home is where love truly lies.
It's time for the angels to shine.. and to prove once again that when you wish upon a star, you get much more than just a pretty song!
And this Christmas is no exception. Thank heavens the divinely inspired, if somewhat ditsy, angelic trio -- Shirley, Goodness, and Mercy -- is available to answer three heartfelt prayers this sacred holiday season... and to impart important lessons along the way. And Goodness knows (as do Mercy and Shirley) that the three lonely women to whom they've been assigned have a lot to learn:
A dedicated inner-city school teacher, Brynn needs to teach her troubled students how to dream...
Shy and dutiful Hannah must learn to follow her own heart...
And frustrated small-town-girl-turned-Broadway-wannabe Jenny needs to discover that home is where love truly lies.
It's time for the angels to shine.. and to prove once again that when you wish upon a star, you get much more than just a pretty song!
386 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1995
416 people are currently reading
2303 people want to read
About the author
Debbie Macomber
895 books20.6k 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 170 reviews
June 11, 2015
Three angels was assigned to three young women; Goodness, Mercy and Shirley was to take care of Brynn, Hannah and Jenny. Each of these young ladies have their own challenges and predicament. Being an angel, Goodness, Mercy and Shirley is not to allow to intervene in these ladies’ life and at the same time to make their prayers come true.
Brynn has determine to make a difference in her student life and to encourage them to achieve their dreams. Being in a poverty stricken neighbourhood, it is easier said than done. Hannah’s grandmother have prayed that Hannah will have a good marriage but the current boyfriend that she was betrothed to is not good enough for her. She met Joshua, a partner in a law firm and is attracted to him and so is he. But she don’t know what she is going to do with her engagement to Carl. Jenny have a dreamt to make it big in Broadway but she is no way achieving that. Feeling inferior, she began to distance herself from her family and friends. She is at a crossroad now; to return home to be with her family and Trey, the man she loves or continue to chase a fruitless dream.
This is a very inspiring book with strong characters. I love reading this book especially the parts where it involved the angels. They are witty, full of ideas and despite all their little mistakes, their ultimate goal is to make sure that Brynn, Hannah and Jennifer have their prayers answer. Overall, it is good read for me.
Brynn has determine to make a difference in her student life and to encourage them to achieve their dreams. Being in a poverty stricken neighbourhood, it is easier said than done. Hannah’s grandmother have prayed that Hannah will have a good marriage but the current boyfriend that she was betrothed to is not good enough for her. She met Joshua, a partner in a law firm and is attracted to him and so is he. But she don’t know what she is going to do with her engagement to Carl. Jenny have a dreamt to make it big in Broadway but she is no way achieving that. Feeling inferior, she began to distance herself from her family and friends. She is at a crossroad now; to return home to be with her family and Trey, the man she loves or continue to chase a fruitless dream.
This is a very inspiring book with strong characters. I love reading this book especially the parts where it involved the angels. They are witty, full of ideas and despite all their little mistakes, their ultimate goal is to make sure that Brynn, Hannah and Jennifer have their prayers answer. Overall, it is good read for me.
December 21, 2018
This was my favorite book of the series. Once again we meet up with Shirley, Goodness, and Mercy who are sent to earth by Gabriel to answer prayers for 3 individuals. Brynn is an inner-city high school teacher who wants to teach her troubled students to dream, but can this small town girl relate to the problems of inner-city young people of all races. Hannah is a shy and dutiful young Jewish woman. Her parents have set her up with a marriage to, in their eyes, the perfect Jewish young man, but can Hannah be brave enough to follow her own heart. Jenny, a small-town Montana girl, heads to Broadway to try and make her way with her singing and dancing. But is that where her heart really lies.
With the angels usual ditsy, crazy, adventures, this story is filled with both laughter and tears as they try and help their three prayer partners find their way in life. This particular book seemed more serious than the others in the series and didn't include quite so many light touches, but I did have to laugh when Goodness had the Statue of Liberty do a 360 turn one night. But I did like the sweetness and caring that prevailed throughout each of the prayer requests.
With the angels usual ditsy, crazy, adventures, this story is filled with both laughter and tears as they try and help their three prayer partners find their way in life. This particular book seemed more serious than the others in the series and didn't include quite so many light touches, but I did have to laugh when Goodness had the Statue of Liberty do a 360 turn one night. But I did like the sweetness and caring that prevailed throughout each of the prayer requests.
January 17, 2019
Reviewed for THC Reviews
"4.5 stars" Touched by Angels is the third book in Debbie Macomber’s Christmas themed series, Angels Everywhere. Once again, we’re treated to the three well-meaning, but somewhat ditsy angels, Shirley, Goodness, and Mercy, as they come to earth during the holiday season to answer the prayers of their human charges. These three angels always bring a smile to my face and warm my heart with their antics, as well as their kindness and compassion. I actually think that they’ve grown a bit since the first two books. While they still enjoy experiencing human inventions and creating a little trouble now and then, they seem to be more on track and even more serious about their jobs this time around. Even their archangel boss, Gabriel, got in on the action a bit more in this story. Each of the angels are sent to New York City this time to help three different women at crossroads in their lives, but as always, the angels end up helping each other when things go sideways. I liked that each of the three separate stories contained strong romantic elements, which wasn’t necessarily the case with the previous two books. I think this, along with me finding each of the women’s lives to be relatable, made this my favorite book of the series so far.
Gabriel doubts that Shirley is ready for a complex assignment, so she has to pester a little to earn the right to help Brynn, a young, idealistic teacher who has transplanted from an exclusive, all-girls boarding school in Rhode Island to an inner-city school in New York. It’s definitely a culture shock for her, but she’s excited about the new program that she’s running and is determined to make it work. The kids can be trying at times, but Brynn is a truly talented teacher who slowly wins them over and gets them more involved in the learning process. Then she meets Roberto, the older brother and guardian of one of her students, who challenges her in unexpected ways. Roberto doesn’t hold much stock in education and couldn’t care less whether his brother goes to school or not. He’s spent too much time on the mean streets of his neighborhood to believe that anything will save them from that life. But at the same time Roberto and Brynn clash over her work, there’s an undeniable attraction brewing. I really enjoyed their story. Brynn is nothing if not dedicated to her work. She genuinely cares about her students and has a wide-eyed optimism that’s catching. I like how she tries to build her students up rather than tearing them down. Roberto can be a bit stubborn at times, but I liked him anyway. I think he’s just seen too much of the hard side of life and it’s made him cynical. But Brynn helps him to see a different path. This part of the story had an unexpected twist that made me shed a fews tears, but the ending was very uplifting.
Goodness is sent to help Hannah, a young Jewish woman whose mother has been praying for her to make a good marriage. Hannah has been dating Carl, the son of a rabbi. Her parents love him and think he’s the perfect husband for their daughter. The only problem is Hannah isn’t so sure, and after randomly meeting Joshua at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade, she’s even less certain. When Carl proposes, she feels pressured by their families to accept, but the more she sees of Joshua, the more she feels that Carl isn’t the right man for her. But things keep happening to prevent her from calling it off. Hannah and Joshua's story was a very sweet romance. A lot of times, love at first sight stories don’t work well for me, but this one did. What Hannah shares with Joshua is clearly much more loving and passionate than what she has with Carl, so there was no question in my mind that they were right for one another.
Mercy is assigned to help Jenny who desperately wants to be a Broadway star. She’s been going to audition after audition for over two years, but so far, she’s done nothing of note and merely works as a singing waitress while still waiting for that big break. With the holidays coming, she misses her family terribly and would like to go home to visit them, but she told a little white lie about starring in an off-Broadway production and doesn’t want to disappoint them by fessing up. Then Trey, an old family friend and the guy she had a crush on growing up, comes calling. He makes her long even more for her former life, and soon she finds herself torn between wanting to be with Trey, who as a born and bred cowboy would never be happy in New York, and her ambition to be a star. Jenny and Trey’s story probably has the least involved plot of the three couples. Trey doesn’t show up until a little ways into the story. After that, they spend some nice time together, but their romance is largely dependent upon their past connection and Jenny’s longing to return home. We also don’t really get to see Jenny’s thought-processes as she makes her final decision, so I wasn’t entirely convinced that she was going to be happy in the long-run. But otherwise, this was a sweet, straight-forward romance that I enjoyed.
Overall, I found Touched by Angels to be a truly lovely, heartwarming read that helped put me in the holiday spirit. It’s a gentle story that would be appropriate for most readers. It does have a little bit of language and some mild sexual tension, but otherwise there aren’t any objectionable elements. I always enjoy Gabriel's update at the end as he tells Shirley, Goodness, and Mercy what the future holds for each of their charges and those around them. The angels bring a touch of humor and lightness to the story, while also caring deeply about those they’ve been sent to help. They’re usually very intuitive about what each of them needs. Having each of the stories involve a romance this time added to my enjoyment, making this the first book of the series to earn keeper status from me. I very much look forward to seeing who the angels will be helping next time around.
"4.5 stars" Touched by Angels is the third book in Debbie Macomber’s Christmas themed series, Angels Everywhere. Once again, we’re treated to the three well-meaning, but somewhat ditsy angels, Shirley, Goodness, and Mercy, as they come to earth during the holiday season to answer the prayers of their human charges. These three angels always bring a smile to my face and warm my heart with their antics, as well as their kindness and compassion. I actually think that they’ve grown a bit since the first two books. While they still enjoy experiencing human inventions and creating a little trouble now and then, they seem to be more on track and even more serious about their jobs this time around. Even their archangel boss, Gabriel, got in on the action a bit more in this story. Each of the angels are sent to New York City this time to help three different women at crossroads in their lives, but as always, the angels end up helping each other when things go sideways. I liked that each of the three separate stories contained strong romantic elements, which wasn’t necessarily the case with the previous two books. I think this, along with me finding each of the women’s lives to be relatable, made this my favorite book of the series so far.
Gabriel doubts that Shirley is ready for a complex assignment, so she has to pester a little to earn the right to help Brynn, a young, idealistic teacher who has transplanted from an exclusive, all-girls boarding school in Rhode Island to an inner-city school in New York. It’s definitely a culture shock for her, but she’s excited about the new program that she’s running and is determined to make it work. The kids can be trying at times, but Brynn is a truly talented teacher who slowly wins them over and gets them more involved in the learning process. Then she meets Roberto, the older brother and guardian of one of her students, who challenges her in unexpected ways. Roberto doesn’t hold much stock in education and couldn’t care less whether his brother goes to school or not. He’s spent too much time on the mean streets of his neighborhood to believe that anything will save them from that life. But at the same time Roberto and Brynn clash over her work, there’s an undeniable attraction brewing. I really enjoyed their story. Brynn is nothing if not dedicated to her work. She genuinely cares about her students and has a wide-eyed optimism that’s catching. I like how she tries to build her students up rather than tearing them down. Roberto can be a bit stubborn at times, but I liked him anyway. I think he’s just seen too much of the hard side of life and it’s made him cynical. But Brynn helps him to see a different path. This part of the story had an unexpected twist that made me shed a fews tears, but the ending was very uplifting.
Goodness is sent to help Hannah, a young Jewish woman whose mother has been praying for her to make a good marriage. Hannah has been dating Carl, the son of a rabbi. Her parents love him and think he’s the perfect husband for their daughter. The only problem is Hannah isn’t so sure, and after randomly meeting Joshua at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade, she’s even less certain. When Carl proposes, she feels pressured by their families to accept, but the more she sees of Joshua, the more she feels that Carl isn’t the right man for her. But things keep happening to prevent her from calling it off. Hannah and Joshua's story was a very sweet romance. A lot of times, love at first sight stories don’t work well for me, but this one did. What Hannah shares with Joshua is clearly much more loving and passionate than what she has with Carl, so there was no question in my mind that they were right for one another.
Mercy is assigned to help Jenny who desperately wants to be a Broadway star. She’s been going to audition after audition for over two years, but so far, she’s done nothing of note and merely works as a singing waitress while still waiting for that big break. With the holidays coming, she misses her family terribly and would like to go home to visit them, but she told a little white lie about starring in an off-Broadway production and doesn’t want to disappoint them by fessing up. Then Trey, an old family friend and the guy she had a crush on growing up, comes calling. He makes her long even more for her former life, and soon she finds herself torn between wanting to be with Trey, who as a born and bred cowboy would never be happy in New York, and her ambition to be a star. Jenny and Trey’s story probably has the least involved plot of the three couples. Trey doesn’t show up until a little ways into the story. After that, they spend some nice time together, but their romance is largely dependent upon their past connection and Jenny’s longing to return home. We also don’t really get to see Jenny’s thought-processes as she makes her final decision, so I wasn’t entirely convinced that she was going to be happy in the long-run. But otherwise, this was a sweet, straight-forward romance that I enjoyed.
Overall, I found Touched by Angels to be a truly lovely, heartwarming read that helped put me in the holiday spirit. It’s a gentle story that would be appropriate for most readers. It does have a little bit of language and some mild sexual tension, but otherwise there aren’t any objectionable elements. I always enjoy Gabriel's update at the end as he tells Shirley, Goodness, and Mercy what the future holds for each of their charges and those around them. The angels bring a touch of humor and lightness to the story, while also caring deeply about those they’ve been sent to help. They’re usually very intuitive about what each of them needs. Having each of the stories involve a romance this time added to my enjoyment, making this the first book of the series to earn keeper status from me. I very much look forward to seeing who the angels will be helping next time around.
January 20, 2015
It was a great group of stories. It was a fun read. The optimism of the author lifted my hopes.
January 19, 2012
New York City is always in need of divine intervention and this holiday season finds the always inspired and somewhat impulsive angels, Shirley, Goodness, and Mercy answering three heart heartfelt prayers …and teaching some important lessons along the way. And Goodness, along with Mercy and Shirley, know all three women have a lot to learn.
Brynn, a dedicated inner-city teacher, wants to make a difference in her troubled student’s lives; she wants them to learn to dream.
Hannah needs to learn to follow her heart, instead of always following her parent’s wishes.
And Jenny, a small town girl turned Broadway wannabe, needs to learn that home is where love is …..And so is Trey LaRue, the man who holds her heart.
It’s time for these three angels to prove that wishing on a star is more than just a pretty song.
Touched by Angels by Debbie Macomber is a sweet, heartfelt romance set in New York City during the Christmas holidays. While this is not a new story, it was originally released in 1995; Ms. Macomber updated the story to bring it more in line with today’s technology. And while there are three main characters, whose stories don’t overlap, they are tied together because of the interaction between the three angels.
In charge of angelic assignments, Archangel Gabriel, reluctantly assigns Goodness, Mercy and Shirley to three young women in New York City. Shirley, against Gabriel’s instructions, takes on Brynn Cassidy, a young inner city teacher determined to make a difference in the life of her students. Goodness takes the case of Hannah Morgenstern, a young Jewish woman, whose mother and grandmother have prayed for a good marriage for her. And Mercy takes on Jenny Lancaster, a small town girl whose dreams of making it big on Broadway are in conflict with her desire to go home. While Gabriel gave them instructions, nothing goes exactly according to his plan. Shirley, Goodness and Mercy have a way of doing things on their own.
Brynn Cassidy works in a touch inner city school; she’s caring and kind with her students but knows she has to be tough if she’s going to make it in this environment. While Shirley does her best, she’s really in over her head. Brynn is determined to help her students learn about the power of having dreams and a good education. Even as Roberto Alcantara, the older brother of one of her students, thinks she’s in over her head. But Brynn doesn’t give up, not even when she faces a tragedy. While not everyone in the story has a happy ending, the budding romance between Brynn and Roberto is a happy occasion.
Used to pleasing her family, Hannah Morgenstern needs to learn to follow her heart. While Hannah is almost engaged to Carl Rabinsky, a rabbi’s son, she’s not really sure about what she wants. While she knows he’ll make a good husband, she finds herself attracted to Joshua, another young man she knows. While Goodness supplies some divine guidance, and personally roots for Joshua to be Hannah’s choice, it’s almost not enough as Hannah really has trouble making up her mind. While this story was a little slow, and I was a little frustrated with Hannah’s indecision, I thought it was a nice touch for Ms. Macomber to include Jewish characters in what is basically a Christmas story, it made the story different.
When Jenny Lancaster left Montana, she was determined to make it on Broadway. While she’s found an apartment and made some new friends, the closest she’s come to Broadway is her job as a singing waitress. Missing Trey LaRue, her boyfriend back home, Jenny Is torn….should she go home and be with the man she loves or continue chasing her dream. Of all three angels, Mercy had the easiest charge of all. Jenny really just needed a push to follow her heart.
Overall this is an enjoyable and light holiday story. It’s become a holiday tradition for me to read one of Ms. Macomber’s holiday stories and while this year I started a little bit late, I’m happy to say it’s a tradition I plan to keep going. And looking ahead, it looks like there will be a new angel story this year.
Brynn, a dedicated inner-city teacher, wants to make a difference in her troubled student’s lives; she wants them to learn to dream.
Hannah needs to learn to follow her heart, instead of always following her parent’s wishes.
And Jenny, a small town girl turned Broadway wannabe, needs to learn that home is where love is …..And so is Trey LaRue, the man who holds her heart.
It’s time for these three angels to prove that wishing on a star is more than just a pretty song.
Touched by Angels by Debbie Macomber is a sweet, heartfelt romance set in New York City during the Christmas holidays. While this is not a new story, it was originally released in 1995; Ms. Macomber updated the story to bring it more in line with today’s technology. And while there are three main characters, whose stories don’t overlap, they are tied together because of the interaction between the three angels.
In charge of angelic assignments, Archangel Gabriel, reluctantly assigns Goodness, Mercy and Shirley to three young women in New York City. Shirley, against Gabriel’s instructions, takes on Brynn Cassidy, a young inner city teacher determined to make a difference in the life of her students. Goodness takes the case of Hannah Morgenstern, a young Jewish woman, whose mother and grandmother have prayed for a good marriage for her. And Mercy takes on Jenny Lancaster, a small town girl whose dreams of making it big on Broadway are in conflict with her desire to go home. While Gabriel gave them instructions, nothing goes exactly according to his plan. Shirley, Goodness and Mercy have a way of doing things on their own.
Brynn Cassidy works in a touch inner city school; she’s caring and kind with her students but knows she has to be tough if she’s going to make it in this environment. While Shirley does her best, she’s really in over her head. Brynn is determined to help her students learn about the power of having dreams and a good education. Even as Roberto Alcantara, the older brother of one of her students, thinks she’s in over her head. But Brynn doesn’t give up, not even when she faces a tragedy. While not everyone in the story has a happy ending, the budding romance between Brynn and Roberto is a happy occasion.
Used to pleasing her family, Hannah Morgenstern needs to learn to follow her heart. While Hannah is almost engaged to Carl Rabinsky, a rabbi’s son, she’s not really sure about what she wants. While she knows he’ll make a good husband, she finds herself attracted to Joshua, another young man she knows. While Goodness supplies some divine guidance, and personally roots for Joshua to be Hannah’s choice, it’s almost not enough as Hannah really has trouble making up her mind. While this story was a little slow, and I was a little frustrated with Hannah’s indecision, I thought it was a nice touch for Ms. Macomber to include Jewish characters in what is basically a Christmas story, it made the story different.
When Jenny Lancaster left Montana, she was determined to make it on Broadway. While she’s found an apartment and made some new friends, the closest she’s come to Broadway is her job as a singing waitress. Missing Trey LaRue, her boyfriend back home, Jenny Is torn….should she go home and be with the man she loves or continue chasing her dream. Of all three angels, Mercy had the easiest charge of all. Jenny really just needed a push to follow her heart.
Overall this is an enjoyable and light holiday story. It’s become a holiday tradition for me to read one of Ms. Macomber’s holiday stories and while this year I started a little bit late, I’m happy to say it’s a tradition I plan to keep going. And looking ahead, it looks like there will be a new angel story this year.
November 24, 2018
Christmas is the time for Love and forgivenessand sharing and of course a lil Magic....
Debbie Macomber never fails to impress in her Christmas books. Its why I love her. Shes my fav christmas Romance writer. Sweetie u never fail to put in the christmas spirit. Thank u for ur feel good books.
Ok so being a Christmas Fanatic as I am all I can say is that This is the best book for the time of year. Totally. Loved it.
Especially our Angels. Mercy , Goodness and Shirley. U are truly angelic.
Can i say I really never liked the angels series concept but this book. Omg it had tragedy, pain,sorrow, disappointment,insecurity , love , faith,miracles and all combined together in it. It was amazing totally. At times it was too much to bear the pain and disappointments but yet keeping faith in ur prayers Miracled do happen.
It was Roberto and Brynn I loved. Their story was too beautiful and bittersweet . The others well that was okkkk. Not as good as Brynns. Though.
It really taught me a lot. So yes guys have Faith and keep living....
Well Merry Christmas in Advance(Said by a true Christmas fanatic in the month of November. Lol)
Debbie Macomber never fails to impress in her Christmas books. Its why I love her. Shes my fav christmas Romance writer. Sweetie u never fail to put in the christmas spirit. Thank u for ur feel good books.
Ok so being a Christmas Fanatic as I am all I can say is that This is the best book for the time of year. Totally. Loved it.
Especially our Angels. Mercy , Goodness and Shirley. U are truly angelic.
Can i say I really never liked the angels series concept but this book. Omg it had tragedy, pain,sorrow, disappointment,insecurity , love , faith,miracles and all combined together in it. It was amazing totally. At times it was too much to bear the pain and disappointments but yet keeping faith in ur prayers Miracled do happen.
It was Roberto and Brynn I loved. Their story was too beautiful and bittersweet . The others well that was okkkk. Not as good as Brynns. Though.
It really taught me a lot. So yes guys have Faith and keep living....
Well Merry Christmas in Advance(Said by a true Christmas fanatic in the month of November. Lol)
February 12, 2019
There is just something so sweet about a Debbie Macomber book. This book had me all over the place. I found myself smiling at sweet moments and sad at other moments. The letters to Mike from the other kids made me want to cry, it was so bittersweet and sad. My only real issue with the book was changing between characters. It may have been my copy but I was reading about one couple and switched gears completely and moved unto the next couple. There was no section heading or anything to announce the switch, it just switched. This made the story kinda choppy at times. Overall, I really enjoyed this sweet book and it is definitely a good choice to read during Valentine's week.
April 20, 2022
This was another wonderful Christmas read for me. This wasn't exactly a cozy read as some of the situations were darker, but Shirley, Goodness and Mercy prevailed and wrapped up the book nicely.
I read this for PopSugar's 2022 reading challenge prompt: A book set during a holiday.
I read this for PopSugar's 2022 reading challenge prompt: A book set during a holiday.
May 3, 2011
Another cozy read. These are great for those times when you need a good ending.
December 24, 2010
I just love these Angels!!!
December 29, 2015
Two-haiku review:
Now New York City
Three slightly devilish angels
Helping with romance
Three couples, angels
None of plots can have much depth
But sweetness abounds
Now New York City
Three slightly devilish angels
Helping with romance
Three couples, angels
None of plots can have much depth
But sweetness abounds
December 29, 2018
Will go back to next year. Just got 2 new reserves in (2 wk naturally) that have to b read............finished my other books so came back. Ok.
January 18, 2025
It’s always fun to see what mischief angels Shirley, Goodness, and Mercy get into on the way to helping answer prayers. This time they’re in NYC.
November 7, 2024
What a wonderful book from start to end. Literally could not put it down. Thank you for your talent.
January 9, 2017
I actually wrote a review for this book a few days ago. However, when I clicked the Save button, the little cog went round & round, for about 10 minutes. Then the entire review simply disappeared *sigh*. Normally, I first type my reviews on a text edit page, so I can use larger print, as well as see the entire review. This time, however, I forgot to do that…. Murphy’s Law, I guess, lol. I didn’t feel like starting all over again, so I let it go, for a few days. Well, I’ll start once again, this time on a text edit page, first…. :)
“Touched by Angels” is the 3rd book in the Angels Everywhere series, by Debbie Macomber. I enjoyed this book a lot, though it did not really have much of a Christmas feel to it. I love reading the AE series & really enjoy those 3 sassy angels, Shirley, Goodness & Mercy. This time they were assigned to New York City, & NYC was surely not prepared for them. They could not help but get into trouble, especially if it meant helping someone. Each angel was assigned to someone who needed help. Prayers are sent up to heaven, either by the people themselves or by someone who cares for them. The Archangel Gabriel then assigns each angel to one of those people.
Mercy was assigned to help Jenny Cassidy, a rancher’s daughter, from Custer, Montana. Jenny dreamed of being on stage. An actor, dancer & singer, she hopes to end up on Broadway, but so far, she is singing only as a waitress. She IS very talented, but there are so many other talented people vying for the spotlight on Broadway. Her prayer is to succeed, to get the lead role in a Broadway show. However, someone else is praying for her…Trey LaRue, a lifelong friend in Montana, who has been in love with her since she was 15, is praying she will come home to Montana, to be his wife. This can be quite a dilemma….
Goodness is assigned to Hannah Morganstern, a young woman who follows her parents’ wishes more than she follows her own heart. Her parents own a well-known deli in NYC, & she works there, too. She has been dating Carl Rabinsky, a rabbi’s son, for quite some time, & their parents hope that they might marry, and soon. But Hannah has met another young man, Joshua Shadduck, an attorney, who seems to share the same passion for life that Hannah does. But Hannah feels obligated, to Carl & her parents. How can she disappoint them? Will Hannah be the dutiful daughter or will she free herself & live her own life, with Joshua….
Shirley is assigned to Brynn Cassidy, an idealistic young teacher who has just started teaching in an inner-city public school. She formerly taught at St. Mary’s Academy, but she feels she has a lot to offer the kids in Manhattan H.S. She wants them to do more than learn dates. Se wants them to dream. One of her students, Emilio Alcantara, has an older brother, Roberto, who does not take kindly to Brynn teaching Emilio what he considers to be a waste. He wants his brother to quit school & come work with him. Roberto is a mechanic & owns a tow-truck business. He tells Brynn that there are no dreams in his neighborhood, no hopes. She begs to differ, & she stands her ground. Can Brynn reach these kids? Can she & Roberto become friends, or possibly even more….
This book was predominantly a romance book, & I don’t typically enjoy romance novels. However, Ms. Macomber writes more than “typical” romance books. They are about the lives of the people. There is drama & there is humor, too. The 3 heavenly angels do get into some mischief. I liked this book better than the 2nd one precisely because the angels were more involved in the story; although I preferred the storyline in the 2nd one more than this one. All in all, each book with Shirley, Goodness & Mercy is enjoyable, & I look forward to reading about them in the next book. That is, if the Archangel Gabriel will allow them to come back down to earth again…. :)
“Touched by Angels” is the 3rd book in the Angels Everywhere series, by Debbie Macomber. I enjoyed this book a lot, though it did not really have much of a Christmas feel to it. I love reading the AE series & really enjoy those 3 sassy angels, Shirley, Goodness & Mercy. This time they were assigned to New York City, & NYC was surely not prepared for them. They could not help but get into trouble, especially if it meant helping someone. Each angel was assigned to someone who needed help. Prayers are sent up to heaven, either by the people themselves or by someone who cares for them. The Archangel Gabriel then assigns each angel to one of those people.
Mercy was assigned to help Jenny Cassidy, a rancher’s daughter, from Custer, Montana. Jenny dreamed of being on stage. An actor, dancer & singer, she hopes to end up on Broadway, but so far, she is singing only as a waitress. She IS very talented, but there are so many other talented people vying for the spotlight on Broadway. Her prayer is to succeed, to get the lead role in a Broadway show. However, someone else is praying for her…Trey LaRue, a lifelong friend in Montana, who has been in love with her since she was 15, is praying she will come home to Montana, to be his wife. This can be quite a dilemma….
Goodness is assigned to Hannah Morganstern, a young woman who follows her parents’ wishes more than she follows her own heart. Her parents own a well-known deli in NYC, & she works there, too. She has been dating Carl Rabinsky, a rabbi’s son, for quite some time, & their parents hope that they might marry, and soon. But Hannah has met another young man, Joshua Shadduck, an attorney, who seems to share the same passion for life that Hannah does. But Hannah feels obligated, to Carl & her parents. How can she disappoint them? Will Hannah be the dutiful daughter or will she free herself & live her own life, with Joshua….
Shirley is assigned to Brynn Cassidy, an idealistic young teacher who has just started teaching in an inner-city public school. She formerly taught at St. Mary’s Academy, but she feels she has a lot to offer the kids in Manhattan H.S. She wants them to do more than learn dates. Se wants them to dream. One of her students, Emilio Alcantara, has an older brother, Roberto, who does not take kindly to Brynn teaching Emilio what he considers to be a waste. He wants his brother to quit school & come work with him. Roberto is a mechanic & owns a tow-truck business. He tells Brynn that there are no dreams in his neighborhood, no hopes. She begs to differ, & she stands her ground. Can Brynn reach these kids? Can she & Roberto become friends, or possibly even more….
This book was predominantly a romance book, & I don’t typically enjoy romance novels. However, Ms. Macomber writes more than “typical” romance books. They are about the lives of the people. There is drama & there is humor, too. The 3 heavenly angels do get into some mischief. I liked this book better than the 2nd one precisely because the angels were more involved in the story; although I preferred the storyline in the 2nd one more than this one. All in all, each book with Shirley, Goodness & Mercy is enjoyable, & I look forward to reading about them in the next book. That is, if the Archangel Gabriel will allow them to come back down to earth again…. :)
February 10, 2012
Brynn, Hannah, and Jenny all have dreams. Brynn is a teacher who dreams of making a difference in her students' lives, even if Roberto Alcantara thinks she is in over her head. Hannah is so used to following her parents' wishes that she is engaged to one man, Carl, while in love with another, Joshua. Small-town girl Jenny's dreams of becoming a star on Broadway are growing dimmer by the day and she misses her family - and Trey LaRue. All three must learn to follow their hearts and they'll have some help along the way from three angels - Shirley, Goodness, and Mercy.
First released in 1995, "Touched by Angels" is a cute, at times poignant, novel set in New York at Christmas time (this is one novel, not three separate stories). Of the three women, I found Brynn's story to be the deepest, saddest, and most realistic, (outside of the discussion she has with her students regarding sex which felt out of place and merely a plot device). Author Debbie Macomber touches on several issues in this story that she normally stays away from and handles them all deftly (have a tissue nearby when reading this - there are some genuinely sad moments in this book). Macomber does a pretty good job of showing what life is like in a school in a poor neighborhood and doesn't sugarcoat the story - not everyone has a happy ending. The Brynn/Roberto romance is a pleasant surprise as Macomber's romances are almost always lily-white. The Hannah/Joshua story was my next favorite. While I sometimes wished Hannah would get a backbone, the chemistry between her and Joshua is well done (and very romantic) as are the family dynamics (I also like the fact that Macomber included a Jewish family in what could be considered a Christmas book). Hannah's struggles to please everyone instead of listening to her heart was very believable. Jenny's story was my least favorite of the three, mainly because there didn't seem to be much chemistry between her and Trey (I think this is because they already knew and cared for each other - readers had no chance to see the romance developing). As for the three angels, the story could easily have worked without them (and in fact they disappear for long periods of time) but they add a nice touch of humor to the story.
"Touched by Angels" is a nice novel set during the holiday season.
First released in 1995, "Touched by Angels" is a cute, at times poignant, novel set in New York at Christmas time (this is one novel, not three separate stories). Of the three women, I found Brynn's story to be the deepest, saddest, and most realistic, (outside of the discussion she has with her students regarding sex which felt out of place and merely a plot device). Author Debbie Macomber touches on several issues in this story that she normally stays away from and handles them all deftly (have a tissue nearby when reading this - there are some genuinely sad moments in this book). Macomber does a pretty good job of showing what life is like in a school in a poor neighborhood and doesn't sugarcoat the story - not everyone has a happy ending. The Brynn/Roberto romance is a pleasant surprise as Macomber's romances are almost always lily-white. The Hannah/Joshua story was my next favorite. While I sometimes wished Hannah would get a backbone, the chemistry between her and Joshua is well done (and very romantic) as are the family dynamics (I also like the fact that Macomber included a Jewish family in what could be considered a Christmas book). Hannah's struggles to please everyone instead of listening to her heart was very believable. Jenny's story was my least favorite of the three, mainly because there didn't seem to be much chemistry between her and Trey (I think this is because they already knew and cared for each other - readers had no chance to see the romance developing). As for the three angels, the story could easily have worked without them (and in fact they disappear for long periods of time) but they add a nice touch of humor to the story.
"Touched by Angels" is a nice novel set during the holiday season.
January 8, 2021
Ms Macomber found herself in this one... The first book I read in this series was book #4 and loved it, so started with book 1. Although book 1 and 2 were good they weren't as good as book 4 and the air about them were a bit different. BUT this book was very nice! Although the middle seemed to kind of 'got stuck' and the ending was hurried up until the end I would have given this a 5 star rating but the end was hurried into one chapter after being dragged out for about 10. But still a good book.
The stories in this book is a country girl moves to the big city to find her dreams but is that really where her dreams is? Or was it really in her back yard all along? The next is a teacher wanting to make a difference to high school kids that lives in a bad part of town. Kids that everyone seemed to have given up on and in the process she finds herself. And the last story in this book was about a Jewish girl that was her parents only child and all her life had done exactly what was expected of her to make her parents happy. But when her heart is telling her something different will she go with her heart and 'disappoint' her parents? Along the way these people have three special prayer angels helping them along their way.
2nd personal favorite in the series through book 4. All have been good just book 3 and 4 better than books 1 and 2
The stories in this book is a country girl moves to the big city to find her dreams but is that really where her dreams is? Or was it really in her back yard all along? The next is a teacher wanting to make a difference to high school kids that lives in a bad part of town. Kids that everyone seemed to have given up on and in the process she finds herself. And the last story in this book was about a Jewish girl that was her parents only child and all her life had done exactly what was expected of her to make her parents happy. But when her heart is telling her something different will she go with her heart and 'disappoint' her parents? Along the way these people have three special prayer angels helping them along their way.
2nd personal favorite in the series through book 4. All have been good just book 3 and 4 better than books 1 and 2
December 28, 2011
Debbie Macomber is a favorite of mine and I was so excited to read this book at Christmas time on my vacation. I didn't realize that this was part of a series and series always hook me so I may read some of the others. Basically there were three stories in this book, one for each angel. Only one disappointed me- the one about the teacher, Brynn. As I read that one I noticed way too many parallels with the movie Dangerous Minds. The plot wasn't similar it was almost exact. One of the student's names was even the same. The only difference I noted was that in the book Brynn had a priest for her mentor where in the movie it was another teacher. In both the setting was a low income, mostly Hispanic, school. One of the students got pregnant, one died, the teacher decided to leave at the end and the students convinced her to stay. All of that happened in the movie Dangerous Minds. I guess all of us let things we've seen creep into our thoughts but this one was too much.
The story about Hannah and Joshua was wonderful and I loved it, as was the story about the dancer and the rancher- great plot.
The story about Hannah and Joshua was wonderful and I loved it, as was the story about the dancer and the rancher- great plot.
November 5, 2018
I love reading Christmas stories whether its about one person/ couple or a few thrown into the mix as this one does.
Shirley,Goodness, and Mercy get into trouble again but its always in fun and mischief but in the end, the results are how it was all meant to be.
Brynn takes a teaching job in a hard city and meets a brother of one of her students and both are attracted to each other but will their love be enough to stand against their backgrounds and their differences ?
Hannah's hard working parents want her to find a honest and decent man to marry but their pick isn't what her heart desires and after she meets a lawyer, Joshua , she longs to be with him instead . Will she have to courage to stand up against her parents and do what her heart desires?
Jenny moves to New York to try her voice at broadway but leaves her next door neighbor missing her and wanting her home to start a family. Will he convince her to leave to become his wife?
These three angels have their hands full with their charges and Gabrielle has his hands full with his three mischief and lovable angels.
Shirley,Goodness, and Mercy get into trouble again but its always in fun and mischief but in the end, the results are how it was all meant to be.
Brynn takes a teaching job in a hard city and meets a brother of one of her students and both are attracted to each other but will their love be enough to stand against their backgrounds and their differences ?
Hannah's hard working parents want her to find a honest and decent man to marry but their pick isn't what her heart desires and after she meets a lawyer, Joshua , she longs to be with him instead . Will she have to courage to stand up against her parents and do what her heart desires?
Jenny moves to New York to try her voice at broadway but leaves her next door neighbor missing her and wanting her home to start a family. Will he convince her to leave to become his wife?
These three angels have their hands full with their charges and Gabrielle has his hands full with his three mischief and lovable angels.
January 2, 2020
Wow Debbie did it again... found in a charity shop! I actually squealed with delight when I found this.
The Angels under the guidance of the Arch Angel which sometimes includes correction is believable.
I loved the conclusion or epilog in which he explains the paths that the lives of the characters will carry on is fantastic!
I felt that I was in New York, somewhere in the areas that we know but once again the contrast between Retail, glitz, glamour, snow, sentiment and poverty, struggles, death, fear, depression, schools systems was real and raw.
Well done to Debbie, considering this book had been written 25 years ago and technology issues have been changed accordingly, I still feel it is pertinent in todays world, maybe different issues now but overall it just shows as it did in the Old Testament Bible that the struggles of say Joshua and Samuel are still evident in this world today as are the issues of the various tribes, Israel and the day to day life of the generations.
I recommend this book on many levels, least of all the sentiment of Christmas and a wonderful read as we get to know the characters.
Thank you so much
Debbie x
The Angels under the guidance of the Arch Angel which sometimes includes correction is believable.
I loved the conclusion or epilog in which he explains the paths that the lives of the characters will carry on is fantastic!
I felt that I was in New York, somewhere in the areas that we know but once again the contrast between Retail, glitz, glamour, snow, sentiment and poverty, struggles, death, fear, depression, schools systems was real and raw.
Well done to Debbie, considering this book had been written 25 years ago and technology issues have been changed accordingly, I still feel it is pertinent in todays world, maybe different issues now but overall it just shows as it did in the Old Testament Bible that the struggles of say Joshua and Samuel are still evident in this world today as are the issues of the various tribes, Israel and the day to day life of the generations.
I recommend this book on many levels, least of all the sentiment of Christmas and a wonderful read as we get to know the characters.
Thank you so much
Debbie x
May 11, 2022
Shirley, Goodness and Mercy are Angel ambassadors who once a year receive assignments from head Angel Gabriel to help answer prayer requests.
Hannah and Carl, the Rabbi’s son, have been dating for some time, now everyone has decided it’s time they marry. But when Hannah meets Joshua she isn’t sure Carl is “the one” for her.
It’s been 3 years since Jenny moved from Montana to New York to become a star. She’s told her family she is singing in a show Off Broadway, when she actually sings in a restaurant where she is a server. There isn’t enough extra cash for her to return to Montana for the Christmas holidays enter Trey.
Brynn Cassidy who after teaching 3 years in an all girls Catholic School in Rhode Island is accepted into a special Government program in an inner city New York School. Her involvement with the students goes beyond the classroom to their parents and the community. Will she make the difference she hopes to…
Hannah and Carl, the Rabbi’s son, have been dating for some time, now everyone has decided it’s time they marry. But when Hannah meets Joshua she isn’t sure Carl is “the one” for her.
It’s been 3 years since Jenny moved from Montana to New York to become a star. She’s told her family she is singing in a show Off Broadway, when she actually sings in a restaurant where she is a server. There isn’t enough extra cash for her to return to Montana for the Christmas holidays enter Trey.
Brynn Cassidy who after teaching 3 years in an all girls Catholic School in Rhode Island is accepted into a special Government program in an inner city New York School. Her involvement with the students goes beyond the classroom to their parents and the community. Will she make the difference she hopes to…
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 24, 2011
Shirley, Goodness and Mercy have several prayers requests that must be met by Christmas Day: Brynn, Hannah and Jenny. Brynn is a new teacher in NYC, many challenges in the classroom and her lovelife. Hannah, a good Jewish daughter wants to follow her parents' plan and marry Carl, but this handsome man she met at the parade is all she can think about. Jenny, a dancer/singer, is waiting for her big break, or waiting for that handome cowboy from back home? And in true angel style they discuss at the end of their adventure the future of each person they have helped. Also Gabriel gets a few head shakes with the special way those three angels "help". :-)
307 pages
307 pages
December 5, 2015
Story of 3 angels sent to answer the prayers relatives have for different people. Although set during the Christmas season, it is not really a holiday story. Have read later books in the series which were more humorous. More about the 3 people than about the Angels doing much to help. Enjoyed the story of Brynn the most since there seemed to be more build-up about her difficulties as a teacher. Surprised at how quickly Hannah fell in love with a guy not intended for her by her family. Her grandmother helped her almost more than the Angels. Jenny's story of an actress missing home was predictable.
December 19, 2018
Learning to Dream and accepting the consequences
This is the 3rd book in this series and the 3 angels once again take on more than they realize. I’m not sure why I didn’t find these stories as interesting and amusing as I found the earlier ones. Perhaps it is because the situations are darker and the romance more forced than before. There are fun episodes like having the Statue of Liberty decide to rotate around on her pedestal or large flakes of snow falling from a cloudless sky, but the end results of each of the 3 situations seems forced and abrupt rather than a consequence of the earlier actions.
This is the 3rd book in this series and the 3 angels once again take on more than they realize. I’m not sure why I didn’t find these stories as interesting and amusing as I found the earlier ones. Perhaps it is because the situations are darker and the romance more forced than before. There are fun episodes like having the Statue of Liberty decide to rotate around on her pedestal or large flakes of snow falling from a cloudless sky, but the end results of each of the 3 situations seems forced and abrupt rather than a consequence of the earlier actions.
March 6, 2020
Help From the Angels
Shirley, Goodness and Mercy, the three mischievous angels are testing Gabriel once again. They each once again have their own case but they wind up working together. You must read how they bring a young teacher together with a Hispanic mechanic with a chip on his shoulder, a young Jewish girl and a young Jewish lawyer find each other even though she is engaged to someone else and last but not least the cowboy and the actress who grew up together, but it took her moving to New York for them to find each other. A must read.
Shirley, Goodness and Mercy, the three mischievous angels are testing Gabriel once again. They each once again have their own case but they wind up working together. You must read how they bring a young teacher together with a Hispanic mechanic with a chip on his shoulder, a young Jewish girl and a young Jewish lawyer find each other even though she is engaged to someone else and last but not least the cowboy and the actress who grew up together, but it took her moving to New York for them to find each other. A must read.
September 23, 2014
The 3 angels, Shirley, Goodness and Mercy are back in New York right at Thanksgiving time. They each have to see that prayers are answered, with orders from Archangel Gabriel, NOT to get into trouble this Christmas season. The ending of the book is good as we learn what happens to the 3 assignments in the years to come. This is a "feel good" book that is easy to read and makes you want to feel angel wings around you.
December 31, 2019
While this wasn't my favorite in the series, it still had it's moments, and it still satisfied my craving for a quick, sweet holiday read. I couldn't particularly relate to any of the characters, but didn't actively dislike any of them, so I'm still counting it as a win. I was happy with the way everything wrapped up, and was especially pleased with the antics and reactions of Shirley, Goodness, and Mercy in this installment.
November 18, 2022
THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS I'VE READ IN A LONG TIME,AND I THOUGHT IT WAS JOLLY ,SAD ROMANTIC AND EXCITING AT THE SAME TIME,I REALLY ENJOYED THE CHRISTIAN THEME IT HAD IT WAS HEART WARMING .AFTER EACH CHAPTER I JUST WANTED TO READ ON AND ON IT WAS AMAZING I REALLY ENJOYED EVERY BIT OF THIS BOOK AND I REALLY THINK THAT THEY SHOULD MAKE A FILM BASED ON THIS BOOK IT WOULD BE AMAZING AND I WOULD TOTALLY WANT TO WATCH IT CANT WAIT TO SHARE THIS BOOK WITH MY FAMILY AND READ IT AGAIN
April 20, 2013
Fun, clean, light read. It was fun to travel around Manhattan and dive into the lives of our 3 lucky New Yorkers receiving help from angels, Shirley, Mercy, and Goodness. I didn't expect it but I found myself in tears at one time and was genuinely pulling for lead characters at other times. Was sad when the story ended.
November 5, 2013
I really enjoyed these books in audio CD format. Enjoyable stories that kept me awake while driving. Shirley, Goodness, and Mercy, where up to their antics again, but really had their work cut out for them, answering three prayers in New York City. If you like touching stories with a "happily ever after", then this book is for you.
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