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The Gift
Sometimes, the best gifts are unexpected...
When workaholic Robert Chalmer's wife leaves to take care of her sick mother for two weeks, he is left with all the responsibility... including his seven-year-old daughter. With Christmas fast approaching, Robert must find a way to reconnect with what is most important in his life, or risk losing it forever.
THE GIFT is a 7300 word heart-warming short story set in Fort Worth, TX about family, love, and second chances.
When workaholic Robert Chalmer's wife leaves to take care of her sick mother for two weeks, he is left with all the responsibility... including his seven-year-old daughter. With Christmas fast approaching, Robert must find a way to reconnect with what is most important in his life, or risk losing it forever.
THE GIFT is a 7300 word heart-warming short story set in Fort Worth, TX about family, love, and second chances.
31 pages, ebook
First published December 4, 2014
About the author
Rhonda Hopkins
20 books402 followersA little magic, a little mystery, a lot of heart
Young adult author who writes cozy mysteries, urban fantasy, and romance. She lives in Texas on a small farm with her family, a cat & dog, miniature cows and donkeys, and chickens.
Before becoming an author, Rhonda's career put her in close contact with people from all walks of life. She uses her past experiences to develop characters that are diverse and full of life.
Young adult author who writes cozy mysteries, urban fantasy, and romance. She lives in Texas on a small farm with her family, a cat & dog, miniature cows and donkeys, and chickens.
Before becoming an author, Rhonda's career put her in close contact with people from all walks of life. She uses her past experiences to develop characters that are diverse and full of life.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
December 24, 2017
What do we sacrifice for success without realising?
When his life is thrown into turmoil with no notice two weeks before Christmas, Robert faces a number of challenges he had never anticipated. The choices he makes will be the difference between success or failure as a father and family man.
The story itself is well-written and nicely developed. I wasn’t expecting the ending to happen as it did, but the ability to surprise a reader thus is one mark of a good writer. ‘The Gift’ is an enjoyable and rewarding short read.
This Christmas story challenges the reader to assess their values and priorities, and to remember what is most important in life.
When his life is thrown into turmoil with no notice two weeks before Christmas, Robert faces a number of challenges he had never anticipated. The choices he makes will be the difference between success or failure as a father and family man.
The story itself is well-written and nicely developed. I wasn’t expecting the ending to happen as it did, but the ability to surprise a reader thus is one mark of a good writer. ‘The Gift’ is an enjoyable and rewarding short read.
This Christmas story challenges the reader to assess their values and priorities, and to remember what is most important in life.
December 21, 2018
A Perfect Read for Christmas
Like most people, I tend to rush through the days, always busy with projects. One of the things I love about the Christmas holiday season is the time it gives me to stop and focus on what is really important. This endearing short story was a wonderful path to that destination.
In The Gift, a father is left to deal with Christmas preparations on his own while tending to his young daughter. Reading along as he works through the challenges, doubts, and anxieties strikes a chord of recognition, and definitely brings a smile. A perfect read for Christmas.
Thanks so much to the author for leaving me with the gift of what should be most important in our lives.
Like most people, I tend to rush through the days, always busy with projects. One of the things I love about the Christmas holiday season is the time it gives me to stop and focus on what is really important. This endearing short story was a wonderful path to that destination.
In The Gift, a father is left to deal with Christmas preparations on his own while tending to his young daughter. Reading along as he works through the challenges, doubts, and anxieties strikes a chord of recognition, and definitely brings a smile. A perfect read for Christmas.
Thanks so much to the author for leaving me with the gift of what should be most important in our lives.
December 15, 2014
Dad steps up to the plate!
I read this short story as part of a winter-themed box set. As a mom myself, I always wonder what would happen if I ever 'ran away from home' and left my husband to take care of the holiday hassle, the gift-shopping and the kids. Mom gets even! Well, when Robert Chalmers wife gets called away a few weeks for Christmas to care for her sick mother, all of a sudden Robert has to deal with just that, along with his cute daughter Amanda, though I thought Robert handled it a lot better than -my- husband would and Amanda was a lot better behaved. MOSTLY better behaved...
At about 45 minutes to read, this story was just the right length to give me a nice little warm fuzzy feeling while waiting for my kids gymnastics lesson.
I read this short story as part of a winter-themed box set. As a mom myself, I always wonder what would happen if I ever 'ran away from home' and left my husband to take care of the holiday hassle, the gift-shopping and the kids. Mom gets even! Well, when Robert Chalmers wife gets called away a few weeks for Christmas to care for her sick mother, all of a sudden Robert has to deal with just that, along with his cute daughter Amanda, though I thought Robert handled it a lot better than -my- husband would and Amanda was a lot better behaved. MOSTLY better behaved...
At about 45 minutes to read, this story was just the right length to give me a nice little warm fuzzy feeling while waiting for my kids gymnastics lesson.
August 22, 2018
What a sweet story about a man who gets to (has to?) spend time with his seven-year-old daughter in the two weeks before Christmas. I loved the part where he almost panicked about having to do the Christmas shopping. I could feel that pain. I never knew what to get the nephews, and gave my sister money to do the shopping. This is a story that shows you what's most important in life, in your family life. If you need a pick-me-up, grab a copy of this book.
December 22, 2018
Being left for two weeks to deal with the domestic routines a man might think the pressure is on, but when it happens at Christmas time, and primary responsibility is his seven-year-old daughter, the heat is on. We men would all deal with such a situation in our own way, but in this story, apart from highlighting how lost the father feels at first, there is a classic example of evaluation--both on a personal level and as a parent.
I'm pleased I kept this on my Kindle until now--a certain poignancy is added to the story reading it at this time of year.
I'm pleased I kept this on my Kindle until now--a certain poignancy is added to the story reading it at this time of year.
December 31, 2018
Very entertaining short story
I loved this Christmas short story and wasn't ready for it to end. A father is told by his wife that she needs to take care of her sick mother for two weeks therefore he has to take care of their daughter, do Christmas shopping and other activities . He reluctantly agrees and discovers what a good time he is having. I highly recommend this refreshing story that touched my heart.
I loved this Christmas short story and wasn't ready for it to end. A father is told by his wife that she needs to take care of her sick mother for two weeks therefore he has to take care of their daughter, do Christmas shopping and other activities . He reluctantly agrees and discovers what a good time he is having. I highly recommend this refreshing story that touched my heart.
January 22, 2018
The Gift is totally different from Rhonda Hopkins' novels, but no less well-written and appealing in its own way.
Children grow up fast, and this book would make a wonderful present to anyone who seems to think childhood will wait until this, that, or the other has been accomplished. Or buy it for yourself. It's a fun read, with twists, and it doesn't have to be Christmas to enjoy it.
Children grow up fast, and this book would make a wonderful present to anyone who seems to think childhood will wait until this, that, or the other has been accomplished. Or buy it for yourself. It's a fun read, with twists, and it doesn't have to be Christmas to enjoy it.
December 24, 2018
This is a wonderful short story about a typical family where life gets busy and family life suffers. The dad went through a big change and re-connection to his daughter just before Christmas. It's a heartwarming story about what is really important in life and especially at Christmas. Only takes about 30 minutes to read but is definitely worth the time! Great Christmas story.
December 5, 2017
What a delightful short story by Rhonda Hopkins. Why am I not reading more of her books? I need to remedy that.
This book will get you into the spirit of the Holidays. It will have you reevaluating your priorities. That is a good thing trust me.
The best gift you can give your kids is your time. A wife presents her husband with the most wonderful gift of all, without him recognizing it as a gift from the heart.
Ms. Hopkins is brilliant in the creation and delivery of this wonderful story. What we know we should do and what we would like to do are not always important enough to make a priority in the here and now if left to our own device. Sometimes it take a special someone to make things happen today. That is what happens to our character in this book and his life is much richer for it. It is a real quick read and so worth it.
This book will get you into the spirit of the Holidays. It will have you reevaluating your priorities. That is a good thing trust me.
The best gift you can give your kids is your time. A wife presents her husband with the most wonderful gift of all, without him recognizing it as a gift from the heart.
Ms. Hopkins is brilliant in the creation and delivery of this wonderful story. What we know we should do and what we would like to do are not always important enough to make a priority in the here and now if left to our own device. Sometimes it take a special someone to make things happen today. That is what happens to our character in this book and his life is much richer for it. It is a real quick read and so worth it.
October 30, 2018
What a wonderful uplifting short story! This would make a fantastic read for the night before Christmas! Thank you Rhonda for such a sweet book.
December 25, 2018
Love the book
December 28, 2018
good book. It was interesting to find out how the husband was going to handle taking care of all daily events
January 22, 2019
A lovely story of showing us how we should appreciate those we have. Extremely enjoyable
December 7, 2014
I also had read this story as part of a collection, and am glad to see it solo, for those wanting just one short, but chock full of the holiday spirit.
Rhonda's short is quite touching, in a very traditional family orientated way. Humorous and tearful in a very satisfying conclusion.
My natural wariness led me to wonder, when I began her story, if this was going to be ho-hum predictable. And if someone is wondering if it's a happy ending tale, they're right. Getting there, though, was a nice mix of old-fashioned events, new technology, and a few revelation twists.
The pacing was also a nice surprise. Beginning sweetly, it's as if the main male character is brought slowly out of a coma of forgotten cherished values. He's taking care of a precocious daughter, by himself, while his wife's away to tend to an ill mom. His immersion into his daughter's world, and the one existing between the two of them, is precious. And often, moments of unexpected tenderness and technology are linked in a way a major tech company could only wish for with their own devices.
I should add, I'm the oldest of six, dad of three, and grandpa of five. So I'm a sucker for really good family tales.
This story alone, in the collection mentioned above, was, for me, easily worth 5 stars.
Rhonda's short is quite touching, in a very traditional family orientated way. Humorous and tearful in a very satisfying conclusion.
My natural wariness led me to wonder, when I began her story, if this was going to be ho-hum predictable. And if someone is wondering if it's a happy ending tale, they're right. Getting there, though, was a nice mix of old-fashioned events, new technology, and a few revelation twists.
The pacing was also a nice surprise. Beginning sweetly, it's as if the main male character is brought slowly out of a coma of forgotten cherished values. He's taking care of a precocious daughter, by himself, while his wife's away to tend to an ill mom. His immersion into his daughter's world, and the one existing between the two of them, is precious. And often, moments of unexpected tenderness and technology are linked in a way a major tech company could only wish for with their own devices.
I should add, I'm the oldest of six, dad of three, and grandpa of five. So I'm a sucker for really good family tales.
This story alone, in the collection mentioned above, was, for me, easily worth 5 stars.
December 2, 2019
A short Christmas story, but there's really not much to it. Robert is panicky at the idea of taking care of his 7 year old daughter for two weeks while his wife tends to her sick mother. The horror of caring for your own kid!
He's a workaholic and he doesn't seem to know anything about his own daughter (maybe the author doesn't either, the kid went from brunette to blonde in the same chapter), and is having anxiety over what to buy her for Christmas. I found it hard to believe that he never saw any of her toys laying around or talked to her about them at all, kids love to talk about toys!
He's a workaholic and he doesn't seem to know anything about his own daughter (maybe the author doesn't either, the kid went from brunette to blonde in the same chapter), and is having anxiety over what to buy her for Christmas. I found it hard to believe that he never saw any of her toys laying around or talked to her about them at all, kids love to talk about toys!
December 29, 2015
This is a well-crafted and that is easy to see as a Hallmark Christmas movie. It does not tread (nor does it need to) on any uncharted ground, but is simply a good story that leaves you feeling warm when you finish.
March 5, 2015
Wonderful story about a father reconnecting with his daughter .
January 26, 2022
Loved this short, sweet Christmas story. I was surprised by what the gift actually was. I don't surprise easily. Definitely a Hallmarkish story, and I'm a sucker for those stories.
December 13, 2020
Robert Chalmer's wife leaves him and their daughter two weeks before Christmas to take care of her ill mother. Robert now needs to figure out how to handle work, he owns his own business and his little girl and all the Christmas chores on his own.
This was a fun read with a surprise at the end.
This was a fun read with a surprise at the end.
December 13, 2016
I loved this book!
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews