Christmas with You: Gabriel's Angel / Home for Christmas

by Nora Roberts

GABRIEL'S ANGEL
All Gabriel Bradley wants is solitude. But when a very pregnant—and very beautiful—woman ends up at his remote cabin during a blizzard, desperate, alone and on the run, the modern-day Scrooge can't bring himself to turn her away. Despite her intrusion, Laura brings Gabriel the gifts of passion, hope and life—he just needs to find the courage to reach for them. 

HOME FOR CHRISTMAS 
After years spent abroad, reporter Jason Law returns home determined to win back the heart of the girl he left behind. It's going to take all his skills and then some to convince Faith Monroe that he's the man for her—but when it comes to love, forgiveness doesn't come so easily. And he's not the only one who's made mistakes… Can Jason and Faith settle their past to find the future they always dreamed of?

Genres: Romance, Christmas, Fiction, Holiday, Novels, Chick Lit, Adult

352 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1989

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

[Alexandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

gabriel’s angel- 3.5 stars
home for christmas- 5 stars

overall the two stories together were such a great holiday read!!

[Elizabeth Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

(for some reason on Goodreads I can find the correct book cover unlike Amazon??! odd?) I am not sure what Nora normally does write? does she do romance or mystery or what? i have read her tons of times, this is NOT my 1st rodeo with her ... why I just said that, i have no clue. I don't actually see the book I got from Walmart, love the cover, I love mystery best ... but Christmas is a very close in there in my must read ... i really enjoyed Gabriel's Angel best ... it was like i felt kind of sad it was over when i began the next read ... like I wanted more from these characters. do u ever do that ... fell in love with the characters and just feel at home reading the book? such a sweet read. i love this season (Christmas) can read it any old time. Must read. & there are recipes in the front. AWESOME!!! loved it! ( :

[Nan · Rating 5 out of 5]

PlayAway, Both very cute heartwarming Christmas stories. Whoever had listened to this before me had not realized there where two books in this while the Home for Christmas is more a Short Stories but still worth listening to it. I can understand why they missed it since it only showed the one on the title.

[Missy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally published in 1986 & 1989.

These are two timeless treasures.

I read these years ago so it was nice to enjoy them again.

Gabriel's Angel: Gabe & Laura are both afraid to take that chance again but helpless to deny their attraction to each other.

Home for Christmas: After years apart Jason & Faith get a second chance at love.

[Allison Church · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gabriel's angel was fantastic and kept me intent on reading the whole time. While I could see where it was headed the drama was a perfect balance. However home for Christmas was far to easy to see the drama from the beginning and was fairly boring.

[Amber Cramer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Gabriel’s Angel 1 🌟
Home for Christmas 3 🌟

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really cute holiday themed romances.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed both stories. Only the second one was set at Christmas but both were fun.

[Brigid · Rating 1 out of 5]

I rounded this up only because the second story was so fantastically dated (it was originally published in 1986) that it was like a rural '80s time capsule, and as someone who grew up rural in the '80s, I found that sort of charming. (Update: I knocked it down to one star, I mean, it's not good.) If I was rating this separately, I'd give it a 1 for Gabriel's Angel and a 1.5 for Home for Christmas for an average of 1.25, or if I'm feeling petty, 1.167 since the worse book-the one that isn't even set at Christmas-makes up about 2/3 of the pages.

I was really not expecting the theme of these two stories to be marrying someone while pregnant with someone else's child. Again, the 1980s were a wild time.

The first book isn't even set at Christmas. It's also plain old terrible. I have no idea how the leading man is considered anything other than rage-aholic douchebag. Every scene with him has him vibrating with barely contained rage, he treats the lead female as a commodity, and ... honestly, I stopped caring enough to go back and find another detail. This book was just bad.

The second is kind of cute. I guess. Well, at least by comparison to that crappy Gabriel's Angel story it was okay.

Not all books can be winners.

[Robin McCraw · Rating 3 out of 5]

Annually, mid-December I select a Christmas themed book to read. My dilemma this year was a Christmas classic, or a light romantic contemporary read. I decided on the light read. Christmas with you: Gabriel's Angel /Home for Christmas was a predictable, light spirited, feel good read.

In both stories there were attempts to appear that hopes of future joy would be dismantled, it was evident, early on that love would conquer all foes in the end. The antagonists clearly had no chance to overcome the power of love. Gabriel's Angel timeline developed way too fast, making it extremely unrealistic to me, more like a teen girl's love fantasy story. Yet, at Christmas, I am willing to consider the storyline plausible. Home for Christmas was a pleasant, uplifting, predictable Christmas story. Way too predictable, but a warm fuzzy story for Christmas time. Within the first chapter, I had developed the entire storyline correctly.

The three star rating is based on the spirit of the season the book offered. The book as a whole is not on the literary level of books I would typically recommend, but it was enjoyable as a formula, feel good romance for the holiday season.

[Kianna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I gave this book three stars because this book is comprised of two stories and the longer one just wasn't my cup of tea. I've been a major Nora Roberts fan for probably ten years now (and I'm 23 so thats saying something). But the first story, Gabriel's Angel, just wasn't it. Both characters I found quite dislikable, the after birth just seemed to go too smoothly, and the use of the word 'innocent' was used in excess and for the most silly reason, I thought. This was the only story I have read of hers I actually disliked but it just wasn't ringing any bells for me.

And as for the second story, Home For Christmas was the CUTEST Christmas novella I have ever read! Faith and Jason's communication was irritating but it was what the story called for and I enjoyed Claras character and the ending quite a lot. It was super cute and made me feel all gushy <3

[Kendra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gabriel's Angel 4 stars 🌟
I really enjoyed this book, well written just has you continuing to read. I liked how both started to get feelings over the time of being together and through his artwork. I really enjoyed seeing the trust grow throughout the book and when she finally said everything that happened ingront of Gabriel. Happy but not happy with the ending of the book left me wanting more! Over all amazing

Home for Christmas 🎄 3.5 stars 🌟
Love the whole idea of him come back to his small town with feels still from a girl 10 years ago, love how he goes to see her, to see what happens with his feels (that are clearly still there). Some Christmas wishes come true, did not expect the twist at the end with him finding out that it his daughter and that she kept it from him for 10 years. But then they get engaged so they can become a happy family.

[Casey Talastas · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is two stories in one. The first 3/4 of the book is called Gabriel’s Angel. The last 1/4 is called Home for Christmas. In Gabriel’s Angel a reclusive artist hiding in a remote cabin after a devastating loss takes in a scared, very pregnant, very beautiful women and it changes both of their lives forever. Home for Christmas a reporter returns to his hometown for the first time in 10 years determined to win back the girl he left behind, but he gets so much more.

These were both feel good romances that i couldn’t help but smile at. Gabriel’s Angel pulled at my heartstrings and Home for Christmas reminded me how much love can endure. They both had their flaws, but if you need something warm and festive for this time of year, this is a great choice.

[Sarah Reinert · Rating 3 out of 5]

In spite of the title the first story had nothing to do with Christmas. Unless I missed a reference somewhere....
That aside, both stories were a solid okay. But neither really raised above that okay either. Ad a whole, it's an okay read, fluffy and easy to get through, whether you read it straight through or are snatching a few pages in between other obligations. Basically while it is not one of her best works, it isn't terrible. I mean, mediocre from her is still an okay read, and definitely better than some books at their writers best, after all. ☺️

[Fredell · Rating 4 out of 5]

2 books in one:
I really enjoyed both of the novels.
Christmas may have been the common link, but the stories stood alone.
GABRIEL'S ANGEL
All Gabriel Bradley wants is solitude. But when a very pregnant—and very beautiful—woman ends up at his remote cabin during a blizzard, desperate, alone and on the run, the modern-day Scrooge can't bring himself to turn her away. Despite her intrusion, Laura brings Gabriel the gifts of passion, hope and life—he just needs to find the courage to reach for them. The baby is born on Christmas Eve and the saga begins.

HOME FOR CHRISTMAS
After years spent abroad, reporter Jason Law returns home determined to win back the heart of the girl he left behind. It's going to take all his skills and then some to convince Faith Monroe that he's the man for her—but when it comes to love, forgiveness doesn't come so easily. And he's not the only one who's made mistakes… Can Jason and Faith settle their past to find the future they always dreamed of?

[Phylis Carpenter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laura was driving in the middle of a bad snow storm while she was running away from her in-laws who were after her baby. She ran off the road and had to abandon her car. She almost hit Gabriel with her car before she ran off the road.

She had to go with him and stay at his cabin because she could not get to town in the storm. While in the cabin for several days she finds out that he is a well known artist. She also discovers that he too has problems that he is running away from.

A great story that I just could not put down.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book contains two stories. The first is the longer story. It actually starts in late Spring, so not really a Christmas story. There is snow. If you like forced proximity, strangers to lovers tropes then you may enjoy this.
The second is a short story. It does take place at Christmas. Old love renewed. It was more predictable.
Both stories combined give the book 3 stars. I'm happy to have inexpensively supported my local, independent bookstore with a second-hand copy. I would not buy this full price. It was ok for a cozy, holiday read.

[BookWormYami · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 out of 5 stars.
Even though the first story in this book, Gabriel's Angel, had nothing to do with Christmas, I still enjoyed the story very much! The characters in both stories were written very well and so was the pacing of the stories. I only wished that the second story in this book, Home For Christmas, was a full length novel. I wasn't ready for it to end, lol. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves romance!

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two stories in one book. The first was about Laura, a pregnant woman who is running from an abusive relationship and the wealthy family of her recently deceased husband who want to take the baby from her. She becomes stranded in a snowstorm and ends up being “rescued” by Gabe, a famous artist who has a cabin in the Colorado woods. They fall in love and end up getting married. A sweet story with a happy, fairytale ending.
The second story....I couldn’t finish it.

[Charlotte Benson · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF’d at 8%

I just wasn’t clicking with the writing within at least this book specifically. I am gonna give her another shot with Year One as I had that series as it was recommended to me by a friend of mine. And if I don’t like that serious, then I will ultimately give up Robert as an author. That is justjust me a thing and completely understand if other people may agree or disagree with this opinion.

[Judy Adams · Rating 3 out of 5]

Missing Christmas in the first story, but maybe it was just a winter story. I found the story line was pretty fast. That was a quick romance and Gabriel was really sure of himself. I liked Home for Christmas better, but still found this to be about the same message. Boy wants girl, gets what he wants. I think since these two stories are older that maybe it would be a bit different today.

[YeJi · Rating 2 out of 5]

The title of this bind-up is misleading because the first is 2/3 of this book and doesn’t have anything to do with Christmas. It was a cute story, but could have been more developed in terms of characters and plot. It felt to be more “tell” than “show”.

I’m pretty sure Home for Christmas is also a part of another bind up so that was a reread (one that didn’t hold up well).

[Nicole Strycharz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I ended up liking this more than I anticipated. My mom recommended Nora Roberts for Christmas and though it started a little hammy it ended up being fairly deep and intriguing.

She breaks a few writing rules but tends to make the broken rules work.

Overall a great little Christmas story collection.

[Sharon Sherman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stories from 1989 can be dated. Gabriel's Angel suffered from this. Laura was using a "map." she could have easily gotten a burner phone. Gabriel did not have any internet service. Even if service went down just to hard to believe the set-up.

Home for Christmas also suffered from being dated although not as much. No mention of either person checking each other out on social media.

[Mary Anderson · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was the first Nora Roberts book I read (well, listened to) and it will surely be the last. I am definitely not a romance book reader. I kept wishing I were reading Harlan Coben or Stephen King or Lee Child. These were two Christmas stories and, being Christmas stories, both had happy endings.

[James · Rating 2 out of 5]

The title of the book being “Christmas with you” led me to think the stories were both Christmas themed. I read Gabriel’s Angel only. The start was cosy being in a winter cabin but that was it. No mention of Christmas and I didn’t even bother reading the second story (which I believe is actually a Christmas story judging by the name “Home for Christmas”).

[Jacqueline Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is two stories in one. Both are super cozy! I enjoyed the second book (Home for Christmas) better. Its setting was beautiful and written in such a way that you felt like you were in this small town with the characters. All the things we love about a cozy Christmas story were in this second book. I loved it.

[Deb Ellis · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book had a short story, Gabriel's Angel, which could have been a book on its own. It was slow and laborious to read and then everything wrapped up quickly at the end. I did not like it very much.
The short story within the book was charming and was about Christmas. I enjoyed it but it was over too quickly.

[Stella Stenroos · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm glad I noticed, before reading, that these two stories were originally published in the 80's.

While both stories were entertaining enough, they both gave me "American soap" vibes.. Especially, "Gabriel's Angel" - it was a bit all over the place. I was also hoping for a proper comeuppance for Marion, and the Eagletons, but they were just brushed away, which was disappointing.

[Mimosa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book as a start-up book for 2024 because I never go wrong with a Nora Roberts book. I always, always finish reading her books, especially her romance ones because they are so light and does not have much drama, which is just what I wanted for my first book this year. I want something light and not complicated, and this served.