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Saying Goodbye: The Christmas Gift
Sometimes life doesn't go in the direction we've planned for ourselves. Away in Medical School, Molly believed her life was on track. That was until she returned home for Christmas and learned her life was nothing she had always believed. As this surprising journey unfolds, Molly not only learns how to put aside the pain of her past but she finally learns how to say goodbye.
202 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 1, 2016
About the author
Linda L. Barton
14 books45 followersHello, my name is Linda L Barton and I'm a Bestselling Multi-Genre Author, Founder of Deadly Reads, and Host of Deadly Reads Radio, Journey into the Night on Blog Talk Radio.
My first book, Next Move, You're Dead was published in March of 2011, and then went on to become a trilogy. I'm proud to say the Next Move, You're Dead Trilogy Bundle was chosen to be 1 of 100 Pre-loaded Kindle Fire ebooks given away in the VIP Swags Bags at the 2013 Emmy Awards show.
I live in a quiet little community in southeast Texas with my husband, Bob, our three spoiled-rotten dogs, and two silly goldfish. Over the years, I have learned that life is an adventure you should always appreciate with all the blessings it brings.
My first book, Next Move, You're Dead was published in March of 2011, and then went on to become a trilogy. I'm proud to say the Next Move, You're Dead Trilogy Bundle was chosen to be 1 of 100 Pre-loaded Kindle Fire ebooks given away in the VIP Swags Bags at the 2013 Emmy Awards show.
I live in a quiet little community in southeast Texas with my husband, Bob, our three spoiled-rotten dogs, and two silly goldfish. Over the years, I have learned that life is an adventure you should always appreciate with all the blessings it brings.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
December 18, 2017
Oh Dear
I wasn't expecting to read this and have it affect me so. Tears, but whether they are tears of joy or grief, you will be shedding them as you read this story. I can only say WOW.
I wasn't expecting to read this and have it affect me so. Tears, but whether they are tears of joy or grief, you will be shedding them as you read this story. I can only say WOW.
December 2, 2023
I shed many tears while reading this book, primarily by providing reminders of my parents and wishing I had appreciated my mom more. I realize that we all have regrets but this book and this Christmas season made it seem more significant to me.
December 31, 2018
Wonderful
This was a great story . It touches your heart and soul . I don't want give too much of the story,but have tissues available you will need them .
This was a great story . It touches your heart and soul . I don't want give too much of the story,but have tissues available you will need them .
December 17, 2018
Warmth for a cold day
Always enjoy a feel good book with a message inside. Enjoyed the storyline. With it's unquiet beginning and twists. A challenging book it was not but a sweet and refreshing and like a warm blanket on a cold day.
Always enjoy a feel good book with a message inside. Enjoyed the storyline. With it's unquiet beginning and twists. A challenging book it was not but a sweet and refreshing and like a warm blanket on a cold day.
December 16, 2018
Very nice
This is the first story I’ve read by this author. There were several errors, and commas where they didn’t need to be, but I didn’t let them detract from the storyline. This story touched close to home for me because I spent three months this year taking care of my mother as she slowly passed away. Grab some tissues. I think you’ll need them.
This is the first story I’ve read by this author. There were several errors, and commas where they didn’t need to be, but I didn’t let them detract from the storyline. This story touched close to home for me because I spent three months this year taking care of my mother as she slowly passed away. Grab some tissues. I think you’ll need them.
January 24, 2018
good
this book is is one that shows love for family and for love of people who need help both financially sprightly.
this book is is one that shows love for family and for love of people who need help both financially sprightly.
December 20, 2024
Saying Goodbye: The Christmas Gift by Linda L. Barton was one of my Christmas reads for this year. That's why I read it, it's Christmas. If it wasn't Christmas and saw this somewhere I wouldn't read it. It isn't my usual type of book, so I only read it because of the season. Keeping all that in mind, the book was okay, I liked it. I didn't love it, but I liked it. It says on the cover "Sometimes the most valuable gift we can receive is to learn how to say goodbye". I have yet to think of when this would be the most valuable gift we receive, but I haven't come up with an answer yet. It's a short, nice, Christmassy book I guess, just not so much for me.
Molly comes home from medical school at Christmas to be with her mother who is dying of cancer. So was mine. Molly's mom wanted to die at home, so did mine. Molly's mom had hospice nurses with her every day, my mom had hospice workers with her three times a week. Molly's mom died peacefully led to heaven by her already dead husband. My mom had cancer in her throat and couldn't talk or eat anymore, so she had stomach tubes and a tracheostomy. When the cancer went to her brain she had seizures, when she couldn't write what she wanted anymore it was almost impossible to understand what it was she was trying to tell us. She was in pain all the time, we poured morphine in her stomach tube and it still didn't take away the pain for long. My mom wasn't like Molly's mom, but reading about Molly and her mom reminded me of mine and really, I wish I would have skipped the entire thing, but, for a Christmas story, it was quite nice, just not for me. And reading over this it sounds like the least Christmassy review I've ever read. And now I will return to trying to figure out when the best gift would be how to say goodbye.
Molly comes home from medical school at Christmas to be with her mother who is dying of cancer. So was mine. Molly's mom wanted to die at home, so did mine. Molly's mom had hospice nurses with her every day, my mom had hospice workers with her three times a week. Molly's mom died peacefully led to heaven by her already dead husband. My mom had cancer in her throat and couldn't talk or eat anymore, so she had stomach tubes and a tracheostomy. When the cancer went to her brain she had seizures, when she couldn't write what she wanted anymore it was almost impossible to understand what it was she was trying to tell us. She was in pain all the time, we poured morphine in her stomach tube and it still didn't take away the pain for long. My mom wasn't like Molly's mom, but reading about Molly and her mom reminded me of mine and really, I wish I would have skipped the entire thing, but, for a Christmas story, it was quite nice, just not for me. And reading over this it sounds like the least Christmassy review I've ever read. And now I will return to trying to figure out when the best gift would be how to say goodbye.
January 24, 2021
Years of joy
I downloaded this quite a while who and somehow never got round to reading it. It is a remarkable read touching something you can't explain. In between is a very human story about love, life and death, with candyfloss. For me it was emotional, but I enjoyed it but it won't be everyone's cup of tea. Only a short story but memorable
I downloaded this quite a while who and somehow never got round to reading it. It is a remarkable read touching something you can't explain. In between is a very human story about love, life and death, with candyfloss. For me it was emotional, but I enjoyed it but it won't be everyone's cup of tea. Only a short story but memorable
November 29, 2017
Tearful yet comforting
Best book I have read in years. I wish everyone. wil feel the ok in their hearts and feel the love I have felt.
Best book I have read in years. I wish everyone. wil feel the ok in their hearts and feel the love I have felt.
December 24, 2017
Perfect
A Christmas Story with laughter and tears. I feel that the joy and love the author wrote into the characters. Very precious.
A Christmas Story with laughter and tears. I feel that the joy and love the author wrote into the characters. Very precious.
October 26, 2018
Just a real cute Christmas story
December 28, 2018
Goodbye
Excellent story. Kept one's interest. Laugh,cried. My dad died not to long ago and I know he is Waiting for mom. They were married 70+ years and has a great love
Excellent story. Kept one's interest. Laugh,cried. My dad died not to long ago and I know he is Waiting for mom. They were married 70+ years and has a great love
September 19, 2019
Touched my heart
What a most lovely read! Everything about this story was a delight! Thank you for weaving words of magic and sweetness!
What a most lovely read! Everything about this story was a delight! Thank you for weaving words of magic and sweetness!
November 20, 2019
What a beautiful Christmas story! Saying Goodbye is hard and this book nailed it.
December 29, 2019
A very sweet book. I have read many "free" kindle books and this is the first one I have felt compelled to share. Losing a parent is always hard, a chapter many of us have shared.
October 6, 2020
Holiday Love
This was such a sweet story. It made me miss my mom but cherish the good memories. Christmas was her favorite time of the year.
This was such a sweet story. It made me miss my mom but cherish the good memories. Christmas was her favorite time of the year.
January 14, 2023
Ok
Good short story, but quite a few mistakes, but still enjoyed it as didn't make it unreadable. So would recommend.
Good short story, but quite a few mistakes, but still enjoyed it as didn't make it unreadable. So would recommend.
June 14, 2023
This book is simplistic and I did not find it satsifying. Although most Christmas books are simple and familiar, I did not even care about the characters in this one.
July 12, 2019
I've recently finished a delightful free Kindle read, SAYING GOODBYE: THE CHRISTMAS GIFT, by Linda L. Barton. It is, by far, the best freebie available on Amazon I've read. Fantastic storyline packed with good characters and surprising emotional events: Love & grief and conflicts & peace. Adding to that, this story contains a little romance and, of course, Christmas miracles.
The only thing keeping me from giving this novella a perfect 5.0 rating is the clusters of minor errors a copy editor would easily correct. Regardless, I can easily recommend this novel.
The only thing keeping me from giving this novella a perfect 5.0 rating is the clusters of minor errors a copy editor would easily correct. Regardless, I can easily recommend this novel.
September 5, 2016
This is a powerful, heartwarming story that will leave you with a good feeling. The book covers emotional separation and how grief is handled in one family, which can be a difficult thing to live with, but in the end you will see how things come together. You can feel the emotions of the characters. This is a positive story that many people should read and take to heart. I fully recommend this book if you are looking for something quick to read.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews