The Gift of Love

by Debbie Macomber

At this special time of year, get wrapped up in two classic heartwarming stories about discovering what gifts love can bring.

The Gift of Christmas

This year Ashley has finished her education, launched her career and affirmed her faith. And she’s now in a position to pay Cooper back the money he lent her for college. She’s achieved all her goals—except one, and it has to do with Cooper, the man she fell in love with years ago. Ashley hopes that the offer of her heart is the greatest gift she can give him.

The Matchmakers

Single mom Dori Robertson is suddenly under pressure to find a new father for her eleven-year-old son. And he’s already chosen the guy—former pro-football player Gavin Parker. As it turns out, Gavin’s daughter wants her dad to marry again, too. When the kids join forces, Gavin suggests he and Dori start dating, just to make them happy. Dori figures it’s safe enough…until it starts to feel real.

Genres: Christmas, Romance, Fiction, Christian Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Holiday

384 pages, Mass Market Paperback

Published September 29, 2020

About the author

Debbie 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.

Reviews

[Melmo2610 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ll be honest, I read the first few chapters of the first story and the end of the first story. It didn’t grab me enough to read all of it. I skimmed but read a good chunk of the second story. It was cute but not enough for me to sit and read the whole thing straight through.

[Shelly Itkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Gift of Christmas

Ashley is so excited that she can pay Cooper back the money she borrowed from him when she was in college. With the holidays approaching Cooper tells Ashley that his sister and her family will be coming home. Ashley is best friends his sister, Claudia, so the news makes her anxious. She is however a little jealous that she is married and has two children.

Wondering when her turn will come? She always loved Cooper but up until now never thought of him as someone she could spend the rest of her life with. Now she is thinking about wishing that her Christmas wish will come true.


The Matchmakers

Dori Robertson lost her husband five years ago and is really not looking for romance. Danny her son feels that he is eleven and it is time enough that he waited to have a new dad and she finds a husband. Danny has a list and has chosen the "perfect dad/husband" the only problem is Gavin Parker is not aware of this yet.
With the help of Gavin's daughter Melissa, they both decide to play matchmaker. Gavin is a former pro-football hero and also is involved in a high management position that has him travelling on the road a lot.
Will he be able to love again after the terrible divorce he went thru with Melissa's mom? Melissa and Danny think so and are about to make them both of there wishes come true.

Two wonderful short stories by Debbie Macomber just in time for the holidays.

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 if I'm being really honest. The first story in the book was not that great imo. Cooper was too unbearable to like and it also really had too much of a Christian romance vibe for me when it didn't really say that it would. Second story was better and both of the mains were somewhat likeable even if I found the plot really cheesy.

[Bev Walkling · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't enjoy the first story in the book at all and had trouble making myself finish. The second story was much better with the element of kids trying to push their parents into a romantic relationship.

[Laura Waters · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just didn’t really enjoy much of either story.

[Notserp2002 · Rating 5 out of 5]

enjoyed both the stories in this book. Debbie Macomber never lets me down.

[Amy Beyrle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cheesy, predictable love stories.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book 199 of 2021

I love Debbie Macomber, especially at Christmas time. Her books are Hallmark movies in the making. This Christmas(ish) book had 2 stories in it, both of which had similar story lines. I will say, though, that the second story had no Christmas to it (unless I completely missed it).

I liked these stories, but they are incredible outdated. As I started reading, one did the main characters is working out in a leotard & leg warmers. I went and looked at the original publication date…1984. That may be why things like leg warmers, land lines, and many other things were out of date. 🤣

I didn’t like how both stories had the two main characters going back and forth…together, not together, together, not together…then, BOOM…let’s reunite and get married! What happened to actually dating? Even for a little bit.

One thing that stuck out to me (that I liked) was the richer vocabulary. You can definitely tell how authors have adapted and simplified their vocabulary in the last almost 40 years. So while the story line was light, my brain felt engaged.

Overall, two sweet stories, but nothing memorable. It was a good Half-Price Books steal.

Format: physical copy (purchased)

[Shawna · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not a fan. Finished the first of two stories in this book. It was predictable, boring, and couldn’t stand the characters. I bought the book in 2020, but it’s stories written in the 1980’s. And at times pretty dated (no one wears satin shorts and leg warmers to work out to a dvd.)

Also not a fan of the sappy Christian references (and I am a Christian). It’s just too much.

I don’t know if I have it in my to plow through the 2nd story.

[Cheryl · Rating 2 out of 5]

Usually I like books written by Debbie MaComber but for some reason I really could not get into either of the stories in this book. Both men were so arrogant that I could find no reason why the women would even want to bother with them. Filled with bickering and blaming, name calling, and adults who let their children make decisions for them and run their lives. Someone else may find the two stories in this book charming, but I found it repetitive and stressful to read.

[Judine Brey · Rating 3 out of 5]

These novellas from the 1980s felt timeless and nostalgic at the same time. Ashley's romance with "old" bachelor Cooper was well portrayed, especially with her acute awareness of their societal differences (and his indifference to them). I wasn't as pleased with Dori's romance with former NFL player Gavin. If I was faced with Gavin's mercurial moods, I wouldn't be able to laugh them off as well as Dori did.

[Elizabeth Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

found this at Walmart, i gotta say, as a reader, i wish they were not so pricey, i would enjoy buying more, but being what price they are ... can't do as many as i did or do wish for??! i love Christmas reads, such a fan of the book cover. so festive!! great characters. i wanna read more, and will do so soon. very soon.

[Janet Stiglicz · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have read a couple of books by Debbie Macomber in the past and seem to remember that I enjoyed them. However, not this one. Very lame. There are two stories in this book and I could only get through the first one. Started the second one but stopped at about 5 pages in.

[Lexi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two cute Christmas stories into one book! I will admit I was alittle weary of reading a Christian romance for the first story, but it turned out to be good! Then the second story had me wanting to slap Gavin silly, but both came to happy endings!

[Harlequin Books]

Categories
Holiday Romance, Holiday, Contemporary Romance, Romance Collections & Anthologies

[Jackalyn]

Macomber books are always very good!

[Kathy Greever · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful, heart warming read! Debbie never disappoints!

[Lindsay · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think I’ve tried reading these stories before because they sounded familiar. Maybe they were in another Christmas collection. Both stories are boring. Her newer Christmas books are so much better.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very Debbie MaComber. Loved it.

[Shawnda Manuel macdonald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved both stories in this book! I don't want to give anything away
I don't think I've been disappointed by a Debbie Macomber book yet.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a cute book the first story was ok the main characters were kind of annoying but the second story was super sweet and funny.

[Brittany Piercey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two beautiful stories of finding each other when it’s the right time 🥰

[Jaclynn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm usually a big fan of her Christmas books, but this one was a bit too far fetched for me. The endings were kind of abrubt and unrealistic, in my opinion.

[Theresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet stories

[Rose Tucciarone · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was another beautiful Love Story by MaComber, loved how the rich guy Cooper was so determined to win her over, it was a page turner.

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good

[Helen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy, fluff read

[Valerie Robinson]

I loved this. Two wonderfully romantic Christmas stories.

[Jill Bensinger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick, light read. Cute stories. (2 books in one).

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

What. Adorable. Little. Stories.

I was sad when they each ended. This book was exactly the charming, feel good read I'd hoped for when I picked it up.

I need more Debbie books on my bookshelf, immediately. Debbie may be the first "auto buy" author for me.