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A Woodland Christmas: Face of Mary/To Hear Angels/The Christmas Chain/Love Came Home at Christmas
Experience a nostalgic Christmas in the Piney Woods of East Texas where a traveling wood-carver dispenses wisdom that brings four couples to realize the gift of love. Can Bridget show Seth how to forgive? Will Mary see Joseph live up to his promise? Can Seth steer Emma away from the need for vengeance? Will R. C. help Gabriella find her grandfather?
344 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
About the author
Darlene Franklin
182 books104 followersAward-winning author and speaker Darlene Franklin lives in cowboy country—Oklahoma and loves writing about the American West. Oklahoma also has the benefit of being the home to her son, his wife, and their four beautiful children. Darlene loves music, needlework, reading and reality tv. Talia, a Lynx point Siamese cat, proudly claims Darlene as her person. Darlene is the author of seventeen contracted books and novellas, as well as several hundred short pieces. Two of her books have finaled in ACFW’s Book of the Year (now the Carol award) contest: her novella, Dressed in Scarlet, and her cozy mystery, A String of Murders.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
November 25, 2019
Four novellas each set in the Piney Woods of southeast Texas. One character, Gabe Noell is a main character in each of the 4 novellas. Gabe is an elderly man who is an amazing wood carver. He wanders around Texas living frugally and helping people out with the money he makes from his wood carving trade and sharing his God given wisdom with all those whom he comes in contact.
Sweet, quick, enjoyable reads each done by a different author.
Sweet, quick, enjoyable reads each done by a different author.
October 28, 2020
4 stars:
To Hear Angels Sing
3 stars:
The Face of Mary
Love Came Home at Christmas
2 stars:
The Christmas Chain
Each story takes place around Christmas in Texas. A man named Gabe plays a part in each story. There is family and forgiveness and romance. I liked the way woodworking played into each story.
To Hear Angels Sing
3 stars:
The Face of Mary
Love Came Home at Christmas
2 stars:
The Christmas Chain
Each story takes place around Christmas in Texas. A man named Gabe plays a part in each story. There is family and forgiveness and romance. I liked the way woodworking played into each story.
August 16, 2020
"Four Couples Find Love In The Piney Woods Of East Texas"
That pretty well sums up this collection of inspiring Christian Christmas romances. Of course, each love story is unique in its details.
There is a common thread running through these four novellas: the character of master woodcarver Gabe Noell. Might he actually be the Angel Gabriel in disguise? That you will have to discover for yourself ...
That pretty well sums up this collection of inspiring Christian Christmas romances. Of course, each love story is unique in its details.
There is a common thread running through these four novellas: the character of master woodcarver Gabe Noell. Might he actually be the Angel Gabriel in disguise? That you will have to discover for yourself ...
April 16, 2019
Four stories that show the courage to start new, in unknown territories. What one expected turned out so differently. Each has something to over come, vengeance, to forgive, or learning to love. The wood carver shows them, in these stories, can be read separately.
July 13, 2017
Free Ebook
4 stories about couples finding love with Gods help and his angel on earth. Each couple faces adversity but is able to overcome
4 stories about couples finding love with Gods help and his angel on earth. Each couple faces adversity but is able to overcome
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July 9, 2024excellent read!
December 31, 2024
The first story- ‘To Hear Angels Sing’ by Ramona Cecil- was good. The other three didn’t hold me.
November 8, 2010
Containing stories of love and faith set in historical East Texas during Christmas time, "A Woodland Christmas" is written by Ramona K. Cecil, Darlene Franklin, Janelle Mowery and Tamela Hancock Murray. Although each story is a "stand alone" story, they all have one character in common, Gabriel "Gabe" Noell.
"To Hear Angles Sing" by Ramona Cecil ~
Bridget O'Keefe leaves Chicago to become a teacher to orphaned Indians in Pinewood, TX, arriving there in October 1883. Bridget is met at the train station by Seth Kruegar, who not only has to deliver bad news to her, but who also makes it quickly known that he harbors nothing but hostility for the Comanches she has come to teach. Sparks fly between Bridget and Seth as she struggles to get the school in order. As their feelings for each other deepen, Bridget struggles with the knowledge that Seth has turned his back on God and Seth keeps fighting the anger that drove him away in the first place. When Gabe Noell enters the picture with his wise words and Christ-like attitude, will he be able to save their blooming love so they are able "To Hear Angles Sing?"
You can find Ramona by clicking here.
"The Face of Mary" by Darlene Franklin ~
Please see my earlier posting this month on Oct 1st with my interview with Darlene for my review of this wonderful story.
"The Christmas Chain" by Janelle Mowery ~
Emma Rose Pickett is searching for a man and she only has vengeance in mind. The man is who she believes is responsible for her being lame. Along her way, her stubborn mule, Skeeter, runs off with possessions and she is unable to keep up with him. Emma is rescued by Gabe Noelle. It turns out Gabe is also traveling with Caleb Kelley, who found Skeeter the wayward mule. Gabe and Caleb manage to talk Emma into riding with them to Caleb's house which is near the town Emma was heading towards. When Emma tries to leave on Skeeter, he has other ideas and races instead towards the house where he dumps her at the steps. Emma is persuaded to stay when Caleb talks his mother into giving her a job. But what neither can understand is the feelings of hostility that Caleb's parents feel towards Emma. It takes Gabe's inspiring words of God's love, grace and forgiveness to help Emma and Caleb stay strong when the past is revealed.
You can find Janelle by clicking here.
"Love Came Home At Christmas" by Tamela Hancock Murray ~
The story begins in Houston where we meet Gabriella Noell and R.C. Sparks. Gabriella's father is very ill and wishes to reconcile with his father, Gabe Noell, before he dies. He reveals to Gabriella that her grandfather was seen in Dallas and asks that she try to find him. Gabriella learns that R.C. is headed to Dallas for business and that his sister Fern is traveling with him. Gabriella asks R.C. to take her with him so she can try to find Gabe. During the two day travel from Houston to Dallas and while searching for Gabe, the three become better acquainted, enriching their faith along the way.
You can find Tamela by clicking here.
Whether read alone or all together, these stories are heartwarming, faith-filled and full of endearing characters who will stay with you long after the last page has been turned. I highly recommend this book to everyone, especially as we draw near to the Christmas season.
"To Hear Angles Sing" by Ramona Cecil ~
Bridget O'Keefe leaves Chicago to become a teacher to orphaned Indians in Pinewood, TX, arriving there in October 1883. Bridget is met at the train station by Seth Kruegar, who not only has to deliver bad news to her, but who also makes it quickly known that he harbors nothing but hostility for the Comanches she has come to teach. Sparks fly between Bridget and Seth as she struggles to get the school in order. As their feelings for each other deepen, Bridget struggles with the knowledge that Seth has turned his back on God and Seth keeps fighting the anger that drove him away in the first place. When Gabe Noell enters the picture with his wise words and Christ-like attitude, will he be able to save their blooming love so they are able "To Hear Angles Sing?"
You can find Ramona by clicking here.
"The Face of Mary" by Darlene Franklin ~
Please see my earlier posting this month on Oct 1st with my interview with Darlene for my review of this wonderful story.
"The Christmas Chain" by Janelle Mowery ~
Emma Rose Pickett is searching for a man and she only has vengeance in mind. The man is who she believes is responsible for her being lame. Along her way, her stubborn mule, Skeeter, runs off with possessions and she is unable to keep up with him. Emma is rescued by Gabe Noelle. It turns out Gabe is also traveling with Caleb Kelley, who found Skeeter the wayward mule. Gabe and Caleb manage to talk Emma into riding with them to Caleb's house which is near the town Emma was heading towards. When Emma tries to leave on Skeeter, he has other ideas and races instead towards the house where he dumps her at the steps. Emma is persuaded to stay when Caleb talks his mother into giving her a job. But what neither can understand is the feelings of hostility that Caleb's parents feel towards Emma. It takes Gabe's inspiring words of God's love, grace and forgiveness to help Emma and Caleb stay strong when the past is revealed.
You can find Janelle by clicking here.
"Love Came Home At Christmas" by Tamela Hancock Murray ~
The story begins in Houston where we meet Gabriella Noell and R.C. Sparks. Gabriella's father is very ill and wishes to reconcile with his father, Gabe Noell, before he dies. He reveals to Gabriella that her grandfather was seen in Dallas and asks that she try to find him. Gabriella learns that R.C. is headed to Dallas for business and that his sister Fern is traveling with him. Gabriella asks R.C. to take her with him so she can try to find Gabe. During the two day travel from Houston to Dallas and while searching for Gabe, the three become better acquainted, enriching their faith along the way.
You can find Tamela by clicking here.
Whether read alone or all together, these stories are heartwarming, faith-filled and full of endearing characters who will stay with you long after the last page has been turned. I highly recommend this book to everyone, especially as we draw near to the Christmas season.
January 13, 2012
Gabriel "Gabe" Noell is a woodcarver who moves from town to town in East Texas. As he carves and travels, he shares wisdom he has gathered from life experience and God's Word. Each novella can be read separately are as a group.
To Hear Angels Sing by Ramona Cecil
The Face of Mary by Darlene Franklin
The Christmas Chain by Janelle Mowery
Love Came Home at Christmas by Tamela Hancock Murray
Time Period: Western, 1800's
Location: Texas, USA
To Hear Angels Sing by Ramona Cecil
The Face of Mary by Darlene Franklin
The Christmas Chain by Janelle Mowery
Love Came Home at Christmas by Tamela Hancock Murray
Time Period: Western, 1800's
Location: Texas, USA
January 29, 2014
Excellent book. I really enjoyed the fact that all four authors used one of the characters Gabe Noell in each of their stories and he truly lived up to his name and was an inspiration to all in his witnessing.
December 1, 2010
All four stories were delightful and fun to read at this time of the year!
October 8, 2011
Four great stories!
July 30, 2016
Overall good feeling stories about caring.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews