Title: The Christmas Shoes Authors: Donna VanLiere type of book: Adult Fiction / Inspirational call number: FIC

This book is strong in character and story.

Summary:
This tear-jerking short novel will remind readers of Nicholas Sparks or Richard Paul Evans stories. Robert is a man so consumed by professional prestige and "buying things" for his family, he has forgotten that time spent with his wife and daughters is the most precious gift of all in his life. His wife Kate is tired of living alone and wants a divorce from her absent husband, which throws chaos into his holiday plans. His mother decides to set him straight on his mistakes and tells him he still has time to fix things because Kate and he still love each other.

Meanwhile Robert Andrews and his son Nathan prepare for the coming death of Maggie (wife and mother) from ovarian cancer. Nathan doesn't fully comprehend what is coming soon and after hearing a story about how a pretty pair of shoes made his teacher's mother so happy, decides he must buy such a wonderful gift for his sad and sick mother as a "going away" present.

The two families' lives intersect in a miraculous moment when Robert Layton, the cold and distant lawyer, pays for a little boy's Christmas present (a fancy pair of shoes) for his mother because Nathan is short on cash. Other events soon follow Maggie's death, leading up to an epiphany for Robert Layton, which becomes even clearer 15 years later at the end of book.

I would recommend this book!

Why?
As the opening of the book says: "Sometimes, the things that can change your life will cross your path in one instant - and then, in a fleeting moment, they're gone. But if you open your eyes, and watch carefully, you will believe . . . "

Have a box of Kleenex handy and be prepared to remember how precious life and spending time with family and friends is.

Other suggested reading:

A Walk to Remember or The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks

The Christmas Box and Timepiece by Richard Paul Evans

Employee Initials: KS Review Date: November 2004

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