Debbie Macomber

The Christmas basket previously published in 2002.

The Christmas Basket

Call Me Mrs. Miracle

Briar's Reviews

This is a marvellous duo of stories by Debbie Macomber, all about the spirit of Christmas!

Call Me Mrs. Miracle is by far my favourite of the two, and I really want to read the rest of that series because it's just so cute! Who doesn't love a sweet tale about two people falling in love and a child getting everything they want for Christmas? All with a secret angel? What a gem!

The Christmas Basket didn't wow me as much, and I felt it dragging on. It kind of bored me even though it was also well written and a cute romance collection.

Overall, great book! Three out of five stars.

Mrs. Miracle wreaks romantic havoc in two lives while working in the toy department of a family-run store, and the bitter feud between their mothers that has kept Noelle and Thomas apart is healed by the magic of Christmas.

Angela Guilherme

*I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Even though the synopsis only refers to the story on the title, the book is actually comprised of two stories and I'll review them separately.

“Call Me Mrs. Miracle” - this is Emily Merkle's (better known as Mrs. Miracle) second adventure, but although I haven't read the first, this one doesn't seem to be a continuation. It's the perfect Christmas story and I can totally understand why it was adapted as a television movie, I'm only sorry it will probably never be broadcasted in Portugal...

Jake Finley is the son and heir of Finley's chain of stores, where he works as manager of the toy's devision. With Christmas approaching, the store hires, as usual, temporary workers, and that's how Mrs. Miracle comes in his life. And if, at first, Jake thought Mrs. Miracle could be more useful in another department, he quickly realizes how skilled she is in dealing with the customers, adults and children alike. Mrs. Miracle becames a valuable ally to prove to his father that he was right in going against the guidelines he had and betting on buying 10 times more units of a robot toy that Jake believes will be the most requested toy that Christmas.

Holly Larson is totally overwhelmed this Christmas. Her nephew Gabe is living with her after her brother was deployed to Afghanistan, but living together hasn't been easy... And to top it, her boss doesn't like the fact that Holly started to comply with her schedule. Not to mention that Gabe asked Santa for one of the very expensive robot toys, which means Holly will have to save even more than usual...

At the line in Starbucks, Jake “saves” Holly, buying her coffee, and the atraction between them is immediate. They start to meet regularly (with a little help from Mrs. Miracle) and the relationship progresses quickly. But Jake has ghosts in his past that “stole” Christmas from him many years ago, and Holly also has problems to overcome.

All seemed well routed, but then there is a missing toy, which gives way to a series of shenanigans, but also allows for the final outcome and the unveil of present and past misconceptions.

It's a story thoroughly imbued of Christmas spirit and, even though we never really find out what Mrs. Miracle is, she's a character that wins us over with her little schemes and her personality, sometimes very sweet, but others very opinionated!

“The Christmas Basket” – on this second story, Debbie Macomber presents us with a christmassy and, thankfully, not tragic, version of Romeo and Juliet.

Noelle McDowell is back in her home town, after 10 years away. Noelle left after the Summer when Thom Sutton broke her heart and has only now agreed to return to spend Christmas with her family and help with the preparations for her sister's wedding. Of course the first person she meets is Thom, but he acts as if she has been the one to betray him... 

The reason why they had a fallout was because they each defended their mother, once great friends, but now mortal enemies who dragged their families to their miff. But now Noelle's mother has to work with Thom's mother in preparing Christmas baskets for needy families as it's the only way she can use the club's facilities for her daughter's wedding, which means imminent disaster. Can they surpass their enmity for the greater good?

In the mean time, Thom and Noelle don't seem to be able to stop bumping into each other and, when they finally clear the past, and find out that, in truth, what they felt for each other never faded, they also realize they must try and fix things between their mothers so that nothing else comes between them.

It will take a true Christmas miracle so that both families return to being friends as before, and for Noelle and Thom to have their happy ever after. Will they make it?

In this story the Christmas spirit is also very present. I liked the story of Noelle and Thom, and I also liked the secondary characters: their mothers, fathers and sisters. The scenes between the mothers are particularly hilarious! A fun and sweet story ideal for Christmas time.

This Christmas, Emily Merkle (call her Mrs. Miracle!) is working in the toy department at Finley's, the last family-owned department store in New York City. And her boss is none other than…Jake Finley, the owner's son. For Jake, holiday memories of brightly wrapped gifts, decorated trees and family were destroyed in a Christmas Eve tragedy years before. Now Christmas means just one thing to him—and to his father. Profit. Because they need a Christmas miracle to keep the business afloat. Holly Larson needs a miracle, too. She wants to give her eight-year-old nephew, Gabe, the holiday he deserves. Holly's widowed brother is in the army and won't be home for Christmas, but at least she can get Gabe that toy robot from Finley's, the one gift he desperately wants. If she can figure out how to afford it… Fortunately, it's Mrs. Miracle to the rescue. Next to making children happy, she likes nothing better than helping others—and that includes doing a bit of matchmaking! This Christmas will be different. For all of them.

Debbie

I know this is still late November, but I can't help it anymore. Christmas! Oh Christmas! I've already feel it. Christmas is in the air. My favorite season of all. That's the reason Why I decided to read stories about this holiday and yup.. "Call Me Mrs. Miracle" a novel by Debbie Macomber (the other reason why I choose this book is because we have the same name, the Author and me. *laugh* ) is my choice.

I started to reading this book a few days ago. I instantly fell in love with this book when I read the first chapter.

This book is about Jake Finley, son of J.R Finley, the owner of Finley's, big Department Store in NYC. Jake has done something that seems impossible for his father and most of people who works there. He ordered 500 of toy robot called Intellytron The SuperRobot or Telly for short to sell them all by Christmas Eve. His father wasn't pleased with his action and doubt him. At first Jake's also doubt himself. Jake think he needs a miracle, and he really needed a miracle.

Meanwhile, Holly Larson, a girl who works for a fashion designer, Lindy Lee, desperately needs miracle. She has to take care of his little nephew, Gabe while her brother Mickey, Gabe's father serves in Afghanistan. She's going to spent this christmas with Gabe, just both of them. She wants to give Gabe holiday he deserves and especially Telly the SuperRobot.

Who better grant them than Mrs.Miracle?

Thank you for Debbie Macomber for write a wonderful story. I'm so pleased to read this book and I highly recommend this book to all the readers in world to read this book.

Chantale

This Christmas, Emily Merkle (call her Mrs. Miracle!) is working in the toy department at Finley's, the last family–owned department store in New York City. And her boss is none other than Jake Finley, the owner's son. For Jake, holiday memories of brightly wrapped gifts, decorated trees and family were destroyed in a Christmas Eve tragedy years before. Now Christmas means just one thing to him and to his father. Profit. Because they need a Christmas miracle to keep the business afloat. Holly Larson needs a miracle, too. She wants to give her eight–year–old nephew, Gabe, the holiday he deserves. Holly's widowed brother is in the army and won't be home for Christmas, but at least she can get Gabe that toy robot from Finley's, the one gift he desperately wants. If she can figure out how to afford it... Fortunately, it's Mrs. Miracle to the rescue. Next to making children happy, she likes nothing better than helping others – and that includes doing a bit of matchmaking!

Call Me Mrs. Miracle The Christmas Basket

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