
The 13th Gift
A True Story of a Christmas Miracle
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Narrated by:
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Joanne Huist Smith
About this listen
For readers of Richard Paul Evans and Greg Kincaid comes The 13th Gift, a heartwarming Christmas story about how a random act of kindness transformed one of the bleakest moments in a family's history into a time of strength and love.
After the unexpected death of her husband, Joanne Huist Smith had no idea how she would keep herself together and be strong for her three children - especially with the holiday season approaching. But 12 days before Christmas, presents begin appearing on her doorstep with notes from their "True Friends." As the Smiths came together to solve the mystery of who the gifts were from, they began to thaw out from their grief and come together again as a family. This true story about the power of random acts of kindness will warm the heart, a beautiful reminder of the miracles of Christmas and the gift of family during the holiday season.
©2014 Joanne Huist Smith (P)2014 Random House AudioListeners also enjoyed...
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Critic reviews
Christmas all year
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Sweetest Christmas story
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Powerful story.
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Of course after starting, I couldn’t not finish…
I had a LOVE/HATE relationship clear to the very end.
My advice..read it <3
Story is GREAT!! Narrator is terrible :(
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With each day and each new surprise, one by one, the family gets on board with waiting for the surprises and trying to guess who is doing it all. Each gift has a handmade card with it and it evolves into solving the puzzle as a family, even though Joanne fights it with every piece of her heart. As the “true friends” help this family, the Smiths find that they themselves are also taken to helping others. The puzzling gifts truly act as a miracle. They bring each of the grieving family members out of their own horror and into working and living together again. With the help and love of true friends, the Smith family eventually learns to cope.
The 13th Gift is a wonderful Christmas story especially in that it is true. If this doesn’t get you in the holiday spirit, I don’t know what will. It is a fast read (or in my case, listen) and you just might find yourself wanting to do something for others as well. Trust me, the giving spirit of this story can really make a difference in your life as well.
A True Holiday Story To Cherish
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my mom
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It was difficult for me to "get into" the book, however. I don't know it it was the author's voice or that I was irritated she was such a "bad" mother.
After the fourth try...and a book cluc deadline, I believe I received some Divine Inspiration. I'm single, have not had children and have NO IDEA how I would feel / react in that situation. After some reflection, she became a hero to me..... I don't know if I could have gotten OFF the COUCH to go to work?!
By the end of the book, I was in tears and loved it.... wanting to begin the tradition in my life and asking God for the inspiration /idea for whom I should choose. I may choose someone else who is single and alone. I just hope they don't have a doorbell camera!
LOVE THE MESSAGE!
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what a loving, moving tale of love
Heartwarming
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Raw genuine kindness in it’s rarest form
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heart wrenching, a warm story
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