In the vein of Donna VanLiere's THE CHRISTMAS SHOES and Richard
Paul Evans's THE CHRISTMAS BOX, bestselling author Jacquelyn
Mitchard (THE DEEP END OF THE OCEAN, A THEORY OF RELATIVITY) has
penned a slim but poignant Christmas story that captures perfectly
the true spirit of the season. Dramas of familial crises and grief
are Mitchard's trademark fare, and this slender novella of love,
loss and letting go is no exception.

CHRISTMAS, PRESENT expertly blends the sad and sentimental with the
uplifting and inspiring, and somehow manages to be both
heartwarming and heart wrenching at the same time. Elliott and his
wife of 14 years, Laura, are on their way home from their
anniversary celebration two days before Christmas when a searing
pain in Laura's head forces an abrupt visit to the local hospital.
The pain turns out to be far more than an ordinary migraine and
they soon learn the horrible truth that Laura has a fatal,
inoperable brain hemorrhage that leaves her with mere hours to
live.

As her family gathers around from near and far on Christmas Eve,
Laura shares with them loving memories of a life well-lived and she
bestows on them her blessings and hopes for the future. Her
good-byes to her beloved husband and three daughters are
particularly fraught with emotion. However we are saved from
over-the-top sentimentality thanks to Laura's serene, reflective
demeanor and Mitchard's straightforward prose. Laura's legacy to
her shocked and grief-stricken family is giving them the gift and
promise of the future by encouraging them to live life to the
fullest in her absence. The final chapter provides an uplifting
respite from the novel's weighty sadness, as we glimpse into the
future and see Elliott and their daughters living out Laura's dying
wish for them to visit Paris.

Mitchard perfectly captures the utter heartache and devastation of
losing a loved one while imparting a powerful message that we all
need to be reminded of sometimes: life is best when shared with
those you love, and it is these shared moments that make for a
rich, satisfying existence rather than material possessions or
achievements.

The only real downside to the book is its brevity, which is a
dramatic departure from the meatier, lengthy books Mitchard is
known for. Although it's perfect for reading in one sitting during
the time-crunched holidays, the subject matter packs such an
emotional punch that the abbreviated format doesn't quite do it
justice and the storyline isn't as fully realized as it could have
been. The result is that it feels like a mere snapshot taken from a
larger novel, and the resolution feels rushed and breathless, like
a race to the finish line, instead of a thought-provoking and
contemplative finale that provides true closure.

Nonetheless, CHRISTMAS, PRESENT will touch your soul and warm your
heart, and it makes a perfect little gift for yourself or someone
you love.