The 13th Gift: A Heartwarming Tale of a Christmas Miracle

Moonwolf: Great book lessons to be learnt
Loved it 🥰

Canada on Jan 19, 2023

Amazon Customer: I love the winding tale of how grief turned to joy as a family shared in some mysterious gift giving.

United States on Dec 22, 2022

M. R. Taylor: My wife and I had a hard time getting through the first half of the book, it was just so heart-rending, but I pressed on without my wife because the book promised a 'Christmas miracle.' It was worth it. After I finished, I encouraged my wife to press on ... she is a much faster reader than I ... and on finishing, she too was glad she made it to the end.

I had an experience in my boyhood as a cub scout, playing 12 days for someone as a troop at Christmas time. It was tremendous fun, which is what initially sparked my interest in this book. This account from the other end of the 12 days tradition is a testament to how small and simple things can bring about big changes in the lives of people, if we'll just put forth the effort and not be afraid to be kind.

United States on Apr 19, 2022

Mensamom: I read this for a December book club. I have owned a Kindle copy for several years, but just now got around to reading it. I really wish I would have read it sooner, but like so many other things in life, it seems I read it just when I was supposed to.

It is far too easy, in today's hustle & bustle world, to get caught up in the trappings of the Holiday season and forget the more important aspects - family, love, forgiveness, acceptance, and, yes, loss. Depression is insidious. It doesn't hit you like a cold or an injury can. It creeps in, filling up all the empty places of the day, convincing people that just going through the motions is enough. By making us numb to the pain, it also robs us of the joy that life can bring.

The Smiths are just going through the motions after the death of the family patriarch, Rick. His widow and children have become numb to life, with only the youngest child, Megan, still hopeful for the coming of Christmas. Yet, even her endeavors to bring the Christmas spirit back into the home are half-hearted, at best. It is in the midst of this bleak run-up to Christmas that a series of Random Acts of Kindness begin to reawaken the family to...

United States on Dec 02, 2019

Elizabeth Chipman: I read this book as part of my book club and was not looking forward to a Christmas book because my Christmas is not as wonderful as it used to be. My husband died eight years ago. I heard about the stages of grief, but I went directly to anger and it took a long time for me to get out of it. The anger felt by the mother of this family is very normal and, like me, she did not want to get out of it and felt she was entitled to it as well. It takes a special person to help those in the grief process. The givers of the 12 gifts for Christmas did it so thoughtfully and did not expect anything in return. My heart goes out in thanks to Joanne Huist Smith for writing this book. I will definitely pass it on to other who are battling grief and I will read it again to remind me that there is a way out of grief and enter a new life. We who have lost a loved one will never get over it but we will get through it. We will never forget the life we had with the loved one but we will also know that they would want us to continue in another life until we meet again. God Bless all of you who have and are experiencing grief and don't let anyone give you a timetable to stop.

United States on Jan 19, 2019

cinderella: Having been a single Mom since Dec 2008 I know how real the daily struggle is to be both Mom & Dad and ALL that goes into that of running a home, work, bills, while a heavy cloud of grief shadows each of us left alone to carry on and figure out a new normal.

This ANGEL gift givers
were truly an answer to prayers of "help us". Even as I read this myself & one of our children are experiencing another of several life changing events
that does not include JOY or happiness. Because of my Faith in the Lord...the greatest gift of Christmas I have Hope.

Yet I am human...I see the ugliness of bitterness, resentment and barely functioning with all the "have to do's".
I feel in my heart had we had "true friends" delivering unconditional love, support and hope for 12 days letting us know we were not alone our family may not have fragmented so. There is still brokenness in each one of us.

I am so grateful to read this true story and know of the "movement of Love and support" especially during the season many celebrate "when love came down from heaven", Jesus.

I pray all will consider this hurting that have no decorations up and no cookies...

United States on Dec 22, 2018

Sharon Summerfield: This book is fascinating. Very hard to put down. A simply wonderful Story. I feel truly priviliged that I found this book and read it. Gift givers are wonderful people.

Australia on Nov 07, 2016

LC: This book was a gift to me for a sad Christmas. The turning point of our retirement has revived the memory of the Christmas after my Dad's death (not long after his retirement) when nothing was joyful and we had to hold each other close to keep from falling apart. It has encouraged me to look outward for people to encourage at Christmas time.

Canada on Dec 23, 2015

Jo O'Neill: I really enjoyed reading this book. Even I got into wondering what the next gift would be and who was the gift giver. Was a feel good book that made you think about doing good things for others.

Australia on Jan 15, 2015

marianne: I really loved this book. It started off a bit dark and sad, normal when you lose your soulmate, husband, father of your children, your everything.
The secret gifts worked a treat and all members in the family cheered up and became a family who were ale to enjoy Christmas which is about being together with family and friends.
this is what christmas should be secret gifts, rather than gifts for giving. I hope lots of people take up this way of gift giving especially to people who go through a difficult time.Many thanks to the author I hope she and her family are well and not only keep the gift giving up but also inpiring other to do the same.

Australia on Dec 31, 2014