Audio Book Review: An Angel for Christmas by Heather Graham

I was very pleased by this easy listen with suspense and guardian angels at Christmas.

An Angel for Christmas
Written By: Heather Graham
Narrated By: Christina Traister

Duration: 5 hours 48 minutes
Date: September 2011
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Genre: Christmas, Mystery, Romance
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

Summary:
Christmas has never brought out the best in the MacDougal family. Still, year after year, they gather together in the Blue Ridge Mountains to try to make the season merry and bright. But this year is an especially strained one, with Shayne's impending divorce, Morwenna's slavish devotion to work and Bobby's reluctance to face what life has to offer. They've never felt less like a family. Then, in the midst of a snowy sibling shouting match, a mysterious stranger appears. He could be a criminal, a madman - or something far more unexpected. Despite their fears and the growing danger in the dark woods around them, the MacDougals take a leap of faith. But when another stranger arrives on the mountainside, they don't know which of them to believe. One of these men can't be trusted. And one is about to bring Christmas into their hearts.

Review:
Morwenna has traveled home even though she expects the usual family tensions. Her older brother, Shayne has worked too hard as a doctor and is facing a divorce and his first Christmas without his children. Meanwhile the youngest sibling, Bobby, is home from college and trying to figure out how to tell his father that he wants to change majors … again. When Shayne arrives the family is thrilled that his son and daughter are with him because his soon to be ex-wife decided to take a trip with a new beau. Before Morwenna and her siblings get back inside, they discover a man moaning on the edge of their woods.

Their father steps out with a rifle aimed at the stranger. An argument ensues, as Shayne is not going to leave the injured man in the snow. They finally agree to allow the man in the house out of the cold. The man, Gabe, claims that he is a police officer who has been attacked by the man he was chasing. In the fight he lost his weapon and the criminal has traded his clothes and IDs. As they share the magic of Christmas Eve and Christmas morning, Gabe shares warm situations and encouragement with the family, especially winning the friendship and unwavering support of Morwenna’s niece, Genieve. Then another stranger, wearing a police officer’s uniform, shows up insisting that the family is in danger. The family is confused and reluctant when the pushing man tries to take Gabe into custody. Will the family be able to get to the local pub to get help deciding which man to trust before something bad happens?

I was drawn into the story from the first paragraphs where the cop is chasing the criminal. I thought later in the story that it might have been interesting if the good guy and bad guy hadn’t been revealed. Still there was sufficient suspense, sweetness and the hint of romance to keep me engaged. I enjoyed the light mystery for the family, the Christmas magic, Genieve’s charming birthday wishes and the angel angle. I recommend this as a quick Christmas read/listen.

Audio Notes: Christina Traister does a nice job with the narration. I like the voices and the energy. The narration made this a nice, easy listen.

Source: 2019 September Christmas deals $3.00. This qualifies for 2020TBR and 2020Audiobook goals.