Joyfully Retired

Author: Debbie Macomber

Narrator: Jennifer Van Dyck

Publisher: Mira Publishing, 2010

Genre:  Christmas

Format: Audio

Source: Library

Why I Read The Book: The synopsis appealed to me.

Short Synopsis from the author’s website: (Debbie Macomber)

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!

What I Liked:

• I like most of Debbie Macomber’s books, especially her older ones. I read that her inspiration for this story was the movie, Miracle On 34th Street. In comparison, I think Mrs. Macomber did quite well.
• My favorite thing about this book is the basic premise: there are angels everywhere. Sometimes we see them but don’t recognize them as angels. This story has me thinking about this: Who are the people in my life who have been angels in disguise? How did I treat them? Is there a possibility I could have been someone else’s angel?
• First of all, this was beautifully narrated by Jennifer Van Dyck. She played all the voices so well from the elderly Mrs. Miracle and the eight-year-old Gabe to the adult males and females. She helped me ‘see’ the characters. She even did a great job of reading the three recipes.

My Rating: B+

Recommend? Yes, especially if you like all the ends tied up and happily-ever-after.

The Hallmark Channel made a TV movie based on this book as well as the first Mrs. Miracle. Emily Miracle is played by Doris Roberts. Here she is (on the left) with the author, Debbie Macomber. I think Doris Roberts is the perfect inspiration while reading this book.

I borrowed my copy from the library. Call Me Mrs. Miracle is also available at Amazon. (I am an Amazon Associate.) This is Book #2 is The Spirit Of Christmas Challenge..