The Christmas Stranger - by Richard Paul Evans (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Christmas classic The Christmas Box and the #1 Netflix movie Noel Diary comes a powerful and thought-provoking holiday story about hope, love, and the mysterious workings of heaven.

Sometimes the universe sends us exactly who we need...

Three years after losing his family in a Christmas Eve accident, grieving Paul Wanlass hasn't just given up on Christmas, he's given up on life. He can't imagine anything to keep him here--not his work as a computer repairman, not the residents in his Salt Lake City neighborhood, and certainly not the idea of connecting with someone new. When a stranger knocks on his door, claiming to be picking up a laptop, Paul allows him in--but discovers the man has a very different mission in mind.

The mysterious stranger's name is Gabriel, and when Paul finds himself opening up to his visitor, Gabriel tells him, "I wouldn't, if I were you. It's not what you think." He then departs without another word.

Paul brushes the experience aside as some trick of the imagination...until he crosses paths with a young widow and her bullied son, who've also received a visit from Gabriel. Before he knows it, these two fill his life with chaos, commotion, and excitement he hasn't felt in years. The three of them are convinced Gabriel brought them together for a reason...but why? And who--or what--really is this Christmas stranger?

Review Quotes

"Evans extols gratitude, humility, and love....Succinct musings meant to inspire."-- "Kirkus Review"

"[The] master of the holiday tearjerker... Fans of Evans' work will be both moved by and invested in this semiautobiographical tale." --Booklist

"Evans is a remarkably relentless optimist whose moving, hopeful, and easy-to-absorb essays will greatly appeal to and inspire a wide range of readers."

-- "Shelf Awareness"

"The most popular holiday tale since Tiny Tim."--Newsweek

About the Author

Richard Paul Evans is the #1 New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of more than forty novels. There are currently more than thirty-five million copies of his books in print worldwide, translated into more than twenty-four languages. Richard is the recipient of numerous awards, including two first place Storytelling World Awards, the Romantic Times Best Women's Novel of the Year Award, and five Religion Communicators Council's Wilbur Awards. Seven of Richard's books have been produced as television movies. His first feature film, The Noel Diary, starring Justin Hartley (This Is Us) and acclaimed film director, Charles Shyer (Private Benjamin, Father of the Bride), premiered in 2022. In 2011 Richard began writing Michael Vey, a #1 New York Times bestselling young adult series which has won more than a dozen awards. Richard is the founder of The Christmas Box International, an organization devoted to maintaining emergency children's shelters and providing services and resources for abused, neglected, or homeless children and young adults. To date, more than 125,000 youths have been helped by the charity. For his humanitarian work, Richard has received the Washington Times Humanitarian of the Century Award and the Volunteers of America National Empathy Award. Richard lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, with his wife, Keri, and their five children and two grandchildren. You can learn more about Richard on his website RichardPaulEvans.com.