Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    The Christmas Angel Project
    The Christmas Angel Project
    The Christmas Angel Project
    Audiobook5 hours

    The Christmas Angel Project

    Written by Melody Carlson

    Narrated by Linda Stephens

    4.5/5

    ()

    Switch to ebook

    About this audiobook

    Inspired by their late friend's gifts for them, four members of a book club decide to become someone's Christmas angel--and find their own lives are changed. Perfect for readers who want a heartwarming and hopeful Christmas story Five women from different walks of life have become close friends through their book club--enjoying one another's company even more than they enjoy the books. So when the leader of the book club unexpectedly passes away on the cusp of the Christmas season, the four remaining friends are stunned. They relied on Abby for inspiration and motivation. She was the glue that held them together, and they're sure that without her the group can't continue. When the group gathers "one last time" to open a bag Abby's husband gives them, they find Abby had made each of them an angel ornament for Christmas, crafted especially for each woman and accompanied by a sweet and personal note. Inspired by their beloved friend, together Cassidy, Louisa, Grace, and Belinda decide to commit themselves to becoming Christmas Angels to others in need. Each woman will use her life situation and talents to reach out and help others in her own unique way--little knowing that her own life and her relationships will be changed forever. Fan favorite Melody Carlson is back with another touching Christmas story sure to grip readers' hearts and perhaps inspire them to become Christmas Angels themselves.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherRecorded Books, Inc.
    Release dateAug 30, 2016
    ISBN9781501932144
    Author

    Melody Carlson

    Melody Carlson has written more than 200 books for teens, women, and children. Before publishing, Melody traveled around the world, volunteered in teen ministry, taught preschool, raised two sons, and worked briefly in interior design and later in international adoption. "I think real-life experiences inspire the best fiction," she says. Her wide variety of books seems to prove this theory.

    More audiobooks from Melody Carlson

    Related to The Christmas Angel Project

    Related audiobooks

    Christian Fiction For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      An Unusual Christmas

      Dec 11, 2020

      An Unusual Christmas
      5 min read

    • Article

      Double DELIGHT

      Dec 29, 2021

      Double DELIGHT
      6 min read

    • Article

      Needled

      Dec 27, 2019

      Needled
      5 min read

    • Article

      Giving It All to God

      Oct 1, 2021

      Giving It All to God
      6 min read

    • Article

      Healing

      Apr 8, 2020

      Healing
      9 min read

    • Article

      One Carrot

      Jul 2, 2020

      One Carrot
      5 min read

    • Article

      SETTLING Scores

      Aug 12, 2020

      SETTLING Scores
      9 min read

    • Article

      The Message From Beyond

      Jan 6, 2021

      The Message From Beyond
      2 min read

    • Article

      The Recovery

      Nov 25, 2023

      The Recovery
      3 min read

    • Article

      The Girl NEXT DOOR

      Jan 13, 2021

      The Girl NEXT DOOR
      6 min read

    • Article

      My Second Mother

      Feb 16, 2021

      My Second Mother
      5 min read

    • Article

      The Book Lover

      Jun 29, 2021

      The Book Lover
      6 min read

    • Article

      Just “Sister”

      Dec 31, 2023

      Just “Sister”
      4 min read

    • Article

      Old And New FLAMES

      Dec 1, 2020

      Old And New FLAMES
      6 min read

    • Article

      Happy Families

      Aug 5, 2021

      Happy Families
      7 min read

    • Article

      SETTLING Scores

      Aug 5, 2020

      SETTLING Scores
      9 min read

    • Article

      Saved By The House MOUSE

      Apr 19, 2023

      Saved By The House MOUSE
      6 min read

    • Article

      Share a Coke With…

      Nov 24, 2018

      Share a Coke With…
      5 min read

    • Article

      Not Just For CHRISTMAS

      Dec 8, 2021

      Not Just For CHRISTMAS
      9 min read

    • Article

      Star Of Wonder

      Dec 1, 2022

      Star Of Wonder
      5 min read

    • Article

      Star In The Sky

      Nov 19, 2020

      Star In The Sky
      5 min read

    • Article

      Flying HIGH

      Dec 23, 2020

      Flying HIGH
      3 min read

    • Article

      Who We Were WHO ARE WE NOW?

      Apr 8, 2020

      Who We Were WHO ARE WE NOW?
      7 min read

    • Article

      The Wildest Place OF ALL

      Mar 23, 2022

      The Wildest Place OF ALL
      9 min read

    • Article

      Star Of Wonder

      Dec 1, 2022

      Star Of Wonder
      5 min read

    • Article

      The Sisters Room

      Feb 25, 2023

      The Sisters Room
      3 min read

    • Article

      ASK Aunty Nelly

      Nov 19, 2020

      ASK Aunty Nelly
      4 min read

    • Article

      Coming HOME

      Jun 3, 2021

      Coming HOME
      4 min read

    Related categories

    Reviews for The Christmas Angel Project

    4.5/5

    60 ratings15 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 5/5
      A most wonderful book such a true meaning of Christmas with friendship, hope , angels and love❤️
    • 5/5
      Very good book. It makes you feel good after reading it.
    • 5/5
      I really enjoyed this clean Christmas Romance. Another that I bought at a library sale, just at a good time. I also rated this 5*s. I'm really enjoying this author. She seems to touch a lot of feels. A tissue might be needed for this one as well.
    • 3/5
      Hallmark movie. Everything turns out great. Quick read.
    • 4/5
      What kind of legacy will you leave? That is the underlying theme of Melody Carlson’s The Christmas Angel Project. Carlson, known as the queen of Christmas novellas, has another hit with this book. She takes her characters on a journey from grief to hope as she explores how people can use their talents and dreams to make a community a better place.Four women — Cassidy, Louisa, Grace, and Belinda — find themselves lost and rudderless following the death of their friend, Abby. Abby has befriended, encouraged, and basically loved on all four, and they find themselves unsure how they will get through the next days and weeks leading up to Christmas without her. Although members of the same bookclub, the women feel disconnected from each other without Abby. That is until they receive an unexpected gift from their dear friend.The Christmas Angel Project is all about finding purpose within the framework of one’s gifts, personality, and passions. Each character built on what they had already developed in their lives and used it to reach out to others in unique and meaningful ways. The projects each woman undertook — veterinary care for the elderly, art classes for the grieving, decorating Habitat homes, and a fashion show for high schoolers — brought dignity, self-confidence, and hope to those they touched. The characters all had fears, self-doubt, and feelings of unworthiness common to all. I liked that about them. They were real women with real struggles who decided to focus not on themselves but on others. And that is what Abby had done in her life, and that is the legacy she left for the four to continue.I listened to the audiobook of The Christmas Angel Project and was at first put off by the narrator’s voice. Her timing was great, but she made several of the characters sound older than they were. But as I got more and more involved with the story, her voice disappeared and the women emerged.A heart-warming read for the Christmas season, The Christmas Angel Project gets a recommended rating from me!Recommended.Audience: adults.
    • 5/5
      I love reading Christmas stories around the Holidays to "Get me in the mode". This is a great novella to read anytime of the year. The story starts out telling us about five ladies in a book club. With out giving the story away, we learn right away that Abby dies. It seems like she is the glue that held the club together and without her they think about disbanding. I found this book to be a great lesson on using our gift God gave us, how we are all important and that we can effect others even if we don't realize it. It shows what true friendship is and that even when we are gone, people may still be touched by the love and example we have shared. I would recommend this book for anytime of the year, not just to read at Christmas.
    • 4/5
      December always brings the desire to read Christmas fiction for me. And to remember the real 'reason for the season.' The Christmas Angel Project by Melody Carlson was absolutely perfect on both counts.The prologue introduces us to Abby, who is putting the finishing touches on some personal Christmas gifts for her friends, all members of their book club. Now, this isn't a spoiler as it's the first chapter - but Abby passes away.The reader is privy to the shock and grief that her four friends experience when they hear this news. Each of the four has a very different personality and different reaction to the news of Abby's death. She played a unique role in each woman's life.When Abby's husband delivers the gifts to the group, they take what Abby has given them and turn it to something even more special. They decide to become 'Christmas Angels' and help members of their community."Angels should be capable of making miracles in other people's lives......Suddenly they were all talking, suggesting ways they might help others, good deeds they might do, ways to 'pay it forward'."I loved this idea - it's absolutely one each of us should put into play in our own lives and community - at any time of the year. Matthew 6Carlson's characters are very likeable in their honesty, doubts, beliefs and struggles. I enjoyed that they were all from different walks and stages of life. (And I would enjoy them as friends as well) She has created unique ideas for each character to carry out their good deeds. I enjoyed seeing their plans come to fruition. Carlson also includes a lovely romantic subplot for one of the characters.Looking for an sweet, inspirational, heart-warming holiday tale with a wonderful message? Pick up The Christmas Angel Project. Best enjoyed with a cup of tea looking out at the snow.
    • 5/5
      Melody Carlson is the queen author of Christmas novels! They are the cozy snuggle up and read stories even when it isn’t Christmas time! Abby has a special way of touching people’s lives personally and for the Lord. When she dies suddenly, her monthly book club which consists of her and 4 other ladies is devastated, even lost. None of them had much in common other than their friendship Abby. Even more so they each depended on her greatly for emotional support and spiritual advice. They decide to meet one more time before disbanding the club. Her husband delivers sack filled with gifts for each one for the next meeting.Opening their presents bring tears as they are beautiful handmade angel ornaments that looks exactly like the one receiving it. Included for all of them was a personal hand written note about how grateful she was for their friendships, and how they were all her “angels”. The certainly never saw themselves as angels, just Abby.They decide in honor of their friend, to keep the club together but in a different way. Inspired by her message they would each become a Christmas angel, working to make miracles come true in the lives of others. They depart excited but perplexed. Each lady had been so wrapped up in her personal life, problems, and career, they hadn’t thought much about serving God and the needs of others. Individually the ask themselves question, what could they do, what were they capable of doing, and how would be do it?As the story unfolds all 4 ladies choose very different plans to accomplish their goal. Deeply buried God given talents emerged as they found ways to bless others.The women also found a new awakening in their relationship with the Lord. Their personal lives began to change in ways they never imagined.There were so many wonderful life lessons in this book! When you have only one person to depend on for your deepest needs and that person is taken, you are lost. That is why it is so important to have God as number one in your life. He will always be thereAlso just was with the club members, life and all its drama and business can consume us. Unknowingly we shut God out of our lives and struggle along alone. This backslidden condition also tends to make us very self-centered, unable to see or care about those around us. This book was so inspiring!I received this book free from Revell Publishing.
    • 4/5
      "Five women from different walks of life have become close friends through their book club--enjoying one another's company even more than they enjoy the books. So when the leader of the book club unexpectedly passes away on the cusp of the Christmas season, the four remaining friends are stunned. They relied on Abby for inspiration and motivation. She was the glue that held them together, and they're sure that without her the group can't continue. 

      When the group gathers "one last time" to open a bag Abby's husband gives them, they find Abby had made each of them an angel ornament for Christmas, crafted especially for each woman and accompanied by a sweet and personal note. Inspired by their beloved friend, together Cassidy, Louisa, Grace, and Belinda decide to commit themselves to becoming Christmas Angels to others in need. Each woman will use her life situation and talents to reach out and help others in her own unique way--little knowing that her own life and her relationships will be changed forever."-book synopsis from Goodreads.com

      This is such a lovely and uplifting book by Melody Carlson. It starts out very sad but it is not long before you just feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Although I read this in August, I felt the Christmas spirit. Reading this book at Christmas time might become part of my tradition to get me into the right mindset for the holiday. 

      This definitely has a Christian theme to it and draws you closer to God. I would re ommend this book to anybody. Anyone feeling down or unhappy would definitely benefit from this quick read. 

      *I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.*
    • 4/5
      It is always fun to read novellas set during the Christmas season. Some have a magical "Christmasy" feel and some are simply good stories that occur during the Christmas season. Melody Carlson is an author whose novellas are always a joy to read.In The Christmas Angel Project I was anticipating something perhaps dealing with folks finding a tree decorated with paper angels which has the name, gender, and age and size of a child for whom folks can purchase and provide a gift for Christmas. This was definitely not the case in this story. As you can see from the back-cover intro to the book, it is about four ladies in a book club who lose a beloved member of the group quite suddenly and just before the holiday season. What I found interesting is that each of the ladies comes from a different walk of life, a different stage of life, and has different perspectives. They all have quirks of personality and emotional and societal needs quite different from each other. While a short little read, it had a longer-book feel to it. Of the four ladies, I found it difficult to pick the one I liked best. I felt that Cassidy and especially Grace were somewhat complainers. I liked Louisa but she kind of had to grow on me. Belinda might be my "most favorite" of the four ladies.I liked the fact that two of the ladies connected with a gentleman for a potential romantic relationship. Very above board and clean. And one of the ladies' rocky marriage seems to have a lift.But perhaps I'm giving too much of the story away.A good read.I received a complimentary copy as a participant in the Baker Publishing Group's review program.
    • 5/5
      An enlightening story of home and love that will touch all who read it. I loved this story as I love reading and using your gifts for what is best. Close friends become even closer when one of their group dies, leaving them with one more challenge. The become the Christmas Angels and work together to help those in need all the while helping themselves in return. I received a copy of this book from the publisher to read and review.
    • 5/5
      Some Christmas stories can be sappy but this one wasn't at all. It made me laugh and cry. This story starts with a group of 5 women who are in a book club together. Abby Wentworth is the one who keeps the group together. Right after Thanksgiving she dies unexpectedly from an aneurysm. Right before she died she had made angel ornaments for the other 4 women. Her husband takes them to the women and these bring the women closer together and encourages them to come up with a Christmas project they must each complete. I received this book from Revell for a fair and honest opinion.
    • 5/5
      Five women regularly getting together for a monthly book club, when one of them suddenly dies, Abby it seems was the glue that held them together. Would the remaining four friends be able to form some kind of bond to keep the group together, seems rather small for a book club, maybe something else.Abby being gone seems to answer them with a gift of homemade angel ornaments, and surprisingly each one looks like the receiver, but there is more to each ornament as they are about to discover. The four remaining decide to get together and grieve, but they begin to discover a personal note to each of them, how did she know? She was taken unexpectantly and yet!This book will make each one of the look deeper into yourself, and as these women found their strength from each other, you will be surprised at the outcome of this short, page-turner book. A great message here and your going to love this story!I received this book through Revell Publishing and their Blogger tour and was not required to give a positive review.
    • 4/5
      The Christmas Angel Project is this year’s Christmas story by Melody Carlson. Abby Wentworth lives in Pine Grove, Minnesota with her husband, Clayton. Abby belongs to a book club (that she organized and created fifteen years prior) with her friends. Abby is actually what holds it together (the glue). It is Thanksgiving evening and Abby is working on ornaments to give to her friends. She wanted to do something very special for them. They were there for her when she went through her cancer treatments. The next day Belinda receives a call from Clayton, Abby’s husband. Abby passed away during the night from a brain aneurism. Abby was a gentle soul with a good heart (her husband and friends called her an angel on Earth). Abby will be sorely missed. Clayton gives a package to Belinda for the group. At the next meeting, each member opens her gift from Abby. They are angel ornaments created to look like each one of them. Grace, Belinda, Louisa, and Cassidy decide to become angel’s this Christmas. They will do something special to honor Abby and to help others. But what will each of them do? Cassidy is a veterinarian and the idea comes to her the next day. Mrs. Morgan brings in her sick cat even though she cannot afford it. Her little baby (her cat) is ill and needs assistance. Cassidy finds out that other people in Mrs. Morgan’s building are in the same predicament (they are all on social security). Cassidy starts offering her services to them (at no charge), but her boss does not approve. Cassidy really gets to know the residents and enjoys spending time with them. What if Cassidy has to make a choice? Louisa is an artist and finds out that the local community center needs someone to teach an art therapy class. Maybe this would help her too. Louisa is also dealing with the loss of her husband, Adam (passed away the previous year). Grace is an interior designer and Habitat for Humanity Homes is doing a special project for Christmas. They need to someone to furnish the living rooms of three homes for their new owners. Grace did not read the whole letter and thought they needed Christmas decorations. But there is no turning her back. Grace will need the help of her friends to fulfill this wish. Belinda owns Glad Rags in town. She offers unique fashions (upcycles items). Belinda receives an email from the new McKinley High School principal. The students are fashion challenged (dressing like street walkers). Casey, the principal, wonders if Belinda can help them. Belinda ends up organizing a fashion show with the proceeds going to charity. But she is in for a shock when she meets the principal! Join Louisa, Cassidy, Belinda, and Grace as they start The Christmas Angel Project.I always look forward to Melody Carlson’s Christmas novel each year. I was so delighted when I received an advance copy. I enjoyed the overall story, but I did not like the amount of romance in the book. Two of the characters end up having romantic encounters while doing their angel projects. I wish there had been less romance in the novel and more about the woman (and their angel projects). The book really did not need the romantic element. I love the descriptions of the angel ornaments that Abby made for her friends (wish there had been pictures). The book is well-written (as usual) with engaging characters. I give The Christmas Angel Project 4 out of 5 stars (I liked it). The book was lacking the normal Melody Carlson magic.I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.
    • 5/5
      Title: The Christmas Angel ProjectAuthor: Melody CarlsonPages: 176Year: 2016Publisher: RevellMy rating is 5 stars.The story is not the usual perky or cute type of tale published for the holidays. However, it is a very touching book and I highly recommend it! What starts out as a book group with five women becomes a group of four women trying to regroup after the loss of one of the ladies who the other four leaned on. From there evolves a tale of how God works in the hearts and lives of these four women that not only changes them, but impacts others too.The book begins to be filled with hope as the women come in contact with what was left for each of them by their former leader who went home to be with the Lord. Each of the four women really becomes a different person from the inside out, and the people they come in contact with and what happens grabs my heart. I think it’s an excellent book too as we are reminded that not everyone has the best of holidays, and how God can uplift the heart in the darkest hours when we look outward instead of being totally inward focused.Well done Melody!Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255. “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”