Angels Everywhere by Debbie Macomber

Title: Angels Everywhere
Author: Debbie Macomber
Publisher: Avon
ISBN: 978-0-06-050830-2
Pages: 640
Series: Angels Everywhere #1 and 3
Type: Adult Chick Lit
Source: Purchased
Goodreads

This book features two of Debbie Macomber's angel stories, although strangely it contains the first and third books in the series. The Trouble with Angels actually falls between the two. There aren't any spoilers here that would ruin it, but there are several references to the last two years of cases that may seem a little odd if you don't know about the second book.

***A Season of Angels***

During the holiday season, three peoples cries for help have fallen on heavenly ears: Leah's prayers for a baby have gone unanswered for years, Monica's prayers for a husband are hindered by her self-righteousness and all Timmy wants for Christmas is a father. Three young angels, Shirley, Goodness and Mercy, have been sent to act as guardians but they'll soon find out helping humans is harder than they expected.

This was a really fun read with a great storyline. I was a little worried that it could end up being overly religious and preachy, but my fears were unfounded and I loved getting to know Shirley, Goodness and Mercy. The angels bring a great uplifting feel to the tale and their encounters with modern technology are hilarious (who thought angels could enjoy riding escalators so much?).

I loved the uniqueness of each character and their story and I ended up glued to the page, hoping everything would work out for them in the end. Each character has their own struggles and it was great to see the characters grow and change so they could make themselves happier, with a little divine help of course. The ending does come together very quickly, and I found one story's conclusion to feel a little contrived but on the whole this is a great read.

Plot: 8/10; Characters: 10/10; Ending: 8/10; Enjoyment: 10/10

***Touched by Angels***

Shirley, Goodness and Mercy are back and this time they're bringing their heavenly guidance to New York. Shirley struggles with the case of an optimistic young teacher at a tough inner city school, while Mercy tries to help Jenny decide whether to cling to her dream of Broadway stardom or return home to Montana and Goodness decides that Gabriel is wrong about her case. He insists Hannah's fiancee is perfect for her, while Goodness thinks attorney Joshua is a far better match.

I really enjoyed this story but I found it took me a little while to connect with the characters. Unlike the previous angel books, Gabriel is around more so Shirley, Goodness and Mercy have to be a little more controlled (although they still manage to pull off some hilarious pranks). The cases are harder this time, especially Shirley's which is focused on the idealistic Brynn who is determined to make a difference at a Dangerous Minds-esque school.

I loved the progression of the stories, and again the switching focus created lots of mini cliffhangers. The storylines ran concurrently which meant the reader only sees what is relevant. I did feel that the ending was a little rushed and I'd have liked to have seen the motivation and consequences behind some decisions, but all in all this was a great read.

Plot: 10/10; Characters: 10/10; Ending: 9/10; Enjoyment: 9/10

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This is a really uplifting book that is full of the Christmas spirit and I heartily recommend it.

Average plot: 9/10
Average characters: 10/10
Average ending: 8.5/10
Average enjoyment: 9.5/10
Cover: 9/10

Overall: 46/50