Caffeinated Reviewer

Written and narrated by Richard Paul Evans, The Christmas Stranger delivers a heart-felt tale that embraces the spirit of Christmas. You’ll want to grab your earbuds and some hot cocoa to enjoy this timeless tale of loss, hope and new beginnings.

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

Paul wakes the next morning unsure if his encounter with the stranger really happened or was just a dream–but when the stranger shows up again, Paul challenges him to give him just one reason to live. The stranger agrees to the challenge but warns Paul not to expect a path he would have guessed or chosen.

As the stranger promised, Paul’s life takes a wild and fateful turn. A robbery connects him with a woman who has also lost the love of her life, and, in a seemingly unrelated incident, Paul rescues a young boy from bullying, only to find the boy needs a different kind of rescue. The twists leave Paul wondering what these people have in common, and why they were brought together. Who—or what—really is this Christmas stranger, and how will Paul find meaning once again?

It’s been three-years since Paul Wanlass lost his wife and son in a car accident on Christmas Eve. Paul sold his business and repairs computers from his home. He’s become a recluse, and his grief consumes him. As the holiday season approaches, Paul attempts to end his life when a stranger appears claiming he is there about his computer. The next thing Paul remembers, it’s morning and the events of the previous night are fuzzy. When the stranger reappears and asks him not to go through with his plans. Paul asks for a reason not to. The tale that unfolds tugged at my heartstrings as Evans weaved a tale of loss, hope and new beginnings.

The Christmas Stranger was delightful, from a child in need to the heartbreak of losing someone. It was filled with magic of hope and the spirit of Christmas. Like Dicken’s Christmas Carol or Evans’s own The Christmas Box, the message is simple, and you’ll remember the story long after the audio has finished. While there are religious undertones, the story reflects on loss, acts of kindness, love and reminds us that sometimes we receive exactly what we need.

While I could see where each thread was headed, Evans surprised me with a few twists. The story unfolded perfectly and left me smiling though teary-eyed. I imagine someone will make this into a holiday movie to be enjoyed, but remember the book is always better.

Evans narrates the book himself, and it worked wonderfully. After all, who knows these characters more intimately? Whether you read or listen to The Christmas Stranger, it will be one you will treasure.

Amazon | Audible | Libro.fm

About Richard Paul Evans

Richard Paul Evans is an American author, best known for writing The Christmas Box and, more recently, the Michael Vey series.

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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:

• 2025 Audiobook Challenge

About Kimberly

Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram

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