I just finished reading all of Richard Paul Evans‘ novels. What a terrific time I had! His books are sweet, gentle, soft, and G-rated. But they are not sappy or superficial or syrupy . . . they have a tremendous amount of substance.
I started where Mr. Evans did – at the beginning – and read each book in chronological order (with the exception of his two series: The Walk and Michael Vey). With each book, the storylines and characters became deeper and more substantial. It all began with The Christmas Box, a story about a young family that moves in with an elderly woman and learns the true meaning of Christmas, and that book is becoming a Christmas tradition.
The Locket proved to be one of my favorites. Michael Keddington is down on his luck in a major way when he finds employment at a quaint nursing home. He learns from the residents and works through his relationship with the love of his life, Faye. Michael returns in several other of Evans’ books.
A Perfect Day surprised me. Just when I thought the Evans’ books were “formula” books, he injected a surprising twist. I was impressed with the times I didn’t see something coming. How fun to NOT know what is going happen next!
The Gift will move you to tears, even if the other novels don’t (but I think they will – in a sweet, happy way). This one involves a child with a special gift and how that gift affects those around him.
I think teenage girls as well as adults will like Grace. This one is about a young woman who is making the journey from an abused child to a strong, confident woman.
Promise Me may have turned out to be my favorite because it was the least predictable with the most unusual twist. It has left me with a lot of really fun What-Ifs!
The Walk series is fascinating me, and I can’t wait for the next installment to come out this spring. A man loses everything – and I do mean everything – and starts off walking. He intends to walk from his home in Washington state to Florida – the farthest point he could find. The experiences, both good and bad, that he has on this journey are insightful. I’ve always wanted to do something like that, knowing I would meet ordinary people with extraordinary life experience. Since that is not safe, prudent or practical for me, I am enjoying living vicariously through Alan.
The Michael Vey series is written for young adults. Michael is 15 year old who finds he has exceptional capabilities. He must exercise bravery and courage to make his world right. These books make a great read-aloud for the family.
I had a really good time reading Richard Paul Evans’ books. They were all quick reads – I read the entire list in about 6 weeks. They were inspirational and motivational, and I hope you enjoy them, too.
The Christmas Box (1994)
Timepiece (1996)
The Letter (1996)
Christmas Every Day (1996)
First Gift of Christmas (1996)
The Locket (1998)
The Dance (1999)
The Looking Glass (1999)
The Carousel (2000)
The Last Promise (2002)
A Perfect Day (2003)
The Sunflower (2005)
Finding Noel (2006)
The Gift (2007)
Grace (2008)
The Christmas List (2009)
The Walk (2010)
Promise Me (2010)
Miles to Go (2011)
Michael Vey: The Prisoner of Cell 25 (2011)
Lost December (2011)
The Road To Grace (2012)
Michael Vey: The Rise of the Elgen (2012)
A Winter Dream (2012)
