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The Best Gift Kindle Edition

4.7 out of 5 stars 1,686 ratings

THE BEST GIFT – by Eli Easton
With help from a Christmas miracle, two bruised hearts find joy again.

Greg Cabot is the third generation to run Cabot’s Christmas Wonderland and tree farm in rural Vermont. But this year will be his last. Since the death of his son, Sam, in Afghanistan, Greg no longer has the heart to run a business based on holiday cheer. When he picks up a hitchhiking soldier on a snowy night, he finds the help he needs to get his farm through the holidays—and maybe much more.

Sergeant Robbie Sparks doesn’t have much to be thankful for this holiday season. Badly wounded in Afghanistan, he’s spent most of the past year in recovery and was discharged after ten years of service. When fate lands him at Cabot’s tree farm, he feels like he’s fallen into a snow globe reality. Friendly people, gorgeous trees, lots of Christmas kitsch… and Greg Cabot.

Greg believes he’s too heartbroken for romance, but those we love never truly leave us. A little nudge from heaven may help build a bridge for these two men trying to heal. If only they are willing to take that first step.

This stand-alone, long novella is a small town, Christmas cornucopia, May-December, hurt/comfort , military romance stuffed full of family and holiday feels.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09KQTJJTW
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Pinkerton Road LLC
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 16, 2021
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 4.0 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 153 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 out of 5 stars 1,686 ratings

About the author

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Eli Easton
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Having been, at various times and under different names, a minister's daughter, a computer programmer, a game designer, the author of paranormal mysteries, a fan fiction writer, an organic farmer and a profound sleeper, Eli is happily embarking on yet another incarnation as a m/m romance author.

As an avid reader of such, she is tickled pink when an author manages to combine literary merit, vast stores of humor, melting hotness and eye-dabbing sweetness into one story. She promises to strive to achieve most of that most of the time. She currently lives on a farm in Pennsylvania with her husband, three bulldogs, three cows and six chickens. All of them (except for the husband) are female, hence explaining the naked men that have taken up residence in her latest fiction writing.

Her website is www.elieaston.com

You can email her at eli@elieaston.com

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
1,686 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers love this Christmas story for its emotional journey and family themes, describing it as a fantastic read that gives them all the feels. The book features well-developed characters and is written with feeling, with one customer noting its perfectly paced storytelling. They appreciate the message about love being the best gift, and many mention being moved to tears while reading it.

54 customers mention "Heartwarming story"54 positive0 negative

Customers describe this book as a heartwarming Christmas story with an emotional journey, and one customer notes its appropriate feel-good ending.

"...This story was sad and hopeful. Robbie getting to pick his first Christmas tree. Greg beginning to enjoy the holiday...." Read more

"...This book did that to me. A wonderful Christmas story. I will read this book again next Christmas...." Read more

"Touching story!..." Read more

"...every Eli Easton Christmas story she has written, and was thrilled to read The Best Gift...." Read more

52 customers mention "Readability"52 positive0 negative

Customers find the book highly readable, describing it as a fantastic Christmas read that warms the heart.

"...However this story was thoughtful and sweet. Definitely cried a tear or two, happy and sad tears. The two MCs were likable...." Read more

"Heartwarming and heartbreaking in a fine balance! Please don't miss this beautiful story of Love lost and Love gained. Now, a yearly re-read." Read more

"...Greg beginning to enjoy the holiday. It was so sweet and happy. Great holiday story!" Read more

"...This is a likable, charming, romantic enough read. It has salt of the earth characters and a sweet Christmasy theme...." Read more

15 customers mention "Character development"15 positive0 negative

Customers love the characters in the book, with one review specifically mentioning the two main characters are likable, while another describes them as salt of the earth characters.

"...The employees at the tree farm were awesome secondary characters that added a warm feeling to the story." Read more

"...Definitely cried a tear or two, happy and sad tears. The two MCs were likable...." Read more

"...This is a likable, charming, romantic enough read. It has salt of the earth characters and a sweet Christmasy theme...." Read more

"...Liked the secondary characters, too, and really loved the ending🎄🥰..." Read more

8 customers mention "Feel"8 positive0 negative

Customers describe the book's emotional impact, with some saying it gave them all the feels, while one customer found it painful.

"...Loved the setting—really makes me want to go to Vermont—and it has all the warm feels that you could want, especially for a Christmas story...." Read more

"...Eli Easton gave me all the feels and I cried at least 3 times (and at work too!!!). Greg and Robbie were the soul wounded but sweet and caring...." Read more

"...But together, just maybe, they can heal. When I finished this, I felt wrung out, emotional, and happy. I love Ei's work...." Read more

"My this book has all the feels. It’s sweet and a bit sexy and I really enjoyed reading it...." Read more

8 customers mention "Writing quality"8 positive0 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book, with one noting it is written with much feeling.

"I really enjoyed this story. It was very well written and held my interest from the first to the last page...." Read more

"...I found this story to be well paved and written, well worth my time to read." Read more

"...The thoughts and emotions of the characters were well written and honest. Made me cry and smile." Read more

"...This book was so well written and written with so much feeling. I highly recommend reading this even if it's not during the Christmas season...." Read more

6 customers mention "Gift value"6 positive0 negative

Customers love this book, particularly appreciating its message about love being the best gift.

"The Best Gift, by Eli Easton, is one of the best holiday reads I have tackled to date...." Read more

"...was at play. I loved The Best Gift; it gets five stars." Read more

"...Love is the best Christmas gift, and this book reminds of that truth." Read more

"Love is always the best gift...." Read more

5 customers mention "Tears"5 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the emotional impact of the book, with some mentioning they cried a tear or two while reading it.

"...However this story was thoughtful and sweet. Definitely cried a tear or two, happy and sad tears. The two MCs were likable...." Read more

"Good tears. This was a really good story. The way it played out wasn’t surprising but still a teary one for me...." Read more

"Great Christmas story. Both happy and sad, shed a tear or two and lots of smiles too...." Read more

"As a veteran who is also gay, this story brought so many tears, smiles and laughter...." Read more

4 customers mention "Pacing"4 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the pacing of the book, with one noting that the storytelling is perfectly paced.

"...this was a truly lovely story about love, loss, family, home, and moving forward...." Read more

"...is the first novel I have read from this author, and her storytelling is perfectly paced in the way she brings these two together in a way that..." Read more

"...I have always been a fan of Eli but this book warmed my heart! It really touched me! Please buy it you will not regret it ! Merry Christmas to all !" Read more

"...Very moving and hopeful." Read more

Lovely read
5 out of 5 stars
Lovely read
I was going to take a little break from my holiday reads…then I spotted this sitting in my KU queue and I couldn’t leave it be. So, so glad that I read it. I really loved this story. Not just from the holiday aspect – it’s set at a Christmas Tree farm! – but from the emotional tale that Easton shares. Greg and Robbie are both hurt and trying to find a way to go on despite all the losses. Slow burn, age gap, hurt/comfort – all set in a winter wonderland that eventually brings closure and peace to both men.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on December 22, 2021
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I have read every Eli Easton Christmas story she has written, and was thrilled to read The Best Gift. Just like her other books, Christmas or not, I was swept up into the story and experienced a truckload of emotions.

    At the start of this novel, we are introduced to Greg Cabot working at his Christmas Tree farm, polite and helpful, but drowning in misery. He is clearly just going through the motions and Christmas is not in his heart this year. He receives a mysterious package from his son, nearly a year after his death in Afghanistan. But he’s not quite ready to tackle the heartache of opening it, and goes to town to handle some banking for his business. Along the way he sees a soldier walking down the road and offers him a ride into town. Well, to my mind, this seems like it can’t be a coincidence, but in his grief he just sees a soldier needing help, help that he hoped someone would have given his son in the same circumstances.

    Robbie Sparks is a wounded veteran, forced to retire from service after being burned and concussed in battle. His memories are scattered, but he does know that his last mission ended with several of his men dead, and he is mired in guilt and grief, too. Without family, he is heading to Maine to settle his deceased father’s estate, with no plans for what to do after. But all that can wait, when he is picked up by Greg Cabot and brought to his farm due to incoming snow. He sees an opportunity to be useful by helping at the short-handed tree farm.

    The two men’s sadness is legitimate for sure, but their shared company slowly brings a little lightness into their lives. Robbie bonds with the other employees it creates an atmosphere of joy that is contagious even to Greg. Greg’s presence seems to help Robbie’s nightmares. It seems that the two are made for each other as feelings grow and they act on their attraction, but eventually Greg puts two and two together. It does get a bit sticky for a little bit, but of course this is a Christmas romance, and with this author I don’t worry about a happy ending.

    About Sam, Greg’s son. It definitely feels like he had a hand in his dad meeting Robbie. Even before his death he did a lot of talking about his gay dad to his commanding officer, and talked up “RJ” to his dad during video calls. It seems like Sam had been trying to play matchmaker for sometime, The mysterious present to his dad honestly had me balling my eyes out. I swear I am just a sucker for messages from the deceased. All in all, it was an emotional story of loss and learning to live again. There were sexy moments and a few thrilling moments as well. The employees at the tree farm were awesome secondary characters that added a warm feeling to the story.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on December 21, 2021
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    The Best Gift, by Eli Easton, is one of the best holiday reads I have tackled to date. It is an emotional roller-coaster of sadness and grief that transforms into an absolute holiday miracle of revitalization and joy. This May/December romance brings both protagonists out of a soul-crushing despair of loss, giving them the ability to see past the grief, to live and find happiness once again.

    Forty-three-year-old Greg Cabot lost his son, Sam, this past year while he was serving a tour in Afghanistan. The loss is so profound that he no longer has a desire to run the families’ generations-old Christmas Wonderland tree farm. It holds too many painful memories and represents a joy that Greg just cannot endure. The simple act of giving a ride to a discharged Army veteran during a snowstorm, sets off a chain of events that rocks Greg’s world.

    Twenty-eight-year-old Sergeant Robbie Sparks is heading back to Maine after a long recovery and stint in rehab for injuries he suffered during an attack by a Taliban force in Afghanistan. Robbie experienced a traumatic head injury, resulting in “brain fog” and burns over the left side of his body. It is a blessing and a curse that Robbie doesn’t remember the attack and what transpired. He does, however, remember he has one stop to make on his way home… for his buddy and best friend Troob.

    The Best Gift switches back and forth from the perspective of Greg and Robbie. This is a powerful delivery mechanism that lays their internal struggles bare for us to witness. I usually connect with one of the men stronger than the other, but in this case, I would be hard pressed to pick who presents the greater impact. However, if I shallowly base it on their physical characteristics… the older, dark-haired, bearded lumberjack, Greg, would take first place hands down.

    This is a relationship built on friendship first and it is relatively easy to figure out the major twist loitering throughout the story, which will test their friendship and budding romance. Satisfactorily, this resolves quickly, when it could have been fraught with unnecessary tension. Although you know what is coming, this is integral to the story and smacks of holiday magic at work, with maybe an injection of supernatural influence.

    The Best Gift is an emotional depiction of tradition, loss, regret, acceptance and love. I must admit it has been a while since I have cried while reading, but I recount at least twice during The Best Gift when I had to stop and wipe the shed tears from my eyes to continue reading. My emotions were enhanced by the detail that was put into the physical and non-physical characteristics of Greg and Robbie.

    My recommendation, take a chance on this gem!
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on November 29, 2021
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I'm on a pretty good streak with romantic holiday stories so far this season!

    'The Best Gift' delivers all the sweet and lovely. It's a heartwarming story about a man trying to make it through the devastating loss of his only son and finding love with a wounded soldier Who he picks up hitchhiking near his home. I thought it's pretty obvious who Robbie was going to end up being and I was a little worried that was going to be used to create some manufactured drama, but it wasn't, it was perfectly woven into the storyline.

    Kudos to Easton for creating a really wonderful story that doesn't shy away from grief and loss and new beginnings and that experience of finding meaning in life when you thought you'd lost everything.
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Jodie.c
    5.0 out of 5 stars live life to the fullest
    Reviewed in Australia on December 25, 2024
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    A beautiful meaningful story of those that had lost so much but kept marching towards a better future. Merry Christmas
  • BEAUMONT
    5.0 out of 5 stars Incredibly Captivating
    Reviewed in Canada on December 15, 2022
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Easton powerfully delivers this Christmas themed short read with seeming ease. She captures the devastating impact of loss with grace and sensitivity, by drawing you into the story of two men as they individually navigate tragedy and learn to live and love despite and perhaps because of their shared struggle. Loved it.
  • Cliente Kindle
    5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful
    Reviewed in Brazil on December 9, 2021
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Wow. What a story. So beautiful and moving, and also a bit sad, I could feel the grief pouring from the pages, but it was also cathartic to red about Sam through the memories he left for those who knew him and loved him. I hope the Cabots are still selling trees and happiness in the literature realm, somewhere.
  • Leseratte
    5.0 out of 5 stars Must-read for Christmas
    Reviewed in Germany on January 3, 2023
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    The best gift is the right mix of sappy and sad. It left me crying and happy at the same time and I read this wonderful book every Christmas.
  • Ren
    5.0 out of 5 stars Muy bueno.
    Reviewed in Mexico on December 23, 2021
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Excelente lectura para la temporada.
    Un lindo romance, lleno de emociones fuertes y todo el espíritu navideño. Definitivamente lo recomiendo.
    Report

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