Christmas in Bethel by Richard Paul Evans @richardpaulevansauthor @helene.maksoud @simon.audio

the setup…
Leigh Beth Stilton hasn’t had an easy life. From her abusive childhood and marriage to a sexual assault and the horrific situations she witnessed as an EMT, Leigh reached a point where life no longer had meaning. Then she read a book called Bethel by J. D. Harper and it literally saved and changed the course of her life. When she stops for coffee before attending a book signing by the author and accidentally meets the man, it was kismet.

the heart of the story…
We know that Leigh is a bit broken but don’t know J. D.’s backstory and how he gained the insights that make his books so emotionally compelling. Their relationship develops quickly but it’s not without some bumps in the road. It was heartwarming how these two people found each other against some incredible odds, all because of a place called Bethel.

the narration…
Helene Maksoud has a lovely voice tone, especially as Leigh’s voice. My only issue was she always sounded upbeat, even when things were dismal. Her storytelling skills otherwise were strong.

the bottom line…
The Christmas season serves as the backdrop and it evokes the spirit of the holidays. Leigh and J. D. (he actually goes by another name, as does she) are two deserving souls who somehow not only find each other but the love that’s been so elusive to them. It’s a lovely story with some surprising twists.

Book Info

• Release Date: November 26, 2024
• Narrator: Helene Maksoud
• Audio Length: 5 hours, 28 minutes
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio

Listen to an Excerpt!

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(Thanks to Simon & Schuster Audio for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)