We have 3 copies of Hannah’s List
In the year since his wife, Hannah, passed away, Dr. Michael Everett has been inconsolable. Unable to carry on living any semblance of a normal life without her, Michael has avoided contact with friends and family and filled his empty days with work. So he’s shocked when his brother-in-law, Ritchie, hands him a letter Hannah had written before she died; apparently she’d instructed Ritchie to deliver it to Michael on the first anniversary of her death.
In it she reminds him of her love and makes one final request: she asks Michael to marry again and become the father he was meant to be. Knowing his reaction, Hannah gives him a gentle push by suggesting three women—each of whom, she says, would make an excellent wife and companion.
Michael’s heart isn’t in it, but he decides to carry out Hannah’s final wish by contacting each of the women. He soon discovers that he is not the only person dealing with a broken heart.
The first woman on Hannah’s list is her cousin, Winter Adams, owner of the French Café on Seattle’s Blossom Street. Winter is passionate about three things—food, cooking and fellow chef Pierre Dubois. But Winter and Pierre—both uncompromising perfectionists—have had a stormy on-and-off relationship and are currently in the “off” phase. Winter’s miserable with and without Pierre. Maybe Michael will provide an alternative…?
Leanne Lancaster is the next woman on Hannah’s list. Leanne is the oncology nurse who cared for Hannah in her last months. Like Michael, she is coping with her own sense of loss over the dissolution of her marriage. Her husband, Mark, embezzled $25,000 from a charity organized by the hospital where Leanne works. With Mark sentenced to a prison term and unwilling to explain his actions to his wife, Leanne felt she had no option but to ask for a divorce. But what Leanne really needs most is closure. Without understanding his motives, Leanne is unable to reconcile with Mark or move on without him.
The final name on the list is Macy Roth. Macy is everything Michael is not—artistic, spontaneous, eccentric and always late for appointments. Hannah felt that Macy’s effervescent personality might encourage someone as serious as Michael to learn to laugh again. Macy is a collector of strays—cats, dogs and even people. Michael can’t believe Hannah added Macy to her list; the only way he’d fall for her is if opposites really do attract.
As he spends time with each woman, Michael realizes that Hannah’s list may end up saving four lives, not just one.
If you’d like a chance to win Hannah’s List
- Enjoy additional titles by Debbie Macomber with a $25 VISA gift card
- Copy of Hannah’s List
For more information about Hannah’s List, and to read Hannah’s letter to Michael, click here. You can also enter to win $10,000*!!
The contest ends Monday, May 10 at 11:59 p.m.
This book will be available from Mira, May 2010. You can buy it here
*Book Binge is not associated with the the $10,000 contest in any way
The concept of leaving a letter for your loved one after you die makes me think of the book and movie PS I Love You. Usually it’s the man leaving the list and it’s a beautiful thoughtful thing to do. If I was dying and I felt like someone couldn’t deal with it and would never find happiness again, I would hope I could be unselfish enough to give him suggestions on who to move on with when I’m gone. I think that’s a bit much though.
I’d probably just do something like in PS I Love You like remind him how to live and be happy again. I dont know how I would feel if the list was left for me. I think if I ended up with one of the people on the list I would be proving him right that I had chemistry with them and I’d feel awful. I would probably purposely not date those people on the list.
I like the concept of this book though and it does sound really good. Thanks for a great contest!
I wonder sometimes where Debbie gets her ideas!!!I’ve read everything she’s ever written and loved them all. I just wish she didn’t start with hardcovers first so often. This sounds like a good book, but maybe a little sad. I’ve been married and with my hubby 29 years and I’m not ready to think of a replacement yet!! I could see leaving notes and letters for him to read later. I’m not even sure I know of anyone I think would be good with him. If he left me a note I would be surprised and prob not be interested. Actually it’s hard to imagine what would happen unless you were in this situation. Never say never!! Thanks for ANOTHER great contest here!! Sue
Wow, that sounds like a beautiful story. It reminds me of the movie P.S. I love you. Only this is an even more intriguing concept.
The concept of the list is an interesting twist to a story, especially to an emotional one like Hannah’s List.
Hannah knew her husband well enough to understand that he would benefit from such a list. She had the courage and the love to write the list. If I was married, and the same situation applied, then I would hope to have the strength to be so generous and caring.
I’d love to win!
gcwhiskas at aol dot com
This sounds like an awesome book and I can’t wait to read it. Thanks for the contest!!
rosie0512 @ hotmail . com
I think it is a beautiful thing to do.
If I were younger I might write a letter for my husband. We are both close to seventy and neither of us want another marriage.
I love the idea, and in fact my grandmother did leave such a letter to my grandpa, though it was after only 3 months. That little bit of reasurrance and thoughts of love from someone you’ve spent so much time with was such a poignant moment and really did help him to move forward.
Would definitely like to leave such a letter to my hubby, and hope he would leave one of me as well.
caity_mack(at)yahoo(d0t)com
I think writing a letter to a loved one is a nice idea. I think it would help with closure. I’m not too sure about leaving names of women to move onto, in real life. In a romance, yes, I’ll read it.
This is a fantastic giveaway!
I think it’d be kind of cool to have a letter like that. My grandmother left notes for us in her place that we found after she passed on. It was very comforting.
msboatgal at aol.com
I think the idea of a letter is nice, especially if you know that your loved one is going to have trouble moving on.
chey127 at hotmail dot com
I can see doing it for my husband but can’t really see him doing it for me. Not sure if I’d like it if he did. But I’m a bit of a controlling type, so he probably wouldn’t mind. 😉 I dunno, the idea of encouraging the spouse to move on seems good, but actually proposing names? It’s maybe a little creepy. But I’ll be interested to see what she does with the idea and if it works for me. — willaful
(word verification “worstfu”. That is awesome!)
what an interesting plot. i don’t know if it’ll translate well to real life, leaving a letter to a spouse after you died listing people they should form a new love relationship with. in romance it’s romantic i guess but in real life i’d find it creepy.
but a letter in general left after you died for your loved ones can give closure–i’d do that for my family.
PS I Love you was a wonderful movie and I can totally see doing that. It is so beautiful. This book looks amazing!
Hannah playing matchmaker after her death and leaving Michael a list of potential wife/companion is a nice plot, would make a good TV movie! I don’t think I could write a similar list for my DH!
delilah0180(at)yahoo(dot)com
i think it’s really sweet that hannah did that, because it shows that even through all her pain and illness, she was still taking care of him and had his best interests at heart. she didn’t want him to stop living, even when she died. if someone did the same for me, i would be touched….deeply touched because it’s incredible for someone to love you enough to be objective about his/her feelings, and never stop taking care of you, even through the hardest moments of life. I can’t wait to get a piece of this book.
This reminds me of the book PS I Love You. I think it is a great gesture that someone would do that when they know they will no longer be on earth. I think it could also help the spouse that is left to be reminded how much the other spouse really did love them and thought about them. Maybe if someone left a letter like that it might help the remaining spouse be able to move on in life and find another time of happiness.
Thanks for the giveaway!
email bangersis(at)msn(dot)com
I like that Hannah does this. She knows her husband best and wants him to be happy. He’ll need her pushing him to move on. By promising, he’ll definitely go through with it out of love. And the women she chooses are ones that understand what he’s going through so they’d be good matches.
I’d be touched if my spouse did this. To know that they are that worried about me to want safety and love for me in the future proves their love.
joderjo402 AT gmail DOT com
I find the leaving of the letter and the list a lovely thing to do and really touching. It shows that Hannah knew her husband very well and wishes for him to really move on. I would wish the very same for my husband and would probably leave the letter although I wouldn’t leave the list of women. I am sure my husband would not leave me a list either, although he might a letter. i am big on letters. Find it easier to express myself with the written word then by talking face to face. I tend to block up.
Looks like a very interesting book. Will put it on my To Buy list.
I don’t think I could write a list for my husband but I might write a letter to my son.
OTOH, I don’t want to die of some horrible disease so I totally don’t want to think about it.
:: puts fingers in ears::
la la la la
🙂
I’m sure I wouldn’t write such a letter to my DH… it’s just not me. I admit the idea seems good and romantic but like I said… just not me.
I love reading that kind of story though. It has a lot of potential, especially in the tear-jerker department.
I’m definitely looking forward reading this book.
Thanks for the contest Ladies !!
It just about breaks my heart thinking about it but I can see a list or letter helping. I don’t think I could steer him toward other women, but I would remind him how much I love and wish him happiness and in that definitely support and encourage him to do the things to live his life to the fullest.
Hannah’s List sounds wonderful. Debbie Macomber is a amazing writer. Thank you for the giveaway.
Wonderful, wonderful prize. I love Deb. Please count me in.
Joanne V.
The idea of a letter such as in Hannah’s List, seems so touching. I think it would be healing to receive a letter from not only a husband, but any loved one that has passed.
This sounds like such a wonderful story and I adore Debbie Macomber’s work. Please enter me.
Pam S
pams00@aol.com
This sounds like such a sweet book. I like to think in a similar situation I would be selfless enough to think of my husband first, as well.
I can see leaving a letter telling him to move on, but I really can’t see leaving a list of potential women for my husband. He’s such an individual and a loner, that I can’t really see proposing other women for him. I also know that if he decides he is ready find someone else, he’ll do it without any help.
As for him leaving one for me, I know he’d want me to move on, but I don’t think this is something he would ever do. If he did, I’d just take it as one last loving gesture and consider his suggestions.
I love the idea of a list but mine would be more of a list of things that I want him to continue to enjoy. I would love a list from him also
It sounds like a wonderful idea, and a great plot for a book. Debbie Macomber comes up with some great plot ideas. Looking forward to reading it.
I love the idea of leaving a letter. I actually thinkI’ll do that incase I go first. We talk sometimes about dying and moving on. My husband doesn’t want me to move on with someone else if he should happen to die but I gave him my blessing to do so.
chirth7@yahoo.com
I think it’s a beautiful thing to do! I’d want to know my loved ones would be taken care of after I’d gone and in the case of a husband I’d want him to live a fulfilled life with love. I don’t want him to live with survivor’s guilt and if he needs my permission to move on I’d like to give it. I would make a point of discussing this possibility while both of us are alive negating the need for a letter after death.
I love Debbie’s books. the idea of leaving a note for your loved ones after you are gone I think is wonderful. But on the other hand it could be painful for them. So I guess I’m on the fence as to whether it’s a good idea. Would love to read this one!
thanks
dcf_beth at verizon dot net
I really enjoyed reading the Blossom Street books. The letter reminds me more of a letter I would leave for my child if I knew I was dying earlier than anticipate. This past January, my brother-in-law died suddenly, early, and unexpectedly. At his funeral his oldest daughter read a letter his kids found. He wrote the letter to them to let them know how much they meant to him. He wrote it a few years earlier after attending the funeral of a beloved friend of his. It was awe inspiring to hear my niece read that letter. I made a plan to write one to my son, but have not done it yet. However, I do EVERYDAY, make sure he knows how much he means to me. You never know how much life you have left to live.
avennett AT verizon DOT net
I think I might write a list for my husband because he just can’t take good care of himself. He forgets to take medicine, and would probably forget to eat if I didn’t remind him. But I wouldn’t want my husband to write a list for me. Sounds like an interesting book. Please enter me. Thanks!
ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net
I think leaving a list for a loved one is s great idea!
skkorman AT bellsouth DOT net
At first I was a bit taken aback–but then I realized that, dying of cancer, Hannah would have had time to consider Michael’s future and his reaction to her death.
Wouldn’t it be the hallmark of true love to worry about your loved ones’ lives after you, yourself, are gone?
I like it–a lot.
Mind, I’ve read a couple of novels with a similar premise, and whether it works for me depends largely on the writing.
Happy Mother’s Day to all. I almost missed this. Would have been sorry for the chance to win.
I think the concept is a great idea; I have seen a few movies and read a few books with this type of concept.
Love Debbie’s books. So warm and fuzzy.
patoct at yahoo dot com
I did not answer your question. I always leave something out.
I think it is a wonderful thing to do, not that I have a list in mind, lol.
And I think if my spouse did it, it shows how much he loves me but wanting me to get on with my life and be happy.
patoct at yahoo dot com
I like the idea! I would want to know the person who would be around my children, the person who would be in my house and loving my husband. I always get the last word whether I am alive or dead!
😉
I would love to win this prize. Love Debbie’s books.
The concept of leaving a letter for a loved one I think is wonderful – it is like getting a gift and to love that person so much to try to steer them into happiness is also a great gift and a testament to the deceased’s love for the person they left behind.
Helen L.
I think it is a wonderful thing to leave a letter or a list to the person or persons you are leaving behind. (especically if there are children)
Debbie’s books are wonderful and I look forward to this one.
Karen T.
lovesthemets at yahoo dot com
Love the idea as well. It would give the person a reason, something to do, live as well. And as Helen mentioned, it would be a testament. Looking forward to read the book!
I love the idea of the list ~ Hannah truly wanted Michael to be happy and not to mourn her forever.
Missy
I’m a big believer in the importance of making lists, but not when it comes to love—perhaps I’ll change my mind when I read this book!
skkorman AT bellsouth DOT net