Rating: 
Summary: Finish the Journey
Review: After reading the first two books in The Christmas Box series, I felt compelled to finish reading the life tales of David and Mary Ann Parkin, and I'm glad I did. This final installment of David and Mary Ann's journey will give you the answers to the questions you had from before, but will also leave you with the most taunting of all questions...Why?
Rating:
Summary: Love Story at its Best!
Review: Bravo!! "The Letter" concludes the love story of David and Maryanne Parkin. You must read "The Christmas Box" and "Timepiece", to capture the entire story. Set in the 1930's, Evans did a wonderful job portraying this era. The events, the characters, the places, all well written. This series is one of the best I have ever read. David Parkin is a incredible man. Maryanne is a wonderful, understanding, loving person. Together through their loss of their daughter, Andrea, their lives go in different directions. David sets off on a journey to find answers. As he was abandoned by his mother at six years old, his feelings always haunted him. When Andrea dies, he virtually relives the same feelings, even worse, only this time shutting out Maryanne from his heart. Maryanne makes a major decision that will break your heart. Their love for each is so strong and real, you can feel it just by reading this love story. I can't leave out the characters of Catherine and Lawrence as well. Their part through-out the series is very touching and two very dedicated friends to the Parkins. The ending was incredible. I won't say how it ends but only that I wasn't expecting it and I had to have a box of tissues. As Evans bids farewell to the lives of David and Maryanne, so do I. It was an incredible love story. Don't pass this series up.
Rating:
Summary: Love Story at its Best!
Review: Bravo!! "The Letter" concludes the love story of David and Maryanne Parkin. You must read "The Christmas Box" and "Timepiece", to capture the entire story. Set in the 1930's, Evans did a wonderful job portraying this era. The events, the characters, the places, all well written. This series is one of the best I have ever read. David Parkin is a incredible man. Maryanne is a wonderful, understanding, loving person. Together through their loss of their daughter, Andrea, their lives go in different directions. David sets off on a journey to find answers. As he was abandoned by his mother at six years old, his feelings always haunted him. When Andrea dies, he virtually relives the same feelings, even worse, only this time shutting out Maryanne from his heart. Maryanne makes a major decision that will break your heart. Their love for each is so strong and real, you can feel it just by reading this love story. I can't leave out the characters of Catherine and Lawrence as well. Their part through-out the series is very touching and two very dedicated friends to the Parkins. The ending was incredible. I won't say how it ends but only that I wasn't expecting it and I had to have a box of tissues. As Evans bids farewell to the lives of David and Maryanne, so do I. It was an incredible love story. Don't pass this series up.
Rating: 
Summary: The Dead LetterZone
Review: I admit that I have not read the other books in the trilogy that "The Letter" concludes, but this book gave me no inspiration to read the others. Trite and predictible, it's poorly developed characters seem wooden in what should be an emotionally charged semi-biography. The author relies on maudlin, mawkish emotions to propel the characters along. Rather than it feeling like it is based on a true story, it comes too close to being romance novel. I suppose if you like "The Bridges of Madison County," you'd find this enjoyable reading, but I'll pass on any more by this author
Rating: 
Summary: Somewhat Disappointed in this Conclusion
Review: I LOVED the Christmas Box and bought several copies for friends. I enjoyed The Timepiece but not quite as much but it would still be in my Top 20 books. The Letter, however, was a big disappointment. I felt it didn't remain true to the characters and I especially didn't want David and Mary Anne to have problems and waste precious "Time" together. It may be a truer account of life but that's not what I was looking for. The other story line in the book was all that held this together for me.
Rating:
Summary: Bravo!
Review: The last, longest, and best of the Christmas Box trilogy, this book picks up from "Timepiece" and ends with the promise of "The Christmas Box." Twenty years after Andrea's death, MaryAnne prepares to leave for England-forever. David has emotionally shut himself away after Andrea's death, and she can no longer stand the wreck of their marriage. While visiting her daughter's grave, MaryAnne discovers a letter that may be from David's mother, who ran away to become an actress when he was a child. After MaryAnne vanishes, the only people David wants to communicate with is his business partner, Catherine the cook, and his old friend Lawrence, who was injured and blinded by racists. But when he goes to a party, he meets a young socialite named Dierdre, who is attracted to him and plans to do something about it. Soon, David leaves to find out where his mother is, with Dierdre accompanying him. He discovers things about himself, his life, and his marriage, but it takes a tragedy to bring everyone together for the tearjerking finale. This has more mature themes than before, with mentions of illegitimate children, alcoholism, suicide and Dierdre's pursuit of a married man. All are tasteful and relatively pure, though. Characterizations are at their best here-David grows and blossoms painfully as he realizes how he has shut everyone out. The reader can feel Lawrence's despair at his blindness and mortality. Dierdre is, fortunately, not portrayed as an amoral homewrecker, but rather as a rather spoiled but kind young woman whose attraction to David grows into real love. MaryAnne is seen less than in the previous books, but we see stirrings of the sad, but beautiful and faithful woman in "Christmas Box." An underappreciated classic, I'd love to see this made into a movie.
Rating:
Summary: Great Conclusion to A Wonderful Series!
Review: The Letter is a great conclusion to a wonderful series of books. If you read "Timepiece" and "The Christmas Box", you must read "The Letter". This book was a little slow in the middle, but keep with it. However, the ending packed a powerful punch. Again, I cried. I fell in love with David and Mary Ann Parkin all over again. Richard Paul Evans is a gifted writer. I hope he writes more books like this one.
Rating:
Summary: A VERY BEAUTIFUL & SATISFYING BOOK
Review: This is one of the best books ever written. It was an upliftment & encouragement. David Parkin is a good example (of a husband, father, man, friend, employer, & person) that more people need to follow. We could use more people like him. I hope heaven is filled with people like him, rather than churchy, selfish, judgmental people. Don't get me wrong - church is good & essential. But I'd rather have people like him in heaven with me. I love David Parkin. The only thing that saddens me is that he is only fictional. But perhaps Richard Paul Evans is the same type of man that David Parkin is - and Richard's real! This is truly one of the most beautiful books I have ever read. I have read all three books in the series in the correct order, and this final book is the best. I just cannot say how beautiful & lovely it is. God must have been holding Richard's hand as he wrote it.
Rating:
Summary: Very touching...
Review: This is the finale to the Parkin's series. The story is about the lives of David and Mary Anne Parkin. Very touching book indeed. After reading the book, it feels as if you have known David and Mary Anne all your live. Reading about them makes you appreciate the people around you. To treasure the moments you have with them.... Excellent book!
Rating: 
Summary: Great beginnings ...
Review: This was the weakest of the trilogy series, but nevertheless was well written in Evans' typical eloquent style. I love most of his character descriptions, and thought he did a splendid job in fleshing out David, Diedre and Catherine. But, unfortunately, he lost it with Mary Ann this time around. When I began reading the novel it was a struggle to put it down, but around the halfway mark the story seemed to lose its momentum and I started to lose interest. Still, I recommend it to all who have read his other books and quite honestly would put it between 3 and 4 stars. As usual the ending was touching and left me weepy-eyed. The main problem was the lag between the middle and the end.
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