All Comments on 'Unexpected Gifts'

Took me a while to figure out why Val and Halley were named so, and the dancers were a clever touch! Good job!

This story was beautiful, something to get you ready for Christmas Eve. Without giving away the story, I have to compliment her on the imagination she used. You can see the time spent in the creative names used for the characters. Kudos and Merry Christmas, too. 2Xwidderwoman

This is the best seasonal story that I've read in years, as always sensitive and well written. I was half way through the second page before I began wondering about the names of Don's fellow employees, much less his family's. What a wonderful twist on a well known tale!

I think I would have loved to hear his explanation of who he is and who he works for. Great job. A winner!

Very chrismasy, i loved it well done fab job, made me smile, very romantic, good luck.

Kat

Loved the story! Put some chores on hold to read it twice and absorb the hints. Alas I also had to google the names of Mr K's team. Love the new take on those, esp Halley and Val.

Love this!!! And it took me a while to figure out the names after reading the comments, I got everything except Martha and Toni though I understood it with the dance moves thing..but why Martha and Toni?

Nevertheless, this is a beautifully written piece :)

A wonderful, imaginative trip through the Christmas experience! Actually made this old man a bit weepy as I read it through to it's marvelous conclusion. You certainly have a magical way with words! Thanks!

The reason That I didn't enter this contest was that I couldn't come up with a truly original idea. Clearly you didn't have that problem. Very well done. This was also a good, old fashioned romance. It brought a tear to my eye. Good luck in the contest Penn Lady!

That was so cute!

But you can't end it there!!

For the love of all things holy don't end it there!!!! HAHA!

Romantic! And out-friggin-standing! Love it, loved it, loved it! :)

Really, you came up with such a wonderful idea and it totally captured the spirit of the season. And I don't just mean because of the reindeer. Oops, did I just let the secret out. ;) Seriously, great story, clever jokes aside. Sweet romance and genuine kindness which is really what the season is all about.

Good luck with the contest and you definitely get my vote. And Happy Holidays to you and yours!

I truly enjoyed reading this. It was very romantic and I loved the ending. Wish it hadn't ended so soon. The true sign of a great writer is when they leave the readers wanting more...and we definitely do. Can't wait to read more from you.

...SO COOL!!! Wow! Absolutely wonderful buildup, lovely romanticism, warmth, and such a lovely theme...Quite a twist toward the end, and it was so easy to fall into the storyline...Great job! Well done, well thought out, and nicely written!

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Americans! Subtlety is completely wasted on you. Everyone outside the "Good Ole US of A" will have twigged what was happening, scant paragraphs in. But you're all, <i>"Oh how wonderful, I never saw that coming!"</i> And, "Oh, you're so clever, thank you for such an original story!"</i> Bah, humbug!

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But, as pointed out already, your story <i>is</> cute, so you do get <i>some</i> points.

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While it is a well written story it is let down by being a little obvious.Still as it is Christmas five stars.

Loved the reindeer theme. Halley stumped me for a whole page before I was like... Ohhhhhhh. Halley's COMET, lol! I also wasn't sure about Martha and Toni. Definitely enjoyed it, though.

A very clever and well-written addition to the Christmas contest. I loved the Wild references, too. :-) Good luck!!!

I loved it so much i read it twice and will probably read it again!! But i'd love to hear more, like an explanation to see how she takes the "news" and to see how they end up working out the living arrangements and all that. but that could be my romantic side coming out!! Thank you for such a great story!!!

Very romantic and appropriate to the Christmas season…Well Done!

Ok perhaps I saw it coming a bit, but I really loved the way you got around to it. and for the nay sayers it was an interesting twist. I loved the romance of it, and being the hopeful romantic that I am I've always loved the damsel in distress thing. Nice job, well written, and a very good little story. Thanks for sharing...

loved it. i was feeling really down about the coming 'festivities' and this reminded me how happy things can be. thank you.

Superb story as always. You never fail to amaze me with your skill and talent!

Here's another vote for a sequel detailing how she takes the news? How Mr. K. and Rudy work things out to bring her North as well. Being magical to start are they were-deer in addition to flying reindeer? And Cousin Joel? So many unanswered questions............

L-O-V-E, LOVED IT!!! yes, it took me a while to match up all the reindeer names, especially martha and toni! but it was a feel good holiday romance with a touch of magic! great job!!! hope you win!

The most amazing story I have ever read!!!! wow!!! I hope you win =) I loved it so so so much!!!

Lots of smiles and chuckles reading this one. I loved the clatter in the yard, and running to the window in a flash. And being a lifelong Minnesotan, and a hockey fan, the references to MN and the Wild were fun. Keep up the excellent work. I'll be back for more.

Once I figured it out, I couldn't quit smiling. A very merry Christmas indeed!

so cute!

I had a feeling he worked for that special someone, but a great tale of love nonetheless! :-)

This proves that romance and chivalry does exist, even if just a story. Absolutely brilliant. but i have to agree with peachesmelba, a lot of unanswered questions that I would love to see answered.

Thank you for sharing your work with all of us.

I also love the last line (Why are there hoof prints on my lawn?)

Keep writing

Just got through reading 'The Relationship Business', great also btw, so I had to read this one again. Still a good read the second time around. Of course I find that I can say that about the rest of your stories too. Keep it up!

DBH

The only problem is that it's finished!! Pull a Hollywood on us give us a sequel!

Perfect time to be reading this! And that wee twist! Love it!

PS. Love all of your stories, especially the hockey ones! <3

This is one of your stories that never gets old for me. I absolutely love it. Very inventive the way you hinted about "Don" and his friends. Great Job, as usual.

Literally googled the reindeer names, so brilliant the way you used the names.

I had a 'wtf' moment after they wieghed in and i remembered the vesion part whenthey went to eat. Lol took me a min to stop laughing when it finally clicked but still great story thx for the chance to read it =)

I was a bit slow when I analyzed the names and when it all clicked, I laughed out loud! Anyways, I love how creative you were with the entire concept of the story and how you build each character. I also liked how things turned out with Halley and Val. Awesome story!

I was blind hoofed!

Haha I loved the ending! I was really confused about the scene when Don was at work and why someone would be so disturbed by venison, but then the final sentence made everything click! Very Clever!

love it

and I loved it.....I guessed half way through just who the characters were.....brilliant.....out of disappointment comes love....well done....

Enchanting

what a wonderful story

...reindeer games!

By god, woman, reading this piece felt like going back in time. Your style has improved a lot. I did a double take on that last part, though...lol.

It was decently put, and still much better than the romance story I can possibly dish out.

Thanks for sharing. :)

Bard.

Love the story--especially how you ended it!

- The names gave away the Santa/reindeer connection to Don.

-Still,a lovely Christmas story of love discovered.

A very comfortable and well-sorted story.

I particularly liked the progression on the names.

But the hoof-prints joke was a master-stroke.

73

HP

Another fine story.

You have managed a wondefull christmass magical romance.

At first it is just a romance, then come the hints about Bens job includin Rudis red nose cased by his yearly cold, but the hoof prints at the end ...wow.

I do hope you continue writing as I have enjoyed many of your stories.

Don is his name not Ben.

I have more mistakes in my few lines than you have in a whole story.

Once again thankyou

Am I the only one who didn't got the joke.

P.S I'm an Indian so I don't know that much about Christmas.

"Why are there hoof prints on my lawn?"

That line did me in!!! Well written and just perfect overall!!!

You make my heart ache PennLady. ThankYou so much, your the best.

Johnny Stansell

Very nice story. I mean, what is romance without a little fantasy, anyway? And some of the "clues" actually made me laugh out loud. Thanks, PennLady, for a great story.

That was neat, I enjoyed it very much. I guess I’m a little slow because it did take me a while to catch on to what was going on. But I finally “got it”. And then later I kept looking for some character named Nelson to show up. Nelson Eddy. I guess that would have been ridiculous though, right? Great story, PennLady, thanks.

You writings stir the romantic in my soul, something I thought was lost. Thank you!

Very enjoyable!

Bring a torch Jeanette Isabella. One of my favorite underrated Christmas songs.

Dumb bitch Jeanette loses her handbag twice...how dumb can you be...her head must be stuck in Ben's ass