For Nathan Hurst, a music store detective, "miracle" isn't a word in his vocabulary. But when Nathan meets a young woman whose child seems to have some very special abilities, he finds himself believing in things he never thought possible.

The story begins with Nathan remembering his childhood, haunted by family trouble, Tourette’s syndrome, and an overwhelming sense of guilt over his brother’s death. These early wounds have shaped the person that he has become, a man who is both cynical and emotionally fragile. Stuck at the airport while traveling for his job, Nathan shows uncharacteristic kindness towards a woman named Addison Parker. In return, her young son Collin gives him such an extraordinary gift that Nathan doesn’t even believe it at first. Collin gives Nathan his health back.

Unfortunately for Collin, his marvelous ability comes with a catch. His mother does her best to protect him and guard him from the rest of the world, but her ex-husband has other plans. The events that follow take Nathan and the Parkers on an emotional, sometimes chaotic journey that ends in both joy and sorrow.

There are a few weak spots, but overall, The Gift is a good read. Despite the heaviness of some of the subject matter, the author (Richard Paul Evans, The Christmas Box) never lets the story become overwhelming. In the end, he makes his point: sometimes things happen that just can't be explained, and “love wins."

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