The Christmas Dog by Melody Carlson, and A Giveaway

Up for review: The Christmas Dog, by Melody Carlson, a very delightful Christmas story I had the privilege to review.

Betty Kowalski isn't looking forward to the holidays. She just can't seem to find Christmas in her heart. There's church, of course. But who can she bake for these days? And who would care whether or not she pulled out the Christmas decorations? Her new neighbor just adds to the problem. He's doing home improvements that don't appear to be improving much of anything. These days when Betty looks out the window, she sees a beat-up truck, a pile of junk, lots of blue tarps, and--horror of horrors--an old pink toilet. But when a mangy dog appears at her doorstep, the stage is set for Betty to learn a very important lesson about what Christmas is all about. This contemporary Christmas story is a timely yet gentle reminder that God can work miracles through something as seemingly insignificant as a little brown dog.

I've admitted it before: I have a weakness for Christmas books. There is just something magical and comforting about a story set around Christmas, and this one is no different. I've read some of Melody Carlson's books, and this has to be one of her best. Endearing characters - Betty, the elderly woman who lives all alone, and tries to cope with her obnoxious young neighbor, Avery, the young granddaughter by marriage who is troubled and confused, Jack, the seemingly horrible new neighbor, and Ralph, the Christmas Dog.

Though fictional, the story shows that God can use anything, even a dog, to draw people together, and to Him. If you have never read anything by Melody Carlson, Christmas is a good time to start, and this is not her first Christmas book.

About the author:

Melody Carlson is the award-winning author of over two hundred books, several of them Christmas novellas from Revell, including her much-loved and bestselling book, THE CHRISTMAS BUS. She also writes many teen books, including JUST ANOTHER GIRL, the Diary of a Teenage Girl series, the TrueColors series and the Carter House Girls series. Melody was nominated for a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award in the inspirational market for her books, including the Notes from a Spinning Planet series and Finding Alice, which is in production as a Lifetime Television movie. She and her husband serve on the Young Life adult committee in central Oregon. Visit Melody's website at www.melodycarlson.com.

The giveaway:

Courtesy of Melody Carlson, someone can win a copy of The Christmas Dog. As with my other drawing today, this will be for one week to allow more time for the book to get to the winner before Christmas.

US entries only.

To enter, comment with what your favorite Christmas song is. A winner will be drawn one week from today on December 7th.

Thanks to Donna from Baker Books for the review copy, and to Melody Carlson for providing a giveaway copy.

The Christmas Dog is available from Baker Book Publishing, October 2009.