Friday, December 4, 2009

Review/Giveaway: The Christmas Dog

A WINNING READINGS GIVEAWAY!

Title: The Christmas Dog
Author: Melody Carlson
Genre: Christmas fiction
How to enter: Leave a comment on THIS post right here! If you're a subscriber or a follower, leave a second comment for a second entry.
Entry deadline: December 10, 2009
Restrictions: Open internationally

That's right, enter right here for this giveaway. Please note: we are giving away our review copy, so it has been gently read.

Overview

The Christmas Dog is a 176-page contemporary Christmas story authored by Melody Carlson. With a list price of $14.99, this hardcover book is currently available for $11.99 on Revell's site.

Here is the publisher's synopsis of the book:

"Christmas miracles can come from unlikely sources. Betty Kowalski isn't looking forward to the holidays. She just can't seem to find Christmas in her heart. Maybe it's because her husband is gone. Maybe it's because she's missing her children. Or maybe it has something to do with her obnoxious new neighbor, who seems to be tearing his house apart and rearranging it on the lawn. But when a mangy dog appears at her doorstep, the stage is set for Betty to learn what Christmas is really all about.

My Review

For some reason, the first word that caught my attention on this book was "mangy." Mangy - manger? The words have the same origin. And in this book, they are once again related, though the book says nothing specifically about the nativity scene.

What the book does describe, though, is stepping outside of your comfort zone, even taking in a mangy dog or so, and letting go of your preconceived prejudices in order to love your neighbor. You 'll be uncomfortable (as in the manger), but you may just find the most precious gifts there. Gifts of love, and family, and good neighbors.

I enjoyed the glimpse into Betty's world as she was transformed from an elderly woman with not a whole lot of purpose into a woman who could make a difference in the lives of her step granddaughter and neighbors. It's made me want to reach out more to the older neighbors in our community who may not have family nearby.

Author Melody Carlson does a good job of describing the dynamics of the interpersonal relationships in the story - the neighbor feuds, the family conflicts, the uncertainty of how best to help or get involved with the down-and-out relatives.

A feel-good read with the requisite happy ending, this book will definitely add to the seasonal emphasis on family and friends.

Thanks to Baker Publishing Group for the review copy of this book.
---------------
The Christmas Dog

82 comments:

Jennifer said...

Thank goodness for happy endings!

Jennifer said...

I'm a subscriber too!

Milka said...

Please count me in!

milkavainamo@lyseo.edu.ouka.fi

Milka said...

I am a follower.

Annette W. said...

Oh, this Christmas book looks good!

Annette W. said...

I follow too.

Anonymous said...

Please add my name to your drawing...thanks.

karenk
kmkuka(at)yahoo(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I'm a subscriber :)

karenk
kmkuka(at)yahoo(dot)com

wmmahaney said...

I love Christmas stories, and I think this would be a great book for my aunt.
wmmahaney(at)att(dot)net

wmmahaney said...

I subscribe.
wmmahaney(at)att(dot)net

Anonymous said...

I love dogs so, so much and would love to be entered in your draw. Thanks. wandanamgreb(at)gmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I am a follower of your blog.
wandanamgreb(at)gmail(dot)com

Beth (BBRB) said...

This looks great! Please enter me!

BethsBookReviewBlog AT gmail DOT com

Beth (BBRB) said...

I'm a follower.

BethsBookReviewBlog AT gmail DOT com

Ticia said...

Love sappy dog books.

Ticia said...

I follow.

Margie said...

I'm a dog lover, so I think I would enjoy this book!
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

I'm a follower by email.
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

409cope said...

Cute dog.I love book involving animals. cardshark42(at)hotmail(dot)com

409cope said...

I subscribe and follow through google friend. cardshark42(at)hotmail(dot)com

plb8156 said...

This looks great. Please enter me :)
plb8156@aol.com

plb8156 said...

I follow & subscribe
plb8156@aol.com

Mary said...

I have a friend who just read this and loved it.

mamie316(at)sbcglobal(dot)net

Sonya Cocherell said...

I love books with animals in them. Thanks for the chance.

Heather S said...

Looks like a cute book!

Heather S said...

blog follower
hmahan_0529 @yahoo dot com

Anonymous said...

Looks like a grand book!

Anonymous said...

I follow you on blogger and twitter :)

cookiert said...

Sounds like a nice Christmas book!

cookiert at yahoo

abfantom said...

This sounds like an interesting book that I'd like to read. Please enter me in the giveaway.

abfantom at yahoo dot com

andee506 said...

My grandkids and I would all love to read this book!

McKim said...

I am very attached to my two girls, Freckles and Cinnamon, so especially enjoy books that have dogs as an integral part of the story.

Melissa said...

I love a good Christmas story!

melissamcnicol at yahoo dot com

holdenj said...

It sounds like a wonderful story, please count me in! Thanks.
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

Brenda said...

My grand daughters (one is step) will enjoy reading this as I will. Thanks.

Brenda said...

I am a follower

Brenda said...

I failed to leave my email above on #38 & 39.

misskallie2000 at yahoo com

Renee G said...

This sounds so good.
rsgrandinetti@yahoo(dot)com

mariska said...

i'm sure my friend will love to read this. if i win i'm gonna give it to her :)

uniquas at ymail dot com

Nicole C. said...

I would love to read this!!

choateorama(at)gmail(dot)com

D Q said...

I would love to be entered.
djeanq(at)gmail(dot)com

turboterp said...

I love dogs AND Christmas stories, so this is right up my alley. Thank you!

Ellie Wright said...

A heartwarming Christmas story with a dog. What could be better? Please enter me.
Thanks for the giveaway.
eswright18 at gmail dot com

Ellie Wright said...

I'm a follower.
eswright18 at gmail dot com

Cherie J said...

Would love to read this. Please enter me. Thank you!

cherierj(at)yahoo(dot)com

Cherie J said...

I am a follower.

Tammy said...

Sounds like a heart warming storey

ann said...

sounds good!

ann said...

it's me again!

Rhonda said...

I would love to read this.

Please enter me

rhondastruthers at yahoo dot ca

Rhonda said...

I follow

rhondastruthers at yahoo .ca

julied said...

I love Christmas books. Thank You

AmandaK said...

I've been reading Christmas books all month and would love to add this to my collection!

orchestratenoise0726[at]yahoo[dot]com

Anonymous said...

I love Christmas books!
shawnac68@hotmail.com

Anonymous said...

Happy December!

theyyyguy@yahoo.com

reddon30 said...

Great contest...my girlfriend would love to read...Thank you.

Anonymous said...

This book looks good! The dog on the front looks like my dog Daisy! Thanks! senekers@comcast.net

Ahsun said...

I'm in!! Thanks!


Syed Ahsun Zafar
essogasstation@hotmail.com

Ahsun said...

I'm usually a leader but in this case.. I follow!

007blond said...

I love books. I need a good read to keep me relaxed for the Holidays.

007blond said...

I follow on Google friends as Priscilla.

Terri Dell said...

Thanks for all the great Christmas book giveaways. May your holidays be blessed with love, family and joy.

Terri Dell said...

I follow on Google

Anonymous said...

That book is one I would like to read. Sounds good. Count me in.

May Schultz
may041827@yahoo.com

Sarah said...

Sounds like a delightful story.

Maja said...

seems great

Nickolay said...

I love Christmas stories

jason(at)allworldautomotive(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I love stories about animals with happy endings!
digicat{AT}sbcglobal{DOT}net

Carol EL said...

This sounds like an interesting book that I'd like to read. Please enter me in the giveaway.
jelly15301@gmail.com

Carol EL said...

GFC follower. jelly15301@gmail.com

Tina said...

Great book, please enter me in the contest.

sweeps4us(at)gmail(dot)com

mindy said...

this sounds like a great read thanks minsthins at optonline dot net

Unknown said...

Would love a great read for the holidays! Thanks!

sherri419 at gmail dot com

cstironkat said...

Our family loves dogs and I would love to win this book to share with them.

liliesrnice said...

I hope I win I love reading and finding new authors!

Unknown said...

Both my dogs wanted me to enter the drawing for this book, and yes, I promised to read it to them if I win it.

Jinxy and Me said...

Thanks for the giveaway!

Jinxy and Me said...

I'm following your blog in Google Friend Connect.

SeahorseLady said...

I saw a show on TV last week by the same name and it was great. Is this the same?

SeahorseLady said...

I follow and subscribe.

Linda Kish said...

I love books about dogs. Please include me

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

cman said...

Please enter me :)