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 … 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.
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I loved this book from the first page. I really didn’t want it to end, but the last page left me with a smile on my face and a gentle peace in my heart.
A neighbor who is supposedly renovating his property, but only seems to be making a lot of noise and very few improvements. A woman who just can’t seem to find a reason to bother with Christmas, …
so good
This is a new author for me, and I probably will track down other books by her.
Thanks for introducing me!
Feel good story! Loved it!
I’d read the book several years ago and remembered liking it; it was just as good now as before. There are other Christmas books by this author. All are equally delightful:)
Great Christmas read. Just go ahead and read all of her books…they’re great!
This is a very sweet story and just in time for Christmas! When a stray dog shows up in Betty’s yard, she is sure it must belong to her new neighbor, whom she has determined is some kind of lowlife. When Betty’s granddaughter Avery shows up at her door, she takes a shine to “Ralph,” as she names him. Between Betty, Avery, and Ralph, they …
What a beautiful Christmas story. We need little reminders that God knows us and what we need better than we do, and that He is there giving us little chances to open our hearts to loving possibilities. I liked this story very much.
Heartwarming….I loved it.
The characters in this book were believable and the interaction between them was amazing. This storyline taught a lesson on judging prematurely. Melody Carlson is a unique storyteller. Kudos, on a job well done.
This is such a sweet book. A little sad at the end, though.
Betty a 70 something lonely widow, her grandaughter Avery, Jack (the annoying guy disrupting the neighborhood) and of course there’s Ralph the lovable mangy mutt.
They were all real and created a simple delightful read. I love animals in books and This little guy just might br a Christmas angel.
It was a sweet story that I enjoyed reading at the holidays.
I loved this book, interesting from beginning to end.
This was a thought-provoking book about families and preconceived ideas regarding people. It was an uplifting book with a hopeful ending for all concerned.
Very good, really enjoyed this book!
A good read for Christmas. Good family relationship.
I enjoyed this book. It helped to remind me that sometimes there are forgotten lonely people at Christmas time, and that if we take the time to see them and spend time with them, we can bring some joy to them!
Loved this sweet Christmas story.
Charming and unexpected.