Tuesday, January 3, 2017

A Family Under the Christmas Tree

GIVEAWAY

REED, TERRI
A FAMILY UNDER THE CHRISTMAS TREE

This Christmas, will their shared puppy love lead to a forever family?

Sophie Griffith travels around the world as a photographer. Her new assignment -- helping her grandmother for a few weeks -- is just temporary. Once Christmas Day comes, Sophie will be on her next adventure.

Caring for Grandma is a piece of cake. Caring for her new Bernese mountain dog, Riggs, is a different story. Then Riggs strikes up a friendship with a lost little boy at the park, who leads her to David.

David Murphy never knew much about kids. But when his brother dies unexpectedly, David is granted custody of his five-year-old nephew, Troy. He already has his hands full running his business, and he has no idea how to help the grieving boy. When Troy runs off one day, David finds him at a park playing with an adorable and rambunctious Bernese mountain dog -- who leads him to Sophie.

Sophie will be gone after Christmas, and the last thing David needs is another distraction. Still, their faith and growing love for the little boy -- and the mischievous dog -- soon have them falling for each other. Could this be more than a holiday romance? Will Troy finally get his Christmas wish for a family?

My Review:

So, yes, Christmas has come and gone but 'tis always the season for a heartwarming Christmas romance. I've only read Terri Reed's romantic suspense so I was eager to get my hands on a copy of this sweet love story.

It's official -- it's puppy love! As in Riggs the Bernese Mountain dog pup. Squealll! His antics are hysterical and endearing and kept me grinning and 'ahhhing' all the way through the read. He might just be my fave hero of 2016. Okay, yes, there is a two-legger hero in this novel as well and he's pretty fetching too. I expect you want to hear about him. :-)

David is in over his head when it comes to his five-year-old nephew. His workaholic bachelor days are over and if that isn't enough of an adjustment, dealing with the intricacies of a grieving little boy might prove to be his breaking point. Until his elderly neighbour's granddaughter visits for the holidays. His conniving, matchmaker-minded neighbour, that is.

David and Sophie are thrown together as they strive to make a memorable Christmas for Troy. Emotions become entangled despite their best efforts because no matter how much they seem right for each other, common sense tells them they're all wrong. Sophie lives a nomadic lifestyle as a photographer. David is anchored by a growing business and an orphaned nephew. A future together seems impossible. That makes for some truly tender love scenes that kept me on edge because it all seemed so futile.

The Christmas backdrop brings a stirring element to the story and includes a children's pageant complete with Riggs in reindeer antlers!!!!! (one of my favourite scenes, by the way!) Destined to be a Christmas classic read in my household. One for the keeper shelf for sure.

 GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

 If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  A Family Under the Christmas Tree please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you post a comment and add your email address, please use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in the address to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please remember to put the title in the  subject line so that it's easy for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday January 8 2017. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!


41 comments:

  1. Kav I just KNEW you's like this just for the fact it contains a puppy...lol! A very cute & very BIG one to boot :-)

    I've enjoyed Terri's suspense books and this was my first contemporary by her. I think she hit a home-run with it!

    Talking about pups, did you know she adopted a sweet (I believe) Australian Shepard pup not too long ago? She posted pics of her and she is so sweet looking :-) Even more reason to love this author, eh?

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    1. Oh, I love Australian shepherds. High energy herding dogs are my thing having raised a bunch of shelties in my past life. LOL And of course I'm over the moon in love with Riggs!

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  2. I love puppies and Christmas stories! Terri is a new-to-me author. KAV, thank you for the great review.

    psalm103and138 at gmail dot com

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    1. You are in for a reader's delight, Caryl. Good luck.

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  3. I always look forward to a book by Terri Reed.
    pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

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    1. She's an awesome author. Good luck, rubynreba.

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  4. sounds like a cute story. cheetahthecat1986(at)gmail(dot)com

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  5. Oh yes, this is a SUPERB reader's delight, Kav!! Loved this book; actually I always love her books!

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    1. This is my first experience with a novel by Terri that isn't suspense and I loved it...and Riggs. :-)

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  6. You had me at puppy love, Kav! :)

    texaggs2000 at gmail dot com

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    1. LOL -- Riggs is sooooooo much fun!!!! The kind you like to read about...maybe not actually live through. :-) Good luck, Britney.

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  7. I've enjoyed her suspense books so I'm sure this will be a good one!

    mindyhoungATmsnDOTcom

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    1. It's fun to go on a new literary adventure with a favourite author, isn't it? Good luck, Mindy.

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  8. Can't have enough Christmas books. Thank you.
    leliamae54(at)aol(dot)com

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    1. You're my kind of reader, Lucy. Good luck!

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  9. CHRISTmas should be celebrated year round right!? :D And you know I LOVE reads with animals! ;)

    Many Blessings, Amada
    amada_chavezATyahooDOTcom

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    1. Good point, Amada. I totally agree with you on the animals! You'll love Riggs! Good luck!

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  10. A single uncle, a little boy and a puppy dog...oh my! I could read Christmas books all winter long and this one is a gem! Thank you for the chance to win a copy, Kav.

    Dblaser(at)windstream(dot)net

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    1. It's perfect for curling up for a cozy read...with a fur-footed friend if you have one. Good luck, Diane.

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  11. A very appealing cover and the story sounds great to curl up with my rescue dog at my feet (she is a Red Heeler). Thanks for the review and opportunity to participate. dixiedobie at yahoo dot com

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    1. You can read the good doggie bits to your Red Heeler! Nothing like sharing a good book with a loved one. Good luck, CC.

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  12. I don't think it's ever a bad time to read a cute story!
    Dianna G.

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  13. This sounds like such a sweet story! I love reading stories with animals(dogs especially) in them! I had a blue heeler that I rescued a few years ago. The last dog that I had was a rescue too and she looked a lot like the picture on the front of this book. Thanks for the review and giveaway. d[dot]brookmyer[at]yahoo[dot]com

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    1. I'm looking at getting a rescue dog soon. So many of them need loving homes. Good luck, Donna.

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  14. Sounds like a very cute Christmas story!
    Thank you for the chance to win.

    melodybissonnette AT gmail DOT com

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  15. Anytime is a good time for a sweet Christmas story. Especially when it contains a cute animal!

    Pattymh2000(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  16. I love the cover and the dog!!
    karenskrayons(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. It's a lovely cover and the puppy on the cover is precious! Good luck, Karen.

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  17. Awe This looks like a very sweet story. Thanks for the giveaways and The Chance to Win> iamabho (at) gmail (dot) com

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  18. This was one of the Christmas stories I wanted to read this holiday season, but didn't manage it. It's already past Christmas, but I don't really care when I read holiday stories. I tell my kids we're supposed to be celebrating Christ's birth all year round anyway. :-) tlhcoupon(at)hotmail(dot)com

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    1. LOL yes -- 'tis always the season when there's a good Christmas book to be read. Good luck, Terrill.

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  19. This sounds like such a great Christmas read!
    Thanks for the chance!

    samanthabis23 at gmail dot com

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  20. Would love to read another Christmas book. Thanks so much for the review.
    pwestfall7 at hotmail dot com

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