The characters we love so well from the original “A Dog Named Christmas” are each getting older in their own ways. None more so than Todd McCray. His life has been riddled with complications from his own mental disabilities, and he's so grown up now in his twenties, it takes a moment to recognize him from that first book I met him in.

The new addition to the Crossing Trails dogs that we already love, Elle, is a lovely little thing. She just needs some proper training to become obedient, and to become a service dog to someone in need. Todd is in charge of this laborious task, and he shall prevail.

The best bit for me was Mary Ann really stepping up for the community and creating a unique persona of Ann Claus, it is sweet. And her husband George too for stepping up to... well, let's keep that one a secret for the unknowing readers! I'll just say this – he pulls off the ultimate surprise...!

And the dog... named Christmas! He's growing old now, poor thing. But still my favorite character in the whole book.

Now, for some reason, this one didn't seem as heartwarming as the earlier stories – for me. It also seemed to have more adult themes too, such as divorce, and a young couple living together unmarried. Still, I liked the story well enough, I had just hoped for a bit of an extra holiday sparkle that I didn't see.

There are some joyful moments and more Christmas memories with the McCray family to be found here.

I've read Greg Kincaid's other Christmas dogs books, and enjoyed them, so I was very much looking forward to reading about Noelle this holiday season. This book has several different storylines going at once, and sometimes I had to really think about what I was reading. However, I really enjoyed this holiday read and getting to visit with my old friends the McCrays.

I love the Christmas books!!! I listened to the first two on audiobook and loved every minute, so I was really excited to get a chance to read Noelle. I wanted a little more Todd, but at the end of the day I was really happy with Noelle and both the back story of the puppy and the new take on the Claus tradition. This is super cute!

I've followed the Dog Named Christmas saga from the very beginning through each book and movie. Noelle is the fourth in the series and begins as a puppy mill pup faces an uncertain future because she doesn't fit the mold of what a purebred dog should look like. Thankfully she ends up in the care of Todd McCray who aims to turn her into a service dog. It doesn't exactly go smoothly, and how she earns her name is adorable. Todd returns home with her to Crossing Trail where he has a new job helping to run the new no-kill shelter in town while also facing big changes in his personal life with longtime girlfriend Laura. At the same time his mother Mary Ann reluctantly accepts the job as Crossing Trail's first woman Santa, and she has huge plans for her new role as "Anna Claus", while elsewhere in town a young family is falling apart thanks to a painful divorce with young children caught in the middle. There's a lot going on with several different story lines, yet they all come together to form a heartwarming holiday "tail". This is the stuff Hallmark Channel Christmas movies are made of, and I look forward to seeing Noelle follow her predecessors' paw prints onto the small screen.

I feel lucky that this was the book I selected to kick off my holiday reading. I thought it was heartwarming and offered a different meaning on the idea of Christmas gifts. I especially liked how Noelle got her name. I have not read the first two books of the series (yet), but felt this did quite well as a stand alone.

Many thanks to Convergent Books for this ARC via Netgalley

Noelle is another book about the McCray family, their lives and their dogs. This book has several storylines running parallel to one another, but they all come together in a wonderful conclusion.

Elle is a dog that Todd rescued shortly after its birth. She is part retriever but the father is unknown. Elle is young, feisty, loving and has a mind of her own. It seems that she hears, "no Elle" all the time. Todd is trying to train her to be a service dog, but he is not having much luck. In fact, this it the first dog that he has been unable to train. The second story is about Todd and Laura. Todd is the McCray’s son and has worked with animals all his life. He has a developmental delay, but this does not stop him from working, falling in love and being a wonderful person. His parents supported him and pushed him so that he would be able to overcome his difficulties. Todd and Laura have moved in together and Todd is afraid to tell his parents. The next plot line is about Mary Ann McCray. She was trying to support her friend who was going to be snubbed as Santa this year and argued that it was all about looks. The next thing you know, Mary Ann has been offered the job of Anna Claus. Little does Mary Ann know just how much of a stir this idea of hers will cause when she goes out to schools, malls, centers, etc., meeting children, with a newly revised Christmas message about what they want to give for Christmas. Finally, there is the story of Abby’s and Link’s marriage and divorce. Link has no job and has become an alcoholic. How will they deal with the situation and how it will affect their children.

This story is full of interesting characters and stories. The Christmas message it brings rings true to the spirit of the season. I thoroughly enjoyed the role the dogs played in the story, helping to bring the plot lines together with a fun twist. Of course Elle's name changes partway through the book to Noelle, which is a natural progression for this troublesome but adorable dog. The book is also filled with Christmas celebrations, traditions, and feelings. It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas reading this book. I recommend it to all dog lovers, those who love Christmas, as well as any reader who enjoys a good, solid, family story with a happy ending.

This is another book by Greg Kincaid about the McCray family and their lives and dogs. In this book, there are several stories. There is the story of Noelle, a young, feisty dog with a mind of her own, who figures centrally in the story and plot. Practically disregarded at birth because she does not fit the mold of the perfect dog someone will pay big bucks for, Noelle has learned from experience to make the best of things and to show off her love of people and fantastic people skills. There also is the story of Todd and Laura. Todd is the McCray’s son and has worked all his life with some sort of mental disability, though it was not well explained. With his mother’s, Mary Ann’s, support Todd has worked hard to overcome and difficulties this disability. Now, Todd and his love, Laura, take things to the next level, moving in together and planning for the future, while Laura continues her job and Todd begins work as one of the head honchos at the newly created town’s dog rescue organization. Next, Mary Ann has taken on the newly defined role of being Mrs. Anna Claus, sent to Crossing Trails to sub for her mate, Santa, who needs some help and/or time off. Little does Mary Ann know just how much of a stir this idea of hers will cause when she goes out to schools, malls, centers, etc., meeting children, with a newly revised Christmas message. Finally, there is the story of Abby’s and Link’s rapidly dissolving marriage and how they both handle it as well as the effect on their two small children. This one is not well resolved in the end, leaving me to wonder whether this will be a future book.

This story is chock full of charcters and stories. I almost thought that the author tried to cram too many into one book. Some could have easily become another book, novella, etc., and the story would still have been an enjoyable read. The message it brings rings true to the spirit of the season. I thoroughly enjoyed the role the dogs played in the story, but I always enjoy dogs in books—as a big dog lover. The book is also filled with Christmas, its traditions, its celebrations, how families react to the holiday, etc. This is a book that will thrust any reader right into the season and its spirit, even if, as in my case, Christmas is still a ways off. I recommend it to all dog lovers who love Christmas as well as to any reader who enjoys good, solid, family stories. I received this from NetGalley to read and review.

5.0 out of 5 stars
Sweet and poignant
ByMaggie on October 24, 2017
Format: Hardcover
Sweet and poignant, not only about the dog... As Christmas time arrives, we all need a cheerful, easy to read book to help lift our spirits and take us away from the bustle of preparations. This is definitely it! Not just sugar, though, some interesting dilemmas for the humans -- such as -- who says Santa has to be a man? Who says children only care about their own 'stuff'? Who says how an adult with intellectual challenges should be treated? Who says a dog names "elle" whose typical command is "no! elle" does't have a place as a service dog?

I enjoyed this book. I had seen the Hallmark movies based on the first two books and enjoyed them very much. A great read to curl up with when you are trying to unwind.

This is the one to pick if you're tired of all the bad news- it's a heartwarming story of a family and dogs and a small town. Crossing Trails, Kansas is no where within my experience but Mary Ann, Todd, Laura, and most of all Elle the dog were so real that it was relatable. There are challenges here but on balance, all works out in the end. I'd not read the first two. books so there might be nuances I didn't appreciate as much as those who have but these were lovely characters. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Try it for a very positive and hopeful read.

I enjoyed the book, especially after reading the first two of the series and seeing the movies on Hallmark. Todd has grown into a young man on his own and still involved with the animal shelter work. Interesting turn of events with the characters of Todd and his mom.

3.5 Stars

In 2012, I bought Greg Kincaid’s books “A Dog Named Christmas” and “A Christmas Home,” as gifts for my mother, reading along as she read her copy, and then reading her “A Christmas Home.” A shared experience, which was a shared memory, but is mine alone, now. She’d loved “Dewey: The Small Town Library Cat Who Touched the World” years before, and so I’d hoped these would appeal to her, as well. She loved them, maybe even more. Growing up, we’d always had a dog, and eventually a cat, so she was missing that then, the unconditional love and gratitude of a dog, the dismissively arrogant, independent, yet loving purr of a cat.

When I saw that Greg Kincaid was releasing the third book in this series, I hesitated. Revisiting bittersweet memories. Ultimately, I wanted to read this, to revisit not only the story of this family, but of my own.

In “A Dog Named Christmas,” young Todd McCray leads an adoption effort, to get every dog in the shelter placed in a home, even if temporary, for Christmas. In the course of events, a dog, who eventually is named Christmas, comes to live with him and his family. In “Noelle” Christmas, the dog, is still a much beloved family dog, but Todd is a grown man, working at the Heartland School for Dogs as a dog trainer as this story begins, then returning to the family’s home town of Crossing Trails, to work at the new dog shelter in town. His return brings not only an older Todd, but a new dog, found in a ditch near another dog that didn’t fare as well. Todd has named this newfound orphan pup Elle. He also brings along a girl, Laura, his sweetheart.

Just as Todd and his dog Christmas brought a heartwarming story about the holidays, giving of one’s self, family, friendship, remembering the things we have in common, and reaching out to those in need.

This is a simple story, told in simple, everyday prose, the warm, somewhat mushy equivalent of a Hallmark movie – which his previous books in this series have become – but in this there is still a nice, warm reminder that we are all connected. These days, it feels good to just feel that connection, and be reminded of how precious it is.


Pub Date: 24 Oct 2017

Many thanks for the ARC provided by Crown Publishing / Convergent Books

This was my first book by this author. I love dogs and who doesn't love a book called Noelle: A Dog named Christmas? I I thought the introduction to the characters may have been a little choppy. By the end of the book they all came together but as I was reading it I wasn't sure where this person (s) fit into the story. Some of the story reminded me the movie; It's a Wonderful Life. The story has a smattering of love, divorce, family, community support and helping our younger generation understand the true meaning of Christmas.
Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC for an honest review.

This was a cute book. I haven't read the others in the series but may now.

I didn't like the story at first, but I stuck with it and found that the last 50 % of the book was worth it. It is a great story for Christmas. Todd reminds me of an autistic young man, but a really caring loving man, who true to form finds thew right dog for someone in need. Mary Anne McCray and her husband were again masterful in how they go the extra mile to help family and friends find their happiness. Link, his soon to be ex- wife and their young children are all very memorial in the story.

An enjoyable story to relax with.
It is written in a solid, well crafted style abut families, friends and relationships.
As one of the older characters comments in the book- "Relationships can be hard." Understanding each other becomes easier as relationships develop and grow.
If you like stories which accentuate kindness, acceptance,forgiveness and reconciliation, then this is the perfect book for you!
Well done!

The McCray family returns with a joyous & heartwarming story about loving families & the importance of dogs in our lives. A true Christmas spirit of giving & receiving with a few surprises throw in by their loving son Todd.

If you love heartwarming Christmas stories, you will likely love this book. I have not read previous books in the series, but it works well as a stand alone book. It does deal with some real life problems such as developmentally delayed adults, divorce alcoholism, unemployment and the effect of these issues on the families involved. But through it all is the common thread of Noelle, a rather special little dog who seems to bring everyone and everything together.