Loved everything about this story! It's the perfect recipe for a holiday romance. One divorcee and her faithful dog, a handsome EMT, a wise cracking sidekick, and a van load of rescued dogs on a road trip from the warm lands to a cold and snowy northern climate, right before Christmas. Stir it up with an almost disastrous car accident that leaves our heroine stranded with dogs to rehome and you have a delightful story of new beginnings for everyone involved.

Who wouldn’t be instantly drawn into this cover with all those precious faces on it???
I totally identified with Brenda about not liking the holidays. I wish I could just skip them permanently.
Brenda has good reasons for not liking Christmas but she is a good sport about all the holiday stuff she has to do.
Olaf was my favorite dog because he was a huge goofball. I loved Dolly with her irrepressible spirit and pragmatism.
It’s a lovely heartwarming story about finding joy and opening one’s self up to new possibilities. And doggies.

This is definitely a winner! Brenda alias Scroogetta, lost the spirit of Christmas when she lost her father at a young age when she started doubting there is a Santa Claus. Now as an adult anything to do with Christmas is a turn off still. Unfortunately she gets recruited to help with an adoption dog run from Houston, TX to Avalon, NY during the Christmas season. Her co-partner has Christmas overload and the town is like a Christmas village, But a series of mishaps, cute puppies, and adorable Will starts to thaw out Scroogetta..
Thank you NetGalley for this eARC. I am voluntarily posting an honest review after reading an Advance Reader Copy of this story. #NetGalley #TheTwelveDogsofChristmas

I received a free copy of, The Twelve Dogs of Christmas, by Susan Wiggs, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Brenda is not a fan of Christmas, after finding out last Christmas about her husband cheating on her. Brenda decides to drive with twelve rescue dogs in winter, what could possible go wrong. This is a cute holiday read, I enjoyed it.

The magic of Christmas and dogs! Two of my favorite things. I was surprised to realize that Susan Wiggs returned to Avalon in this charming Christmas tale. Although you need not have read The Lakeshore Chronicles series to follow the story, I am tempted to now do a reread. This is a heartwarming novel guaranteed to put you in the holiday spirit. Thanks to Netgalley for an advanced copy in return for an honest review.

A light Christmas read, filled with plenty of holiday touches, a happy ending and puppies! You will finish this book with a smile on your face!

Actual rating 3.5, rounded up because dogs.

The main character loves dogs and dislikes Christmas. So do I. I'm intrigued. And eventually disappointed. I know this is supposed to be a fun take on real life, but so many situations described were just completely outrageous and unlikely, that it felt more like a fairy tale fantasy story. I found myself talking to the book too often, saying things like "come on, that NEVER happens", and it pulled away some of the enjoyment. Wiggs has skill with description and her style is easily readable, but my feeling is that there was a LOT of imagination about real life. Still, a fun story and I got a little dog fix.

My thanks to William Morrow, the author, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Twelve Dogs of Christmas is the perfect Christmas book to read. If you love dogs and Christmas then this is a must read book for you. This book just warms your heart and has you loving every character and fur ball in this story. The book is definitely one of my favorite Christmas books and I highly recommend this book. Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for this ARC read in exchange of my honest review.

The first books I read by Susan Wiggs were The Lakeshore Chronicles series , delightful tales of emerging love in the small town of Avalon, New York, and of all the trials to get to lasting love. Twelve Dogs of Christmas begins in Houston and takes the reader to charming Avalon, all decked out for Christmas and alive with Christmas spirit.
When Brenda is coerced to help bring dogs from Houston to Avalon for their forever families, diehard, no thank you to Christmas Brenda is in for it. The transport van for the dogs gets into a wreck and Brenda meets the handsome and charming Adam. He and his little boy Will love all things Christmas and Adam sets out to transform Brenda to a lover of Christmas, too. All along they are falling for each other but distance between their homes and Brenda’s determination to not fall for anyone brings times of love and anxiety, of love and fear, and of love and maybes.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Susan Wiggs always writes a good story. Brenda Mallory has a life-changing Christmas almost losing her beloved dog and the repercussions of what caused the dog to almost die. Brenda has to move on and rebuild her life. She just doesn't want to be a part of Christmas anymore. When a series of events throws her into a new town, a snowy which she hates and a well-celebrated town she wishes she could just go back home alone and stay away from the festivities. However, meeting a man and his child plus trying to help place twelve dogs she can't easily escape.
Cute story it has the components of a good book, betrayal, an accident, and love. You will enjoy it. Thank you NetGalley and publishers for this ARC this is my opinion.

A perfect Christmas story for lovers of dogs, rescue, and romance. It took me a while to warm up to Brenda, but then I really began to enjoy her rescue journey to New York. Cute dogs, cute kid, hot paramedic, over the top Christmas celebrations. What’s not to love?

Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This is a quick, easy read to get the reader in the holiday spirit. Even if you're not a dog lover, this is an enjoyable, sweet romance. There's a nice mix of humor and romance.

Brenda is avoiding Christmas- lots of sad memories- and so she agrees to drive rescue dogs from Houston to Avalon, New York. Not as easy as she thought! There's trouble along the way from the weather to wrangling the pups in and out of the van but then she meets Adam. He's a paramedic and single dad who is more than happy to help her. Yes this is a bit insta-romance and yes it's a tad trope-y but it's a fast cheery read with....dogs! Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. This should make you chuckle occasionally and smile at the end.

I love this story. It has two of my favorite things – dogs and Christmas. I enjoyed the story of Brenda. I could relate to parts of her life. We all wish for an Adam who can make us feel so special. Who wouldn’t want a friend like Dolly? I love her so much. This is a wonderful Christmas story with awesome characters. I received this book from NetGalley, but my opinion is my own.

The Lakeshore Chronicles is the first series that I read by Susan Wiggs. Reading this book was like visiting an old friend and jumping back into conversations like you were never apart. It was nice to catch up on the lives of many characters. Brenda has rebuilt her life over the last year following the discovery that her husband had been cheating on her. She is heavily involved with a dog rescue organization in Houston but balks when asked to help transport 11 dogs to Avalon, NY in December due to the second volunteer driver falling ill. She does not like Christmas at all and does not want to go somewhere cold and snowy, plus she has her mother’s retirement cruise to attend. Eventually she is convinced to go and fights her attraction to the cute guy who rescues them after they skid off the icy road close to their destination. This is a wonderful humorous heartwarming Christmas book.

❄💖Warm fuzzies and Christmas cheer🐕

4.5🌟stars
The Twelve Dogs of Christmas had all the canine cuteness and holiday romance I had hoped for. It was warm and sweet, with a female lead stuck in a funk from her failed marriage. She's thrown into a road trip she really doesn't want and finds challenges left and right (along with a handsome, single dad paramedic and his little boy). Brenda ends up way out of her comfort zone again and again at a time of year she dreads with only friendly strangers, her rescue dog Tim and a man whose company she enjoys too much to help her through.

The rescue dogs at the heart of the plot are cute and cuddly as they make their way to forever homes and the romance for Brenda is sweet and healing. Plus, I love a devoted single dad and paramedic Adam has an engaging four year old son for whom every good day is the best day ever! Adorable!

I loved this quick, holiday romance and its characters, both two- and four-legged. It was a great way to get in the mood for the holiday season.

Thanks to HarperCollins and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

While romance books are not my favorite genre, this one was such a heartwarming, tug at your heartstrings read. I loved the focus on rescuing dogs and finding their forever home. The characters are well developed and you will find your heart aching as you discover behind the scene stories of their lives. So glad that Dolly was part of this story. With her positive attitude and delightful personality, she helped soften some of the negative vibes that Brenda exudes. And then you factor in Adam and his son, Will, and you have your heart set on how the book should end.

A delightful holiday story that touches all the right emotions ... small town community connections, love for dogs, discovering the joy of Christmas, giving life a second chance, finding a place to belong. Just the perfect cup of hot chocolate warmth to satisfy you this holiday season. I strongly encourage you to pick this book up and get lost in the wonder of the season.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!

The ASPCA and animal rescue centers have a special place in my heart as I've volunteered with organizations around the world to find animals a forever home. Susan Wiggs' #TheTwelveDogsofChristmas reminded me that the true gift of Christmas is helping others.

We all get wrapped up the bustling and hustling of the holidays. Stripping back the season to its core, family, friends, loved ones and those who believe in some type of religion is what makes it special. Years later you're going to remember the time you spent together rather than a gift's price. There's a reason kids play with empty boxes as they are ready to use their imagination.

What Brenda can't imagine is getting past losing her dad and marriage at Christmas. Every time she opens herself up herself to possibilities, her dreams are dashed. When she's recruited for a Christmas caper, that's the last thing she wants to do this season. Forced to be jolly during the merry-making celebrations is at first excruciating but the town and its residents worm their way into her heart. Will she take a chance at Christmas or will Brenda be to afraid the sleigh her demons?

Thank you to to #NetGalley and the publisher for the early edition in exchange for an honest review. I was touched by the holiday story that's filled with heart. Rescuing animals, second chance at happiness and overcoming obstacles was a feel-good read even with the unseasonably warm temperatures this week. Susan Wiggs fans will fall in love with her heart-warming novel.

Susan Wiggs has written a sweet, fun Christmas story of love, compassion, and healing with 12 loveable dogs who will capture your heart and renew your Christmas spirit. There is a little romance, fun, and learning to enjoy the Christmas season again. Recommend it!

Grab the hot chocolate! If you love dogs and Christmas this is the story for you. Dogs are on a caravan to homes in the north. Brenda works behind the scenes ant matches them up - from Texas, she hates the cold. Due to misshapes she is on the van north. The thread of hope and facing your life head on is subtle and finding homes for the homeless dogs, heart moving. I know a group in real life that send dogs North to homes. A Christmas take to warm your hearts and treat your soul. Thank you for the arc. I feely volunteer my thoughts and opinions. #TheTwelveDogsofChristmas #SusanWiggs #WilliamMorrow #NetGalley