This is a delightful, heart-warming Christmas story regardless of the nature of your connection with canine friends and family members.

Brenda Malloy, aka “Scroogetta,” would prefer to skip the Christmas season each year. Soured on the holiday after two disastrous events – one in childhood and one as an adult – she has little to celebrate and much to mourn. This year is different; reluctantly, Brenda has agreed to assist in driving twelve rescue dogs from Houston, TX to Avalon, NY with predictable challenges. In the process of being a good Samaritan, Brenda rediscovers the joy and wonder of the season through the kindness, love, and Christmas spirit of the town residents.

I enjoy reading Christmas novels/novellas any time of the year. This one is a quick and fun read with relatable and believable characters. The dogs and their antics are a bonus to the usual seasonal fare of this genre. If you are looking for a “feel good” boost, this charming story will fulfill that need and leave you with a smile.

My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This review is being posted immediately to my GoodReads account and will be posted on Amazon upon publication.

Susan Wiggs you have done it again and gave me a book to read and fall into the story. Nothing better than reading a christmas story in July. Imagine my surprise when the story advances to Willow Lake and I am reacquainted with old friends. Bravo for a well done story.

This is the absolutely perfect Christmas story! Brenda hates Christmas, partly because of some bad childhood experiences, and partly because that is when her husband left her. A year later, she is getting her life back together and volunteering for a dog rescue organization. When one of the regular volunteers is unable to do so, she volunteers to help drive a van filled with 12 rescue dogs from her town in Texas to a small town in New England, just before Christmas. Things do not go smoothly. There is an accident, and she meets a handsome paramedic. Will he convince her to love Christmas again? And to find love again? Susan Wiggs is a great author with lots of readers -- this book will also appeal to readers who enjoy books by Susan Mallery, Kristin Higgins, and Mary Kay Andrews.

I am a huge Susan Wiggs fan, so I was thrilled to be selected by the publisher and NetGalley to receive an ARC of this book.

This was an adorable Christmas story, with all the feels. It's the perfect book to read with a cup of cocoa next to a fire or a Christmas tree. The Characters were likeable, and I loved all 12 of the dogs.

If you're looking for a sweet, short and lighthearted Christmas story, this book is for you.

A somewhat silly premise, but kind, well-meaning, and full-on heart warming. Brenda Malloy — with two devastating Christmases in her past — wants nothing more to do with the holiday but somehow gets roped in to driving twelve rescue dogs from Houston to a tiny, Christmas-mad, town in upstate New York. A snow storm, a potentially bad accident, and a hunky paramedic who doubles as a dog lover really do a number on Brenda’s insistence on intense grinchiness.

Some good comedy, lovable characters, and generally a happy read — even if (like myself) you are not much of a dog lover.

The Twelve Dogs of Christmas is a story of loss, healing and joy.

After the loss of a dog and husband, Brenda has her life back together. Before you know it Christmas is coming and Brenda is driving a van with 12 rescue dogs for 2,000 miles. She gets stranded, meets a man, and as she delivers the dogs to their proper homes, the joy of the season fills her heart.

A nice Christmas cozy mystery for dog lovers in particular

"The Twelve Dogs of Christmas" by Susan Wiggs was a cute and sweet little romance novella that touches the heart.