Noelle is the latest heart-warming installment of Greg Kincaid's A Dog Named Christmas series. It’s set in the fictional small town of Crossing Trails, Kansas and follows the continuing story of the McCray family while adding a new family, the Robinsons, into the mix. For the first time, there are three separate sub-plots playing out at the same time, which then later converge into one happy ending. It was a lovely story that gave me warm fuzzies and was a great addition to the series.

The first sub-plot involves the McCray parents, George and Mary Ann, who are getting older. George is starting to slow down, his old war injury and the aches and pains of aging beginning to get to him, while Mary Ann is still energetic and always on the move. She’s a music teacher, debate coach, and guidance counselor at the local high school and also serves on the board of the local library. When the other board members want to fire the man who’s been playing Santa during their holiday festivities every year for the last forty years, Mary Ann goes to bat for him using her debate skills. But it backfires on her and she instead finds herself coerced into becoming the new Anna Claus. If she’s going to do this, Mary Ann wants it to be something new and different with Anna spreading a different message than Santa, but at first she struggles with just what that message should be. Once she gets it figured out, she surprisingly becomes a hit, drawing attention not only in Crossing Trails, but all across the state of Kansas. Soon she finds Anna Claus in high demand and travels to other communities, while poor George is left at home with a haphazard assortment of Christmas decoration sitting around and not certain how he feels about all this hoopla.

Our second part of the story involves George and Mary Ann’s youngest son, Todd, who was such a big part of the previous two books. Despite suffering from developmental delays, he’s proven himself to be extremely talented with animals. He loves them and they love him. In the previous book, A Christmas Home, Todd received an opportunity to go away from home for a while to learn how to train service dogs. Now that he’s completed the program, he’s returned to Crossing Trails to become the assistant manager of the newly reopened local animal shelter, but he wants to try to continue training dogs on the side to help people. He’s quite taken with a little misfit dog named Elle who is his hardest case to date. She’s an energetic little creature who always seems to be getting into trouble, and everyone says she’ll never make a good service dog. But Todd isn’t ready to give up on her yet. On top of that, Todd and his long-time girlfriend, Laura, who he also met in the previous book of the series, decide to move in together, but they aren’t quite sure how to tell Todd’s parents who have always been a little over-protective of their special needs son.

The final sub-plot of the book is about the Robinsons: Link, Abbey, and their two young children, Keenan and Emily. Link and Abbey are just a little older than Todd and are friends with George and Mary Ann. Unfortunately Link lost his job, which sent him into a downward spiral of alcoholism and led to him getting a DUI while his kids were in the car with him. Abbey can’t take it anymore and files for a divorce, which leaves their kids, especially impressionable Keenan, angry and adrift. Mary Ann tries to use her counseling skills to help Abbey and the kids as much as she can, but this family really needs a Christmas miracle to keep Link on the straight and narrow, heal the pain of the separation, and keep them from being torn apart even further than they already are.

Overall, Noelle was another enjoyable book in the A Dog Named Christmas series. I liked all the individual pieces of the plot, but I have to admit that it wasn’t grabbing me quite as much as I wanted it to until toward the end when all the sub-plots started to come together. Up until then it was probably running around 4 stars on my ratings meter, but the ending was so sweet and touching, I couldn’t help bumping it up the extra half-star. I would highly recommend it and the other books in the series to fans of Hallmark movies. In fact, two of the books of the series have already been made into Hallmark films. Unless a character who’s struggling with alcoholism and/or a young couple living together would bother you, there’s no objectionable content which makes it appropriate for nearly everyone. It was my first holiday-themed read this year, and it really helped to put me in the Christmas spirit. I don’t know if Greg Kincaid has any more books planned for this series. The ending left just enough open that I could certainly see more story to tell if he chooses to do so, and I would gladly welcome it if he does. ( )

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. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book via Netgalley. ( )

It’s been a long time, five years, since readers have gotten to take a peek inside the McCray family’s lives. With this fourth installment in the series, it’s the holiday season. Of course.

When we last saw Todd and Laura, their friendship had taken a romantic turn. Both have returned to Crossing Trails to run an animal shelter, whose funding has been donated by Doc Pelot. It’s an ideal situation. As they move back, the decision on where to live is a pressing issue. Do they each return to their parents’ homes, or do they make the leap and move in together?

Todd returns with a dog, Noelle, who gets her name in a humorous fashion. She is a mixed breed---the head of a golden retriever and the body of a wiener dog. She is the happiest dog on the planet, energetic, with the cutest smile that will melt the heart of even the most cynical of people.

That’s just two of the threads that run through this touching holiday tale. The other threads include matriarch Mary Ann McCray’s decision to be the first woman Santa Claus in Crossing Trails. Ol’ Hank is just too old to do it any longer...at ninety-something he’s on oxygen and in a wheel chair. Mary Ann even shakes up the notion of children asking Santa for their hearts’ desire, a notion that immediately captures the attention of the entire state of Kansas.

The other thread is the breakup of the Robinson household. Parents Abbey and Link are doing their best, but Keenan and Emily are struggling as their world collapses around them. It’s the McCrays and Noelle to the rescue.

I always like reading a Greg Kincaid holiday story. It put me in the mood and always makes me smile. There are also several laughs. Noelle gets 4 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world. Why, since I seem to write glowing about the story? The first four-five chapters set up the threads, but they seem so disconnected---at first---that it slowed down my ability to care for the characters, and I wanted to see more of Noelle in those early pages.

I received this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for this review. ( )

Just in time for Christmas, a warm-hearted tale about a family, a community, and a dog. Noelle, better known as Elle didn't have a good start in life, but that doesn't mean she isn't wanted. Todd, her owner, is sure he can train her to be a good service dog, even if it is proving to be a severe challenge.

The holiday season is bringing other challenges as well to the small town of Crossing Trails, Kansas. Todd's mother Anna McCray had managed to get herself into a fix by agreeing to play the role of Anna Claus this Christmas. While she wants to bring a message of giving rather than receiving this year she isn't prepared for that message to reach beyond her small town. Her success takes her further afield and her husband George is left to take up some of her chores around the house and plan for some unexpected events.

Christmas may never be the same in Crossing Trails but this year will definitely be a memorable one. This is a story that is sure to get anyone who reads it into the holiday spirit. I could just imagine this being made into a Hallmark television movie.

Thanks to Blogging for Books for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
More reviews at: www.susannesbooklist.blogspot.com ( )

A delightful story of a dog that is having problems becoming a service dog, or is she. The author had a previous book about a Dog Named Christmas, and we are reunited with this now elderly dog.
There are several messages offered here, and one is letting our children grow up, and letting go. There is also the breakup of a marriage, not a fun topic, but we see the pain and suffering that goes on with the young children, and this is where our little No-elle comes in, and will she be able to bring some joy back into their lives?
A story that ends with some unfinished business, and maybe another book, we can hope. The stereotypes are broken here and we meet Ann Claus, but love the way she handles the requests of children.
A wonderful new Christmas book, and maybe it should be a TV movie?
I received this book through Blogging For Books, and was not required to give a positive review. ( )