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A Christmas Home

(A Dog Named Christmas #2)

Greg Kincaid (Goodreads Author)

4.08 · Rating details · 888 ratings · 182 reviews

Todd McCray, hero of A Dog Named Christmas, is now twenty-four years old and working at a local animal shelter, where he meets and quickly becomes best friends with Laura, a young volunteer. Laura, like Todd, has disabilities of her own, but her struggles are more physical than developmental. Their friendship is sealed when Todd -- with the help of his trusted companion, t ...more

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Hardcover, 225 pages

Published October 30th 2012 by Crown (first published January 1st 2012)

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4.08 ·

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· 888 ratings · 182 reviews

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Dec 26, 2017 Liz rated it liked it

I just found this book on page 34 of 34 of entries in my kindle. Given that it’s 12/23, I figured it was the perfect time to read this. Well, shit. The story starts with a house being repossessed and the family of mom and two kids leaving the dog in the backyard.

This is the second in a series but I didn’t feel lost from not having read the first book. This book revolves around the news that a dog shelter in a small down on its luck town must close by the end of the year and 50 dogs and cats nee ...more

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Feb 28, 2013 Julianna rated it really liked it

Recommends it for: Fans of Heartwarming Holiday Stories; Animal Stories

Shelves: desert-island-keepers, general-fiction, holiday-stories, animal-stories, read-2013

Reviewed for THC Reviews
"4.5 stars" A Christmas Home is another heartwarming holiday read from Greg Kincaid in his untitled series about the McCray family. This one takes place several years after the end of A Dog Named Christmas . Todd McCray is now a young man in his early twenties. He lives on his own in a cabin on his parent's property, far enough away to be mostly independent, but still close enough for his parents to keep watch on their developmentally disabled son. Todd loves his job as Reviewed for THC Reviews
"4.5 stars" A Christmas Home is another heartwarming holiday read from Greg Kincaid in his untitled series about the McCray family. This one takes place several years after the end of A Dog Named Christmas . Todd McCray is now a young man in his early twenties. He lives on his own in a cabin on his parent's property, far enough away to be mostly independent, but still close enough for his parents to keep watch on their developmentally disabled son. Todd loves his job as Assistant Manager at the local animal shelter, but reduced revenues and governmental budgetary cutbacks have led to the shelter being shut down by the end of the year. Todd finds himself in the precarious position of not only dealing with the loss of his job, but also once again, needing to help find homes for all the dogs and cats in the shelter before the holidays.

Todd is a wonderful young man who is kind and caring toward everyone, both humans and animals alike. He may be a little mentally slow in some ways, but he has an amazing natural talent for working with the animals at the shelter, especially the dogs. He's incredibly patient with training the dogs and positively loves his work. Todd also has an idealistic streak, so when the news comes down that the shelter is closing, he's determined to find homes for all the animals and does a pretty impressive job of it. At the same time, he grows beyond his position as Assistant Shelter Manager and proves himself in other ways by taking control of his life and moving forward, showing he has the ability for independent decision-making when life hands him a lemon.

Todd also gets a light romance with Laura, a young woman with rheumatoid arthritis with whom he has been friends for quite a while. He was at the shelter when she brought in a stray dog she had accidentally hit with her car. Todd cared for the dog until she recovered from her injuries and then trained her to be a service dog to help Laura both at home and in her job as a nurse. These two share a sweet, slowly blossoming love that I enjoyed reading. Laura is very gentle and kindhearted to see past Todd's disability to the wonderful man he is. She appreciates his talents not just because he helped her and her dog, Gracie, but because she truly believes in him and his abilities.

Todd's parents, George and Mary Ann, are still a strong influence in his life, but they must come to terms with their “baby,” whom they've always given special attention to, finally becoming a man with a mind and a life of his own. Of course, their faithful and now aged dog, Christmas, is still a part of the story too. Both George and Todd have come to rely on Christmas for comfort and solace. They share “custody,” with Christmas going back and forth between their houses at will.

I love both holiday stories and animal stories, so having the two combined into one, made A Christmas Home a very enjoyable read for me. The only reason I knocked off a half star was because it was a tad slow paced early on, but it definitely picked up as the story progressed. Otherwise, A Christmas Home was a sweet, holiday story that warmed me through and through, like curling up with a hot cup of cocoa on a cold winter's day. Since it has no objectionable content, it is a book that could even be enjoyed by the whole family as a Christmas tradition. It will definitely be going on my keeper shelf to be read again and again during holiday seasons to come. I have no idea if Greg Kincaid has any more stories planned for the McCray family. It certainly seemed like there could be more to tell, and if he does, I'll be eagerly picking up any future books he writes. ...more

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Jan 08, 2013 Sylvia rated it it was amazing

At the heart of A Christmas Home is a town struggling to survive. People and pets are losing their homes. With no other financial means, a lot of sweet dogs end up in the shelter run by Todd. The city is running out of money, which leads to a limited amount of funds for the shelter and an overwhelming amount of animals are being abandoned. Todd has multiple challenges ahead of him, especially if he loses his job. Todd tries to overcome his own disabilities and maintain an independent life, whic ...more

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Nov 09, 2017 Kathryn rated it liked it

Shelves: christmas, 2017

How can you not love a book about a dog named Christmas? I liked this book because it wasn't a romance Christmas novel like so many Christmas books are and the story moved right along. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

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Dec 03, 2018 Sue rated it liked it

A heartwarming story...

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Dec 13, 2017 Adventuresofabusymom.com rated it liked it

This one started out slow for me. But, once I got almost halfway, I was hooked!

About a young man and his service dog trying to save the animal shelter he works for.

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Dec 30, 2018 Margie rated it really liked it

Just a nice Christmas read. More adventures with Christmas and his human family.

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Nov 27, 2012 Emma rated it really liked it

Shelves: fiction

As always, the fifty or so books on the to-read shelf are a mixed bag, but some have really stood out and required reviewing. A Christmas Home was definitely one of them. I really love animal stories but have tended to stick to non-fiction in the past. However, I’m starting to realize that some of the animal based stories coming from Christian authors are filling a real void for me as the stories are about creation from a Biblical viewpoint. I picked up Mr. Kincaid’s book expecting it to be one As always, the fifty or so books on the to-read shelf are a mixed bag, but some have really stood out and required reviewing. A Christmas Home was definitely one of them. I really love animal stories but have tended to stick to non-fiction in the past. However, I’m starting to realize that some of the animal based stories coming from Christian authors are filling a real void for me as the stories are about creation from a Biblical viewpoint. I picked up Mr. Kincaid’s book expecting it to be one of those and found to my surprise while those elements were there, it was less about a dog and more about people.

It took me a bit to get into the story since it is a sequel to a book called A Dog Named Christmas which I haven’t read. A Christmas Home did a good job standing on its own after the first fifteen pages or so and since the prologue had hooked me before the book really started, it didn’t really matter. I did get a feeling I should know who the McCrays were, but the characters quickly spoke for themselves.
The premise revolves around the closing of the animal shelter in a small town that is struggling to cope with the economic downturn. Many families are having to give up pets as they readjust their lifestyles, and the shelter is needed more than ever, but budget cuts and reallocations leave no room for it. As much as this could have become a book focused on saving the shelter and the animals and had plenty of material, Mr. Kincaid focused instead on the shelter employees and volunteers, particularly Todd McCray, a young disabled man who had found his calling in life at the shelter. And perhaps someone to share it with him.
I really loved the themes and tone of this book. Being an animal lover and, I tentatively use the word, environmentalist, I am too familiar with the call to save animals coming at the cost of humans. This book never suggested that animals should come first, but it also never lost sight of the fact that we are responsible for animals. It’s easy to focus of the big issues of endangered species and rainforests, but Mr. Kincaid’s story suggests sometimes we miss the need right in our own backyard.
Setting aside the stories of the animals and the shelter, this is also something of a coming of age story. I don’t know Todd from the earlier book, but I felt there was significant growth to his character as the plot progressed. He started as a mature young man, starting out in the world with his first job, and grew into a man of leadership and vision. I loved that his relationship with Laura wasn't a token romance or over romanticized and felt natural and organic to the story.
As far as an audience for this book, the writing was very clear and the content very clean so I would say age appropriateness would be determined more by the reader’s reading level. While it takes place at Christmas, I wouldn’t classify it as Christmas story at all and certainly wouldn’t regulate reading it to that season. But it’s definitely something I would recommend people who like animal stories should look for or even if you’re just in the market for an uplifting read.

Reblogged from my site: myrdan.com

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review. ...more

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Jan 03, 2013 Sue rated it really liked it

If you ever saw the Hallmark movie A Dog Called Christmas (or read the book by the same title), you will be familiar with the special black lab Christmas and his family the McCrays. As the sequel A Christmas Home opens, the holiday season again approaches; and Todd, now a few years older, has found success working at the same animal shelter where Christmas had lived. Both his parents, George and Mary Ann, are pleased that their son has found a life of semi-independence despite his his disabiliti If you ever saw the Hallmark movie A Dog Called Christmas (or read the book by the same title), you will be familiar with the special black lab Christmas and his family the McCrays. As the sequel A Christmas Home opens, the holiday season again approaches; and Todd, now a few years older, has found success working at the same animal shelter where Christmas had lived. Both his parents, George and Mary Ann, are pleased that their son has found a life of semi-independence despite his his disabilities, so both worry when the community receives the unexpected news that the city and county have withdrawn all financial support to the shelter. The property must be vacated by January 1. Not only will Todd and the shelter director be without employment, they must hurry over the next weeks to find homes for the fifty-some animals currently under their care. Factory closings and foreclosures are common place in this Kansas area and each month it is harder to find new homes for the four legged victims of a "down economy."

I am sure you realize this is a "feel good" book for the holidays. Too often those stories sink into sappiness or pit the "good side" (main character and family) against the "bad side"(the mayor, boss, or land developer). Author Kincaid did not fall into that trap, although I really doubt that a real shelter would be closed without more adequate notice. This sequel to the popular first story offers lessons that go beyond the surface, "Love a dog" theme. First, you will learn quite a bit about service dogs as Todd, with help from a service training center in Kansas, has trained a shelter dog to help his dear friend Laura, but perhaps the greatest lesson is on not judging people by their apparent weaknesses without recognizing their strengths. Todd's disability is a mental slowness that is not clearly defined in the story, but it is obvious that his shelter job is one within his abilities and one that he loves. Most around him think this is all he could handle, not realizing the real talent he has. Todd himself is unsure of the future, but he does not want to fall back into the "safety net" of living with his parents and doing nothing. For a while, his future seems as bleak as the dogs' But all those hard learned lessons of self-sufficiency will pay off for the determined young Kansas man.

Greg Kincaid is a practicing lawyer in Kansas whose passions include improving the lives of animals (dogs, especially) and promoting literacy. His website biography points out that he and his sister have always been voracious readers, mainly because his mother read to them daily. Aside from his career as a corporate lawyer, Greg also found time to represent those in need in rural Kansas, often children in trouble. He observed, whether visiting them in their homes, shelters, or jails, one thing seemed to be consistently missing -- books. That began a 20 year plus campaign to promote literacy.

That alone makes him a librarian's hero -- that he can write wholesome stories is an added bonus!

...more

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Nov 11, 2012 Brenda rated it it was amazing

I loved the book as well as the Hallmark movie "A Dog Named Christmas" so when I learned that "A Christmas Home" was the sequel to that wonderful book I was totally excited to read it. I found myself drawn into the story from the beginning pages.

The town of Crossings Trail is like so many other towns across the US. People are losing their jobs and unable to make their mortgage payments, and have to leave their homes, when they go they often leave their animals behind. Most of the animals wind up ...more

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Nov 17, 2012 Pam Funke rated it it was amazing

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Crown Publishing for the purpose of review. The review is my honest opinion and I was not paid for this service.

A Christmas Home is a wonderful tale about Todd and his black lab Christmas. Todd is a special needs young man who works at an animal shelter that is in the process of being shut down. Despite Todd's apparent disability he is living proof that anyone can attain any goal once they set their mind to it. He refuses to allow his disability ...more

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Nov 14, 2012 Sherrey rated it really liked it

It was my intent to post this review prior to Christmas (note book title!), but a variety of family crises prevented that. However, the book is worthy of a review and here it is.

At the heart of A Christmas Home is a town struggling to survive like so many others. A young man with multiple challenges ahead of him, especially if he loses his job and that fact is a strong possibility. And there is a light romantic interest for this same young man which also has to fit into this puzzle.

However, at t ...more

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Jan 02, 2013 Lisa rated it it was ok

I read Kincaid's first book, "A Dog Named Christmas". It was a very feel good, family story; perfect for the Hallmark movie it became. This second book follows much along the same lines only introducing new challenges for Todd such as the struggling economy of a very small town, loss of his job and the never-ending problem of unwanted animals.

My main complaints with the book are:
1. When the main character, Todd, is considering going to work for the local dairy, the author chooses to portray the ...more

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Dec 18, 2012 Mary (BookHounds) rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2012, from-publisher-author

MY THOUGHTS
LOVED IT

A small town in Kansas has seen it's share of troubled economic times and a lot of people and pets are losing their homes. With no other financial means, a lot of sweet dogs end up in the shelter run by Todd. The city is running out of money as well which leads to a limited amount of funds for the shelter and an overwhelming amount of animals being abandoned. As Todd tries to overcome his own disabilities and maintain an independent life, it all may be threatened if the shelte ...more

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Jul 30, 2015 Nancy rated it liked it · review of another edition

This was a nice little story, about a dog, who was left behind in a house, when his owners couldn't afford to keep him. The dog was found, and taken home. Todd was a young man with disabilities, who trained the dog to be a service dog for a blind young woman. Todd and Laura, the blind girl, worked as volunteers in the towns animal shelter, which had to be closed for lack of city funding. Todd's parents worried about their son, and the mother pampered him. He moved into his own cabin, and he trie ...more

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Nov 30, 2016 Charlene rated it liked it

The story lost focus for me. In the beginning, we read about a dog named Gracie whose family is forced to abandon her. Then the story jumps forward a year later, showing what happened to Gracie and intertwining her tale with a dog named Christmas. In the end it's all about Christmas. It's possible that it would have helped me if I had read the book leading up to this one, "A Dog Named Christmas." That said, the characters were like able and real to me. And I loved the reference to a photo in the ...more

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Nov 24, 2017 Amy "the book-bat" rated it it was amazing

Shelves: christmas, audiobooks, read-in-2017, sfrc-fall-2017

The sequel to A Dog Named Christmas. Such a great way to continue the story of Christmas and the family who adopted him. A bit of an emotional roller coaster at times, but ultimately a wonderful little book. On the look out for the next one in the series :-)

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Dec 15, 2013 ✨Susan✨ rated it it was amazing

Shelves: audible, christmas, cozy, dog

The third in a great Christmas series. Wonderful characters who are like old friends. Faith, hope and kindness make these some of my favorite Christmas reads. Great and inspirational for all ages. Narrative is excellent.

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Dec 31, 2016 Dawn rated it really liked it

Recommends it for: Dog lovers and those who enjoy heartwarming Christmas stories.

Recommended to Dawn by: I read the other two books in the series.

A sweet and moving end to this Christmas Trilogy. I enjoyed all three books in this series, but this was my favorite. I enjoyed seeing Todd grow into a responsible adult and start a life outside the farm. An emotional story that tugs at the heartstrings.

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Sep 16, 2012 Linda Templeton rated it liked it

Definately a book for dog lovers. It was just a nice story, like something you would watch on Lifetime tv. It would be a nice book to give to a dog lover or someone who doesn't want violence, sex or profanity in the books they read.

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Dec 30, 2013 James Allen rated it it was amazing

This is the second book I've read in the series. Both are excellent! There are not many Christmas books that I consider worth reading but Greg Kincaid's are on my good list.

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Dec 20, 2015 Sue rated it it was amazing

Shelves: christmas, audible, rcftci

The final of the Greg Kincaid series, if you are a dog lover this series is special. A great Christmas read. Though I will say this was the weaker of the series, it was still quite good.

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Nov 21, 2012 Laurie rated it it was amazing

Excellent book. Well done!
Tissues at the end!

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Dec 22, 2015 Teri rated it really liked it

a sweet story, predictable ending, but I enjoyed it very much. A nice Christmas, feel good , book.

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Nov 07, 2017 Angie rated it liked it

Shelves: overdrive-reads, advent-reads, audio

Synopsis: "Todd McCray, hero of A Dog Named Christmas, is now twenty-four years old and working at a local animal shelter, where he meets and quickly becomes best friends with Laura, a young volunteer. Laura, like Todd, has disabilities of her own, but her struggles are more physical than developmental. Their friendship is sealed when Todd -- with the help of his trusted companion, the tenacious Labrador retriever named Christmas -- trains a beautiful dog named Gracie to help Laura with the day- ...more

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Nov 28, 2018 Diane Wachter rated it liked it

Sequel to A Dog Named Christmas, Bk 2. Audio-B, Libby, @ 10/29/12, listened 11/24/18, narrated by Mark Bramhall. 6 hrs., fiction, literature, Christmas time, Animal shelter, hard times. A 24 year old developmentally disabled young man who volunteers at a rescue shelter and is stymied when the town can no longer afford to keep the shelter open, and Todd and Laura, another volunteer, must find homes for 50 dogs and cats. 3 *'s = Good.

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Dec 10, 2017 Heather rated it liked it

This was the sequel to A Dog Named Christmas and, while I enjoyed it, I didn't like it as much as the first book. The prologue was an interesting beginning as the reader learned about Gracie's abandonment but, after that, she was hardly in the story; the focus was more on Todd. However, I think had Gracie, and all the other dogs at the shelter, played a starring role in the book, A Christmas Home would have been a more appealing read.

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Dec 09, 2017 Red rated it it was ok

Shelves: animal, bookbub, dogs, holidayreading, kindle-books, read-in-2017, read-on-phone, xmas-to-read

First of all, this book is *not* a dog story. There are dogs in it, and aside from the first few pages, the book isn't about a dog, it just has some dogs in it. The book was just okay. I liked the characters, and the setting, just fine; but the action/events ... pretty depressing. Not quite as uplifting or enjoyable as I was hoping for in a what looked like a Christmas themed animal story.

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Dec 17, 2018 Deb rated it really liked it

This book hit home as I am a dog lover. Christmas and the tricks he learned from his owner were amazing. Even though his owner had handicapped issues they were still able to save other dogs and cats when the need arose. The ending well I will not spoil it.

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Feb 25, 2018 Brenda rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Wonderful novel!

I love Mr. Kincaid’s take on the care of animals and how he brings this to life in his books.....I like be this series so please don’t quit writing these books!....it’s a part of my Christmas now every year!

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