A Criss-Cross Christmas

by Christie Logan

These two pets just made the naughty list—and Santa doesn’t play!

Streetwise feline Catso and pampered pup Cuddles can’t stand each other. When their feud at the local animal shelter’s holiday fundraiser ruins the chances for dozens of homeless animals, Santa Claus is very disappointed.

Still, he’s willing to give this cat and dog another chance. With his Christmas Magic, Santa rolls back the clock and offers them a do-over—but he never told them they’d switch places!

Now Catso finds himself in the silly pooch’s body, dealing with a baby-talking owner, an unhappy young girl, and drama at Doggie Day Care. Cuddles, who’s always been cared for, must live as a street cat, fending for herself with only a grumpy old man for company.

To return to their own bodies, Cuddles and Catso must make sure the shelter’s event runs smoothly this time around. If they succeed, they’ll help the animals, make Santa happy, and maybe even bring some Christmas Magic into the lives of people who need it most.

166 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 22, 2022

About the author

Christie Logan writes sweet romance straight from the heart. She lives in upstate New York with too many pets, too many dust bunnies lurking under the bed, and too many plot bunnies bouncing around in her head. She thinks everyone deserves a happy ending and in her books, everyone gets one.

Reviews

[Lita · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book about two rivals, a cat and a dog. The dog, Cuddles, is a small, fluffy dog who thinks highly of herself. She's described a walking mop with tiny legs and lots of fur - I'm thinking Maltese or Yorkie. The cat is Catso, a stray that hangs around on the grumpy neighbor's porch who would never allow himself to be someone's "pet". The story is told from their POVs.

Ancillary characters include the grumpy old man, Cuddle's owner Anna and her granddaughter Misty. as well as various dogs at the doggie day care.

When the two animals disrupt a Picture with Santa event and create so much havoc in the process, the event has to be shut down. It was a fundraiser event to help an animal shelter raise funds for expansion. Each animal is visited by Santa that night and the next morning they wake up in each other's bodies and time has been reset by one week. Over the course of the week they each learn what it's like to walk in the other's shoes.

This is a very heartwarming story that involves a ton of personal growth for the two animals as well as opening their eyes to the world around them. They both learn to care about more then themselves. With a little magic, all ends well.

[BurgundyKitten · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you live for angst, you’ll probably like this book. It had a pretty fun start; I was excited for the concept and setup. But then it turned into a huge angst fest, with lots of drama and personal issues among the characters. I was surprised, because, from the cover and the summary, I’d expected a fun time. But, chapter after chapter, the characters were sad or nearly miserable. And the ending felt extremely incomplete, so much so I wonder if the book is supposed to be part of a series. Either way, it was too heavy for my personal taste at this time of year. But again, if Christmas angst is your thing, you might enjoy yourself.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Fleur · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this cute Christmas book, Cuddles and Catso are neighbours of sorts as Catso is a street cat and after they cause a ruckus at the local shelters Santa pet photo fundraiser they get a visit from a disappointed Santa. Next they wake up in each others bodies and have to learn how to see from another perspective and along the way we learn about Amma, Misty and Gordon and how not only animals but humans can be sad. I loved how this was about how times of celebrations can be hard on people and that you never know what a person or animal is going through, but also how a little love can go a long way!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Catso is classified a street cat and Cuddles is a small, pampered dog so they can’t stand each other. When they feud at the local animal shelter where pictures were to be taken with Santa to earn money to add an addition to the shelter, everything gets shut down and they each end up with Santa giving them each a talking to about how disappointed he is in their actions. They end up getting a do over with Santa turning the clock back. When they end up inside each other’s body to see how the other lived, would they learn the challenges they each had and how they could handle things better.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Judy Gittleson Hendrickson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Street cat Catso and pampered dog Cuddles cause havoc at a shelter fundraiser, making Santa upset. He talks to them, reverses time, and switches their bodies so they get to see how someone else lives and the problems they have. What a delightfully unique twist on becoming aware of others around you and making things better. Loved the characters, their backstories, the human interactions and views of the world around them. Totally enjoyed this storyline and look forward to reading more by this author.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Nancy S Drake · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a good book and was enjoyable reading. Great values and meaning. I really enjoyed reading it. Kids could learn from it and so can adults. Thank you. I would definitely recommend this book for all ages to read. It's funny in parts but sad in other parts. Makes you want to help stray animals get a good home not just for the holidays but for year round. The rating I chose was because it's a great book. I chose it because it sounded like a fun read. I'd recommend it for all ages.

It's a great book. I really enjoyed reading it. Kids as well as adults can learn from it themselves. Great values were taught. Thank you.

[Texas · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Criss-Cross Christmas - This sweet and funny holiday story actually started with too much anger and whining for me. I wanted happy and joyfulness, and I did get that after the story got going. This is a good story for younger children with the values shown throughout the story. From self-centeredness to the giving spirit and other values, this became an interesting and fun story. The characters were nice, or not, and the story lines were interesting. Santa has a good role and wasn't the only big heart in the group. 5*

[Marie Bourgery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cuddles and Casto are neighbors and enemies until some paranormal magic causes them to go through a body switch and spend a week in each other's skin. Both animals learn a little humility and compassion that was previously lacking and deal with the bullies in each other's lives. I felt for Anna who was left by her husband and daughter, her granddaughter Misty who was abandoned by her mother, and Gordon mourning the loss of his wife. There several tearjerker and laugh out loud moments in this holiday story.

[Marlene Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this cute story, Catso is an alley cat who is homeless, but has lately been taken in by a widower named Gordon...his nemesis is the dog next door, Cuddles, who is about a year old and too bouncy and excitable for Catso...after Catso decided to check out the Santa photos at a local shelter where Cuddles was, after starting a ruckus, they ended up in each other's body through magic...but could they realize they weren't enemies...especially at Christmas time...

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so well written and the characters of Cuddles and Catso we're amazing. I just loved how the author switched well Santa switched Cuddles and Catso while they were sleeping so they could both appreciate where the other one was coming from. Poor Cuddles didn't know what to do on the streets and when the cat came up to steal her food and she tried to act tough was priceless. I really loved this story and I have two chapters left to find out the end. So good.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jeanne Richardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read several books written by Christie Logan; she is becoming one of my favorite authors. I can’t wait to read more of her books.

She has written a cute holiday story about a cat and dog that don’t get along and casue issues with other animals at the animal shelter and Santa putting them on the naughty list.

I received a free copy of this book via booksprout and I’m voluntarily leaving a review.

[Janna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful and entertaining! So clever what goes on in the animal mind. They seem human like with their snobbish clicks, but payback is fun!

Thanks to the author for providing this book for my honest review!

Reasons I enjoyed this book:
Easy-to-read Happily Ever After Witty Unpredictable Page-turner Original Wonderful characters Whimsical Entertaining

[Lori R · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute, sweet Christmas story where the main characters are Catso and Cuddles, a cat and a dog.  I liked the message in the story and learning about Gordon and Anna and her granddaughter, Misty.  Even Santa had an important part in the story.  The story had some humor in it too which I enjoyed. I received an advance copy of this book and I willingly chose to write an honest review.

[Theresa Palmieri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lessons can be learned by young and old alike.


This sweet story is good for reading with young children, up through adult. Concepts of putting yourself in someone else's shoes, to be able to see their life from a different perspective. Helps as a reminder, no matter what age you are. Good family discussion material about things aren't always what they appear on the surface.

[Mary Sopsko · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carson is a grumpy cat that hangs out on the porch of a grumpy older man. Cuddles is a dog who believes in Santa. Their story will melt your heart.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kristi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun and enjoyable holiday read with the main characters that are 4 legged, fury and seem to like trouble. Or maybe trouble likes them. Definitely a story line that will leave a smile on your face.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jeanie Lydick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christmas

I found this book to have many life lessons that have been shoved to the background. This book brought them back to the front where they belong. This book is a great read for Christmas and any time of the year.

[joan bartlett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet story

This was a great Christmas animal story. It was humorous and from the perspective of the cat and the dog. It's A good hearted read for the holiday.

[Lynne Donnelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this

Characters were great. The thought put into this book was wonderful. Quick read, stayed up late to finish it

Enjoy.

[Kerri Snow-Hugmeyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn't put it down!

An adorable story told from the animals point of view. I wish this were a series! I stayed up until almost 2am reading it.

[Laurel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a shorter Christmas time read with a lesson based in kindness. As shown through the POV of a dog and cat.