A Lowcountry Christmas
Written by Mary Alice Monroe
Narrated by Mary Alice Monroe
4.5/5
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About this audiobook
As far as ten-year-old Miller McClellan is concerned, this is the worst Christmas ever. His father’s shrimp boat is docked, his mother is working two jobs, and with finances strained, Miller is told they can’t afford the dog he desperately wants. “Your brother’s return from war is our family’s gift,” his parents tell him. But when Taylor returns with PTSD, family strains darken the holidays.
Then Taylor’s service dog arrives—a large black Labrador/Great Dane named Thor. When Miller goes out on Christmas Eve with his father’s axe, determined to get his family the tree they can’t afford, he takes the dog for company—but accidentally winds up lost in the wild forest. During this emergency, the splintered family must come together and rediscover their strengths, family bond, and the true meaning of Christmas.
Mary Alice Monroe
Mary Alice Monroe is the New York Times bestselling author of 27 books including her newest novel The Summer of Lost and Found (May 2021, Gallery Books), and her first Middle Grade book The Islanders (June 2021, Aladdin Books). Monroe’s books have been published worldwide. She’s earned numerous accolades and awards, including: Induction into the South Carolina Academy of Authors’ Hall of Fame; Southwest Florida Author of Distinction Award; South Carolina Award for Literary Excellence; RT Lifetime Achievement Award; the International Book Award for Green Fiction, and the prestigious Southern Book Prize for Fiction. Her bestselling novel The Beach House is a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie. Mary Alice Monroe is also the co-creator and co-host of the weekly webshow and podcast Friends and Fiction. Monroe found her true calling in environmental fiction when she moved to the Isle of Palms, South Carolina. Captivated by the beauty and fragility of her new home in the lowcountry, Monroe’s experiences gave her a strong and important focus for her novels. Monroe and Dorothea Benton Frank were lowcountry neighbors. Dottie--as she was called among friends-- lived across the inlet from Isle of Palms on the neighboring Sullivan’s Island. Together they became part of a small tribe of Lowcountry writers who gathered together over the years for meals and conversation supporting each other’s careers and personal lives. Dottie’s energy and spirit will be forever missed.
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Reviews for A Lowcountry Christmas
46 ratings7 reviews
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Majority of Christmas novels are romance stories but this one is entirely different. It is a story of a strong Southern family whose son returns from the service with PTSD and anger issues.The story is inspiring and give the gift of hope.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Fast moving book about acceptance and apologies.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A Lowcountry Christmas is book 5 in the Lowcountry Summer series but instead of being a continuation of the story, it's a prequel and can be read as a stand-alone without any confusion.I love Mary Alice Monroe's books and I really enjoyed this series so I was thrilled that there would be another book in the series. This is Taylor's story about his life before he married Harper. When Taylor returned from Afghanistan, he had PTSD and couldn't cope with life. His younger brother was afraid of him and his moods and inaction were making life difficult for the family. After he received a service dog from Pets for Vets (a real group who helps vets), his life and his attitude toward life began to slowly change.As always, Mary Alice writes lovingly about the SC Lowcountry. When you read her books, you can smell the ocean and feel the ocean breeze. She is also an avid conservationist and this is reflected in her books. Her love of animals shines through in her descriptions of Thor, Taylor's service dog. I loved this book. I highly recommend it and think that it will put the readers into the Christmas spirit and make them believe in the miracles of love and family.Thanks to the author for a copy of this book for a fair and honest review.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5This novel was predictable from the start. While it does expound on the PTSD the returning soldiers can suffer from, there is not much of a plot or character development. Trite at times and sappy at others, it misses the mark.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Very moving story about a Marine veteran with PTSD. As a fan of this series it was nice to learn more about Taylor's backstory and how he received his service dog, Thor.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A wonderful holiday read makes me appreciate all our service men and woman do for us everyday. The book was filled with thoughts of the holidays, family traditions and I can't wait to try the Spicy Sausage Ball recipe and LowCountry Christmas drink in the back of the book too!
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Taylor McClellan returns from combat with an injury and PTSD. After spending time in a veterans hospital, he is encouraged to go back home. His ten-year-old brother Miller desperately wants a puppy for Christmas, but their economic circumstances changed because of changes in the shrimping industry, and the pup cannot be purchased. A call is received in which Taylor is being given a therapy dog. The therapy dog brings healing in many ways. Chapters alternate between the viewpoints of Taylor, Miller, and their mom Jenny. I enjoyed the story and the Lowcountry setting. Each chapter is prefaced with a quote from Dickens' A Christmas Carol which Taylor and Miller are reading together. This book tells the backstory to Taylor who was introduced in a previous book, and the final chapter brings the family together in the present as we know him from that book. It's a wonderful Christmas story which even persons who did not read the earlier story will enjoy.