Melody Carlson’s “The Christmas Cat” is a sweet tale that deals with loneliness, loss and heartache … and finding joy at the end of the road.
Garrison Brown has been digging wells in Uganda for nine years, until a bout of malaria sends him home. After his return, he learns his sweet grandmother, Lilly, a former missionary to Africa herself, has passed away. She leaves him as guardian of her six beloved cats — he must follow certain specifications Lilly has required to find each cat a good home.
As Garrison seeks to find homes for his furry charges, to whom he’s severely allergic, the 34-year-old connects with some people who make a big impact on his life. He also must decide what God wants for his life — to return to the big city for a new job, or to create the halfway house for men he’s always dreamed of opening.
Carlson creates some truly lovely characters: adorable Ruby, Lilly’s next door neighbor; Ruby’s troubled grandson, Elliott; retired Vincent, who helps Garrison just as much as Garrison helps him; and lovely Cara Wilson, who just doesn’t quite meet Lilly’s qualifications for adopting a cat, but quickly settles into Garrison’s heart.
“The Christmas Cat” will encourage you to seek God’s will for your life, to take the journey He sets before you. And even though this novel has “Christmas” in the title, it barely takes place during the Christmas season, so readers will enjoy reading it all throughout the year. “The Christmas Cat” is a genuine, feel-good story. I dare you to not have a smile on your face when you finish it!
Five stars out of five.
Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, provided this complimentary copy for my honest, unbiased review.