A Little Christmas Jingle by Michele Dunaway
Released: October 7, 2014
Contemporary Romance
St. Martin’s

Reviewed by May

 Kat Saunders doesn’t believe in miracles—though she sure could use one. She’s devoted to her veterinarian business, and all she wants for Christmas is for her practice to include a no-kill shelter. But amidst all the holiday hoopla she forgot about getting the required permits…and time is running out. Just when Kat fears her dream career is DOA, a to-die-for handsome detective shows up at the vet with a desperate puppy. Could it be that Jack Donovan—otherwise known as Mr. December on the Sexy Public Servants Charity Calendar—is the answer to her prayers? He agrees to help Kat with her legal needs, and she will do whatever it takes to express her appreciation. But could this Man of the Month also end up being Kat’s true love for all days? A kiss beneath the mistletoe may be all it takes to find out. . .

I loved how this book started out. We have a woman who while attracted to simply isn’t interested in chasing down Mr. December yet winds up kissing him the first time they meet. He’s tired of women chasing him around and is intrigued by her, and she’s just busy working and taking care of her patients. The second time they meet he has a puppy being brought in for severe burns and abuse. The pair naturally has to work together a bit for the dog, the case, and the task force and this time together only deepens their attraction.

This book has a lot of things about it that I applaud. First off, the pair gets to know each other and spends real time together and is a very natural fit. Secondly, the author doesn’t give Jingle (the puppy) an easy or glossy path to recovery. This is a romance –so you know they’re not killing off the dog in the title – but it’s a hard road to recovery. Finally, I really love that it shines a light on animal rescue and adoption. A passion of my own, I loved seeing this spotlighted here and with such kind and wonderful characters.

This story had substance, characters I could root for, and just enough holiday detail to be festive but not over the top. There was no particularly memorable dialogue, but the plot moved things right along and this is a detail I am only now noticing as I reflect upon the book. Another issue I’m taking note of as I look back at this story is that neither character is given much of a life outside of their work. Both are extreme workaholics and while they stand out as characters for their personalities, I tend to prefer a bit more detail and development in my characters.

The ending does get a bit rom-com ensemble cast cheesy with Jack’s family and a big scheme that didn’t fit in with the overall feeling of the story. I wish it had been less flash and more heart, as this was a sweet story. While mildly irritating, I still really enjoyed this book. I would definitely recommend this one if the premise appeals and the issues I mention aren’t deal breakers.

Grade: B-

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