Summary
New York Times bestselling authorAs far as ten-year-old Miller McClellan is concerned, it's 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. His brother even got the dog!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. The splintered family must come together to rediscovertheir strengths, family bond, and the true meaning of Christmas.
Mary Alice Monroe began her writing career studying journalism and writing nonfiction and for newspapers for hire. She began studying Asian culture after a trip to Japan with her husband and was later awarded a fellowship, became bilingual in Japanese and earned her master's degree. She has helped establish a government-funded English as a Second Language program for Southeast Asian refugees. Monroe has also co-authored an English-language survival text.
Monroe wrote her first novel while confined to bed rest for her final months of pregnancy. Her book The Long Road Home made the New York Times bestseller list for 2010. She is now known primarily for her fiction work which is heavily influenced by her move to South Carolina's Lowcountry. Monroe enjoys nature and is involved with several environmental groups, including the board of the South Carolina Aquarium.
Monroe lives with her family on a barrier island off South Carolina.
