The Nine Lives of Christmas [Hardcover]

Sheila Roberts (Author)

Book Description

Release date: October 25, 2011

Two people are about to discover that when it comes to finding love, sometimes Christmas magic isn’t enough…sometimes it takes a pesky orange cat named Ambrose.

When a guy is in trouble, he starts making deals with his Creator…and Ambrose the cat is no exception. In danger of losing his ninth and final life, Ambrose makes a desperate plea to the universe.  He’ll do anything—anything!—if he can just survive and enjoy a nice long, final life. His prayer is answered when a stranger comes along and saves him—and now it looks like he has to hold up his end of the bargain.

The stranger turns out to be a firefighter named Zach, who’s in need of some serious romantic help. If Ambrose can just bring Zach together with Merilee, the nice lady who works at Pet Palace, it’s bound to earn him a healthy ninth life.  Unfortunately for Ambrose, his mission is a lot harder than he ever thought.  Merriliee is way too shy to make the first move on a ladies man like Zach, and Zach thinks he’s all wrong for a nice girl like Merrilee.  Now it’s going to take all of Ambrose’s feline wiles—and maybe even a good old fashioned Christmas miracle—to make them both realize that what they’re looking for is right in front of their eyes.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...witty characterizations, slapstick mishaps, and plenty of holiday cheer."

--Publishers Weekly

 

"...the perfect gift for the cat lover in your life."

--Five Alarm Book Reviews

 

"If you love Christmas, cats and happy endings, Sheila Roberts’ The Nine Lives of Christmas is the ticket to great holiday reading pleasure!"

--Literarily Speaking

About the Author

Sheila Roberts is the author of On Strike for Christmas, Small Change, The Snow Globe, Bikini Season, and other bestselling books. Before settling into her writing life, Roberts did lots of other things, including owning a singing telegram company and playing in a band. Now, when she’s not speaking to women’s groups or at conferences, she can be found writing about the things near and dear to women’s hearts: family, friends, and chocolate. She lives on a lake in Washington.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press; 1St Edition edition (October 25, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312594496
• ISBN-13: 978-0312594497
• Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 5.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #878,404 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Sheila Roberts lives on a small lake in the Pacific Northwest and has three children and one long-suffering husband. Her books have been printed in a many different languages, and her novel "On Strike for Christmas" was made into a movie for the Lifetime Channel. When she's not playing with girlfriends or on the tennis court Sheila can be found writing about those things dear to women's hearts:family, friends, and chocolate.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Another great book from my favorite author! October 28, 2011

By Northwest Girl

Format:Hardcover

If you like Christmas, romance, and pets with personality, "The Nine Lives of Christmas" is for you! I've been a fan of Sheila Roberts for a long time and her latest book is another wonderful read. Her latest story involves a firefighter whose heart needs mending, a sweet and relatable heroine, and a matchmaking cat (how awesome is that?), all set against the backdrop of the holidays. I was glued to this book from the very first page, and could hardly put it down! Reading "The Nine Lives of Christmas" is a great way to get into the holiday spirit, and it delivers surprises right up to the end! I highly recommend this book. It's a must-have for your personal library, and it would also make a great Christmas gift for your friends, family and (of course!) the cat lovers in your life!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful holiday story October 29, 2011

By Susan M - Ohio

Format:Hardcover

Have you ever pleaded with God that IF He gets you out of the current sticky situation that you'll do ANYTHING? Well, then you have something in common with Ambrose who is on his ninth life and doesn't want it to end since it's his "last" one. Ambrose isn't the only one that enjoys a second chance, either. The Nine Live of Christmas is a VERY charming read from the perspective of Amrose, Zack and also Merilee. There are some colorful side characters like the nasty apartment manager, a character along the lines of Cruella de Vil and also, The Steps. Add a charming Victorian house that Zack is renovating, fires in the fireplace and a few other charming animals and you have a not to be missed holiday read! Plus you can learn the meaning of "Crab-in-the-pot syndrome"! ;)

Be sure and buy several and make your holiday gift giving easy and enjoyable this year.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A purrfect read for a lazy holiday afternoon January 13, 2012

By Ingrid King

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Every once in a while, I like to read a romance novel. I also enjoy reading Christmas themed books. And I really love it when there's a cat in a Christmas romance novel, which is why I was delighted to discover this book.

Of course, the cover had me hooked right away. I was somewhat familiar with the author. I read Sheila Roberts' On Strike for Christmas a few years ago. I bought that book because it, too, had a cat on the cover, and I enjoyed it, even though there wasn't a cat in the actual story. Apparently, publishers have caught on that people will buy books with cats on the cover - or else, they just have my number.

Rest assured, there is a cat in this book.

The story is told from Ambrose's the cat's and the human protagonists, Zach's and Merilee's, perspective, and, not surprisingly, I particularly enjoyed Ambrose's sections. I also loved the suggestion that he had encountered some of the people he meets in this ninth life in some of his prior lives. You will smile and root for Ambrose as he uses all his feline powers to bring Zach and Merilee together.

While the story may be a little too predictable at times (it is, after all, a romance novel), the book is delightfully charming and a purrfect read for a lazy afternoon during the holidays.