Scrooge & the Secret Santa — Marcia James

A bah-humbug police dog trainer meets his match in holiday-loving physical therapist.

Police dog trainer, Patton Carter, has nothing but bad memories of holidays spent in foster homes as a child. When a car crash lands him in the hospital and a knee replacement requires rehab, he hires physical therapist, Faith Harmon, to live in his house over the holidays as a combination therapist, caretaker, and dog-sitter.

As a part-time therapy pet teacher, Faith has had run-ins with the Patton at Klein's K-9s. But the pay he's offering for the six-week job is too good to pass up. She agrees to move into his house with the stipulation that he won't continue to disparage the important work of therapy animal handlers and their pets. She never anticipates that their biggest conflict will be Christmas.

Patton soon learns the difference therapy pets can make in the lives of patients like himself. But will he be able to open his heart to love and the spirit of Christmas before he loses Faith?


“Marcia James writes characters that draw you in and have you rooting for them from the start.” ~ Joyfully Reviewed