The Promise — Jacqueline Rogers

It's Jamie and Matt's first Christmas since Ma's death, and Matt is doing his best to keep her traditions. He chides Pa into decorating the tree and reminds him of Ma's story of the animals' Christmas miracle -- their power to speak at midnight. Then Matt and his beloved Labrador retriever, Sara, set out to hang suet balls for the birds, just as Ma would have done.

Suddenly a hungry bear surprises them, mauling Sara. On top of that, snow has started falling hard and Matt is lost in the woods. But it is Christmas Eve near midnight -- just the right time for a miracle. The Promise is a riveting story about the power to heal and about having faith -- even when it leads where you don't want to follow.