A Family Under the Christmas Tree: A Novel

Now a Hallmark Channel original movie called Picture a Perfect Christmas!

Unexpected events bring together a single father and a fashion photographer, who are united by their connection to a young boy and a mischievous dog, in this heartwarming Christmas romance.

David Murphy never knew much about kids. But when his brother dies unexpectedly, he is granted custody of his six-year-old nephew, Troy. He already has his hands full running his business, and he has no idea how to help the grieving boy. When Troy runs off one day, David finds him at a park playing with an adorable and rambunctious dog—who leads him to Sophie.

Sophie Griffith has spent her life travelling around the world as a photojournalist. She has never stayed in one place for long, and her new assignment—helping her grandmother for a few weeks—is just temporary. Once Christmas day comes, Sophie is off the hook and can leave for a new adventure. Caring for her grandmother is a piece of cake—but caring for her new Bernese mountain dog, Riggs, is a different story. It doesn’t help that Riggs strikes up a friendship with a lost little boy one day at the park—and leads her to David.

Neither David nor Sophie have time for romance. But as their faith and growing love for the boy and dog unites them, they are forced to decide whether their relationship is more than a fleeting holiday romance before the season runs out.

Terri Reed is an award winning author whose romance and romantic suspense novels have appeared on Publishers Weekly Top 25, Nielsen’s Bookscan Top 100, and Amazon’s Top 100, and have been featured in USA TODAY, Christian Fiction Magazine, and RT Book Reviews. Her books have been finalists in Romance Writers of America’s RITA contest, National Reader’s Choice Award contest, and the ACFW Carol Awards. She resides in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, children, and dog.