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Lost and Found #4.7

SEAL's Christmas Dream

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Previously published in the Dog Tags for Christmas anthology.

Be sure to read to the end for a Max and Lacey short story!!!

Love is never easy, but nothing worth fighting for ever is…

Former Navy SEAL K9 handler Joe Flynn is finally getting a grip on the PTSD flashbacks of his lost Military War Dog. The new dog that has adopted him, Maya, is filling that aching hole in his heart nicely. Not to mention the woman who changed his life by loving him completely,Veterinarian Willow James.
Willow knows she has a soft heart. When a young boy brings his sick dog in for her to treat, she becomes invested in his safety. There’s no way she can turn him away.
But mystery surrounds the boy.
When her office is burglarized, it's natural that she turn to Flynn to track down the culprits. The situation turns deadly when the trail leads to a local dog-fighting ring…Unfortunately, the young boy Willow has been trying to help is right in the thick of things.
Flynn and Willow find themselves fighting for more than just the abused Pit-Bulls they find. It's going to take a Christmas miracle to get everyone home safely...

130 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 8, 2017

79 people are currently reading
135 people want to read

About the author

J.M. Madden

70 books930 followers
NY Times and USA Today Bestselling author J.M. Madden writes compelling romances between 'combat modified' military men and the women who love them. J.M. Madden loves any and all good love stories, most particularly her own. She has two beautiful children and a husband who always keeps her on her toes.

J.M. was a Deputy Sheriff in Ohio for nine years, until hubby moved the clan to Kentucky. When not chasing the family around, she's at the computer, reading and writing, perfecting her craft. She occasionally takes breaks to feed her animal horde and is trying to control her office-supply addiction, but both tasks are uphill battles. Happily, she is writing full-time and always has several projects in the works. She also dearly loves to hear from readers! So, drop her a line. She'll respond.

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5 stars
155 (61%)
4 stars
74 (29%)
3 stars
20 (7%)
2 stars
1 (<1%)
1 star
2 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
Profile Image for CC.
1,781 reviews238 followers
December 31, 2017
What a wonderful novella! While you do not have to read the series to understand the book, why would you not. I absolutely love this series! This story makes my heart ache and feel full. Such a wonderful story of struggle, survival and then happiness! I can’t imagine a better story to end my year with!
Profile Image for Never Stop Reading or Dreaming.
898 reviews31 followers
July 12, 2017
Review:

I LOVED this!! So I loved these two in the first story and now in their second Christmas story I loved them even more. I get such a warm feeling when it comes to these characters. They are just so kind hearted and wonderful. Plus we save a "bait" dog fro dog fighting emailer this year. He's the sweetest dog in the world... not so smart but as sweet as could be. This story was wonderful and I truly loved every second of it.
Profile Image for Karen.
1,253 reviews51 followers
March 28, 2017
Loved it

If you are a fan of the LNF series you are in for a treat. If you haven't read any of the LNF series than this story is going to make you want to read them. This author is my favorite writer of wounded warriors she does justice to their stories.
Loved the bonus short at the end.
Profile Image for Lisa Gibbs.
802 reviews2 followers
December 3, 2018
I am so glad that this book was expanded upon from an anthology. I love all of the Lost and Found characters and am always eager to learn more about my favorite characters. This story is no different.

Willow, Flynn and now Raven are in for one special Christmas just as one courageous young boy stands up for what's right. Mateo is a wonderful addition to the LNF family.

I have read this book before but often times when I find myself going back to stories and authors that I love. These characters become like family and yes that may be strange since they are not real but that is how it feels.

I long for more Novellas about my favorite LNF characters. This is a wonderful gift to readers like me who devour Ms. Madden's LNF series.
Profile Image for Susan Daly.
18 reviews
October 3, 2020
A heartwarming story.

Willow, a vet helps a badly I hired dog and begins a relationship with a young boy who has a very skinny dog. When the dog is badly injured, she takes care of him and Mateo works for her to help pay her back. Her husband Flynn, senses that Mateo is not in a good situation and then find him badly beaten. His family is involved in dog fighting and Mateo has tried to belongs bait dogs. When his family is arrested,Mateo is sent into foster care until Flynn and Willow can dig the paperwork to be his foster parents.
Profile Image for Book Monitor.
871 reviews14 followers
March 24, 2017
This novella was very enjoyable. This is the next stage in the lives of Flynn and Willow who are settling in as parents of baby Raven and become entangled with a local lad, Mateo, whose life is harsh. It is short but it is well written and very engaging. At the end of the book there is also a little story about Max and Lacey. Lacey is working Christmas and Max goes in to surprise her with an impromtu picnic. We get to meet one of her patients and there is a feel good factor to this tale. 4 star read for me .
2 reviews
July 13, 2022
A Christmas story with heart.

This is a sequel to the author's Seal's Lost Dream. She has written a Christmas story that is less about a fluffy Hallmark kind of Christmas than it is about love of all kinds: the love of the Hero and heroine, love for animals, the love for their biological child and the gotcha child. In other words, a real Christmas story. I found it to be unexpected but incredibly satisfying.
Profile Image for Miriam Rivera.
509 reviews
January 2, 2019
Christmas reading at its best.

We get to revisit Flynn and Willow in this book. A boy desperately trying to escape an abusive home while caring for wounded dogs brings Flynn and Willow closer as a family. They help this boy find a new home but Mateo helps them complete their family.
Profile Image for Melanie Marnell.
4,225 reviews34 followers
February 24, 2020
Never in a million years did Willow or Joe Flynn think that extending kindness to a young teen boy and his dog would lead to a life altering chand i their family. Mateo reached out to Willow when his dog became ill and then insisted in working off the bill. Both Flynn and Willow knew the boy lived in hardship but had no real idea how bad it was.
Profile Image for April.
Author 12 books69 followers
December 25, 2022
What a perfect story to add to my December Christmas Themed reading list. And to have read it on Christmas Eve was the cat's meow, or the dog's bark! But seriously, this story has all the feels for a Christmas miracle. I love the storyline and the wonderful characters.
282 reviews1 follower
September 20, 2023
Grab the tissues

Loved this story about dogs, babies, hard times, abusive parents and the biggest love between Flynn and Willow. And did I mention it all comes together on a snowy Christmas Eve? Enjoy!
Profile Image for Jayne Wheatley.
643 reviews12 followers
December 26, 2025
A real feel good storyline,
Loving characters.
An abused boy meets a loving couple who believe in him.
Abused animals that end up being the catalyst to bring an abused boy to the joy of a couple who chose him.
Family isn’t always blood, this chosen family bonded over doing the right thing.
Profile Image for Jewlsbookblog.
2,210 reviews74 followers
March 10, 2017
Since Seal's Lost Dream, Joe Flynn and Willow James have had a lot of changes in their lives. In the past year, he and Willow have married, started a family and Flynn has found a new furry friend/partner who helps him cope with his PTSD. Juggling motherhood and work keeps Willow's hands full, but it doesn't deter her from helping those in need-both the two and four legged variety. When Mateo, looking for a way to help save his dog from hunger and the weather, encounters Willow and Flynn, his life is about to change in ways he never expected. Stray animals, one special boy, and the Flynn family are about to discover miracles really do happen at Christmas!

I love the Lost and Found series and getting to revisit Willow and Flynn is like having an early Christmas present! Madden delivers another successful entry into the Lost and Found series with enjoyable characters, tender moments, canine antics, and a strong storyline. Originally published in the anthology Dog Tags for Christmas, SEAL's Christmas Dream was a delightful treat! The expanded version was a great excuse to revisit Flynn, Willow, Raven, Mateo and all their furry friends! I also loved the scene with Lacey and Max at the end of the book! Max's sweet and thoughtful side appears when he surprises Lacey with a Christmas meal at work. His instant camaraderie to fellow SEAL Cooper-one of Lacey's patients- has me hoping there will be a new team member joining LNF in the near future!
Profile Image for Mandy C.
236 reviews16 followers
September 6, 2017
A nice treat!

Loved catching up with these two. It was a fun short story with lots of emotion. Worth you time indeed!
Profile Image for sheila.
566 reviews
September 23, 2017
Hurt

Reading this hurt. It's not graphic about the bait dogs but still.... It's a feel good story and delivers. I just wish the dogs could have gotten revenge.
Profile Image for Glenda Bettin.
4,405 reviews30 followers
March 27, 2018
love this series and love how Willow and Flynn have such a love of everybody
4,842 reviews10 followers
December 26, 2018
Loved it

Absolutely loved this book and it was a book. Great storyline about abused animals and kids and catch up with Flynn and his vet. Highly recommend.
Profile Image for Vicky.
2,144 reviews30 followers
February 3, 2020
I loved this one. Everything was played out beautifully. For a novella there was a real depth of character for the main players. Happy happiness.
Profile Image for Janet Swiftbird.
1,878 reviews6 followers
June 11, 2020
A dog's day

Thoroughly love this, what a great HEA for all.
New and old characters enhance the storyline as the characters find new hope.
Profile Image for Eve.
108 reviews
January 6, 2021
I loved this novella. It absolutely speaks to the spirit of the series, and it was great to have a small peek into the lives of some of my favorite characters!
Profile Image for Madm007.
1,156 reviews6 followers
February 9, 2021
Flynn and Dr. Willow

This one hurts your heart with harsh realities,
but a super happy ending for Willow, Flynn, baby Raven, Mateo and a bunch of loving fur babies.
Profile Image for Khenta.
165 reviews2 followers
May 17, 2018
Even for a christmas-themed story, this was story was overly sentimental and sirupy.

I was especially irked by this horribly sexist paragraph from chapter 1:
"[The baby] was dressed in a pale green Onesie decorated with dancing elephants, and even though the color intimated boy, there was no mistaking her daughter's fine features. She was definitely all girl, from her thick black hair to her flirty little smile."

What the what?
1) Since when is pale green a "boys" color? Should all girl babies wear only pink because all other colors make them look like male children? What a ridiculous concept. That's barbiefication. Please keep colors like pale green and pale yellow gender-neutral, thank you.
2) Please don't sexualize babies (the one in the story is about 6 months old!) or little children by interpreting their behavior as "flirty" or "coquettish" or some such nonsense. A baby boy would have smiled just the same. Get this: it's a basic human trait...

The bonus story was good, though.
Profile Image for Karen.
1,253 reviews51 followers
March 14, 2017
Loved it

If you are a fan of the LNF series you are in for a treat. If you haven't read any of the LNF series than this story is going to make you want to read them. This author is my favorite writer of wounded warriors she does justice to their stories.
2,845 reviews8 followers
March 26, 2020
Perfection! I loved catching up with Flynn and Willow! This book had all of the feels, and I loved the plot with Mateo. What a heartwarming story!
4,547 reviews29 followers
January 11, 2022
I read the original version of the story in the anthology. This new version is just as good (I can't remember it well enough to detect the differences) and the bonus story was a nice addition.
97 reviews
September 17, 2018
Just got done book 4.7 in the LNF series only a couple more tell the series end. So going to miss these individuals and couples. This was so good love Flynn and Williow, make sure you have kleenexs ready. Max and Lacey are great too, they both have such patients. Enjoy the series and author.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews

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