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Some say that whenever it snows in Charleston, God is giving a miracle to his most favorite of places. So, I reckon, the blizzard that bleached the entire sky that December must have been a blessing of epic proportions. It was certainly a miracle that I’d forgotten my cell phone after giving my Christmas Eve sermon and had to race back to the sanctuary in order to retrieve it.

Otherwise, how would anyone have ever known that right there in our famous nativity scene, a trembling, little Chihuahua had given birth to a litter of puppies? Yes, right there in the manger. O Holy Night for sure!

This is a story about how those special pups came to change our church—and all the people in it—for the better. Most especially my poor daughter, Abigail. Being the preacher’s kid is never easy. I know, because I grew up as one, too. But losing your spouse right while expecting to become a parent for the first time?

Well, that’s enough to make even the strongest of believers question God’s plans. I know I did. But then our Mama Mary Chihuahua and her Mini Miracles found us… And, well, I’ll let you read the story to find out what happened next!

250 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 29, 2018

537 people are currently reading
206 people want to read

About the author

Melissa Storm

165 books3,765 followers
Melissa Storm is a New York Times and multiple USA Today bestselling author of Women’s Fiction, Inspirational Romance, and Cozy Mysteries.

Despite an intense, lifelong desire to tell stories for a living, Melissa was “too pragmatic” to choose English as a major in college. Instead, she obtained her master’s degree in Sociology & Survey Methodology—then went straight back to slinging words a year after graduation anyway.

She loves books so much, in fact, that she married fellow author Falcon Storm. Between the two of them, there are always plenty of imaginative, awe-inspiring stories to share. Melissa and Falcon also run a number of book-related businesses together, including LitRing, Sweet Promise Press, Novel Publicity, Your Author Engine, and the Author Site.

When she's not reading, writing, or child-rearing, Melissa spends time relaxing at her home in the Michigan woods, where she is kept company by a seemingly unending quantity of dogs and two very demanding Maine Coon rescues. She also writes under the names of Molly Fitz and Mila Riggs.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 121 reviews
Profile Image for Linda Langford.
1,615 reviews14 followers
January 17, 2021
The chihuahuas steal the spotlight in this Christian fiction story. Mama Mary is so cute! The heroine is a good character and the mama dog and her puppies are good therapy for her. Her father, the Pastor, was too domineering and preachy for my taste. The book was told in different voices (first person, third person??) and that was confusing as all get out. My rating: 3 Stars
Profile Image for Kristina Anderson.
4,077 reviews83 followers
April 21, 2019
Mini Miracles by Melissa Storm is the first book in The Church Dogs of Charleston series. It is snowy Christmas Eve night in Charleston, South Carolina when Pastor Adam Elliott realizes he forgot his cell and heads back inside Eternal Grace Church to retrieve it. As he passes their nativity, he hears a noise and looks in to find a Chihuahua with four newborn puppies. Pastor Adam scoops up the freezing mama and her babies and hustles them home to his daughter, Abigail Sutton. Abigail is a recent widow who is four months pregnant and she has lost her faith because she feels God failed to save her husband. Pastor Adam feels these special canines might be the answer to his prayers regarding his daughter. Mama Mary, the name Pastor Adam gave to the mama dog, immediately takes to Abigail. Can Abigail find her way back to God and regain her joy in living?

Mini Miracles is an emotional and illuminating story. I thought Mini Miracles was well-written with steady pacing which made it easy to read. I was drawn into Mini Miracles right away and read the book straight through. Abigail Sutton has become a hermit since her husband passed away. She has lost her faith in God and she cannot even find happiness at the prospect of her baby. Her father, Pastor Adam Elliott has been praying for Abigail. When he finds the Chihuahua’s, Pastor Adam believes his prayers have been answered. There is no manual on grieving. Each person handles it differently and must find a way to deal with it and move forward. It does not happen overnight and only someone who has lost a loved one can understand. Mama Mary and her babies are so sweet. My heart went out for the mama and her new charges. It was a miracle that Pastor Adam found them on a such a cold night. Mini Miracles is a story of healing, recovering faith, dealing with loss, and finding a way forward. There were many wonderful phrases in Mini Miracles. I want to share three of my favorites with you. “Lord works in mysterious way, but sometimes it’s quite difficult to see His plan when you’re standing right in the middle of it.” The other two are “The Lord will provide a way” and “wallowing solves nothing”. I am eager to read the rest of the books in The Church Dogs of Charleston to see how these Chihuahuas help others at Eternal Grace Church. Mini Miracles is an inspiring story that will touch your heart.
Profile Image for Kate.
692 reviews18 followers
February 7, 2019
Mini Miracles by Melissa Storm will warn your heart and fill you with hope and inspiration. This is a wonderful story about healing, forgiveness, finding faith and puppies! Abigail has just lost her husband; she also is pregnant, alone and hurting. Her father is a minister whose wife left him years ago. Can he help his daughter Abigail heal? Can a chance meeting with an old boyfriend confuse or help her?

This is a great story that will have you feeling emotions, confusion, hope, and happiness that the characters feel. This is a well written story. I received this book as a gift and I always review every book that I read. I highly recommend this sweet story. You may even want to adopt a puppy!
Profile Image for Isha Coleman.
9,033 reviews172 followers
November 29, 2018
Mini Miracles (The Church Dogs of Charleston #1) by Melissa Storm  
 
There is no handbook for surviving life. It sometimes takes us losing our faith to discover our hearts. Mini Miracles is an ode to a broken heart. It celebrates the mistakes that make us human and the tragedies that help us become fearless. Storm continues to touch hearts with her stories and inspire with her characters.
Profile Image for ☆☆Hannah☆☆.
3,182 reviews46 followers
June 1, 2019
This was a very enjoyable read. It follows a father and his daughter. Pastor Adam just wants his daughter Abigail to be happy. He gets that she is coping with the loss of her husband and on top of that she is pregnant. Thanks to a litter of puppies that they found their lives got interesting. It also helped Abigail to finally enjoy her life again.
Profile Image for Tamra Delasalle Padgett.
377 reviews4 followers
December 5, 2018
The cover for this book is fabulous and I couldn't wait to read the story of what miracle God would bestow on this town and people. Animals are such great therapy to people who need that something special in their lives. Another winner with me from Melissa Storm.
Profile Image for Stacy Lynn McGrady-Riley.
93 reviews17 followers
October 8, 2019
This is an awesome sweet Story. I know that you're going to love it, if you're looking for something that is Christian and just all-around sweet. I found it very endearing and a little sad at times.
796 reviews
November 12, 2019
I love these stories about the church dogs and how unconditional love can bring healing to so many situations. Rated G
1,773 reviews33 followers
December 5, 2018
A very nice book about healing and learning to love again after a tragic loss and how friends and a supportive father AND a spunky chihuahua can truly be a gift from God! I've often thought that one of life's greatest tragedies would be to lose a husband when you were pregnant and this is what happens to Abigail. She moves back in with her pastor father but refuses to have anything to do with church or God, blaming God, of course, for not being there for her. When a surprise happens at Christmas time to break down the shell around Abigail's heart, her father sees it as an answer to his prayers. Then, suddenly an old boyfriend comes back into Abigail's life that offers her the friendship that she needs to carry on. Between some sweet dogs and a special friend, Abigail's life is renewed and love is peeking just around the corner! A wonderful holiday book that will restore your faith and touch your heart!
841 reviews7 followers
July 22, 2021
A Delightful Christmas Story!

The pastor discovered a chihuahua and her newborn puppies nestled in the nativity set as he left the church after a Christmas Even service. He bundled pups and mom and took them home with him. His daughter, a pregnant recent widow, came by the next morning and saw the puppies and mother dog. She was determined to learn how they had been abandoned.

Read this book to learn about a puppy mill, a former boyfriend from high school, and a cause for them to work on together. I enjoyed this book and hope you will enjoy it also.
Profile Image for Leah.
1,978 reviews
May 22, 2020
This takes place in Charleston. The story cover a year. The story is told by Abigail and her dad. Abigail and Gavin are both dealing with loss and need help to move on. The found dogs help Abigail as well as other parishioners. The dogs were the best part of the story. The romance was understandably slow, but at times, the main character frustrated me. There is a happy ending.
Profile Image for Mary Lou Hoffman.
1,954 reviews34 followers
December 27, 2018
MINI MIRACLES is the first in the Church Dogs of Charleston series. They will need to be read in the order of release

I must preface this review with the disclosure that I am owned by one sweet little Chihuahua. She is ten years old and full of sass. There is no doubt in my mind who rules the roost in my home, no matter how many times I try to tell her it’s me. Her name is Xiao Xiao (rhymes with now, now and means teeny tiny in Chinese).

Xiao Xiao saw the pictures at the beginnings of the chapters and – the darling little that she is – decided that it meant that she was a star! I must admit that I thought they were adorable and they did look just like my sweetheart.

This story is full of tragedy and hope. It brought tears and smiles. It made me sneak away to read another chapter, because I had to know what came next for the humans and the dogs. Abigail, Gavin, and Pastor Adam are all hurting in such familiar ways that I wanted to just hug and hold them until they could smile again, but that’s what they were doing for each other, right?

I loved the faith lessons without judgement or pressure. What a wonderful, modern, romantic testament.

While Mother Mary has found her home with Abigail and Gavin, I look forward to seeing where the puppies end up, whom they may be meant to help, and how.

Note: While I received this book as a gifted ARC, my opinions are my own and are given freely.



Title: MINI MIRACLES
Series: Church Dogs of Charleston #1
Category /Genre: Contemporary Romance
Recommended for: 18+ due to adult content
Grammar/editing: book received as an unedited ARC / errors excused
Received from: Melissa Storm (as an ARC gifted copy)
235 reviews11 followers
February 5, 2019
Sometimes our losses seem too hard to bear, and as we grieve we want to withdraw from all contact, rage at the world, and never go through it again. Abigail has just suffered a devastating loss. She lost her husband and her love of God. Mini Miracles let's us see that God's love remains if we open our eyes to the mini miracles God gives us every day.
I enjoyed this story. For a pregnant Chihuahua to escape a puppy mill and find shelter in a raging snowstorm is unusual. That the shelter is the straw filled manger of a nativity scene at a church whose burned out lights brings the pastor out to check the power is coincidence. That the tiny dog gives birth that night and she and all four puppies survive is amazing. That she opens Abigail to life and love is a dog's purpose. Seeing the unusual, the amazing, the coincidence all coming together at a certain time and place for a purpose is recognizing the mini miracles of every day life that bring hope, strength and love. Abigail's struggle with grief is real, that she can identify with a tiny new dog mom seems absurd, but love in small packages can melt the coldest hearts.
Profile Image for Sheila Lee.
1,015 reviews14 followers
February 3, 2020
This was such an inspirational story about God's eternal love and His amazing gifts.
A Chihuahua and her 4 newly-born puppies are found in the manger of a church nativity scene on a snowy Christmas Eve. The pastor who finds them believes the dogs are miracles for his daughter who is pregnant and has recently lost her military husband overseas. He brings them home where his daughter grieves, and is focusing inward on all she lost. She blames God for the death of her husband and vaccilates between sadness and anger.
Through the unconditional love of the mother Chihuahua and her father's extraordinary faith in God, Abigail starts learning how to live again. She also rekindles a friendship with Gavin, her high school sweetheart. Slowly, Abigail begins to find her way back to God.
This sweet book centers on the loss of a loved one and how God helps us see the mini miracles in our lives. 5 stars!
784 reviews9 followers
September 24, 2019
This was such a touching story. Unfortunately, I know someone who had this exact thing happen with her a few years back, but she didn't have the pastor father or the dogs in her life (she did have a church family!). This story will keep you turning the pages through each chapter. The characters are likeable and lovable & they'll grab your heart. The descriptions of Charleston are wonderful (since I have never been) and make you want to visit. A faith-filled story that addresses some very real issues of what people might face.
A great start to what looks like a sweet series.
I received an ARC copy of this book. However, this is my voluntary, honest and completely personal review.
VICKI FROM WYOMING
Profile Image for Lisa.
126 reviews6 followers
October 12, 2019
Mini Miracles was a great free book I came across. It is one of the better inspiring Christian Fiction novels I have read recently. What is better than a Christmas Eve find of puppies at the base of a nativity? This Church Dogs series book walks the reader through the healing journeys of not just the main character but several of the key characters. It takes on difficult topics like death, deceit, abandonment and ultimately forgiveness and the ability to love again.

Melissa Storm has given us a new series that is sure to remind us of God’s plans are bigger than our plans. This is a must read for anyone who appreciates wholesome inspiring reads. I am looking forward to reading the rest of this series.
327 reviews
December 5, 2018
Mini Miracles is a heartwarming story of second chance love by Melissa Storm around Christmas. Abigail is devastated when she lost her husband and pregnant with her dad a pastor her belief in God is gone. Miracles happen at Christmas when her dad finds a mamma chihuahua and her new born puppies in the church crèche after services on a very cold night. I loved the fact that the mama pup helped Abigail through her grief and to find love again with her first boyfriend. This is a sweet heartwarming story that is very uplifting and a book not to miss in reading. I received an ARC copy of this book and voluntarily reviewed it.
3,669 reviews17 followers
December 6, 2018
Pastor’s daughter Abigail Sutton was lost. She lost her husband and her faith in God. Only the baby she carried kept her going. When her father discovers a mama and four Chihuahua puppies in the church manger on Christmas Eve she finds a new purpose taking care of them and trying to find their owner. In doing so she uncovers a puppy mill and saves other dogs, meets back up with her old high school boyfriend Gavin, and rediscovers her faith in God. Mama Mary and the puppies were so cute. Gavin was such a great friend, so patient, thoughtful, understanding, and funny. I enjoyed this sweet holiday romance and can’t wait for the next one in the series.
Profile Image for Dotty.
772 reviews
December 31, 2018
A book of hope and finding your faith. Abigale, is a sad, withdrawn widowed mother-to-be. Her father the church pastor finds a dog and her puppies in the manager outside the church. She is taking care of them and finding a purpose. She also finds a puppy mill. She saves other dogs.
She becomes reacquainted with an old friend from high school named Gavin.
Can Abigale find her faith?
I receive complimentary books for review from publishers, publicists, and/or authors. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.
1,839 reviews12 followers
April 16, 2019
I don't think anyone can understand grief & how one recover from it until they have personally gone through the loss of a loved one. I liked this book because Abigail shuts herself off from the faith she was raised with after the death of her husband but allows the love of her father, a mamma dog & an old flame friend to lead her back to God, love with another man & life. I think it is a heart-warming story. I look forward to the next books in the series to see how others are helped by these little dogs. I love dogs & books that make them part of the story.

I received a free copy of this book by the author. This is my voluntary, honest review.
2,697 reviews20 followers
April 25, 2019
A beautiful story of hope after Abigail loses her husband and finds out she is expecting their first child. The mini miracles are cute little puppies born in a manger outside the church where Abigail's father is the pastor. The four puppies were born on Christmas Eve and the mother was then named Mama Mary. The puppies, along with an old high school friend help to bring peace and happiness back to Abigail's life as she finds her way back to God. This is a beautiful book of new hope and new love and wonderful, memorable characters. I received a copy of this book and I willingly chose to write an honest review.
799 reviews8 followers
December 18, 2018
Mini Miracles is a Christmas Love Story that captured my heart and filled it with the Joy of the season. I really loved the opening sentence and I do believe God really does work miracles. Finding Mama Mary and her babies in the church’s navitity scene was only the beginning for Abigail. She had lost her husband, was expecting her first child and her faith in God was gone until Mama Mary and her babies needed her and helped her heal. I loved this story...Ms. Storm writes with passion and love that radiates from the pages! I highly recommend.
Profile Image for kim hackbarth.
24 reviews
February 4, 2019
Sometimes you need a miracle to get your life back on track. That is what happens in this book. After the discovery of a mamma Chihuahua and her litter of puppies in the church Nativity. The puppies need to be cared for and bring the daughter of the Reverend who finds them to realize that there ate such things as miracles and she does need Good is her life. The story was a very quick read but was very well written. I received it as an advance reader copy from the author. I would recommend it to anyone who loves dogs or is just looking for a little bit of love in troubled times.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Elsbeth.
838 reviews
December 2, 2018
I'm not a huge fan of Chihuahuas. But when one of my favourite authors writes a book in which they play a part, I just have to give the little dogs a try. And I don't regret it.
There is so much love in this book, 'outside and inside Abigail'.
I couldn't put it down!
The 3 human main characters all have their own wounds. As does little Mama Mary, but she trusts her heart. And, in doing so, makes Abigail trust her heart again, too.
I'm really looking forward to reading the next books in this series!
I received a copy and chose to review it.
Profile Image for Leslie  Bakke.
115 reviews
December 4, 2018
Mini Miracles is the first book in a new series, The Church Dogs of Charleston, written by Melissa Storm. Who could have imagined that a dog and her puppies could change a grieving woman's life? I read this book when I need some inspiration and it sure came through. The characters are well written and the story grabs the reader's heart. I suggest that you have some tissues nearby. I think that Min Miracles is a book that can bring a bit of sunshine into any reader's life. Ms. Storm did a really good job with this one. I received an advanced copy of this book and I am thankful that I did.
Profile Image for Ashley Hedden.
5,259 reviews43 followers
March 23, 2019
Mini Miracles was a great read by Melissa Storm. Pastor Adam left his cell phone at the church after his sermon on Christmas Eve. When going back to retrieve it he finds a little Chihuahua and her litter of puppies she gave birth to in the churches nativity scene. This puppies changed the church but also his daughter Abigail. She just lost her husband and also found out that she was expecting a child. I absolutely loved reading Abigail's journey of rediscovery and finding love again. This was another great read by Melissa Storm.
343 reviews1 follower
September 7, 2019
Love this cute dog story

This is a cute story about some Chihuahuas that were found on Christmas eve in the manger scene at a church. The pastor finds the mama dog with her recent newborn puppies. The pastor took them home. His daughter Abigail lives with him. She is a pregnant widow. Times are tough for her. The dogs help her and church out. Gavin who Abigail knew when she was younger was struggling also. Love this emotionally packed book with the puppies, the church and Abigail and Gavin. The puppies help out where things are needed. Cute love and puppy story.
197 reviews2 followers
September 17, 2019
This is a delightful story about a Pastor that found a mother chihuahua and four puppies in the Nativity Scene at their church. He takes them home for his widowed daughter to care for. He wants her to find happiness and her trust in God again before she has her baby.
An old boyfriend is also in the picture.
As you read this story and they tell of the antics that her new baby and the puppies, who were named by the children at church, cause, you have to laugh. Read about it and also how she finds her way back to her faith.
This is a good Christian story and I loved it.
1,343 reviews4 followers
December 7, 2019
The Grace of God, faith, love, hope, forgiveness, and second chances all wrapped up in a grieving widow and a new set of pups born in a manger on Christmas Eve.

So moving it had me in tears and smiles many, many times, and I had to read it straight through! A totally satisfying story with a happy ending. I couldn't find a single thing wrong with the writing, and that is rare, so my thanks to the author, and her editor and proofreader, for an excellent job. God bless you all!
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