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The Nine Lives of Christmas  By  cover art

The Nine Lives of Christmas

By: Sheila Roberts
Narrated by: Kathleen McInerney
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Publisher's summary

Best-selling author Sheila Roberts brings us a humorous, heartwarming Christmas novel about a matchmaking cat who brings a couple together just in time for the holidays.

When a guy is in trouble, he starts making deals with his Creator…and Ambrose the cat is no exception. In danger of losing his ninth and final life, Ambrose makes a desperate plea. He’ll do anything—anything!—if he can just survive and enjoy a nice long, final life. His prayer is answered when a stranger comes along and saves him, and now it looks like he has to hold up his end of the bargain.

The stranger turns out to be a fire fighter named Zach, the quintessential commitment-phobe who’s in need of some serious romantic help. If Ambrose can just bring Zach together with Merilee, the nice lady who works at Pet Palace, it’s bound to earn him a healthy ninth life.

Unfortunately for Ambrose, his mission is a lot harder than he ever anticipated. Now it’s going to take all his feline wiles—and a healthy dose of Christmas magic—to bring them all together in time for the holidays.

©2011 Sheila Rabe (P)2011 Macmillan Audio

What listeners say about The Nine Lives of Christmas

Average customer ratings
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    1 out of 5 stars

Very sexist and demeaning

I watched the movie on the Hallmark channel before Christmas and thought I would enjoy the book. The premise of the story is basically the same. But the main characters, Zach and Merilee, are superficial and unlikable characters. There is so much talk of hot bods, cute butts, chicks, and talk that focuses on looks instead of what the people are like on the inside. I’m not even halfway through and I don’t even know what these people are like and so far,I can’t stand them. And the narrator, she’s not helping at all because she makes Merilee sound like a whiny, weak, no-confidence baby.
I can’t even finish the book. I’ve tried but I’m going to return this one.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

what I got from this book

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

people that are overly obsessed with their figure and weight

What was most disappointing about Sheila Roberts’s story?

It felt like the main man would only like here because she was now slim.

Which character – as performed by Kathleen McInerney – was your favorite?

the cat

Any additional comments?

There was way too much emphasis on this womans weight. How very sad. It could have been written in without making it the only reason she could now finally get a man

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Great book for cat lovers!!

Ambrose, the cat, is on his ninth life, and looking for a new home after his last mistress has died. He realizes that his cute and cuddly days have passed their 'sell-by date'. But he's sure he can convince one more person of his value. He sneaks his way into a single fire fighter's house and plans to stay there. His firefighter has found a sweet girl at the local pet store who seems to be a great 'cat whisper' for settling Ambrose into his life for long enough to find a permanent home for Ambrose.

Ambrose has no plans of leaving, and is sure everyone will settle in quit wonderfully if he can just get rid of that terrible 'cougar lady' that his firefighter seems to think he enjoys dating. Through many humorous and worrisome events, love, forgiveness, and 'pet persuasion' Ambrose gets everything perfectly settled.

This is the very best 'cat /pet' book that I've read in a long time!! If you love your cat or other pet, this book is definitely for you!!

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Not a Christmas novel, but a cat story for sure

I agree with those reviewers who have already mentioned that this isn't a Christmas story per se, although some of the most significant moments in the story happen to be related to this celebration. For the most part, this is a novel for cat lovers and for humans who know the beauty and joy of being adopted by one of these felines to become their companions and caregivers.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Romance story with a cute twist

What would have been a typical romance story is told from the point of view of a cat who has to do a good deed to save his ninth life. Cute, enjoyable, well-narrated. An easy listen.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

In theory, I should have loved this.

Would you try another book from Sheila Roberts and/or Kathleen McInerney?

Maybe. I would have to give it some serious thought though because in theory this book has all the components to be a book I would rate all 5 stars. I mean a cat is talking throughout the book, that is the making of my ideal book, but I just found it rather boring, redundant, the female main character was weak, lacking confidence, overall annoying, how do they say it these days "thirsty", and the list could go on and on.

Would you ever listen to anything by Sheila Roberts again?

I really don't think so.

What three words best describe Kathleen McInerney’s performance?

mediocre, average, blasé

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

Probably, just because the cat would be one of the main characters and I'm a sucker for cats.

Any additional comments?

I could definitely see this made into a very cute hallmark movie.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

defiantly a different kind of christmas tale

What did you love best about The Nine Lives of Christmas?

I thought that Ambrose was a great touch he has as much part of the story as the humans were

What other book might you compare The Nine Lives of Christmas to and why?

I think it would.be hard.to compare to one book I think its a combination of so many wonderful stories.

What does Kathleen McInerney bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

She puts you in the story, keeps you interested with well reading.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I think when this big fireman adopts a cat and slowly starts to care for him you cant help but melt

Any additional comments?

This is definatly a great audio. Listen worth the.listen

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Refreshing

Loved the story fell in love with Ambrose. A story you can just enjoy. It had it all humor love and just really entertaining

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Cute for cat lovers.

Cute, light, Christmas Romance. I liked the cat narrative. It added another layer. Worth a listen.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Adorable!

This story has everything. I laughed and cried, got angry, got overwhelmed then laughed and cried some more.

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