The Twelve Topsy-Turvy, Very Messy Days of Christmas by James Patterson and Tad Safran

The Twelve Topsy-Turvy, Very Messy Days of Christmas by James Patterson and Tad Safran, 276 pgs. 

"At Christmastime, a family of three is missing someone dear to them. Until unexpected guests begin to arrive at their empty house, filling it with Christmas memories in the making." - from the book's jacket.

This is a whimsical, silly story that paints a vivid picture of what it would look like if your true love really did send you a partridge in a pear tree, followed by two turtle doves, three French hens, etc. The Sullivan family, father Henry and his two kids Will and Ella, have an incredible twelve days of Christmas but in the end-- despite all of the upheaval with messy, unwanted pets and guests (a menagerie of birds, German milk maids, English lords leaping about, you get the picture)-- they end up growing closer together and happier than they've been in years.  

I thought the book was just okay. It was silly and rather corny. But that's all it was intended to be I believe: just a lighthearted, humorous, and ultimately heart-warming Christmas story.