Isn't this an adorable cover? It's also quite telling. The dogs are happy, seeming of the same mind, ie a walk, but the humans, um, not so much. They seem to have the same goal, carrying the Christmas tree to-be, but are not only facing opposite directions but walking in a different direction, too. Rather gives us a hint that while there will be happy, fun moments, probably with dogs, there may be some serious conflicts between the humans of the story. As it turned out, that is exactly, well, as it turned out.
Here's a quick shot of my Daisy enjoying me chuckling as I read the section involving, no lie, goats.
I liked that the book was a nice blend of the expected and unexpected. I definitely wasn't expecting goats. On a more serious note, I also appreciated the way the author handled not just the romantic difficulties of the main duo but their family issues, including Chelsea's extended grief over her father's death. Despite Chelsea's, let's call it prickly response to Andrew which bordered on cruel at times, I liked both Chelsea and Andrew all the more after meeting their families and seeing how they had met, dealt, or maybe not dealt with the related relationships. At times it often seemed a question of who rescued who, which applies to both human and canines. I, of course, liked the dogs and appreciated the fact that rather than just give a breed and color, the author shared their unique personalities with us, not to mention the same of the dogs' humans. I really, really wanted to give sweet Birdie both a hug and a treat, that's for sure.
I won't share the plot. It's not only well done in the blurb but, well, this is a holiday romance. If you're a fan, you know it'll end happily ever after despite some serious bumps in the road. You will find out why Chelsea and Andrew never really got along in the past although, well, it doesn't take much to see that an attraction has existed since then despite both of their best efforts to deny and repel each other. You'll also get to see what business means to them, not to mention how difficult it is for two very self-sufficient, self-motivated people who refuse to share vulnerabilities to come together. Chelsea has even tended to exclude old friends from her life, vowing that the companionship of her beloved Birdie was enough. In other words, via their relationships with each other and those about them, especially family, we learn a great deal about Chelsea and Andrew long before they quite come to acknowledge the truth.
Bottom line, I highly recommend this book. Not only is it full of cute dogs and humor but it explores human nature, attractions, self-protections, and family relationships. And, yes, there are goats. Mean girl goats. Seriously, give this one a read. It's fun, intriguing on several levels, and you'll wish you knew these people....and their dogs. My dog Daisy definitely gives this one four paws up and a tail wag, her equivalent of a five star rating. Thank you #NetGalley and #Berkley for introducing me to author Victoria Schade. I have already planned a library trip to get started on some of her previous work. What can I say? She's a dog person with a sense of humor and humanity. Loved this one!
No comments:
Post a Comment