Tag: books about dogs

BONUS REVIEW: Dachshund Through the Snow by David Rosenfelt

BONUS REVIEW: Dachshund Through the Snow by David Rosenfelt

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy from Netgalley and Minotaur Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Fourteen years ago, Kristen McNeil was killed. She was a young woman – 18 – and her body was found by a rundown stadium. While she had DNA under her fingernails, the police couldn’t find a match. Until now.

Andy Carpenter’s wife, Laurie, is a huge fan of Christmas. One of her favorite parts is claiming Christmas wishes for families in their community and using Andy’s considerable wealth to meet them. This year she pulls a tag for a boy named Danny. Laurie is happy to provide everything he asks for – a coat for his mom, and a sweater for his dachshund, Murphy. But Danny also asks Santa to bring his dad home. As an investigator, Laurie’s the perfect person to find Noah Traynor. Except Danny’s mom acts like she doesn’t want him found.

Noah Traynor has been hiding in a motel, but it’s only a matter of time until the police find him. His brother just had to do one of those DNA kits. Once the results are uploaded, they are fair game for law enforcement. While Noah didn’t kill Kristen, he knows his DNA would have been at the scene because he had been there with her that night.

Once Noah is arrested, Andy’s on the case. Danny’s Christmas wish is to have his dad home – and Laurie’s going to make sure they do everything they can to make that happen!

Review

This was delightful! My favorite characters, a holiday story, an excellent mystery, and several adorable dogs. What’s not to love?!

Andy is in great form in this book. The dry humor was excellent. The author even gets a mention in the book, which was a hoot. The legal support team plays a smaller role in this book, but they all get equal time compared to one another, except of course for Laurie. There are a couple new characters who figured prominently in this one – not the Traynors, but other characters – that I loved! Those characters and their role in this book sets the stage for Rosenfelt’s spin-off series/book, The K Team, coming in 2020.

The mystery in this was fantastic. There was no organized crime angle like in many of the previous books, so this felt fresh. And my guess for the solution was off base all the way to the end. The wrap up was clever, and I thoroughly enjoyed all the twists and turns.

It was a Christmas book that introduced me to the Andy Carpenter series three years ago (The Twelve Dogs of Christmas, Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥), and they are among my favorites in the series. If you haven’t read an Andy Carpenter book before, give this one a try. It’s book 20 in the series, but the Christmas books seem especially new-reader-friendly to me. I don’t think a newcomer would have any trouble following the main action of this book. Of course, series fans should definitely not miss this one!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½

REVIEW: Madeline Finn and the Shelter Dog by Lisa Papp

REVIEW: Madeline Finn and the Shelter Dog by Lisa Papp

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Peachtree Publishing in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Madeline Finn is back after her adventures in Madeline Finn and the Library Dog where she practiced her reading with a dog named Bonnie at the library. Now Madeline is ready for a puppy of her own – one of Bonnie’s! When Madeline picks out her puppy, she asks Mrs. Dimple how she chose Bonnie. Turns out, Bonnie came from a shelter. Mrs. Dimple and Madeline’s mom tell her about animal shelters and take her to visit one.

Madeline feels sad for the shelter animals who can’t play outside and don’t have someone who says they love them every day like her puppy, Star, does. They also don’t have anyone to read to them. So Madeline collects supplies for the shelter and invites others to join her for a reading day there. But what will she do if no one else comes?

Review

The perfection of Madeline Finn and the Library Dog is repeated here in Madeline’s second book. The illustrations are soft and sweet; you want to scoop up the animals for a snuggle. Madeline’s love and compassion for the animals is evident, even in the tightly written text of the story. And Madeline continues to put books and dogs – and other animals – together for a winning combination.

If this is your first introduction to Madeline Finn, run out and scoop up both of these books. You won’t regret it! And if you loved book one as much as I did, you’ll want to pick up Madeline Finn and the Shelter Dog asap! Highly recommend.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Rescued by David Rosenfeld

REVIEW: Rescued by David Rosenfeld

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Minotaur Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

When a body is found in a truck full of over 60 dogs, Andy Carpenter is called in. Andy’s foundation rescues dogs in danger of being euthanized and finds them forever homes. The Tara Foundation will take in the dogs, care for them, and get them adopted. The body in the truck is not Andy’s problem.

Except it is. The man who killed Kenny Zimmer is at Andy’s house. Dave Kramer is Andy’s wife, Laurie’s, ex. They’ve stayed in touch, and she says Andy is the best defense attorney. And Dave needs the best. He admits to killing Zimmer, but says it was self-defense. Zimmer tried to take him out with a knife so Kramer shot him.

Kramer and Zimmer have a history which doesn’t look good for Kramer. Even worse, there’s no sign of a knife on the truck. It’s hard to prove self-defense without a weapon.

Review

This is the 17th book in the awesome Andy Carpenter mystery series. I have finally worked through all of the books in this terrific series, so now I get to enjoy the new ones as they are released (Deck the Hounds will be out in October!). I’ve even gotten my inlaws sold on this series thanks to the tightly written mysteries and the dogs present in every book.

As always, Andy and his team are great. No huge developments with the team this time – they all play their usual parts. I love Andy’s sarcasm and self-awareness and his interplay with the other members of his team.

The mystery in this one is quite intricate. Andy has the barest hint of a clue, and he and his team are able to pick away at the lies and alibis until they can ferret out the truth. And I was just along for the ride; I couldn’t figure this one out on my own.

I highly recommend this whole series to mystery fans. This is a little darker than a “cozy” series – more swearing and sometimes more violence. It’s mostly a court room series – the investigation is done outside but justice is often sorted out in the trial or shortly thereafter. The twisty mysteries keep me guessing and the terrific characters keep me chuckling and coming back for more. This is a keeper series for me!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Dog Dish of Doom by E. J. Copperman

REVIEW: Dog Dish of Doom by E. J. Copperman

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Kay Powell just wants to get her client, Bruno, this role in Annie on Broadway. Bruno has the skills to be an excellent Sandy! Kay is an agent for animals for TV, stage, and movies. And this role could be the beginning of a big career for Bruce. But his owners are a bit of trouble.

Well, Louise is okay – almost to the point of disinterest. But Trent is worse than any stage mom. He thinks Bruno can “do more” and that director Les McMaster is a “hack” and a has been. It’s so bad that Les will only work with Bruno if Kay is the one to bring him to the theater. He doesn’t want Trent or Louise there at all.

Imagine Kay’s surprise to read of Trent’s murder the next day, or to find a detective on her door step. Since Kay understands the theater world, she may be the only one who can figure out what happened to Trent.

Review

This was a terrific mystery. I loved the premise – agent to the stars! Animal stars. And Kay’s relationship with Bruno and her own dogs was lovely. I enjoyed the full cast – the quirky parents, the potential love interest, and the business partner/assistant. I would happily read more books with this ensemble.

The mystery was great. There was a lot going on, even or especially after the murder. Lots of questions about motives and secrets kept me guessing all the way to the end.

This is great for cozy fans and fans of animal stories. Also for readers who enjoy a creative set up and interesting cast of characters, both human and animals.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: The Very, Very, Very Long Dog by Julia Patton

REVIEW: The Very, Very, Very Long Dog by Julia Patton

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Bartelby is an extremely long dog. He loves his life living in a book store. He gets to read his favorite books, and his friends take him for walks around town.

Unfortunately, Bartelby’s backside is so far away from his front that it causes a LOT of trouble when he goes for a walk. Eventually, Bartelby decides he’ll have to stay in the bookstore all the time so his back end doesn’t cause more trouble. Can Bartelby’s friends help him out?

Review

Thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks for a sneak peek at an electronic review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The cover immediately drew me to this title. The pictures are absolutely adorable! The story is cute, and Bartleby’s dilemma is funny. I think kids will enjoy this one. I’d love to see the final art for this one to see how it lines up with the text.

I think this will be a fun read aloud for home or school. Kids will love Bartelby and his trouble-making backside!

Rating: ♥♥♥

REVIEW: About a Dog by Jenn McKinlay

REVIEW: About a Dog by Jenn McKinlay

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Seven years ago, Mackenzie was jilted at the altar. Then she slept with her best friend’s brother. Before anyone else found out, she left town, planning to never return.

But now her best friend, Emma, is getting married and Mackenzie has to return to Bluff Point. She and her boyfriend are “taking a break,” so she’s going to the wedding alone. Emma’s perfect solution is for Mackenzie to hang out with her brother! Gaven was recently dumped, and Emma reasons it will be good for both of them to have someone to hang out with for the wedding festivities.

Mackenzie is determined to forget that night with Gaven from so long ago. But Gaven thinks there are still sparks between them, and he’s confident he can rekindle things if he can get Mackenzie to give them a chance.

A sweet dog named Tulip helps pull the two together. But she may not be enough to keep them together.

Review

Jenn McKinlay is one of my favorite mystery authors. This is a very different kind of story than I’m used to from her – sexier, more language, and some juvenile humor and innuendo at times – but still a thoroughly enjoyable story.

The will-they-or-won’t-they tension is well-played with reasonable road blocks. Of course, most stories like this would be simply sorted out if everyone would just tell the whole truth from the beginning. But where’s the fun in that?!

The chemistry between the two main characters is great. The whole bridal party is a hoot, even if they can be crass at times. And the dog is an adorable part of the story. This is a fun, romantic romp with great characters.

Book 2, Barking Up the Wrong Tree, will be out in September and will focus on one of the other bridesmaids in Emma’s wedding. I’m looking forward to reading it.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Death by Chocolate Lab by Bethany Blake

REVIEW: Death by Chocolate Lab by Bethany Blake

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Daphne Templeton is a pet sitter with a PhD in philosophy. In some ways, she’s pretty flighty. She is in an undefined relationship with her sister’s vet tech, she rarely has money and often offers her pet-sitting services for free. It’s not unusual for her to run out of gas – sometimes, two days in a row! But when her sister is the primary suspect in the death of her somewhat-ex boyfriend, Daphne is like a dog with a bone. She’s determined to keep asking questions and keep snooping until she not only finds a murderer, but finds the victim’s missing dog, too.

 

Review

This was a fun read, and a great first book in a series. The characters are introduced well, so you know who is who, but there are still things to discover about them as the series goes on. The author did an especially good job of holding back information about the detective. While Daphne knew things from research, she didn’t reveal them to the reader for awhile, which was an interesting writing choice. I laughed out loud many times and got a kick out of Daphne and her animals.

I feel like the various dogs in the story were stronger characters than some of the townspeople. The cast of characters in this book is fairly small. Half seem to be core characters and the other half are possible suspects. The author does a great job of integrating the animals – and their personalities – into the story. They aren’t just set pieces to move around from scene to scene.

The mystery was good. Interesting suspects with good motives. The solution caught me completely by surprise. I will definitely read more books in this series. Book 2, Dial Meow for Murder, is scheduled to release in September 2017.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Wish by Barbara O’Connor

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

A sweet dog story! Charlie’s family feels “broken.” Her dad is in jail. Her mom rarely leaves her bed. Her big sister is living with a friend until she graduates from high school. And Charlie has to live with an aunt and uncle she hardly knows in a town where she doesn’t want to live. She clings desperately to the hope that she’ll be going home soon and to her long list of ways to make a wish. But she’s been wishing for the same thing for a long time. What if her wishes aren’t working?

Review

Charlie is the kind of kid you want to hug, but you know she’d hate it… At least at first. She’s used to protecting herself. And she has no interest in getting comfortable in her temporary home or in this temporary community. She’ll be going HOME soon.

I loved Charlie’s development over the course of the book. She has to find her way at school and at church and at her aunt and uncle’s house. She’s trying to manage the swirl of emotions inside her, including an impressive amount of anger. She’s learning who she wants to be socially, too. There’s a lot going on for Charlie – and it’s all told so well!

And then there’s a dog. A sweet-tempered, lovable, furry friend is just what Charlie needs to anchor her and give her a sense of belonging as well as a sense of being needed and loved.

This would be perfect for fans of animal stories, stories that have a strong emotional core, and for fans of Barbara O’Connor’s other books like How to Steal a Dog.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Madeline Finn and the Library Dog by Lisa Papp

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Madeline Finn does not like to read. It’s hard work for her, and she makes mistakes. Just once she’d like to earn a gold star at school instead of a “keep trying” heart. Then she meets Bonnie, a beautiful dog at the library’s “Read to a Dog” program. Could reading to Bonnie help Madeline get a gold star?

Terrific Picture Book about Reading

Review

I adore this book!! I think if I had to read it out loud, I might get choked up. Madeline is so sweet and honest about her reading struggles. She wants to do well, and she keeps trying. The illustrations are lovely, showing Madeline with her little stuffed bunny at home and at the library. Observant readers will notice her mom looking on with concern as Madeline keeps pushing through her challenges. Bonnie the dog is huge and looks sweet and calm as she sits quietly next to Madeline. I think the author does a good job of conveying that this process for Madeline takes time. And in the end, she is still not “perfect.” But her improvement – and her effort – is rewarded. This is a great read for libraries and classrooms as well as for reading at home. Good for fans of books about libraries or books about dogs.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥