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Pampered Pets Mystery #1
Desperate Housedogs
In posh Laguna Beach, murder has gone to the dogs.
When Caro Lamont, former psychologist turned pet therapist makes a house call to help Kevin Blackstone with his two misbehaving German Shepherd dogs, she expects frantic dogs, she expects a frantic dog owner, she even expects frantic neighbors. What she doesn’t expect is that two hours later the police will find Kevin dead, his dogs impounded; and that as the last person to see Kevin alive (well, except for the killer) she is suddenly a person of interest, at least according to Homicide Detective Judd Malone.
Sparkle Abbey is the pseudonym of two mystery authors (Mary Lee Woods and Anita Carter). They are friends and neighbors as well as co-writers of the Pampered Pets Mystery Series. The pen name was created by combining the names of their rescue pets - Sparkle (Mary Lee’s cat) and Abbey (Anita’s dog). They reside in central Iowa, but if they could write anywhere, you would find them on the beach with their laptops and depending on the time of day either an iced tea or a margarita.) Visit the authors at www.SparkleAbbey.com
When Caro Lamont, former psychologist turned pet therapist makes a house call to help Kevin Blackstone with his two misbehaving German Shepherd dogs, she expects frantic dogs, she expects a frantic dog owner, she even expects frantic neighbors. What she doesn’t expect is that two hours later the police will find Kevin dead, his dogs impounded; and that as the last person to see Kevin alive (well, except for the killer) she is suddenly a person of interest, at least according to Homicide Detective Judd Malone.
Sparkle Abbey is the pseudonym of two mystery authors (Mary Lee Woods and Anita Carter). They are friends and neighbors as well as co-writers of the Pampered Pets Mystery Series. The pen name was created by combining the names of their rescue pets - Sparkle (Mary Lee’s cat) and Abbey (Anita’s dog). They reside in central Iowa, but if they could write anywhere, you would find them on the beach with their laptops and depending on the time of day either an iced tea or a margarita.) Visit the authors at www.SparkleAbbey.com
202 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 14, 2011
230 people are currently reading
1092 people want to read
About the author
Sparkle Abbey
14 books257 followersSparkle Abbey is the pseudonym of two mystery authors (Mary Lee Woods and Anita Carter). They are friends and neighbors as well as co-writers of the Pampered Pets Mystery Series. The pen name was created by combining the names of their rescue pets - Sparkle (Mary Lee’s cat) and Abbey (Anita’s dog). They reside in central Iowa, but if they could write anywhere, you would find them on the beach with their laptops and depending on the time of day either an iced tea or a margarita.)
Desperate Housedogs (Book 1), Get Fluffy (Book 2), Kitty Kitty Bang Bang (Book 3), Yip/Tuck (Book 4), Fifty Shades of Greyhound (Book 5), and The Girl with the Dachshund Tattoo (Book 6) are available in large-print through Gale-Thorndike and are part of the Clean Reads program.
Desperate Housedogs (Book 1), Get Fluffy (Book 2), Kitty Kitty Bang Bang (Book 3), Yip/Tuck (Book 4), Fifty Shades of Greyhound (Book 5), and The Girl with the Dachshund Tattoo (Book 6) are available in large-print through Gale-Thorndike and are part of the Clean Reads program.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 209 reviews
May 5, 2018
This is a brand new cosy crime series that sees Laguna Beach pet therapist as the crime solver. It's cute and fun and nips along at a really good pace. The characters are put together quite well. I'm not actually a dog lover though and for me there was an awful lot of information and detail about dogs rather than the crime solving.
I didn't hate the book, I quite enjoyed the mystery element of it but I don't think I'll be reading any more of the series.
Free arc from netgalley
I didn't hate the book, I quite enjoyed the mystery element of it but I don't think I'll be reading any more of the series.
Free arc from netgalley
February 26, 2021
I love love love this new series. Can't wait until the next one arrives.
Caro is a pet therapist who specializes in working with pets and their owners to get along. Things are going pretty well until one of her clients ends up murdered. It appears she was the last one to see him alive. Will the police think she is the one who killed Kevin? In her quest to find out what really happened, she gets in way over her head.
Also underlying this other story is a feud between her and another family member about a family heirloom.
A very enjoyable read, and what made it even better was it was free from Amazon.
What a wonderful group of characters and animals. Very engaging.
Caro is a pet therapist who specializes in working with pets and their owners to get along. Things are going pretty well until one of her clients ends up murdered. It appears she was the last one to see him alive. Will the police think she is the one who killed Kevin? In her quest to find out what really happened, she gets in way over her head.
Also underlying this other story is a feud between her and another family member about a family heirloom.
A very enjoyable read, and what made it even better was it was free from Amazon.
What a wonderful group of characters and animals. Very engaging.
November 18, 2017
This is a cute fluff mystery! If you like dogs (like me), spoil your dogs (like me), think it’s totally okay to spoil your dogs (duh), and like learning about dogs, you might like to read it. If you have cats you will like it too! Cozy lil’ mystery - looking forward to the next one.
April 19, 2012
This is the best book I've read all year. I've read some good ones but this one is the topper so far. The author is actually two neighbors (it's in the bio in the back so no secrets being told here) who are huge animal people and their pen name is made up of their two rescue dogs. I finished it today and felt kind of sad because the characters are just so great with so much personality. Even if you aren't a mystery fan this is one book you've got to check out. I have book 2, Get Fluffy, ready to read. I got kinda bummed because I didn't see a for sure third book but I sure hope they keep on writing.
December 2, 2018
Carolina "Caro" Lamont lost her husband and psychology practice when her scumbag ex had an affair with a client. Never one to follow other people's wishes, Caro eschewed her mother's Texas sized marriage plans and moved to Laguna Beach, California, a pet friendly town outside of Los Angeles. Caro now practices as a pet psychologist. She works with people and their problem pets and figures out how to solve their problems. When she gets a call from the exclusive gated community Ruby Point from Kevin Blackstone with two out of control German Shepherds. Caro attempts to lessen the dogs' barking but can't tell what set them off. The next she hears about Kevin it's from a homicide detective banging on her door. It seems Kevin has died and not from natural causes and Caro was the last to see him alive! Caro is certain this isn't true and Kevin's neighbors are hiding clues from the police. When her friend and animal rights activist Diana is arrested for the murder, Caro is determined to solve the mystery for the police. It gives her a good excuse to avoid her Mama's laments about Caro's lack of love life. Caro's love life may be heating up just a tad given the way her body reacts to the hot homicide detective. There's also a handsome wealthy man who seems interested. Caro needs to solve this mystery first before she can tackle the problem of her love life.
I really liked this mystery. I never ever guessed any of it until Caro put all the clues together. I kept turning pages and saying one more chapter until I couldn't keep my eyes open anymore. I slept until morning when I couldn't sleep because I HAD to finish the book. I was shocked at everything that went down but not entirely surprised that it did happen.
The cozy part of this story falls flat for me. The neighborhood is outside LA and though she says it has a different vibe, it still sounds like LA to me with super posh wealthy people and fancy restaurants not even Caro bats an eyelash at. It wasn't charming and cozy except for the "Fur Ball." I love the pun and the slogan "Cough up some cash" for the animals. That's very clever.
I wasn't crazy about Caro. I love her job and her passion for animals. I didn't like how she goes around hugging strange dogs. I keep telling my young nephew not to do that because dogs don't hug! You can't hug a strange dog and not expect to possibly get bit. I found this part of Caro's personality unbelievable. I also found her a bit hard to relate to. I'm a practical Yankee girl and can't relate to her wealthy Texas beauty pageant upbringing. Her casual acceptance of super fancy restaurants and the world of the wealthy bothered me. For all that she is down to earth except for her smug health consciousness, which I hated. Caro goes nosing around assuming the police don't have the information she does. Why would she assume that? She openly confronts suspected murderers and asks a lot of questions that could get her into trouble and put others in danger. I know that's normal for the genre but there's a line between nosy and dangerously stupid and Caro puts some toes over it. I didn't understand her feud with her cousin or like the things it drives her to. We never even see her cousin which I found strange.
Caro's furbabies are so sweet. I loved Dogbert the Puggle and Thelma and Louise the cats. They don't have a huge role in the story yet though. Other pets do. There's Zeus and Tommy Boy, Kevin Blackstone's nervous German Shepherds. They have a huge part in the story. They seem like nice dogs but a little intimidating. More my speed are the spoiled lapdogs. The dogs of Laguna Beach are going crazy and it's up to Caro to figure out what's wrong.
The humans are less endearing. Caro's cousin Melinda is spoken of often but never seen. The two fight like cats but the reason is stupid. I don't like Mel from the sound of her even if she loves pets as much as her cousin. Caro's friend Diana Knight, an elderly actress, is a firecracker. Like Caro, I question the decisions she makes in the story but really really admire her dedication to animal rights and agree with her views. Kevin Blackstone is mysterious and maybe a bit creepy. Who trains their German Shepherds in German and to attack for no reason except fun? Maybe he's hiding something that got him killed. His closest neighbor, Mandy Beemerman sounds like a desperate housewife type. Her secret surprised me as much as Caro and I didn't like Caro's judgement. Like Caro, I assumed she was the type for doing something else. Ollie, the aging rocker, sounds like Jack Sparrow in my head. He seems the most eccentric of the Ruby Point neighbors. I'm not sure I trust him as much as Diana does but I liked him as an amusing character. Kendall, the male dog groomer, fits every gay stereotype. I didn't like how he was such a stereotype and I didn't care for his dramatic personality. Shar, the starlet, is exactly what you would expect. In short, a Britney Spears type. Kevin Blackstone's brother J.T. strikes me as the sort of individual who is a nerdy loner angry at the world and about to do something dangerous. I didn't like that he hadn't given much thought to taking Zeus and Tommy Boy. Poor pups!
The two men in Caro's life are sexy and that's where the similarities end. Judd Malone is a tough cop. He fits the stereotype. He's hard and mysterious. Sam Gallanos is open and gallant. He is a dog lover and I'd rather date his dog and I get the impression Caro feels the same way. He's too smooth for me and I don't trust him. The only other men in Caro's life are her father figures. Her stepfather, Daddy Hub, is so sweet and kind. His old friend Walt is a kind fatherly type too.
I would recommend this series to a friend but I didn't enjoy it enough to want to read more.
I really liked this mystery. I never ever guessed any of it until Caro put all the clues together. I kept turning pages and saying one more chapter until I couldn't keep my eyes open anymore. I slept until morning when I couldn't sleep because I HAD to finish the book. I was shocked at everything that went down but not entirely surprised that it did happen.
The cozy part of this story falls flat for me. The neighborhood is outside LA and though she says it has a different vibe, it still sounds like LA to me with super posh wealthy people and fancy restaurants not even Caro bats an eyelash at. It wasn't charming and cozy except for the "Fur Ball." I love the pun and the slogan "Cough up some cash" for the animals. That's very clever.
I wasn't crazy about Caro. I love her job and her passion for animals. I didn't like how she goes around hugging strange dogs. I keep telling my young nephew not to do that because dogs don't hug! You can't hug a strange dog and not expect to possibly get bit. I found this part of Caro's personality unbelievable. I also found her a bit hard to relate to. I'm a practical Yankee girl and can't relate to her wealthy Texas beauty pageant upbringing. Her casual acceptance of super fancy restaurants and the world of the wealthy bothered me. For all that she is down to earth except for her smug health consciousness, which I hated. Caro goes nosing around assuming the police don't have the information she does. Why would she assume that? She openly confronts suspected murderers and asks a lot of questions that could get her into trouble and put others in danger. I know that's normal for the genre but there's a line between nosy and dangerously stupid and Caro puts some toes over it. I didn't understand her feud with her cousin or like the things it drives her to. We never even see her cousin which I found strange.
Caro's furbabies are so sweet. I loved Dogbert the Puggle and Thelma and Louise the cats. They don't have a huge role in the story yet though. Other pets do. There's Zeus and Tommy Boy, Kevin Blackstone's nervous German Shepherds. They have a huge part in the story. They seem like nice dogs but a little intimidating. More my speed are the spoiled lapdogs. The dogs of Laguna Beach are going crazy and it's up to Caro to figure out what's wrong.
The humans are less endearing. Caro's cousin Melinda is spoken of often but never seen. The two fight like cats but the reason is stupid. I don't like Mel from the sound of her even if she loves pets as much as her cousin. Caro's friend Diana Knight, an elderly actress, is a firecracker. Like Caro, I question the decisions she makes in the story but really really admire her dedication to animal rights and agree with her views. Kevin Blackstone is mysterious and maybe a bit creepy. Who trains their German Shepherds in German and to attack for no reason except fun? Maybe he's hiding something that got him killed. His closest neighbor, Mandy Beemerman sounds like a desperate housewife type. Her secret surprised me as much as Caro and I didn't like Caro's judgement. Like Caro, I assumed she was the type for doing something else. Ollie, the aging rocker, sounds like Jack Sparrow in my head. He seems the most eccentric of the Ruby Point neighbors. I'm not sure I trust him as much as Diana does but I liked him as an amusing character. Kendall, the male dog groomer, fits every gay stereotype. I didn't like how he was such a stereotype and I didn't care for his dramatic personality. Shar, the starlet, is exactly what you would expect. In short, a Britney Spears type. Kevin Blackstone's brother J.T. strikes me as the sort of individual who is a nerdy loner angry at the world and about to do something dangerous. I didn't like that he hadn't given much thought to taking Zeus and Tommy Boy. Poor pups!
The two men in Caro's life are sexy and that's where the similarities end. Judd Malone is a tough cop. He fits the stereotype. He's hard and mysterious. Sam Gallanos is open and gallant. He is a dog lover and I'd rather date his dog and I get the impression Caro feels the same way. He's too smooth for me and I don't trust him. The only other men in Caro's life are her father figures. Her stepfather, Daddy Hub, is so sweet and kind. His old friend Walt is a kind fatherly type too.
I would recommend this series to a friend but I didn't enjoy it enough to want to read more.
October 14, 2016
Desperate Housedogs: Pampered Pets Mystery Book One
The Protagonist: Caro Lamont, former beauty queen, former psychologist turned pet therapist and amateur sleuth.
The Plot: Caro becomes a person of interest in a murder investigation because she is the last person (murderer aside) to see her client, Kevin Blackstone, alive.
I enjoyed this book very much to my surprise. I was looking for a light, funny and entertaining read. I have been so disappointed with this type of cosy mystery for a while. There is a slew of poorly written works; the mystery is often your reflection for why you finished the book, and it is full of gooey nonsense romance. Not a bar of it in this little gem.
This series has a pet theme. The authors provide handy tit-bits of information very neatly in the story. They also matched the animals to the owners who were interesting and amusing.
I liked the supporting plot lots. Caro and her cousin Melinda are feuding over an heirloom left by Grandma 'Tillie'. The ugly old brooch is a symbol for each of them as to who was the favourite grandchild! They keep stealing it from each other. Grandma Tillie knew what she was doing. Smart old fox. I will leave that little mystery for you to uncover yourself when you read the book.
The book is well paced and funny. Caro's dialogue when Sam collects her for a date had me in stitches. The supporting cast is amusing, posh people and posh pooches. Detective Judd Malone who finds Caro interfering and a villain who you can sus out. This story well was written, it flows and is funny. A good read for cosy mystery fans.
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Book Rating
Sexual Content: U
Language: U
Violent: U
Would I read the next oneor reread ?: Yes
My rating system (* = star)
0* Could not finish this book (waste of time)
1* Finished the book but didn't like it.
2* Finished the book it was okay.
3* A good read worth your time.
4* An excellent read often with a novel concept or unusual plot.
5* A magnificent read. A prominent example of the genre.
The Protagonist: Caro Lamont, former beauty queen, former psychologist turned pet therapist and amateur sleuth.
The Plot: Caro becomes a person of interest in a murder investigation because she is the last person (murderer aside) to see her client, Kevin Blackstone, alive.
I enjoyed this book very much to my surprise. I was looking for a light, funny and entertaining read. I have been so disappointed with this type of cosy mystery for a while. There is a slew of poorly written works; the mystery is often your reflection for why you finished the book, and it is full of gooey nonsense romance. Not a bar of it in this little gem.
This series has a pet theme. The authors provide handy tit-bits of information very neatly in the story. They also matched the animals to the owners who were interesting and amusing.
I liked the supporting plot lots. Caro and her cousin Melinda are feuding over an heirloom left by Grandma 'Tillie'. The ugly old brooch is a symbol for each of them as to who was the favourite grandchild! They keep stealing it from each other. Grandma Tillie knew what she was doing. Smart old fox. I will leave that little mystery for you to uncover yourself when you read the book.
The book is well paced and funny. Caro's dialogue when Sam collects her for a date had me in stitches. The supporting cast is amusing, posh people and posh pooches. Detective Judd Malone who finds Caro interfering and a villain who you can sus out. This story well was written, it flows and is funny. A good read for cosy mystery fans.
Connect with me on Twitter
Follow my blog on Bloglovin’
Book Rating
Sexual Content: U
Language: U
Violent: U
Would I read the next one
My rating system (* = star)
0* Could not finish this book (waste of time)
1* Finished the book but didn't like it.
2* Finished the book it was okay.
3* A good read worth your time.
4* An excellent read often with a novel concept or unusual plot.
5* A magnificent read. A prominent example of the genre.
December 25, 2011
Review:Desperate Housedogs by Sparkle Abbey
5 STARS
I enjoyed Carolina Lamont who counsil dogs and their owners. She goes to their homes and helps train and figure out dogs bad behaviors. She also has a feud with her cousin their grandmother left a pin to her favorite grandaughter with gems in it. They both think they should own it and go after it in serious way. They are fun to watch.
One customer that Carolina had was Kevin and his two dogs. after she left his house he was murdered. Detective Judd Malone questioned her they think she was last one to see Kevin. She realized the next day that her pin might have been lost their so she snuck back in and searched Kevin's house till she found where he put it. She actually picked up a book and took it with her that had everyones names in it with a code after each name.
Caroline started to try and figure out the codes in the book that she copied before giving it to Detective Malone. Detective Malone kept telling her to leave it alone and let them do their job. Caroline could not stop and she found a lot of secrets that Kevin had written down in code.
It was a good detective book. Had lots of dogs and told a little about each breed. Caroline seems like a real person with good and bad habits and history with families. I would love to read more stories with her in it and Detective Malone.
I was given this ebook to read in exchange for honest review from Netgalley.
12/01/2012 PUB Bell Bridge Books
5 STARS
I enjoyed Carolina Lamont who counsil dogs and their owners. She goes to their homes and helps train and figure out dogs bad behaviors. She also has a feud with her cousin their grandmother left a pin to her favorite grandaughter with gems in it. They both think they should own it and go after it in serious way. They are fun to watch.
One customer that Carolina had was Kevin and his two dogs. after she left his house he was murdered. Detective Judd Malone questioned her they think she was last one to see Kevin. She realized the next day that her pin might have been lost their so she snuck back in and searched Kevin's house till she found where he put it. She actually picked up a book and took it with her that had everyones names in it with a code after each name.
Caroline started to try and figure out the codes in the book that she copied before giving it to Detective Malone. Detective Malone kept telling her to leave it alone and let them do their job. Caroline could not stop and she found a lot of secrets that Kevin had written down in code.
It was a good detective book. Had lots of dogs and told a little about each breed. Caroline seems like a real person with good and bad habits and history with families. I would love to read more stories with her in it and Detective Malone.
I was given this ebook to read in exchange for honest review from Netgalley.
12/01/2012 PUB Bell Bridge Books
January 25, 2012
'Desperate Housedogs' is the first book in a new themed cosy mystery series based around pets. This book is great fun and makes for light reading. The characters are well developed and the main character Caro came across as a real person. I thought the book was well written with the story flowing along nicely; there is a good mix of clues introduced and it allows you to get to know all the characters. I also enjoyed the information about the different breeds of dogs and pet care, which was scattered throughout but without slowing the pace.
Also running through the story is a fun sub-plot about a feud between the main character Caro and her cousin Melinda. I thought this added to the overall feel of the book and will no doubt continue through other books in the series. It sounds like this series will be different from other cosy-themed mysteries in that it is going to alternate between the two cousins Caro and Melinda and is being written by two different authors. This book features Caro, and the next titled 'Fluffy' will be written from Melinda's point of view; I look forward to reading this next book in the series.
Also running through the story is a fun sub-plot about a feud between the main character Caro and her cousin Melinda. I thought this added to the overall feel of the book and will no doubt continue through other books in the series. It sounds like this series will be different from other cosy-themed mysteries in that it is going to alternate between the two cousins Caro and Melinda and is being written by two different authors. This book features Caro, and the next titled 'Fluffy' will be written from Melinda's point of view; I look forward to reading this next book in the series.
June 16, 2016
Caro has built a successful life in as a pet therapist, helping owners deal with their pet’s bed behavior. Two hours after a session with Kevin trying to get his dogs to stop barking, the police find Kevin dead and start looking at Caro as a person of interest. Why were his dogs barking? Can Caro solve the murder?
This debut is a lot of fun. The mystery starts out a little slowly as the book gives us some background on Caro and a few other characters, but once it gets going it delivers some great twists. The character, while relatable, are a bit over the top, but that’s part of the fun. They help contribute to the laughs and grins mixed into the murder and mayhem.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
This debut is a lot of fun. The mystery starts out a little slowly as the book gives us some background on Caro and a few other characters, but once it gets going it delivers some great twists. The character, while relatable, are a bit over the top, but that’s part of the fun. They help contribute to the laughs and grins mixed into the murder and mayhem.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
December 16, 2015
I loved this book !! I'm a real doggy person anyway and love books about all murder and mayhem and this book has it all !! It features a girl called Caro who's a pet therapist. It's even got great dogcare tips in the tale and describes each breed she meets very well too.
One of her clients is murdered and Caro was the last person believed to have seen him alive and this follows her as she attempts to figure out the true protagonist herself.
She also has an ongoing battle going on with her cousin Mel which, although nothing much to do with the actual story, is very funny to read about.
Great characters and although a Kindle freebie the day I downloaded it, wasn't full of grammatical and spelling errors.
I'll be looking forward to the new book in the series !!
One of her clients is murdered and Caro was the last person believed to have seen him alive and this follows her as she attempts to figure out the true protagonist herself.
She also has an ongoing battle going on with her cousin Mel which, although nothing much to do with the actual story, is very funny to read about.
Great characters and although a Kindle freebie the day I downloaded it, wasn't full of grammatical and spelling errors.
I'll be looking forward to the new book in the series !!
May 23, 2012
A fun doggy romp. Pet psychologist Caro Lamont gets drawn into a mystery when a client gets killed and his pets are all out of sorts. Many of his neighbors are also her clients, but little is as it appears in this ritzy neighborhood. Meanwhile, Caro's best friend and charity bash cochair is arrested for the murder. Caro keeps nosing around until she learns the truth.
July 14, 2013
I was prepared to find this one utterly silly after reading a hard-boiled cage fighter book, and in fact had picked up it for that purpose. Surprise to me! It's a well written, well paced mystery that kept me following the plot right to the end.
January 31, 2018
This is a fun story and being a dog person that made it even better. I'm looking forward to reading on in this series.
March 7, 2016
Desperate Housedogs
Pampered Pets Mystery, Book #1
Sparkle Abbey
5 Stars
Synopsis:
In posh Laguna Beach, murder has gone to the dogs.
When Caro Lamont, former psychologist turned pet therapist makes a house call to help Kevin Blackstone with his two misbehaving German Shepherd dogs, she expects frantic dogs, she expects a frantic dog owner, she even expects frantic neighbors. What she doesn’t expect is that two hours later the police will find Kevin dead, his dogs impounded; and that as the last person to see Kevin alive (well, except for the killer) she is suddenly a person of interest, at least according to Homicide Detective Judd Malone.
Sparkle Abbey is the pseudonym of two mystery authors (Mary Lee Woods and Anita Carter). They are friends and neighbors as well as co-writers of the Pampered Pets Mystery Series. The pen name was created by combining the names of their rescue pets - Sparkle (Mary Lee’s cat) and Abbey (Anita’s dog). They reside in central Iowa, but if they could write anywhere, you would find them on the beach with their laptops and depending on the time of day either an iced tea or a margarita.) Visit the authors at www.SparkleAbbey.com (Goodreads)
Review:
Caro Lamont finds her pet therapy business thriving and growing, especially within the neighborhood of Ruby Point. In the affluent neighborhood, many of the dogs are displaying behavior problems
that are not becoming of a rich animal. Is it something sinister in the air or the water that is causing problems in the neighborhood? With the death of one her clients, Caro knows she needs to get to the bottom of things before someone innocent is charged with murder.
The characters are well developed and well rounded. I enjoyed reading about the feud between Caro and her cousin and could picture in my mind their plotting and scheming to take possession of Grandma’s brooch. I also enjoyed the bickering between Caro and Detective Malone. One of the things I enjoyed the most about the book was Caro’s occupation. I found the information on different dog breeds and training techniques fascinating and very informative.
The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The author is very talented in descriptive writing, whether it be concerning the setting, the animals or the relationships between characters. I was able to sit down and start reading and was transported into the world created by the author and it was a place I wanted to stay in. The mystery is carried on throughout the entire book, and with so many suspects and twists and turns, it was near impossible to figure out the culprit.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. If you enjoy animal cozies, you will love this book. I am looking forward to reading all the books in this series. Check them out and I am sure you will feel the same way.
Pampered Pets Mystery, Book #1
Sparkle Abbey
5 Stars
Synopsis:
In posh Laguna Beach, murder has gone to the dogs.
When Caro Lamont, former psychologist turned pet therapist makes a house call to help Kevin Blackstone with his two misbehaving German Shepherd dogs, she expects frantic dogs, she expects a frantic dog owner, she even expects frantic neighbors. What she doesn’t expect is that two hours later the police will find Kevin dead, his dogs impounded; and that as the last person to see Kevin alive (well, except for the killer) she is suddenly a person of interest, at least according to Homicide Detective Judd Malone.
Sparkle Abbey is the pseudonym of two mystery authors (Mary Lee Woods and Anita Carter). They are friends and neighbors as well as co-writers of the Pampered Pets Mystery Series. The pen name was created by combining the names of their rescue pets - Sparkle (Mary Lee’s cat) and Abbey (Anita’s dog). They reside in central Iowa, but if they could write anywhere, you would find them on the beach with their laptops and depending on the time of day either an iced tea or a margarita.) Visit the authors at www.SparkleAbbey.com (Goodreads)
Review:
Caro Lamont finds her pet therapy business thriving and growing, especially within the neighborhood of Ruby Point. In the affluent neighborhood, many of the dogs are displaying behavior problems
that are not becoming of a rich animal. Is it something sinister in the air or the water that is causing problems in the neighborhood? With the death of one her clients, Caro knows she needs to get to the bottom of things before someone innocent is charged with murder.
The characters are well developed and well rounded. I enjoyed reading about the feud between Caro and her cousin and could picture in my mind their plotting and scheming to take possession of Grandma’s brooch. I also enjoyed the bickering between Caro and Detective Malone. One of the things I enjoyed the most about the book was Caro’s occupation. I found the information on different dog breeds and training techniques fascinating and very informative.
The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The author is very talented in descriptive writing, whether it be concerning the setting, the animals or the relationships between characters. I was able to sit down and start reading and was transported into the world created by the author and it was a place I wanted to stay in. The mystery is carried on throughout the entire book, and with so many suspects and twists and turns, it was near impossible to figure out the culprit.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. If you enjoy animal cozies, you will love this book. I am looking forward to reading all the books in this series. Check them out and I am sure you will feel the same way.
April 6, 2012
"Sparkle Abbey" is the pen name for collaborators Mary Lee Woods and Anita Carter, who have joined forces to write a series of mystery novels featuring cousins Caro Lamont (pet therapist) and Mel Langston (pet boutique owner) in Laguna Beach, CA.
In this first entry, it's Caro who has a murder mystery land in her lap. She's been getting a lot of calls from clients in an exclusive, gated-community section of Laguna Beach, where the dogs are suddenly all very nervous and watchful. Shortly after her visit to one of these clients, Kevin Blackstone, and his two German Shepherds, Kevin is murdered.
At first, based on timing, Caro looks like a really good suspect. Her situation is further complicated by the fact that her relationship with her cousin Mel is not currently a friendly one. They're disputing ownership of a brooch that their grandmother left to "my favorite granddaughter," and they've stolen it from each other several times recently. And when she's finally in the clear, it's because her friend and fellow fundraiser for the local animal shelter has been arrested for the crime. (She's a retired film star and is milking it for all it's worth, for publicity for the upcoming Fur Ball fundraiser for the shelter.)
Caro clashes with the police detective, Judd Malone, her cousin Mel, and and coaxes information from the dead man's neighbors, including a reclusive ex-rock star. She also finds herself juggling two handsome and interested men. Her own pets, her dog and two cats, as well as her clients' and friends' pets play an active role in her quest to find the real killer.
It's a fun book, with more fun to come.
I received a free electronic galley from the publisher via NetGalley..
In this first entry, it's Caro who has a murder mystery land in her lap. She's been getting a lot of calls from clients in an exclusive, gated-community section of Laguna Beach, where the dogs are suddenly all very nervous and watchful. Shortly after her visit to one of these clients, Kevin Blackstone, and his two German Shepherds, Kevin is murdered.
At first, based on timing, Caro looks like a really good suspect. Her situation is further complicated by the fact that her relationship with her cousin Mel is not currently a friendly one. They're disputing ownership of a brooch that their grandmother left to "my favorite granddaughter," and they've stolen it from each other several times recently. And when she's finally in the clear, it's because her friend and fellow fundraiser for the local animal shelter has been arrested for the crime. (She's a retired film star and is milking it for all it's worth, for publicity for the upcoming Fur Ball fundraiser for the shelter.)
Caro clashes with the police detective, Judd Malone, her cousin Mel, and and coaxes information from the dead man's neighbors, including a reclusive ex-rock star. She also finds herself juggling two handsome and interested men. Her own pets, her dog and two cats, as well as her clients' and friends' pets play an active role in her quest to find the real killer.
It's a fun book, with more fun to come.
I received a free electronic galley from the publisher via NetGalley..
May 21, 2012
MY REVIEW
I downloaded Desperate Housedogs and Get fluffy as an omnibus edition but have chosen to review them on two separate posts.
I love the dog themed cover with the paw-print and magnifying glass, to signify how Caroline ends up being an animal detective crossed with her “normal job” as a pet psychologist. The cover also gives you the chick lit feel of the book too.
The book itself is well written and holds your attention at all times whilst reading it too. I love the feud between Caroline and Melinda over Grandma Tillies brooch. I get the impression that Grandma Tillie knew exactly what she was doing when she left the rather ugly brooch to “her favourite grand-daughter”. The feud kind of keeps Melinda and Caroline in touch with each other and well and truly keeps them within each other’s lives.
This book is fairly fast paced there’s always something going on. I like the characters within the book, the “posh” people from the gated community, and their pampered animals.
Caroline and ~Melinda are cousins but their characters are so similar they could be siblings. They both have a “tell it like it is attitude”, both work with animals, both are ex-beauty pageant queens, and both value their families. Though Caroline and Melinda have this ongoing feud on who should have possession of the monstrosity that is the brooch, they would be the first at the other side in times of need or danger.
So did I enjoy the book? Yes Would I read more of this series? Definitely am reading Get Fluffy next! Would I read more by the Authors? Yes loving their writing. And finally Would I recommend this book? Yes!
Available from Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk £8.50 paperback or £6.64 on kindle
(an expensive, but great read)
I downloaded Desperate Housedogs and Get fluffy as an omnibus edition but have chosen to review them on two separate posts.
I love the dog themed cover with the paw-print and magnifying glass, to signify how Caroline ends up being an animal detective crossed with her “normal job” as a pet psychologist. The cover also gives you the chick lit feel of the book too.
The book itself is well written and holds your attention at all times whilst reading it too. I love the feud between Caroline and Melinda over Grandma Tillies brooch. I get the impression that Grandma Tillie knew exactly what she was doing when she left the rather ugly brooch to “her favourite grand-daughter”. The feud kind of keeps Melinda and Caroline in touch with each other and well and truly keeps them within each other’s lives.
This book is fairly fast paced there’s always something going on. I like the characters within the book, the “posh” people from the gated community, and their pampered animals.
Caroline and ~Melinda are cousins but their characters are so similar they could be siblings. They both have a “tell it like it is attitude”, both work with animals, both are ex-beauty pageant queens, and both value their families. Though Caroline and Melinda have this ongoing feud on who should have possession of the monstrosity that is the brooch, they would be the first at the other side in times of need or danger.
So did I enjoy the book? Yes Would I read more of this series? Definitely am reading Get Fluffy next! Would I read more by the Authors? Yes loving their writing. And finally Would I recommend this book? Yes!
Available from Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk £8.50 paperback or £6.64 on kindle
(an expensive, but great read)
June 10, 2012
This is a cute mystery book written by a duo in Des Moines, IA. Since they are from my home state, I had to give them a read to see what their pampered pets were up to. This is book one of the pampered pet series with the second one, Get Fluffy, already out for folks to read.
I loved the pets the different owners had and how their pet seemed to define their character throughout the book. Caro is so inquisitive that Malone becomes rather irritated with her for butting in even though her help is invaluable. She reminds me of what my mother used to call a "busy body" getting involved in things that she shouldn't.
I liked the story, liked the simplicity, loved the pets, and the overall plot was quite good. My only complaint about the book is sometimes I felt like I was told the story rather than being involved but I think this is because the story is written in the first person. My college writing teacher told us that this is one of the hardest forms to write in and, for me, one of the hardest forms to read. Sparkle Abbey does a good job of it but sometimes I kind of wished for the third person approach.
For sure I will continue to follow the series - the second on is on my wish list for July. If you are a die-hard horror or hard-core mystery fan, these might be a bit too fluffy for you (get it?) but I found it a delightful book to sit in the sun and read while pretending I was on a beach far, far away. :-) I give the book an A.
I loved the pets the different owners had and how their pet seemed to define their character throughout the book. Caro is so inquisitive that Malone becomes rather irritated with her for butting in even though her help is invaluable. She reminds me of what my mother used to call a "busy body" getting involved in things that she shouldn't.
I liked the story, liked the simplicity, loved the pets, and the overall plot was quite good. My only complaint about the book is sometimes I felt like I was told the story rather than being involved but I think this is because the story is written in the first person. My college writing teacher told us that this is one of the hardest forms to write in and, for me, one of the hardest forms to read. Sparkle Abbey does a good job of it but sometimes I kind of wished for the third person approach.
For sure I will continue to follow the series - the second on is on my wish list for July. If you are a die-hard horror or hard-core mystery fan, these might be a bit too fluffy for you (get it?) but I found it a delightful book to sit in the sun and read while pretending I was on a beach far, far away. :-) I give the book an A.
September 14, 2017
Well, I really want to like this series, so I'm hoping they progressively get better, especially since I jumped off the deep end and bought the first 8 in this series.
I found it crazy she (Caro), lost her license to practice as a therapist (for ppl), bc her husband slept with a patient. Even though they may have practiced together, his decisions shouldn't effect her license, so I had a hard time getting past that. The authors could have made it seem she was tired of dealing with ppl and changed to pets, something like that instead.
She repeated some silly phrases often like, for cryin in a bucket. It's like they were trying too hard to make her sound southern.
I liked some of the characters that she developed in this book, and hope for sure Kendall makes a return in other books of this series.
I love how the authors developed a pen name, made up of the combination of names from a rescued cat and rescued dog, that is just too sweet ♡♡♡
I'm sure I'll love the series more and more as I fall in love with the characters from book to book. Well, I suppose I liked it well enough, about to dive into book 2 of this series. 😊
I found it crazy she (Caro), lost her license to practice as a therapist (for ppl), bc her husband slept with a patient. Even though they may have practiced together, his decisions shouldn't effect her license, so I had a hard time getting past that. The authors could have made it seem she was tired of dealing with ppl and changed to pets, something like that instead.
She repeated some silly phrases often like, for cryin in a bucket. It's like they were trying too hard to make her sound southern.
I liked some of the characters that she developed in this book, and hope for sure Kendall makes a return in other books of this series.
I love how the authors developed a pen name, made up of the combination of names from a rescued cat and rescued dog, that is just too sweet ♡♡♡
I'm sure I'll love the series more and more as I fall in love with the characters from book to book. Well, I suppose I liked it well enough, about to dive into book 2 of this series. 😊
April 14, 2012
Caro and her cousin Mel both think that they were grandma "Tillie" Matilda Montgomery's favorite granddaughter. That explains the horrible brooch they keep stealing from each other. Perfectly clear..right? Well that's only the first thing that will take some explaining, some amateur detective work and some deduction to clear up.
Caro is the owner of the PAWS clinic, Professional Animal Wellness Specialist Clinic, in Laguna Beach. She caters to an upscale clientele that has issues with their dogs that they need help with. First a client dies right after Cara was with him. Turns out it was murder!
Ruby Point, an exclusive gated community has lots of secrets. Detective Judd Malone wants Caro to keep her nose out of those secrets and his murder investigation! Let's just say our ex-beauty queen, southern gal has not learned to let things go. Not just Grandma's brooch! A great, funny romp! I won't spoil it for you. I know you will love the lighthearted mayhem too. These are people I'd like to know more about!
Caro is the owner of the PAWS clinic, Professional Animal Wellness Specialist Clinic, in Laguna Beach. She caters to an upscale clientele that has issues with their dogs that they need help with. First a client dies right after Cara was with him. Turns out it was murder!
Ruby Point, an exclusive gated community has lots of secrets. Detective Judd Malone wants Caro to keep her nose out of those secrets and his murder investigation! Let's just say our ex-beauty queen, southern gal has not learned to let things go. Not just Grandma's brooch! A great, funny romp! I won't spoil it for you. I know you will love the lighthearted mayhem too. These are people I'd like to know more about!
May 10, 2016
An entertaining, quick, and easy read. Desperate Housedogs by Sparkle Abbey is a cute & cuddly cozy mystery with a likeable amateur sleuth in main character transplanted Texan and former beauty queen Carolina Lamont and boasts a widely varied group of eccentric residents of Laguna Beach, California as its supporting cast of characters (including an octogenerian Doris Day-wannabe, retired movie star, and animal activist Diana Knight . . . "Please spay & neuter your pets!").
This first installment of the Pampered Pets Mystery series also sets up a love triangle amongst Caro, homicide detective Judd Malone, and wealthy playboy Sam Gallanos - an all-too common and often frustratingly annoying occurrence in cozies.
Didn't particularly enjoy the rivalry between Caro and her cousin Mel and their "feud" over their grandmother's brooch, either.
This series has a lot of potential. I believe that most cozy lovers would enjoy it.
3 1/2 Stars
This first installment of the Pampered Pets Mystery series also sets up a love triangle amongst Caro, homicide detective Judd Malone, and wealthy playboy Sam Gallanos - an all-too common and often frustratingly annoying occurrence in cozies.
Didn't particularly enjoy the rivalry between Caro and her cousin Mel and their "feud" over their grandmother's brooch, either.
This series has a lot of potential. I believe that most cozy lovers would enjoy it.
3 1/2 Stars
May 20, 2017
Enough already with the brooch! Caro is going on and on for the whole book about it and the end of the book is not the end of it either!
The book starts with when Caro is burglarizing Mel’s house for that ugly brooch. When done what does she do? She cleans up the dishes and runs the dish washer! What the point of stealing something when you are going to let the person know?
Caro is a pet psychologist. She makes house calls for rich pet parents. Kevin’s 2 German Shephard are behaving strangely. Kevin dies after she left. A beloved star is put in jail and Caro has to look for the murderer to get her out of jail.
We get into the action of solving the crime a little slow. A lot of information about dogs though!
I like that the handsome detective is not all over Caro immediately…. in fact not at all throughout the book. This makes it more realistic.
The character I like in this book is Kendall, a flamboyant pet groomer, whose fashion sense is a little behind the time.
The book starts with when Caro is burglarizing Mel’s house for that ugly brooch. When done what does she do? She cleans up the dishes and runs the dish washer! What the point of stealing something when you are going to let the person know?
Caro is a pet psychologist. She makes house calls for rich pet parents. Kevin’s 2 German Shephard are behaving strangely. Kevin dies after she left. A beloved star is put in jail and Caro has to look for the murderer to get her out of jail.
We get into the action of solving the crime a little slow. A lot of information about dogs though!
I like that the handsome detective is not all over Caro immediately…. in fact not at all throughout the book. This makes it more realistic.
The character I like in this book is Kendall, a flamboyant pet groomer, whose fashion sense is a little behind the time.
November 15, 2011
The first book in a "themed" cozy mystery series; theme being pets.
The series is written by two authors under the name Sparkle Abbey. How I understand it, the series will alternate between two protagonists Caro Lamont (written by Marylee Woods) and Mel Langston (written by Anita Carver);
Desperate Housedogs was a "good" read. The story kept going, the main character, Caro is interesting and likeable, the supporting cast is also enjoyable. I thought the mystery was a little ho-hum and predictable, I would have liked more actual interaction with the supporting cast and less narrative.
I think it's interesting how the authors are handling the co-authoring and
I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series with Mel Langston being the main character
Both authors live in the same town as I, so gotta support local talent!!
The series is written by two authors under the name Sparkle Abbey. How I understand it, the series will alternate between two protagonists Caro Lamont (written by Marylee Woods) and Mel Langston (written by Anita Carver);
Desperate Housedogs was a "good" read. The story kept going, the main character, Caro is interesting and likeable, the supporting cast is also enjoyable. I thought the mystery was a little ho-hum and predictable, I would have liked more actual interaction with the supporting cast and less narrative.
I think it's interesting how the authors are handling the co-authoring and
I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series with Mel Langston being the main character
Both authors live in the same town as I, so gotta support local talent!!
August 9, 2012
This book surprised me - in a really good way. I downloaded it during my first "free kindle book" sweep on Amazon...I wasn't convinced - it looked like chick lit - but I thought "Hey, it's free."
The book is well written, well paced and populated with a range of well drawn characters, including the eponymous dogs and several stereotypes. The plot is as unrealistic as any other "member of public gets drawn into solving mystery" story, but is written well enough to allow the necessary suspension of belief. There are madcap diversions, lots of doggie welfare notes and an exciting denouement.
The epilogue is a neat twist...and, in my eyes, redeems the book from the charge of chick lit ;-)
I recommend this book - it's a great light, amusing read and guaranteed to cheer you up.
First Read 17-18 December 2011.
Reread 5-8 August 2012
The book is well written, well paced and populated with a range of well drawn characters, including the eponymous dogs and several stereotypes. The plot is as unrealistic as any other "member of public gets drawn into solving mystery" story, but is written well enough to allow the necessary suspension of belief. There are madcap diversions, lots of doggie welfare notes and an exciting denouement.
The epilogue is a neat twist...and, in my eyes, redeems the book from the charge of chick lit ;-)
I recommend this book - it's a great light, amusing read and guaranteed to cheer you up.
First Read 17-18 December 2011.
Reread 5-8 August 2012
July 5, 2017
Cute cover, cute title, cute mystery. Desperate Housedogs was part Murder She Wrote, part Real Housewives. There were enough dogs, and bling to satisfy any cozy/chicklit reader.
It was fun to read about the lives of the super wealthy in southern California, and the parts about dealing with problem pets was interesting as well. I had the feeling that the authors did a lot of researching before writing the novel.
But while I generally do like cozies, this one was a little too cozy for me. It's all fluff and no substance. Every character was a cliche, the romance was mediocre, and the plot suffered lag. When I got to the end, I didn't feel that the clues added up as much as they should have.
There are a lot of readers who would love this easy, summertime read, but I needed more bang. Desperate Housedogs is a good bit of escapist fiction, but that's all it is.
It was fun to read about the lives of the super wealthy in southern California, and the parts about dealing with problem pets was interesting as well. I had the feeling that the authors did a lot of researching before writing the novel.
But while I generally do like cozies, this one was a little too cozy for me. It's all fluff and no substance. Every character was a cliche, the romance was mediocre, and the plot suffered lag. When I got to the end, I didn't feel that the clues added up as much as they should have.
There are a lot of readers who would love this easy, summertime read, but I needed more bang. Desperate Housedogs is a good bit of escapist fiction, but that's all it is.
August 18, 2020
First in a series. Takes place in Laguna Beach, California. Caro Lamount, past Texas beauty queen, then a psychologist and now a Pet Therapist. She did a normal routine to Kevin Blackstone to check on his German Shepherds who were acting strange. After taking them for a walk they calmed down so she left. The next day she gets a call and Kevin is dead and other then the killer she was the last one to see Kevin alive. Since the police, mainly Judd Malone, was not taking it serious enough for her, she decides to do her own investigating, and when they arrest her favorite person, Diana for the murder she is determine to find the killer even if it puts her in unsafe situations. Loved the mystery. Was written very well that made you continue to read. I will definitely read the next book in the series.
May 22, 2012
Great book. Being a dog lover and cozy mystery reader with humor and romance tossed in this book had a little bit of everything for me. Caro ends up solving a murder of one of her clients who left behind two German Shepherds. Lots of suspects in this gated Laguna Beach community. I had pretty much figured out the murderer from the first appearance, as had Detective Malone, so it seemed like Caro was figuring things out the long way but then she didn't have access to all the high tech police computers.
Good storyline. Entertaining characters. I definitely will be reading more of this series.
Good storyline. Entertaining characters. I definitely will be reading more of this series.
July 9, 2017
I absolutely loved this book. Sparkle Abbey is a talented writing duo that sure know how to spin a tale.
This book has everything in it that I love in a cozy mystery.
A strong, independent protagonist, animals and a whole lot of mystery.
This is the first in the series and I plan on reading the rest.
This series will appeal to all cozy mystery lovers.
This book is definitely a 5 paws up.
I voluntarily read an ARC of this book provided by the publisher and NetGalley.
This book has everything in it that I love in a cozy mystery.
A strong, independent protagonist, animals and a whole lot of mystery.
This is the first in the series and I plan on reading the rest.
This series will appeal to all cozy mystery lovers.
This book is definitely a 5 paws up.
I voluntarily read an ARC of this book provided by the publisher and NetGalley.
February 1, 2021
The Dr. Is in
This is the first book in this series and the first I've read. Caro is a pet therapist who gets involved in the death of two of her clients owner. This leads her to meet a handsome and hot detective and her best friend in jail. You will want to read the book to see what happens but I promise you won't be dissatisfied.
This is the first book in this series and the first I've read. Caro is a pet therapist who gets involved in the death of two of her clients owner. This leads her to meet a handsome and hot detective and her best friend in jail. You will want to read the book to see what happens but I promise you won't be dissatisfied.
January 23, 2018
In Desperate Housedogs by Sparkle Abbey, Caro Lamont serves as a dog psychologist, especially amid the elite in Laguna Beach, so she gets called to visit the home of Kevin Blackstone, owner of German shepherds Zeus and Tommy Boy, who have been going wild barking but refusing to go outside for two days. After working with the dogs for a little while, Caro stops to visit her closest friend, Diana Knight, a grandmother figure former celebrity who has turned into a passionate animal advocate. The two have been planning the "Fur Ball" to raise money for rescue animals at the local shelter where both are very active volunteers. Soon after arriving home from these visits, Caro gets a visit from Detective Judd Malone, who informs Caro that Kevin Blackstone has died under suspicious visits. Caro begins to snoop, getting involved in ever riskier and even illegal behaviors as she digs up more clues. But then Diana gets arrested, raising the stakes even higher, especially as Diana refuses to allow anyone to bail her out. Instead she uses her incarceration as a platform to get interviews with anyone possible in order to promote her fundraising for the animal shelter. Thus, Caro determines to investigate further to find the truth.
Read the rest of this review and other fun, geeky articles at Fangirl Nation
Read the rest of this review and other fun, geeky articles at Fangirl Nation
July 15, 2018
To treat the dog, treat the owner
Brilliant! A really terrific read. Humour, mystery and a hint of romance mixed into a really enjoyable experience. She is a psychologist dealing with pets and their owners. Not quite the brightest as she misses some really obvious clues but a really likeable character. Why did one of her clients die? Why are all the dogs suddenly having behavioural problems? A great romp filled with dogs and multiple motives. Recommended. Great characters and settings.
Brilliant! A really terrific read. Humour, mystery and a hint of romance mixed into a really enjoyable experience. She is a psychologist dealing with pets and their owners. Not quite the brightest as she misses some really obvious clues but a really likeable character. Why did one of her clients die? Why are all the dogs suddenly having behavioural problems? A great romp filled with dogs and multiple motives. Recommended. Great characters and settings.
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