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Helpful Paws
Dear Author,
This is Priscilla. My friend eloped with his bitch girlfriend and left Priscilla to me. Unfortunately, I think she is about to deliver puppies. I know nothing about girls and nothing about dogs, but don't think she can deliver on her own. I need help fast! My neighbor, Dr. Silver is the only vet in town and I think he hates me. He may have caught me skinny dipping in his pool...more than once.
Photo Description: Bulldog being examined by a dark haired vet.
This story was written as a part of the M/M Romance Group's "Love is Always Write" event. Group members were asked to write a story prompt inspired by a photo of their choice. Authors of the group selected a photo and prompt that spoke to them and wrote a short story.
Read the story here or find it in Love Is Always Write: Volume 4.
This is Priscilla. My friend eloped with his bitch girlfriend and left Priscilla to me. Unfortunately, I think she is about to deliver puppies. I know nothing about girls and nothing about dogs, but don't think she can deliver on her own. I need help fast! My neighbor, Dr. Silver is the only vet in town and I think he hates me. He may have caught me skinny dipping in his pool...more than once.
Photo Description: Bulldog being examined by a dark haired vet.
This story was written as a part of the M/M Romance Group's "Love is Always Write" event. Group members were asked to write a story prompt inspired by a photo of their choice. Authors of the group selected a photo and prompt that spoke to them and wrote a short story.
Read the story here or find it in Love Is Always Write: Volume 4.
14 pages, ebook
First published June 28, 2012
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128 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
July 15, 2012
Offered for FREE from the M/M Romance Group, Love Is Always Write: Volume Four.
Hmm, this is kind of hard to review. I feel like I read the beginning and the end of a story and missed the middle. If we had gotten to see those few weeks in between with Morgan stopping by to check on Leigh and the pups, then maybe we would have seen some sexual tension, some flirting... anything. But as it was we just had that one interaction to go by at the birth and then Morgan just starts sucking Leigh's face out of nowhere a few weeks later. Unfortunate because this could have been a lot better with a little more flushing out of the story.
Now the few annoying quirks. Who gets a 4 month paid vacation? Who leaves their dog with someone for 3 months without even asking the person or giving them any warning, let alone leave any supplies? I would not be friends with this person anymore, and maybe even calling the ASPCA on their ass since they're clearly not responsible enough to own an effen pet. Who goes on a 3 month honeymoon? And lastly, why did Morgan need to stay the night after the pups were born? He lives next door.
July 9, 2015
8/7 - Sixth line (SIXTH I tell you!) we have this little gem
...he dragged his aching body to his bathroom, making his morning ablations
I'm sorry to tell you Ms Night, but ablations doesn't mean what you think it means. Here is a quick description from Wikipedia:
Ablation is removal of material from the surface of an object by vaporization, chipping, or other erosive processes. Examples of ablative materials include spacecraft material for ascent and atmospheric re-entry, ice and snow in glaciology, biological tissues in medicine and passive fire protection materials.
Ablation is not the same as ablution, which, I think, is the word you were searching for. Wikipedia says the following in regards to ablutions:
Not to be confused with oblation or ablation. LOL how prophetic is that?! Ablution is the act of washing oneself.
*Shakes head in resignation at authors ever learning the skill of correct spelling, punctuation, and grammar* To be continued...
Same page, just minutes later - Umm, why is 'honeymoon' capitalised? If it's not the start of a sentence it doesn't need to be capitalised. It's not a proper noun in any way, shape or form. To be continued...
Next page - Tall, runners build, broad shoulders.... You're talking about Morgen having the build of a runner, therefore runners is possessive and needs an apostrophe. To be continued...
Same page - Two questions: Why does Leigh call Brian's new wife "Queen Bitch" when the only things we know about her are that her name is Veronica and she owns a Bulldog? And secondly, who skinny dips in unknown neighbour's pools? That's just weird and wrong. No wonder Morgen doesn't like him (although I'm pretty sure Leigh is taking the 'heated glances' the wrong way). To be continued...
Two pages later - I've decided to ignore all but the most glaringly obvious (or just plain weird) examples of bad writing/grammar/spelling/punctuation, you know all the fun stuff, otherwise I'll be here all night reading just 15 pages and my review will end up longer than the 'book'. Anyway the following sentence is an example of 'just plain weird' bad writing (and spelling I've just noticed):
He (Morgen) found himself in the living room, all sorts of towels behind his back, a large whicker basket with a blanket in it, and a few bowls slightly steaming.
Oh dear! Where do I start with that stinker? If the towels are behind Morgen's back how does he know they're there? Wicker with an H?! And why are the bowls steaming? I hope they're not sitting on the carpet, they might melt it if they're hot enough to steam all by themselves. To be continued...
Another page later - Why would Morgen need to spend the night?! He lives next door. It's not like it's a long drive, or even walk, home. To be continued...
Finished! - Dreadful punctuation, pretty bad writing plagued by illogicality, and below average spelling. An all-around bad book that I'm really glad I didn't pay for with anything more expensive than my time. This is the second Love is Always Write book that I've read, fortunately this was the only one that has been a complete waste of my time. The Rest of Forever by Kate Aaron was actually quite good.
...he dragged his aching body to his bathroom, making his morning ablations
I'm sorry to tell you Ms Night, but ablations doesn't mean what you think it means. Here is a quick description from Wikipedia:
Ablation is removal of material from the surface of an object by vaporization, chipping, or other erosive processes. Examples of ablative materials include spacecraft material for ascent and atmospheric re-entry, ice and snow in glaciology, biological tissues in medicine and passive fire protection materials.
Ablation is not the same as ablution, which, I think, is the word you were searching for. Wikipedia says the following in regards to ablutions:
Not to be confused with oblation or ablation. LOL how prophetic is that?! Ablution is the act of washing oneself.
*Shakes head in resignation at authors ever learning the skill of correct spelling, punctuation, and grammar* To be continued...
Same page, just minutes later - Umm, why is 'honeymoon' capitalised? If it's not the start of a sentence it doesn't need to be capitalised. It's not a proper noun in any way, shape or form. To be continued...
Next page - Tall, runners build, broad shoulders.... You're talking about Morgen having the build of a runner, therefore runners is possessive and needs an apostrophe. To be continued...
Same page - Two questions: Why does Leigh call Brian's new wife "Queen Bitch" when the only things we know about her are that her name is Veronica and she owns a Bulldog? And secondly, who skinny dips in unknown neighbour's pools? That's just weird and wrong. No wonder Morgen doesn't like him (although I'm pretty sure Leigh is taking the 'heated glances' the wrong way). To be continued...
Two pages later - I've decided to ignore all but the most glaringly obvious (or just plain weird) examples of bad writing/grammar/spelling/punctuation, you know all the fun stuff, otherwise I'll be here all night reading just 15 pages and my review will end up longer than the 'book'. Anyway the following sentence is an example of 'just plain weird' bad writing (and spelling I've just noticed):
He (Morgen) found himself in the living room, all sorts of towels behind his back, a large whicker basket with a blanket in it, and a few bowls slightly steaming.
Oh dear! Where do I start with that stinker? If the towels are behind Morgen's back how does he know they're there? Wicker with an H?! And why are the bowls steaming? I hope they're not sitting on the carpet, they might melt it if they're hot enough to steam all by themselves. To be continued...
Another page later - Why would Morgen need to spend the night?! He lives next door. It's not like it's a long drive, or even walk, home. To be continued...
Finished! - Dreadful punctuation, pretty bad writing plagued by illogicality, and below average spelling. An all-around bad book that I'm really glad I didn't pay for with anything more expensive than my time. This is the second Love is Always Write book that I've read, fortunately this was the only one that has been a complete waste of my time. The Rest of Forever by Kate Aaron was actually quite good.
June 28, 2012
A cute free story. Way too short. You don't really get to know either of the guys and there is zero relationship building. So while it's cute you learn more about the dog and roommate then the MCs.
And where does he work that hea on a four month vacation? And no plans?
Also there was some great stuff that was in the prompt but instead of bringing those to the story and developing them it just repeated them from the prompt.
For me this felt like an outline or excerpt and not like a complete story.
So yeah whats there is really cute but there isn't enough to be satisfying IMO
And where does he work that hea on a four month vacation? And no plans?
Also there was some great stuff that was in the prompt but instead of bringing those to the story and developing them it just repeated them from the prompt.
For me this felt like an outline or excerpt and not like a complete story.
So yeah whats there is really cute but there isn't enough to be satisfying IMO
July 1, 2012
Cute short about a dog sitting friend needing his sexy vet neighbors help.
I liked it, but it was just way too short, I sort of missed the relationship developing between the MC's, and it's a HFN at best.
I liked it, but it was just way too short, I sort of missed the relationship developing between the MC's, and it's a HFN at best.
Read
June 26, 2015Too short, too nothing to rate.
Felt I missed a few chapters and several steps along the way.
The characters didn't even talk, there was nothing, then woah! lip-attack!
No idea why the friend's girlfriend was an oft repeated 'bitch' or at what point he became a room-mate!
Never heard of four months paid leave to look after a dog.
Only just read it and I've forgotten the characters' names.
How the hell do you write a story with six freshly born puppies that's devoid of warm snuggly cuteness?! How? Why?
A prompt with so much potential for adorableness! Sad.
Felt I missed a few chapters and several steps along the way.
The characters didn't even talk, there was nothing, then woah! lip-attack!
No idea why the friend's girlfriend was an oft repeated 'bitch' or at what point he became a room-mate!
Never heard of four months paid leave to look after a dog.
Only just read it and I've forgotten the characters' names.
How the hell do you write a story with six freshly born puppies that's devoid of warm snuggly cuteness?! How? Why?
A prompt with so much potential for adorableness! Sad.
June 29, 2012
Very short story about Leigh, who's left to babysit a pregnant bulldog at his house by his roommate's fiance. Priscilla the bulldog gives birth and Leigh needs help from Dr. Morgen Silver the vet who he's attracted to, but thinks the vet dislikes him.
Since the story is very short, we don't get much of a glimpse into the personalities of the characters as much as I would have liked. But the story fit the prompt and image given.
Since the story is very short, we don't get much of a glimpse into the personalities of the characters as much as I would have liked. But the story fit the prompt and image given.
June 28, 2012
This is a nice short story that revolves around dogs with a little romance mixed in.
August 12, 2015
No. Just no.
Bad spelling, bad grammar, horrible writing.
Bad spelling, bad grammar, horrible writing.
October 7, 2013
Firstly to address the complaints that this is a M/M story, in the description on Amazon UK it says "Love is Always Write event at the M/M Romance Group on GoodReads", so unless this is not present elsewhere I consider those complaints void. Not to mention from early on in the story there were comments about dating girls in general followed by something along the line of "well I'll never have that trouble".
I have no issue with the genre, in fact I found it very endearing, so my rating is not based on that. Overall just looking at the plot I thought it was a sweet short story and held potential which sadly was not met. The plot quickly became rushed leaving goldmines of emotion and feeling untapped. This story could have been greatly improved by the writer taking more time and making it longer, because I wanted to like it and I wanted it to keep going.
In several places the tense also changed or the point of view became suspect. I feel this could have been easily fixed with a good proof read and would have earned it another star
I have no issue with the genre, in fact I found it very endearing, so my rating is not based on that. Overall just looking at the plot I thought it was a sweet short story and held potential which sadly was not met. The plot quickly became rushed leaving goldmines of emotion and feeling untapped. This story could have been greatly improved by the writer taking more time and making it longer, because I wanted to like it and I wanted it to keep going.
In several places the tense also changed or the point of view became suspect. I feel this could have been easily fixed with a good proof read and would have earned it another star
March 15, 2014
The concept here is sweet if a little far-fetched but the compiling of it all doesn't work very well. There are a lot of grammar/editing errors, changes in tenses that sort of thing that pulled me right out of the story on a number of occasions.
Leigh wakes up one morning to find out his best friend and roommate has eloped with his girlfriend and left her dog for Leigh to take care of while they're gone on their honeymoon for three months. Surprise surprise though Priscilla is pregnant and goes into labor that very night. Luckily there's a vet living across the street and Morgan is willing to help out in spite of the past skinny dipping caused tension between him and Leigh.
There's no real development of the relationship here. Morgan helps out one night and then we jump a bit later and he walks in the door and kisses Leigh changing their relationship. I liked the idea of the story more than the execution.
Leigh wakes up one morning to find out his best friend and roommate has eloped with his girlfriend and left her dog for Leigh to take care of while they're gone on their honeymoon for three months. Surprise surprise though Priscilla is pregnant and goes into labor that very night. Luckily there's a vet living across the street and Morgan is willing to help out in spite of the past skinny dipping caused tension between him and Leigh.
There's no real development of the relationship here. Morgan helps out one night and then we jump a bit later and he walks in the door and kisses Leigh changing their relationship. I liked the idea of the story more than the execution.
December 4, 2012
Very cute short read about a young man, Leigh, who gets left behind by his so-called friend when the guy elopes. His fiancee leaves her dog, Priscilla, for Leigh to take care of, but he has no idea what to do when Priscilla starts giving birth. The tone is lighthearted and humorous throughout, and the sudden addition of puppies provides Morgen, the vet who lives next door, with a great excuse to come around.
Sweet story with a hopeful ending.
Sweet story with a hopeful ending.
March 1, 2014
I wanted to like this, and still think that the premise was interesting enough that it could have been a great short story. But just not enough about the relationship between the people instead of between the people and the dogs.
November 23, 2013
Thin plot, shallow characters, and just all around not very good.
May 26, 2015
Brought together by the unexpected arrival of puppies a relationship is formed.
April 1, 2025
Garbage
Plot would be fine in the hands of anyone who could actually write a story. Elyse Night is not that person. Misspelled words, horrible grammar, missing or wrong punctuation are just the beginning of the problems.
The story starts in past tense, then switches to present for a paragraph or two, then switches back. It starts a chapter with one character's POV, and then switches to the other character's POV within a paragraph, before switching back.
I cannot believe an editor signed off on this garbage.
Oh, you want more details? Okay. 95% of the way through the story, it's entirely about a dog who is giving birth. The last five percent, the dog's vet tells the dog's caretaker that he wants to have "adult fun time". In the previous 95%, there had not been a single indication that the vet had any feelings for the other guy, and suddenly he's in love and wants to take it further?
No. Utter garbage. I've read better fanfiction from people whose third or fourth language was English.
Plot would be fine in the hands of anyone who could actually write a story. Elyse Night is not that person. Misspelled words, horrible grammar, missing or wrong punctuation are just the beginning of the problems.
The story starts in past tense, then switches to present for a paragraph or two, then switches back. It starts a chapter with one character's POV, and then switches to the other character's POV within a paragraph, before switching back.
I cannot believe an editor signed off on this garbage.
Oh, you want more details? Okay. 95% of the way through the story, it's entirely about a dog who is giving birth. The last five percent, the dog's vet tells the dog's caretaker that he wants to have "adult fun time". In the previous 95%, there had not been a single indication that the vet had any feelings for the other guy, and suddenly he's in love and wants to take it further?
No. Utter garbage. I've read better fanfiction from people whose third or fourth language was English.
September 18, 2020
O dear lord...!
Well! What can I say?! Super short and quick about a guy who's been left a dog to look after whilst the owners have eloped, then she has puppies, then he finds out the vet next door is gay!!! The end! Total read time was 5 minutes and totally ridiculous. What was the point?
Well! What can I say?! Super short and quick about a guy who's been left a dog to look after whilst the owners have eloped, then she has puppies, then he finds out the vet next door is gay!!! The end! Total read time was 5 minutes and totally ridiculous. What was the point?
July 10, 2018
2.5 Stars
February 18, 2017
Just plain bad.
October 5, 2013
Helpful paws wasn’t exactly what I’ve anticipated. And it’s not easy to review. It looks a bit hurried to me and it really should have been longer, in my opinion, at least few pages. I mean, good we’ve a story; the dog needs help and the two of them must get together to help her – to this part it’s fine, but what came afterwards didn’t really work and as I already said it looked hurried as if the author just wanted to get over with. Also, the ending in itself looked unfinished, I seriously expected more to happen or at least in more detail. Too bad, it could’ve been real good, well, maybe next time.
July 4, 2017
Got this book since of the cover and title so didn't really research it thus was surprised to find it was M/M.
Short story that most definitely could be expanded upon. There isn't an open introduction to the characters but just a jump into a flat plot.
The author could also edit a bit more. There we're missing words and a few misspellings to contend with. The story had two different narrative tones, which made the story a bit jerky reading.
Still kind of cute and slightly realistic. There isn't too much hot and heavy going on just a brief snippet.
Short story that most definitely could be expanded upon. There isn't an open introduction to the characters but just a jump into a flat plot.
The author could also edit a bit more. There we're missing words and a few misspellings to contend with. The story had two different narrative tones, which made the story a bit jerky reading.
Still kind of cute and slightly realistic. There isn't too much hot and heavy going on just a brief snippet.
August 4, 2013
It was OK I was surprised what it turned into...
Besplatna kratka prica za Kindle zanimljiva i u sustini slatka, no buduci da nisam citala o cemu se radi nego samo skinula nemalo sam se iznenadila krajem. Radnja ukratko glavni lik se probudi mamuran nakon urne noci i nalazi poruku svog cimera koji je pobjegao sa zarucnicom da se tajno vjencaju te mu na brigu ostavljaju zarucnicinog psa Priscillu kojoj pocinju trudovi i tu pocinju zavrzlame. Sve u svemu slatka pricica...
Besplatna kratka prica za Kindle zanimljiva i u sustini slatka, no buduci da nisam citala o cemu se radi nego samo skinula nemalo sam se iznenadila krajem. Radnja ukratko glavni lik se probudi mamuran nakon urne noci i nalazi poruku svog cimera koji je pobjegao sa zarucnicom da se tajno vjencaju te mu na brigu ostavljaju zarucnicinog psa Priscillu kojoj pocinju trudovi i tu pocinju zavrzlame. Sve u svemu slatka pricica...
February 17, 2016
Helpful Paws is a short story about a guy taking care of his friend's dog, Priscilla, an English Bulldog and having the dog go into labor the first night. The only vet in town, is Dr. Silver, who is his next door neighbor and not fond of him after catching him skinny dipping in his pool on numerous occasions. What is a guy to do in an emergency but call the only vet in town? The puppies come along find, all six of them and the two men become special friends.
January 9, 2016
This story was obviously super short, but it left me wanting more. Both men were cute and I wish this had been a full length novel. It was a super quick, cute read, so I would recommend it for someone who has a few minutes to spare.
January 19, 2013
Very short (15 pages) but cute. It feels strange to call this a m-m read because the only action in this book is a man giving a small kiss to another man. I liked the story behind the dog and it delivering puppies and the humorous insight of feelings towards the dog owner but the story was to short to feel any instant connection between the two main characters.
July 22, 2017
This was a jotted down note called a story. It had plenty of description for the guy waking up, going shopping for a dog and the dog giving birth, but pretty much nothing that provided any real interaction between the two guys. And why did he have to stay the night in the guest room? He lives NEXT DOOR.
September 6, 2012
Really hilarious especially the part where Leigh discovers that Priscilla (the dog he is babysitting) is delivering puppies. Sweet story but too short, only HFN, looking forward to HEA with the whole nine yards involved.
November 28, 2014
I felt like I was reading an instruction manual, or my 10 year old reading to me when every sentence is 5 words long.
This had such wonderful potential, if it had been expanded on and the MC's given more character.
This had such wonderful potential, if it had been expanded on and the MC's given more character.
December 30, 2013
Short story and not what I expected, I am a dog lover and have my own dog sitting business, so when I came across this e-book on amazon for free I couldn't resist. However I was glad it was a very quick 10 min read!!!
May 17, 2012
The writing was okay, but the characters were not very well developed.
July 3, 2012
3,5 for the puppies. XD
It was a cute story but, too short. :<
It was a cute story but, too short. :<
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews