Love Bites: Love Unleashed / Smookie and the Bandit / Molly Wants a Hero / Dog Tags / Mane Haven

The Carlisles #1

by Lori Foster

Five of today's hottest romance authors celebrate the special place animals hold in our hearts in one unforgettable new collection. From matchmaking parrots to proposing puppies, the animals in these enchanting stories are determined to lend a helping paw on the road to happily ever after. Don't miss these never-before-published "tails" of couples whose pets give them a new leash on love!

The authors are donating all of their proceeds from Love Bites to the Animal Adoption Foundation of Hamilton, OH, a charitable organization.

Anthology


Love Unleashed by New York Times bestselling author Lori Foster
Smookie and the Bandit by New York Times bestselling author Brenda Jackson
Dog Tags by USA TODAY bestselling author Catherine Mann
Mane Haven by Jules Bennett
Molly Wants a Hero by Virna DePaul

Genres: Romance, Anthologies, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Short Stories, Animals, Fiction

370 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 1, 2012

About the author

Since first publishing in January 1996, Lori Foster has become a USA Today, Publisher’s Weekly and New York Times bestselling author. Lori has published through a variety of houses, including Kensington, St. Martin’s, Harlequin, Silhouette, Samhain, and Berkley/Jove. She is currently published with HQN.

Lori hosts a very special annual “Reader & Author” event in West Chester, Ohio. Proceeds from the event have benefited many worthy causes, including the Hamilton County YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter, the Animal Adoption Foundation, The Conductive Learning Center for children with spina bifida and cerebral palsy, and The One Way Farm, Children’s Home.

Each year Lori donates all proceeds from one book to charity. You can see the benefit romance books here: http://lorifoster.com/benefit-books/

Career Highlights
•In 2001, Lori received the prestigious Romantic Times “Career Achievement Award” for Series Romantic Fantasy.

•In 2002, Lori’s book Too Much Temptation was the top-selling romance title for Amazon books.

•In 2003, Say No To Joe was the second “Bestselling Original Contemporary” romance title for Waldenbooks.

•In 2004, Lori Foster was a clue in the New York Times crossword puzzle.

•In 2004, The Secret Life of Bryan was the “Bestselling Original Contemporary” romance title for the BGI group.

•In 2005, Lori received the prestigious Romantic Times “Career Achievement Award” for Contemporary Romance.

•In 2006, Jude’s Law was the “Bestselling Romantic Comedy” romance title for the BGI group.

•In 2007, Lori launched a new “urban fantasy” series under the name L.L. Foster. See more on her “dark side” at www.llfoster.com.

•In 2007, Causing Havoc was among Amazon’s Top Ten Editor’s picks in Romance.

•In 2008, Hard to Handle made #2 on The New York Times.

•In 2009, Servant: The Acceptance was Amazon’s #1 Editors’ Pick in Romance.

•In 2010, Lori was a clue in the USA Today Quick Cross puzzle.

Reviews

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lori Foster - Love Unleashed - Evan Carlisle and Cinder Bratt have been friends for a while. They even went to the animal shelter together and he got a cat and she a dog who also happened to be very good friends with each other. Evan has wanted Cinder for as long as he's known her but he felt she didn't reciprocate his romantic feelings so he just stayed her good friend. After coming home from her shift as a ER nurse bruised and battered Evan finds it hard to stay in the friend zone. After an attack in her apartment he insist that she stay with him until they catch the person. This was a very sweet story and I loved that the dog and cat also were so friendly with each other.

Brenda Jackson - Smookie and the Bandit - Whew - This story was smoking.. Raquel Capers knocks on Quest Newman's door to inform him his dog impregnated her dog and what was he going to do about it. This story had it all - humor, sexual attraction, off the charts phone sex. Had to fan myself a time or two while reading this one.

Virna DePaul - Molly Wants a Hero - Loved this one too... Molly Peterson is a crisis counselor who inherited a parrot from her grandparents when they died who loves to quote action movies. One night while doing a double shift on the crisis hotline she gets a call from Officer Wade King about someone he had in custody who was exhibiting mental health issues. The two hit it off on the phone so well he then ask her if she would check out his grandfather who is also exhibiting strange behavior. After Wade rescues her from an attacker later that night and they meet in person for the first time they both feel the strong pull of attraction.

Catherine Mann - Dog Tags - After having chatted with Catherine a couple time on blogs I know her deep love for dogs, especially service dogs. This was a very touching story of a soldier who's dog was taken in by a kind stranger while he was deployed after it had been found neglected by his father not talking care of it while he was gone. I don't want to give to much away on this one so I will just say this one truly touches the heart.

Jules Bennett - Mane Haven - Allison Bennett was taken in by Charlie Wymer when she was 16 to live on his farm with him. They took abused and neglected horses and nursed them back to health and found good homes for them. When Charlie died and left the farm to his nephew to flipped houses for a living Allison was in fear of what she would do. She was determined that Jake was a horrible person and there first meeting had her accidentally flinging horse manure on his face. This was another very touching story.

[Patty · Rating 4 out of 5]

** This review is for Love Unleashed by Lori Foster **

[Gwen (The Gwendolyn Reading Method) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short romance stories with cute animals as matchmakers? I'm in.

[Brandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Las autoras de esta antología "harlequinera" donan los beneficios a una fundación animal.
Enlace: http://hipwritergirls.typepad.com/lov...
Con esta excusa, una portada tan adorable y usando a los animales como nexo de unión, me puse a leer este libro que consta de cinco historias de diferentes autoras, que por cierto, hasta el día de hoy, conocía de pasada a algunas de ellas puesto que han sido publicadas en español, como Lori Foster y Brenda Jackson (esta no lo tengo muy claro).

Volviendo a mis 16 años cuando leía los "harlequines" que me compraba o me llegaban vía patio de vecinas, en un primer momento el libro no me llamaba demasiado y quería quitarmelo de encima lo antes posible. Quizás porque Lori Foster no se va a convertir en santa de mi devoción. La historia con la que comienza esta antología escrita por Foster me parece pelín chapucera. No llegué a soltar la lágrima, tampoco me subió la líbido con las escenas sexuales, y la historia tiene una trama predecible donde me aburrí leyendo una y otra vez la bonita pareja que hacía el perro de ella y el gato de él. La única diversión era saber si lo que pasaba a continuación iba a sorprenderme o no. Lamentablemente no lo hizo.

Después del fiasco, me encontré de golpe y porrazo con una Brenda Jackson que se sale. Claro que la historia que se monta es para que te suba la temperatura si o si. Porque ¿qué puede ocurrir cuando conoces, gracias a tu perro, a una tía despampanante que además te suelta sin complejos ni tapujos que vive de mantener conversaciones en una línea erótica? ¿Y si le añadimos a un tío ex-deportista, famoso y tremendamente guapo? Pues que no saltan chispas, sino la electricidad de toda la casa. Y si además Jackson te cuenta con todo lujo de detalles las escenas más calenturientas, ainnnnssss omá que rica!! XD

Tras un relato tan lujurioso tocaba descansar y dar paso a una historia con más sentimiento. Y he aquí que me encontré con Virna de Paul que me decepcionó un poco porque la historia parecía una mezcla entre la primera y la segunda pero con toques de "El show de Truman" (explico: es como en la pelí que todos los que rodean al personaje principal eran actores y cumplían su papel al dedillo sin salirse nunca del guión)
Y ese eterno juego que usan muchas autoras de hacerte creer que la prota es cenicienta cuando en realidad es una princesa, bufff, que harta me tiene. Me revienta que busquen las excusas más variopintas para que la pareja protagonista consiga estar siempre en los mismos círculos sociales y a la misma altura económica o de poder para que no haya problemas.

Quizás por eso los dos últimos relatos me parecieron mucho mejores pese a que las autoras parecen haber sido puestas a última hora en la portada. Sólo hay que ver la altura de cada nombre...
En el de Catherine Mann, la chica protagonista tiene una peculiaridad que no voy a desvelar pero que hizo que su historia de amor con un soldado americano fuera bonita. Como no quiero soltar spoilers no puedo decir mucho más.

Y la última de Jules Bennett es el típico "harlequín" donde ella es una mujer que vive sola en una granja de caballos (los rescatan y cuidan) y que se encuentra entre la espada y la pared. Si logra convencer al dueño de la granja para que no la eche quizás tenga una oportunidad.
Una historia preciosa con la que me picaron los ojos (casi suelto la lagrimita con la imaginativa declaración de ¿Quieres casarte conmigo? que hace el hombre). Digno cierre para este libro que recomiendo.
Y mira que la romántica no es mi género desde hace años, y menos la contemporánea., pero me ha gustado la experiencia. Será cuestión de seguir probando relatos cortos de este estilo.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh over all. Really must stop reading anthologies! Enjoyed all but just nothing to sink your teeth into.


From Goodreas: Five of today's hottest romance authors celebrate the special place animals hold in our hearts in one unforgettable new collection. From matchmaking parrots to proposing puppies, the animals in these enchanting stories are determined to lend a helping paw on the road to happily ever after. Don't miss these never-before-published "tails" of couples whose pets give them a new leash on love!

From Cindy O on Amazon :
By Cindy O
Format:Kindle Edition
Lori Foster - Love Unleashed - Evan Carlisle and Cinder Bratt have been friends for a while. They even went to the animal shelter together and he got a cat and she a dog who also happened to be very good friends with each other. Evan has wanted Cinder for as long as he's known her but he felt she didn't reciprocate his romantic feelings so he just stayed her good friend. After coming home from her shift as a ER nurse bruised and battered Evan finds it hard to stay in the friend zone. After an attack in her apartment he insist that she stay with him until they catch the person. This was a very sweet story and I loved that the dog and cat also were so friendly with each other.

Brenda Jackson - Smookie and the Bandit - Whew - This story was smoking.. Raquel Capers knocks on Quest Newman's door to inform him his dog impregnated her dog and what was he going to do about it. This story had it all - humor, sexual attraction, off the charts phone sex. Had to fan myself a time or two while reading this one.

Virna DePaul - Molly Wants a Hero - Loved this one too... Molly Peterson is a crisis counselor who inherited a parrot from her grandparents when they died who loves to quote action movies. One night while doing a double shift on the crisis hotline she gets a call from Officer Wade King about someone he had in custody who was exhibiting mental health issues. The two hit it off on the phone so well he then ask her if she would check out his grandfather who is also exhibiting strange behavior. After Wade rescues her from an attacker later that night and they meet in person for the first time they both feel the strong pull of attraction.

Catherine Mann - Dog Tags - After having chatted with Catherine a couple time on blogs I know her deep love for dogs, especially service dogs. This was a very touching story of a soldier who's dog was taken in by a kind stranger while he was deployed after it had been found neglected by his father not talking care of it while he was gone. I don't want to give to much away on this one so I will just say this one truly touches the heart.

Jules Bennett - Mane Haven - Allison Bennett was taken in by Charlie Wymer when she was 16 to live on his farm with him. They took abused and neglected horses and nursed them back to health and found good homes for them. When Charlie died and left the farm to his nephew to flipped houses for a living Allison was in fear of what she would do. She was determined that Jake was a horrible person and there first meeting had her accidentally flinging horse manure on his face. This was another very touching story.

[Fedora · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a delightful collection of animal stories!

Love Unleashed by Lori Foster--Evan and Cinder are neighbors and their shelter-adopted cat (Cate) and dog (Doug) figure out before they do that they belong together, and not just as friends. When a stalker situation forces them into closer circumstances, their pets get along like gangbusters, and when they lower their walls, Evan and Cinder find they are very well matched, too. Very cute read.

Smookie and the Bandit by Brenda Jackson--When Raquel's dog Smookie gets knocked up courtesy of Quest's pet Bandit, she feels it only right that he help with the expenses since his dog-sitter had misled Raquel about Bandit's reproductive status. Quest finds he's far more attracted to the lovely voiced Raquel than he'd expected, and really wants to get to know her better. And Raquel finds herself equally attracted by Quest... now that they're going to be puppy grandparents, they might have to spend more time together :)

Molly Wants a Hero by Virna DePaul--Molly works at a health clinic, answering its mental health hotline, among other responsibilities. Wade is a local police officer who calls for some information on a case and also about his grandfather's recent odd change in behavior. They learn they like each other and not to judge by appearances.

Dog Tags by Catherine Mann--a lovely story about Brody, who returns from his service overseas to thank Leah, a volunteer who kept his dog for him while he was away and who's become a friend, and maybe more than a friend.

Mane Haven by Jules Bennett--about Allison, who runs and works on a rescue farm, and Jake, who's inherited the farm after the untimely demise of his estranged uncle.

Overall, a great set of stories about those who love between those who love animals, and all proceeds benefit the Animal Adoption Foundation of Hamilton, OH. :)

[Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gave this book four stars mainly because I liked that it was for a good cause. I really liked Lori Fosters story and it was the main reason that I read this book. I always enjoy her characters and she is great at writing lovable animals also. I really disliked Smookie and the Bandit. It was the one story I wished wasn't in the book. Too many things in the story bothered me and I was just annoyed while reading it. I thought Molly Wants a Hero was a pretty cute story and almost would have liked it to be longer. It was nice having the parrot be the animal in this story since most people stick with dogs, cats or horses in books. I liked Dog Tags as a story but wish the dogs would have had a bit of a bigger part of the story. Other then being a way for them to meet they dogs were not really involved in the story and that made me a little sad. Mane Haven was probably my second favorite story in this anthology although it was a bit rushed for me. I would have been perfectly happy with this story being longer and Smookie and the Bandit not being there at all.

[Cara · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars for a fun, quick-to-read 5- story anthology with sweet satisfying plots that include animals in each. what's not to like when the proceeds go to an animal shelter?! I especially liked the first story as friends fall in love just like their pets (Doug the dog and Cate the cat!)that they adopted together from the shelter do.
Dog Tags is also a touching story about a military man who connects with the lady who fostered his dog while he was deployed for a year. The fact that she is in a wheelchair and didn't admit that while they were Skyping each other overseas makes the story very unique.

[Maura · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

Love Unleashed - Lori Foster - 3 /5 - Super short story starting the Carlisles series. Evan Carlisle has been in love with his plus-size but shy neighbor, Cinder, since she moved in and they got pets (a cat and a dog named Cate and Doug) who love each other. So, since then they’ve been hanging out quite a lot but denying their attraction to each other. After Cinder is hurt at work and is in danger from the guy who did it, Evan steps up his game and invites Cinder to live with him to protect her...and to explore their attraction. This was kind of underwhelming. What’s there is good and enjoyable - I do love a friends-to-lovers romance and Cate and Doug are pretty much adorable. Not much was explained about the psycho trying to hurt Cinder and there’s absolutely no motivation. The angst level between Cinder and Evan is pretty low - they give in to their attraction, she wonders if he’s in it for the long term when it’s time to move back to her apartment and then he stops her worrying. Good, but not much happening here.

Smookie and the Bandit - Brenda Jackson - 3 /5 - This one started out uniquely, as Smookie is a toy poodle who ends up pregnant because of Bandit, a Yorkie. Smookie’s owner, Raquel, tracks down Quest, Bandit’s owner to get him to pay puppy support and the sparks fly between them. Quest is instantly attracted and when he finds out she’s a phone actress, decides he’ll continue their relationship using that. So the two engage in serious bouts of phone sex before Raquel learns that the caller turning her on so much is actually Quest. Then they have real sex and HEA. Cute concept, but I couldn’t help but feel like Raquel’s reaction to Quest having her investigated was a bit underwhelming. After an invasion of privacy to that degree, I’d be pretty pissed myself...especially when the guy knew where I lived already and could easily just stop by and ask for my digits. Instead, his approach came across as creepy and dishonest. Still - some sexy times between them.

Molly Wants a Hero - Virna DePaul - 4 /5 - Molly is a mental health worker who meets Officer Wade King when he calls in on her hotline for a man he arrested...and stays on to ask some questions about his grandfather. They are instantly attracted, just over the phone. They meet up in person when Wade is the responding officer after Molly is attacked. The attraction blossoms even more and despite Molly’s initial rejection because Wade is rich and she’s wary, the relationship moves quickly to the bedroom and they become a couple as they try to figure out who attacked Molly and what’s wrong with Wade’s grandfather. So even though it requires some suspension of disbelief that Molly and Wade more or less fall in lust over the phone...and this relationship is basically on fast forward, this story was really enjoyable. Yeah, it’s a little ridiculous how quickly these two are basically a couple (at least neither of them say they’re in love before the epilogue), the chemistry is enough between them that it didn’t really bother me. I was completely in love with Gator and am always relieved when there is a different pet than a cat or a dog in these anthologies. Cats and dogs are cute, but definitely overdone, so this was refreshing.

Dog Tags - Catherine Mann - 4 /5 - While he was deployed, Brody’s dog was being fostered by Leah, whom he met on Skype and got to know. He basically fell in love with her and now that he’s home, he’s looking forward to meeting her face-to-face, to see if that spark is really there. It’s there all right. But there’s also more to Leah than he knew...for one, she needs a wheelchair, and for another, she’s extremely wary of Brody’s romantic interest in her and does everything she can to push him away, to protect her own heart. But Brody is determined. This was quite a good little story. Both Brody and Leah have excellent motivation for the way the feel and this influences how they act with one another. Leah was kinda frustrating with how she pushed Brody away, but it was completely understandable. She isn’t quite able to have faith that a guy could stick around given her circumstances. I enjoyed this story quite a bit, but wished the ending had been a bit more drawn out or that there had been a little epilogue or something.

Mane Haven - Jules Bennett - 3 /5 - Allison has to give up the only home she’s ever known, the farm she’s lived on since she was 16, to the man who inherited it. Jake arrives ready to renovate the farm house and sell it for a profit. He doesn’t expect to feel the compassion and attraction for Allison and her situation. The longer he knows her the more he’s certain he simply can’t do that to her...nor can he stomach the thought of leaving her and the life he’s coming to love on the farm. This was good, but WAY too short. It takes up 16% of this book and in that short amount of space, the two meet, overcome misunderstandings and Allison’s fears of being hurt, fall in lust and love, have sex and get their HEA. There was too much that had to happen here for me to buy it happening in such a short time.

[Jaclyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love this collection of love stories about people with their pets.

Love Unleashed by Lori Foster - YEEEESSSS!!! Friends to lovers story between neighbours whose cat and dog are also BFFs. I love that the heroine is plus size, and that she had an asshole ex who shot down her confidence about that, but her neighbour helps build it back up. LOVED this.

Smookie and the Bandit by Brenda Jackson - hilarious and sexy, about an adult phone operator who meets a hot guy when his dog impregnates hers. I was a bit leery of the guy being so secretive about his identity over the phone but I love how the heroine took control. I'm a huge Brenda Jackson fan and this was good.

Molly Wants a Hero by Virna DePaul - a crisis counsellor and a hot cop worried about his grandfather's apparent dementia. Class difference, a scary assault and a hilarious parrot. This was sweet and fun, and I loved it.

Dog Tags by Catherine Mann - A soldier goes on a yearlong deployment and leaves his beloved dog with his dad who turns out to be a neglectful dog sitter. Fortunately, a woman who works at a pet store and fosters animals takes the dog in. They end up Skyping and falling in love while he's away, and his dog also bonds with her dog. The story begins when he returns and learns that the woman is paralyzed from the waist down. She doesn't want his pity or his sense of duty, but he's in love with her and needs to convince her of that. I love that this story has a disabled protagonist, and I like the matter of fact way in which the story deals with her disability. At one point, she challenges the hero to ask the question she knows he's wondering about, and he replies that any such question should come from her, because no one has the right to ask for particulars on her disability. I also love that their relationship evolves over Skype, and we first meet them when they've already developed some feelings for each other.

Mane Haven by Jules Bennett - a woman caring for horses resents the rich nephew who's inherited the farm and plans to renovate it. This was the one that grabbed me the least. The hero's intentions to let her stay on the farm are clear to us from the beginning, though not to her, so I can understand her hate-on for him. I'm just not quite sure I caught how it all changed, and the turn felt rather sudden.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lori Foster's story was good. The dog and cat are friends and neighbors. How cute is that? It was fitting for the cover on the front of the book (the reason i picked the book up in the first place!). 5 stars for Lori Foster.

The story in Smookie and the Bandit was not good but there were lots of sexy scenes so it wasn't too hard to read. The pets didn't play much of a roll other than as a catalyst for a meet cute. 2 stars

Molly Wants a Hero was better than i expected. The parrot was funny. This was my first experience with this author and i would read her again. 3 stars.

Dog Tags by Catherine Mann could have really benefited from more of a backstory. I feel like everything important happened prior to us being dropped into the end of it. I do like this author but maybe this story line wasn't the best choice for a short format. And unfortunately, the dogs did not play an important enough roll. They were just there and we were told about them some times. 2 stars.

Mane Haven was boring. Worse, I really dislike female characters that are hot and cold and i dislike the men that seem to fall for those females immediately, because of, or in spite of it. I would not have finished it if it wasn't so short. There were cute puppies in the end but that couldn't save it. 1 star.

[Carol Cassada · Rating 4 out of 5]

Take a romance story and add a furry or feathery pet, and you have a collection of sweet romance stories.

Love Bites is an anthology of romance stories, which features the owners and their beloved pets. The pets featured in the stories range from dogs to parrots to horses.

Each story is heartwarming as you read about the couples finding love, overcoming their insecurities, and showing their dedication to their pets.

I had heard about a few of the authors, but I’ve never read any of their books. After reading a snippet of what they have to offer, I’m curious to read their other works.

All the stories were good, but my favorites were Mane Haven, Dog Tag, and Love Unleashed.

My only critique is that the stories went by too quickly, just as I was getting into the plot it was over. I’d love it if the authors published expanded versions of the stories so I can read more about the couples and their pets.

[Virginia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love Unleashed – Lori Foster (4 stars)
Evan Carlisle and Cinder Bratt are friends and neighbors. They even adopted their pets (her dog Doug and his cat Cate) together on the same trip to the animal shelter, and those pets are best friends. However, Evan wants to take the relationship further, and Cinder hasn’t been picking up on his clues. Turns out, that’s because she’s attracted to him but insecure about her own appeal. When Cinder is attacked twice in one night, Evan brings her to his apartment for protection and they discover that the attraction is mutual. Sexy times and danger ensue.
I like it when the couple starts out with friendship – especially in these shorter stories. The pun-y pet names annoyed me until I realized the Evan was in on the joke. I grew to like Cinder toward the end, although I wasn’t as impressed with her as Evan was. The final showdown was pretty tame for Foster, but I’m actually glad for that because a math/gym teacher and a nurse are really not qualified to take down a gun-toting bad guy.

Smookie and the Bandit – Brenda Jackson (4 stars)
Raquel Capers and Quest Newman meet when she informs him that his dog Bandit impregnated her dog Smookie due to some confusion between dog sitters when they were both out of town. Raquel identifies herself as an actress, since there’s nothing authentic about the things she says on the sex line she co-owns with a friend. When he learns about her occupation, Quest decides to indulge his attraction to her by calling her direct line as Renaldo. That only whets his appetite, and he begins to seek her out in person as well. Raquel is overwhelmed by her reaction to both Quest and Renaldo, so it’s a question of how she’ll react when she finds out that they’re the same man.
I have to give Jackson points for originality! The set-up with the dogs and the characters are unusual, but not in a way that alienates the reader. The phone scenes are super-hot, although the second call is described more as a fantasy than a conversation. Since it’s hard to set the scene purely with dialog, I can let that pass. Even though these two are unlike anyone I have actually met, I feel like I know and understand them. The perspective bounces around a bit and the time frame is often vague, but things still flow pretty smoothly. Overall, I was very happy with this story.

Molly Wants a Hero – Virna Paul (4 stars)
Crisis counselor Molly Peterson hears police officer Wade King’s voice over the phone and is immediately attracted to his voice and his obvious concern for his grandfather. Later, he comes to her rescue when she’s attacked in the parking lot after work. The attraction sizzles between them when they meet face to face, but learning that Wade is from a wealthy and prestigious background makes her back away. Her past experience with rich and powerful men have always ended badly and sometimes with violence, and she refuses to invite more of that into her life. But Wade believes that this attraction could be something special, so he’s willing to work for his chance with Molly.
I love Molly’s parrot Gator! I really liked Molly and Wade, and even though super-speedy romances usually detract from a story, I still found myself rooting for these two. The thing about UTIs causing delusions was strange, but I was happy to have an easy solution to Grandpa Paul’s problem. The title of the story didn’t make sense until I thought of it as a parrot joke. Doh! Wade’s not the sexiest hero I’ve ever read (as traditionally defined), but he’s the first one in a long time to make me want to look for a southern gentleman of my own.

Dog Tags – Catherine Mann (3 stars)
Leah Russell fostered Air Force Tech Sergeant Brody Ward’s beloved Border collie Penny after his other arrangements fell through in the midst of his deployment in Kuwait. In addition to communicating about Penny, they’ve gotten to know each other and danced around the edges of flirtation. Over the past 11 months they’ve talked about almost everything in their lives – except for the fact that Leah is effectively paralyzed from the waist down.
I realize that all of Leah’s reservations are realistic, and I certainly can’t completely identify with her circumstances, but I always start to lose my interest in a character when I feel like they are fighting too hard against the attraction. It’s an interesting set-up, but I’m glad this is a short story. I don’t think I could stick with these two for a full-length book. The ending was sweet, though.

Mane Haven – Jules Bennett (2 stars)
Allison Barrett resents Jake Anderson for inheriting Mane Haven, the farm where she worked with his uncle to rescue horses for fifteen years. She knows he’s just going to repair and sell it – he’s made a career of flipping houses, and a famous and lucrative one at that. Allison fears losing the only home and refuge she and her animals have ever known. Jake wants to get the farm off his plate so he can get back to a big project in Florida, but he can’t do anything half-way. The farm and Allison need a lot of attention, and Jake finds himself wanting to be the man to provide it.
I think I understand these two when they are apart, but as soon as they are within proximity of each other, it gets confusing. Chapter 3 in particular is a mess. It’s like Allison can’t keep her thoughts consistent and Jake’s motivations are all over the place. And then Chapter 4 comes along and they can communicate with very few barriers. It’s sad to say so, but through much of this story I kept debating whether or not to finish it. Ultimately, my need to complete the anthology (I already made it this far) won out. I gave this story a rating of two stars, instead of one, because I didn’t hate the characters, but otherwise it was an incoherent mess of romance clichés.

[Johanna · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF. This should have been right up my alley - a
romance novel with short stories involving dogs bringing people together. But I only made it 2.1 stories in. 2/3 if the stories I started involved women being attacked.

I’m honestly outraged - why is violence against women always a plot device?? And at least in the story I finished, there was no explanation for why the woman was stalked and threatened and attached. Which makes it even shittier.

There is enough about actually being a woman in America in 2018 that is scary - I don’t need to read escapist fiction to remind me of this. Especially when I’m looking for some romance and dog snuggles and you know, basically the opposite of what this was.

-5 stars.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I couldn't resist picking up this book because of the cute dog on the cover. Cute stories.

[Dhaverma · Rating 5 out of 5]

No Kindle version

[Maryjane Coons · Rating 2 out of 5]

it was ok

[Betsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read Love Unleashed by Lori Foster...short, but very cute

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

5 stories of romance - all involving animals...

Best friends who live across the hall from one another, adopted Cate and Doug (cat and dog) from the shelter a year ago - she is resistant to losing her friend, so she shuts down any romantic feelings she struggles with - he is watching her for a clue as to when to take things deeper... when she is threatened, she stays with him... and passion explodes...

two dogs in the same neighborhood end up hooking up... and she's pregnant... and her master goes to his master, and requests that he take responsibility ... and they end up carrying for the dogs together... and joining households...ahhh

She has lost her grandparents, and gained their parrot who loves quoting gangster movies... she's a counselor, doing time on the local hotline - he's a cop, from the local rich family - who brings his grandfather to her for a discrete diagnosis (his mental confusion due to bladder infection), and who protects her from a bad guy... and they mesh...

A volunteer group who foster for service people's animals when they are overseas... she is gettingher life together after a hit and run leaves her partially paralzed, opening a pet store and making the animal treats for it... she fosters his dog, whom he left with his conniving father and his father neglected and let lose and was picked up by animal control... they have skyped (so he could talk with his dog - and her), talked on phone, emailed - and he is looking forward to a real date, though not knowing she is paralyzed... but he isn't put off, and though she resists, not trusting the depth of his feelings, worried it is pity - and they get together...

a ranch that rescues horses - and for the last 15 years, since she was 12 and her junkie/gambling father won a horse that they could not care for and was taken in by the ranch, she works the ranch, moving in when she was 16, cared for by Charlie... and when Charlie died, he left the ranch to his nephew, whom he hadn't seen since a boy because of falling out with his sister, but who buys real estate, fixes it up, and sells till he was a millionaire... and he comes forhis inheritance, and finds a woman who needs him... ahhh

[Shelita · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars for the Lori Foster story. Cute story. Short, sweet and sexy with adorable pets and buddies tagging along.




Just started the Brenda Jackson story. Lmao over the puppy support payments line. While it ended cute and all, I feel Quest's behavior was stalkerish. I would give it 3.75 stars. Would've been 4 stars if not for the stalking. I didn't like that. If it hadn't been a hot guy she was interested in, she would have called the cops.





Virna DePaul's story was cute. I love that Molly's parrot quotes action movies. Molly & Wade make a cute couple. It just seems they moved very quickly. I do like that Molly will never allow herself to be a victim again & was able to successfully defend herself against her attacker. 4 stars.




I am a new fan of Catherine Mann & I loved this story. Her characters are so real. They really struggle through some serious issues and it's never treated lightly. I would give her story 5 stars.




I had never read Jules Bennett before. This as a cute story. It felt like it should have been more fleshed out for some reason. Not sure why I feel that way. I just feel like it should have been longer. I'd give it 3.75.





I would say my overall rating is 4.1 stars for this book. Love all the pets in the story. And these were very short and sweet sexy love stories.

[Silverana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Lori Foster books and for that reason I read any book or anthology that includes her stories. I felt this set of stories was not as good as the usual ones that I come across. The animal theme was definitely different and made the stories much more enjoyable. However, I felt the heroines in most of these stories were not as likeable. I give all the stories a 3 except the Lori Foster one. The Lori Foster one would have been a 5 but this time I felt that almost each of the male characters is interchangeable to some degree. The qualities that we see in most of her male characters are about the same. They are all the Alpha male types, which I love. But this story made me think that any one of the main male characters in the story could have been the hero. In other words, too much of the same characteristics in all her characters.

[SweetSue · Rating 3 out of 5]

A mixed bag of very short short stories- about 100 pages each.

4 stars for Love Unleashed by Lori Foster - a simple enough plot for a short story, but with enough character development and backstory that the romance was real. The dog and cat were super cute.

2 stars for Smookie and the Bandit by Brenda Jackson - stupid plot with the doggie "baby daddy."

4 stars for Dog Tags by Catherine Mann - my favorite. Loved how they got to know each other and how attuned he was to her physical needs. I'm thinking he's going to need to retire from the air force though.

3 stars for Mane Haven by Jules Bennett - it was cute. Her backstory was a bit much, but Jake was a sweetie.

2 stars for Molly Wants a Hero by Virna DePaul - good, but a bit weird with the grandpa, the stalker, and the socialite.

[Jewlsbookblog · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love Unleashed-Lori Foster

After getting assaulted on the job and being attacked in her apartment, Cinder gets to see a whole new side to her best friend Evan. When he decides to lay it on the line and see if Cinder is open to a relationship he has help from their four-legged friends. This is a cute love story between Cinder and Evan, along with their cat and dog.

Dog Tags-Catherine Mann

This is a sweet and touching story between a combat vet and the woman who took care of his dog after unexpected circumstances occurred when he deployed. When he comes home he finally gets to meet the woman he's gotten to know through Skype and emails. Brody and Leah have some interesting obstacles to overcome before they can find an HEA but their journey was a worthwhile read.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anthology includes:
Love Unleashed by Lori Foster
Smookie and the Bandit by Brenda Jackson
Dog Tags by Catherine Mann
Molly Wants a Hero by Virna DePaul
Mane Haven by Jules Bennett

Anthologies have a tendency to be hit or miss with me. But as I approve of the cause and because I am a big fan of several of the authors I bought this book and let it sit on my TBR shelf for way too long. I enjoyed each and every story. I was expecting Lori Fosters to be enjoyable but think my favorite was the touching story Dog Tags by Catherine Mann. That story alone was worth the price of the book. I laughed through Love Unleashed and Smookie and the Bandit. I about cried through Mane Haven.

[Darcy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This review is based only on the stories by the following.

Lori Foster - I liked this one, loved that both the couple had a crush but thought they were firmly in the "friend" camp. I also really liked how their pets played into things. While I hated how the couple were able to break the "friend" barrier, I was glad to see they did.

Brenda Jackson - This one was just ok. I had a hard time buying that Quest would be ok with Raquel's job, let alone calling in, or not laugh in her face when she came to him about her dog getting knocked up.

[Kristina Harper · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is just not a genre I can get into -- romance books -- but someone at worked loaned a couple to me because she knew author Virna DePaul, who wrote one of the stories in this anthology. I have to say I thought DePaul's story was the best of the bunch, and the best written one. I also have to say I'm surprised with how graphic these books are -- they don't leave much to the imagination. Anyway, I'm happy to finally be able to return these books to my coworker -- it took me a LONG time to get through them.

[Ann Lorz · Rating 3 out of 5]

My favorite was Lori Foster's Love Unleashed. She really write easy to get into stories. I love the men in her books, they are always strong, protective loving men. I did think it was funny that Virna DePaul's story was closely written plot wise to Foster's. All the rest were also well written. I will say that Bennett's story felt a little rushed at the end, could have used a extra chapter.

[Harlequin Books]

"In this anthology, five well-known authors come together to honor lovers of romance and animals. Each of the tales told are special and can easily be read one at a time or consumed all at once. And if by chance stories of passion and four-legged friends don't entice readers, purchase this book for a pal or family member, because the authors are donating all of the proceeds to a charitable organization for animal adoption." RT Book Reviews, rated 4 stars

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

love unleashed - 1 star
smookie and the bandit - 3 stars
molly wants a hero - 2 stars
dog tags - 3 stars
mane heaven - 4 stars/reread worthy…I wish this story was a full length book.

Overall I enjoyed reading this anthology. I found that I got into some stories more than others or liked the plot line better in some, but generally all five stories were well-written and had a HEA.

[Theresa Scarangella · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has short stories by various authors about people meeting and having animals. These were great short reads. When I had purchased this book it was for going for a charity. I didn't think I would like it as much as I did and it gave me a chance to read works from other authors that I didn't know.
I don't think you will be disappointed in this book.