Out of the Blue

Beckett Lodge #1

by Colette Makray

Tess and Tom Beckett had always dreamed of opening a pet-friendly vacation Lodge deep in the rugged Northern wilderness, but when her husband dies unexpectedly, Tess is left to run the business alone. Until the day a stray dog swims in from the lake and threatens to steal her heart and question her belief in miracles.

Police officer Brandon Bishop wants nothing more than to forget what happened with his latest case. How could he and his beloved but aging K-9 partner Toto have been so wrong about finding that little girl? Maybe his Boss was right - a relaxing vacation at a secluded Lodge was just what the pair needed to clear their minds and move on.

Big city socialite Joanne Lawrence can't believe her misfortune. First, her ex-husband gives their five-year-old son a huge slobbering dog for Christmas, and now she has to take the massive mutt on vacation! But when tragedy strikes, Joanne learns about the true power of a dog's love.

'Out of the Blue' is a unique story about love, friendship, and the incredible bond between dogs and their people

Genres: Fiction

66 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 1, 2013

About the author

I'm a small town gal living deep in the Canadian wilderness where 6 feet of snow is completely normal, black bears visit regularly and the view from the back porch is breathtaking.

I have always been a dog person and when I'm not tapping away at my laptop, I love hanging out with my favorite pal Tucker, an Australian Shepherd, who is as smart as a whip, stubborn as a mule and as loyal as, well.....a dog. Tucker has taught me some very important lessons in life and all he asks in return is to share my home and my heart. I am very grateful for the love of my dog.

I enjoy hearing from my readers so drop me a line sometime and say "Hello". You can email me at colette.loves.dogs@gmail.com or connect with me on Twitter at twitter.com/colettemakray.

Reviews

[Casey Reads 🌸 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn’t realize this was more like a short story than a full length book until I started reading it. It was a very easy read. It’s a story of multiple guests and the owner of a lodge working together to save a lost boy. There are multiple amazing dogs in the book.

The ending parts were sad, but it also left off on a cliffhanger so I am assuming the next book explains what happens next.

[Debra Hahn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A True Heart of a Hero

WARNING! Once you start reading this book you can not put it down,
till you read the words The End. Dog lovers beware this story go's right
to your heart and penetrates it to its very core. This is a gripper of a
story about two dogs and five people's lives. Each dog who gives their
all and the lives of the people they change. Read it now, this is a must
read series of books. You will understand why when you read them. I'm
Looking eagerly to the next book!
Debra H.

[Debbie Vetter · Rating 5 out of 5]

And life goes on

After losing their dog from a kennel while on their honeymoon Tom and Tess decided they would open a lodge where people could come for vacation and bring their pets. The happenings at the lodge get started with Tess rescuing a dog from the lake with the name "Tom " on his gray, the guests arrive first a policeman with his aging K9 partner and a Mom with her 5 year old and St Bernard dog. This is a very pleasant "clean read" that ends way to soon. Great job. Thank you. Now on to the next book.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really great book. One of the first books in a long time to bring me to tears. I think it hit a little too close to home. But that just goes to show you how Colette Makray writes from the heart and it got to my heart also. I will be reading more of her books.

[Gerrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 out of 5 stars

[Cheryl McCrork · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good book

This was a very good dog story. It told of search dogs who rescue people. It also had a missing dog show up and how well it fit in. It told about losing a pet in a run away and death. This is like losing part of yourself. A very fun good book from start to finish.

[Phillip Crews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great characters, especially the dogs!

Love this story so much that I will get the next in the series. Dogs are my favorite animals and the author has captured the essence of their faithfulness to their human partners. This is a fast read with a realistic ending.

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

In Colette Makray’s Out of the Blue, this inspirational fiction novella is heart-warming that pulls at your heart strings. It all started when Tess Beckett, a young widow, runs a pet-friendly lodge in the Northern Wilderness. While mourning the loss of her husband Tom, a dog appeared in her life that was named “Tom” . She named him Blue before he was gone in the instant. Then she met K-9 Police Officer Brandon Bishop and his old dog Toto. They needed a break from the scrutiny of Toto’s ability when they didn’t find a girl during their last case together. And socialite Joanne Lawrence and her son Gavin was there with his dog Derby. She’s too busy to watch over him until he goes missing in the woods. Then Blue returns to her aide and bonds with her, when he later joins Brandon and Toto and the others to go looking for him and find him safely from harm. In the end, everyone deserved a much deserved happy ending, though for some, it might be bittersweet.

This was a sweet inspirational fiction and tailor-made for dog lovers. I loved how each dog bonded with their owners: how Derby protected Gavin from harm, how Toto found Gavin and had sought final redemption, and how Tess claimed Blue for her own. Dogs are a central family member who we would love and cherish forever with a unshakeable bond. We all see them as heroes and become their closest friend. I loved the Beckett Lodge set near the Canadian Wilderness and near a lake. It was picturesque to set a sweet tender-hearted story from the interior and to the exterior. The dual themes of the story is having a friendship with a dog and never stop believing in miracles.

I really liked this novella since it was a quick read and a moving story. I had a few nitpicks in the story: there weren’t any chapter break/scenes breaks between unnumbered chapters on the pages, just white spaces to change POVs. Those weren’t numbered. Plus there were too short. The characters needed to be fleshed out a bit more with deep POV, instead of using passive/filter words to make it stronger. A little bit of description couldn’t hurt to picture these characters with their dogs. And I’ve found some glaring minor errors that could’ve been fixed with a proofread and a spellcheck before it went to print. This sweet inspirational romance would make you cry and let out a sigh. I rated this book, three out of five stars, because it ended way too soon, along with the above mentioned errors on my nitpicks. If you love dog-centric novels with a hint of inspiration, some drama and non-stop action, and a dose of heart-warming moments, Out of the Blue is the way you’re going to need a Kleenex for.

[Vicky · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first book to read by the author. It’s a short story and it got me hooked. I like the main character. She’s very likeable: strong, independent, versatile. She’s a widow running the BnB her deceased husband and herself started and ran until his death. In this book we meet her husband’s best friend, who has been by her side when her husband died and thereafter. A stray dog appears then disappears then reappears. Two guests arrive: a woman, her young son and his St. Bernard. The other guest is a k9 officer and his aging k9 partner. The woman is there to get away from her upcoming divorce. The k9 officer is there to get a time out from his last devastating case. The little boy and his dog disappear and all the characters search for them. There is a book #2 which is already loaded on my Kindle. I’m sure I will enjoy book 2 just as well.

[C. J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read book 1 and book 2 of the Beckett Lodge Series and I am very impressed with the humanity and relationship themes in these stories which start out initially as a potentially troubling set of circumstances. The characters jump to wrong conclusions in their interpretations of events and are forced to revisit their initial wrong thinking and eventually make amends for their unjust assumptions.
These eventually resolve into {spoiler alert} positive outcomes that I was not expecting nor could I have predicted.
It was a joy to read these two books and I look forward to reading more of this series.

[Kirse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet dog stories woven together

This novelette is almost like a collection of stories about people and their dogs, their faithful companions. Although I plan to read the series (it was a neat story!!), I think that it would be a good book for pre-teens. On another note, as an editor, I noticed several punctuation errors...

[Carolyn Fox · Rating 1 out of 5]

Too short

This story definitely pulls you in, and then it's over. I noticed that the pages were counting by 5s. Disappointed....it's not 243 o pages as stated, more like 50 pages......I keep wondering if I'm missing something

[Rita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Out of the Blue

Collette Makray is an author who is new to me. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story about Blue, a mystery dog, and the people he encounters. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves dogs!

[Rebeca M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book!

I enjoyed the way the book was written. I'm looking forward to reading the other books in the series. I also particularly like that the chapters are short. The book keeps you in interested in wanting to read more.

[Luane t clemmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Out of the Blue 💙

A dog called Blue came swimming out of the lake at a lodge vacation site.
Making this storyline very uplifting, interesting, loving and entertaining.
I will be reading the second Blue book.

[Phyllis Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

[Shawna Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute book. I chose it because I read books to my She really liked it.

[Danita Myers · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story was superficial. I didn’t feel involved with the characters. It felt more like a short story.

[Linda Campanale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great read! Gotta be a dog person though. But if you’re not, sorry for ya! Starting the next one. How could you not with tease this talented author left us with! Happy reading👏💖

[Jayne Copas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short story - perfect to go to sleep

Enjoyed the sweet story, short & great to read to go to sleep! Can’t wait to read next one…. Kept interested and enjoyed the dog thoughts

[angela yargus · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the story and the scenery!

[Anita LoMonico · Rating 1 out of 5]

Disappointing is an understatement!

A short story without a resolution, clearly meant to encourage purchase of the next “book”. In my option not with considering.

[Mary Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a wonderful story. If only life was this good.

[Evan l. Bench · Rating 1 out of 5]

Disappointed

Not my ideal read. Started with a good story line but wandered into oblivion. I can’t believe I paid for this.

[Lucile Cheeks · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book,

Enjoyed this book. In places, it was sad. Over all, if you are an animal lover like me, you will enjoy it also

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good short story involving dogs and a caring lady at a B&B for dogs. Drama when the dogs work together to save a young boy. A good read.

[Marlene Gibson · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a good quick read. I enjoyed it very much.

[Kerry Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not enough!

I loved this story, but it was way too short!
I wanted more and will currently get the next in the series. I live dogs and am glad they had several in this story.

[CAROLYN · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice cosy tale with a beautiful dog involved. It is a quick read and fun.

[michael saunders · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written

I enjoyed this book very much. It held my interest from beginning to end. Although it would have been nice if it had been longer. Elouise Saunders