Jellybean the terrier is about to unleash some serious mayhem on the unsuspecting town of Albatross.
There's no quiet on the set when over-the-hill screen star Lawrence Tucker brings his naughty terrier, Jellybean, on location to the beachside town of Albatross, California. When Jellybean develops a rapport with Tucker's violin tutor, the painfully shy, socially awkward Misty Agnelli, her arm is twisted into minding the mischievous animal. Trailing Jellybean leads Misty into the candy store of Bill Woodson, a handsome chocolatier with a painful secret and a three-year-old niece to raise.
Misty must deal with the unstable Tucker, a temperamental Jellybean, her budding feelings for the mysterious Bill, and the high-pressure atmosphere on the set. Though she wants nothing more than to flee, how can she tell her Grandma, Lawrence Tucker's biggest fan, that she abandoned the star and his dog?
It's actors, animals, and antics galore when Jellybean gives his own heartwarming performance.
USA TODAY bestseller Dana Mentink enjoys writing in many different capacities. She currently writes for Harlequin's Love Inspired Suspense and Poisoned Pen Press.
Dana is the recipient of a Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice Award, two ACFW Carol Awards as well as a Holt Medallion.
3.5 stars A zany dog, a chocolatier, a child, a violinist who doesn't interact with the world, and a movie actor who is on the last legs of his respectability...and the grandmother of the violinist. Aw, everything needed for a fun and enjoyable light romantic story. It's light on the romance and big on the characters, and Jellybean most certainly hogs the attention whenever he can. If you need a light and enjoyable story, pick this one up. I can gladly recommend the entire series!
Dana Mentink has done it again! She’s taken a quirky, mischievous dog and turned him loose to wreak havoc on a story and on our hearts. In all the best possible ways.
Enter Jellybean.
A tiny terror of a terrior with a powerful presence. And a bit of a Houdini complex.
And while everyone is chasing him around the teensy town of Albatross, he’s doing more than just keeping them guessing. He’s also bringing them together in his own precocious (perhaps underappreciated) way.
Misty and Bill – and Lawrence and Gunther and Vivian too, for that matter – are misfits, of sorts. Kinda like Jellybean. Each has their own backstories and their own current secrets that make them such compelling characters, and precious little Fiona is the sweet icing on the cake. Or… the caramel in the chocolate, to make it more appropriate to the book’s theme.
Bottom Line: You will laugh (a lot). You will cry (a little) – particularly over a certain scene at the end. You will most certainly fall in love. With Jellybean. With Bill and Misty. With Fiona. And with the whole cast and crew of Paws for Love. Through it all, the message of letting your light shine – even if it just seems the size of a tiny match – is sweet and encouraging.
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
Misty Agnelli is content to teach violin lessons by Skype and occasionally see and communicate with her family. She took a chance on love once and had her heart broken, reinforcing what she already knew- it's safer to stay home and only communicate with family. Her social anxiety disorder is not crippling, or so she thinks. When she is recommend to teach the violin on a film set, she thinks she can teach the star the finger motions enough to fake it and then she can be on her way. She hadn't counted on Jellybean, the star's rambunctious terrier mix getting in the way of her plans. When the director, Jellybean and Lawrence Tucker, the fim's star, clash, Misty unwittingly stumbles upon the solution to Jellybean's behavior problems. Then the director makes Misty the dog sitter and she's stuck in the nowhere small town of Alabatross, California with an unruly little terrier. She tries to make things right with the help of local chocolate shop owner Bill Woodson. Bill moved to Albatross to raise his four-year-old niece following the death of her parents. It isn't easy starting over and Bill feels guilty that he, the unaccomplished sibling, lives while his brother is dead. Fiona seems to connect to Jellybean and Bill feels a pull towards Misty. Is this the life God has planned for him?
I saw this book with the adorable terrier mix on the cover at the library and couldn't resist. If I had realized it was a Christian romance, I would have left it there. Or maybe I would have opened it and seen Jellybean looks like Toto in the Wizard of Oz and may be part Cairn Terrier. Um HELLO! Yes I need to read this book because Cairns are still sort of rare in print. They were rare in person too 19 years ago when we stumbled across the most adorable puppy in the universe... a puppy with a spunky ATTITUDE and behavior issues, like Jellybean. All the God's plan business annoyed the heck out of me. Misty has a serious disorder. Has she ever seen a psychologist? I know there are some good drugs out there for anxiety. Her non-verbal learning disorder is another issue. I can relate to that one. She's doing GREAT if she can Skype with strangers (OMG) and talk on the phone. Bill clearly has a learning disorder too and Misty picked up on that. Has anyone else? Apparently everyone he's ever met has never heard of dyslexia! He is trying to get help though so that's good. Other than that, there is some quoting from the Bible, brief sendup prayers "Oh Lord..." and an overall Christian theme. However, none of it is too much aside from the main characters not addressing their brain chemistry issues.
My favorite character hands down is obviously Jellybean. He is too cute! I just loved him so much. His humans clearly don't speak terrier. Terriers can be trained, but they are super smart and need to weigh the benefits of the reward before they decide to act. Jellybean is no exception. I love the bond he forms with the humans in his life and how he helps them heal and go on personal journeys of growth.
Lawrence Tucker, the film star, is a complicated person. At first he seems amusing with his long-winded fancy speech patterns and his unruly terrier buddy. Then he seems like a diva. We get other people's views of him before we find out who he really is and what motivates him or not.
Little Fiona is the last of the major characters in this novel. She has selective mutism because of the trauma she experienced. She seems like a sweet little girl who desperately needs to be loved and know that someone will always be there for her even if she's bad. Fiona is cute without being overly precocious.
Misty's grandmother adds some comic relief to this heartwarming story, along with Jellybean, Tinka and Lunk, the three canine chaos makers. There's a surprise twist at the end that's also rather amusing. I didn't see that one coming!
Read this is you like heartwarming light romances and/or Inspirational romances.
Paws for Love, the third book in the Love Unleashed series by Dana Mentink, is a sweet romance that I flew through in a couple of hours. If you are looking for a romance with relatable characters and lots of quirky dogs then I highly recommend Paws for Love!
Misty is a fantastic violinist, who has social anxiety, so teaching via Skype is perfect for her. She decides to try and step out of her comfort zone a little and takes on a job teaching a movie star how to play violin for the current movie he is starring in. In the small, beachside town of Albatross, California, Misty meets some other people who have different issues that they are learning to deal with, along with some help from God and Jellybean.
There is a good chance you will see a bit of yourself in at least one of these characters, at least I did, which makes the story all that more enjoyable.
Between the well developed characters, the charming town, and the zany antics of three different dogs (but mainly Jellybean), Paws for Love is a charming tale of people figuring out how to love themselves and let their light shine.
Paws for Love is one of the most delightful books I've read in a long while. Jellybean is a mischievous and strong willed little dog who overtakes the town of Albatross and all its residents. He is not quite the dog you'd imagine by his sweet name. Misty Agnelli was originally hired to tutor an actor in playing the violin when the actor's dog overtakes her life. Trouble appears to be Jellybean's middle name! The only real advantage was her accidental introduction to Bill Woodson, local chocolatier, as Jellybean takes a detour into the shop tugging Misty with him.
Characters in this sweet tale are truly "characters," quirky, comical, eccentric and sensitive. I loved Misty and Bill, and the relationship(?) that developed by way of Jellybean's shenanigans. Both young people have some pretty serious issues to deal with, but Jellybean's antics are a great distraction.
The small community of Albatross is well depicted, quaint and colorful. The visions that come to mind from the escapades in this story will brighten your day. I thoroughly enjoyed Paws for Love and recommend it highly. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions expressed in my review are my own.
Just adored this book!! Misty is a musician who has been hired as a violin tutor for a famous actor while shooting a movie, who knew she would be hired to be his dog sitter as well? I never knew it was possible for ONE SMALL dog to cause such havoc in every chapter of a charming book!
When Misty stumbles into Bill's chocolate shop, their paths immediately connect, and it's so easy for both Misty and the reader to fall in love with the guy. He makes wonderful chocolate, every scene with his candy was mouth watering, and he is now the guardian of his orphaned niece who won't speak yet. Jellybean falls for Bill's niece right away and more chaos takes place!
There's SO MUCH to love about this story, get your copy right away and you will love it too! Mentink won me over completely with this book and can't wait to see what she publishes next.
Dana Mentink scored!!!! This series is so fun! The dogs are adorable, the people realistically flawed and the hijinks hilarious!!!! The books show the characters growing and the dogs delightful and mischievous! Fun, quick reads!!!
Dana Mentink's 'Novel For Dog Lovers' series is so absolutely delightful! They bring such joy to my heart; deep laughter at times, too. How does she do it? She finds dogs that are so precious and unique and writes a wonderful story around them. Then, she brings flawed characters to life and they just worm their way into your heart.
Jellybean the terrier is about to unleash some serious mayhem on the unsuspecting town of Albatross.
There's no quiet on the set when over-the-hill screen star Lawrence Tucker brings his naughty terrier, Jellybean, on location to the beachside town of Albatross, California. When Jellybean develops a rapport with Tucker's violin tutor, the painfully shy, socially awkward Misty Agnelli, her arm is twisted into minding the mischievous animal. Trailing Jellybean leads Misty into the candy store of Bill Woodson, a handsome chocolatier with a painful secret and a three-year-old niece to raise.
Misty must deal with the unstable Tucker, a temperamental Jellybean, her budding feelings for the mysterious Bill, and the high-pressure atmosphere on the set. Though she wants nothing more than to flee, how can she tell her nana, Lawrence Tucker's biggest fan, that she abandoned the star and his dog?
It's actors, animals, and antics galore when Jellybean gives his own heartwarming performance.
There, you have the synopsis. All Mentink's dogs in this series are one-of-a-kind wonderful mutts. And I use that term very lovingly because they are all precious and totally lovable. But boy, they sure can create trouble!
We also see the heartaches of Bill and Misty, because they both have deep seated issues in their lives that have been keeping them prisoner. However, God has a plan to help them and it just might be in the form of a little rascally terrier.
If you haven't read this series, get to it! You'll be thoroughly delighted and entertained. Dana Mentink is in great form here.
*I was given a preview copy of this book. My opinion is my own.
I love this author’s penchant for writing about petulant pooches!! A ten pound terrier who gives new meaning to the word terror, two people who are at opposite ends of the personality spectrum, a sweet little girl, an almost washed out actor, and a whole set of character side-kicks make for one terrific whopper of a tale!
I have to say, Jellybean stole the show for me! Just like the other two books in the Love Unleashed series, it’s the pooch who glues together the whole story! He’s ten pounds of trouble with an independent air of personality; one minute you love him & the next you find yourself scolding. Rolled into one, you can’t help but fall in love with him! As for the humans, I could relate with Misty a bit in the fact she is shy & socially awkward. Bill has a sweet job, literally! He owns the local chocolate shop and is raising his young niece Fiona (Fee for short) after tragedy strikes. Thrown together by Jellybean, their lives will never be the same! There are many obstacles to overcome and they seem to find strength in each other and God. Quite a few surprises and heart-wrenching scenes deepened the story. I also loved getting to know the side characters who added a rich layer; Misty’s Nana Bett, Lawrence the almost washed out actor, Vivian an old acquaintance of his & Tinka her yorkie, Bill’s assistant Gunther & his bulldog Lunk, and many others. The authors humor leaks through in every corner & I found myself laughing in many parts. An emotionally captivating, humorous, and engaging story will have you turning pages faster than Jellybean can cause trouble & remind you that God can use anyone to shine His light!
*I received a complimentary copy from the author and wasn’t required to leave a favorable review. All opinions expressed here are strictly my own*
Paws down the cutest cover ever!!!! Who can resist that face? Even if it belongs to a "fuzzy wrecking ball?" I don't know if anyone will be surprised if I tell you that Jellybean might have a bigger piece of my heart than two-legged hero, Bill. Such a little scamp (dog, not man) and while I found it highly entertaining to read about his escapades, I think the thrill would soon wear off if I actually lived through them. It takes a certain personality -- one that consists of an abundance of patience -- to cope with that opinionated mutt. Grinning just thinking about it.
And a huge 'hoorah' for a klutzy heroine!!! You don't often find them in the pages of a romance novel. At least I haven't spied that many and as a self-proclaimed klutz I pay attention to things like that. So there was an instant connection between Misty and me. And her deer-in-the-headlights reaction to complicated social situations just warmed my heart even more.
I think what impressed me the most about Bill was his insecurities and the fact that the author went out on a limb to write an atypical hero. He is struggling to adjust to being the sole caregiver to his orphaned niece and feelings of inadequacies keep creeping in. He's an 'out of the box' kind of guy and I love the way Mentink slowly reveals a major issue. I fell in love with his vulnerability and courage.
And even though Paws for Love is slapstick funny -- there's a touching inspirational thread that binds everything together. "God made you to shine a light...You don't get to pick what kind of candle you get." (p 79) Has to be one of my favourite lines ever.
A rousing comedic masterpiece that also delivers a stirring amount of tenderness and hope.
Another fun, quirky romp with a misbehaving dog that you can't put down until you see how it's going to end! Somewhere along the way, two people fall in love and you can't quite figure out how they did with all the mayhem that was going on! When did they have the time??!! This author is great at finding ways to have dogs get in all kinds of wacky situations! Jellybean is the next dog in her series of "naughty" dogs who just want to have fun but along the way, teach humans a thing or two. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the characters. An over-the-hill movie star, a too-shy violin tutor, a handsome chocolatier with a secret and a sweet little girl who just lost her parents all add up to a great adventure! The supporting characters add a lot to this book too. The book is centered around Albatross, California - now there's a town name for you! A movie is being shot there and the town can really use the exposure to bring in some much needed money. However, when the over-the-hill movie star, Lawrence, storms off the set to "find himself" and disappears, leaving his dog, Jellybean, with his violin tutor, Misty, behind, everyone in town desperately wants that movie shoot to continue so they pressure Misty to find him! Misty enlists Bill's (the chocolatier) help and the wacky adventures begin, courtesy of Jellybean and a whole lot of other circumstances! I highly recommend this enjoyable book!
This was a nice, sweet read with the perfect balance of funny and serious. The story was nice, the characters were real, and then there was Jellybean. This dog just completely stole the show.
Jellybean is quite the character. (I think perhaps he is loosely based on Dana's own little mischief maker, Junie.) His antics had me smiling and even laughing out loud. On the other hand, he is a sweet little guy who is tuned into the feelings of others and provides love and comfort when needed. Dana did a great job of bringing this character to life and really showing the soul of a dog. The scenes with Jellybean and Fiona were really sweet.
Misty and Bill were also easy to like characters. They seemed real and have issues of their own that they were trying to deal with. There was a bit of a surprise in the storyline that kept me wondering and I won't say what it was but just that it was very well written. Dana handles the issue with respect and understanding, and I thought she did a fantastic job of writing it into the story.
Paws for Love is a book that will make you smile, laugh, and perhaps shed a tear. Jellybean is a character that you won't soon forget. If you love dogs then this book is a must-read and definitely one for the keeper shelf. Two paws up!
I received a free copy of this book from the author. I was not required to write a review and all opinions are mine.
When I first picked up book one in the Love Unleashed series I really wasn't sure. I'd read, and loved, Dana Mentink's romantic suspense, but wasn't sure how romantic comedy would turn out. I fell in love with the dogs and and wonderful stories so fast I'm sure the pages spun! Paws For Love seemed a little more serious of a storyline but still had lots of comedic and romantic moments, and plenty of wacky canine antics.
Paws For Love is fun, funny, poignant, sweet, romantic, and everything that makes for a good read. From the adorable cover to the last kiss you will quickly fall in love with the naughty little Jellybean and the rest of the crazy and quirky characters in this delightful book. Don't miss this, or any of, Dana Mentink's wonderful canine-crazy Love Unleashed series.
(I received a copy of this book from the author. All opinions are entirely my own.)
Oh my! Paws For Love was the perfect ending to the Love Unleashed series!
Misty Agnelli is having a very rough day. . . she agreed to tutor an actor who needs to appear as if he is a violinist, Then Jelly Bean, his dog, causes havoc on the set! Even worse, the actor and director insist on Misty being the dog’s companion.
Misty doesn’t want to be there anyway. . . but I won’t spoil anything by telling you more than that. Bill Woodson meets Misty when Jelly Bean runs into his chocolate shop. . . and the action doesn’t stop until the very end!
This is such a colorful story, with delightful characters and a sweet, little stinker of a dog that just won’t quit! Get a copy today and read it for yourself.
And if you enjoy entertaining stories about feisty dogs, read the whole series! It’s great!
PAWS FOR LOVE is a delightful love story, though it goes much deeper than just being a love story. Misty Agnelli is a young woman who is more than painfully shy, preferring to stick close to home, even teaching violin lessons over Skype, after a traumatic event in her childhood that she never quite recovered from. Bill Woodson is a handsome, charming man who has taken over the role of father to his three year old niece, Fiona, who has not uttered a sound since her parents died in a car accident. Bill has secrets of his own. Misty is in their small town as a violin tutor and assistant to an actor, Lawrence Tucker, during the filming of a movie. Lawrence's zany little terrier, Jellybean, brings them all together. There is a lot of humor in this book, especially centered around the antics of Jellybean. The descriptions of the luscious chocolates Bill makes in his shop, Chocolate Heaven, may make you wish for some chocolate of your own, so it's probably a good thing this is a relatively short book. The theme of loving others in spite of their flaws is a good reminder. I received a complimentary copy of the book with no pressure to leave a favorable review. All thoughts are my own.
This book is a story about Jellybean and all the people struggling with problems. His antics draw people together and bring to light many situations. The Chocolate Shop chocolates sound divine. Troubles are all through story so life experiences people deal with just like us. How God helps others help one another "Let their light shine" is all through story. A dog no one owns but his love unique for those he lets in. As a dog owner, Jellybean like most dogs. They love but not controlled. Misty overcomes her desire to hide to help out the town. Just the book I needed right now. It was hard to lay down. I recommend you read all Dana's books. All will uplift and encourage you.
Paws for Love is the third in the Love Unleashed series by Dana Mentink. As the front cover states, this is definitely a novel for dog lovers. However, it is also a novel for anyone who is looking for a heartwarming tale that takes place in a small-town setting with some interesting characters and just the right amount of romance! The added bonus is the antics of Jellybean, a mischievous little terrier, who keeps Misty and Bill (the main characters) busy while at the same time drawing them closer together. Be sure to check out all the books in this series. You will not be disappointed! I was given a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
What a darling book. It is sweet, but inspirational. Everyone has struggles and challenges to overcome. Sometimes getting over these speed bumps allows your light to shine. That is exactly the situation Misty finds herself in. Bill lets his struggles stop him from seeing the bigger pictures. Can one little dog help them out? Jelly Bean is a naughty, little dog, but he also has a purpose.
Great story, so easy to read and the characters are wonderful. I received this book from a Goodreads Giveaway.
Don't let this easy to read book fool you. Throughout these pages, Dana will be touching on all your feelings. She will have you laughing, crying, and caring immensely for every character. Little Jellybean's antics will have you convinced you'll never own a dog like that one minute, and the next spouting his greatness wondering if maybe you would. This book is especially for dog lovers and those who loved the people society tends to push away. It is masterfully written and a book, along with the first 2 in her series Love Unleashed which includes #1 Sit, Stay, Love & #2 Fetching Sweetness, that you will want to keep and re-read again.
I enjoyed this book. It was an easy read. You got caught up with everyone. There were several characters who had issues, but don’t we all? Nobody is perfect. This was a great book for K-9 lovers, but it went a lot deeper than just K-9 love.
There were several references to God, being a better person, being loved, giving support. I really liked that, and it ended well, so I am pleased.
I chuckled a lot, I cried a lot. It had a heartwarming quality.
Thank you to author Dana Mentink for selecting me to receive this book in a Facebook contest.
Dana Mentink's Paws for Love has a little bit of everything! It starts with Misty Agnelli who is tutoring actor Lawrence Tucker on the violin while he's filming in Albatross, California. Then comes Tucker's dog, Jellybean, who seems to have a mind of his own and Bill Woodson who owns the Chocolate Heaven Candy Shop and is guardian to his recently orphaned niece, Fiona. Bill has a secret, Misty is socially awkward, and Tucker has disappeared! These interesting characters make for a fun book. I enjoyed reading it.
I really really enjoyed this book. Jellybean, the dog in the story was always getting into something. Love all the characters, wish I could visit the chocolate shop. Very funny book but also some serious issues in it. I was fortunate enough to received an advanced copy of it to read from the author.
It was a cute book. Totally predictable, but heartwarming and sweet. I haven't read the first two in this series. I'm not into religion and the first couple of 'God' references made me think the author may have ruined it, but honestly it was fine. The religious references were written as a matter of fact, not preachy at all. Nicely written and Fiona stole my heart.
Was this book predictable? Yes. Was it a quick and enjoyable read? Yes.
A frisky pup gets into trouble and mixes up the lives of the people that live in the town. They all come together as predicaments force them to confront their shortcomings to save the town and themselves from disaster. Definitely a cute story!
I really enjoyed this book!! Of course I loved jellybean but I loved the way she wove the story of people who may not be considered “Normal”. A very shy not social young woman, a young girl who isn’t speaking due to trama, a grown man who is illiterate and an actor who struggles based on his childhood! It is a beautiful story bringing all these together for good. I loved that
I bought this book because of the cover. I loved the colours and the little dog reminded me of one of our family dogs. I've just finished reading the story, and it was fun, light reading. I loved the dog, Jelly Bean. It had good romance. The story wasn't deep or complex, but it was a good way to relax.
3.5 stars. I'm not a dog person and only have this book because it came in a surprise fiction box. But I actually enjoyed the story! It wasn't great literature, but the cozy small town feel, the chocolate shop yumminess, the hero and heroine's struggles with inadequacy, and yes, even the naughty dog added up to a fun time.
Have read this authors other "Dog Books" and enjoyed them as well. An easy and enjoyable read. Like the learnings about dealing with what life throws you. Positive and thought provoking. Dogs always make a good read too!