Bertie's Gift

by Hannah Coates

For fans of Alfie the Doorstep Cat and A Streetcat Named Bob, this is the heart-warming, inspirational story of one cheeky little dog and his beloved sister, two grumpy cats, and a family at Christmas. Bertie is alone, devastated after his beloved sister and fellow beagle Molly is adopted, leaving him behind. When Bertie is taken in by the Green family, it seems he's finally found a place to call home...Yet Bertie swiftly realises that the kind and loving Green family is in crisis. After a tragedy two years ago, they've never recovered - and as Christmas approaches, grief is pulling them apart. Never has a four-legged friend been more in need - and brave, warm-hearted Bertie must rise to the challenge. Can he enlist the help of hostile felines Kitty and Rico to help him find Molly - and can bring the Green family back together again, all in time for Christmas?

Genres: Christmas, Animals, Dogs, Family

320 pages, Hardcover

First published October 20, 2016

Reviews

[Lynn Mccarthy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! For anyone looking for a festive, cosy, lovely read, this ticks all the boxes - it left me feeling heart warmed and happy (although I did shed a few tears along the way!) Bertie is such a lovely little chap - I enjoyed reading about him, and his relationship with his sister Molly, so much. Highly recommended!

Thank you Netgalley the Author and Publisher for a chance to read this book

[Saturday's Child · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Christmas theme read for 2020.

[Nicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a sweet book this is! I’m so glad that I accepted a copy from the publisher when there was a shout out for bloggers on Twitter recently.

I haven’t read a book told by an animal for such a log time, and this really was a delightful book to reacquaint myself with this genre. I fell in love with Bertie who was such a scamp. I mean how can you not succumb to that face, and those gorgeous pleading eyes on the cover? I loved his antics, his descriptions and excitement at the different smells in the air when he went out for a walk. His relationship with the other dogs in his first home was amusing and his reaction to the cats he meets later in the book is just hilarious!

The story was quite emotional at times, with quite a few unexpected twists and turns, constantly making me wonder if Bertie could pull it all off in time for Christmas.

I definitely recommend this if you enjoy stories told from the animal’s point of view and for fans of Michael Morpurgo books.

Thanks so much to Emily Kitchin at Hodder Fiction for my copy.

[Mandy Baggot · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a simply adorable read. I fell in love with cute beagle Bertie from the very first chapter. When Bertie and his pals (including sister Molly) are left at the dog shelter it seems their Christmas is set to be a sad one. But then along comes the Green family who are going through a sad patch of their own. Can Bertie mend their broken hearts or will his inability to keep out of trouble see him sent straight back to the pound?

The writing was spot on. You really felt you were in the head of our four-legged hero. All the characters, human, canine and feline were so well drawn you felt immediately connected with them. My eleven year old daughter read it too and really enjoyed it.

This was the perfect Christmas, feel-good read for fans of A Street Cat Named Bob. Highly recommended.

[Bookread2day · Rating 3 out of 5]

For lovers of A Streetcat Named Bob and A Gift from Bob, here is the perfect Christmas tale of one spirited little puppy bringing a family back together.
The author Hannah Coats has always loved dogs she grew up surrounded by pooches, and now has two of her own. She loves all dogs, but beagles remains her favourite. I love cats and dogs too I love reading about them in novels.

[Rachel Gilbey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emotional and adorable I think are the key words to describe Bertie's Gift. Written from Bertie's point of view, we are taken on a harrowing tail of his long term owner's grief, a dog shelter and then his new home...

He has always been close to his sister Molly, but when they are taken to the dog shelter, the two loveable beagles are split up and adopted by two very different families. All Bertie wants is to be reunited with his beloved sister.

And in trying to find her, he enlists the help of some unlikely friends at his new house. In the mean time his new family are also struggling emotionally, and Bertie is also wishing he could do more to try and get the various family members to talk to each other.

When I started Bertie's Gift I wasn't expecting for me to be unable to put it down, and for me to lost in the pages for the following three hours while I read this story. It grabbed me from the first pages, and tugged my heart in all angles, to the extent I was pretty much in tears by the end.

I was so impressed by how much Bertie and his canine and feline friends got under my skin, and I really felt for all of them. Bertie is a young dog, and doesn't mean to get into as much trouble as he seems to, but sometimes just can't quite control his natural doggy instincts.

Bertie's Gift is a wonderful heartwarming story, about man's (and woman's ) best friend, and just how loyal dogs are to each other and to their humans. This I feel would be a fantastic book to give as a Christmas present to an animal lover, or to anyone that loves brilliant books.

Thank you Hodder and Netgalley for this copy of the book which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

[Johanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easy, lovely, cosy read. Exactly what I needed on Boxing Day!

[Maria Catarina Abreu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Um livre leve, bonito. Irá decerto emocional qualquer amante de animais, sobretudo de cães.

[Elizabeth Lawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Berties Gift

Light, cheery reading, good easy read for a cold winter day all snuggled on the sofa. Seeing the world through the eyes of a mischievous beagle

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bertie the Beagle lives with his sister who he dotes upon, and a rag-tag troop of dogs with Old Man Minton. They used to have a loving existence when his wife was alive, but since she passed away, Old Man Minton began to resent the dogs more each day. When Bertie and one of the older dogs do some damage to one of Old Mrs Minton’s dresses, the old man has had enough and carts the dogs to the nearest shelter. Bertie is devastated when he and his sister are first of all separated at the shelter and then she is adopted before him by an evil-looking pinch-faced woman, leaving him behind.

When Bertie is adopted himself by the Green family he is so happy to have found his own home, with a young boy, Sam, who adores him, his father, John and Granny Margaret. The only down-side to his new found domestic bliss? Cats. Two of them, Rico and Kitty, a brother and sister team who don;t take kindly to a canine invading their space.


As Bertie settles into the Green’s, it soon becomes clear that all is not well in the household. A tragedy two years before is still devastating the family, and the grief is pulling the father and son apart. Bertie knows that he needs to help his new family to heal but he too is distracted. On one of his walks he has seen his beloved sister Molly and as determined as he is to help Sam, he knows in his heart that he needs to save her too. Enlisting the help of Rico and Kitty and next door’s mad poodle Pepper, Bertie has to find a way to help them both and to put their family back together, all in time for Christmas.

…

‘Bertie’s Gift‘ is a real aww-some kind of a read. Featuring a young, impetuous and remarkably intuitive dog, this is the kind of Christmas story which will warm your cockles and leaves you with a true feel-good ending. It is fast, entertaining and the dogs, particularly Pepper and good old Bertie, are very entertaining.

Now I won’t go into the plot too much here, as it would spoil the enjoyment of the story. It really does centre around our hero Bertie as he tries to navigate his new life with the Greens. His character is very well observed, all of the cheeky and boisterous nature you would expect from a Beagle type dog, but his affection for those he loves is truly touching. In spite of making some mistakes, he really does care about all of those about him. He is a soft natured dog but determined enough to fight for what he believes in most.

Told in Bertie’s voice is adds an interesting dynamic to the story, he can sense the atmosphere between Sam and his father but doesn’t understand it at first. When he learns the truth he knows he needs to provide comfort but while we can hear his thoughts, understand his empathy, he is almost helpless as he cannot tell Sam or Granny M that he understands. That he misses someone too. He is just a dog, limited to the actions a dog can take, and misunderstood by humans too preoccupied by their own fears to pay him any heed. Will he ever make them understand?

There are some real moments of humour throughout the book. The dynamic between the Paw Print Club, Rico, Kitty, Bertie and Pepper, is brilliant. I have had dogs and cats my whole life and can totally recognise the disdain with which half of the cats have viewed the dogs and the enthusiasm or apprehension felt by the dogs to the cats. This is captured perfectly in this novel and Kitty’s snooty indifference towards Bertie just puts me in mind of my own kitten. She’ll speak to the dog but only on her terms.

At the heart of the story is a real family tragedy and the tension that existed between Sam and his father had such a ring of authenticity to it. You can picture this happening in homes across the world, time and again. Two people in so much pain but unable to communicate their feelings. One trying his best to be the father he thinks his son needs, the other afraid of being a disappointment because of an underlying sense of guilt. It is such a moving story that you cannot help but hope that Bertie is able to help them in some way.

This is exactly the kind of book I could see parents reading with their children, although as a full blown old fart of an adult I enjoyed it too. All of the action happens in the lead up to Christmas with Bertie finally understanding the real beauty of the season having never experienced a family Christmas before. Whether he is able to work some magic and it will be a season of peace and goodwill to all in the end… Well, you’ll have to read and find out. Won’t you?

[Maria Carmo · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely, vivacious little dog who manages to save a family at the same time as he bewitches the reader!

A simple but interesting plot, wonderful characters /not just the Human ones, also the "four legged ones"! A story no one will forget and that would turn out into a perfect movie for dog lovers (and cat lovers) of all ages!!!!!

Maria Carmo,

Lisbon, 29 June 2017.

[Carrie-anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have dogs or you're a fan of dogs you will love this book! I have a Labrador so when reading about Jethro and Biscuit I could totally relate and couldn't stop laughing in regards to their antics. I loved the bond between Bertie and Molly, I also volunteer at a local cat shelter and again could relate and had so much empathy towards the dogs at the shelter. Overall a great read and a great ending.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I must admit that when I first read the synopsis of this book I wasn’t sure that I would be strong enough to read it.  I know, I know I am a big softie but when it comes to dogs it doesn’t take me long to start crying if I see or read something happening to one.  I have two loopy Labradors girlies myself and it bothers me if anything bothers them so to speak.  Then I told myself that I had to be strong and that it was fiction.  Armed with a box of tissues and a bar of chocolate (my comfort food), I sat down to read the book.  Boy oh boy am I glad I read it.
Bertie and Molly are particularly close pupsters and go to live with an elderly couple but when circumstances change Bertie and Molly find themselves in the local dog shelter.  Bertie is devastated when both he and Molly are adopted by separate households.  (I must admit that at this point my eyes suddenly became a bit damp but then I admit I am a wimp).  Bertie tries to do everything he can to get back to Molly but as to whether or not he manages to find her you really will have to read the book.
Bertie is adopted by the lovely Green family and Granny M.  It’s not giving too much away to say that Mrs. Green sadly passed away from cancer two years previously and the whole household are still grieving.  (At this point I had to reach for a tissue as it reminded me of when we sadly lost my father to leukaemia a fortnight before Christmas).  Mr. Green and his young son, Sam are doing the British way and going for the stiff upper lip in public (& to each other) and both are making the mistake of not talking to each other to tell each other just how they feel and what is bothering them.  This lack of discussion between the two of them is slowly but surely driving a wedge between them and they are growing further and further apart.  As to whether or not they manage to repair their relationship you really will have to read the book.
Bertie- well what can you say about him?  He is one cheeky pupster, who thinks that he knows it all.  I know that my youngest Labrador, Daisydoo is a different breed to Bertie but Bertie’s behaviours really did remind me of Daisydoo.  Bertie cares and once he has got rid of some ‘puppy power’ (to borrow a phrase from a doggy friend of mine Hugo Huggins), he does what he can to try to help the Green family and Granny M.  He gets involved in some really daft things and he can also be rather naughty but once he gives you those puppy dog eyes, you are putty in his paws.  Bertie (& my Daisydoo) like to see people getting along and love to bring some laughter to the party so to speak.  Neither of them stop until they make sure that everything is ok.
I really did love this book and laughed (& at times blubbed) at the antics of Bertie and his ‘Paw Print Club’.  In Bertie’s band of Merrymen there is a dog from next door called Pepper and two cats belonging to the Green family called Kitty and Rico and of course, Molly will be enlisted into the group if they manage to find her.  Two of the messages given out throughout the book is ‘don’t judge a book by its cover’ and ‘don’t assume that everything is as it first seems’.  The book is well written and you can tell that a dog lover wrote it as the descriptions of the various behaviours and antics certainly seemed authentic.  The only thing I would pick a fault with is the fact that Mr. Green feeds Bertie (or allows Bertie to pinch some mince pies).  Now people shouldn’t do that as mince pies are toxic to dogs and can cause serious injury if not death.
In short then, I LOVED this book and would award it 4* out of 5*.  The end of the book left the way open for a sequel and I sincerely hope that we get to read more about Bertie, the Green family (including Granny M) and Molly.  I would definitely recommend this book to anybody.

[Jaffareadstoo · Rating 4 out of 5]

It must be said that I fell in love with Bertie from the beginning of this charming story which shares all that's good, and sometimes, bad about pet ownership.

The story starts off quite grim with Bertie and his sister Molly sharing a rather unpleasant existence with a number of other dogs and living with an owner who, since his wife died, can't really be bothered about any of them. When the dogs are taken to an animal shelter to be re-homed you can't help but form an emotional attachment to this brave little Beagle who cares so much for his sister Molly that you feel the loss when they are separated and taken away to live with new people.

The story is warm and compassionate and sensitively portrays the world from Bertie’s unique perspective so that we get a distinctively canine view of the world with all its inherent dangers and complications. Bertie is such a lovely exuberant character that it’s hard not to fall completely in love with him. His liveliness is quite infectious and the goodness of his spirit not only helps to heal a fractured family and restore hope to a sad little boy, but also shows the power of friendship, the value of loyalty and the overwhelming bond of love which exists between pets and their owners.

However, much as I loved Bertie the Beagle, I was especially drawn towards the two dastardly felines, Kitty and Rico, who show that cats are shrewd operators when it comes to the small matter of surveillance.


Bertie's Gift is a lovely heartwarming Christmas Read, just perfect reading for all animals lovers be they canine or feline..

[Katherine Hayward Pérez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meet Bertie the beagle and his siblings as he journeys through life's struggles and triumphs. This is a book told from his point of view and is written for adults. Cute, adorable and a very engaging read. I was rooting for Bertie and his brothers and sisters and was concerned, happy and sad for them. An interesting idea and perfect for dog fans. If you aren't one, this will make you fall in love with the cute protagonists and is a very emotional book. Very good life lessons told from a dog's point of view.

[Martha Dunlop · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an irresistibly cute book that is beautiful for both adults and children. Bertie the main character is irresistible (and not just because he shares my own puppy’s name!).

It tells the story of a beagle who is separated from his sister after his owner dies, and is adopted by a family who is grieving. Bertie makes friends with the cats in his new home and takes it upon himself to find his sister, and bring his family happiness again.

I loved the story. It was a gentle and uplifting feel good story with fabulous characters and plenty of action.

A great read for dog lovers.

[SALLY WHITE · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Goodreads for sending me this book. Although this is a Chrstmassy feeling book, I have just read it and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I loved the photo of Bertie on the front. I is definitely a feelgood book with a story running through it and I do actually work with dogs in a doggy day care centre so this book had an added appeal for me. An uplifting read.

[Julie Allwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves books

I have enjoyed reading this book Bertie’s Gift and I couldn’t put this book down as it was brilliant fabulous fantastic book to read.
And it was nice to read.
Hannah coats is a brilliant fabulous fantastic writer Author.
I have enjoyed reading this book very much.

[Siân Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a cute little read. I loved reading the story from Bertie the dogs perspective and as a dog owner to the cutest, most loving and mischievous cockapoo it made me wonder even more so what goes through his little mind. A nice easy read with a heart warming feeling.

[Angela Peixoto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely story for everybody that loves animals and not only....

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Utterly gorgeous nonsense. I smiled. I cried. I cuddled my rescue dog a lot.

[Sophie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely lovely. There’s nothing not to like. Even brought tears to my eyes at times. Beautifully written.

[Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been saving this book for a while now because I knew it would be the perfect Christmas read. If you're feeling frazzled by last-minute shopping trips and over-excited children, make yourself a nice hot chocolate and lose yourself in the world of Bertie the beagle.

The book is written by Bertie himself (they're very clever those beagles!). He starts his life with his little sister Molly by his side but things go horribly wrong and the two end up separated. There are lots of other dogs in the book and Bertie beautifully describes all the different personalities and really brings the dogs (and cats) to life.

Bertie goes on a mission firstly to reunite with Molly and secondly to bring some happiness to the family who adopted him. He has a massive heart, a mischievous streak, and talent for spotting when things don't appear as they seem. There were truly heartwarming moments and times when I reached out for the tissues because Bertie's story really pulled at my heartstrings. However, there were some really funny moments too, when the cheeky pup gets himself into trouble, yet again.

I'm always glad to see rescue dogs feature in novels and would like to thank Hannah Coates for highlighting the subject of homeless dogs.

If you love Christmas, reading, and dogs this book has it all. An enchanting and emotional story told by a very special dog.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book in a Goodreads Giveaway

This is a lovely heartwarming book about a cheeky little beagle called Bertie who once has been rehomed is trying to heal a hurt in his new adoptive family, causing mischief along the way.

The story flows well and I was eager to learn what was happening next with Bertie and friends.

This reminded me of stories similar to Babe, I think it may be the talking animals.

A great story for children and adults alike

[Ines · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adoro o livro e recomendo imenso. Para as pessoas que gostam de cães e de aventuras caninas é um livro emocionante e bastante apelativo , difícil será conseguir parar de ler , um livro cativante e marcante que pende os leitores desde o primeiro paragrafo .
Fala sobre uma família que recentemente perdeu a mãe e que se juntou um novo e querido elemento o Bertie um cão que pode ou não por certa parte substituir a figura maternal.

[Minia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simpatico e commovente allo stesso tempo. Un libro che mette in evidenza l'amore di un cane per il proprio umano.

[The P.Turners]

Please see blog for [K]'s review: https://thepturnersbookblog.wordpress...

[ELisabete Marques · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delicioso e ternurento
Recomendo

[Trudy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bertie is an amazing dog and I never thought he would get everyone together like that! He’s very clever and made everyone so happy.

[NixieTales · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pokochałam te historie!❤️🥺