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Kitten Claws and Puppy Breath
Old high school friends, Cliff and Jeremy, have taken different paths in life, now both have ended up right back in Cody, Wyoming where they started, but things aren't as easy now as they were when they were teens.
Coming home isn't always easy, especially when the ghosts of your pass follow you there. Jeremy struggles to leave those ghosts behind, but they've pushed him to his limit and he isn't sure he is strong enough to face them any longer.
Cliff is living his dream of being a veterinarian. He loves animals and working in the town he grew up in keeps him close to his friends and family. As happy as he is with his work, he is hiding a secret from everyone. One that he fears will destroy his family and turn his friends against him.
When three small kittens bring Jeremy and Cliff together once again, they quickly rekindle the friendship they had, finding comfort in each other. Pain and secrets aren't as hard when someone else helps bear the burden, but is it enough? With a past Jeremy can't forget, and a future that Cliff isn't sure he can face, the two men have to learn that you must love who you are before you can love someone else.
Coming home isn't always easy, especially when the ghosts of your pass follow you there. Jeremy struggles to leave those ghosts behind, but they've pushed him to his limit and he isn't sure he is strong enough to face them any longer.
Cliff is living his dream of being a veterinarian. He loves animals and working in the town he grew up in keeps him close to his friends and family. As happy as he is with his work, he is hiding a secret from everyone. One that he fears will destroy his family and turn his friends against him.
When three small kittens bring Jeremy and Cliff together once again, they quickly rekindle the friendship they had, finding comfort in each other. Pain and secrets aren't as hard when someone else helps bear the burden, but is it enough? With a past Jeremy can't forget, and a future that Cliff isn't sure he can face, the two men have to learn that you must love who you are before you can love someone else.
215 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 24, 2016
6 people are currently reading
37 people want to read
About the author
E.M. Leya
100 books313 followersE.M. Leya lives surrounded by the beautiful mountains in Salt Lake City, Utah with her amazing daughter and loving pets. She is passionate about the world we live in and current events, deeming herself a "news junkie". She believes that we are all here to create something beautiful, whether it's through our talents or our actions. She enjoys writing stories that take us deep into real world problems while showing that love can happen for anyone, regardless of how dark their past might be.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
January 11, 2017
So about the only thing that is fluffy about this story is the cover. Don't let it fool you at all. Both Jeremy and Cliff had to work out some series issues, especially Jeremy. I enjoyed it.
January 13, 2017
Der noch junge Army Veteran Jeremy kann den Geistern der Vergangenheit nicht entkommen. Jede Nacht plagen ihn Albträume, Depressionen beherrschen sein Dasein und längst hat er in seiner Heimatstadt den Ruf als Spinner, Säufer und Einsiedler weg. Das Leben ist ihm unerträglich geworden. Doch als er den letzten Schritt endlich tun will, entdeckt er einen Sack mit ausgesetzten Kätzchen, die dem Tode schon nahe sind.
Jeremy kann diese Kreaturen nicht einfach sterben lassen und bringt sie zu einem alten Schulfreund, Cliff. Dieser hat eine gutgehende Tierarztpraxis und wagt ein Experiment mit den Kätzchen. Eine Hündin, die ihre Welpen verloren hat, nimmt sich der Kitten an und sichert so ihr Überleben. Obwohl Jeremy keine Verantwortung übernehmen will/kann, lässt er sich von Cliff die Kätzchen und die Hündin aufschwatzen. Schließlich ist auf seiner Ranch Platz genug und Jeremy hat ja genug Zeit um sich um die Tiere zu kümmern.
Cliff will sichergehen, dass die Tiere bei Jeremy gut untergebracht sind und taucht immer wieder bei dem zurückhaltenden Einsiedler auf und dann ändern Geständnisse und eine Nacht alles, was zwischen ihnen war. Doch es ist schwer die Vergangenheit hinter sich und sich auf eine veränderte Zukunft einzulassen.
An diese Geschichte bin ich ohne große Erwartungen herangegangen. Leya schreibt nicht schlecht, manchmal aber einfach zu zuckrig oder banal. Die Geschichte von Cliff und Jeremy ist jedoch ziemlich intensiv, berührend und sehr eindringlich geschrieben. Ich war überrascht - positiv.
Cliff hat sich ein Leben aufgebaut, schafft es aber nicht aus seinem Schrank herauszukommen. Seine Sexualität kann er nur heimlich und weit entfernt ausleben. Dabei sehnt er sich nach einem Partner und Normalität. Jeremy hingegen versteckt sich vor der Welt, macht aus seiner Sexualität kein Geheimnis. Jer hat auch nichts mehr zu verlieren und hängt nicht mehr am Leben. Zu groß sind die Depressionen und Schuldgefühle. Doch da kommt Cliff mit seinen Tieren daher und reißt Stück für Stück seine Mauern nieder. Doch auch Jer verändert Cliff und zerrt ihn immer mehr ans Licht; zeigt ihm ein Leben auf, wie es zwischen ihnen sein könnte.
Beide Helden sind sehr sympathisch, gut beschrieben und gleichwertig. Während man von Jeremys verstorbenen Eltern natürlich nur in Rückblenden erfährt, erlebt man Cliffs Eltern in Echtzeit und versteht dann sehr schnell, wieso Cliff sich vor einem Coming Out fürchtet.
Mir hats sehr gut gefallen und von hier aus ein Dank an Ramona von The World of Big Eyes, die dieses Buch auf Facebook verlinkt hat. Sonst wäre es mir wohl völlig entgangen.
Jeremy kann diese Kreaturen nicht einfach sterben lassen und bringt sie zu einem alten Schulfreund, Cliff. Dieser hat eine gutgehende Tierarztpraxis und wagt ein Experiment mit den Kätzchen. Eine Hündin, die ihre Welpen verloren hat, nimmt sich der Kitten an und sichert so ihr Überleben. Obwohl Jeremy keine Verantwortung übernehmen will/kann, lässt er sich von Cliff die Kätzchen und die Hündin aufschwatzen. Schließlich ist auf seiner Ranch Platz genug und Jeremy hat ja genug Zeit um sich um die Tiere zu kümmern.
Cliff will sichergehen, dass die Tiere bei Jeremy gut untergebracht sind und taucht immer wieder bei dem zurückhaltenden Einsiedler auf und dann ändern Geständnisse und eine Nacht alles, was zwischen ihnen war. Doch es ist schwer die Vergangenheit hinter sich und sich auf eine veränderte Zukunft einzulassen.
An diese Geschichte bin ich ohne große Erwartungen herangegangen. Leya schreibt nicht schlecht, manchmal aber einfach zu zuckrig oder banal. Die Geschichte von Cliff und Jeremy ist jedoch ziemlich intensiv, berührend und sehr eindringlich geschrieben. Ich war überrascht - positiv.
Cliff hat sich ein Leben aufgebaut, schafft es aber nicht aus seinem Schrank herauszukommen. Seine Sexualität kann er nur heimlich und weit entfernt ausleben. Dabei sehnt er sich nach einem Partner und Normalität. Jeremy hingegen versteckt sich vor der Welt, macht aus seiner Sexualität kein Geheimnis. Jer hat auch nichts mehr zu verlieren und hängt nicht mehr am Leben. Zu groß sind die Depressionen und Schuldgefühle. Doch da kommt Cliff mit seinen Tieren daher und reißt Stück für Stück seine Mauern nieder. Doch auch Jer verändert Cliff und zerrt ihn immer mehr ans Licht; zeigt ihm ein Leben auf, wie es zwischen ihnen sein könnte.
Beide Helden sind sehr sympathisch, gut beschrieben und gleichwertig. Während man von Jeremys verstorbenen Eltern natürlich nur in Rückblenden erfährt, erlebt man Cliffs Eltern in Echtzeit und versteht dann sehr schnell, wieso Cliff sich vor einem Coming Out fürchtet.
Mir hats sehr gut gefallen und von hier aus ein Dank an Ramona von The World of Big Eyes, die dieses Buch auf Facebook verlinkt hat. Sonst wäre es mir wohl völlig entgangen.
December 14, 2016
In this we meet Jeremy & Cliff. Jeremy has had enough of living due to not being able to live with what he saw and did while he was in the Army. He makes a decision to end it all. What he doesn’t expect though is for a litter of kittens to foil his plans.
Cliff is the local vet, and the last person he expects to come knocking at his door is Jeremy. They went to school together but since coming home from the army Jeremy has been quite reclusive, garnering a bit of a reputation for himself. Cliff also has his own secret that he’s been hiding.
What follows is a tale full of tragedy and sorrow but also love and new beginnings too. It’s full of passion, not just between Cliff & Jeremy but also from the animals too. The author has done a phenomenal job of pulling at my heartstrings, pulling me in from the very start. I felt every emotion imaginable while reading this story and absolutely loved how she never lost focus of the main point of the story; The animals. An absolutely fantastic read !
Cliff is the local vet, and the last person he expects to come knocking at his door is Jeremy. They went to school together but since coming home from the army Jeremy has been quite reclusive, garnering a bit of a reputation for himself. Cliff also has his own secret that he’s been hiding.
What follows is a tale full of tragedy and sorrow but also love and new beginnings too. It’s full of passion, not just between Cliff & Jeremy but also from the animals too. The author has done a phenomenal job of pulling at my heartstrings, pulling me in from the very start. I felt every emotion imaginable while reading this story and absolutely loved how she never lost focus of the main point of the story; The animals. An absolutely fantastic read !
January 3, 2017
True rating - Solid 4 stars but giving it an honorary 4.25, for a few reasons. Thoughts in progress ...
*****
This has been on my KU shelf for quite a while now; not being something I was entirely sure of, I've been on the fence about giving it a try. On the last day of 2016, I think I will. Hopefully this'll go well.
*****
This has been on my KU shelf for quite a while now; not being something I was entirely sure of, I've been on the fence about giving it a try. On the last day of 2016, I think I will. Hopefully this'll go well.
June 29, 2018
Jeremy has just returned to his childhood home after being in the army, he is struggling to overcome the horrors that he faced while in the army, and doesn't feel that he is strong enough to face them. Cliff has his dream job of being a veterinarian. They meet up again with Jeremy brings three small kittens to Cliff that he found in a burlap bag. While Jeremy has kept all of his old friends out of his life since he has been back, Cliff is able to wheedle his way into Jeremy's life.
Jeremy has some major guilt leftover from his time in the army, and Cliff is afraid he honest with his family and friends will turn them against him. Each must find a way to love who they are now before they can even dream of loving each other.
I enjoyed both Cliff and Jeremy, while I felt sad for Jeremy, Cliff just frustrated me with his excuse for not spending time at Jeremy's.
Jeremy has some major guilt leftover from his time in the army, and Cliff is afraid he honest with his family and friends will turn them against him. Each must find a way to love who they are now before they can even dream of loving each other.
I enjoyed both Cliff and Jeremy, while I felt sad for Jeremy, Cliff just frustrated me with his excuse for not spending time at Jeremy's.
March 20, 2018
Great
This was a great story. Many times I had tears in my eyes and then I would be smiling. This author has a way of taking a serious subject and working through it to finally reach a happily ever after. I will be reading a lot more of her stories.
This was a great story. Many times I had tears in my eyes and then I would be smiling. This author has a way of taking a serious subject and working through it to finally reach a happily ever after. I will be reading a lot more of her stories.
May 10, 2021
Sad but hea
While the animals were cute, it starts very sad and wasn’t an easy read for me. I felt for Jeremy and his difficulties. I was glad he and Cliff reconnected and I liked seeing their relationship grow. Trigger warning: suicidal mc.
While the animals were cute, it starts very sad and wasn’t an easy read for me. I felt for Jeremy and his difficulties. I was glad he and Cliff reconnected and I liked seeing their relationship grow. Trigger warning: suicidal mc.
December 5, 2016
Good.
This was a well written story. Plenty of character depth and difficult backstory without being angst laden. An enjoyable read.
This was a well written story. Plenty of character depth and difficult backstory without being angst laden. An enjoyable read.
February 20, 2017
KU
No fluff in this story - strong plot, well developed characters and I loved it.
No fluff in this story - strong plot, well developed characters and I loved it.
February 26, 2018
Meh. Maybe its me, but to me -
the dialogue felt stilted
predictable
needed better research - medical, military.
YMMV
the dialogue felt stilted
predictable
needed better research - medical, military.
YMMV
January 16, 2017
i loved it...
January 1, 2017
Definitely not what I was expecting from the cover or title but it was a pleasant surprise. A good story showing the difficulty that servicemen/women have when they return from active service. The death toll from suicide by veterans is higher than those killed on active service - a thought to ponder.
The story though was one of hope not lots of angst - yes the journey had bumps but they were molehills not mountains. The kitten claws and puppy breath definitely helped Jeremy overcome his demons and led him back to the path of life and to Cliff.
A new author to me and one I will read again.
4 stars
The story though was one of hope not lots of angst - yes the journey had bumps but they were molehills not mountains. The kitten claws and puppy breath definitely helped Jeremy overcome his demons and led him back to the path of life and to Cliff.
A new author to me and one I will read again.
4 stars
December 18, 2016
Wow this wasn't what I was expecting! Could not put it down!
My heart just broke for Jeremy. The animals saved Jeremy and brought both of these guys together. Cliff was so understanding and helped him to find his way. Very well written and a fantastic story.
My heart just broke for Jeremy. The animals saved Jeremy and brought both of these guys together. Cliff was so understanding and helped him to find his way. Very well written and a fantastic story.
November 29, 2016
3.5 stars
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews