Alaskan Catch

by Sue Pethick

A dream job it’s not. But for Emily Prentice, working as a seafood inspector in  Ketchikan, Alaska, takes her one step closer to becoming a marine biologist. And it’ll give her a first taste of independence from her overprotective mom and the doctor boyfriend she’s pushing into Emily’s arms.  Emily’s certainly not looking for romance . . . until a huge dog knocks her down and sends her flying into fish goo. It’s love at first sight for Emily and Bear, whose handsome owner, Sam, becomes flummoxed when the fallen worker in the hard hat turns out to be a pretty young woman.  Emily and Bear begin a beautiful relationship, with Sam in tow. And before long the attraction between the humans becomes undeniable. But separation and a dangerous undertaking soon leave Emily wondering if she’ll lose Sam before she gets to tell him how she really feels . . . Bear wants his humans staying together, and before he’s done, both Emily and Sam will learn one essential canine A dog is the only one on earth who loves you more than you love yourself.Praise for Sue Pethick’s Novels “Quirky characters abound in this gentle romantic comedy with a hint of suspense. But it’s the comic scenes featuring Shep that steal the show. . . . Readers who delight in tales about the bond between people and their dogs will enjoy.” —Booklist on Please Don’t Feed the Mayor“A light, heartwarming read perfect for a wintry afternoon at home or a sunny beachvacation.” —RT Book Reviews on Pet Friendly “Filled with romance, drama, and family love . . . a fun, light hearted read that is sure to give you warm fuzzy feelings. ”—Modern Dog on The Dog Who Came for Christmas “Witty and emotional. . . . Grab a treasured pet and a box of tissues before sitting down to read this endearing tale.” —RT Book Reviews on Boomer’s Bucket List 

Genres: Romance, Fiction

289 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 24, 2019

About the author

Sue Pethick is an award-winning writer whose short stories have appeared in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine and Murderous Intent. The author of two books published under pen names, Sue’s life-long love of animals inspired her to write PET FRIENDLY, the story of a little dog with a big heart and an instinct for true love. Born in San Diego, California, she now lives in Vancouver, Washington.

Reviews

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emily accepts an internship at a fish cannery in Alaska to get away from her domineering mother. She wants to branch out and get a bit closer to her dream of being a marine biologist. Emily wants some independence and she's really not looking for romance, but you know....when you are least expecting it, sometimes things just happen. It all starts with a big dog named Bear....who knocks Emily flat right into gross fish guts. Sometimes what starts out badly turns out right in the end.

I don't normally read romance novels, but I made an exception for this one. The cover got my attention first....Bear is just too darn cute! I have a soft spot in my heart for great big loveable dogs! And then I read the blurb and it sounded sweet and cute. So why not? We all have to branch out sometimes. I'm glad I decided to read a romance book. This story is a cute feel-good light romance. Add in the awesome dog, and it made for an entertaining afternoon of reading.

Charming read! Perfect for a relaxing reading escape!

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Kensington via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was all in, really loving this sweet and endearing romance complete with an adorable, trouble finding Newfoundland, Bear. And here comes the but… But somewhere around the halfway mark the great character development seemed to falter, I say falter but I mean reverse. The conflicts found in this story just seemed out of placed/forced. I guess, I’m kind of ranting because it really had great potential and then it just completely lost me. The final straw was Sam leaving Bear with his drug addicted, strung out, ex and joining a crew that he stated he would never join. I'm going with 2.5 stars. Ultimately, it wasn't my cup of tea.

I received this ARC copy of Alaskan Catch from Kensington Books. This is my honest and voluntary review. Alaskan Catch is set for publication September 24, 2019.

[Kirsti · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book.

So, my bad, I thought this was a cozy mystery and it wasn't. This was just romance, but even then I can usually deal and even enjoy that. This was pretty bland for a romance, there was no tension whatsoever between the two. Not just sexual tension, but even a romantic tension. Nothing seems to affect the fact that they will end up together, and without a believable struggle, there was no point. Even an upcoming marriage can't keep them apart, and in the end there is no real struggle anyway. It's also really hard to care emotionally about any of the characters except maybe the dog.

A little weak on romance for me, but the oh so sweet story might appeal to others. Three stars.

[Mary Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alaskan Catch
Sue Pethick
5 Stars

Synopsis:

A dream job it's not. But for Emily Prentice, working as a seafood inspector in Ketchikan, Alaska, takes her one step closer to becoming a marine biologist. And it'll give her a first taste of independence from her overprotective mom and the doctor boyfriend she's pushing into Emily's arms.

Emily's certainly not looking for romance . . . until a huge dog knocks her down and sends her flying into fish goo. It's love at first sight for Emily and Bear, whose handsome owner, Sam, becomes flummoxed when the fallen worker in the hard hat turns out to be a pretty young woman.

Emily and Bear begin a beautiful relationship, with Sam in tow. And before long the attraction between the humans becomes undeniable. But separation and a dangerous undertaking soon leave Emily wondering if she'll lose Sam before she gets to tell him how she really feels . . .

Bear wants his humans staying together, and before he's done, both Emily and Sam will learn one essential canine truth: A dog is the only one on earth who loves you more than you love yourself.


Praise for Sue Pethick's Novels

"Quirky characters abound in this gentle romantic comedy with a hint of suspense. But it's the comic scenes featuring Shep that steal the show. . . . Readers who delight in tales about the bond between people and their dogs will enjoy." --Booklist on Please Don't Feed the Mayor

"A light, heartwarming read perfect for a wintry afternoon at home or a sunny beach vacation." --RT Book Reviews on Pet Friendly

"Filled with romance, drama, and family love . . . a fun, light hearted read that is sure to give you warm fuzzy feelings. "
--Modern Dog on The Dog Who Came for Christmas

"Witty and emotional. . . . Grab a treasured pet and a box of tissues before sitting down to read this endearing tale." --RT Book Reviews on Boomer's Bucket List (less)
GET A COPY

Review:

The writing style flows smoothly and is a quick easy read. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and these descriptions pulled me into the story right from the beginning. I felt like I got an insight into Ketchikan, Alaska, and a little bit about fisheries.

The characters are well developed, well rounded and three dimensional. Emily has to deal with her mother, who always wants to meddle, and roommates that do not get along. She also has to deal with Bear, a big lovable dog, and she is happy about this. Bear is Sam’s dog and he loves both Emily and Sam, and wants to see them together.

This book is a light hearted romance that is clean and refreshing. And there is a bit of a mystery and suspense in this book which was great. I really enjoyed this book, it was a feel good read, and I really love the cover. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted women’s contemporary. I enjoyed this book a lot.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Kensington Books, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

****Alaskan Catch is as informative about Alaska as it is an entertaining story. Emily goes to Alaska to intern at a fish cannery. Right off the plane, she encounters Bear, a Newfoundland owned by fisherman, Sam. What Emily believes will be a simple three month internship that should make it easier to obtain a real job quickly escalates as she deals with a meddling mother, a boyfriend back home, a jealous roommate, suspicious events at the cannery, and a growing relationship with Bear and his owner, Sam. Of course, Sam has problems of his own. His boss is cold hearted, his ex is a druggie, and he desperately needs someone to babysit Bear while he is out on his boat fishing. No more teasers... just be prepared for an exciting and often surprising read. The author has an excellent command of English, always a plus in this reader’s mind, and has created some great characters. I voluntarily reviewed an advance copy of this book from NetGalley.

[Taylor (BiblioTay) · Rating 2 out of 5]

This really disappointed me.
At least the ending really disappointed me.

The beginning was fine. There were some areas I thought could have been written a little better but it didn't stop me from enjoying the story.

Then around the halfway mark the plot took a nose dive and the characters... whats the opposite of character growth?? Deteriorated??

I really liked Emily in the beginning. She was finally getting out from under her overbearing mom and even though the internship wasn't sparkles and roses she never really complained. She just did her work and kept her eyes on becoming a Marine Biologist for which she has a degree in. Sam was a nice guy. I liked him and Bear was just a cutie.

I cant pinpoint exactly where it went wrong but there's a lot that makes me want to rant...

[🌈⭐️RoseOfRainbows⭐️🌈💕 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stunning scenery, extensive and very satisfying character development, and downright dreamy plot line. I fell in love with it from the very first lines. Sure to keep the heart warm this upcoming holiday season. 5/5 stars

[Heather Bennett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alaskan Catch is a good cozy mystery. Sometimes it gets a bit boring, but the storyline is still good. Good descriptions.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sue Pethick is a new author for me to read books written by. Alaskan Catch is a fun read that takes place in Ketchikan, Alaska,, a beautiful small town. That was what caught my eye in the description but it was the characters including Bear that kept me reading.

This light-hearted romance has an element of mystery and suspense as well as some family and friends one wouldn’t wish on anyone, especially not Emily and Sam. However, Bear the Newfoundland dog makes life much better for these two. It is through him that Emily and Sam meet. You can tell a lot about a person and a character by how dogs exact to them. They certainly pass the dog test. They also made my list of favorite characters too.

I look forward to reading more by this author. I hope every book has a dog or cat as a character. Recommend this romantic read which is sure to make you smile, it surely did me.

An ARC of the book was given to me by the publisher through Net Galley which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice bit of Alaskan escapism

I liked this book. I chose to read it because the blurb said it was about Ketchikan, Alaska, an area I've visited and loved. And the book didn't disappoint.

Emily has her degree in Marine Biology but needs some practical experience. So she leaves her meddling mother and doctor boyfriend in San Diego and heads to Ketchikan. There she will be doing an internship at a fishery as a fish inspector.

The first day there she is knocked off her feet by a running Newfoundland dog Bear, face first into fish guts. Following close behind his dog is sexy Sam, a tender captain.

This was a quick read and I enjoyed it. Both Emily and Sam make decisions about their lives and find out what's really important.

I also enjoyed learning more about Ketchikan and the fishing industry up there.

I received this book from Kensington Books through Net Galley in the hopes that I would read it and leave an unbiased review.

[Shea Brooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was an easy read and a cute story. I loved it taking place in Alaska and the details but it was a little bit cheesy like I was reading a hallmark movie.

[Rima Aiello · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story was charming from beginning to end. Not only the chemistry between the characters, but the setting, the story line, everything flowed together magically. If a reader is looking for an easy read with a bit of an edge, look no further.

[Barbara Tobey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! Having visited the area briefly on a cruise, I was reminded of the beauty and hard life. Would love some of that fresh fish. Meet cute involving a dog is always fun. Falling into fish guts not so much. A charming and exciting bit of escapism. Enjoyed seeing the naïve Emily grow. Harsh lessons learned. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley. This may be considered romance light (as in not steamy) and mystery light (as in no murder), but it is my preference for entertainment.

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars
Not a bad book, just dull. I thought this would be a fun book to read and it just is not. I was looking forward to reading and learning more about Alaska but this book is written as if the reader will know all the lingo that goes along with this industry.
Some may like, but this book is just not for me.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for a honest review.

[Marianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG! While checking when her new book " Don't feed the Mayor" finally hits the bookstores, I noticed Sue has another one in the pipeline. Made my day. Can't wait and with a Newfie on the cover!!! Yeah! Keep 'em coming Sue.

[Jill Siler-Hayward · Rating 4 out of 5]

Took me a bit to get into this story. It finally picked up towards the end. Could have done without reading the drug issues. Felt like that should have been left out of the story. Really no reason for that part.

[Ann-Maree · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was so excited to read this book as I just love Alaska, love to visit and love to read about this wonderful place. For the most part, it was very good but some story plots just didn't seem quite right to the flow and feel of the story. The author is a new author to me so I can not comment if this Sue Pethick normal style and genre, but her descriptive description of places and thing does give you a very good feel of things.

This is a very sweet romance with a mystery, not a true cosy but not a true romantic comedy other. Some may fully love this book and some like myself may just enjoy this story but question it's realistic truth. I was frustrated with Emily at times and could see things coming well before the events were written about. I also felt something was missing in parts, there should have been more empathised put on certain events more than others to draw the reading into the characters more.

Emily Prentice has arrived in Ketchikan, Alaska, to inturn at the local cannery for the summer to help her with future jobs in her career to become a marine biologist. Against her mother opinion, she is here to follow her dream, not the dream of her mother. She gets off the plane and is taken straight to the cannery to have a look around, while she is there is bold over by a runaway dog that just might change her whole trip to Alaska.

It's love at first sight for Emily and Bear but Bear comes with his own baggage his owner Sam. Sam is a captain on one of the local fishing boats who lives in Ketchikan all year round. Both are not looking for anything more than just friendship but as life moves along so will the feelings these two have towards each other.

Sam's job is dangerous and Emily is keeping secrets.

Overall it brought back wonderful memories of my trip to Ketchikan a few years ago. I received an ARC copy of this book from NetGalley and the Publisher to which I have written my honest and voluntary review of my opinion.

[Adalia Nate · Rating 4 out of 5]

For starters, I don't typically read romance as much. But I enjoyed this book for sure!

It doesn't just focus on the romance but also on Emily's worries and life. It makes the story seem more realistic, and it also touches on real-life scenarios like decision making, fear of the future, family issues and grief.

Also, the little bit of mystery and plot twist had a nice ring to it!

Overall, for the romance part, it honestly felt like a hallmark/rom-com but without the comedy part. The story takes place in Ketchikan, Alaska. I never thought I could imagine such a cozy romance in a scenario of fishing? It's pretty cool. It makes me want to visit Ketchikan!

I also have to take note of my favorite character, Bear. What's a cozy romance/ hallmark without a furry friend? I fell in love with sweet Bear. 🥹

I definitely think that there could have been a bit more scenes with the main couple. Although I do love that this is a clean romance. And it's also very sweet. Most romance books nowadays are either extremely smutty or are filled with red-flag boyfriends. Fortunately, this wasn't the case.

Overall, it's 9/10!

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emily Prentice
Sam Reed
Bear - Sam’s Newfoundland Dog

Emily is in Ketchikan, AK for an internship at the cannery, hoping the experience will help her get a good recommendation for a job as a Marine Biologist. Sam is a local Fisherman, wanting to buy his own ship and be his own boss, who has his pet dog Bear. Emily and Sam meet when Bear gets loose in the cannery and Emily takes Bear down before he can get to the line and cause trouble. Sam takes Emily out to dinner for a thank you and they start getting acquainted. There are problems at the cannery, problems with Emily’s roommates and problems with Sam’s job. Bear is a very funny, cute and loving dog that keeps Emily and Sam communicating. I liked both Emily and Sam, their characters grew as the story progressed. This is a very good book with serious parts, funny parts and a little sad part. I would definitely read more books by this author.

[Joyce Rawlins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alaskan Catch by Sue Pethick is about a woman named Emily Prentice who takes a job as a seafood inspector in Alaska as she strives to become a marine biologist. Emily’s mom is overprotective and trying to set her up with a physician as a boyfriend. While at work, Emily is knocked down by a dog named Bear. The dog’s owner is intrigued after he helps her up. Emily falls in love with the dog and eventually is owner however circumstances threaten to tea them apart. Bear works very hard to keep his two humans together. This was my first book about a fish cannery in Alaska. It was a light, heartwarming read. I thought the book was witty, emotional and full of drama. I enjoyed the book very much, especially Bear, the dog. Of course, that’s after I got past the blood, slime and guts at the fish cannery. Good read!

[Elysa · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't like this book at all and wouldn't pick up this author again. I liked the cover and am always all in on a dog book. The dog was the only part of this book I liked. There was nothing wrong with the male lead, Sam, except that he was predictable.

The characters are one-dimensional and not believable. Emily is one of the worst heroines I've ever read. I can't believe one person could be that selfish but also such a doormat at the same time. Her relatives/"friends" back home are garbage humans. One of the other interns was written just to be a stereotype of a jealous girl. The characterization all around was just plain bad.

If the main character had been the dog, and he solved the mystery of the cannery mystery with his owner Sam bumbling beside him in Ketchikan, it would have been a better book. This half-assed romance, cozy mystery wasn't it for me though.

[Moony (Captain Mischief) MeowPoff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honestly, I expected this to be super-light-hearted, fun, that it was going to make me grin like a fool kind of book. Boy was I wrong. It was so much happening, both good and bad. I felt for Emily and what was happening with her uncle, I really did. But I felt that she did not have much chemistry with Sam at all. I mean Bear (the dog) was super adorable and I enjoyed the parts with him in it. But I did not really see them together. That being said, it was enjoyable and i stand by the stars i gave.

I got this eARC from Netgally

[Emily Higgins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Emily Prentice moves from Southern California to Ketchikan, AK to take an internship at a fish processing plant. She wants to be a marine biologist and she sees this as a way to further her career. She meets a man who crews on a fishing boat and falls in love with him and his dog. There seem to be gaps in the story. There were references to things that happened that had not been previously mentioned in the book.

[Teri Griffis · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I just could not get into this book. The beginning is Emily's tour of the fish cannery and the author goes into great detail about what is on the floors and tables! Yuck!!!! I DNF the book; others may enjoy it but this was just not my cup of tea.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alaskan Catch is a quick and easy read. I liked all the descriptions and the writing style. In addition to that, the characters were well developed and how is it possible to not like Bear, the Newfie? An added bonus was that there was a couple of First Nation characters, which made the book more diverse.

[JoAnn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alaskan Catch is a very well written and entertaining romance. I throughly enjoyed the plot and the quirky characters especially the canine. The author is new to me and I anticipate reading more books by her. Thanks to the publisher for my advance ebook. This is my unbiased review.

[Kathy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Being an intern at a cannery in Alaska was a step toward becoming a Marine Biologist for Emily. There was Sam a fisher and Bear his big Noofie dog to sweeten the deal. Emily's mother made me furious for many reasons but cheating her out of her trust fund was just too much.

[LeAnn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Story

Good story that keeps you guessing about the issues plaguing the fishery. Will Emily learn how to stand on her own to feet or will she continue to try and please everyone.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is also fun to read a book that is set in a place you have been because you can visualize it in your head. I thought this was a great book with interesting characters. I liked that the author included many different characters. I liked the dog, Bear and lot.

[Victoria Bridenbecker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to my good friend for getting me this book for my birthday last year. It is an interesting story about a girl named Emily who travels to Alaska and gets accepted into an internship at the fish cannery to escape from her mother and boyfriend. She wasn't certainly looking for romance until a huge dog named Bear appeared which knocked her right into the fish goo. It was love at first sight between a girl and a dog. Her dream goal was to become a Marine Biologist.

I highly recommend this book because reading about Bear was so cute, especially the relationship between Emily and Sam.