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SBC Fighters #4.5
Tails of Love
Ten all-new stories that celebrate our animal friends, by bestselling and award-winning authors.
From Seeing Eye dogs to the cat who cuddles in your lap, animals are there for us in more ways than we can count. Helping us get through the day with a wag of the tail and a tilt of the head, they let us know that someone is on our side-no matter what. They also have an amazing ability to break down barriers between people; bringing families and loved ones closer, and giving strangers an excuse to strike up a conversation. In Tails of Love, each writer draws from her own unique perspective on our loyal friends--exploring the many mysterious ways they bring love into our lives.
Featuring stories from New York Times bestselling authors Lori Foster and Stella Cameron, and Ann Christopher, Kate Angell, Marcia James, Dianne Castell, Donna MacMeans, Sarah McCarty, Patricia Sargeant, and Sue-Ellen Welfonder.
A PORTION OF THE PROCEEDS FROM TAILS OF LOVE GOES TO THE ANIMAL ADOPTION FOUNDATION OF OHIO
“Man’s Best Friend” by Lori Foster
“A Knotty Tail” by Stella Cameron
“Norah’s Arc” by Kate Angell
“The Pursuit of Happiness” by Dianne Castell
“Atticus Saves Lisa” by Ann Christopher
“Rescue Me” by Marcia James
“Lord Hairy” by Donna MacMeans
“Danny’s Dog” by Sarah McCarty
“Scaredy Cat” by Patricia Sargeant
“A Man, a Woman, and Haggis” by Sue-Ellen Welfonder
From Seeing Eye dogs to the cat who cuddles in your lap, animals are there for us in more ways than we can count. Helping us get through the day with a wag of the tail and a tilt of the head, they let us know that someone is on our side-no matter what. They also have an amazing ability to break down barriers between people; bringing families and loved ones closer, and giving strangers an excuse to strike up a conversation. In Tails of Love, each writer draws from her own unique perspective on our loyal friends--exploring the many mysterious ways they bring love into our lives.
Featuring stories from New York Times bestselling authors Lori Foster and Stella Cameron, and Ann Christopher, Kate Angell, Marcia James, Dianne Castell, Donna MacMeans, Sarah McCarty, Patricia Sargeant, and Sue-Ellen Welfonder.
A PORTION OF THE PROCEEDS FROM TAILS OF LOVE GOES TO THE ANIMAL ADOPTION FOUNDATION OF OHIO
“Man’s Best Friend” by Lori Foster
“A Knotty Tail” by Stella Cameron
“Norah’s Arc” by Kate Angell
“The Pursuit of Happiness” by Dianne Castell
“Atticus Saves Lisa” by Ann Christopher
“Rescue Me” by Marcia James
“Lord Hairy” by Donna MacMeans
“Danny’s Dog” by Sarah McCarty
“Scaredy Cat” by Patricia Sargeant
“A Man, a Woman, and Haggis” by Sue-Ellen Welfonder
352 pages, Paperback
First published April 28, 2009
79 people are currently reading
775 people want to read
About the author
Lori Foster
419 books11.7k followersSince first publishing in January 1996, Lori Foster has become a USA Today, Publisher’s Weekly and New York Times bestselling author. Lori has published through a variety of houses, including Kensington, St. Martin’s, Harlequin, Silhouette, Samhain, and Berkley/Jove. She is currently published with HQN.
Lori hosts a very special annual “Reader & Author” event in West Chester, Ohio. Proceeds from the event have benefited many worthy causes, including the Hamilton County YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter, the Animal Adoption Foundation, The Conductive Learning Center for children with spina bifida and cerebral palsy, and The One Way Farm, Children’s Home.
Each year Lori donates all proceeds from one book to charity. You can see the benefit romance books here: http://lorifoster.com/benefit-books/
Career Highlights
•In 2001, Lori received the prestigious Romantic Times “Career Achievement Award” for Series Romantic Fantasy.
•In 2002, Lori’s book Too Much Temptation was the top-selling romance title for Amazon books.
•In 2003, Say No To Joe was the second “Bestselling Original Contemporary” romance title for Waldenbooks.
•In 2004, Lori Foster was a clue in the New York Times crossword puzzle.
•In 2004, The Secret Life of Bryan was the “Bestselling Original Contemporary” romance title for the BGI group.
•In 2005, Lori received the prestigious Romantic Times “Career Achievement Award” for Contemporary Romance.
•In 2006, Jude’s Law was the “Bestselling Romantic Comedy” romance title for the BGI group.
•In 2007, Lori launched a new “urban fantasy” series under the name L.L. Foster. See more on her “dark side” at www.llfoster.com.
•In 2007, Causing Havoc was among Amazon’s Top Ten Editor’s picks in Romance.
•In 2008, Hard to Handle made #2 on The New York Times.
•In 2009, Servant: The Acceptance was Amazon’s #1 Editors’ Pick in Romance.
•In 2010, Lori was a clue in the USA Today Quick Cross puzzle.
Lori hosts a very special annual “Reader & Author” event in West Chester, Ohio. Proceeds from the event have benefited many worthy causes, including the Hamilton County YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter, the Animal Adoption Foundation, The Conductive Learning Center for children with spina bifida and cerebral palsy, and The One Way Farm, Children’s Home.
Each year Lori donates all proceeds from one book to charity. You can see the benefit romance books here: http://lorifoster.com/benefit-books/
Career Highlights
•In 2001, Lori received the prestigious Romantic Times “Career Achievement Award” for Series Romantic Fantasy.
•In 2002, Lori’s book Too Much Temptation was the top-selling romance title for Amazon books.
•In 2003, Say No To Joe was the second “Bestselling Original Contemporary” romance title for Waldenbooks.
•In 2004, Lori Foster was a clue in the New York Times crossword puzzle.
•In 2004, The Secret Life of Bryan was the “Bestselling Original Contemporary” romance title for the BGI group.
•In 2005, Lori received the prestigious Romantic Times “Career Achievement Award” for Contemporary Romance.
•In 2006, Jude’s Law was the “Bestselling Romantic Comedy” romance title for the BGI group.
•In 2007, Lori launched a new “urban fantasy” series under the name L.L. Foster. See more on her “dark side” at www.llfoster.com.
•In 2007, Causing Havoc was among Amazon’s Top Ten Editor’s picks in Romance.
•In 2008, Hard to Handle made #2 on The New York Times.
•In 2009, Servant: The Acceptance was Amazon’s #1 Editors’ Pick in Romance.
•In 2010, Lori was a clue in the USA Today Quick Cross puzzle.
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November 23, 2015
Ten all-new stories that celebrate our animal friends, by bestselling and award-winning authors.
From Seeing Eye dogs to the cat who cuddles in your lap, animals are there for us in more ways than we can count. Helping us get through the day with a wag of the tail and a tilt of the head, they let us know that someone is on our side-no matter what. They also have an amazing ability to break down barriers between people; bringing families and loved ones closer, and giving strangers an excuse to strike up a conversation. In "Tails of Love," each writer draws from her own unique perspective on our loyal friends--exploring the many mysterious ways they bring love into our lives.
Featuring stories from "New York Times "bestselling authors Lori Foster and Stella Cameron, and Ann Christopher, Kate Angell, Marcia James, Dianne Castell, Donna MacMeans, Sarah McCarty, Patricia Sargeant, and Sue-Ellen Welfonder.
A PORTION OF THE PROCEEDS FROM "TAILS OF LOVE "GOES TO THE ANIMAL ADOPTION FOUNDATION OF OHIO"
Man's Best Friend by Lori Foster
Series: SBC Fighter (Book 8)
Erin has known Gary since she was six years old and he was her brother's best friend. She's been in love with him almost as long, but since he became an SBC fighter she has felt that he's beyond her reach. When she's leaving work late one night, in pouring rain, she trips over a small puppy. Unfortunately, her car battery is also dead and her brother unavailable by phone. Her only other real choice is to call Gary for help, but her phone dies just as she reaches him. I loved the way that he came charging to the rescue.
Gary has had it bad for Erin for years. When she was younger, he avoided her for obvious reasons, but lately she's been avoiding him. He's grateful for this chance with her, and plans to make the most of it. I loved seeing the way he countered all of her objections as he brought her and the puppy to his house.
It was sweet to see the way they came together to take care of the puppy. Thanks to him, Gary had a chance to tell Erin how he felt, and Erin to see that he was, at heart, the same man she'd always known. The ending was hot and sweet.
A Knotty Tail by Stella Cameron
Cute story about a woman who adopts two dogs and a man with a cat. Rose and Simon had lived near each other for six months, but both seemed unable to gather the courage to approach the other. Rose is a nurse who, though she'd never had a pet before, adopted the dogs for company. She's a bit unsure of how to treat them. Simon is a bit of a loner, a cartoonist who keeps to himself.
Dickens and Madeline are the two dogs, and Clawdia is the cat. Most of the story is told from their viewpoint. I felt bad for the two dogs and the reason they were up for adoption. The conversations between the two were cute, as Madeline tries to instruct Dickens on proper behavior for getting adopted and kept. Clawdia was the personification of a cat - independent, selfish and snooty, but she had the redeeming factor of wanting Simon to be happy.
I loved seeing her scheme to bring the two humans together. I also enjoyed that the dogs didn't just go along, but put their own spin on the process. The interactions among the animals are pretty funny, especially their opinions of each other's intelligence and motives. I liked the way they got Simon over to Rose's house, and how the humans took it from there.
Norah's Arc by Kate Angell
Adorable story of how a pygmy goat brought a zookeeper and construction man together. Norah owns a petting zoo of miniature animals, one of which is a pygmy goat named Houdini. As indicated by his name, he is an expert at getting out of his pen. Currently, his favorite thing to do is visit the construction site next door, wreaking havoc as he does so.
The story starts as Mike confronts Norah about the goat currently bouncing around on the hood of his Corvette. Norah explains how the escape happened, and why the goat is on the car, and suddenly Mike finds himself providing a load of boulders for the goat pen to keep him occupied.
A bout with rain, mud and the goat, have both Mike and Norah wet, and the attraction between them really starting to sizzle. I loved Houdini's assistance in getting them past their first kiss. He seems intent of finding ways to get Mike and Norah together, though his methods don't do much for Mike's peace of mind.
When Houdini goes missing again, and no one can find him, Norah goes to Mike for help searching. I loved his kindness and patience during the search, and how much he helped when they finally found him. But what really sealed my liking for Mike was what he did for Norah and Houdini the next day. I loved seeing how Mike came to care about Norah and her animals.
The Pursuit of Happiness by Dianne Castell
A rather strange story. Jane is a good Savannah girl with a family full of unique personalities. Her boyfriend, Rex, is a veterinarian. The story opens with them in bed, doing what comes naturally. When finished, Rex is trying to get up the nerve to talk to her about their future. He has a problem that he needs her help to fix, but they get interrupted by a call from her mom before he can tell her.
The issue for her is that she is the one who is stuck solving the problems created by her family. One of the things she loves about Rex is that he is so normal. When he comes to see her, he finally explains the problem. He is a werewolf, cast under a spell years ago, The spell can be broken by true love (of course) and he has the instructions on how to do it. Jane freaks out, believing he is just as nuts as her family members, and refuses to have anything else to do with him.
I really liked Rex a lot. Yes, he has that problem, but he's an all around nice guy. He loves Jane and isn't put off by her crazy relatives. Jane was kind of a doormat with her family. I got a little frustrated with her confrontation with her mom over the car. She needs to be able to put her foot down and make them responsible for their own actions. If the car ends up being a problem, mom has to deal with it herself.
However, I did enjoy mom's reaction to the news about Rex and how she gave Jane some advice to think about. What Jane did then was fairly predictable, but there was a bit of fun on the way to do it. The ending was fun.
Atticus Saves Lisa by Ann Christopher
Cruz and Lisa had known each other for a long time. Cruz is her younger brother's best friend. There's definitely something between them, but Lisa has been fighting it. Her brother Keenan is in a wheelchair, victim of a drunk driving accident. She feels guilty because she was driving and feels that she should have been able to avoid the drunk driver. She has spent the last two years devoting all her time and energy to Keenan, and convincing herself that she doesn't deserve anything more in her life.
At the time of the story, she, Cruz and Keenan are celebrating Keenan's return to the workforce and independence. He has an assistance animal, a little monkey named Atticus, who helps with the things Keenan can't do.
Cruz decides it's time to make Lisa aware of his feelings. She fights it hard, afraid to be happy. I liked the way that Cruz tells Keenan of his intentions, and how he tries to get Lisa to face her fears. It takes some straight talk from Keenan to make Lisa see that she's allowed to be happy. Because he has Atticus he doesn't need her to take care of him any longer, freeing her to live her life. She then went to Cruz and admitted her love.
This was okay, but there wasn't much to it.
Rescue Me by Marcia James
Sweet story. Adam is a former football player who now owns a restaurant. One day he finds a small dog in the alley behind it. When he's not sure what to do with it, someone suggests he take it to the Rescue Me shelter a few blocks away. When he arrives there, he's stunned to find that it is run by his former college girlfriend, a woman he has never forgotten.
Adam admits to himself that he'd been a selfish, arrogant jerk when he left to take up his football career. Now that he's seen Claire again, he wants a second chance with her, and the little dog gives him the perfect excuse. It was really sweet to see the way that Adam bonded with the little dog, and kept going back to visit. It also gave him the way to see Claire every day. It was fun to see him "court" her by bringing gifts for the shelter. I also loved seeing the way he showed interest in her work.
Claire hadn't forgotten Adam either. The anger she still felt for him disappeared quickly as she saw the way he treated the dog. She was surprised by the way that he kept coming back, and didn't want to believe that it was because of her. She was wary of getting hurt again. I loved the scene with her coworker as it got pointed out to her that everyone could see how much Adam cared.
I loved the ending, as Adam got up the courage to ask her out. His nervousness was adorable. The scene in the restaurant was sweet and romantic.
Lord Hairy by Donna MacMeans
The only historical in the collection, this story was fun, with something of a Cinderella theme and a most unusual fairy godmother. The story starts with Hannah in the kitchen sneaking a snack, when she is spotted by her stepmother. Her stepmother isn't a very nice person and has nothing good to say to or about Hannah. However, she is determined that Hannah snag the attention of newly arrived in the area Lord Ashton. To punish Hannah for her snacking, she sends her off to deliver the food to a poor family.
While walking through the woods, Hannah is accosted by a huge black dog who steals the food that Hannah has. She can see that he's hungry and appears to have been in the woods for quite awhile. She can't just leave him, so she takes him home with her. Frustrated by her stepmother's harping on Lord Ashton, she names the dog "Lord Hairy Ashton". Her stepmother isn't happy to see the dog with Hannah and when she refuses to return the pooch to the woods, banishes both the dog and Hannah to the stables. She also denies Hannah the opportunity to attend the dance at Lord Ashton's the next night.
I loved how the servants refused to have that happen and arranged for Hannah to make it to the dance after all. Just as Hannah is enjoying a visit with her friends, mayhem breaks out as the dog, who had been left at the stables, comes bounding into the ballroom looking for Hannah. What follows is a very amusing encounter between Hannah and the dog's owner who is, naturally, Lord Ashton. They appear to connect very quickly over the dog. The ending is very good and has a very funny twist.
Danny's Dog by Sarah McCarty
A story that's sad, but also full of hope. It opens with Kathy helping with an animal rescue. One of them is a black lab that is so covered in sores that she doesn't know how he's still alive. When the shelter manager plans to put the dog in the terminal category, Kathy refuses to accept it and is determined to save the dog. There's something in his eyes that speaks to her. He makes her think of the dog she and her soon to be ex-husband were going to get their son.
The only way to take care of him is to find the dog a foster home, as she can't keep him in her apartment. And the only place she can think to take him is to her old house, but facing Walt is something she doesn't want to do. They had split six months earlier after their grief over their son's death tore them apart. Neither one had known how to express or share their grief.
I liked Walt. We learn a little about his background and why he had trouble sharing his grief. When Kathy left him, he finally got the help he needed to deal with it. This helps him face Kathy and let her know that he hasn't given up on them.
When she ends up in the hospital because of a fall, a nurse there sees the love that Walt still has for Kathy. She points Kathy in the direction of the help she needs, and soon Kathy is ready to face Walt again.
The day that Kathy goes to see Walt would have been their son's first birthday. What happens between them is emotional, sweet and shows great promise that they can move forward together, along with Danny's dog.
Scaredy Cat by Patricia Sargeant
Cute story with a beat up alley cat playing Cupid. Thomas is a cat that Kendra had found badly injured and took to the vet before adopting him as her own. The problem she has is that her boyfriend Harvey really doesn't like Tom - and the feeling is mutual. The story opens with Tom doing his best to keep Kendra from going out with Harvey and succeeding brilliantly. He also notices when another man comes to the rescue when Harvey leaves Kendra stuck on a ladder. I loved seeing his thoughts as he followed Paul to see where he lived and decided to try to bring them together.
The next day brings Harvey back to see Kendra, this time with a definite goal in mind. He wants to see Tom gone so that he has Kendra's attention again, but the way he goes about it is doomed to failure. I got a real chuckle out of seeing the way that Tom manipulated Harvey, though he certainly didn't expect the reaction he got. I loved seeing Kendra treat Harvey just as he deserved.
Once Tom knew where Paul lived he wanted to find a way to bring him and Kendra together, but he met with a difficult obstacle. That block has been claimed by the trio of cats that had attacked him the first time. He is wary of running into them again. But his motivation is strong, and he makes the attempt. I really loved the way that he overcame his fears and did what he had to do, even though he was attacked again. But it's what he did then that showed his real determination.
Circumstances like that are what bring out the true nature in people, and that it what it did for Paul. I loved seeing the way that he immediately stepped in to help Tom and how he supported Kendra while he did it. It was sweet to see the effect it had on Kendra, even as she was worried about making another mistake. The scene in the back room at the vet's was adorable, and I loved Tom's satisfaction with the results of his actions.
A Man, A Woman, and Haggis by Sue-Ellen Welfonder
Cute story about a man and a woman brought together by the ghosts of their grandparents and a dog named Haggis. Jilly had come to Scotland to fulfill her grandmother's last wishes - to take the locket given to her by a Scotsman who had broken her heart and bury it on his grave. While having lunch at a nearby inn, she sees a highlander and his dog who encourage her to try the haggis to eat. As soon as it is served to her, the food is snatched from her plate by a dog also bearing the name of Haggis. His owner is an incredibly handsome man, who apologizes and offers her a tour of the loch on his boat.
Jilly knows she should say no, but she's intrigued by the man and agrees. When she tries to chicken out, she sees the highlander and his dog again, and it becomes clear they are ghosts. Succumbing to their obvious wishes, she goes on the trip and finds herself drawn to the man, but hesitant to get involved because of her family history.
Kieran is drawn to Jilly, but there's also something about her that is eerily familiar. When he figures out what it is, he's not happy to see that she's the granddaughter of the woman who broke his grandfather's heart. Some ghostly interference makes him realize that there is more to the story.
I loved seeing him convince her of the truth. It was sweet to see them figure out what really happened and use it to settle the truth. I loved seeing them resolve to make sure that history doesn't repeat itself.
From Seeing Eye dogs to the cat who cuddles in your lap, animals are there for us in more ways than we can count. Helping us get through the day with a wag of the tail and a tilt of the head, they let us know that someone is on our side-no matter what. They also have an amazing ability to break down barriers between people; bringing families and loved ones closer, and giving strangers an excuse to strike up a conversation. In "Tails of Love," each writer draws from her own unique perspective on our loyal friends--exploring the many mysterious ways they bring love into our lives.
Featuring stories from "New York Times "bestselling authors Lori Foster and Stella Cameron, and Ann Christopher, Kate Angell, Marcia James, Dianne Castell, Donna MacMeans, Sarah McCarty, Patricia Sargeant, and Sue-Ellen Welfonder.
A PORTION OF THE PROCEEDS FROM "TAILS OF LOVE "GOES TO THE ANIMAL ADOPTION FOUNDATION OF OHIO"
Man's Best Friend by Lori Foster
Series: SBC Fighter (Book 8)
Erin has known Gary since she was six years old and he was her brother's best friend. She's been in love with him almost as long, but since he became an SBC fighter she has felt that he's beyond her reach. When she's leaving work late one night, in pouring rain, she trips over a small puppy. Unfortunately, her car battery is also dead and her brother unavailable by phone. Her only other real choice is to call Gary for help, but her phone dies just as she reaches him. I loved the way that he came charging to the rescue.
Gary has had it bad for Erin for years. When she was younger, he avoided her for obvious reasons, but lately she's been avoiding him. He's grateful for this chance with her, and plans to make the most of it. I loved seeing the way he countered all of her objections as he brought her and the puppy to his house.
It was sweet to see the way they came together to take care of the puppy. Thanks to him, Gary had a chance to tell Erin how he felt, and Erin to see that he was, at heart, the same man she'd always known. The ending was hot and sweet.
A Knotty Tail by Stella Cameron
Cute story about a woman who adopts two dogs and a man with a cat. Rose and Simon had lived near each other for six months, but both seemed unable to gather the courage to approach the other. Rose is a nurse who, though she'd never had a pet before, adopted the dogs for company. She's a bit unsure of how to treat them. Simon is a bit of a loner, a cartoonist who keeps to himself.
Dickens and Madeline are the two dogs, and Clawdia is the cat. Most of the story is told from their viewpoint. I felt bad for the two dogs and the reason they were up for adoption. The conversations between the two were cute, as Madeline tries to instruct Dickens on proper behavior for getting adopted and kept. Clawdia was the personification of a cat - independent, selfish and snooty, but she had the redeeming factor of wanting Simon to be happy.
I loved seeing her scheme to bring the two humans together. I also enjoyed that the dogs didn't just go along, but put their own spin on the process. The interactions among the animals are pretty funny, especially their opinions of each other's intelligence and motives. I liked the way they got Simon over to Rose's house, and how the humans took it from there.
Norah's Arc by Kate Angell
Adorable story of how a pygmy goat brought a zookeeper and construction man together. Norah owns a petting zoo of miniature animals, one of which is a pygmy goat named Houdini. As indicated by his name, he is an expert at getting out of his pen. Currently, his favorite thing to do is visit the construction site next door, wreaking havoc as he does so.
The story starts as Mike confronts Norah about the goat currently bouncing around on the hood of his Corvette. Norah explains how the escape happened, and why the goat is on the car, and suddenly Mike finds himself providing a load of boulders for the goat pen to keep him occupied.
A bout with rain, mud and the goat, have both Mike and Norah wet, and the attraction between them really starting to sizzle. I loved Houdini's assistance in getting them past their first kiss. He seems intent of finding ways to get Mike and Norah together, though his methods don't do much for Mike's peace of mind.
When Houdini goes missing again, and no one can find him, Norah goes to Mike for help searching. I loved his kindness and patience during the search, and how much he helped when they finally found him. But what really sealed my liking for Mike was what he did for Norah and Houdini the next day. I loved seeing how Mike came to care about Norah and her animals.
The Pursuit of Happiness by Dianne Castell
A rather strange story. Jane is a good Savannah girl with a family full of unique personalities. Her boyfriend, Rex, is a veterinarian. The story opens with them in bed, doing what comes naturally. When finished, Rex is trying to get up the nerve to talk to her about their future. He has a problem that he needs her help to fix, but they get interrupted by a call from her mom before he can tell her.
The issue for her is that she is the one who is stuck solving the problems created by her family. One of the things she loves about Rex is that he is so normal. When he comes to see her, he finally explains the problem. He is a werewolf, cast under a spell years ago, The spell can be broken by true love (of course) and he has the instructions on how to do it. Jane freaks out, believing he is just as nuts as her family members, and refuses to have anything else to do with him.
I really liked Rex a lot. Yes, he has that problem, but he's an all around nice guy. He loves Jane and isn't put off by her crazy relatives. Jane was kind of a doormat with her family. I got a little frustrated with her confrontation with her mom over the car. She needs to be able to put her foot down and make them responsible for their own actions. If the car ends up being a problem, mom has to deal with it herself.
However, I did enjoy mom's reaction to the news about Rex and how she gave Jane some advice to think about. What Jane did then was fairly predictable, but there was a bit of fun on the way to do it. The ending was fun.
Atticus Saves Lisa by Ann Christopher
Cruz and Lisa had known each other for a long time. Cruz is her younger brother's best friend. There's definitely something between them, but Lisa has been fighting it. Her brother Keenan is in a wheelchair, victim of a drunk driving accident. She feels guilty because she was driving and feels that she should have been able to avoid the drunk driver. She has spent the last two years devoting all her time and energy to Keenan, and convincing herself that she doesn't deserve anything more in her life.
At the time of the story, she, Cruz and Keenan are celebrating Keenan's return to the workforce and independence. He has an assistance animal, a little monkey named Atticus, who helps with the things Keenan can't do.
Cruz decides it's time to make Lisa aware of his feelings. She fights it hard, afraid to be happy. I liked the way that Cruz tells Keenan of his intentions, and how he tries to get Lisa to face her fears. It takes some straight talk from Keenan to make Lisa see that she's allowed to be happy. Because he has Atticus he doesn't need her to take care of him any longer, freeing her to live her life. She then went to Cruz and admitted her love.
This was okay, but there wasn't much to it.
Rescue Me by Marcia James
Sweet story. Adam is a former football player who now owns a restaurant. One day he finds a small dog in the alley behind it. When he's not sure what to do with it, someone suggests he take it to the Rescue Me shelter a few blocks away. When he arrives there, he's stunned to find that it is run by his former college girlfriend, a woman he has never forgotten.
Adam admits to himself that he'd been a selfish, arrogant jerk when he left to take up his football career. Now that he's seen Claire again, he wants a second chance with her, and the little dog gives him the perfect excuse. It was really sweet to see the way that Adam bonded with the little dog, and kept going back to visit. It also gave him the way to see Claire every day. It was fun to see him "court" her by bringing gifts for the shelter. I also loved seeing the way he showed interest in her work.
Claire hadn't forgotten Adam either. The anger she still felt for him disappeared quickly as she saw the way he treated the dog. She was surprised by the way that he kept coming back, and didn't want to believe that it was because of her. She was wary of getting hurt again. I loved the scene with her coworker as it got pointed out to her that everyone could see how much Adam cared.
I loved the ending, as Adam got up the courage to ask her out. His nervousness was adorable. The scene in the restaurant was sweet and romantic.
Lord Hairy by Donna MacMeans
The only historical in the collection, this story was fun, with something of a Cinderella theme and a most unusual fairy godmother. The story starts with Hannah in the kitchen sneaking a snack, when she is spotted by her stepmother. Her stepmother isn't a very nice person and has nothing good to say to or about Hannah. However, she is determined that Hannah snag the attention of newly arrived in the area Lord Ashton. To punish Hannah for her snacking, she sends her off to deliver the food to a poor family.
While walking through the woods, Hannah is accosted by a huge black dog who steals the food that Hannah has. She can see that he's hungry and appears to have been in the woods for quite awhile. She can't just leave him, so she takes him home with her. Frustrated by her stepmother's harping on Lord Ashton, she names the dog "Lord Hairy Ashton". Her stepmother isn't happy to see the dog with Hannah and when she refuses to return the pooch to the woods, banishes both the dog and Hannah to the stables. She also denies Hannah the opportunity to attend the dance at Lord Ashton's the next night.
I loved how the servants refused to have that happen and arranged for Hannah to make it to the dance after all. Just as Hannah is enjoying a visit with her friends, mayhem breaks out as the dog, who had been left at the stables, comes bounding into the ballroom looking for Hannah. What follows is a very amusing encounter between Hannah and the dog's owner who is, naturally, Lord Ashton. They appear to connect very quickly over the dog. The ending is very good and has a very funny twist.
Danny's Dog by Sarah McCarty
A story that's sad, but also full of hope. It opens with Kathy helping with an animal rescue. One of them is a black lab that is so covered in sores that she doesn't know how he's still alive. When the shelter manager plans to put the dog in the terminal category, Kathy refuses to accept it and is determined to save the dog. There's something in his eyes that speaks to her. He makes her think of the dog she and her soon to be ex-husband were going to get their son.
The only way to take care of him is to find the dog a foster home, as she can't keep him in her apartment. And the only place she can think to take him is to her old house, but facing Walt is something she doesn't want to do. They had split six months earlier after their grief over their son's death tore them apart. Neither one had known how to express or share their grief.
I liked Walt. We learn a little about his background and why he had trouble sharing his grief. When Kathy left him, he finally got the help he needed to deal with it. This helps him face Kathy and let her know that he hasn't given up on them.
When she ends up in the hospital because of a fall, a nurse there sees the love that Walt still has for Kathy. She points Kathy in the direction of the help she needs, and soon Kathy is ready to face Walt again.
The day that Kathy goes to see Walt would have been their son's first birthday. What happens between them is emotional, sweet and shows great promise that they can move forward together, along with Danny's dog.
Scaredy Cat by Patricia Sargeant
Cute story with a beat up alley cat playing Cupid. Thomas is a cat that Kendra had found badly injured and took to the vet before adopting him as her own. The problem she has is that her boyfriend Harvey really doesn't like Tom - and the feeling is mutual. The story opens with Tom doing his best to keep Kendra from going out with Harvey and succeeding brilliantly. He also notices when another man comes to the rescue when Harvey leaves Kendra stuck on a ladder. I loved seeing his thoughts as he followed Paul to see where he lived and decided to try to bring them together.
The next day brings Harvey back to see Kendra, this time with a definite goal in mind. He wants to see Tom gone so that he has Kendra's attention again, but the way he goes about it is doomed to failure. I got a real chuckle out of seeing the way that Tom manipulated Harvey, though he certainly didn't expect the reaction he got. I loved seeing Kendra treat Harvey just as he deserved.
Once Tom knew where Paul lived he wanted to find a way to bring him and Kendra together, but he met with a difficult obstacle. That block has been claimed by the trio of cats that had attacked him the first time. He is wary of running into them again. But his motivation is strong, and he makes the attempt. I really loved the way that he overcame his fears and did what he had to do, even though he was attacked again. But it's what he did then that showed his real determination.
Circumstances like that are what bring out the true nature in people, and that it what it did for Paul. I loved seeing the way that he immediately stepped in to help Tom and how he supported Kendra while he did it. It was sweet to see the effect it had on Kendra, even as she was worried about making another mistake. The scene in the back room at the vet's was adorable, and I loved Tom's satisfaction with the results of his actions.
A Man, A Woman, and Haggis by Sue-Ellen Welfonder
Cute story about a man and a woman brought together by the ghosts of their grandparents and a dog named Haggis. Jilly had come to Scotland to fulfill her grandmother's last wishes - to take the locket given to her by a Scotsman who had broken her heart and bury it on his grave. While having lunch at a nearby inn, she sees a highlander and his dog who encourage her to try the haggis to eat. As soon as it is served to her, the food is snatched from her plate by a dog also bearing the name of Haggis. His owner is an incredibly handsome man, who apologizes and offers her a tour of the loch on his boat.
Jilly knows she should say no, but she's intrigued by the man and agrees. When she tries to chicken out, she sees the highlander and his dog again, and it becomes clear they are ghosts. Succumbing to their obvious wishes, she goes on the trip and finds herself drawn to the man, but hesitant to get involved because of her family history.
Kieran is drawn to Jilly, but there's also something about her that is eerily familiar. When he figures out what it is, he's not happy to see that she's the granddaughter of the woman who broke his grandfather's heart. Some ghostly interference makes him realize that there is more to the story.
I loved seeing him convince her of the truth. It was sweet to see them figure out what really happened and use it to settle the truth. I loved seeing them resolve to make sure that history doesn't repeat itself.
May 14, 2012
With 10 romantic stories by 10 very different authors, every reader has a chance to be enchanted by love and selflessness. And, since proceeds from this anthology go to a great cause - a no kill animal shelter in Ohio, every reader can also feel apart of each relationship that blossoms within the covers of this book.
TAILS OF LOVE is a fantastic romantic anthology filled with love-lost people and love-abundant animals. As always, the furry critters, be they dog, cat or pygmy goat, lead their humans to love the only way they know how - with their hearts.
This anthology put together by Lori Foster is a gem. And, I, who am generally not big on sappy romances, was so enchanted by the love displayed by each fur-baby I found myself at the end of this sweet "tail" all too soon. If you're interested in romance and have a fondness for animals, you can't pass up this collection by some of the best romance authors. And you can also take knowledge in the fact that these authors aren't only saving love fictionally, they are saving love in real life too - at least in one no kill shelter in Ohio.
TAILS OF LOVE is a fantastic romantic anthology filled with love-lost people and love-abundant animals. As always, the furry critters, be they dog, cat or pygmy goat, lead their humans to love the only way they know how - with their hearts.
This anthology put together by Lori Foster is a gem. And, I, who am generally not big on sappy romances, was so enchanted by the love displayed by each fur-baby I found myself at the end of this sweet "tail" all too soon. If you're interested in romance and have a fondness for animals, you can't pass up this collection by some of the best romance authors. And you can also take knowledge in the fact that these authors aren't only saving love fictionally, they are saving love in real life too - at least in one no kill shelter in Ohio.
May 27, 2013
This was a compilation book of short stories. None overly memorable but some were really cute. I skipped a few but the ones I did read are listed below.
Man's Best Friend - Lori Foster - the reason I picked up this book. cute story but not much substance.
A Knotty Tail - Stella Cameron - cute story that is told partially from the animals perspective which was unexpected and kind of cute.
Norah's Arc - Kate Angell - this was a little jumpy, the way it was written didn't really work for me, but the little goat was cute.
The Pursuit of Happiness - Dianne Castell - not sure why I finished reading this one, it was really odd and I didn't enjoy it.
Rescue Me - Marcia James - this one was sweet.
Lord Hairy - Donna MacMeans - super cute, probably my favorite after Lori Foster's book. It had a little bit of a Cinderella story going for it and was fun.
Scaredy Cat - Patricia Sargeant - had a bit from the cats perspective, cute story, could have been an interesting premise for a longer story.
A Man, A Woman, and Haggis - cute, little ghost story. Hot Scottish man... and a cute dog... what more can you ask for!
Man's Best Friend - Lori Foster - the reason I picked up this book. cute story but not much substance.
A Knotty Tail - Stella Cameron - cute story that is told partially from the animals perspective which was unexpected and kind of cute.
Norah's Arc - Kate Angell - this was a little jumpy, the way it was written didn't really work for me, but the little goat was cute.
The Pursuit of Happiness - Dianne Castell - not sure why I finished reading this one, it was really odd and I didn't enjoy it.
Rescue Me - Marcia James - this one was sweet.
Lord Hairy - Donna MacMeans - super cute, probably my favorite after Lori Foster's book. It had a little bit of a Cinderella story going for it and was fun.
Scaredy Cat - Patricia Sargeant - had a bit from the cats perspective, cute story, could have been an interesting premise for a longer story.
A Man, A Woman, and Haggis - cute, little ghost story. Hot Scottish man... and a cute dog... what more can you ask for!
May 23, 2009
None of these stories are great...but none are bad either. There are ten stories in 335 reading pages which (if my math is still good) is about 33 pages a story...ish. The biggest reason to still buy this anthology? A portion of the proceeds goes to the Animal Adoption Foundation--'nuff said?
I won't try to detail each story other than to say that every one revolves around a pet or stray and their meaning to one, or both, of the main characters. There are stories by Lori Foster, Stella Cameron, Kate Angell, Dianne Castell, Ann Christopher, Marcia James, Donna MacMeans, Sarah McCarty, Patricia Sargeant, and Sue-Ellen Welfonder. There are contemporaries and historicals, straight-up romance and the occasional touch of paranormal. At least one story made me cry, at least one story made me laugh, and I had a smile on my face when I was done.
I won't try to detail each story other than to say that every one revolves around a pet or stray and their meaning to one, or both, of the main characters. There are stories by Lori Foster, Stella Cameron, Kate Angell, Dianne Castell, Ann Christopher, Marcia James, Donna MacMeans, Sarah McCarty, Patricia Sargeant, and Sue-Ellen Welfonder. There are contemporaries and historicals, straight-up romance and the occasional touch of paranormal. At least one story made me cry, at least one story made me laugh, and I had a smile on my face when I was done.
May 14, 2018
A decent anthology with one or two gems, but most of these stories suffer from being WAY TOO SHORT. It's really difficult to tell a comprehensive romance story with only 30 pages to play with. As such, most of these ended with hopeful situations, rather than the declared love and HEAs that I prefer in my romances.
Man’s Best Friend - Lori Foster - 4 /5 - Supposedly an addition to the SBC series, but I doubt it...it’s only mentioned that Gary is an MMA fighter. Anyway, he’s been in love with Erin for ages, knowing that he’s ready to settle down and she’s it. But she’s avoiding him, trying not to interfere with his new, famous lifestyle, even though she loves him too. One night, she gets stuck in the rain, in the park with an abandoned puppy and calls Gary for help and things go from there. This was cute and sweet and the animal enhanced the story, rather than overwhelm or annoy. One of the downsides to a story of this length though is that the love scene was super short and way too fast - unfortunate really, since this author seems to be pretty strong with love scenes normally.
A Knotty Tail - 3 /5 - Stella Cameron - (Clean) With the help of two dogs, Madeleine and Dickens and a cat, Clawdia, two humans who have been dancing around each other finally get a date. This was cute, but this didn’t do it for me. I liked the awkwardness of Simon and Rose, the two humans and how pretty much adorable they were. This was definitely well written and all that, but I think with the animals having dialogue, as well as the humans meant that we didn’t really get a good connection to any one character because we didn’t spend enough time in their heads, and this was far too short already for many romance stories. This felt like a cute prequel to a longer story about the people falling in love, because all they end up doing is agreeing to a date and kissing.
Norah’s Arc - Kate Angell - 4 /5 - (Clean) Norah owns a petting zoo and one of the residents is escape artist Houdini, who is a pygmy goat. He keeps sneaking off to pester the construction crew across the way, and he’s making things difficult for Mike, the construction company owner. But Mike does enjoy all the opportunity that Houdini keeps giving him to interact with the lovely and spirited Norah. This was cute and I think mostly attributed to the goat - definitely a nice addition to the story. Norah and Mike get to know each other a bit and they definitely acknowledge the beginnings of some deeper feelings as well as a stellar kiss in the rain. This was pretty cute.
The Pursuit of Happiness - Dianne Castell - 2 /5 - Rex Barkley is in love with the woman he’s been sleeping with, Jane Louise and is ready to tell her his secret, but he’s afraid she doesn’t love him enough to take on his crazy in addition to her own, already crazy family. But he does reveal his secret and she freaks out, but does she love him enough to help? So the whole “werewolf” thing was a pretty unexpected and for me it felt so out of the blue that it was OTT. I honestly thought he was joking with how he blurted it out like that. And I was a bit confused how Rex was a dog for the full moon, but T-bone was a man and making out in a Cadillac. I thought he explained that it was a moon thing… And then Jane’s questioning whether it really happened and Rex’s ambiguity about it just made me more confused.
Atticus Saves Lisa - Ann Christopher - 4 /5 - Lisa has been taking care of her brother, who was paralyzed in a drunk driving accident for which she blames herself. Now though, her brother has reclaimed some of his independence, gotten a job and now has a therapy monkey to do tasks for him. So, their sexy friend, Cruz, decides it’s time to tell Lisa that he loves her, but first he has to help her overcome her fear of moving on and forgiving herself. This was a pretty great, emotional little piece. From the beginning, it looks like Lisa is about to break Cruz’s heart, but he manages to initiate the right conversation between brother and sister to get Lisa on the right track. Obviously, for such a short story, her path to forgiving herself is super fast (not sure how realistic, but hey) and we do get to the good times between Cruz and Lisa, which is pretty sexy. And just wondering, is it normal for Capuchin monkeys to become therapy animals?
Rescue Me - Marcia James - 3.5 / 5 - (Clean) Adam is an ex-NFL player turned restaurant owner who rescues a Chinese Crested (google them!) and takes it to the local shelter. When he recognizes the veterinarian as Claire, his college sweetheart whose heart he broke so many years ago, Adam is inundated with memories. He resolves to win her love again and get her back. So I gotta say, this checked all the boxes on what I want in a second-chance romance. Adam was appropriately regretful, I mean torn up about what he’d done to Claire. Check. Adam apologized to her and let her know how much he regretted his actions. Check. Adam was not a smug, arrogant bastard who assumed Claire was going to be his again - he was endearingly humble. Check. Take note people, this is how to write satisfying second-chance romance that doesn’t make me want to hurl my kindle. That being said, I would have loved this to be longer. I think a second chance romance like this, to be emotionally complete, needs more length and time for the characters to talk it out, learn who each other is again and fall in love again. Also, I was a bit disappointed that it seemed like Claire had waited for him for 10 years, rather than been with other guys in the meantime. Adam certainly wasn’t celibate (but he was regretful even about all of that). Nice.
Lord Hairy - Donna MacMeans - 3 /5 - (Clean) Hannah Waverly is the much beleaguered step-child who is constantly being abused by her stepmother. When her stepmother sends her off on an errand, she encounters a hellhound, a big, black dog who drools and wreaks havoc. But she finds him irresistible and names him Lord Hairy Ashton, after the mysterious viscount her stepmother is excited to meet. But when Hannah brings Lord Hairy home, she’s quite put out and orders Lord Hairy away. But Lord Hairy has become attached to Hannah, so much so that he’s willing to follow her to a ball where she meets the real Lord Ashton. This was cute, with definitely humorous situations involving a Newfoundland who acts as newfies do. But this wasn’t really a romance. There’s a connection or a common understanding of humor between Hannah and Lord Ashton, but it ends with only a vague feeling that Lord Ashton might want to further their acquaintance. This would have been an excellent story if it had been longer, perhaps as a true novella.
Danny’s Dog - Sarah McCarty - 4 /5 - (Clean) Holy tearjerker Batman! This was an unexpectedly poignant tale for such a short little story. Kathy and Walt lost their infant son 6 months earlier and it destroyed their marriage because they didn’t know how to deal with the grief together. When Kathy rescues a dog who looks exactly like the one she and Walt once dreamed of getting for their son, she goes all out to rescue him. But she can’t keep him, so she goes back to Walt and begs him for help. And thus, Sebastian the dog, brings them back together again. This was a pretty great little tale. It didn’t really need to be longer, and while this isn’t romantic in the sense of people falling in love for the first time, it’s romantic in the sense that these two find new dimensions for the love they already have. They forgive, they remember and they learn to share their grief. It’s pretty great. And considering that this sort of thing isn’t usually my preferred story, that’s saying something.
Scaredy Cat - Patricia Sargeant - 2.5 /5 - (Clean) Kendra loves her cat, Thomas, and the feeling is very mutual. So much so, in fact, that Thomas does what he can to ensure that Kendra breaks up with her boyfriend, who is totally wrong for her. And then he does one further, and makes sure she meets up with Paul Strahan, who he is decided is the perfect guy for her. But to do it, Thomas has to cross enemy territory. So this was just okay. It focuses more on Thomas the cat, who has internal monologue in this story, and what he does for Kendra. There is really, very little development of chemistry between Kendra and Paul...I mean, Paul doesn’t act any different than a kindly neighbor would when he finds his neighbor’s injured cat. There didn’t seem anything special about their relationship except for Kendra wondering. And it ends with Kendra and Thomas becoming friends, with maybe more later. I just felt like I needed more interaction between the H/h.
A Man, A Woman, And Haggis - 3 /5 - (Clean) Jilly Pepper is in Scotland, dining at a restaurant when a voice tells her to order the Haggis. As soon as it arrives, so does a haggis-hungry dog named Haggis and its sexy owner. There’s a connection between them that is definitely mysterious and it feels a bit like love at first sight. But Jilly knows that long distance doesn’t work, since she’s in because of her grandmother’s failed relationship so many years ago. When she learns of Kieran McColl’s connection to her grandmother, everything makes sense. I liked this, especially that haggis-loving dog and how awkward yet sweet Kieran was. Unfortunately I think this story needed about 10 more pages to be perfect. It ended pretty abruptly and with a sudden, undiscussed assumption that Jilly would move to Scotland. And it occured to me that I didn’t even know if that was feasible...and if it was so easy, why did she agonize over a long-distance relationship?
Man’s Best Friend - Lori Foster - 4 /5 - Supposedly an addition to the SBC series, but I doubt it...it’s only mentioned that Gary is an MMA fighter. Anyway, he’s been in love with Erin for ages, knowing that he’s ready to settle down and she’s it. But she’s avoiding him, trying not to interfere with his new, famous lifestyle, even though she loves him too. One night, she gets stuck in the rain, in the park with an abandoned puppy and calls Gary for help and things go from there. This was cute and sweet and the animal enhanced the story, rather than overwhelm or annoy. One of the downsides to a story of this length though is that the love scene was super short and way too fast - unfortunate really, since this author seems to be pretty strong with love scenes normally.
A Knotty Tail - 3 /5 - Stella Cameron - (Clean) With the help of two dogs, Madeleine and Dickens and a cat, Clawdia, two humans who have been dancing around each other finally get a date. This was cute, but this didn’t do it for me. I liked the awkwardness of Simon and Rose, the two humans and how pretty much adorable they were. This was definitely well written and all that, but I think with the animals having dialogue, as well as the humans meant that we didn’t really get a good connection to any one character because we didn’t spend enough time in their heads, and this was far too short already for many romance stories. This felt like a cute prequel to a longer story about the people falling in love, because all they end up doing is agreeing to a date and kissing.
Norah’s Arc - Kate Angell - 4 /5 - (Clean) Norah owns a petting zoo and one of the residents is escape artist Houdini, who is a pygmy goat. He keeps sneaking off to pester the construction crew across the way, and he’s making things difficult for Mike, the construction company owner. But Mike does enjoy all the opportunity that Houdini keeps giving him to interact with the lovely and spirited Norah. This was cute and I think mostly attributed to the goat - definitely a nice addition to the story. Norah and Mike get to know each other a bit and they definitely acknowledge the beginnings of some deeper feelings as well as a stellar kiss in the rain. This was pretty cute.
The Pursuit of Happiness - Dianne Castell - 2 /5 - Rex Barkley is in love with the woman he’s been sleeping with, Jane Louise and is ready to tell her his secret, but he’s afraid she doesn’t love him enough to take on his crazy in addition to her own, already crazy family. But he does reveal his secret and she freaks out, but does she love him enough to help? So the whole “werewolf” thing was a pretty unexpected and for me it felt so out of the blue that it was OTT. I honestly thought he was joking with how he blurted it out like that. And I was a bit confused how Rex was a dog for the full moon, but T-bone was a man and making out in a Cadillac. I thought he explained that it was a moon thing… And then Jane’s questioning whether it really happened and Rex’s ambiguity about it just made me more confused.
Atticus Saves Lisa - Ann Christopher - 4 /5 - Lisa has been taking care of her brother, who was paralyzed in a drunk driving accident for which she blames herself. Now though, her brother has reclaimed some of his independence, gotten a job and now has a therapy monkey to do tasks for him. So, their sexy friend, Cruz, decides it’s time to tell Lisa that he loves her, but first he has to help her overcome her fear of moving on and forgiving herself. This was a pretty great, emotional little piece. From the beginning, it looks like Lisa is about to break Cruz’s heart, but he manages to initiate the right conversation between brother and sister to get Lisa on the right track. Obviously, for such a short story, her path to forgiving herself is super fast (not sure how realistic, but hey) and we do get to the good times between Cruz and Lisa, which is pretty sexy. And just wondering, is it normal for Capuchin monkeys to become therapy animals?
Rescue Me - Marcia James - 3.5 / 5 - (Clean) Adam is an ex-NFL player turned restaurant owner who rescues a Chinese Crested (google them!) and takes it to the local shelter. When he recognizes the veterinarian as Claire, his college sweetheart whose heart he broke so many years ago, Adam is inundated with memories. He resolves to win her love again and get her back. So I gotta say, this checked all the boxes on what I want in a second-chance romance. Adam was appropriately regretful, I mean torn up about what he’d done to Claire. Check. Adam apologized to her and let her know how much he regretted his actions. Check. Adam was not a smug, arrogant bastard who assumed Claire was going to be his again - he was endearingly humble. Check. Take note people, this is how to write satisfying second-chance romance that doesn’t make me want to hurl my kindle. That being said, I would have loved this to be longer. I think a second chance romance like this, to be emotionally complete, needs more length and time for the characters to talk it out, learn who each other is again and fall in love again. Also, I was a bit disappointed that it seemed like Claire had waited for him for 10 years, rather than been with other guys in the meantime. Adam certainly wasn’t celibate (but he was regretful even about all of that). Nice.
Lord Hairy - Donna MacMeans - 3 /5 - (Clean) Hannah Waverly is the much beleaguered step-child who is constantly being abused by her stepmother. When her stepmother sends her off on an errand, she encounters a hellhound, a big, black dog who drools and wreaks havoc. But she finds him irresistible and names him Lord Hairy Ashton, after the mysterious viscount her stepmother is excited to meet. But when Hannah brings Lord Hairy home, she’s quite put out and orders Lord Hairy away. But Lord Hairy has become attached to Hannah, so much so that he’s willing to follow her to a ball where she meets the real Lord Ashton. This was cute, with definitely humorous situations involving a Newfoundland who acts as newfies do. But this wasn’t really a romance. There’s a connection or a common understanding of humor between Hannah and Lord Ashton, but it ends with only a vague feeling that Lord Ashton might want to further their acquaintance. This would have been an excellent story if it had been longer, perhaps as a true novella.
Danny’s Dog - Sarah McCarty - 4 /5 - (Clean) Holy tearjerker Batman! This was an unexpectedly poignant tale for such a short little story. Kathy and Walt lost their infant son 6 months earlier and it destroyed their marriage because they didn’t know how to deal with the grief together. When Kathy rescues a dog who looks exactly like the one she and Walt once dreamed of getting for their son, she goes all out to rescue him. But she can’t keep him, so she goes back to Walt and begs him for help. And thus, Sebastian the dog, brings them back together again. This was a pretty great little tale. It didn’t really need to be longer, and while this isn’t romantic in the sense of people falling in love for the first time, it’s romantic in the sense that these two find new dimensions for the love they already have. They forgive, they remember and they learn to share their grief. It’s pretty great. And considering that this sort of thing isn’t usually my preferred story, that’s saying something.
Scaredy Cat - Patricia Sargeant - 2.5 /5 - (Clean) Kendra loves her cat, Thomas, and the feeling is very mutual. So much so, in fact, that Thomas does what he can to ensure that Kendra breaks up with her boyfriend, who is totally wrong for her. And then he does one further, and makes sure she meets up with Paul Strahan, who he is decided is the perfect guy for her. But to do it, Thomas has to cross enemy territory. So this was just okay. It focuses more on Thomas the cat, who has internal monologue in this story, and what he does for Kendra. There is really, very little development of chemistry between Kendra and Paul...I mean, Paul doesn’t act any different than a kindly neighbor would when he finds his neighbor’s injured cat. There didn’t seem anything special about their relationship except for Kendra wondering. And it ends with Kendra and Thomas becoming friends, with maybe more later. I just felt like I needed more interaction between the H/h.
A Man, A Woman, And Haggis - 3 /5 - (Clean) Jilly Pepper is in Scotland, dining at a restaurant when a voice tells her to order the Haggis. As soon as it arrives, so does a haggis-hungry dog named Haggis and its sexy owner. There’s a connection between them that is definitely mysterious and it feels a bit like love at first sight. But Jilly knows that long distance doesn’t work, since she’s in because of her grandmother’s failed relationship so many years ago. When she learns of Kieran McColl’s connection to her grandmother, everything makes sense. I liked this, especially that haggis-loving dog and how awkward yet sweet Kieran was. Unfortunately I think this story needed about 10 more pages to be perfect. It ended pretty abruptly and with a sudden, undiscussed assumption that Jilly would move to Scotland. And it occured to me that I didn’t even know if that was feasible...and if it was so easy, why did she agonize over a long-distance relationship?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 5, 2013
Like most books of short stories, there were some hits and misses in this. More misses, really. What I did like about it, though, was the variety of stories--there were a lot of general romance stories, but also a paranormal(ish) one, a supernatural(ish) one, a historical one, and a couple that were also told, in part, from the animals' perspectives. My favorite was Kate Angell's "Norah's Arc" because it had a good romance story without being over the top. Plus the main animal in the story was a goat. :)
February 9, 2023
Ten all-new stories that celebrate our animal friends, by bestselling and award-winning authors.
From Seeing Eye dogs to the cat who cuddles in your lap, animals are there for us in more ways than we can count. Helping us get through the day with a wag of the tail and a tilt of the head, they let us know that someone is on our side-no matter what. They also have an amazing ability to break down barriers between people; bringing families and loved ones closer, and giving strangers an excuse to strike up a conversation. In Tails of Love, each writer draws from her own unique perspective on our loyal friends--exploring the many mysterious ways they bring love into our lives.
From Seeing Eye dogs to the cat who cuddles in your lap, animals are there for us in more ways than we can count. Helping us get through the day with a wag of the tail and a tilt of the head, they let us know that someone is on our side-no matter what. They also have an amazing ability to break down barriers between people; bringing families and loved ones closer, and giving strangers an excuse to strike up a conversation. In Tails of Love, each writer draws from her own unique perspective on our loyal friends--exploring the many mysterious ways they bring love into our lives.
April 23, 2018
Any short-story collection is going to have a mix of quality in the telling, and this is no exception--though I did find that I enjoyed most of the stories well enough. Also, I am becoming increasingly convinced that romance is a genre best suited to long-form.
However, most of these stories are sweet, enjoyable reads full of plenty of cute animals--so it pretty much delivered what I was hoping for. It's an easy enough collection to read in short sittings and, while not perfect, left me content with what I got.
However, most of these stories are sweet, enjoyable reads full of plenty of cute animals--so it pretty much delivered what I was hoping for. It's an easy enough collection to read in short sittings and, while not perfect, left me content with what I got.
September 3, 2017
Very good, but very short stories
I enjoyed these stories a lot, but they were all very short. The variety of animals and situations was great. I would have liked as little more meat to the stories, but they are nice quick reads with happy ever after endings for humans and animals. Most were lighthearted, but some were more emotional. Get this if you want what I just described.
I enjoyed these stories a lot, but they were all very short. The variety of animals and situations was great. I would have liked as little more meat to the stories, but they are nice quick reads with happy ever after endings for humans and animals. Most were lighthearted, but some were more emotional. Get this if you want what I just described.
July 17, 2020
Tails of love surprise
I didn't think it would be so different since it was part of the fighter series. These stories were so good..i cried, laughed and cheered through all of them. It was such a refreshing change. Thanks everyone!
I didn't think it would be so different since it was part of the fighter series. These stories were so good..i cried, laughed and cheered through all of them. It was such a refreshing change. Thanks everyone!
August 7, 2021
hated the first few stories, but the last 3 were pretty decent -- maybe just in comparison to the first ones
March 15, 2023
Nancy
Short and sweet! Just read the one story but it was cute and funny. Thanks ! Loved the cute dog name too!
Short and sweet! Just read the one story but it was cute and funny. Thanks ! Loved the cute dog name too!
March 20, 2024
Short stories. Most of them are good but not all. 3-1/2 stars.
May 31, 2009
Anyone who talks to me for more than five minutes knows how much I love animals and anyone who visits RNTV knows how much I love romance. Both of my dogs came to me from shelters and many of my favorite books feature dogs, cats or other animals that play pivotal roles in the lives of their humans. When I heard that Lori Foster had gathered ten romance authors together to write an anthology featuring animals in each story I was ready to order a copy on the spot. Then I heard the rest of the story and thought why stop at one copy? All proceeds from the sales of Tails of Love will benefit the Animal Adoption Foundation (AAF), a no-kill animal shelter in Hamilton, Ohio. Each of the ten authors who have written original stories for this anthology (Lori Foster, Stella Cameron, Kate Angell, Dianne Castell, Ann Christopher, Marcia James, Donna MacMeans, Sarah McCarty, Patricia Sargeant and Sue-Ellen Welfonder), as well as their agents, have pledged 100% of their proceeds from this book’s sales to the AAF. That would be reason enough for me to encourage you to buy this book but, in addition to supporting a wonderful no-kill animal shelter, Tails of Love also brings you a collection of heartwarming, funny and poignant stories featuring the special connection between people and the animals who love them. I wish I could tell you about all ten stories but that would take way too much space so I’ve chosen to highlight three stories and hope you will order a copy of Tails of Love and discover the magic of the remaining seven on your own.
RESCUE ME by Marcia James is a contemporary story about second chances. Be it a baby, a kitten or a half-starved Chinese Crested that looks more like a rat than a dog, I love seeing a big, macho man brought to his emotional knees by a small, defenseless creature. When retired NFL player, Adam “Nuke” Baumgardner finds a terrified, starving dog in the alley behind his Washington, DC restaurant it leads him to Rescue Me, a local no-kill animal shelter and Dr. Claire Mendelsohn, the woman he walked away from on the day of their college graduation ten years earlier, but never forgot. Now older and wiser, Adam knows that Claire made the right decision in refusing to choose him over Vet School. With the help of an ugly little dog that has managed to steal his heart will he be able to convince Claire to give him a second chance?
A KNOTTY TAIL by Stella Cameron: Have you ever looked into the eyes of your beloved pet and wondered what he or she was thinking? I know I have! In this delightful tale, Stella Cameron takes us into the minds of Rose Gibbs’s newly adopted shelter dogs Dickens (a rambunctious Jack Russell mix) and his cautious sister Madeleine and Clawdia, a sleek, stunning and decidedly superior feline owned by Rose’s neighbor, Simon. Rose has never had pets before which worries Dickens and Madeleine. The two are determined to be on their very best behavior so Rose will love them and not return them to the shelter. Clawdia, on the other hand, is very secure in Simon’s love for her and not a bit hesitant to cause mischief when her human’s happiness is at stake, even if that means recruiting the canine “riff-raff” that has moved in next door. When this unlikely trio joins forces to bring their humans together, Rose and Simon don’t stand a chance!
LORD HAIRY by Donna MacMeans: Fans of The Education of Mrs. Brimley will enjoy catching up with some of the students from the Pettibone School for Young Ladies in this historical Cinderella tale. When sweet, plump and slightly clumsy Hannah Waverley brings home a sweet, plump and slightly clumsy dog, life with her wicked stepmother goes from bad to worse. Forced to sleep in the stables with the dog and forbidden to attend the ball at Viscount Ashton’s home, Hannah fears she will never see her friends from school or find her way out from under her stepmother’s thumb. Salvation comes in the form of long-time servants willing to defy the current Mrs. Waverley to help Hannah attend the ball but it’s her new friend, the furry, black Newfie, Lord Hairy, cast in the unlikely role of fairy godmother, who saves the day by thwarting her evil stepmother and introducing Hannah to her prince charming. I adore big, slightly clumsy, overly affectionate dogs, having owned a few myself. Lord Hairy stole my heart in this lovely, heartwarming tale.
http://www.romancenovel.tv
RESCUE ME by Marcia James is a contemporary story about second chances. Be it a baby, a kitten or a half-starved Chinese Crested that looks more like a rat than a dog, I love seeing a big, macho man brought to his emotional knees by a small, defenseless creature. When retired NFL player, Adam “Nuke” Baumgardner finds a terrified, starving dog in the alley behind his Washington, DC restaurant it leads him to Rescue Me, a local no-kill animal shelter and Dr. Claire Mendelsohn, the woman he walked away from on the day of their college graduation ten years earlier, but never forgot. Now older and wiser, Adam knows that Claire made the right decision in refusing to choose him over Vet School. With the help of an ugly little dog that has managed to steal his heart will he be able to convince Claire to give him a second chance?
A KNOTTY TAIL by Stella Cameron: Have you ever looked into the eyes of your beloved pet and wondered what he or she was thinking? I know I have! In this delightful tale, Stella Cameron takes us into the minds of Rose Gibbs’s newly adopted shelter dogs Dickens (a rambunctious Jack Russell mix) and his cautious sister Madeleine and Clawdia, a sleek, stunning and decidedly superior feline owned by Rose’s neighbor, Simon. Rose has never had pets before which worries Dickens and Madeleine. The two are determined to be on their very best behavior so Rose will love them and not return them to the shelter. Clawdia, on the other hand, is very secure in Simon’s love for her and not a bit hesitant to cause mischief when her human’s happiness is at stake, even if that means recruiting the canine “riff-raff” that has moved in next door. When this unlikely trio joins forces to bring their humans together, Rose and Simon don’t stand a chance!
LORD HAIRY by Donna MacMeans: Fans of The Education of Mrs. Brimley will enjoy catching up with some of the students from the Pettibone School for Young Ladies in this historical Cinderella tale. When sweet, plump and slightly clumsy Hannah Waverley brings home a sweet, plump and slightly clumsy dog, life with her wicked stepmother goes from bad to worse. Forced to sleep in the stables with the dog and forbidden to attend the ball at Viscount Ashton’s home, Hannah fears she will never see her friends from school or find her way out from under her stepmother’s thumb. Salvation comes in the form of long-time servants willing to defy the current Mrs. Waverley to help Hannah attend the ball but it’s her new friend, the furry, black Newfie, Lord Hairy, cast in the unlikely role of fairy godmother, who saves the day by thwarting her evil stepmother and introducing Hannah to her prince charming. I adore big, slightly clumsy, overly affectionate dogs, having owned a few myself. Lord Hairy stole my heart in this lovely, heartwarming tale.
http://www.romancenovel.tv
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May 31, 2009Reviewed by PJ Ausdenmore
Anyone who talks to me for more than five minutes knows how much I love animals and anyone who visits RNTV knows how much I love romance. Both of my dogs came to me from shelters and many of my favorite books feature dogs, cats or other animals that play pivotal roles in the lives of their humans. When I heard that Lori Foster had gathered ten romance authors together to write an anthology featuring animals in each story I was ready to order a copy on the spot. Then I heard the rest of the story and thought why stop at one copy? All proceeds from the sales of Tails of Love will benefit the Animal Adoption Foundation (AAF), a no-kill animal shelter in Hamilton, Ohio. Each of the ten authors who have written original stories for this anthology (Lori Foster, Stella Cameron, Kate Angell, Dianne Castell, Ann Christopher, Marcia James, Donna MacMeans, Sarah McCarty, Patricia Sargeant and Sue-Ellen Welfonder), as well as their agents, have pledged 100% of their proceeds from this book’s sales to the AAF. That would be reason enough for me to encourage you to buy this book but, in addition to supporting a wonderful no-kill animal shelter, Tails of Love also brings you a collection of heartwarming, funny and poignant stories featuring the special connection between people and the animals who love them. I wish I could tell you about all ten stories but that would take way too much space so I’ve chosen to highlight three stories and hope you will order a copy of Tails of Love and discover the magic of the remaining seven on your own.
RESCUE ME by Marcia James is a contemporary story about second chances. Be it a baby, a kitten or a half-starved Chinese Crested that looks more like a rat than a dog, I love seeing a big, macho man brought to his emotional knees by a small, defenseless creature. When retired NFL player, Adam “Nuke” Baumgardner finds a terrified, starving dog in the alley behind his Washington, DC restaurant it leads him to Rescue Me, a local no-kill animal shelter and Dr. Claire Mendelsohn, the woman he walked away from on the day of their college graduation ten years earlier, but never forgot. Now older and wiser, Adam knows that Claire made the right decision in refusing to choose him over Vet School. With the help of an ugly little dog that has managed to steal his heart will he be able to convince Claire to give him a second chance?
A KNOTTY TAIL by Stella Cameron: Have you ever looked into the eyes of your beloved pet and wondered what he or she was thinking? I know I have! In this delightful tale, Stella Cameron takes us into the minds of Rose Gibbs’s newly adopted shelter dogs Dickens (a rambunctious Jack Russell mix) and his cautious sister Madeleine and Clawdia, a sleek, stunning and decidedly superior feline owned by Rose’s neighbor, Simon. Rose has never had pets before which worries Dickens and Madeleine. The two are determined to be on their very best behavior so Rose will love them and not return them to the shelter. Clawdia, on the other hand, is very secure in Simon’s love for her and not a bit hesitant to cause mischief when her human’s happiness is at stake, even if that means recruiting the canine “riff-raff” that has moved in next door. When this unlikely trio joins forces to bring their humans together, Rose and Simon don’t stand a chance!
LORD HAIRY by Donna MacMeans: Fans of The Education of Mrs. Brimley will enjoy catching up with some of the students from the Pettibone School for Young Ladies in this historical Cinderella tale. When sweet, plump and slightly clumsy Hannah Waverley brings home a sweet, plump and slightly clumsy dog, life with her wicked stepmother goes from bad to worse. Forced to sleep in the stables with the dog and forbidden to attend the ball at Viscount Ashton’s home, Hannah fears she will never see her friends from school or find her way out from under her stepmother’s thumb. Salvation comes in the form of long-time servants willing to defy the current Mrs. Waverley to help Hannah attend the ball but it’s her new friend, the furry, black Newfie, Hairy, cast in the unlikely role of fairy godmother, who saves the day by thwarting her evil stepmother and introducing Hannah to her prince charming. I adore big, slightly clumsy, overly affectionate dogs, having owned a few myself. Hairy stole my heart in this lovely, heartwarming tale.
Anyone who talks to me for more than five minutes knows how much I love animals and anyone who visits RNTV knows how much I love romance. Both of my dogs came to me from shelters and many of my favorite books feature dogs, cats or other animals that play pivotal roles in the lives of their humans. When I heard that Lori Foster had gathered ten romance authors together to write an anthology featuring animals in each story I was ready to order a copy on the spot. Then I heard the rest of the story and thought why stop at one copy? All proceeds from the sales of Tails of Love will benefit the Animal Adoption Foundation (AAF), a no-kill animal shelter in Hamilton, Ohio. Each of the ten authors who have written original stories for this anthology (Lori Foster, Stella Cameron, Kate Angell, Dianne Castell, Ann Christopher, Marcia James, Donna MacMeans, Sarah McCarty, Patricia Sargeant and Sue-Ellen Welfonder), as well as their agents, have pledged 100% of their proceeds from this book’s sales to the AAF. That would be reason enough for me to encourage you to buy this book but, in addition to supporting a wonderful no-kill animal shelter, Tails of Love also brings you a collection of heartwarming, funny and poignant stories featuring the special connection between people and the animals who love them. I wish I could tell you about all ten stories but that would take way too much space so I’ve chosen to highlight three stories and hope you will order a copy of Tails of Love and discover the magic of the remaining seven on your own.
RESCUE ME by Marcia James is a contemporary story about second chances. Be it a baby, a kitten or a half-starved Chinese Crested that looks more like a rat than a dog, I love seeing a big, macho man brought to his emotional knees by a small, defenseless creature. When retired NFL player, Adam “Nuke” Baumgardner finds a terrified, starving dog in the alley behind his Washington, DC restaurant it leads him to Rescue Me, a local no-kill animal shelter and Dr. Claire Mendelsohn, the woman he walked away from on the day of their college graduation ten years earlier, but never forgot. Now older and wiser, Adam knows that Claire made the right decision in refusing to choose him over Vet School. With the help of an ugly little dog that has managed to steal his heart will he be able to convince Claire to give him a second chance?
A KNOTTY TAIL by Stella Cameron: Have you ever looked into the eyes of your beloved pet and wondered what he or she was thinking? I know I have! In this delightful tale, Stella Cameron takes us into the minds of Rose Gibbs’s newly adopted shelter dogs Dickens (a rambunctious Jack Russell mix) and his cautious sister Madeleine and Clawdia, a sleek, stunning and decidedly superior feline owned by Rose’s neighbor, Simon. Rose has never had pets before which worries Dickens and Madeleine. The two are determined to be on their very best behavior so Rose will love them and not return them to the shelter. Clawdia, on the other hand, is very secure in Simon’s love for her and not a bit hesitant to cause mischief when her human’s happiness is at stake, even if that means recruiting the canine “riff-raff” that has moved in next door. When this unlikely trio joins forces to bring their humans together, Rose and Simon don’t stand a chance!
LORD HAIRY by Donna MacMeans: Fans of The Education of Mrs. Brimley will enjoy catching up with some of the students from the Pettibone School for Young Ladies in this historical Cinderella tale. When sweet, plump and slightly clumsy Hannah Waverley brings home a sweet, plump and slightly clumsy dog, life with her wicked stepmother goes from bad to worse. Forced to sleep in the stables with the dog and forbidden to attend the ball at Viscount Ashton’s home, Hannah fears she will never see her friends from school or find her way out from under her stepmother’s thumb. Salvation comes in the form of long-time servants willing to defy the current Mrs. Waverley to help Hannah attend the ball but it’s her new friend, the furry, black Newfie, Hairy, cast in the unlikely role of fairy godmother, who saves the day by thwarting her evil stepmother and introducing Hannah to her prince charming. I adore big, slightly clumsy, overly affectionate dogs, having owned a few myself. Hairy stole my heart in this lovely, heartwarming tale.
October 11, 2013
I guess my reason for buying a book with TEN authors was because these authors gave a portion of their earnings to an animal adoption foundation. Sigh. I should really learn my lesson after all the years I've spent reading.
I give this book 3 stars because I did like some of the stories.
Lori Foster - 2 stars. This has to be a new record for LF. 3 chapters,37 pages. TOO SHORT!! Sex at the end - no protection. I love you/marry me in breakneck speed(less then 8 hours). These people weren't even dating for crying out loud!
Stella Cameron - 3 stars. Cute story. Very short. I thought the animals sounded more British than Southern. No sex.
Kate Angell - 4 stars. VERY cute story. I really liked this one & it's disappointing it wasn't longer. No sex.
Dianne Castell - 1 star, just because it's DC. I have yet to read a decent story from her & this one's a stinker. Ditsy girl with an in bred crazy family finds out her boyfriend's a were-dog. He can't even be a were-wolf which would be cool. He's actually supposed to be one of the poker playing dogs in that crazy picture that I remember as a kid (back in the 70's!), so he must be like 35 years older than her. Bad sex with no protection that I could tell.
Ann Christopher 2 stars. Very dull & predictable. Protected sex.
Marcia James - 3 stars. Another cute story that would have benefited from being a couple of chapters longer. No sex.
Donna MacMeans - 3 stars. This one's the lone Regency. Again, very cute, could have been longer. No sex.
Sarah MaCarty - 4 stars. This one made me cry! This author has a way with a short story! No sex.
Patricia Sargent - 3 stars. Another cute one! I liked it though. No sex.
Sue-Ellen Welfonder - 4 stars. I really liked this one, which is a dog story & paranormal in one. Again, too bad it couldn't have been longer. No sex.
I give this book 3 stars because I did like some of the stories.
Lori Foster - 2 stars. This has to be a new record for LF. 3 chapters,37 pages. TOO SHORT!! Sex at the end - no protection. I love you/marry me in breakneck speed(less then 8 hours). These people weren't even dating for crying out loud!
Stella Cameron - 3 stars. Cute story. Very short. I thought the animals sounded more British than Southern. No sex.
Kate Angell - 4 stars. VERY cute story. I really liked this one & it's disappointing it wasn't longer. No sex.
Dianne Castell - 1 star, just because it's DC. I have yet to read a decent story from her & this one's a stinker. Ditsy girl with an in bred crazy family finds out her boyfriend's a were-dog. He can't even be a were-wolf which would be cool. He's actually supposed to be one of the poker playing dogs in that crazy picture that I remember as a kid (back in the 70's!), so he must be like 35 years older than her. Bad sex with no protection that I could tell.
Ann Christopher 2 stars. Very dull & predictable. Protected sex.
Marcia James - 3 stars. Another cute story that would have benefited from being a couple of chapters longer. No sex.
Donna MacMeans - 3 stars. This one's the lone Regency. Again, very cute, could have been longer. No sex.
Sarah MaCarty - 4 stars. This one made me cry! This author has a way with a short story! No sex.
Patricia Sargent - 3 stars. Another cute one! I liked it though. No sex.
Sue-Ellen Welfonder - 4 stars. I really liked this one, which is a dog story & paranormal in one. Again, too bad it couldn't have been longer. No sex.
March 8, 2012
Man's Best Friend by Lori Foster: Loved It 2 people brought together by a dog.
A Knotty Tail by Stella Cameron: Pretty good story from a dogs perspective.
Norah's Arc by Kate Angell: Pretty good story of 2 enemies turned lovers brought together by a pygmy goat.
The Pursuit Of Happiness by Dianne Castell: An alright story of the lengths a women will go to to save her werewolf boyfriend.
Atticus Saves Lisa by Ann Christopher: Couldn't get into the story. A Sister taking care of her handicapped brother pursued by his best friend.
Rescue Me by Marica James: Loved it - 2 former lovers reunited by a Chinese Crested dog.
Lord Hairy by Donna MacMeans: Loved it - set in regency England (recent favorites of mine) 2 strangers come together because of a missing dog.
Danny's Dog by Sarah McCarty: Pretty good story of a dog bringing a troubled husband and wife together after the hardship of losing their son. I did cry at some points in this story cause you can feel their pain.
Scaredy Cat by Patricia Sargent: Pretty good story of the lengths a cat will go to, to bring his owner a new love in her life.
A Man, A Women, And Haggis by Sue-Ellen Welfonder: Pretty good story of second chances at love for the next generation. With the help of ghosts & a haggis-loving dog, 2 people can find love.
A Knotty Tail by Stella Cameron: Pretty good story from a dogs perspective.
Norah's Arc by Kate Angell: Pretty good story of 2 enemies turned lovers brought together by a pygmy goat.
The Pursuit Of Happiness by Dianne Castell: An alright story of the lengths a women will go to to save her werewolf boyfriend.
Atticus Saves Lisa by Ann Christopher: Couldn't get into the story. A Sister taking care of her handicapped brother pursued by his best friend.
Rescue Me by Marica James: Loved it - 2 former lovers reunited by a Chinese Crested dog.
Lord Hairy by Donna MacMeans: Loved it - set in regency England (recent favorites of mine) 2 strangers come together because of a missing dog.
Danny's Dog by Sarah McCarty: Pretty good story of a dog bringing a troubled husband and wife together after the hardship of losing their son. I did cry at some points in this story cause you can feel their pain.
Scaredy Cat by Patricia Sargent: Pretty good story of the lengths a cat will go to, to bring his owner a new love in her life.
A Man, A Women, And Haggis by Sue-Ellen Welfonder: Pretty good story of second chances at love for the next generation. With the help of ghosts & a haggis-loving dog, 2 people can find love.
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June 23, 2010I've been so active on Goodreads today. Can everyone tell I have been stuck at my desk doing thesis revisions and that every time I want a mini break I flip onto this site? I am going to have so many updates in that little email that is sent to people .... I'll be a star!
Anyway. Read this just now. Procrastinating before I start working for the rest of the night (tea or coffee... tea or coffee... not yet sure).
The book was good. That is what I came on here to say. Well, good enough. Well, it's what you'd expect from this sort of Lori Foster edited anthology with an animal theme.
I have read a lot of crap in the last 5 days so I was happy to pick up something that I new I couldn't lose with. Yay.
Ok, going to go make that tea or coffee now and finish getting my feeling hurt from all the crude "feedback" I got on my last draft.
Anyway. Read this just now. Procrastinating before I start working for the rest of the night (tea or coffee... tea or coffee... not yet sure).
The book was good. That is what I came on here to say. Well, good enough. Well, it's what you'd expect from this sort of Lori Foster edited anthology with an animal theme.
I have read a lot of crap in the last 5 days so I was happy to pick up something that I new I couldn't lose with. Yay.
Ok, going to go make that tea or coffee now and finish getting my feeling hurt from all the crude "feedback" I got on my last draft.
January 12, 2014
Tails of Love consists of 10 super-short novellas. This review ONLY pertains to MAN'S BEST FRIEND by Lori Foster. If/when the other shorts are read, I'd adjust my review accordingly.
SBC fighter, Gary Rutledge, has carried a torch for his best friend's little sister, Erin Schuler, for many years. Erin avoids Gary at every turn now that he's hit the "big-time", thinking that a small-town gal like herself could never compete with the crowds he now has access to. A late night, car trouble, bad weather & a scraggly pup are all that are needed to get these two face-to-face.
Although I understand that the characters have a life-long history, growing up together and that the authors needed to keep their stories short, it just sort of fell flat for me. It went from years of avoidance to HEA within... what...? An hour? I would have liked a little more depth to the characters.
SBC fighter, Gary Rutledge, has carried a torch for his best friend's little sister, Erin Schuler, for many years. Erin avoids Gary at every turn now that he's hit the "big-time", thinking that a small-town gal like herself could never compete with the crowds he now has access to. A late night, car trouble, bad weather & a scraggly pup are all that are needed to get these two face-to-face.
Although I understand that the characters have a life-long history, growing up together and that the authors needed to keep their stories short, it just sort of fell flat for me. It went from years of avoidance to HEA within... what...? An hour? I would have liked a little more depth to the characters.
August 30, 2009
A wonderful collection of short romance stories in which the love of animals affects the outcome of each tale. I recommend this book for animal lovers to keep in their own collection and to give as a gift to the other animal lovers in their lives. A portion of the proceeds from this anthologie are being donated to an animal welfare organization. This book is edited by the very talented Lori Foster, and it includes her own delightful animal tale.
June 24, 2015
This book is a collection of short stories (all romances) featuring at least one cute animal in the story by some well known Women's Fiction authors. Unfortunately, I did not like the book at all. The stories are not interesting, I struggled to finish some of them. The 2 stars in my review is purely for the animals as I am biased towards all animal characters even if they feature in a bad story. One star or less for the book itself.
October 21, 2010
Engaging collection of short stories with furry participants in the complicated relationships that humans get involved in. Heartwrenching stories of missed communication, misplaced guilt, the fallout from a child's death. Entertaining regency tale of a supposed hellhound, a mystical matchmaking, a cat who is willing to risk his life to find an appropriate mate for his owner.
August 23, 2009
My apologies to the authors of stories #3 and beyond. The first two were too much Harlequin romance for my taste and I gave up. I thought this was going to be a book about animals and the people who care for them, not stories of people coming together through their animals. My mistake.
March 26, 2010
A so-so read... a compilation of stories by many authors I like, but each story was very short (10 in all, so of course, very short), leading to little character development and little by way of conclusion in each story... and a few were just silly.... loved the first and last stories, though.
September 9, 2012
5/10 ONLY
Man's best friend, By Lori Foster
A knotty tail, By Stella Cameron
Norah's arc, By Kate Angell
The Pursuit of happiness, By Dianne Castell
Atticus saves Lisa, By Ann Christopher
3 STARS all
Man's best friend, By Lori Foster
A knotty tail, By Stella Cameron
Norah's arc, By Kate Angell
The Pursuit of happiness, By Dianne Castell
Atticus saves Lisa, By Ann Christopher
3 STARS all
June 27, 2013
Marcia James story of the crested Chinese rescue with a vet for an animal shelter was a real treat as was Donna MacMeans Lord Hairy and Lord Harry story. The first few stories in this collection were pretty basic writing, but the last few made it an entertaining read :)
November 19, 2015
Man's Best Friend: 4 stars
a Knotty Tail: 1.5 stars
Norah's Arc: 4 stars
the Pursuit of Happiness: 2 stars
Atticus saves Lisa: 2 stars
Rescue Me: 3 stars
Lord Hairy: 2.5 stars
Danny's Dog: 1 star
Scaredy Cat:2 stars
A man, a woman and haggis: 2.5 stars
a Knotty Tail: 1.5 stars
Norah's Arc: 4 stars
the Pursuit of Happiness: 2 stars
Atticus saves Lisa: 2 stars
Rescue Me: 3 stars
Lord Hairy: 2.5 stars
Danny's Dog: 1 star
Scaredy Cat:2 stars
A man, a woman and haggis: 2.5 stars
September 21, 2016
It's too bad this compilation of stories doesn't count as 10 books towards my reading goals. LOL
10 short stories of romance and dogs. Sure things progress quickly, come on, they usually do in these books. But they are good stories...fun to read and the dogs are all so loveable!
10 short stories of romance and dogs. Sure things progress quickly, come on, they usually do in these books. But they are good stories...fun to read and the dogs are all so loveable!
June 27, 2009
Good anthology, great beach read.
January 13, 2010
Nice group of stories
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews