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Off Trail
Recently widowed, with one dog now crippled and another about to give birth, Keith needs help. Problem is, he doesn't want it. When Spencer blows into his life, Keith does his best to shove Spencer back out. Spencer is everything his dead husband wasn't, and little too close to the wild side for Keith's taste.
Spencer can see that Keith is drowning in details, just as he can see how a little aid would go a long way. But Keith keeps refusing help -- for everything except the crippled dog. Spencer's way into Keith's house is through fur on wheels; finding his way into Keith's heart won't be so easy.
Spencer can see that Keith is drowning in details, just as he can see how a little aid would go a long way. But Keith keeps refusing help -- for everything except the crippled dog. Spencer's way into Keith's house is through fur on wheels; finding his way into Keith's heart won't be so easy.
293 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 14, 2010
2 people are currently reading
52 people want to read
About the author
J.B. McDonald
23 books41 followersJB has been writing fiction of some sort or another since she was eight years old, when she started with the highly acclaimed and illustrated, “Bucky the Bronco and his Missing Horseshoe.” Everyone in the McDonald household heard about it. Most even read it. Then they made the fatal mistake of encouraging it, and before anyone quite knew how it happened, JB declared that she was going to spend the rest of her life writing.
She wrote online for a stretch and warped a good many people. They sent heartfelt thanks and, on occasion, gift baskets. Sometimes they even brought her cheese sauce and wine. They were less appreciative of the gift of the world’s worst porn, which, thankfully, has gone by the wayside.
JB is possessed of a sense of humor that just will not quit, despite how many stick beatings it’s been through. She also has a cheerfully evil laugh that brings terror to many young hearts. She sadly lacks in cooking skills, which is why the gift baskets and cheese sauce are so important. Instead of cooking, or doing anything as time-consuming as eating regularly, she devotes all her time to writing so that she can inflict more horror—that is, fiction—on you, her hopefully devoted fans.
JB can be reached at her website (https://www.JBMcDonaldScribblesHere.w...), as long as you don't get distracted by her ravings or adorable pictures and videos of her service dog, Doc.
She wrote online for a stretch and warped a good many people. They sent heartfelt thanks and, on occasion, gift baskets. Sometimes they even brought her cheese sauce and wine. They were less appreciative of the gift of the world’s worst porn, which, thankfully, has gone by the wayside.
JB is possessed of a sense of humor that just will not quit, despite how many stick beatings it’s been through. She also has a cheerfully evil laugh that brings terror to many young hearts. She sadly lacks in cooking skills, which is why the gift baskets and cheese sauce are so important. Instead of cooking, or doing anything as time-consuming as eating regularly, she devotes all her time to writing so that she can inflict more horror—that is, fiction—on you, her hopefully devoted fans.
JB can be reached at her website (https://www.JBMcDonaldScribblesHere.w...), as long as you don't get distracted by her ravings or adorable pictures and videos of her service dog, Doc.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
September 7, 2010
A bittersweet look at moving on after tragedy - Keith's need to be independent clashed with his overwhelming responsibilities, and Spencer tried to fill in the gaps, having to learn to do it without over-doing it (a theme I rather like).
The author's very real understanding of dogs shines through here, driving the plot, although it also reinforces my love of cats -- critter maintenance in Keith's household is a full time job in itself.
I wouldn't call the ending weak so much as low-key, and given Keith's state of mind throughout the story, it seemed appropriate.
The author's very real understanding of dogs shines through here, driving the plot, although it also reinforces my love of cats -- critter maintenance in Keith's household is a full time job in itself.
I wouldn't call the ending weak so much as low-key, and given Keith's state of mind throughout the story, it seemed appropriate.
July 21, 2010
I thought this was a great story, someone dealing with loss and injustice from his lovers family and the justice system and then having to go on alone and build a new life.
Keith meets Spencer and we get to see the two of them deal with people ignorance and prejudice and then dealing with the day today trial we all have.
Off Trail wasn't at all sappy, it was honest and the book stood on the strength of the characters, it was a slice of life that gave me more to think about.
Keith meets Spencer and we get to see the two of them deal with people ignorance and prejudice and then dealing with the day today trial we all have.
Off Trail wasn't at all sappy, it was honest and the book stood on the strength of the characters, it was a slice of life that gave me more to think about.
April 24, 2011
Jenre pretty much summed up everything that worked and what didn't work in this novel (yup, the ending!) so if you want longer review read hers. :)
Some parts about dogs, their care, their every day lives were fascinating, but they ate to much page space. Some of that space should have been, perhaps, spent on Keith and Spence and than maybe the ending wouldn't seem so abrupt. Some of the town folks gave me the creeps and made me thankful that I live in a big city. Now, little towns have their good sides and it would have been nice if the author showed some of them too. Keith's emotional state, especially when he gets overwhelmed, as well as his relationship with his dogs were described very well and these are probably the best parts of the book. I like this author's writing and I liked his/hers other books. This is a solid, well-written novel and it kept me interested from (virtual) cover to cover.
Some parts about dogs, their care, their every day lives were fascinating, but they ate to much page space. Some of that space should have been, perhaps, spent on Keith and Spence and than maybe the ending wouldn't seem so abrupt. Some of the town folks gave me the creeps and made me thankful that I live in a big city. Now, little towns have their good sides and it would have been nice if the author showed some of them too. Keith's emotional state, especially when he gets overwhelmed, as well as his relationship with his dogs were described very well and these are probably the best parts of the book. I like this author's writing and I liked his/hers other books. This is a solid, well-written novel and it kept me interested from (virtual) cover to cover.
June 17, 2014
Sadly, there were several things that caused me to dislike this story.
I had great trouble liking Keith; his actions were not just unfriendly to me but rude and almost hostile. I like to read all of any story I review, and to make it through this one, I told myself that Keith was just not a people person. He still seemed anti-social to me. Not, in my opinion, a nice character.
Then there was all the political and religious paragraphs; just too much of both for me. Religion was usually, but not always, betrayed as bad.
I also could not understand why Spencer put up with Keith's unfriendliness and rudeness. He also put up with unkindness from a so called friend.
Then there was the event where Spencer gets lost in the snow. Keith finds him and takes him home. The event starts with a neighbor being very concerned for Spencer and search teams being assembled, but readers are supposed to believe that a brief message that he is fine {sent before they get to Keith's house} is enough to stop any one from worrying. Keith and Spencer get to Keith's house and have sex. No one even checks to see if Keith made it back ok or if Spencer is truly fine. It didn't seem believable to me or in keeping with Tamera's character.
Lastly, there is the abrupt ending. A few pages before we have insurmountable problems and then they are suddenly solved. Readers are not shown the problems actually working out, so one has to wonder if the solutions worked. I bought this book partly because reviewers said it had an HEA, but I'd barely call this a HFN. For one thing, they are mainly agreeing to sex not a HEA. There is falling in love thought about but no I love yous. Also there is no guarantee that Keith, who broke up with Spencer before because he was feeling overwhelmed and someone criticized him for seeing Spencer, won't just hurt Spencer again the next time things get too tough for him. Keith was very self-centered, and I saw no change in that. Given Spencer's tendency to put up with rudeness and unfair treatment, I fear that he would stay in an unhealthy relationship. I have no faith that these two will make it as a couple, and we aren't shown far enough into the future to know.
I had great trouble liking Keith; his actions were not just unfriendly to me but rude and almost hostile. I like to read all of any story I review, and to make it through this one, I told myself that Keith was just not a people person. He still seemed anti-social to me. Not, in my opinion, a nice character.
Then there was all the political and religious paragraphs; just too much of both for me. Religion was usually, but not always, betrayed as bad.
I also could not understand why Spencer put up with Keith's unfriendliness and rudeness. He also put up with unkindness from a so called friend.
Then there was the event where Spencer gets lost in the snow. Keith finds him and takes him home. The event starts with a neighbor being very concerned for Spencer and search teams being assembled, but readers are supposed to believe that a brief message that he is fine {sent before they get to Keith's house} is enough to stop any one from worrying. Keith and Spencer get to Keith's house and have sex. No one even checks to see if Keith made it back ok or if Spencer is truly fine. It didn't seem believable to me or in keeping with Tamera's character.
Lastly, there is the abrupt ending. A few pages before we have insurmountable problems and then they are suddenly solved. Readers are not shown the problems actually working out, so one has to wonder if the solutions worked. I bought this book partly because reviewers said it had an HEA, but I'd barely call this a HFN. For one thing, they are mainly agreeing to sex not a HEA. There is falling in love thought about but no I love yous. Also there is no guarantee that Keith, who broke up with Spencer before because he was feeling overwhelmed and someone criticized him for seeing Spencer, won't just hurt Spencer again the next time things get too tough for him. Keith was very self-centered, and I saw no change in that. Given Spencer's tendency to put up with rudeness and unfair treatment, I fear that he would stay in an unhealthy relationship. I have no faith that these two will make it as a couple, and we aren't shown far enough into the future to know.
December 6, 2010
McDonald does a beautiful job of drawing an overwhelmed and still grieving widower, who has to get a handle on life as it must go on. I really don't know how Keith has survived the previous year without his husband -- nothing could have been one bit easier back in town, except for intact walls and ceilings to keep the elements and wildlife out. He's reached that point of exhaustion where he will keep putting on foot in front of the other because he's too tired to stop, until he drops.
Spencer is a good guy, willing to break that cycle because he sees someone really worthwhile inside Keith's closed off feelings, and he has some great attributes -- I wanted to shake Keith and say "Listen to the man!"
There was a really great turn-about sequence, involving the dogs that are such an overwhelming part of Keith's life, the author clearly understands big dogs, but honestly, while I get why Keith struggled so hard to keep Sam going, it didn't seem fair to anyone, yet, how could he stop once he'd started?
The tone of hopeless exhaustion on Keith's part does go on a while, understandably, but not pleasantly and probably has something to do with why I didn't like it more than I did, and yay for him seeing a light at the end of the tunnel. For all that it isn't pleasant, it's well done, and when the tone lifts, it's all the better.
Spencer is a good guy, willing to break that cycle because he sees someone really worthwhile inside Keith's closed off feelings, and he has some great attributes -- I wanted to shake Keith and say "Listen to the man!"
There was a really great turn-about sequence, involving the dogs that are such an overwhelming part of Keith's life, the author clearly understands big dogs, but honestly, while I get why Keith struggled so hard to keep Sam going, it didn't seem fair to anyone, yet, how could he stop once he'd started?
The tone of hopeless exhaustion on Keith's part does go on a while, understandably, but not pleasantly and probably has something to do with why I didn't like it more than I did, and yay for him seeing a light at the end of the tunnel. For all that it isn't pleasant, it's well done, and when the tone lifts, it's all the better.
December 28, 2010
This story is really sad one, with this tragic incident, and the same atmosphere pulls true whole book. Yeah in a way you can say it truly realistic plot and book, with life, possible new love and a lot of daily problems. I enjoyed this story and felt all the emotions the main character felt, really well written book.
Highly recommended book!
Highly recommended book!
May 13, 2011
The book was good. But in my opinion Keith was too proud. He was in really hard position. Death of the loved one, 3 dogs + crippled one, starting new life. I get it. It's not easy to ask for help. But sometimes you have to suck it up and ASK. It's not the end of the world. And the end really was a little abrupt.
April 4, 2012
This one surprised me. I didn't expect it to keep me up late. It was well written with likeable MCs. At times I thought poor Keith was gonna just crumble from the weight of the world on his shoulders. As with all romances, there were times when I just wanted to slap him. Fast moving, emotionally touching! I hope there is a sequel.
June 4, 2013
Not bad story. Considerable amount of whining. The ending is abrupt to the point of jarring. I would be ok with the ending if I believed there would be a second book however I don't get that impression. Probably would have been a better short story.
July 15, 2010
3.5 stars
June 7, 2012
3.5
Enjoyed the story, but it more stopped than had an ending. Clicked "next page" expecting to begin a new chapter, and was startled to discover I was at the last page already.
Enjoyed the story, but it more stopped than had an ending. Clicked "next page" expecting to begin a new chapter, and was startled to discover I was at the last page already.
May 20, 2014
Sad, sweet and funny. Love Spencer.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews