Saturday, October 27, 2018

Review - - Mutts and Mistletoe


Mutts and Mistletoe
By Natalie Cox
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons
Release Date: October 9, 2018
Reviewed by PJ



Thirty-one-year-old Charlie isn't in the mood for Christmas cheer...

Her boyfriend has left her for his personal trainer, her mother has absconded with her latest husband for the holidays, and--adding insult to (literal) injury--her London apartment has just been destroyed by a gas leak. Single, mildly concussed and temporarily homeless, Charlie realizes there's only one place to go: Cozy Canine Cottages, where she'll spend the season looking after her cousin Jez's doggy day care center. And if she's not exactly a dog person, well, no one has to know... 

But her plans for a quiet Christmas in a quaint country village are quickly dashed. Peggy the pregnant beagle and Malcolm the anxious Great Dane seem determined to keep her up all night. A strange man has been casing her cousin's house. And where is Cal, the unbearably patronizing but disturbingly handsome local vet, when she needs him? 

As the days tick down to Christmas, Charlie's life has never felt so out of control--but with some help from her new four-legged friends, she just might learn a thing or two about living in the moment, embracing the unexpected and opening herself up to love...


My thoughts:

I wasn't sure what to expect when I began reading this book but being a dog lover how could I not want to know more about Peggy the pregnant beagle and Malcolm the anxious Great Dane? Plus all their canine pals...as well as their wary, inexperienced and - okay, let's just say it - shell-shocked temporary caregiver?  And if a broody veterinarian and charming stranger get thrown into the mix, well, who am I to not dive head first into the fun? 

The story is set in England so if you're a Yank (like me), I'll warn you up front that you'll probably be putting your dictionary to good use. However, even though I was looking up unfamiliar words, it didn't detract from my enjoyment of the story. The primary focus of the book is Charlie, a city girl through and through, and her evolution during her unplanned sojourn in rural England. I liked her and thoroughly enjoyed her journey. 

While there's somewhat of a romantic thread, fun flirting, a bit of kissing, and a happy ending, this is not a book that I would classify as a traditional romance but that didn't lessen my enjoyment of it one bit. The relationship that takes center stage for most of the book is that between Charlie, a Londoner more at ease in designer heels and trendy shops than flannel and boots, and the dogs that have been placed into her somewhat inept care. The journey for Charlie and her four-legged housemates is one that I found to be an absolute delight. Not surprisingly, the pups stole my heart. 

If you're in the mood for something a little different this Christmas, pick up a copy of Mutts and Mistletoe. It's a fast-paced story that's a bit chick lit, a bit romance, a bit mystery, and brimming with a whole lot of holiday fun. 





12 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Just what I would love - thank you for the review.

      Delete
  2. I could always help out with words that you're not familiar with.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh, this does sound like fun.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was! It gave me the same happy holiday feels I get from watching Hallmark Holiday movies.

      Delete
  4. Love the cover but then I'm a sucker for dogs on covers. Sounds cute. Thanks for the review PJ.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Sounds great!! I love any book with animals in it!

    ReplyDelete
  6. your review made me feel better about it--was worried it was a hot mess

    denise

    ReplyDelete
  7. This one sounds like fun. Thanks for the review letting us know about it.

    ReplyDelete