dogs

”Twas the Bite Before Christmas’ by David Rosenfelt is a holiday mystery with more twists than Santa’s route

/ Pamela Kramer

In spite of the clever title, “‘Twas the Bite Before Christmas,” David Rosenfelt’s newest Andy Carpenter mystery does not feature any dogs who bite, especially not the adorable Dalmatian on the cover. What this holiday-themed novel does have, and what almost all of Rosenfelt’s Andy Carpenter mysteries have, are clever plots, lots of bad guys, one very innocent guy who is being framed, more twists than even Santa’s most challenging routes, and many sweet rescue dogs. Add in one curmudgeonly, reluctant attorney who loves rescuing dogs and hates practicing law, and the plot is set.

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Dog lovers alert: ‘Dogs Demystified’ is a must-have read

/ Pamela Kramer

Dog lovers need an easy reference book that can help with practical information about dog care, dog cognition, dog emotions (yes, they have emotions just as we do), and dog breeds, and “Dogs Demystified: An A-to-Z Guide to All Things Canine” by Marc Bekoff is just that book. This is a book with important information that is helpful not just to the new dog owner, but even to seasoned dog people like me.

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‘Dogtown’ by Katherine Applegate and Gennifer Choldenko is an absolutely heartwarming middle grade tale of dogs and community and adventure and family

/ Pamela Kramer

“Dogtown” by Katherine Applegate and Gennifer Choldenko is a middle grade fantasy that will be extremely appealing to kids because it’s filled with dogs—real dogs and robot dogs, or really just one special robot dog. There’s even a mouse. The story is told in first person by Chance, a dog residing in a shelter at the start of the story.

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‘Catch Her Death’ by Melinda Leigh is a suspenseful addition to the Bree Taggert series

/ Pamela Kramer

The “Bree Taggert” series by Melinda Leigh has a lot to recommend it. The main character, Bree Taggert, is the sheriff in a rural upstate New York county. She left her job as a Philly homicide cop to move into her sister’s home and raise her sister’s kids when her sister was killed. She accidentally ended up as sheriff, and she’s got a lot on her plate.

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‘The Book of Silver Linings’ by Nan Fischer is a sweet story about love and looking within

/ Pamela Kramer

In her second novel, “The Book of Silver Linings,” Nan Fischer takes us on a journey that doesn’t take us to exotic locales; it is, instead, an internal journey, inside the psyche of a young woman, Constance Sparks. Like many of us, she matured into an adult based on her childhood and the love—or lack of love—that she received. Constance’s boyfriend Hayden calls her “constant Constance” because she is determined to find the stable life she wants to live. She wants a husband, children, and security.

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‘There’s No Coming Back from This’ by Ann Garvin about the cost of always pleasing others

/ Pamela Kramer

Author Ann Garvin lives in the Midwest and has a dog named Peanut, so it’s no wonder that the main character in her new novel, “There’s No Coming Back from This” is from Wisconsin and ends up buddies with a dog. (Coincidentally, I lost my dog Peanut earlier this year, and my current foster dog is named Peanut.) Poppy Lively, the main character in this charming story, may have a frivolous name, but there is nothing lighthearted about her. She has spent almost two decades being a single mother and devoting her life to being the best mother she could be. But now, from her IRS debt to trying to hide her financial woes from her daughter Robyn, she is desperate. Poppy is struggling to do whatever is necessary to not lose the money she has saved for her daughter’s college and to keep their family home.

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Dog books and Cat books and more for younger readers

/ Pamela Kramer

Books with high interest are really important for kids to read during the summer months when they aren’t reading in school. Teachers will tell you that the summer setback in reading ability is real for kids who may not read much because they are outside playing or at camp. And while want kids to be outside when the weather is nice, reading daily is important, too. And high interest books are the way to go. Here are many books about dogs, cats, and other animals that will not only intrigue kids, but that have important messages to share. Perfect for rainy days, bedtime stories, or just reading at breakfast to get a good start to the day.

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‘The Book of Pet Love & Loss: Words of Comfort & Wisdom from Remarkable People’ by Sara Bader

/ Pamela Kramer

Those of us who are lucky enough to have animal companions know one tragic truth: With the exception of a few parrots, we will outlive all our companion animals. And as we experience the passing of each one, our hearts break. In “The Book of Pet Love & Loss,” Sara Bader manages to reassure us that we are not alone in our grief, that our sadness, our heartbreak, our sense of loss, is normal and equivalent to what is experienced by many others, include the noted writers of the quotes in this small treasure.

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‘Lie to Her’ by Melinda Leigh is another satisfying murder mystery in the ‘Bree Taggert’ series

/ Pamela Kramer

While the mysteries in Melinda Leigh’s “Bree Taggert” series all work as stand alone novels, those who start the series with the latest addition, “Lie to Her,” will miss out on some great backstories which are shared in the previous novels. Such readers will still enjoy the twists and turns that Bree Taggert, the female sheriff in a rural upstate New York county, must unravel in her search for a serial killer. But those who have read the previous five books will understand why Bree is living in this rural area and raising her sister’s two children. They will have met Matt, Bree’s boyfriend, and Dana, Bree’s former partner from the police force. And they will understand the backstory regarding Bree’s former fear of dogs. She has overcome that fear and now has a rescue dog of her own.

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‘Christmas in Blue Dog Valley’ by Annie England Noblin is a charming story of small town values, friendship, and finding love where you least expect it

/ Pamela Kramer

Author Annie England Noblin brings us the Christmas spirit with her newest novel, “Christmas in Blue Dog Valley.” As in her other novels, she offers not only a sweet story of a woman trying to find her place in the world, but also the joy of having a companion animal by her side as she does so. In fact, right from the start we see that the main character, Goldie McKenzie, a veterinarian, has a soft heart.

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