HOME IS WHERE THE BARK IS
Kandy Shepherd
ISBN:  978-0425234297
July 2010
Penguin Putnam/Berkley Sensation
Contemporary Romance
Trade Paperback

Serena Oakley is working hard to get her doggie day care spa off the ground in San Francisco. Then HE walks in.  A ruggedly handsome alpha male if there ever was.  The beribboned pint-sized Yorkie-Poo seemed totally out of character, but who was Serena to question a new client?

Nick Walen is also working hard to make his new private investigating business with his friend Adam a success.  Their big client of the moment is the insurance company who has been repeatedly hit with identity theft claims by their clients.  Nick sees a common thread with many of the clients having dogs in Paws-A-While doggie daycare, so with borrowed pet in tow, Nick goes undercover to check the place, and its gorgeous owner out.

Home is Where the Bark Is is a delightful follow-up to Shepherd’s previous doggie romance, Love is a Four-Legged Word. Readers of the previous book which featured Brutus, the millionaire-heir to his previous elderly owner’s fortune, will be delighted to see Brutus, Coco, their children and their owners, Maggie and Tom back.  Those of you who are new to Sheperd’s work will be able to enjoy the current story with no effort, though once finished, I’d guarantee you will want to hunt up the previous novel just to enjoy the lighthearted romp with another cast of characters.

This book has something for everyone.  Great humor as we watch Nick’s struggles to keep from breaking his cover as he tries to understand and emulate the doggie-diva world culture of the high-end clientele of Serena’s shop while still keeping his strong attraction to the lovely owner who is also his main suspect under wraps.  Serena, who has been hurt too often by the alpha male “Rottweiler” type that she sees in Nick, is very skittish and reluctant to respond to the mutual attraction as well. Then there is the increasingly serious situation and mystery regarding who is stealing the identities of some of Serena’s clients.  Could it have anything to do with the injured, mammoth, lug-of-a-sweetie-pie, abandoned dog, Mack? You will be hard-pressed to choose a favorite character, be it four-legged or two, in this delightful romantic comedy.  Highly recommended with five barks!

Reviewed By:

Let's see.. what to tell you about me.... well I'm an academic librarian and deal with stuffy boring books (I'm a mathematics librarian) so fiction is my fun outlet. My passions include ballroom dancing, bichon frise rescue work, reading (duh!) and if I had time, I'd get back to my quilting, scrapbooking, jewelry making, etc. Sigh. I really need to find my rich prince who tells me I never have to work again. LOL. Genre's that I prefer: Inspirational romance, gentle romance (Like Harlequin Medical, etc), romantic comedy and paranormal (unless they get too dark and gritty) to name a few. I love books with themes/characters of animals, librarians, dancers, trainers, ministers/missionaries, etc. Having said this, I read pretty broadly from the inspirational fiction line all the way to Blazes and chick lit. The only thing I don't really care for it erotica. I don't care for the starkness of the erotica genre. I guess I just like things wrapped up and tied with a prettier satin bow. :-)

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