LOST DOGS AND LONELY HEARTS
Lucy Dillon
ISBN: 9780425238875
March 2011
Berkley
Chick Lit
Trade paperback

This novel interweaves the stories of three women, each facing a very real-life struggle. Rachel loses her high powered job and her boyfriend.  She inherits her aunt’s house and kennel of rescue dogs, and since she has no other good options at the moment, decides to try to untangle the problems of the rescue along with the leashes of the dogs within.  Zoe is a divorced mother of young children who has just had her last straw dropped when her ex gives the children a new puppy. Natalie has what appears to be the picture perfect marriage, but foster dog still isn’t enough to replace the baby she longs to have.

You guys know how much I love a good dog story and a story with a hunky veterinarian.   We get both with this delightful novel by Lucy Dillon. As well as a load of adorable four footed characters, the stories of the women as they face very real challenges of life touch deeply and the reader grows to care for each of the characters.  The novel follows the typical chick lit genre formula in that it doesn’t provide neatly tied up stories.  What I did like was that we are still left with a positive feeling of hope for each of the women at the novel’s close.  I couldn’t finish this review without mentioning Bertie. I absolutely loved this mischievous Basset hound and laughed out loud over his antics. Anyone who enjoys chick lit or stories full of dogs will like Lost Dogs and Lonely Hearts.

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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