Reviewed by PJ Ausdenmore
Anyone who talks to me for more than five minutes knows how much I love animals and anyone who visits RNTV knows how much I love romance. Both of my dogs came to me from shelters and many of my favorite books feature dogs, cats or other animals that play pivotal roles in the lives of their humans. When I heard that Lori Foster had gathered ten romance authors together to write an anthology featuring animals in each story I was ready to order a copy on the spot. Then I heard the rest of the story and thought why stop at one copy? All proceeds from the sales of Tails of Love will benefit the Animal Adoption Foundation (AAF), a no-kill animal shelter in Hamilton, Ohio. Each of the ten authors who have written original stories for this anthology (Lori Foster, Stella Cameron, Kate Angell, Dianne Castell, Ann Christopher, Marcia James, Donna MacMeans, Sarah McCarty, Patricia Sargeant and Sue-Ellen Welfonder), as well as their agents, have pledged 100% of their proceeds from this book’s sales to the AAF. That would be reason enough for me to encourage you to buy this book but, in addition to supporting a wonderful no-kill animal shelter, Tails of Love also brings you a collection of heartwarming, funny and poignant stories featuring the special connection between people and the animals who love them. I wish I could tell you about all ten stories but that would take way too much space so I’ve chosen to highlight three stories and hope you will order a copy of Tails of Love and discover the magic of the remaining seven on your own.
RESCUE ME by Marcia James is a contemporary story about second chances. Be it a baby, a kitten or a half-starved Chinese Crested that looks more like a rat than a dog, I love seeing a big, macho man brought to his emotional knees by a small, defenseless creature. When retired NFL player, Adam “Nuke” Baumgardner finds a terrified, starving dog in the alley behind his Washington, DC restaurant it leads him to Rescue Me, a local no-kill animal shelter and Dr. Claire Mendelsohn, the woman he walked away from on the day of their college graduation ten years earlier, but never forgot. Now older and wiser, Adam knows that Claire made the right decision in refusing to choose him over Vet School. With the help of an ugly little dog that has managed to steal his heart will he be able to convince Claire to give him a second chance?
A KNOTTY TAIL by Stella Cameron: Have you ever looked into the eyes of your beloved pet and wondered what he or she was thinking? I know I have! In this delightful tale, Stella Cameron takes us into the minds of Rose Gibbs’s newly adopted shelter dogs Dickens (a rambunctious Jack Russell mix) and his cautious sister Madeleine and Clawdia, a sleek, stunning and decidedly superior feline owned by Rose’s neighbor, Simon. Rose has never had pets before which worries Dickens and Madeleine. The two are determined to be on their very best behavior so Rose will love them and not return them to the shelter. Clawdia, on the other hand, is very secure in Simon’s love for her and not a bit hesitant to cause mischief when her human’s happiness is at stake, even if that means recruiting the canine “riff-raff” that has moved in next door. When this unlikely trio joins forces to bring their humans together, Rose and Simon don’t stand a chance!
LORD HAIRY by Donna MacMeans: Fans of The Education of Mrs. Brimley will enjoy catching up with some of the students from the Pettibone School for Young Ladies in this historical Cinderella tale. When sweet, plump and slightly clumsy Hannah Waverley brings home a sweet, plump and slightly clumsy dog, life with her wicked stepmother goes from bad to worse. Forced to sleep in the stables with the dog and forbidden to attend the ball at Viscount Ashton’s home, Hannah fears she will never see her friends from school or find her way out from under her stepmother’s thumb. Salvation comes in the form of long-time servants willing to defy the current Mrs. Waverley to help Hannah attend the ball but it’s her new friend, the furry, black Newfie, Hairy, cast in the unlikely role of fairy godmother, who saves the day by thwarting her evil stepmother and introducing Hannah to her prince charming. I adore big, slightly clumsy, overly affectionate dogs, having owned a few myself. Hairy stole my heart in this lovely, heartwarming tale.
Tails of Love goes on sale June 2, 2009.
What are your tails of love? Tell me about the animals that share your life. If you don’t have animals of your own, what are some of your favorite animals from romances you’ve read?
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Anna Campbell
on May 28th, 2009
@ 2:56 am:
PJ, thanks for that lovely review. And how cool that Bandita Donna is included. Her story sounds gorgeous!
Marisa
on May 28th, 2009
@ 5:28 am:
Hey PJ – What can I say, I’ve never had a pet. Oh wait, yes I did, I had a pet turtle when I was about 6 or 7. Unfortunately it met a tragic end. I’m still scarred for life. But that’s a story for another day.
I think my favorite animal from a romance is the cat Galahad form the J.D. Robb Books. This cat was rescued/adopted somewhat reluctantly by Eve in the very first book and he has shown up in all the other 26 or 27 other books. He is the master of his domain and knows how to fit right into the lifestyle of a NYC Cop and a Billionaire.
PJ
on May 28th, 2009
@ 6:45 am:
Hi Anna! Donna’s story was wonderful and I fell head over heels for Lord Hairy. What an absolute sweetheart!
Stacy ~
on May 28th, 2009
@ 6:47 am:
Hey PJ, I can’t wait to get this book! I don’t currently have a pet, but I grew up with dogs. Big, outdoor dogs. Love them. Sadly my last dog, Roscoe, was killed by a bear, which he thought he could take on. Crazy dog. I still miss him terribly. My favorite animal in a book though is a cat. I think his name was Pickles or some emasculating name. He hissed and was moody and cranky, even after the hero saved him from the ledge. But oh what a memorable cat.
PJ
on May 28th, 2009
@ 6:47 am:
Hi Marisa! So sorry about the turtle’s tragic end. I can remember burying several of those during my brothers’ grade school years. Sadly, turtles and goldfish never had very long lifespans in our house.
PJ
on May 28th, 2009
@ 6:51 am:
Hi Stacy! I’m so sorry about Roscoe. It’s always hard to lose a beloved pet, whatever the circumstances.
That sounds like a truly memorable cat. I’m thinking being named Pickles may have had something to do with his cranky attitude?
Stella Cameron
on May 28th, 2009
@ 8:23 am:
PJ–Thank you for highlighting TAILS OF LOVE. I keep saying I feel guilty for having so much fun with a project–this was a work of the heart from a bunch of animal nuts. The thought of having a way to make a significant difference to a lot of pets waiting for forever homes makes me get teary.
Each story is very different, and each one is the best!!!!! Seriously, I’ve enjoyed them enormously.
I’ve had pets all my life. When I was a kid I had five cats–always. When one went over the bridge, I found another and no one took much notice of what I was up to so the fact that I read under the sheets–with the aid of a flashlight and in the company of my five cats–went pretty much unnoticed. Animals and books brought the most happiness to my childhood–and librarians, the kindest of people.
Thank you again,
Stella
Ann Christopher
on May 28th, 2009
@ 8:28 am:
Thanks for mentioning the anthology! We have two rescue cats, Sadie and Savannah, who are very vocal characters. I’m thinking they’d do a lot less whining if they knew we were supporting their charity! Ah, well.
Stacy, I’m sorry to hear about that bear. How terrible. Sounds like that dog had the heart of a lion.
I hope you’ll all check out the book!
Animegirl
on May 28th, 2009
@ 8:35 am:
I’m SO getting this book. I’m a dog person. When I was little, like before I was five, we had a brown boxer dog, everyone thought he was mean because of how he looked but he was actually a sweetheart. Then when I was in the fifth grade my dad bought my sis and I an all white Alaskan Malamute from a neighbor and that dog was my adoration for years and years.
And then we got a mix of Lab and German Shepard, he’s an absolute wuss but we love him anyway.
Plus, i love books with animals in them, it just makes them better, I think!
Marcia James
on May 28th, 2009
@ 8:53 am:
I loved writing a story for this anthology, especially since it gave me an opportunity to support a great cause while writing about my favorite breed — Chinese crested hairless dogs. “Cresties” offer a wealth of comic possibilities, which is why I have one as my author logo. As for my favorite fictional animals, I like the dogs and cats in Jennifer Crusie’s books, as well as the rescue dogs in Iris Johanssen’s romantic suspense novels. And I like reading mysteries that include crime-solving dogs and cats.
– Marcia James
Dianne Castell
on May 28th, 2009
@ 9:01 am:
Being part of Tails of Love was so much fun. Writing about animals always is. Pets make our lives richer and fuller and they are the same in books, making the characters deeper and richer.
Thanks for chatting about TOL. A fun book for a good cause.
Hus, Dainne Castell
Janice Maynard
on May 28th, 2009
@ 9:43 am:
I can’t wait to get my hands on this book! Loved the clips above.
Kudos to the many talented authors!!
Janice Maynard
Kati
on May 28th, 2009
@ 9:52 am:
Great review, PJ! I love animals in stories. Jenny Crusie always has memorable dogs in her books, and very often they’re dachshunds, which are near and dear to my heart. Kristan Higgins always has dogs in her books too.
My all time favorite animal in a book though was the cat Zut Alors from Barbara Delinsky’s Colony, which remains one of my favorite summer reads. I also love Boo from the Black Dagger Brotherhood, and I’m just positive there’s more to Boo than meets the eye.
PJ
on May 28th, 2009
@ 10:01 am:
Janice, all the stories are terrific. Hope you enjoy!
Maria Lokken
on May 28th, 2009
@ 10:06 am:
PJ great review. And what wonderful thing for all these authors to do.
Kati- I don’t remember Boo in the BDB and I’ve read them all. Who is he!
PJ
on May 28th, 2009
@ 10:17 am:
Kati, I agree. Jenny Crusie has terrific dogs in her books! I’m not familiar with Delinsky’s Colony but if it’s one of your favorite summer reads I’ll definitely be checking it out.
Donna MacMeans
on May 28th, 2009
@ 10:21 am:
Hi PJ – What a great review! So glad you enjoyed Lord Hairy. I haven’t read any of the other stories in this collection and like everyone else – I can’t wait to get my hands on a copy. Your reviews just rachet up the anticipation.
I’ve always had dogs and cats growing up (more cats than dogs — but the dogs were bigger) and learned that like babies, animals bring out the softer side of people. It’s that unconditional love. I’m so glad Lori spearheaded this project. In a time when the economy forces people to look after themselves, we can’t forget that someone has to look after the animals. I’m very honored to be given the opportunity to contribute toward that end.
PJ
on May 28th, 2009
@ 10:22 am:
Thanks for stopping by, Stella. Your memories of reading in bed surrounded by your cats made me smile. I’m so glad you were able to spend your childhood in the company of loving, furry friends. I’ve always had dogs (allergic to cats) and even now, in my 50’s, I can still be found reading in bed while surrounded by my romance-tolerant furkids.
PJ
on May 28th, 2009
@ 10:27 am:
Ann, thanks for stopping by. I enjoyed your story, Atticus Saves Lisa very much. I had no idea monkeys were being used as therapy animals!
Kate Angell
on May 28th, 2009
@ 10:32 am:
Hello PJ – I appreciate your mention of Tails of Love, it’s a wonderful anthology, each novella offers a little something fun and different for each reader. I grew up with Boxers, then once on my own, have had numerous breeds of dogs: Great Danes to min-pins. Many came to my house abandoned or abused, and stayed! I’ve always had an animal house and I love it that way.
PJ
on May 28th, 2009
@ 10:34 am:
Thanks for popping in, Marcia. I’m a huge football fan and love second-chance love stories so, of course, your story immediately grabbed my attention. Also, I just can’t help smiling at the visual of big, macho “Nuke” and his tiny dog, Buddy.
PJ
on May 28th, 2009
@ 10:40 am:
Hi Dianne! Loved your quirky paranormal in Tails of Love. It’s such a fun read and Savannah is the perfect setting!
PJ
on May 28th, 2009
@ 10:42 am:
Hi Donna! (waving)
I have a soft spot for big, clumsy animals and, as I said above, I just fell head over heels for Lord Hairy.
PJ
on May 28th, 2009
@ 10:45 am:
Hi Kate! Your story was such fun! I adored Houdini! He’s a prince among goats.
Marcia James
on May 28th, 2009
@ 11:08 am:
Thanks for your kind words, PJ! I like the way small dogs are underestimated and considered sort of “girly”, which is why I used a Chinese Crested hairless dog as a tiny DEA drug-sniffing dog in my first novel, At Her Command. None of the big, macho DEA agents wanted to work undercover with the dog because he was too prissy-looking. ;-D
– Marcia James
PJ
on May 28th, 2009
@ 11:12 am:
Marcia, you know what they say about good things coming in small packages!
Lori Foster
on May 28th, 2009
@ 11:41 am:
If I had a nickle for every pet… LOL
We currently have two Chihuahas.
Brock is suffering congestive heart failure and has ademas in his eyes, so he gets lots of meds, but he’s my littlest fur baby at only 5 lbs and I love him oodles and oodles.
Tootsie, his “woman,” is uber shy and chubby and very, very sweet at 7 lbs.
Then, while my son is in South Korea teaching, I’m “babysitting” his 3 cats.
Liger is a magnificent 23 lbs. and sweet as a lamb.
His brother, Gremlin (both taken from a shelter) is a spazoid who is very dependent on his “big” brother and who drops hair like Pig Pen dropped dust in the Charlie Brown cartoons. We brush them lots, but honest to God, when I get up in the morning, cat hair rolls over the hardwood floors like tumbleweeds in a desert.
Then there’s KiKi, the female and boss of the cats. She was a kitten (teeny tiny, only a few ounces) when my son found her among a litter of dead kittens, abandoned in someone’s driveway. He was delivering pizzas (working while in college) and he wrapped her in his shirt, took her home, and nursed her back to health. Now she’s this long, lean, rabbit-furrred bossy little teenager. LOL. It’s been fun having them here.
My youngest son has a dog that is part kangaroo. Rancor, those he’s small, can jump onto my kitchen counters without effort. His favorite sport is to herd the other animals when he visits. He’s the sweetest little speed-demon ever.
AND we have a ton of feral cats. We’ve managed to capture most of them to get them fixed and vaccinated. Now they use my wrap around porch as a shelter, visiting throughout the day to eat. At last count, there were 12 of them. They keep the moles down in the yard, but on occasion they also gift me with a slaughtered bird or mouse. Very yucky.
If you can’t tell, I love animals. All of them.
And I love people who love animals, so a gigantic THANK YOU to all of you!
Lori
Sue-Ellen Welfonder
on May 28th, 2009
@ 11:47 am:
Hi PJ! – Thank you so much for your great review of Tails of Love and for helping us draw attention to the anthology. It’s such a wonderful cause. Animals give so much and they ask so very little. Every one deserves a good and loving forever home. Sadly, the world isn’t very kind to many of them, so we’re all really delighted to have had the opportunity to help the needy ones with Tails of Love.
Must say … Stella’s post above could have been written by me. Ha ha! I, too, was born loving animals. All kinds, though I am really a dog person most of all. But I, too, grew up in a menagerie. My childhood nights were spent in a bed crowded with dogs and cats. And me in the middle, huddled between them with a flashlight so that I could read a book. I’m so glad I grew up in an animal-loving home.
Nowadays, life circumstances only allow me one dog, but I love him sooo much. He’s a little Jack Russell, has inspired many of the small dogs in my books – all my books have dogs – and he’s my constant companion. On my chair with me as I write and he’s pressed tight against my knees when I sleep. One look in his eyes can humble me. There’s so much love in a dog’s eyes when they look at us, isn’t there? How I wish they all had someone special to look at that way, and to loved so deeply in return!!
I’d fill my home with rescues if only I could. Being limited to one, I am especially happy to be in Tails of Love. I might not be able to adopt the gazillion dogs I’d love to, but I was able to write a story and use my words to help support them. I’m so glad Lori asked me to participate.
Oh, yeah … favorite book dogs … too many to name. Every dog makes my heart swell. But if I had to choose just one, it would be Anna Campbell’s Wolfram. I loved that dog.
And I -must- mention Kate Angell’s little goat, Houdini. He’s so real to me and .. well, .. I just want him! Readers: he’ll steal your hearts for sure.
Thanks again for highlighting Tails of Love today.
Go Pets!
Gannon
on May 28th, 2009
@ 3:14 pm:
Great review, PJ! I’m definitely getting this book. You know I’m a sucker for animals, especially rescues. I have 2 cats, Mr. Bean and Farouk, and 2 dogs, Frodo and Rufus, and they are all rescues. They fill our house with lots of hair and loads of love! Don’t know what I’d do without them. I also volunteer for an animal rescue group here in the mountains. We take the dogs that come into Animal Control and find homes for them. The Humane Society here is a no-kill shelter, but Animal Control is a different story. If they get too full, some poor pup may lose their life. I enjoy making a difference in these dogs’ lives.
Marisa, I love Galahad, too, especially when he tries to mooch off of Roarke and Eve’s plates.
Maria, I think Boo is Beth’s cat.
PJ
on May 28th, 2009
@ 3:35 pm:
Gannon, I know how much you love animals so I’m sure you’ll enjoy this book. You do great work up there! Sadly, our local shelter is run jointly by the county animal control and the Humane Society and is not a no-kill shelter. It breaks my heart and just makes me that much more determined to do whatever I can to find homes for the animals that are left there.
My two dogs have gently reminded me that I haven’t told you about them. The furkids that currently share my home are Smokey, a 13 y/o chocolate lab who, I swear, is more human than canine and Cassy, a 2 y/o black lab/german shepherd mix who is the sweetest and most laid-back dog that has ever shared my life. Both are rescues and came to me when they were pups. They make me laugh every day, give me lots of love and let me know (Smokey) when it’s time to put the book down and come to bed. She’s tolerant of my reading habit but only to a certain point.
romance novel blogs | YoungLibrary.Com
on May 28th, 2009
@ 6:59 pm:
[...] See original here: romance novel blogs [...]
Anna Campbell
on May 28th, 2009
@ 8:19 pm:
Hey, thanks, Sue-Ellen! Actually I love pets in stories. There’s a great one in my friend Kandy Shepherd’s July release Love is a Four-Legged Word – and isn’t that the best title? Otherwise, Jenny Crusie does fabulous dogs!
Patricia Sargeant
on May 28th, 2009
@ 8:50 pm:
Hi, PJ. Thank you very much for featuring Tails of Love on Romance Novel TV. What an honor! And we greatly appreciate your support for this project.
All the best!
Patricia
Becke Martin
on May 28th, 2009
@ 10:23 pm:
My dog died two years ago, and I still miss her a lot. With my son in Chicago and my daughter in Florida, I seem to be traveling all the time. I don’t want to get another dog until I can spend more time at home. Reading dog stories and watching other people with their dogs makes it hard to wait!
Sue-Ellen Welfonder
on May 28th, 2009
@ 11:21 pm:
Hey, back, Anna C! – I know you love dogs and you know I loved Wolfram. I love all book creatures, but most especially dogs. Thanks so much for mentioning your friend’s upcoming release. It sounds fantastic. I’ll definitely read it and know I’ll love it. Sounds like a winner!
Deb's Book Nook
on May 29th, 2009
@ 11:22 am:
Really looking forward to Lori and Dianne’s get together and getting an awesome book is just icing on the cake! Can’t wait!