Jane McBride

I decided to read this ebook over again(2016) when I realized it was the only one that I had downloaded onto my new Kobo. Since I would be sitting in the emergency room for awhile, it was certainly the best option at hand. I quickly recalled the gist of the storyline and remembered how much I had enjoyed the antics of Henry, the Great Dane, first time around. I wasn't quite as surprised this time which is why I generally don't reread novels, however, I still managed a chuckle or two, at the situations the characters found themselves into throughout the book.

Basically, this is a sweet love story about a girl who returns home, adopts a Great Dane and then meets the boy of her dreams but there's a glitch. He's not a Mormon and she is a devout believer. Personally, I'm not Mormon but I didn't feel overwhelmed by the amount of information presented by the author on the subject. It would have been no different to me, than Ann being another religion requiring the author to explain Kyle's conversion process to that religion. However, I can understand that some individuals could interpret the author's descriptions as preaching. Therefore, if you feel very strongly about your own faith and dislike the feeling of being "preached" about other faiths, this may not be the book for you.

That issue aside, Ms. McBride does a thorough job in character development. There are a collection of colorful individuals that keep the story engaging and interesting. I felt that the plot moved along at a decent pace. There is a hint of mystery but it seemed to be more a case of misadventure than a classic mystery. A few reviewers felt there were problems with the dialect utilized by Ms. McBride in the novel. I did notice that, at times, the characters dialogue didn't reflect their level of education but I took it for granted that,when at home, comfortable & relaxed, individuals reverted to their local dialects. I'm a Canadian by birth,therefore, I'm certainly not qualified to discuss regional American dialects, but I've noticed this trend occurs in well educated Canadian friends when they return to their home towns. Nobody wants to sound like a big shot, after all, at least most people don't.

Overall, I enjoyed this light fiction both times as I enjoy a quick read with animals when I need to relax. And when in an emergency room, you need to relax! Thanks Ms. McBride. 😷… (mais)

I received an advance review e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I did feel there was too much emphasis on religion and it really turned me off on the story. I felt that the author was trying to push the Mormon religion on the reader. Now, let's talk about the story without the religious overtones. It was a cute love story. I really enjoyed the antics of Henry, the Great Dane, and the name of Aunt Gert’s partner. The author develops her characters well. There are many humorous antics throughout the book. It was refreshing to read a book written in the everyday language of the characters.… (mais)

I'm not one to read a lot of fiction, but between the snow, cold and the choices of which reruns to watch between commercials I said, "Why not?" The title intrigued me and the fact that a dog was a main character sealed the deal. Well, Jane had me laughing by the first page and throughout the story. Once I was laughing so hard I had to stop reading!

The story was cute, with some predictability, and some twists and turns, both of which I enjoy. I didn't mind the lapses into dialect, it added flavor to the story, nor the insights into LDS or Mormon beliefs, which I found interesting, although sometimes it was a little much for my taste, especially in the last few chapters.

This is a good clean, well written story with interesting, quirky characters and an unbelievably lucky main character who often found herself being saved from some kind of trouble by her dog and her family/friends. A good story for anyone who enjoys (almost) realistic light fiction with a twist of faith.… (mais)