Home is Where the Bark Is
by Kandy Shepherd
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Berkley Trade
Available: July 6, 2010
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Book received from: Penguin
Former model Serena Oakley has opened Paws-A-While, a doggy daycare and spa in San Francisco. When a ruggedly handsome client walks in, holding a Yorki-Poo too dainty for his personality, Serena knows something’s not right.
Undercover PI Nick Whalen has followed a series of identity frauds to Serena and is determined to dig up secrets he’s certain she is hiding. Despite their mutual distrust, Nick and Serena find themselves bonding over an injured, orphaned dog. And soon they’re arousing more than just suspicions. But will the pair trust in love enough to thwart a danger circling too close to home?
Review by Samantha
Sweet, simple, easy, scratching behind the ears, sexy private investigator…. these are the words that come to mind when I think about how to review Home is Where the Bark Is.
Private investigator Nick Whalen is going undercover at a Doggy Day Care in San Francisco in an attempt to bust an identity theft case. He shows up with his teeny tiny terrier and meets Serena, the owner of Paws-A-While. Serena has her doubts about this hunk of a man with this tiny fur-ball, and Serena’s past issues with trust cause her instincts to stand at alert. As time goes on, she begins to question in her mind the real story Nick is hiding all while trying to resist the obvious attraction between the two of them. From there we are treated to lots of doggie lovin’, a mystery, a past revealed involving bathtubs full of chocolate, some fake cookery, a genuinely sweet man, and one woman’s ability to overcome the past.
This is truly a simple read probably best suited for somebody that loves dogs – I mean dogs are really the 3rd character in this book. And there are a few pull-at-your-heart strings moments involving one dog. But I think the author does a nice job of showing how pleasurable it can be to read a book with a really great guy who isn’t carrying around all kinds of angst. Sometimes we need a lighthearted read, right? I also enjoyed how the author dealt with Serena slowly coming out of her shell around Nick and the little pieces of dialogue from time to time that showed Serena had a good sense of humor. Occasionally the dialogue might have been on the overly sweet side for my usual taste, but Nick always made up for it on the next page.
Favorite Quote:
Then he cradled her face between his large hands, tilting her to meet his gaze, warm now with passion and tenderness. His voice was deep and husky. “This is special. Us. You know that.”
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****Giveaway****
I have one copy of Home Is Where The Bark Is by Kandy Shepherd to giveaway to one lucky reader. Your comment on Samantha’s review is your entry. Open to all. Giveaway is open until July 30. Good luck to all who enter!!
I just read the first book a few weeks ago and thought the same thing. The books are very easy light reading and very enjoyable. Great review!
Enter me!
And I like the change. I never had problems reading, but I always think it is fun to change my blog up a little. Okay I just completely changed my design yesterday, but I had fun doing it!
*sob* why can't hubs say things like that to me?
FV you rearranged your bloggy, I like it!
I've got four of the furies walking around so that would probably make me a dog lover LOL When the mood strikes me and I want to snuggle on the couch this is exactly the kind of read I want. Heartwarming and endearing…
owh please I love the premise of the book.sounds really cute ;p
Sounds cute!
I'm definitely a dog person, and to be honest, it was the dog (not the couple on the cover) that won me over.
Love, Hannah
I love the premise of the book! Though I am not a big fan of dogs, I find them cute! I could really do with a lighthearted read now,so count me in!
frndz.debas@gmail.com
Great review! I have not read Kandy's books before but this sounds really good and I would love to read it! Thanks for the chance!
lead[at]hotsheet[dot]com
Enjoyed the review and the book sounds really good. I would love to read it, thanks for the chance!
myra0502@yahoo.com
Great review. She is a new author to me but sounds like a good one to read.
Puppies! I sometimes do love a nice lighthearted book. Thanks for the review and the contest.
I love stories with animal characters, and I enjoyed the review. I'm really looking forward to reading Where The Bark Is, it sounds really cute.
This book just does not seem like my type of book…and the title…
But maybe I shouldn't knock it until I try it, eh?
Nice review Samantha!!
PS – like the new look FV!!
This book just does not seem like my type of book…and the title…
But maybe I shouldn't knock it until I try it, eh?
Nice review Samantha!!
PS – like the new look FV!!
Thanks for an interesting review. The characters and dogs sound so sweet. And I'm a bit intrigued about the mention of choclate-filled bathtubs. Hmmm…
I've had my eye on this author, I'd love to enter! Thanks!
aleareads@gmail dot com
I read the first book by this author, Love is a four-legged word! The quote you picked sure does have a few words that could be used to talk about a dog OR a man! LOL
Please enter me – thank you
mdwartistry at yahoo dot com
this sounds super cute!! Enter me please, I would love the chance to read this book : )
sexywomenread@yahoo.com
Nice new layout! Spiffy-lookin'…
This just sounds super-cute and sweet, I'll look forward to reading it. Thanks for the chance to win a copy!
Oh I love animals, This book sounds so cute! I grew up with dogs, but am more a cat person now, but I just love animals of all kinds I'd love to read this book.
I liked your review. I love dogs, so this book would be a great read for me.
twoofakind12@yahoo.com
Loved reading the review and I would love to read this, especially since there are dogs in it!
If there's anything I like better than cute children in a romance novel, it's cute or loyal dogs. Count me in!
Thank you for the giveaway.
annfesATyahooDOTcom
This book sounds very good. Would really like to win it. Please enter me in contest. Tore923@aol.com
I just finished "Love is a Four-Legged Word" and had some nice laughs and ooh'ed and aww'ed over all the cute dog moments! I am usually guaranteed to love any Romance that has an animal, especially a dog in the story and so when I saw Shepherd's novels, I knew I had to give them a try!
I'm a total cover whore. The minute I saw this one, I wanted to read it. Looks good and the review makes me want to read it as well!
I haven't read anything by her, but the book sounds really good. I love books with animals in them. I am a big dog lover!!
Please enter me.
I follow on gfc
mlawson17 at hotmail dot com
Great review, would love to read this
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
After I've read a really intense book, I usually want something light to follow it up with so I'd definitely be interested in reading this. Plus, I never get tired of books with dogs in them.
jen(at)delux(dot)com
This sounds like a light fun read, please enter me , would love to read Home is Where the Bark Is
And what a cute cover too
lol
stella.exlibris (at) gmail (dot) com
Thank you!
This is not what I normally read but the review makes it sound like a really sweet read. Love to give it a chance.
sstrode@scrtc.com
I love dogs so I think I'd love this book
magabygc(@)gmail.com
This books sounds fun. Count me in.
Crystal816[at]hotmail[dot}com
This sounds really cute. I love books that have dogs/animals in them.
Please enter me! I am a dog book fanatic!
Mary
Sounds like a fun read – great review. I think I could use some fun with all the heavy duty books I have been reading! Hope I can win this one!
polsen11atcomcastdotnet
Thanks for the review. The book sounds like a lot of fun. I love books that feature dogs.
forwhlz at gmail dot com
I am a dog lover (with seven of them) and I haven't read a good book with doggies for a while so p-lease enter me.
Thanks
Carol T (International)
buddytho {at} gmail DOT com
I do love dogs so I know I would enjoy this book! Thanks!
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net
I haven't read this but it sounds like a good read!!
nedsped at gmail do com
I haven't read any books from this Author. SO Please , please count me in !
uniquas at ymail dot com
Looks very interesting, and I love the cover. Please count me in too!
spamscape [at] gmail [dot] com
The vision I just got from the "hunky guy walks into a doggy day care with a tiny fur-ball" is hilarious!
Nice review!
Great review! I'm a sucker for dog stories!
meredithfl at gmail dot com
This looks so cute! Thank you for the fine review. Yes, please enter me in the giveaway: address is:
sistertyme-at-yahoo(DOT)com
Firstly, the cover is so cute ! *-*
I'd buy it just because of the cover hehe
But after I read the review, I saw it's a book worth reading
/and that's why I'd love to win this book ('cause my dad just said no to all my requests this month u_u)
Anyway, congrats for the review and good luck to all of us!
lismagol[AT]gmail[DOT]com
The cover is fantastic and the review has sealed it for me. Thanks for hosting this contest.
Enter me please! This cover is the cutest!
Great review, sounds like a fun read.
cwilliams127 at gmail dot com
The review definitely got me hooked! Hmm… dogs involved? Sounds great! Put lovely pups and one hot cop into a mix: PERFECT!
Loved Samantha's review. She sure made me want to read this book. What a great romance story. Please enter me. Thanks!
ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net
The review is great, I'd love to read this.
misusedinnocence@aol.com
I liked your review. It was informational without giving away too much. Thanks!
lovemybabysquid@yahoo.com
Awww! This book sounds so cute! Great Review!
crazypplrok@gmail.com
oo, this book sounds interesting. I do love it when pets play such an important role in the progression of a book. ^_^
I have to admit, I'm a sucker for books with animals in them. I have heard a lot of good things about this book and I would love to read it. Thank you for the review and giveaway.
seriousreader at live dot com
Being a dog owner, the title caught my eye and your review convinced me that this needs to be on my to read pile.
Thanks for the great review.
john@johnpoindexter.com