Reviewed by Jay
TITLE: Freckles
AUTHOR: Amy Lane
PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press
LENGTH: 137 pages
RELEASE DATE: March 8, 2019, 2nd Edition
BLURB:
Small dogs can make big changes… if you open your heart.
Carter Embree always hoped someone might rescue him from his productive, tragically boring, and (slightly) ethically compromised life. But when an urchin at a grocery store shoves a bundle of fluff into his hands, Carter goes from rescuee to rescuer—and he needs a little help.
Sandy Corrigan, the vet tech who eases Carter into the world of dog ownership, first assumes Carter is a crazy-pants client who just needs to relax. But as Sandy gets a glimpse of the funny, kind, sexy man under Carter’s mild-mannered exterior, he sees that with a little care and feeding, Carter might be “Super Pet Owner”—and decent boyfriend material to boot.
But Carter needs to see himself as a hero first. As he says goodbye to his pristine house and hello to carpet treatments and dog walkers, he finds there really is more to himself than a researching drudge without a backbone. A Carter Embree can rate a Sandy Corrigan. He can be supportive. He can be a man who stands up for his principles!
He can be the owner of a small dog.
REVIEW:
Amy Lane had the opportunity to re-release her delightful book, Freckles, and we get to reap the rewards of reading anew or reminding us to re-read this charming book.
Centered around the somewhat lost Carter Embree, a dog basically falls into his lap and the adventures begin. Unhappy with his life in a law firm, the dog he names Freckles turns his world upside down. Going to the vet in the pet store, Carter seeks out help in taking care of his new found friend. Sandy, a vet tech, tries to help him navigate the perils of first time pet ownership. Through snark and advice, the two slowly begin to get to know each other better. Their lives are irrevocably changed by the power of the pooch.
It’s been quite some time since I’ve read this story and it was so much fun to return to re-read this book. The new cover makes it appear that it should only be read at Christmas, but it can be enjoyed any time of the year as its charms always shine. Much of Lane’s other writing is full of angst, but this story is in her lighter wheelhouse, with some small drama to propel the story. Carter is so lost, it’s easy to fall for his bumbling charms. Sandy can appear somewhat bitter and sardonic, but he comes to life in this book as he tries to help poor Carter with his new pet. There are several Easter eggs to other Amy Lane books, but I’ll not be giving them away as it’s part of the fun figuring them out.
This is just one of those feel good books that Amy Lane has mastered – they don’t talk down, they aren’t too predictable, nor do they follow too many of the tropes, but are just a fun ride to finding out how life works. Her characters are entirely delightful and seem like people you could meet in real life, which grounds the story and somehow makes it just that much more cute. We might not like to admit it, but we all need a ball of energy in our lives to help pull us out of our funks. Transformation is the overarching theme of this book and it’s an enjoyable ride that Lane take us on through the joys of owning a pet.
RATING: 
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