Todd Dwyer, and his sister Claire, attend the funeral of
their Uncle Bertie. They see a little white ball of fluff
sitting quietly in the front pew: Archie,
his uncle's beloved dog. Many years ago Uncle Bertie ran
away to join the circus, and he always had a trained dog in
his act. The dog was always named Archie. This was
possibly the fourth Archie, and Todd had just learned the
dog will be his after the funeral and reception. He
wonders if his girlfriend, Gwen, will accept Archie because
this
is not the time to upset her since he plans to propose.
The huge ring he is sure she will love
is
waiting.
Emma Carlisle has owned the Spirit Inn since her
grandmother
passed away. She loves the Inn and gives it her heart.
Her
accounts are not profitable and heading into the red. She
is
puzzled since the Inn is always fully booked with many
guests
returning with friends. Supplies are disappearing, and her
chef Jean-Paul, who recently
served time for a drug conviction, is Clifton's prime
suspect for supply shortages. Emma disagrees. She's also
stuck working with her grandmother's oldest employee,
Clifton Fairholm. He knows about innkeeping but is not
open
to new ideas, and there is a convention of ghost hunters
who are returning to the
Inn.
When Todd returns home with
Archie, everything goes wrong. Todd is forced to take
Archie to his sister's
immediately, but on the way Archie jumps out the window and
disappears. Todd finds himself at
the Spirit Inn and for a reunion with Emma, his first love
from childhood. What happens next
is pure
delight. Fun, excitement, romance and ghosts, with a tinge
of mystery add to the mix.
PET FRIENDLY is the debut novel for Sue Pethick. It is a
one-sitting read that leaves you
with a smile on your face. As a dog
lover, I found Archie adorable, funny, and would adopt him
in a minute. He stole my heart. The Spirit Inn is a nice
setting with cozy descriptions of the
Victorian inn and a cast of characters who are wonderful.
I find Todd sweet and endearing, while it is easy to
loath the calculating, obnoxious Gwen. I recommend PET
FRIENDLY for everyone and look forward
to the next book by Ms.
Pethick...coming soon, I hope.
In Sue Pethick’s witty and heartwarming debut novel, a sweet dog in need of an owner brings together the perfect candidates… Todd Dwyer, a successful app designer, wasn’t planning to adopt a dog, but when his Uncle Bertie dies and leaves his little mutt Archie homeless, Todd can’t help welcoming the pooch home. Archie could charm the marrow out of a bone, but Todd’s girlfriend Gwen is less than impressed with the instant bond the fluffy white ball of fur makes with her boyfriend. When things go awry the first night, she insists that Todd give Archie to his sister, Claire, whose rural home is a day’s drive away. Todd and Archie hit the road, but circumstances compel them to make a detour to a quaint hotel run by Todd’s childhood friend, Emma Carlisle. As it happens, the hotel is hosting a colorful group of ghost hunters in town for a paranormal conference, and when Archie starts howling into the air vent, it isn’t long before their road trip turns bumpier than an unpaved country lane. But with Archie’s unerring canine instincts and loyal heart, he may help Todd and Emma see the happiness that’s waiting just under their noses . . .