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 . . .
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