Ain't Too Proud to Beg (Dog Walkers, #1)

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Ain't Too Proud to Beg (Dog Walkers #1)

by Susan Donovan

3.64 · rating details · 540 ratings · 62 reviews

Josie Sheehan collects failed relationships the way some women collect designer handbags. Now, at thirty-five, she has exactly one male in her life: her Labradoodle, Genghis. In fact Josie, along with the three very single women in her dog-walking group, has recently sworn off men, resigning herself to long walks in the park with her devoted, four-legged friend.

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Mass Market Paperback, 329 pages

Published November 3rd 2009 by St. Martin's Paperbacks

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Jul 26, 2010

Jessi rated it

Shelves: contemporary-fiction, romance

Summary: Josie Sheehan collects failed relationships the way some women collect designer handbags. Now, at 35, she has exactly one male in her life: her Labradoodle, Genghis. Can he help her find Mr. Right? -- JCPL Catalog

First Sentence: The photo album crackled with age as the page was turned.

I am turning more and more to contemporary romance as I discover amazing authors writing in this sub-genre. This is the first book in Donovan's series about four female dog-walking-...more

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Feb 11, 2010

Kath rated it

This book is more of a 3.5 than a 4, but better than your average romantic comedy, though this one has more drama than comedy. I loved Sophie and her story of falling in love with the wrong guys and pretty much not speaking up about anything. I could totally see it. I also loved Rick and his back story. While tragic, it's good to see someone trying to put their life back together in an honest way.

I did have a few issues with the book. First, Sophie's unremarkable group of friend...more

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Aug 13, 2011

Laurie rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary-romance, touch-of-hot

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Sep 16, 2010

Mrs. Hanson (My House of Books) rated it

A cute and surprisingly hot contemporary romance. Just what I wanted!

I picked up Ain't Too Proud to Beg, thanks in part to Ms. Donovan's interview with Sarah at Smart Bitches Trashy Books, and I am so glad I did.

Josie is normal, a little gun-shy when it comes to relationships because she's dated some real "winners" recently. She and the three other ladies in her dog-walking group have sworn off men, though Josie never seemed to vehemently swear this oath. Re...more

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Dec 31, 2009

Tara rated it

Shelves: romance-contemporary, read-in-2009

Sigh. You really can't go wrong with Susan Donovan or Jennifer Crusie when it comes to your basic contemporary love story. The really good stories give you hope. Donovan may have a formula but it works.

The heroine is always smart and awesome but just doesn't see how awesome she is. She has awesome friends and family and isn't waiting to be rescued. The men tend to be flawed eve if they are perfect to the eye. Driving home the fact that nobody is perfect and things are not alw...more

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Jan 26, 2010

Patti rated it

Book Description:

Josie Sheehan collects failed relationships the way some women collect designer handbags. Now, at thirty-five, she has exactly one male in her life: her Labradoodle, Genghis. In fact Josie, along with the three very single women in her dog-walking group, has recently sworn off men, resigning herself to long walks in the park with her devoted, four-legged friend.

All bets are off, however, when she meets Rick Rousseau, a pet-company CEO who is smart, sexy, ...more

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Nov 01, 2011

Cara Ellison rated it

Shelves: contemporary-romance

Susan Donovan has always been a weird hit or miss for me. When she's good, there is nobody better. Public Displays of Affection and Knock Me Off My Feet remain two of my favorite romance novels of all time. And once in a while, she'll just go flat. Kept Woman was like that for me. But I picked up The Night She Got Lucky, the second in the dog walker series, with renewed hope. The Night She Got Lucky blew me away. Donovan was back on! If I'd picked up Ain't Too Proud To Beg first, I'...more

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Nov 18, 2009

Colleen rated it

Shelves: library-has-it, contemporary-romance, 2009

Well it looks like Susan Donovan is getting herself a series. This is the first book in the series featuring a set of girlfriends who love their dogs and work for the same paper - The San Francisco Herald.

Josie is the obituary writer for the Herald and during an interview with widower, Glorida Needleham, she realizes her life is missing substance (more specifically a good man). Gloria tells her to make a list of the what she wants in a man, but she must do it before dawn the next d...moreWell it looks like Susan Donovan is getting herself a series. This is the first book in the series featuring a set of girlfriends who love their dogs and work for the same paper - The San Francisco Herald.

Josie is the obituary writer for the Herald and during an interview with widower, Glorida Needleham, she realizes her life is missing substance (more specifically a good man). Gloria tells her to make a list of the what she wants in a man, but she must do it before dawn the next day. So Josie, while waiting in line at a supersized pet store contest, makes her list. When she walks into the store, she finds herself eye to eye with a hunky dog groomer (Rick). Josie decides to take her destiny into her own hands for a change and asks Rick for coffee. When he never calls her (like he said he would), she hunts him down. This is when she finds out he's not a dog groomer, but actually the CEO of the entire company. Rick has some baggage and has kept himself in check by not dating anyone in a very long time. When he finally meets up with Josie, sparks fly.

There is a bad guy in the story, but the thing is, he's not so bad. You get his point of view through out the entire story and you witness some of his good deeds. It made this bleeding heart feel sorry for him on several occasions. I do feel his story was dropped though - what happens to him, nothing is really said (maybe something will happen in the remainder of the series).

Rick is a likeable guy, he's made some mistakes (big ones) but he's making amends with his life. Josie, well now, she got on my nerves a little bit. There was one point in the story that she totally had a TSTL moment. She takes something as truth (and literally has a meltdown) without asking the person whom it involves whether it's true or not. It annoyed the daylights out of me.

All in all the first installment is cute, sweet and pure fluff. A good start to the series, but hoping the next one has a little more substance.(less)

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Apr 12, 2010

Clare rated it

Books like this are why my husband keeps saying, "Just write a bestselling novel and then I will stay home with the kids." I can't believe this got published.

"Dogwalker finds romance" is the basic plot, and it started out well. Josie makes a list of the ideal attributes for a future partner/husband/boyfriend and emboldened by the list, meets and asks out a man who seems to fit her requirements. Lots of hot sex is thrown in, and that was fine too. But when her good...more

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Nov 16, 2009

Katie(babs) rated it

Susan Donovan’s latest, Ain’t Too Proud to Beg is about a Josie Sheehan who is a major fail whale when it comes to the relationship department with men. Josie has a great group of female friends but the thirty-five year old San Francisco Herald obituary feature writer really dreads her single status. She doesn’t want to die a spinster with the only male in her life; her labradoodle, Genghis. She begins to lament the lack of human male companionship after she interviews an eighty-four year old wi...moreSusan Donovan’s latest, Ain’t Too Proud to Beg is about a Josie Sheehan who is a major fail whale when it comes to the relationship department with men. Josie has a great group of female friends but the thirty-five year old San Francisco Herald obituary feature writer really dreads her single status. She doesn’t want to die a spinster with the only male in her life; her labradoodle, Genghis. She begins to lament the lack of human male companionship after she interviews an eighty-four year old widow who lost her husband after many years of happy marriage.

As Josie reevaluates what she wants in a man, she ends up staying overnight in front of the new Celestial Pet Superstore where she’ll be one of the few to claim an entire year’s worth of free dog grooming. Josie thinks she get in and get out, but when she sees how good looking the male groomer who waits on her is, she’s speechless and embarrassed. Her reaction is a bit silly to the cute groomer- “she felt as if she were on fire inside, a liquid molten fire that left her tingling everywhere.” If only I were so lucky to feel this way when I went to pick up my pet’s products.

Josie does something very brave and asks the employee, Rick, to go out with her for coffee. Rick says he’ll call her later. Josie is overjoyed. But the thing Josie doesn’t know about Rick Rousseau is that he’s the CEO of the pet store corporation. And Rick is very interested in Josie because he also feels the same tingling and heat. Isn’t it incredible how these two are on the same page? But Rick doesn’t call her because someone from his past pops up and wants revenge. It seems Rick was a very wild teenage and ended up killing a girl he used to fool around with and the dead girl’s father wants Rick to pay. That accident turned his life around where he no longer drinks and smokes (what do you do? Sorry, had to put that in there) and lives a pretty upstanding life.

Josie doesn’t know any of this and feels scorned by the hot grooming man not calling her. The old Josie would have forgotten the whole thing, but she tracks Rick down and corners him in his office. Rick thinks Josie is incredible and takes a chance and starts dating her even though he could be placing her in danger because of the psycho father. Soon these two are inseparable and Rick has to make a decision whether he should tell Josie about the accident or keep it to himself and let her continue to think he’s this great guy.

Ain’t Too Proud to Beg is a cute book with likeable characters and some funny moments. I would say this is more a fluffy read if anything, even with the subplot with Rick’s stalker who lives with hate because of his loss of a loved one. I really enjoyed both Rick and Josie’s outlook on life and they do make a sweet couple.
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May 20, 2011

Beth Yarnall rated it

· review of another edition

I wanted to like this book more than I actually did. Josie started out great in the beginning, embracing her new outlook on life. By the end of the book she was less of a heroine and more of a character things happen to. Her reaction to Rick's supposed fathering of a child was childish. He had been honest with her all along, admitting to just as bad or worse things. Why would Josie think he'd lie about this?
Although I liked Rick I didn't really get why he liked Josie. She wasn't enough of...more

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Jan 16, 2011

Katrina rated it

The female relationships in this book are the best part of the novel; not the romance itself. Four dysfunctional friends whose dogs mimic their neuroses. They have witty banter and the heroine of the book has a great personality. The thoughts inside her head kept me laughing. However, I didn't feel the connection between the male and female protagonists. Of course the author wrote about there being one... but I didn't buy it. I found myself skipping the parts about the relationship to fin...more

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Dec 12, 2009

Isis FG rated it

Recommended to Isis FG by: continuation of a series

Shelves: 2009, info-full, published-2009, reviewed, romance-contemporary, stars-3

I had planned to give this book 3.5 stars, but I didn't like the way things went at the end (made no sense to me) so it gets dropped down to 3 stars. I thought I would like this book more but there was something about it that I just did not really connect with.

Summary:
Josie Sheehan is an obituary writer for a newspaper with no luck in the relationship department. After she interviews a recent widow, she is compelled to make a list of what would be her perfect man. While wa...moreI had planned to give this book 3.5 stars, but I didn't like the way things went at the end (made no sense to me) so it gets dropped down to 3 stars. I thought I would like this book more but there was something about it that I just did not really connect with.

Summary:
Josie Sheehan is an obituary writer for a newspaper with no luck in the relationship department. After she interviews a recent widow, she is compelled to make a list of what would be her perfect man. While waiting in line to try to win a free year of dog grooming for her Labradoodle, Josie writes the list on her laptop and within 30 minutes, she meets sexy Rick Rousseau...who she at first believes is a dog groomer, but who is really the rich CEO of a chain of pet stores.

The two are instantly attracted, but Rick is a man of secrets. He wasn't always the good guy he is now and has spent the last seven years trying to redeem his mistakes...which meant he didn't date and avoided women. But no Josie has appeared in his life and he decides to take a chance. No sooner do the two begin a relationship than Rick's past comes back to haunt him, putting Josie's life in danger.

Review:
I really wanted to love this book...I mean, it's got a cool dog in it, who wouldn't want to love it? But there was just something kind of off about it, something, I don't know, awkward? There were too many parts of the story that didn't really interest me.

On the Josie/Rick front things were kinda sweet and there were some hot scenes, but I didn't feel all that invested in their relationship. Things were a little too sugary-sweet at times. Aside from the conflict between them about his past, the relationship was too "match-made-in-heaven." But I did like the characters and I admired how Rick had managed to turn his life around.

The sex scenes are on the more explicit side so for those of you who don't like that kind of stuff, beware. I don't think there was as much sex in this book than in others of hers. It seemed like a lot of the scenes were the kind that are referred to by not written.

Like any Donovan book, there's some humor and quirkiness in the story. There's one scene with the dog that had me cracking up. It was hilarious and something that I could really imagine happening.

What didn't I like about this book? The whole thing with the 3 dog walker friends didn't work for me. Mostly because I didn't like the characters. They were obnoxious, neurotic and annoying. And considering that 2 of the 3 friends are going to be heroine's in the next two books, I can't say I'm all that anxious to read them.

It was also annoying how certain things were brought into the story then never followed through with. Josie's sister is having problems with her marriage and seems to be having a breakdown or something. Then that part is just dropped like a hot potato. You never find out what happens there and it annoyed me. You also never find out what happens with the man after Rick, or anything associated with that guy. Also annoying.

The biggest annoyance, though, was how the ending went. Josie learns something about Rick from a man she knows absolutely HATES Rick and she automatic believes it to be truth. She overacts and gets all melodramatic and all I wanted to do was smack her upside the head and tell her to actually THINK for a minute. But no, she flips out and it made no sense whatsoever to me. Then when she and Rick are trying to work things out the way she acted and talked screamed of her having no trust in Rick whatsoever. It made for a not very romantic ending.

So in the end, this book had it's good points and bad points. I liked it enough and didn't find it too difficult to read, but I thought it could have been a lot better. I'm not sure if I plan to read the next book in the trilogy because I'm not really all that interested in the other characters.(less)

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Feb 28, 2010

Ann Marie rated it

I loved this book as I usually do love anything written by Susan Donovan. It isn't often I read about a guy who really turned his life around and it seemed believable. The characters were fantastic. The dogs were awesome. The suspense entertaining instead of intense. This was a great story about Josie who is looking to the universe for the perfect guy. She is a skeptic at best but the universe delivered. Could she handle what she asked for? This is what Donovan does best. She helps her ...more

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Nov 21, 2009

Bet Lantaff rated it

This was another good book by Ms Donovan which seems to be the beginning of a "magical romance" series about 4 women who meet for dog walking several days a week. I'll admit that some of the book was predictable, but that didn't deter from the story. Some of the story, especially the first date for the hero/heroine, gave me a couple of laugh out loud moments. I've loved Donovan's writing from her first novel "Knock Me Off My Feet" and this book was no different. If you wa...more

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Mar 10, 2011

Alexis rated it

Shelves: romance-contemporary, romance-suspense, 2011

This book was exactly what I have come to expect from Susan Donovan. I instantly fell in love with the characters and the chemistry that Donovan created between them. I also love the whole dog incorporation. Maybe because I love animals, but I honestly pictured my own pets doing everything the dogs in the book did. I cannot wait to read the next book and see what happens next for the group of men hating dog walkers.

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Jan 11, 2011

Krissie rated it

So, I'd say this book was a nice escape, but it was a typical icky romance: handsome rich man falls for attractive female (though she's physically imperfect, for once); hot sex (that I didn't really need to read); problem almost causes a break-up; couple resolves issue; wedding follows. Though, I did like Mrs. Neeldleman. She seemed feisty. I like feisty ol' ladies.

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Feb 16, 2011

Sarah Eiseman rated it

This was a very light and fun story. I tend to gravitate toward romantic comedies and this book gave me some good laughs. I haven’t read a ton of Donovan’s books, but I’m finding them very enjoyable. Along the same lines as Susan Mallery’s books, with a little more humor. This book had a lot to do with dogs, which I’m finding I enjoy more and more.

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Dec 27, 2009

Zoe rated it

Shelves: contemporary-romance

While this lacks some of the emotional punch of Donovan's earlier novels, it is still near the top of it's contemporary romance genre. It starts a little slow, but picks up intensity halfway through the book. The heroine's friends are a bit annoying, but by the end you can see they have redeeming qualities. This is a relief, as Donovan plans 2 more books about this group of reporters and their dogs.

The hero in this was wonderful.

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Jan 07, 2011

Westerville rated it

Shelves: romance, adults

"It's actually only slightly a fantasy. It was cute and a little more light-hearted than her other books." - Jess, Adult Services Librarian

Reserve a library copy!

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Dec 27, 2009

R*beth*h Hart rated it

Loved the character in this book! Getting the hardest to obtain man to notice her gotta give her credit. Definitely a fairytale with a little twist to keep it more interesting. I liked her book "Knock me off my feet" more but still gonna head out and find her other books!

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Dec 05, 2009

Sobia rated it

Not a bad read, but not really keeper shelf worthy.
It was cute, and fast....and I really liked the main characters...The Hero in particular was a nice change from the run of the mill romance novel Heroes.

The only downside was too much from too many secondary characters.

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Aug 18, 2011

Brenda Britton rated it

Loved the story, Josie found her man who loves dogs and is very handsome. He is also considerate despite his not too great past. Unfortunately his past comes back to haunt him and threatens to take the life of his new found love but of course, after some stressful hours, everything works out as always does in a good novel.

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Feb 27, 2010

Photojim rated it

Shelves: 2010-reads, romance, jim-swap-shelf

A definite 2.5 stars. Decent premise. Characters are a bit too perfect. Rather funny situations. But the whole thing left me feeling blah. I guess I just didn't like the writing. It's as though the ideas were good but the execution left something to be desired.

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Feb 15, 2010

Jodi rated it

Shelves: read-in-2010

I loved that Rick was actually a guy with a past, not just your normal perfect romance hero that hadn't ever done anything wrong. While it is a lighter read there is also a lot about forgiveness and making big changes in your life for the better throughout the book

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Jun 03, 2011

Eve rated it

Cute! Better than the other one I read first in the series (the one with the man hating website) A definite 3 and a half stars, didn't want to put it down once I got into it. Did have some flaws, but overall a fun summer read.

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Aug 01, 2011

laura598 rated it

Sweet romance with a lot of heart. Hero celibate for 7 years and learns to love a woman for the first time. Herione was sweet and thoughtful and real. Story had redemption and was an emotional read for me. I recommend.

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May 21, 2011

Sheri rated it

Shelves: contemporary-romance

My grade: C+. Rick and Josie were likable, and did have some issues to work through and some conflict to resolve by growing as people. The big bust-up at the end was caused by Josie's failure to simply ask Rick if he'd lied to her. She chose to believe something Rick's enemy told her (and that after he'd drugged her, kidnapped her, held her prisoner and threatened to kill her). Sure, it makes perfect sense to believe him instead of the man who is the love of your life--NOT! This secondary charac...more

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Jan 06, 2011

Jess rated it

Shelves: because-i-like-the-author, contemp-romance, fantasy, humorous

It's actually only slightly a fantasy. It was cute and a little more light-hearted than her other books. This sounds like it's ging to be a quartet, so I can't wait for the other books.

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Oct 31, 2009

Allison rated it

Great book, I really enjoyed it!! I would probably give it 4.5 stars. There was a little too much banter among the "friends" in the book but I loved Rick and Josie.

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About Susan Donovan

The Author is Born
I grew up in the Cincinnati suburb of Milford, Ohio and spent my formative years in the cineplex, the mall, the drive-in, and the convertible MG of some guy named Gary. My mother claims I was destined to be a writer. As a kindergartner, I reported that I’d just seen a giraffe, elephant and rhinoceros at the bus stop. When Mom told me I was a good storyteller, I assured her...moreThe Author is Born
I grew up in the Cincinnati suburb of Milford, Ohio and spent my formative years in the cineplex, the mall, the drive-in, and the convertible MG of some guy named Gary. My mother claims I was destined to be a writer. As a kindergartner, I reported that I’d just seen a giraffe, elephant and rhinoceros at the bus stop. When Mom told me I was a good storyteller, I assured her that it was not a story, but the absolute truth! (See mediocre journalism career summary below…)

The Author Is Catapulted Into the World
I wrote for the school newspaper in high school, but never made it into a position of authority – the journalism adviser told me I was "too spasmodic" to be editor. I also starred in drama club plays and hosted excellent cast parties. I earned a scholarship to be a summer foreign exchange student in Japan, then headed off to college at Northwestern University, events that forced me to conclude that there was, in fact, life outside Southwestern Ohio. Why wasn’t I informed? I look back upon my college years in Chicago and marvel that I was able to graduate and still have such a fine time. In 1983, I walked away with a degree in journalism and a minor in Japanese language and sociology, just in time for the recession. Because the only job I could find was at a Chicago phone sex service, I decided to go back for my master’s degree. I know, I know. Hindsight is 20/20.

Very Odd Jobs
My first job out of grad school was as a staff reporter at The Daily Southtown, on Chicago’s Southwest Side. I was a somewhat snobbish, ridiculously enthusiastic young woman promptly put in my place by the mean streets of Bridgeport and Burbank. My sincere thanks go out to the Southtown boys who teased me mercilessly, gave me a nickname that should have resulted in legal action, and showed me how to get along with cops, politicians and city editors – in other words, generally ruined me for polite society thereafter. Thanks guys. I owe you. Next, I did an internship at the Chicago Tribune, where I learned the nasty truth about gender politics and static electricity. I then packed up my red Dodge Omni and my cat and drove cross-country to work for two years at the Albuquerque Tribune. New Mexico is the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen, and it will always be special to me. But I missed my boyfriend, and moved back to Chicago. (I’m a romantic at heart, right?) I spent the next year working in corporate public relations for a company that has since, shall we say, hit the skids. It was not entirely my fault. When my boyfriend finished medical school, we moved together to Indianapolis for his residency and my job at the now-defunct Indianapolis News (also not my fault.) We got married in September 1989. Unfortunately, Hurricane Hugo destroyed our honeymoon hotel in the Virgin Islands, our luggage got lost somewhere between the US mainland and Puerto Rico, and we spent our wedding night in fleabag motel near the Atlanta airport that housed the overflow from a nearby Army base. This made us pause and ask, "Mmm…is this some kind of omen?" It was.

The Author’s Family Life
My husband joined a small-town medical practice in Maryland about an hour from Baltimore/Washington and I went to work for a member of Congress. In my opinion, there are some things a person simply does not need to know in order to lead a happy life, such as: what really goes on behind closed doors at the U.S. Capitol? I ran from that job before delivering my first child. (Okay – I waddled.) My kids – now ages thirteen and eleven – are the most important part of my life. However, I am not strong enough to be a full-time mom and have resorted to a variety of part-time jobs in an effort to stay somewhat sane. These jobs have included fund-raiser for a symphony orchestra, communications consultant, free-lance journalist and painted furniture artist – a creative pursuit I still enjoy when not focusing on my No. 1 hobby, which is d(less)

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Ain't Too Proud to Beg (Dog Walkers #1)

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