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Hound Dog & Bean
There's been little love in H.D. "Hound Dog" Fisher's life since the death of his beloved mom when he was a boy. Bounced around the foster care system, he ran away as soon as he could… and took the foster dog with him. As far as he's concerned, only dogs have no ulterior motive, never hold a grudge, and offer unconditional love. Now he helps run a no-kill shelter and leaves relationships where they belong: in the back room.
"Bean" Alexander settled in Kansas City to open his coffee shop after years of traveling. He never expected to open his heart too. When a man with a grudge takes a swing at H.D. while in line at Bean's shop, Bean jumps to intervene.
So taking a hit for H.D. gets Bean noticed, and H.D. feels obligated to pay a debt. But then the unexpected happens. A series of misadventures causes H.D. to open up—but falling in love makes him turn tail and run. Trust is a tough road to travel. Will good friends, a dog named Sarah Jane, and a bit of folk magic be enough to bring Hound Dog and Bean a happy ending?
"Bean" Alexander settled in Kansas City to open his coffee shop after years of traveling. He never expected to open his heart too. When a man with a grudge takes a swing at H.D. while in line at Bean's shop, Bean jumps to intervene.
So taking a hit for H.D. gets Bean noticed, and H.D. feels obligated to pay a debt. But then the unexpected happens. A series of misadventures causes H.D. to open up—but falling in love makes him turn tail and run. Trust is a tough road to travel. Will good friends, a dog named Sarah Jane, and a bit of folk magic be enough to bring Hound Dog and Bean a happy ending?
276 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 19, 2014
3 people are currently reading
152 people want to read
About the author
B.G. Thomas
77 books239 followersB.G. Thomas lives in Kansas City with his husband for nearly fifteen years and was legally married in 2014. Ehey have a fabulous little dog, Sarah Jane. He sees his wonderful daughter just often enough to miss her when she isn't there! He has a romantic soul and is extraordinarily lucky to have many friends.
He loves science fiction & fantasy, horror, romance and more, has gone to SF&F conventions his entire adult life, and been lucky enough to meet many of his favorite writers. He is a “Star Trek” and Joss Whedon fan from way back!
He has written all his life, it is where he finds his joy. In the 90’s, he wrote for gay magazines, but stopped because they wanted him to cut out story and romance, and write only sex.
Then through a few friends, he discovered the growing market of M/M Romance and was thrilled beyond words. FINALLY, a way to write the stories he always wanted to write. Adventure, romantic comedy, science fiction, and more, but with gay characters. And he wouldn't have to fade to black! People wanted to read the erotic as well. Plot and sex! HURRAY!
B.G. Thomas very much believes in The Law of Attraction and that "thoughts become things." A lot of things all started happening at once. He heard the words, "Leap, and the net will appear," and something re-kindled inside. He sent out a story and was thrilled when it was almost immediately accepted.
He believes that we are divine expressions of the Universe, each and everyone. "It is never too late!,” he states. “Pursue your dreams! They will come true!"
He loves science fiction & fantasy, horror, romance and more, has gone to SF&F conventions his entire adult life, and been lucky enough to meet many of his favorite writers. He is a “Star Trek” and Joss Whedon fan from way back!
He has written all his life, it is where he finds his joy. In the 90’s, he wrote for gay magazines, but stopped because they wanted him to cut out story and romance, and write only sex.
Then through a few friends, he discovered the growing market of M/M Romance and was thrilled beyond words. FINALLY, a way to write the stories he always wanted to write. Adventure, romantic comedy, science fiction, and more, but with gay characters. And he wouldn't have to fade to black! People wanted to read the erotic as well. Plot and sex! HURRAY!
B.G. Thomas very much believes in The Law of Attraction and that "thoughts become things." A lot of things all started happening at once. He heard the words, "Leap, and the net will appear," and something re-kindled inside. He sent out a story and was thrilled when it was almost immediately accepted.
He believes that we are divine expressions of the Universe, each and everyone. "It is never too late!,” he states. “Pursue your dreams! They will come true!"
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
January 24, 2014
This was definitely not for me. Usually I like this author's work and the blurb sounded good, so I gave this a try. I never warmed up to H.D. throughout the whole book. I know he had issues, but I found him to be selfish. And too slutty. (and not in the fun way) Mini rant (and spoilers!) ahead...
Plus, I think it could of been edited better to cut out ALOT of pages/scenes. I'm all for getting my moneys worth, but most of it was just the characters thinking about life or conversations between one MC and a minor character.
Can't recommend this one, but you should try Trust Me or Bianca's Plan by this author.
Plus, I think it could of been edited better to cut out ALOT of pages/scenes. I'm all for getting my moneys worth, but most of it was just the characters thinking about life or conversations between one MC and a minor character.
Can't recommend this one, but you should try Trust Me or Bianca's Plan by this author.
December 6, 2018
Subtracted a star for
January 28, 2014
It was very drawn out and I confess I skimmed a little. The ending was kina abrupt and I really didn't warm up to H.D at all. I wanted H.D to at least have to grovel a bit before Bean took him back. His reasons for leaving in the first place were ridicules. And I do feel there was cheating in this!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 11, 2014
Awwww, man, I loved this book. It was laid back, with no major drama, just a sweet love story that made me feel really good. Perfect for a rainy afternoon.
September 13, 2016
The book blurb gives away the entire plot, and it is a plot that might have made a cute read at 25,000 words, but here it is bloated by flashbacks, monologs, reflections on life, and other extraneous material to more than 87,000 words. H.D. is a prickly love-‘em-and-leave-‘em type who is proud of being a surly misanthrope. He wears dreadlocks, is a kung fu master, and works in a no-kill animal shelter where he has a special connection with dogs because he trusts them more than humans. He and his coworker Elaine like to lecture the reader about the responsibilities of pet owners.
Bean is a quiet intellectual type who has traveled the world in search of how to roast the perfect coffee bean, and he too likes to explain it for pages to the reader. He runs the neighborhood coffee shop, but he and H.D. have never met because Elaine always comes in to buy coffee from Poindexter, the cute lesbian barista. Elaine and Poindexter get to play the meddling best friend role to H.D. and Bean and give relationship advice, sometimes in a whole chapter’s worth of conversation, and the two women also have a secondary romance which fills the page-count some more.
By Chapter 5, H.D. and Bean finally meet one day when H.D. goes to buy coffee for Elaine and gets attacked by another customer, which causes Bean instinctively to intervene and receive a knock-out punch. H.D. takes Bean back to Bean’s house and whips up home remedies for him that afternoon, promising to return the following night to cook him dinner. The next day, they have their dinner date and a sex scene, and these four events of meeting, home remedies, dinner, and sex (roughly two days) are described such detail that they fill Chapters 5 to 25, which is almost half of the book.
However, there is not much conflict in this book other than H.D.’s fear of commitment flaring up toward the end and causing him to disappear for two weeks while inexplicably refusing to give anyone a heads-up, an explanation, or an apology. This made me exasperated with the characters, and overall I got impatient with the length of this oddly insubstantial story. (Note: there is a description near the 60% mark of a puppy mill that sensitive readers might want to skip over.) I think this novel could have used extensive edits and a stronger plotline to give it more focus. (Review copy provided by the publisher via Hearts on Fire Reviews in exchange for an honest review. Review written for Hearts on Fire Reviews.)
Bean is a quiet intellectual type who has traveled the world in search of how to roast the perfect coffee bean, and he too likes to explain it for pages to the reader. He runs the neighborhood coffee shop, but he and H.D. have never met because Elaine always comes in to buy coffee from Poindexter, the cute lesbian barista. Elaine and Poindexter get to play the meddling best friend role to H.D. and Bean and give relationship advice, sometimes in a whole chapter’s worth of conversation, and the two women also have a secondary romance which fills the page-count some more.
By Chapter 5, H.D. and Bean finally meet one day when H.D. goes to buy coffee for Elaine and gets attacked by another customer, which causes Bean instinctively to intervene and receive a knock-out punch. H.D. takes Bean back to Bean’s house and whips up home remedies for him that afternoon, promising to return the following night to cook him dinner. The next day, they have their dinner date and a sex scene, and these four events of meeting, home remedies, dinner, and sex (roughly two days) are described such detail that they fill Chapters 5 to 25, which is almost half of the book.
However, there is not much conflict in this book other than H.D.’s fear of commitment flaring up toward the end and causing him to disappear for two weeks while inexplicably refusing to give anyone a heads-up, an explanation, or an apology. This made me exasperated with the characters, and overall I got impatient with the length of this oddly insubstantial story. (Note: there is a description near the 60% mark of a puppy mill that sensitive readers might want to skip over.) I think this novel could have used extensive edits and a stronger plotline to give it more focus. (Review copy provided by the publisher via Hearts on Fire Reviews in exchange for an honest review. Review written for Hearts on Fire Reviews.)
June 23, 2014
A good writer makes you care about his main characters, and I fell in love with H.D. and Bean within the first thirty pages. Their love affair was sweet, sexy, and magical. This was a terrific, romantic read and I was truly sorry when it was over. I love a love story where there is a hint of magic in the telling. If you haven't read this yet, you should. Especially if you're like me, and you really enjoy getting those romantic goosebumps late at night when it's just you and the book and your imagination. Oh, and even the side characters were oh so deftly drawn. They all came off as real people and not just plot filler. Crap, now I have to go through Mr. Thomas's backlog of books and look for another one. Like I'm not busy enough already. On a side note, Paul Richmond's artwork for the cover is absolutely spot-on perfect.
June 25, 2015
This was a very nice and engaging read - thanks for the rec, Sarah! I just found the ending a bit too psychic. Other than that - yes, I enjoyed it a lot.
August 3, 2015
The first thing that grabbed me about this book was the quirky characters. I liked that the story features several lesbians which got me to thinking. I would have expected to read more about lesbians friends in all these m/m books that I read. Don't people surround themselves with friends who have similar interest and likes? It was nice to see the lesbians here.
It was also nice that Bean and H.D. weren't stereotypical MCs with great bodies and too handsome for words. I liked how we got to see Bean and H.D.'s relationship developed. Once they had sex there was still more to the story which was excellent! This was not a predictable story and I enjoyed it. I didn't like a few of H.D.'s choices but that made him all the more real.
I loved the cameo of the little girl in the coffee shop. She's from another book from the author that I just loved to pieces!!
It was also nice that Bean and H.D. weren't stereotypical MCs with great bodies and too handsome for words. I liked how we got to see Bean and H.D.'s relationship developed. Once they had sex there was still more to the story which was excellent! This was not a predictable story and I enjoyed it. I didn't like a few of H.D.'s choices but that made him all the more real.
I loved the cameo of the little girl in the coffee shop. She's from another book from the author that I just loved to pieces!!
June 14, 2015
2.5 stars. Lacked focus. Some great scenes didn't make up for the endless, boring ones, of which there were just too many. The end felt rushed as well (would've liked an epilogue I think) and I couldn't get a grasp on what was real of HD's trip and what wasn't (was the old lady still alive or not, was it all a dream?). Cuteness with dogs wasn't enough to make me enjoy this more.
February 21, 2016
Great fun watching the two men sniff around each other, each gun-shy for a relationship.
Amazing audiobook for a favorite read!
Amazing audiobook for a favorite read!
February 2, 2014
Two things interested me in reading this book. The first is that I've grown to really like B.G. Thomas's books and the second is that Hound Dog loves dogs and runs a no kill shelter. I like animals more than people so I could certainly empathize with how H.D. felt. I also liked the idea of a non-people person with a man who owned a coffee shop and interacted with people all day long. There is nothing better, in my opinion, than a really fantastic opposites attract romance and I was pretty sure that was exactly what the author was going to give me. Although I'll be completely honest here and admit that I'm not a coffee connoisseur, in fact, I don't even really drink it anymore.
I loved Hound Dog from the moment I met him and he wasn't letting this jerk adopt one of his babies, Sarah Jane. She had been abandoned and left outside in a backyard, so when H.D. found out this guy planned on leaving her outside all day while he was at work…well, that was a big NO! I'm a big supporter of animal rescues so I cheered through that entire scene. Now Bean was a whole different kettle of fish. Don't get me wrong, I pretty much fell for him too, right off the bat. How could I not, especially after meeting his parents, watching his employees try to set him up and seeing how seriously he took coffee beans? However, any man who loves to iron and does it to relax? Well, I gotta think about that for a bit. *grins*
When the jerk who tried to adopt Sarah Jane went after H.D. in The Shepherd's Bean, Bean stepped in front and took the punch meant for Hound Dog. And so they meet, and a brewing attraction begins. Pun totally intended. Bean hasn't noticed a guy in years, but there's something about the blond dreadlocked guy with big blue eyes. And for H.D.? He's surprised to meet a man who seems to have honor and is chivalrous. Two things H.D. is pretty sure are missing from most of the general population. Which might be why H.D. offers to come over and cook Bean dinner. Hound Dog doesn't date. Ever. He has hookups, and a lot of them. Once a dog…always a dog…right? Bean doesn't do one-night stands. He prefers to date and get to know someone. Oh, the attraction here of opposites was so much fun.
'Hound Dog and Bean' was a delightful and adorable story. It was a romance in the truest sense of the word from Hound Dog's fears of love and loss to Bean's desire to be the one H.D. would stay for. The dogs and the shelter animals (and horrible stories) touched my heart and brought a few tears to my eyes. On the other hand, I learned an awful lot about coffee beans that I never knew before. Thank you, Ben, for a beautiful story of hope, trust and love.
NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
I loved Hound Dog from the moment I met him and he wasn't letting this jerk adopt one of his babies, Sarah Jane. She had been abandoned and left outside in a backyard, so when H.D. found out this guy planned on leaving her outside all day while he was at work…well, that was a big NO! I'm a big supporter of animal rescues so I cheered through that entire scene. Now Bean was a whole different kettle of fish. Don't get me wrong, I pretty much fell for him too, right off the bat. How could I not, especially after meeting his parents, watching his employees try to set him up and seeing how seriously he took coffee beans? However, any man who loves to iron and does it to relax? Well, I gotta think about that for a bit. *grins*
When the jerk who tried to adopt Sarah Jane went after H.D. in The Shepherd's Bean, Bean stepped in front and took the punch meant for Hound Dog. And so they meet, and a brewing attraction begins. Pun totally intended. Bean hasn't noticed a guy in years, but there's something about the blond dreadlocked guy with big blue eyes. And for H.D.? He's surprised to meet a man who seems to have honor and is chivalrous. Two things H.D. is pretty sure are missing from most of the general population. Which might be why H.D. offers to come over and cook Bean dinner. Hound Dog doesn't date. Ever. He has hookups, and a lot of them. Once a dog…always a dog…right? Bean doesn't do one-night stands. He prefers to date and get to know someone. Oh, the attraction here of opposites was so much fun.
'Hound Dog and Bean' was a delightful and adorable story. It was a romance in the truest sense of the word from Hound Dog's fears of love and loss to Bean's desire to be the one H.D. would stay for. The dogs and the shelter animals (and horrible stories) touched my heart and brought a few tears to my eyes. On the other hand, I learned an awful lot about coffee beans that I never knew before. Thank you, Ben, for a beautiful story of hope, trust and love.
NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
February 14, 2014
Not for me... This book didn't cause my heart to flutter or soar. In fact, I would seriously doubt ever reading it again. Which is just plain sad for any book.
Now I seem to be in the minority. Most reader seem to love this novel and I really wanted to. (You may Love it. Don't let my review stop you from reading this book.) The storyline was intriguing, but for all the lovely scenes I couldn't get over the character flaws of H.D. The last third of the book just undid all my enjoyment.
H.D. aka Hound Dog. This character for all his said loyalty to animals was in fact unfaithful and untrustworthy. He cheated on Dean. He told his friend and employer that he would be back in a few days knowing that in reality that he wasn't planning on coming back. Later on he finds the old woman (Ezzie) who he thought was dead is very much alive. The same woman who he abandon at the hospital thinking she was going to die. The woman who took him in and cared for him at his lowest point was left to die on her own.
Nope. Not the most likeable character.
Then there's the abrupt ending. Dean welcomes him back with open arms. The End.
Just wait one minute.
I doubt that was the ending. I'm sure that Dean wanted a full explanation. Would he be so forgiving when he finds out H.D cheated on him?
Now I seem to be in the minority. Most reader seem to love this novel and I really wanted to. (You may Love it. Don't let my review stop you from reading this book.) The storyline was intriguing, but for all the lovely scenes I couldn't get over the character flaws of H.D. The last third of the book just undid all my enjoyment.
H.D. aka Hound Dog. This character for all his said loyalty to animals was in fact unfaithful and untrustworthy. He cheated on Dean. He told his friend and employer that he would be back in a few days knowing that in reality that he wasn't planning on coming back. Later on he finds the old woman (Ezzie) who he thought was dead is very much alive. The same woman who he abandon at the hospital thinking she was going to die. The woman who took him in and cared for him at his lowest point was left to die on her own.
Nope. Not the most likeable character.
Then there's the abrupt ending. Dean welcomes him back with open arms. The End.
Just wait one minute.
I doubt that was the ending. I'm sure that Dean wanted a full explanation. Would he be so forgiving when he finds out H.D cheated on him?
February 1, 2014
A Joyfully Jay review.
5 stars
When I first began reading author B.G. Thomas I was struck by the way in which he exposed so much of his characters and developed them so fully making them real—so very real beyond the page. With this author you can count on the men he creates having a vulnerability that runs deep within them but that they rarely show to those around them. The beauty of that is how we, as the readers, are allowed to see the sorrow behind the façade, the depth of emotion beneath the cool exterior that these characters so often present to their coworkers and friends. I am please to tell you that author B.G. Thomas continues this rich style of story telling in his latest novel, Hound Dog & Bean.
Read Sammy's review in its entirety here.
5 stars
When I first began reading author B.G. Thomas I was struck by the way in which he exposed so much of his characters and developed them so fully making them real—so very real beyond the page. With this author you can count on the men he creates having a vulnerability that runs deep within them but that they rarely show to those around them. The beauty of that is how we, as the readers, are allowed to see the sorrow behind the façade, the depth of emotion beneath the cool exterior that these characters so often present to their coworkers and friends. I am please to tell you that author B.G. Thomas continues this rich style of story telling in his latest novel, Hound Dog & Bean.
Read Sammy's review in its entirety here.
October 31, 2014
All I can say is that I loved this book! I listened to it in the audio version, and the narrator did an excellent job with B.g.'s material. I learned quite a bit about adopt-a-pet programs, the vetting process, homelessness, the history of coffee, and just all around lovely (and not so lovely) things about human nature and the place the right pet can have in our lives and our hearts.
The characters were full of personality, and I felt their chemistry as well as their individual struggles and self esteem issues. And the little main four-footed character was a delight to see work her way to the reader's heart.
This was a joy to read, and even better since, when I preordered it, the proceeds were given to a pet shelter. Thank you B.g. Your heart shows so huge in thus story, and it just made me want to give you a hug *smiles*
The characters were full of personality, and I felt their chemistry as well as their individual struggles and self esteem issues. And the little main four-footed character was a delight to see work her way to the reader's heart.
This was a joy to read, and even better since, when I preordered it, the proceeds were given to a pet shelter. Thank you B.g. Your heart shows so huge in thus story, and it just made me want to give you a hug *smiles*
January 31, 2014
Hound Dog & Bean is a wonderful story about two men who meet under less than ideal circumstances. Hound Dog (or H.D.) is an eccentric character that has had many losses in life and finds animals more trustworthy than humans. Bean runs a coffee shop and has not had many good experiences with love. His shop has pretty much become his life. That is, until Hound Dog comes into his store one day and Bean ends up taking a punch to the face that had been intended for H.D. With H.D. feeling responsible for Bean getting hurt, he decides to take care of him and feelings that both men thought they would never allow to surface begin to reappear.
Please go to the link below for the full review. It is a really fun book with some lovely secondary characters and who couldn't love a book about coffee and rescue pets?
:http://liveyourlifebuythebook.wordpre...
Please go to the link below for the full review. It is a really fun book with some lovely secondary characters and who couldn't love a book about coffee and rescue pets?
:http://liveyourlifebuythebook.wordpre...
January 31, 2014
If you love coffee, dogs and a love story this is your go to book.
In this book we meet H.D while he’s working, taking care of the dogs and other animals in the no-kill animal shelter he co-owns with Elaine. His life is dedicated to those animals. He has a connection with them and can sense what they need and whether they will be placed in a good home or not.
He doesn’t do love or relationships and just gets his kicks going out for quick action.
When H.D. meets Bean,the owner of the coffee shop near the shelter, there is something there from the get go.
Bean’s attraction for the guy standing before him is immediate and when he gets punched stepping in front of H.D, it seems to be the start of something.
But there are quite a few roadblocks up the hill.
We see how H.D. and Bean slowly fall in love and how H.D. opens up carefully to Bean. You feel how difficult it is for H.D. to share himself and to dare to take some steps that are even close to bordering on a relationship.
During this we get a intensive workshop on coffee and different ways to brew and coffee beans.
As a reader, we get swept off our feet by little Sarah Jane first when she sticks close to H.D. but even more when she meets her new owner Bean. I dare you to not aww at that scene.
Besides the story of H.D and Bean, on the side we get to see the lovely, sweet romance of Elaine (as I mentioned before the co- owner of the shelter) and Mara Pointdexter, Beans employee in the coffeeshop.
I have to admit I have some troubles with this story which I wonder if they are general or personal.
I don’t drink coffee at all so the extent to which it is mentioned repeatedly didn’t really appeal to me. Then the fact that H.D. keeps going out to “experiment”on the side is a hardship for me, and I have to say I didn’t like the fact of how casually it was written, like it was normal. There wasn’t even a mention of it with Bean/Dean. I do have to say that in defense that near the end the author makes sure you know that H.D.’s beliefs have changed a great deal.
Those little things made it more difficult for me to feel a real connection with the characters or the story.
That being said, as always author B.G Thomas has a fantastic way of writing and telling his story.
It is flawlessly written and he certainly has a story to tell. The research that went into this is shining through whether it is on the coffee or on the shelter and its inhabitants.
The use of the animals like Sarah Jane and the side characters of Elaine and Mara is very well put and well written into the story, as are the little kind of familiar names you see throughout the book.
The drama that you feel coming is there and it is real. You know that it will come at some point and it is addressed very nicely.
There’s a very sweet and kind of magical twist there and I still am trying to figure out if it was real or dreamlike, but it was exactly what H.D. needed to work out through the things that needed to get worked out.
The HEA is there but it’s very quick and abrupt. I would have loved to have seen a bit more of an extension on that part because in the end it is that what you have been working towards to, reading the whole story.
I find it hard to hang a rating on this story.
I cannot deny it is a fascinating read but for me it just didn’t make the click I usually have reading the stories of this author.
There were a few things that just were more difficult for me although as I said the story is very well written, very well researched and well worked out. You can feel the love the author poured into it .
Setting personal things aside, in total I do believe it is a very complete and solid read .
Review posted at:
http://sidlove.com/2014/01/20/release...
September 27, 2023
H.D. or Hound Dog as he prefers to think of himself is an instantly charming free spirit with alluring blond dreads, a lean sexy body, and a martial arts style that allows him to stand up for himself.
Raised in the foster system and abandoned or betrayed by all the people he's ever let get close, he has major trust issues and generally prefers his animal friends at the no-kill animal shelter where he works. H.D. just naturally identifies with dogs and generally dislikes people... except for their temporary usefulness when he's "in heat."
But when Bean, a local entrepreneur who runs a gourmet coffee shop and has a passion for roasting his own, attempts to stand up for H.D. and ends up getting knocked out, H.D. may just have to re-evaluate his misanthropy.
This is a leisurely, slow paced story with interesting characters that are fun to spend time with. There isn't a lot of thrilling plot development in this and others have criticized it as being bloated and overly long. In this instant and freeze-dried world, that's valid for some, but others may relish the more leisurely pace and savor the time well-spent.
For those that have encountered The Boy Who Came In From the Cold, this will be another welcome installment in the author's somewhat idyllic portrait of gay life in Kansas City.
Charlie David does a commendable job with the audio-book narration. He creates personable, distinctive, and likeable (if somewhat quirky) voices for the characters he enacts.
*** Note: I received a copy of this audiobook for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest and impartial review ***
Raised in the foster system and abandoned or betrayed by all the people he's ever let get close, he has major trust issues and generally prefers his animal friends at the no-kill animal shelter where he works. H.D. just naturally identifies with dogs and generally dislikes people... except for their temporary usefulness when he's "in heat."
But when Bean, a local entrepreneur who runs a gourmet coffee shop and has a passion for roasting his own, attempts to stand up for H.D. and ends up getting knocked out, H.D. may just have to re-evaluate his misanthropy.
This is a leisurely, slow paced story with interesting characters that are fun to spend time with. There isn't a lot of thrilling plot development in this and others have criticized it as being bloated and overly long. In this instant and freeze-dried world, that's valid for some, but others may relish the more leisurely pace and savor the time well-spent.
For those that have encountered The Boy Who Came In From the Cold, this will be another welcome installment in the author's somewhat idyllic portrait of gay life in Kansas City.
Charlie David does a commendable job with the audio-book narration. He creates personable, distinctive, and likeable (if somewhat quirky) voices for the characters he enacts.
*** Note: I received a copy of this audiobook for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest and impartial review ***
January 25, 2014
No idea...seriously, sometimes in between I thought of DNF. Not because the book was written badly or the guys were annoying or anything. Just because it got boring, somehow repetitive without doing the same all the time and still it felt the same.
Which is in my opinion a lost opportunity because H.D. is a character who could have made the whole book a lot more colorful and shiny. As is Bean a character, who could have given the whole book a lot more substance.
I don't know what had happened, I can't put my finger on it. Maybe it was stuff like Bean noticing several times that he had started to giggle.
But in the end - it had some parts I really enjoyed. So I'm going for an average rating.
Which is in my opinion a lost opportunity because H.D. is a character who could have made the whole book a lot more colorful and shiny. As is Bean a character, who could have given the whole book a lot more substance.
I don't know what had happened, I can't put my finger on it. Maybe it was stuff like Bean noticing several times that he had started to giggle.
But in the end - it had some parts I really enjoyed. So I'm going for an average rating.
January 22, 2014
one of the most thoughtful, wonderful romances i've read.
the characters are well rounded and self aware. when they make mistakes or make choices the thought processes are so real.
i love this book to death & i'm completely blown away.
it manages to have angst without destroying me & and amazing joie de vivre.
and puppies! i can't forget the puppies!
the characters are well rounded and self aware. when they make mistakes or make choices the thought processes are so real.
i love this book to death & i'm completely blown away.
it manages to have angst without destroying me & and amazing joie de vivre.
and puppies! i can't forget the puppies!
March 2, 2014
Here comes the really sweet part…so Bean starts the slow process of courting Hound Dog. Oh… now you’re singing my song, because I. Love. Stories. Like this! Plus, I have the added bonus of learning more about my favorite beverage…Coffee!
See the entire review at The Novel Approach: http://thenovelapproachreviews.com/20...
See the entire review at The Novel Approach: http://thenovelapproachreviews.com/20...
July 29, 2015
Could have done with some tightening up, lots and lots of rambling, innner musing and boring scenes didn't make up for the few good ones. It got a bit better hitting the 60% mark but that didn't make up for the rest of the book...
October 5, 2016
3.5 mainly because have you ever read a book where you thought... I mean just knew one of the guys could do so much better? I felt that way about Bean. I don't like insta love but also hate when people have to change who they are to get love.
That being said there where dogs!
That being said there where dogs!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 9, 2014
I absolutely LOVED this!!!
Full review on booklikes and my blog.
Full review on booklikes and my blog.
July 10, 2017
Nothing is easy for Hillary Dameron (Hound Dog) Fisher. Although his outer laid-back hippie appearance might belie that truth, H.D. remains a deeply wounded and aloof man, wary of even something as basic as friendship and ready to run at the mere idea of love or commitment. You see, having grown up for a good portion of his life in the foster system, H.D. knows that the moment you invest your heart, someone will step on it leaving you empty and hurting and alone. From the time he lost his mother to the current day, the only constant source of affection and trust in H.D.’s life has been the unconditional love of a dog. So, it is sensible that this story finds our young man working at a rescue shelter for animals and pouring what little emotion he will allow to escape his huge heart into daring for his four footed friends.
Just a few doors down from the shelter, the owner of the local coffee house, Dean Alexander aka “Bean” is also slightly adrift, recovering from a love affair that left him shaken and somewhat adrift. He considers dating as an unnecessary evil that he has chosen to forego, until Hound Dog steps into his shop for a coffee to go. Suddenly the heart that Bean so desperately tried to hide and protect reminds him it is alive and kicking and…wanting. A brief confrontation between H.D. and another customer finds Bean rushing to defend H.D. and falling (literally) head over heels for the beautiful man. But H.D. has always maintained he is a love em’ and leave em’ kind of guy, never spending the night, never letting anyone close enough to see how needy he truly is and much too soon Bean causes H.D. to break all those rules. Now H.D. must both stay and finally allow Bean to love him and do so in return or run and continue hiding, safe from heartache but alone and miserable.
I mentioned above how intricately author B.G. Thomas sketches his characters and builds their lives, often giving carefully constructed details that allow us a glimpse into inner thought processes. I would be greatly remiss if I did not also highlight how this author then weaves a compelling story around these intriguing creations of his. I particularly enjoy how the author uses his intimate sex scenes to really compliment his plot—and not the other way around. So often, I see novels that aren’t much more than a series of sex scenes with a bare bones story line stapled to them. Author B.G. Thomas creates his world, inhabits it with emotionally rich people and tells us their story. The act of sex that springs from this beautifully detailed plot enhances what is already a delightfully entertaining story.
Hound Dog and Bean by B.G. Thomas is a beautiful love story of redemption and healing.
Just a few doors down from the shelter, the owner of the local coffee house, Dean Alexander aka “Bean” is also slightly adrift, recovering from a love affair that left him shaken and somewhat adrift. He considers dating as an unnecessary evil that he has chosen to forego, until Hound Dog steps into his shop for a coffee to go. Suddenly the heart that Bean so desperately tried to hide and protect reminds him it is alive and kicking and…wanting. A brief confrontation between H.D. and another customer finds Bean rushing to defend H.D. and falling (literally) head over heels for the beautiful man. But H.D. has always maintained he is a love em’ and leave em’ kind of guy, never spending the night, never letting anyone close enough to see how needy he truly is and much too soon Bean causes H.D. to break all those rules. Now H.D. must both stay and finally allow Bean to love him and do so in return or run and continue hiding, safe from heartache but alone and miserable.
I mentioned above how intricately author B.G. Thomas sketches his characters and builds their lives, often giving carefully constructed details that allow us a glimpse into inner thought processes. I would be greatly remiss if I did not also highlight how this author then weaves a compelling story around these intriguing creations of his. I particularly enjoy how the author uses his intimate sex scenes to really compliment his plot—and not the other way around. So often, I see novels that aren’t much more than a series of sex scenes with a bare bones story line stapled to them. Author B.G. Thomas creates his world, inhabits it with emotionally rich people and tells us their story. The act of sex that springs from this beautifully detailed plot enhances what is already a delightfully entertaining story.
Hound Dog and Bean by B.G. Thomas is a beautiful love story of redemption and healing.
October 20, 2018
2.5 Stars
I liked certain aspects of this book a lot. It is a love song to coffee and fair trade as well as to Kanas City which I have recently visited.
I liked the placeness of the story. Kanas City is a complicated place as the city is in two states. Also, this Midwestern Urban hub is where LGBTQA folks from all the smaller towns tend to settle and as such the city has a vibrant and compelling history which includes electing the first Transgender Woman to City Council, I have met her and she is amazing in every way. The University of Missouri, Kanas City houses GLAMA, one of the most extensive LGBTQA collection in the nation and the largest oral history collection of Trans history in the world. Please check it out.
Sadly, as much as the city was a character and I love dogs and rescue work and like deep dives into cool subjects like coffee sourcing, the romance lacked focus, Hound Dog and Bean took a long way to each other which include HD sleeping with others after they had been together which happens but is not my favorite in a love story.
So, I am glad I read it and will try this writer again but not great.
I liked certain aspects of this book a lot. It is a love song to coffee and fair trade as well as to Kanas City which I have recently visited.
I liked the placeness of the story. Kanas City is a complicated place as the city is in two states. Also, this Midwestern Urban hub is where LGBTQA folks from all the smaller towns tend to settle and as such the city has a vibrant and compelling history which includes electing the first Transgender Woman to City Council, I have met her and she is amazing in every way. The University of Missouri, Kanas City houses GLAMA, one of the most extensive LGBTQA collection in the nation and the largest oral history collection of Trans history in the world. Please check it out.
Sadly, as much as the city was a character and I love dogs and rescue work and like deep dives into cool subjects like coffee sourcing, the romance lacked focus, Hound Dog and Bean took a long way to each other which include HD sleeping with others after they had been together which happens but is not my favorite in a love story.
So, I am glad I read it and will try this writer again but not great.
February 7, 2021
This book's precedes the Seasons of Love series (we meet Sloan while his mom is still alive.) Blue has a cameo, too. Aw, and a Dan Savage shout-out at 39%! Lovely story with an abrupt ending, so I'm glad I read it out of order!
June 23, 2019
Cute romance but could have used a great deal more editing.
March 1, 2020
I like H.D. in the beginning then went downhill to dislike at that dissatisfying ending. Disappointing 😔
December 13, 2014
I take reading seriously, so sometimes I will take a while deciding what to buy. But Hound Dog & Bean was an instant choice: There's something intensely captivating about the lush green cover, and the mismatched heroes. And the blurb promises all the things I love: a twink and bear, both burned and reluctant to love again, dogs, dreadlocks... A heady combination which makes for an insta-buy!
Hound Dog & Bean is almost exactly what the cover and blurb promise, and that is fantastic. The protagonists, H.D. and Bean, are so well suited to each other that their love is completely believable. And there are a lot of sweet and tender scenes, plus some definitely sexy ones!
The story is slow to start, and there are large sections with very little tension. I haven't read B.G. Thomas at all before this novel, so I don't know whether this is author style or a quirk of this particular book. But even though nothing dramatic happens for a portion of the story, it is a beautiful and delightful nothing: lazy afternoons and camping trips and the kind of slow-and-easy descent into love that rings true to life.
To my mind, the final tension and resolution doesn't live up to the potential of the characters or the blurb. Honestly, I could have skipped out on the drama and happily read another hundred pages of H.D. and Bean dating and falling in love, they are so sweet and well-written as a couple.
A lot of time is given to talking about the care of animals and about coffee. There are also pages of interactions between secondary characters, as well as a few short scenes from the perspective of secondary characters. To my taste, a lot of this could have been removed to make a tighter story. But it did emphasize the importance of animal welfare and coffee to the protagonists, which is clearly very significant to people who have earned the nicknames Hound Dog and Bean!
My favorite part by far was a camping trip the two took together. Like the cover of this book, that trip felt like a step away from busy life and into a lush and green world that was nearly-magical. That camping trip was a chance to really see the characters on their own, and also to really see the skill of the writer in creating a unique and beautiful scene.
Writing a story is one thing. But once it's written, there is a struggle to make sure that story is sold to people who will appreciate it. Hound Dog & Bean has managed this perfectly: If you like the cover and you like the blurb, you will love this novel like I did.
Hound Dog & Bean is almost exactly what the cover and blurb promise, and that is fantastic. The protagonists, H.D. and Bean, are so well suited to each other that their love is completely believable. And there are a lot of sweet and tender scenes, plus some definitely sexy ones!
The story is slow to start, and there are large sections with very little tension. I haven't read B.G. Thomas at all before this novel, so I don't know whether this is author style or a quirk of this particular book. But even though nothing dramatic happens for a portion of the story, it is a beautiful and delightful nothing: lazy afternoons and camping trips and the kind of slow-and-easy descent into love that rings true to life.
To my mind, the final tension and resolution doesn't live up to the potential of the characters or the blurb. Honestly, I could have skipped out on the drama and happily read another hundred pages of H.D. and Bean dating and falling in love, they are so sweet and well-written as a couple.
A lot of time is given to talking about the care of animals and about coffee. There are also pages of interactions between secondary characters, as well as a few short scenes from the perspective of secondary characters. To my taste, a lot of this could have been removed to make a tighter story. But it did emphasize the importance of animal welfare and coffee to the protagonists, which is clearly very significant to people who have earned the nicknames Hound Dog and Bean!
My favorite part by far was a camping trip the two took together. Like the cover of this book, that trip felt like a step away from busy life and into a lush and green world that was nearly-magical. That camping trip was a chance to really see the characters on their own, and also to really see the skill of the writer in creating a unique and beautiful scene.
Writing a story is one thing. But once it's written, there is a struggle to make sure that story is sold to people who will appreciate it. Hound Dog & Bean has managed this perfectly: If you like the cover and you like the blurb, you will love this novel like I did.
January 23, 2014
3.4 stars. A quite interesting story with quirky and sometimes odd characters, although I do think the plot could have benefited from a tighter and more balanced focus. Two aspects bothered me the most.
I am not sure if my brain or a woman's brain expects at least some discussion about what happened, why H.D. ran away, whether he would do it again, both Bean's and H.D's feelings about each other, Bean's parents and their expectations, what would be the next step as a couple (apart from living together) etc. Some trace of all these issues would have been appreciated and given depth to the ending.
I am not sure if my brain or a woman's brain expects at least some discussion about what happened, why H.D. ran away, whether he would do it again, both Bean's and H.D's feelings about each other, Bean's parents and their expectations, what would be the next step as a couple (apart from living together) etc. Some trace of all these issues would have been appreciated and given depth to the ending.
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