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Mutts and Mistletoe
Thirty-one-year-old Charlie isn't in the mood for Christmas cheer...
Her boyfriend has left her for his personal trainer, her mother has absconded with her latest husband for the holidays, and--adding insult to (literal) injury--her London apartment has just been destroyed by a gas leak. Single, mildly concussed and temporarily homeless, Charlie realizes there's only one place to go: Cozy Canine Cottages, where she'll spend the season looking after her cousin Jez's doggy day care center. And if she's not exactly a dog person, well, no one has to know...
But her plans for a quiet Christmas in a quaint country village are quickly dashed. Peggy the pregnant beagle and Malcolm the anxious Great Dane seem determined to keep her up all night. A strange man has been casing her cousin's house. And where is Cal, the unbearably patronizing but disturbingly handsome local vet, when she needs him?
As the days tick down to Christmas, Charlie's life has never felt so out of control--but with some help from her new four-legged friends, she just might learn a thing or two about living in the moment, embracing the unexpected and opening herself up to love...
Her boyfriend has left her for his personal trainer, her mother has absconded with her latest husband for the holidays, and--adding insult to (literal) injury--her London apartment has just been destroyed by a gas leak. Single, mildly concussed and temporarily homeless, Charlie realizes there's only one place to go: Cozy Canine Cottages, where she'll spend the season looking after her cousin Jez's doggy day care center. And if she's not exactly a dog person, well, no one has to know...
But her plans for a quiet Christmas in a quaint country village are quickly dashed. Peggy the pregnant beagle and Malcolm the anxious Great Dane seem determined to keep her up all night. A strange man has been casing her cousin's house. And where is Cal, the unbearably patronizing but disturbingly handsome local vet, when she needs him?
As the days tick down to Christmas, Charlie's life has never felt so out of control--but with some help from her new four-legged friends, she just might learn a thing or two about living in the moment, embracing the unexpected and opening herself up to love...
320 pages, Paperback
First published October 9, 2018
100 people are currently reading
2624 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 494 reviews
October 14, 2018
If you are a dog lover, then Mutts and Mistletoe is must read book for you! Even if you aren't a dog lover, you will enjoy this delightful holiday book!
The holidays - which for me begin on October 1 - are the only time of the year that I actually read and enjoy cozy mysteries and romance books. I think it has something to do with being raised on holiday classics which morphed into Hallmark Holiday movies. I like feeling nostalgic and magical and in love this time of year. If given the opportunity to read a fun holiday story, I will jump at the chance. Mutts and Mistletoe was such an opportunity!
Charlie's life has hit the rocks - her boyfriend just ran off with his trainer, her mother has fled to Australia with her new husband and, in a neighbor's freak explosion, her apartment ceiling caved in on her leaving her injured and homeless just in time for the holidays. She reluctantly agrees to spend time recuperating at her cousin's home in the middle of nowhere where her cousin runs an upscale doggy day-care. Charlie is not a dog fan and is even less of a fan of the country veterinarian with whom she gets off on the wrong foot. When Charlie's cousin makes the sudden decision to travel to the Arctic Circle to be with her online lover, Charlie is left in charge of the pooches, including her cousin's very pregnant, very spoiled pet, Peggy. Mayhem ensues as Charlie learns about dogs, their owners. There is a burglary gone wrong, holiday pet races that include a very well trained reindeer and a duck and so much more leading up the big event - Christmas Day.
The beginning of the book was a close deal breaker for me. I'm not sure what it was about the first chapter or so, but I disliked Charlie and her lifestyle so immensely that I, quite nearly, stopped reading the book. However, once the dogs were introduced into the story, it all turned around. It is very obvious that the author, Natalie Cox, loves dogs and understands their non-verbal communication perfectly. The detail of their personalities, quirks, beauty and relationships was so spot on that I found myself laughing hysterically, crying and nodding my head in agreement throughout. Poor Peggy, the pregnant pooch, was the star of the book without a doubt! Just as they transformed Charlie into a completely different person, they won over my heart and mind regarding the book. By the end, it became one of my very favorite holiday reads of this season.
I highly recommend Mutts and Mistletoes to all of those who have furbabies of their own, to those who love holiday tales and readers who enjoy light romance stories. This one is a winner!
Thank you to #Edelweiss, #PenguinRandomHouse and Natalie Cox for the opportunity to read this heart-warming tale which now is on sale at your favorite retailer.
The holidays - which for me begin on October 1 - are the only time of the year that I actually read and enjoy cozy mysteries and romance books. I think it has something to do with being raised on holiday classics which morphed into Hallmark Holiday movies. I like feeling nostalgic and magical and in love this time of year. If given the opportunity to read a fun holiday story, I will jump at the chance. Mutts and Mistletoe was such an opportunity!
Charlie's life has hit the rocks - her boyfriend just ran off with his trainer, her mother has fled to Australia with her new husband and, in a neighbor's freak explosion, her apartment ceiling caved in on her leaving her injured and homeless just in time for the holidays. She reluctantly agrees to spend time recuperating at her cousin's home in the middle of nowhere where her cousin runs an upscale doggy day-care. Charlie is not a dog fan and is even less of a fan of the country veterinarian with whom she gets off on the wrong foot. When Charlie's cousin makes the sudden decision to travel to the Arctic Circle to be with her online lover, Charlie is left in charge of the pooches, including her cousin's very pregnant, very spoiled pet, Peggy. Mayhem ensues as Charlie learns about dogs, their owners. There is a burglary gone wrong, holiday pet races that include a very well trained reindeer and a duck and so much more leading up the big event - Christmas Day.
The beginning of the book was a close deal breaker for me. I'm not sure what it was about the first chapter or so, but I disliked Charlie and her lifestyle so immensely that I, quite nearly, stopped reading the book. However, once the dogs were introduced into the story, it all turned around. It is very obvious that the author, Natalie Cox, loves dogs and understands their non-verbal communication perfectly. The detail of their personalities, quirks, beauty and relationships was so spot on that I found myself laughing hysterically, crying and nodding my head in agreement throughout. Poor Peggy, the pregnant pooch, was the star of the book without a doubt! Just as they transformed Charlie into a completely different person, they won over my heart and mind regarding the book. By the end, it became one of my very favorite holiday reads of this season.
I highly recommend Mutts and Mistletoes to all of those who have furbabies of their own, to those who love holiday tales and readers who enjoy light romance stories. This one is a winner!
Thank you to #Edelweiss, #PenguinRandomHouse and Natalie Cox for the opportunity to read this heart-warming tale which now is on sale at your favorite retailer.
December 31, 2021
3.5 stars
This was a really cute (clean) holiday romance! Yes, I read this after Christmas but that didn’t make it lose any of it’s appeal for me. Though I will say that the use of “Happy Christmas” did seem strange to my American sensibilities. Definitely consider picking this up next year during the holiday season (or go ahead and read it now like me if you’re not quite ready to let the holidays go)
This was a really cute (clean) holiday romance! Yes, I read this after Christmas but that didn’t make it lose any of it’s appeal for me. Though I will say that the use of “Happy Christmas” did seem strange to my American sensibilities. Definitely consider picking this up next year during the holiday season (or go ahead and read it now like me if you’re not quite ready to let the holidays go)
December 20, 2022
Baš medeno. Stvarno ima mnooogo pasa i to je zaista hajlajt cele knjige, ali i pored njih, glavna junakinja mi se mnogo dopala pogotovo njen glup humor i sarkazam. Dok romansa ipak ostaje na nivou Hallmarkovih filmova, ali mi nije smetalo
December 18, 2024
Dogs and Christmas... my two favorite things in one book. I love when people who don't like Christmas (I still can't understand that kind of people - sorryyy), suddenly, find a reason to make Christmas their favorite time of the year. A sweet, nice, interesting and warm story that is very easy to read. The pages just fly by. Hallmark, this is a book made for a movie... Recommended for all dogs and, of course, Christmas lovers. There is always hope for a Christmas miracle :)
November 22, 2018
Dogs... check
Christmas... check
Two gorgeous men... check
Hilarious situations... check
Main character who is not keen on Christmas or Dogs but needs to learn to embrace both.... check
I mean what more could you ask for from a Christmas book. This was completely delightful. There were laugh out loud moments, absolutely adorable moment and a rather unusually scary happening right at the beginning too.
A series of unfortunate circumstances leave Charlie temporarily homeless, single and having to take time off work, she ends up in Devon with her cousin Jez. Jez though runs Canine Cottages where owners can leave their beloved dogs safely, while they head off on holiday. However Charlie isn't really keen on dogs at all.
So when Jez then announces she is spending Christmas abroad and needs Charlie to look after the place you know things are going to get interesting.
Despite being a main character who isn't too keen with dogs she is remarkably easy to like, she is big hearted and a bit of a soft touch. Thankfully the local vet keeps popping in to make sure she doesn't do anything too silly with the dogs.
And what fabulous animals they are, from the twins who live outside and love nothing more than to pull a suky, to Peggy who is heavily pregnant, Malcolm the huge Great Dane, Jed the show dog, Slab who is just really old but sweet they all have such distinct personalities and all utterly gorgeous.
Easily this is a book for the Christmas and animal lovers amongst you, there is plenty of plot to keep you interested and a few surprises in store too. It is a lovely heartwarming read, and although it may be the first book I've read from this author, I am sure it won't be my last either.
Thank you to Netgalley and Orion for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
Christmas... check
Two gorgeous men... check
Hilarious situations... check
Main character who is not keen on Christmas or Dogs but needs to learn to embrace both.... check
I mean what more could you ask for from a Christmas book. This was completely delightful. There were laugh out loud moments, absolutely adorable moment and a rather unusually scary happening right at the beginning too.
A series of unfortunate circumstances leave Charlie temporarily homeless, single and having to take time off work, she ends up in Devon with her cousin Jez. Jez though runs Canine Cottages where owners can leave their beloved dogs safely, while they head off on holiday. However Charlie isn't really keen on dogs at all.
So when Jez then announces she is spending Christmas abroad and needs Charlie to look after the place you know things are going to get interesting.
Despite being a main character who isn't too keen with dogs she is remarkably easy to like, she is big hearted and a bit of a soft touch. Thankfully the local vet keeps popping in to make sure she doesn't do anything too silly with the dogs.
And what fabulous animals they are, from the twins who live outside and love nothing more than to pull a suky, to Peggy who is heavily pregnant, Malcolm the huge Great Dane, Jed the show dog, Slab who is just really old but sweet they all have such distinct personalities and all utterly gorgeous.
Easily this is a book for the Christmas and animal lovers amongst you, there is plenty of plot to keep you interested and a few surprises in store too. It is a lovely heartwarming read, and although it may be the first book I've read from this author, I am sure it won't be my last either.
Thank you to Netgalley and Orion for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
November 30, 2022
Tu između 4 i 5, ali joooooj što je preslatko!
January 8, 2023
4.5 ⭐️
Mnogo slatko, a psi su neodoljivi.
Bilo je preterivanja, ali je sve zanemarljivo
Savršena knjiga za vikend opuštanje
Mnogo slatko, a psi su neodoljivi.
Bilo je preterivanja, ali je sve zanemarljivo
Savršena knjiga za vikend opuštanje
December 25, 2018
3.5 ✨
So stinkin' cozy & cute. Will elaborate more after I get some sleep!
{Okay, I've gotten enough sleep!}
Our main character, Charlie, is not the biggest fan of dogs or Christmas, so me - being a crazy fan of both - and her didn't get along at first. I get that it was all a part of her character arc, but not liking dogs or Christmas?? Just saying, in real life, we would probably not be close friends.
I freaking loved Cozy Canine Cottages, the main setting of the book. It was a luxury boarding house for dogs in Devon (UK) that was so charming & quaint! There were lovely descriptions of the snow-covered hillside, the local village bedecked in Christmas decor, and winding country lanes. It definitely helped put me in more of a holiday mood than I already was :)
Now, the romance on the other hand, was weird & off? Like, they (Charlie & Cal) bickered and mocked each other, sometimes bordering on flirting, and then all of a sudden (without ever addressing a mutual attraction!) they were making out. Like, what?? And the addition of Hugo's character was odd, too, but I loved Malcolm, so it kind of worked out :P
Overall, I'd recommend it for a good read to get you in the holiday spirit & if you absolutely love dogs! The title here is very apt for what you get out of this book & I did really like it.
So stinkin' cozy & cute. Will elaborate more after I get some sleep!
{Okay, I've gotten enough sleep!}
Our main character, Charlie, is not the biggest fan of dogs or Christmas, so me - being a crazy fan of both - and her didn't get along at first. I get that it was all a part of her character arc, but not liking dogs or Christmas?? Just saying, in real life, we would probably not be close friends.
I freaking loved Cozy Canine Cottages, the main setting of the book. It was a luxury boarding house for dogs in Devon (UK) that was so charming & quaint! There were lovely descriptions of the snow-covered hillside, the local village bedecked in Christmas decor, and winding country lanes. It definitely helped put me in more of a holiday mood than I already was :)
Now, the romance on the other hand, was weird & off? Like, they (Charlie & Cal) bickered and mocked each other, sometimes bordering on flirting, and then all of a sudden (without ever addressing a mutual attraction!) they were making out. Like, what?? And the addition of Hugo's character was odd, too, but I loved Malcolm, so it kind of worked out :P
Overall, I'd recommend it for a good read to get you in the holiday spirit & if you absolutely love dogs! The title here is very apt for what you get out of this book & I did really like it.
January 24, 2019
This book is laugh out loud funny!! I highly recommend it for rainy days and Mondays.
Now, I am a sucker for any book with a dog on the cover, but this is especially up my alley! British, cozy, Christmasy, and full of dogs -- it ticks all my boxes!!
Now, I am a sucker for any book with a dog on the cover, but this is especially up my alley! British, cozy, Christmasy, and full of dogs -- it ticks all my boxes!!
December 22, 2020
It was cute! Somewhat predictable, yes, but a fun cast of characters and lots of cute pups!! Something light-hearted is just what you need in the run-up to Christmas.
February 21, 2025
Preslatko - psi + humor (par puta sam se nasmejala naglas), volela bih da je čitam ponovo baš u vreme Božića 🫶🏻
December 12, 2022
3.5 stars
The main character, Charlie, is in a bad place in her life. Her boyfriend has taken off with his personal trainer and her London flat has been badly damaged in a gas leak explosion. She is in no mood to celebrate Christmas and is having a hard time even being nice to her cousin Jez, who has scooped her out of the hospital and transported her to Devon and Cozy Canine Cottages, Jez's dog sitting service. After a few days there, Jez gets an opportunity to go meet her internet dating interest and she convinces Charlie to take over canine care while she travels.
Charlie's is a fish out of water story. She's a city girl in the country, a computer worker confronted with lots of biological processes, a determined grinch in the holiday season, and a disliker of dogs running a kennel. Unlike Ebenezer Scrooge, she does not encounter ghosts. Instead, she has a collection of mutts with special needs and neighbours she wants to figure out. As she tells one of her London friends, dogs mostly eat, sleep, and poop. What's to be interested in? She is reluctantly attracted to the equally cranky vet, Cal. Both of them have brutally blunt communication styles, so they manage to offend each other every time they meet. Instead of a meet-cute, they have a meet-crank.
Now, I have some sympathy for Charlie, being relatively unexcited about Christmas and having zero desire to live with a dog. (I'm a former rabbit owner, they're my critter.) But you can't live with animals and remain indifferent to them (unless you're a monster) so Charlie's destiny is clear. She may still be a bit squeamish about administering suppositories to an elderly, constipated dog, but at least she has come to feel sympathy for him.
Charlie could just maintain the status quo, but she takes on an enormous deaf Great Dane and a valuable show dog in addition to the regular denizens of the kennel. Then the heating in the dogs' quarters goes out just before Christmas when it's impossible to get a repairman. All the various dogs join Charlie in the house. Plus, she must also deal with the handsome owner of the Great Dane and try not to ruin her chances with the handsome vet.
Lots of amusing situations, as Charlie figures things out. The ending is predictable because, hey, this is a romance. You know where things are going to end up but doggie adventures provide plenty of entertainment while we take the trip.
The main character, Charlie, is in a bad place in her life. Her boyfriend has taken off with his personal trainer and her London flat has been badly damaged in a gas leak explosion. She is in no mood to celebrate Christmas and is having a hard time even being nice to her cousin Jez, who has scooped her out of the hospital and transported her to Devon and Cozy Canine Cottages, Jez's dog sitting service. After a few days there, Jez gets an opportunity to go meet her internet dating interest and she convinces Charlie to take over canine care while she travels.
Charlie's is a fish out of water story. She's a city girl in the country, a computer worker confronted with lots of biological processes, a determined grinch in the holiday season, and a disliker of dogs running a kennel. Unlike Ebenezer Scrooge, she does not encounter ghosts. Instead, she has a collection of mutts with special needs and neighbours she wants to figure out. As she tells one of her London friends, dogs mostly eat, sleep, and poop. What's to be interested in? She is reluctantly attracted to the equally cranky vet, Cal. Both of them have brutally blunt communication styles, so they manage to offend each other every time they meet. Instead of a meet-cute, they have a meet-crank.
Now, I have some sympathy for Charlie, being relatively unexcited about Christmas and having zero desire to live with a dog. (I'm a former rabbit owner, they're my critter.) But you can't live with animals and remain indifferent to them (unless you're a monster) so Charlie's destiny is clear. She may still be a bit squeamish about administering suppositories to an elderly, constipated dog, but at least she has come to feel sympathy for him.
Charlie could just maintain the status quo, but she takes on an enormous deaf Great Dane and a valuable show dog in addition to the regular denizens of the kennel. Then the heating in the dogs' quarters goes out just before Christmas when it's impossible to get a repairman. All the various dogs join Charlie in the house. Plus, she must also deal with the handsome owner of the Great Dane and try not to ruin her chances with the handsome vet.
Lots of amusing situations, as Charlie figures things out. The ending is predictable because, hey, this is a romance. You know where things are going to end up but doggie adventures provide plenty of entertainment while we take the trip.
December 26, 2023
Ova knjiga nije baš zaslužila 5⭐️, ali brate ko bi joj dao manje ako spada u red obožavatelja četvoronožaca, a posebno pasa 😊?! Gratis 🎄 za trud!
November 11, 2018
If you’re looking for a good Christmas comedy, look no further!
Not Just for Christmas (or Mutts and Mistletoe, as it was previously published under that name) has everything you need this season in your festive chick lit: the most likeable protagonist you could wish for, many cute dogs, pups, hot guys, snow, food and lots and lots of humour.
Still, even though it’s funny and entertaining, it does not go overboard and everything in this novel, every element, is dosed just right.
The story follows Charlie, who after the accident that caught her apartment, stays at her cousin’s place.
Her cousin runs hotel for dogs, and after she goes on a trip to meet the love of her life, Charlie stays to run the place over Christmas.
Charlie is not a dog person, but day by day she discovers the beauty of mutts and one’s relationship with them.
Not Just for Christmas was lovely, warm story that put a smile on my face so many times.
It is a feel good story that will make readers’ lives better, I honestly believe that.
The writing style is stunning, and it reminds me of Sophie Kinsella’s, but it is still different. In my language, I would call it “pitko” which means that you drink the words, that’s how it easy is to read.
This book has 352 pages and it felt like it had only 200 pages, that’s how fast I read it (and I am a slow reader).
I liked all the characters. Even our villain was sympathetic.
Still, my favorite was Malcolm, a deaf Dane who certainly gave this book a heart.
I don’t say this often in my reviews, but I wouldn’t change anything in this novel.
It was perfect just as it was, and I am so grateful I had a chance to read it.
I can already see it will be the one book I’ll recommend to everyone around me.
If you’re looking for a good Christmas comedy, I highly, highly recommend you Not Just for Christmas (or Mutts and Mistletoe) because trust me, it will put a smile on your face and warm your heart, just like it did my.
Not Just for Christmas (or Mutts and Mistletoe, as it was previously published under that name) has everything you need this season in your festive chick lit: the most likeable protagonist you could wish for, many cute dogs, pups, hot guys, snow, food and lots and lots of humour.
Still, even though it’s funny and entertaining, it does not go overboard and everything in this novel, every element, is dosed just right.
The story follows Charlie, who after the accident that caught her apartment, stays at her cousin’s place.
Her cousin runs hotel for dogs, and after she goes on a trip to meet the love of her life, Charlie stays to run the place over Christmas.
Charlie is not a dog person, but day by day she discovers the beauty of mutts and one’s relationship with them.
Not Just for Christmas was lovely, warm story that put a smile on my face so many times.
It is a feel good story that will make readers’ lives better, I honestly believe that.
The writing style is stunning, and it reminds me of Sophie Kinsella’s, but it is still different. In my language, I would call it “pitko” which means that you drink the words, that’s how it easy is to read.
This book has 352 pages and it felt like it had only 200 pages, that’s how fast I read it (and I am a slow reader).
I liked all the characters. Even our villain was sympathetic.
Still, my favorite was Malcolm, a deaf Dane who certainly gave this book a heart.
I don’t say this often in my reviews, but I wouldn’t change anything in this novel.
It was perfect just as it was, and I am so grateful I had a chance to read it.
I can already see it will be the one book I’ll recommend to everyone around me.
If you’re looking for a good Christmas comedy, I highly, highly recommend you Not Just for Christmas (or Mutts and Mistletoe) because trust me, it will put a smile on your face and warm your heart, just like it did my.
October 15, 2018
I had not heard to much about this author and certainly never read any of her books before but the cover and description sounded really good and didn't let me down at all. Full of laughs and romance and plenty about dogs and Christmas and shows how things can change in your life for the better. I have never laughed as much as when reading this book just so funny a very fantastic read with great countryside and loveable vets and plenty of dogs.
Charlie hates Christmas and this year sets to be the worst as her boyfriend has left her and then her flat is out of bounds as it's had a gas leak and can't go near and she's in hospital with concussion. Her mother speak with her and says her cousin is on her way to collect her and she will spend some time with Jez in Devon. Once she gets there she realises her cousin is going away and she wants Charlie to look after the dogs in the day care she runs. So with a pregnant and deaf dog about over Christmas how will she cope and when she notices a person casing the place where is the beautiful vet when you want him. Will she enjoy Christmas in the end or not and will she find romance or will it be a total disaster.
If you love dogs and want a laugh this is the perfect book for you.
Charlie hates Christmas and this year sets to be the worst as her boyfriend has left her and then her flat is out of bounds as it's had a gas leak and can't go near and she's in hospital with concussion. Her mother speak with her and says her cousin is on her way to collect her and she will spend some time with Jez in Devon. Once she gets there she realises her cousin is going away and she wants Charlie to look after the dogs in the day care she runs. So with a pregnant and deaf dog about over Christmas how will she cope and when she notices a person casing the place where is the beautiful vet when you want him. Will she enjoy Christmas in the end or not and will she find romance or will it be a total disaster.
If you love dogs and want a laugh this is the perfect book for you.
December 12, 2018
Heerlijk! Als hondenliefhebber ging ik vooral voor de cover van het boek, daarnaast heb ik rond deze tijd altijd zin in makkelijke verhalen, dus bingo😃. Het verhaal; Charlie gaat rond kerst naar haar nicht Jez, die een hondenhotel runt. Natuurlijk houdt Charlie helemaal niet van honden en uiteraard is het slot van het liedje dat ze er toch helemaal op haar plaats is. Zin in een leuke chicklit, dan is dit echt den aanrader
December 1, 2018
Jam packed with humour, an actual pack of loveable dogs, and a cute romance to root for. And lots of Christmas sparkle and cheer. What more could you want from a feel good Christmas book. It ticked everything on my list.
September 18, 2023
Jedna simpatična knjižica koja mi je neizmerno legla u ovom trenutku. Za ljubitelje životinja i romantićare....
January 8, 2023
Mislila sam da ću ovu knjigu pročitati dosta brže, delovala mi je kao idealno štivo za praznične dane, ali... Ishod je da me ostavila ravnodušnom, da je u nekim momentima bila i dosadnjikava. Sve u svemu, ravna linija, ispostavilo se dugačka za svojih 300 stranica.
U iščekivanju romantične komedije, dobila sam priču o totalno bezličnoj Čarli, kao glavnoj junakinji, koja kod mene nije izazvala ni trunčicu emocija, niti me ubedila u svoju ljubavnu priču u epilogu. U pokušaju da bude simpatična, bila je totalno nezanimljiva, kao da u njoj nema nikakvih emocija, reakcija, da je od onih ljudi koje možete vući na koju god stranu vam se prohte, bez razmišljanja ili sa jako malo istog, pristaju na sve, totalno indiferentnih osećanja. A bilo je previše "Ja sam jaka i samostalna žena" afirmacija, nažalost nedelotvornih.
U početku, bilo je previše i pasa na jednom mestu za moj ukus, i to začuđujuće mirnih, ali su mi do kraja svi oni postali omiljeni likovi u knjizi, pošto pored glavne junakinje, ni sporedni likovi nisu ništa manje bezlični. Mislila sam da će sa tolikim brojem krznenih prijatelja različitih naravi biti mnogo više komičnih situacija i zabave, no ipak su izostale.
Neki od vas su uporedili radnju ove knjige sa božićnim filmovima iz Halmark produkcije, ali mislim da čak i u njima nema ovoliko izveštačene atmosfere.
Sve u svemu, ako ste ljubitelji pasa, knjiga će vam se dopasti, ako njih shvatite kao glave junake, a ne Čarli. Celokupan utisak je da je ovo samo dobra, ne i zabavna, smešna, romantična priča, koju možete pročitati za praznike da prekratite vreme, ali ne očekujte previše.
Od mene dobrih 3 🌟
U iščekivanju romantične komedije, dobila sam priču o totalno bezličnoj Čarli, kao glavnoj junakinji, koja kod mene nije izazvala ni trunčicu emocija, niti me ubedila u svoju ljubavnu priču u epilogu. U pokušaju da bude simpatična, bila je totalno nezanimljiva, kao da u njoj nema nikakvih emocija, reakcija, da je od onih ljudi koje možete vući na koju god stranu vam se prohte, bez razmišljanja ili sa jako malo istog, pristaju na sve, totalno indiferentnih osećanja. A bilo je previše "Ja sam jaka i samostalna žena" afirmacija, nažalost nedelotvornih.
U početku, bilo je previše i pasa na jednom mestu za moj ukus, i to začuđujuće mirnih, ali su mi do kraja svi oni postali omiljeni likovi u knjizi, pošto pored glavne junakinje, ni sporedni likovi nisu ništa manje bezlični. Mislila sam da će sa tolikim brojem krznenih prijatelja različitih naravi biti mnogo više komičnih situacija i zabave, no ipak su izostale.
Neki od vas su uporedili radnju ove knjige sa božićnim filmovima iz Halmark produkcije, ali mislim da čak i u njima nema ovoliko izveštačene atmosfere.
Sve u svemu, ako ste ljubitelji pasa, knjiga će vam se dopasti, ako njih shvatite kao glave junake, a ne Čarli. Celokupan utisak je da je ovo samo dobra, ne i zabavna, smešna, romantična priča, koju možete pročitati za praznike da prekratite vreme, ali ne očekujte previše.
Od mene dobrih 3 🌟
September 14, 2018
Mutts and Mistletoe by Natalie Cox
4.5 stars
I won this book in a good reads give away for a fair and honest review.
A book about a woman who loses her boyfriend and then her apartment is destroyed so she has no place to go except to her cousin’s, a cousin who happens to own a dog Kennel. Only problem. Charlie hates Dogs. Oh well it’s off to the country side to spend Christmas meet new people and maybe fall in love with man and dog.
This is a good book full of cute dogs, a little romance some misunderstanding and a healthy dose of laughter. I took half a star off because the ending was too open ended for me. There were to many lingering questions about the characters and I felt that many of the back stories could have been flushed out better. Especially Cals. Cal is her love interest kind of nothing really happens until the last twenty or so pages and it’s nothing steamy that’s for sure. But if you’re looking for a nice Christmas read to curl up with and get through easily this is a good book for you. There is also a slight LGBTQ+ storyline running in the back ground.
Book comes out October 9th.
4.5 stars
I won this book in a good reads give away for a fair and honest review.
A book about a woman who loses her boyfriend and then her apartment is destroyed so she has no place to go except to her cousin’s, a cousin who happens to own a dog Kennel. Only problem. Charlie hates Dogs. Oh well it’s off to the country side to spend Christmas meet new people and maybe fall in love with man and dog.
This is a good book full of cute dogs, a little romance some misunderstanding and a healthy dose of laughter. I took half a star off because the ending was too open ended for me. There were to many lingering questions about the characters and I felt that many of the back stories could have been flushed out better. Especially Cals. Cal is her love interest kind of nothing really happens until the last twenty or so pages and it’s nothing steamy that’s for sure. But if you’re looking for a nice Christmas read to curl up with and get through easily this is a good book for you. There is also a slight LGBTQ+ storyline running in the back ground.
Book comes out October 9th.
January 1, 2020
It was slow going and boring in spots. Guess not my. Type of book.
January 3, 2021
Olipa tämä puuduttava paikoittain. Ja päähenkilö oli rasittavan tyhmä, joka äänikirjassa kai korostui entisestään. Mutta koirat olivat söpöjä joten 2,5 tähteä!
Helmet-lukuhaaste: 29. Kirjan henkilön elämä muuttuu
Helmet-lukuhaaste: 29. Kirjan henkilön elämä muuttuu
February 4, 2022
A week or so before Christmas, Charlie finds herself single and homeless, as her longtime boyfriend has taken up with his yoga instructor and an explosion on the floor above leaves her London flat uninhabitable. Luckily, her cousin Jez has a spare room and could use some help running her dog kennel in rural Devon. Or not so luckily, since Charlie is not at all fond of dogs. Or the countryside. But a cranky vet and a very goodlooking owner of a boarding dog might spice things up ...My friend Holly's review for this caught my eye, and I decided the heck with waiting until next Christmas and read it now.
I loved this book! It's just wonderfully comic -- James Herriott meets P.G. Wodehouse, with Charlie filling in for Bertie Wooster. I was guffawing on nearly every page. Charlie's take on herself and everyone else around her is honest, wry, and hilarious. The dogs are adorable. The situations in the story are absurd but sweet. And the romance is wonderfully understated and unpredictable. This book was just so much fun.
If you need a good laugh, don't save this book for the holiday season.
December 18, 2019
5-stars
It's snowing Christmas, comedy, and dogs in this one!
The author seems to be my age, which I'm happy to say, reflected in her writing. This was very refreshing! Nothing against my older authors, it was just way easier to relate to psychologically and behaviorally. The author is from London, so there was some slang that was incomprehensible for me simply because I grew up in America, but I just skipped over those words, it did not impact my understanding of the story any, but I was not about to start googling words when I'm reading for leisure.
The young voice in which this was written enriched the story deeply for me because the relationships were believable. The dialogue felt real. I didn't feel like I was trying to put myself into a character's shoes with the mindset of a 40-year-old. Those romances are always so matured in a way or just about romance or sex. This book focuses on what is happening rather than scenery or sex. There is romance but sex is not focused upon. Don't get me wrong there is love, it was just done in a classy discreet way.
This writing reflected so many young and fun qualities contained within a person, relatable is an understatement. Needless to say, I freaking loved these characters, humans and animals alike. The characters acted their age, and all the animals had their own unique personalities which were so fun and made the animals easy to remember by name. The main character is not big on Christmas vibes, while this story did include Christmas themes, it wasn't shoved down your throat.
I truly loved this story. The plot was so clever and I loved how everything came together. No one was left behind and I loved how everything played out. I was laughing out loud like a crazy person in every single chapter. There are some seriously hilarious incidences that occur. I promise you will not be able to contain yourself. Here's an example...
Decorating the Christmas tree with dog leashes, tennis balls, colorful poo bags, and a frisbee topper... There were so many hilarious scenes such as the one I just described for you. I was seriously laughing out loud at something in every chapter, those around me were giving me looks. I clearly enjoyed myself while reading this. It's not very often I have fun reading a book, I get absorbed yes, I put myself in their shoes, but this was a seriously fun read for me, it wasn't just emotions for once.
If you like dogs, and light-hearted humor I promise you will not be disappointed.
I cannot wait to read more by this author!
T'was a fun read before Christmas.
Much gratitude to Natalie Cox, G.P. Putnam's Sons, and the Goodreads giveaway Program for this ARC I won. All reviews are my own and voluntary.
It's snowing Christmas, comedy, and dogs in this one!
The author seems to be my age, which I'm happy to say, reflected in her writing. This was very refreshing! Nothing against my older authors, it was just way easier to relate to psychologically and behaviorally. The author is from London, so there was some slang that was incomprehensible for me simply because I grew up in America, but I just skipped over those words, it did not impact my understanding of the story any, but I was not about to start googling words when I'm reading for leisure.
The young voice in which this was written enriched the story deeply for me because the relationships were believable. The dialogue felt real. I didn't feel like I was trying to put myself into a character's shoes with the mindset of a 40-year-old. Those romances are always so matured in a way or just about romance or sex. This book focuses on what is happening rather than scenery or sex. There is romance but sex is not focused upon. Don't get me wrong there is love, it was just done in a classy discreet way.
This writing reflected so many young and fun qualities contained within a person, relatable is an understatement. Needless to say, I freaking loved these characters, humans and animals alike. The characters acted their age, and all the animals had their own unique personalities which were so fun and made the animals easy to remember by name. The main character is not big on Christmas vibes, while this story did include Christmas themes, it wasn't shoved down your throat.
I truly loved this story. The plot was so clever and I loved how everything came together. No one was left behind and I loved how everything played out. I was laughing out loud like a crazy person in every single chapter. There are some seriously hilarious incidences that occur. I promise you will not be able to contain yourself. Here's an example...
Decorating the Christmas tree with dog leashes, tennis balls, colorful poo bags, and a frisbee topper... There were so many hilarious scenes such as the one I just described for you. I was seriously laughing out loud at something in every chapter, those around me were giving me looks. I clearly enjoyed myself while reading this. It's not very often I have fun reading a book, I get absorbed yes, I put myself in their shoes, but this was a seriously fun read for me, it wasn't just emotions for once.
If you like dogs, and light-hearted humor I promise you will not be disappointed.
I cannot wait to read more by this author!
T'was a fun read before Christmas.
Much gratitude to Natalie Cox, G.P. Putnam's Sons, and the Goodreads giveaway Program for this ARC I won. All reviews are my own and voluntary.
March 16, 2021
Klappentext:
„An Weihnachtswunder hat Charlie noch nie geglaubt. Dabei könnte sie dieses Jahr ganz gut eines gebrauchen, denn ihr Freund hat sich gerade von ihr getrennt. Um nicht allein in London feiern zu müssen, bleibt ihr nichts anderes übrig, als die Feiertage bei ihrer Cousine zu verbringen, die eine kleine Hundepension auf dem Land führt. Charlie freut sich auf gemütliche Tage im verschneiten Cottage, prasselndes Kaminfeuer, heißen Kakao und einen glitzernd geschmückten Baum ��� doch die quirligen Vierbeiner halten sie mehr auf Trab als erwartet. Und auch der charmante Hundebesitzer Hugo lässt ihr Herz schneller schlagen. Vielleicht gibt es doch noch ein Weihnachtswunder für Charlie? Wenn nur der furchtbar eingebildete Tierarzt Cal nicht wäre ...“
Meine Meinung:
5 von 10 Sternen
Der Klappentext und das traumhafte Cover haben eine wunderschöne und zauberhafte Weihnachtsgeschichte versprochen. Leider ist bei mir mit diesem Buch keine wirkliche Weihnachts- oder Winterstimmung aufgekommen. Vielmehr habe ich eine ausführlichen Einblick in den Alltag in der Hundepension bekommen. Lange Zeit ging es vornehmlich darum, wie der Alltag der Hunde aussieht, welche Macken diese aufweisen und wie anders sich Charlie das Ganze doch vorgestellt hat. Dadurch hat sich die Geschichte ziemlich gezogen.
Auch von den romantischen Gefühlen kam bei mir nicht allzu viel an, da die Charaktere und ihre Gefühle im Vergleich mit den Hunden doch sehr blass geblieben sind. Lediglich im letzten Drittel war etwas mehr von dem Knistern zwischen den Protagonisten spürbar.
Die Hunde hingegen fand ich erstklassig ausgestaltet. Mit ihren Macken und Eigenarten musste ich sie einfach in mein Herz schließen. Sie haben die langatmige Alltagsbeschreibung ein wenig aufgelockert und lebendiger gemacht.
Der Schreibstil war gut lesbar, konnte die fehlende Spannung und Gefühle jedoch nicht wirklich wettmachen. Der enthaltene Humor hingegen hat mir die Geschichte ein wenig schmackhafter gemacht, da die Zankereien und Missverständnisse zwischen Cal und Charlie doch sehr unterhaltsam waren.
Der Spannungsaufbau am Ende war für mich nicht ganz stimmig, weil das Problem für mich ein wenig weit hergeholt wirkte. Außerdem lief am Ende alles sehr schnell und gehetzt ab. Meiner Meinung nach hätte man den Anfang etwas kürzen und dafür das Ende mehr ausarbeiten können.
Zusammenfassend war das Buch ganz nett für Zwischendurch, versprüht aber nicht die Weihnachts- und Winterstimmung, die ich mir gewünscht und erwartet hatte.
„An Weihnachtswunder hat Charlie noch nie geglaubt. Dabei könnte sie dieses Jahr ganz gut eines gebrauchen, denn ihr Freund hat sich gerade von ihr getrennt. Um nicht allein in London feiern zu müssen, bleibt ihr nichts anderes übrig, als die Feiertage bei ihrer Cousine zu verbringen, die eine kleine Hundepension auf dem Land führt. Charlie freut sich auf gemütliche Tage im verschneiten Cottage, prasselndes Kaminfeuer, heißen Kakao und einen glitzernd geschmückten Baum ��� doch die quirligen Vierbeiner halten sie mehr auf Trab als erwartet. Und auch der charmante Hundebesitzer Hugo lässt ihr Herz schneller schlagen. Vielleicht gibt es doch noch ein Weihnachtswunder für Charlie? Wenn nur der furchtbar eingebildete Tierarzt Cal nicht wäre ...“
Meine Meinung:
5 von 10 Sternen
Der Klappentext und das traumhafte Cover haben eine wunderschöne und zauberhafte Weihnachtsgeschichte versprochen. Leider ist bei mir mit diesem Buch keine wirkliche Weihnachts- oder Winterstimmung aufgekommen. Vielmehr habe ich eine ausführlichen Einblick in den Alltag in der Hundepension bekommen. Lange Zeit ging es vornehmlich darum, wie der Alltag der Hunde aussieht, welche Macken diese aufweisen und wie anders sich Charlie das Ganze doch vorgestellt hat. Dadurch hat sich die Geschichte ziemlich gezogen.
Auch von den romantischen Gefühlen kam bei mir nicht allzu viel an, da die Charaktere und ihre Gefühle im Vergleich mit den Hunden doch sehr blass geblieben sind. Lediglich im letzten Drittel war etwas mehr von dem Knistern zwischen den Protagonisten spürbar.
Die Hunde hingegen fand ich erstklassig ausgestaltet. Mit ihren Macken und Eigenarten musste ich sie einfach in mein Herz schließen. Sie haben die langatmige Alltagsbeschreibung ein wenig aufgelockert und lebendiger gemacht.
Der Schreibstil war gut lesbar, konnte die fehlende Spannung und Gefühle jedoch nicht wirklich wettmachen. Der enthaltene Humor hingegen hat mir die Geschichte ein wenig schmackhafter gemacht, da die Zankereien und Missverständnisse zwischen Cal und Charlie doch sehr unterhaltsam waren.
Der Spannungsaufbau am Ende war für mich nicht ganz stimmig, weil das Problem für mich ein wenig weit hergeholt wirkte. Außerdem lief am Ende alles sehr schnell und gehetzt ab. Meiner Meinung nach hätte man den Anfang etwas kürzen und dafür das Ende mehr ausarbeiten können.
Zusammenfassend war das Buch ganz nett für Zwischendurch, versprüht aber nicht die Weihnachts- und Winterstimmung, die ich mir gewünscht und erwartet hatte.
December 27, 2018
I was looking for a fun Christmassy read and this was a bit cute, but I had a huge problem overall with the main character. First of all, I just didn't get her. She seems super desperate for a guy and is talking about prospects with Hugo, but she doesn't even know him and stuff. Then the romance was super confusing cause it seemed that they hated each other and suddenly they like each other, but she didn't even know who his mom is or anything about him other than he was good looking and had nice forearms. Anyways I find that she was very shallow and unlikable for a main character.
The only redeeming part was the plot with the dognapping though I totally saw that Camilla thing coming I didn't expect her to be the one to actually recover Judd. I don't know, just lots of things didn't necessary feel right to me.
The only redeeming part was the plot with the dognapping though I totally saw that Camilla thing coming I didn't expect her to be the one to actually recover Judd. I don't know, just lots of things didn't necessary feel right to me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 23, 2022
4.5
Mnogo je slatka knjiga, idealna za izlazak iz čitalačke krize. Kučići su centralna slatkoća, dok je ljubavna priča brzo raspletena i predvidiva, što je uvek slučaj sa prazničnim romantičnim knjigama i filmovima. Međutim, ništa od toga mi nije zasmetalo. Dosta je komičnih scena, posebno zbog sarkastičnog humora glavne junakinje. Nisam ni na sekund osetila dosadu, a nisu postojale ni previše sladunjave scene. Idealno štivo za praznične dane ukoliko ste zaljubljenik u životinje i toplu atmosferu. 🎄
Mnogo je slatka knjiga, idealna za izlazak iz čitalačke krize. Kučići su centralna slatkoća, dok je ljubavna priča brzo raspletena i predvidiva, što je uvek slučaj sa prazničnim romantičnim knjigama i filmovima. Međutim, ništa od toga mi nije zasmetalo. Dosta je komičnih scena, posebno zbog sarkastičnog humora glavne junakinje. Nisam ni na sekund osetila dosadu, a nisu postojale ni previše sladunjave scene. Idealno štivo za praznične dane ukoliko ste zaljubljenik u životinje i toplu atmosferu. 🎄
December 13, 2021
📚 Hello Book Friends! MUTTS AND MISTLETOE by Natalie Cox is a fun novel about a young woman who finds herself taking care of her cousin’s dog kennel while she is away. The story is cute and entertaining. Who can resist this adorable book cover anyway? It is a very quick read, and you will be entertained from beginning to end by a cast of fantastic characters. This Christmas themed story is uplifting and will put a smile on your face.
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December 5, 2020
3.5 stars - this one ended up being a lot more fun than I first anticipated. It started a bit snarkier than I usually like but then the dogs won me over. A bit of romance and a bit of cozy mystery plus a whole lot of dogs and quirky English countryside = a quick entertaining read.
November 29, 2021
En muista millon viimeksi olen nauranut näin paljon. Ensimmäisistä sivuista hienosti loppuun asti. Uskomattoman, no holtiton, kuin kirjassa hahmoa ja voisi kauniisti tapahtumiakin kuvailla, mutta se mikä juuri tässä piristi. Rehellisesti sanottuna ärsyttikin. Luin kuitenkin yhdessä illassa.
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