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Gone to the Dogs #1
Off the Chain
The Town of Brenham, Texas, Has Gone to the Dogs!
Curl up with your pup and sink into a delightful small-town mystery as riddles and rescues stack up in book one of a new cozy mystery series.
Marigold Evans’ first attempt at rescuing an abandoned pooch lands her in a drainage pipe in Brenham Texas. . .and almost in jail, until Parker Jenson comes to her rescue. Then a bad day only gets worse as the Lone Star Vet Clinic, where they both work, is vandalized and the list of suspects starts to climb. With the help of her fellow employees, Marigold sets out to simultaneously solve the crime, rehab the rescued dog, and help more dogs in crisis. But why would anyone continue to work against all their good efforts?
Curl up with your pup and sink into a delightful small-town mystery as riddles and rescues stack up in book one of a new cozy mystery series.
Marigold Evans’ first attempt at rescuing an abandoned pooch lands her in a drainage pipe in Brenham Texas. . .and almost in jail, until Parker Jenson comes to her rescue. Then a bad day only gets worse as the Lone Star Vet Clinic, where they both work, is vandalized and the list of suspects starts to climb. With the help of her fellow employees, Marigold sets out to simultaneously solve the crime, rehab the rescued dog, and help more dogs in crisis. But why would anyone continue to work against all their good efforts?
256 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 2022
53 people are currently reading
1906 people want to read
About the author
Janice Thompson
252 books736 followersWelcome to the wacky, wonderful world of inspirational author Janice Hanna Thompson, where romantic comedy rules the day! I hope you love to laugh, because I make it my goal to tickle your funny bone at every turn in my light-hearted tales.
Whether you’re looking for inspirational romance, quirky cozy mysteries, light-hearted historicals or fun books for younger readers, you will find it here. You will also find an abundance of non-fiction books, guaranteed to ease life’s burdens.
Why do I focus on the light-hearted stuff? Because life is hard! My readers lead busy, chaotic lives and need those special “Calgon, Take Me Away!” moments! Providing “Love, Laughter and Happily Ever Afters” brings me great delight. Lest you think it’s all fluff, think again!
Woven between the lines of each cheerful tale you will find the ultimate love story, one guaranteed to stir your soul and get your heart fluttering. Talk about a real happily ever after! There’s something for everyone on my site, so settle back in your chair, grab a cup of Earl Grey tea, and get ready to discover a light-hearted approach to life!
Whether you’re looking for inspirational romance, quirky cozy mysteries, light-hearted historicals or fun books for younger readers, you will find it here. You will also find an abundance of non-fiction books, guaranteed to ease life’s burdens.
Why do I focus on the light-hearted stuff? Because life is hard! My readers lead busy, chaotic lives and need those special “Calgon, Take Me Away!” moments! Providing “Love, Laughter and Happily Ever Afters” brings me great delight. Lest you think it’s all fluff, think again!
Woven between the lines of each cheerful tale you will find the ultimate love story, one guaranteed to stir your soul and get your heart fluttering. Talk about a real happily ever after! There’s something for everyone on my site, so settle back in your chair, grab a cup of Earl Grey tea, and get ready to discover a light-hearted approach to life!
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September 24, 2022
3.5⭐
A cute, cozy mystery.🐾
Marigold wants to start her own dog rescue business. And her first job begins with rescuing a dog trapped in a drainage pipe. But before she knows what to do with the freed pup, the Vets office she works for is burglarized.
Oh come on!!! Now what kind of a creep would want to damage a veterinarian clinic? The question remains…can Marigold and her friends solve the mystery?
I think I’ve come to realize I may be too much of a hardcore thriller fan to appreciate the cuteness of a cozy mystery. Though there was a time I used to love these.🤷♀️
But if this a genre you enjoy, (or if you love dogs) then don’t miss out on this adorable romp!🐶💙
Thank you to Goodreads Giveaways
A cute, cozy mystery.🐾
Marigold wants to start her own dog rescue business. And her first job begins with rescuing a dog trapped in a drainage pipe. But before she knows what to do with the freed pup, the Vets office she works for is burglarized.
Oh come on!!! Now what kind of a creep would want to damage a veterinarian clinic? The question remains…can Marigold and her friends solve the mystery?
I think I’ve come to realize I may be too much of a hardcore thriller fan to appreciate the cuteness of a cozy mystery. Though there was a time I used to love these.🤷♀️
But if this a genre you enjoy, (or if you love dogs) then don’t miss out on this adorable romp!🐶💙
Thank you to Goodreads Giveaways
September 20, 2022
My thanks to the author, Janice Thompson, and the publisher, Barbour Publishing, for my ebook and to Goodreads Giveaways. This story is sweet, fun and a good, clean read, very refreshing and uplifting and something we could all use right now. The star is a novice dog rescuer and the characters she works with at a veterinary practice. Throw in some rescue dogs, a bit of romance, a bit of down home common sense, and you have this perfect happy day read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 1, 2022
5 stars, personally.
About this book:
“The Town of Brenham, Texas, Has Gone to the Dogs!
Marigold Evans’ first attempt at rescuing an abandoned pooch lands her in a drainage pipe in Brenham Texas. . .and almost in jail, until Parker Jenson comes to her rescue. Then a bad day only gets worse as the Lone Star Vet Clinic, where they both work, is vandalized and the list of suspects starts to climb. With the help of her fellow employees, Marigold sets out to simultaneously solve the crime, rehab the rescued dog, and help more dogs in crisis. But why would anyone continue to work against all their good efforts?”
Series: Book #1 in the “Gone to the Dogs” series.
Spiritual Content- Proverbs 12:10 at the beginning; A couple Scriptures are mentioned; Prayers; Many talks about God, praying, having faith, & dreams; ‘H’s are capitalized when referring to God; Many mentions of God, callings, & dreams; Mentions of prayers, praying, a prayer chain, & blessings over food; Mentions of those & events in the Bible; Mentions of churches, church going, church events, & a pastor/reverend; Mentions of callings; Mentions of ministries & one that witnesses to and helps the homeless; Mentions of miracles; Mentions of denominations & someone being raised Presbyterian but becoming a Baptist as an adult (his mother being “nearly wrecked” by it (though, they’ve now ironed out their theological differences)); A few mentions of working with like-minded people who are believers; A few mentions of if someone was charismatic they would say a certain man has a demon & a friend being full-gospel and finding demons under every bush (which Mari responds that there are plenty of them to be found); A few mentions of a man possibly skimming off of a church’s tithes; A couple mentions of Mari’s grandmother saying a man’s so mean that her prayers couldn’t reach him, which Mari isn’t sure that’s theologically sound; A couple mentions of a mission trip; A mention of a Godsend; A mention of a hymn; A mention of fasting; A mention of a blessing; A mention of calling for a priest; A mention of a the phrase that a man is “so cheap he wouldn’t give a nickel to see Jesus ridin’ a bicycle”;
*Note: A few mentions of a cat being called the “spawn of Satan”, a “demonic cat”, & a “demon cat”; A couple mentions of a man being called evil; A mention of someone scowling at Mari like she’s “some sort of demonic entity”; A mention of a (church) event being at an ungodly hour.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘stinking’, a ‘suck it up’, two ‘dumb’s, three ‘idiot’s, and four forms of ‘stupid’; Some sarcasm & eye rolling; A couple mentions of curses (said, not written); A couple mentions of someone making an obscene gesture; A mention of someone being “enough to make a preacher want to cuss”; Helping a friend who’s ex-boyfriend is stalking her & witnessing his reckless driving (barely-above-not-detailed); Many mentions of vandalism (the word ‘murderer’ is painted on a wall), vandals, thieves, burglaries/robberies, stealing, & stolen items; Many mentions of an ex-boyfriend threatening, stalking, gaslighting her, showing signs of violence, following her around with a gun, the woman being scared of him, & filing a protective order; Many mentions of jail & arrests; Mentions of threats; Mentions of injuries; Mentions of blood, vomit, throwing up, & poop; Mentions of alcohol, someone being addicted, going to AA, & becoming sober; Mentions of drugs, a cartel, dealers, runners, & drug houses; Mentions of injured dogs, the passing of beloved pets, & grieving (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of owners abandoning their pets when they move; A few mentions of a man threatening to hurt a dog if it comes onto his property; A few mentions of rumors; A few mentions of divorce; A few mentions of lies & lying; A couple mentions of a hateful man; A mention that someone could be an axe murderer; A mention of partying in college;
*Note: Mentions of brands (Dollar General, Dollar Store, Jiffy Lube, Lady Clairol, Mary Kay, Easy-Bake ovens, Gucci, Dr. Pepper, Blue Bell ice cream, & Sonic); Mentions of car brands; Mentions of a singer & songs (Kenny Chesney); A mention of a soap opera (The Young and the Restless); A mention of the Mutt & Jeff duo.
Sexual Content- An few embraces & hand holding; A tiny bit of teasing/flirting & winks; Some noticing (barely-above-not-detailed); a ‘hussy’ (Grandma Peach calls another woman that because she’s always flirting); Mentions of boyfriends, girlfriends, exes, dates, & dating; Mentions of flirts, flirting, & swooning; Mentions of thinking about a man often & crushes; Mentions of handsome & cute guys; A few mentions of songs about cheating; A few mentions of having the hots for someone; A couple mentions of jealousy; A mention of hunky firefighters; A mention of a woman ‘honky-tonkin’; At the beginning of the story, Marigold has a bit of a crush on a guy who happens to be her boss (but it’s really more of respect and admiration); A bit of love, falling in love, & the emotions;
*Note: A couple mentions of female co-workers staying at a male coworker’s place when they need a place to stay (not sexual at all, he’s just a nice guy with a heart for helping people).
-Marigold Evans
1st person P.O.V. of Marigold
256 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- Two Stars
Early High School Teens- Three Stars
Older High School Teens- Four Stars
My personal Rating- Five Stars
{ Add a full star for dog lovers and/or those who are interested in working at/as a vet. }
This was everything I hoped and more.
Easily my most anticipated book of the year, this book was just so much fun.
I thought it would be more of a mystery, but it wasn’t so focused on who broke into the vet clinic, it was more on day-to-day life and craziness and Marigold’s heart for rescuing dogs. Which I really liked. Bonus that it was in first-person POV, which reminded me of Erynn Mangum’s books with the wit and humor.
This was such an entertaining read and I can’t wait to read the rest of the series!
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
*I received this book for free from the Publisher (Barbour) for this honest review.
About this book:
“The Town of Brenham, Texas, Has Gone to the Dogs!
Marigold Evans’ first attempt at rescuing an abandoned pooch lands her in a drainage pipe in Brenham Texas. . .and almost in jail, until Parker Jenson comes to her rescue. Then a bad day only gets worse as the Lone Star Vet Clinic, where they both work, is vandalized and the list of suspects starts to climb. With the help of her fellow employees, Marigold sets out to simultaneously solve the crime, rehab the rescued dog, and help more dogs in crisis. But why would anyone continue to work against all their good efforts?”
Series: Book #1 in the “Gone to the Dogs” series.
Spiritual Content- Proverbs 12:10 at the beginning; A couple Scriptures are mentioned; Prayers; Many talks about God, praying, having faith, & dreams; ‘H’s are capitalized when referring to God; Many mentions of God, callings, & dreams; Mentions of prayers, praying, a prayer chain, & blessings over food; Mentions of those & events in the Bible; Mentions of churches, church going, church events, & a pastor/reverend; Mentions of callings; Mentions of ministries & one that witnesses to and helps the homeless; Mentions of miracles; Mentions of denominations & someone being raised Presbyterian but becoming a Baptist as an adult (his mother being “nearly wrecked” by it (though, they’ve now ironed out their theological differences)); A few mentions of working with like-minded people who are believers; A few mentions of if someone was charismatic they would say a certain man has a demon & a friend being full-gospel and finding demons under every bush (which Mari responds that there are plenty of them to be found); A few mentions of a man possibly skimming off of a church’s tithes; A couple mentions of Mari’s grandmother saying a man’s so mean that her prayers couldn’t reach him, which Mari isn’t sure that’s theologically sound; A couple mentions of a mission trip; A mention of a Godsend; A mention of a hymn; A mention of fasting; A mention of a blessing; A mention of calling for a priest; A mention of a the phrase that a man is “so cheap he wouldn’t give a nickel to see Jesus ridin’ a bicycle”;
*Note: A few mentions of a cat being called the “spawn of Satan”, a “demonic cat”, & a “demon cat”; A couple mentions of a man being called evil; A mention of someone scowling at Mari like she’s “some sort of demonic entity”; A mention of a (church) event being at an ungodly hour.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘stinking’, a ‘suck it up’, two ‘dumb’s, three ‘idiot’s, and four forms of ‘stupid’; Some sarcasm & eye rolling; A couple mentions of curses (said, not written); A couple mentions of someone making an obscene gesture; A mention of someone being “enough to make a preacher want to cuss”; Helping a friend who’s ex-boyfriend is stalking her & witnessing his reckless driving (barely-above-not-detailed); Many mentions of vandalism (the word ‘murderer’ is painted on a wall), vandals, thieves, burglaries/robberies, stealing, & stolen items; Many mentions of an ex-boyfriend threatening, stalking, gaslighting her, showing signs of violence, following her around with a gun, the woman being scared of him, & filing a protective order; Many mentions of jail & arrests; Mentions of threats; Mentions of injuries; Mentions of blood, vomit, throwing up, & poop; Mentions of alcohol, someone being addicted, going to AA, & becoming sober; Mentions of drugs, a cartel, dealers, runners, & drug houses; Mentions of injured dogs, the passing of beloved pets, & grieving (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of owners abandoning their pets when they move; A few mentions of a man threatening to hurt a dog if it comes onto his property; A few mentions of rumors; A few mentions of divorce; A few mentions of lies & lying; A couple mentions of a hateful man; A mention that someone could be an axe murderer; A mention of partying in college;
*Note: Mentions of brands (Dollar General, Dollar Store, Jiffy Lube, Lady Clairol, Mary Kay, Easy-Bake ovens, Gucci, Dr. Pepper, Blue Bell ice cream, & Sonic); Mentions of car brands; Mentions of a singer & songs (Kenny Chesney); A mention of a soap opera (The Young and the Restless); A mention of the Mutt & Jeff duo.
Sexual Content- An few embraces & hand holding; A tiny bit of teasing/flirting & winks; Some noticing (barely-above-not-detailed); a ‘hussy’ (Grandma Peach calls another woman that because she’s always flirting); Mentions of boyfriends, girlfriends, exes, dates, & dating; Mentions of flirts, flirting, & swooning; Mentions of thinking about a man often & crushes; Mentions of handsome & cute guys; A few mentions of songs about cheating; A few mentions of having the hots for someone; A couple mentions of jealousy; A mention of hunky firefighters; A mention of a woman ‘honky-tonkin’; At the beginning of the story, Marigold has a bit of a crush on a guy who happens to be her boss (but it’s really more of respect and admiration); A bit of love, falling in love, & the emotions;
*Note: A couple mentions of female co-workers staying at a male coworker’s place when they need a place to stay (not sexual at all, he’s just a nice guy with a heart for helping people).
-Marigold Evans
1st person P.O.V. of Marigold
256 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- Two Stars
Early High School Teens- Three Stars
Older High School Teens- Four Stars
My personal Rating- Five Stars
{ Add a full star for dog lovers and/or those who are interested in working at/as a vet. }
This was everything I hoped and more.
Easily my most anticipated book of the year, this book was just so much fun.
I thought it would be more of a mystery, but it wasn’t so focused on who broke into the vet clinic, it was more on day-to-day life and craziness and Marigold’s heart for rescuing dogs. Which I really liked. Bonus that it was in first-person POV, which reminded me of Erynn Mangum’s books with the wit and humor.
This was such an entertaining read and I can’t wait to read the rest of the series!
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
*I received this book for free from the Publisher (Barbour) for this honest review.
September 8, 2022
I read this book in a goodreads drawing.
A Texas woman who wants to start a dog rescue finds a dog in a drainage pipe. She falls in love with the dog. Somebody vandalizes the veterinarian clinic where she works.
It's got a lot of the characteristics of a cozy, but there's no actual mystery or investigation.
A Texas woman who wants to start a dog rescue finds a dog in a drainage pipe. She falls in love with the dog. Somebody vandalizes the veterinarian clinic where she works.
It's got a lot of the characteristics of a cozy, but there's no actual mystery or investigation.
September 10, 2022
I feel everyone deserves this cute, little mystery read. Yes, more for the cuteness and the cute characters. And happy news! This is Book 1. Yep ✔️
Hello, Netflix. Can you hear me? This needs an adaptation!
It's so cute and well done! A story of two youngsters trying to rescue strays but also in quite a dilemma as to solve why their vet clinic has been attacked.
I fell in love with the characters and their interactions. It's the dialogues and the fun way the story is written! Works so well. You know I have just discovered a favourite author!
The writing is so good. You will smile throughout the book, more specially towards the end. Oh, I just cannot handle the cuteness there...
Of course, I feel so lucky to have the advance review copy from Barbour Publishing.
I love the cover and everything about this book!
Hello, Netflix. Can you hear me? This needs an adaptation!
It's so cute and well done! A story of two youngsters trying to rescue strays but also in quite a dilemma as to solve why their vet clinic has been attacked.
I fell in love with the characters and their interactions. It's the dialogues and the fun way the story is written! Works so well. You know I have just discovered a favourite author!
The writing is so good. You will smile throughout the book, more specially towards the end. Oh, I just cannot handle the cuteness there...
Of course, I feel so lucky to have the advance review copy from Barbour Publishing.
I love the cover and everything about this book!
May 8, 2022
Cute start to a new cozy mystery series. There is a nice blend of depth and humor in the pages.
Mari is a vet tech in Brenham (home of Blue Bell ice cream), Texas. She has a dream to start a non-profit with a focus on rescuing dogs. The trouble is there are so many details she hasn't worked out yet.
Her vet clinic is vandalized and the mystery is figuring out who was behind the crime. Lots of potential suspects. I figured out the villain before the reveal, but it was still a fun journey.
Love Mari's grandmother. She's a riot.
Look forward to continuing the series.
My gratitude to publisher Barbour for a complimentary NetGalley copy of the novel. I was not required to post a review and all opinions expressed are my own.
Mari is a vet tech in Brenham (home of Blue Bell ice cream), Texas. She has a dream to start a non-profit with a focus on rescuing dogs. The trouble is there are so many details she hasn't worked out yet.
Her vet clinic is vandalized and the mystery is figuring out who was behind the crime. Lots of potential suspects. I figured out the villain before the reveal, but it was still a fun journey.
Love Mari's grandmother. She's a riot.
Look forward to continuing the series.
My gratitude to publisher Barbour for a complimentary NetGalley copy of the novel. I was not required to post a review and all opinions expressed are my own.
December 5, 2023
Eeeeeh!! Literally so good!! Besides a few mentions of 2020 ( you know what ), I love this book. Christian cozy mystery might be a new favorite genre. Janice Thompson did absolutely splendid on this book. Great faith, sweet romance, and a fun mystery- all I need in a good mystery. Super excited for the next book
June 16, 2022
There is a lot going on in this story. Mari is a vet tech with the dream of running a pet rescue. Her first rescue ended her up in the back of a police car and things went downhill from there.
This is a delightful story, sometimes heartwarming and sometimes humorous. There is a great cast of compassionate characters with a couple bad apples thrown in to round it out. I look forward to reading more about Mari's pet rescue efforts in the future. Thanks to Barbour Publishing and NetGalley for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.
This is a delightful story, sometimes heartwarming and sometimes humorous. There is a great cast of compassionate characters with a couple bad apples thrown in to round it out. I look forward to reading more about Mari's pet rescue efforts in the future. Thanks to Barbour Publishing and NetGalley for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.
November 25, 2024
Story Enjoyment Rating: 8/10 Christian Faith Rating: 2/3
"Off the Chain" by Janice Thompson is the first book in the "Gone to the Dogs” series. This cosy mystery, without a murder, follows Marigold, a vet who is passionate about rescuing dogs. The story begins with Marigold attempting to rescue a stray dog stuck in a pipe. After successfully rescuing the dog, she tries to locate its owner while also investigating a break-in at the veterinary clinic. The book blends elements of mystery and romance, making it a "cute contemporary romance alongside a cosy mystery."
I enjoyed the book's lighthearted style, appreciating the absence of dark themes and the inclusion of dogs and mystery elements. I found the characters engaging. I especially liked Marigold's grandmother.
While some characters were slightly annoying, I still found the book enjoyable to read. There was some Christian faith content.
"Off the Chain" by Janice Thompson is the first book in the "Gone to the Dogs” series. This cosy mystery, without a murder, follows Marigold, a vet who is passionate about rescuing dogs. The story begins with Marigold attempting to rescue a stray dog stuck in a pipe. After successfully rescuing the dog, she tries to locate its owner while also investigating a break-in at the veterinary clinic. The book blends elements of mystery and romance, making it a "cute contemporary romance alongside a cosy mystery."
I enjoyed the book's lighthearted style, appreciating the absence of dark themes and the inclusion of dogs and mystery elements. I found the characters engaging. I especially liked Marigold's grandmother.
While some characters were slightly annoying, I still found the book enjoyable to read. There was some Christian faith content.
July 22, 2022
Off the Chain by Janice Thompson was the first book I have read by this author, and it was so cute! 4 stars. If you love a good dog rescue story, cozy mysteries and just a fun light-hearted Christian read, this is the one!
There is a lot going on here! The story begins with Marigold Evans trying to rescue an abandoned dog from a drainage pipe in Texas with her friend when she almost ends up arrested from a misunderstanding from the situation. Parker Jenson comes to her rescue, as usual!
This was a crazy start to a fun story! The day continues down this wild ride when their Veterinarian Clinic, where Park and Marigold both work, is vandalized and the list of suspects start to climb. Who did this and why? The team sets out to solve the crime and help more dogs in need.
I enjoyed this read! It has some good faith content such as a few scriptures, prayers, discussions of faith, church, and God. This was more of a real-life story of the dog rescue/veterinarian lifestyle than a mystery, but I liked seeing their daily lifestyle at work, with different animals and how Marigold’s passion for dogs shown through as she worked through her interest in building a dog rescue non-profit organization.
It had some great southern references too, and ya’ll know I love a good southern reference! 😊 It had humor, characters, faith, mystery and all the cozy vibes of a small town!
If you are a dog lover, you are going to LOVE this story! Thank you to NetGalley and Barbour Publishing for providing me with an Advanced Reader Copy to honestly read and review.
There is a lot going on here! The story begins with Marigold Evans trying to rescue an abandoned dog from a drainage pipe in Texas with her friend when she almost ends up arrested from a misunderstanding from the situation. Parker Jenson comes to her rescue, as usual!
This was a crazy start to a fun story! The day continues down this wild ride when their Veterinarian Clinic, where Park and Marigold both work, is vandalized and the list of suspects start to climb. Who did this and why? The team sets out to solve the crime and help more dogs in need.
I enjoyed this read! It has some good faith content such as a few scriptures, prayers, discussions of faith, church, and God. This was more of a real-life story of the dog rescue/veterinarian lifestyle than a mystery, but I liked seeing their daily lifestyle at work, with different animals and how Marigold’s passion for dogs shown through as she worked through her interest in building a dog rescue non-profit organization.
It had some great southern references too, and ya’ll know I love a good southern reference! 😊 It had humor, characters, faith, mystery and all the cozy vibes of a small town!
If you are a dog lover, you are going to LOVE this story! Thank you to NetGalley and Barbour Publishing for providing me with an Advanced Reader Copy to honestly read and review.
September 27, 2022
This was an extremely cute cozy mystery and the first in the series involving a vet clinic and the people working there.
This was my first Janice Thompson book, and I enjoyed the writing, the characters and their interactions which caused LOL moments for me.
I also loved how animals, specifically dogs, was center staged and played important roles in getting to the truth.
The love story developed sweetly.
Looking forward to more in this series.
*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.*
This was my first Janice Thompson book, and I enjoyed the writing, the characters and their interactions which caused LOL moments for me.
I also loved how animals, specifically dogs, was center staged and played important roles in getting to the truth.
The love story developed sweetly.
Looking forward to more in this series.
*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.*
June 27, 2022
Off the Chain by Janice Thompson is one of those beachy dog mysteries I've come to expect in today's writing world. That may be a bit harsh, but her voice is very similar to other authors I enjoy: Dorothy St. James and Jackie Layton, for example, may do it better.
Having said that, I did enjoy this book. I would recommend it. The author knows her stuff about the veterinary world and the mystery was interesting. There are adorable dogs and the author drives home the need to care for, not only your pets, but your neighbors' as in donating to shelters and so on. The message is great and there is humor. I also liked the Texas feel.
I just might recommend those other two authors first--just keeping it real. Otherwise, these reviews wouldn't be honest.
I received this book free as part of the Celebrate Lit tour but was not required to give a positive review. The ideas and opinions are my own.
Having said that, I did enjoy this book. I would recommend it. The author knows her stuff about the veterinary world and the mystery was interesting. There are adorable dogs and the author drives home the need to care for, not only your pets, but your neighbors' as in donating to shelters and so on. The message is great and there is humor. I also liked the Texas feel.
I just might recommend those other two authors first--just keeping it real. Otherwise, these reviews wouldn't be honest.
I received this book free as part of the Celebrate Lit tour but was not required to give a positive review. The ideas and opinions are my own.
October 1, 2022
This was not what I expected, but I enjoyed it. As a lover of animals, and a previous animal shelter employee, I could appreciate Marigold's heart for animals. I loved the faith element added to the book too. It was neat to see how everything fell in place and how everything wrapped up. This series is set up different but I am looking forward to reading book 2.
August 2, 2022
This fast-paced cozy mystery is the first in a new series. I was not sure if I would like it due to the banter between Mari (Marigold) and her best friend Cassidy in the first chapter. We open to see Mari, a dedicated young veterinary technician, crawling in a drainage pipe on her first dog rescue. She is an animal lover with the goal of opening a dog rescue and caught my attention immediately. When a police officer suspected they were homeless and tucked them into the back of his patrol car to take to the homeless shelter, their ongoing conversation was not what I expected for the seriousness of the situation. Oh, am I glad I kept reading! These young women are usually serious in any situation that requires it, are fiercely loyal to each other, and ultimately are Christians who walk their faith without preaching it. The banter soon was exchanged for more normal communication.
The police officer was taking them to meet Mari’s close friend and fellow vet tech, Parker, with her spare apartment key. When he got a call to go to a break-in at the veterinary clinic where they both work, they had a back seat view of the action. Someone had shattered the huge front window. Tyler, the head vet and owner of the clinic arrived with the key so the officers could enter the building. Parker arrived at the clinic as well; he and Tyler worked on the pup that Mari rescued.
Mari, Cassidy, and Parker want to know who committed the burglary at the clinic that is only six months old, and they already have a short list of possible suspects. One is the ex-boyfriend of Isabel, one of the groomers, another is Cameron, a veterinary school friend of Tyler’s. There is even a client who may have been involved in the break-in and burglary. In the meantime, the office is continually harassed by the CPA whose office abuts the clinic. Not only does he hate dogs and threaten the little one Mari rescued for barking, but he has a parking lot full of clients on any given day.
I enjoyed Mari’s ideals and priorities. She is dedicated to Grandma Peach, her late mother’s mother. She has a plan to be able to one day purchase a piece of land with a house on the property for her and a barn for the rescue dogs, called the Second Chance Ranch. The clinic where she works has primarily Christian staff, which makes a huge difference in how they work together and treat each other and their clients. I came to appreciate and become invested in most of the characters as well as their goals regarding pet care. Beau Jangles, the precious pup Mari rescued and fell in love with even while trying to find his owner, is irresistible! The day arrived, however, when his owner came into the clinic.
The mysteries were not complex yet kept me guessing throughout. I was stunned to learn the depth of criminal activity the CPA was involved in. I appreciate the level of faith demonstrated, especially by Mari, and Parker, as well as each person taking things to the Lord in prayer. I highly recommend this for anyone who enjoys well-written cozy mysteries with faith, endearing characters, and irresistible dogs.
From a thankful heart: I received an electronic ARC of this novel from Celebrate Lit and the publisher through NetGalley, and this is my honest review.
The police officer was taking them to meet Mari’s close friend and fellow vet tech, Parker, with her spare apartment key. When he got a call to go to a break-in at the veterinary clinic where they both work, they had a back seat view of the action. Someone had shattered the huge front window. Tyler, the head vet and owner of the clinic arrived with the key so the officers could enter the building. Parker arrived at the clinic as well; he and Tyler worked on the pup that Mari rescued.
Mari, Cassidy, and Parker want to know who committed the burglary at the clinic that is only six months old, and they already have a short list of possible suspects. One is the ex-boyfriend of Isabel, one of the groomers, another is Cameron, a veterinary school friend of Tyler’s. There is even a client who may have been involved in the break-in and burglary. In the meantime, the office is continually harassed by the CPA whose office abuts the clinic. Not only does he hate dogs and threaten the little one Mari rescued for barking, but he has a parking lot full of clients on any given day.
I enjoyed Mari’s ideals and priorities. She is dedicated to Grandma Peach, her late mother’s mother. She has a plan to be able to one day purchase a piece of land with a house on the property for her and a barn for the rescue dogs, called the Second Chance Ranch. The clinic where she works has primarily Christian staff, which makes a huge difference in how they work together and treat each other and their clients. I came to appreciate and become invested in most of the characters as well as their goals regarding pet care. Beau Jangles, the precious pup Mari rescued and fell in love with even while trying to find his owner, is irresistible! The day arrived, however, when his owner came into the clinic.
The mysteries were not complex yet kept me guessing throughout. I was stunned to learn the depth of criminal activity the CPA was involved in. I appreciate the level of faith demonstrated, especially by Mari, and Parker, as well as each person taking things to the Lord in prayer. I highly recommend this for anyone who enjoys well-written cozy mysteries with faith, endearing characters, and irresistible dogs.
From a thankful heart: I received an electronic ARC of this novel from Celebrate Lit and the publisher through NetGalley, and this is my honest review.
July 20, 2022
Such a fun little story....
In addition to Janice Thompson's normal rom-com writing we get a cute cozy mystery about who's doing minor vandalism at the vet's office. The result is a light, funny small-town rom-com-cozy sort of story, with lots of pets and plenty of vivid small-town characters.
Marigold and her rescue dog Beau Jangles dance across the pages with boundless energy and interest, and her Grandma Peach is a major character as well.
I enjoyed each minute and the story is an excellent palette cleanser to read between heavier novels. I'll definitely be reading the next in the series. Suitable for any age.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a free reading copy. A favorable review was not required.
In addition to Janice Thompson's normal rom-com writing we get a cute cozy mystery about who's doing minor vandalism at the vet's office. The result is a light, funny small-town rom-com-cozy sort of story, with lots of pets and plenty of vivid small-town characters.
Marigold and her rescue dog Beau Jangles dance across the pages with boundless energy and interest, and her Grandma Peach is a major character as well.
I enjoyed each minute and the story is an excellent palette cleanser to read between heavier novels. I'll definitely be reading the next in the series. Suitable for any age.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a free reading copy. A favorable review was not required.
June 26, 2022
Thank you NetGalley, Janice Thompson and Barbour Publishing for Off the Chain. This is my personal review.
Off the Chain is the first book in the series Gone to the Dogs.
I wanted to curl up and enjoy the book so much with me being a cozy mystery series lover, but this book did not hold me into the story.
Too much was happening that for me did not connect to make a smooth and enticing mystery. I did not connect with anyone in the book. I read it but just could not see myself wanting to continue reading and more books in the series.
Off the Chain is the first book in the series Gone to the Dogs.
I wanted to curl up and enjoy the book so much with me being a cozy mystery series lover, but this book did not hold me into the story.
Too much was happening that for me did not connect to make a smooth and enticing mystery. I did not connect with anyone in the book. I read it but just could not see myself wanting to continue reading and more books in the series.
July 25, 2022
Marigold “Mari” Evans is a veterinary technician who wishes to start a dog rescue in Brenham, Texas. Mari finds herself in a drainage pipe rescuing an injured pup. Mari and her friend, Cassidy end up in the back of a police vehicle after their escapade. The officer does not believe their story since they cannot provide identification (Mari’s car disappeared while she was in the drainage pipe). Then the officer receives a call to the Lone Star Veterinary Clinic where Mari and Cassidy work. Someone vandalized the clinic. There are a couple of potential suspects. Mari is determined to learn who is behind the attack while continuing her work at the clinic and getting her rescue operation off the ground. Off the Chain by Janice Thompson is the debut of Gone to the Dogs Mysteries. Off the Chain is a lighthearted cozy mystery. We meet Mari Evans who has a dream of starting a non-profit dog rescue called Second Chance Ranch. We follow Mari as she goes about her day-to-day activities. She is also working with her adorable rescue pup, Beau Jangles and trying to figure out who is behind the break in at the vet clinic where she works. I did feel that the characters lacked development. Beau Jangles is a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Mari’s grandmother, Grandma Peach is a quirky character. She is lively and dispenses advice (whether you want it or not). There is plenty of activity going on in the story which makes it lively. The mystery was straightforward. There are a couple of suspects and red herring or two. I wish the solution had not been so obvious. I like how the group arrived at the answer I would have liked a stronger mystery (and for it to be the focus of the story). Off the Chain is a Christian cozy mystery. The faith element is woven throughout the story. There is talk about faith, church, and God as well as prayer and scripture. Mari has a crush on her boss, Tyler. Tyler, though, seems to be getting cozy with the new veterinarian. There may be someone else who is meant for Mari. I was not a fan of all the romance and ogling (every cute guy was eyed). I like how the community rallies to help Mari with her dog rescue. I enjoyed the Southern references (they will have you chuckling). I just loved all the dogs in the story (real cutie pies). Off the Chain has humor, faith, mystery, and romance. Off the Chain is a quirky Southern tale with drainage pipe rescue, a dancing dog, beautiful blue eyes, wrecked windows, suspicious suspects, a dog dilemma, and an unforeseen find.
November 8, 2023
I really enjoyed this book such a cute story 🥰! If you or a dog lover this book is definitely for you!!😁🐶
June 1, 2022
"Off the Chain" is theoretically a cozy mystery. Actually, it's a romance with dogs, relationship dramas, and a mystery about who broke into the vet clinic. Marigold comes across as slightly out of touch with reality (to add comedy) and one of the first jokes is that her memory is so bad that she can't even remember to take memory-improving supplements, so she'd make a horrible sleuth. She didn't turn out to be as ditzy or forgetful as she's initially portrayed, but it's just as well that she's simply a kind, caring vet tech who wants to start her own dog rescue, help her friends, and who realizes she's been swooning over the wrong guy. So who solves the mystery? Well, they think they have it solved early on, so they don't bother to actively investigate. But the dogs can smell out the truth and eventually literally uncover the proof of wrong-doing.
The characters were likable, and both love interests were really nice guys who supported Marigold's rescue efforts. One was simply more interested in her than the other. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this humorous romance.
I received an ebook review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
The characters were likable, and both love interests were really nice guys who supported Marigold's rescue efforts. One was simply more interested in her than the other. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this humorous romance.
I received an ebook review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
July 6, 2022
This was...not good. There were a lot of unbelievable scenarios, to the point of being irritating. The characters were very dim witted, and it felt like the author was trying to make them quirky but the execution wasn't right. The dialogue is very cringe and unrealistic. There was too much going on. I am really disappointed because I thought I would really like this, but I cannot get past the tropey, juvenile characters. It was just a hot mess.
Thank you to NetGalley and Barbour Publishing for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to NetGalley and Barbour Publishing for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
May 22, 2022
I didn't find this at all believable in the world of rescue. The main character has no idea what she is doing and proceeds like a teenager with a school project
Thank you netgalley and the publisher for this arc
Thank you netgalley and the publisher for this arc
May 11, 2022
This ARC was provided to me via Kindle, Barbour Publishing and by #NetGalley. Opinions expressed are completely my own.
Cute cozy mystery with a twist of romance.
Cute cozy mystery with a twist of romance.
July 28, 2023
I loved this cozy mystery. It was so cute. I read this during a camping trip, and I know I picked a good one! I loved the antics of the characters and funny situations that they found themselves in.
May 18, 2024
☕ “Hey, that’s what God did for us. No shame in that. If He can go to the low places to drag us out, we can do the same for His creatures.”
📚 WHAT’S TO LOVE? Southernisms sweet enough to knock your socks off.
Seriously though, Texas is one of my favorite southern states besides my own. This contemporary novel is set among the cowboys, bluebells, and fried chicken where pets need special TLC and the local veterinarian’s office is burglarized.
Who would do such in a sleepy little town where everyone knows everyone else’s beeswax?
–Is it the abusive ex-boyfriend of the dog groomer who can’t take “no” for an answer and seeks revenge?
–Is it the disgruntled client who threatens to sue one of the vets because she couldn’t save her beloved pet?
–Or the crabby but mysterious old Accountant next door who fusses daily about the dogs that end up on his property, the parking, and the noise?
–Or a complete stranger to them all?
I thoroughly enjoyed the familiar country sayings and slang, the office staff, and especially good ol’ Grandma Peach!
Squeaky clean with romantic thoughts and no profanity - thank you!!
📚 CAUSE FOR PAUSE? I’m so tender-hearted so I didn’t necessarily love hearing about the abandonment, harm, and medical stuff that happens to the pets - but it wasn’t too bad. There were a couple of unanswered questions I had at the end. But all in all, it was very entertaining.
📚 CONSIDER READING IF… you want a heartwarming, somewhat suspenseful story about realistic friends, coworkers, law enforcement, and genuine folks in a cute Texas town with a little romance dabbled in. 😀
MY RATING 🌟🌟🌟🌟
☕📚
📚 WHAT’S TO LOVE? Southernisms sweet enough to knock your socks off.
Seriously though, Texas is one of my favorite southern states besides my own. This contemporary novel is set among the cowboys, bluebells, and fried chicken where pets need special TLC and the local veterinarian’s office is burglarized.
Who would do such in a sleepy little town where everyone knows everyone else’s beeswax?
–Is it the abusive ex-boyfriend of the dog groomer who can’t take “no” for an answer and seeks revenge?
–Is it the disgruntled client who threatens to sue one of the vets because she couldn’t save her beloved pet?
–Or the crabby but mysterious old Accountant next door who fusses daily about the dogs that end up on his property, the parking, and the noise?
–Or a complete stranger to them all?
I thoroughly enjoyed the familiar country sayings and slang, the office staff, and especially good ol’ Grandma Peach!
Squeaky clean with romantic thoughts and no profanity - thank you!!
📚 CAUSE FOR PAUSE? I’m so tender-hearted so I didn’t necessarily love hearing about the abandonment, harm, and medical stuff that happens to the pets - but it wasn’t too bad. There were a couple of unanswered questions I had at the end. But all in all, it was very entertaining.
📚 CONSIDER READING IF… you want a heartwarming, somewhat suspenseful story about realistic friends, coworkers, law enforcement, and genuine folks in a cute Texas town with a little romance dabbled in. 😀
MY RATING 🌟🌟🌟🌟
☕📚
December 19, 2022
A feel good read.
Great opening scene .. funny .. but yes a bit much .. then things settled down some.
Marigold has a life purpose to rescue dogs and enlists help along the way.
Setting: Brenham, TX
There were three really bad typos in the book .. two had to do with the wrong character name being used.
Clean read. Light mystery and light romance.
I must point out that I special ordered this book .. since most of the reviews here were for freebies lol.
First time reading this author….
It wasn’t quite as good as I expected .. may read more in this series.
Great opening scene .. funny .. but yes a bit much .. then things settled down some.
Marigold has a life purpose to rescue dogs and enlists help along the way.
Setting: Brenham, TX
There were three really bad typos in the book .. two had to do with the wrong character name being used.
Clean read. Light mystery and light romance.
I must point out that I special ordered this book .. since most of the reviews here were for freebies lol.
First time reading this author….
It wasn’t quite as good as I expected .. may read more in this series.
November 9, 2022
This was a cute story with a lot of adorable rescue dogs, interesting characters and a crime to solve that was not a murder, which is rare. I’ll definitely read more of this series.
July 15, 2022
What a great story! Filled with a bit of humor, a lot of mystery, the chance for true love, a faith element, and very interesting characters, this story captured me from the beginning. I look forward to reading more by author Janice Thompson. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.
June 19, 2022
I’ve long been a fan of Janice Thompson’s books (her _Weddings by Bella_ series, in particular, is a hoot!), and jumped at the chance to read this one. Indeed, I ended up reading it all in one afternoon!
It’s a bit different than my normal read, in a good way: cozy mystery, and about pets first and foremost (but of course with the requisite romance, which I so enjoyed). And the faith element was great too. Grandma Peach is a riot!
A great way to while away an afternoon on vacation, with multiple literal-LOL moments. So glad to see there will be a couple more books in the series!
I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
It’s a bit different than my normal read, in a good way: cozy mystery, and about pets first and foremost (but of course with the requisite romance, which I so enjoyed). And the faith element was great too. Grandma Peach is a riot!
A great way to while away an afternoon on vacation, with multiple literal-LOL moments. So glad to see there will be a couple more books in the series!
I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
November 15, 2023
4 Stars ✨
Clean and Cute Mystery
Off the Chain was my first Janice Thompson book and it did not disappoint. Not only is it a cozy little mystery involving animals - it was hilarious from the start! If you love animals, humor, mystery and fun you’ll definitely fall in love with this one.
Clean and Cute Mystery
Off the Chain was my first Janice Thompson book and it did not disappoint. Not only is it a cozy little mystery involving animals - it was hilarious from the start! If you love animals, humor, mystery and fun you’ll definitely fall in love with this one.
June 28, 2022
Cozies are my favorite genre and the premise of the vet tech wanting to start up a rescue sounded right up my alley. Unfortunately, I found the writing to be juvenile. The characters were too dim witted to be likable- don’t get me wrong, I love cozies that make me laugh with quirky, fun characters but this just wasn’t it for me.
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