I like Bethany Blake books. She writes an amusing main character and overly anthropomorphizes her animal characters in a way that is almost believable. You can’t go wrong with a basset hound that thinks he’s actually Socrates reincarnated.
Basic Summary (Courtesy of Goodreads):
The Tail Waggin’ Winterfest is the highlight of the season in the famously pet-friendly Pocono Mountains town of Sylvan Creek. But despite attractions like an ice sculpture display, a dogsled race, and gourmet hot chocolate, Daphne Templeton finds herself annoyed by TV producer Lauren Savidge, who’s filming the festivities. She’s critical, controlling, and as chilly as the January air. Daphne would like to tell her to go jump in a lake–and as a matter of fact, that’s exactly what they’re both going to do . . .
It’s the first-ever polar bear plunge in Lake Wallapawakee, and Daphne and Lauren are among the eighty or so people who charge into the frigid water to raise funds for animals in need. Daphne makes it back to shore–with the help of a mysterious St. Bernard–but Lauren is dragged out stone cold dead. Now, with her trusty basset hound Socrates at her side, Daphne intends to assist Detective Jonathan Black in his investigation–whether he wants her to or not . . .
My thoughts:
Daphne is as amusing as ever. We get a bit of character growth, she leases a building to open a store, thus putting down some roots, big step for the perpetual rolling stone.
I didn’t like this book as well as the last two. And I think I know why. There is a new “love” interest for Daphne. And anyone who’s read the first two books knows she belongs with the Detective. Bethany wrote out Daphne’s lame previous boyfriend in book two and now in book three rather than move Daphne closer to a satisfying relationship, she hooks her up with another idiot. sigh.
Also, the murder motive was pretty weak. I won’t give it away though.
I still really enjoyed the book and I wanted to know how it would end bad enough that I brought my ipod in from the car, where I had been listening while driving about, so I could finish the story.
T.A. Henry 