Girl-gets-dog-and-lives-happily-ever-after is a theme alive and well in "Anyone But You" by Jennifer Crusie. This is a delightful romp of romantic fiction that will suck you in if you like sharp dialogue and soulful dogs. For sheer entertainment, this book is hard to beat.
As the story opens, Nina Askew has already decided she wants a dog. "Something perky," she informs the receptionist sitting behind the counter at the Riverbend Animal Control center. (page 7) Nina has just turned forty, the fact that she will wrestle with throughout the story.
Despite the charms of the wriggly pile of puppies that she walks by as she walks through the kennel area of available dogs, Nina finds herself drawn to the sad-sack of an older dog, almost morose and vulture-like sitting there in his pen.
The kennel attendant explains that he is the basset-beagle mix; more basset than beagle. If he isn't adopted today, he'll be ethuanized. And, his name is Fred. He is not cute puppy-.
Nina weighs her options: frisky, adorable puppy or elderly, low-key, not-so-beautiful Fred. Recognizing a kindred spirit, she chooses Fred and takes him home.
Crusie's rather comic description of how Nina chooses Fred is a poignant moment and a triumph for all of the real-life, older dogs that land in shelters through no fault of their own. If only one person reading this book decides to go out and adopt an older dog, what a wonderful testimony to the fictional Fred.
Although Fred never upstages the human characters, he does become the object that jump starts the larger story of Nina's introduction to an engaging young man who is ten years younger than she. His name is Alex.
This witty and fast-paced novel is both hilarious and touching. It's a timeless story that never grows old because some things just never change. Falling in love with a sad-eyed, older dog that no one else wants is heartwarming. We get to cheer for the underdog as he's led off to his forever home.
Juxtapose that story against the magnetic attraction of a younger man for an older woman, have them finally fall in love, and that's the icing on the cake. You can read this novel is sheer entertainment and you won't be disappointed. You can also read it to recapture your faith in the power of laughter and love to ensure happy endings, and you won't be disappointed either.
Kathy H Porter blogs about the dynamics between people and their dogs and invites you to instant access of her free report on how understanding your dog's behavior leads to human success. Visit: http://www.healingrescuedogs.com/
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