Kiltie’s Advent Book Calendar – 5th Dec

A Christmas Tail by Cressida McLaughlin; Harper Collins

Page Count (e-book) – 466

The Blurb:

Catherine ‘Cat’ Palmer realizes that bringing an adorable puppy into work is a bad idea when it gets her the sack. Deciding it’s the perfect opportunity to launch her dog-walking business, Cat enlists the help of flatmates Polly and Joe. After all Primrose Terrace, the street where they live, is full of home-alone hounds.

Getting to know the owners and their precious pooches isn’t all plain sailing, but soon Cat is making friends, particularly with sexy Mark and his Collie, Chips. With her talent for misadventure, Cat’s new life starts to show some cracks, and when one of the street’s loveable schnauzers gets ill, it looks like this Christmas could be turning into a dog’s dinner. But Cat has never given up on anything in her life – and this is one Christmas that’s definitely worth saving…

My Review:

What a cute little book this is! One which has been sitting on my kindle for a few years but I hadn’t gotten around to reading.

Cat is an endearing character although sometimes I found her a bit annoying and often wondered if her desire to help would be construed as meddlesome and interfering if she’d been twenty years older. Sometimes youth means you get away with things that would bite you on the ass in later years. There were a couple of scenarios where I couldn’t help but think, ‘Seriously? How the heck did you ever think that was going to fly…?’ – the opening chapter being one of them. I suppose the author thought this was necessary in order to allow the rest of the story to develop but it just felt a little bit silly to me.

That aside, however, the format is what I’d describe as a ‘typical’ romance and one where the reader can see where it’s going long before the characters involved do.

The tale begins earlier in the year and builds up towards the Christmas season, so we are treated to a number of Cat’s mishaps throughout the year. I did find Cat likeable but also frustrating when she often seemed oblivious to things which I, personally, thought were quite obvious. Maybe I’m just an old fart who has grown too cynical with age.

The male characters, who are, of course, an essential part of the plot, are like chalk and cheese and, without any spoilers, you do find yourself rooting for one in particular before too long although the question is, would Cat agree with you? Well… I could tell you the outcome but only if you pay me plenty.

All in all, this was an easy book to read, it was pleasantly enjoyable and you are certainly left with the goodwill feeling of Christmas chugging through you by the time you turn the last page.

Available in e-book and paperback on Amazon