HR-ML's Reviews > Horses, Hounds & Happily Ever After: Volume I

Kisses-only anthology.

23 romance writers authored a short story, for this
collection, gratis, as a fund-raiser for the animal
rescue organization All Seated in a Barn. I read all
stories, but a few.

Each story involved an animal who was favored: IE horses,
dogs, cats, or made a pet IE a chicken, a cow, or rescued
IE a lion (from the Royal Menagerie) and a fox. A chicken
remembered the baddie & kept the humans safe! Hard to
believe- yes!

These were my favorite stories-
1) The Wolf of Heathclove Manor.
Farm animals and dogs went missing, the hero suspected
wolves were 'in heat.' True? The hero had 'white leprosy'
& different skin tones on his face after previous surgeries.
3) The Connecting Door.
A husband/ earl took for granted his wife of nearly 30
yrs and wanted to rekindle their emotional intimacy.
4) Pride and Pedigree.
A man who disliked people, bred fox terriers, and was
snobbish about animal and also people bloodlines.
13) A Heart's Quest. Had a spiritual touch.
A MOB lady arrived to find a messy house & her future
spouse's young dtr refused to speak (due to grief) &
had a pet chicken she took nearly everywhere.
14) Sir Jack & Lady Jill.
A grieving man neglected his wife. He fell off his horse,
hit his head/ developed amnesia. She proceeded to lie to him:
they had a love match, he gave up port, they ate meals to-
gether. But when his memory returned....
15) The Duchess Contract.
A bespoke perfumer/ lady was maneuvered into a MOC by
her sire. MCs later rescued a lion (realistic?). The H became
enamored, of the lady, not the lion.
16) Falling for Felicity.
A friend took another look at a bestie's sister. The MCs
rescued a fox the night before a fox hunt.
21) Miss Bird's Desperado. (Some spiritual).
MCs both had Scottish heritage. 'Nearly an invalid,' Ms
Bird's health improved w/ travel + fresh air. "Rocky
Mt. Jim" Nugent, former Indian scout + outlaw, now a
trapper & mt. guide refused to guide the h to Long's
Peak in the Rockies. They went anyway & he saved her
life. His comforts included dog Ring & his whiskey.
Would he: give up whiskey for the lady?? be tempted
to be an outlaw again?? Was he tough? He previously
wrestled a grisly bear ! in self-defense & lost an eye.

Revised.