The fact I’m a sucker for a veterinarian story was probably a good indication that I can’t resist a story incorporating animals either.
Swear to God.
Put a dog on a book cover and I’m like a friggin’ 5 year old; “Puppy! Want!”
And don’t even get me started about dragons…
Kris + Books = Good. *Sometimes*. 
LOL! So, the kitten on the cover of Amy Lane's If I Must was just to sucker you in??
I hear you on that! Dragon shifters? HAVE TO HAVE…
Seems I am becoming that way with pirates too. Were you aware of this?
Oh no! I hate dogs in stories, I really do. I'm just not a dog person at all and when I read of characters getting all soppy over mangy mutts I find it really off putting, especially of they are little yappy things which I dislike even more. At a push I can cope with a hero who owns a large dog like a Labrador.
Cats, I like. Give me a hero with a cat and I'm hooked.
I've just read a great book where the hero, who was a gruff curmudgeon of a man, had a really soft heart when it came to animals and there's a bit of a running joke about people farming out their unwanted animals on him. By the end of the book he owns 3 cats, a dog and a horse.
Aww, I'm a sucker for animal stories too. Dragons not so much, though.
Oh yeah, anything with animals in it. I'm on it like white on rice. (Except cats. Hate the nasty bastards.)
I also have found I will read anything with *talking* animals.
Count me in for anything with animals! I gave a book an extra half star recently just because it had a three-legged dog.
Not so much any animal….but….gimme dragons, werewolves and it's a sure bet I will buy it:)
ooh! and occasionally? a kitteh! but I think that's only cause I don't have any anymore;)
All comes down to kittens for me! http://i.pbase.com/g6/37/727337/2/70404637.ovI9QWsy.jpg
I want this book based on the cover alone! http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Wvav-uUB1G0/S_LN-DxrKbI/AAAAAAAAIkA/pDsaqGFDgA4/s1600/9780806533032.jpg
Love Amy Lane's works & the cat was a real added bonus!
I worry when we're introduced to a pet but the character then spends days in his new love's bed & the pet is just not mentioned again. Who is feeding them, letting out to pee…? I can't rest until I find out.
Jase at GRs just mentioned one I haven't heard of before – Chia Pet shifters, courtesy of Tam! Do they count?
Juniper: That's why I liked the revised version of Urban & Roux's book, The One That Got Away – in the original, poor Trace's cat apparently sat alone and hungry in his apartment for weeks on end. Not so in the revision!
Yep, it's a bonus. I remember heroes sometimes because of their pets.
I loved the adorable puppies in Urban & Roux's Warrior's Cross, and Trace's cat in TOTGA that Chris already mentioned. And the dog in Claire Thompson's Sub for Hire, or the pup and kitten in Drew Zachary's On Fire II… I'll stop now, you get my point: I'm a sucker for animals in stories too.
Chris: Yes. 🙂
Miranda: Dragon shifters are the ultimate! *g*
Black Wade! We lovez it. I see you've entered the giveaway. My copy is in my box of treasures to be pulled out on the odd occasion and gloated over.
Jenre: Typical cat owner. LOL. Which book was that, Jen? That sounds like something I'd really enjoy.
Richelle: “Dragons not so much, though.”
But Richelle… It's Dragons with an uppercase 'D'! How can you not like them?!
JenB: “Except cats. Hate the nasty bastards.”
*Beeyotch.* I'm a fan of books where the human has the psychic ability to communicate with animals. That would be fun, and also help us with those misunderstandings we have sometimes, Jen. 😛
Eyre: “I gave a book an extra half star recently just because it had a three-legged dog.”
*snort* Look out. You'll get a rep for being easy. LOL.
Kris, perhaps you need to lead us all in a rousing chorus of that song from Dr. Doolittle, “If I Could Talk with the Animals”?
It was The Larton Chronicles which I mini-reviewed on my blog today :).
Go back to bed, sweetie. It's waaaaay too early for little aussies to be awake.
Elaine: So you're a shifter girl. Cool.
You don't have a kitteh? 😦 You want one?? I know a nearly 3 year old Russian Blue by the name of Boris who needs a good home. *mutterbeforeIkillhimmutter*
Katiebabs chook: That cover is too cute. Also, I love how you've become such a fan since you got your own girl kitten. 🙂
Juni: “I worry when we're introduced to a pet but the character then spends days in his new love's bed & the pet is just not mentioned again.”
That is something that really bugs me too. Even more than the humans not eating, going to the toilet, etc, etc.
Tam's story definitely counts. LOL. Have you read it yet? You should. It's hilarious.
Janna: “I remember heroes sometimes because of their pets.”
Me too. This is me: “Oh, that's the one where he had a rescued insert animal here.” I'm an even bigger fan of the rescued animal. 🙂
Chris: “Kris, perhaps you need to lead us all in a rousing chorus of that song from Dr. Doolittle, “If I Could Talk with the Animals”?”
That would probably end up scaring the animals away. LOL.
Jenre: Had a feeling it might be. Thanks. Been awake for 2 hours now. Will try and go to bed again soon.
Kris – yes, just read Tam's story – just love a pretty but dim hero.
Larton Chronicles sounds good – but only comes in real-book format!
Juni: “just love a pretty but dim hero”
True that, especially if the approach is a humourous one. 🙂
Tell you what, Juni. You buy Larton Chronicles and then send it on to me. That would really work in my world. *beams*
This coming from the woman who said she would never, ever have a cat. heh.
Katiebabs chook: The little buggers sucker you in.
My friend has a copy of Cleo and is giving it to me 🙂 Love me some kitties. Have you seen the site- Hot men with cats? Too cute for words.
What is this, a plot to make me go read a book with pets…
I am, I am and I love them all – even the books with the pet pigs…….
E.H>
I am no dog person either. Give me a cat any time of the day, at least they have personality while a dog only drools on your feet. And don't forget the smell. yuck
Having said that I don't like all books with cats. Like Tomcat jones by Willa Okati was a miss with me.
I did like Black Wolf by Jade Buchanan. Both have cat shifters.
Katiebabs chook: Cute boys with cats is a daily stop in my blog hopping. I love it.
EH: “What is this, a plot to make me go read a book with pets…”
Maybe. You know you want to, EH. 😉
My 'even the ones with' is for fish. I've never been into pet fish, but stories with them I like. 🙂
Ingrid: Another rabid cat person. Sometimes. 😉
I quite like the stories that have both animals and shifters in them. The dynamics between the two can be interesting as well as humourous .
Ingrid's comment reminded me of an animal/shifter classic that I highly recommend–Jade Buchanan's Duck Fart. Who could resist a title like that?!?!
BTW, Kris, I'm not easy . . . often. 😉
Eyre: LOL. I think a bunch of us all went out and bought that book just because of the name. Must be our inner teenage boys. *g*
“BTW, Kris, I'm not easy . . . often. ;)”
Have you googled Roman and Deniz yet?? Just wondering. *whistles innocently*
Late to the party. I haven't really noticed an animal fetish. I was pleased when Urban and Roux saved that poor starving cats life in the revised edition.
I don't dislike stories with animals (unless they are injured or die or something bad) but I can't say they really turn my crank either. They just are. Dogs, cats, whatever. Talking, mute, shifting. I'm easy, unlike Eyre apparently.
Kris, I did google those two. Yums!
I am gaga for dragons! Friggin' love 'em!!! 🙂
Tam: Eyre just proved how easy she is. 🙂
Eyre: Made you look! 😉
Amora: “I am gaga for dragons! Friggin' love 'em!!! :)”
I'm the same. I'm totally incapable of resisting a dragon story.
I guess most people would be offended by the implications that they were easy, but I'm too busy looking at pron on Tumblr to really care. 😉
So if I wrote a book about a dog who worked as a veterinarian, it would be an auto buy for you? LOL
Stephani, if I'm reading this right, you could write ANYTHING and put a cute animal on the cover to hit autobuy. 😉
I can't believe this many comments and no one has mentioned the fabulous PITA from JL Langley's Without Reservation. The dog is mentioned multiple times and is part of the plot. When they go out of town they get a puppy sitter. Chay's dad Joe refers to him as the grandpuppy. In Tin Star Jamie has a girl dog named Fred and a girl horse named George.
Salome the cat from Heidi Cullinan's Doubler Blind. They also get a pet sitter when they decide to go out on the town one night.
Love the puppy and kitten from Drew Zacahry's On Fire 2.
Kate Steele's Sure Fire Cure. Dean is a vet, Scott breeds horses and they end up with a dog Dickens, who is rescued as part of the plot and in the sequel is the kitten Pandy. In her Soul Familiar series Tyler is cursed / guarded by a three headed dog named Styxx and Alex has a little pet gargoyle named Kohe, kind of like a cat.
Loved the boys from Duck Fart. Who can resist a cat shifter in a sweater vest. The scene where he is washing the duck and the cat in the sink…love it.
Simon from Sean Kennedy's Tigers ans Devils has a cat. It tells the story of the cat's name (Charlotte??) and they look at pet friendly real estate.
Carol Lynne's Bodyguards in Love: Seb's Surrender – Jared cat Jelly Bean is always being looked after.
Lynn Lorenz's Common Powers 3: Edward Unconditionally features the fabulous bulldog Winston.
I did not think I was a sucker for a pet in a story, but I seem to have proved myself wrong.
Eyre: Colour me amazed. 😛
Stephani: Awesome idea! When can we expect this one from you then, Stephani?
Chris: I'm counting on you to put the pressure on. Don't let me down.
Heidi: “I did not think I was a sucker for a pet in a story, but I seem to have proved myself wrong.”
No shit. LOL.
I'd completely forgotten about Kohe! He's such a terrific pet character. PITA is great too. There are some srsly LOL moments involving him in that story. Thanks for the reminders, Heidi. 🙂
Oh and James Buchanan wrote the yappy little rat dog whose name suddenly escapes me in The Good Thief. First Nate's sister looked after him and then they were going to get a pet friendly place when Ceasar was out of town so Nate could watch him.
Seriously! What is it about dragons that draw me in? I have no idea but a book about a dragon is on the shelf – it's mine!
I've written dragons (well, you know that), but I can't bring myself to read or write about real animals. I just love them too much to rise to the task, I guess.
Tam: That vaguely rings a bell. This topic has reminded me of some great stories. I forsee a lot of rereading in my future. 🙂
Tracy: “I have no idea but a book about a dragon is on the shelf – it's mine!”
Yep. As you can imagine I have a lot of fun in the kids' section of a book shop. LOL.
KZ: You so should! Weren't you doing something about a psychic veterinarian??
I remember. James' dog was Poncho. He was treated well and got spoiled with fancy dog food. He was cute, but I like little terrier dogs.
There are books with dragons on the cover? OK…
Me, I'm all about colours…and pretty pictures – fancy artwork and I'm there. The Archer's Heart is a good example.
But if it has a cute kitten…sucker punched!
Orannia: “But if it has a cute kitten…sucker punched!”
Oh, yeah. My inner five year old has the same reaction with kittehs too.
hdsmith, it was Maggie – but funnily enough I've always said I've wanted three daughters I could call Charlotte, Emily and Anne… I may have to end up with three cats called that 😉
I avoid animals in books and movies like the plague. I don't like to cry and dammit, those critters always mean there will be tears. 🙂
Sean: Anyone would think you were a Bronte fan or something. 🙂
FV: So in other words you avoid the books with animals on the covers. You sap. 😛
Sean – I thought I got it wrong, but I could not find it in a hurry. Thanks for the correction. I just re-read T&D for the third time 2 weeks ago (comfort read), so I probably should have remembered.
Love that book, and now you have converted me to Aussie Rules Football.
Doom! Doom! We do not want to buy the book, but will any of us be able to resist?
*snort* Did you see the bit of the excerpt written from the kitten's POV? Go on. You know you want to Chris.
I saw that! Sorry, I already read an m/m with part from the cat's POV – someone else's turn. 🙂