Sit! Stay! Speak!

July 1, 2015
A woman tries to escape her past but discovers a new set of problems in this charming debut. Adelaide Andrews moves to Eunice, Arkansas, when she inherits a house from her aunt Tilda. Adelaide thinks that living in Eunice will be the perfect way to escape Chicago and her memories of her former fiance. But Adelaide is instantly drawn into the town's drama when she finds an injured, half-dead dog inside a garbage bag. In addition to restoring her aunt's house, Adelaide winds up nursing the puppy back to health and dealing with her new social life in Eunice-which includes her vet tech BFF Wanda and a gruff lawyer-turned-farmer named Jasper Floyd. However, Adelaide can tell that small-town life isn't nearly as simple as it seems, and her investigation into her injured dog's origins soon lands her in the middle of one of Eunice's biggest mysteries. Between trying to figure out what's going on in Jasper's head and attempting to solve a mystery, Addie finds out that life in Eunice is just as messy as her life in Chicago. Noblin's fish-out-of-water story combines food, family, suspense, and romance into one delightful read. While parts of the tale may veer toward the predictable, that isn't exactly a bad thing-this is a comfort read that's perfect for a summer night. The dog-centered plot will earn points from all animal lovers. A cozy read that's full of dogs, romance, and small-town charm.

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September 1, 2015

Addie Andrews escapes to Eunice, AR, with hopes of starting over. Inheriting a house from her beloved Aunt Tilda, she aspires to fix it up, sell it, and eventually move back to Chicago, a place that, for now, holds bittersweet memories of her deceased fiance, Jonah. Then she finds Felix, a sweet pit bull puppy with half an ear, and life starts to change in ways she never could have predicted. Jasper Floyd doesn't have time for love; he's running his dad's farm, still practicing law and not interested, until Addie shows up at the veterinary clinic with an injured puppy. Learning to love again, for both of them, comes with pain and honesty. Addie isn't sure where the future will lead her and how Jasper fits in but this may be her chance at new love and a new life. Getting mixed up in a local undercover crime investigation, dealing with a wacky neighbor, and making a best friend with a weather-predicting son may just push Addie to start calling Eunice home. VERDICT Readers of Debbie Macomber will enjoy poet and nonfiction author Noblin's first novel. It's an enjoyable story full of laughter, tears, and just plain fun.--Jane Blue, Andrews P.L., NC

Copyright 2015 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 15, 2015
Adelaide Andrews couldn't have been happier with her wonderful fiance, Jonah, and her fulfilling career restoring antiques in Chicagountil Jonah's sudden, tragic death turned Addie's life upside down. To escape the well-meaning sympathy of friends and family, Addie jumps at the chance to mourn privately while fixing up her recently deceased aunt's ramshackle house in the Arkansas Delta. Addie never realized that spending a few months in a small town could provide so much intrigue. She uncovers clues to a mystery involving a defenseless pit bull puppy, an illegal dog-fighting ring, and a surprisingly handsome lawyer turned farmer. Full of southern charm and colloquialisms, Noblin's first novel explores the curious bond between man and beast. Noblin expertly blends the lingo of an insider and the angst of an outsider, giving readers the full experience of life in a tiny southern town. Addie's story is wrapped up neatly, full of romance, mystery, and a few new furry (and not-so-furry) friends to save the day. A warm, emotionally grounded story that will delight fans of Mary Kay Andrews and contemporary women's fiction.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)