Ned Balding used to be a decent man—until the stress of seemingly countless responsibilities changes him, and he becomes cold and driven—the kind of man who considers firing an employee days before Christmas. The kind of man who kicks a dog…. But Ned’s transgressions haven’t gone unseen. A Salvation Army Santa witnesses his misdeeds and decides Ned needs to be taught a lesson.When Ned wakes up the next morning, he’s stunned to discover he’s been transformed into a dog.
In the past year, Jake Carrara has lost his mother, a lover… even his dog. His boss came close to firing him just before the holidays. He isn’t sure he’s ready for another pet when he’s asked to foster a dog, but Jake’s good heart won’t let him refuse. Little does he know, this isn’t just any dog.
Through a twist of fate, two people with little reason to be friends might teach each other to rediscover the good—and the love—in life.
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Cat gives this one 5 Meows...
This was such a cute take on the Christmas Carol. Ned wasn't quite as bad as the scrooge but He was a bit gruff. The story is very unusual and yet charming. It's quite funny how Ned is taught a lesson. There is also some tense moments to tame down the funny parts and The romance or should I say sex is mostly offstage. I adored Jake but I have to say I also felt compassion for Ned. I loved how the story is like the Christmas Carol but not at the same time. I sure would like to see this one in movie form!
Excerpt...
NED BALDING was dragged out of his home crying and howling, toward a van. Terrified, he fought to get away—to run—with every ounce of energy he had. But there was a leather loop around his neck attached to a long pole, and a strong burly man was pushing and shoving him toward the van’s open doors.
Ned snarled. Fought. Tried to bite, even.
He was being taken away!
Ned howled all the more and dug his bare feet into the grass of his front yard. He was naked, and anyone could see. Horrifying! Humiliating! The two of them reached the vinca-vine-covered greenway between the sidewalk and the curb, and he tried to dig his feet in there as well, driving his toes into the dirt and thick ground cover, thrashing to either side, but the man was too strong! Now he was on the hot blacktop, and it burned the soles of his feet. God, had it snowed only yesterday? And now his feet were burning?
Got to get away! Run! Run run run! Get someplace where someone can help me.
But the man next to him had grabbed hold of that choking leather band looped around his neck and, with muscles far stronger than Ned’s, was fighting, shoving, manhandling him up into the van—
Stop! No! Don’t do this!
—and he was absolutely terrified.
“Don’t hurt him” came the voice of Lillian, one of his oldest friends, from behind. Why was she letting this happen?
And no! What was inside the van was enough to make him redouble his efforts not to be shoved inside. Cages! He was going to be put in a cage. Oh, and the smells. God no. Shit and piss and something underneath it all. Something truly awful. He just wasn’t sure what.
He was up and into the van now, and when that man tried to climb in after him, Ned turned and tried to bite him. Yes! To bite him!
“Oh no!” the man cried and twisted Ned’s neck painfully. “Fuck you, you mongrel. In! Get in there.”
Ned was forced back into a kennel—a plastic kennel!—and his terror intensified. He panicked, but the man was so incredibly strong, and before he could absorb that it had really happened, he was inside. His captor loosened the leather loop and slipped it right off his neck, and before Ned could react, the door slammed with a loud click! and he was locked in.
Ned howled! He spun around inside the kennel and tried to bite the man’s hand, but the bastard was wearing heavy gloves that stopped Ned from doing any kind of damage.
No! He thrust his head high so he could howl again but hit it hard on the top of the kennel, and he cried out and then just… threw himself down in defeat.
He cried. He cried and cried and cried.
And the man? Who had been so angry and cruel and vicious?
His expression slowly changed from one of pure outrage—
The man? Outraged? I’m the one in the kennel!
—to one of… sympathy.
“Jesus Patootie, doggie…,” he said. He shook his head slowly and sighed. Ned could smell the sweat that ran down the man’s face. That and something else he’d never smelled before. And then it hit him. He was smelling the man’s fear. How? How could he smell fear?
“What happened to you, doggie?” the man asked.
Ned cried. He couldn’t stop.
Look what life had brought him.
Only yesterday he’d sat at his desk and looked at the divorce papers that had been handed to him. He’d thought life had dealt him a really bad blow. But that? That was nothing.
Because now, believe it or not, folks—and he was finally seeing that it was true—he, Ned Balding, was a dog.
B.G. Thomas lives in Kansas City with his husband of more than a decade and half, and that marriage has been legal since 2014! They share their home with their fabulous dogs, Sarah Jane and Oliver. He is lucky enough to have a lovely daughter as well as many extraordinary friends.
B.G. loves romance, comedies, fantasy, science fiction and even horror—as far as he is concerned, as long as the stories are character driven and entertaining, it doesn't matter the genre. Since he’s gone conventions since he was fourteen years old, he's been lucky enough to meet many of his favorite writers, many of whom inspired him to pursue his own writing dreams.
Excited about the growing male/male romance market, he decided to begin writing for the first time in years. Gay men are what he knows best, after all. He submitted his first story in years and was thrilled when it was accepted in only four days, and since then has had over thirty short stories, novellas and novels published.
“Leap, and the net will appear” is his personal philosophy and his message to all. “It is never too late,” he states. “Pursue your dreams. They will come true!”
Visit his website and blog at http://bthomaswriter.wordpress.com/. You can contact him there and he is always happy to hear from his readers.
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Like the premise and author's twist to a classic. Thank you for the review!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun concept. I love this.
ReplyDeleteenjoyed the excerpt
ReplyDeleteThank you for the review and excerpt!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading this post. I also like that Cat rates in meows. (jozywails@gmail.com)
ReplyDelete