loribonesscaswell

HotPets is adding a new line of pet accessories with HotPets Bling. To showcase their new merchandise they have huge ads all over the city with teacup puppies wearing the new “bling”. This has caused a huge interest in the petite canines. Lauren is trying to locate more of the little ones needing forever homes. Her search leads her to shelter in the Midwest that has just rescued a bunch of pups from a puppy mill. She uses her connections to bring the dogs to her HotRescues shelter. She never expected they would be joined by a very cantankerous human, Teresa Kantrim. She has cared for the dogs since they were rescued and does trust the people in “LA LA Land” with her precious cargo. Not everyone was a fan of Teresa or her biting comments but Lauren is clearly shaken to find her dead body at the shelter. Now it’s up to Lauren to find which person disliked her enough to put her down permanently.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Lauren is a fabulous protagonist, she loves these animals with all her heart and loves her job. She just naturally gets involved in these crimes while putting herself in danger. She is one gutsy broad in this installment. I wanted to stop her from going some of the places she did.

Johnston has created wonderful characters including a couple of the canine variety. The mystery was very suspenseful and it took me some time, o.k. I figured out right along with Lauren, that is a tribute of great storytelling.

The thing I really like about this series is the awareness it brings to pet adoption. HotRescues is the dream animal shelter because it has a benefactor to help with the costs and a staff of volunteers that really get the importance of their jobs. There are shelters everywhere that need help, money, volunteers and staff to keep the places open and the animals taken care of each and every day. After reading these stories I wish I was physically able to volunteer but since I can’t do that I try to write a check or have my husband pick up an extra bag of food to drop at a shelter. Most of our pets were rescues. I don’t know how I would get through my day without my furry blonde dog at my feet and the black and white one lying close by.

Pet lovers will love this series and after you are done I bet you will want to help out a shelter near you. The mystery and the characters are terrific but the story behind the mystery will stick with you forever.