Synopsis
Introducing Lisa Blake, the purrfect pet sitter!
When Lisa Blake’s life in London falls apart, she returns to her hometown rebranding herself as ‘the purrfect pet sitter’ – which may or may not be false advertising as she has a rather unfortunate habit of (temporarily) losing dogs!
But being back where she grew up, Lisa can’t escape her past. There’s her estranged best friend Flick who she bumps into in an embarrassing encounter in a local supermarket. And her first love, Nathan Baker, who, considering their history, is sure to be even more surprised by her drunken Facebook friend request than Lisa is.
As she becomes involved in the lives of her old friends Lisa must confront the hurt she has caused, discover the truth about her mysterious leather-clad admirer, and learn how to move forward when the things she wants most are affected by the decisions of her past.
First book in Lisa Blake series. Book 2 – MayBe Baby.
Available as an eBook and audiobook on all platforms. Paperback available from most bookshop and online stores.
Carol Thomas
Carol Thomas lives on the south coast of England with her husband, four children and lively young Labrador. She has been a playgroup supervisor and was a primary school teacher for over fifteen years, before dedicating more of her time to writing. Carol is a regular volunteer at her local Cancer Research UK shop. She has a passion for reading, writing and people watching and can often be found loitering in local cafes drinking too much tea and working on her next book.
The Purrfect Pet Sitter is Carol’s debut with Ruby Fiction.
Trailer
See Carol’s novels here …
I thought it would be about the funny tales of a pet sitter, but I was wrong. Although we follow Lisa when she is doing her job, the story is about so much more. It’s about friends, love and family lost and found, about a secret that seems to threaten but are lovely when revealed, about changes in life. There are fun parts but also moments filled with a lot of tears. Some are happy ones, some are sad ones. But in the end, everything comes together and only happy tears remain.
The book is fluently written and it took me by the hand and would not let go until the last full stop. Loved it!
After spending the last five years travelling, then experiencing a distressing breakup with her selfish boyfriend, Lisa runs back to her home town. Quickly becoming settled, she encounters old friends, makes new ones, starts a one-woman business (if only she wouldn’t keep losing her charges), and before long wonders why she ever left. The Purrfect Pet Sitter is an entertaining romance, with a bit of mystery to keep the reader guessing until the last few pages.
As this novel progressed, I enjoyed it more. It is certainly a romance, but I didn’t find it at all funny – more emotional than that, which seems to fit the criteria for this new Ruby imprint. I was tempted to skip some at one point because I didn’t want something horrid to happen to one of the secondary characters, but I decided it wouldn’t (surely they wouldn’t do that to me!) and kept going – I was glad that I did.
The story revolves around Lisa, who has recently moved back to her parents home from London, extricating herself from a relationship with Ben in the process, and starting a pet sitting business. She meets up with old friends, and rebuilds her relationships with them, particularly Nathan – a former love who she treated badly. There are some sweet episodes, and some touching episodes, and it all becomes clear as the story goes on. A good read.
Lisa moves back to her home town after many years travelling and living in London. Heartbroken, can she rebuild her life and her friendships, whilst trying to develop her new business as a pet sitter. Add in the ex-best friend with her brood of 4, the ex-boyfriend and a hot new guy, and you are in for a fun read.
It’s not a comedy per se, just some fun situations that Lisa gets herself into, as well as tears and deep emotions.
Lisa Blake has a new job as a pet sitter after splitting from her boyfriend. Returning to her parents home she bumps into best friend Felicity, who she lost contact with. She also meets up again with Nathan, who was her teenage love.
The characters in this book all have depth and the main character Lisa has a lot of making up to do with the people she appears to have abandoned but the book gives background to why.
This is not only a story about love but about friendships and forgiveness and I found it a really easy read, with the added bonus that Nathan (or Nate as he is now called) sounds like a real hunk!
I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it.
Thanks to Choc-Lit for providing me with a review copy of this book in return for an honest review which is completely my own opinion.
I loved this book. It was emotional at times. Sometimes I cringed, but there were also scenes that made me smile. Lisa Blake returns to her home town and reconnects with old friends whose lives have moved on without her. There are many twists and turns to keep you guessing, but Carol handled Lisa’s emotional turmoil with a lightness of touch that was really refreshing and a joy to read. I could relate to these characters and I cared about them and would happily read this again. This is the first time I have read a Carol Thomas book but look forward to reading more.
Lisa Blake leaves her desk job and rotten boyfriend in London for her hometown. Since her parents spend part of the year in France, she is back in her childhood bedroom and trying to jumpstart her pet sitting business. The pets are not as purrfectly behaved as she expected which leads her to hilarious encounters with an ex-boyfriend, a best friend she lost touch with, and a mysterious man she keeps running into.
This was a sweet novel with a lot of humor and a lot of chances to wonder what might be different if Lisa had made different choices when she was 18. It was a pleasure to read.
Oh what a laugh out loud read this was.
Lisa, recently separated from her boyfriend is back to where it all began. Back to her parents house but not quite back to how things were.
She meets her old best friend in the most unfortunate circumstance. (Being a Mummy, I could totally relate to Felicity’s state of mind and state of dress. 😉)
The scenario plays around in Lisa’s head until she finds herself face to face (at her parents front door) with her best friend from school – her best friend ever but the best friend she hurt all those years ago. The two ladies reminisce and cry (as we do) and within seconds it is as if they have never lost touch.
Lisa is a local pet sitter who simply cannot stop losing the pets she’s either house-sitting for or out walking with. It is very amusing.
She meets some lovely people at the same time as losing the pets she is responsible for and one particular pet sitting project leads to her trying on a wet suit and bumping into her ex (and extremely handsome ex) boyfriend.
Here is where the story heats up and just fits together like pieces of a puzzle.
I thoroughly enjoyed this (even though I am allergic to most animals and not a furry friend lover). It was entertaining. Light hearted and extremely easy to read and relate to (except for the losing pets part).
My favourite bit was definitely in the Chinese takeaway.
Don’t know what I’m on about …. have a read yourself … see if you spot it! 😉
Two things don’t usually work for me in books. One is animals, the other children. However, I have to make an exception in the case of The Purrfect Pet Sitter, Carol Thomas’s debut novel for Choc Lit Ruby.
Lisa Blake left everyone behind to see the world. Meeting Ben along the way they travelled for a couple of years before eventually settling down in London with steady jobs, enjoying the buzz of the big city. Sadly things haven’t gone to plan and she’s back home, living in her parents’ house. With Mr and Mrs Blake now moved to a new home in France, Lisa’s on her own (under the watchful eye of self-appointed neighbourhood watch local Harold Martin) and has set herself up as a pet sitter. Her business, The Purrfect Pet Sitter doesn’t always deliver. In chapter one we see her chasing after black Labrador Jack who has slipped his lead only to find him at a tea kiosk being fed bacon butties by an attractive biker in black leather called Dominic.
Returning home has also brought back the past and the people Lisa left behind: best friend Felicity (Flick) and her first love Nathan Baker. Running into Flick in the supermarket eventually sees the two sorting out their issues and a tearful reunion. Lisa’s decision (while under the influence of alcohol) to check for Nathan on social media and then do something incredibly rash also sees the two of them meeting up again.
Lisa is a likeable character whose return home sees her having to confront her past before she can build a future. She abandoned her best friend and first love so has a lot of bridges to build. She also has unfinished business with ex-boyfriend Ben, still in London. Elderly Winnie (Jack’s owner) is on hand, always there to share coffee and biscuits and her wise advice.
Flick and her brood are hilarious. Although her life managing four kids seems chaotic at times there is an orderliness of sorts and it’s a warm, loving family. I could however, sympathise with her situation. Desperate to find time to spice up her marriage with her husband Pete, with four boisterous children the opportunity was always going to be out of reach.
Once Lisa and Flick had sorted out their differences it was great to see them both together. So many funny moments. Nathan (now a fireman) and Dom (a paramedic) also become involved in Lisa’s life. The question is who will be the lucky man? Well, of course, I can’t possibly go into detail because that really would spoil the story. All I can say is that this ticked every single box. Choc Lit’s Ruby is for stories which tap into the reader’s emotions and The Purrfect Pet Sitter certainly did that for me.
I never thought this book would enthrall me as it did!!. I brought it as i love animals so wanted to give it a go!!. WONDERFUL,,could not put it down. Shows the kindness of people who love and care for one another. We need that inour lives. Cannot wait to read the next one!!. Beautiful story,,warmed my heart TOTALLY!!!!.