| The Town of Brenham, Texas, Has Gone to the Dogs! Curl up with your pup and sink into a delightful small-town mystery as riddles and rescues stack up in book one of a new cozy mystery series. Marigold Evans’ first attempt at rescuing an abandoned pooch lands her in a drainage pipe in Brenham Texas. . .and almost in jail, until Parker Jenson comes to her rescue. Then a bad day only gets worse as the Lone Star Vet Clinic, where they both work, is vandalized and the list of suspects starts to climb. With the help of her fellow employees, Marigold sets out to simultaneously solve the crime, rehab the rescued dog, and help more dogs in crisis. But why would anyone continue to work against all their good efforts? Genre: Christian Fiction / Mystery Release date: July 1, 2022 Click here to get your copy! |  |
My Review
Her heart has truly gone to the dogs...
It's been awhile since the last time I read a Janice Thompson book but what better way to dive back in than a charming cozy style mystery series featuring dogs of all shapes and sizes?! Off The Chain is the first book in the Gone To The Dogs Mysteries series and I must say that this first book was as adorable as the name of the series promised.
Janice Thompson's first-person narrative style was excellent and the perfect fit for Off The Chain. I fell in love with Marigold 'Mari' and all of her crazy quirks right from the start. She may be an accident waiting to happen and one step away from being arrested for...climbing around inside a sewer, errr, drainage pipe...but her antics are funny and you can't help but chuckle aloud.
The mystery in this story was light and the romance subtle allowing readers to be just as Gone To The Dogs as the fictional characters at the Lone Star Vet Clinic were. I found the entire book to be easy reading and just right for a quiet afternoon at home.
From reading Off The Chain it is obvious that the author loves dogs and has a heart for rescue and it shines through on every page. The tale is definitely entertaining but it is also a great reminder anyone can help out their local rescue(s) whether it is fostering, volunteering, attending fundraisers, or simply making a donation.
Any and all dog lovers will be charmed by the start to the Gone To The Dogs Mysteries series just as I was. There is no doubt that Janice Thompson has a really winner here! Now I have to impatiently wait for the next book to come out...
Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Off The Chain by Janice Thompson a 4.5 Bark rating.
It's been awhile since the last time I read a Janice Thompson book but what better way to dive back in than a charming cozy style mystery series featuring dogs of all shapes and sizes?! Off The Chain is the first book in the Gone To The Dogs Mysteries series and I must say that this first book was as adorable as the name of the series promised.
Janice Thompson's first-person narrative style was excellent and the perfect fit for Off The Chain. I fell in love with Marigold 'Mari' and all of her crazy quirks right from the start. She may be an accident waiting to happen and one step away from being arrested for...climbing around inside a sewer, errr, drainage pipe...but her antics are funny and you can't help but chuckle aloud.
The mystery in this story was light and the romance subtle allowing readers to be just as Gone To The Dogs as the fictional characters at the Lone Star Vet Clinic were. I found the entire book to be easy reading and just right for a quiet afternoon at home.
From reading Off The Chain it is obvious that the author loves dogs and has a heart for rescue and it shines through on every page. The tale is definitely entertaining but it is also a great reminder anyone can help out their local rescue(s) whether it is fostering, volunteering, attending fundraisers, or simply making a donation.
Any and all dog lovers will be charmed by the start to the Gone To The Dogs Mysteries series just as I was. There is no doubt that Janice Thompson has a really winner here! Now I have to impatiently wait for the next book to come out...
Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Off The Chain by Janice Thompson a 4.5 Bark rating.
(I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)
More from Janice
Dogs, dogs, and more dogs! My world is full of dogs. If you follow me on social media you’re probably overwhelmed with dog photos, but I simply can’t help myself. I’m in love with pooches of all shapes and sizes.
My fascination with dogs began when I was six years old and I got my first pup, Spunky. He was a mixed breed terrier. From that day until now I’ve had the pleasure of owning many, many pups—some purebreds, some street dogs that needed a safe place to stay, some elderly with chronic or acute health issues. I can’t get enough. They offer unconditional love, after all!
A few years back I was asked to foster for a local rescue, My Chi and Me. The rest, as they say, is history. For a quick glimpse at some photos, follow this link. You’ll see that I’m mostly enamored with small dogs. (Hey, I live in a tiny townhome and have limited space!) That said, I’m always willing to take on one more.
My fascination with dogs began when I was six years old and I got my first pup, Spunky. He was a mixed breed terrier. From that day until now I’ve had the pleasure of owning many, many pups—some purebreds, some street dogs that needed a safe place to stay, some elderly with chronic or acute health issues. I can’t get enough. They offer unconditional love, after all!
A few years back I was asked to foster for a local rescue, My Chi and Me. The rest, as they say, is history. For a quick glimpse at some photos, follow this link. You’ll see that I’m mostly enamored with small dogs. (Hey, I live in a tiny townhome and have limited space!) That said, I’m always willing to take on one more.
| My most recent rescue ventures landed me squarely in the middle of a book idea: Why not use a dog story as the basis for a cozy mystery? My editor at Barbour Publishing wanted something dog-themed and I was happy to oblige. That’s where the idea for Off the Chain (and the whole Gone with the Dogs series) came from—a simple idea involving dogs and crime. |  |
I took the opportunity to focus solely on rescue dogs as the idea developed. These days (especially post-Covid) the need for homes for these pups is great. I linked arms with my BFF, Kathleen Y’Barbo, and together we set our series in Brenham Texas, not far from our stomping ground in the Woodlands. I felt strongly that we should merge two separate dog worlds: rescue and veterinary. (Hey, Brenham is close to A&M and they know a thing or two about veterinary training!)
Thus, the Gone with the Dogs series was born. And writing the first book, (Off the Chain), was a blast! I hyper-focused on one primary point of view character, a vet tech. (As the owner of three dogs I feel like I’m always in the vet’s office!) My stories, which is written in first person, took me back to my writing roots. I love, love, love writing in first person because I “become” the character. Fun, right?
My editors loved the book and it got some fun endorsements, so I’m excited to see what my readers think. I can’t wait to get their feedback. I hope it’s not too “Ruff!”
But, seriously. . .I’m hyped! And I’m feeling so blessed to merge my worlds—dogs and writing!
Thus, the Gone with the Dogs series was born. And writing the first book, (Off the Chain), was a blast! I hyper-focused on one primary point of view character, a vet tech. (As the owner of three dogs I feel like I’m always in the vet’s office!) My stories, which is written in first person, took me back to my writing roots. I love, love, love writing in first person because I “become” the character. Fun, right?
My editors loved the book and it got some fun endorsements, so I’m excited to see what my readers think. I can’t wait to get their feedback. I hope it’s not too “Ruff!”
But, seriously. . .I’m hyped! And I’m feeling so blessed to merge my worlds—dogs and writing!
 Janice Thompson | Janice Thompson, who lives in the Houston area, writes romantic comedies, cozy mysteries, nonfiction devotionals, and musical comedies for the stage. She is the mother of four daughters and nine feisty grandchildren. When she’s not writing books or taking care of foster dogs you’ll find her in the kitchen, baking up specialty cakes and cookies. |
It's Time For A Giveaway!
To celebrate her tour, Janice is giving away the grand prize package of
a $25 Amazon e-gift card and a paper copy of the book!!
a $25 Amazon e-gift card and a paper copy of the book!!
Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries!
Blog Stops
Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, July 26
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, July 26
Texas Book-aholic, July 27
The Book Club Network, July 27
An Author’s Take, July 28
Remembrancy, July 28
deb’s Book Review, July 29
Pause for Tales, July 29
The Avid Reader, July 30
For Him and My Family, July 30
Christina’s Corner, July 31
Locks, Hooks and Books, July 31
Inklings and notions, August 1
Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, August 2
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, August 2
Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, August 3
She Lives To Read, August 3
Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, August 4
Blogging With Carol, August 4
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, August 5
Tell Tale Book Reviews, August 6
Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, August 7 (Author Interview)
Mary Hake, August 7
Labor Not in Vain, August 8
Books I’ve Read, August 8
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, July 26
Texas Book-aholic, July 27
The Book Club Network, July 27
An Author’s Take, July 28
Remembrancy, July 28
deb’s Book Review, July 29
Pause for Tales, July 29
The Avid Reader, July 30
For Him and My Family, July 30
Christina’s Corner, July 31
Locks, Hooks and Books, July 31
Inklings and notions, August 1
Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, August 2
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, August 2
Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, August 3
She Lives To Read, August 3
Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, August 4
Blogging With Carol, August 4
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, August 5
Tell Tale Book Reviews, August 6
Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, August 7 (Author Interview)
Mary Hake, August 7
Labor Not in Vain, August 8
Books I’ve Read, August 8