When I decided to join a group of authors in writing a group of novellas about Puppies for Christmas, I looked for a photo that would work on my cover. The above photo jumped out at me immediately. Who can resist a child and cute little dog? My novella, Puppy Love and Jingle Bells, is on sale now for 99 cents.
You can find it at these retailers.
Puppies haven’t only entered my writing world, but they have also entered my real world. My granddaughters, especially the older one, has wanted a new cat ever since their eighteen-year-old cat had died. But their dad had discovered he’s allergic to cats, so that was out. Dad suggested they get a bunny, but no bunny came. The idea of a dog hadn’t entered the picture, because the younger granddaughter hadn’t had good experiences with dogs. They barked loudly and frightened her. However, a dinner invitation brought her into contact with a sweet Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Soon she was no longer afraid of dogs.
So the campaign to get a dog began. Grandpa (aka my hubby) had always said he was going to get his granddaughters a dog. Little did we know his prediction would come true. In the beginning the campaign for a dog hit a resounding no from Mom and Dad, so the kids were pretty sure no dog was in sight. But a visit from Grandma and Grandpa, which I blogged about last month, started the campaign for a dog all over again. The girls were making lists explaining why getting a dog was a good idea. At the top of the list was getting more exercise when they walked the dog.
During the visit, Grandma and Grandpa looked up places to buy Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, but most of the breeders in the area had no puppies available. They told us no puppies until spring. Did you know the pandemic has resulted in many, many people getting pets? Thus the lack of available dogs. So we stopped our search. Mom (aka our daughter) had begun to soften on the idea of a pet dog, and she found a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel at a boutique pet store, but it was a male, and they wanted a female. Even though the puppy was a male, my daughter decided it would be a good idea for the girls to just look at some dogs. Dad was still not on board.
At the pet store, the girls played with the Cavalier, but they also saw some maltipoos. When two little maltipoos were placed in the room where the girls could play with them, the first words out of the younger granddaughter’s mouth was, “I’m already in love.”
A decision wasn’t made on that visit, but Mom went back the next day to look at the puppies again. Then after the girls were out of school, we went back for another visit. “Bella” had won everyone’s heart, and Grandpa and Grandpa bought the grands a puppy. However, Bella couldn’t come home until she had had her final vet check. So Grandma and Grandpa didn’t get to see the homecoming as we were flying back to Arizona. But we get updates.
Who could resist this little ball of fur?
Just like our reluctant son-in-law, the hero of Puppy Love and Jingle Bells, Cody Dunn, isn’t keen on a puppy for his nephew, but he is soon enamored with the pup, as well as with Sedona, who brought the bundle of fur into their lives. Puppy Love and Jingle Bells is the second book in my Happiness in Hallburg series. Do you think that children having a pet teaches them responsibility?
I’ll be giving away an ebook copy of the first book, Puppy Love and Mistletoe, to one person who leaves a comment.
“Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.”
Merrillee Whren is an award-winning author who writes inspirational romance. She is the winner of the 2003 Golden Heart Award for best inspirational romance manuscript presented by Romance Writers of America. She has also been the recipient of the RT Reviewers’ Choice Award and the Maggie Award for Excellence. She is married to her own personal hero, her husband of thirty plus years, and has two grown daughters. She has lived in Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Chicago and Florida but now makes her home in the Arizona desert. When she’s not writing, she spends her free time playing tennis or walking while she does the plotting for her novels.
So sweet that you were able to get your granddaughters a puppy. I think it does teach a child responsibility.
What a sweet and wonderful idea for book.
We had a maltipoo growing up she gave us 17 good years and when we had to put her down it was the hardest thing I’ve had to do. Even though Princess was my siblings and I God she became everyone’s dog and my children became attached, they have been campaigning for a replacement God ever since and there number one stand is that it will make them more responsible. But sometimes I wonder if they are just going through it in the moment and once we do get convinced to get them a dog all responsibility will fall on us Mom and Dad. Much to think about. By the way Bella looks like our Princess ,miss her.
What a sweet little face! I’m sure your granddaughters will take good care of her! I think pets teach us responsibility, and about loving unconditionally.
Bella is adorable.
She is adorable!!!
Gina, we were excited to do it. The puppy is a hit!
Thanks, Yvonne.
Wow. Sounds like you guys have a lot of influence. On each visit be sure to follow up with the girls to make sure dad (or mom) don’t get stuck with any of the necessary pet chores. ;) (As a non-assenting dad, I would hate that).
It sounds like “dad” was aware bringing a pet home would change their lifestyle; and it will. Ha.
The various “poo” combinations are popular now. The non- shedding aspect should help/be kind with “dad’s“ allergies. ;). I know several people with such mixes – the labradoodles are very popular here. I’ve seen a few Very striking and well-behaved ones. It depends on the owner. ;)
We had a collie and then a shelter. My hubby, from the farm, was always against “pets.” After many, many years, we’re phasing to no pets (after our last kitty is gone). It’s a new stage for us, but hubby has been patient. It’s his turn.
Cute puppy!
Angela, that was my son-in-law’s fear about getting a dog. The kids would take responsibility in the beginning, but eventually the work would fall on him. But I think he’s happy to have the pup, too.
Trudy, yes, pets do love unconditionally, and it is hard to resist that cuteness.
Thanks, Kimberly.
Thanks, Paula Marie.
Penelope, we’ve been doing Facetime chats with the girls to see if they are following up on the duties. The whole family, even Dad, loves Bella. Housebreaking is getting better day by day. We phased to no pets when we moved here to Arizona. At that time, we actually had our daughter’s cat that she left with us when she graduated from college and moved to Boston for a job. She lived in Arizona when we moved here, so we gave her back her cat, who was 12 at the time. He lived another 6 years. We like to travel and found having a pet doesn’t work so much when you are gone for long stretches of time. But I do miss having a pet.
I cant have kids so my dog BearBryant, my past dog Alabama, and my past
cat Calleigh are/were my kids.
This looks awesome! I would love to read and review this book!
Beautiful cover photo! I know the granddaughters were excited to get the puppy home.
Sweet! Great job, girls. Nice that “dad” came on board.
Wow! That is a super, long-living kitty! We also kept our sons kitty when he went off to college. She passed last fall at 15 and our current kitty is almost 13. I’ve loved our various pets (2 dogs & 9 kitties – which over-lapped) over the years, but it will be much more freeing to be able to leave more spontaneously in the future. I bet you love it!
oh my goodness you are so right. who could not fall in love with those photos of children and puppies. woohoo for your granddaughters. this puppy is not only adorable but very lucky to be adopted into a loving and fun family. way to go grandma and grandpa. if you take this top photo and exchange a little girl, that would be our daughter. our son was afraid of dogs (we never did find out why since he was surrounded by friends and family with wonderful dogs, anyway…) we had our dog Penny a Keeshond for 13 years. right when we as a young family needed her. blessings all around.
The dog is a cutie. I think it’s great for kids to get exercise with their dog and away from screens.
That cover is beautifully adorable!!!
This book looks so cute!
I love dogs in and out of books! We got a dapple mini-dachshund a few weeks ago and are still in the middle of house-training and teething.
What a sweet story – and your novella sounds great, too! :) Kids and puppies – what a great combination for a group of stories! We were recently in SC, at the beach, and the dogs there were fabulous. I may or may not have just gotten an idea for a book . . .
Misty, glad to see your visiting our blog. You must be an Alabama fan!
Thanks, Sheila. The puppy has won everyone’s heart.
Lori, the girls are having so much fun with the puppy. My brother had a Keeshond also.
Diana, away from screens was a big motivation for us to give the girls a pup. They have to spend every other day on the computer for school, and then the little one likes to watch TV. The dog is definitely a distraction from screens.
Abigail, thanks so much.
Thanks, Angeline.
Lila, the house-training is fun. Ha! The girls have lots and lots of chew toys for the puppy.
Lori, thanks.
Regina, when we lived in Florida, it was always fun to watch the dogs at the beach.
Thats so sweet! Such a pretty dog.
Thanks, Megan.
Merrillee, these pictures made me smile! You made my day, thank you :)
cute puppy (although I still have a fear of dogs). It reminds me of friends they wanted a new kitten their older cat had passed away a few months earlier and the kids really wanted a kitten, mum was onboard but not dad. They had a friend where The Mum worked who had a couple of kittens but one without a home and needed to have someone look after it during the day. It was school holidays so Fluffy came to visit for the day. Fluffy came back to live as dad caved. Fluffy was such a gentle cat and the kids loved him (as did is cat sitter when ever they were away).
I think its good to for them to have responsibility. I had a cat and I know I use to feed every day and it was really a one person cat. It followed me to the top of the drive to go to school and would be there when I got home. Mum rarely saw him when I wasn’t around. I also know of a friend who had pets the kids were meant to be responsible for and after a little while they were not feeding, walking etc. I think it can depend on the child some will be responsible others not so.
Due to allergies we’ve never had pets in the home but we have certainly enjoyed visiting with friends and family who have them. The cuteness factor is super high, lol.
The stories sound fun, too!
I would not get a pet for younger children, only for older ones that understand having a pet is also work and not all play (especially a puppy or kitten). It takes discipline & responsibility to feed, walk, play with, bathe, brush, and etc a pet. I’d definitely want to make sure the child is mature enough to understand that before making them responsible.
I do find kids and animal babies together very cute on book covers! I think that’s what draws readers into the story :-)
How sweet that you and your husband were able to get a puppy for your granddaughters . I think every child needs a dog and so do adults. Our pup Honeybear makes me smile and laugh every day. I love books with puppies , the book cover is Beautiful ! Thank you for sharing such a beautiful dream come true, True story. Have a Great week and stay safe. God Bless you and your family. ( as much as I would love to read your book, I am not entering the giveaway, but Thank you I don’t read ebooks)
Ausjenny, thanks for sharing those stories. I think it not only depends on the kids, but on the parents enforcing it.
Hi Lincoln, supposedly this little pup is hypoallergenic!
Trixi, for sure, or the parents wind up doing all the work.
Alicia, thanks so much.
It can teach them responsibility. But a parent has to set the tone for expectations and teach the child how to care for the pet.
Yes, I do believe that having pets teaches children responsibility. I had many pets while growing up.
I agree. for me the cat was a lifeline. the only one I didn’t look after was a lamb who didn’t like me but it was really good for dad (he had a stroke when I was 8) It was something for him to look after and care for and was really helpful for him (he had worked on a farm most of his working life). Then I got Touser (yes named after a dog) after dad died and he was mine to love and care for.
Love the cover and can’t wait to read the book. And so glad your grand girls got a puppy!
Hi Merrillee, Bella is adorable. Congrats on your new release! 😊