Dog Gone, Back Soon by Nick Trout

***I received this book as an Advance Reader Copy, this in no way impacts the review I give this book***

Goodreads Summary:

When Dr. Cyrus Mills returned home after inheriting his estranged father's veterinary practice, The Bedside Manor for Sick Animals, the last thing he wanted was to stay in Eden Falls, Vermont, a moment longer than absolutely necessary. However, the previously reclusive veterinarian pathologist quickly found that he actually enjoyed treating animals and getting to know the eccentric residents of the tiny provincial town-especially an alluring waitress named Amy.

So Cyrus is now determined to make Bedside Manor thrive. Not an easy goal, given that Healthy Paws, the national veterinary chain across town, will stop at nothing to crush its mom-and-pop competitor. And the rival vet practice isn't Cyrus's only competition; a handsome stranger shows up out of nowhere who clearly has a mysterious past with Amy. To top it off, Cyrus finds himself both the guardian of a very unique orphaned dog and smack in the middle of serious small town drama.

This charming sequel to The Patron Saint of Lost Dogs is a wild and delightful ride through one jam- packed week, where Cyrus must figure out how to outsmart the evil veterinary conglomerate, win back Amy's heart, solve several tricky veterinary cases, find a home for an orphaned dog, and detangle himself from an absurd case of mistaken identity. DOG GONE, BACK SOON brims with Nick Trout's trademark humor, charm, and captivating animal stories, and is proof that all dogs, lost or not, on four feet or two, deserve a second chance.

My Thoughts:

I did not read the first book in this series. I will be looking for it from the library or amazon as soon as I finish this review. I did not feel at a disadvantage for not having read the first book about Dr. Cyrus Mills. I got enough background information throughout the read that I never felt left out of the story. Additionally, I wasn't hit over the head with it all at the beginning like normal series books.

I liked this read quite a bit. I loved the way the story naturally unfolded and I liked that it was told from the male perspective. Sometimes it seems like only female narratives can capture quirky and relate-able characters. I liked that this book referenced pop culture via movie quotes and each character had a distinct voice and personality within a cohesive story. Cyrus is likable even though he is a bit awkward and weird. From the first chapter you can relate with Cyrus and you want him to figure things out. Cyrus likes puzzles in his medical practice but it was nice that this book showed how hard it is for vets to figure out diagnoses and sometimes they are wrong.

Also, I love factoids about animals and when someone can accurately describe pets and their owners. I giggled more than once while reading this book, and as a bonus these giggles happened when Nick Trout intended with his writing. You can tell that Nick Trout is a vet, but we won't hold that against him in this case. He might be one of the rare vets that seems to like people and animals equally and therefore has figured out how to capture both on the page.

I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a light read that makes you feel good.

While writing this review I was listening to an episode of Castle and my husband making soup.