Not That Kind of Girl-Susan Donovan

Not That Kind of Girl
Susan Donovan
St. Martin’s, Nov 30 2010, $7.99
ISBN: 9780312366063

In San Francisco Roxanne Bloom vows no more men in her life after her latest failed relationship. Her pit-bull-Boxer Lilith agrees with her assessment of the male of either of their species and has no problem displaying her canine rage at human men especially. This time Lilith attacks Roxanne’s former boyfriend so the dog is in danger of being put down.

Meanwhile matchmaking Mrs. Needleman believes that Roxie and dog trainer Eli Gallagher belongs together as they both cherish canines. Eli who plans to go home to Utah is in town temporarily as he searches for his biological father. He persuades Roxie and Lilith to come with him to Utah where he will work on the behavior of the latter and hopes to heal the human female misanthrope. As the pair fall in love, they return to the Bay, but soon secrets surface that could end their relationship that has just begun to gel.

The latest doggy romance (see The Night She Got Lucky, Ain’t Too Proud to Beg and Take a Chance On Me) is a charming canine contemporary romance. The prime story line is fast-paced and zany though a bit over the top of Nob Hill as the lead “triangle” (don’t tell Lilith anything otherwise) confront a vile villain. Although a secondary subplot seems too quickly resolved, fans will enjoy Susan Donavan’s wonderful Not That Kind of Girl as we wonder if the title refers to Lilith or Roxie (or both).

Harriet Klausner