April 1, 2023
Following Make a Wish, this stand-alone from Hunting is the story of internet-famous cat-sitter Kitty and grumpy hockey nerd Miles. Kitty owns and runs her own cat-sitting business, the Kitty Whisperer, and is trying to expand the company. Miles is an analyst for the NHL, and while he tries to prove himself at work, he is also attempting to provide for his mother, who is in the hospital. When he needs a sitter for his mother's cat, Prince Francis, he calls Kitty. Kitty and Miles start off on the wrong foot, and Kitty doesn't know how she will deal with Miles while she takes care of Prince Francis. As they get to know each other, however, they find commonalities in their personal lives that bring them closer. While this is a believable love story, it also is a fantastic exploration of grief and how it affects people. The ups and downs of social media also play heavily into the novel, showing the characters as real people. VERDICT A delightful tale that will appeal to animal and romance lovers alike.--Tegan Beese
Copyright 2023 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
April 17, 2023
Hunting (Make a Wish) tugs at the heartstrings with this thoroughly charming and unexpectedly deep contemporary romance. When the mother of NHL data analyst and dog person Miles Thorn is admitted to the hospital for an extended stay, Miles must take in her finicky feline, Prince Francis. The search for a cat sitter leads him to Kitty Heart, social media star and owner of the Kitty Whisperer. Animal lover Kitty feels lust at first sight with handsome Miles, and as their romance builds, she gets caught up in his world, including house parties at NHL players’ homes. But when Kitty trips and falls on Miles’s dog during a walk, an onlooker edits a film of the accident to make her fall appear deliberate and her followers turn on her, calling her an “animal abuser.” The subplot about Miles’s mother, who is diagnosed with early-onset dementia, adds some hefty emotional weight, but Hunting leavens the serious moments with a number of hilarious scenes, including one where Kitty must evict a wandering baby raccoon from a hockey player’s house. This fresh, fun, and at times heartbreaking tale will stay with readers long after the last page is turned. Agent: Kimberly Brower, Brower Literary.
