**Copy provided by author in exchange for an honest review**


4 unusual, but surprisingly good stars

This is not my usual cup of tea. No thrilling mysteries, no crimes, no action, no history, no MM, no classic. This story has literally nothing when it comes to its description - except maybe the cute dog - that screams "READ ME NOW!" to me.

And yet,... I enjoyed this a lot!

Jess, going through a divorce and generally struggling with her life decisions, finds an abandoned yellow lab and brings him to the Ruggles Road Rescue. And somehow she doesn't really leave again.

It's a quiet story, without loud action or big bangs, and that's what makes it so lovely. It completely lives from the characters, their traits, quirks and experiences. It has an episodic feel to it that I really liked, and in a way reminded me a little of J.K. Rowling's  Casual Vacancy]. You get to know the set up, the community, the various players on the field - without it ever getting boring or confusing. What I found really astonishing was the way JT Moss created all these different personalities without overwhelming me. Each and every one of them was unique, and very carefully crafted. From Jess, and her conflicted feelings, to Bertie, the introverted janitor, or Blossom, the volunteer who made me feel uncomfortable more than once. There are some very nice hints to the backround stories of almost all the characters, so even though you can absolutely read this as a stand alone and be happpy with it, the basis for some mystery, excitement and conflicts in several sequels most definitely has been established.

The writing was crisp and sharp, and absolutely to the point. If you're looking for long, elaborate explanations and purple prose, this book is probably not for you. I enjoy JT Moss' style very much, though. And even though this might not be my favorite work by this author, I still liked this story very much and with all the set-ups and little teases along the line, I am definitely looking forward to the next installment.