👧🏻 👦🏻 🦮 “Their Inseparable Bond” (Bluebell Canyon #2; K-9 Companions #19) (2024) 🦮 👦🏻 👧🏻 – Book Review

 

MY REVIEW 

 

Series: Bluebell Canyon (Book #2); K-9 Companions (Book #19)
Paperback: 224 pages 
Publisher: Love Inspired (January 23, 2024) 
Language: English 
ISBN-10: 1335597166
ISBN-13: 978-1335597168
⬅️ Click Photo for Purchase Information

 

“They’re a mismatched family…

 

But their hearts line up just right

 

Training service dogs is single dad Jake Beckett’s calling. He’s determined to train rambunctious puppy Callie to help his ailing friend Myrna live independently with her growing blindness. Myrna’s granddaughter, Olivia Hart, isn’t easily convinced, but Jake, his twins and Callie are an incredibly persuasive team. If Olivia agrees to give Callie a chance, will working with Jake risk her lifelong dreams?” 

 

Thank you in advance to the author, Jill Weatherholt for providing a complimentary review copy through JustRead Publicity Tours. A positive review was not required nor requested, and all words are my own.

 

This is part of the K-9 Companions series, which is more of a “theme” series. It is not connected by characters or place. This book DOES connect to Searching for Home (also by Weatherholt), which introduces One of the Beckett brothers – Luke. Another brother, Logan, is mentioned in this book. There is also a possible “set-up” for a book with him towards the end of this one. 

 

As it is not a “series” per se, I went ahead and called it Bluebell Canyon to link the two books (and a potential third). I have the book on my TBR list. But, since I haven’t read it, I cannot say how closely it is connected to this one. 

 

However, if books are connected – I do like to read them in order and suggest potential readers do so as well. 

 

Weatherholt introduces: 

 

👨🏻 Jake

🥼 Olivia

👵🏻 Myrna (Olivia’s grandmother)

🦮 Callie

👦🏻 Kyle

👧🏻 Kayla 

 

This definitely deals with some hard topics – death of a spouse, death during childbirth, stillborn baby, parental abandonment, late-stage Alzheimer’s. These might be upsetting for some readers. Weatherholt doesn’t dwell on them, but uses the events to shape the characters’ lives and current situation.

 

Right off, Weatherholt jumps into the story with Jake. He’s grateful for Myrna who helped him in the first year after his wife’s death; her home being a refuge for Jake and the kids. Sadly, Myrna has visual issues – macular degeneration. Jake is hoping he can train a sweet pup, Callie, to help Myrna stay independent as her vision decreases; as well as making the house more accessible. 

 

Olivia is a stressed out, recently divorced Emergency Room (E.R.) doctor, who arrives in Bluebell Canyon to move the only relative she has left – her grandmother Myrna – to Miami to care for the older woman. 

 

Right off Kayla, who is EXTREMELY attached to Myrna, clashes with Olivia. Basically, she treats her as an interloper and outsider. 

 

It is Myrna who suggests Olivia go with Jake and the kids to the auto show, and Kyle helps Olivia out. He’s taken right to “Dr. Olivia”. Kayla has an issue and Jake takes her home.

 

Olivia is dealing with also the loss of her marriage, and perhaps her chance to have kids. Even her grandmother suggests marrying a man with kids (Jake). However, as he lost his wife in childbirth, he’s closed the door on re-marrying, and having any more kids. He’s also 14 years older than Olivia (she makes a remark to herself he’s too old for her). 

 

Hoping to speed up the process to move her grandmother to Miami, Olivia offers to train Callie. Kayla is extremely upset, to the point of being rude. Jake offers to help Olivia – if she agrees to see how everything plays out (and gives her “gammy” a say in the move). 

 

Olivia is given a chance to connect to Kayla, and as a result, the girl adores the doctor. As it turns out, some advice Jake was given about grieving was not appropriate for the kids. But, Olivia also has her own grief that acts as a catalyst for her motives. Not only the loss of her marriage, but the traumatic death of her father. 

 

Callie’s training is slow, but gives Jake and Olivia time together. Olivia finds she enjoys living a slower and calmer life – though she reiterates her home is in Miami. Though, it seems the whole town is hoping she’ll change her mind and stay. Even a small child is praying as well. 

 

Olivia soon begins to wonder if staying isn’t a bad thing, but she and Jake have to get over a hurdle that puts their strong desires and greatest fears to the test. But, Olivia’s decision is made for her when her job is in peril, meaning she might just have to disappoint the person who’s relying on her the most. 

 

Weatherholt crafted a beautiful, tragic, inspiring, emotional, and heartwarming story that had me hanging on to every page to see what happened. There were times I was laughing (toilet humor – read on), times I was crying (about Kayla missing her mom), and times I was shaking my head (Olivia’s boss). The author used subtle faith tones to convey God’s message – especially of forgiveness, but it was not overwhelming.

 

Weatherholt addresses grief and how advice worked when aiding children through the process. While well-meaning in some cases, ignoring the grief or missing family member is harder than allowing someone to miss them. 

 

As a result, I was quite torn when it came to Kayla. I felt so bad for her. On one hand, she’d lost her mother; on the other hand, she was being a brat. I do believe – given that it’d been a few years since her mother’s death – the girl could’ve benefitted from therapy. It would’ve given her someone to talk to about her mother, and helped her grieve. It would’ve also helped her with her anger. Olivia did a wonderful job in getting through to the girl with their shared grief of losing a beloved parent. 

 

One big issue I had, is a “slight spoiler”. It revolved around Olivia’s supervisor calling her and texting her while she was on a “sabbatical”. Depending on any work “contract” (union or otherwise) – there is a legal issue as to whether or not Olivia was REQUIRED to keep in contact with her supervisor. If she wasn’t – then the supervisor had NO expectation for Olivia to take her call or text. 

 

Olivia had no return date set (some employers may or may not have that option). Given that Olivia was caring for her grandmother, it is possible she had FMLA leave which is up to 12 weeks of leave (almost three [3] months). Olivia also could’ve gotten it for the stress as well – her occupation and divorce. In most states, employees can use their accrued leave to get paid. As a result of ignoring the texts, Olivia learns her supervisor has booked her on a flight to return due to low staffing, or risk losing her job. If Olivia was under FMLA leave – that was an illegal move on the supervisor’s part. If it was a Leave of Absence (LOA), then a set return date would’ve been noted. 

 

It’s not that I don’t doubt someone would have booked a return flight for an employee, the legality of it is one I’d definitely look into. As far as staffing – Miami is a HUGE city, so I am SURE there were temp agencies and other avenues the supervisor could’ve taken. 

 

As a result, that storyline hit VERY CLOSE to home as my mother worked for 25 years in a county hospital. That place was definitely on the HIGH end of shady. They’d even coerce the union into forgetting certain things that violated the contract (yes, I do have proof). There was also a MASSIVE lawsuit against them regarding interrupted meal breaks and lack of compensation. I almost have to wonder if the author wasn’t taking a “dig” at them 🤣

 

It did somewhat bother me that Olivia had NO idea what a car show was. The Miami Auto Show is going into its 50^th year, and I am SURE someone at the hospital would’ve talked about it. Or, after being asked, why not research it? I’ve been to a few myself, some were when NASCAR was in Las Vegas during the March races. I really had fun test-driving some cars in September 2019 when the MotorTrend Auto Show was held in Las Vegas. First time EVER driving a Ford Mustang. That was a SWEET ride!!

 

Moving on …

 

What absolutely got me laughing was the toilet humor. During Kayla and Kyle’s party, Kayla went into the bathroom to hide from a bully. And, Olivia told her “Can you imagine what people what people would think if they heard the lady from Florida was talking to toilets?”. Kayla had a sweet response when agreeing to not hide in there – she claimed it didn’t smell so good. That was absolutely priceless.

 

I did want to see the look on “Mean Ol’ Missy”’s face when Olivia and Kayla arrived and participated in the Mother/Daughter fashion show. Missy reminded me of Nellie Oleson from Little House on the Prairie. And, what was funny – there is a Nellie who owns a mercantile in this story. 

 

This didn’t slog or plod along, then again, the author didn’t rush it at all. It was perfectly paced, and very hard to put down. 

 

That said … 

 

If this follows pattern, I am eager to read Logan’s story next. I do have a few of Weatherholt’s books on my TBR list. I also need to locate print copies of A Father for Bella and Second Chance Romance. Fans of the author won’t want to miss this one. 

 

 

 

RATING:  

 

4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Goodreads  

 

4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Bookbub  

 

4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Personal Rating (see rating explanation in this blog: https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/2020/01/rating-system-2020-changes.html; update: https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/2022/07/what-goes-into-my-reviews-2022-edition.html) 

 

 

Previous Book in the Series: 

Series: Bluebell Canyon (Book #1) 
Paperback: 224 pages 
Publisher: Love Inspired (December 28, 2021) 
Language: English 
ISBN-10: 1335759018
ISBN-13: 978-1335759016
⬅️ Click Photo for Purchase Information

 

“Can three little matchmakers

 

lasso a cowboy father?

 

When injured professional bull rider Luke Beckett returns to his hometown to recover, he doesn’t expect his B and B host and physical therapist to be his first and only love, Meg Brennan. He’s also unprepared for Meg’s adorable triplets to steal his heart. Luke’s past has him doubting he’s good enough for Meg and the children, but they might be just what the doctor ordered to help him heal…”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR 

Weekdays, Jill Weatherholt works for the City of Charlotte. On the weekend she writes contemporary stories about love, faith and forgiveness. Raised in the suburbs of Washington D.C., she resides in North Carolina. She holds a degree in Psychology from George Mason University and a paralegal studies certification from Duke University. She shares her life with her real-life hero and number one supporter. Jill loves connecting with readers at www.jillweatherholt.com. 

 

 

You can also find her on the following social media accounts:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jillweatherholtauthor/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jillweatherholt.author/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JillWeatherholt

 

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