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Better Than Catnip
Roxy Williams adores cats. Always has. That’s why she devotes her life to running her stray cat shelter. But is that enough? Isn’t there a man out there who will love her for who she is? A special man who won’t try to change her or ask her to choose between him and her cats? Max Weller has a problem. His son, Derek, must complete community service for fighting at school. The only available place is the stray cat shelter. But Derek is terrified of cats from a frightening childhood experience. How will they get through this traumatic experience? Roxy and Max feel the strong attraction pulling them together as Max volunteers at the shelter, too. Will they be able to keep the spark alive? Or will Derek’s fears come between them?
194 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2012
1 person is currently reading
119 people want to read
About the author
Ruth J. Hartman
56 books203 followersRuth J. Hartman spends her days herding cats, and her nights spinning mysterious tales that make you smile. She, her husband, and their cats love to spend time curled up in their recliners watching old Cary Grant movies. Well, the cats sit in the people's recliners. Not that the cats couldn't get their own furniture. They just choose to shed on someone else's.
Ruth, a left-handed, cat-herding, farmhouse-dwelling mystery writer uses her goofy sense of humor as she writes tales of klutzy women who find trouble without even trying. Ruth's husband and best friend, Garry, reads her manuscripts, rolls his eyes at her weird story ideas, and loves her in spite of her insistence that all of her books have at least one cat in them.
Ruth, a left-handed, cat-herding, farmhouse-dwelling mystery writer uses her goofy sense of humor as she writes tales of klutzy women who find trouble without even trying. Ruth's husband and best friend, Garry, reads her manuscripts, rolls his eyes at her weird story ideas, and loves her in spite of her insistence that all of her books have at least one cat in them.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
March 7, 2013
2.5 Stars
Cats, cats, cats, cats, cats.
I would say that this book could just be the tip of the iceberg in a scandal that will bring down governments. This could be the biggest scandal since Fox News did an exposé on the wanton stationery theft by Democrats in Congress...even bigger than the doctor who used the same rectal thermometer on thousands of patients without cleaning it once.
Folks I'm convinced cat ladies have infiltrated animal shelters!
Trust no-one.
Cats, cats, cats, cats, cats.
I would say that this book could just be the tip of the iceberg in a scandal that will bring down governments. This could be the biggest scandal since Fox News did an exposé on the wanton stationery theft by Democrats in Congress...even bigger than the doctor who used the same rectal thermometer on thousands of patients without cleaning it once.
Folks I'm convinced cat ladies have infiltrated animal shelters!
Trust no-one.
July 15, 2012
this is a great book for animal lovers. good story line, a little bit of romance, a lot of humor, some drama... an all round feel good story. i'd definitely recommend it.
August 16, 2012
I was very impressed with how real the characters seemed to be. I immediately liked Roxy, the "cat whisperer," and loved how devoted she was to caring for cats in need of homes, because as she points out, people tend to only want cute, cuddly kittens. They forget that kittens grow up. **SLIGHT SPOILER ALERT** One part in particular really broke my heart. A box holding several kittens that are so small their eyes still aren't open is abandoned, tossed out like garbage. It tugged at my emotions and had me crying and wanting to hunt down the people responsible. I was sad and disgusted to think of someone having such disregard for precious lives and at the same time happy that the kittens were rescued by Roxy. Any time an author can elicit such strong emotions--and such a mixture of emotions--from a reader it's just plain good writing. **END SPOILER**
I also loved and could relate to Max. His actions as a father and the love and gentleness he showed to Roxy's cats melted my heart. He is a true hero, in my eyes. Max is the type of father every child should have--a person who believes in tough love AND showing love.
Another delightful surprise was Hartman showing her humorous side on more than one occasion. I especially enjoyed how Roxy handled people who came into the shelter. I won't give anything away, but I can tell you I laughed out loud more than once and re-read one scene a couple of times because Roxy really turned the tables on some people visiting the shelter.
Whether you like cats or not, this book is a great make-you-feel-good read. You'll find yourself smiling at the end.
I also loved and could relate to Max. His actions as a father and the love and gentleness he showed to Roxy's cats melted my heart. He is a true hero, in my eyes. Max is the type of father every child should have--a person who believes in tough love AND showing love.
Another delightful surprise was Hartman showing her humorous side on more than one occasion. I especially enjoyed how Roxy handled people who came into the shelter. I won't give anything away, but I can tell you I laughed out loud more than once and re-read one scene a couple of times because Roxy really turned the tables on some people visiting the shelter.
Whether you like cats or not, this book is a great make-you-feel-good read. You'll find yourself smiling at the end.
June 8, 2012
Once again, one of my favorite sweet romance authors has delivered a story as warm and fuzzy as the cat on the cover. Don't let looks fool you, though. This story takes us deep within the bowels of a terrifying place...a cat shelter!
Ok, so not so terrifying to most people, and not to Roxy, the heroine of the story. Unfortunately, for 11-year-old Derek, who's been forced to volunteer at the shelter or face juvenile detention, it's his worst nightmare. And that's a shame, because Derek's single dad, Max, is one fine specimen of a man. He and Roxy hit it off, but their future together is questionable, since Roxy cannot give up her cats, and Max cannot force his son to overcome his fear.
I loved the reality of this situation. One could imagine themselves in Roxy and Max's shoes. Mrs. Hartman writes in such a way that their desire for one another tugs at your heartstrings, but you feel sympathetic toward Derek, who really does try his best. The characters are genuinely flawed--Roxy being awkward around teens and clumsy, and Max (a high school basketball coach) being a loud Sasquatch at times. I particularly love that these quirks provide both laughs and conflict as the two of them try to make it work in what at times seems to be an impossible relationship.
I highly recommend this book, and any of Ruth J Hartman's works, to all the sweet romance lovers out there, young adult and beyond. And if you're an ailurophile (cat lover), I'm sure you'll find it purrfect!
Ok, so not so terrifying to most people, and not to Roxy, the heroine of the story. Unfortunately, for 11-year-old Derek, who's been forced to volunteer at the shelter or face juvenile detention, it's his worst nightmare. And that's a shame, because Derek's single dad, Max, is one fine specimen of a man. He and Roxy hit it off, but their future together is questionable, since Roxy cannot give up her cats, and Max cannot force his son to overcome his fear.
I loved the reality of this situation. One could imagine themselves in Roxy and Max's shoes. Mrs. Hartman writes in such a way that their desire for one another tugs at your heartstrings, but you feel sympathetic toward Derek, who really does try his best. The characters are genuinely flawed--Roxy being awkward around teens and clumsy, and Max (a high school basketball coach) being a loud Sasquatch at times. I particularly love that these quirks provide both laughs and conflict as the two of them try to make it work in what at times seems to be an impossible relationship.
I highly recommend this book, and any of Ruth J Hartman's works, to all the sweet romance lovers out there, young adult and beyond. And if you're an ailurophile (cat lover), I'm sure you'll find it purrfect!
December 28, 2015
A great story for cat lovers
Better Than Catnip, to me is more fiction than romance. The romance is there, it’s just the heroine’s shelter seems to take prominent over the romance. I would’ve liked to have gotten a deeper background story on both Max and Roxie. I would’ve also liked to have seen more passion between them. I know this is something that maybe hard to do in clean romance, but I have read some where you can really feel the passion between the couple without sex and to me this couple didn’t have that spark.
Derek is a great addition to the story. There were times I wished the author would have gone into more detail on what he were feeling and how he felt when he overcame his fear of cats.
I hope one day the author would be willing to write a follow up for this story. I would like to know how things are going for Roxie, Max and how Derek growing over his fear of cats by working at the shelter with Roxie.
Overall, if you love cats this is a great clean story with a touch of romance between Max and Roxie. I recommend this book to cozy readers and light romance readers that love a good story about the everyday cat shelter.
I received a copy from the publisher for an honest review.
Better Than Catnip, to me is more fiction than romance. The romance is there, it’s just the heroine’s shelter seems to take prominent over the romance. I would’ve liked to have gotten a deeper background story on both Max and Roxie. I would’ve also liked to have seen more passion between them. I know this is something that maybe hard to do in clean romance, but I have read some where you can really feel the passion between the couple without sex and to me this couple didn’t have that spark.
Derek is a great addition to the story. There were times I wished the author would have gone into more detail on what he were feeling and how he felt when he overcame his fear of cats.
I hope one day the author would be willing to write a follow up for this story. I would like to know how things are going for Roxie, Max and how Derek growing over his fear of cats by working at the shelter with Roxie.
Overall, if you love cats this is a great clean story with a touch of romance between Max and Roxie. I recommend this book to cozy readers and light romance readers that love a good story about the everyday cat shelter.
I received a copy from the publisher for an honest review.
January 28, 2013
This is a definite book for cat lovers, if you don't like cats you wont want to read this book as it takes place at a cat shelter. The owner is Roxy and most of the story is around the cats or involving cats in the shelter with some romance. One day a boy and his father come to the shelter just before opening and tell Roxy that the boy, Derek is there for community service. Derek's dad, Max is a hunk in Roxy's eyes and she is interested in him sticking around to help at the shelter with his son. Max and Roxy start to fall for each other but with all romances there ups and downs and sometimes obstacles.
This is a great romance comes with one big obstacle, Derek has a huge fear of cats. Cats are Roxy's whole world and she doesn't really want to live without them but she really likes Max. Roxy is trying to help Derek overcome his huge fear of cats. This novel moves at a great pace, not too rushed but not slow moving either. I love how Derek is put in a place to have to either run or overcome his cat fears. Roxy and Max both need to learn to have a relationship when a kid is involved and Max is just really becoming a father as he didn't have custody to his son until now.
This is a great romance comes with one big obstacle, Derek has a huge fear of cats. Cats are Roxy's whole world and she doesn't really want to live without them but she really likes Max. Roxy is trying to help Derek overcome his huge fear of cats. This novel moves at a great pace, not too rushed but not slow moving either. I love how Derek is put in a place to have to either run or overcome his cat fears. Roxy and Max both need to learn to have a relationship when a kid is involved and Max is just really becoming a father as he didn't have custody to his son until now.
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May 10, 2012If you love cats, you'll love this story. The main character, Roxy, owns a cat shelter. She meets a single parent (Max) whose son (Derek) must fulfill community service work at the shelter. Unfortunately the boy had a bad experience with a cat in his childhood and they terrify him. Although Max, Roxy and Derek become close, Derek's phobia stands in the way of them pulling together as a family.
Since I love felines, I really enjoyed hearing about the different kinds of cats that end up in the shelter. As a cat owner, I could relate to all the work involved in taking care of cats. I particularly enjoyed the lengths that Roxy would go to show the cats a good time. I wanted to take several of the kitties home, or at least stroke their beautiful fur.
As I read, I kept rooting for Derek to make a breakthrough in his phobia. I also wanted Roxy and Max to end up together. Does the tale end purrfectly, or is there a catastrophe in the making? I'm not saying, but "Better Than Catnip" did make my tail wag.
Since I love felines, I really enjoyed hearing about the different kinds of cats that end up in the shelter. As a cat owner, I could relate to all the work involved in taking care of cats. I particularly enjoyed the lengths that Roxy would go to show the cats a good time. I wanted to take several of the kitties home, or at least stroke their beautiful fur.
As I read, I kept rooting for Derek to make a breakthrough in his phobia. I also wanted Roxy and Max to end up together. Does the tale end purrfectly, or is there a catastrophe in the making? I'm not saying, but "Better Than Catnip" did make my tail wag.
June 1, 2012
As usual, Ruth J. Hartman has created some funny yet realistic characters. Roxy may be a klutz and unable to take two steps without falling over her own feet but when it comes to her kitties, she’s as sure-footed as they come in her pursuit of their welfare. Max loves his son and is determined to make up for his absence in the boy’s life by being the best dad possible, and making certain Derek knows how much he’s loved. Derek is a child on the cusp of adolescence, abused by one parent, now in the custody of one who’s almost a stranger, albeit a loving, caring stranger whom he knows has his welfare at heart. The cats are…cats, fuzzy, lovable, playful, cautious, aloof…everything catly.
Take them all and swirl them in a way which shows that the author also loves cats, and people, very much. What comes out is a delightful story which will may make you laugh out loud in spots. If you like cats, and sweet love stories, this one is Better than Catnip and will suit you just fine!
This novel was supplied by the author and no remuneration was involved in the writing of this review.
Take them all and swirl them in a way which shows that the author also loves cats, and people, very much. What comes out is a delightful story which will may make you laugh out loud in spots. If you like cats, and sweet love stories, this one is Better than Catnip and will suit you just fine!
This novel was supplied by the author and no remuneration was involved in the writing of this review.
April 8, 2016
Derek has just moved in with his father, whom he barely knows, and has already gotten in trouble at school. Now he has a choice between community service and juvenile detention.
His father. Max, signs him up for the only available community service option, Roxy's cat shelter. Unfortunately, he doesn't realize that Derek is terrified of cats due to an unfortunate incident when he was a young child. Fortunately, Max is a teacher and has plenty of time to join Derek at the shelter to help things a little easier, and spend some time getting to know him.
This story is Roxy's story, but its also about the relationship between Derek and Max. I loved seeing Derek getting to know both Max and Roxy. Max and Roxy's easy flirting is fun to read and seeing how much Max cares about his son makes you really root for him to figure everything out.
I really loved this book. It was a good easy read with characters I liked and cared about.
Note: I received the book in exchange for an honest review from the 'clean reads' site.
His father. Max, signs him up for the only available community service option, Roxy's cat shelter. Unfortunately, he doesn't realize that Derek is terrified of cats due to an unfortunate incident when he was a young child. Fortunately, Max is a teacher and has plenty of time to join Derek at the shelter to help things a little easier, and spend some time getting to know him.
This story is Roxy's story, but its also about the relationship between Derek and Max. I loved seeing Derek getting to know both Max and Roxy. Max and Roxy's easy flirting is fun to read and seeing how much Max cares about his son makes you really root for him to figure everything out.
I really loved this book. It was a good easy read with characters I liked and cared about.
Note: I received the book in exchange for an honest review from the 'clean reads' site.
May 20, 2012
From the first chapter to the last, this story grabbed my attention, and also my heart. When I found that Roxy showed her love for those poor homeless animals, it brought a smile to my face. She cared so deeply for feral felines, she trapped them in a cage, and gave them a loving home until someone came to purchase them. When she learned that a young boy needed a community service job, she was more than willing to let him work for her, especially when his father showed up. In walked sexy Max - just one look at him and she melted. Hoping to see more of him, Roxy wondered if she was longing for more than she'd ever get from this hunk. This is a sweet romance, filled with both love and humor. Will it work out for her and Max? It didn't take me long to find out the outcome of this cat lover's life - I read from the first page to the last in one day. Very nice read, Ruth. This fully deserves 5-kitten stars!
April 21, 2012
Besides the fact that this book is very well written, there are two things I loved about it. First, the characters are nice people. Both of them seemed normal and likeable. Their romance progressed in a natural fashion. They took time to get to know each other before making a commitment of any sort. They both were willing to put someone else’s needs before their own, and to me that’s what love is all about.
Second, I liked the book because of the compassion the author showed toward animals. I don’t understand cruelty to animals, and I hope I never do. How anyone could gain any sort of satisfaction from hurting an animal is beyond my comprehension. I appreciate an author of this caliber who speaks up for those who have no voice.
What’s my rating? Five stars, and I hope you pick up a copy.
Second, I liked the book because of the compassion the author showed toward animals. I don’t understand cruelty to animals, and I hope I never do. How anyone could gain any sort of satisfaction from hurting an animal is beyond my comprehension. I appreciate an author of this caliber who speaks up for those who have no voice.
What’s my rating? Five stars, and I hope you pick up a copy.
April 21, 2012
Let me start of by saying that I am all in favor of adopting a dog or cat.
That said, Ruth has created a most enjoyable story with Better Than Catnip. She has a fun and interesting way to bring the characters to life. I’m not going to bore you with rehashing them, see the books blurb for that, but will tell you I couldn’t figure out which parts of the book I loved the best.
Was it Roxy, with and without the rescue cats, being a self-admitted klutz, or the way she worked to try to help Derek overcome his fear of cats? There were definitely times when she and Max had their moments, sweet to comical to romantic.
For me the high point of the story is when Derek-OOPS sorry I’m not giving it away. But trust me it will bring you to tears and it did me.
In the collie scale of rating a book I’m giving Better Than Catnip a score of 4 collies and a sheltie. Sorry Ruth, I don’t convert to cats.
That said, Ruth has created a most enjoyable story with Better Than Catnip. She has a fun and interesting way to bring the characters to life. I’m not going to bore you with rehashing them, see the books blurb for that, but will tell you I couldn’t figure out which parts of the book I loved the best.
Was it Roxy, with and without the rescue cats, being a self-admitted klutz, or the way she worked to try to help Derek overcome his fear of cats? There were definitely times when she and Max had their moments, sweet to comical to romantic.
For me the high point of the story is when Derek-OOPS sorry I’m not giving it away. But trust me it will bring you to tears and it did me.
In the collie scale of rating a book I’m giving Better Than Catnip a score of 4 collies and a sheltie. Sorry Ruth, I don’t convert to cats.
November 15, 2012
This cute short novel takes feel-good warmth, giggle-snorting, and sweet romance to a new, furry level. There's some repetition in the telling and plot development, but there's fun even in seeing how klutzy the heroine is for the third time (or was it the fourth?), and as long as author Ruth J. Hartman kept me sniggering, I didn't care how many times I'd seen the joke. A nice lighthearted romping read.
June 14, 2013
This was a fun romance! A great read for the beach especially if you're a cat lover. It's a feel good story about Roxy and her cat shelter and her love interest Max. I won't give you any more details than that because I don't want to spoil the story, but it's a great one that kept me turning the page! I'll be looking for more stories from Ruth Hartman! :)
June 1, 2012
A cute book and informative for cat people and prospective cat people. The romance between the main characters, Roxy and Max, interwoven with Roxy's shelter and the care and adoption of cats, and of Max's son, Derek's overcoming his traumatic past history with a cat is written in clear language, easy to follow and fun to read.
December 7, 2012
Wonderfully sweet romance. Warning: Don't read if you don't like cats. Better than catnip is full of cats, cat jokes, a cat loving lady who runs a cat shelter and an adorable little boy who is terrified of cats (and his hunky dad)
June 10, 2012
I loved this book and would recommend it to anyone who loves cats and wants to laugh out loud with the antics of Roxy..This is a very fun romantic read..
October 14, 2014
A very sweet romantic read, perfect for cat-lovers everywhere. Roxy is a sympathetic heroine, and Hartman keeps the pace moving in the book. The cats make great minor characters, too!
December 13, 2012
So cute! I am allergic to cats, but Roxy made me want one! I found this to be a very believable romance—if you believe at love at first site. And it really is all about the cats.
May 1, 2013
This was a very enjoyable read and made me chuckle several times.
April 29, 2012
***(Review by The Romance Studio reposted with their permission)***
Better Than Catnip
Ruth Hartman
Contemporary romance
Available from Astraea Press
ISBN: 9781621350101
March 2012
We meet Roxy as this story begins, hunkering down in the park trying to catch feral cats. She's prepared, has a cage, a can of tuna and some very heavy gloves. She also has great determination and love. She's a very interesting, kinda crazy heroine too. She runs a no-kill cat shelter in her small town with her best friend Teresa Lynn. She speaks to the cats as if they were actual humans (I say it like that for those who don't have pets) and is very passionate about helping them find their forever homes. In walks a young boy, shaking and in tears, followed eventually by his father. Derek has only been with his dad a short amount of time, but he got into trouble at school and has to work community service and her shelter was suggested. Max really loves his son and wants to do what's best for him, but they don't really know each other well. Roxy agrees to have Derek work his hours there, then finds out he's terrified of cats thanks to something horrible when he was very young.
Max doesn't want a girlfriend, but he is completely blindsided by his attraction to Roxy, as she is with him. She and Teresa Lynn find some things for Derek to do that don't involve touching cats. I'm sure you all can imagine how difficult that is in a cat shelter, right? Since it is summer and school's out, high school coach Max decides to work at the shelter to help him get to know his son better. Every time he is anywhere near Roxy she is almost unable to function she is so attracted to him. They try going on a few dates, sort of, including roller skating, bowling and even fishing. I mention those because our girl, Roxy, is one of the biggest klutz's I think I've read in a very long time. I laughed so hard the cat on my lap became disgruntled and left... which made me laugh harder!
The biggest challenge of the relationship between Max and Roxy is Derek's fear of cats. Roxy has always loved cats and she feels there is no way she could not have cats in her life. Yes, she has some history with a previous love interest giving her the ‘me or cats' ultimatum. The characters are all just plain awesome, especially cats Delilah & Oliver! I have to admit, embarrassed or not, they had me with the first line of the blurb. Ms. Hartman has written an incredibly funny, poignant, sweet and just plain romantic story! I read it straight through, during the shocking moments, the amusing ones and all the romantic ones it is so worth the read!
Overall rating:
Sensuality rating: Sweet
Reviewer: Teresa T.
April 27, 2012
Better Than Catnip
Ruth Hartman
Contemporary romance
Available from Astraea Press
ISBN: 9781621350101
March 2012
We meet Roxy as this story begins, hunkering down in the park trying to catch feral cats. She's prepared, has a cage, a can of tuna and some very heavy gloves. She also has great determination and love. She's a very interesting, kinda crazy heroine too. She runs a no-kill cat shelter in her small town with her best friend Teresa Lynn. She speaks to the cats as if they were actual humans (I say it like that for those who don't have pets) and is very passionate about helping them find their forever homes. In walks a young boy, shaking and in tears, followed eventually by his father. Derek has only been with his dad a short amount of time, but he got into trouble at school and has to work community service and her shelter was suggested. Max really loves his son and wants to do what's best for him, but they don't really know each other well. Roxy agrees to have Derek work his hours there, then finds out he's terrified of cats thanks to something horrible when he was very young.
Max doesn't want a girlfriend, but he is completely blindsided by his attraction to Roxy, as she is with him. She and Teresa Lynn find some things for Derek to do that don't involve touching cats. I'm sure you all can imagine how difficult that is in a cat shelter, right? Since it is summer and school's out, high school coach Max decides to work at the shelter to help him get to know his son better. Every time he is anywhere near Roxy she is almost unable to function she is so attracted to him. They try going on a few dates, sort of, including roller skating, bowling and even fishing. I mention those because our girl, Roxy, is one of the biggest klutz's I think I've read in a very long time. I laughed so hard the cat on my lap became disgruntled and left... which made me laugh harder!
The biggest challenge of the relationship between Max and Roxy is Derek's fear of cats. Roxy has always loved cats and she feels there is no way she could not have cats in her life. Yes, she has some history with a previous love interest giving her the ‘me or cats' ultimatum. The characters are all just plain awesome, especially cats Delilah & Oliver! I have to admit, embarrassed or not, they had me with the first line of the blurb. Ms. Hartman has written an incredibly funny, poignant, sweet and just plain romantic story! I read it straight through, during the shocking moments, the amusing ones and all the romantic ones it is so worth the read!
Overall rating:
Sensuality rating: Sweet
Reviewer: Teresa T.
April 27, 2012
August 18, 2015
Better Than Catnip by Ruth J. Hartman is a contemporary romance, though I'd say it's a light romance. Either that, or it's a contemporary fiction with a bit of romance in it.
Roxy Williams runs a cat shelter. Max Weller's son Derek needs to do some community service as a consequence for fighting at school. The only opportunity open is at Roxy's shelter . . . and Derek is scared to death of cats! Roxy and Max have a budding romance, but both question how a long-term relationship could work out, considering Derek's fear of cats.
I'm not a cat fan, but I have liked Ruth Hartman's The Love Birds series. She writes clean romances with a fun dose of humor. My library had it available as an ebook online, so I figured I'd give it a shot. I read it expecting to perhaps not love it, but it was fun!
What I liked:
*Ruth's trademark humor
*I learned about cats and shelters
*I found the story entertaining!
What I didn't like:
*I disliked Max's assertion that the kid in the fight with his son received preferential treatment, and that his son's consequence was too harsh. I'm not saying that is an impossible situation, but I get frustrated with parents who are too quick to blame school staff. The administrators and teachers in our local school try very hard to have high expectations, and yet be caring and respectful of all students, giving them the benefit of the doubt. No person is perfect, and principals are not God, after all, and cannot look into the minds and hearts of their students. I would have preferred Max to have another perspective on Derek's consequence.
I'd recommend this book to cat-lovers, those who wouldn't mind learning more about cats, and fans of light contemporary romance. This was good, clean fiction. I would be comfortable with my 12-year-old reading it. I will be continuing to read Ruth Hartmans' books!
Roxy Williams runs a cat shelter. Max Weller's son Derek needs to do some community service as a consequence for fighting at school. The only opportunity open is at Roxy's shelter . . . and Derek is scared to death of cats! Roxy and Max have a budding romance, but both question how a long-term relationship could work out, considering Derek's fear of cats.
I'm not a cat fan, but I have liked Ruth Hartman's The Love Birds series. She writes clean romances with a fun dose of humor. My library had it available as an ebook online, so I figured I'd give it a shot. I read it expecting to perhaps not love it, but it was fun!
What I liked:
*Ruth's trademark humor
*I learned about cats and shelters
*I found the story entertaining!
What I didn't like:
*I disliked Max's assertion that the kid in the fight with his son received preferential treatment, and that his son's consequence was too harsh. I'm not saying that is an impossible situation, but I get frustrated with parents who are too quick to blame school staff. The administrators and teachers in our local school try very hard to have high expectations, and yet be caring and respectful of all students, giving them the benefit of the doubt. No person is perfect, and principals are not God, after all, and cannot look into the minds and hearts of their students. I would have preferred Max to have another perspective on Derek's consequence.
I'd recommend this book to cat-lovers, those who wouldn't mind learning more about cats, and fans of light contemporary romance. This was good, clean fiction. I would be comfortable with my 12-year-old reading it. I will be continuing to read Ruth Hartmans' books!
November 10, 2014
I absolutely love Ruth J Hartman's books! Better Than Catnip was a fun book that will have you laughing out loud, loving her characters and you won't be able to put it down. Roxy runs the local stray cat shelter and her life revolves around her fur babies. She has four cats at home and countless more at the shelter. She would do anything to protect and care for all the cats that she could possibly manage. Derek shows up one morning for community service and brings along his very handsome father. Roxy is left with the wind knocked out of her at the sight of the beautifully handsome Max. The conversations, banter and trials between Max and Roxy are fun, entertaining and also heartbreaking at times. Their relationship is so true to life, I believe most people can relate to them in some way. This book will appeal to anyone who loves a fun, romantic and heartwarming read. Thank you Ruth for another amazing book!
March 21, 2019
Heartwarming and funny
Terrific. A great read. Light, funny and heartwarming. A boy traumatised by his mother, including her throwing a cat at him when he was a toddler, is assigned community service (detention is the only other alternative) - where? A local cat shelter! His father, having gained custody, is there too. Roxy is mad about cats but tries to make sure that he doesn't have to interact with them. She isn't the most coordinated person and her antics are both funny and endearing. As the two adults get close they still have to get the young boy over his fear. What happens when a hurt cat goes on the rampage? Is this the end of things?
Terrific. A great read. Light, funny and heartwarming. A boy traumatised by his mother, including her throwing a cat at him when he was a toddler, is assigned community service (detention is the only other alternative) - where? A local cat shelter! His father, having gained custody, is there too. Roxy is mad about cats but tries to make sure that he doesn't have to interact with them. She isn't the most coordinated person and her antics are both funny and endearing. As the two adults get close they still have to get the young boy over his fear. What happens when a hurt cat goes on the rampage? Is this the end of things?
May 9, 2015
Better Than Catnip by Ruth J. Hartman eBook
Roxy Williams get a big surprise one day a ten year old Derek is at the door he has been assigned to the Cat Rescue Shelter for community service, and nobody called her. To top that surprise he is terrified of cats. She understands fear (she afraid of spiders) so she arranges the job so he doesn't have to touch the cats.
Max Weller has recently gotten custody of his son and is working hard to help him passed the rough start he had in life. the boys mother was unstable and cruel to the child.
Loved the story and the twist at the end.
Roxy Williams get a big surprise one day a ten year old Derek is at the door he has been assigned to the Cat Rescue Shelter for community service, and nobody called her. To top that surprise he is terrified of cats. She understands fear (she afraid of spiders) so she arranges the job so he doesn't have to touch the cats.
Max Weller has recently gotten custody of his son and is working hard to help him passed the rough start he had in life. the boys mother was unstable and cruel to the child.
Loved the story and the twist at the end.
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