Customer Reviews

Beware of Doug

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

When pilot Brady Cole moves into the duplex (or "twin house") owned by Lily Taylor's family, he' is instantly attracted to Lily, and everyone he comes into contact with makes the same warning: "beware of Doug." Convinced Doug is her boyfriend, he is amused to learn that Doug is actually her man-hating dog. Doug goes to great lengths to keep other males away from his Lily. Lily's pseudo boyfriend Gerald is the only male Doug is nice too; perhaps because Gerald has yet to plant anything other than a chaste kiss on her!

As the two dance around each other, both weary of getting involved (for Brady it is because he has had too many one night stands and wants to be friends first; for Lily, he won't fit into the family portrait that she someday sees on daddy's desk), it becomes harder to stay away. When her friend Megan decides to fix Brady up with a fellow girlfriend, Lily has to ask herself why this bothers her. When Gerald suddenly has to leave for a business trip that will take several months, will Brady finally capture is landlady's heart? Or will Doug continue to reign supreme and steal all his shoes.

Fox's latest romantic comedy is a gem. The dialogue is crisp, the romance sizzling, and the novel decision to give a voice to possessive Doug was ingenious. His interactions with humans are hysterical, particularly his psychological games to outwit Brady (who won't be outsmarted by the ugliest dog in the world). It's a cute and funny story that you can't help but like, as there is never a dull moment.

The first book to this series was enjoyable, Guy and Dogs, but this second part was even better. I laughed out loud several times during this book and it kept me interested and entertained throughout. At no point did the book get boring for me. The scenes in Doug's perspective, Lily's beloved dog, were hilarious and very unique!! This is what made this book 5 stars for me. I really have to say I enjoyed this book so much that I hated for it to end. If you are looking for a fun feel good type of romance novel, you have found it - but BEWARE, you won't be able to stop giggling through this one.

I really loved this book. The characters are great, especially literary Lily and her fantasies about Jane Austen's Emma. And Doug the dog and his antics are hysterical. I especially enjoyed how Elaine Fox used Doug as a character by using scenes in the dog's point of view - very original and interesting. Yeah, I'm a sucker for dog books, but this one was good no matter what.

In Fredericksburg, Virginia, Sutter Foley's newly hired private jet pilot Brady Cole moves next door to English Literature Professor Lillian "Lily" Tyler. When he introduces himself to her and another neighbor Nathan Williams, the pilot and the professor are instantly attracted to one another. However, as if he knows Doug the dog goes berserk when Lily and Brady meet as he hates any man who ventures inside Lily's circle as he is the only acceptable male. On top of that, the howling Tricia arrives to call Brady an SOB for leaving her without a word.

Doug detests Brady and Brady detests Doug as each senses a rival for the affection of Lily. However having made many bad relationship judgments, including Tricia, Brady decides to stay away from his neighbor though he enjoys spending time with her. Lily desires him, but Doug rejects him so she follows her canine's instincts even if that leads to Gerald the lawyer, who she feels no passion for because it is Brady the pilot whom she fantasizes making love with.

Contemporary romance fans will appreciate that Elaine Fox ignored WC Fields' admonition of never costarring with a child or an animal as Doug steals the show especially when he provides his first person account on his rivals for the affection of his significant other. The amusing story line is fast-paced from the first howling and never slows down until the "new guy" tries to persuade his canine adversary that he a "good guy" because to win Lily's heart he must win Doug's first.

Harriet Klausner

Lily Tyler is content in her Victorian duplex home with her outspoken girlfriends, her gentlemanly boyfriend, Gerald, and her beloved and feisty dog Doug, until Brady Cole moves in next door. The sexy pilot is making Lily question what she thought she wanted.

Brady is on a "date diet" and Lily is trying to make things work with Gerald so why do they keep ending up in each other's arms?

Beware Of Doug is a really fun and romantic story. Brady's nutty ex girlfriend and the insights into Doug's mind are really amusing, and the chemistry between Brady and Lily is hot! Beware Of Doug is a great book to relax with when you're looking for something lighthearted and witty.

Nannette
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

If Brady Cole hadn't sworn off women and dating he would certainly make a move on his attractive next door neighbor, Lily. But Brady has learned a lesson about serial dating and one night stands and since Lily already has a boyfriend then she's strictly off limits. Besides, her little tasmanian devil of a dog won't allow him within five feet of her.

Lily Tyler should be on cloud nine. After two frustrating years pursuing Gerald, a soon-to-be partner at her father's law firm, it seems that Gerald is finally ready for things to heat up in the romance department. But ever since the handsome pilot moved in next door Lily has been having a hard time remembering just why she wanted Gerald in the first place. Just as well that Brady has given up on women for the time being...or has he?

There was a lot to like about this book. I enjoyed Lily's relationship(s) with her 3 girlfriends and Brady was that rare commodity in a romance novel hero - a sexy man who isn't terrified of commitment. From time to time the author allows us to see Doug's (Lily's French bulldog) point of view and these scenes are very, very funny. However, I had a hard time relating to Lily. I just can't fathom a thirty-something woman who is so intimidated by her "daddy" that she's willing to marry herself off to a man with all the sex appeal of a toaster in order to please him. The character of Gerald is one dimensional - he's just a backdrop for Lily and Brady's relationship. Still, this is a cute and funny romance with some unusual additions that keep the story "fresh".

Setting is present-day Fredericksburg, Virginia. Contains minimal swearing and a couple of semi-explicit love scenes that I would describe as fairly tame.

I really enjoyed this book. This is number two in the series. You can read them out of order but it is more entertaining to follow the order. The dog in this story steals the show and made me laugh out loud more than once

I have been researching different romance novels for my own writing, and came across this in the library. Not the usual cover I go for, but I gave it a try and was SWEPT AWAY! A fun easy read, that had me interested in the hero, heroine, other woman, other man, and the DOG! Fox has a way of telling the story from the dog (Doug's) point of view that keeps the comedy in the book on a cute level.

I usually gravitate towards the Viking historical romances (being a pagan) but I think I am hooked on contemporary romances for a while. At least ones by Elaine Fox if they are all as good as this!

You'll be FLIPPING through pages to see what happens to the main characters. Both exciting, and relieving. . . Isn't that what a romance novel should be?

You won't be disappointed!

I just finished my first Romance book and was I ever surprised. My girlfriend had suggested this one and "Beware of Doug" was awesome. I was surprised how well written and funny it was. I am an animal lover, and anyone with pets can really relate to Doug and how he interacted so well in the story. His antics are so believable. As far as I am concerned , this ia a "must read" for anyone that just plain enjoys to read.

I've liked other titles by this author (especially Guys and Dogs and Man at Work) but this one was a disappointment. The heroine wasn't fully realized as a character - her main characteristics were being infatuated with the wrong guy and reading Jane Austen. You don't really get a feel for her as a person, and that goes even more for the guy she has a crush on. There were some okay plot points and the scenes from the dog's point of view were clever but overall, I don't think this one holds up to her other works.