Review: Deefur Dog

Title: Deefur Dog
Author: RJ Scott
Publisher: Silver Publishing
Publication Date: 19 June 2011
Reviewed Format: ebook
Length: 109 pages

Rating: 5 out of 5

Review: Eighteen months ago, Cameron lost his partner, Mark, to an automobile accident. Now, the only piece of Mark Cameron has left is his dog, Deefur. Unfortunately, between a hectic job, a 2-year-old daughter, and the dog, Cameron is running into difficulties: namely, finding a nanny who can deal with not only his lifestyle but also the energetic Great Dane mix. When the last one doesn't even make it through the door, Cameron resigns himself to giving Deefur up, but a trip to the local rescue gives him another answer in the form of volunteer Jason, who just so happens to be looking for work as a nanny. Is it exactly what Cameron needs, or is it just too good to be true?

Cameron is at the end of his rope, desperate to hang onto Deefur as the last remnant of Mark but unable to figure out how, when Deefur is directly responsible for the loss of countless nannies. His upset over the thought of losing Deefur is touching, as is his love for his daughter, Emma. He's conflicted over his attraction to Jason, still mourning the loss of Mark, but doesn't wallow in it much, instead focusing on moving forward. He's stronger than he thinks, and he's absolutely adorable.

Jason is struggling, about to be evicted, one year left for his degree, and blown off by the agency through which he's looking for work as a nanny. He volunteers at a friend's animal rescue which is where he meets Cameron, a happy coincidence that lands him not only a job but also a home. He quickly comes to love Cameron's family, both human and canine, and settles nicely into his new circumstances. He's content with what he has but also confident enough to go after what he wants, which makes him a really charming character.

Cameron and Jason work very well together, with a low-key attraction that builds slowly. Although the attraction is there from the start, it's a sweet development rather than breathless and overwhelming. This isn't a story about sex, although that does ultimately happen; it's two people growing and coming to realize what they could have together.

The supporting cast is small, with Emma and Deefur being the biggest secondary players, although Cameron's brother Neal and Jason's friend Billy both have decent roles. Given the focus on the build between Cameron and Jason, it works fine; the quality more than makes up for the quantity.

The story itself is minimal once Cameron and Jason meet, focusing instead on character growth. This is far from a bad thing--the characters are both appealing enough that they carry it effortlessly. The lack of conflict makes the whole story comfortable, like a warm sweater you can't wait to squidge into.

I picked it up for the dog and the kid, but I definitely got far more than that out of it. Great characters and a cozy romance make this a lovely little story, one that I definitely think I'll be revisiting.