It’s First Line Friday! That means it’s time to pick up the nearest book and quote the first line. Today I’m sharing from Belinda Blake and the Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing by Heather Day Gilbert. Here’s the first line of Chapter One:
What’s the book nearest you, and what’s the first line?
My Review
Belinda Blake and the Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing is the second book in Heather Day Gilbert’s Exotic Pet-Sitter series. As with the first book, the clue is in the title. This instalment features Belinda Blake in her job as a pet-sitter, this time helping out at the White Pine Wolf Preserve. It’s a murder mystery, so it’s not long before there is a body.
And a body means there is a mystery for Belinda to solve.
She’s not satisfied with the assumption that the wolves are the evildoers. While she’s no fan of wolves, their behaviour doesn’t stack up with the facts. Just as the title implies, things are not as they seem.
It’s clever. Very clever. And I like clever fiction, so I loved this second Belinda Blake novel.Yes, this is the second book in a series, but you don’t need to read the first book for this one to make sense. It’s a quick, fun read.
The title is clever, the plot is clever, and Belinda is clever.
She’s not your normal American twenty-something woman. She’s quirky, and I like quirky (even if I’d find her quirks possibly too weird in a real-life friend). She babysits snakes and wolves for one thing. She’s also a video game player and reviewer, and it’s great to see a female character who is out of the ordinary like this.
But Belinda is ordinary in other ways, and that makes her relatable. She has money troubles, a weird family, and a not-exactly-clear possible romantic relationship with an old friend … and another with her employer’s son. I’m looking forward to seeing that explored in future novels in the series.
Recommended for fans of exotic pets (if there is such a thing), and people who enjoy a cozy mystery with a sassy and intrepid heroine.
Thanks to Kensington Books and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.
About Belinda Blake and the Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing
Exotic pet-sitter Belinda Blake is nervous about her new job at the White Pine Wolf Preserve, but it turns out that the care and feeding of wild carnivores may be the least dangerous part of the gig . . .
Was it death by predator or something more sinister? The body count rises, but something’s not adding up. As she gets to know the rescued wolves and wolf-dog hybrids better, Belinda realizes that her human colleagues are not above suspicion. With help from her own “pack”—her pregnant sister, Red the chauffeur/bodyguard, and hunky farmer Jonas—Belinda is hot on the killer’s tail, but if she doesn’t find him soon, he’ll do more than muzzle her to keep the truth from escaping.
You can find Belinda Blake and the Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing online at:
About Heather Day Gilbert
Heather Day Gilbert, an ECPA Christy award finalist and Grace award winner, writes contemporary mysteries and Viking historicals. Her novels feature small towns, family relationships, and women who aren’t afraid to protect those they love.
Publisher’s Weekly gave Heather’s Viking historical Forest Child a starred review, saying it is “an engaging story depicting timeless human struggles with faith, love, loyalty, and leadership.”
Find Heather Day Gilbert online at:
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