Breakthrough Promotions BLOG TOUR: Saving Ferris by A.R. Kennedy

Hi there!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today, we're joining Breakthrough Promotions for a stop along their current tour starring the latest Romantic Suspense from author A.R. Kennedy.  It features a story that while riveting in so many ways is also near and dear to my heart as it centers on a semi-hot topic.  Are our pets family or property?  The answer to that question can either restart or end a life...so think carefully.  Ladies and gents, let's get this bookish celebration started as we zero in on today's book of choice...

Saving Ferris

by

A.R. Kennedy

9781718150706

About the book...

After Cecilia’s husband dies, she’s forced to become Ferris’s caregiver, something she does not immediately warm to. But when his life is threatened by an intruder, she shoots the intruder to save the golden retriever. Police Chief Holden Owens thinks Cecilia acted lawfully, but few agree. The prosecutor feels that Cecilia has committed murder, not self-defense. In the eyes of the law, one can use lethal force to protect themselves and others, but not property. Pets are considered property. Holden loses his fight with the prosecutor and is now in a new fight—his undeniable attraction to Cecilia. Celebrity defense attorney Wyatt Sewell identifies a sympathetic defendant, a case he can win, and a way to garner more acclaim. When he learns of Cecilia’s motive, to save Ferris, he sees a blockbuster case that can set legal precedent. He forces the jurors to ask themselves— Is your pet property or family? Will saving Ferris's life cost Cecilia her freedom? And a second chance at love?

AMAZON

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~~~ EXCERPT ~~~

Cecilia woke up. She’d never get used to the darkness of country nights. She rolled over to return to sleep and heard the noise that must have been the cause of the early wake-up call. A small yip from the window. She mumbled her displeasure and slapped her husband’s side of the bed.

“Joey, wake up.” No response. “Joey.” She reached for him again and found nothing but his cold pillow. A small yip again. “Dumb dog,” she mumbled. She was fully awake now, remembering why her husband’s side of the bed was empty. Why it would forever be empty. 

Cecilia sat up at the edge of the bed and hung her head. She no longer wanted to be in the empty bed. A low growl emanated from the dog. “Okay, Ferris. I’m coming.”

She snapped on a nightlight and shielded her eyes from the small, yet bright, light. In the city, she could have seen the bedroom without such an aid. Some people called it light pollution. Cecilia called it the life of the city.

She could make out the profile of Ferris, staring out the window onto their backyard. He stood tall enough that his head rested on the windowsill. She often found the golden retriever looking out any window of the house like this. Waiting for Joey to return, she assumed. She had done it for weeks too. 

But tonight, he stood at alert. 

“Do you want to go out or what? Remember, I’m not the one who likes you, so hurry up.”

He turned his head briefly and looked at her, then returned his attention to the backyard. “I am not taking you out in the middle of the night to chase a squirrel.” The backyard’s motion sensor light was on and she cursed the squirrel that must have triggered it.

She started to lie back down and return to her dreamless sleep. The dreams, in reality and in sleep, had disappeared with Joey. The call of nature diverted her and she headed to the bathroom instead. 

With the door to the hallway open and the rest of the house now available, Ferris took off and ran down the stairs. “I’ll take that as I got to go now too, woman.”

Putting Ferris’s bathroom needs before her own, she followed him downstairs to the kitchen’s sliding glass door, his exit to the spacious backyard. It was far more likely he’d have an accident than she and she didn’t want to spend the rest of the night cleaning up his mess.

She snapped on the kitchen light. Now that she was fully awake, the light no longer caused discomfort. She doubted she’d return to sleep again tonight anyway.

“Calm down,” Cecilia told the dog as she struggled to put on his leash. “I know Joey lets you run around but I’m not chasing you at two in the morning.” It was no surprise that Ferris continued to move. Listening was not his forte. It was how he got homed here. 

Cecilia finally got the camouflage leash on Ferris’s collar and opened the sliding glass door. Ferris squeezed through before she had it fully open, pulling her through as well. An alarm beeped and she reached for the doorframe to stop her momentum. “Ferris, come on!” 

Ferris had a lot of flaws but pulling her on their walks was not one of them. Holding the leash in one hand and firmly placing her foot over the doorframe, she quickly punched in the alarm code. The incrementally louder and faster beeping stopped. She stepped onto the patio and Ferris pulled her onto the backyard’s grass. “You really are a pain in the tush tonight.”

The motion light flicked on as Ferris pulled her into the middle of the yard. He stopped and surveyed what Cecilia figured he imagined as his kingdom. Again, he was in high alert. 

She looked around the yard but could only see as far as the backyard’s light illuminated. She couldn’t see the fence that ran around the acre of land. She couldn’t see her closest neighbor’s home. She couldn’t see anything but Ferris. And her breath in the cool night air. 

“What’s wrong with you?” She patted him on his back. Usually when she petted him on his back, he squirmed in glee. Tonight, she didn’t think he even noticed the touch. 

With the damp grass soaking through her socks, Cecilia wished she had put on shoes. The chill ran up her body and she regretted not putting on a jacket as well. Joey’s T-shirt and boxers did little to keep her warm. Hoping to generate a little warmth, she told Ferris, “Come on, one lap and we’re back in.” Several pulls on his leash yielded no movement. With no motion, the yard’s light flipped off. Suddenly engulfed in darkness, Cecilia let out a short scream. 

Ferris twirled around, yanking Cecilia with him. As the light flipped back on, Cecilia screamed again.

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Did you read that?

THAT'S the beginning of Chapter 1 and I'm telling you that scream doesn't just amount to a bunch of nothing...no, sir.  It kicks off all that is to come in a BIG way, and the event that transpires is only the tip of the iceberg because it's going to create "the case of a lifetime" when people's values are put to the test, and the line between family and property is drawn more severely than ever before.

Right from the start, I was HOOKED.  It starts out right on the "action" and the timeline changes (where we bounce from present to memories) work in its favor to build not only her case, but our faith in the character. Second, but really first, PETS ARE NOT PROPERTY...they are family, and you can do nothing to change my mind about that, so deal with it...but that is exactly what comes into play when push comes to shove and an unintentional line is crossed.  Third, the audacity of the a-holes (lawyer types and what not) to use her case to build their reps and careers.  The fact that it was even being called anything less than self defense and/or defense of Ferris had be totally wanting to crawl through the pages to throttle someone.

One thing I didn't get was actually a character and his choice of actions.  Why would Pug (who's a complete a-hole, though not a lawyer in the least) bother digging around in something that would proof Cecilia was...well not a cold blooded murderer when he did and still does (throughout the book) believe her to be flat out guilty? I mean, it just didn't feel right for his character, and it seemed pointless...almost like a hidden plot point that doesn't actually matter.  Now that I've finished the book, I see the reasons behind it, and while I'm still not on the up and up with his character, I can at least respect him a little...teeny...tiny...miniscule bit.  Hey, that's all you're getting from me...

All in all, it was SO GOOD!  I admit it, I was teetering on the edge the whole time.  I couldn't clearly see whether they would find her guilty or see reason, but that's a GOOD thing because a suspense novel that spills its literary guts before the big reveal can be less than pleasant.  Also, the last scenes had me in tears, so yeah...bring the tissues. 

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GUEST POST with Author A.R. Kennedy

***Author note***

I thought I found a kindred spirit when I first logged onto Insatiable Reader’s blog. I read the Quick Note posted on 2/19/19 that reported after Hurricane Michael— “family is safe (pups and parents)”

One — I loved that she considered her pups family, like I do.

Two—She put pups and parents in the same order I would have. (Sorry Mom!)

Three—We both endured a hurricane. I was fortunate that my Long Beach, NY home survived 2012’s Hurricane Sandy with little damage. I was only displaced for two weeks. (I used some of my experiences in my novella, the 5th in the Nathan Miccoli mystery series, ’Gone But Not Calm’.)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

TOP 5 PUPS IN LIT

**This list is unscientific and completely biased**

5— Marley

    Who doesn’t love this dog? Marley and Me is a wonderful story about sharing your home with a dog and the life lessons they teach you when you think you’re teaching them.

4— Rolly

    He is my favorite pup from 101 Dalmatians. Sure, most would say Pongo or Perdita but I love the pudgy one. Maybe because I’ve had my own pudgy pup who had a similar personality.

3 —Toto

I love this cutie from the Wizard of Oz. He’s loyal, spunky, an escape artist and one tough cookie! He held up better against those flying monkey than I would have!

My little ‘Toto’ look-alike.

2—Laude

    Don’t know this adorable miniature schnauzer? Then get reading the Nathan Miccoli mystery series! She’s Lillian Brannon’s constant companion since her parent’s death. She’s loyal, smart, and adorable. All the characteristics in my favorite dogs.

My beloved miniature schnauzer— the inspiration for Laude.

1— FERRIS!

    Ferris is a golden retriever that the Chandler’s adopt after he fails out of service school. (You’ll have to read Saving Ferris to learn why he’s named Ferris.) When Cecilia’s husband dies, she’s forced to become his dog's caregiver, something she does not immediately warm to. But when Ferris’s life is threatened by an intruder, she shoots the intruder to save the golden retriever. The law says Ferris is property but she's learning he's family.

   

Who did I miss?

Can’t wait to hear about some other fictional dogs and why you love them!

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About the author...

A R Kennedy was born and raised on Long Island, New York. (And no, she doesn't have that Long Island accent). The finale of her Nathan Miccoli Mystery series, the 8th in the series, is expected in 2019. 

When not working on her next novel, she works full time in healthcare to feed (and sometimes clothe) her two little dogs. Both are named after her favorite fictional characters from British entertainment, which few friends and neighbors understand.

The Nathan Miccoli Mystery series is her debut series.
Her book, Saving Ferris, came out September 2018.

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Special thanks to PJ at Breakthrough Promotions for the chance to bring this tour to you as well as the ecopy for review. My thanks as well to author A.R. Kennedy for the fabulous guest post.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title, or the author, feel free to click through the links provided above.  This title is available now, so click on over to your favorite online retailer to snag your copy today.

Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!