Chez Stinky

Read Chez Stinky Storyline:

Kat Stevens is a slightly insecure, mostly bored technical writer who likes her cat a lot more than her boss. She hasn't laid eyes on her great aunt Abigail since she was eight, so she's stumped when she inherits Abigail's house in the small hamlet of Alpine Grove.Kat's uncomplicated life gets decidedly less so when she discovers the inheritance comes with some hairy conditions: four dogs and five cats that her aunt wanted her to love as her own. Of course, the house smells like a barn--with a touch of antique skunk--and, naturally, has serious roof issues. And that's before the three-legged cat gets stuck in the wall and the shower goes kablooey. When Kat meets Joel, an unemployed techie type with no love lost for his sister, Kat looks past his obvious flaws, given his timely and desirable skill set: a talent for fixing things (and his own tools). Despite out-of-control dogs, cat fights, dust dinosaurs, massive spiders and an old grizzled hippie passed out in the yard, Kat discovers the tranquility of the forests of Alpine Grove starting to seep into her soul. And why she can't she stop thinking about Joel? Note: Chez Stinky is a full-length novel (300 pages/80,000 words) that is Book #1 of the Alpine Grove Romantic Comedies. It's a feel-good novel that appeals to people who enjoy a little light romance and quirky animal stories.Review"This book will have you laughing as you can visualize what the animals are doing. The animals are great in this book, they have their own personality, and I love that!"     ~ Kelly, Reading in Black and White "If you're a fan of chick lit or animals, two things that I personally love, then check this one out! I'd highly recommend it!"    ~ Stephanie, Steph the Bookworm "I stayed up well past my bedtime as I was truly intrigued by the characters. The charming yet descriptive use of words entangled me in their world."    ~ Jayda, Two Children and a Migraine "I love animals, so I really enjoyed this book.  I also like the characters in this story.  There was a little bit of drama and intrigue that made the book interesting."   ~ Melina, Melina's Book Blog "If you are an animal lover, a romantic, a techie, a tree hugger, or someone who just enjoys a book that helps you to escape the daily grind, then pick up a copy of Chez Stinky, you won't be disappointed.     ~ Caren, Dakota's DenFrom the AuthorChez Stinky is the first book in my series of Alpine Grove romantic comedies. The readers who seem to enjoy my books the most are women who have a sense of humor, like animals, and prefer sex scenes that just fade to black (not 50 shades of anything). For example, you'll see in the reviews that people tend say things like, it's a good book for lovers of "light reads, chick lit, light romance and animal stories..." Because Chez Stinky was my first novel, when it came out, I got questions about why I made the choices I did and how much of it is real. Here are a few FAQs for those of you here on Amazon who might be wondering: More Alpine Grove?Many people have asked about upcoming books. The fifth Alpine Grove novel, Bark to the Future, is available now on Amazon and I'm working on the sixth book. You can always find out the latest on my web site SusanDaffron.com. Although each book is a stand-alone story, because Alpine Grove is a small town, many characters tend to reappear, so I think it's more fun if you read them in order. The correct reading order is:1.     Chez Stinky2.     Fuzzy Logic3.     The Art of Wag4.     Snow Furries5.     Bark to the Future Why 1995?Chez Stinky is set in 1995. At the risk of divulging how old I really am, the easiest answer to the question, "why 1995" is because in 1995, I was about the same age as the main character, Kat. The way you feel and behave when you are in your twenties is not the same as when you are {ahem} older. I may not be wiser, but I do make different choices now. As I wrote, I could imagine where I was and how I felt during that time period. Also several plot points depend on the fact that cell phones and the Internet weren't as widely available as they are now. A technical writer?Kat is a tech writer and yes, I was a technical writer too when I was in my 20s. And sadly, I really did have a conversation about ginkgo with my boss. It was not one of the high points of my writing career. The inspiration for Chez Stinky (the house)The house in the story is loosely based on my house in Idaho when I first moved into it. And yes, the stairs really were covered with blue shag carpet because the decaying plywood was really slippery. The dogs of Chez StinkyFor 12 years, I lived with four dogs. The "gang of four" lived to ripe old ages (12 - 15 years old), and they are still missed greatly. Tessa is based on my dog Tika who was tested for "hyperkinesis" otherwise known as doggie ADHD. Over time, Tika turned out to be a wonderful dog, but the early years were rough. Tessa's leash arrangement in the story is also based on a real thing. (I thought of using a backpack to slow down Tika long, long before dog trainers recommended it on TV.) Small town lifeAnyone who has lived in a small town has probably experienced the glacial speed of the post office. That is just as true in the town where I live in Idaho as it is in Alpine Grove. If you want to meet people, go to the PO. Questions?If you have other questions about the book, please ask. I love hearing from readers!