Really enjoyed this book. Great plot and engaging, believe characters. I was drawn right into the story. Would definitely recommend.

This was an enjoyable light read that tried to bring in mystery thriller elements at the last minute that were really unnecessary and changed the tone a great deal. I agree with other readers, the blurb seems to belong to a different book than the one I read (a NetGalley ARC). Melanie MacDonald decides to try to revitalize her small town by running her border collie for mayor for the publicity, which works, but naturally not in the way she intended. Her ex-husband arrives, initially the evil ex who suddenly becomes the wonderful why-did-I-ever-leave-her guy and yes, we see where this is going. Then an escaped serial killer comes into the mix, and a whole lot of disharmony plays at the end of the pretty melody. Didn't quite work for me.

A good read, while I thought this would be a cozy mystery by the cover and description the story did not have much mystery, it is worth a read though.

I simply love Sue Pethick's books. I've read all and I'm never disappointed. Always cute, sweet, heartwarming with a pup at the heart of the story. What more could you want? Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for this arc in exchange of an honest review.

Sue Pethik has found a very cute idea in electing the dog as mayor in Please Don't Feed the Mayor. A quick read on the subway.

When I saw the title and the cover for Pethick's latest release, I knew any powers of resistance were futile. So when I finally picked it up, it was also no surprise that I breeze through it in less than 2 days.

Four years ago Melanie McDonald left her husband and returned to her small country town to open her own small business. However, Melanie is more than aware that her small town is losing popularity and in order to continue to thrive and draw new visitors and residents, it is badly in need of revitalization. Enter Melanie's adorable Border Collie, Shep, and her plan for him to become Mayor of Fossett.

Melanie ends up enlisting the help of her ex-husband, who is also a lawyer, because she knows little about the legalities of running a successful candidacy. In since Bryce is trying to escape a city of problem of his own, he agrees to help. Slowly they realize they still have feelings for each other but can they overcome their huge differences and what exactly does Shep have to say about a reconciliation?

"Please Don't Feed the Mayor" has a cozy mystery feel without the real mystery. However there is some intrigue and suspense and the book actually was heavier in plot than I initially anticipated. I have to admit that in the beginning, I liked Melanie and felt she was stupid for bringing Bryce back into her life. Then my feelings did a 180 and I liked Bryce and found Melanie annoying. In fact, I kind of wanted new parents for Shep altogether. Yet toward the end I became pleased with Pethick's overall direction and reached a peace with characters.

And I have to mention Shep. Shep is awesome. He's loyal and fun and has a way of communicating his wants and desires to those around him. In one scene, because he doesn't care for Bryce, he fakes an injury while hiking so that Bryce has to carry him back several miles to his car, and then place him in it mud and all. Smart dog.

So if you like feelgood animal tales or books with small town charm, consider picking up "Please Don't Feed the Mayor." You'll also get a healthy dose of fun and suspense thrown into the mix.

A cute story with a simplistic writing style that makes for an easy, quick read.

I was instantly drawn to this book by the cover and the idea of a dog becoming mayor. I know its happened for real in some towns in America, so I was definitely looking forward to the concept.

The blurb suggests that I would be reading about the dog Shep and his owner Melanie's adventures as he wins the election and they become media darlings. Unfortunately, the only part of this book that matches the blurb is that there is a dog running for mayor.

It was slightly off-putting when a huge chunk of the story focused on the main characters ex-husband (a lawyer, who seemed rather controlling) and the escaped criminal who was seeking revenge on him.

The other things mentioned, such as the rival reporter, the vengeful loser of the election and the dog napping were barely existent and not even in the context the blurb suggests. While the personal appearances on game shows etc by Shep and Melanie, were not even in this novel and those are the things I would have like to have read about.

Shep was by far the most interesting character in this book. The author gives him a real personality, and perhaps intelligence even beyond what I dog can have. It works. I chuckled at Shep and his antics, but I wanted more. I would have liked more focus on the actual campaigning too. Not just a few mentions of Melanie and her ex canvasing a few houses and making love heart eyes at each other. I didn't even like either of them to care about their romantic status.

Despite this, and even though the novel was nothing like the blurb, I enjoyed it. Its a fun read and would recommend it to people who like these kind of stories.

Please Don’t Feed the Mayor by Sue Pethick has readers visiting Fossett, Oregon. Melanie MacDonald owns Ground Central in the heart of downtown. Since the lumber mill closed, people have been leaving the quirky small town. Melanie sees a news piece on a village that elected a cat to a council seat, and it gives her inspiration. Melanie’s suggests that Fossett hold a mayoral election and her border collie, Shep be one of the candidates. It would be a way to attract tourists to their town. Melanie consults her ex-husband and lawyer, Bryce MacDonald on the legalities. It is imperative that Bryce leave town when a man he put away escape’s custody. One lawyer has already been attacked and Bryce does not want to be next on the hit list. Bryce heads to Fossett to help Melanie with Shep’s campaign. Shep is one intelligent and spoiled dog. He does not appreciate Bryce invading his turf and decides to make things a tad uncomfortable for him. The election is fast approaching, and Ron Blakeley has decided to run against Shep. Bryce takes to the streets to round up votes for Shep and he discovers why Melanie loves Fossett. What happens when the escaped felon tracks down Bryce and a reporter is determined to paint the town in a bad light? Will Shep win the mayoral race? Learn what happens next by picking up a copy of Please Don’t Feed the Mayor.

Please Don’t Feed the Mayor is a light-hearted tale that differs slightly from the book blurb. Melanie loves Fossett and wants to find a way to save the town. Living in Fossett was the bone of contention between Melanie and Bryce which ultimately led to their divorce. Melanie feels that electing Shep as mayor will boost tourism. She contacts Bryce for legal advice and is surprised when he shows up in town. Bryce is now a lawyer at an elite firm in Portland and making good money. He has not stopped loving Melanie and would love to convince her to move to Portland. Please Don’t Feed the Mayor is a cute story filled with off-beat characters. There is the goat farm with the escaping goats, marijuana farmers who use a drone to monitor their property, a man who uses “Horrible Harry”, a rooster, for a truck alarm, a retired chicken farm (I am not kidding), and the woman who manages the B&B has no clue how to run it. The residents are warm, friendly people (except for Ron). I laughed at Shep’s antics (very clever canine). I did find that the story dragged in the middle and there was a lack of action. The activity ramps up for the climacteric scenes at the end. The ending is heartening and will leave readers smiling. There is an excerpt from Boomer’s Bucket List included. Please Don’t Feed the Mayor is a lively, humorous and romantic story.

Princess Fuzzypants here: I was not sure at first how much I was going to like this book. It wasn’t just because a dog was running for mayor instead of a cat. I liked Shep- a lot. It was his human whom I found a bit annoying. However, as the story unravelled and she was forced to reconsider her techniques and her reasons, she grew up and I began to see her in a different light thanks to the efforts of her ex-husband.
There are main stories going on. First there is Melanie’s. efforts to save her town by running her sheep dog for mayor. Then there is the killer who escapes from prison determined to murder everyone responsible for his incarceration, including Bryce who prosecuted the trial. When the two storylines intertwine, the suspense is real and the story truly steps up.
I vote four purrs and two paws up.

Great read. The author wrote a story that was interesting and moved at a pace that kept me engaged. The characters were easy to invest in.

Please Don't Feed the Mayor by Sue Pethick and my first book by this author. I really enjoyed this book a lot. When I picked out this book I thought it was a cozy mystery, but it's a sweet romance. I loved the border collie Shep who runs for mayor. If you looking for a fun escape, this is the book for you. I look forward to reading more books by this author.

I reviewed an advanced galley from Netgalley and Kensington Publishing. Thank you.

This was such a fun read and a heart warming story.
In Fossett Oregon the lumber mill has closed, people are out of work and the town is dying. Melanie has a plan to bring much needed attention to her town and revitalize its failing fractured reputation. She decides to run her border collie for Mayor and is shocked when he wins. Now she is facing legalities she had not counted on, back lash as well as a huge increase in popularity for the town and publicity. Melanie and her intrepid hound must come up with a way for him to remain Mayor while she rebuilds the town she loves . Now she is hounded by a possible malcontent ex and current love interest that are causing problems for her and threatening the well being of the Mayor. She must act fast to save her dog and the town.

This is a sweet heartwarming story of saving a beloved community and compassion for the townspeople. I loved the dog and all the other charcters in the book. Its written in a realistic format that is endearing. Thank you for the ARC which does not influence my review.

What a cute, fun, and suspenseful book. Shep is absolutely adorable and the star of this interesting story. I'm not really sure how to classify it because it's got a bit of everything. But I thoroughly enjoyed the uniqueness of this story and the quirky cast that accompanied it.

Completely and thoroughly enjoyed this book. If only the plan could work for every small dying town. Melanie returns to her hometown with the thought that she might hep revitalize it. After the lumber industry pulled out there wasn't much left of the town. She hatches the idea, after seeing something similar on tv, to have her dog run for mayor, but one of the community members also wants to run so it would be "fair". I loved the way she and her ex-husband went about campaigning for the dog - handing out leaflets, ringing doorbells, everything a human candidate would do.. While doing so the reader gets to meet several of the unconventional community members , even the goats. This book made me smile, and left me with a good feeling. and a bit of envy that the town is fictional - I think I would go there in a heartbeat, if for nothing else than to actually meet the people. You will certainly enjoy Shep's journey to fame. and Melanie's journey to happiness.

I was a little surprised at how this story turned out. The title and the cover indicated a more frivolous attitude than the actual content.I am not denying the lightheartedness of the book but pointing out the fact that it was more than just that. There is an epilogue of sorts at the end which clarifies the tag line which was pretty fascinating to read about.

This is the story of a small town, its importance indicated quite apparent within the first paragraph itself. Melanie MacDonald gave up a lot to move back to her hometown and is trying to bring back a shine to the place. It has been her on her mind constantly and an odd TV segment gives her an inspiration. She holds a town meeting and suggests a gimmick that just might work. They would elect her dog as the Mayor of their town! People would come from far and wide to see the sight and this would increase revenue and might attract potentially interested people (to move there), at least this becomes the dream. The technicalities of the process do not feature very predominantly in this enthusiastic woman's mind who just wants to jump headlong into unplanned 'doing'. Her Ex with his own troubles , ends up chipping in with the details that make up a plan and they all set out to get the plan into action. I know it might sound a little silly, but the people endeared themselves to me and I was fully invested in this crazy plan and Shep(the dog) was fun to follow. It has its fast paced moments but more along the lines of the lighter comedy movies where the bad guy's (oh yes, there is a proper bad guy in the story) manhandled into losing. Neither main character is perfect but they are realistic in recognising flaws, even ones they cannot really fix.

I am rating this book more due to my overall reaction before and after reading. Thinking (post reading, before writing this review) about the random things that happen in it, just made me smile and this happens rarely!

This book is fun to read, entertaining and engaging.
I loved everything in this book: the setting, the characters, and the plot.
It made me laugh more than once and I couldn't help rooting for the characters.
It's well written, the characters are likable and fleshed out and the plot keeps you hooked till the last page.
I appreciated the originality of the plot and I think it'd be great if there were going to be more books with this cast of characters.
I will surely read other books by this author.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to Kensington Books and Netgalley for this ARC

Please Don’t Feed The Mayor
Sue Pethick
5 Stars

Synopsis:

When the lumber mill closes, laying off most everyone in Fossett, Oregon, Melanie MacDonald plans to revitalize her beloved but beleaguered homestead by running her border collie Shep in Fossett's mayoral race . . .

Shep wins by a landslide.

A lover of democracy and dog treats, Shep is rapidly earning the goodwill of Fossett's citizens. Tourists are streaming in and everyone wants to glad-paw the new mayor. Suddenly Melanie and Shep are media darlings, with requests for interviews, game shows, and personal appearances through the roof. But there's trouble in paradise. Determined to win back his former wife, Bryce MacDonald discovers a rival in tabloid reporter Chad Cameron, who's in Fossett to dig up dirt on Melanie and Shep. He finds a willing co-conspirator in the malcontent who lost the election. Hounded by the press and desperate to head off a potential dog-napping, Melanie unwittingly puts herself in danger. Shep comes to the rescue, proving his mettle to save his faithful human at the risk of his own life . . . and new political career.

Acclaim for Sue Pethick's Pet Friendly

"Quirky and endearing . . . This is a light, heartwarming read perfect for a wintry afternoon at home or a sunny beach vacation."
--RT Book Reviews, 4 Stars (Goodreads)

Review:

This book was a pleasant surprise and I really enjoyed it. I am not sure what I was expecting when I started reading this book. Now I know that it has engaging characters, a homey setting, an intriguing storyline, suspense and an adorable dog.

The characters are well rounded and well developed. Melanie has a strong sense of community and she is willing to do anything to help her hometown of Fossett, Oregon, get back on its feet and thrive. When she comes up with the crazy idea of having her dog, Shep, become the mayor, she does not know if it will help, but she is determined to give it her best shot. She needs the help of her ex-husband, Bryce, since he is a lawyer. She is not happy about asking him for help, but the success of her plan may depend on him. And his life may depend on him lying low in Fossett, until an escaped convict is found.

The writing style flows smoothly and it defined the characters very clearly by their actions and words. The author created a warm and cozy setting and Fossett is someplace that I would like to visit. There was suspense and intrigue and towards the end of the book, I was swiping pages as fast as I could. I hope she writes more books like this.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes romance, mystery and great characters in the books that they read. This one had all that and a whole lot more.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Kensington Books, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.

Please Don’t Feed the Mayor is such a cute book. Good plot, characters and writing. I highly recommend this book. I received an arc from Netgalley and this is my unbiased review.

Maybe more towns should have dogs as mayors! Melanie's gambit of running her dog Shep for mayor in order to revive her small town pays off in some ways and causes trouble in others. She enlists her ex- Bryce- a lawyer in Portland to give her a hand with some of the double dealing that's going on in the wake of the election. He's not, however, entirely innocent himself! This leads to a nice second chance romance dance (no spoilers). A well done story. Thanks to net galley for the ARC.

This story is so much more exciting and interesting than the blurb. I expected to be mildly and lightly entertained. I don't want to spoil any surprises, but just realize you will be getting more than you expect from this book. A bit of a nail biter. A definite page turner. Romance, good neighbors, fainting goats, and yes, a dog.