For anyone who ever lovedAll Creatures Great and Small,Annie England Noblins newest novelabout a big city vet transplanted to a small Wisconsin townis pure delight as we meet aging alpacas, stump-tailed cats, goats in tutus, a vagabond border collie named Kevin, and the people whothinkthey own them. And through it all, Goldie McKenzie, DVM, navigating the small town of Blue Dog, Wisconsin.Welcome to Blue Dog Valley. Home of the Fighting Elk. Population 3,411.When Goldie McKenzie, DVM, vet to the L.A. pet stars, arrives from Los Angeles to Blue Dog Valley she realizes three things.Never agree to upend your life when youre hungoverPot-belly pigs are not true farm animalsShes going to need a warmer coatAt first Goldie is nothing more than a fish out of water, with few clients and few friends. But after a less than pleasant encounter with a man whose dog is suffering from a possibly fatal case of bloat, shes finally earning the trust and goodwill from her fellow Blue Dog Valley citizens. Her clientele grows to include the many farm animals in the town, including a horse named Large Marge, a cape-wearing therapy alpaca, and a yardful of sweater-wearing goats. Add in Kevin, the worst sheepdog in Blue Dog Valley, and a Sphinx cat named Airport, and Goldie is having the best time a vet can have. . . aside from the annoying attractive town grump, Cohen, who seems intent on making sure she always feels like an outsider.With her newfound goodwill, Goldie comes up with an idea to reinvigorate the once flourishing Blue Dog Valley: a Christmas carnival. A petting zoo, pictures with Santa, a baking contest, what more could they want? After only some brief resistance from Cohen and his father, they begin the great plan to reinvigorate Blue Dog Valley.Will Christmas be enough to salvage this dying townand be enough to bring Goldie closer to a certain grumpy man?
