Elaine Fox, Beware of Doug

Beware of Doug

Elaine Fox

Avon, Feb 2007, $5.99

ISBN: 0061175684

In Fredericksburg, Virginia, Sutter Foley's newly-hired, private jet pilot Brady Cole moves next door to English Literature Professor Lillian "Lily" Tyler. When he introduces himself to her and another neighbor Nathan Williams, the pilot and the professor are instantly attracted to one another. However, as if he knows, Doug the dog goes berserk when Lily and Brady meet as he hates any man who ventures inside Lily's circle as he is the only acceptable male. On top of that, the howling Tricia arrives to call Brady an SOB for leaving her without a word.

Doug detests Brady and Brady detests Doug as each senses a rival for the affection of Lily. However, having made many bad relationship judgments, including Tricia, Brady decides to stay away from his neighbor though he enjoys spending time with her. Lily desires him, but Doug rejects him so she follows her canine's instincts even if that leads to Gerald the lawyer, who she feels no passion for because it is Brady the pilot whom she fantasizes making love with.

Contemporary romance fans will appreciate that Elaine Fox ignored WC Fields' admonition of never co-starring with a child or an animal as Doug steals the show, especially when he provides fis first person account of his rivals for the affection of his significant other. The amusing storyline is fast-paced from the first howling and never slows down until the "new guy" tries to persuade his canine adversary that he a "good guy" because to win Lily's heart he must win Doug's first.

Harriet Klausner