Truffles Interviews: Bella the German Shepherd from Tracy Weber's A Killer Retreat (w/Review & Giveaway)

Welcome Bella! Thank you for taking the time to chat with me. Could you tell us a little about yourself and how you came to live with Kate?

Thanks so much for having me, Truffles. I don’t get to spend nearly enough time with kitties. You might think I’m scary because I’m kind of big, but I’m really just a sweetheart inside. I’m a hundred-pound German shepherd, and I recently had my second birthday. I don’t remember much of my puppyhood anymore, but I think that’s a good thing, because whenever memories come back to me, they’re frightening and lonely.

My first human was mean, so I don’t like to talk about him. My second human was a man named George, and I loved him a lot. We didn’t really have a home. We lived outside, slept together on the ground, and kept each other warm at night. He always made sure that I got food, even when he didn’t. We met Kate outside of her yoga studio. I guarded the sidewalk from other dogs and chased strangers away from her entrance. I liked Kate right away, but I’m not so sure that she liked me.

On a very scary night, George disappeared. Kate didn’t think I understood when she told me that George had died, but I’m a lot smarter than she knows. She promised me that she would find me a good home, and she always keeps her word. I live with her now, and I couldn’t be happier.

I still miss George sometimes, but don’t tell Kate that. It might make her miss him, too. Besides, Kate is my heart-human. You know, the one you love more than any other? We were meant to be together. And now I get to sleep with her in our warm, cushy bed.

Since Kate is a yoga instructor do you participate in any doggie yoga? 

I help Kate with yoga all the time. I walk underneath her when she’s Down Dog. I nuzzle her rear when she’s in a forward bend. I make sure to drool an extra lot on her lap when she’s in meditation. I hope Kate learns how to teach doggie yoga soon. Until then, my version of partner yoga will have to do.

From reading your first adventure, Murder Strikes a Pose, I know that you have some fairly significant health issues. How are you doing?

I feel so much better now, thank you! My disease is called EPI (Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency). Because of it, I can’t digest food on my own. I used to be hungry all the time, no matter how much George fed me, but since Kate started giving me my special medication, I’ve been able to gain weight and I’m now a normal, happy German shepherd.

What is a typical day like for you?

I lead a very busy life.

I wake up every morning and bark at Kate until she finally gets up and makes my breakfast. From there, we go to our yoga studio, where I guard it from evil yoga student intruders. I work particularly hard at keeping out the blue-suited, letter-carrying ax-murderer that brings Kate the mail. He must be pretty stupid, because I chase him away every day, but he still keeps coming back.

The rest of my morning and afternoon is spent alternating between guarding Kate’s car, taking yummy naps, and wandering around with Kate to mark my territory every couple of hours. Some days we even go to Pete’s Pets and visit the Cookie Man.

In the evening, I cuddle up with Kate on the couch, bark at her until she gives me my well-earned dinner, and then I go upstairs and guard Kate while she sleeps. Sometimes the Cookie Man comes over and sleeps with us too, but I always make sure that I get my fair share of the bed.

What kinds of trouble do you and Kate get into in A Killer Retreat? 

Trouble? I would never get in trouble. Kate, on the other hand…

Kate, the Cookie Man, and I went on a trip to this wonderful resort that allows dogs and has lots of these huge brown rabbit-like creatures that Kate calls deer. I was having a great time until an annoying little white dog with a black circle around his eye started bugging me. Of course I tried to chase him off, but he kept running circles around me. Kate must have tripped, because she and the Cookie Man both fell face-first into the mud. That made Kate really mad at the little dog’s owner.

I haven’t seen the little dog’s owner today. Kate says she’s been murdered. I don’t know much English yet, but I have a feeling “murdered” isn’t good. Kate seems upset and keeps making jokes about teaching yoga in prison. The Cookie Man says that dogs aren’t allowed in prison, so obviously I’m going to have to help Kate figure out who the real killer is. I suspect the Cookie Man and Kate’s friend Rene will help, too.

How do you feel about kitties?

Oh my gosh, I love kitties. I tried to tell Kate that in Murder Strikes a Pose when she took me to Betty’s house. I jumped up and down and barked and salivated and tried to knock the pretty orange kitty off of the filing cabinet so I could properly introduce myself.

Kate isn’t nearly as good at understanding dog as I am at understanding human, though. She seemed to think that I wanted to eat the kitty. The kitty showed me his claws, so I don’t think he understood, either. Truthfully, I wanted it for my very own. If I had a kitty I would cuddle it, carry it around in my mouth—gently of course—and protect it, just like I do Kate. I hope Kate gets me a kitten someday.

Can you tell us anything about your upcoming adventures?

Well, first I have to get Kate out of this most recent murder charge. Then we’ll go back to Seattle. Kate is going to teach Doga at a fundraiser for a local animal shelter.

You don’t think anyone will get killed there, do you? Not in a Doga class? Maybe I’ll have to go along and protect Kate, just in case. She has a bad habit of finding dead people.

Hey, do you think she’ll get me a kitty from that shelter?

Read more about Bella and her human Kate in their yoga and dog-related mystery series, the Downward Dog Mystery Series. The first book, Murder Strikes a Pose was published January, 2014. The Second, A Killer Retreat, is available at booksellers everywhere!

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Blurb: When Kate Davidson gets an offer to teach yoga classes at the Elysian Springs resort, she jumps at the opportunity—even if it means enduring the wedding ceremony of the center’s two caretakers. But avoiding the M-word turns out to be the least of Kate’s problems when a wedding guest is found floating face-down in the resort’s hot tub, shortly after a loud, public fight with Kate.

The police pick Kate as their number-one suspect, so she teams up with her boyfriend Michael, best friend Rene, and German shepherd sidekick Bella to find the real killer. They must solve the crime before the police arrest Kate, or her next gig may last a lifetime—behind bars.

Tortie Shorties

Book reviews that are short and sweet...just like Truffles!

Murder Strikes a Pose, the first book in Tracy Weber's Downward Dog mystery series, was one of my favorite books of 2014, and the wait for the second a full year later has been a long one.

In A Killer Retreat, Kate and her beloved Bella, along with boyfriend Michael, BFF Rene and her husband Sam, travel to Orchas Island, a working vacation for Kate, who has been offered a chance to teach yoga at the Elysian Springs resort. The week's main event on the island is the wedding of the resort's 2 caretakers. Kate immediately butts heads (quite publicly) with an irresponsible Jack Russell owner, who she later finds dead in the hot tub. A lawyer is hired for her (who I absolutely adored), Dale Evans, who moonlights as a goat rescuer. What a great character!!!

A secondary storyline features Kate & Rene's love lives. Kate is petrified that Michael is planning to propose during the trip, and Rene is facing a personal crisis of a different variety. In spite of everything the most important relationship in Kate's life rightfully remains with her German shepherd Bella. Kate's dedication to Bella and her serious medical issues are just one reason why I consider this a must-read series. Whether you are a yogi or not you will enjoy spending time with Kate, Bella, and their friends.

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