Norah's Arc

Short Story in Tails of Love Anthology

By Kate Angell

Berkley Sensation - June 2009

Contemporary Romance


Ten authors coming together and providing short stories for an anthology. Ten short stories with both romance and animals. Tails of Love is an anthology by authors united together with their love of animals in support of an animal shelter.

Mike Kraft was being visited by trouble. Trouble in the form of a two foot tall, twenty pound, pygmy goat aptly named Houdini. His nemesis was a resident of the Norah's Arc. The petting zoo was next to the construction site where he had been contracted to build an industrial park. The commotion of the site intrigued Houdini, and he used every opportunity to come over, and cause havoc.

Norah Archer loved her animals, even Houdini. He was really sweet, but very inquisitive and liked challenges. Although upset of the destruction Houdini caused, her zoo had been there years before urban sprawl had creeped in. Her animals were here first. Mike and his crew were the intruders and contributing to Houdini's disappearing acts by clipping the fence enclosures.

The only benefit of Houdini's escapades was that they continued to bring Mike and Norah together.

Norah's Arc was an entertaining tale of two people minding their own business and the incorrigible goat who brings them together. Norah is a fierce defender of her animals, and has no qualms placing the blame back on Mike. After all, it is in a pygmy goat's nature to want to investigate anything new and exciting. His construction site qualified as both. Mike wanted to get his job done without goat interference, but we quickly see the caring side behind the justifiable exasperation.

Included in Tails of Love are: Man's Best Friend by Lori Foster, A Knotty Tail by Stella Cameron, Norah's Arc by Kate Angell, The Pursuit of Happiness by Dianne Castell, Atticus Saves Lisa by Ann Christopher, Rescue Me by Marcia James, Lord Hairy by Donna MacMeans, Danny's Dog by Sarah McCarty, Scaredy Cat by Patricia Sargeant, and A Man, A Woman, and Haggis by Sue-Ellen Welfonder.

Kathy Andrico - KathysReviewCorner.com