The Sweetest Hours: Love Stories ... of a Kind    by Laura Pedersen Order:  USA  Can BookSurge, 2006 (2006) Paperback      Reviewed by Kerrily Sapet Like many guys, Gus is spending his life searching for love and adventure. He bounces from career to career, finally ending up content as a lifelong fraternity brother. Gus is a 142-pound yellow English mastiff. The short story 'Gus Hunts for a Job' is just one of twelve stories fresh from Laura Pedersen's pen and compiled in her latest book, The Sweetest Hours. Pedersen creatively shows different degrees and meanings of love in each of her stories. Love can be a babysitter keeping the dream of Santa Claus alive for doubting children, such as in 'This Santa’s for Hire.' It also can be finding a person who differs from you, such as in 'The Casino Society,' a tale about a woman and her Alaskan mail-order groom. Equally amusing is the tale of a male reporter sent to research a hotel that guarantees women a night of romance. He unexpectedly finds it in 'After the Season.' From the shy bookshop owner who draws people together in 'True to Her Word' to the dolphin researcher who falls for a dolphin in 'Love Lucy,' each of the characters in these heartwarming stories is distinct and real. No matter the situation, there is something in these quirky, vibrant characters that speaks to everyone. Through them Pedersen weaves tales that blend humor, sorrow, and sometimes surprise endings in the games of life and love. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Contemporary books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews