Impurrfections is one of five books in the multi-author Friends of Gaynor Beach Animal Rescue series, and I think this is probably one of those series where the books are only loosely linked, so it’s not necessary to read all of them or read in order. This one is a cute, low-angst romance between two guys from opposite sides of the tracks, and as I’m very much a cat person, I really enjoyed reading about Shane’s beloved feline companion, Mimsy.

Shane Webster has lived on the road for the past decade or so going wherever life takes him, and at the beginning of the book, he and Mimsy (who found him and adopted him about six years earlier) have just arrived in Gaynor Beach in California. He’s never been to the ocean before and decides that they should stick around for a while and enjoy the sunshine, maybe do a bit of busking to make some cash – he needs to keep Mimsy in treats and kibble, after all. Wandering around looking for somewhere to hunker down while they’re in town, Shane comes across an abandoned building that looks like it used to be some sort of fancy office space. It’s down a long-ish driveway so it’s quiet and not overlooked, which is ideal; he finds a way in and gets them both settled before heading out to find them some food.

Theo Lafontaine is the owner of the building, which used to be part of his grandparents’ wine-making business. He lived with them after his mother died and his father abandoned him to go and live in Paris, but it wasn’t a pleasant existence, as they regarded him mainly as not-hired help, someone to carry glasses and charm visitors, scrub toilets and clean floors. When they died two years earlier, Theo’s father crawled out of the woodwork to challenge the will that bequeathed everything to Theo, but now probate is complete, Theo can finally take ownership and decide what to do with the business and the properties that go with it. What he wants is to have nothing to do with it; he’s making a good living flipping houses and doesn’t need the vineyard, so he signs the business and his grandparents’ former home over to their production manager as recompense for his years of hard work for little recognition, meaning all that’s left is to deal with is the wine tasting building, a place where he spent a lot of time as a kid and that holds a lot of unpleasant memories.

A few days later, Theo arrives at the tasting building for the first time in years and is surprised at how much it unsettles him. On edge, he makes his way to the tasting room that had been his grand-mère’s pride and joy, and as painful memories come flooding back, he picks up the nearest planter and starts swinging it at the full length mirrors on the walls. He’s lost in the glee of destruction when a hand on his arm brings him up short and he turns to see a tall, scruffily dressed young man, who obviously isn’t a security guard, asking him to stop. When the guy suggests they can share the space, Theo realises he’s squatting there and has obviously assumed that he is houseless as well, but something stops him from telling the truth about his situation. He and Shane chat for a while (and Mimsy gets scritches) and when Theo leaves, he suggests he might be back in a couple of days.

Later that day, Shane is walking along the beach when he meets Kevin, a teenaged ball of curiosity, who suggests that perhaps his friend Arthur could offer Shane some work. Arthur has pretty much turned his home into an animal shelter because Gaynor Beach doesn’t have one and the local foster program is bursting at the seams, and is only too pleased to have an extra pair of hands around now and then.

Theo does go back to see Shane a couple of days later, and as their paths continue to cross, attraction takes root and blooms, and although Shane quickly realises that Theo isn’t unhoused, he doesn’t know the extent of Theo’s wealth. Of course, the longer Theo keeps his secret, the worse the telling of it is going to get, but seeing Shane’s intense desire for independence and having been shot down a few times when suggesting he should pay for things that Shane can’t, makes Theo wary of fessing up for fear Shane will walk away. Also – of course – the bombshell drops at the worst possible moment, and this disparity in their situations is the main source of conflict in the romance, which is otherwise very low-angst.

Shane and Theo are likeable guys who have gone their own way for many years and now have to work out if they’re prepared to make the changes necessary to make room for someone else in their lives. Shane is fiercely independent and adamant about not accepting charity; Theo has lots of money but has never known the kind of happiness that Shane seems to have achieved. They both have to learn where they can compromise and how to respect boundaries if they’re to make a go of things together, but they make a good couple despite their differences and I liked how supportive of each other they are and that they communicate like adults to sort out their problems.

But my favourite character was Mimsy, without a doubt! She’s an integral part of the story without overshadowing it and I really liked her relationship with Shane; he’s her human and he obviously adores her. In fact, all the animals in the story are depicted realistically, and I liked the way the detail about their care and training is woven into the story. I also appreciated the way the author shows an awareness of the difficulties faced by people like Shane, who cannot easily access jobs, healthcare etc. because getting and ID costs money and needs documentation they often don’t have.

I do think that Shane’s and Theo’s issues are ‘solved’ quite quickly, and the pacing flags a bit towards the end, but all in all, Impurrfections is a sweet and charming read, and if you’re someone who prefers lower-angst romances (and likes cats), I’d urge you to check it out.