Books by Helen A Bemis

All That Glitters Is Not Gold It is written that "love of money is the root of all evil," and in this book, the love of gold plays a major, sinister role. Fortunately, love also redeems, and the readers of this latest in the Bemis Riverview saga will find that love prevails, as a long-time friendship ripens into love. Helen Bemis's Riverview stories all have a strong element of love driving her characters...and some are "characters," indeed. Nancy, a cub reporter for The Riverview News hopes that investigating a death the police ruled to be accidental might discover information that would further justice...and her career. Freelance photographer Ben gets too close to his shady mentor. Long-time Riverview resident Tom knows much about finding gold in the Northeast United States. A second dead body turns up at a familiar place and an unexpected time. Fool's gold, iron pyrite, makes a fool out of a greedy drifter. Unemployed army veteran Harold had been living out of his truck for a half-dozen months. His luck was soon to change. Misty, a dog that once was a nearly perfect puppy will use its sense of smell to help solve a Riverview mystery. If money is the root of all evil, gold has a similarly wicked power over those who would obtain it. Be careful what you wish for, however, because not all is as it seems, and the competition for undeserved wealth can become deadly. Not all is sinister in Riverview, of course, and romance breaks loose at an unexpected time for characters who had been fooling themselves about their relationship. As a bonus, the book contains two chapters from the next in the series, UNDERSTANDING CURLY.

The story starts with an heir to substantial wealth poking around late at night on the property of the Riverview Animal Shelter adjoining his estate. A treasure may be buried there.Some of the same characters previously involved in the activities at the Riverview Animal Shelter (RAS) return in this seventh book of the series. Several of them have secrets, some nice, some not-so-nice.There were rumors about hidden gems and cash on or near the RAS, and more than one person was seeking them. "Be careful what you wish for" is good advice. Choose well, however. Becoming rich has its charms...and its drawbacks, especially when your loot is from crime; "all that glitters is not gold."Two men are interested in the attractive and talented young widow, Sandy, one intrigued by the person she is, the other more interested in her money.In this family-friendly mystery, the loot from a long-ago robbery is stashed where it is not likely to be found unless a puzzling set of clues can be deciphered. Several members of RAS join the hunt. Lives are changed; a fortune found and a fortune lost. Two of the hunters fall in love with each other. The genre is "cozy mystery," a puzzle to be solved by people you will like.As you read this Riverview Animal Shelter mystery, you'll note the underlying themes of love and compassion. People can be and are treasures, as are their pets. In this story, unlike her earlier RAS books, dogs play only minor roles, although Misty and Rover become more than friends, and Misty's curiosity uncovers something important. From the author: "I've always enjoyed telling stories. I have discovered that stories can help us to learn and remember valuable information. I hope the reader will find these stories entertaining and informative."UNDERSTANDING TREASURE is the seventh in her multi-book series, following UNDERSTANDING SASSIE; UNDERSTANDING SASSIE, II; UNDERSTANDING CHAMP; UNDERSTANDING TRIXIE; UNDERSTANDING TIPPIE, and UNDERSTANDING MISS UNDERSTANDING, Readers can enjoy each without having read the others. All seven novels combine upbeat personal stories with insights about training dogs with love.

Many of the same characters involved previously involved in the activities at the Riverview Animal Shelter return in this sixth book of the series.In this book, you will meet someone who seeks to understand almost everything. The author can identify with her because she is also one who seeks to understand. To her, knowledge supports wisdom, and she loves to share wisdom with others.In Understanding Miss Understanding, we find young adults Alice and Ben serving as counselors at the Kids’ Camp run over the summer at the Riverview Animal Shelter by Jane, Ruth, and Millie to teach local youth how to care for and train their dogs.Seriously sick dogs and an ill camper make Alice into an amateur detective, aiding a real detective, James, from the local police force to seek the truth of the apparent poisonings. Her dog, Misty, plays a role in solving the puzzle.Alice’s inquisitiveness and insights earn her the playful nickname, “Miss Understanding.”The results of the investigation put Alice on a new course for her life, one that intersects with the path being taken by Tippie’s owner, Art, on his way to becoming a veterinarian.Another camper’s life changes greatly, too.From the author: “In my many years of teaching dog obedience, I have discovered that not all humans understand what their dog is trying to tell them. I’ve enjoyed my opportunities to teach classes on dog communication (the body language of dogs). My goal has always been to reach a wider audience, which publishing my books will allow.“I’ve always enjoyed telling stories. I have discovered that stories can help us to learn and remember valuable information. I hope the reader will find these stories entertaining and informative.”This is the sixth in her multi-book series, following UNDERSTANDING SASSIE; UNDERSTANDING SASSIE, II; UNDERSTANDING CHAMP; UNDERSTANDING TRIXIE; and UNDERSTANDING TIPPIE. Readers can enjoy each without having read the others. All six novels combine upbeat personal stories with insights about training dogs with love.

Understanding Tippie: A Novel About a Free-Spirited Border Collie Mix is the fifth in Helen A. Bemis Understanding... series of cozy mysteries. In Tippie's tale, readers are once again transported to the Riverview Animal Shelter, where there is always romance, mystery, and dog training. In Understanding Tippie, the smarts and bravery inherent in Tippie's mix of breeds are put to good use as the shelter staff train service dogs and host a kids' camp. Their day-to-day triumphs and challenges are complicated by the worrisome presence of a stranger, the visit by a possibly rabid fox, the loss of a pet cat, and the uncertain plans of two teenagers who find themselves in love with each other after years of friendly competition.Bemis has been a therapy dog evaluator and American Kennel Club award evaluator, and trains dogs and their owners through her company K-9 Karing. With Understanding Tippie, Bemis hopes to leave readers feeling entertained, educated, and a little closer to their own dogs.

The characters involved in the activities at the Riverview Animal Shelter return in this fourth book of the series.  Border Collies are among the most intelligent of dogs. An experimental, life-saving treatment by a nonconformist veterinarian on a Border Collie puppy, Trixie, not only saves Trixie’s life, but thereby produces a dog with an amazing level of intelligence, capable of performing both surprising tricks and sensitive service to her mistress, Katherine, recovering from cancer.  Katherine’s illness and slow recovery cause her to lose an offer to join a private veterinary practice, but the Riverview Animal Shelter is eager to have her services. Furthermore, one of the volunteers there, Donald, falls in love with this attractive, intelligent, plucky young woman.Trixie shows her talents on stage, saves an important ceremony from becoming a fiasco, and has a dalliance with a neighbor’s dog that ends up producing smart puppies, including one who will play a major role in the next book in this series.From the author: “In my many years of teaching dog obedience, I have discovered that not all humans understand what their dog is trying to tell them. I’ve enjoyed my opportunities to teach classes on dog communication (the body language of dogs). My goal has always been to reach a wider audience, which publishing my books will allow.“I’ve always enjoyed telling stories. I have discovered that stories can help us to learn and remember valuable information. I hope the reader will find these stories entertaining and informative.”This is the fourth in this multi-book series, following UNDERSTANDING SASSIE and UNDERSTANDING SASSIE, II, and UNDERSTANDING CHAMP. Readers can enjoy any of the books without having read the others. All four novels combine upbeat personal stories with insights about training dogs with love.

The characters involved in the activities at the Riverview Animal Shelter return in this third book of the series. Rehabilitating a battle-scarred, fierce former fighting dog, Champ, a Pit Bull Terrier, presents a major challenge. A different challenge is faced by a woman who must decide whether or not the man with whom she has fallen in love has indeed been rehabilitated himself, after extended incarceration in his youth.The lessons in Champ relate to training dogs, certainly, and rehabilitating Pit Bull fighting dogs in particular, but they extend to the rehabilitation of people who have erred, who have paid, and who have been changed, a theme that Helen Bemis started in the first book, Understanding Sassie, concerning a woman who was fired for misbehavior from her job; Helen has extended this question to marrying an ex-con in Understanding Champ.Besides offering entertainment, this book's intent is, in part, to guide its readers to no longer fear breeds like the Pit Bull Terrier that have exaggerated reputations for aggression. Certainly, one should choose a breed that reflects one's own energy level. (Helen has a Great Dane.) There are many dogs who will provide companionship and protection if treated with love, and their owners will be richly rewarded for taking them into their lives.From the author: "In my many years of teaching dog obedience, I have discovered that not all humans understand what their dog is trying to tell them. I've enjoyed my opportunities to teach classes on dog communication (the body language of dogs). My goal has always been to reach a wider audience, which publishing my books will allow. "I've always enjoyed telling stories. I have discovered that stories can help us to remember and learn valuable information. I hope the reader will find these stories entertaining and informative."This is the third in this multi-book series, following Understanding Sassie and Understanding Sassie, II. Readers can enjoy it without having read the first two. All three novels combine upbeat personal stories with insights about training dogs with affection and love.

"Grandma, what is going to happen to the characters in Understanding Sassie?" Jacob asked. My grandson had enjoyed reading my book but wanted to know more about its characters. He continued his questioning and asked, "Are you going to write more about Sassie and all the other people in the book?" So, I have.Understanding Sassie, II, starts with some turmoil in the Riverview region. Two teenagers hope to have canine pets, but each faces a different reaction from parents.A dog thief is in town, looking for victims for his vicious Pit Bull Terrier, Champ, in his illegal dog-fighting exhibitions. Dog-behavior-specialist Millie and her husband, Animal Control Officer Mike, suspect local dogs are being dognapped and abused.Riverview Animal Shelter makes their dogs available for adoption, but they are rather lax about checking out the people who are adopting them. This needs to change, and quickly, or they are going to be supplying dogs for the dog-fighting operation.The Shelter runs classes to train the dog owners to train their dogs. Millie explains to the attendees what is being done and why. Even Puppy Play Day has its educational component. Sassie has been trained to be a Diabetic Service Dog; she can tell when her owner is on the edge of a diabetic crisis, and this turns out to save a life.Families are strange sometimes. People can suddenly discover they are related. A step-brother and step-sister find each other at a particularly providential time.A hurricane down South leads to complications in providing for the displaced animals at the Shelter.Two of the adults involved with the Shelter find they have more in common than they first realized. Two others have to deal with a medical emergency.Sassie brings two shy grown-ups together, to the delight of the young girl who loves her.In my many years of teaching dog obedience, I have discovered that not all humans understand what the dog is trying to tell them. Although I've enjoyed my opportunities to teach classes on dog communication (the body language of dogs), my goal has always been to reach a wider audience.I've always enjoyed telling stories. I have discovered that stories can help us to remember and learn valuable information. I hope the reader will find these stories entertaining and informative.

How Dogs Talk to Each Other and to UsIn my many years of teaching dog obedience, I have discovered that not all humans understand what the dog is trying to tell them. Although I've enjoyed my opportunities to teach classes on dog communication (the body language of dogs), my goal has always been to reach a wider audience. I've always enjoyed telling stories. I have discovered that stories can help us to remember and learn valuable information. I hope the reader will find these stories entertaining and informative.