Tuesday, August 14, 2018

Review - - Double Dog Dare


Double Dog Dare
By Roxanne St. Claire
The Dogfather - Book 7
Publisher: South Street Publishing
Release Date: August 9, 2018
Reviewed by PJ



The Dogfather has one more child to marry off...but Darcy Kilcannon has no interest in her father's matchmaking shenanigans. The youngest Kilcannon is not looking for a husband. Darcy is ready to launch her own business in town, move into her own apartment, and become her own woman. But when she walks into the gorgeous brownstone that her father just "happened" to help her find, Darcy takes one look at the hot landlord and she knows the Dogfather has been up to his old tricks. Sure the landlord's a hunk and a half, but his "no pets" policy is a huge turnoff to a dog groomer who won't dream of living without her beloved Kookie.

Joshua Ranier moved to Bitter Bark to get out of the shadow of his overbearing stepfamily and keep his shattered heart securely on ice. His only focus is his construction business, and the brownstone he's renting and renovating...until he meets the sexy, sassy blonde tenant sneaking a fuzzy white dog even though he's banned pets because of construction dangers. Then Josh starts thinking about things he shouldn't. And it isn't when the rent's due.

But when a blind dog lands on Josh's doorstep, he needs Darcy's help. As they race to restore little Stella's vision and solve a mystery that's tearing his family apart, Josh and Darcy begin to see the light, too. It will take one double dog dare, two precious puppers, and the full power of  the Kilcannon clan for this couple to find their happy ever after. 


I've fallen more in love with this large, dog-loving family with each book in the series that St. Claire has published. Each sibling faces different challenges in their journey to love but the one constant that remains throughout is the strong family dynamic, the quality writing, the depth of heart-tugging emotion, the humor, and the bond between rescue dog and human. I enjoyed getting to know youngest Kilcannon sibling, Darcy in this book as well as Josh, a recent addition to Bitter Creek. Their chemistry is evident, their banter, lively, and their avoidance of relationships, mutual. They both have emotional baggage to unpack and overcome but they make a good team and I was totally on board with them as a couple. Of course, their dogs are adorable and captured my heart, as has every dog in this series.  

The books in this series lean more toward sweet than steamy but are infused with a deep well of emotion and enough sexual tension to keep me well satisfied. To be honest, I've become so immersed in each of the Kilcannon journeys that I haven't even missed the steam.

Double Dog Dare is the sixth Dogfather book and, while I prefer to read a series in order, each of the books in this series is written to stand alone. Fans of the series will enjoy the scenes in Double Dog Dare that include the entire Kilcannon family and catching up with couples from earlier books but readers new to the series can jump right in with this sixth book and not miss a beat. Of course, if you're like many readers who have discovered this series, you'll fall in love with all the Kilcannons and immediately go looking for books one through five as soon as you finish reading number six. 

The Dogfather, widower Daniel Kilcannon, is scheduled to be the hero of the next full-length book in this series and I am over the moon with excitement for his second-chapter love story! 


Are you a fan of older heroes and heroines in romance?

Have you been reading The Dogfather books? 

Do you have a favorite book or couple in this series?

Dogs or cats? Tell me about your pets or those pets you enjoy reading about in books. 

I have an extra signed copy of Bad to the Bone that will go to one randomly chosen person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM (Eastern), August 15, 2018.  (U.S. only)




18 comments:

  1. I am a fan of older h/h and love the Dogfather series. Love reading about dogs in books.

    Cried my eyes out reading Marie Force's series with the dog named Homer - I Wanna Hold Your Hand I think it was called.

    Bad to the Bone and Trace are my favorites, I think that was the first book I read in the series.

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    1. Patoct, have you read Roxanne St. Claire's Barefoot Bay Timeless trilogy? All three books feature older heroes and heroines. Titles are Barefoot at Sunset, Barefoot at Moonrise, and (RITA finalist)Barefoot at Midnight.

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    2. PJ, I have not read those. And don't count me in for the drawing as I have obviously read Bad to the Bone.

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  2. I've not read this series but have enjoyed her books. I can enjoy any age category. I've had two wonderful dogs but about 30 years ago I had a stray/feral cat with kittens show up and I've been caring for cats ever since.

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  3. I love her books!!!And love older guys in the books also ..lol
    Love dogs and cats, but right now I just have my cat and he is 10 years old :)
    Patricia Bennett Barber

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    1. I'm currently living without animals, for the first time in more than 30 years. It's kind of weird.

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  4. I've read the first 3 books in this series. Sit Stay Beg was the start of it all. Yes I've read the series with the older gents. It was fun watching her post pictures on her Facebook page. No pets in our house.

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    1. The 4th full-length book is Bad to the Bone and it's my favorite of the series. :)

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  5. I am older than dirt, so yes, older hero and heroine would appeal to me. You have introduced me to another new author and new series. Y'all are killin' me.

    I have loved both cats and dogs. Right now, I am living with a Pekinese I rescued from the streets. He is everything I never wanted - small, long haired and male. He happens to be the love of my life. He has OCD, he is spoiled, he likes other dogs as long as they do not set foot in his house. He makes me laugh every day and as I say, he is wonderful.

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    1. I love how the pets who 'rescue' us seem to know exactly what we need, even if we don't.

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  6. I haven't read this series yet, but am always drawn to stories featuring animals, especially dogs. I certainly relate more to older characters, so I should be reading these books!

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    1. I hope you'll give the series a try, Di. They're wonderful, romantic, heart-tugging stories.

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  7. I love this series!! I really can't pick a favorite, as it is usually whichever one I'm reading. Each book is awesome and offers the reader a different perspective. I have a 6 year old Yorkie mix who is my snuggle bug and I would love to have Trace train him to be a therapy dog. Thanks so much for the review PJ.

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  8. Comment from librarypat: (Google isn't playing nicely with her today)

    "I appreciate when an author includes an older couple as a side romance in a book. I appreciate it even more when they are the main couple in a book. Love and romance are not just for the young. Many couple have strong relationships well into their later years, and many are finding that second (or third) love of their life in their later years. I have a friend who has been married to two wonderful men and been widowed twice. She recently met another wonderful man and married again. The children and grandchildren from all three marriages have blended wonderfully. She is a very nice woman and very lucky woman. Most of us are lucky to find one good man.
    We have had dogs and cats and dogs are my favorite. We have kept about a dozen over the years. We fostered litters of puppies for the local animal shelter for several years, so I don't really count them, that would be another 50 or so. We are currently down to just 2. We have only had 4 cats.
    I have had my eyes on this series and am going to start getting them together. I prefer to read a series beginning to end in a binge session. Since the last book should be out soon, I will get to enjoy it. I will actually appreciate the heat level being toned down a bit. At times the heat tends to overwhelm the story and detract from it.

    I have enjoyed the covers of this series. My understanding is the men are not professional models and the dogs are up for adoption. This makes the covers all the more special."

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  9. I believe St. Claire has planned another Dogfather novella for Christmas (she published one last Christmas) but the next full-length book should wrap up the Kilcannon family's romances. Fans of the series have also been introduced to the Kilcannon's Mahoney cousins and St. Claire has announced she has books planned for them as well so that's a happy bonus!

    You're correct that the men on the covers of this series are not models and the dogs are Alaqua Animal Refuge rescues that, at the time of the photo shoot, were either up for adoption or already in their forever homes. St. Claire also donates a portion of the sales from each of the books in the series to Alaqua Animal Refuge so it's a win all the way around.

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