Review & Giveaway - - Peppermint Bark

Peppermint Bark

by Roxanne St. Claire

The Dogmothers - Book 9

Publisher: South Street Publishing

Release Date: November 12, 2021

Reviewed by PJ

Getting stood up for her high school prom turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to Colleen Kilcannon. That's when Joe Mahoney offered to fill in as her date, and magic happened. By the end of that night, Colleen was ready to give up her dreams of flying the friendly skies and seeing the world…because nothing in that world could compete with her firefighter. She and Joe married, had a family, and remained deeply in love until he died in the line of duty, leaving her a widow for twenty years.

Tim McIntosh has avoided Bitter Bark for forty-five years. But when the international business executive returns to his home town to fulfill his father’s dying wish, seeing Colleen again is inevitable. Determined to deliver a decades-old apology, he visits the dog treat store she runs, where a couple of sweet old ladies persuade him to participate in Peppermint Bark, a holiday dog fostering program. They even have the perfect dog for him to foster, an impish Westie named Bucky. There’s just one problem...someone else has already claimed that dog. Someone Tim remembers quite well.

As Colleen and Tim rekindle their friendship and co-foster a dog that seems to only be happy when they’re together, old sparks ignite. But they only have the month of December together before he returns to his life of world travel…and she returns to what suddenly seems like a mundane existence. Their relationship deepens while they set out on an impossible holiday mission to fulfill his father’s deathbed request, uncovering life-changing secrets. It’ll take one clever Westie, two scheming grannies, and a whole lot of Christmas magic for Colleen and Tim to finally get a second chance at a dance that just might last forever.

PJ's Thoughts:

My holiday reading would not be complete without an annual Christmas story from Roxanne St. Claire. Set in St. Claire's Bitter Bark, North Carolina, and featuring characters from her popular Dogfather and Dogmother series, plus some new additions, these heartwarming tales are sure to touch readers' hearts and have them coming back for more.

Peppermint Bark is the longest of St. Claire's Christmas offerings (at 260 pages) and one of my favorites. I love that authors are crafting romances for mature characters and, for my money, St. Claire is among the best. Her characters are multi-layered and relatable, people who could be my friends or neighbors. People who could be me. They may have decades of life experience in their past but they still have plenty of romance in their souls and adventures in their future. 

St. Claire does a beautiful job of portraying Colleen, a woman who has been widowed for twenty years. As a woman who has also been widowed for twenty years, I felt a deep kinship with her and empathized with her conflicting emotions. I also enthusiastically cheered her on when Tim unexpectedly reappeared in her life. Colleen has been a secondary character in previous books but we haven't really known much about her until now. I enjoyed how her story went back to the night of her high school prom then showed her progression to present day. It made her journey all the more poignant and her chance for a second love all the more satisfying. In a way, it brought her life full circle, from where she was supposed to be and the person she was supposed to be with during her early years to the person she's supposed to be with and the life she chooses to live at sixty. I loved her evolution and how it unfolded, her connection with Tim (such a good guy), her strong bond with her daughter and (overprotective) sons, her relationship with her mother (some surprising secrets are revealed), and the sweet pup who, with able assistance from two scheming grannies, notched another happily ever after under their matchmaking belts. 

Peppermint Bark joins Roxanne St. Claire's other Dogfather and Dogmother books on my keeper shelf. Once again, I laughed, I cried (of course), and I turned the final page filled with joy. These characters have become my friends, their stories have found a place in my heart, and I look forward to visiting them again. 

While characters from the many books in the Dogfather and Dogmother series pop in and out of these Christmas books, each one is written in such a way that it can be fully enjoyed on its own, without having read the other books first. If you're a series fan, you will no doubt enjoy revisiting some of your favorite characters but if you're new to this world, Peppermint Bark is a great place to start. 

~~~~~~~~

In the spirit of the upcoming holiday season, let's spread a little cheer. Tell me when you start reading holiday romances. Have you already started? Any favorites to recommend? Any particular titles you're looking forward to?

One person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, November 19 will receive a Kindle copy of Peppermint Bark. 

*Must be 18

*Amazon U.S.

*Void where prohibited

Review - - Faux Paws

Faux Paws

by Roxanne St. Claire

The Dogmothers - Book 8

Publisher: South Street Publishing

Release Date: April 23, 2021

Reviewed by PJ

At a personal and career crossroads he never expected, Navy nuclear engineer Theo Santorini faces the fact that his once charmed existence isn’t so charmed anymore. Then, on a cross country trip, he saves a desperate and abused dog, hoping he can turn around both their lives. When he arrives at Waterford Farm in North Carolina with his rescue, Clementine, Theo’s matchmaking grandmother and her best friend immediately launch a plan to help both man and dog. Theo doesn’t hate their idea of getting an assist from a beautiful, enigmatic “pet psychic” while he figures out his next move. But the woman’s preposterous claims that she can read an animal’s mind seriously test an engineer who lives for logic and flees from feelings.

After bolting from the church when she learned the groom waiting at the altar had cheated on her, Ayla Hollis can now add “runaway bride” to her short resume. But this perennial people-pleaser has broken free from her stifling upbringing and is finally ready to begin a new life. She’ll start by openly admitting to the world that she has a gift that might seem bizarre to some, but she can help animals, and in a town that loves dogs, that makes her a local hero. Her first “patient” is an emotionally damaged stray dog held in the strong arms of a handsome, but skeptical, owner. Ayla soon finds it can be much easier to understand an animal’s feelings than those of a man who refuses to believe her abilities are real.

As Theo and Ayla work together to help Clementine heal, they can’t deny one thing is real: their sizzling chemistry that quickly grows to feelings of forever. But before the Dogmothers can claim another successful match, Ayla’s psychic skills thrust her into a perilous spotlight that threatens everything. With their love on the line and a dog’s life in the balance, Ayla’s gift could save them all…but only if Theo will finally risk his heart and believe.

PJ's Thoughts: 

Roxanne St. Claire aims straight for the heart and never misses. I adored this book. I know it may seem like I say that with each newly-published book in this series but sometimes there's an extra-special something that pushes a book to the top of the heap and Faux Paws has it. As soon as I finished my first read-through, all I wanted to do was go back to the beginning and read it all over again. With more tissues. As I said, straight for the heart. 

In Faux Paws, St. Claire brings us three main characters (two and four-legged), newly arrived in Bitter Bark, North Carolina, who are all at a crossroads in their lives. I love the way she explores the challenges, possibilities, and decisions facing each of them. Yes, even Clementine, who is definitely in the running for my favorite rescue pooch in this series. Her journey is a hard one that had me reaching for tissues more than once. Don't worry, she definitely gets her happily ever after. 

I love the chemistry between Ayla and Theo but I also enjoy the fact that St. Claire takes her time with them, gradually building a friendship before introducing deeper feelings. They have some fundamental differences to work through before those deeper feelings can take root. I always enjoy the emotional layering that occurs in these stories, along with the slow burn. The relationships that form are very realistic, with humor and conflict along the way while the main characters are complex people I'd enjoy knowing in real life. In fact, they're so realistic that I'm still halfway convinced they're all living happy lives in a lovely little North Carolina town only a couple hours away from me. 

The extended families - including the matchmaking Dogmothers a/k/a one Irish Gramma and one Greek Yiayia - all add an emotional richness to the story along with more than a few laugh-out-loud moments. If you're a fan of The Dogmother series, as well as The Dogfather series, you'll enjoy catching up with some of your favorite characters in this book, while also welcoming new babies and pups to the clan. For readers who are new to these books, you should know that you can jump in with any of them and feel right at home.

If you enjoy family-centric contemporary romance with humor, sweet (but deeply emotional) romance, characters you'll want to be friends with, and rescue dogs who will flat-out steal your heart, this book is for you.

Review & Giveaway - - Feliz Naughty Dog

Feliz Naughty Dog

by Roxanne St. Claire

A Standalone Holiday Novella (116 pages)

The Dogmothers - Book 7

Publisher: South Street Publishing

Release Date: November 20, 2020

Reviewed by PJ

Pru Kilcannon has one goal when she wakes on Christmas Eve – to perform the most “Random Acts of Christmas Kindness” so she can spread cheer and ensure her high school wins the county-wide “RACK IT UP” contest. But when her friends decide to team up with their boyfriends, the ever-helpful Dogmothers enlist the new kid in school as Pru’s partner for the contest. And that means good-girl Pru has to spend the entire day with the broody, moody, and crazy cute bad boy Lucas Darling, and his chaos-causing greyhound, Tor.

As if that wasn’t enough holiday havoc, Pru and Lucas have to accompany the grannies on a secret mission to check out a man Yiayia has met on an online dating service.  Gramma Finnie is convinced Aldo Fiore is a mobster, Yiayia thinks he’s her dream man, and Pru just wants to be sure her great-grandmothers don’t get themselves arrested — or worse. There’s no telling what could happen when the Dogmothers spy on an eighty-year-old who might be playing a rather flirtatious Santa at the mall…or might be hiding from the Feds.

But no one expected the real trouble to come from Tor, the former racing dog who causes mayhem and mall madness.  As Pru and Lucas attempt to control Tor, supervise the Santa Stalking, and knock out a few random acts of kindness…they also give in to a delicious little Christmas crush that just might lead to some magic under the mistletoe this year!

PJ's Thoughts:

There's a reason they call her General Pru. Sixteen-year-old Pru Kilcannon is a born leader but on Christmas Eve, Pru's plans are...well...not going according to plan. There's one area of Pru's life where she's decidedly not leading the pack and that's romance. Which, of course, suits her over-protective dad just fine but the Dogmothers are of a different persuasion and this year they've decided to work a little of their matchmaking magic on Pru. Will their efforts result in a first kiss under the mistletoe or all-out chaos at the mall? 

And speaking of chaos, YiaYia is in hot pursuit of the mall Santa but will she find romance at the cost of her relationship with her best friend? Meanwhile, Gramma Finnie, that sweet, Irish angel on earth is having decidedly uncharitable feelings about YiaYia's budding romance with a man Finnie is certain is headed for the slammer. Will this be the end of the Dogmothers duo or the beginning of a deeper, more meaningful friendship? We are never too old to learn new lessons. 

Then there's Lucas, who has every girl at his new school drooling over his bad boy looks, and who is living proof that books should not be judged by their cover. There's much more to this young man than anyone imagines. And, of course, we can't forget Tor, a sweet, rescued Greyhound who only wants to do what he's been trained to do: run. But like his human, Tor has hidden depths as well and while stealing hearts manages to also steal darn near every scene he's in. 

Roxanne St. Claire has penned another sweet, heartwarming, hilarity-inducing, holiday adventure with the tenets of love, kindness, forgiveness, and understanding at its heart. Whether you're a fan of the Dogfather and Dogmothers books or this is your first visit, Feliz Naughty Dog is a story that will fill your heart with the joy of family, friendship, and the holiday season. So, grab a mug of hot chocolate and curl up with Pru, Lucas, Tor, and the grannies for another Christmas story that will have you laughing, sighing, possibly shedding a tear or two, and overflowing with holiday spirit. Now that I've written this review, I think I'm going to go read it again! 

~~~~~~~~~~~

Have you read any of the Dogfather or Dogmother books yet?

What books have you read lately that have put you in a holiday spirit?

Have you done a random act of kindness lately or has one been done for you? Tell me about them.

One person who comments before 11:00 PM, November 26 will receive a Kindle copy of Feliz Naughty Dog. 

*Must be 18

*Must be able to receive Kindle gift from Amazon U.S.

One person who comments before 11:00 PM, November 26 will receive a signed print copy of Feliz Naughty Dog.

*Must be 18

*U.S. addresses only

Review - - Man's Best Friend

 

Man's Best Friend

by Roxanne St. Claire

The Dogmothers - Book 6

Publisher: South Street Publishing

Release Date: September 25, 2020

Reviewed by PJ

Declan Mahoney and Evie Hewitt are childhood best friends who become young lovers on one summer night in the Carolina mountains. But the next morning, they learn Declan’s firefighter father has been killed while saving Evie’s family and home. Consumed by grief, and determined to take up his responsibility as the oldest Mahoney sibling, Declan turns from Evie. That heartbreak sends her running halfway across the state, rarely seeing Declan over the next twenty years. But when Evie comes back to Bitter Bark, a couple of meddling grannies who call themselves the Dogmothers hatch their plan to rekindle this romance. They arrange a "chance" meeting and plant some surprises along the way.

When she sees Declan, Evie is knocked over by emotions for the firefighter who might just be the reason she’s forty, childless, and dedicated to her career. She’s also nearly knocked over by the Husky-Malamute mix at his side. With an unexpected assist from a dog who’d been surrendered at the fire station, Declan decides he can’t miss this chance to reconnect with the woman he’s never forgotten. It doesn’t take long for old feelings to burn hot…and it doesn’t take long for Evie, a veterinary neurologist, to notice something's not quite right with the gorgeous dog Declan’s about to put up for adoption.

As they work together to help Judah, more than one creature is healed. Evie starts to demolish the walls grief had raised around Declan’s heart, and he reawakens her dreams of marriage and motherhood. But as they fall back into each other’s arms, Declan discovers the truth about his father’s death, and that revelation threatens more than their love…it could threaten their lives. Will Evie and Declan’s dreams be destroyed by tragedy? Or can they finally let go of the past so they can take hold of the future…together?

PJ's Thoughts:

Roxanne St. Claire writes directly to the heart with characters and stories that have never failed to capture mine. Evie and Declan are one of those couples you know are meant for one another. For the past twenty years, they've led good, productive, separate lives but something has always been missing. Happiness has never been quite complete. Now, at forty and forty-one, with experience and wisdom on their side, they're given another chance to reach for the happy ending that eluded them so many years ago and I was with them every step of the way.

St. Claire knows how to engage my emotions better than almost any other author writing today. In Man's Best Friend, she's created layered main characters with a complicated history, rich (and frequently humorous) family dynamics, an emotional mystery, and a scene-stealing, heart-stealing dog who saves the day in more ways than one. All combined to pull me into their deeply emotional story and keep me eagerly reading from beginning to end. 

Whether you're new to the series or have been reading since the beginning, Declan, Evie, and Judah will pull you into their lives and capture your heart. I highly recommend Man's Best Friend. 

Review - - Hush, Puppy

Hush, Puppy
by Roxanne St. Claire
The Dogmothers - Book 5
Publisher: South Street Publishing
Release Date: June 12, 2020
Reviewed by PJ

   

John Santorini has his hands full this summer and not just with Maverick, the wild and willful puppy he recently adopted. He's trying to franchise his business, he's got serious staffing issues, and his biggest investor still hasn't committed to financing. But all of those problems fade away when a five year-old girl pounces on his puppy in the park and pronounces him "Mine!" John can handle a kid with a crush on little Mav. But he's not so sure what to do with his instant attraction to her mother, a beautiful young widow who brightens his world the minute she arrives in town.

Summer Jackson has come to Bitter Bark for one reason: to meet a man. But the man she plans to connect with isn't there. Instead, she finds two outrageous grannies who want to marry her off, discovers a colorful extended family that wraps her in love, and crushes hard on a Greek charmer who offers her a place to stay and a job for the season. John may not have been the man Summer intended to meet, but his soul-melting kisses soon have her rethinking all her plans. He's smart, sexy, sweet, and his impossibly adorable puppy is helping her daughter overcome her baffling speech impediment.

It doesn't take long before Summer and John are dreaming of the happy ending they've both been denied. But then the past comes back to wreak havoc on all their lives, and Summer's real reason for coming to town threatens to destroy this budding little family. Will John have to settle for a Summer fling...or do the Dogmothers have the recipe for romance one more time? 

PJ's Thoughts:

This book is everything I wanted, everything I needed. It's sweet, funny, deeply emotional, and so doggone good that it left my heart overflowing with joy. So much so, that as soon as I turned the final page all I wanted to do was go back to the beginning and read it all over again.

St. Claire has a talent for creating fully-developed characters then bringing them to life on the pages of her novels. By the time I finished this book, I felt as if I knew John, Summer, Destiny, and yes, even puppy Maverick. Like the other characters of this series, they have become so real to me that their sorrows are my sorrows, their fears are my fears, their joy is my joy. I'm 100% invested in their lives and their happiness. That is Roxanne St. Claire's gift.

John and Summer are one of my favorite couples in this series. I loved how Summer jumped in to help John at his restaurant over the summer and the friendship that developed between them. Their chemistry is immediately apparent but St. Claire gives them the time to form a solid foundation of friendship before taking their relationship further. Of course, as usual, the matchmaking grannies try to hurry things along. They're such a hoot.

I'm not sure I've ever met a child character in a romance who I've loved as much as Destiny. She stole my heart and, to be honest, the entire book. She made me laugh, made me cry, made my heart overflow with emotion. This is one very special little girl. I love how the author not only made John's relationship with Summer central to this book but also his relationship with Destiny. This is a little girl who has grown up without a daddy and she wants one in her life. Watching her relationship with John blossom was as satisfying as watching the adult relationship he has with her mom. Then there's Destiny's bond with John's puppy, Maverick. One more love story to add to the slate and what a sweet, heart-tugging tale it is.

If you're looking for a feel-good story this summer that makes you laugh, sigh, shed a few tears, and leaves your heart bursting with happiness, Hush, Puppy is the book for you.

You don't have to have read the previous books in the Dogmother and Dogfather series to enjoy Hush, Puppy but once you've met the matchmaking grannies as well as the rest of the Kilcannon, Mahoney, and Santorini clans, prepare to want their stories as well. Truly, I don't think it's possible to read one of these books and not fall in love with the whole darn bunch.

~~~~~~~~~

 

Tell me what has your heart bursting with joy these days. Is it a book you're reading? A pet? A special child in your life? Maybe it's simply the beauty of flowers in all their blooming glory. Let's share some goodness today. 

One person who comments before 11:00 PM, June 15 will receive a print copy of the Dogfather holiday novella, Bark! the Herald Angels Sing (which also includes the first Dogfather holiday novella, Santa Paws is Coming to Town), signed by the author.  

*Must be 18 or older
*U.S. addresses only

Review & Giveaway - - BROCK

BROCK
by Roxanne St. Claire
7 Brides for 7 Blackthornes - Book 5
Publisher: South Street Publishing
Release Date: August 29, 2019
Reviewed by PJ
    

Meet the Blackthorne men, who are as hot, fast, and smooth as the whisky that built the family fortune, and the yachts and race cars that bear their name. From proud Scottish stock, Blackthornes never lose. But, one by one, the seven sexy men in this family are about to risk everything when they fall for strong and beautiful women who test their mettle in life...and love.


Brock - Book Five

With proud Blackthorne blood in his veins, Brock Blackthorne loves his job as the keeper of the "brand." His job is to protect the family name, to keep the company's reputation as clean as possible, and ensure that skeletons stay well-hidden at the family compound in King Harbor, Maine. So when an ambitious and inquisitive biographer is tasked to pen a revealing "tell all" book about the Blackthornes, Brock decides to personally guide the beautiful writer far away from any family landmines. But the more time he spends sharing the history and heart of his unusual clan, the more he wants this captivating woman in his arms...and in his life.

The daughter of renowned investigative journalists, Jenna Gillespie's job, reputation, and advance money is on the line if she doesn't unearth something scintillating and surprising about this dynasty built on whisky. Unfortunately, the maddeningly sexy Brock Blackthorne is doing everything he can to make sure that doesn't happen. But when she uncovers a lead about the family's multi-million dollar whisky recipe having been stolen, Brock decides to help her, certain they will finally remove a cloud that hangs over the family name.

As Jenna and Brock get closer to the truth, they also get closer to each other. And when the real story is finally revealed, one of them will have to sacrifice all they think they hold dear if they have any chance for a lifetime of love.

My thoughts:

Roxanne St. Claire never fails to create interesting characters then surround them with intriguing stories that engage both my heart and my mind. 

While Brock and Jenna both have lives very different from my own, I was able to relate to each of them and the challenges they faced. I adored Brock, especially when he threw off his corporate persona, donned his glasses (I do love a man in glasses), and let his hair down. I liked that St. Claire made him strong, but vulnerable. I loved his chemistry with Jenna. I also loved his gut-deep belief in the Blackthorne family's good reputation but it was his sense of fairness in uncovering the truth, even if that was at his family's expense, that really won me over. Yes, there was that moment of male stupidity but he redeemed himself nicely. If Jenna could forgive him, so could I. ;-)

In less talented hands, Jenna could have come off as a villainous character but St. Claire gave her texture, depth, and a moral core that, rather than making her repellent, endeared her to me even more. I fully understood the dilemma she faced, given her background, especially as she came to know both Brock and his family better, and I was fully confident that she would do the right thing for both them and for her. 

And speaking of Brock's family, I fell head over heels in love with Nana. I mean, who wouldn't love a sprightly senior citizen who creates serene gardens, protects her family with the ferocity of a tiger, and can drink most of them under the table. Forget loving her. I want to be her!

While this is the fifth book in the multi-author, 7 Brides for 7 Blackthornes series, it's the first I've read and stands well on its own. Several characters from earlier books have page time, enough to make me want to read their stories without stealing the focus from Brock and Jenna. And, while there appears to be a mystery regarding Brock's aunt that carries across the series, the mystery of the Blackthorne whisky recipe is solved in this book, bringing Brock and Jenna's romantic journey to a well-deserved, happy ending. From beginning to end, it's a journey I enthusiastically recommend.

If you're interested in reading all seven books, they are:

#1 - DEVLIN by Barbara Freethy
#2 - JASON by Julia London
#3 - ROSS by Lynn Raye Harris
#4 - PHILLIP by Cristin Harber
#5 - BROCK by Roxanne St. Claire
#6 - LOGAN by Samantha Chase
#7 - TREY by Christie Ridgway

Do you enjoy a multi-author series?

What's the last one you read?

Are you reading 7 Brides for 7 Blackthornes?

September is my birthday month and I'll be doing occasional birthday giveaways throughout the month. So, for PJ's 1st Birthday Giveway: One person who comments before 11:00 PM, September 7 will receive a Kindle copy of BROCK. Happy reading! 

Review - - Hot Under the Collar

Hot Under the Collar
by Roxanne St. Claire
The Dogmothers - Book One
Publisher: South Street Publishing
Release Date: May 31, 2019
Reviewed by PJ
 

Firefighter Braden Mahoney is devastated when his beloved Weimaraner, Jelly Bean, fails the canine arson investigator test. Faced with the challenge of raising the money for advanced training, it's Braden's sweet grandmother and her best friend who suggest he use the services of the new event planner in town. Not that he needs a push in Cassie Santorini's direction. Ever since she arrived, Braden has had his eye on the sassy Greek goddess...and can't stop thinking about getting the rest of him on her, too.

Cassie has spent years putting family first, even moving to Bitter Bark when her mother falls in love with the local veterinarian. Having a huge new extended "family" is fun, especially when one smokeshow of a firefighter attends the gatherings, but Cassie has no plans to remain in this small town. She's ready to pursue her big city dreams. But when Braden asks for an assist for his precious pup, Cassie agrees to help him set up a town-wide scavenger hunt. It isn't exactly a hardship to be around those blue eyes and brawny shoulders, especially since they both agree everything - even the undeniable sparks that crackle between them - is temporary.

But when temporary gets complicated by feelings that might lead to forever, Braden and Cassie start to question the direction they're headed. Should they follow their dreams...or their hearts? It'll take a dog with a bad nose and a good heart, two particularly meddlesome grandmas, and some help from the clan that loves them to make sure Cassie and Braden follow the clues and find their way to each other's arms.

My thoughts:

Roxanne St. Claire launches her new The Dogmothers contemporary romance series with another heart-tugging romance featuring likeable characters I'd like to hang out with and lovable rescue dogs who capture my heart.

Now that the Dogfather has successfully matched all of his children and is busy planning his own wedding, what's to become of his extended family singles still awaiting their happily ever afters? Never fear, dear readers. Two unlikely senior citizen roommates are here to save the day. That's right. Finnie "Gramma" Kilcannon and Agnes "Yiayia" Santorini have joined forces. The Dogmothers are on the job and first in the sights of this determined duo are Gramma Finnie's grandson, Braden Mahoney and Yiayia's granddaughter, Cassie Santorini. Cassie and Braden don't stand a chance.  

Everyone in the family has been waiting for these two to wake up and realize they're meant for one another but is love enough when life's dreams - and fears - stand in the way? Cassie and Braden are wonderful together. They challenge one another, inspire one another, have sizzling chemistry, and terrific banter. I laughed with them and my heart ached right along with theirs when things went awry and difficult decisions had to be made. St. Claire has a knack for pulling me into the hearts and minds of her characters and taking me for a ride that includes the full spectrum of emotions. I love it! 

And then there are the dogs - prominent characters in each of the Dogfather books and now, in the Dogmother stories as well. Jelly Bean may be my favorite Bitter Bark canine yet and that's saying something considering the amazing dogs who have taken center stage in the previous Dogfather books. There's just something about this dog that has me wanting to empty the shelters of every Weimaraner out there and spend the rest of my life loving on them. 

As with the books in The Dogfather series, St. Claire has used local guys (not models) and rescue dogs from Alaqua Animal Refuge in Florida for the covers of her books. A portion of the first month's sales of each book is donated back to Alaqua to help them continue their great rescue work.

Review - - Old Dog New Tricks

Old Dog New Tricks
by Roxanne St. Claire
The Dogfather - Book 9
Release Date: February 15, 2019
Reviewed by PJ

Daniel Kilcannon, the veterinarian known as the Dogfather, has been widowed for four years. He's spent the time running the largest canine rescue and training facility in North Carolina and pulling some strings to make sure each of his six grown children find a love like the one he lost when his beloved Annie died. 

But as the years slip by, Daniel's vow to never love again is starting to make him restless. When a woman who was pivotal to his past arrives in Bitter Bark, he wonders if her appearance is coincidence or the guiding hand of his dearly departed wife...but the truth is neither. She's about to change his life again in ways he could never have imagined. And Daniel isn't sure if his heart -- or his family -- will ever recover from the impact.


My thoughts:

Get ready for a beautifully written, deeply emotional, often humorous, and always heartwarming story of two characters who, after devastating loss, relearn the joy of opening hearts to life, to love, and to the possibility of a second happily ever after. 

I adored this book. I devoured it in one sitting then returned to the beginning for a slower read, savoring all its delicious nuances. After coming to know Daniel over the course of this series, I was fully invested in his journey back from the depths of life-shattering grief. It was never a secret that Daniel would eventually find love again but St. Claire kept readers guessing as to the identity of the woman who would bring that love back into his life. She couldn't have created a better heroine or a better story for these two. The writing is flawless, the story realistic and deeply emotional, and the ending had my heart, and tear ducts, overflowing with joy. In my opinion, it's some of St. Claire's best work. 

Old Dog New Tricks is a heart-tugging, life-affirming, deeply romantic journey between two characters who may have snow on the roof, but still hold plenty of fire in their souls. I can't imagine anyone reading it and not falling in love with Daniel, Katie, and the entire Kilcannon family, including the four-legged members. Old Dog New Tricks also gives readers another look at the Kilcannons' Mahoney cousins (firefighters!) and introduces the Santorini kids, all single and ripe for matchmaking. St. Claire has announced that she has  stories planned for all of them. I can't wait! 

As with the other books in the series, the cover of Old Dog New Tricks was shot at Alaqua Animal Refuge in Florida using rescue dogs and local men (not models). A portion of the book's sales will be donated to Alaqua to help save animals and place them in forever homes. 

Are you reading this series?

Who did you think would be Daniel's second-chance heroine?

Do you enjoy romance heroes/heroines with some life experience? 

I'm giving a Kindle copy of OLD DOG NEW TRICKS TO one randomly chosen person leaving a comment before 11:00 PM, February 16. 

Review - - Bark! The Herald Angels Sing

Bark! The Herald Angels Sing
By Roxanne St. Claire
The Dogfather - Book 8
Publisher: South Street Publishing
Release Date: November 9, 2018
Reviewed by PJ

With Christmas and a family wedding fast approaching, there’s happy chaos in the air at Waterford Farm. However, not everyone in the Kilcannon clan is caught up in the magic of the moment. Matriarch, octogenarian, and beloved blogger Gramma Finnie hears the clock of her long life ticking far too fast, while her great-granddaughter, teenager Pru, feels squeezed out of planning her mother’s nuptials. 

But when this unlikely duo is tasked with the project of producing the “Somethings” for the wedding – and only have Christmas Eve to get the job done – Gramma Finnie and Pru have a purpose and a plan. They set off to find the perfect old, new, borrowed, and blue treasures, but it doesn’t take long for things to spin out of control faster than Gramma’s Toyota in a snowstorm. Detoured by a stray border collie, thwarted by nature and an elf parade, and trapped by a rifle-toting mountain man, it will take more than the power of the Kilcannon clan to save these two from a Christmas catastrophe. It will take the luck of the Irish, a love story from long ago, and a whole lot of help from the angels to make this holiday merry and bright.


My thoughts:

The stories in Roxanne St. Claire's The Dogfather contemporary romance series aim straight for the heart and this new holiday novella is no exception. In the final days leading up to the wedding of reunited lovers Molly and Trace (Bad to the Bone), the couple's teen daughter, the uber-organized Pru, is feeling left out of the preparations and her great-grandmother "Gramma Finnie" is feeling left out of life. When the two combine forces to find four very special "somethings" (old, new, borrowed and blue) for the wedding, their enthusiasm leads them into a snowy adventure with unforeseen, and potentially perilous, consequences that could see the Kilcannon family spending Christmas without their beloved matriarch and "General" Pru.

I adored this story. St. Claire has brought these characters to life throughout the course of this series but, for the most part, they've been secondary characters, not the main focus. In this novella, Gramma Finnie and Pru finally step into the spotlight, giving readers the opportunity to learn more about them and the special bond they share. Especially enjoyable is the window St. Claire opens into the past as Gramma Finnie shares the untold story of how she met her beloved late husband, Seamus. Moving flawlessly between 1940s Ireland and their present-day adventure, Gramma Finnie's story is poignant, heart-wrenching, and hopeful. St. Claire has a way of pulling me into a story so that rather than reading about the events within I feel as though I'm actually experiencing them along with the characters. I could easily identify with both Pru, a girl on the cusp of young womanhood, as well as Gramma Finnie, a woman in the sunset of her life, wondering if all of her adventures are behind her and after "meeting" young Finnie and learning about that part of her life, I have even more affection and admiration for this woman who is the very heart of the Kilcannon family.

Whether you've read the earlier books in this series or not, this is a short, heartwarming story that celebrates family, the joy of the season, the unconditional love to be found in a four-legged companion, and the absolute necessity of kindness. Pru and Gramma Finnie's adventure made me laugh, cry, and fall in love with the Kilcannon family all over again.

It isn't necessary to read the entire Dogfather series in order to enjoy Bark! The Herald Angels Sing but I do recommend reading Molly and Trace's journey to love in Bad to the Bone first. Once you've finished those two stories, head on over to Roxanne St. Claire's website to sign up for her newsletter for access to the heartwarming and poignant bonus story of Molly and Trace's wedding. You'll want to keep the tissues handy!