Hi, everyone!
I am very excited to be sharing my Feature Post and Mini Book Reviews for the first three books in The Dogmothers Series by Roxanne St. Claire. The books are all enchanting, heartfelt contemporary romances tied together by a pair of matchmaking grandmas, family, love, and lots of dogs.
Below you will find an introduction to the Dogmothers, book descriptions, mini book reviews and an about the author section. Enjoy!
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About The Dogmothers – a brand new spinoff series by Roxanne St. Claire, author of The Dogfather series.
Daniel Kilcannon, a widower with six unmarried kids, has not only orchestrated wonderfully happy endings for all his offspring…he’s found one of his own. That leaves his grown nieces and nephews plus his adult stepkids all in need of their own magical romances. Is the Dogfather too preoccupied with his new lady love to pull the strings and make the matches? Maybe. But never fear, there’s a new team in town and these two might be polar opposites in life but they are lined up in love. Meet Yiayia and Gramma Finnie. One has the steel spine of a Greek warrior, the other has the sweet soul of an Irish poet. Together, along with two darling dachshunds, these Dogmothers won’t stop until all nine of their grandchildren are hooked, hitched, and happy.
Just like The Dogfather, the covers of The Dogmothers were all photographed at Alaqua Animal Refuge in Florida using rescue dogs and local heroes, and a portion of the first month’s sales of every book is donated to that amazing organization.
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Book Description
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.
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Mini Book Review
RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars
HOT UNDER THE COLLAR (The Dogmothers Book #1) by Roxanne St. Claire is the first contemporary romance in this enchanting series and matchmaking effort by the Dogmothers. A sexy and smart firefighter, Braden Mahoney with his best friend and beloved Weimaraner are immediately taken with a sassy Greek goddess, Cassandra Santorini who wants to leave small town life behind for her big city dreams. This book is easily read as a standalone with a complete HEA, but it does have characters carried over from the previous Dogfather series.
Cassie and Braden come together so naturally. The dialogue is flirty, fun and realistic. Braden has not only relationship difficulties, but heartbreaking decisions to make about his best friend and beloved dog, Jellybean. Cassie’s decisions started out with some difficulties because of her love of her family, but as the romance relationship grew, so did the amount of emotional angst leading to an ultimate conclusion that satisfied without feeling like it was a loss or sacrifice on Cassie’s part. The sex happens towards the last part of the book and is a natural progression of the relationship and not gratuitous.
This series has wonderful secondary characters, mainly extended families and dogs that you fall in love with immediately. The grandmas are the perfect Dogmothers and I cannot wait to see who they work to bring together next.
I highly recommend this first book in this contemporary romance series and I cannot wait to get to the next Dogmothers adventure!
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Book Description
Alex Santorini puts his family first and foremost, and that’s going to keep him behind the grill at the family restaurant for the rest of his life, especially if his Greek grandmother has anything to say about it. But when a local winery needs a chef to step in to cook for a celebrity wedding, Alex jumps at the opportunity to showcase his culinary skills…and a chance to get closer to the winery owner who has captivated – and refused – his attention.
Grace Donovan is in a bind and knows that the answer to all her problems is one sexy Greek chef who has everything she needs…and everything that scares the hell out of her. Raised in a series of ever-changing foster homes, Grace has spent her life using science and logic to surround herself with protective walls. With all his passion and intensity, Alex could burn those walls down and, like everyone else in her life, leave her broken and alone.
As Alex and Grace join forces to land the wedding of the year, they also launch a search for the mother of a three puppies abandoned at the winery…only to discover a shocking connection to Grace’s own mother and her shadowy past. When the truth comes out, their romance faces its greatest test. Will Grace choose the family she’s wanted her whole life…or the love she may never find again?
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Mini Book Review
RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars
THREE DOG NIGHT (The Dogmothers Book #2) by Roxanne St. Claire is a contemporary romance which has the Dogmothers hard at work matchmaking once again. Since his father’s death, Alex Santorini and his twin brother have kept the family’s Greek restaurants and delis running. Grace Donovan owns and runs the local winery and her chef has walked out. Alex has been waiting for a chance to spread his wings with his French culinary training and a chance to get to know Grace better. With the help of three abandoned puppies, Alex helps Grace discover her past and hopes to be included in her future. This is a standalone complete HEA, but there are carryover characters from this series and the last.
I was so invested in Grace and her search for her roots and the ultimate solution had me in tears. Alex is the hero anyone would love to love. He cooks, loves his family and is willing to encourage and standby Grace, but not overpower her. This book has a realistic progression of the romance and sex scenes are naturally occurring and not gratuitous.
All the extended family, friends and dogs are back, as well as the matchmaking grandmas who did not have this one quite right, but Alex set them straight. The inclusion of the famous couple looking for a wedding venue added to the fun as well as the three rambunctious puppies.
I highly recommend this emotional second book in the Dogmothers series!
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Book Description
Agnes Santorini, known as “Yiayia” to her Greek clan, only has one thing on her Christmas list — a brown short-haired dachshund that matches the one she dreamed about, certain that pup can save her aging heart. When she learns that a local man has this very dog for adoption, she and her partner-in-crime, Gramma Finnie, leash up their current doxies and join forces with their great-granddaughter to get their paws on the pooch.
But things don’t go quite as smoothly as expected. A quick walk through the town of Bitter Bark turns complicated when the dog’s owner has a simple demand, which sets off a series of events that have two grannies and one girl dashing through the snow with two dogs in tow. As they meet every demand and overcome every obstacle, Yiayia shares the secret of her past…and reveals just why this is the canine angel she needs to save her.
But even if they manage to get the dog under their Christmas tree, that might not be where the little fellow belongs. And maybe, just maybe, Yiayia’s heart can be healed by a completely different kind of love…the kind that only comes at Christmas.
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Mini Book Review
RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars
DACHSHUND THROUGH THE SNOW (The Dogmothers Book #2.5) by Roxanne St. Claire is a Christmas novella addition to the Dogmother series. While not a contemporary romance, this story is full of family, friendship, holiday cheer and love. This side novella gives the backstory of “Yaiyai”, Grandma Santorini intertwined with present day errands of both Dogmothers and Prudence on Christmas Eve. Get the tissues ready for this one!
This is the perfect emotional and feel good holiday addition to this series!
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About the Author
Published since 2003, Roxanne St. Claire is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than fifty romance and suspense novels. She has written several popular series, including The Dogfather, The Dogmothers, Barefoot Bay, the Guardian Angelinos, and the Bullet Catchers.
In addition to being an ten-time nominee and one-time winner of the prestigious RITA™ Award for the best in romance writing, Roxanne has won the National Reader’s Choice Award for best romantic suspense four times, as well as the Maggie, the Daphne du Maurier Award, the HOLT Medallion, Booksellers Best, Book Buyers Best, the Award of Excellence, and many others.
A mother of two but recent empty-nester, Roxanne lives in Florida with her husband and two rescue dogs, Ginger and Rosie.
Social Media Links
Website: http://www.roxannestclaire.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/roxanne.s.claire
Twitter: https://twitter.com/roxannestclaire
