DACHSHUND THROUGH THE SNOW (THE DOGMOTHERS #2.5)

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.

The Dogmothers Series - a spinoff from the popular "Dogfather" books

Daniel Kilcannon has not only orchestrated wonderfully happy endings for his six adult kids, he's also found one of his own. That leaves his grown nieces, nephews, and 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 of their grandchildren are hooked, hitched, and happy!

Release Date: December 3, 2019

South Street Publishing

The Dogmothers #2.5

Contemporary Romance

Review copy provided by publisher

Liza's Review:

Dachshund Through the Snow is this year's Christmas story from Roxanne St. Claire and the newest book in her Dogmothers series of books. I absolutely loved spending more time with Gramma Finnie, Yiayia, and Pru, and finding out more about Yiayia's past helped me to understand her better.

Yiayia has been on the search for a brown short-haired dachshund since she had her heart attack. She feels in her heart she needs this one special dog to be the new Yiayia and not go back to her old ways. I loved that Gramma Finnie and Pru stepped up to help Yiayia out on her mission when she learned the perfect dog was right there in Bitter Bark. 

As Yiayia, Finnie, and Pru make deals to help Yiayia secure her perfect dog, Yiayia shares the story of her past at each new stop. Her story had me feeling so many emotions, and made me understand how Yiayia had been before her heart attack. I also felt like her sharing her story brought her and Finnie even closer as friends. Pru had her own bit of drama along the way in this story with her best friend. My heart broke for the girls as they had to figure out how to deal with the changes that are coming and how to remain best friends. I have to say I didn't see the ending coming and I cried all the happy tears as I finished reading this story.

Dachshund Through the Snow was another winner from Roxanne St. Claire. I've fallen every bit as in love with the Dogmothers books as I love the Dogfather books. Normally I'm all about reading books in a series in order, but I think Dachshund Through the Snow is the perfect Christmas book and would be a great introduction to this series of books. 

Rating: 5 Stars (A)

Buy Links:

AMZ KINDLE:

http://www.roxannestclaire.com/DachshundKindle

AMZ Paperback:

http://www.roxannestclaire.com/DachshundPrint

Barnes & Noble Nook

http://www.roxannestclaire.com/DachshundBNNook

KOBO

http://www.roxannestclaire.com/DachshundKobo

Google Play

http://www.roxannestclaire.com/DachshundGP

Apple Books:

http://www.roxannestclaire.com/DachshundAppleBks

BookBub: 

http://bit.ly/2Rd2aPe

Goodreads: 

http://bit.ly/2P8HXXQ

SANTA PAWS IS COMING TO TOWN (THE DOGFATHER #3.5)

What could be more joyous than a Kilcannon Christmas? But for Daniel Kilcannon, the man they call “The Dogfather,” this holiday season is anything but happy. It’s been three years since he’s lost his wife and though his family is growing – thanks to his matchmaking efforts – he still dreads the day his dearly departed wife used to love so much. Determined to make Christmas Eve festive and fun, he puts his sadness aside for the family and pretends everything is normal…until it’s not.

When a recently rescued puppy goes missing on Waterford Farm, all celebrations come to a halt. The entire family, from Gramma Finnie down to the youngest Kilcannon and their cousins, is enlisted on the search. Before they can continue the old Irish tradition of putting a candle in the window to welcome strangers, they must find little Jack Frost…and nothing short of a Christmas miracle can make that happen. 

The Dogfather Series
Daniel Kilcannon is known as "The Dogfather" for a reason. It's not just his renowned skills as a veterinarian, his tremendous love of dogs, or the fact that he has turned his homestead in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains into a world class dog training and rescue facility. Ask his six grown children who run Waterford Farm for him, and they'll tell you that their father's nickname is due to his uncanny ability to pull a few strings to get what he wants. And what he wants is for his four sons and two daughters to find the kind of life-changing love he had with his dearly departed wife, Annie. This old dog has a few new tricks...and he'll use them all to see his pack all settled into their happily ever afters!

Available now: 
Sit…Stay…Beg (Book 1)
New Leash on Life (Book 2)
Leader of the Pack (Book 3)
Santa Paws is Coming to Town (A Short Tail) 

Release Date: November 17, 2017

The Dogfather #3.5

Contemporary Romance

Review copy provided by publisher

Liza's Review:

The Dogfather series is one of my favorite ever from Roxanne St. Claire. It has family, sexy men, smart women, laugh out loud humor, as well as pulling so many other emotions from me. Santa Paws is Coming to Town is the perfect Christmas gift for fans of the series.

I love getting to spend time with Daniel Kilcannon, The Dogfather himself, and he gets lots of page time in Santa Paws is Coming to Town. I love how much he still loves and misses his wife Annie, even as he tries to hide it from his family. I love that his mom, Gramma Finnie calls him out at the very beginning about his sadness and his whole family works to help him find a reason to be happy this year. I both laughed and cried reading this short story and enjoyed each and every minute of my reading. We got to reconnect with the Kilcannon kids and grandkids and even got to meet Daniel's sister and her family.

Santa Paws is Coming to Town is a heartwarming story that will grab you from the very first page. I highly recommend reading the first 3 books in the series first to better understand the dynamics of the family, and promise you will be hooked from the very first book. Santa Paws is Coming to Town is another winner from Rocki and I can't wait to re-read it over the holidays.

Rating: 5 Stars (A)

Buy Links:

AMAZON: http://www.roxannestclaire.com/Pawsamz
GOOGLE PLAY: http://www.roxannestclaire.com/GPpaws
iBOOKS: http://www.roxannestclaire.com/PawsIB
KOBO: http://www.roxannestclaire.com/KBPaws
NOOK: http://www.roxannestclaire.com/NkPaws

It Happened One Christmas

It Happened One Christmas is the latest Blaze release from Leslie Kelly. From the back cover.~

Baby, it’s cold outside…

Six years ago, Ross Mitchell and Lucy Fleming shared a hot holiday weekend in Manhattan, back when he was just a hard-bodied guy in a tool belt and she was an impulsive photography student.

Fast-forward a few Decembers: Ross and Lucy meet again, by chance, at his office Christmas party. And when they find themselves alone and snowed in after hours, it’s not long before they’re making their own body heat – again. Only this time, the sex is better than ever! But is it just another holiday romp between the sheets? Or will Lucy and Ross finally get to keep what they really want this year – each other!

I’m a huge fan of Leslie Kelly and was so excited when I saw she had a Christmas story coming out. I love Christmas stories and knew that any Christmas story Leslie wrote would be both super fun and sexy, and Leslie totally delivered with It Happened One Christmas.

Lucy and Ross first met six years ago when Lucy was contemplating how to get back at her ex-boyfriend for cheating on her…more how to remove what he was using to cheat on her. Ross is attracted to Lucy from the minute they start talking, and even is her knight in shining armor when her ex tries to attack her. Lucy and Ross end up spending a hot weekend together that is cut short by a family emergency for Ross.

Six years later they meet again at Ross’s office Christmas party. Fate steps in again and they end up spending another hot weekend together where they quickly pick up right where they left off …in bed. This time they are older and the chemistry is even hotter than it was six years ago. Lucy and Ross have both changed a great deal since they last saw each other, but the desire for one another is just as strong as ever.

I loved that each chapter of the story when back and forth between the present and the past. The reader got to see Ross and Lucy remembering their past as they lived in the present and got to know each other again. I really loved that both their lives came full circle to bring them both back to their hometown, Chicago.  It Happened One Christmas is the perfect story for anyone looking for a fun and sexy read.

It Happened One Christmas is currently available in print and the digital release is set for December 1. Since it is a Harlequin Blaze, it will only be on the bookshelves for a limited time. However, it is available online from http://www.harlequin.com/, http://www.amazon.com/, http://www.bn.com/ and other online retailers for much longer. 

Holiday Kisses

Holiday Kisses is the newest Christmas anthology being published from Carina Press. Holiday Kisses includes stories from Alison Kent (This Time Next Year), Jaci Burton (A Rare Gift), HelenKay Dimon (It’s Not Christmas Without You), and Shannon Stacey (Mistletoe & Margaritas). I’m a huge fan of each of the authors in this anthology and was very excited to get a copy early from NetGalley.

Alison Kent’s This Time Next Year

Brenna Keating is on her way to spend Christmas with her grandmother when treacherous roads and a skittish deer put her car in a ditch. Riding to the rescue – literally – is Dillon Craig, a reclusive doctor who insists she weather the storm in his cabin.

Since returning from Afghanistan where he treated wounded soldiers on the front lines, Dillon’s made it a point to avoid any emotional involvement. But his unexpected guest has him dangerously close to breaking his own rules.

Brenna has a plan for her life – until she’s stranded for three days with Dillon. Soon, the chemistry sizzling between them forces her to re-examine her priorities. The man is gorgeous, if taciturn, and a true hero in every sense of the word. No woman in her right mind could resist him, and so Brenna doesn’t – even though she can’t stay…

I really loved both Brenna and Dillon. Brenna and Dillon are both such strong individuals, who both have a need to serve and help others. Thanks to a deer in the road and a major snow storm, Brenna is rescued by Dillon and must wait out the storm at his cabin. There is attraction between Brenna and Dillon from the beginning, but with Brenna leaving the country at the first of the year, neither knows if the relationship can go anywhere. However, even with an uncertain future, Brenna and Dillon can’t fight their attraction for one another for very long. Loved how fast Brenna and Dillon knew they loved on another and they were willing to write letters, emails and talk on the phone while Brenna worked her dream job for a year.

Jaci Burton’s A Rare Gift

With a disastrous marriage behind him, Wyatt Kent has no interest in getting involved with any woman, let alone his ex-wife’s younger sister. But when Calliope Andrews hires him to build an addition onto her day care center, Wyatt can’t help but notice she’s a desirable woman, as warm and funny as his ex was cold and aloof.

Calliope fell hard for Wyatt the first time he walked through the door of her family’s home, and can’t believe her sister let him get away. He’s still the star of all her fantasies, and she’s determined to prove to him she’s nothing like his manipulative ex. Wyatt may be all business, but Calliope sees the way he looks at her when he’s supposed to be working…

It’s not long before Wyatt and Calliope are keeping each other warm on cold December nights. But it’s going to take a Christmas miracle for Wyatt to put his trust in love a second time.

A Rare Gift is the second book in the Kent Brother series from Jaci Burton. I absolutely loved Calliope Andrews. She is such a strong woman and knows exactly what she wants out of life and is willing to fight for what and who she wants…which has been Wyatt Kent since she first met him. Wyatt has just a little bit of baggage when it comes to love. Namely, Calliope’s older sister, who happens to be his ex-wife. He quickly realizes that Calliope is nothing like her sister, Cassandra, and finds himself having to fight his attraction to Calliope. As soon as Calliope realizes the attraction is mutual, she will accept nothing less than all of Wyatt. Calliope knows they are meant to be together, and takes steps to make sure Wyatt has put the past behind him to insure they can have a future together. Of course, Wyatt must mess up royally first, but in the end, he shows how much he loves Calliope.

HelenKay Dimon’s It’s Not Christmas Without You

Carrie Anders officially broke up with Austin Thomas when she accepted a dream job in the city. Unofficially, she misses him and is tempted to sneak back to her West Virginia hometown to see him. That’s why this year, she’s not going home for the holidays. Her heart can’t take any more mornings-after where nothing has changed – and Austin has made it clear he’s not interested in relocating.

Austin’s been waiting for Carrie to realize she can’t live without him. But when he hears she’s not coming home for Christmas, he decides to take action. If Carrie won’t come to the country, he’s going to bring a piece of the country to Carrie – in the form of a Christmas tree lot just minutes from her apartment. He’s certain daily meetings will entice her to come home with him, this time for good.

Their attraction is as hot as ever, but with such contrary Christmas wishes, can either of them get what they really want for Christmas?

I love that Austin loves Carrie so much he come to the city to set up a Christmas tree lot across the street from her apartment. Carrie is understandable rude when he first shows up, but still is as attracted to Austin and even gets jealous when she sees other women hanging around him. Of course, attraction has never been Carrie and Austin’s problem, but her job in D.C. at a museum has been. Austin figured Carrie would work in D.C. for a while and then be ready to come back home. Carrie loves her job at the museum and doesn’t understand why Austin can’t see how much her work means to her. When Austin attends an event at the museum with Carrie, he finally sees how important her work is to her, and doesn’t see how he can fit in her life any longer. Only by compromising can Carrie and Austin make their life together in two different cities.

Shannon Stacey’s Mistletoe & Margaritas

Claire Rutledge still believes in love, despite losing her husband. So, after two years, she’s not surprised by the steamy dreams telling her it might be time to start moving on. But she didn’t expect her friend Justin to have the starring role.

Justin McCormick has loved Claire since the moment he first saw her, but his best friend got there first. Now that Claire is ready to move on with her life, Justin is finding it harder than ever to hide his true feelings. And when they both get caught up in the holiday spirit at a party, their simmering mutual attraction boils over into a night neither of them can forget…

Claire and Justin have been best friends for years. Justin has been in love with Claire from the moment he saw her, but his best friend Brendan got there first, so he has kept his true feelings for Claire hidden for years. Claire has always looked at Justin as a friend, but now she is seeing him in a whole new light. Claire would be happy to act on this new attraction, and after a few margaritas at a holiday party, she and Justin get together. Of course, he wants to blame it on the alcohol, and not mess up their friendship. However, when they hook up again when out on his snow plow, there isn’t any alcohol to blame this time. Justin feels so much guilt going after his best friend’s wife, even though Brendan is 

gone. Only after talking to Brendan’s mom does Justin start to feel like he and Claire could have something lasting.

I loved each and every one of the stories in the Holiday Kisses anthology. I’m a big fan of Christmas stories and add a happily ever after to the mix and you always have a winner in my book. The release date is set for December 5, 2011 and can be found at your favorite online bookstore.

Bring Me Home for Christmas

Bring Me Home for Christmas is the latest book in Robyn Carr’s popular Virgin River series. From the back cover.~

This year, Becca Timm knows the number one item on her Christmas wish list: getting over Denny Cutler. Three years ago Denny broke her heart before heading off to war. It’s time she got over her silly college relationship and moved on.

So she takes matters into her own hands and heads up to Virgin River, the rugged little mountain town that Denny calls home, as an uninvited guest on her brother’s men-only hunting weekend. But when an accident turns her impromptu visit into an extended stay, Becca finds herself stranded in Virgin River. With Denny. In very close quarters.

As the power of Christmas envelopes the little town, Becca discovers that the boy she once loved has become a strong and confident man. And the most delicious Christmas present she can imagine.

I love visiting with so many of my favorite characters in Virgin River. Bring Me Home for Christmas is the perfect Christmas treat for Virgin River fans. You get to see many of the original characters that we sometimes just get glimpses of now that Virgin River is growing larger. I love the new characters that are making Virgin River their home, but still enjoy seeing Jack, Mel, Preacher, and Paige and seeing what is going on with their families.

I’ve liked Denny since he showed up in Virgin River. Becca had guts in my opinion. She shows up on an all-guy hunting trip to see if she is really over Denny, especially since she is at a point in her relationship with her current boyfriend, Doug that could be moving in the marriage direction. However, Becca knows she can’t move forward with her life until she settles things with Denny. Of course, the fact that both Becca and Denny still love one another is the most important thing for either of them. Plus, Becca’s current boyfriend Doug is a total tool. For some reason it takes Becca breaking her ankle and having to stay in Virgin River for her to realize just how much of a tool Doug really is.

It was sweet and yet still hot to watch Denny and Becca discover one another again. Since neither really every stopped loving the other, they also never lost their attraction for one another. Their love making was hot, sweet, or playful depending on their moods. Becca finds herself falling in love with the town and people of Virgin River the longer she and Denny are together.  Jack even offers to build her a school so she can teach the elementary school-aged kids in town. Although, Becca has always planned on going back to San Diego, she soon realizes that home for her might just be a small town with the man of her dreams.

With each trip to Virgin River, I too fall more in love with the town. Denny and Becca are so perfect for one another and they are a perfect fit for the town. Bring Me Home for Christmas helped get me in the Christmas spirit very early. I love reading Christmas stories and after reading Denny and Becca’s story, I’m ready for more Christmas/holiday stories. 

I’m also very excited for the upcoming releases for Virgin River. Robyn once again has 3 Virgin River stories set for release next year. Hidden Summit is set for release in January, and thanks to NetGalley, I have it waiting for me on my kindle. 

The Christmas Wedding

The Christmas Wedding is the latest release from James Patterson and Richard DiLallo. From the inside cover flap. ~

The tree is decorated, the cookies are baked, and the packages are wrapped, but the biggest celebration this Christmas is Gaby Summerhill's wedding. Since her husband died three years ago, Gaby's four children have drifted apart, each consumed by the turbulence of their own lives. They haven't celebrated Christmas together since their father's death, but when Gaby announces that she's getting married--and that the groom will remain a secret until the wedding day--she may finally be able to bring them home for the holidays.

But the wedding isn't Gaby's only surprise--she has one more gift for her children, and it could change all their lives forever. With deeply affecting characters and the emotional twists of a James Patterson thriller, The Christmas Wedding is a fresh look at family and the magic of the season.

I borrowed The Christmas Wedding from the library and was lucky enough to get it just a couple of weeks after the release date.  I generally only read The Women’s Murder Club books by James Patterson, but was in the mood for a Christmas story, so I added it to my hold list at the library.

I really enjoyed reading The Christmas Wedding. It is a sweet, fast-paced romance. Gaby send out videos to her four children letting them all know she is getting married on Christmas day. However, the groom won’t be revealed until that time, as she has received 3 marriage proposals. She knows this is the perfect way to get her entire family to come home for the holidays.

As the story progresses, we get to spend time with each of Gaby’s children and their families. I really liked all of Gaby’s children and enjoyed getting to know them better.  I also loved spending time with Gaby’s 3 suitors, Tom Hayden, Jacob Coleman, and Martin Summerhill and her best friend Stacey Lee.

I loved that each of Gaby’s children tried to get her to tell who she was planning on marrying on Christmas day while none of her prospective grooms questioned her.  I have to say I guessed who she would marry way before it was revealed, but it was still so sweet. I also liked the path each of her children took as the story progressed.

I really enjoyed The Christmas Wedding. It is nothing like Patterson’s Women’s Murder Club, but is still a fast and fun read. I absolutely loved Gaby from page one and she only got better as the book progressed. I would love to see a story in the future about more of Gaby’s family.

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