The Lucky Dog Matchmaking Service

by Beth Kendrick

Lara Madigan has a gift. She can help you find your soulmate—your canine soulmate, that is. As a dog trainer with a soft spot for strays, she’s found perfect homes for sulky Shih Tzus, broken-down Border collies, and diabolical Dalmatians. But while she’ll always make room for one more rescue mutt, she’s not sure she’s ready to commit to another human being. Especially after her live-in boyfriend drops the bomb: He’s not a dog person.

Horrified and temporarily homeless, Lara and her furry pack move in with her mother, a wealthy fashionista who forbids even a single drop of drool. As word gets around the exclusive gated community, Lara is overwhelmed with demands for her services. A model wants personal training for her overweight “flabrador”; an aging socialite preps her pedigreed puppy for dog show domination… If Lara can survive the breakup, the outrageous requests of her high-maintenance clientele, and her dogs’ systematically destruction of her mother’s McMansion, she might finally find the rescue dog who rescues her in return– leading her straight to the guy who could be her perfect match.

Genres: Chick Lit, Romance, Fiction, Animals, Dogs, Contemporary, Adult

321 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

This is the part where I’m supposed to brag about all my illustrious accomplishments, but honestly, I’d rather talk about my dogs and brag about some of the things I haven’t done:

I’ve never been to prison*, court-ordered rehab*, or splashed across the cover of a salacious weekly gossip tabloid with my ladybits on display**.

I’m a Leo, a middle child, and a formidable Trivial Pursuit opponent. I read everything I can get my hands on, from the classics to comic books. I don’t drink coffee because, frankly, I’m high strung enough without adding caffeine into the mix. Here is the true story of how I became a novelist:

So I had just started seeing this guy, and on our second or third date, he invited me to be his guest at a family wedding. Being young and free and a bit commitment-shy, I was about to decline until he casually mentioned that the bride was a successful romance novelist. Well, the second I heard that, I had to go. Being a writer had always been my dream job, and I’d never met anyone who’d actually beaten the odds and made the leap into big-time publishing. So I RSVP-ed, sidled up to the bar at the reception, waited until the bride and all her author friends uncorked the good champagne, and then peppered them with endless questions about writing, editing, and landing an agent. They were so funny and encouraging and generous with their time and advice. (And drunk!) Next thing you know, I had joined a critique group and was knee-deep in the manuscript that would eventually become MY FAVORITE MISTAKE. The open bar at that wedding changed my life forever.

Oh, and the guy who invited me to the wedding? I ended up marrying him. All together: awww…

I live in Arizona in a very cute fixer-upper that my husband and I bought in a burst of can-do, pioneering confidence. We thought it would be fun to embark on a series of do-it-yourself renovations. Yeah. I know. Turns out, replacing baseboard that’s been painted over 15 times since 1958 is not as easy as those Home Depot commercials would lead you to believe. Also, freshly-installed lawn drip systems and “helpful” dogs are a bad mix.

Friday and RoxieSpeaking of dogs, here we have the indefatigable canine lawn maintenance crew: Roxie and Friday. Both were rescued from the pound when they were puppies. I think they’re Rhodesian Ridgeback mixes. (Probably. Maybe? Anything’s possible.) Roxie is the brains of the operation and Friday is…well, he’s very sweet. And so indolent he could be mistaken for a piece of furniture, which I consider a very desirable trait in a family dog.

I absolutely love hearing from readers, so please feel free to email me, with the caveat that I am often on deadline/on the road/on the ragged edge of sanity, so it may be awhile before you get a reply. Just know that it’s not you; it’s me!

Have fun exploring the site, and if you have any questions about my new book, my backlist, or finding an agent…I’ll be right over there at the bar.

*Yet.



**That I know of.

Reviews

[kari · Rating 2 out of 5]

Doggonit! Cute premise if the book was actually about what is the proposed idea of the book according to the blurb. Unfortunately, what you get is trying to be a romance novel without the romance. Didn't work for me, not that I minded the direction where the story went romantically speaking, but it felt too coincincidental and also, not even central to the story. Just felt like Lara never really learned what I was hoping she would learn along the way.
Lara, unfortunately, is the problem I had most with the story. I found her to be unreasonable and childish. At one point she tries to search for an apartment, where she hopes to keep five behaviorally challenged rescue dogs and three untrained puppies, without telling the agent she has eight dogs. When that fails, she tries on her own to find a place, telling potential landlords that her dogs "are all such sweeties." But her dogs are not well-trained. She is supposed to be almost this dog whisperer, but her own dogs are destroying the home she shares with her boyfriend, tearing up drywall and scratching up doors. This is NOT what a responsible owner/trainer does. This is what an irresponsible self-centered woman does without thinking of anyone but herself and what she wants.
On page 82, she does something so out of control that I am left thinking this woman, more like child, is simply a spoiled brat and my sympathy is with her boyfriend, not her.
I have a lot of issues with the way taking animals to the shelter is portrayed. I blame Walt Disney. Many, if not most, animal shelters try to find homes for the animals in their care. They aren't the bad guys and it seems unfair to show them as such. I know, that's my personal opinion and has nothing to do with the story, but since Lara feels that she must keep every lost dog and they can never go to the shelter, it is central to the story.
Also, she supposedly has a job, but she never goes to work. She never quits this job, either, even when she is busy from dawn to dusk developing her "dog doyenne" business. And, when it comes down to it, the dogs simply disappear from the story.
There is another plot about her living and trying to re-connect with her mother. I felt sorry for her mother, not for what she is going through, but for her argumentative brat of a daughter. Justine, Lara's mother, is trying to make a decision about her business and she and Lara argue about what she should do. Justine makes the decision for which Lara was lobbying and then Lara argues the exact opposite, telling Justine she should wait and think it over. She seems to simply enjoying arguing with her mother and making things more difficult between them. An example of Lara's interaction with her mother: page 217 "Lara wheedled and whined and stamped her foot." Is she two? Three, maybe?
There is a dog for whom she cannot find a home, but when she finds that her mother has fallen for the dog, she stomps out of the room in a fit of temper. At this point I was wondering if Lara had some kind of underlying emotional problem that we don't know about.
This has all the things you'd think would make a great read, but it just sits there and not in a good dog, sit kind of way.
Not recommended, not even for a quick beach read. Disappointment.

[Stephanie Fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read for any dog lover ( and anyone who secretly believes that canine soulmates are better than human ones!)

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love dogs and I love Beth Kendrick's books, so reading this book was a no-brainer. Don't let the cute cover fool you -- this isn't some fluffy chick lit book. Kendrick does a wonderful job of exploring the complex relationship between mothers and daughters and fathers and daughters, and how our past relationships impact our future decisions. Anyone who loves dogs will certainly love all of the cute canines in this book that Kendrick so skillfully brings to life, but beyond the dog fare is a well-written story about families, and love, and staying true to ourselves, that will stay with you long after you finish the last page.

[Michelle Robinson · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really enjoy reading books that includes dogs. I am a dog person. I like seeing people who enjoy animals in novels and in nonfiction.
This novel did not do it for me though. I wanted to read a light, airy little novel about a dog walker with the uncanny skill to match the correct dog with the correct person.

I did want to see the animals treated well but I also need to see the people that the dog lovers come in contact with treated well also. At the very least, it would have been nice to see one of characters not demonized because he did not want to share a home with no less than 7 dogs and more being "rescued" constantly, in the same home, whenever people chose to abandon them.
The man in question may have been a jerk, however, I don't think choosing to not become an in-home animal shelter or a burgeoning animal hoarder did not justify the disdain he gets from Lara. Lara, this supposedly intuitive, dog trainer and rescuer allows her dogs to completely destroy her fiance's drywall and furniture, at the beginning of the novel, she then blames him for being overwhelmed with her dogs. That was just silly and childish. Relationships require give and take. Why not try to deal with the negative behavior of your animals and also find other foster homes for some of them. That would have demonstrated a level of concern for this man's feelings that we never see from her. When the relationship ends, she is so busy assigning blame and never takes time to reflect on her possible contribution to the failed relationship.

I also got really tired of Justine's repeated comments of how she was not going to be, "one of those moms" that put the needs of her children above the care of her animals. I can understand and sympathize with not abandoning an animal when a child is born but I don't like the judgmental tone this book takes. Even when the cause is worthwhile, no one is picking up a work of fiction to be preached at. I also have to say if one does not want to be weighed down by the needs of your own children, then don't have any and then you will have all the time you feel is necessary to devote to rescuing a number of dogs and keeping them in your home. Justine says how much she hates people who have children and then neglects thier animals so much that I became tired of hearing it.

I greatly enjoy dogs and look for books that include them in the storyline. this is just not a book for me. Fiction is not the place to push your agenda so forcefully down the throats of your readers. Share your ideas and trust that reader is intelligent enough to form their own opinion.

I also hated a scene where a person flushes a dog toy down the toilet and then in retribution, Lara flushes something expensive down the toilet as well. I don't know if this was meant to be funny. For me, it was just immature.

It was also extremely bothersome, for me, that Lara treated her mother so abominably, even as an adult. Her mother sacrificed a great deal to give her daughter financial stability and opportunities. Even if Lara was not interested in being financially successful or in dressing nicely, she could have treated her mother with at least a modicum of respect. I felt that it was not wonder her mother avoided her when she (the mom) became ill, Lara treated her as an adversary. Who deliberately makes themselves vulnerable to someone that consistently thinks the worst of them and behaves childishly toward them? I wouldn't not even if they were my child.

Please forgive the awful grammar. I wrote this while in a fit of frustration.... Now I need to go read something good.

[Meredith Schorr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having grown up with a mostly absent father and a sometimes overly critical mother, Lara Madigan has always been more comfortable with and trusting of dogs than with people, with the exception of her best friend Kerri and her live-in boyfriend Evan. Unfortunately, when the dogs take over her house and home, it drives a wedge between Lara and Evan. As her career with canines hits an all-time high, Lara is forced to come to terms with her human connections.

I adored this book! Beth Kendrick fleshed out the personalities of the dogs in this novel better than most authors develop secondary human characters in their books! I've always wanted a dog but after finishing this book, I crave my doggie soulmate. I also found the way the author worked through Lara's relationships with her parents very believable and not sugar-sweet. And, with respect to the Lara's romantic life, I knew how I wanted the book to end from the very beginning and Kendrick did not disappoint.

[Leona · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this as part of our Library Valentines "Blind Date" program. You walked into the library and picked from a stack of a books that were wrapped. I thought this was rather clever, and even though I already had a Valentines date with my husband, I figured what the heck. I always enjoy a surprise.

This turned out to be a very light hearted read. I would have enjoyed it a bit more had the author further explored the relationship and character development. But still kin of fun if you enjoy a furry canine story.

[Jenn O'Brien · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the perfect book for a Sunday afternoon, a pitcher of pink lemonade, light jazz on the radio and a comfortable reading chair on the patio. It is light and breezy and just right for any dog lover.

The characters in this book are a lot of fun, they all had such varied personalities and backgrounds that it made for an interesting group. I adored the Jane Austen couple - how much fun to have a Austen-esqe house in the middle of Arizona.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Light and funny, yet a good story. Great characters and dialogue. Obviously an experienced dog lover wrote this book. Loved the dog characters too - Kendrick made them their personalities come to life on page.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Update 6/14/2012: I originally gave this book 3 stars, but after talking to a friend about it ... I am revising it to 4 stars. She brought up some good points, which were (1) Did you care about the characters (human and canine); (2) Did you care how it ended; (3) Did you feel parts of it were accurately portrayed (not too sticky sweet). The answer to all three questions is yes. Therefore, aside from the way it was written, I think it is a good story. Once I started discussing it, I realized I actually really enjoyed the book.

6/8/2012: I was excited to read this book for our June chick lit book club. It is the story of Lara - a down to earth dog lover who is a vet pharma rep and helps run a dog rescue with her friend Kerry. There are various triumphs and tribulations that Lara works through with Kerry, her boyfriend, her Mom, and her Dad. However I didn't really enjoy the book that much - the writing felt a little forced and not very organic. It's a shame because the plot had so much potential. It's as if the author had a wonderful idea for a book, but just didn't have the right words to execute it properly.

[Marcy Graybill · Rating 2 out of 5]

Overall not a bad book. The few errors about dog shows were not unexpected. My biggest complaint about the book was the fact she went back to Evan after he flushed the dog's toy. I don't care if you're not a dog person, you don't do something to hurt an animal, just to punish a person. I realize it wasn't a physical hurt, but for a rescued dog psychological hurts can be worse. For her to even consider to go back to him, is just plain stupid.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I saw this at the library and since I love any stories that deal with dogs, I thought I'd pick it up. Kendrick wrote a delightful book. Lara is the "doggie matchmaker" she looks at people and can almost instantly match a person up with their ideal canine soulmate. She's very devoted to her dogs and we see how that affects her relationship with her boyfriend and her very prim & proper mother.
Definitely a great light-hearted read, had just the right amount of humor,

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is definitely a solid choice for the dog-obsessed reader. Unfortunately that's not really me lol. I didn't mind the story overall but nearly all of the characters annoyed me so much. Her parents were the woooorst in very different ways. I wasn't surprised by the ending either. Very little romance too.

[Lea · Rating 5 out of 5]

What's not to love about a dog-trainer/rescuer/matchmaker? I appreciate a book about rescue dogs, with a bit of romance, and just a little bit of angst. The main focus of the story was Lara and her daily adventures with dogs, and it was fun to read.

[Vickie · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun book! Lara Madigan is part dog rescuer, matchmaker, and trainer. I loved the topics covered: rescue vs puppy mills; absentee father; self-made mother; self discovery. There was all of this in this fun read on a lazy afternoon!

Go Cards! L1C4!!

[Phoenix Titus · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very cute and easy read. I read it straight through during a sleepless night and it kept me interested and amused. Definitely worth a read if you have a chance.

[Ash · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a cute love story

[Deanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a cute book. Loved it from start to finish.

[Cindy Roesel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review first appeared at Chick Lit Central Blog!

Just like the doggies in the window on the cover of THE LUCKY DOG MATCHMAKING SERVICE, you won’t be able to resist Beth Kendrick’s new novel of the same name. I’ve been writing reviews long enough for CLC that you should know by now I’m a dog fanatic, but if you don’t, well, I am. This book had me excited with the title, thrilled by the cover and once I started reading it, well, let’s just say, you have to go buy a copy immediately!

Lara Madigan rescues dogs finding loving homes for them. She’s essentially a matchmaker, fixing up four-legged canines with their two-legged soul mates. At the beginning of the novel, Lara’s engaged to Evan Walker who surprisingly, isn’t thrilled to share his, excuse me, their, house with all the dogs. Despite the written contract Evan has signed with Lara promising to be a “dog person,” he is more of a people person. They are in love, but Evan regularly gets angry at all the dog toys, shedding and slobbering.

Lara soon moves out and in with her mother at mom’s ultra-fancy exclusive posh gated community where Lara soon becomes the Dog Doyenne to the “real housewives of Mayfair Estates” catering to their every canine need. Beth Kendrick’s storytelling skills are delightfully tight. I love how she creates a cast of characters of super rich, neurotic, funny, likeable ladies but at the same time places high value on the friendships among the women. Her wonderful coterie of characters is deliciously fleshed out.

Soon Lara’s training neighborhood dogs, getting a “flabrador” on a diet, and showing a Bernese mountain dog on the conformation circuit. The dogs even seem to take on personalities of their own. The reader soon recognizes Eskie, Mullet, Ivory, Cleo and Murphy.

But before you think it’s all work and no play for Lara. That she’s destined to be the matchmaker and roam single, pairing up others, a rescue comes into her life that may bring her to her perfect match. This is THE LUCKY DOG MATCHMAKING SERVICE.

Beth, I do have to single you out for having a character who watched THE BOURNE IDENTITY at least 18 times. I think we are tie. Matt Damon is dreamy!

THE LUCKY DOG MATCHMAKING SERVICE and all Beth Kendrick’s novels are available on Amazon. You can find her on Facebook and Twitter and her website.

[Kristin · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was rather shallow fluff, with minimal drama or plot, and I'm surprised it got published in hardcover. It started off promising, with main character Lara running a dog rescue and taking in a bunch of moody mutts who need the perfect owner. When her rescue partner's pregnancy gets in the way of taking in any more strays, forcing Lara to take over operations completely, it puts a strain on her relationship with her boyfriend, who decides he is not a dog person and evicts her from his home. Beyond that point though, the book ventures into the fluff territory and basically abandons the 'dog rescue and matching them with the perfect owner' idea.
Instead, Lara becomes dog trainer to the rich, handling a Bernese Mountain Dog in the show ring, conveniently finding a neighbor with a pool when a Lab is in dire need of exercise, and channelling the pool owner's dog's excess energy into competitive dock diving. Meanwhile, Lara also tries repairing her relationships with her mother, a high class beauty salon owner who isn't taking aging well but still expects Lara to live the high life, and her father, who floats in and out of her life on a whim.
I wish the author would have stuck with the dog rescue story, because it was a lot more intriguing than this 'dog doyenne' plot. Lara starts the book living with 5 dogs, and a few come and go, but by the end of the book, she seems to have forgotten about her dog rescue and her dogs get hardly a mention. Plus, while a Bernese Mountain Dog and some terriers get mentions in the book, there were no bulldogs, a disappointment after the cover illustration.
It wasn't a horrible book, and made for light reading during my dinner breaks at work, just lacked drama and the tangent away from the rescue was a letdown. Probably wouldn't read this author again unless she writes a sequel to Lara's story that actually involves her dog rescue through the whole thing.

[B · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's chick-lit, and then there's a book like "The Lucky Dog Matchmaking Service." Don't let the category put you off; this one is worth the time and it's fun. Especially if you like dogs and can understand that life doesn't always work to pattern.

Our heroine, Lara, is a dog trainer/rescuer who has a knack for finding just the right person for a dog in need. But her own life is not so well-ordered; boyfriend troubles put Lara into a difficult situation with her uber-perfectionist mother, and it all rolls out from there in a mixture of people, pets, parents, trying to make life work and finding the right match.(And fyi, the sex and language issues in a lot of chick-lit is kept to a minimum, thank you very much.)

But let's face it, this one is not about the romance--it's about the dogs. If you've ever fallen for a sad-eyed mutt, or enjoyed the companionship of a good dog, or even lived through the trials of a less-than-perfect dog, then you'll probably enjoy this one!

Of course, I now want a dog...again.


[Psst--if you've watched USA's Necessary Roughness, think of Dr Dani's mother, running beauty salons, and that's how the mother here looked to me. Read it, watch it--let me know if I'm right.]

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a great light read. It features Lara, who has stumbled into her perfect career of working with dogs. She is a pharmaceutical rep for vets and that leads her into meeting dogs that have been abandoned and given up for a variety of reasons. But Lara has a secret skill of matching people to their soulmate dog. However, she often has 4-5 dogs in her house until she finds them their forever home. And her fiance announces that he is "not a dog person". Homeless, she returns to live with her well-bred mother and repair her life.

This book was great. The characters were a little predictable, but still likeable and you wanted to see what is going to happen. Lara is fun and you can feel the love of dogs throughout the book. It's got some feel good moments and some nice messages without being too preachy.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun book about 30ish woman who rescues dogs and matches them with the perfect people. She has a mom who wants her to be glamorous, a father who wants to be the fun parent, a boyfriend who thinks she's taken dog rescue too far, and a girlfriend who is equally crazy about dogs.

Light, fun, and I learned a bit about dog training and dog shows. Strong dialogue, good humor, engaging.

This is classified as chick lit, but the characters aren't featherheaded as they have been in some chick lit I've read. The heroine is strongly committed to what she does, and she is competent and stands up for herself.

Thoroughly enjoyable.

[Cyndee Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is for pet lovers and romance readers! I enjoyed the characters and the Dogs. It has many moments of funny situations. Read and see if a Dog leads to the guy you love at last. I highly recommend this quick read. The Author captures the story to relate to finding a perfect match when it comes to L-O-V-E. The Lucky Dog Matchmaking Service


**** Reviewed Public Library Copy. This is my opinion only.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Totally cute book! This was a first time read for me by Beth Kendrick and I have to say I enjoyed it. I actually found myself trying to guess which dog she would pair up with which person!! I laughed at times and got teary eye'd at others and I think all of those things combined make for a great book. The story was well developed and I enjoyed the characters. If you are looking for a cute easy read then this book is for you... only if you like dogs though;)

[Jaye · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don't judge my trash dammit. I just adopted a new mutt and he's making me insane, this book is just what I needed to lighten my mood and relax. And honestly, I thought that the character of the protagonist's mother was really well written. Just reading her made me uncomfortable to be quite honest. This isn't high art, but it was a well written light read that had some really good character development.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book as a light and fun kinda read! I loved the dogs and the matchmaking service the main character Lara provided; Matchmaking for dogs and humans that is! It was a good premise and a fulfilling story with only the ending being a bit rushed for me. Otherwise, enjoyable and recommended!

[Casey Laura Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am giving this novel 5 stars for what it is. A fun uplifting novel for dog lovers everywhere. It is very light and easy to read. I finished it very quickly. It isn't meant to be deep or make you think too hard. It's a perfect novel to pass time when you're having anxiety or just need a distraction while tanning or in general.

[Andy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was good for my soul. If you like plucky heroines who borderline on being hot messes but find their way after clearing several obstacles, and more importantly if you have ever had that one special dog find you, you will enjoy this book.

[amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

a fun read. i enjoyed it more than kendrick's other book the bake off. had it not been 2am already with my poor husband trying to sleep with my light still on, i would have definitely finished the whole thing in one read.

[Haley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A slow start to this light read and the main character annoyed me at first. Glad I persevered, though, as it was funny, quirky and although not an altogether surprising ending, the cast showed up as likable due to some evolution. I finished with a smile.