The New York Times bestselling author of Almost There delivers the start of a new rom-com series with an enemies-to-lovers romance, perfect for readers of Abby Jimenez and Jasmine Guillory.
Ashanti Wright is ecstatic over the success of her dog boarding business, Barkingham Palace. In fact, it has become so successful that Ashanti has plans to expand her empire with a doggie bake shop. There’s just one problem, the building she’s had her eye on has just been sold to the surly grandson of one of her favorite customers.
Thaddeus Sims is not a dog person. He’s barely a person’s person. But when his grandmother is transferred to a senior living facility that doesn’t accept pets, the former army officer agrees to care for her annoying Standard Poodle, Puddin’. After all, it was with his grandmother’s help that Thad was able to buy the building that will soon house The PX, a sports bar/all-around hangout space for former servicemen that he plans to open.
Puddin’ and Ashanti’s French Bulldog, Duchess, have become a bit of a sensation on Barkingham Palace’s livestream because of their budding romance. When a video of the dogs sharing a doggy treat Lady and the Tramp-style goes viral, their owners are sucked into a media frenzy that captures the nation by storm...and creates some sparks for their owners too.
A native of south Louisiana, Farrah Rochon officially began her writing career while waiting in between classes in the student lounge at Xavier University of Louisiana. After earning her Bachelors of Science degree and a Masters of Arts from Southeastern Louisiana University, Farrah decided to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming a published novelist. She was named Shades of Romance Magazine's Best New Author of 2007. Her debut novel, Deliver Me, the first in her Holmes Brothers series, garnered rave reviews, earning Farrah several SORMAG Readers' Choice Awards.
In September 2010, Farrah joined the Kimani Romance family with the launch of her new series that follows the life of the fictional New York Sabers football team.
When she is not writing in her favorite coffee shop, Farrah spends most of her time reading her favorite romance novels, hanging around on Twitter, and trying to attend as many Broadway shows as her budget will allow. An admitted sports fanatic, Farrah feeds her addiction to football by watching New Orleans Saints games on Sunday afternoons.
ashanti’s dog boarding business, barkingham palace, is thriving, and she plans to expand with a doggie bake shop. however, the building she wants has been sold to thaddeus sims, the grandson of her favorite customer. thad reluctantly agrees to care for his grandmother's dog, puddin', while she moves to a pet-free facility. meanwhile, ashanti's french bulldog, duchess, and puddin' become internet sensations due to their budding romance. a viral video of the dogs sparks a media frenzy, bringing ashanti and thaddeus together amidst the chaos.
the story's beginning dragged on, which made it hard to stay interested. there were too many side stories that didn't seem important and just made things confusing. it took a really long time for the main characters to start dating, and by then, I was already bored.
it was a sweet story, but it didn't leave a lasting impression on me, and I found myself losing interest quickly. the ending had too much unnecessary drama that felt out of place with the rest of the story, which was a letdown.
: ̗̀➛ characters
the characters didn't seem fully developed; they felt one-dimensional. ashanti came across as kind-hearted and pleasant, but there wasn't much more to her character. thad didn't really grab my attention or make me care about him.
ೃ⁀➷ thank you to netgalley and forever (grand central publishing) for providing me with an arc of this book in exchange of an honest review.
- This book was really cute! It was my first read by this author and I will definitely pick up more of their books in the future when I’m looking for a cute read!! This book was pure light and fun which was the exact type of read that I needed! - Wish this book had been a bit shorter because I’m not a huge fan of long romance books, but I did really love how this story briefly touched on the importance of putting yourself first. - Really excited to read the second book in this series that comes out this year! I love a cutesy read to keep me in a good mood during the winter months.
Pardon My Frenchie by Farrah Rochen Contemporary romance, romantic comedy. Own voices, diverse. First in series. Ashanti Wright owns and runs a successful dog boarding business. She wants to expand the business to include a bake shop, but hesitates. It’s a big decision. Buying a bigger property when she’s already maxed out between the business and family obligations is a toss up between risk and reward. Thaddeus Sims is not a dog person but with his grandmother moving into a senior living facility, he has no choice but to become at least friendly with Puddin’. After all, she’s financing his dream of opening a sports bar and hangout space for former servicemen. Puddin’ and Ashanti’s dog Duchess, are besties. When their two dogs are caught in a video that goes viral, her business is pushed to the next level, whether Ashanti is ready or not. Spending more time with the buff and handsome ex-military hero is contentious to start but soon the romance is not limited to the canines.
Laugh-out-loud situations and adorable pet behavior make this romance a romping good read.
the book was a bit slow for me, but i do like the core characters! also a lot of dog talk which isn’t an interest for me, no third act break up and an overall easy read but it just didn’t stick with me
This book was so dog-gone cute! I really enjoyed this book and the characters. Ashanti and Thad are so in sync when they finally get together. This is a bit of a slow burn but I love that as I think it builds character between the MC’s. I really liked Ashanti and Thad’s friends as side characters, especially Von with his sense of humor. I loved the whole dog theme and the fame Puddin’ and Dutchess strike up with their viral video.
This book is sweet, sexy, slightly sad at times and I adored it.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Forever (Grand Central Publishing), Forever and Farrah Rochon for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Pub Date: 6/4/24
This book is a cute, fluffy, and heartwarming romcom with lots of dog love. The fmc Ashanti owns a doggy daycare and is the caretaker of her twin teenage sisters. She's been trying to expand her doggy daycare business and was looking to buy a building which is taken away by the mmc. The mmc Thad is a retired veteren who is also trying to expand his business and doesn't really like dogs. They sort of clash since they are in close proximity and become rivals.
Its a slow slow burn but the book is so light and fun so it was cool. I enjoyed the characters and the romance it felt like a warm hug(with a bit of steam). This is light but there are themes of grief discussed in the story. I really liked the caregiver aspect and seeing Ashanti navigate taking care of her sisters. Thank you Forever for this arc.
Read for: -Black romance - Forced proximity - Sloww burn - Dog love - Small town
This book was a solid, yet sweet summer read for me.
You might like this book if you like great banter, enemies to lovers, and slow burn. Even if you don’t like a slow burn, I really think you would like this book. The characters are so easy to fall in love with that you are just rooting for them the entire time.
It is pretty low spice but when I got spicy, it was around 75% into the book and there were only two scenes. *and they were goood*
This seemed like it would be fantastic if you really love dogs with a capital L. I wanted less dogs and more romance. Appreciated a little bit of spice, big not my favorite FR
i'm a sucker for dogs, but even more so when love is involved! i thought this one was so cute overall, but i wanted more steam (other books i've read by Rochon have delivered on the steam). the steam scenes that DID happen were definitely good though. loved Thad and Ashanti and their friends - this was just an easy read and enjoyable!
What an adorable book. This is a sweet romcom for dog lovers! I loved how through both Ashanti and Thad’s individual POVs you see the ups and downs of owning a small business. This was probably my favorite parts of the book. There’s a lot of stress involved but when you really love what you’re doing it’s worth it.
I really liked the FMC, Ashanti. She was incredibly driven and independent. She had a lot on her plate but she was doing her best. I do wish we had a little more moments with her sisters and showing more of their relationship with one another. Thad was great. I loved how he came off as grumpy but deep down he’s a teddy bear. He was pretty swoon worthy as a book boyfriend too. I liked the slow burn and the very adult relationship they formed throughout this book. I thought they were adorable together and Mrs. Francis was right, they are perfect for each other.
I loved the doggy daycare. All the side characters were a lot of fun. Ridley was my absolute favorite. Von is a close second. I can’t forget Duchess and Puddin! They were the sweetest.
My only real complaint is that the ending was super rushed. The whole book felt pretty slow/medium paced and then the ending was lightning fast. There’s quite a bit of drama near the end and it felt unnecessary because it didn’t really add anything to the actual story.
Overall though, I had a good time reading this book. I’d be happy to read more by this author. I’d even be happy to read a book about the other friends if they get a book! Thank you to the publisher for a copy. All opinions are my own.
Me not liking Thad from the get go was the nail in the coffin for this book.
The way that he treated Puddin’ in the beginning was just bad. Like there’s indifference, but still treating the animal with respect. But he was just a little past the line for me.
Then I didn’t like the side characters. I’m all about a book with a strong group of friends, but Ashanti doesn’t have that. We have Ridley who continued saying “I told you so” five too many times. There’s a line between gentle ribbing vs it coming off mean spirited.
Thanks to netgalley and forever for the arc. My opinions are my own.
I'm going to rate this 4 stars because I have absolutely no complaints. I struggled a bit with rating it 4 stars because I was comparing it to other books I've read/rated 4 stars, but realized that's not entirely fair. If it had some action/plot twists or deeply moving parts to make it even more memorable, I would've rated it 5 stars.
What I will say for sure: I don't forget books that I enjoy. Lots of people do, but I don't. The puppy business and VA business was so unique for me that it won't give me a choice but to remember!
If you love dogs and enemies to lovers or grumpy/sunshine trope, you will love Pardon My Frenchie!!!
Ashanti Wright owns the Barkingham Palace Doggy Daycare and her sweet Frenchie Duchesa has gone viral on social media for content with her BFF Puddin'. But everything changes when Puddin's owner Mrs. Frances has to move to assisted living after an accident and her grandson Thad agreea to care for Puddin' ... and take him out of doggy daycare.
Thad, recently retired from the military is a curmudgeon who does not love dogs and Ashanti has to convince him to bring Puddin' on a press tour so she can try to win a small business competition to get $$$ to buy a bigger building for the daycare and her bakery. Meanwhile, she also cares for her twin teen sisters and she is trying to juggle the demands od the daycare and her gourmet dog treat bakery, so she has no time for romance ... but Thad is quite attractive...
Overall, this was a super cute rom com book - I loved Ashanti and Duchesa and I was rooting for them the whole time! The supporting characters were all well rounded and it felt like I actually knew them. I highly recommwnd this book!
Content Warnings: Loss of Parents, Absent Parent, Infidelity
3.75 This is probably the third book that I read recently that didn't have a third act breakup and I am all for it along with a super cute romance featuring adorable dogs and a lot of focus on adulthood things like running a dog care business, doing social media, raising two teens all while falling in love. Cute! Adorable! Super cute!
Pardon my Frenchie is a cute lighthearted romance with likable and realistic characters. What originally drew me to the book was its adorable cover, dog subplot, and a recommendation from Abby Jimenez, one of my favorite authors!
I thought Ashanti was very relatable, I liked her business sense and strong character, professionally and personally. She was inspiring as the sole caretaker of her 16 year old sisters, a tough situation for someone young, sacrificing her own educational pursuits to support them. When Duchess and Puddin’ go viral, it opens a world of opportunities for her, it’s only natural Ashanti leans on Thad’s help. I appreciated the realistic portrayal of the start of their relationship with boundaries and good communication, this was definitely a slow burn romance. I wasn’t Thad’s biggest fan in the beginning but he grew on me in the end.
Much of the plot revolves around Ashanti, Thad, and the dogs, however family drama takes over in the second half, adding more layers and interest to the story. Overall an enjoyable read!
Thank you to Netgalley and Forever for the early review copy.
Thank you so much @booksparks @readforeverpub for my gifted copy. #SRC2024 #GameSetRead
About the book 👇🏽 Ashanti Wright is thrilled over the success of her doggie daycare, Barkingham Palace. But handling the business and taking care of her teen twin sisters is a lot. And now that the antics of her adorable French bulldog and poodle bestie are blowing up on social media, things are even more chaotic than usual. And they only get worse when the world’s worst dog hater shows up and his name is Thad.
✨ My thoughts: So stinkin’ cute, I loved it! I love romantic comedies where dogs are a big part of the storyline and add a grumpy x sunshine and enemies to lovers trope to the mix, it’s just too good to pass up and a must read for me. I enjoyed Ashanti and Thad individually and together and felt like their pair up was believable and cohesive. It’s definitely a slow burn romance but it’s so enjoyable you be happy when it finally happens. Pardon My Frenchie I’d a light hearted feel good romance that’ll make you feel all warm inside. If you’re looking for light and sweet or maybe even a palate cleanser, pick this one up because it’s out now!
To all my dog lovers, this summer rom com is for you. Filled with all the pups, the sweetest slow burn romance, humor, low conflict and low angst, this is definitely one I’d say to save for the beach or when you need something light. I really enjoyed how Ashanti and Thad took the time to become friends, who confided and trusted the other, before diving into something more. Plus, seeing Thad become a dog guy was too good. On audiobook, the narrators did a great job bringing the characters to life and pulling me into the story.
Read if you like: -Slow burns -Forced proximity -Gumpy x sunshine -Dogs -Small town -NOLA setting
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I really liked this one; I adored the cover. The writing was lighthearted and offered some laugh out loud moments. Ashanti and Thad were not friends in the beginning but their pups brought them together. By the end, there was no second guessing that they were meant to be. It reminded me a little of an updated version of 101 Dalmatians. So sweet!
The dogs were so adorable, the sisters were interesting, Ashanti's entrepreneur journey was also something to note as enjoyable, but if the author would've left Thaddeus POV out of this it would have been 10x better, I promise.
I did not feel much chemistry between the two MC's, I felt more chemistry between Puddin and Duchess I mean how adorable were they!! Tooo cute! When it came time to do what needed to be done, it fell flat for me and to make matters worse the narrator for Thaddeus was one of the worse I have listened and did not help me enjoy his character at all.
All in all this is a book I would not recommend just because of my personal experience with it, but feel free to check it out.
A romance between a woman with a huge affection for dogs and a former Veteran who wants nothing to do with them — which is complicated because he is suddenly taking care of his grandmother’s famous pup. Famous thanks to her heroine and this fame pushes this unlikely couple together again and again.
Heroine is a go-getter who is also the guardian of her younger sisters and I really admired her.
Adorable dogs, a weekend trip to NYC, love for NOLA, and hey - dogs and our pets bring so much joy to our lives. And so will this book.
This is my fourth book by the author and unfortunately it is my least favorite. It was cute, but there was too much of the dogs, causing all other plot points to feel underdeveloped. The romantic chemistry between the main characters wasn’t there. If you’re a dog LOVER and looking for a fluffy read, this is for you.
2.75/5 I did not care about the characters, the plot or anything going on in this book. I felt there was too much going on but also nothing at all at the same time. If you are the biggest dog lover maybe this could be for you but that plot also dies down towards the end. Many coming and going plots that weren’t well executed.
This one might need a trigger warning for people who are sensitive to issues including parental death and cheating; however, the author handles these issues with care.
Ashanti is raising her twin teenage sisters alone and running two dog-related businesses - Barkingham Palace (great name!) where she boards dogs and a dog treat line called Duchess Delights named after her own dog, a French bulldog named Duchess. Her favorite client, a lovely older woman tries to set her up with her grandson, Thad. He recently moved back to New Orleans to start a business of his own - a space that is both a bar and a barbershop - aimed to current and former military personnel. Thad feels a bit lost since leaving the military himself. He ends up having to care for his grandmother's dog, Puddin, who he's not fond of - this puts him in Ashanti's company as Puddin is very fond of Duchess. There are plenty of funny moments - both human and canine!
Thank you to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for the ARC. I just reviewed Pardon My Frenchie by Farrah Rochon. #NetGalley
I soooo enjoyed this opposites attract romance set in New Orleans that sees a grumpy military veteran falling for a busy single guardian and doggie daycare entreprenuer falling in love.
Full of adorable canine sidekicks, great female friendship and a strong, independent Black female business owner, this was an easy read that had me laughing and swooning reading about the Puddin' and Duchess antics and how they brought their owners together.
My new fav from Farrah Rochon and I can't wait to read more in this new series! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!
Ashanti is super busy. She owns a doggie daycare and sells homemade dog treats on the side. She is responsible for her twin 16 year old sisters and has a French bulldog named Duchess that she adores.
Thad has moved back to New Orleans to start a new business and take care of his grandmother’s poodle, Puddin’ (he is not a dog person).
Duchess and Puddin’ are obsessed with each other. And honestly I could not get enough these two dogs together.
This was such a fun enjoyable read. I’m not really a dog person. But I loved everything about the dogs, the daycare and the treat business.
The romance is very slow burn. But honestly I really enjoyed the side characters and seeing both main characters focus on their businesses that I didn’t miss the lack of romance in the first half of the book.
This was such a cute story! Great way to start off the month.
Thanks to Forever Publishing and netgalley for allowing me to read this book.
Special thanks to the author & @readforeverpub for my gifted copy‼️ This was a cute and fluffy read but I could’ve done without the audio lol the narrator for Thad annoyed me so bad. The pacing was fair and we get quite a few subplots with Ashanti being the owner of the doggy daycare, trying to parent her twin sisters, focus on her dreams, and make time for dating. It’s crazy how the dogs became the highlight of the book lol but I love a good enemies-to-lovers trope which is why I wanted to read this one. Did the author deliver? In so many ways yes but I still wanted more or maybe I would’ve enjoyed the book had I not listened to the audio. Overall, it’s a decent story if you like slow-burn romance or the enemies-to-lovers trope you’ll like this book.
This was such a cute read! It was the perfect palate cleanser after diving into so much historical and fantasy fiction. The main character, Ashanti, had a lot on her plate—coping with the loss of her parents, raising her twin teenage sisters, and managing two businesses at once. Then Thad enters the picture, and she slowly rediscovers space for love in her life. The pacing was decent—not overly thrilling, but steady enough to keep me interested. Overall, just a sweet, enjoyable story that I’d recommend.