Kindle freebie series at time of download. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not affected by the giveaway.
3.55 stars (extra .5 for Fritz)
Bridget Linsmore is fiercely devoted to dogs. People, not so much. She loves her rescue dogs and wants the best possible homes for them even if it means turning down wealthy and influential people like developer Sullivan Shaw. When Bridget's best friend Andrea MacDuff aka "Duff" insists Bridget buy a house and settle down, Bridget is reluctant to accept the idea until her landlady asks Bridget to move out by Christmas so she can rent the house to family. When Bridget learns the parents of one of her matches (she also made a human love match) are selling their home and barn, she sees big possibilities for an expanded rescue but first she has to outbid Sullivan Shaw who is eager to tear down the property the family loves so much. To win the property, Bridget needs a large loan and to pay off the loan, her annual rescue pageant has to be a bigger success than ever. She's confident she can pull it all off but she doesn't reckon with rude neighbors like Sullivan Shaw, a feisty terrier with a mind of his own and the new mayor who, although having lived in Dog Town for awhile, isn't quite on board with the whole dog theme. Bridget's friends try to stage an intervention before all is lost. Then it seems as if someone is deliberately trying to sabotage her rescue! Who would do such a thing? Can she save her home, her dogs and her heart?
I really, really liked the first half of this book. I relate a lot to Bridget and her obsession with rescuing dogs. I loved the rescue theme and the adorable dogs. I HATED seeing Bridget have to change who she is in order to win over the sleazy mayor. That made me cringe and I had to take a break from the story. The second half starts to unravel in plausibility. I have a lot of questions about Bridget's rescue. I gather she's more of a one woman informal rescue than a legit non-profit. Why doesn't she have a kennel license already? Why don't these animal professionals understand what the essence of a terrier is? Terrier=earth dog- they go to ground and dig up and flush out vermin. They can and will hunt to kill. Do not underestimate their cute little faces. A perfectly lovely, friendly Cairn Terrier can become a vicious warrior when confronted with a chipmunk in need of eradicating or an opposum in her territory. She CAN and WILL shake that baby opossum to death. That part of the plot made no sense whatsoever and was used solely for dramatic effect.
There's a big mystery to be solved that I found obvious. Then there's the romance subplot. I was a bit surprised she ended up sleeping with the guy. I didn't quite like the romance as much as the dog rescue plot. There's no reason she can't live happily ever after with Beau and Fritz and all the rest and still be fulfilled. I hate the message these books send to women. Make it a cozy mystery and not a romance. There are a few loose ends to tie up at the end. I was left wondering what happened to some of the canines and humans in the story.
I really, really like Bridget. In previous stories she seems so sweet and kind. She's friendly to Isla and Romi and lets Cori be the tough one. In fact I thought this was CORI'S rescue in the previous book. Apparently Cori is just the trainer and it's Bridget's one woman show assisted by a few close friends. I love her female friendships with the other ladies in the Mafia and how far they're willing to go to support one another and Bridget's cause. I most especially love Bridget's relationship with Beau. He's a gorgeous, lovely dog who is a good judge of character and as devoted to Bridget as she is to him. At one point in the story I was practically in tears! I absolutely hated how Bridget had to change who she is and how her rescue operates just to please the slimy mayor. That is NOT right AT ALL and if she was a legit non-profit, she may not have those problems. Bridget is fierce, she's loyal, she's loving and tough. She is not soft, she doesn't back down and she's protective of her dogs. Those things make her easily relatable and likable for a crazy dog lady like me. I would never demean myself the way she did. I couldn't.
I don't think Duff has Bridget's best interests at heart. Duff is more of a people pleaser. She walks the line between being a loyal dog rescuer and playing the political game. She doesn't seem to understand Bridget as well as a best friend should. Telling your best friend to put her best ASSets forward (top and bottom) is all kinds of wrong in this day and age. I wouldn't ever speak to her again if she did that to me. Nope. Not happening. The other ladies are better friends and will do what it takes to help Bridget, even if it means assisting with the makeover. I love Bronwyn, Bridget's mom. I don't know why they don't get along or why her mom doesn't like Dog Town but she's awesome! She fights for what she knows is right and fights for her daughter's happiness.
Besides Beau, there are a number of great dogs. My favorite is Fritz, the naughty Cairn Terrier mix. He seems unusually attracted to Sullivan Shaw but I think that's because Sullivan has good smelling garbage. Fritz is a terrier through and through. He acts like a terrier and Bridget shouldn't be held responsible for forcing him to go against his nature any more than her friends and the slimy mayor should force her to go against her nature. They're a lot alike. There's a funny incident at a wedding with two dogs that made me laugh. Bruno is an adorable Boston Terrier who surprisingly knows how to behave. Peaches, his new fur sister, on the other hand, does not. She needs Cori ASAP! I've met dogs like that. Geronimo, a bichon-corgi rescue, is also central to the plot. He's adorable and sweet. I need to know what happens to him! (Also his mom).
Sullivan Shaw is kind of enigmatic. He's a wealthy developer who tears down historic charm and replaces it with new buildings. He's also going to be building over a wetlands area. OH HECK NO! I hope Bridget knows some environmental activits too. Sullivan Shaw was turned down for a dog and now it seems he wants revenge on Bridget by thwarting her plans. Or does he? He's handsome, charming and rich. He may be playing her or he may be sincere. I don't trust him. I certainly wouldn't be dumb enough to sleep with him! Bridget let me down there. At least not until you know if he's trustworthy. Beau doesn't like him and that says enough for me. Plus, it seems like he's taken. Grace, a regular at the Dog Bones diner where Bridget works as a waitress, is one of those skinny witches. She orders a bottomless cup of hot water every day and squeezes the life out of one tea bag. Double gross! That's not how you make tea! She sweetens her tea with artifical sweetner which says a lot. I don't think she's eccentric the way Bridget does. Grace is seen at events with Sullivan and she seems like one of those clingy women who want their man rich and doting. They deserve each other. However, collecting dolls is neither eccentric nor creepy!
Bill Bradshaw, the new mayor, is not a good guy. I don't know why he was elected mayor of Dog Town. He comes from old money (purebred) and big business. He isn't interested in historic or quirky charm. He can't remember Bridget's name and even after she reminds him several times, he continues to call her by the wrong name on purpose. He seems to have the whole city under this thumb. He makes grand gestures without meaning or purpose and plays hardball with Bridget and her rescue. Bill Bradshaw is also a womanizer and is an unmitigated @$$! Another such person is Cliff Whorley, the manager of the animal cop division (CCD) of the local police. He's getting too big for his britches and doesn't understand or care to understand dogs. I smell corruption. How much you want to bet he's a crony of the mayor? City Council is getting more antsy and controlling. I don't understand how these a*holes are elected? Isn't this supposed to be a dog friendly/crazy town? Wouldn't they elect the best people to manage a place where dogs are welcomed as people? What happened?
Mike, Bridget's rep on the city council, tries to build a bridge between Bridget at the mayor. He's walking a tightrope trying to please the mayor but help Bridget at the same time. I don't envy him but I know what the right thing to do is. Does he? Does he have the courage to go against the mayor even if it means losing his job? I doubt it. He doesn't seem to have the strength of character. Dog Officer Moller is another character who falls in the gray area. The poor guy is just doing his job but when is a job just a job and when does it become personal? He should question authority.
Daniel Quinto is probably the villain. He's a loser who hooked up with a nice lady and then abused her and her dog. This storyline is left hanging and I need to know what happened to Tina. I hope she's OK and Daniel goes to jail.
I enjoyed this book for a bit of light reading and I do want to know what happened to some of the other characters I've met so far so I may skip around rather than finish the series in order. I recommend this series to dog lovers who want a bit of light, gentle reading.
Content:
female body parts on display used for humor and for a purpose
womanizing mayor
the main character sleeps with a man but the story itself is squeaky clean. Nothing at all is on page aside from kissing.