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The Dogfather #4
Bad to the Bone
Trace Bancroft has been in prison for fourteen years, paying for a mistake that cost a man his life. Now released, Trace heads back to Bitter Bark with his mutt, Meatball, and runs into Daniel Kilcannon, who offers to provide some medical care for the dog. Trace knows that would mean seeing Molly Kilcannon, a girl who shared one crazy night with him before his life took a turn for the worst. But when Meatball’s illness intensifies, Trace has no choice. He has to face Molly again and pray she’ll save his dog, no matter what their history.
When Trace Bancroft arrives at Waterford Farm with a critically ill dog, Molly Kilcannon’s entire world is rocked to the core. Firmly believing Trace died in a bar fight years ago, Molly never told anyone that the bad boy of Bitter Bark was the father of Prudence Kilcannon, her very good thirteen-year-old daughter. But Molly has promised to tell Pru the truth about her conception, and now that truth is a living, breathing ex-con whose very existence could change everything, including a precious mother-daughter relationship.
It doesn’t take long for Molly to realize there’s more to this sexy man than his dark past and tattooed arms. And while the realization that he’s a father is the best thing to ever happen to him, Trace doubts anything could make him worthy of Pru or her spirited veterinarian mother. As they nurse Meatball back to health and grow ever closer, Trace and Molly have to decide when and how to tell Pru the truth. But will the secret that binds their hearts be the very thing that breaks them apart?
When Trace Bancroft arrives at Waterford Farm with a critically ill dog, Molly Kilcannon’s entire world is rocked to the core. Firmly believing Trace died in a bar fight years ago, Molly never told anyone that the bad boy of Bitter Bark was the father of Prudence Kilcannon, her very good thirteen-year-old daughter. But Molly has promised to tell Pru the truth about her conception, and now that truth is a living, breathing ex-con whose very existence could change everything, including a precious mother-daughter relationship.
It doesn’t take long for Molly to realize there’s more to this sexy man than his dark past and tattooed arms. And while the realization that he’s a father is the best thing to ever happen to him, Trace doubts anything could make him worthy of Pru or her spirited veterinarian mother. As they nurse Meatball back to health and grow ever closer, Trace and Molly have to decide when and how to tell Pru the truth. But will the secret that binds their hearts be the very thing that breaks them apart?
364 pages, ebook
First published January 20, 2018
828 people are currently reading
667 people want to read
About the author
Roxanne St. Claire
265 books1,832 followersI don’t know about you, but when I check out an author's bio, it’s usually because I’ve read a book I liked and wondered about the person behind it. Let's skip the formal bio and I'll give you the inside scoop on who Roxanne St. Claire really is.
First of all, call me Rocki. Everyone does. Evidently, when my mother brought me home from the hospital I seemed too scrawny and small to pull off “Roxanne” (she’d read Cyrano de Bergerac while pregnant or I would have been Judy) so they called me Rocki.
I grew up in Pittsburgh, PA, the youngest of five (overachievers, every one), and fell in love with words and stories the summer I read Gone With The Wind. That year, for my twelfth birthday, my parents gave me a typewriter (with italic font – it was the coolest thing) and from that day on, I’ve had my fingers on a keyboard, pounding out love stories for fun. My AP English teacher taught me the two most important lessons an aspiring author ever needs: 1) verbs are the key to life and 2) a writer should get a real job. After attending UCLA and graduating with a degree in communications, I tried acting and television broadcasting. Oh, they aren’t real jobs? I learned that the hard way. I changed my last name from Zink to St. Claire because a news producer told me Roxanne Zink had too many harsh consonants for a TV personality – apparently Katie Couric didn’t get the memo. I got some fun gigs, and even met Tom Hanks when I did a guest appearance on Bosom Buddies. I liked on camera work, but wasn’t too crazy about starvation, so I moved to Boston and got that “real” job. In fact, I placed my foot on the bottom rung of the corporate ladder and didn’t look down until I’d climbed all the way up to the level of Senior Vice President at the world’s largest public relations firm. On the way up, I met the man of my dreams in an elevator. Two years later – in the same elevator! – he asked me to marry him and I wisely said yes.
I stayed in PR, moved to Miami, had a few babies, lost my home in a hurricane, built another one a few hours north and all along, I kept writing my “stories” for fun. One night, I read a particularly fabulous romance novel that changed my life for good. That night, I decided I wanted to make someone else feel as whole and happy as that author made me feel. (Everyone asks! It was Nobody’s Baby But Mine by Susan Elizabeth Phillips.) With two small children and one big “real” job, writing my first novel wasn’t easy, but I did finish a manuscript that managed to get the attention of a literary agent. She told me to do one thing and one thing fast: write another book. (The first one is usually a “learner” book, honestly.) That second manuscript sold to Simon & Schuster’s Pocket Books and was released in 2003 as Tropical Getaway. Since then, I’ve written almost thirty more, in multiple genres, and long ago replaced the corporate ladder with the rollercoaster of publishing as a full-time novelist. Finally, writing is my real job.
Today, I live in a small beach community in Florida with my husband and two dogs. Our kids are off to college and law school, which means my nest is empty! I spend my time writing, working with the kids at my church, enjoying my husband's gourmet cooking, and hanging with my many writer friends. Of course, I love to read. I’m still crazy about words and stories and hope to write at least a hundred books in my lifetime. And, yes, verbs are the key to life. My favorites? Love. Work. Believe.
xoxo
Rocki
First of all, call me Rocki. Everyone does. Evidently, when my mother brought me home from the hospital I seemed too scrawny and small to pull off “Roxanne” (she’d read Cyrano de Bergerac while pregnant or I would have been Judy) so they called me Rocki.
I grew up in Pittsburgh, PA, the youngest of five (overachievers, every one), and fell in love with words and stories the summer I read Gone With The Wind. That year, for my twelfth birthday, my parents gave me a typewriter (with italic font – it was the coolest thing) and from that day on, I’ve had my fingers on a keyboard, pounding out love stories for fun. My AP English teacher taught me the two most important lessons an aspiring author ever needs: 1) verbs are the key to life and 2) a writer should get a real job. After attending UCLA and graduating with a degree in communications, I tried acting and television broadcasting. Oh, they aren’t real jobs? I learned that the hard way. I changed my last name from Zink to St. Claire because a news producer told me Roxanne Zink had too many harsh consonants for a TV personality – apparently Katie Couric didn’t get the memo. I got some fun gigs, and even met Tom Hanks when I did a guest appearance on Bosom Buddies. I liked on camera work, but wasn’t too crazy about starvation, so I moved to Boston and got that “real” job. In fact, I placed my foot on the bottom rung of the corporate ladder and didn’t look down until I’d climbed all the way up to the level of Senior Vice President at the world’s largest public relations firm. On the way up, I met the man of my dreams in an elevator. Two years later – in the same elevator! – he asked me to marry him and I wisely said yes.
I stayed in PR, moved to Miami, had a few babies, lost my home in a hurricane, built another one a few hours north and all along, I kept writing my “stories” for fun. One night, I read a particularly fabulous romance novel that changed my life for good. That night, I decided I wanted to make someone else feel as whole and happy as that author made me feel. (Everyone asks! It was Nobody’s Baby But Mine by Susan Elizabeth Phillips.) With two small children and one big “real” job, writing my first novel wasn’t easy, but I did finish a manuscript that managed to get the attention of a literary agent. She told me to do one thing and one thing fast: write another book. (The first one is usually a “learner” book, honestly.) That second manuscript sold to Simon & Schuster’s Pocket Books and was released in 2003 as Tropical Getaway. Since then, I’ve written almost thirty more, in multiple genres, and long ago replaced the corporate ladder with the rollercoaster of publishing as a full-time novelist. Finally, writing is my real job.
Today, I live in a small beach community in Florida with my husband and two dogs. Our kids are off to college and law school, which means my nest is empty! I spend my time writing, working with the kids at my church, enjoying my husband's gourmet cooking, and hanging with my many writer friends. Of course, I love to read. I’m still crazy about words and stories and hope to write at least a hundred books in my lifetime. And, yes, verbs are the key to life. My favorites? Love. Work. Believe.
xoxo
Rocki
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 222 reviews
January 16, 2018
When life hands you a curve ball, you step up to the plate and come out swinging. Trace and Molly had to learn the hardest of lessons in the most heartbreaking of ways. One night changed the course of two lives, can the love of a special dog, be the olive branch they need to reconcile? Bad to the Bone is a coming of age tale. Molly and Trace's road is littered with life - changing choices, heartbreaking mistakes and untold blessings that set the stage for a second chance. Ms. St. Claire highlights a lesson that is profound with a romance that is prolific and a love that is awe-inspiring.
November 27, 2019
***3.5 Stars***
This is a bit hard for me to rate. There were parts I really liked and parts that were just so-so. I thought the story moved slowly and was a bit too long for my taste. I think it could have had the same affect with fifty to seventy five pages less. That is totally my preference. I didn't have many feels when it came to our couple. They certainly didn't burn up the pages like I had expected.
So here is a review of the story itself: Our hero was Trace who was raised on the wrong side of the tracks and seemed to have 'trouble' following him around just waiting to pounce. His dad was in prison and his mother was a wacko who didn't have both oars in the water. She was an emotionally absent parent.
Our heroine is Molly whose entire family works on the farm their father owns. Molly and her father are veterinarians and they have an office on their property and one in town. On their compound they also train dogs for various jobs including service dogs. They also rescue unwanted dogs, train them and find them a new home. A very do-good family.
Molly used to tutor Trace in high school and he felt something for her but knew she was way out of his league...so he didn't even try. (Cop out!) After high school they both arrived at a party at the same time and left together. Molly was a real goody two-shoes but had always had a very strong crush on the 'bad boy.' A woman in their city had it in for Trace and approached him about an affair. He certainly didn't encourage her but told her no-way! It angered her so she told her husband he attacked her when it was the other way around. So that night, after he had been intimate with the virgin, Molly, he ran away telling no one where he was going. The woman's husband is after him and has threatened to kill him. He had every intention of going back for Molly but she had no way to know this. He didn't get the chance.
Some weeks later Molly is very distressed because she's pregnant but she can't locate Trace anywhere. The story goes that he stopped for a drink at a bar the next evening because he was short of money to make his bus transfer. He voluntarily helped the bouncers control a problem and they hired him for the night because they were short of staff. (There was no paperwork for this hire...big mistake.) They paid him with a few free drinks and food. This would hold him over until he could contact his cousin the next day for a wire transfer. Later that evening there was a very drunk man who was trying to physically and sexually assault his girlfriend and Trace stepped in....especially since he was now their bouncer for a night. The guy was going to pummel this poor woman to death and rape her. She kept screaming for help and it was Trace to the rescue! He tried to push the huge man away from her and the man tripped, fell, hit his head and croaked! Trace was found guilty. The bar who hired him acted like they didn't hire him. The woman he saved was paid to lie. The man who ended up six-foot under was going to law school and his daddy was a big bad lawyer who was best buds with the judge. Yep...Trace went to jail for fourteen years. This is what you get in this country when you risk your own life to save someone from a beating and rape. (Personal opinion: I think if Trace would have contacted Molly, her family would have gladly hired a good attorney for him and probably would have been placed on probation--but he didn't. He felt he deserved what he got even though his intentions were honorable.)
Molly was told by a reliable source (Trace's mother) that Trace had been killed in a bar fight and for fourteen years she thought about him and what he was missing out on with their brilliant daughter and the family they could have been. Fourteen years later Trace shows up. He has a dog he trained in prison and he was granted a special favor by letting him keep his dog. This guy was crazy about his dog and most of the time it seemed he loved the dog more than his daughter and the heroine. I think I viewed this one-time bad-boy alpha as a worn out beta during this story. He was quick to try and solve things by running away.
I want to thank this author for the celibacy during their time apart. That doesn't seem to happen much anymore and to many of us it makes a huge difference.
Safety Status:
Couple celibate during fourteen-year separation.
Hero was a man-whore bad-boy in high school and after.
Heroine virgin until hero.
OW hits on hero and he tells her NO! He wants no one but the heroine.
A short bit of OW drama. Seems women like trying to get this man in their bed but he never succumbed...not even close.
I didn't care for this enough to continue the series.
This is a bit hard for me to rate. There were parts I really liked and parts that were just so-so. I thought the story moved slowly and was a bit too long for my taste. I think it could have had the same affect with fifty to seventy five pages less. That is totally my preference. I didn't have many feels when it came to our couple. They certainly didn't burn up the pages like I had expected.
So here is a review of the story itself: Our hero was Trace who was raised on the wrong side of the tracks and seemed to have 'trouble' following him around just waiting to pounce. His dad was in prison and his mother was a wacko who didn't have both oars in the water. She was an emotionally absent parent.
Our heroine is Molly whose entire family works on the farm their father owns. Molly and her father are veterinarians and they have an office on their property and one in town. On their compound they also train dogs for various jobs including service dogs. They also rescue unwanted dogs, train them and find them a new home. A very do-good family.
Molly used to tutor Trace in high school and he felt something for her but knew she was way out of his league...so he didn't even try. (Cop out!) After high school they both arrived at a party at the same time and left together. Molly was a real goody two-shoes but had always had a very strong crush on the 'bad boy.' A woman in their city had it in for Trace and approached him about an affair. He certainly didn't encourage her but told her no-way! It angered her so she told her husband he attacked her when it was the other way around. So that night, after he had been intimate with the virgin, Molly, he ran away telling no one where he was going. The woman's husband is after him and has threatened to kill him. He had every intention of going back for Molly but she had no way to know this. He didn't get the chance.
Some weeks later Molly is very distressed because she's pregnant but she can't locate Trace anywhere. The story goes that he stopped for a drink at a bar the next evening because he was short of money to make his bus transfer. He voluntarily helped the bouncers control a problem and they hired him for the night because they were short of staff. (There was no paperwork for this hire...big mistake.) They paid him with a few free drinks and food. This would hold him over until he could contact his cousin the next day for a wire transfer. Later that evening there was a very drunk man who was trying to physically and sexually assault his girlfriend and Trace stepped in....especially since he was now their bouncer for a night. The guy was going to pummel this poor woman to death and rape her. She kept screaming for help and it was Trace to the rescue! He tried to push the huge man away from her and the man tripped, fell, hit his head and croaked! Trace was found guilty. The bar who hired him acted like they didn't hire him. The woman he saved was paid to lie. The man who ended up six-foot under was going to law school and his daddy was a big bad lawyer who was best buds with the judge. Yep...Trace went to jail for fourteen years. This is what you get in this country when you risk your own life to save someone from a beating and rape. (Personal opinion: I think if Trace would have contacted Molly, her family would have gladly hired a good attorney for him and probably would have been placed on probation--but he didn't. He felt he deserved what he got even though his intentions were honorable.)
Molly was told by a reliable source (Trace's mother) that Trace had been killed in a bar fight and for fourteen years she thought about him and what he was missing out on with their brilliant daughter and the family they could have been. Fourteen years later Trace shows up. He has a dog he trained in prison and he was granted a special favor by letting him keep his dog. This guy was crazy about his dog and most of the time it seemed he loved the dog more than his daughter and the heroine. I think I viewed this one-time bad-boy alpha as a worn out beta during this story. He was quick to try and solve things by running away.
I want to thank this author for the celibacy during their time apart. That doesn't seem to happen much anymore and to many of us it makes a huge difference.
Safety Status:
Couple celibate during fourteen-year separation.
Hero was a man-whore bad-boy in high school and after.
Heroine virgin until hero.
OW hits on hero and he tells her NO! He wants no one but the heroine.
A short bit of OW drama. Seems women like trying to get this man in their bed but he never succumbed...not even close.
I didn't care for this enough to continue the series.
January 19, 2018
It's the long awaited Molly's book. Molly is a single mom with a smart and sassy 13 year old daughter. She also had a huge secret. She's ready to tell her daughter Pru who her father was. For years she's believed he was dead until he shows up in Bitter Bark all of the sudden. While things are getting sorted out they decide to keep the secret a bit longer. I've got to tell you i was drawn into this book from page one when you get the history of how Molly became pregnant and what followed. Even though Molly's mom is deceased with this you get to see their relationship. You can see throughout the story the effect that relationship has on Molly as she is raising her own daughter. Then there is Trace Bancroft. Here's a man who has never really known love or affection or anything good. Molly was his little bit a good 14 years ago then he lost everything. Watching the journey unfold for him and Molly was amazing and then the relationship he tries to foster with his daughter Pru. Roxanne St Claire did a outstanding job telling this story. What stands out for me in the last chapters of the book with Trace's real insurmountable pain at the realization he is losing everything again and know he can't do anything about it. When everything comes out and the aftermath of it. The author makes you feel like you are right there. It get you right in the heart, the unfairness of it. I love that she wrote a strong man who can be vulnerable and doesn't hide it. If you haven't read this series yet now is a great time to start.
April 8, 2018
I liked how The Dogfather welcomed Trace back to town and what a sly one he is, which we learn at the end. I liked how Trace was given a second chance with the Killcannons, even by Molly, who should have been the one to toss him out. I liked how Molly and Trace got to know each other as adults and how Trace let Molly know what really happened and how they brought Pru into things. I thought Trace might get more upset learning about Pru, instead he seemed incredible grateful for Molly and how she raised their daughter. While I didn't like how they kept Pru in the dark, I knew it would cause problems down the road, it worked. Pru was able to get to know Trace and like him.
I hated how one event at the end so mirrored what sent Trace running, was glad that there was proof what really happened and how all the Killcannons stood by him.
I hated how one event at the end so mirrored what sent Trace running, was glad that there was proof what really happened and how all the Killcannons stood by him.
November 30, 2020
I am so glad I stuck with this series. The stories are very good.
January 24, 2018
See the full review at HarlequinJunkie.com
So. Much. Incredible. Goodness. Bad to the Bone was another knockout in Roxanne St. Claire’s heartfelt Dogfather series where every single story makes me fall more in love with the Kilcannon family and their canine companions.
‘Trace kissed his head, closing his eyes, so affectionate with the animal that Molly could literally feel the love.
She watched, a little mesmerized, a little moved. She often judged people by how they dealt with their animals, whether that was right or wrong… And this moment reminded her how wrong she’d been about Trace. He was strong, quiet, gentle, and not anything like the troubled teenager she remembered.’
This Dogfather series (and actually all of Rocki’s work) is my catnip. Seriously, I can’t imagine how she’s going to top each story after I finish it, but when I pick up the newest release I’m wowed all over again. Bad to the Bone had a LOT going for it, right out of the gate. It was a second chance romance *and* a secret baby trope all rolled into one, with some interesting twists and of course family drama. Read More
So. Much. Incredible. Goodness. Bad to the Bone was another knockout in Roxanne St. Claire’s heartfelt Dogfather series where every single story makes me fall more in love with the Kilcannon family and their canine companions.
‘Trace kissed his head, closing his eyes, so affectionate with the animal that Molly could literally feel the love.
She watched, a little mesmerized, a little moved. She often judged people by how they dealt with their animals, whether that was right or wrong… And this moment reminded her how wrong she’d been about Trace. He was strong, quiet, gentle, and not anything like the troubled teenager she remembered.’
This Dogfather series (and actually all of Rocki’s work) is my catnip. Seriously, I can’t imagine how she’s going to top each story after I finish it, but when I pick up the newest release I’m wowed all over again. Bad to the Bone had a LOT going for it, right out of the gate. It was a second chance romance *and* a secret baby trope all rolled into one, with some interesting twists and of course family drama. Read More
March 21, 2018
Bad to the Bone by Roxanne St Claire
Contemporary romance at its best. A heartwarming story that makes you laugh a little, cry a little, and sigh in happiness when all is right in the end.
I loved Pru and her rules and her sense of right and wrong.
And Molly and Trace together are precious. Meant for each other. Just like in the movies.
A truly lovely reunion and such a supportive family.
More please!
Excerpt:
“Come on, let’s get these dogs in shape. That golden doodle is a lunatic.”
Trace laughed, walking back to the dogs and trainers, but the idea of a Puppy Parade just took on a whole new level of possibilities. It wouldn’t be a burden with Molly. It would be…fun.”
Excerpt From Bad to the Bone by Roxanne St. Claire
This material may be protected by copyright.
Contemporary romance at its best. A heartwarming story that makes you laugh a little, cry a little, and sigh in happiness when all is right in the end.
I loved Pru and her rules and her sense of right and wrong.
And Molly and Trace together are precious. Meant for each other. Just like in the movies.
A truly lovely reunion and such a supportive family.
More please!
Excerpt:
“Come on, let’s get these dogs in shape. That golden doodle is a lunatic.”
Trace laughed, walking back to the dogs and trainers, but the idea of a Puppy Parade just took on a whole new level of possibilities. It wouldn’t be a burden with Molly. It would be…fun.”
Excerpt From Bad to the Bone by Roxanne St. Claire
This material may be protected by copyright.
January 21, 2018
I find I no longer judge books by whether I enjoy the story or not because I enjoy almost everything I read. Reading is my good place; the place where I can relax and dream and escape the drudgery of everyday things. But a great book? It grabs a hold of me; - making me laugh, making me think, making me cry, making me feel. There’s no denying it. Bad to the Bone does all of that and more!
After experiencing one unforgettable evening together, Molly and Trace’s life took unexpected turns that separated them for more than 13 years. Molly may come from a big loving family, but she shows us that rough patches happen to everyone. Trace came from the opposite background than Molly and bad things continued to plague him. He had no one in his corner; he didn’t even support or believe in himself. This book jumped into the hard topic of ex-cons. Do they deserve a second chance? Can they truly be rehabilitated? We were given the chance to read how Molly, Pru, the Kilcannon family, and the community dealt with the feelings and emotions Trace’s past brought. More importantly, we got to read what Trace himself felt that he deserved as a result of being an ex-con.
Tears came as I connected with Molly and Trace as they came to terms with events in their lives.
The raw emotion, honesty, and pain that roll off of Trace are endearing while at times being heartbreaking. As I progressed through the chapters, I found myself wondering how he would have the life he wanted when he couldn’t seem to forgive himself. The glimmers of hope that he’d let you see as he saw a future he wanted yet wasn’t sure he could have or even deserved, made you want to be his #1 supporter. And who doesn’t love a man who shows such unconditional love to his dog, Meatball. Talk about a dog with attitude!
Molly seemed to believe that her life needed to be that of a successful vet and a wonderful single mom; it was as if she was afraid to let herself reach for her own personal happiness. She put her career and daughter first; yet was some of that so she wouldn’t have to do her own self introspection? When Trace comes into her life – of course with that wonderful little nudge and plotting from the Dogfather – she starts to realize that there is room for her happiness, her career, and her daughter’s happiness and well-being.
White the books in this series may be read as stand alones, one of the things that would be missed would be the development of “General” Pru. Wise beyond her years, yet still a child. Overachiever, beautiful soul, but such a stickler for rules. Sure it was enjoyable to watch her growth as she learned that not everything in life is black and white; but what I liked even more was that in her discovery of the grey portions of life, she realized that she being good and being right goes much deeper than many people want to go. I found myself cheering for her as she stayed true to her ideals while having a solid brain and an immensely large heart even while learning the tough lesson that there are just mean people in the world.
There were moments when I wondered if the pain of the past and the uncertainty of the future would allow the three of them to have the life they wanted. Good things come to those who believe that while the future may not be filled with lollipops and unicorns, love, support, and desire are the strong tools to make dreams come true. Many books talk about second chances.
For now, Bad to the Bone will be my favorite in the Dogfather series. I have to admit that I’ve said this same thing as I’ve finished each of the previous books. Turning that last page was tough; I wanted more! Happy to know there are more books coming which will let me learn more about the next Kilcannon while still getting glimpses into the lives of Trace, Molly, and Pru, and all the others who have weaved a place in my heart.
After experiencing one unforgettable evening together, Molly and Trace’s life took unexpected turns that separated them for more than 13 years. Molly may come from a big loving family, but she shows us that rough patches happen to everyone. Trace came from the opposite background than Molly and bad things continued to plague him. He had no one in his corner; he didn’t even support or believe in himself. This book jumped into the hard topic of ex-cons. Do they deserve a second chance? Can they truly be rehabilitated? We were given the chance to read how Molly, Pru, the Kilcannon family, and the community dealt with the feelings and emotions Trace’s past brought. More importantly, we got to read what Trace himself felt that he deserved as a result of being an ex-con.
Tears came as I connected with Molly and Trace as they came to terms with events in their lives.
The raw emotion, honesty, and pain that roll off of Trace are endearing while at times being heartbreaking. As I progressed through the chapters, I found myself wondering how he would have the life he wanted when he couldn’t seem to forgive himself. The glimmers of hope that he’d let you see as he saw a future he wanted yet wasn’t sure he could have or even deserved, made you want to be his #1 supporter. And who doesn’t love a man who shows such unconditional love to his dog, Meatball. Talk about a dog with attitude!
Molly seemed to believe that her life needed to be that of a successful vet and a wonderful single mom; it was as if she was afraid to let herself reach for her own personal happiness. She put her career and daughter first; yet was some of that so she wouldn’t have to do her own self introspection? When Trace comes into her life – of course with that wonderful little nudge and plotting from the Dogfather – she starts to realize that there is room for her happiness, her career, and her daughter’s happiness and well-being.
White the books in this series may be read as stand alones, one of the things that would be missed would be the development of “General” Pru. Wise beyond her years, yet still a child. Overachiever, beautiful soul, but such a stickler for rules. Sure it was enjoyable to watch her growth as she learned that not everything in life is black and white; but what I liked even more was that in her discovery of the grey portions of life, she realized that she being good and being right goes much deeper than many people want to go. I found myself cheering for her as she stayed true to her ideals while having a solid brain and an immensely large heart even while learning the tough lesson that there are just mean people in the world.
There were moments when I wondered if the pain of the past and the uncertainty of the future would allow the three of them to have the life they wanted. Good things come to those who believe that while the future may not be filled with lollipops and unicorns, love, support, and desire are the strong tools to make dreams come true. Many books talk about second chances.
For now, Bad to the Bone will be my favorite in the Dogfather series. I have to admit that I’ve said this same thing as I’ve finished each of the previous books. Turning that last page was tough; I wanted more! Happy to know there are more books coming which will let me learn more about the next Kilcannon while still getting glimpses into the lives of Trace, Molly, and Pru, and all the others who have weaved a place in my heart.
February 13, 2018
Pregnant at 19 didn't stopped Molly Kilcannon from following in her father's footsteps and becoming a veterinarian. Except for her mom, she never told who the father was and never told the man himself (the bad boy she tutored in chemistry) because he disappeared the day after their daughter was conceived and two years later she finally learned he was killed in a bar fight. But 14 years later, she's about the learn the real truth : he's alive and all this time was in jail for accidentally killing a man while defending a woman.
When Molly's father tell his family he's thinking about offering the job of new trainer in their rescue and training center for dogs to an ex-con who did time for murder, they all think he lost his mind. At first, Trace Bancroft didn't intend to accept the offer but when his dog Meatball is suddenly at death's door, he goes to Waterford Farm to ask the Kilcannon to save his best friend. Molly is not the only one surprised. Trace will quickly discover he's the father of thirteen-years old Pru and him and Molly will have to discuss the best way to tell her.
I adored everything about Molly and Trace's romance ! It was such a touching book with sometime a little heartbreak. So many emotional things but it was never heavy. I think that what I liked more than anything was the protagonist's personalities and the fact they acted like mature adults. They arrived in this new relationship with no ego, no preconception and with the best intentions, ready to listen to the other and ready to share a part of themselves, and always thinking about what will be best for their daughter. There was something so tangible between Molly and Trace that is hard to put into words but it was something that felt pure, honest and natural. The connection between the hero and his dog was a beautiful thing to read about too. I wish they had told the truth sooner to Pru (happen only at the end) but I understand they had her best interest at heart. And it pissed me off when history repeated itself. It always makes it seem a little too farfetched but that's a minor detail because this book was really special and I'm already looking forward to the time I'll reread it :)
When Molly's father tell his family he's thinking about offering the job of new trainer in their rescue and training center for dogs to an ex-con who did time for murder, they all think he lost his mind. At first, Trace Bancroft didn't intend to accept the offer but when his dog Meatball is suddenly at death's door, he goes to Waterford Farm to ask the Kilcannon to save his best friend. Molly is not the only one surprised. Trace will quickly discover he's the father of thirteen-years old Pru and him and Molly will have to discuss the best way to tell her.
I adored everything about Molly and Trace's romance ! It was such a touching book with sometime a little heartbreak. So many emotional things but it was never heavy. I think that what I liked more than anything was the protagonist's personalities and the fact they acted like mature adults. They arrived in this new relationship with no ego, no preconception and with the best intentions, ready to listen to the other and ready to share a part of themselves, and always thinking about what will be best for their daughter. There was something so tangible between Molly and Trace that is hard to put into words but it was something that felt pure, honest and natural. The connection between the hero and his dog was a beautiful thing to read about too. I wish they had told the truth sooner to Pru (happen only at the end) but I understand they had her best interest at heart. And it pissed me off when history repeated itself. It always makes it seem a little too farfetched but that's a minor detail because this book was really special and I'm already looking forward to the time I'll reread it :)
January 19, 2018
This is the 5th book in Roxanne St Claire's Dogfather series and it revolves around Trace Bancroft and Molly Kilcannon. Trace and Molly spent one night together before he felt he had no choice but to quick pack a bag and leave town. That one night gave them both a gift of a little girl that Trace never knew about and who Molly named Prudence. Molly never told anybody in her family other then her mother who Pru's father was. A secret Molly believed wholeheartedly that her mother took to her grave.
This book is filled with heartache, love and new beginnings for not only Trace and Molly but Pru as well. It's a story about a family who was never given a chance,to finally become a family. Trace and Molly have both had to struggle through life. Her as a single mother and him serving 14 years in a jail cell due to the lost of one man's life.
Molly and Trace come face to face one night when his dog Meatball became deathly ill. She now has to not only deal with her feelings of being abandoned by this man but also of how to tell him about Pru and the hardest thing of all how they will tell their straight, law abiding, by the book daughter Pru that her father is a murderer.
This book is filled with heartache, love and new beginnings for not only Trace and Molly but Pru as well. It's a story about a family who was never given a chance,to finally become a family. Trace and Molly have both had to struggle through life. Her as a single mother and him serving 14 years in a jail cell due to the lost of one man's life.
Molly and Trace come face to face one night when his dog Meatball became deathly ill. She now has to not only deal with her feelings of being abandoned by this man but also of how to tell him about Pru and the hardest thing of all how they will tell their straight, law abiding, by the book daughter Pru that her father is a murderer.
January 25, 2018
A magical story that will bring happy and sad tears to your eyes. One night of fun will leave lasting memories for Trace and Molly. Fast forward fourteen years and single mom is raising her daughter, Pru. Molly has been hiding a secret from Pru, who her father was. Trace shows back up in Better Bark, with his mutt, Meatball whom is extremely sick, whom he takes to the number one vet in town. Dr Molly. A shocker to Molly, who had always thought he had died. Travis has his own past, fourteen years in prison.
Molly and Travis can not deny the chemistry that they shared that one night many years ago and it is still just as hot now. Now they need to decide how and when to tell Pru, who her father is. Once again the the Dogfather, Daniel Kilcannon will try and and work his matchmaking skills on his daughter.
Loved this story so much full of emotions!! Loved how Trace became Pru's friend first. Loved how the Kilcannon family believes in Travis. Once again a wonderful story full of romance, family and dogs!!
This book is part of a series but can be read as a stand alone. Already I'm getting excited about Aidan's story. Thank you, Roxanne St Claire for bringing such warmth into your writing for the love of family and dogs.
Molly and Travis can not deny the chemistry that they shared that one night many years ago and it is still just as hot now. Now they need to decide how and when to tell Pru, who her father is. Once again the the Dogfather, Daniel Kilcannon will try and and work his matchmaking skills on his daughter.
Loved this story so much full of emotions!! Loved how Trace became Pru's friend first. Loved how the Kilcannon family believes in Travis. Once again a wonderful story full of romance, family and dogs!!
This book is part of a series but can be read as a stand alone. Already I'm getting excited about Aidan's story. Thank you, Roxanne St Claire for bringing such warmth into your writing for the love of family and dogs.
January 21, 2018
This one...so, so, so...heart breaking and mending good. A man who is dealt so many raw deals and who the system fails at every turn finds the one place he belongs and the family he never knew he had, all because his dog is sick. The Kilcannon family is something else and every member is special and now we are treated to the story of Molly, the vet and single mother of the clan. She has been referred to as the "glue" of the family since mom died but now she is going to be tested since Trace Bancroft has come back to town after being gone for 14 years. They had a single night together and that produced Pru, or as she is known to the family, General Pru, because there is not a rule she does not follow. This entire story is so good and twists and turns around the heart strings until I could not flip the pages quick enough and was so sad it was over. I laughed and cried and cheered along with the entire family. I highly recommend this one as I do the entire series. This could be read as a standalone but really why when the rest of the series is just as good.
**Received this ARC for review**
**Received this ARC for review**
January 25, 2018
This is Book 5 in a series I can’t get enough of. The Dogfather Series are contemporary romances with so much heart and a lot of dogs. The Kilcannon family own and operate a dog sanctuary, rescue and training compound. Daniel Kilcannon is the father, affectionately know as the Dogfather. He is also known for his “matchmaking” abilities. Molly followed in her Dad’s footsteps and is the veterinarian. She is a single mom and has amazing relationship with her daughter Pru, and has never told anyone who Pru’s father is. Until a man with a very sick dog arrives at Waterford, Molly and Pru’s life turns upside down.
Full review to follow
Full review to follow
February 22, 2019
Trace Bancroft's story brought me to my knees. These Dogfather books get better and better. This time it's Molly Kilcannon who is in her matchmaking father's eyes...or is she? She and her daughter, Pru, are a great team and the developing relationship with Trace will make you smile.
Trace and his dog Meatball really touched my heart - both had crappy things happen to them in their lives but this Kilcannon family really knows how to rally around people and bring out their best. Pru is her usual self - uncannily smart and intuitive and when she teams up with Grandma Finnie, well, let's say chaos ensues but ONLY the way the two of them dictate! Pretty funny.
Can't wait to start the next book in the series. They continue to amaze me.
Trace and his dog Meatball really touched my heart - both had crappy things happen to them in their lives but this Kilcannon family really knows how to rally around people and bring out their best. Pru is her usual self - uncannily smart and intuitive and when she teams up with Grandma Finnie, well, let's say chaos ensues but ONLY the way the two of them dictate! Pretty funny.
Can't wait to start the next book in the series. They continue to amaze me.
July 19, 2019
I don't normally like the secret baby trope, but this was one rare instance the reasoning, unintentional as it was, was justified. I liked the second chance romance between Trace and Molly. I loved the building of Trace's self-worth. Pru was a character I had mixed feelings about, but then loved her as I saw her grow up as well. They were a sweet little family. The secret keeping, however, got a little tedious and dragged a bit. But the final family outcome was special. I even got a bit teary-eyed.
December 31, 2024
Bad boy Trace disappeared after getting virgin good-girl Molly pregnant and 14 years later...
What I enjoyed:
* I liked Pru. She stands by her values which is tough to do as a teenager.
* Meatball was the cutest dog
* How close knit the family is
What could have been better:
* Continuing to not tell Pru the truth was driving me crazy and it did come out in the worst way
* Letting Pru do her project realizing she would eventually be disqualified
* Running instead of
* Didn't really feel any chemistry between the lead couple
What I enjoyed:
* I liked Pru. She stands by her values which is tough to do as a teenager.
* Meatball was the cutest dog
* How close knit the family is
What could have been better:
* Continuing to not tell Pru the truth was driving me crazy and it did come out in the worst way
* Letting Pru do her project realizing she would eventually be disqualified
* Running instead of
* Didn't really feel any chemistry between the lead couple
January 17, 2018
This book follows Trace and Molly after one night changed their lives. Bad to the Bone is the story of Molly and Trace’s journey with choices, heartbreaks, and many blessings. Can a special dog be what reconciles these two?
This story shows that second chances are indeed possible. Another story in the series orchestrated by the Dogfather.
This story shows that second chances are indeed possible. Another story in the series orchestrated by the Dogfather.
January 27, 2018
The bone contains good meat.
This book delivers a good solid story moving consistently toward the last minute delivery of its required happily ever after. The only negative (minor) was the incomprehensible motivation of Izzie and family.
This book delivers a good solid story moving consistently toward the last minute delivery of its required happily ever after. The only negative (minor) was the incomprehensible motivation of Izzie and family.
February 6, 2018
I have enjoyed every book in the series. I was looking forward to this one because I finally got to learn who Pru's father is! I enjoyed both Trace and Molly in this book. They are both strong characters. I can't wait to see who the Dogfather sets up next.
May 24, 2020
Decent ex con story. Probably won’t go on with series because too many dogs.
May 30, 2021
I am a complete sucker for this series, and this one was just as good as the previous ones.
February 27, 2019
Trace Bancroft's story brought me to my knees. These Dogfather books get better and better. This time it's Molly Kilcannon who is in her matchmaking father's eyes...or is she? She and her daughter, Pru, are a great team and the developing relationship with Trace will make you smile.
Trace and his dog Meatball really touched my heart - both had crappy things happen to them in their lives but this Kilcannon family really knows how to rally around people and bring out their best. Pru is her usual self - uncannily smart and intuitive and when she teams up with Grandma Finnie, well, let's say chaos ensues but ONLY the way the two of them dictate! Pretty funny.
Trace and his dog Meatball really touched my heart - both had crappy things happen to them in their lives but this Kilcannon family really knows how to rally around people and bring out their best. Pru is her usual self - uncannily smart and intuitive and when she teams up with Grandma Finnie, well, let's say chaos ensues but ONLY the way the two of them dictate! Pretty funny.
October 20, 2021
Roxanne St. Claire is a MASTER. I could not love her Dogfather stories more! Bad to the Bone is Just-So-Dang-Good. I absolutely devoured every word of Trace and Molly’s (and Pru’s, of course) story. It has ALL the feels, and I could not put it down!
June 27, 2023
Bad to the Bone is the 4th book in the Dogfather series, it's a stand alone contemporary romance with a second chance trope and a slow burn to a HEA. We are brought back to the small town of Better Bark and the wonderful characters of the Kilcannon clan along with some loveable dogs. Something that is different in this book is that there are 3 MCs. I would have liked the book better if Rocki gave us the details of a backhanded slap that Izzie and Allen Phillips deserved!
Molly Kilcannon is a Veterinarian and has a 13 yr old daughter, Pru, who has been asking who her father is. Molly has planned a trip to the Outer Banks to tell Pru everything when suddenly a ghost from her past shows up, a man who Molly thought was dead.
Trace Bancroft comes back home after spending 14 years in jail for murder and has a sick dog named Meatball, who he trained while in jail. Meatball takes a turn for the worst and Trace goes to the Kilcannon's for help. While in a waiting room he meets a smart, young girl who belongs to Molly, Trace does the math and now knows he has a daughter from the one night he spent with Molly 13.5 years ago.
Molly and Trace agree to tell Pru that he is her father but only after a community service project she's competing in is over. Molly and Trace slowly get to know each other as adults this time around and this gives Pru time to get to know the man instead of judging the ex-con. Both ladies have fallen for Trace, Trace is the underdog whose life is turning around for the better when he makes 2 promises, one to the Dogfather and one to Molly. The past comes back to slap him hard and Trace will have to decide which promise he will keep...
Molly Kilcannon is a Veterinarian and has a 13 yr old daughter, Pru, who has been asking who her father is. Molly has planned a trip to the Outer Banks to tell Pru everything when suddenly a ghost from her past shows up, a man who Molly thought was dead.
Trace Bancroft comes back home after spending 14 years in jail for murder and has a sick dog named Meatball, who he trained while in jail. Meatball takes a turn for the worst and Trace goes to the Kilcannon's for help. While in a waiting room he meets a smart, young girl who belongs to Molly, Trace does the math and now knows he has a daughter from the one night he spent with Molly 13.5 years ago.
Molly and Trace agree to tell Pru that he is her father but only after a community service project she's competing in is over. Molly and Trace slowly get to know each other as adults this time around and this gives Pru time to get to know the man instead of judging the ex-con. Both ladies have fallen for Trace, Trace is the underdog whose life is turning around for the better when he makes 2 promises, one to the Dogfather and one to Molly. The past comes back to slap him hard and Trace will have to decide which promise he will keep...
March 9, 2019
I liked this second chance romance. It may be the first time in years that I found the reason for separation, and the long time apart to be completely reasonable. Trace and Molly weren't a ONS. Trace had good reason why he disappeared and Molly had good reason why she never told him about their daughter.
Most of this book was filled with Trace and Molly rebuilding a relationship and finding out that there is more to Trace than meets the eye. He really got a raw deal.
While the book was well written and had a decent romance, there was a lot of time spent dithering over when to tell their daughter that Trace is her father. And Trace spends endless pages thinking about how he's an ex-con and no one will love him and he's not worthy blah blah blah. Then there is the big moment at the end where Trace makes a choice to leave so he can protect them all. Save me from self-sacrificing Heroes and their stupid tropes that I am bored with.
Overall, this was a sweet story with MCs you could admire. This book was 100% safe, both were celibate during the separation. The secondary characters were great and there was lots of talk of dogs and dog owners. It didn't amaze me, but it brought a smile to my face.
If you're a dog lover, you'll love this book. I'm a dog liker and so I liked this book.
Most of this book was filled with Trace and Molly rebuilding a relationship and finding out that there is more to Trace than meets the eye. He really got a raw deal.
While the book was well written and had a decent romance, there was a lot of time spent dithering over when to tell their daughter that Trace is her father. And Trace spends endless pages thinking about how he's an ex-con and no one will love him and he's not worthy blah blah blah. Then there is the big moment at the end where Trace makes a choice to leave so he can protect them all. Save me from self-sacrificing Heroes and their stupid tropes that I am bored with.
Overall, this was a sweet story with MCs you could admire. This book was 100% safe, both were celibate during the separation. The secondary characters were great and there was lots of talk of dogs and dog owners. It didn't amaze me, but it brought a smile to my face.
If you're a dog lover, you'll love this book. I'm a dog liker and so I liked this book.
May 20, 2024
Oh my god, the feels. This one caught my heartstrings at the beginning and never let up. From dealing with the injustices of the criminal justice system to showcasing the problems of dating as a single mother, this book is much more than a simple romance. It was the first book I read in the series and afterward I had to read everything else. Trace and Molly are good people and Pru is perfectly written at that awkward beginning of teen age. I think this is more than just a good book. I think it's an important one.
November 2, 2018
Best one yet. Love Trace!
January 24, 2018
Roxanne St. Claire has done it again, but so much better than ever before! I received a free ARC of Bad to the Bone for an honest review. I laughed, I cried and I cheered. It is truly my favorite Dogfather book. Never has a character been more damaged than Trace Bancroft. Bad to the Bone, is Molly’s story and it could not have been a more beautifully written book for Molly. Molly is the older of the Kilcannon daughters. She has become the hostess of the Kilcannon house following the death of her mother, Annie, three years ago. Molly is a single Mom to thirteen year old Pru and a veterinarian like her father, Daniel. I loved the beginning of the book. It is truly the beginning of Molly and Pru’s story. We find out the events that lead to Molly’s unplanned pregnancy. Annie Kilcannon’s reaction and sage advice to Molly are so heartwarming and poignant. The idea for Pru’s name comes from one of those conversations. Molly wanted to tell the father of her baby before she told everyone, but she cannot locate him. Eventually, Annie informs Molly that she has heard from a reliable source that Trace is dead. So Molly never felt the need to let anyone know the identity of Pru’s father. Unbeknownst to Molly, Annie confided the identity of Pru’s father to Daniel once she thought that was dead. Once again, the Dogfather works his magic when Trace Bancroft returns to Bitter Bark after spending the last fourteen years in jail for killing a man. Trace comes to Waterford Farms, on a dark and rainy night with his sick dog, Meatball, that he trained while in prison. Molly and Daniel perform emergency surgery on Meatball. While sitting in the waiting room, Pru comes from the house to sit with Trace. Pru does not know that Trace is her father and Trace does not know that Pru is his daughter. Trace comes to realize that he is Pru’s father, once she refers to Molly as her Mom. Molly and Pru, are scheduled to go away for the weekend to discuss Pru’s Dad, but since Trace is not dead and Meatball is still critical they cancel their getaway. While Meatball recuperates, Trace helps out at Waterford Farms as a service dog trainer to make money to pay for his vet bills. Daniel has offered housing to Trace at Waterford Farms since his boyhood home is inhabitable and Trace has no way to get between his home and work. Molly and Trace begin spending time together as Meatball recovers. Trace tells her all about his past, why he didn’t return to her and why her murdered a man that landed him in jail for fourteen years. Pru decides to make renovating his home her community service project, but does not realize she could be disqualified if someone discovers that Trace is her father, because she still does not know that he is her father. while working on the project. She is aware of the blossoming romance between Molly and Trace. Molly and Trace agree not to tell Pru until her project is complete. This gives Trace and Pru the opportunity to bond as they work together renovating his home. Once again, Roxanne delivers the surprises and unexpected plot twists that I have come to love in her books. There were so many bittersweet moments in this book. Be prepared to have a box of Kleenex ready when you read Bad to the Bone. Molly eventually gets her man and her happily ever after. It was a wonderful book and I loved every page of it.
January 22, 2018
Review courtesy of Romance Junkies
Trace Bancroft returns to Bitter Bark, North Carolina, a changed man. When his dog Meatball falls ill, he has no other recourse but to bring him to the best veterinarian in town. Trace discovers the unescapable repercussion of his one night with Molly Kilcannon fourteen years ago – a daughter who does not know him. He agrees to work at Waterford Farm as a trainer in exchange for Meatball’s vet expenses. Trace wants Prudence to get to know him better before he and Molly upheave her world with the big reveal. Will Prudence accept Trace as her father? Or will his years in prison stand between them?
Dr. Molly Kilcannon runs two veterinarian offices, one in town and another in her family’s canine facility. She dreads telling her rule abiding, thirteen-year-old daughter about her absentee father. Out of the blue, the man in question re-enters Molly’s life with a very sick dog. As the dog recuperates, she and Trace decide the proper time to reveal everything to Prudence. Molly discovers she wants to pick up where they left off fourteen years ago. Can the Dogfather claim another success in his matchmaking? Or will Prudence stand in the way of their budding romance?
I love reformed bad boys and Trace Bancroft is no exception. Life dealt Trace a tough hand, but he accepts the fact and continues on with his life. Trace’s stint in prison reformed him and gave him a new lease on life. I love that he refuses to let pride stand in the way of his dog’s life. Instead of accepting charity, Trace finds a better way to pay the Kilcannons for Meatball’s vet expenses. I like how he is both eager yet leery about becoming a part of his daughter’s life. However, what I adore the most about Trace is how he puts Prudence and Molly’s needs above his own.
Molly is such a remarkable woman. Thanks to her deceased mother’s sage advice, she continued toward her dream of becoming a veterinarian, even though it took extra years. I love Molly and Prudence’s relationship. It makes me nostalgic for the relationship my mother and I shared during my teen years. I like that despite Molly’s fears and misgivings, she does not deny Trace their daughter. But, what I admire the most about Molly is how she helps Trace experience the joys of love, overlooking the screw ups in the past.
BAD TO THE BONE is book four in Roxanne St. Claire’s dog-orientated contemporary series, THE DOGFATHER. I love that the author includes all dog types than just purebreds. I am still a little bummed that a dachshund is only mentioned but never introduced because they are my favorite breed.
BAD TO THE BONE is a touching story about family and second chances in both life and love. Each story in this series succeeds the prior one in poignancy. I cannot wait to see which remaining Kilcannon will fall next to the Dogfather’s match-making machinations.
Trace Bancroft returns to Bitter Bark, North Carolina, a changed man. When his dog Meatball falls ill, he has no other recourse but to bring him to the best veterinarian in town. Trace discovers the unescapable repercussion of his one night with Molly Kilcannon fourteen years ago – a daughter who does not know him. He agrees to work at Waterford Farm as a trainer in exchange for Meatball’s vet expenses. Trace wants Prudence to get to know him better before he and Molly upheave her world with the big reveal. Will Prudence accept Trace as her father? Or will his years in prison stand between them?
Dr. Molly Kilcannon runs two veterinarian offices, one in town and another in her family’s canine facility. She dreads telling her rule abiding, thirteen-year-old daughter about her absentee father. Out of the blue, the man in question re-enters Molly’s life with a very sick dog. As the dog recuperates, she and Trace decide the proper time to reveal everything to Prudence. Molly discovers she wants to pick up where they left off fourteen years ago. Can the Dogfather claim another success in his matchmaking? Or will Prudence stand in the way of their budding romance?
I love reformed bad boys and Trace Bancroft is no exception. Life dealt Trace a tough hand, but he accepts the fact and continues on with his life. Trace’s stint in prison reformed him and gave him a new lease on life. I love that he refuses to let pride stand in the way of his dog’s life. Instead of accepting charity, Trace finds a better way to pay the Kilcannons for Meatball’s vet expenses. I like how he is both eager yet leery about becoming a part of his daughter’s life. However, what I adore the most about Trace is how he puts Prudence and Molly’s needs above his own.
Molly is such a remarkable woman. Thanks to her deceased mother’s sage advice, she continued toward her dream of becoming a veterinarian, even though it took extra years. I love Molly and Prudence’s relationship. It makes me nostalgic for the relationship my mother and I shared during my teen years. I like that despite Molly’s fears and misgivings, she does not deny Trace their daughter. But, what I admire the most about Molly is how she helps Trace experience the joys of love, overlooking the screw ups in the past.
BAD TO THE BONE is book four in Roxanne St. Claire’s dog-orientated contemporary series, THE DOGFATHER. I love that the author includes all dog types than just purebreds. I am still a little bummed that a dachshund is only mentioned but never introduced because they are my favorite breed.
BAD TO THE BONE is a touching story about family and second chances in both life and love. Each story in this series succeeds the prior one in poignancy. I cannot wait to see which remaining Kilcannon will fall next to the Dogfather’s match-making machinations.
January 25, 2018
The Dogfather series of books just keeps getting better and better with each installment. Roxanne St. Claire is a master of writing series about families, and the Kilcannon clan have become some of my favorite characters she has ever written.
With Bad to the Bone, we finally get Molly Kilcannon's story, and added bonus we get flashback scenes with Annie Kilcannon, who I've wished we could have met from the very first book. I already understood each of the Kilcannon kids missing their mom, but her reaction to Molly telling her she was pregnant just proved what a wonderful person and mother she was.
While Bad to the Bone was Trace and Molly's book, it was every bit Pru's book as well. While I was afraid Trace and Molly deciding to wait to tell Pru about Trace being her dad could end badly, I loved seeing Trace and Pru become friends the more time they spent together. I loved Pru selected helping restore Trace's house as her service project for school. You could see them grow closer with each passing day they spent together.
I hated that Trace had really gotten a bad deal in his past. Luckily once he arrives at Waterford Farm with Meatball, both their lives are soon on the right track. I won't lie, when Trace arrived with Meatball and Meatball was so very ill, I totally was in tears that Trace might lose Meatball. There has been a special relationship between characters and dogs in each book, but the relationship between Trace and Meatball was just extra special to me.
I loved seeing Molly and Trace reconnect and actually get a chance at being together this time. Yes Trace had spent time in prison, but I loved once Molly and eventually Pru learned the truth, they each accepted and wanted Trace in their lives. I also loved he found his place training service dogs at Waterford Farm. I loved the romance between Molly and Trace and really loved it was more a slow build to them being together. The chemistry was still there even 14 years later, but they took things a bit slower this time, and them being together again was so worth the wait! I really did find myself falling in love with Trace and Molly as a couple with each passing page. I loved watching Tracy, Molly, and Pru act like a family even before Pru learned the truth.
Bad to the Bone gave me all the feels. I love books that pull me in and make me feel so many emotions, and Bad to the Bone did that in spades. I found myself laughing, crying, sighing, and even getting angry a few times. I honestly didn't want the story to end and even went back and re-read favorite parts of the story multiple times. Roxanne St. Claire once again gave her readers a beautiful story that pulls readers in from the very first page. I've loved each of the books in The Dogfather series so far, but have to say that Bad to the Bone is my favorite to date.
Rating: 5 Stars (A)
Review copy provided by publisher
With Bad to the Bone, we finally get Molly Kilcannon's story, and added bonus we get flashback scenes with Annie Kilcannon, who I've wished we could have met from the very first book. I already understood each of the Kilcannon kids missing their mom, but her reaction to Molly telling her she was pregnant just proved what a wonderful person and mother she was.
While Bad to the Bone was Trace and Molly's book, it was every bit Pru's book as well. While I was afraid Trace and Molly deciding to wait to tell Pru about Trace being her dad could end badly, I loved seeing Trace and Pru become friends the more time they spent together. I loved Pru selected helping restore Trace's house as her service project for school. You could see them grow closer with each passing day they spent together.
I hated that Trace had really gotten a bad deal in his past. Luckily once he arrives at Waterford Farm with Meatball, both their lives are soon on the right track. I won't lie, when Trace arrived with Meatball and Meatball was so very ill, I totally was in tears that Trace might lose Meatball. There has been a special relationship between characters and dogs in each book, but the relationship between Trace and Meatball was just extra special to me.
I loved seeing Molly and Trace reconnect and actually get a chance at being together this time. Yes Trace had spent time in prison, but I loved once Molly and eventually Pru learned the truth, they each accepted and wanted Trace in their lives. I also loved he found his place training service dogs at Waterford Farm. I loved the romance between Molly and Trace and really loved it was more a slow build to them being together. The chemistry was still there even 14 years later, but they took things a bit slower this time, and them being together again was so worth the wait! I really did find myself falling in love with Trace and Molly as a couple with each passing page. I loved watching Tracy, Molly, and Pru act like a family even before Pru learned the truth.
Bad to the Bone gave me all the feels. I love books that pull me in and make me feel so many emotions, and Bad to the Bone did that in spades. I found myself laughing, crying, sighing, and even getting angry a few times. I honestly didn't want the story to end and even went back and re-read favorite parts of the story multiple times. Roxanne St. Claire once again gave her readers a beautiful story that pulls readers in from the very first page. I've loved each of the books in The Dogfather series so far, but have to say that Bad to the Bone is my favorite to date.
Rating: 5 Stars (A)
Review copy provided by publisher
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