Chasing Tail

The Dogmothers #3

by Roxanne St. Claire

When firefighter Connor Mahoney decides to run for mayor, he's confident of victory because of his brilliant idea to put Frank, a local canine hero who saved a drowning child, on the ticket with him. Then Connor gets some unwanted help from the Dogmothers, who think a pretty new arrival from Washington DC would make the perfect campaign manager for their highly-eligible bachelor grandson. But no matter how much Connor likes the idea of working with the gorgeous Sadie Hartman, she's doing her best to keep him at arm's length.

Disillusioned by politics after working in DC, Sadie doesn’t want the job, no matter how smoking hot the sexy firefighter is or how much his sweet grannies push. But then she learns that the race has another candidate – a man who was instrumental in wrecking Sadie’s family. Uncertain the “dog and firefighter” can win, she launches her own campaign to be mayor of Bitter Bark.

But Connor and Sadie are both in for a big surprise when a two-hundred year old law is unearthed to upend the entire election. Then, the only way for Sadie or Connor to save the town from a terrible mayor is to join forces in a way no one is expecting. As Sadie and Connor discover that the best part of running against each other is literally being against each other, it doesn't take long to figure out that sometimes winning the race means losing your heart.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Animals, Dogs, Contemporary

360 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 10, 2020

About the author

I 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

Reviews

[Madison Warner Fairbanks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chasing Tail by Roxanne St Claire

Book 4 of The Dogmothers series. Contemporary romance. Can be read as a stand-alone. Pretend engagement troupe.

Lovely, heartwarming and lots of stirring of the emotions. This author does a great job of getting you to like the characters and and family dynamics. And loving their pets!

An introduction to Frank, the main dog in this story. Excerpt:
“Frank didn’t exactly love campaigning. But he was a smart dog and a quick study who learned that letting strangers pet him always earned a treat. If he swished his tail and didn’t back away and growl, he got two. And if he posed for a selfie with his constituents, Connor brought out a Beggin’ Strip, and a dog who’d spent God knew how much time alone in the woods would literally sell his soul for some fake bacon.”
Excerpt From Chasing Tail by Roxanne St. Claire

[Liza · Rating 5 out of 5]

I swear I've fallen in love with The Dogmothers series from Roxanne St. Claire every bit as much as I loved The Dogfather series. Seriously I find myself loving each new book more than the last. Chasing Tail is Connor Mahoney's and Sadie Hartman's story and this fake engagement story was done to perfection.

Connor and Sadie went to high school together, yet hadn't seen each other since Sadie moved away. I loved on their first encounter in years, the attraction was so strong I wanted to see them together from that point on. I just felt such a connection between them and they gave me all the happy feels as they bantered with one another. Add in Yiayia and Gramma Finnie working a plan to get them to spend more time together, and I absolutely laughed out loud while reading this story...especially when The Dogmothers' plan didn't go exactly as they had planned it out. Sadie is such a strong character, and I just knew she was the perfect match for Connor.

The fact that Connor is technically running as the chief of staff to his rescued dog Frank to be mayor didn't even give me pause, as Bitter Bark is so dog friendly. However, Frank has such fear of strangers since he was a stray for most of his life, he needed something to help him be around the public, besides Connor. Frank's "lovey" is one for the books. Seriously not sure why I didn't see it coming, but again all the happy feels.

I loved watching Connor and Sadie grow closer the more time they spent together. As they both are in the running for mayor, along with a third candidate neither wants to win, they have to be seen in public to make sure everyone believes their engagement is real so they are both eligible for the election. Yes their dating was put on fast forward, and honestly I wondered if jokester Connor would be able to pull it off. He has always been the fun-loving, no commitment member of the family, so I really loved seeing him change and share so much of himself with Sadie. Sadie had just come off of a bad breakup, but I loved how quickly she came to trust and share her life and past with Connor. The fact that she is a cat person and he is a dog person only made this story more fun. The chemistry was there between Connor and Sadie from the first time they saw one another again, but after they shared their first kiss, I knew they were perfect for each other. So much chemistry between them!

Chasing Tail was such a wonderful story. Once again Roxanne St. Claire gives her readers a story filled with all the emotions and lots of family and pets. This book had me laughing out loud one minute and crying the next, and I just wanted to read it all over again once I finished. I've read Roxanne St. Claire's books for years and have to say she has only gotten better with each new book. The Dogmother books much like the Dogfather books have become my favorites ever from Ms. St. Claire.

Rating: 5 Stars (A+)
Review copy provided by publisher

[Pj Ausdenmore · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this fourth book in St. Claire's heart-tugging The Dogmothers series. Read it in one day then wanted to immediately go back to the beginning and read it all over again. I laughed, cried (happy tears), and sighed with delight. And, as much as I enjoyed Connor and Sadie's journey to love (which I did - a lot), I have to admit that Frank stole my heart...and darn near stole the entire book. Don't miss CHASING TAIL. It has my enthusiastic recommendation.

Each book in this series can be read on its own. While fans of the series will enjoy catching up with characters from earlier books, readers new to Bitter Bark can easily jump in with Chasing Tail or any of the other books in the series.

[Darcy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't expect to like this one because Connor came off as a douche at the start and for quite a bit in. I knew the "fake" romance would end up being real and it took me about half way through to be on board with it. I liked Sadie from the start and hated how she was dealt a raw deal in DC, but glad that she had a place to go. I liked that from the start when both Connor and Sadie became opponents, they didn't rip each other apart, but worked together as a team. That went a long way to winning over the town and helping the romance become real.

The ending to this one was great, loved that with the election they all won.

[Terry Hammoutene · Rating 5 out of 5]

What another great story. This is Connors's story. After finding a dog (Frank) while searching for a child he gets a crazy idea. If you read the other books in this series this is exactly what you would expect from Connor. The only problem is he does not expect to have to run against Sadie.
Who is Sadie is she from the town? Where did she come from? What is going to happen when a rule comes up that can upset the election? All these answers and more are answered in this book. Not only do you get humor, romance, dogs, and cats, two match making grandmothers but a story that will take you hours to read.


** I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review**

[Isha Coleman · Rating 5 out of 5]

From classy to sassy, St. Claire proves that she can do it all. Chasing Tail is a seduction that is not to be missed. Connor and Sadie are a powder keg of emotion that refuses to be denied. From humor to heartache they bring on the heat. The battle lines are drawn rather quickly, but the thrill lies in the meddling that goes on behind the scenes. From cuddly matchmakers to busybody grandmas, it's hard not to love The Dogmothers series. One taste is never enough of this irresistible family.

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Roxanne St. Claire writes books that pull me in from the very first page and this one was no exception. From the moment Connor found Sadie lost and looking for Bushrod’s, I could feel the chemistry. The hijinks of the Dogmothers helped move things along, and as usual, there is the close family lending support, and a bit of light hearted pressure. Add in lovable dogs, and now a cat, a bit of politics and a sleazy candidate for mayor, a bit of mystery and tension, as well as an emotional romance, and this book is a heartwarming and entertaining read. Romance at its best!

[Nate Brightman · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re unfamiliar with Roxanne St. Clair and her Dogmothers or Dogfather series let me warn you that this story isn’t nearly as salacious as the title Chasing Tail might imply. The aforementioned tails are attached to the backends of a lovable mutt Frankendog and Demi-crat the cat his unlikely object of affection, not an attractive human. If someone were to ask me to compare St.Clair’s writing style in her Dogfather and Dogmother series to another writer I think I’d best describe her as an R-rated Debbie McComber. Her stories come with all the big warm feels of a large, loving, often intrusive family living in a small town setting. But where McComber’s stories can be lifted almost without editing into a Hallmark movie, St. Clair’s are edgier and sexier. St. Clair doesn’t get bloody graphic in her action/drama scenes. She doesn’t get as anatomically descriptive or kinky as many contemporary romance writers do in her sex scenes. She tends to stay just this side of an X-rating. Her characters rarely use profanity and never an F-bomb. But her stories are definitely intended for adult audiences. I’m a fan. I’m grateful there are still one more Santorini and two more Mahoneys for the Dogmothers to find mates for before this series is over. And who knows, maybe the Dogmothers themselves will find love again before their series is over?
Again, for those of you coming into this series cold turkey, the Dogmother stories like the Dogfather series before them are set in the small very dog-centric North Carolina town of Bitter Bark. The lead players are the members of the very Irish American Mahoney and the very Greek American Santorini families. The Mahoney’s are the cousins of the Kilcannons who were all paired off in the Dogfather series but still make frequent appearances in these stories. The octogenarian Gramma Finney is the matriarch to both the Kilcannons and the Mahoneys. Yiayia is the grandmother and matriarch to the Santorinis. Together they from the Dogmothers intent on taking Phinney’s son Daniel’s (The Dogfather) place as the family’s matchmakers.
In this story the Dogmothers set their sites on finding a mate for Connor Mahoney, the second oldest of the four Mahoney siblings. Connor is a lieutenant in the same fire department that both his older brother Declan and younger brother Brendan serve in. Their father Captain Joseph Mahoney died in the line of duty some twenty years ago when Connor was sixteen. Connor has the well deserved reputation of being one of if not the biggest players in Bitter Bark leaving a trail of broken hearts in his wake. He has all the required attributes for a contemporary romance book’s male lead. My only disappointment with this story is we’re never really given a good explanation for why Connor, now in his mid-thirties has no interest in finding the right woman and settling down to start a family. All we know is he doesn’t like to lose and for whatever reason he feels if he gets serious with a woman he’ll lose his heart and get it broken. Beyond his womanizing Connor is known for his family loyalty, devotion to serve and protect the citizens of Bitter Bark and an easy going affable nature. In fact Connor is so easy going and affable that nobody sees his serious side. With a desire to both show people he can be serious about something besides firefighting and to prevent a contemptable man, Henry Easterbrook the town’s funeral director from becoming mayor of Bitter Bark, Connor decides to run for the office himself.
Enter Mercedes “Sadie” Hartman. Sadie grew up in Bitter Bark but left the town after graduating from high school seventeen years ago. Her grandparents still live there and her father deeded the house to her after they moved away to Texas, which means even though Sadie hasn’t lived in Bitter Bark in seventeen years she’s still a resident of record. Sadie is both beautiful and brilliant. After earning her law degree she’s worked on the staff of an up and coming Congresswoman who became both her mentor and in many ways a mother figure to her as Sadie has long been estranged from her real mother. Sadie now in her mid-thirties has become an invaluable member of the Congresswoman’s staff. She’s been in a romantic relationship with Nathan a lobbyist for a couple of years. Living through the wreck of her parents divorce she’s never considered marriage. Then she discovers her boyfriend and her boss are having an affair. She quits her job and flees D.C. and heads for her grandparents’ home in Bitter Bark to lick her wounds and put her life back together. After a long day of searching the internet for possible job opportunities a frustrated Sadie decides to go to a local tavern for a quick drink. Outside of the tavern she meets Connor. They flirt, he offers to buy her a drink and the flirtations continue to the point Sadie is thinking the handsome Connor might be able to at least for one night help cure what ails her. But then it is revealed to both of them that they not only attended high school together but that Connor beat Sadie in an election for senior class president. Not only did he beat her because as most high school elections do, it came down to a popularity contest, he dissed and embarrassed her after his win. The realization throws cold water on any romantic possibilities she might have been entertaining.
Enter the Dogmothers who had already decided Connor needed to end his bachelor ways and settle down. They’re friends with Sadie’s grandmother who had informed them of Sadie’s return to town. Gramma Finney remembers Sadie and decides she’d be the perfect match for her grandson. They encourage the politically savvy Sadie to become Connor’s campaign manager and assist in winning his pursuit for the mayor’s office. But Sadie has different ideas. She has her own axe to grind with Easterbrook and she wouldn’t mind a little revenge on Connor for beating her for class president in high school. Through a convoluted series of events that could only happen in a romance novel, Connor and Sadie are forced to pretend they are engaged while campaigning against each other and Easterbrook. They must also convince the town that their fake engagement is legit. This of course forces the two to spend time together which of course results in them falling in love. Throw in a couple of lovable four footed furry creatures a large and loving extended family some suspense and potential danger and you have the makings for a warm, romantic rom-com with a hint of danger and suspense.
Using my tried and true litmus test for rating a book based upon my ability or inability to stop turning the pages and put it down and my level of emotional distress when I have no more pages to turn, I have no problem giving Chasing Tails a 5 Star rating and my hearty recommendation.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Roxanne St. Claire has done it again with Chasing Tail, her newest book in the Dogmothers series. This book involves two romances, families always available to offer their support, and a couple of grandmas who use their matchmaking skills to bring together yet another couple. After being burned at work and in love with both her job and boyfriend in Washington, DC., Sadie Hartman returns home to Bitter Bark, NC. She runs into Connor Mahoney, a sexy firefighter who happens to be her nemesis from high school when he ran against her and won the election for senior class president. Years later, they are opponents again, this time running for mayor of Bitter Bark. There is a lot of love and laughter, suspense and intrigue, as they try to oust a third candidate for mayor.
Add to this a twist in the story with a dog, of course, and a cat, Frank and Demi! This book is a wonderful story about a couple and their two pets; another heartwarming and entertaining book in the Dogmothers’ series!

[Patti Lucas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another incredible tale about love, matchmaking, dogs and big families! I had the honor of reading an ARC of Chasing Tail by Roxanne St. Claire, her third book in Th Dogmothers series for an honest review. All I can say is that I am not sure how she does it, but I truly loved every page and could not put it down. Each book gets better and better, and Chasing Tail is filled with so much emotion, that you better have Kleenex near by. Chasing Tail is filled with all those things that we have come to love and expect in a Roxanne St. Claire tale. It is filled with poignant and bittersweet moments, and many surprise plot twists, and once again proves that Rocki is a master storyteller. My favorite part of The Dogfather and The Dogmothers series is the sage advice that Roxanne always intersperses throughout the story from Gramma Finnie, Daniel and Annie Killcannon, and now Captain Joe Mahoney, the late patriarch of the Mahoney family. I loved Joe's famous quotes and how they have shaped the lives of his sons. Reading Chasing Tail felt like going home, as does all the books in the series. I love catching up with all the Killcannons, Santorinis and Mahoneys. It feels like a family reunion in every book. Chasing Tail is the story of Connor Mahoney, super "hot" firefighter and EMT of the Bitter Bark Fire Department, and second oldest Mahoney child and Mercedes "Sadie" Hartman, former assistant to a Texas Congresswoman. Sadie has recently returned to Bitter Bark, with her cat Demi, from Washington, DC where she has worked since graduating from college. Sadie ran away after a bad break up with her boyfriend, Nathan Lawrence. The Dogmothers think that Sadie is the perfect match for Connor and suggest that she take on the role of campaign manager, since Connor, actually his dog Frank, is running for mayor. Unfortunately, Sadie finds out who the other candidate running for mayor is Mitch Easterbrook. Sadie, and most of Bitter Bark has had a negative encounter with Mitch and she cannot support him for mayor. So the Dogmothers' plan for Connor backfires, or does it. In order to run for mayor, Sadie and Connor must pretend to be "betrothed" to each other, because of some law regarding the marital status of candidates running for mayor. Who doesn't treasure a "fake fiance" romance, and I love how Pru inadvertently put the idea in Connor's head. While pretending to be "fake fiances" Connor and Sadie's relationship changes and they start to have feelings for each other, but will the sudden appearance of Sadie's ex-boyfriend and former boss, change things for Connor and Sadie. I love the stories behind the naming of Connor's dog, Frank and Sadie's cat, Demi and the nicknames that Connor and Sadie have for each other, and how the meaning of those nicknames changes. Lots of laughs were shared between Connor and Sadie and it truly made their story and their romance memorable. My favorite part of their story was when Sadie recalls her chance encounter with Joe Mahoney, have your Kleenex ready. Roxanne has once again delivered a lovely tale that includes "fake fiances", love, laughter, dogs, cats, big families, Dogmother grannies, and a happily ever after. I truly loved every page. Cannot wait for John Santorini's story and discover who the Dogmothers' will find for him.

[Diana Aragon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chasing Tail is the fourth book in Roxanne St. Claire’s Dogmothers series and my favorite so far. Lt Connor Mahoney, the always joking, no long-term relationship, Bitter Bark’s history junkie met his match in DC campaign manager Mercedes “Sadie” Hartman. Sadie is a Bitter Bark native who left as soon as she graduated from High School and have history with Connor but he doesn’t recognized her their path crossed again at the local bar. Most readers could think this is an insta-love story, or a frenemies story or (gasp) an insta-love story but it is all of the above and so much more.

After their first encounter, both parties continued with their lives. Sadie is trying to find what is really her calling and moving on with her life while Connor rescued a little boy with the help of the most resourceful but anxious dog. Since the dog is a true hero, and with a extended family who specialized in all things canine, Connor adopted Frankendog aka Frank who will soon be in the running for major of Bitter Bark with his human as his chief of staff. Meanwhile, Sadie is invited to meet her nana’s girlfriends, Grandma Finnie and Yiayia who as expected presented Sadie with a reason to get involved with the politics of her town while helping Connor and Frank (classic Dogmother’s move). But what it was supposed to be easy soon gets complicated with long buried secrets, political baggage and mystery. Sadie and Connor are actually cats and dogs person, but will the reformed cocky, HS cool guy and the introvert beauty patch the bumps in their history and forged a brilliant future? Will the Dogmothers continue their 100% success ratio or will it be a temporary win? Will the adorable Frank conquer his fears and befriend an orange cat, a Demi-cat?

In typical St. Claire’s fashion, there are plenty of cameos from our favorite characters from previous books; it is always satisfying to find that missing link that ties a book with the entire series and am sure I read and probably missed new breadcrumbs that will be vital in following tittles. Chasing Tail reads as a stand alone book but I’ll recommend you to read the previous books for maximum enjoyment and seek and play over those “what-if”.

I’ll also like to add that this book cover is my favorite in the Dogmothers series so far, only surpassed by Bad to the Bone from the Dogfather series. Meatball and Frank are plain adorable. <3

Roxanne St Claire, you did it again. Five shinning stars!

I received an Advanced Reader Copy but these are my own opinions and most sincere thoughts.

[Visionary Druid · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to courtesy of Romance Junkies

Lieutenant Connor Mahoney is a firefighter and EMT for Bitter Bark, North Carolina. He is the Dogfather’s nephew. On a search-and-rescue, he finds a stray dog who helps him locate a missing child. Connor decides his new canine friend is the perfect gimmick to win the mayor position. However, he never imagines the beautiful woman he encounters in town to be his competition. To qualify as candidates, Connor and Sadie Hartman fake an engagement. Will Connor and Sadie’s engagement become real?
Mercedes “Sadie” Hartman is a former deputy chief of staff for a DC congresswoman. She returns to her hometown to lick her wounds and find a new career path. Sadie and Connor share a past. To keep an unscrupulous man from winning the mayoral election, she decides to become a candidate. However, a two hundred-year-old rule stands in Sadie and Connor’s way. Can Sadie and Connor overcome their differences to become a real couple? Who will become the next mayor?
Connor is a total doll. I adore how active he is in the community. Connor may come across as a flirt and comedian, yet he still pays attention to the town and its people. I like how he and Sadie share a mutual dislike for their competition. The two settle their differences and band together to make sure the third candidate does not win the mayor position. What I love the most about Connor is how easily he adopted Frankendog. He recognizes the canine’s potential and handicaps.
Sadie is the type of heroine I enjoy reading. She is the perfect fit for the flirtatious Connor Mahoney. I adore Sadie’s code of ethics. She may have worked in the immoral world of politics; however, she never allowed it to corrupt her. It takes a strong soul to stand firm against such corruption. What I like the most about Sadie is how she starts to see the real Connor hidden beneath the jokes. It does take her a while to truly see that side of him he rarely shows.
CHASING TAIL is book three in Roxanne St. Claire’s canine contemporary series, THE DOGMOTHERS, a spinoff from her DOGFATHER series. I noticed that Gramma Finnie and Yiayia do not have many scenes in this story like they did in the previous books. I miss their antics. The two women never fail to amuse me, especially with their matchmaking and Gramma Finnie’s Irish proverbs. I love how the couples from the prior books show up throughout the story.
CHASING TAIL is a touching tale of two people overcoming their emotional and mental handicaps to be together. Roxanne St. Claire never disappoints me with her feel-good stories, and this book is no exception. I cannot wait to see what kind of woman the Dogmothers’ plan for John Santorini.

[Eileen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED Connor and Sadie’s amazing story in Chasing Tail by Roxanne St. Claire, book three in her Dogmother series. Firefighter Connor Mahoney is the jokester, flirt, womanizer, who is seldom taken seriously. So when he decides to run for mayor of Bitter Bark, it’s the same old thing, no one believes him. Connor figures he has the ability to win the race by putting Frank, an abandoned canine who saved a drowning child, on the ticket with him. As usual, the Dogmothers have to play matchmaker, by sending Sadie Hartman to Connor with the idea that she would be the perfect campaign manager for him. After all she just returned to Bitter Bark from working in Washington, DC. Sadie doesn’t want that job, no matter how hot and sexy Connor is, or how often they might end up being together. Sadie discovered that another mayoral candidate is in the race, a man who was instrumental in wrecking her family. Uncertain the “dog and firefighter” ticket can win over the other candidate, Sadie launches her own campaign to become the mayor. When an archaic law, written by the founder of Bitter Bark, is discovered, Sadie and Connor join forces, in an unexpected manner in order to stay in the race and beat the third candidate. Sadie and Connor soon discover that running against each other is almost as good as running together as a team.

I found Connor to be more authentic that his colleagues and family gave him credit. Connor adopting an abandoned dog, who saved the day, warmed my heart. Sadie was no longer the resentful school girl who thought Connor was all talk and no action. The attraction and magnetism between these two pushed them together, giving them a chance to realize their friendship wasn’t fake. The friendship between Connor’s dog, Frank, and Sadie’s cat, Demi, was so sweet; setting the example that Connor and Sadie also belonged together.

Ms. St. Claire wrote a fun, flirty and amazing story that is not to be missed. She provided a tale rich with emotions, off the charts sexual chemistry, humor, and charming characters giving Connor and Sadie a chance at love, happiness, and a future neither expected. I highly recommend Chasing Tail to other readers and look forward to the next book in this wonderful series.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

[Gina Bronowicz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know I say this every time I read one of Roxanne'sj books but she just keeps getting better and better. I was hooked from page one of Chasing Tail and that's saying a lot. We get the essence of Sadie and Connor right from the start of their story. Brilliant dialog full of wit and sass is something Roxanne St. Claire does so well. Her development of the characters through thought and dialog brings them to life the way plain narrative can't. Of course we are always happy to find our beloved Kilcannon, Mahoney and Santorini family members in every book. I find myself so immersed in the story that I can almost hear them speaking and see what they see. I have loved all the dogs in both the Dogfather and Dogmother books, especially Meatball, but Frank really tugged at my heartstrings. Maybe it was the fact he was lost and alone in the woods or how he loved people so much he saved a child from drowning in the river. His trust and devotion to Connor brought a tear to my eye more than once. What was really a bonus in this book was the addition of Demi the cat. Many years ago I found a little orange kitten huddled under a pile of trash at our local town dump, shivering in the cold. I bundled her up under my jacket and took her home with me much like Sadie did with Demi. I named her Tigger and she was with me for 20 years so I really identified with little Demi. It was such an adorable twist to the story to have a bond form between
Frank and Demi. Their antics had me laughing out loud. As love began to grow between Sadie and Connor it was fun to see how this affected Frank. Normally shy around everyone but Connor he soon was comfortable with Sadie and slowly came out of his shell with others. The fact that Connor and Sadie ran for mayor of Bitter Bark as a team rather than opponents to beat the sleazy town undertaker was a refreshing change of pace from the politics of today. No story could be complete without the lovable and scheming Dogmothers, YiaYia and Gramma Finnie. Chalk up another victory for the grannies! As always, I enjoyed every page of this book and hated to come to the end. I always feel like I am leaving my good friends behind but then I can look forward to the next book and go back to Bitter Bark for another visit.

[Michelle the Romance Witch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Readers of the series certainly expected Conner’s story to be filled with laughter and passion, from the glimpses of his playful personality in previous novels, but Chasing Tail was much more than just a fluff story to be sure. The story begins with heat and sparks between two strangers that turn out to be much more than simply that to one another and evolves into a story that truly proves the skill and ability of this author. Conner shows us an entirely different side of his personality as he makes life-changing decisions and begins to show those around him the secrets he has been keeping inside. While he enjoys life and refuses to lose at anything he tries, he can be as serious and determined as any of the Kilcannon/Mahoney Clan and when he goes after something he won’t fail, especially if what he is going after is the woman of his dreams. Sadie shows of us the meaning of “beaten but not broken” as she returns to her childhood home to find her new path and begin to rebuild her life. Once she meets Conner there is a whole new dimension in that direction as she tries to resist the sexy fireman and his ridiculously irresistible dog, Frank, but ultimately the pull between them is too much. Oddly she finds a new direction in local politics as well as she fights back against a bastard that destroyed her family and life when she was a teen, but that fire of anger and heat fuels her passion for kicking butt and finding a way to win. I loved seeing Conner and Sadie working together against a common enemy and as they did they discovered a passion and love that surprises them both—even though it was obvious to the Dogmothers. I am looking forward to the next story in the series and cannot wait for whatever direction the series takes, mainly because I have no clue what type of woman would be perfect for John Santorini, but I know that the Dogmothers will score a win as they always do. Rocki scores again with Chasing Tail and I loved every second of the chase.

For full review see the blog at: https://romancewitchreviews.blogspot....

[Marsha Keeper Bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed at Keeper Bookshelf

It didn’t take me long to fall in love with the characters or the plot for ‘Chasing Tail‘, the fourth title in ‘The Dogmothers‘ series. Connor and Sadie are quite formidable people, each with strengths and baggage to deal with… but most of all a unique solution to an intriguing old bylaw that sets up their faltering romance to a place that allows each to shine, get to know the real people and convince a town full of doubters that either of them (or one special dog) would make the best Mayor of Bitter Bark.

While I loved Connor and Sadie, both individually and together as a couple it was the furry four-legged characters who really stole my heart – Frank, one dog who has lived on his own for far too long with a few unique habits, and one stray cat with a mind of her own.

There are some twists within ‘Chasing Tail‘ that gave me pause while thinking of a person’s motivation for doing the wrong thing for what they perceive as the right reason. Not that I agree with the villains’ actions or reasons, it just gave me something to think about as Connor and Sadie’s romance wound down to the ending. This time around the lovely Gramma Finnie and Yiayia, otherwise known as the Dogmothers, aren’t as central to the story but their presence is never completely out of sight or influence. I had fun with this story, ran into a lot of book friends and I’m definitely ready for the next story in this series (which just happens to be on my Kindle waiting for me). If you love a really good romance, a slightly unusual courtship, and furry friends then you’ll want to pick up this addition to ‘The Dogmothers‘ series as soon as possible.

I own a Kindle edition of this title.

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always look forward to a new Roxanne St Claire novel. This one was fun. Sadie Hartman is back in Bitter Bark. She left after high school and has been working in DC for years, but when she lost her boyfriend and her job in one fell swoop, she wanted to come home. She went to high school with EMT Connor Mahoney, and they were rivals for student council office. He won, and he made fun of her and embarrassed her. Fortunately, his social skills have improved but she is still leery of getting to know him better.
The Bitter Bark mayor’s job is up for election, and the only person who has signed up to run is a person of very bad morals. Each decides they must run against him, for the good of the town. Connor found and adopted a stray dog that saved a little boy’s life, literally pulling him from a fast-moving stream, and he puts the dog’s name up as the honorary mayor with himself as the actual worker. Sadie thinks Connor is no more serious now than he was in high school, so she runs against him so there will be a candidate who understands politics.
So there is lots of mayhem before the Happily Ever After. Some is caused by old town charter information. There are stolen man-made diamonds, and prowlers around Sadie’s house. Her grandfather chases them off with his gun. Frank is frightened by everyone except Connor and Sadie’s cat, with whom he falls in love.
All in all, a very fun story with people acting like real people.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

[Jacoby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stray dogs, stray cats, a woman running from a cheating boyfriend and a hot firefighter who jokes his way through life come together in Chasing Tail for a “can’t put down” story. When I first met Connor, I wasn’t too sure how much I was going to like him as a hero, but by the second chapter, I’d fallen in love. Connor and Sadie had known each other in high school, but Connor didn’t really remember too much about her at first. As the two of them get to know each other and realize they are going to have to join forces if they want to save Bitter Bark from a no-good, cheating candidate for major, a rivalry soon turns into something much more than either of them had anticipated. While this is a Dogmother story, I think that perhaps the founder of Bitter Bark needs to take credit for this romance as the Great DogGrandFather since it’s his old-fashioned charter that ultimately draws Sadie and Connor together. To add to the enjoyment of the story, Frank, the stray dog, and Demi, the stray cat, strike up their very own special relationship , which also helps Connor and Sadie draw closer together. There’s even an element of suspense thrown in with Sadie’s old boyfriend and boss – an element that St. Claire always writes so well. A truly great story and a fun read! Connor and Sadie quickly become two more of the Dogmother/Dogfather family members you can fall in love with.

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What is not to love about the newest Roxanne St Claire book, Chasing Tail? I’ll tell you, not much at all! Connor Mahoney, local firefighter….HOT firefighter!! Connor may be a joster but, in reality he only wants what is best for his family and his hometown, Bitter Bark. Sadie is a former Deputy Chief of Staff for a congresswoman from Texas. The Dogmothers are working diligently to bring these two together. You get to visit with the Kilcannons, Mahoneys, and Santorini’s multiple times to see how their lives are going. Love this family and how they are always working together for the betterment of their beloved Bittler Bark and families. I am completely enamored with the writing of Roxanne St Claire. Her characters are strong in character and their love of family and friends. There are so many wonderful parts to this story that I want to share with you but I would give so much away in how Connor and Sadie’s story play out. If you have read any one of the Dogfather or Dogmother stories before you will love Connor and Sadie. If you have not, this is a great one to start with!! I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Completely and wholeheartedly recommend any Roxanne St. Claire book. 5 stars*****

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sadie Hartman’s heart has been broken and what better place to go heal than her hometown of Better Bark, North Carolina, where her grandparents still live. Little did she know when she returned home things were about to get very interesting for her including running into a hunky firefighter she knew from high school, a very insecure dog, a rescued cat and an entire town pushing for her to get her happy ever after!

Conner Mahoney is a typical hometown kind of guy, who is blown over the minute he sets eyes on Sadie Hartman but she doesn’t want anything to do with him once she finds out who he is. So Conner sets out to change her mind and prove to her he is changed from the person he was in high school. With a little help from a couple of Dogmother’s these two they might have a chance after all.

Chasing Tail has a page turning plot, a wonderful family and townspeople as secondary characters along with a dog and cat who add such fun to the story. I can’t express how much I have enjoyed this series of a wonderful family with everyday ups and downs but are full of love and support for each other no matter what. With each story I fall more in love with the Kilcannon, Mahoney and Santorini families. Chasing Tail is a wonderful addition to this series.

[Sue Galuska · Rating 5 out of 5]

EMT Firefighter Connor Mahoney may be the laid back, always joking around, love 'em and leave 'em type but one thing he knows for sure, he wants to be the next mayor of Bitter Bark. When one of his rescues includes a child and a stray dog, Connor decides to adopt and use the dog "Frank" as his campaign sidekick. Life is going well until Mercedes "Sadie" Hartman rolls back into town and throws a wrench into his plans. Sadie also decides to run for mayor because she will do anything to prevent Mitch Easterbrook, the man who broke up her family, from winning the election.

When Connor and Sadie find out about a certain rule that any mayor must adhere to, they decide to join forces in order to defeat Mitch. While Connor would like nothing more than spending more time Sadie, she is very reluctant because of recently being burned while she was in Washington, D.C. Of course the more time these two spend together, the more they realize that there may be more to this alliance than they originally thought.

In true Roxanne St. Claire storytelling you will fall in love with this couple, a dog and even a cat this time! All of our favorite Mahoney's, Kilcannon's and Santorini's make a showing. I just adore this series and can't wait for John Santorini's story which is next!

[Kay Pflueger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vote for Frank for mayor…. But Frank is not who you think… Frank is a dog!

The latest book in the Dogmothers series by Roxanne St. Claire is a romantic story of how opposites attract. Connor is known for being a fun-loving firefighter who does not take life seriously. He decides on a whim to run for mayor… well actually Frank, his dog, is running for Mayor and Connor is his running mate! Sadie is a former congressional aide who is also running for Mayor but who sees the job as an opportunity to make real changes. Added to the mix is that Connor and Sadie have a bit of a back-story making for an interesting twist to the plot.

A long forgotten and overlooked town law states that all candidates running for an office must either be married or betrothed…which leads to a “fake” engagement. But is it really fake???

Who will win the election? Will Bitter Bark have its first canine mayor? Or will Sadie win the hearts of the voters? No spoilers here…you will have to read the book to find out!

I really enjoyed this book and have to say it is my favorite of the series. It is an amusing story with a lot of heart and of course the meddling matching making grandmas!

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Connor Mahoney
Sadie “Mercedes “ Hartman

Connor and Sadie meet again after Sadie has come back to Bitter Bark after quitting her job and breaking up with her boyfriend in DC. Connor doesn’t know who she is until Sadie tells him she was the candidate he beat out for Student Body President in High School and he made fun of her campaign posters in front of everyone. After Sadie meets the 2 Grannies, Dogmothers, she finds out about the Mayor’s race and who the other candidates are and she decides to run. A 153 year old covenant makes it clear that the candidates need to be married, widowed, widower or divorced, so both Connor and Sadie would be excluded so they hatch a fake fiancé plan. The story then goes into how they do the campaign. Return of Sadie’s ex and ex boss, some lab created diamonds and a dog named Frank and a cat named Demi. This is a very good book. Both characters grow emotionally from the first meeting to the end of the book. The dog and cat are fun. The Dogmothers are fun as always in this series. I would definitely read more books by this author and this series.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chasing Tail presents the Dogmothers with another matchmaking opportunity as Bitter Bark firefighter, Connor Mahoney, runs his dog Frank for town mayor. Always looking for their next matchmaking opportunity the two grannies want former resident Sadie Hartman to be Connor and Frank’s campaign manager,  but Sadie decides she could makes a real contribution as mayor of her hometown. Then she and Connor learn that Bitter Bark by-laws require mayoral candidates to be married, widowed or betrothed. What follows is a fake engagement, a real life love story for Frank, some shenanigans and a whole lot of fun for the reader. Ms. St. Claire’s fans know that her lighthearted stories never disappoint, are filled with family, animals, sexy banter, situations that will inspire, cause laughter and perhaps get readers’ adrenaline pumping. Can a dog really be the mayor of Bitter Bark? Join the fun and find out. I voluntarily reviewed an advance copy of this book. Most highly recommend.


Sent from my iPad

[Laura R · Rating 5 out of 5]

If your looking to read a romance story with humor, a little suspense, some spice, matchmaking grandmothers, and a couple furry creatures, then look no further. This is one of those books that you will thinking about for days after you finish reading it, and catch yourself chuckling about different scenes.

I was hooked from the beginning when Sadie first runs into Connor. You could feel the chemistry between them, that is until she discovered who he was. Turns out she definitely remembers him from high school when he beat her out for class president. Only problem is, he doesn't remember Sadie at all.

The next thing you know, they are running against each other, and another candidate, for mayor of Bitter Bark. As they progress through their campaign's, they learn a lot about each other and how they've both changed over the years.

There are so many special relationships in this book - not only Connor and Sadie, but also between Frank (the dog) and Demi (the cat), and of course the whole Kilcannon, Mahoney, and Santorini families.

[Rosemarie Grainer · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Dogmothers strike again!

This is such a fun series. The Dogmothers are so cute, and all of the families are great to see, especially together! Connor wants to run for mayor of Bitter Bark, but no one seems to take him seriously, until Frankendog finds him during a search and rescue for a little boy. Using Frank as a ceremonial head, now he is in the running. But, look out, here comes Sadie after a bad breakup in DC, she goes home to Bitter Bark, and puts her hat in the ring for mayor. Things get crazy after that, and there is a lot going on in this story. You really need to read this to get the whole vibe from this. It is very complex and will keep you guessing. This story has a fast pace, a positive tone and a character oriented storyline with some action/rescue and some steamy scenes. The characters are vibrant and engaging. You can read this on its own. However, you will get much more out of it if you read the Dogfather series in order, and then the Dogmothers series in order. Enjoy!

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is so hard to say which book in this series is my favorite, every one is as great as the last one, but I loved Connor and Sadie. Conner is a firefighter who everyone likes even if they don’t take him seriously because he jokes his way through life. No one thinks he can be serious enough to run for Mayor. A solution comes to him in the form of a hero stray dog. Sadie is back in Bitter Bark to regroup after her career and relationship in DC have fallen apart. The Dogmothers set to work trying to convince her to help Connor with the election, but to make sure the local undertaker doesn’t when she decides to run as well. When an old law is brought forth Sadie and Connor most decide if they can work together to make sure he doesn’t win. As with all the Dogmothers and Dogfather books there is a cute doggie and the heart of this story, but this time there is also a cat. I can’t wait to see what the next story holds for us.

[Diane Saul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Firefighter Connor Mahoney decides to run, Frank, the stray dog he has adopted for Mayor. Frank is a town hero because he found a lost boy. Sadie has returned to town after losing her boyfriend and and quitting her job. When she learns a man who helped wreck her family is also running she decides to throw her hat into the ring. An archaic law in the town charter threatens to disqualify Connor and Sadie so they find a novel way of getting around it. Sadie and Connor running against each other forMayor isn’t exactly what the Dogmothers intended. This is a fun book with humor, love, betrayal and family all rolled into the plot. This book is part of a fun series but it could be read as a stand alone. I recommend this book and any others in the series. I would give this book 4 1/2 stars.
Sent from my iPad

[Terri · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another fantastic book in the series. Not only is there the human couple that are so cute together, there is also a dog and cat couple!
At the very beginning, Connor and Sadie were kind of thrown together without much development of the relationship and I was skeptical that it was going to work in a way that would meet the standards I have come to expect from St. Claire. Let me tell you, I was worried for nothing. Things developed in a sort of backwards way, but the relationship was just as believable and as satisfying as all the others in the Dogfather and the Dogmother books. I absolutely loved Connor and Sadie together!
The bit of intrigue added to the book was a wonderful bonus and was totally unexpected on my part. St. Claire has produced another great story of family, love, dogs and cats!
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.

[Lindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every time I read one of Rocki’s Dogfather/mother books, I think that surely it can’t get any better than the last one. BUT … they always seem to!!! I LOVED Chasing Tail SO much!! Connor and Sadie are so great together … BUT, Frank and Demi … SO PERFECT!!! Rocki has such talent in writing these animals, they have such personalities! This family is so incredibly endearing, and wonderful! Their relationships and dynamic is like a family fairy tale! This book put a smile on my face from page one until the last page was turned! I was so sad when I realized it was over … and we’re running out of people! Thanks so much Rocki for sharing your world of Bitter Bark with us! Bitter Bark is truly lucky to have such an awesome political stronghold! And we’re lucky to be able to share in Bitter Bark’s adventure’s! ANXIOUSLY AWAITING THE NEXT ONE!!!!