Man’s Best Friend

The Dogmothers #5

by Roxanne St. Claire

Declan Mahoney and Evie Hewitt are childhood best friends who become young lovers on one summer night in the Carolina mountains. But the next morning, they learn Declan’s firefighter father has been killed while saving Evie’s family and home. Consumed by grief, and determined to take up his responsibility as the oldest Mahoney sibling, Declan turns from Evie. That heartbreak sends her running halfway across the state, rarely seeing Declan over the next twenty years. But when Evie comes back to Bitter Bark, a couple of meddling grannies who call themselves the Dogmothers hatch their plan to rekindle this romance. They arrange a "chance" meeting and plant some surprises along the way.

When she sees Declan, Evie is knocked over by emotions for the firefighter who might just be the reason she’s forty, childless, and dedicated to her career. She’s also nearly knocked over by the Husky-Malamute mix at his side. With an unexpected assist from a dog who’d been surrendered at the fire station, Declan decides he can’t miss this chance to reconnect with the woman he’s never forgotten. It doesn’t take long for old feelings to burn hot…and it doesn’t take long for Evie, a veterinary neurologist, to notice something's not quite right with the gorgeous dog Declan’s about to put up for adoption.

As they work together to help Judah, more than one creature is healed. Evie starts to demolish the walls grief had raised around Declan’s heart, and he reawakens her dreams of marriage and motherhood. But as they fall back into each other’s arms, Declan discovers the truth about his father’s death, and that revelation threatens more than their love…it could threaten their lives. Will Evie and Declan’s dreams be destroyed by tragedy? Or can they finally let go of the past so they can take hold of the future…together?

All of the covers of The Dogmothers were all photographed at Alaqua Animal Refuge in Florida using rescue dogs from the shelter, and "local heroes" as models. A portion of book sales is donated to that amazing organization!

The Dogmothers - a spinoff series from the popular "Dogfather" books

Once Daniel Kilcannon, a widower with six unmarried kids, has orchestrated wonderfully happy endings for all his offspring and found one of his own, a new matchmaking team takes over in Bitter Bark, North Carolina. Meet Yiayia and Gramma Finnie. One has the steel spine of a Greek warrior, the other has the sweet soul of an Irish poet. Together, along with two darling dachshunds, these Dogmothers won't stop until all nine of their grandchildren are hooked, hitched, and happy.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Animals, Dogs

392 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 25, 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]

Man’s Best Friend by Roxanne St Claire
Book 6 of the Dogmothers series which is a spinoff continuation of the Dogfather series. Matchmaking in contemporary small town Bitter Bark. Can be read as a stand-alone romance.

This is Declan’s story. A second chance romance troupe.
After a tragedy, Declan and Evie went their separate ways. Twenty years later, they are reunited and soon realize they can still be best friends and more.

Keeping this spoiler free,but remembering it’s a romance: in true formula fashion, I knew the twist was coming and can say I hated it and was disappointed in the character. So much. But that was only a half a page! Fist pump to the author for doing the u-turn and taking the true emotional romantic path.

All the feels.

“The table suddenly wobbled as the dog pushed up, finished with the chewy treat he’d been gnawing. He plopped his head on the table, eyes on Evie, because where […] else would anyone with a beating heart want to look?”
Excerpt From Man's Best Friend By Roxanne St. Claire

[Wendy'sThoughts · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Woof Woof Stars
* * * * Quick, Hook Up That Leash, It's Live!!!
Oh, Look At That Face...
No, Not the Guy...
Although He Looks Nice...

I Am Talking About This...
Happy, Captivating Husky-Malamute Mix...
Now There Is A Face To Love...

As A Past Siberian Husky Mommy...
I Had To Take A Moment...
And Send the Love For This Cover...

It Also Doesn't Hurt...
The Dogmothers Are At It Again...
With Their Matchmaking And Meddling...

Strong Silent Type Declan...
Is Their Target...
With His Childhood Sweetheart Evie...

Watch, These Dogmothers...
Will Make Sure...
Declan and Evie...
Will Be Brought Together By...

Man’s Best Friend (The Dogmothers #5)

Hot Under the Collar (The Dogmothers, #1)
Three Dog Night (The Dogmothers, #2)
Dachshund Through the Snow (The Dogmothers, #2.5)
Chasing Tail (The Dogmothers, #3)
Hush, Puppy (The Dogmothers, #4)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Man’s Best Friend (The Dogmothers, #5)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Feliz Naughty Dog (The Dogmothers, #5.5)

For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways

[Liza · Rating 5 out of 5]

Man's Best Friend is the newest installment in The Dogmothers series from Roxanne St. Claire. Declan Mahoney and Evie Hewitt have been best friends since they were kids, and discovered they shared a birthday. They spent each birthday together until they returned from their birthday camping trip to discover Declan's father had died in a house fire saving Evie's family and home. Declan completely closed off basically from everyone and stepped up to fill his father's shoes, and lost his best friend Evie in the process. 

Man's Best Friend was such an emotional read for me. My heart broke for both Evie and Declan as the story started. I lost my mom in a house fire when I was young, so I understood some of what Declan was feeling when it came to losing his dad. I just wanted to hug both Declan and Evie, especially when Declan pretty much shut down for years. I would almost say Declan was almost just living a half-life for the 20 years they were apart. Not only did he end a friendship with Evie that morning, but they had just taken their relationship to the next level and had all the plans for their future right within their grasp.

I absolutely loved that Declan and Evie were brought together thanks to the Dogmothers and Evie's grandfather, but it was a dog abandoned at the fire station that initially kept them spending more time together. Evie is a brilliant veterinarian neurologist who is the best in her field and just who Declan needs to help out Judah. While there were a few bumps along the road for Declan and Evie, I felt how much they loved each other from day one. Even after 20 years apart, they seemed to pick right back up with their inside jokes and banter, and their chemistry was amazing. I loved how important their families were to both, and I especially loved the newest dog in the series, Judah. I loved the little family Declan and Evie made with Judah. Seriously all the feels as I read this story. 

I was completely charmed by their second chance romance, and loved how many emotions I experienced while reading this story. Roxanne St. Claire is the master of the sexy, sweet, funny, and heartwarming stories, and Man's Best Friend was another winner in this series. I absolutely devoured this story and can't wait to be back with the Dogmothers and their families again soon. 

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

[Pj Ausdenmore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Roxanne St. Claire writes directly to the heart with characters and stories that have never failed to capture mine. Evie and Declan are one of those couples you know are meant for one another. For the past twenty years, they've led good, productive, separate lives but something has always been missing. Happiness has never been quite complete. Now, at forty and forty-one, with experience and wisdom on their side, they're given another chance to reach for the happy ending that eluded them so many years ago and I was with them every step of the way.

St. Claire knows how to engage my emotions better than almost any other author writing today. In Man's Best Friend, she's created layered main characters with a complicated history, rich (and frequently humorous) family dynamics, an emotional mystery, and a scene-stealing, heart-stealing dog who saves the day in more ways than one. All combined to pull me into their deeply emotional story and keep me eagerly reading from beginning to end. Keep the tissues handy for this one.

Whether you're new to the series or have been reading since the beginning, Declan, Evie, and Judah will pull you into their lives and capture your heart. I highly recommend Man's Best Friend.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 5 in the Dogmother's series we get Declan's story. It's not a easy one. Evie and Declan were inseparable as teens. Everyone thought they would marry. Tragedy struck and suddenly it's over. Declan's father is killed fighting a fire and Evie's house. Declan feels he has to be the man of the house and take care of his family. He ends it with Evie and she leaves town. Now she's back to take care of her grandfather and Declan finally sees what a fool he's been. Twenty years gone. Can he get Evie back? This one got my heart and mad me sad and angry. Sometimes I just wanted to shake them both. It was interesting to see where the renewed relationship developed and how the families helped it a long. A excellent and engaging read. I was so happy when everything worked out and Declan got closure about what happened with his dad.

[Jenny - Book Sojourner · Rating 4 out of 5]

The twenty year gap was a tough gap to swallow. But I ended up loving Declan and Evie. They were perfect together. Beautiful closure to a painful past. Beautiful conclusion.

Side note: Why was Max left alone so much? Dude is old. No caregivers or visitors or attending senior activities? Seemed a little weird to me. But I loved Max.

[Visionary Druid · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review courtesy of Romance Junkies

Captain Declan Mahoney is a firefighter for Bitter Bark, North Carolina. He is the oldest Mahoney child and the nephew of the town’s infamous Dogfather. Declan regrets withdrawing from Evie Hewitt after the unfortunate death of his father twenty years ago. Now that she is back in town, he intends to reconnect with her. Luckily, a dog surrendered at his station gives Declan an opportunity with his pursuit, along with the meddling machinations of two octogenarians. Will Declan finally have closure on his father’s death? Can he make right on decade-old promises?

Dr. Evangeline “Evie” Hewitt is the sixth generation of Bitter Bark’s founding family. She is also a highly-skilled veterinary neurologist and the head of NC State’s Veterinary Neurology Department. Evie takes time off work to return home to help her ailing grandfather. While running an errand, she encounters Declan and his four-legged companion. Evie recognizes a medical problem with his canine friend and offers her assistance. Can Evie forgive Declan for shutting her out twenty years ago? Or will the past continue to stand in their way?

Declan is such a sweetheart. I love how family-orientated he is. Declan willingly steps up to be there for his mother and siblings after his father’s death. I like how he makes certain to get what the dog Judah needs to heal properly. Not many people would do that for a dog, especially one that is not their pet. What I admire the most about Declan is his ability to admit when he is wrong. He knows he must apologize to Evie for his cold treatment toward her.

Evie is such an inspirational person. She put all her energy into achieving her goals despite her heartache. She understood that Declan needed to come to terms with his father’s death on his own. I love Evie’s down-to-earth personality. She may be from a prominent family and a highly-sought after veterinary neurologist, but she never behaved as if she is better than others. What I adore the most about Evie is her dedication to her family’s lineage. She willingly shares her family’s mementos with the community.

MAN’S BEST FRIEND is book five in Roxanne St. Claire’s canine-themed contemporary romance series, THE DOGMOTHERS, a spin off from her DOGFATHER series. I recommend reading the prior series and the previous books and novellas before embarking on this story. They help set up the three families’ heartwarming dynamics. It is great to see how Gramma Finnie and YiaYia rub off on each other. The latter is softening while the former is getting more outspoken.

MAN’S BEST FRIEND is a cute and heart-warming tale of two people’s second chance to put things right. Roxanne St. Claire always writes such endearing stories. I cannot wait to see which Santorini, Nick or Theo, is next for the matchmaking Dogmothers.

[Eileen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This amazing story by Roxanne St. Claire, Man’s Best Friend, book six in her Dogmother series featuring Declan Mahoney and Evie Hewitt. This is a second chance story of love, dogs, meddling family members, compassion, forgiveness and closure. These characters are amazing, full of love and compassion. Declan and Evie were childhood best friends and then young lovers, one night while they celebrated their shared birthday. The next morning they learn that Declan’s firefighter father was killed while saving Evie’s family and home. Allowing his grief to devour him Declan turns away from Evie, freezing her out. As Evie pursues her degrees to become a veterinary neurologist, her trips back to Bitter Bark are seldom; rarely seeing Declan the past twenty years as her career takes off. Evie returns home for a sabbatical and runs into Declan’s grandmother, half of the meddling Dogmothers who decide these two still belong together. One thing never changed over this time, the feelings, attraction, and chemistry these two had. As these two reconnect Evie notices something is not quite right with the gorgeous Husky-Malamute mix Declan found and is about to have put up for adoption. More than just the pup, Judah is healed by their working together; the walls grief created around Declan’s heart start to tumble and dreams of marriage and a family start stirring within Evie. Not all is perfect as Declan reopens the investigation surrounding his father’s death. He believes finding the truth will give him and his family the closure they need. In addition it threatens his relationship with Evie as well as their lives. It is going to take some serious understanding on both their parts, and a little nudge from the Dogmothers, before they can think about a future 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 sizzling chemistry, humor, and charming characters giving Declan and Evie a second chance at love, happiness, and a future together. I highly recommend Man’s Best Friend to other readers and look forward to discover the next match-matching victim in the next book of this wonderful series.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Man’s Best Friend” is the next installment of Roxanne St. Claire’s The Dogmothers Series. Declan Mahoney is a firefighter in Bitter Bark, NC. Twenty years earlier, his firefighter father had died in a fire at his then girlfriend’s house. Declan and his girlfriend, Evie Hewitt, shared a birthday and were out camping when the fire and tragedy occurred, changing both of their lives forever. Declan withdrew from his family and friends, immersed in his work as a firefighter, working to become the next fire chief. Evie planned her life goals to fulfill her dream of becoming a neurologist veterinarian. She reached that goal and more, becoming the head of the Neurology Department at the NC State College of Veterinary Medicine. Coming back to Bitter Bark on sabbatical, she was there to help her grandfather. She could not help thinking about Declan and what might have been.

Enter the Dogmothers whose mission in life is to make sure all their grandchildren find their soul mates. Declan’s grandmother, affectionately known as Gramma Finnie teams up with Yiayia, the Greek grandmother who joined the family when Declan’s uncle, Daniel Kilcannon, remarried. Gramma Finnie is determined to reunite Declan and Evie. Will the death of Declan’s father keep him from forgiving Evie and her family for what certainly was a tragic accident? Declan is determined to put the past behind him as he looks for answers as to how his father died. Will he regret what he finds? It may be at the high cost of losing Evie forever. This is another heartwarming story of friendship, love, family, and as always, dogs!

[Terri · Rating 5 out of 5]

St. Claire has produced another charming book with characters you wish were at your own Sunday dinner. This is my favorite Dogmothers book so far! This second chance trope was even better than most in that Declan had made a list of promises to Evie twenty years ago before things fell apart for them. They had been so close to FOREVER before circumstances drove a wedge between them and then Evie left town for veterinary school. The list might be the reminder that Declan needs to let Evie back into his heart.
After his father's death, Declan totally shut down. Evie wasn't the only one he shut out. His large, loud family would like him to return to them too. The Dogmothers are on it! Evie is back in town and those loveable old ladies have a plan! Will they be able to get the two lovers back together with the help of Evie's grandfather? He's scheming for a grandbaby before he dies. Will they cooperate?

[Darcy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was glad that this one started out with the first couple of chapters in the past, that we got to see the potential of Evie and Declan and how that Declan was so different from the one we've gotten to know. I loved that Evie was back in town, that she connected with Declan and neither of them took this second chance for granted. I was a bit worried as Declan finally faced his father's death, but he needed to do that, even as I worried what he would find out. By the end of the book I was happy with where the characters were, happy that they were settled in the present and happy that they found out what happened in the past.

[Julia David · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like that this is an older couple (not in their late 20's or early 30's). Declan and Evie have been best friends for most of their lives and decided to take it to the next level on their mutual birthday day. When they arrive home, Declan finds out that his father was killed in a fire at Evie's house. Declan doesn't blame her or her family for his death, but he just kind of shuts down. He also freezes Evie out of his life. Twenty years later, she is back in town to help her grandfather. Declan knows he owes her an explanation, but he doesn't know what to say. He still loves her after all these years, and she still loves him, but can they get over the past 20 years? Thanks to an abandoned dog, they come together to help him, but is that enough? When Declan starts to come to terms with his father's death, he finds that he has a lot of questions. If he starts digging into the past, will that drive Evie away?

[Nate Brightman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full disclosure. I have read and loved just about every book Roxanne St. Claire has written. So going into this story I fully expected to love it. I wasn’t disappointed. This is the 5th book in the Dogmothers series with the two octogenarian scheming grandmothers plotting to get all of their remaining single grandchildren (the Dogfather hasn’t already paired up before going into matchmaking retirement) married. In many ways its just like every other book in the Dogfather and Dogmother series. There’s lots of happy feels from the large combined Irish and Greek families (the Kilcannons, Mahoneys and Santorinis) Granny Phinney and Yiaya are the matriarchs of, as well as their four-legged family members. It can be more sappy than a Hallmark movie at times with the warm family feels, the adorable Irish grandmother, the loving siblings and cousins, the babies and of course the four legged family members. While the sex scenes are hardly the most explicit in contemporary romance they’re definitely a lot hotter than anything you’ll see on the Hallmark channels. As with all romance novels there’s some angst as the couple struggles to find their way to happily ever after and often a bit of suspense and danger.
This is a second chance at love trope between Declan Mahoney now 41 years old the captain and chief in waiting of the Bitterbark F.D. and Evangeline Hewitt a neurologist veterinarian now 40. The title is a double entendre. Of course there’s a dog Judah, who is man’s best friend who brings our main protagonists together. But there is also Evie Hewitt who for most of the first twenty years of their lives was Declan’s best friend. Declan and Evie had been BFFs since third grade. On their 20th and 21st birthdays respectively (they share the same birthday) putting an exclamation point on the sexual tension that had been brewing between them for months, they became lovers. Declan promises Evie forever but she worries that the long years of study and training ahead of her to become a neurological surgeon-veterinarian will put distance between them causing him to break his promise. To assuage Evie’s fears he writes his vows down on an index card. The odd thing here is rather than give the card to Evie to keep, he keeps it himself which becomes important later in the story. Before their new relationship can grow deeper roots tragedy befalls Declan’s family when his father then the captain of the F.D. dies putting out a fire at Evie’s family home working Declan’s shift he had agreed to switch so Declan could go camping with Evie on their birthday as she’d requested. Declan falls into a years long deep depression pushing Evie away. After a few futile attempts to reach her best friend Evie gives up and returns to college at N.C. State to pursue her dream of becoming a neurological surgeon. Years go bye and before you know it 20 years have passed without Evie and Declan having a meaningful conversation. After so many years of silence neither knows what to say to the other so they just avoid saying anything at all on those rare occasions when Evie is in Bitterbark and they see each other. It’s telling that while both have dated, neither now approaching middle age have ever married or even been in a long-term serious relationship. As Evie tells Declan, she’s been “in-like” a few times and even tried to tell herself it was love but knew it wasn’t. As Delcan’s sister Ella tells him, he’s always kept the women he’s dated at arm’s length and self-sabotaged his relationships with them. And as Declan finally admits to Evie, it’s because none of the women he dated were her. Evie, a born nurturer is nearly desperate to have a child but at 40 and still single she feels that ship has passed. Not only does she ache to have a child but she is also the last direct descendent of Thaddeus Bushrod the founder of Bitterbark and it appears she will be the end of her family’s line. Evie takes a semester long sabbatical from her job as head of the neurological science department of the veterinary college at N.C. State to return to Bitterbark to care for her ailing 92-year-old grandfather Max. It’s time for the Dogmothers to get to work. I have to admit that as romantic as the idea of this second chance at love plot is, it boggles my mind a bit that these two individuals who have lived the past 20 years avoiding each other could find their way back to each other. It’s not as though they had been separated by great distance or that they’d fallen in love with others building separate lives and suddenly found themselves single again twenty years later like Daniel Kilcannon and Katie Santorini did in the last Dogfather book, Old Dog New Tricks. Declan froze Evie out of his life and didn’t know how to undo the damage he’d done to their relationship when he came out of his fog and Evie had given up trying to reach him. How do you break down long time walls that well established? The Dogmothers have their work cut out for them.
Honestly for the first half of this book I found the story rather melancholy because of Evie. My heart went out to Evie. First her best friend and the love of her life Declan no sooner pledges his eternal love for her and then freezes her out of his life. Shortly thereafter her bohemian mother talks her father into leaving Bitterbark and living on a sail boat in the Caribbean leaving Evie feeling abandoned. She puts all of her focus and her efforts in achieving her career goals which she does exceptionally well. But now closing in on mid-life with her biological clock for child-beearing running out, she feels unfulfilled at not having a husband and a family and she feels she’s disappointed her beloved grandfather by not producing an heir to carry on the family name. In her career she’s become an administrator far removed from healing the animals that made her want to become a vet. She isn’t even teaching the next generation of veterinarians any longer. Her work life is meetings and pushing paper. She worries about what will become of her historic family home Glorianna House when her grandfather passes. Her parents have no interest in it. She loves the house but its too much for a single woman to maintain and her life is over 3 hours away in Raleigh. Declan I just struggled to feel the same sympathy for. I felt sympathy for the loss of his father and I respected the way he stepped up to try and be a father figure to his three younger siblings. And of course I respected his work as a firefighter. But I couldn’t get past the fact that he abandoned Evie after pledging his love to her. I get he was grieving the death of his father and how Evie and her family were all caught up in that grief. But when you love somebody like he claimed to love Evie you just don’t do that to them. You lean on them to help you through the bad times. It was hard for me to get past the idea that he’d broken his forever promises to her before the ink was barely dry on the index card he’d written them on and then continued to exclude her from his life for two decades. I knew Declan was going to struggle to earn my support as much as he would Evie’s love back.
Any way with a little help from the Dogmothers and Evie’s granddaddy Max, Declan and Evie run into each other at the local bakery where they finally speak to one another. Truth is Evie has always longed to reconnect with Delcan and Delcan is finally determined to overcome the awkwardness between them he has allowed to fester by his decades long silence. Deep down he’s always known Evie is his forever and he’s determined not to let this rare opportunity to reconnect slip through his fingers. On their way out Evie notices there’s something wrong with Judah, the dog abandoned at the fire station that Declan was taking to his cousins training and adoption facility to be checked out and put up for adoption. Declan asks Evie to work with his cousin Molly (also a veterinarian and friend of Evie’s) to heal Judah. Partially because he knows Evie is an amazingly talented and caring neurological surgeon but also as an excuse to spend more time with her. He also convinces her to allow him to help do some repairs around Glorianna House which has fallen into minor disrepair so he'll have a continued excuse to be around her. For Declan to agree to spend time there, the place where his father died is a huge step and Evie knows it. Ever so slowly they begin to rebuild their relationship. While Evie is thrilled to have Declan back in her life and dreams of more than mere friendship, she is still leery of him freezing her out again and wants an explanation from him as to why he froze her out of his life for two decades and an apology for doing it. Declan wants to give Evie the apology and explanation he knows she deserves and he desperately wants her forgiveness. He just can’t find the words. Until one day Evie in a highly charged emotional moment finally demands them from him. Declan does his best to explain the what and the why and begs Evie to forgive him. She does but she’s still leery to go all in fearing Declan could fall back into that dark place at any time breaking her heart again. They agree to take their time rebuilding the relationship they had achieved before things went to Hell with Declan’s father’s death. Things are going well except Declan is determined to discover why his father broke protocol and died in the fire. Evie interprets his determination to get to the truth of what happened as his refusal to let go of the past and a risk that Declan could fall back into that black hole he’d been in and ice her out of his life again. For Evie’s sake Declan tries to lay his desire to find more than is in the official reports aside. But the question continues to nag at him with a suspicion that the cause of the fire wasn’t an accident, driving a wedge between him and Evie.
Can Declan ever put the past behind him so it won’t interfere with his relationship with Evie and the future together they both want? Can Evie overcome her fear of Declan rejecting her again and fully trust him? Is there wedding bells and possibly that longed for baby in her future? Believe it or don’t, despite the length of this review and amount of the story I have revealed, there is still plenty I’ve left unsaid to make it well worth your reading. If you love romances with a lot of happy feels, a big loving family, adorable pets a bit of angst and a bit of heat, and even a bit of danger, you’ll enjoy both this book and this series. Seriously my only issues with this story is the idea that Declan held onto the card he’d written his promises to Evie on which made no sense to me and the fact that the current fire chief who is only nine years older than Declan calls him “son.” Hardly enough to take away even one star from the story.

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another captivating and heartwarming story in the Dogmother series. It’s filled with emotion (laughter and tears), chemistry, the love of family, haunting of the past, and moving forward. Evie and Declan are wonderful characters, ready to grab at their second chance together. Add in their lovable dog, Judah, and you have a story with all the feels! Excellent addition to the series!

[Patti Lucas · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW! Roxanne St. Claire has done it again and delivered another smash hit Dogmother matchmaking romance with Man’s Best Friend, the fifth book in The Dogmothers series. I received an ARC for honest review, and I can truly say that Man’s Best Friend was an incredible romance. I am not sure how Roxanne St. Claire does it, but I absolutely loved every page and could not put it down. All I know is that each book in this series keeps getting better and better, and I think that Man’s Best Friend is my favorite, but I feel that same way after I have read each of the books in the series. Who doesn't love big families, romance, sexy men, intelligent women and dogs! I love that Man’s Best Friend is narrated from the viewpoint of the main characters. I really enjoy getting the perspective from those characters. I love getting inside their minds and knowing their thoughts and how they really feel. Man’s Best Friend is a story about getting a second chance at first love and is filled with heartbreaking and heartwarming moments. I love the lighter moments where I find myself smiling and laughing out loud. My favorite moments are the ones that cause me to sigh, say aww to myself with tears filling my eyes and rolling down my face. Man’s Best Friend is filled with such moments, and with so much emotion, that you better have Kleenex nearby. It is filled with all those things that we have come to love and expect in a Roxanne St. Claire tale. Especially the poignant and bittersweet moments that filled this page turner, and the many surprise plot-twists. Once again Rocki proves that she is a master storyteller who always delivers truly page turning romances. I love the big, loving, Irish, Greek, Kilcannon-Mahoney-Santorini family! I feel like each book feels like a family reunion and gives readers a chance to catch up with all the Kilcannons, Mahoneys and Santorinis. I love the nickname of Andi and Liam's daughter; Fiona is Wee Fee! Man’s Best Friend, is the story of Declan “Dec” Mahoney, firefighter and captain in the Bitter Bark Fire Department and Evangeline “Evie” Hewitt, a veterinary neurologist. Dec and Evie were best friends twenty years ago, but the night their relationship changed from friends to something more than friends, a tragic event occurred at Evie’s home, Gloriana House that changes the course of their relationship for twenty years. Declan takes his role as the man of the house very seriously and he put his life on hold. Evie went on to achieve her own career goals, but not her personal dreams. The Grannies and Evie’s grandfather, Max are working together to reunite Evie and Dec, when Evie returns to Bitter Bark on sabbatical from her position at NC State to take care of Max. Evie and Dec first meet at the bakery, purchasing Linda May’s famous raspberry croissants for their grandparents. Dec has Luskey with him, a dog who was recently abandoned at the firehouse. Evie thinks that there is something seriously wrong with Luskey. She thinks that he might have Wobbler Syndrome. Evie runs tests on him at both Waterford and the Vestal Valley College which confirm her Wobbler Syndrome diagnosis. Evie gets approval to be able to perform the surgery on Luskey at Vestal Valley. Evie takes Luskey home to keep an eye on him and her grandfather, Max changes his name to Judah. Declan agrees to work on Gloriana House to make some improvements to it, since Evie has agreed to help Judah, even though Declan has avoided this house and the area for the past twenty years. Dec starts to look into the fire that lead to his father’s death, Evie is concerned that this will lead to him returning to his dark place and shutting her out again. While working together and remembering their broken promises, Evie and Declan give into their feelings and Dec remembers all the promises he made to Evie the last time they were together. My favorite parts are the surprise plot twists, that keeps me guessing how everything will get resolved to the characters getting their happily ever after. My favorite moments in the book are the first two chapters. I have never loved the first two chapters in any book the way that I have with Man’s Best Friend. I loved getting to know Evie and Dec before the tragedy and I loved that their love was able to finally conquer the tragedy that changed the course of their lives. I love that Colleen Mahoney used Annie Killcannon’s quote, “you’re only as happy as your least-happy kid.” I love that Evie says “paradise for a person who loves big families and dogs”, because that is how I feel about all the books in the series. I absolutely loved the epilogue and all the surprises that were revealed in it. As always, I love Gramma Finnie and YiaYia, and their matchmaking abilities. Once again, this book is filled with Gramma Finnie’s heartwarming sayings, that I have come to love. I also really enjoyed Declan's memories of his father and that he got closure for his death that did not involve Evie’s family or a mistake made by his father. Man’s Best Friend was the much deserved, beautifully written story for Declan. It was a wonderful story filled with everything that I love in a book. Cannot wait to be reunited with my favorite Irish and Greek family members when the Dogmothers work their magic with one of the Santorini men.

[Gina Bronowicz · Rating 5 out of 5]

40 year old Evie Hewitt has come home to Gloriana House to take care of her ailing grandfather. Instead of her usual quick visit, Evie has taken a sabbatical from her job as a department head in Veterinary Neurology which means she has a whole semester in Bitter Bark. There are things she wants to do to Gloriana House, built by her great-great-grandfather, Thaddeus Bushrod, and passed down to his descendants. Although Evie is glad to be back in Bitter Bark spending time with her grandfather Max, she has yet to come to terms with her feelings for Declan Mahoney. It has been 20 years since the fire at Gloriana House took the life of Declan's firefighter father and ended the hopes and dreams of the young lovers. Devastated by the loss of his father, Declan took over the role of taking care of his mother and siblings. A role so encompassing that it did not include Evie and their plans of a life together. Individually they each fulfilled their career plans over those 20 years. Declan is a captain in the Bitter Bark fire department and Evie has attained success as a veterinary neurologist. She has long since put away dreams of a husband and family. Deep down she suspects it's because no one but Declan could fill that role. Enter the two plotting grannies known as the Dogmothers. They decide now is the perfect time to work their matchmaking magic on Declan and Evie. Enlisting the help of Evie's grandfather Max, they set up and "accidental" meeting between the two at Linda May's bakery. Declan is there getting raspberry croissants for Gramma Finnie accompanied by the big Husky/Malamute dog that was left at the fire station. Being the smarter of the two, Lusky makes a beeline for Evie. Declan knows before turning around who is talking to his dog. Determined not to blow his chance to reconcile with Evie, he uses the opportunity Lusky has given him and invites Evie to sit with him and talk while they wait for a fresh batch of raspberry croissants. As they leave the bakery, Evie notices that Lusky has an odd way of walking. She mentions this to Declan who says he also noticed it and tells her Lusky also howls a lot. She suspects that the howling is from pain and agrees to accompany Declan to Waterford Farms to conduct an examination along with his uncle Daniel and cousin Molly at their veterinary clinic. There she confirms that Lusky has Wobbler Syndrome, a serious spinal cord condition. Together they agree to do whatever is necessary to make Lusky well again and Evie takes the dog home where he immediately bonds with Max. Hearing they have been calling the dog Lusky, Max decides on a much better name and rechristens him Judah. As the days pass and Judah's upcoming surgery and recovery are planned out, Evie and Declan spend more and more time together and old feelings stir in both of them. Declan has even come to terms with being in Gloriana House again even though it constantly reminds him where his father died. The grannies along with all the Kilcannons and Mahoneys do whatever they can to encourage the relationship. Declan slowly decides he needs to fully understand how and why his father died in that fire so he can put that ghost to rest. He knows he has always loved Evie and they both deserve this last chance at happiness. As Declan digs deeper he finds suspicious and dangerous things out that could put both him and Evie in danger. But there is also the danger of having their hearts broken once again. As past and present collide, Declan and Evie fight for a love that never ended.

[Diana Aragon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the sixth installment of the successful Dogmothers Series by Roxanne St. Claire, a stand alone book but for your better enjoyment I’ll recommend to read the books in order.

This is the story of the oldest Mahoney’s brother, Bitter Bark’s Firefighter Captain Declan Mahoney and the lady who always held his heart, Evie Hewitt. A second chance love story, sprinkled with a dash of drama and suspense it is hard not to start and stop until you see that final grammar period. These two were working towards their forever after when a fire that turn into tragedy re arrange said plans and it is been 20 years since they have been face to face together.

Evie Hewitt left Bitter Bark and became a successful veterinary which specialized in Neurology, but as it happens to many, the job takes a toll and she decides to take a sabbatical, return to her roots and visit with his grandfather Max who lives in the historical Gloriana House, their family house, which has been passed down from Thaddeus Bushrod founder of Bitter Bark. What these two professionals don’t realized is that their family had a hand in their chance encounter. Enter Gramma Finnie and Yiayia, the Dogmothers who devised a chance encounter for our protagonists with the help of Max and a lovable Siberian-Malamute mix who will need their help, who will be the main reason for they coming back and revisited that fateful night and who also give a nudge towards their future.

I loved this book. Oh the feels! First, there was a Siberian mix puppy in my childhood and Rocki you just knew how to make Judah special. Second, this is a romance story where both central characters have fulfilled their goals indepently, they know what they really want and this time around are well prepared to work and fight for their HEA. Third, family…specially all the senior characters with their wisdom and perennial youthfulness at heart, they’re a force to reckon with. And lastly, how can I not give a shout out to Bitter Bark as a whole?

Man’s Best Friend kept me up all night, made me laugh out loud, unearthed happy memories, guess constantly as a mystery is solved and believe that love is not only for twenty/thirty something…it is ageless. Five shining stars!

The Dogmothers Series is a spinoff from the Dogfather Series, both series sport unique covers that portray rescue dogs from Alaqua Animal Refuge in FL and “local heroes” as their companions. During releasing month, part of the sales are donated to them.

These are my most sincere thoughts and opinion. Although I received ARC, I bought a copy because my personal collection will be incomplete without it.

[Sue Galuska · Rating 5 out of 5]

Declan Mahoney has been in love with Evie Hewitt since they were in high school, especially after one special night up in the mountains celebrating their joint birthday. It was also the night his dad, Captain Joe Mohoney lost his life in a fire at Evie's family home. Being the oldest in his family, Declan took on the responsibility of helping raise his three younger siblings. He also made the decision to cut Evie completely out of his life. Now, twenty years later Evie, a veterinary neurologist, is back in Bitter Bark helping take care of her Granddaddy Max for a few months. Every time Declan sees Evie, his heart breaks all over again. He made a mistake cutting her off, but after 20 years, Declan feels it is too late to see if there is any spark left.

Well The Dogmothers know that Declan belongs with Evie and they are going to do everything in their power to make that happen, and they even bring Max in on their plans. As Declan and Evie spend more time together, Evie realizes that Judah, the dog Declan found at the fire station has a problem and it is something she can surgically fix. Together, bonding over Judah Evie and Declan find that spark that has always been there the last twenty years. Just when it looks like these two are going to get their happy ending, ghosts from their past come back haunting them. It could either bring them closer or tear them apart for good.

I just adored these two characters. Declan is the type of guy who took on the serious job of helping raise his siblings even though he was only 18 years old. The past twenty years he has rarely dated because he still loved Evie....she's always been The One. Evie felt so rejected after Declan cut her out of his life that she put all of her time and effort into her career. She has always wanted kids but it was never in the cards. Now with Declan back in her life, Evie is finally getting everything she ever wanted. Overall this was a perfect story for these two and such a great addition to this series.

[49 Geese · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dogmothers Book 6

Declan Mahoney and Evie Hewitt were childhood sweethearts. Born and raised in Bitter Bark, they always knew they would marry each other one day. The night they promised their love should have been the happiest moment in their young lives but it turned out to be the worst when Declan’s firefighter father died that night in a fire at Evie’s family’s house.

That night changed everything. Devastated by the loss of his father, Declan closed himself off from his family and friends. And from Evie. A firefighter himself now, Declan can’t come to terms with how or why his father, with years of experience, died that night. The facts of the investigation just don’t add up. While Declan became distant, Evie left Bitter Bark to begin her journey in veterinary medicine.

Twenty years later, when Dr. Evie Hewitt, now a top veterinary neurologist came back home, she couldn’t help but run into Declan. Enter the Dogmothers. Grandma Finnie and Yiayia, the family matchmakers, have their sights set on getting Evie and Declan back together. Knowing the bond these two had and the promise Declan made to Evie, they knew they were meant to be. They just needed to be reminded. And who better to do the job?

This is another winner for Roxanne. I liked that the characters are a bit older now but still have the same love for each other as they did when they were young. Blending the past with the present, combined with the mystery of the fire, was all done flawlessly. Although I would recommend reading the series to get to know the families and who belongs to whom, the reader can read this book as a stand alone. There is a chart included at the end of the book to help identify the characters.

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

4.5 stars

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Dogmother’s are at it again and they have Declan Mahoney in their sites. This time they may not have much luck with their matchmaking, however. Declan has been closed off for the past 20 years after the tragic death of his father. He shut out the one person that he loved and hasn’t been the same since. When Evie Hewitt comes back to town there maybe a chance for them after all.

First we have a delicious hero who is very sexy, gorgeous, and funny, but a bit broken; we also have a heroine who is lovely and strong and has been hurt by Declan Mahoney and after 20 years she still doesn’t have the answers as to why Declan shut her out. The plot is absolutely superb with a friend to lovers story that is cut short by a tragedy but life maybe giving them a second chance in the form of two hilarious grandmothers. We also have a very bad man thrown in to cause pain and trouble. The dialogue is wonderfully written and brings the reader along quite nicely throughout the story.

The Dogmother and Dogfather Series is without a doubt one of the best out there with the author gifting readers with an amazing talent to make each story fresh, new and entertaining. She writes such wonderful stories of love, strength, loyalty and hope into each character and the reader very easily falls in love with each one. It was very easy to connect with the hero and heroine in this story as well as thoroughly enjoying what the secondary characters bring to the plot. Man’s Best Friend is a lovely addition to the DogMother Series. I highly recommend this book.

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Man’s Best Friend, is not just referring to dogs in this case. Declan Mahoney lost both his best friend, Evie Hewitt, and his dad, Joe Mahoney, basically at the same time close to 20 years ago. Can these two one-time best friends, who were destined to marry find their way back to each other? Will Declan ever be able to find a way to put his demons to rest? I love the writing style of Roxanne St. Claire. I have been a fan for quite a long time. Her characters are real, smart, sexy, sassy, handsome, and loving. If you love large family sagas with some meddling from 2 and in this case 3 octogenarians whose only wish is to see their families happy then you will love this new installment of the Dogmothers Series! There is so much I want to say but would give too much away. Another win for not only the Dogmothers but for Roxanne St Claire too. I absolutely love her stories in this series. This one seemed to touch me a bit more. Maybe because Declan is the oldest and shouldered the responsibility of taking care of his family. Or it could be because he truly deserved a second chance with his best friend and to be free of the demons of losing his dad all tjose years ago. I just wish I would have paid more attention to Declan when he made earlier appearances. Love this Dec and this story. As always there is a beautiful dog that plays a major role in helping each couple find their forever love, I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. *****

[Busybeth76 · Rating 5 out of 5]

"With hope, any thing is possible"

A beautiful second chance romance. Two best friends who had just recognized their romantic love for each other are torn apart by tragedy. They spend twenty years apart, catching glimpses of each other but never gathering enough courage to talk to each other. Captain Declan Mahoney is 41, he's finally realized his life has passed him by. In spite of being an excellent firefighter, respected citizen and loving family member he is alone, locked in a deep dark basement of his own making. But Evie Hewitt is back in town, helping her elderly grandfather and his historic Victorian mansion. She's a neurologist veterinarian surgeon. She's 40, very well respected professionally, a soft heart for anyone, but especially animals, and she's alone. Of course, the dog mothers see exactly what needs to be fixed. So, mix together the huge Irish and Greek families, a lost but loving dog rescue, Dogmothers, a grandpa looking for family, the history of Bitter Bark and a twenty year old mystery and the result is a well written (love the internal asides throughout the character's external dialogue), interesting and bittersweet story. Dec and Evie deserve to be together, they finally are able to get out of their own ways to find their happy ever after.

[Marcie Pomper · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I could give a book 6 stars I would. I have loved everything that I have ever read by Roxanne St. Claire, but this one has to be the best one ever. Man’s Best Friend is the latest in the Dogmothers series, but can be read as a stand alone.

Declan and Evie grew up close friends. Fast forward to them growing up and while celebrating their mutual birthdays, they both acknowledge that their feelings are more than just friends. Unfortunately fate has other things in mind with the tragic death of Declan’s firefighter dad. Declan builds an ice wall and cuts Evie out of his life. After several failed attempts Evie is convinced she as lost the love of her life and continues on to become a successful neurological veterinarian. Declan took time off of being a firefighter to try to cope with the loss of his father. He too builds his way up the ladder of success and becomes a captain.

Twenty years have passed, and Evie and Declan reunite in their efforts to help Lusky (aka Judah) who was left at the firehouse and Declan has determined to helping get him better.

So many emotional twists with Declan and Evie trying to find their way back to each, with many surprises along the way. I loved the ending. Be prepared to cry, to laugh (always laughter when the Dogmothers are involved), and to get pulled in to this amazing family.

[Nancy Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book from Roxanne St.Claire, number 6 in the Dogmother series. This book was a more mature Romance of two people, Declan Mahoney, chief firefighter of Biter Bark & Evie Hewitt, childhood best friend of Declan’s, & veterinary neurologist-neurosurgeon & Judah, Declan’s Husky-Malamute injured stray dog. There was a 20 year hiatus between Declan & Evie’s life after high school. They were both headed on their life’s path to their respective careers but they were both missing that all important person to complete their lives. Declan & Evie were carrying baggage from their past that needed tending to before they could go on to the future. Of course Gramma Finnie and Yiayia had to stick their noses in Declan & Evie’s life to make sure they were on the right path to love.
Ms. St.Claire was able to blend all the characters from both series to complete the story so it can be read as a stand-alone without missing a beat. Of course it’s better if you start from the beginning to get the best out of the series, you’ll not regret it. I can’t tell you which book I love best cause each one surpasses the other. I can now go on to read the Christmas story, “Feliz Naughty Dog”. I can’t wait. Enjoy these series!

[MK · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ms. St. Claire truly broke me in this book. She takes us on an emotional ride. Hearts come together, hearts divide but find each other once again. That’s what this book shows. This author writes with heart, soul, spirit, sweat, and tears. She brings that out in each of us readers to. So make sure you have some Kleenex when reading.

Captain Declan Mahoney and Evie Hewitt took there friendship to a new height, but soon it took a spiral dive. A lot of years went buy. Call it what you will, but We all know who brought these two to the bakery one morning...However when Declan saw Evie he couldn’t find the words again to tell his best friend how he felt. He walked in with his furry friend Lusky that was brought and left at the fire house.
Evie couldn’t resist the pull Declan had on her. It has been 20 years. She came back to Bitter Bark to be with her grandpa Max. But when a big furry animal came at her well she was lost in his eyes as much as his human. She also noticed something as they left about the dog named Lusky. Her doctor Doolittle side came out as Declan called her.


A must read ladies. Each Dogmother and DogFather book can be read alone.

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is The Dogmothers Book Six
How are we already on book 6? There are a lot of Kilcannons and Mahoneys and now Santorinis. Just one BIG, happy family, with lots of dogs.
Evie Hewett and Declan Mahoney were best friends all through school, from third grade through the year Declan turned 21. Then Declan’s firefighter dad is killed helping to put out a fire in Evie’s family home. They just can’t connect after. Declan feels he has to become the man of his family and they grow apart.
Now, 20 years later, they run into each other again. Declan has adopted a dog abandoned at the fire station. Evie, a veterinary neurologist, notices something is wrong with his gait. They work together to solve the dog’s problems, but Evie’s family has problems as well.
In the course of helping the dog, Evie remembers her roots and her love for being a small-town vet. But she is now a bigwig an NC State School of Veterinary Medicine. Can she leave all that for a small town?
The people and their problems grab you right away. You may well cry as you read it (good tears, trust me). I think you will enjoy this book a lot.
I received an advanced reader copy and this is my honest review.

[Victoria Sturlini · Rating 5 out of 5]

BEAUTIFUL STORY AS USUAL!!!!🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾

I loved this book! I loved every minute of reading this book! As usual it was a heartwarming story about love, family, friendship and support!! Evie and Declan were so likeable and perfect for each other. I was so glad that when they got back together their story was filled with kindness and forgiveness..... Deep love and understanding..... There was very little angst in this storyline which made it even more of a beautiful and heart melting read! This touch of mystery throughout the book was interesting and intriguing and it has a very satisfying resolution. As usual all the characters were delightful.... Colorful, quirky, and so endearing. I always enjoy all the affection and interactions between the various family members and their dogs. There is always such a lovely feeling of enjoyment that I get when I read one of the Dogmothers, or the original Dogfather, series. They are such a treat to read especially now in these turbulent times and I highly recommend this book and the entire two wonderful series. You will love them!!!😇

[Kay Pflueger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have enjoyed all the books in this series and after each one, I claim that it is my new favorite. Well... here I go again... this one is definitely my favorite!

Declan Mahoney and Evie Hewitt share a history... as best friends who became each other's first love. When Declan's father lost his life fighting a fire at Evie's home, their relationship changed. Declan was now the "man of the house" and he took on the responsibility for his siblings and his mom.

Several years have passed and when Evie returns to her hometown to care for her grandfather, she crosses paths with Declan and realizes she is still in love with him. But can they deal with the events of that night so long ago?
That fire and what caused it have remained a bit of a mystery and Declan may finally get the answers he has sought for so many years.

Roxanne weaves a bit of mystery, a bit of humor, and of course, romance and matchmaking into this book. And as with all of these stories, a special dog plays an important role in the plot. This is a great story and I would recommend it with no hesitation. Enjoy!

[Gwen S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Declan and Evie Back Together Again! 3.75***** Spoiler Alert!

Twenty years after their first and last friends-lovers sexually encounter and the night of Declan’s dad’s death, the two met up at the bakery shop with a little help from the Dogmothers and Grandpa Max. Evie the nurturing, forgiving soul she is, slowly began to break down Declan’s walls and wormed herself into his heart once she diagnosed and operated on Lusky/ Judah with Wobblers Syndrome. He, Declan, on his off-duty days helped her repair the mansion that was instrumental in his dad’s demise. Not too late he also discovery the true reason behind his dad’s homicide, freeing Evie’s Mom of blame and arresting James Bell, wanna-be volunteer firefighter. Yes they rekindled, got married, and began working on the baby!!

Great plot and characters. The house to be converted into a museum for the town to use, seems fitting and beneficial to all. Great seeing the DogMothers work their magic and hopefully Yiayia and Max hook up! Justice was late in coming!

10/15/20-10/21/20 CAShInPl Covid-19

[Anne Kulasa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! Declan and Evie were meant to be together but tragedy happened, Dec's Dad died fighting a fire in Evie's family home and Dec went to a dark place, turning away from Evie. He took to raising his younger siblings, caring for his Mom and being a firefighter. Now twenty years later, Evie is back in town to care for her Grandpa. The Dogmothers have found their next match. So with the help of Grandpa Max and a wobbly dog named Judah, they give Dec and Evie their second chance at love. Their road to a HEA is not smooth, due to Dec's desire to find answers to what really happened in that fire so he could finally find closure. This book will have you laughing and even shedding a few tears. There's even some intrigue. I highly recommend it and cannot wait to see who the next Dogmothers' victims will be. The Dogfather and Dogmothers Series are great and enjoyable reads. I received an ARC copy and this is my voluntary review.