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A Rescue Dog Romance #2
Falling for the Underdog
Previously published as Beauty and the Wiener
She dreams of Prince Charming. He’s seriously rough around the edges. Can they collar a dognapper and steal each other’s hearts?
She dreams of Prince Charming. He’s seriously rough around the edges. Can they collar a dognapper and steal each other’s hearts?
Addison Turner has her entire fairytale life planned out. But just as the dachshund lover is about to hit it big with her doggie grooming and fashion line, thieves snatch her valuable four-legged clients right from under her nose. And to her disgust, the only one who knows the show scene enough to help is the infuriatingly hot bartender who turns her down cold.
Cocktail-slinger extraordinaire Felix Vaughn longs to open his own bar. So when he gets a gig at a high-society tail-wagging event, he thinks his gravy train has arrived and isn’t about to involve himself with a suspected thief. But when more pooches get pinched and he’s fingered for the crime, he reluctantly teams up with the fluffy prima donna to find the pups and split the reward.
With her reputation on the line, Addison doggedly follows the clues, afraid she’s falling for a mutt. And as their chemistry reaches a boiling point, Felix reveals exactly how much of his heart he stands to lose…
Will they both end up in the doghouse, or will their love win Best in Show?
373 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 7, 2017
87 people are currently reading
943 people want to read
About the author
Casey Griffin
13 books230 followersCasey Griffin spent her childhood dreaming up elaborate worlds and characters. Now, she writes those stories down. As a jack-of-all-trades, her résumé boasts registered nurse, heavy equipment operator, English teacher, photographer, and pizza delivery driver. She’s a world traveler and has a passion for anything geeky. With a wide variety of life experiences to draw from, she loves to write stories that transport readers and make them smile. Casey lives in Southern Alberta with her family, and when she’s not traveling, attending comic conventions, or watching Star Wars, she’s writing every moment she can.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 138 reviews
February 9, 2017
3.5 stars
Beauty and the Wiener was a sweet and enjoyable read.
Beauty and the Wiener was a sweet and enjoyable read.
June 25, 2017
3.5 Much? Stars.
Addison Turner has her life planned and mapped out to the last detail. She is an up and coming dog stylist. With her soon to be Fido Fashion to come out. Her new mission is to find her dream man and she comes over as slightly desperate okay very desperate.
After a tragic incident at the age of twenty two she has decided to pursue her dream of a family but is still looking for the one. She wants her life to be a blockbuster Hollywood and a romantic comedy so not only is she desperate but also delusional and picks Phillip Montgomery III. Might I add Addison there was no relationship between the two of you. Your imagination is running slightly wild here.
Felix Vaughn is the bartender at the mixer that Addison is working at. He is a fantastic Hero. Cocky but not too cocky. He has dreams and he is all doing it for his little girl. Such a beautiful surprise. I love Dad’s with kids trope. Felix is funny and knows how to push all of Addison’s buttons so that she isn’t as uptight as she makes out to be.
“Looking for someone?” he asked. “Yes. I happen to be looking for Mr. Perfect.” “Well, it’s your lucky day,” he said. “You’ve found him.” Falling for it, she glanced back at him. He spread his arms outward, presenting himself. “Right her.”
But he also wants more and he has his eyes set on Addison. Don’t know why really but he must see something I don’t. His POV was missing.
To clear her name she asks Felix for help. As he is a fountain of information.
“I want information.” “Well I’m thirty one, I like sports-the 49ers are my favourite team-I love music. The classics, mostly. You know, Rolling Stones, Zeppelin, Journey. Oh, and don’t forget banana pancakes with caramel chocolate chips after a sleep-in on Sundays.” “No not that kind of information.” “Well, we can get a little more personal, if you like. But you’ll have to buy me dinner first.”
Addison is extremely judgemental towards Felix and he didn’t deserve one iota of that. Felix isn’t the court jester he has been the prince all along. Addison needs to come to terms with what dreams are and that reality are two different things. Her Dad is spot on:
“With enough love, you can make it through anything. There’s more to life than money.”
The plot of the book is that there is a dognapper out there and Addison is a prime suspect. After a second dognapping incident Felix is also a prime suspect. They are now in cahoots with one another. So they decide to clear both of their names and find the dognapper. With trying to solve a crime and Addison trying to deal with what she wants and balancing against what she needs. Felix is a saint. Although I found the heroine to be really annoying I prefer this book to the first one. For me there was one too many times were miscommunications arose and then the dognapping turns into kidnapping. I didn’t guess the culprit of the book that hello asylum you are getting a new patient.
Ms. Griffin has written a sweet, sexy, funny read with a to die for Hero. She has given each and every single dog in the book her own character that they are so unique you want to go out and got yourself a Doxie.
Review can also be found @ http://jerisbookattic-reviewblog.blog...
July 23, 2017
Addison is a dog groomer, who wants to become a name in dog fashion design. She also hopes to find her prince charming to live happily ever after. At an event for show dog owners Addison meets a possible prince charming-Philip Montgomery III, who is handsome and for him money is no problem. Addison also happens to have a rather interesting conversation with the bartender Felix, who is charming and intriguing. While Addison is enjoying a free moment some show dogs go missing and that means a lot of trouble for her. Not long after the first dogs went missing even more dogs disappear. This time it’s not only Addison, but also Felix, who is dragged into the whole mess they had no part in. Addison and Felix decide to find out the truth before it’s too late for the sake of their careers. The more they spend time together, the more they actually get to know each other. Addison has two great men in her life, who is going to be the prince charming in Addison’s life?
It’s the second book in the series, but first that I read, I don’t know when exactly, but I am going to read the first book as well, because I absolutely loved this book, it had all the great elements-romance, mystery, great dialogue and great cast of characters. I very much enjoyed the banter between Addison and Felix, they were just great together. I loved the fact that the book featured dachshunds, as a also have a dachshund myself. I am eagerly waiting for the third book. All in all it was a terrific book!
It’s the second book in the series, but first that I read, I don’t know when exactly, but I am going to read the first book as well, because I absolutely loved this book, it had all the great elements-romance, mystery, great dialogue and great cast of characters. I very much enjoyed the banter between Addison and Felix, they were just great together. I loved the fact that the book featured dachshunds, as a also have a dachshund myself. I am eagerly waiting for the third book. All in all it was a terrific book!
March 7, 2017
Reviewed for herding cats & burning soup.
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2kGGAPf
Beauty and the Wiener was pretty cute. A dog groomer who's found herself accused of dognapping show dogs weeks before a big competition. And the bartender who many think might be her accomplice. A little mystery as they try to find the pups, a little romance as they get closer. A whole lot of cute pups. Pretty cute, indeed.
So these two. I liked the hero--he's down to earth, cheeky and plays things close to the chest. He's more than he seems and was easy to like. The heroine a little less so. She's a bit of a dreamer, can go all emotional and could be a bit judgmental over social status which bothered me. She did love animals, though, and was a hard worker so I could get behind her on that part.
One thing I found was that this one couldn't quite decide if it was a cozy mystery or a romance. Sort of straddled that line and suffered a bit because of it.
The romance side. It was a little rough for me. They were fairly combative and were really good at annoying each other, having misunderstandings, getting feelings hurt. I really saw them more as an investigative team than I felt the romantic chemistry. Things do heat up just slightly but barely and overall felt like the startings of a romance instead of the actual romance.
The mystery side. Well done. So many suspects, so many funny moments as they investigated and had some eye opening moments about the lives of the dog show competitors and their naughty shenanigans. Some things I figured out, some not so much. It was a good time and definitely a strength.
And the dogs were all adorable. From his mutt to her dachshund to the other show dogs and pups at the rescue she volunteered at. I did enjoy them.
Overall, it was a fun read and I'd probably pick up another from the author.
August 1, 2017
"Fur flew through the air under Addison Turner's skilled touch as though she were born holding a pair of scissors, as natural as Edward Scissorhnads sculpting purebred pooches into masterpieces."
Addison is a volunteer at the Dachshund Rescue Center and she adopted one who have a tiny limp because Princess have a leg shorter than the others. She also own a spa where she groom dogs and design clothes for them.
At a cocktail mixer where she hope to give a taste for things to come for her new fashion line for the furry, she's introduced to "Charming", a man with perfect teeth and a name with a number after, and they meet as if they were in a romantic comedy. But that's after the sexy bartender witness her failure at trying to get a man's attention. Felix warn her and offer her advice, while flirting with her. But he only manage to infuriate the heroine.
Addison think tonight is her time to shine and make a name for herself. Unfortunately, she won't be known for the reason she hoped. Seven of the ten dogs who were supposed to models for her doggy line disappear that night and everyone blame her for it. Since Felix claimed to be so intuitive, Addi will ask for his help and after other dogs are kidnapped and he become a suspect himself, they will improvised themselves detective for a time, to find the real culprit and clear their name and business.
I liked both characters. Felix is a playful and teasing guy but he can be serious when it's needed. Addison had a vivid imagination, thank to the movies she watched and kept her company growing up. I like their dynamic of a little bit of flirting between bickering. The movies references and the author's writing style is something I really like in this series. And surprisingly, I was happy to see again Holly, the unplesant reporter. The heroines are always down on their luck but they never surrender and always stay optimistic. I wished Addi wasn't so jugmental about Felix's job and didn't always jump to conclusion. She's in it for a big surprise to realize he doesn't have the kind of life she thought.
Can't wait to read the next book. If it is as entertaining than the first two, it's gonna be great !
Addison is a volunteer at the Dachshund Rescue Center and she adopted one who have a tiny limp because Princess have a leg shorter than the others. She also own a spa where she groom dogs and design clothes for them.
At a cocktail mixer where she hope to give a taste for things to come for her new fashion line for the furry, she's introduced to "Charming", a man with perfect teeth and a name with a number after, and they meet as if they were in a romantic comedy. But that's after the sexy bartender witness her failure at trying to get a man's attention. Felix warn her and offer her advice, while flirting with her. But he only manage to infuriate the heroine.
Addison think tonight is her time to shine and make a name for herself. Unfortunately, she won't be known for the reason she hoped. Seven of the ten dogs who were supposed to models for her doggy line disappear that night and everyone blame her for it. Since Felix claimed to be so intuitive, Addi will ask for his help and after other dogs are kidnapped and he become a suspect himself, they will improvised themselves detective for a time, to find the real culprit and clear their name and business.
I liked both characters. Felix is a playful and teasing guy but he can be serious when it's needed. Addison had a vivid imagination, thank to the movies she watched and kept her company growing up. I like their dynamic of a little bit of flirting between bickering. The movies references and the author's writing style is something I really like in this series. And surprisingly, I was happy to see again Holly, the unplesant reporter. The heroines are always down on their luck but they never surrender and always stay optimistic. I wished Addi wasn't so jugmental about Felix's job and didn't always jump to conclusion. She's in it for a big surprise to realize he doesn't have the kind of life she thought.
Can't wait to read the next book. If it is as entertaining than the first two, it's gonna be great !
February 7, 2017
3.5 Stars
A book that took me by surprise.
Beauty and the Wiener is a book that took me completely by surprise.
And I'm not saying this just about one aspect but about several.
First it's not really what I would seek out to read. But frankly I liked the cover and the summary sounded fun. So on a whim I decided that I would like to give it a try. I made sure that it can be read as a standalone, since I haven't read the previous book in the series.
So it's my first book by Griffin as well. And let's just I am sure it won't be my last.
The plot was captivating. I was totally into the mystery. Though I did guess who the culprit is, I kept wavering and wondering if I was wrong. I more than enjoyed the covert missions of Addison and Felix. All the mishaps and all the sneaking around was beyond entertaining. And there were a couple of things, I didn't solve completely.
The character building is interesting. As I said I haven't read Must Love Wieners (yet) so I didn't know any of the cast. My first impression however was, somewhat of shock. I felt Addison was dizzy and superficial, and possibly a bit delusional... Very quickly however I changed my mind. I grew to like her and understand her. Felix, on the other hand had me at the first go. I loved him right from the beginning, As the story went on and we got to know both MCs better, both gained depths and I felt beyond smug that I was always right about the "bad boy". Griffin did a great job and showing Addison's weakness and her past hurts, without dwelling too much on it. And I love how she subtly changed and how she slowly realised what she really wanted.
I liked the interactions between Addison and her friends. But I would have liked some more of it, I felt like it was too little to understand their relationship. Maybe this is because I haven't read the first book yet?
Basically we get little about Addison's personal life despite the fact that this is written entirely from her POV
The romance left me divided. Because I totally adored their "slow" burn romance- that wasn't that slow burn. But I really couldn't relate to Addison's Cinderella dreams. Then there is the nearly love-triangle. It wasn't that bad mind you. I didn't really mind it. Except for Addison's blatant ignorance. It infuriated me, actually. I found the end, while completely satisfying, lost it's swoon factor by talking about how this was so forever. It was a bit too much for me
On another note; the biggest surprise for me was the show dog world. See, I am not much of a dog person, I never owned a dog nor do I have a great affinity to them. I think I am more of a cat person. I know very little about the dog shows. Mind you not that I would know more about cat show, or any other pet for that matter. So I was a bit overwhelmed by that aspect of it. But Griffin did a great job at conveying the world, it's draw backs and it's great sides. At least from my layman's point of view. Because of this I found myself immersed in it and totally enjoying that aspect of the book.
I am definitely going to read the first book and am looking forward to the next.
An interesting discovery for me. I think lovers of the genre and dog lovers will really enjoy this one.
A book that took me by surprise.
Beauty and the Wiener is a book that took me completely by surprise.
And I'm not saying this just about one aspect but about several.
First it's not really what I would seek out to read. But frankly I liked the cover and the summary sounded fun. So on a whim I decided that I would like to give it a try. I made sure that it can be read as a standalone, since I haven't read the previous book in the series.
So it's my first book by Griffin as well. And let's just I am sure it won't be my last.
The plot was captivating. I was totally into the mystery. Though I did guess who the culprit is, I kept wavering and wondering if I was wrong. I more than enjoyed the covert missions of Addison and Felix. All the mishaps and all the sneaking around was beyond entertaining. And there were a couple of things, I didn't solve completely.
The character building is interesting. As I said I haven't read Must Love Wieners (yet) so I didn't know any of the cast. My first impression however was, somewhat of shock. I felt Addison was dizzy and superficial, and possibly a bit delusional... Very quickly however I changed my mind. I grew to like her and understand her. Felix, on the other hand had me at the first go. I loved him right from the beginning, As the story went on and we got to know both MCs better, both gained depths and I felt beyond smug that I was always right about the "bad boy". Griffin did a great job and showing Addison's weakness and her past hurts, without dwelling too much on it. And I love how she subtly changed and how she slowly realised what she really wanted.
I liked the interactions between Addison and her friends. But I would have liked some more of it, I felt like it was too little to understand their relationship. Maybe this is because I haven't read the first book yet?
Basically we get little about Addison's personal life despite the fact that this is written entirely from her POV
The romance left me divided. Because I totally adored their "slow" burn romance- that wasn't that slow burn. But I really couldn't relate to Addison's Cinderella dreams. Then there is the nearly love-triangle. It wasn't that bad mind you. I didn't really mind it. Except for Addison's blatant ignorance. It infuriated me, actually. I found the end, while completely satisfying, lost it's swoon factor by talking about how this was so forever. It was a bit too much for me
On another note; the biggest surprise for me was the show dog world. See, I am not much of a dog person, I never owned a dog nor do I have a great affinity to them. I think I am more of a cat person. I know very little about the dog shows. Mind you not that I would know more about cat show, or any other pet for that matter. So I was a bit overwhelmed by that aspect of it. But Griffin did a great job at conveying the world, it's draw backs and it's great sides. At least from my layman's point of view. Because of this I found myself immersed in it and totally enjoying that aspect of the book.
I am definitely going to read the first book and am looking forward to the next.
An interesting discovery for me. I think lovers of the genre and dog lovers will really enjoy this one.
April 21, 2017
BEAUTY AND THE WIENER
by Casey Griffin is a cute story that’s part mystery mixed with the right amount of warmth and emotion at the end. Animal lovers will appreciate this mad little caper for its suspense and humor.
Addison Turner is looking for love in all the wrong places. Can being forced to work with bartender Felix, who is everything she doesn’t want in a husband, turn out to be the best happy accident? A fun escapade through the professional dog show circuit when dogs keep disappearing and the characters scramble to solve who done it.
Addison is quirky and silly with girly-girl habits and fantasies, always searching for her prince charming. She pushed my annoyance buttons at first, because I’m not into girly-girl froufrou. All her fuss and unrealistic expectations for the perfect man was sometimes exasperating, yet I hoped she’d discover the truth – that the perfect man was right under her nose, and not what she was searching for at all.
Felix made me laugh several times. He knew what Addison needed when she didn’t recognize it herself. He seemed like a playboy and unambitious in the beginning, but as his backstory is revealed the reader can’t help but fall hard for him right along with Addison.
At 400 pages, this story feels a bit too long. The plot isn’t overly done but the description is too much, as well as the inner thoughts stalling the story. Those two areas could have pared down the pages to make the tale flow faster for this reader.
This is one of those novels that grows on you. Addison is goofy and I couldn’t relate to her fairy tale wants half the time, but she has many good attributes, such as a kind heart and her love of animals. Felix is a real surprise. I liked him even more after his secret is revealed.
Even though there is too much inner dialogue from Addison’s point of view for my taste, I really enjoyed the suspense and the characters more than the first book. I think animal lovers will enjoy this RESCUE DOG ROMANCE series because its focus on the animals and the humor is hard to resist. Check out book one, MUST LOVE WIENERS , for double your pleasure.
Review by Dorine, courtesy of The Zest Quest. Digital ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley for an honest review.
Addison Turner is looking for love in all the wrong places. Can being forced to work with bartender Felix, who is everything she doesn’t want in a husband, turn out to be the best happy accident? A fun escapade through the professional dog show circuit when dogs keep disappearing and the characters scramble to solve who done it.
Addison is quirky and silly with girly-girl habits and fantasies, always searching for her prince charming. She pushed my annoyance buttons at first, because I’m not into girly-girl froufrou. All her fuss and unrealistic expectations for the perfect man was sometimes exasperating, yet I hoped she’d discover the truth – that the perfect man was right under her nose, and not what she was searching for at all.
Felix made me laugh several times. He knew what Addison needed when she didn’t recognize it herself. He seemed like a playboy and unambitious in the beginning, but as his backstory is revealed the reader can’t help but fall hard for him right along with Addison.
At 400 pages, this story feels a bit too long. The plot isn’t overly done but the description is too much, as well as the inner thoughts stalling the story. Those two areas could have pared down the pages to make the tale flow faster for this reader.
This is one of those novels that grows on you. Addison is goofy and I couldn’t relate to her fairy tale wants half the time, but she has many good attributes, such as a kind heart and her love of animals. Felix is a real surprise. I liked him even more after his secret is revealed.
Even though there is too much inner dialogue from Addison’s point of view for my taste, I really enjoyed the suspense and the characters more than the first book. I think animal lovers will enjoy this RESCUE DOG ROMANCE series because its focus on the animals and the humor is hard to resist. Check out book one, MUST LOVE WIENERS , for double your pleasure.
Review by Dorine, courtesy of The Zest Quest. Digital ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley for an honest review.
December 1, 2021
I really enjoyed Falling for the Underdog! It had such beautiful messages hidden in it.
Addison finds herself accused of a big dognapping. Together with Felix, she tries to find the real dognapper(s). I really enjoyed their search. It brought them in some funny situations and I genuinely laughed out loud at times.
I loved the ending and it wrapped up the story so beautifully.
I’ll definitely read Griffin’s other books soon!
Addison finds herself accused of a big dognapping. Together with Felix, she tries to find the real dognapper(s). I really enjoyed their search. It brought them in some funny situations and I genuinely laughed out loud at times.
I loved the ending and it wrapped up the story so beautifully.
I’ll definitely read Griffin’s other books soon!
January 30, 2017
Beauty and the Wiener by Casey Griffin
A Rescue Dog Romance #2
Feeling so-so about the first book in the series and asked to read the second I agreed to give it a chance. I again came away feeling that people who enjoy the books of Janet Evanovich and love dogs will probably enjoy this book. But, it was again a so-so read for me. Why? Well, I felt the plot was predictable and simplistic, the interaction between Felix and Addison at times silly & immature, Addison’s dream of the perfect man and how she would meet him was something a teenager would embrace more than someone her age, Felix was condescending and not my cup of tea, the dog show mystery was something I have read before and not really different, the idea of designing dog outfits and a fashion show for them was a bit overdone…hmmm…this was not a book that drew me in or really even grew on me. Anyway…not my cup of tea BUT I do believe there are going to be many who will really love this book and this series.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC. This is my honest review.
2-3 Stars
A Rescue Dog Romance #2
Feeling so-so about the first book in the series and asked to read the second I agreed to give it a chance. I again came away feeling that people who enjoy the books of Janet Evanovich and love dogs will probably enjoy this book. But, it was again a so-so read for me. Why? Well, I felt the plot was predictable and simplistic, the interaction between Felix and Addison at times silly & immature, Addison’s dream of the perfect man and how she would meet him was something a teenager would embrace more than someone her age, Felix was condescending and not my cup of tea, the dog show mystery was something I have read before and not really different, the idea of designing dog outfits and a fashion show for them was a bit overdone…hmmm…this was not a book that drew me in or really even grew on me. Anyway…not my cup of tea BUT I do believe there are going to be many who will really love this book and this series.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC. This is my honest review.
2-3 Stars
December 10, 2021
Why is this so underrated?!
People, you are missing alot if you have not read this.
|| 𝚁𝙴𝚅𝙸𝙴𝚆 ||
Addison Turner is a dog groomer and a stylist with her entire life planned out as in a fairytale. One day, she gets caught up in the middle of a dognapping. She, inorder to save her business and her reputation has to join forces with Felix Vaughn, a bartender who constantly infuriates her.
. . .
The chemistry between the leads was good and the there was right amount of romance and mystery mixed up. The whole book is based on dogs and dog shows so you love dogs? This book is definetly for you.
. . .
The language is pretty neat too, I didn't have to search up the word online for the meaning!! The narration was very cute with with many of my favourite movies being referenced.
. . .
I was annoyed by the way Addison behaved in some parts but apart from that this book was pretty entertaining.
Received a review copy in exchange for an honest review.
People, you are missing alot if you have not read this.
|| 𝚁𝙴𝚅𝙸𝙴𝚆 ||
Addison Turner is a dog groomer and a stylist with her entire life planned out as in a fairytale. One day, she gets caught up in the middle of a dognapping. She, inorder to save her business and her reputation has to join forces with Felix Vaughn, a bartender who constantly infuriates her.
. . .
The chemistry between the leads was good and the there was right amount of romance and mystery mixed up. The whole book is based on dogs and dog shows so you love dogs? This book is definetly for you.
. . .
The language is pretty neat too, I didn't have to search up the word online for the meaning!! The narration was very cute with with many of my favourite movies being referenced.
. . .
I was annoyed by the way Addison behaved in some parts but apart from that this book was pretty entertaining.
Received a review copy in exchange for an honest review.
February 6, 2017
Addison has her life planned out, finding a guy who is perfect for her, find a way to get her doggie fashion designs out there and finding a way to save her fathers store. Just when things start to look up, she ends up being the center of attention when the prized doggie models to show off her designs so missing. It just seems that every time shes around prized dogs keep going missing. Now shes on a mission to save her reputation and find those missing dogs. Little did she expect to start falling for the wrong type of guy in the process.
I loved this book. Honestly I wasn't sure what to expect when I first picked up this book. It was the title it sounds like a beauty and the best retelling but it really wasn't. I guess in some ways it kinda did but if that is why you are looking towards this book then I wouldn't suggest you pick it up for that reason. Instead if you are interested in a interesting batch of characters, a mystery, romance and above all else dogs you'll love this book. Being a dog lover myself I found myself appreciated this book a bit more. I loved the characters and seeing that spark between her and Felix even if she was trying to fight it. He after all wasn't what she was looking for in a man. Then there is that connection and heat between the two. Whew. It was really good. I loved that there was loads of mystery, drama and mishaps to keep things interesting. I enjoyed making guesses on who it would've been and was thrown when I found out it was it in the ending. Overall a great book I really enjoyed it.
I loved this book. Honestly I wasn't sure what to expect when I first picked up this book. It was the title it sounds like a beauty and the best retelling but it really wasn't. I guess in some ways it kinda did but if that is why you are looking towards this book then I wouldn't suggest you pick it up for that reason. Instead if you are interested in a interesting batch of characters, a mystery, romance and above all else dogs you'll love this book. Being a dog lover myself I found myself appreciated this book a bit more. I loved the characters and seeing that spark between her and Felix even if she was trying to fight it. He after all wasn't what she was looking for in a man. Then there is that connection and heat between the two. Whew. It was really good. I loved that there was loads of mystery, drama and mishaps to keep things interesting. I enjoyed making guesses on who it would've been and was thrown when I found out it was it in the ending. Overall a great book I really enjoyed it.
November 22, 2016
I really liked Felix, the didn't apologize for his behavior, “now that’s what I call getting a better look,” he said. She could hear the amusement in his voice, and she turned to see him staring up her dress. If she’d had a free hand she would have swatted him." Felix is such a sweetheart, "Felix laughed, his breath tickling her thighs. “Addy, I don’t care. I don’t care about the shaving, and the makeup, and the hair , and the clothes . I prefer you without all of it.” He nibbled on her inner thigh, making her squeak. “Especially without the clothes.” I really liked this book.
January 11, 2022
Disclaimer: I received this e-book from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Falling for the Underdog
Author: Casey Griffin
Book Series: A Rescue Dog Romance Book 2
Rating: 4.5/5
Recommended For...: mystery, romance, dog lovers
Publication Date: September 21, 2021
Genre: Mystery Romance
Spice: 2/5
Recommended Age: 18+ (animal disappearance, animal death, sexual content, language, miscarriage, sexual harassment)
Explanation of CWs: The book revolves around animal disappearance/kidnappings. The book mentions one animal death in passing. There is sexual content in this book. There is slight language in this book. Miscarriage and a traumatic pregnancy are mentioned and slightly shown. There is also sexual harassment shown throughout the novel.
Publisher: Charming Frog Publishing
Pages: 372
Synopsis: She dreams of Prince Charming. He’s seriously rough around the edges. Can they collar a dognapper and steal each other’s hearts?
Addison Turner has her entire fairytale life planned out. But just as the dachshund lover is about to hit it big with her doggie grooming and fashion line, thieves snatch her valuable four-legged clients right from under her nose. And to her disgust, the only one who knows the show scene enough to help is the infuriatingly hot bartender who turns her down cold.
Cocktail-slinger extraordinaire Felix Vaughn longs to open his own bar. So when he gets a gig at a high-society tail-wagging event, he thinks his gravy train has arrived and isn’t about to involve himself with a suspected thief. But when more pooches get pinched and he’s fingered for the crime, he reluctantly teams up with the fluffy prima donna to find the pups and split the reward.
With her reputation on the line, Addison doggedly follows the clues, afraid she’s falling for a mutt. And as their chemistry reaches a boiling point, Felix reveals exactly how much of his heart he stands to lose…
Will they both end up in the doghouse, or will their love win Best in Show?
Review: I really loved this book! The book had a great story revolving around a dog groomer and a dog show. The romance was sweet after awhile. And I loved the mystery element of the book. The characters are well developed, the pacing was fast but fit the book well, and the mystery was well written and kept me guessing until the end.
The only thing that I didn’t like so much in the book is that I didn’t like the sexual harassment between the love interest and our MC. It was cringey and it triggered me a bit.
Verdict: It was great!
Book: Falling for the Underdog
Author: Casey Griffin
Book Series: A Rescue Dog Romance Book 2
Rating: 4.5/5
Recommended For...: mystery, romance, dog lovers
Publication Date: September 21, 2021
Genre: Mystery Romance
Spice: 2/5
Recommended Age: 18+ (animal disappearance, animal death, sexual content, language, miscarriage, sexual harassment)
Explanation of CWs: The book revolves around animal disappearance/kidnappings. The book mentions one animal death in passing. There is sexual content in this book. There is slight language in this book. Miscarriage and a traumatic pregnancy are mentioned and slightly shown. There is also sexual harassment shown throughout the novel.
Publisher: Charming Frog Publishing
Pages: 372
Synopsis: She dreams of Prince Charming. He’s seriously rough around the edges. Can they collar a dognapper and steal each other’s hearts?
Addison Turner has her entire fairytale life planned out. But just as the dachshund lover is about to hit it big with her doggie grooming and fashion line, thieves snatch her valuable four-legged clients right from under her nose. And to her disgust, the only one who knows the show scene enough to help is the infuriatingly hot bartender who turns her down cold.
Cocktail-slinger extraordinaire Felix Vaughn longs to open his own bar. So when he gets a gig at a high-society tail-wagging event, he thinks his gravy train has arrived and isn’t about to involve himself with a suspected thief. But when more pooches get pinched and he’s fingered for the crime, he reluctantly teams up with the fluffy prima donna to find the pups and split the reward.
With her reputation on the line, Addison doggedly follows the clues, afraid she’s falling for a mutt. And as their chemistry reaches a boiling point, Felix reveals exactly how much of his heart he stands to lose…
Will they both end up in the doghouse, or will their love win Best in Show?
Review: I really loved this book! The book had a great story revolving around a dog groomer and a dog show. The romance was sweet after awhile. And I loved the mystery element of the book. The characters are well developed, the pacing was fast but fit the book well, and the mystery was well written and kept me guessing until the end.
The only thing that I didn’t like so much in the book is that I didn’t like the sexual harassment between the love interest and our MC. It was cringey and it triggered me a bit.
Verdict: It was great!
March 9, 2022
~received an ARC from Book Tasters for a honest review~
Romance?? Suspense?? Mystery?? Crime?? All of these packed into this one amazing book by Casey Griffin!
Falling for the Underdog was my first read from the author and OMG was I left surprised! Addison, the heroine of this novel runs a dog grooming business and is out to find her Mr. Perfect. She is also set to launch her own dog-centric fashion line. However, things turn for the worst and her reputation is on the line. And her romantic fantasies too as she is struck between Philip and Felix.
The storyline was absolutely awesome. Drama, slow burn and spontaneous romance, sleuthing around, and so much more! Each chapter was interesting and had something new. It made me want to keep on reading... which had me sleep at 2 am just to finish it. hehe.
I took one star off because as much as I enjoyed the book, the beginning was a bit confusing and in my opinion, rushed. I wasn't able to pin point the space-time of the setting. However, if you want a no-nonsense, to the point fantabulous novel, then you're in for a ride.
Much recommended novel!
Romance?? Suspense?? Mystery?? Crime?? All of these packed into this one amazing book by Casey Griffin!
Falling for the Underdog was my first read from the author and OMG was I left surprised! Addison, the heroine of this novel runs a dog grooming business and is out to find her Mr. Perfect. She is also set to launch her own dog-centric fashion line. However, things turn for the worst and her reputation is on the line. And her romantic fantasies too as she is struck between Philip and Felix.
The storyline was absolutely awesome. Drama, slow burn and spontaneous romance, sleuthing around, and so much more! Each chapter was interesting and had something new. It made me want to keep on reading... which had me sleep at 2 am just to finish it. hehe.
I took one star off because as much as I enjoyed the book, the beginning was a bit confusing and in my opinion, rushed. I wasn't able to pin point the space-time of the setting. However, if you want a no-nonsense, to the point fantabulous novel, then you're in for a ride.
Much recommended novel!
April 4, 2022
Addison & Felix
*
Addy owns a dog grooming business and is launching a fashion line for dogs. She has a rescue dog - Princess. Addy wants to find her prince charming. While she dances with the perfect man the dogs that were supposed to be in the fashion show preview are gone and she gets blamed. At another private party with security more dogs get stolen and they blame the bartender Felix of being Addy's accomplice. When he's involved he finally decides to help her investigate and get the culprit. Their sneaking around is so much fun! The story is amazing. It slowly reveals what kind of a man Felix is - gorgeous, kind, loving,etc. And you can see how preconceived notions affect the events. A very beautiful way to fall in love.
*I received an ARC of this book and gave my honest opinion
*
Addy owns a dog grooming business and is launching a fashion line for dogs. She has a rescue dog - Princess. Addy wants to find her prince charming. While she dances with the perfect man the dogs that were supposed to be in the fashion show preview are gone and she gets blamed. At another private party with security more dogs get stolen and they blame the bartender Felix of being Addy's accomplice. When he's involved he finally decides to help her investigate and get the culprit. Their sneaking around is so much fun! The story is amazing. It slowly reveals what kind of a man Felix is - gorgeous, kind, loving,etc. And you can see how preconceived notions affect the events. A very beautiful way to fall in love.
*I received an ARC of this book and gave my honest opinion
February 13, 2017
With the vetting system I have for the books I read for a review, it rarely happens that I completely miss the target, but Beauty and the Wiener happen to be a miss for me. No, I didn't hate it. I read it, all 400 pages of it. It is well written, but the story just wasn't for me.
I love dogs as much as the next person, but the dog show and dog fashion clothing isn't something that I find a great interest in, and they play a center role in the story, more than I expected. There are lots of details in the story from the competitive world of dog shows, as well as about the accessories for the dogs, and about their grooming that I wasn't interested in.
The mystery about the stolen dogs was cute, a little predictable, but it was interesting to see how Addison would nail the dognapper.
Addison turned out to be a character that I had a hard time relating to or even like. She lived in an odd movie-induced delusional alternative reality with her obsession to find 'Mr. Perfect'. She was a bit of a snob when it came to Felix, the bartender, and together they acted in a surprisingly immature way time to time and again.
Felix was sometimes considerate and kind, and other times cocky and flirty. I didn't get the connection between Addison and him, they mostly fought and bickered, never took the time to really get to know each other. But then again, Addison is dating someone else throughout the book, there's even an awkward makeout scene right in front of Felix...
Yes, I know, and believe me, I am not trying to be mean or overly critical, just honestly telling you why I didn't connect with the story. I am actually in awe how I could have bombed so badly with the selection, and I take the blame for this because I do understand, and agree, that the book is well-written, if a little repetitive, there's humor in it, just not my kind, the cozy mystery was dainty, and I am sure there are readers who will love the dog show scenes and Addison's movie references, but unfortunately they missed a mark in me.
~ Two Spoons with a teaspoon on the side
I love dogs as much as the next person, but the dog show and dog fashion clothing isn't something that I find a great interest in, and they play a center role in the story, more than I expected. There are lots of details in the story from the competitive world of dog shows, as well as about the accessories for the dogs, and about their grooming that I wasn't interested in.
The mystery about the stolen dogs was cute, a little predictable, but it was interesting to see how Addison would nail the dognapper.
Addison turned out to be a character that I had a hard time relating to or even like. She lived in an odd movie-induced delusional alternative reality with her obsession to find 'Mr. Perfect'. She was a bit of a snob when it came to Felix, the bartender, and together they acted in a surprisingly immature way time to time and again.
Felix was sometimes considerate and kind, and other times cocky and flirty. I didn't get the connection between Addison and him, they mostly fought and bickered, never took the time to really get to know each other. But then again, Addison is dating someone else throughout the book, there's even an awkward makeout scene right in front of Felix...
Yes, I know, and believe me, I am not trying to be mean or overly critical, just honestly telling you why I didn't connect with the story. I am actually in awe how I could have bombed so badly with the selection, and I take the blame for this because I do understand, and agree, that the book is well-written, if a little repetitive, there's humor in it, just not my kind, the cozy mystery was dainty, and I am sure there are readers who will love the dog show scenes and Addison's movie references, but unfortunately they missed a mark in me.
~ Two Spoons with a teaspoon on the side
September 14, 2021
Review courtesy of Romance Junkies
Addison Turner is a dog stylist and doggie fashionista. She plans to present her doggie fashion line at a mixer for the Western Dog Show. Addison hopes to meet her Mr. Perfect there, also. However, things take a drastic turn when thieves dog-nap her show-dog models. Wherever she goes, more high-end dogs disappear. Addison turns to the other person being framed for the crime to clear their names. Can Addison and Felix catch the culprit before the dog show? Will she realize Felix is her true Mr. Perfect?
Felix Vaughn works the dog-circuit as a bartender. He plans to use his extra wages to put a down payment on a bar. Felix encounters Addison at the mixer for the Western Dog Show. When she asks for his help, he turns down her tempting offer. However, Felix changes his mind when he is implicated on the latest dognapping. Things heat up between them as he and Addison try to clear their names. Can Felix convince Addison he is the better man? Or will the situation ruin his chances at purchasing his bar?
Generally, I am not fond of the pink-wearing and overly optimistic heroine types. However, I grew to love Addison from book one, PAWS OFF THE BOSS. I adore her close friendship with Piper and Zoe. I only wish this book had more interaction between the three women like the first book. My only nitpick about Addison is how she wants the movie type happily-ever-after. She has this mental image of how her Mr. Perfect should be and looks like. That blinds her to the perfect person right in front of her.
Felix is such a dream! He is a nice change-of-pace from the usual hero types found in all romance genres. Felix is a hardworking, single father doing the best he can. I love Felix’s wicked sense-of-humor. He is not afraid to be openly frank with Addison, especially regarding his interest in her. What I adore the most about Felix is his sense of responsibility towards his daughter. Everything he does is to benefit her. Felix puts his daughter’s needs before his own.
FALLING FOR THE UNDERDOG is the second book in Casey Griffin’s dachshund-themed series, A RESCUE DOG ROMANCE. Its former title was BEAUTY AND THE WEINER. The author revamped the story since she received the rights back to the three-book series. I like the subtle changes she made. There are more updated movies and actors mentioned in the story compared to the 2017 release.
FALLING FOR THE UNDERDOG is a charming and entertaining tale that proves what we want is not always what we need. I cannot wait to read the changes the author made for Zoe’s book!
Addison Turner is a dog stylist and doggie fashionista. She plans to present her doggie fashion line at a mixer for the Western Dog Show. Addison hopes to meet her Mr. Perfect there, also. However, things take a drastic turn when thieves dog-nap her show-dog models. Wherever she goes, more high-end dogs disappear. Addison turns to the other person being framed for the crime to clear their names. Can Addison and Felix catch the culprit before the dog show? Will she realize Felix is her true Mr. Perfect?
Felix Vaughn works the dog-circuit as a bartender. He plans to use his extra wages to put a down payment on a bar. Felix encounters Addison at the mixer for the Western Dog Show. When she asks for his help, he turns down her tempting offer. However, Felix changes his mind when he is implicated on the latest dognapping. Things heat up between them as he and Addison try to clear their names. Can Felix convince Addison he is the better man? Or will the situation ruin his chances at purchasing his bar?
Generally, I am not fond of the pink-wearing and overly optimistic heroine types. However, I grew to love Addison from book one, PAWS OFF THE BOSS. I adore her close friendship with Piper and Zoe. I only wish this book had more interaction between the three women like the first book. My only nitpick about Addison is how she wants the movie type happily-ever-after. She has this mental image of how her Mr. Perfect should be and looks like. That blinds her to the perfect person right in front of her.
Felix is such a dream! He is a nice change-of-pace from the usual hero types found in all romance genres. Felix is a hardworking, single father doing the best he can. I love Felix’s wicked sense-of-humor. He is not afraid to be openly frank with Addison, especially regarding his interest in her. What I adore the most about Felix is his sense of responsibility towards his daughter. Everything he does is to benefit her. Felix puts his daughter’s needs before his own.
FALLING FOR THE UNDERDOG is the second book in Casey Griffin’s dachshund-themed series, A RESCUE DOG ROMANCE. Its former title was BEAUTY AND THE WEINER. The author revamped the story since she received the rights back to the three-book series. I like the subtle changes she made. There are more updated movies and actors mentioned in the story compared to the 2017 release.
FALLING FOR THE UNDERDOG is a charming and entertaining tale that proves what we want is not always what we need. I cannot wait to read the changes the author made for Zoe’s book!
February 5, 2017
Synopsis:
Addison Turner has scripted a perfect future for herself, complete with a fairytale ending. She will become the name in doggie fashion design and live happily ever after with the husband of her dreams—and her dachshund, Princess, by her side. Just when her plan is on track and she’s gaining recognition at the local dog show, Addison is hit with some Oscar-worthy drama. A group of prize-winning show dogs are stolen from under her nose, and she’s stuck asking for help from Felix Vaughn, an infuriatingly hot bartender who is the exact opposite of Prince Charming.
When more dogs go missing—and Felix becomes a suspect—the two team up to clear their names. Although Felix and Addison fight like cats and dogs, there’s an undeniable spark between them. And as the trail to the missing dogs heats up, so does their red-hot chemistry. Can Addison be persuaded to throw away her script to find an ending that just might be better than she ever expected? (Goodreads)
Review:
The characters are well rounded and well developed. I liked Addison but I felt like she really was not realistic in her pursuit of Mr. Right. I felt like she had some unrealistic goals that she was determined to reach. I liked Felix more than Addison. He seemed down to earth and a normal person. I really liked the bickering and banter between Felix and Addison. It made for some very humorous reading. Of course all of the animals added a lot to the story and was my favorite part of the book.
The writing style flows smoothly and the book is a quick easy read. I thought that the mystery was carried on well throughout the book and with so many suspects to consider, it was not easy to solve. I did like that the mystery revolved around the dog shows, I thought this was a unique perspective. There was enough suspense to keep my turning the pages well into the night.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well written suspenseful romantic comedy. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review. I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Addison Turner has scripted a perfect future for herself, complete with a fairytale ending. She will become the name in doggie fashion design and live happily ever after with the husband of her dreams—and her dachshund, Princess, by her side. Just when her plan is on track and she’s gaining recognition at the local dog show, Addison is hit with some Oscar-worthy drama. A group of prize-winning show dogs are stolen from under her nose, and she’s stuck asking for help from Felix Vaughn, an infuriatingly hot bartender who is the exact opposite of Prince Charming.
When more dogs go missing—and Felix becomes a suspect—the two team up to clear their names. Although Felix and Addison fight like cats and dogs, there’s an undeniable spark between them. And as the trail to the missing dogs heats up, so does their red-hot chemistry. Can Addison be persuaded to throw away her script to find an ending that just might be better than she ever expected? (Goodreads)
Review:
The characters are well rounded and well developed. I liked Addison but I felt like she really was not realistic in her pursuit of Mr. Right. I felt like she had some unrealistic goals that she was determined to reach. I liked Felix more than Addison. He seemed down to earth and a normal person. I really liked the bickering and banter between Felix and Addison. It made for some very humorous reading. Of course all of the animals added a lot to the story and was my favorite part of the book.
The writing style flows smoothly and the book is a quick easy read. I thought that the mystery was carried on well throughout the book and with so many suspects to consider, it was not easy to solve. I did like that the mystery revolved around the dog shows, I thought this was a unique perspective. There was enough suspense to keep my turning the pages well into the night.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well written suspenseful romantic comedy. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review. I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read and review this book.
January 8, 2017
Addison Turner is a dog groomer, though she prefers "dog stylist," who is trying to launch her fashion line for dogs. She is also looking for Mr. Perfect. She wants someone like the heroes of the Disney movies she watched as a child.
At an exclusive event for show dog owners, she sets her sights on Philip Montgomery III who looks great in his tux and with his trust fund. She doesn't want to fall for scruffy bartender Felix Vaughn. When the show dogs she was preparing for their fashion review disappear, she finds herself in danger of losing her livelihood. Who'd trust their dog to a groomer who loses their prized pets?
When more pets disappear at another event leaving Felix with the blame this time, Addison and Felix team up to find the missing pets and save their jobs. The chemistry between Addison and Felix is combustive even with Addison trying to find reasons not to like Felix. She jumps to lots of conclusions about him and there are the usual romantic misunderstandings.
The two have quite a number of suspects among the elite members of San Francisco's show dog community and they learn all sorts of things as they investigate. This book had quite a bit of humor mostly at Addison's expense. She doesn't always pick the most appropriate clothing for her sleuthing. The whole idea of fashion for dogs also struck me as funny. I found the relationships between dog owners and their dogs to be spot on.
Fans of mysteries, dogs, and romances will enjoy this story.
At an exclusive event for show dog owners, she sets her sights on Philip Montgomery III who looks great in his tux and with his trust fund. She doesn't want to fall for scruffy bartender Felix Vaughn. When the show dogs she was preparing for their fashion review disappear, she finds herself in danger of losing her livelihood. Who'd trust their dog to a groomer who loses their prized pets?
When more pets disappear at another event leaving Felix with the blame this time, Addison and Felix team up to find the missing pets and save their jobs. The chemistry between Addison and Felix is combustive even with Addison trying to find reasons not to like Felix. She jumps to lots of conclusions about him and there are the usual romantic misunderstandings.
The two have quite a number of suspects among the elite members of San Francisco's show dog community and they learn all sorts of things as they investigate. This book had quite a bit of humor mostly at Addison's expense. She doesn't always pick the most appropriate clothing for her sleuthing. The whole idea of fashion for dogs also struck me as funny. I found the relationships between dog owners and their dogs to be spot on.
Fans of mysteries, dogs, and romances will enjoy this story.
January 30, 2017
Beauty and the Wiener by Casey Griffin is book 2 of the A Rescue Dog Romance series.
This is a sweet, contemporary romance with some detective/suspense elements. The storyline of this boo, is an interesting one and the subject matter of Dog Grooming and Dog Shows is a unique one, with great insights into that world.
I must say that I really enjoyed this book. I loved the quirky and distinct characters that surround the Dog Show world. I loved Addisons journey from the beginning of the book until the end. Felix was a good counter balance to Addison in almost everyday and I enjoyed their journey and they try to investigate the crimes and clear their names. As Addison is a bit of a movie buff from her youth, I also loved all the movie references throughout the book.
The romance was sweet, the kissing was HOT, the investigation suspenseful and who-done-it revealed right at the end. Something for everyone in this story.
I voluntarily reviewed this Advanced Reader Copy provided to me by PNR Book Lover Reviews, via Netgalley and I have not been compensated in any way.
This is a sweet, contemporary romance with some detective/suspense elements. The storyline of this boo, is an interesting one and the subject matter of Dog Grooming and Dog Shows is a unique one, with great insights into that world.
I must say that I really enjoyed this book. I loved the quirky and distinct characters that surround the Dog Show world. I loved Addisons journey from the beginning of the book until the end. Felix was a good counter balance to Addison in almost everyday and I enjoyed their journey and they try to investigate the crimes and clear their names. As Addison is a bit of a movie buff from her youth, I also loved all the movie references throughout the book.
The romance was sweet, the kissing was HOT, the investigation suspenseful and who-done-it revealed right at the end. Something for everyone in this story.
I voluntarily reviewed this Advanced Reader Copy provided to me by PNR Book Lover Reviews, via Netgalley and I have not been compensated in any way.
January 9, 2017
This is the second book in this series but it can be read as a stand alone novel. Yet, after reading this book you will want to pick up a copy of the first book. The author has just gained a new fan in me. OMG! I absolutely fell in love with Addison and Felix. They made the perfect couple. This is a good thing as they were just alright as detectives. Yet, they sure kept things entertaining as they tried to solve the mystery of the missing prized show dogs. From the compromising situations to the sexual tension, I had an fun time reading this book. The witty banter between Addison and Felix did have me laughing and smiling. Than there was the other characters in this story. None of them felt like characters just thrown into the story or played just second string. I knew that the dog competition could be ruthless but I never imagined that fur would be flying. Beauty and the Wiener wins best show! A furtastic good time.
November 28, 2016
This is a really cute story that keeps you tied up wondering in a who-done-it mystery, along with humor and romance. It seems to cover it all. Addison runs Pampered Paws where she grooms dogs. She also designs fashions for dogs and has put everything she has into it. Unfortunately, someone is stealing the dogs that are supposed to be in the big dog show and they are pointing the finger straight at Addison. She has made friends with a bartender, Felix, and now they are saying he is her accomplice. These two set out to prove the truth, but can they do it before they both loose everything? Very well written and keeps you guessing until the end. Why not sit back, relax and enjoy a really fun read. I give this one 5 stars.
March 2, 2019
Great addition to the Rescue Dog series! This book started out a little slow for me, but then it picked up and I couldn't put it down. I stayed up well past midnight finishing this one, which is something I rarely do. Felix is the stuff that fantasies are made of. And of course all of the dogs are adorable. The story is well written, the characters are well developed, and the plot is full of suspense. There are so many potential "bad guys" that I truly didn't know who the culprit was until the author revealed it. What a great way to spend an evening...a hot guy, adorable hounds, and a stumper of a whodunit. Can't wait for Zoe's story!
February 7, 2017
This was such a fun and adorable story. There was a very interesting mystery, and I loved the characters, human and animal. I really liked Felix. He made a great first impression with me, waving his trash can around. It was one of my favorite moments. Beauty and the Wiener had a little bit of everything, and I definitely recommend it if you are looking for something with fun, mystery, and romance. I received a complimentary copy of this book.
August 6, 2017
Where do I even start and justify the one-star review? This book is all over the place, plagued with lame events and superficial characters.
I picked this book because I was intrigued by the synopsis which introduces it as a romantic mystery about the female protagonist, Addison Turner, who embarks on an investigation and search for missing show dogs with her love interest, Felix Vaughn.
It is meshed with one drama after another. I believe this is the author’s attempt to keep readers engaged, and hopefully not get bored by the actual plot which is nowhere as promising as what the synopsis suggests. It didn’t work for me because majority of the time I was confused and like WTF is this and why do we even need that scene? Certain things are not necessary and it left me with the impression that the author wrote this in bits and pieces, with little effort to make sure that the flow of events is logical.
Although with so many things going on at the same time, the warmup towards the climax is infuriatingly slow – for example, three chapters in and we are still at the same scene and the same hour. The author spent a great deal explaining why the characters did this and felt that because of blah blah blah. Errr… if the plot and development are logical in the first place, you don’t even need to spend a great deal of time justifying the characters’ behaviour and actions. This is a novel, not an argumentative essay
The characters are flawed with double standards. Addison is supposed to be a strong, independent woman who is resilient to hardships and adversities. Yet, she is also outwardly desperate to find a “Prince Charming”, to the extent that she calculatingly dresses and acts in a deceitful manner to attract guys (no wonder her exes are all jerks). If you are in desperate need of a man just so your life can be complete, then you are definitely not strong and independent enough.
Next is Felix Vaughn, the main male character. He was blindly infatuated with the female protagonist and spent a great deal of effort seducing her. Then halfway into the story it was discovered that he actually has a 5yo daughter. This was how he reacted when Addison asked why didn’t he tell her – “Some women get kind of freaked out when you mention you’re a single dad”.
Eh… I don’t think women will get THAT freaked out if you are truthful about it in the first place. But to reveal the truth after so much flirting with your love interest, I guess any normal woman will more or less be affected – but here, Addison is not normal after all.
The above are just a few examples of the double standards portrayed in this book. The turn of events failed to convince me why the characters fall in love with each other (other than out of lust and desperation I suppose). The culprit’s reasons for stealing the show dogs are even more ridiculous.
To be honest, the only saving grace of this book is the theme of dogs but this theme is just a backdrop and has little to do with the actual story. The author could have well used a different theme and still execute the same story.
Despite the negativity, I love this quote in the entire book:
“… show dog or not, I believe every dog deserves the same care and attention. They’re all beautiful in their own way…”
I can see that the majority of reviewers here favor this book, so I guess I’m in the minority.
I picked this book because I was intrigued by the synopsis which introduces it as a romantic mystery about the female protagonist, Addison Turner, who embarks on an investigation and search for missing show dogs with her love interest, Felix Vaughn.
It is meshed with one drama after another. I believe this is the author’s attempt to keep readers engaged, and hopefully not get bored by the actual plot which is nowhere as promising as what the synopsis suggests. It didn’t work for me because majority of the time I was confused and like WTF is this and why do we even need that scene? Certain things are not necessary and it left me with the impression that the author wrote this in bits and pieces, with little effort to make sure that the flow of events is logical.
Although with so many things going on at the same time, the warmup towards the climax is infuriatingly slow – for example, three chapters in and we are still at the same scene and the same hour. The author spent a great deal explaining why the characters did this and felt that because of blah blah blah. Errr… if the plot and development are logical in the first place, you don’t even need to spend a great deal of time justifying the characters’ behaviour and actions. This is a novel, not an argumentative essay
The characters are flawed with double standards. Addison is supposed to be a strong, independent woman who is resilient to hardships and adversities. Yet, she is also outwardly desperate to find a “Prince Charming”, to the extent that she calculatingly dresses and acts in a deceitful manner to attract guys (no wonder her exes are all jerks). If you are in desperate need of a man just so your life can be complete, then you are definitely not strong and independent enough.
Next is Felix Vaughn, the main male character. He was blindly infatuated with the female protagonist and spent a great deal of effort seducing her. Then halfway into the story it was discovered that he actually has a 5yo daughter. This was how he reacted when Addison asked why didn’t he tell her – “Some women get kind of freaked out when you mention you’re a single dad”.
Eh… I don’t think women will get THAT freaked out if you are truthful about it in the first place. But to reveal the truth after so much flirting with your love interest, I guess any normal woman will more or less be affected – but here, Addison is not normal after all.
The above are just a few examples of the double standards portrayed in this book. The turn of events failed to convince me why the characters fall in love with each other (other than out of lust and desperation I suppose). The culprit’s reasons for stealing the show dogs are even more ridiculous.
To be honest, the only saving grace of this book is the theme of dogs but this theme is just a backdrop and has little to do with the actual story. The author could have well used a different theme and still execute the same story.
Despite the negativity, I love this quote in the entire book:
“… show dog or not, I believe every dog deserves the same care and attention. They’re all beautiful in their own way…”
I can see that the majority of reviewers here favor this book, so I guess I’m in the minority.
February 5, 2017
ARC received via Netgalley for an honest review
This is the first Casey Griffin novel I have read, and even though I have not read the first Rescue Dog Romance book, this did not detract from my enjoyment.
Beauty and The Wiener sweet, cute contemporary romance with bit of suspense thrown in for good measure.
Addison and Felix really are SOL when they get dragged into a dognapping scandal, and while they are doggedly on the trail of the culprits, they are kinda sorta building a relationship.
Addison's - hmm snobbery I guess you would call it - about the perfect guy did make her come across as shallow a lot of the time. Money does not buy class people! Felix though, I adored him and his gruff ways.
I did kind of guess who the bad guys were, and it felt a little Scooby-dooish at the end, but I enjoyed the story.
It sort of reminded me of Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series, with a series of unfortunate events getting in their way - and dogs in amazing clothes!
This is the first Casey Griffin novel I have read, and even though I have not read the first Rescue Dog Romance book, this did not detract from my enjoyment.
Beauty and The Wiener sweet, cute contemporary romance with bit of suspense thrown in for good measure.
Addison and Felix really are SOL when they get dragged into a dognapping scandal, and while they are doggedly on the trail of the culprits, they are kinda sorta building a relationship.
Addison's - hmm snobbery I guess you would call it - about the perfect guy did make her come across as shallow a lot of the time. Money does not buy class people! Felix though, I adored him and his gruff ways.
I did kind of guess who the bad guys were, and it felt a little Scooby-dooish at the end, but I enjoyed the story.
It sort of reminded me of Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series, with a series of unfortunate events getting in their way - and dogs in amazing clothes!
March 28, 2022
This was the night, Addison Turner was repeating in her head, not only her business will boom in this dog show with her fashion and grooming skills, she will also find Prince Charming and live her happily ever after... Or so she thought.
While waiting for her perfect gentleman, she finds Felix Vaughn who is bartending in the dog show. While there is certainly chemistry between them, she knows he is not the one. Prince Charming suddenly appears though in the name of Philip Montgomery III. They dance together just like in fairytales, but in a Cinderella fashion, she remembers that she is almost late to start her fashion show! She runs back to get it ready, only to discover that the dogs have been...well.. dognapped!
As the prime suspect for this dognapping, she wants to clear her name as not only her reputation and business are on the line, the poor dogs are out there and need to be rescued. She tries to recruit Felix with his bartending insider knowledge, but he refuses until he can't refuse no more as he suddenly also becomes the prime suspect for another dognapping.
I kind of had an idea of how the book will go, but I am glad that it totally surprised me in the turn that the story took with the dognapping. I love the banter that goes on between Addison and Felix, but I kind of wish there wasn't an immediate physical attraction from the get go. I would probably have enjoyed it more if the attraction started to appear as they spent time together, and get to know each other while solving the mystery of the dognapping.
The story has funny twist and turns, the characters are entertaining, relatable and felt very natural, the mystery is certainly intriguing of who could have done the deed and for what reason. The amount of flirting between Addison and Felix made me question a few times if they really wanted to find the dogs or just wanted to spend time together. Overall though, it was a charming story that would be perfect for those who like romance or are dog lovers, even better if you are both.
While waiting for her perfect gentleman, she finds Felix Vaughn who is bartending in the dog show. While there is certainly chemistry between them, she knows he is not the one. Prince Charming suddenly appears though in the name of Philip Montgomery III. They dance together just like in fairytales, but in a Cinderella fashion, she remembers that she is almost late to start her fashion show! She runs back to get it ready, only to discover that the dogs have been...well.. dognapped!
As the prime suspect for this dognapping, she wants to clear her name as not only her reputation and business are on the line, the poor dogs are out there and need to be rescued. She tries to recruit Felix with his bartending insider knowledge, but he refuses until he can't refuse no more as he suddenly also becomes the prime suspect for another dognapping.
I kind of had an idea of how the book will go, but I am glad that it totally surprised me in the turn that the story took with the dognapping. I love the banter that goes on between Addison and Felix, but I kind of wish there wasn't an immediate physical attraction from the get go. I would probably have enjoyed it more if the attraction started to appear as they spent time together, and get to know each other while solving the mystery of the dognapping.
The story has funny twist and turns, the characters are entertaining, relatable and felt very natural, the mystery is certainly intriguing of who could have done the deed and for what reason. The amount of flirting between Addison and Felix made me question a few times if they really wanted to find the dogs or just wanted to spend time together. Overall though, it was a charming story that would be perfect for those who like romance or are dog lovers, even better if you are both.
November 20, 2022
I give Falling for the Underdog a 3.5.
The Plot (no real spoilers): In this modern-day romance novel we follow protagonist Addison Turner, a dog groomer and stylist, as she struggles to find love and a dognapper out to ruin her reputation and business. In the search for love she has two contenders: (1) Philip a guy with everything and only eyes for her it seems and (2) Felix, the heartbreaker bartender who has to look out for "his number one." The list of suspects for the dognappings, which seem to always happen when she is around, is a lot longer.
The Pros:
The men - In most romance novels we have one guy that we meet early on, who the protagonist immediately dislikes and simultaneously thinks is very attractive, and we know that this will be the guy we fall for and it is just a matter of reading the story to find out how. Even though I knew who to put my money on in this book it was nice to have the option of two very different men and watch the protagonist (finally) figure out what she really wanted and needed.
The mystery - The who and how they did it behind the dognapping was my favorite part of the book. The plotline in romance novels are often not the best and feel like background noise to the main story of two people falling in love but I enjoyed how Casey Griffin didn't abandon a good plot for endless pages of romantic musings or banter. Everything was nicely tied up into one package and delivered well.
The dogs and their owners - I got a good laugh out of some of these show dog owners and their eccentric love of their dogs/dog shows. It made for an interesting mix of secondary characters.
The Cons:
The protagonist - My only real con of this book is I couldn't root for our lead Addison because I couldn't figure out what this girl was about. She first appears to be a quirky, gullible, but loveable character with dreams of opening up her own doggy fashion line to go along with her pet grooming business and a hopeless fairytale romantic. And I was okay with that. But then it becomes clear that for some guys she's a hopelessly impractical romantic and for others, she's a woman who's been burned and is cautious with her heart. Learning more about her backstory makes the latter make a lot of sense, but I could not understand throughout the rest of the book why she still clung to her movie-picture fantasy of how love and life are going to work out when she's already learned the harsher realities of life. I was whipping out my college psych classes to classify her ego defense mechanism (idealization? repression?). And once again I was okay with this as it brought a surprising amount of depth to her character. What truly drove me nuts was seeing our leading lady who is resilient, intelligent, and independent constantly trying to play the damsel in distress role and still believe that finding Mr. Perfect is going to magically fix everything. Cringe. Also, the moment that leads to her finally realizing the impracticality of her thinking (obviously, two seconds too late), is kind of ho-hum and falls back into the category of making a guy out to be the answer to all.
One Last Pro (to always end on a good note): The writing was good with never a stagnant moment. Minus being annoyed by the main character I liked the book overall and would definitely finish the series, especially since I'm pretty sure I know who the other books are about and really liked those characters.
You might like this book if you're a fan of Megan Cabot, Janet Evanovich's Elise Hawkins series, Annika Martin's Billionaires of Manhattan series.
The Plot (no real spoilers): In this modern-day romance novel we follow protagonist Addison Turner, a dog groomer and stylist, as she struggles to find love and a dognapper out to ruin her reputation and business. In the search for love she has two contenders: (1) Philip a guy with everything and only eyes for her it seems and (2) Felix, the heartbreaker bartender who has to look out for "his number one." The list of suspects for the dognappings, which seem to always happen when she is around, is a lot longer.
The Pros:
The men - In most romance novels we have one guy that we meet early on, who the protagonist immediately dislikes and simultaneously thinks is very attractive, and we know that this will be the guy we fall for and it is just a matter of reading the story to find out how. Even though I knew who to put my money on in this book it was nice to have the option of two very different men and watch the protagonist (finally) figure out what she really wanted and needed.
The mystery - The who and how they did it behind the dognapping was my favorite part of the book. The plotline in romance novels are often not the best and feel like background noise to the main story of two people falling in love but I enjoyed how Casey Griffin didn't abandon a good plot for endless pages of romantic musings or banter. Everything was nicely tied up into one package and delivered well.
The dogs and their owners - I got a good laugh out of some of these show dog owners and their eccentric love of their dogs/dog shows. It made for an interesting mix of secondary characters.
The Cons:
The protagonist - My only real con of this book is I couldn't root for our lead Addison because I couldn't figure out what this girl was about. She first appears to be a quirky, gullible, but loveable character with dreams of opening up her own doggy fashion line to go along with her pet grooming business and a hopeless fairytale romantic. And I was okay with that. But then it becomes clear that for some guys she's a hopelessly impractical romantic and for others, she's a woman who's been burned and is cautious with her heart. Learning more about her backstory makes the latter make a lot of sense, but I could not understand throughout the rest of the book why she still clung to her movie-picture fantasy of how love and life are going to work out when she's already learned the harsher realities of life. I was whipping out my college psych classes to classify her ego defense mechanism (idealization? repression?). And once again I was okay with this as it brought a surprising amount of depth to her character. What truly drove me nuts was seeing our leading lady who is resilient, intelligent, and independent constantly trying to play the damsel in distress role and still believe that finding Mr. Perfect is going to magically fix everything. Cringe. Also, the moment that leads to her finally realizing the impracticality of her thinking (obviously, two seconds too late), is kind of ho-hum and falls back into the category of making a guy out to be the answer to all.
One Last Pro (to always end on a good note): The writing was good with never a stagnant moment. Minus being annoyed by the main character I liked the book overall and would definitely finish the series, especially since I'm pretty sure I know who the other books are about and really liked those characters.
You might like this book if you're a fan of Megan Cabot, Janet Evanovich's Elise Hawkins series, Annika Martin's Billionaires of Manhattan series.
September 12, 2017
3.5 stars.
I really enjoyed the first book in this series, so was excited to get started on this entry.
Addison is a dog groomer with big plans to expand her business into a doggie fashion line. She's banking on success after participating in a large dog show in her hometown of San Francisco. While at the first night cocktail mixer she meets Felix, a bartender. Addison and Felix have instant chemistry, with him flirting and giving her a hard time from the beginning. Despite the chemistry with Felix, Addison has a specific vision of what she is looking for in her Prince Charming, and that doesn't include a bartender. Mystery ensues when just as Addison is ready to provide a preview of her doggy fashion line, several of her doggy "models" disappear. Addison is suspected as the dogs were being readied for her show and were in the care of her team. When more dogs disappear at another event, Felix comes under suspicion as well. The two team up to investigate the disappearances in order to clear their names. Hijinx and romance commence!
I really enjoyed the chemistry between the two characters. They seemed to instantly connect, though Addison resisted as he didn't fit her vision of what she wanted in a "Prince Charming". Felix seemed to know right away that he was interested, but realized she was a bit blind to his charms. I enjoyed their banter. I enjoyed seeing Addison become less ditzy and superficial as she came to realize that there were depths to Felix that you couldn't see on the surface, and that sometimes your idea of perfect, might not be perfect for you.
Looking forward to the next entry.
I really enjoyed the first book in this series, so was excited to get started on this entry.
Addison is a dog groomer with big plans to expand her business into a doggie fashion line. She's banking on success after participating in a large dog show in her hometown of San Francisco. While at the first night cocktail mixer she meets Felix, a bartender. Addison and Felix have instant chemistry, with him flirting and giving her a hard time from the beginning. Despite the chemistry with Felix, Addison has a specific vision of what she is looking for in her Prince Charming, and that doesn't include a bartender. Mystery ensues when just as Addison is ready to provide a preview of her doggy fashion line, several of her doggy "models" disappear. Addison is suspected as the dogs were being readied for her show and were in the care of her team. When more dogs disappear at another event, Felix comes under suspicion as well. The two team up to investigate the disappearances in order to clear their names. Hijinx and romance commence!
I really enjoyed the chemistry between the two characters. They seemed to instantly connect, though Addison resisted as he didn't fit her vision of what she wanted in a "Prince Charming". Felix seemed to know right away that he was interested, but realized she was a bit blind to his charms. I enjoyed their banter. I enjoyed seeing Addison become less ditzy and superficial as she came to realize that there were depths to Felix that you couldn't see on the surface, and that sometimes your idea of perfect, might not be perfect for you.
Looking forward to the next entry.
February 7, 2017
Addison is a pet groomer and pet clothes designer. She has worked hard the last two years growing her business. She has accepted startup money from her best friend’s fiancé and doesn’t want to let anyone down. She’s set to have a fashion show at a fancy dog show gathering. She has also decided she needs a man with good breeding and money to be her other half.
Felix is the bartender at the event. He sees all and takes it all in. He’s worked with this crowd before and offers to fill Addison in on everyone. Addison immediately decides he’s not good enough for her and walks away.
Before the fashion show begins, several of the dogs turn up missing, leaving Addison as the prime suspect. The police aren’t making this the priority case she feels it needs to be so she starts investigating on her own. When Addison attends another swanky dog party and more dogs turn up missing, Felix is drug into the mix.
I really didn’t like Addison and her attitude. She was so superficial. Felix started out as a jerk, but evolved into a better guy.
I felt like parts of the story dragged. I know the wealthy dress their dogs in clothes, but this part of the story did not appeal to me and I skimmed the descriptions of the clothes and accessories and what clothes would look good on what dogs. Some of Addison’s antics while investigating the crime also felt contrived.
This is the second book in the series and it fell short for me. We do see a couple glimpses of characters from the previous book but this can be read as a standalone.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC provided by NetGalley.
Felix is the bartender at the event. He sees all and takes it all in. He’s worked with this crowd before and offers to fill Addison in on everyone. Addison immediately decides he’s not good enough for her and walks away.
Before the fashion show begins, several of the dogs turn up missing, leaving Addison as the prime suspect. The police aren’t making this the priority case she feels it needs to be so she starts investigating on her own. When Addison attends another swanky dog party and more dogs turn up missing, Felix is drug into the mix.
I really didn’t like Addison and her attitude. She was so superficial. Felix started out as a jerk, but evolved into a better guy.
I felt like parts of the story dragged. I know the wealthy dress their dogs in clothes, but this part of the story did not appeal to me and I skimmed the descriptions of the clothes and accessories and what clothes would look good on what dogs. Some of Addison’s antics while investigating the crime also felt contrived.
This is the second book in the series and it fell short for me. We do see a couple glimpses of characters from the previous book but this can be read as a standalone.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC provided by NetGalley.
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