Confessions of a Canine Drama Queen

Paws in the City #3

by Stefanie London

"A swoon-tastic rom-com that readers will love from beginning to end." —Romance by the Book on The Dachshund Wears Prada

Can you ever really forget the one who got away?

August Merriweather has always been good with animals. In fact, she’s known as Manhattan’s Dog Whisperer. Men, on the other hand? Not so much. She’s been falling for the wrong guys ever since her regrettable crush on Keaton Sax, older brother of her best friend, Leah, and the biggest jerkface this side of the Hudson. 

Now an emotionally closed-off widower, Keaton has become one of the most formidable men on Wall Street, but August knows his secret. He’s not driven by sales targets and bonus checks—Keaton just wants to give his family the security they never had. So when Leah asks Keaton to wrangle her over-the-top dramatic husky at a weekend talent competition, Keaton says yes…and begs August to help him win the event for Leah.

Between obstacle courses, Molly’s husky temper tantrums and a cabin with just one bed, August is having a blast. Away from the pressure to have a “perfect life” with the “right guy,” she finds herself relaxing and getting to see the softer side of the man she once loved. Is this just a temporary truce? Or could Keaton finally be the right guy at the right time? 

Paws in the City

Book 1: The Dachshund Wears Prada
Book 2: Pets of Park Avenue

Genres: Romance, Rom Com, Contemporary, Dogs, Contemporary Romance, Chick Lit, Fiction

320 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2023

About the author

Stefanie London is a multi-award-winning, USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romances and romantic comedies.

Stefanie’s books have been called “genuinely entertaining and memorable” by Booklist, and “elegant, descriptive and delectable” by RT magazine. Her stories have won multiple industry awards, including the HOLT Medallion and OKRWA National Reader's Choice Award, and she has been nominated for the Romance Writers of America RITA award.

Originally from Australia, Stefanie lives in Toronto with her very own hero and is doing her best to travel the world. She frequently indulges in her passions for good coffee, lipstick, romance novels and anything zombie-related.

Reviews

[Lit with Leigh · Rating 2 out of 5]

Writing: basic | Plot: sure | Ending: NAH LET'S FIGHT!!!!! | Spice: open door but not super graphic

SYNOPSIS

Leah's bestie, August Merriweather, and her super-duper rich widower brother, Keaton, step in to help Leah's dramatic husky, Molly, win a dog competition.

MY OPINION

I honestly feel bad giving a romcom 2 stars because I truly believe the author just wants to provide good vibes and has no ill intent (versus thriller authors who are out to HURT YOU) so it feels like I'm harshing the vibe but...... this just went a lil too far west for me lol.

I picked this out solely because the cover is pink and has a husky on it and I'm a pink-lover and owner of a strangely silent but still dramatic husky. Yes, my standards are high, what can I say!? Anyways. The writing here is nothing to write home about (har har). It's pretty basic and a lil rocky in some spots. There were too many exclamation marks and the dialogue was cringey at times.

Honestly, I'd be willing to overlook all of that in the name of some cute fun but August's total disregard for Keaton's dead wife sent me over the edge. So unsurprisingly, Keaton is a lil scarred and emotionally closed off due to his young wife's sudden death. Does August acknowledge this at any point and time? Nope. She just bangs on about how Keaton can never give her what she needs and wonders if she had kissed Keaton 10+ years ago, if things would be different. Girl, he dead ass married someone else and by all interpretations was extremely in love with her so if anything YOU were the obstacle to his true love, not the other way around.

The only time she brings her up is when she's shaming Keaton for being a money-hungry capitalist pig. She goes as far as to say that his wife wouldn't approve of his behaviour????? Girl I would legit kick the cover off my casket and PHYSICALLY FIGHT YOU if you were gonna put words in my deceased mouth to guilt trip my husband. Absolutely NOT.

The last straw was when August and Keaton finally get together (this really isn't a spoiler... c'mon now), and she tells him "I knew we were meant to be" and "I knew we would find our way to each other." AGAIN, I'm rising from the dead to piss on your pillow. Sooooo f#ck the dead wife then? What would you have done if she was still alive and kicking???? It just felt super icky that she never acknowledged his love for his wife and made it seem like her sudden passing was all part of God's great plan. Nah, that ain't sitting right with me....

Also, if you know mans isn't going to commit to you, why would you let him raw dawg/cream pie you??????? No plan B was taken either. And Keaton, why did would you finish inside a woman you have no intention of having a serious relationship with? You may not want to commit to her, but you will have to commit to that child support for 18 years whether you want to or not.

Anyways, the parts with Molly were cute. Huskies truly are the cats of the dog species.

PROS AND CONS

Pros: Molly the husky, I'm a hoe for a matchmaker trope

Cons: really disrespectful to his dead wife, risky sex with a commitment-phobe... no thanks, cringey dialogue with too many exclamation marks

________________

For some sick reason, do you want to hear more of my nonsense? Check out my podcast: Novels & Nonsense streaming everywhere.

[Madison Warner Fairbanks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Confessions of a Canine Drama Queen by Stefanie London
Paws in the City series, #3. Contemporary romantic comedy. Can be read as a stand-alone.
Keaton Sax is a Wall Street dynamo and will do anything for his family. He agrees to take his sister’s dog to a weekend talent competition. The problem is, he has no idea how to manage the dog, so he asks August Merriweather to travel with him. One bed at the hotel and a husky with a tendency of temper tantrums, August finds herself falling for her best friend’s brother all over again.
Book 1: The Dachshund Wears Prada
Book 2: Pets of Park Avenue

The husky Molly is hilarious. That she wouldn’t do a single command that Keaton gave in the first competition really proved how smart she was. Even if she was being obstinate. And I loved the name August for the heroine. Both August and Keaton are selfless in helping family and friends and their time at the hotel was fun and flirty. But it was the dog that really won my heart.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stefanie London never fails to entertain me with one of her stories and this one had me smiling from start to finish, it is fun, witty and packed with emotion, it is a fabulous story in this wonderful series, I love my pets and getting to know Molly, the Husky and Keaton and August was pure joy.

August Merriweather is an animal groomer and a very good one, she has such a way with dogs she loves them and they love her and she is single, but she would dearly love to have a partner although she seems to just find the wrong guy all the time, although she has had a crush on her best friend, Leah’s brother Keaton Sax since she was a teenager but he really isn’t the right guy either, they seem to clash when together.

Keaton is a widower and finding new love even after all this time is not what he wants, work and his family are the only thing he wants, he will do anything for his family, when Leah asks him to take her Husky, Molly, who by the way dislikes him immensely on a weekend talent competition he cannot say no but he does know that he will need help and August is the person he must ask.

A weekend away together sharing a room with Molly how on earth will this turn out the spark between them runs hot and strong and August is known for being open with her heart and saying what she thinks, and soon Keaton is thinking that a short fling might be just what they need but they sizzle together, will it be enough. The emotions run high, I felt for them both so much, will August convince Keaton that love and life are worth everything?

I loved this one so much, written in true Stefanie London style, this author knows how to write fabulous characters, open their hearts to the readers and make them easy to be friends with, I was cheering them on and laughing so much with the antics Molly shows, this is a book and series I do highly recommend.

My thanks to the author for my digital copy to read and review.

[Esther]

⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️
SAFETY INFO WITH SPOILERS
⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️

I will say not safe for most of the safety gang.
H and h know each other. h is bff with H’s little sister. H is 2 years older than h. After h grows up a bit H starts to have a crush on her. So he decides to kiss her. h (that was having a crush on H) didn’t expect the kiss and didn’t reply. What did H do? Left and meet with another friend of his sister. Then marry her real quick and the marriage only lasted 1 year because sadly ow died. So, he has been alone after his wife died years ago. While he couldn’t even be alone a bit to wait for h. He met the same night of the kiss to ow. Like…
He is pinning for what could have been with his wife. And I mean I get it. But this is not my type of romance.
H says that he will never regret how things happened. h has been watching H and ow from a far and then H grieving ow while h wasn’t having the best of luck in dating (because obviously)
I’m sorry but I think h was second best. H waited more for ow. Never regretted dating ow (again I get it) and literally said: (SOME EXTRACTS THAT I THINK HELPS UNDERSTAND WHY I THINK h WAS SECOND BEST)


“Keaton liked August. Always had. She was plucky and hardworking and she had a big heart. But the two-year age difference between them had felt like a chasm when he was a teenager. Back then he’d seen her as a kid—freckle-faced, with a halo of frizzy red hair, braces and a penchant for boy bands. It wasn’t until he came home for the holidays during college one year and he’d seen her standing by the tree—hair like ruby silk ribbons and her short, curvy body poured into a little black dress—that he’d done a double take so hard he’d almost given himself whiplash.
After that he couldn’t get her out of his head. So he’d decided to do something about it the year he graduated. That night had changed his world. He’d almost kissed August on the doorstep of his family home, only to be rebuffed, and then Leah had brought home another friend from school.
Ellery.
His heart clenched hard in his chest every time he thought about his wife. Their marriage had been so brief, but he’d loved her with a wholeness he hadn’t even known possible.”




“But the urge to touch her was too much. He rubbed his hand up and down her arm, hoping it might soothe her enough that she would fall back to sleep. Her skin was like silk.
Get her to sleep and then you can go back to your original plan of sleeping on the floor. Tomorrow, you’ll both pretend like this never happened.
That would be the smart thing to do.
He’d tried to maintain a little distance between them, but she wriggled until her back lined his chest, the curve of her ass cradled perfectly in his lap. A jolt of arousal shot through him, but he held his breath and stifled the reaction. It was like trying to swallow a pill without water.
“Do you ever wonder what life would be like if things had turned out differently?” she asked groggily.
“Constantly.”
“What if August had kissed him back that night? What if he’d never met Ellery? What if she hadn’t been stolen from him in such a cruel and unpredictable way?
“Me too.”
The instinct to ask her what she would change surged through him, but he held his tongue. There was no point getting into such things. The what-ifs of life could eat you alive. It was better to put your head down and keep going.
Wondering was dangerous.
“I think about that night a lot.”
He didn’t need to ask which night she was talking about.
“What might have happened if I hadn’t been so fucking afraid.”
Her whispered voice prickled at his resolve, but he resisted. This conversation could go nowhere good. His brain scrambled to find the right thing to say, but emotions had never been his forte. He was a blunt instrument, a greyhound chasing a marker.
He only knew forward. Speed. Focus.
“Shh.” He brushed his hand over her hair, smoothing his fingertips over her temple with each stroke. “It’s a busy day tomorrow. You should sleep.”
“For a moment, he thought she’d drifted off, her breathing turning even and her body becoming soft and pliable. Holding his breath, he didn’t dare move until he was sure.
Ten, nine, eight...
He’d been holding himself in check—holding every basal, lustful urge in check—because he wasn’t here to put a move on her in a vulnerable moment. He cared about August as a person. He wanted good things for her...which didn’t include him.



“Need coursed through his veins and he found himself rocking against her, the desperate need for friction like a chant in his blood. It had been so long. Too long.
Not long enough.
But it would never be long enough, in his mind. It would never be long enough until he was six feet under.
“You don’t want this, though,” he said. “You want someone with shared goals and aligned needs and who will give you the stable, happy life you deserve.”
“I do,” she admitted.
Could she hear the raging protests in his head? The security guards that kept his heart locked up tight shouting at him to remember why he couldn’t fall for anyone ever again. Because grief was a relentless bitch. Because he’d loved with everything he had and it still wasn’t enough to keep her alive. Because good things would be ripped from your hands the second you felt comfortable.
He had no idea how to voice any of that. Even after therapy and grief counseling, he still wasn’t good at talking about his feelings. About voicing his fears. It was easier to keep it all in, put his head down and work, work, work.
“I’m not asking you to put a ring on my finger,” she said gently. “I understand why you don’t want to do the relationship thing again.”
They’d never explicitly talked about Ellery’s death. August had been there for him the whole time, however, showing her support even if she didn’t verbalize it. She came to the funeral and the wake. She dropped food at his apartment because she knew he couldn’t cook for shit. She would check on him through Leah, wanting to know how he was coping and if there was anything she could do to help.
“Sex doesn’t have to be...” She shook her head. “Sometimes it can just be a moment between two people.”
But it wasn’t, with her. That was the problem. Sex with August could never be casual, no matter how many boundaries they put up.
“I don’t want to... I don’t want to ruin things,” he said.
“I appreciate that. But we can act on something that’s been there a long time without drawing up a lifelong contract. I’m not trying to say it doesn’t mean anything, but... I just... I respect your boundaries, that’s all.”
Good lord, this woman. This bighearted, intelligent, perfect woman.
“Keaton...” She sighed. “I’m lonely and I know you are, too. Maybe we don’t have to be lonely tonight is all I’m saying.”
She was right. He was lonely. By choice, admittedly, but he still felt the yawning void in his life that Ellery had left behind. It was why he filled his time with work and family, keeping busy so he could ignore the festering wound in his heart.
But tonight she was offering him a salve. A balm. A moment. And the raw honesty in her voice frayed the last vestiges of his control. He leaned forward, brushing his lips against hers. The first kiss was brief. Testing. Like he wanted to see if God would smite him down on the spot for betraying the promise he’d made, even if it was one Ellery hadn’t wanted.
Nothing.



He didn’t want to love her, still. He didn’t want to know that she loved him. That their history wasn’t neatly filed away in either of their minds, archived for record only.
Why?
There were times when he wondered if he would change the past, given the chance. If he would have left his house to go out for a walk instead of hanging around and being introduced to Ellery. If he would’ve taken August’s rebuff for what it was—nerves, rather than rejection. But every time he thought about it, he couldn’t imagine his life without the blissful year he’d spent with his wife.
Even if it broke him.
Even if it made him cling to fear like a life raft.
Even if it froze him in place, turning him into a stone gargoyle.
The elevator doors slid open and Molly walked ahead like she owned the place, but every few steps her head swung back to check on him. “I’m still here,” he said.
But he wasn’t. Not really.”

“This is a bad idea,” he muttered to himself.
“It’s not a bad idea.” Leah stood in the doorway. She was feeling energetic today...which meant she was hovering around Keaton to make sure he didn’t chicken out. “It’s incredibly thoughtful and sweet and romantic.”
Re-creating the night they almost kissed...what could possibly go wrong?
She might reject him a second time.
She might think he was doing some weird social experiment on her.
She might not even turn up.
Leah had invited August over via text yesterday. Then, like the crafty fox she was, she’d plied Keaton with wine and wrenched every last detail from him.
About quitting his job.
About the fact that Fairchild & Hill might try to sue him.



“But it was a part that had to be put where it belonged—in the past. He had to stop letting those painful days after his wife died dictate how he lived his life now. He had to stop being afraid of losing someone he loved again, because the fact was, he had lost August by pushing her away. It had become a self-fulfilling prophecy.
But at the same time, he didn’t want to disrespect Ellery’s memory or the love they shared.
“It’s not a bad thing to move on,” Leah said gently.
“Kind of goes against the whole ‘one true love’ thing, though.”
“The one true love thing is bullshit, if you ask me.” Leah shrugged. “Love is what you make of it in the moment. And loving August now doesn’t mean that you never loved Ellery. She would want you to move on and be happy, Kea. That’s the kind of person she was. It would make her weep to see you wasting your life away.”
Keaton found his eyes prickling for a moment, but he blinked the emotion away. He’d spent long enough oscillating between being miserable and numb. It was time to start living again. “Thanks for helping me see past my own shit,” he said.
“That’s what family is for. You do so much for me, the least I can do is show you when you’re being a fool.” Her eyes sparkled mischievously. “But seriously though, I want you to be happy. I want her to be happy. You’re my favorite people in the whole wide world and you deserve each other in the best way possible.”
He nodded, nerves creating a knot in his stomach. “I’m going to lay it all out there and if she says no—”
“She won’t.”
“If she says no,” he repeated, “then I won’t fall in a heap and go back to how I was. This is a turning point, and I hope she’s there with me. But it’s ultimately her choice, and if not, then... I still need to move forward.”
“I’m proud of you, big brother.” Leah squeezed him. Then she caught sight of a flash of red as August strolled up the street toward the house. “Time to hide!”
“I can’t hide, I have to answer the door.”
Leah whacked him. “Don’t you know anything about a reveal, Kea? It has to be a surprise! Besides, she’s got a key. She’ll let herself in.”
“Are you sure?” He looked toward the door.
“Trust me, okay? What’s the point of putting up all this stuff if you’re just going to open the door yourself?”
He wasn’t sure he agreed, but Leah knew her best friend and, for once in his life, he was going to listen to what she said. He just had to hope that he could show August how much he cared. How much he’d always cared...
And that he wanted to take the other path with her.”
(This was page 304/326 and he talks about if she doesn’t want him he would move on any away. Again, in real life I get it. In romance… it sounds like she isn’t that important)



(This is literally the end and he is still talking about ow: Ellery):
Okay, I’ll admit that the design is a little cheesy,” he said. “But my taste hadn’t quite matured in my early twenties. All I knew was that girls were supposed to like hearts.”
August’s breath hitched. “It’s beautiful.”
“I was planning to give it to you that Christmas Eve, but I got ahead of myself and tried to kiss you first. It was in my coat pocket the whole time.” He rocked on his heels. “Obviously I was a bit too embarrassed to give it to you after you...ah, well you know. And then when I met Ellery, I wasn’t sure what to do with it. There was no way I could give it to someone else, because that felt wrong. But taking it back to the store didn’t feel right, either.”
“So you kept it?”
“I put it in the back of my sock drawer and forgot about it. I could never force myself to get rid of it.”
“It’s so pretty,” she said.
“I know hearts are a little tacky and maybe it looks juvenile—”
“No, it’s sweet.”
“I held on to this for over ten years because there was part of me that couldn’t give up on the idea that one day you might wear it.” He took the box from her hand and pulled the ring out. “I’ll be honest, part of me wondered if I should go out and get something fancier, like with gold instead of silver, or something. But I saved up for this when I was a broke college student and...it feels honest.”
Before she could say anything else, he lowered down onto one knee.

“August, I know we took the long way to get here. But you’ve been in my heart as long as I can remember,” he said. “I want to make it official. I’ll take you out to pick a proper ring that’s exactly your style, but I couldn’t wait a moment longer to ask you if you’d be my wife.”
The tears she’d been holding back spilled over, splashing onto her cheeks as she nodded. “Yes, Keaton. A thousand times yes.”
“This is a placeholder, okay?” He slipped the ring onto her finger and a wave of relief washed through him that it fit, since he’d bought it so many years ago. “But it felt right to finally bring it out of hiding.”
“It feels more than right. It’s perfect.” She tugged him to his feet and threw her arms around his neck. “Deep down, I knew we’d get to this place. We were meant to be, even if our brains took a while to catch up to our hearts.”
“I love you, Augie,” he murmured against her lips.
“I love you, too, Kea.”
His hands traveled across her hips and around, seeking out all the places where she loved to be touched. This time she didn’t even bother trying to resist. With Keaton’s lips on her skin and his arms wrapped around her, and the future laid out like a canvas in front of them, the life they could create together seemed brighter than ever.”

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely my FAVORITE in the Paws in the city series!! I absolutely loved this best friend's older brother, grumpy/sunshine romance that features August, a fierce and feisty unapologetically fat dog whisperer who's looking for love in NYC.

When her best friend Leah's MS flares, August agrees to work together with her long time crush Keaton. A workaholic and widower, Keaton is not looking for love but can't resist helping his sister even when it involves traveling to compete in a canine talent contest with his sister's diva husky who he swears hates him.

This was full of forced proximity goodness, only one bed, spicy open door scenes, emotional depth, great disability rep, a diva dog and a fantastic grand gesture ending. I also really enjoyed the audio narration by Jennifer Jill Araya. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Confessions of a Canine Drama Queen is the third book in Stefanie London's Paws in the City series. While it can be read as a standalone, there are spoilers for the first two books, which are as enjoyable as this latest installment.

I really liked everything about this rom-com. August and Keaton were both lovable characters and their chemistry was undeniable! The bedroom scenes were really hot as a result. Molly was such a fun dog and I loved her expressive personality. The setting was great too. It made me want to go glamping. It was nice to see Isla and Scout again, as well.

I wish the series would continue. Or even have a prequel to this book, about how Keaton's sister Leah met Will. I wouldn't complain about more time with Molly either.

If you're looking for something light and sweet, give this book, and the series, a try! Dog lovers will enjoy it twice as much.

Movie casting suggestions (some are from the previous books in the series):

August: Kennedy McMann 

Keaton: Harry Richardson

Leah: Madison Davenport

Maxine: Annie Potts

Thomas: James Remar

Scout: Kelli Berglund 

Isla: Grace Caroline Currey

[Kaye · Rating 4 out of 5]

August Merriweather is Manhattan’s Dog Whisperer. She is groomer to the who’s who list in NYC and makes enough she can afford her own Manhattan apartment. She is curvy and endowed and likes her healthy body. I like that the author uses real descriptions like her thigh rub etc. She had a teen crush on her best friends older by two years brother. But on the day he tried to make a move she panicked and fled. He went on to marry someone. She is now actively searching for a life partner.

Keaton Sax has been a widower for many years. He is closed off and driven to be make a named partner in his Wall Street firm. But he struggles at the ruthlessness of the business. Having grown up poor he is driven to provide financial security for himself, his mom and his sister. Sister Leah gets the bulk of his non work attention. And when she asks him to take Molly, her dramatic husky, for a weekend competition he can’t say no. Only Molly doesn’t like him. So he asks Leah’s BF August to come along. Sparks are going to fly.

I like this series, especially the first book The Dachshund Wears Prada (May 2022). This is the third in the Paws in the City series. They can be read as stand alone books but there is small appearances by the previous couples. (No big spoilers by reading out of order.) The chemistry is real and the passion heats up. Some of the bantering is on the childish side as Keaton is often smirking and they fall into daring each other to do things. But other than that they are honest and self aware of their being workaholics tendencies. And of course Molly is wonderful and you get some of her thoughts too.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC and I am leaving a voluntary review.

[Kerry - Readkerryread · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the newest addition to the "Paws in the City" series Leah who is battling an MS flare up can’t take her pampered pooch Molly to a dog talent competition. Winning the competition could lead to big things for Leah’s YouTube channel and bring lots of exposure. Keaton, her brother, steps in to help even though Molly can’t seem to stand him or listen to him.

Keaton isn’t alone though Leah’s best friend and local Dog Whisperer, August is along for the ride. While she can’t be the lead since she already has connection to the hosts of the events she is trying to help Keaton and Molly bond enough to stay in the competition.

With them sharing a room and a bed sparks are bound to fly right? Though the term it’s complicated is perfect for these two!

The chemistry with these two was tense but when they finally gave in it was explosive! I love how dedicated Keaton was to his family even though he was a little obsessed with work. They had great banter and while their journey wasn’t easy it it was worth it!

I received an arc for review all opinions are my own and given freely.

[Ashley Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will have to say this was probably my favorite of the series!

August was a strong and beautiful character that I could very much relate to. I was very excited to read her story after meeting her in the other books in the series. Her empathy and compassion made her such an endearing friend.

I also very much enjoyed the dog Molly and all of her antics!

Keaton was a bit of a different character and I enjoyed getting to know more of his story without going too deep.

I would recommend clearing a few hours for this one because I happily read it in one sitting.

I received an ARC from the publisher and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Krissy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and Canary Street Press for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review

August is a dog groomer extraordinaire, she has worked really hard to build her business and reputation. She is ready to find her partner in life, but the dating apps have not been fruitful and she wants someone to appreciate her as she is. Keaton is her best friend Leah's brother, he is a success on wall street and she has harboured a crush on him since they were teenagers. They had an almost moment years ago but he went on to marry a woman, and ended up widowed. He has not been in a place to ever fall in love again, and keeps everyone at a distance even though he has never forgotten about his attraction to August. They both end up in upstate New York together entering Leah's dog in a competition, where it'll be hard to escape the feelings they both have been bottling up for years.

DOGS, friends to lovers, best friends brother, and one bed trope. I always have such a fun time with the books in this series and this one was no exception.

[Chloë [at the cottage] · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a cute little rom-com, perfect for readers who enjoy a second chance romance with a forced proximity/only-one-bed trope, supported by a decidedly dramatic doggo.

I hadn't read either of the earlier two books from the series, but this works as a standalone. I did find that the husky antics took precedence over the development of the romance between August & Keaton. More development took place between Keaton & the husky, Molly, that would have benefit the development of his relationship with August.

August was an enjoyable FMC. She's strong and determined.

"You deserve someone who's going to give you the world."
"No." She turned, fire in her eyes and her face shining with sincerity. "I can get the world myself, Keaton. But I want someone who's going to stand with me when I do."

While it was a second-chance of their childhood pining for one another, their connection was a bit too quick for my liking because both of them come with a lot of baggage and it wrapped up too neatly. But otherwise, this was a lovely (if somewhat predictable) read.

Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Dani B · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit of a slow starter for me but once it got rolling I thoroughly enjoyed the story. She's loved him since she was 13, he has refused to let anyone in since his wife passed away 10 years previously, can a mischievous husky, some brutal truths and a instagram pet competition change all of that? And will it end up better or worse? Some favourite points for me include:
- Inclusive Disability Side representation
- Curvy FMC
- The sassy husky
- The back and forth between the mc's
- Mature aged pairing

[Becca Kendall · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the best rom-coms I've ever read. 🩷📖 I swooned. I giggled. I even had a cheese grin on my face more times than I could count. A Grumpy meets Sunshine trope. 4.5 stars. The spice was hot enough that it made a great palette cleanser. Highly recommend for the easy, but bashful and happy read... what more could you ask for? The dog was one of my favorite comic reliefs 🐕 and whether you are a cat or a dog person (like me), you'd love this sweet book. I also love the sister, though we see her mainly in the beginning and end, Leah was my favorite side character. The husky was cute, and she knew it. So is the book. A guaranteed HEA. 🥰🤩🤗🥹💖🫶

[Giedrė Kvietkutė · Rating 3 out of 5]

"-Jie negali ramiai gyventi, nes yra susitelkę į tai, ko neturi, - Augustė papurtė galvą. - Kiekvienas sprendimas paremtas tuo, kas galėtų palikti įspūdį lėkštiems jš draugams, kas padėtupatekti į kitą tariamą sluoksnį. Jie težino kaip svajoti apie daugiau.
-Chroniška šio pasaulio liga, - suniurzgėjo Kitonas."

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! It's my favorite out of the three. The main characters were great. Molly the husky was hilarious. So good. I don't think there wasn't anything I didn't like.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this cute little romcom, though it was probably my least favourite of the series. But I gave it four stars so don't take that as a negative thing! I think it was just because I didn't relate to the characters as much as I would have liked. But of course the dogs and all of their antics were super fun and totally hooked me! Such a feisty and comedic husky! If you've read the rest of the series, you'll want to add this to your list!

[Hayley 〰 Hayley's Next Page · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 3.5/5

- Groomer FMC
- Wall Street banker (and widowed) MMC
- NYC setting
- Kinda second chance
- Best friend’s brother
- One bed
- Child-free by choice
- Dual POV (third person)

When Keaton’s sister has an MS flare-up and can no longer take part in a competition with her dog, Keaton reluctantly steps in to help. However, he convinces August to help him because she is a dog whisperer and Molly doesn’t really like him!

Overall, I enjoyed some parts of the book, including August. When she was described I was like woh okay, that’s me 😅. I empathised with her dating woes too. But I needed more from her and Keaton’s relationship. I personally just didn’t feel a strong connection and I would have liked more time of them actually together.

Keaton lost his wife 10 years ago but this loss still controlled his life – from his work to his love life. He was very closed off and even though he repeatedly said he wanted August, he was too scared to take the next step.

The character growth was good though and the pet competition setting was very unique. Plus, Molly added some comic relief. I think if you liked the other books in the series you’d enjoy this, it just wasn’t my favourite from Stefanie.

Thank you to Stefanie for the early copy.

[WhiskeyintheJar · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I received this book for free, this does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review

Was it too much to ask for a decent, normal guy who wanted the same happy, successful three-point-two puppy life as you?

Even though it disappoints her parents, August is a successful business owner of a dog grooming business but her personal life isn't so great. After a date has her going viral, she decides it's time to enlist the help of a matchmaker and then is embarrassed when her bestfriend's older brother Keaton finds out. Growing up, August had a big crush on Keaton but when he made a move, she chickened out and August fell in love and got married. But ten years ago, his wife died and now Keaton buries himself in his high powered consulting firm on Wall Street, scared and unwilling to open himself up to the kind of pain loving can cause. It will take a scheming sister and a diva husky to get these two to finally break down their walls again.

“I'm not your type, huh?” He walked over and leaned a hand on the kitchen counter, crowding August against the cabinets.
She tipped her face up to his and looked him right in the eye. “Not if you were the last man on earth, Keaton Sax.”

Third in the Paws in the City series, new readers could easily jump in here, like I did. There's obviously a group of friends the series centers on but previous couples were only lightly brought in for some appearances and I never felt like I was missing any information. This dealt with some emotional issues, August never feeling loved growing up and Keaton dealing with his grief as a widower but handled all with a soft touch that kept the tone from falling into the doldrums or heavy angst. August and Keaton had a “are we flirting?” fun sparing relationship that had Keaton poking the bear to bring out August's challenging nature. They were live wire, funny, sweet, and enjoyable to read about.

Because in that moment, he wanted the one thing he couldn't allow himself to want...
Her.

You all are going to fall for Keaton because of how he loves his family, the way he drops everything to take care of and help his sister Leah, she has multiple sclerosis, will burst your heart. Since Leah was also August's bestfriend, I would have liked to have seen even more of Leah's character but her machinations to get these two together were great. When she has a flare-up, she has to ask Keaton to take her husky Molly to a talent competition she had entered and when Keaton asks August to go with him to help, Molly and Keaton don't exactly get along, Leah accidentally on purpose forgets to call the hotel to change the one hotel room to two. That's right, you get one bed! scenes. At the competition, Molly really shines as the diva she is and you get some funny interactions with her and Keaton and August and Keaton cracking as they have to spend time together.

She buried her face against his chest and he held her to make sure she stayed upright. “I've never stopped wanting you.”

The second half brought on some open door bedroom scenes, they singe in the beginning but I thought felt a little rushed in the ending (what can I say, the author wrote a couple that had fun heat to perv on). The ending had Keaton getting a scare about August and they both fall into their issues, Keaton not wanting to deal with the pain of love and August not feeling good enough or worthy to love. It doesn't take Keaton too long to figure out what he ultimately wants from life though, and we get a charming grand gesture that has August getting her second chance. This had low angst with a soft tone and funny, sweet, and smoldering chemistry between leads. August's vulnerabilities and strength will make her a lead you will root for and the way Keaton loves his family and teases August will you have melting for him. If looking for a soft contemporary romance with a funny diva husky additive and both leads not wanting kids, definitely pick this one up.

[Inflight Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Manhattan’s Dog Whisperer Falls for Wall Street’s Wildest Wolf


Ladies and gentlemen, dog lovers of all ages, and fellow enthusiasts of canine capers, I present to you the latest addition to the "Paws in the City" series: "Confessions of a Canine Drama Queen"! 🐾

In this delightful series, London has once again woven a heartwarming tale of love and laughter, expertly incorporating the beloved "Frenemies (its complicated)-to-Lovers" trope. Though complicated from the start, the romance between Keaton and August brims with a simmering connection that has the potential to rewrite their futures. With a sweet, lighthearted atmosphere, just the right amount of drama, and the irresistible charm of a sassy husky named Molly, this book proves to be an absolute joy from start to finish.

Hold your "paws," folks, because here comes Molly, the sassy husky, with a style all her own!

I was head-over-heels for Molly , but someone needs to give Keaton a "pet talk" on how to treat his furry co-star! 🐾 I wanted more bonding moments between them, but it felt like he needed a "howl of awakening" to realize how to be loveable enough to Molly. I craved more serious lovey-dovey moments between Keaton and Molly, like endless belly rubs for Molly, the husky! Then the competition took the story in a different direction, and we were left howling for more puppy love! 🐾💕

The presence of Molly, the hilarious and lovable husky, brought endless joy to the story. Even non-dog lovers will find themselves captivated by her antics and her role in pushing Keaton and August closer together. Pets can truly work wonders in uniting hearts, and Molly was the catalyst for a heartwarming and delightful journey.
Keaton, haunted by his wife's passing, had shut the door to his heart, while August, seeking her "forever," carried deep-seated wounds from her past. Keaton's struggle from a stoic career-oriented man to a person willing to open his heart is beautifully portrayed, and August's journey to break free from the shadows of her past is genuinely touching.

Confessions of a Canine Drama Queen is an enchanting and heartwarming journey that reminds us of the power of furry friends who bring light into our lives. The ending leaves readers with a smile on their faces.
I give this tail-wagging tale a solid 3-star read! It's all about my love for Molly, wishing for more Molly-Keaton moments, and hoping for a "petastic" middle-story bond! 🌟 But hey, in the end, Keaton finally got the message, and Molly got her "happily ever after" with her human companion! 🎉

So, dear friends, grab your comfiest spot on the couch, snuggle up with your furry companions, and get ready to dive into "Confessions of a Canine Drama Queen." Because once you're immersed in this charming world of wagging tails and untamed hearts, you won't stop reading until the last page

Advance Reader Copy provided by Netgalley

[Visionary Druid · Rating 4 out of 5]

August Merriweather owns a successful luxury animal grooming business. She is known as ‘The Dog Whisperer’ by her friends and clients. August desperately wants to find “the one”; however, all she seems to find are the duds. When her best friend’s older brother asks for help, she agrees. August knows that Keaton is her worst possible match, yet she cannot ignore the feelings he stirs within her. Can August breach Keaton’s emotional barriers? Or will the man break her heart yet again?

Keaton Sax is a widow. The business world knows him as ‘The Wall Street Whiz Kid’. Keaton intends to keep the promise he made to his late wife of becoming a named partner. When his sister asks for a favor, he agrees to take her dramatic husky to a weekend talent competition. Keaton knows nothing about such events, so he asks the one woman who can help them. August frightens him on an emotional level. Can she help Keaton come to grips with his wife’s passing? Or will he remain closed off to everyone?

I am so happy that August finally got her happily-ever-after. She deserves it. I have always liked how August helped Isla and Scout in the pet business world. She is probably the only person who believed that they would succeed in their pet talent agency. I like how August refused to follow the path her social-climbing parents wanted. She became successful by picking a profession that suited her and made her happy. What I adore the most about August is that she is a woman confident in her body type. She knows her self-worth, and she refuses to allow other’s egotistical views to bring her down.

Keaton won my heart instantly. He is a man who is terrified of letting others get close. It is a defense mechanism to protect himself from further pain and heartache. I like how Keaton made something of himself. His time in juvie gave him the impetus to turn his world around and aim big. He worked his butt off to graduate college and to become a success on Wall Street. What I love the most about Keaton is his dedication to family. He wanted to give his mother and disabled sister financial security, something the three never had in the past.

CONFESSIONS OF A CANINE DRAMA QUEEN is the third book in Stefanie London’s canine rom-com series, PAWS IN THE CITY. This series is a must for dog lovers! Each book centers around a different breed of dog (dachshund for the first, Bichon Frise for the second and lastly a husky for the third). The story can easily stand alone. However, the first two books show how Isla, Scout, and August’s friendship started. So, I suggest starting from the start to better enjoy this delightful series! I love how Isla and Theo and Scout and Lane make appearances throughout the story.

[Eileen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Confessions of a Canine Drama Queen by Stefanie London, book three in her Paws in the City series, is a heartwarming, moving, rom-com. This is the story of August and Keaton who have a long, complicated history; but both are harboring heartache. August Merriweather owns a successful luxury animal grooming business. She is known as ‘The Dog Whisperer’ by her friends and clients. August desperately wants to find “the one”; however, all she seems to find are the duds. August has been in love with her best friend’s older brother, Keaton, since she first met him at a teenager; but it wasn’t meant to be back then, and hasn’t found anyone who can measure up to him. Each date she goes on is a bigger disaster than the last. Keaton Sax is a widow, known in the business world as ‘The Wall Street Whiz Kid’. Keaton intends to keep the promise he made to his late wife of becoming a named partner. He is terrified of letting others get close; a defense mechanism to protect himself from further pain and heartache.When his sister asks for a favor, he agrees to take her dramatic husky, Molly, to a weekend talent competition. Keaton knows nothing about such events, so he asks the one woman who can help them, August. When her best friend’s older brother asks for help, she agrees. August knows that Keaton is her worst possible match, yet she cannot ignore the feelings he stirs within her and she frightens him on an emotional level.

Watching these two navigate their way to one another as they chase a happily ever after was an emotional roller coaster. Both Keaton and August struggled with the ghosts of their pasts, and they also had a lot of history having been part of each other's lives for so long. It was a pleasure seeing them support and aid each other as they unpacked their baggage. This was especially important for Keaton as his wife's death left him not wanting to risk forming connections of any kind. He became his job, and this did not fill the hole in his heart the way he thought it would. There is some seriousness in this story, as well as joy and laughter, especially the antics of Molly the husky. I highly recommend Confessions of a Canine Drama Queen to other readers.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

[jensbooknookclub · Rating 4 out of 5]

First thought: This is such a cute story with all my favorite tropes plus a husky that brings her own flare to the story. A must read for all romance lovers!

August is a spitfire take no prisoners force of nature who is everyone’s friend and tells you how it is. She grew up with parents who wanted her to be like them and climb the social ladders of NYC. But she had no interest and she forged her own path and owns a thriving groomer business with an impressive client list. One thing August is missing is someone to share her life with, she’s lonely and she’s had nothing but bad luck in the dating world. She’s been in love once with Keaton but she was scared and didn’t risk it and now she holds that regret still over 10 years later.

Keaton is a widower that has closed his heart to love and not willing to take risks of getting close and experiencing loss again. He threw himself into work at his firm to get to the top but he’s questioning what he has to sacrifice to get there. He has a handful of people he lets into his world: his mom, sister, his sister’s dramatic husky Molly and his sisters best friend August. When he was younger he was actually secretly in love August one night in college he kissed her but she didn’t return the kiss, so he moved on and he fell in love with his wife. That ended tragically with her passing and now ten years later having August in his sites his heart is feeling things again.

Meet Molly the dramatic husky who hates baths and has a lot of opinions about Keaton. Her owner Keaton sister entered her in a competition but due to a MS flare up can not take her. Keaton will do anything for his sister so he agrees to take her place even though the dog hates him. He enlists the help of August and they take Molly on a long weekend retreat to compete. Little do they know they will have to work as a team, share a room, face a-lot of bumps and history before the weekend is over.

If you like any of these tropes this books for you!
This books releases on August 1st and you won’t want to miss it.

Tropes:
Slow burn
Childhood crush
Best Friends Brother
Close Proximity
One Bed

[Cari · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can't lie - the reason I requested this book originally was because I am the proud Mom of an 8 year old Siberian Husky named Quinn, and I had another Husky named Reese that we lost 2 weeks before our wedding. To say that I am well versed in the antics of being a Husky owner would be hitting the nail on the head, so to speak. In that regard, I wasn't let down. The "thoughts" of Molly sounded absolutely like something I could hear my girls saying, and it made me smile on more than one occasion. Unfortunately, that is about the only thing I enjoyed about this book.

The grief of losing someone you love is profound, to be sure. I am well accustomed to living with grief. With that being said, the amount of times that Keaton mentions his ex-wife, how he still isn't over her, and he's afraid to move on is a bit ridiculous. It's been ten years, and it seems like he hasn't moved on...at all. Then, all of a sudden, on this weekend trip, he realizes he's in love with August? I don't think so. One could say the same for August, only her recurrent story lines are how she is okay being plus sized, she doesn't want to have children/can't stand people telling her she'll change her mind, and how she wishes she hadn't walked away from Keaton all those years ago.

Literally at one point I am banging my head against the wall because WE GET IT. Keaton is grieving his wife, August is angsty because she let him go...you both need to let it go. These repetitive storylines did nothing to enhance the story and everything to detract from it. The third act "break-up" felt forced (like the author was trying to create a reason for them to have drama), and the "grand gesture" didn't feel all that grand and like it came out of left field.

I was so excited to read this book...but I can't say I will be reading the first two books in the series, although I will say that I would never have guessed this was the third in a series, so it is fine as a standalone.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the chance to review this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Bec · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

Reading a book by Stefanie London always makes me smile and laugh and this one was no different, especially because it includes one of my favourite tropes - the best friend's brother trope.

For August Merriweather, dogs are easier to deal with than men. She's a woman known for teaching an old dog new tricks, so why can't she do the same with men? However, when her best friend's brother asks for her help to get his sister's husky under control to win a talent competition, August agrees. Does she have an ulterior motive since she once had a crush on Keaton Sax?

This book was engrossing from the very beginning and I couldn't get enough of Keaton. There are so many of Ms. London's heroes that I adore and Keaton is definitely one I'd put close to the top of my list. He's determined to do what's right for him and his family and August is his ace-in-the-hole with her dog whispering skills. Will August be able to help Keaton? WIll August be just what Keaton needs to find happiness again? While August, she'd do anything for her best friend and by helping Keaton she'll be helping her friend.

There was so much to like about the main characters. They're strong and this story shows how good August is for Keaton. The heroine is the type that's loyal, determined and will do anything for those she cares about. While the hero, he wants to take care of his family and give his sister Leah the stability they never had. It's sweet and he's a good brother in the way he'll do anything for Leah including wrangling her dog to win a talent competition and ask August for help, as he can't do it on his own. Keaton needs her.

Overall, Ms. London has delivered a great book in this third story of her Paws in the City series; a book that was fun-filled and provided a wonderful array of emotion and where the main characters and the plot flowed really well to draw this reader in from start to finish. I would recommend this series to all and most especially to readers that loves dogs.

[Jennifer]

I very much enjoyed this cute romcom. It features several fun tropes, forced proximity, only one bed, best friend's brother, and opposites attract, not to mention a beautiful, true drama queen husky named Molly.

August is a sunny, sweet professional dog groomer and trainer. Rejected by her ambitious parents, she formed a strong bond in HS with Leah, and her older brother Keaton. All three of them attended an exclusive private school and were ignored outcasts. She developed a crush on Keaton and it appeared her affections were returned, but at a crucial moment, she froze, he moved on and met his wife, and their chance was missed. Ten years later, Keaton is now a young widower and a driven Wall St. executive. August is still looking for a lifelong companion that will love her unconditionally but not finding much success while Keaton has completely closed himself off from any deeper feelings.

What's a loving sister and friend to do but try her best to throw them together? Leah has a chance to win an exclusive contract with the Paws in the City canine agency by winning a 3 day competition to be held in upstate NY. Then she has an MS flare-up and begs Keaton to go to the competition in her place. There's just one problem, Keaton is NOT a dog person, and Molly hates Keaton. August gets roped in to try to help Keaton learn how to bond with Molly and work with her in the competition, and the fun begins. Along the way, Keaton and August rediscover their old attraction, but Keaton has a lot of pain and fear to overcome to be the partner that August needs and deserves. This was very cute, not laugh out loud funny, but it had that soft touch and light-hearted feel of all good romcoms. Molly was an absolute hoot and August was warm and good-hearted in spite of her personal disappointments. I wanted to shake Keaton a few times, but I also understood where he was coming from due to the grief he had suffered. My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.

[Alicia (theromanticbibliotheca) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The "Paws in the City" series continues to delight with its sweet and heartwarming tales, and "Confessions of a Canine Drama Queen" is no exception! In this charming book, we are introduced to Molly, a dog who deserves nothing less than a crown and a scepter. When her owner Leah can't make it to a dog talent competition, she enlists her brother Keaton to take her place, leading to a weekend filled with chaos, frustration, but most importantly, unexpected fun, flirtation, and a chance at love.

Enter Manhattan's Dog Whisperer, August, Leah's best friend and the perfect tag-along for Keaton and Molly, despite the fact that the canine drama queen doesn't seem to be fond of Keaton at all. As the story unfolds, we learn that August had once harbored a crush on Keaton when they were younger. However, she missed her chance, and life took them on separate paths. Now, the two find themselves in close proximity, sharing a bed, and igniting an undeniable chemistry while a second chance at love blooms.

Personally, I loved witnessing Keaton's internal struggle as he grapples with his Wall Street persona and learns to embrace life with not just his head but also his heart. His dedication to caring for his sister melted my heart, and I couldn't help but root for him all the way. August and Keaton's interactions are touching, filled with witty banter, meaningful glances, and chemistry that will make your heart ache in the best possible way.

While the cutesy cover may lead you to believe it's a light read, "Confessions of a Canine Drama Queen” offers a passionate romance and a full-on steamy romance that will leave you breathless.

[Anika W. · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 stars

As someone who isn’t the biggest fan of dogs, this was definitely an interesting book to read since the entire storyline is about a dog competition. Yet, I found myself enjoying this book and giggling at the antics of Molly the husky. It was a cute little romance with a lot of cliché tropes like the best friend’s brother romance and the one bed, but it was adorable.

With my review however, I wasn’t particularly fond of August’s attitude at times. It almost seemed like August’s opinions on different areas were the only correct course of action and it gave me a bit of an ick. Especially when it came to Keaton’s own struggles with dealing with the death of his wife. Not great.

Additionally, the spicy scenes weren’t the greatest. For it to be such an intimate moment with a lot of tension, I expected it to be a bit more drawn out but it was quite quick. It was towards the end so I expected something with more dialogue and sparks, but it was a bit lackluster.

The grand confession scene was cute too with Keaton making a Christmas gesture in the middle of June for August, but the epilogue’s proposal almost seemed a bit rushed. Keaton obviously was still hung up on his dead wife, especially since he brought her up so many times. So the proposal seemed a bit rushed to me, but it didn’t bother me too much.

A little side note, I loved the representation of a bigger girl since that isn’t often seen in romance stories especially, so bonus points there!

Overall, it was a cute story. I would caution that the writing style was a bit juvenile since it read a little like a Wattpad story, but I still enjoyed it. Not my favorite but okay.

[Jackie Uhrmacher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Keaton is a shark on Wall Street but a pushover when it comes to his sister. He'd do anything for her, even take her dog to a competition in upstate New York when she has an MS flair-up.

I dog he hates.

A dog who hates him.

The only way he's going to survive is with the help of August, his sister's best friend. Years ago, he was in love with August, but she rejected him and he later happily married another woman. Since his wife's death, he's sworn off romance, a vow that will be tested on this trip.

Confessions of a Canine Drama Queen was cute, funny, and made me want to adopt a husky. August and Keaton played off each other well. They'd both kept each other at arm's length for years as a form of self-preservation, but when that dam breaks, it floods their entire lives.

It takes a while for these two to admit to their true feelings. Keaton of course has been mourning his wife, and August has been on one disaster of a date after another. Neither of them are expecting a happily-ever-after which is exactly why their chemistry is so explosive.

I would have liked to see a few more flashbacks to solidify the fact that they both had feelings for each other. I'm a sucker for those glimpses of the past, and they really help the reader become invested in the couple.

I give this book 4 stars. It was a quick read full of laughs, pining, and found family!

Favorite quote:

“You deserve someone who’s going to give you the world.” “No.” She turned, fire in her eyes and her face shining with sincerity. “I can get the world myself, Keaton. But I want someone who’s going to stand with me when I do.”

Thank you, NetGalley and Stefanie London, for the chance to read this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Samantha (WLABB) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have greatly enjoyed this series! In this installment, London incorporated a trope I adore - Friends-to-Lovers. This romance was complicated from the start, as there was something long simmering between these two, however, Keaton had shut the door to his heart following his wife's death. August was seeking someone to be her "forever", but she carried many wounds from her upbringing. Always being made to feel as though she was never enough, she struggled with romantic relationships. Would timing finally be right for these two?

I know my previous paragraph makes this story sound very serious, but it was actually sweet, lighthearted, and lots of fun with just the right amount of drama. I can attribute most of my laughter to the antics of one sassy husky named Molly who also played a role in pushing these two together.

When Keaton's sister was suffering from an MS flare up, she asked him to take Molly to the Pets in the City competition. Since Keaton was not a "dog person", August joined them in a supporting role, and we all know how proximity makes the romance things happen.

The competition was fantastic. I loved all the events, and Molly was such a hoot. I think even non-dog lovers will enjoy getting to know her and watching her put Keaton through his paces.

So, lots of laughs, but there was plenty of substance to this story as well. Both Keaton and August struggled with the ghosts of their pasts, and they also had a lot of history having been part of each other's lives for so long. It was a pleasure seeing them support and aid each other as they unpacked their baggage. This was especially important for Keaton as his wife's death left him not wanting to risk forming connections of any kind. He became his job, and this did not fill the hole in his heart the way he thought it would.

My heart ached for both Keaton and August, and it filled me with joy to see them moving forward. I was also happy to be gifted with a beautiful ending that wrapped up the series nicely with respect to all three main characters. It was so sweet and satisfying, and it put a huge smile on my face.

*ARC provided by publisher

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[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve really enjoyed Stefanie London’s Paws in the City series. I was thrilled to read August’s story, but disappointed it would be the last one. But what a way to end things!
London has a wonderful ability to write characters that seem to come off the page and into your heart. August and Keaton were no exception. These two have a long history, but both are harboring heartache. August is ready to find “The One” but isn’t having any luck. Years ago she lost a chance with Keaton and hasn’t found anyone who can measure up to him. Keaton, meanwhile, is still mourning his late wife and has allowed his fear of losing those he loves to cut him off from others. Watching the two of them navigate their way to one another and their own happily ever after was so sweet. There is some seriousness to this one, with London treating the loss of a spouse with the respect it deserves. But there is a great deal of joy and laughter, too.
Speaking of laughter, the antics of Molly the husky were such a fun addition. Her personality comes through so clearly and any dog lover will appreciate how realistically (and hilariously) she is portrayed.
If you’re in the mood for a sweet, sexy rom-com with lots of heart and laughter, I would definitely recommend this one. And while the book stands on its own, I would also recommend checking out the other two in the series. Enjoy!