ARC Review: Double Dog Dare (The Dogfather #6)

Double Dog Dare (The Dogfather #6)

by Roxanne St. Claire

Blurb:

The Dogfather has one more child to marry off…but Darcy Kilcannon has no interest in her father’s matchmaking shenanigans. The youngest Kilcannon is seeking one thing only, and it’s not a husband. Darcy is ready to launch her own business in town, move into her own apartment, and become her own woman. But when she walks into the gorgeous brownstone that her father just “happened” to help her find, Darcy takes one look at the hot landlord and she knows the Dogfather has been up to his old tricks. Sure he’s a hunk and a half, but his “no pets” policy is a huge turnoff to a dog groomer who won’t dream of living without her beloved Kookie.

Joshua Ranier moved to Bitter Bark to get out of the shadow of his overbearing stepfamily and keep his shattered heart securely on ice. His only focus is his construction business, and the brownstone he’s renting and renovating…until he meets the sexy, sassy blonde tenant sneaking a fuzzy white dog even though he’s banned them because of construction dangers. Then Josh starts thinking about things he shouldn’t. And it isn’t when the rent’s due.

But when a blind dog lands on Josh’s doorstep, he needs Darcy’s help. As they race to restore little Stella’s vision and solve a mystery that’s tearing his family apart, Josh and Darcy begin to see the light, too. It will take one double dog dare, two precious puppers, and the full power of the Kilcannon clan for this couple to find their happy ever after.

Themes: Contemporary

Rating: 4.25 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

 So the time has come to find out if the final Kilcannon child will surrender her heart to love or decide to devote her time and energy to building a career and making her life about more than a man.  I have been looking forward to Darcy’s story a long time now, primarily because she is such a free spirit and seems to have no true direction in life in the previous novels, but we gets hints that she might be growing up, though the others in her family—with very few exceptions—don’t seem to be acknowledging it.  The ultimate premise of this series is one that I supported from the very beginning and new I would love every moment of, mostly because I am a huge dog lover that has trained for years in dog behavior, training, veterinary studies, and am a big proponent of pet adoption groups.  But the important thing to keep in mind is that the main idea of this story is a family of people coming together, in love and a common goal, in a time when they lost a vital member, in order to support one another, which is the most vital purpose of any family.  I LOVE THIS IDEA!  Though this is the final of the original kids, we have been told numerous times the series isn’t over, with extended family coming in to find love as well, so I am looking forward to seeing more of Darcy and Josh as they grow and learn to love even more from each other and the Kilcannon family. If you are looking for a deep dark suspenseful novel or darkly erotic story full on angst this might not be your cup of tea, but if you need a sexy but emotional story of love leading two people off the ledge of loss and fear and into one another’s arm, then you won’t go wrong with Double Dog Dare on your physical or digital bookshelf.

Josh Rainier has had his broken in the worst way imaginable and to say he has trust issues now is an understatement, but he is finally in the small town he has wanted to call home for years and doing the one thing with his life he has always wanted. He thought luck was finally on his side when a tenant rented the open unit in his property, giving him the chance to continue his renovations, but as soon as he meets her he knows she is TROUBLE, and so is the little dog she’s trying to sneak past his no pets policy. Darcy thought she’d gotten lucky too, but when she discovers too late that the monster of a landlord is going to try to separate her form her beloved baby girl, aka her pupper Kookie, there is no way she will let it stand.  Soon the tide changes and Darcy and Josh find themselves working together to try to save a little one of his one’s vision and as they get closer the feelings and chemistry becomes harder to resist, despite each of them having very good reasons not to begin a relationship or trust in another lover. But in the end that love will be the only thing that will save them… and of course the heroics of a few little rascally puppers!

Josh’s tale kicked off right away with some serious kicks not only to his heart, but to his ego, ability to trust, and willingness to believe in love and the goodness of others.  That is a lot for any person to overcome, and in the beginning we don’t really believe that Josh is willing to even try.  I enjoyed getting to see Josh’s resistance—however futile—to the love and magic that was the Kilcannon’s and Waterford Farms.  It was obvious that he NEEDED to find that kind of relationship and family connection o fully become the man he was always meant to become, however his intense fear of being hurt again made him fight, if not the actual feelings, then the depth and truth of those feelings for Darcy AND her family. Josh was understandably putty in the paws of both of the main puppers in this story, but I really liked seeing him get excited and emotional whenever any of the animals was around, showing he was truly a perfect match for Darcy is all of the most important ways. Darcy has decided that the only way she can convince those she loves that she is ready to grow up is to move into her own place, finally open her own grooming business and assert her full independence.  I can see the logic of this type of move, but I think had things not worked out so well for her in the end, that these choices might have come back to bite her in the butt, despite the thinking them through so thoroughly, because they are meant to made with the heart note the head in the end. I did enjoy that Darcy stood up for not just herself and her family, bust Joh and his family when anyone outside of her core group attacked, even though they were all fooled in the end with a couple of those folks. Ultimately Darcy found that she could grow and branch out, but respect and return to her roots without losing any of her independence, a lesson we all struggle with as we hit a certain age.

In the end, Double Dog Dare was a fun read for any occasion, but I loved seeing Darcy and Josh as they came together in a time of crisis to solve problems, and also in down times to just be together in calm. The true test of workability for a relationship might be working well together under pressure, but I think the stamina of a relationship can only be shown by how a couple functions when they are simply two people, alone together with nothing to do. Darcy has finally found her niche in life and luckily has the support of her family in order to build it right there close by, giving her that strongest of root systems.  But with those strong roots she has the chance to grow to outrageous heights and widths.  Josh too has found his forever home, including the family he wants to claim as his, and the woman to make his life full and completed, and he will not let anything from his past jeopardize that chance.  I loved every minute of this story, even the few tears and moments where I was on the edge of my seat, and I was thrilled with the glimpses into the Dogfather’s past success and his present challenge of keeping his children out of HIS personal life.  The chemistry and connection between Darcy and Josh is apparent from moment one and those two, though putting up a good fight, were always destined to fall under Cupid’s arrows. I loved this story and cannot wait for whoever’s story comes next, including the rumors of a Christmas novella about the family which I would not snub my nose at personally.  Another masterpiece Rocki, thanks for the chance to get my hands on it a little early!

*eARC provided by author for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review.  No compensation was provided.