Stefanie London

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.… (mais)

A Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read this. This is my honest and unbiased review

*Rating is 4.5 Stars*
I was ready for a quick and quirky romance but once again I was surprised at what I got. This book covers a lot themes such as grief, sacrifice, self-confidence and abuse. First of all Audrey was great, having become a surrogate mother to her younger siblings, sacrificing her time, money and education to make sure her siblings get the life they deserve. My heart hurt for her.

Secondly, the relationship between Audrey and Ronan felt so authentic. While attraction was immediate it took a while for the relationship to start, so the two were able to get to know each other. Third, like most romances there was a fight that split the couple up, however the reasoning for this in Kissing Lessons was realistic and something I can see happening to a non-fictional couple.

I also really loved the side characters and their support of Audrey, telling her the hard to deal truths and supporting her decision. While I loved the book, the ending did feel rushed and I was a bit disappointed that London seemed to gloss over a certain confrontation. While I'm not typically interested in romances that have a age gap, this one was only by 8 years which isn't so bad.

Overall, a surprisingly emotionally dense romance must read.… (mais)

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.… (mais)

Unmasked
4 Stars

Lainey Kline has loved Damian McKnight her whole life. Now she is taking the chance of a lifetime and seducing him in disguise. Will one night be enough?

This is my first Harlequin Dare and it definitely won't be my last.
Damien and Lainey's attraction is palpable from the first and their interactions are both sweet and sexy. The fact that the secret identity trope doesn't drag on is an added bonus.

Looking forward to finding out what happened to Imogen at the masquerade ball soon.… (mais)