REVIEW: Double Dog Dare by Roxanne St. Claire

In Double Dog Dare (The Dogfather #6) by Roxanne St. Claire, On the cusp of turning thirty, Darcy Kilcannon has decided that this is the year she’ll finally move out of Waterford Farm (again) and start her own pet grooming business. It’s time for some freedom from her well-intending but overprotective family. But her first step, finding an apartment, has the Dogfather’s handiwork written all over it. In a prime location yet somehow inexpensive, there’s also a smoking Hot Landlord to contend with. The downside? He doesn’t accept pets, due to a remodel in the apartment next to Darcy’s. That doesn’t sit well with her as she refuses to give up her precious shih tzu Kookie. So when she gets the chance to make a deal with Josh to keep her pooch, when he needs her help with a blind dog named Stella, she jumps at the chance. Too bad her heart also wants to make the leap to a relationship. Because Darcy isn’t ready just yet to give up her newfound independence.

“I know I need to trust someone again, Darcy. A woman, a friend.”
“I can be both of those. One without trying, the other with a slew of people who will vouch that I’m a damn good friend when you need one.” She put her hand on his cheek and pressed gently. “And you, Cinderfella, need one.”
He smiled. “I kind of like Hot Landlord.”
“So do I.”

One look at Darcy Kilcannon and Josh Ranier knows he’s in trouble. He may be staying away from relationships after his last one crashed and burned big time, but he’s having a difficult time telling that to his heart. And other important body parts. He somehow finds himself not only letting Darcy rent an apartment *with* her dog Kookie in tow but also helping her remodel the space she just leased for her dog grooming shop. Josh gets a taste of his own medicine when his ex-girlfriend’s dog Stella–who has suddenly become blind–is left in his care. Breaking his own rule, he lets the frightened little Chinese crested pup into his home–and his heart–asking for Darcy’s assistance finding a cure for Stella’s condition. In their quest to help her, they uncover a web of lies and deceit, not sure who among Josh’s family and friends to believe. It’s when he works as a team with Darcy and the rest of the Kilcannon clan that he finds not only the truth, but the place he was meant to be all along.

“A kiss.”
He forced himself to wait, savoring the anticipation of that first kiss.
“You want to, don’t you?” she teased.
“Want? You are the queen of the understatement.”
She inched ever so slightly forward. “I double-dog dare you, Hot Landlord.”

A lovely romance that began with two people definitely *not* looking for love–who also started things off in a very rocky way–Double Dog Dare had me laughing, sighing happily and shedding some tears before it was all said and done.

‘Josh blew out a breath, feeling the quicksand of the Kilcannon family pulling him in deeper. The only thing as dangerous as falling for a woman again was falling for her family, too.’

Note: Please don’t forget that Rocki generously donates part of the first month’s sales from this book to the Alaqua Animal Refuge in Florida. The cute pups on the cover are from the refuge and have been lucky enough to find their forever homes, but there are still others in need. Thanks!

Oh, those Kilcannons! What a wonderful bunch of people they have all turned out to be. And youngest sibling Darcy was definitely just as caring, determined, and smart as the rest of the family. I loved finally getting to really know her and to watch as she struck out on her own path, albeit still in Bitter Bark, but getting her own place and setting up an independent business from Waterford Farm. Being the youngest of four myself, I got Darcy’s whole “I need space to be me” situation. She was certainly her own person anyway, but I think she felt like her dad was ready for her to move out again since it had been about four years since her beloved mother had passed away. Plus Darcy turned thirty at the beginning of the book, so it was a good time to start fresh.

Darcy was quite the free spirit in some ways but she was still down to earth. Like all of the Kilcannons she had a compassionate nature and a true affinity for dogs. Kookie, her shih tzu, was adorable and I thought fit with Darcy’s personality so well. Kooks, as she was lovingly called, had a bit of sass to her–just like her owner. (lol) And that feisty nature came out when Josh, the Hot Landlord, entered the picture. His first meeting with Darcy was pretty darn funny and set the scene for their future encounters. Plus it showed the intense attraction between them. I loved that there was no disputing that heat. It was the fact that Darcy longed for independence and that Josh was still nursing a (now distrustful) broken heart that made things difficult for them. But boy was it fun watching them tiptoe around each other, denying what they knew they felt.

There was also a nice little thread of mystery in this book. Not a huge whodunit, but some odd happenings that were sort of tied to Josh’s ex-girlfriend, his step-family, and his blind dog Stella–a Chinese crested who, by the way, was such a sweetheart of a dog. She was a cause of some of the sad *and* the happy tears as Darcy, Josh, and the Dogfather himself all banded together to try to figure out what was going on with the poor little pupper. And as with all of Rocki’s books in the series, the dogs are basically created to match what you see on the book cover, right down to the actual pose of Josh with Kookie and Stella (left & right respectively in the pic). *happy sigh*

Double Dog Dare was a romance that sizzled, sparked and utterly swept me away. With a charming cast as always and two darling dogs to fall in love with this time, Rocki proved once again that she knows the exact way into a reader’s heart. Highly recommended.

Book Info:

Publication: August 9th 2018 | by South Street Publishing | The Dogfather #6

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.