Confessions of a Canine Drama Queen

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.