Manhattan Dinner Club Series by Jean C. Joachim

Hi Readers,

Last weekend I was craving a read that is what I like to call romantic fluff. You know, the romance stories that are just fun to read and don’t have the heart stopping moments or my favorite the ugly cry moments, just a nice fluffy romance, like Disney. Well, I found a series that had that nice romantic fluff with pugs and I hit a home run. The Manhattan Dinner Club series by Jean C. Joachim is about a group of women that own pugs trying to find love in the Big Apple. The characters are fresh, fun and I enjoyed all the banter among characters.  AND bonus, as many of you know, I am a pug owner and the Ms. Joachim nailed the pug characteristics perfectly. There are currently two books out in the series with more to come. I look forward to reading them.

Offical Blurb: While walking her pug in Central Park, Rory Sampson is run down by a bike. She presses charges against arrogant biker, Dr. Hack Roberts, veterinarian. Horrified at the surprising sentence from the judge, Hack plans revenge, only to find himself attracted to the sharp-tongued, soft-hearted writer, who rescues pugs. Will he ignore a previous commitment and go with his true feelings or will he guard his heart?

The judge turned the tables on Rory, thrusting the unwanted, smug Dr. Roberts into her life. Wary after a breakup, she protects her wounded heart from the handsome doctor with a barrage sarcastic come-backs, designed to keep him at arm’s length. Does she remain aloof or will loneliness force her to give in to her desires?

Meet the members of the Manhattan Dinner Club, four women, all pug owners, who meet for dinner once a week. This is the first book in the series.

Gorgeous, marriage-phobic, Whitfield Bass dates several women. When he runs into his neighbor, Bess, the sexy baker across the hall tempts him. She turns her nose up at the handsome womanizer. Involved with an undercover cop, Bess is not interested in a player like Whit.
Traumatized by a brutal childhood, Whit swore off marriage. Successfully single at thirty-five, he dates any supermodel he wants. Bess Cooper, cable TV baker extraordinaire, has a boyfriend. The last thing she needs is an affair with a heartbreaker.
Tantalizing aromas from her apartment lure Whit. Sharing a love of good food and pugs, they become friends. After a break-up, Bess’s resistance to Whit crumbles. He’s pulled to her, still fighting commitment with all he’s got. A series of tragic events turns her life.

Offical Blurb: Gorgeous, marriage-phobic, Whitfield Bass dates several women. When he runs into his neighbor, Bess, the sexy baker across the hall tempts him. She turns her nose up at the handsome womanizer. Involved with an undercover cop, Bess is not interested in a player like Whit.
Traumatized by a brutal childhood, Whit swore off marriage. Successfully single at thirty-five, he dates any supermodel he wants. Bess Cooper, cable TV baker extraordinaire, has a boyfriend. The last thing she needs is an affair with a heartbreaker.
Tantalizing aromas from her apartment lure Whit. Sharing a love of good food and pugs, they become friends. After a break-up, Bess’s resistance to Whit crumbles. He’s pulled to her, still fighting commitment with all he’s got. A series of tragic events turns her life.

 

You can purchase these books on AMAZON.

-Romance Reader Girl

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Review: How to Entice an Enchantress (The Duchess Diaries #3) by Karen Hawkins

This is the first book I’ve read by Karen Hawkins and I’m so glad I picked it up on a whim. I am a pug owner (I have three) and any book I read, especially a historical romance with pugs just makes my heart smile.

The Duchess of Roxburghe is known for her matchmaking skills. With her sidekick Lady Charlotte and her pack of pugs at her side (six pugs! OMG!) she meets her biggest challenge yet… her godchildren. Can she make this match happen?

Dahlia Balfour is a beautiful bookish young lady. She is the youngest sister to two of the Duchess’ matchmaking successes. Also, she is one of many godchildren to the Duchess. Dahlia intelligent and practical with a romantic heart. She wants to find love and live happily ever after. She knows this can happen when the right gentleman comes along. Dahlia will not settle for anything less. She wants to be truly in love with the man of her dreams and he must feel the same and show it.

Viscount Kirk (Lord Kirk) is a widower. He is scarred due to the terrible accident that took his wife. He doesn’t care one whit what the world thinks of him or his manners. Though, he realizes he needs a wife to produce an heir. He has met Dahlia Balfour and spent many hours in her company talking about books. Kirk has decided they are compatible therefore they should marry. Only his godmother the Duchess can help.

Oooh the chemistry between Kirk and Dahlia is electric. From the moment they are in the same room there are sparks but not necessarily the sparks of a good kind. There is some history these two share that the Duchess and Lady Charlotte did not know; including a marriage proposal that really wasn’t very romantic. Dahlia and Kirk are very similar they feel they both are right. Which makes understanding one another very difficult. Dahlia believes in love, romance and poetry. Kirk believes love, romance and poetry is not real but compatibility and being practically is real and lasting. These two have a bumpy road before they realize what truly is important. Along the way we will meet some fun interesting characters that will help them see what is right in front of them.

I really enjoyed this read. It was fast pace with lots of intriguing characters and laugh out loud moments. Of course, a book with a group of pugs that were written to the breeds true characteristics makes me love it all the more. I loved the side stories and theme that maybe we aren’t always right and it’s ok to realize that maybe what we really want isn’t what we really need. I believe Ms. Hawkins has quite the backlist of books and I look forward to reading them.

Purchase How to Entice an Enchantress and other books by Karen Hawkins on Amazon and B&N.

-Romance Reader Girl

My Pugs!