Sandy M’s review of Old Dog New Tricks (Dogfather, Book 9) by Roxanne St. Claire
Contemporary Romance published by South Street Publishing 15 Feb 19
The Kilcannon family has become one of my favorites in romance. The patriarch, Daniel – aka The Dogfather – has a perfect record when it comes to matchmaking for all six of his children. The last book or so, they’ve tried to reciprocate, but he always puts his foot down, telling them he’s had the love of his life, their mother, and even though she’s been gone four years, there will never be another for him. Of course, Daniel needs to learn to never say never.
The story of how Daniel and Annie met has been a beloved story of the family for years, but now we get to experience it firsthand, along with another story not heard thus far. In college Daniel meets and dates Katie Rogers. They even sleep together a couple of times, though she’s in love with another. The night they fix some friends up on a blind date is the night everything changes for them both. Due to some timing issues, Daniel and Annie Harper have a bit of time to themselves and the rest, they say, is history. Love at first sight. And Katie can see it for herself, but it’s all good for her, because she then decides it’s time to go home and be with the only young man she wants. Daniel even goes so far as to drive her home, and thus they each begin the wonderful lives they were meant to have.
It’s forty-plus years later and Katie has come to Bitter Bark to seek Daniel out with some news that will change his life forever again. Her beloved Nico finally succumbed to cancer two years before, and she and her daughter have made this difficult journey, because Daniel and his family deserve the truth. Of course, it’s one of the most difficult things she’s had to do, so she keeps stalling, thinking getting to know Daniel again will help. Their attraction is still there even after all these years, but it’s hard for them to move on.
I really enjoyed this story about an older couple in romance. We don’t get those very often, and because I’m about the same age as Daniel and Katie, this one really works for me. I also enjoyed the huge Kilcannon family, especially now that all of the kids are married, and Katie herself has five children. So when these two families get together, it’s a fun family ruckus! Things do get more difficult before they get better, once the news is revealed, and of course that happens in a way that no plans Daniel and Katie could make to soften the blow for everyone can see the light of day. And the way Daniel and Katie eventually come together is loving and emotional, especially for Daniel and the terms he has to realize to have another HEA.
It’s emotional throughout the story when all the kids realize their father is having a hard time with this new normal, and then there’s also a sick Rusty, Daniel’s beloved dog. We get to catch up with everyone in the series so far, as well as get to know the Mahoney cousins a bit better, all of whom have yet to have their setups with their soulmates. Thus, there’s plenty more books in this series to come, especially now with the Santorini kids on the horizon. I was hoping for a bit more between Daniel and Nick, but I have to keep telling myself that more will come in future stories.
Another winner in this fun family series. I’ve enjoyed every single book so far.
Grade: A
Summary:
Daniel Kilcannon, the veterinarian known as the Dogfather, has been widowed for four years. He’s spent the time running the largest canine rescue and training facility in North Carolina and pulling some strings to make sure each of his six grown children find a love like the one he lost when his beloved Annie died.
But as the years slip by, Daniel’s vow to never love again is starting to make him restless. When a woman who was pivotal to his past arrives in Bitter Bark, he wonders if her appearance is coincidence or the guiding hand of his dearly departed wife…but the truth is neither. She’s about to change his life again in ways he could never have imagined. And Daniel isn’t sure if his heart — or his family — will ever recover from the impact.
No excerpt available.
