I picked this book up on NetGalley a couple of years ago and started reading and I had trouble getting into the story. So I set it aside. Then recently I was going through my NetGalley shelf, determined to get these outstanding reviews done, and I started reading Death by Chocolate Lab once again. At least this time I finished.

This book is the first in a series and it really suffers from being the first book in the series. There’s a lot of characters introduced, as well as the small town it is set in, and then developing the main characters of Daphne (our amateur sleuth) and Jonathan (the cop) and their relationship with each other.

I think my biggest problem with the book was that I had a lot of trouble connecting with Daphne. She’s a bit of a free spirit. Doesn’t have much responsibility in life, mooches off her sister has a real cavalier attitude about money… but on the other hand, she’s well-liked and loves dogs and wants to help her friends and family. And this comes into play when her sister is accused of murdering her ex and Daphne can’t let the cops do their job and starts snooping.

The mystery itself wasn’t bad. Ms. Blake threw in a couple of red herrings to make things interesting. But like most cozy mysteries, Daphne just rather stumbles upon the solution. I’ll admit the solution did take me by surprise though, so that’s always nice.

All in all, it wasn’t a bad story. It just started out a little slow and then threw a lot of characters (both animal and human) into the mix to the point of being a little overwhelming to me. But now that everyone in town is mostly introduced, I may pick up book two to see how this series evolves. There was a nice perk at the end of the story, Ms. Blake provided several pet-friendly recipes for her readers that I might just have to try.

Daphne and Piper Templeton are sisters who live together, but are opposites in nature. Piper is an organized veterinarian who owns a farm, Daphne has a doctorate in Philosophy and can't even keep gas in her vehicle. She lives rent free with her sister while trying to start up her Pet Sitting business. When the book opens we meet Socrates, the philosopher basset hound, Artie, the chihuahua that is so ugly he is cute and three huge rottweilers named Macduff, Iago and Hamlet all on a walk with Daphne. I was hooked right there. Then along comes Piper’s ex Steve Beamus, who runs the Blue Ribbon K-9 Academy, with his Chocolate Lab, Axis. Daphne does not like Steve and has no idea what Piper ever saw in him. They are all trying to prepare the animals and the farm for a dog agility event. When Steve is found dead inside a tunnel on the course, Piper is the main suspect in the eyes of the new Police Detective, Jonathan Black. Daphne tries to convince him that her sister had nothing to do with Steve’s murder, but when he does not instantly believe her, she sets off to investigate to prove she is innocent.

As a dog lover I picked up this book based on the title and cover. The dogs were the stars of this story. Socrates belongs to Daphne and she is fostering little Artie in hope of finding this unusual little dog a forever home. The rottweilers belong to a wealthy client. Axis, the victim's dog is missing throughout most of the story and Daphne was not only trying to find the murderer, but Axis as well. The human characters are a bit quirky. Of course there is Daphne, who seems to never have any money, constantly has issues with her vehicle, seems to not have any other clients and has a bit of a crush on Detective Jonathan Black. I was not sure if I liked her at first, but she grows on you. Jonathan is new in town, easy on the eyes and really doesn’t think Piper is guilty. He gets extremely frustrated with Daphne throughout the story. Mr. Peachy lives in a cottage on the farm and helps Piper with whatever she needs. He is like a grandfather figure to the girls. We also meet some of the other townspeople to round out the cast. All the characters are well developed, even though this is the first book in the series.

The story starts out quickly and with some humour. The murder happens in the early chapters and sets the stage. The middle begins to drag a bit, then picks up again. I did find the story a bit choppy, with short chapters. Some of the breaks could have been left out to help the flow. The murder had plenty of suspects as Steve was not all that well liked, and when the culprit was revealed, I was surprised. It made sense when the story wound up. Bethany Blake wrote a fun story with some interesting twists and characters. I enjoyed this book and am looking forward to the next one. The Lucky Paws Petsitting Mysteries are off to a good start.

I love cozies and animals. Usually the animals are cats but this series caught my eye with 'lab' in the title. Daphne, a PhD petsitter and her sister, Piper, a vet have their hands full with dogs, dogs and more dogs. Daphne is trying to start her petsitting business and living with her sister. Some would ask why, with a PhD, is she not using it instead of depending upon help from family and friends. I have a few friends in the same situation so I had no problem with that aspect of her character. The mystery goes along at a nice pace with humor and lots of memorable characters. I hope this series continues for many more books. I'll be waiting to hear more from Daphne and her world.

I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in return for my honest review.

numerous laugh-out-loud moments throughout the book. I wasn't able to solve the mystery right away and there is a bunch of zany characters

I enjoyed this first book in the Lucky Paws Petsitting Cozy Series. Daphne has a Phd in Philosophy and a petsiting business in a small town in Pennsylvania. Her sister is the local vet. They live together on a farm. When Daphne discovers a dead body on the property and her sister is a suspect she decides to solve the murder herself. Daphne does work with the local police in solving the murder. The author does a good job with the small town setting. The pets in the book all have wonderful personalities. I also liked the supporting characters. The mystery was good and I was able to figure out the killer. I look for word to reading more in this series. Enjoy this fun cozy

While I have the opportunity to read so many wonderful cozy mysteries, every once in a while I come across one that has me grinning from ear-to-ear during the entire read. (I’m sure my seatmate on my recent flight was wondering what kind of drugs I was on…lol.) Such is the case with DEATH BY CHOCOLATE LAB, the first in a new series by Bethany Blake! This charming book captured me from the very first page. I adored the characters from the free-spirited pet-sitting protagonist, Daphne Templeton, to her long-suffering basset hound, Socrates, and especially her foster pet, an imprudent Chihuahua named Artie, who is “a big, hot, steaming mess”! The addition of Daphne’s straight-laced veterinarian sister, Piper, added to the opportunity for humorous situations. Ms. Blake deftly writes great descriptive scenes and characterizations without detracting from the plot. With just a few creative sentences she had me envisioning the settings and the action, making me feel like I was right there.

The mystery about who killed Piper’s ex-boyfriend was well plotted and the author provided plenty of suspects to keep the reader guessing. She also includes a subplot that brings to light the social issue of domestic violence, not only the physical kind but psychological abuse as well. Ms. Blake expertly weaves it into the storyline with a light hand, yet manages to convey the importance of an issue that is often ignored or overlooked.

The author includes several recipes at the back of the book, most for our furry friends and one dessert recipe for people. I tried the recipe for Banana-Apple Pupcakes -- not only did my grand-puppy gobble them up and beg for more, my granddaughters enjoyed getting to eat their dog's treat as well!

Opening during a walk with Axis, Artie, MacDuff, Iago, Hamlet, Socrates and their person Daphne introduce us to the story. See Daphne lives with her veterinarian sister Piper as she tries to get her business off the ground Fully grounded in her animals, if a touch out there for humans, Daphne’s degree is in Philosophy, which while great fodder for stories and unique thinking doesn’t necessarily pay the bills out of an academic setting. Laden with personality – the dogs steal the show and provide a clever bit of humor and ‘only a dog person’ could understand. While Daphne has her mind on the business end of things, Piper’s practice is solid, but her love life is in shambles, even though she is trying to keep a civil working relationship with her ex Steve, a K-9 trainer in town. But, when Steve is found dead, the clearest suspect for detective Jonathan Black is Piper, and Steve’s dog Axis, a chocolate lab is missing.

Poor Daphne – she knows that her sister didn’t kill Steve, but poor Axis is out there, somewhere, alone and she presumes scared, and perhaps he can help her find the real culprit.

Early on, the book was quick reading and clever, jumping nicely from one scene to the next with plenty of doggie hijinx in the mis. While slowing and dragging a bit after that, the story is clever and twists aplenty even as I often wished for more answers sooner without so many twists. Still, this was a wonderful story that is sure to please animal lovers, and shows great promise for future installments.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Review first appeared at <a herf=” http://wp.me/p3OmRo-90c/”><a> I am, Indeed </a>

This book hit a lot of the usual cozy tropes, but what I really liked were all the dogs! Sisters Daphne and Piper share a home, and even though both work with animals, are quite different. When an agility trial event is being set up at their farm and Piper’s former boyfriend winds up dead, Daphne’s natural nosiness kicks in. I liked the Sylvan Creek setting and Daphne is surrounded by some characters that I hope will continue to flourish in the next book. The new detective in town and Daphne's pseudo boyfriend add a bit of romance, but not anything that detracts from the mystery too much.

Ok, this was cute, but honestly, the best thing about it were the dogs, especially Artie, who has the biggest personality. The first book in the Lucky Paws Petsitting series is a quick read, and Daphne Templeton is a pet lover who ends up investigating a murder. Since this didn't grab my attention, I may pass on the next book. Overall, I liked it though. Readers of cozies may like this if they're looking for something on the light side.

I knew I had to request this book when I saw it on Netgalley because my Canine ADHD kicked in after seeing the basset hound on the cover. I'm glad I did because I found "Death by Chocolate Lab" to be a quick-paced cozy mystery and a strong start to a new series. Daphne is a pet sitter and since she has a Ph.D in philosophy, she doesn't quite see things as many around her would. She lives with her sister and kind of strikes me as a jack of all trades because although she pet sits, I don't think her life has a whole lot of focus. When her sister's ex Steve turns up dead and her sister Piper is the prime suspect, Daphne takes it upon herself to solve the mystery because she doesn't have faith that the new hot police detective in town, Detective Black, is looking in the right places.

I liked a lot of the characters in this book as well as the setting, and I believe both are crucial for a good cozy mystery. I found Daphne to be somewhat annoying at times because she is super presumptuous and makes a lot of hasty decisions and has to be bailed out tons. However, she grew on me at the book progressed and she didn't interfere with my overall reading enjoyment. I wasn't able to solve the mystery right away and there is a bunch of zany characters which I'm sure will make the future installments that much more fun to read.

Now a word about the dogs. Daphne basically ends up collecting strays and fostering homeless pets throughout the book. Her basset Socrates is a permanent fixture, and she spends the whole book trying to find someone to adopt Archie, a misshapened Chihuahua. At one point, she is also caring for 3 Rottweilers as well as the Chocolate Lab mentioned in the title. Socrates is quite an aloof animal and his name definitely fits him. He doesn't get shaken up or excited about too many things and he is a nice juxtaposition for Daphne.

I really enjoyed reading this and look forward to future installments. If you like animals in your cozy mystery series, than don't pass this one up.

Daphne Templeton is a pet-sitter currently caring for an eager Chihuahua who has too much energy, which led him to a dead body. Now she's the one who's eager to find a killer before her sister winds up in a permanent cage...

Daphne Templeton is a pet sitter in Sylvan Creek, Pennsylvania. She has a basset hound named Socrates, and is temporarily caring for Artie, a one-eared Chihuahua with an overbite. She lives with her veterinarian sister Piper on Piper's Winding Hill Farm, which is going to be the setting for a dog agility trial. The night before the trial, Steve Beamus arrives to set up the course. He owns the Blue Ribbon K-9 Training Academy, and is Piper's ex-boyfriend. Steve may be a very good dog trainer, but he's a terrible person. He has an abrasive personality, a womanizer, and is condescending to people, which makes him disliked by many. The next morning, Artie gets loose on and runs into one of the tunnels and Daphne goes to retrieve him. However, it isn't only Artie she finds in the tunnel - it's also the dead body of Steve.

What makes it worse is that Daphne saw Piper arguing with Steve the night before, and the police detective overhears a conversation between Daphne and Piper while they are discussing it. Unfortunately, it puts Piper front and center as a suspect in Steve's murder. But Daphne knows Piper couldn't have done it, and since it appears (to her at least) that the police aren't even looking for anyone else, decides to find proof her sister is innocent. She also wonders where Axis, Steve's champion Labrador, has gone to, since she knows he wouldn't have left Steve willingly, and no one seems to care except her.

When Daphne starts sleuthing on her own, she somehow always winds up in close proximity with a frustrated Detective Jonathan Black, who keeps telling her to stay out of the investigation while she keeps telling him her sister's innocent. It doesn't help things when Daphne finds another dead body, and that this one might very well have a connection to Steve's death. Now Daphne needs to find a killer before she winds up as the next victim...

First off, let me say that I really liked Socrates and Artie and the recipes look really good. I would have liked to enjoyed the character of Daphne more, but she didn't make sense. She supposedly has a Ph.D. in Philosophy, but doesn't use it. (For those that don't know, a Ph.D. in this subject can take anywhere from 5-7 years beyond undergraduate study - so why would you get one if you're not going to use it?) I have no idea how she earned it because she seems really flaky and acts more like an 18-year-old instead of 33. It didn't seem plausible that she would devote that much concentration to study and a dissertation yet can't keep gas in her car or wear a watch to keep track of the time (how does she know when to pick up or return the pets?)

Speaking of which, she's a pet sitter who doesn't have a working cell phone, a reliable vehicle, and doesn't advertise her services...which explains why she's always broke and can't buy a new van. She also doesn't believe in commitment, which explains the attraction Dylan, a laid-back surfer dude who's her sister's vet assistant, feels for her. He doesn't believe in commitment either.

Piper seems cold, and her mother Maeve is a super-realtor who obviously favors Piper (because she's just like her, contrary to Detective Black's belief). She practically ignores anything Daphne says, looks down on her and acts like she's better than anyone else. A mother like this I can do without. I do like a cozy where there's a potential love interest later on down the line, but I can't imagine Detective Black being interested in her at all since she's so flaky, and Dylan is just too laid back for me to even care about him.

When the ending comes and we find out the identity of the killer it came as a surprise, and I do think a warped mind is capable of anything. But I will add that the opening paragraph was flat out funny, and it convinced me to read the rest of the book. The interactions with the dogs is priceless, and I believe that Ms. Blake could, as the series progresses, give us a fun cozy experience. As a matter of fact, I have already pre-ordered the next in the series, Dial Meow for Murder, which is due out in September, and I suggest you do the same. All in all, a decent quick read.

I got a free copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley and voluntarily reviewed it.

I am so glad I gave this book a try as I really enjoyed it! Death by Chocolate Lab was exactly the type of cozy mystery I enjoy. There was focus on pets, a great mystery and a likeable main character. It quickly grabbed my attention and I enjoyed the whole book. The pace was very well done and the first thing I did when I finished this one was to look up when the release date for the next book is (September in case anyone else was wondering) and sign-up for the author's newsletter.

The mystery in Death by Chocolate Lab was a good one. There was a scene at the start that I knew was going to be important and it is, then the murder takes place and the main character gets involved. It felt pretty natural how the main character got involved even though she makes a few less smart decisions, it all felt in character. The mystery kept me guessing, there were some possible suspects that all seemed like they had something to hide. There were a bunch of red herrings, secrets that came to light, revelations and some nice twists. When I thought I knew who the murderer was, a twist happened that made it obvious that person wasn't the murderer. I figured out who the murderer was seconds before the main character did. It was a good mystery, although I think it would be hard to figure out the murderer as there are few clues to that direction. The biggest clue was at the end.

This book strongly focuses on animals and pets. There are almost as many animal side characters as human ones and the pets have as much personality as the human characters. I love it when authors make animals part of a story like this and I really liked spending time with all the dogs. And every dog we meet is unique and has their own quirks. I liked how much they played a part of this story, Socrates and Artie almost always went with Daphne and many scenes feature dogs.

Daphne was a great main character. She had her quirks and made some mistakes, but she felt very realistic and I liked reading about her. She's also a vegetarian, which was a nice touch. I was just talking about this with another blogger recently how we would like to see more vegetarian characters. I could easily relate to her and I liked how much she cared about animals. There are also some nice side characters, I especially liked the detective, Jonathan Black. Daphne and Jonathan have an interesting relationship and slowly grow to become sort of friends. I liked seeing them together and how they slowly grow a bit closer. I have high hopes for a possible romance between them as I liked reading about their interactions.

To summarize: This was such a fun and enjoyable read and I am looking forward to book 2. The mystery was very well done, with some good twists, secrets that come to light and red herrings. I was convinced I knew who the murderer was until a twist made it clear I was wrong. I only figured out the real murderer seconds before Daphne did. The pets where a big part of the book and I liked that. It also was great how each pet had their own personality and characteristics, just like the human side characters. Daphne was a great main character to read about I could relate to her and I liked how realistic she acted. She wasn't perfect and had some flaws, but I liked her quirky personality and love for animals. I also liked reading about her interactions with the other characters. I especially enjoyed the scenes involving her and detective Jonathan Black. All in all this was a great start of a new series and I am looking forward to read more by this author.

Having found it difficult to secure relevant employment after completing her doctorate in philosophy, Daphne Templeton settled back into her quaint hometown of Sylvan Creek and started a pet-sitting business. Business is not booming, although she does have a few loyal canine customers (and one delightfully dishevelled freeloader in the shape of Artie, a one-eared Chihuahua), and so when a dead body is discovered during a dog agility trial, she throws herself into the investigation. Many people had reason to want local lothario Steve Beamus dead, but Daphne’s sister Piper, who had recently broken up with Steve, looks to be the police’s prime suspect. It seems like it’s up to Daphne and her canine posse to clear Piper’s name, identify the killer and track down Axis, a chocolate Labrador that has been AWOL since the murder.

Death by Chocolate Lab is the first book in a new cosy crime series by Bethany Blake and it’s certainly a promising beginning. Daphne Templeton is a likeable character and an appealing sleuth. Once she decides to investigate Steve Beamus’ murder, there’s no stopping her and neither the police nor old acquaintances will put her off the killer’s trail. She thinks nothing of engaging in a little breaking and entering to get to the truth, and she has no fear of hurtling head-first into danger. Being a cerebral type, her investigative methods and eventual deductions are convincing if sometimes a little creative. In fact, the only misstep with Daphne’s character is the overemphasis on her apparent ditziness, which rather contradicts her otherwise competent persona. The notion that she can complete a PhD, run a business and bring a killer to justice doesn’t quite gel with the idea that, for example, she doesn’t understand the need to regularly put petrol in her car. The quirkiness is probably meant to make Daphne more endearing, but it could be toned down in future books without harming her appeal.

The other detectives involved in Death by Chocolate Lab are pretty good, too. First and foremost, there is the dynamic duo of Socrates the basset hound and Artie the Chihuahua. Unsurprisingly, Socrates is the dour thinker of the pair, while Artie is the enthusiastic neophyte that enjoys sniffing out friends and foes alike. There’s also Detective Jonathan Black, the devastatingly handsome new cop in town, who has to suffer the attentions of both Daphne and Artie. It’s nice to see that Detective Black is portrayed as a good cop who follows the evidence rather than his personal feelings and who is ready (albeit perhaps grudgingly) to accept help when it is offered. The potential romance between Daphne and Johnathan is perhaps introduced in a rather heavy-handed fashion, but the two of them do work well together, with all of the sniping and eye-rolling that is to be expected of such detective/amateur investigator relationships at the beginning.

It’s just as well that there are a number of invested investigators (human or otherwise) on the case, since the mystery of Steve’s murder is very well-plotted. There are a good number of suspects and some very convincing reasons for why they might all have wanted Steve dead. The identity of the murderer is certainly not obvious and, while the reader might get to the truth before Daphne does, the resolution of Death by Chocolate Lab is definitely satisfying. There are plenty of clues to pick through and some red herrings to discard on the way to determining the killer’s identity. There are some action-packed scenes, plenty of humour and a little romance woven into the mystery, so that Death by Chocolate Lab should appeal to many fans of cosy mysteries.

This new series with pet sitter, Daphne, was an enjoyable read. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and look forward to more development of them in subsequent books.

Even though I was distracted by some inaccuracies in the first few chapters regarding agility trials, the mystery was interesting and kept me reading. There were enough twists and turns to keep me guessing.

Overall, not a bad start for a new series......

Fans of dog filled cozy mysteries have a new series to enjoy in Bethany Blake’s Lucky Paws Petsitting Mysteries if the first book, Death by Chocolate Lab, is anything to judge by. Likeable characters, loveable dogs, a touch of romance and a good amount of comedy made Death by Chocolate Lab an enjoyable read. Doggie friendly recipes also added a nice touch.

Ms. Blake does a great job introducing the main character, Daphne Templeton, right from the start. A single woman living with Piper, her older sister, in a small town, Daphne has a PhD. In Philosophy and operates a local dog sitting service. Smart but a bit disorganized, Daphne is sort of dating a local guy and is fiercely devoted to her dog, her sister and pretty much any stray that crosses her path. When Piper is implicated in the death of her ex-boyfriend, Steve Beamus, Daphne is determined to prove her sister’s innocence, especially since she doesn’t believe Detective Jonathan Black, a real “hottie”, is looking in the right places. She’s also worried about Steve’s dog, Axis, a chocolate Labrador, who just happens to go missing when Steve is murdered.

The secondary characters were well developed and I enjoyed getting to know Piper, Daphne’s sister and the town’s veterinarian, Moxie, Daphne’s best friend, and Jonathan Black, who is not only good looking but also happens to be much better at his job than Daphne first gives him credit for. I have to admit that the dogs in this story do sort of steal the show; I especially enjoyed getting to know Socrates, Daphne’s Basset Hound, and Artie, a one eared Chihuahua with a severe overbite, that Daphne is temporarily fostering. Artie seriously made me laugh.

The mystery is fairly well written and the story’s pace is quick at the start, though it does bog down a bit in the middle. Fortunately the pace does improve and there were enough twists and turns to keep me interested in the story. Ms. Blake’s voice as an author seems to be fairly well established and I enjoyed her writing style. I believe that the story’s pace issues will be resolved as the series becomes more established. I have high hopes for its success.

Will Daphne discover who killed Steve and why? And where is Axis? Will the developing chemistry developing between her and Detective Black develop into anything? You’ll have to read Death by Chocolate Lab to find out. I enjoyed it and can’t wait to read the next book, Dial Meow for Murder, when it is released this fall.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

A Chocolate Lab names Axis, a Chihuahua named Artie, 3 huge rottweilers named Macduff, Iago and Hamlet and a Basset Hound named Socrates are all on a walk with pet sitter, Daphne Templeton and her sister Piper as the book starts out. Piper is a veterinarian and with the exception of her love life things are going well for her. Daphne lives with her rent free as she tries to get her new pet sitting business started. Piper’s ex Steve Beamus, is also part of this animal world in Sylvan Creek. He runs the Blue Ribbon K-9 Academy. They are all going to be together for a dog agility event at Piper’s farm. But when Steve is found dead in a unlikely place on Piper’s property, the event come to a barking halt and Piper is the first name on the list of prime suspects. Plus Steve’s dog Axis is missing. Daphne has no choice. She needs to find that dog and prove to Detective Jonathan Black that her sister had nothing to do with Steve’s murder. But she may be biting off a little more than she can chew.

As a dog lover I was in love with the canine characters well before the end of chapter one. Socrates belongs to Daphne and she is fostering little Artie in hope of finding this unusual little dog a forever home. The rottweilers belong to a very well to do client. Axis, the victims dog is missing throughout most of the story and I was as anxious as Daphne to know that he was safe.

In addition to the 4 legged characters the story is filled with an great and unique cast of human characters. In addition to the sisters and the deceased, we meet Detective Jonathan Black. He is new in town, easy on the eyes and really doesn’t think Piper is guilty. Daphne, if she is honest with herself, would like to get to know the man better. Virginia Lockhart, owns the rottweilers with her politician husband but I think she loves those dogs more than she loves him. Mr. Peachy lives in a cottage on the farm and is sort of like a grandfather figure to the girls and helps out around the farm. We also meet some Sylvan Creek merchants. All the characters are well fleshed out and believable.

The story starts out at a good clip. The murder happens in the early chapters. Then the pace slows down almost too much but does pick up again. I usually read a book in two evenings. The slower pace gave me a good stopping point the first night and then I quickly finished it up on night two.

The mystery itself had plenty of suspects and when we reached the big reveal it just knocked my socks off. I was absolutely, and totally surprised. The story also reached a happy place at the end for two of the doggies and that made the reader very happy.

These characters were very engaging so I am excited for their next story. The Lucky Paws Petsitting Mysteries are off to an excellent start!

4 out of 5 stars

For the most part, I really enjoyed this book. It's the first in a new series and a solid, delightful start to the series. I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 because a) it didn't have that extra pizzazz that I look for in a 5-star book and b) the heroine annoyed me at times with her tendency to just go full steam ahead into something without thinking about it first (which is something that *REALLY* tends to bother me in cozies).

Outside of that, this is a great book. The characters are solid, developed and complex. We know there are things about the various characters that we don't know yet, but that makes them interesting and not boring.

The setting descriptions were okay. I could imagine the farm and each individual location but I couldn't really see in my head where they were in relation to each other. Part of that could be my own spatial relations deficiency, but I think the descriptions of the places could have been a little more detailed.

The story moved along at a good pace. It wasn't slow but it wasn't so fast that you couldn't keep up with what was happening. The villain was a complete surprise to me, which I like. I totally did not see that plot twist coming!

All in all, this is a great start to the series and I do recommend it. I've already pre-ordered the second one for myself!

Nothing draws you into a book like a great cover. When I saw the cover to Bethany Blake’s new book, Death by Chocolate Lab, I knew it was one I wanted to read. Then I read the book summary. I was hooked. It was just too up my ally to pass up. And I’m very glad I gave it a try. This is a fun, lighthearted read, and it endeared me to Bethany Blake and the Lucky Paws Pet Sitting Mystery Series for books to come.

Daphne Templeton is a pet-sitting free spirit living in her hometown of Sylvan Creek. When her sister Piper’s ex-boyfriend turns up dead on her property, Daphne is determined to clear her sister’s name. Even if it means aggravating the town’s newest mysterious resident, the handsome Detective Jonathan Black.

This was a fun book. I liked the relationship between the two sisters, Daphne and Piper. They are opposites, yet care for each other, and you can tell their relationship has potential for many entertaining ups and downs in future books. If you enjoy Krista Davis’ Paws & Claws Mystery Series, then this would be a good book for you.

If you are looking for an entertaining read that includes lots of furry friends and interesting characters, then Death by Chocolate Lab is one for you.

It's always fun to start a new series and get to know the characters and location. This is the first Lucky Paws Petsitting Mysteries with Daphne Templeton running her petsitting business while living rent-free with her veterinarian older sister, Piper. The town of Sylvan Creek fits the bill for a cozy locale and the sisters, although quite different in their approaches to life, get along with each other and share that sister bond. Piper is much more stable, however, and I must admit that I found Daphne a little too flighty at times and irresponsible for her age. I hope her career blossoms and she learns to stand on her own two feet without depending on her sister so much as I can see that growing tiresome for me. It works for the time-being and the storyline however. Her best friend, Moxie is a lot of fun. We can't forget the brooding hunk, Detective Black of course. I felt like I got to know all the characters pretty well for it being only the first in the series. Her dog Socrates is truly a character himself. I had to laugh at the descriptions of the tiny little Artie and would have immediately adopted him if I only could.
I really enjoyed this mystery and couldn't put it down once I got a little way into it. I was not expecting that killer reveal!
As a dog owner, I have got to try all the pet recipes included.
Next up, Daphne deals with a cat. What will Socrates think? This should be fun!

Disclosure:
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

Daphne is owner and operater of Lucky Paws Pet Sitting. Her sister, Piper, is a local veterinarian with a farm on acreage. Piper has recently offered the use of her property for a weekend agility trial for dogs. Currently living with her sister, Daphne is surprised when one of the set up crew is none other than Steve Beamus, Piper's ex, and they appear to have a lover's quarrel. Daphne's more surprised when one of her dogs locates a very dead Steve in one of the agility training areas and Steve's prize-winning and faithful chocolate lab is missing.

Now, Piper is a suspect in the suspicious death of Steve. Daphne is bound and determined to prove that her sister didn't have anything to do with the death of her ex. The new detective in town, Jonathan, butts heads with Daphne from the get go. It doesn't help that Daphne fits the typical cozy mystery heroine. She doesn't take safety into consideration or that there are certain things you might want to tell the investigating officer...

I loved this book. Daphne is a wonderful character. She is snarky, compassionate, without too many cares in the world. She has a PhD in philosophy but doesn't really use it other than to quote Socrates and other philosophers. She's down-to-earth, kind, and gentle and knows her sister, who's a tad uptight and OCD, would never murder anyone, accidentally or on purpose. Daphne's only mission now is to clear Piper's name.

The dynamics between Daphne and Jonathan are not at all subtle. Daphne tries to deny any sparks of attraction but many people in her life know that they are there. We don't get a whole lot in the way of Jonathan, other than what Daphne is able to scout out secondarily. Daphne's on-again-off-again romance with a secondary character does put a damper on the chemistry between Daphne and Jonathan.

The book is engaging from the very beginning and kept me entertained throughout. There was never a dull moment and some of the antics of Daphne, her two dogs, and the rotties she acquires had me smiling. The author's writing style is phenomenal. All dialogue was smooth, thought out, and conversational. The twists and turns kept me guessing all the way until the end. I can't wait for book 2.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley.