Dog Days of Summer by Kathleen Y’Barbo is the second book in the Gone to the Dogs Mysteries series, and I have to say there was much more emphasis on the mystery in this one that the previous installment.

While I did read Off the Chain, you won’t be lost if you start with this one. The main character in the first book was Mari and we get to see Branham, Texas, through her Aunt Trina’s eyes in this one. I enjoyed reading about an older heroine in Y’Barbo’s tale as Trina rekindles a romance with the guy she went to prom with, searches for a home nearer her mother and niece, and juggles her singing career with her family obligations.

With more animal rescues, sabotage, a high school nemesis, and references to pop culture, this cozy mystery is a quick and enjoyable read. And once you finish, you’ll be ready for more (good thing the series isn’t over yet).

Disclosure statement: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book and was not required to write a positive or negative review. All opinions are my own.

Dog Days Of Summer
Gone To The Dogs, Book #2
Kathleen Y’Barbo
5 Stars

Synopsis:

Mishaps Abound as Second Chance Ranch Struggles to Get Its Start

Grab a lap dog to cuddle and relax into a fun small-town mystery as a new dog rescue project turns into a three-ring circus of calamities in book 2 of the Gone to the Dogs series.

Trina Potter, Nashville country music star, buys a ranch near her hometown in Brenham, Texas, to help her niece open a rescue facility for dogs. Her presence in town stirs up some old high school rivalries—and romance. Finding property to buy is a challenge, convincing her mother to move there with her is daunting, and navigating a string of strange accidents is perplexing. Sometimes Trina feels like she’s purchased her own three ring circus instead of a beautiful piece of land. But her first priority will be figuring out who wants Second Chance Ranch shut down before they even have the grand opening.

More in the Gone to the Dogs Series:
Book 1 - Off the Chain by Janice Thompson
Book 2 - Dog Days of Summer by Kathleen Y'Barbo
Book 3 - Barking Up the Wrong Tree by Janice Thompson (Amazon)

Review:

Trina is a country star that lives in Nashville. But she has family in Brenham, Texas. Her mother lives there and so does her niece. Her niece is involved in dog rescue and Trina wants to help her. When a pipe bomb is found near the animals, Trina decides she is going to find out who is responsible. She also wants to help her mother and be sure that she is safe.

The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and these descriptions pulled me into the story from the very beginning. There was a lot of action taking and it kept me engaged throughout the book. The mystery was well plotted and it kept me guessing.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted book. It has a good story, a good mystery and there are adorable animals.What’s not to like?

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Barbour Publishing, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.

Kathleen Y'Barbo hooks you from the start in this second installment of "Gone to the Dogs Mysteries" and won't let go until you finish. Dog Days of Summer truly showcases Y'Barbo's humor, which I really like! Simply wait till you read about Mama Peach's antics and the incredible antics of her cat Hector. The book works as a cozy mystery as well, since you are continuously attempting to figure out “whodunit.”

Since I am blatantly pro-Texas and lived there for a significant amount of time, the fact that the novel is set in the little Texas town of Brenham immediately caught my attention. The story's animal rescue theme piqued my interest because some of my children were involved in animal rescues. (At one point, we had several fish and tadpoles, two cats, eight dogs, and an anole lizard. We also had a mouse and a hamster shortly before that! We had 14 dogs one time, too!) Along with all the odd occurrences in the story, two dogs by the names of Patsy and Cline keep everyone on their toes.

I enjoyed catching up with other acquaintances from the series' first book, Off the Chain. If you haven't read the first book, don't let that stop you from reading Dog Days of Summer as it works well as a standalone.

I received a review copy of this book from Celebrate Lit through NetGalley. All opinions are my own, and I am voluntarily leaving this review.

We had to give away our two dogs after finding out our granddaughter was allergic but I got to enjoy the rescue dogs in this story. And what clever names for some of the dogs, especially Trina’s. Names like, Beau Jangles, Patsy, Cline, Skipper, Sunshine, Clementine and Bella. Trina Potter is a famous Nashville country music star but her heart is in small town Brenham, Texas where she grew up. Her mother and niece still live there and Trina makes frequent visits. Marigold, her niece, has a dog rescue operation for strays that have been abandoned. She runs it with volunteers when she is not working as a vet assistant. When strange happenings occur associated with Second Chance Ranch, the dog rescue, all kinds of ideas fill my head. This was a very involved whodunnit and why, that I never figured out until it was revealed at the very end. I really like these stories that keep me guessing. It was a delightful fast read that I enjoyed immensely. I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through Celebrate Lit but was not required to write a review positive or otherwise.

This is one of those feel good novels that is fun to read. There's a mystery with some villain doing dastardly deeds. There is concern for potential harm in what appears to be attacks on a budding dog rescue operation. There are quirky characters. There are cute dogs who just cannot resist sausages on a barbecue. There is rekindling of an old romance. It's all great entertainment. There are also some serious themes explored. One is balancing the possibility of continuing a very successful career with care for an ailing parent and support of extended family members.

The mystery was a bit complex as shown by the lengthy denouement. The final explanation included information we readers did not know ahead of time so, other than obvious clues, there was no way to solve the mystery earlier. I think the mystery was of second importance to character relationships and interactions anyway.

This is a good novel for those liking cozy mysteries with an emphasis on characters. Dog lovers will especially like the cute canines included. It is the second novel in a series but reads well on its own. I have enjoyed both books and will be watching for the next one.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

I am over the moon in love with this series. I highly recommend getting comfy, grab a snack and get ready to laugh, cry and be entertained by this lovely look at a small Texas town. I am a Texan and this series represents the state perfectly. Yes we are known for our sweet iced tea, family gatherings and barbecue.

Trina has just gotten back from her trip to see family in Brenham, Texas when an unexpected phone call sends her right back home. Now her mama is always getting into something whether it be making delicious pies, spending time with family or having trouble find her. I had to laugh at Trina as she has no idea what to expect when she sees her mama in the hospital. Maybe now is a good time to think about purchasing a home and land in Brenham so she has a place of her own when she comes home? Hector the cat once again steals the show with a call to get Mama help. Oh I laughed so hard I spilled my tea when I read what the cat did. Be prepared for more antics from Hector.

There is always that one person who acts nice and makes you believe she is trying to help, but Bitsy is up to no good. She definitely is jealous of Trina and her pushy way about hinting that Trina should use her as a realtor is starting to get on my nerves. We will need to keep our eyes on Bitsy. Will she cause trouble for Trina?

With strange things going on close to the opening of Second Chance Ranch, Trina is trying to help her niece Mari while juggling the idea of perhaps making a purchase on land and a home. Who is out to stop the grand opening of a much needed place for dogs to go until they are adopted? Clues start piling up along with suspects which gives readers a chance to play detective along with Trina.

With the book now read, I must confess something. I loved everything about it from the rescue dogs, the setting of the story, delicious pies, suspense and an added bonus of romance. The author delivers a great story that will have you laughing, falling in love with the characters and becoming more familiar with how important it is to put family first. I am excited to read the next installment in this series.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

A heartwarming mystery, set in a small town, with endearing characters, plenty of heart and mischief.

Country Singer, Trina Potter, buys a ranch to help her niece start a haven for dogs. But mysterious mishaps start that are more than accidents, can they get to the bottom of who wants Second Chance Ranch to fail before they open.

I was thrilled to see familiar faces in this book, as Trina goes back to her hometown, taking a break from her busy career to get the rescue off the ground. Trina has been working hard for a long time, and I liked that she was able to take time to nurture her relationships with her family as well as friends while in Brenham. Nash is a great help to her, as they work together to find out who is behind the sabotage, I loved seeing them reconnect as well as their scenes together.

Overall, a thoroughly enjoyable cozy mystery, with great interaction, mystery, faith, and sweet romance. What more could I ask for?

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Dog Days of Summer by Kathleen Y'Barbo is book 2 in the Gone to the Dogs cozy mystery series. I enjoyed it without having read Off the Chain, the first book, but will likely go back and read it.

Set in east central Texas, the plot centers around country singer Trina Potter who's pulled between her career based in Nashville and her family in her home town. Trina's niece Marigold is starting a dog rescue organization, and her aging mother Peach believes her homemade pies can solve any problem.

When a pipe bomb is discovered near the dog rescue, Trina fears for her niece's safety and spends more time in Brenham. As she reconnects with a friend from her past, Trina envisions her future in Texas. Can she help identify the cause of the mysterious "accidents" and balance her career and family?

I enjoyed this more than I anticipated since I'm not a fan of dogs or country music. I related to Trina wanting Peach to be safe yet independent, and I loved Peach's talented cat. A couple of plot points seemed rushed, but I'm interested to read more books in the series to spend time with these colorful characters. This will be an interesting series as one author (Janice Thompson) will write books 1 and 3 and Ms. Y'Barbo is writing books 2 and 4.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

A Nashville country music star, Trina Potter buys a ranch for her niece, Mari, who wants to open a dog rescue in Texas. A fun feel good cozy with great characters. Good story plot. This book is the second in the series but can be read as a standalone.. Very enjoyable book! Thanks#netgalley and #BarbourPublishing for the eARC in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are mine.

About this book:

“Mishaps Abound as Second Chance Ranch Struggles to Get Its Start
Grab a lap dog to cuddle and relax into a fun small-town mystery as a new dog rescue project turns into a three-ring circus of calamities in book 2 of the Gone to the Dogs series.
Trina Potter, Nashville country music star, buys a ranch near her hometown in Brenham, Texas, to help her niece open a rescue facility for dogs. Her presence in town stirs up some old high school rivalries—and romance. Finding property to buy is a challenge, convincing her mother to move there with her is daunting, and navigating a string of strange accidents is perplexing. Sometimes Trina feels like she’s purchased her own three ring circus instead of a beautiful piece of land. But her first priority will be figuring out who wants Second Chance Ranch shut down before they even have the grand opening.”


Series: Book #2 in the “Gone to the Dogs” series. Can be read as stand-alones, but would be most enjoyed if read in order. Review of Book #1 Here!


Spiritual Content- A few talks about God & His Word; 'H's are capital when referring to God; Mentions of God & Jesus; Mentions of prayers & praying; Mentions of a pastor, sermons, & how Grandma Peach doesn’t think she’s cut out to be a pastor’s wife; A few mentions of thanking God; A mention of a Christmas Eve service; A mention of Heaven;
*Note: A cat is called “Hector the devil cat”; A mention of someone looking like they saw a ghost.


Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘blasted’, an ‘oh my gosh’, a ‘stupid’, a ‘shut up’, a ‘wimp’, two forms of ‘dumb’, and eight ‘idiot’s; Sarcasm & Eye rolling; All about many mentions of bombs/explosions, who could have done it. & threats (the bomb was on a dog rescue center’s property, but no person or dog was hurt); Mentions of gunshots, being shot at, & being threatened (including threatening someone else’s dogs); Mentions of trespassing & stealing; Mentions of jail, arrests, & crime scenes; Mentions of fires; Mentions of a tree falling on someone (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of a dog being hurt and caught in a bear trap (he will be okay, barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of the possibility of dogs being hurt or shot; Mentions of grieving family members (including Trina with her sister and Mari with her mom); Mentions of a divorce; A few mentions of a car accident with injured dogs (they will all be okay, barely-above-not-detailed); A few mentions of hunting; A couple mentions of a stolen car (Book #1); A couple mentions of blackmail; A couple mentions of vandalism; A couple mentions of rumors & lying; A mention of a prisoner; A mention of not being a betting man; A mention of a winery; A mention of tattoos;
*Note: Mentions of singers & songs (Miranda Lambert, Elvis, Tennessee Williams, Patsy Cline, & Willie Nelson); A few mentions of TV shows (Hawaii 5-0, Golden Girls, Dr. Who, & The Daytripper); A few mentions of websites & apps (Etsy, Uber, PayPal, & Venmo); A couple mentions of brands and items (iPad & SkinnyPop); A couple mentions of car brands.


Sexual Content- An almost kiss, a not-detailed kiss, and five barely-above-not-detailed kisses; Touches, Embraces, Snuggling, & Hand holding (barely-above-not-detailed); A bit of Noticing; Mentions of kisses, kissing, & couples snuggling; A few mentions of couples going to see the stars at night and ending up on a blanket together (hinted to more happening); A few mentions of boyfriends/girlfriends, dating, & break-ups; A few mentions of high school girls only caring about boys; A couple mentions of a (married) male hairstylist having “extra services” for his clients that ended up getting him in trouble with his wife; A couple mentions of hunky and cute guys; A mention of flirting; A mention of a crush; Some love, falling in love, & the emotions;
*Note: A few mentions of fathers telling their high school aged daughters that makeup and short skirts will attract the wrong kind of man; A mention of college-aged Trina thinking that her size 2 jeans weren’t loose enough, but now gives thanks that she could still fit in her size 10s; A mention of a woman’s clingy dress; A mention of a man’s short shorts.

-Trina Potter
1st person P.O.V. of Trina
256 pages

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Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star
Early High School Teens- Three Stars
Older High School Teens- Four Stars
My personal Rating- Four Stars
And this series continues to be enjoyable!
Ahh, but really, though, this was so much fun! I found so many parts to make the book for me: I giggled and smirked so much at the banter between Trina and Wyatt; the mystery aspect was very interesting and I wasn’t sure how it would all work out; seeing Mari and Parker again!; and yay for all the Texas parts! Am I biased? Completely, but that’s to be expected.
I’m so happy that I enjoyed the second book in the series as well! Now I’m even more excited to read the next two books in this series, because the track record is very good so far. ;)





*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
*I received this book for free from the Publisher (Barbour) for this honest review.

Dog Days of Summer by Kathleen Y’Barbo is book 2 in the Gone to the Dogs series and I had so much fun with this continuation in the series! A sweet, Christian cozy mystery! Extra bonus for being centered around a main character who is a Nashville country music star since I live in Middle Tennessee! 😊 4 stars.

This continuation is centered around Trina Potter, a Nashville country music star who buys a ranch near her hometown in Benham, Texas in an effort to help her niece, Mari, open a rescue facility for dogs. However, someone is not too happy about this and multiple mysterious accidents starts happening before they can even get things started!

This series is so cute and funny. I loved seeing characters from book 1 and seeing their journey as they work to make the Second Chance Ranch Dog Rescue facility a reality. Wyatt and Trina’s relationship was the best though. The fact they went to prom together and were reconnecting – loved it so much. A very heartwarming romance. I also loved the aspects of Trina’s career shown front and center and her love for the small town she has come to know and love.

I also loved Trina’s Mom – she was hilarious. Everyone will love Momma Peach! She is feisty and can hold her own. Let’s not forget her wild cat and star of the show - Hector. He over here saving the day more than once! We love to see it. Trina’s love for her mother was beautiful and how she so quickly would uproot her life to make sure she is safe and taken care of was amazing.

The mystery was very intriguing – so much was going on and I liked how they explained everything very well in the end.

I enjoyed the ending and how it was wrapped up nicely and plan to continue with the series. I have grown to love this family and small town and look forward to book 3! While you can technically read this as a standalone, it’s better enjoyed if you read Off the Chain first because we have our original cast of characters throughout the story quite a bit. Just a fun, Christian cozy mystery that leaves you with all the sweet feelings you want in a book.

Thank you to Barbour Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy to honestly read and review. I will discuss this on my YouTube channel BookLoverAmanda in my Mid Month October reading wrap up!

It was a pleasant surprise to see this author write in this genre. I’ve enjoyed many historical novels by her, but I have never experienced this cozy mystery side. I loved this character driven story, the mystery, suspense, layered plot lines, filled with family, friends and animals. Oh, I adored getting a peek into the music world through Trina ‘s eyes, I enjoyed the splash of romance and the genuine love of family. This author made me want to go for a visit to Second Chance Ranch.

This is a wonderful escape that celebrates family, community, as the love of animals shines bright. The names of Trina Potter’s dogs made me smile, Patsy and Cline. LOL! This is a wonderful, fun read you don’t want to miss.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I requested and received a copy of this book by Revell through Interviews & Reviews. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins! https://psalm516.blogspot.com/
The Book Club Network blog

This was a fun second installment in the _Gone to the Dogs_ series. I'll admit I prefer Book 1 in the series so far, but Y'Barbo is a talented author who weaved together an interesting mystery, for sure! It's the second book I've read by her, and won't be the last.

I particularly enjoyed catching up with characters from Book 1, and do think it's worthwhile to read the books in order accordingly.

3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.

I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

A well written inspirational mystery. Good plot and character dynamics. A good addition to the series. My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my advance book. This is my unbiased review.

Who could resist a book about dogs stealing barbecue?! And being written by Kathleen Y’Barbo was a major plus for me! As usual, I really didn’t read the story summary before choosing to read it, but it’s definitely not needed to enjoy this fantastically written book!

Trina is a small town girl who makes it big in Nashville. She returns home to Brenham, Texas occasionally because her niece and mother still live there. Otherwise her life has mostly been in Nashville making music.

A few mishaps cause Trina to visit more often than usual from her mother falling and breaking her ankle to her mother’s house catching on fire. Her mother, Mama Peach, loves making dog outfits and bakes the best pies. The pies are what first responders are blessed with whenever they arrive!

Trina’s niece, Marigold, is a vet tech and runs her own dog rescue. A bomb was found near the building she keeps the kennels and Mari nearly steps on it. This incident alone has Trina on edge as the Brenham PD can’t figure out who planted it.

Trina’s also concerned about her producer insisting she and her family drop everything and move to Nashville. Trina refuses and tells him to visit for a bit to check out Brenham. Little did she actually expect him to buy property and build a studio there!

Absolutely lovely story! I give it 5 out of 5 tiaras! This is one of those books that kept me guessing who dunnit! I was totally convinced one person but I was so wrong! You just need to read it to find out who’s at fault here!

👸🏻👸🏻👸🏻👸🏻👸🏻

By the way, this is Book #2 of the Gone to the Dogs Series. Which means I now need to read Books #1 and #3!!

This is the second in the series and I really liked it. Watching the relationship between Trina and Wyatt develop was sweet. The town and it’s cast of characters definitely gave it that small town feel. The mystery aspect was well thought out. I love Momma Peach! Looking forward to the next book.

After the first book written with Mari as the narrator, it was a little different getting used to the "I" person as Trina Potter, her aunt who'd come home for Christmas and was named grand marshal in the parade. But Trina's spin on things was pretty awesome too and we got to know her a little bit better instead of just through phone calls like in the first book. Everybody needs a cool aunt like Trina!

Since Maggie was the temporary keeper of the rescue dogs, it sure looked like someone didn't want a rescue going in, and what was up with someone trying to blame Mari for something... I loved how Wyatt and Trina figured out what was going on though and their performance at the end was epic. It's great when it's all planned out to flush out the baddies. Trina's final decision was pretty cool too! I don't want to say a whole lot and give things away, but I think fans of the first book are gonna like this one a lot too!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Barbour Fiction via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

This paw-filled tale will keep readers guessing and engaged as they follow Trina on her journey through caring for her aging mother, keeping in touch with her dear niece, and showing the world that just maybe you can go home again. When calamity after calamity seem to strike Trina’s family, the suspect list gets longer and the circumstances get cloudier. However, when calm, cool heads persevere, the truth can prevail. Trina, Wyatt, Dallas, Mari, Parker, Sticks, Mama Peach, a passel of dogs, and a whole slew of law enforcement helpers eventually find the truth that makes this story wrap up with a happily ever after. I recommend this book to anyone who loves a sweet story, a bit of mystery, a dash of southern charm, and a whole lot of puppy love.

This book is a wonderful addition to the Gone to the Dogs series. It's a fun read that will keep you turning the pages to see what happens next. I loved everything about this book, the setting, the characters, and how the author made the book come to life. I highly recommend this book and book one, Off the Chain. This is a great series that you don't want to miss.
I received a complimentary copy from Barbour Publishing and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

It was so much fun to be back in this series. In this book, we follow the life of Mari's aunt Trina, who is a country music star. The author has an easy going way with her writing and keeps the reader on an enjoyable journey. The mystery of who is sabotaging the dog rescue adds a unique twist to the story.



I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.