This novel was a surprise - despite what I thought (even after reading the description) - the novel was not really about the dog and her antics. Oh, she had some moments - ones that were out loud laughing fits - but what it came down to was the emotional roller coaster between Keaton & August.

London has created two strong, fiercely passionate characters who are complete opposites - so much so that they are the missing half of a heart necklace (metaphorically speaking) broken in two - they each have a piece of that heart but putting the pieces together always seems to end up just out of reach.

August is a vibrant, confident woman who has built her own business through hard work, determination & passion - and - she has been in love with Keaton since she was 13 yrs old. Keaton is a man who loved fiercely until he wife died - he builds what seems like unbreakable walls around himself - and his heart - he closes himself off, he is a workaholic in a job he now hates, he keeps everyone at arm’s length. He lives in fear of losing anyone dear to him & in love - and even though he has tried to do so with August, deep down he has loved her forever & still does.

I absolutely LOVED this book!!

I can't lie - the reason I requested this book originally was because I am the proud Mom of an 8 year old Siberian Husky named Quinn, and I had another Husky named Reese that we lost 2 weeks before our wedding. To say that I am well versed in the antics of being a Husky owner would be hitting the nail on the head, so to speak. In that regard, I wasn't let down. The "thoughts" of Molly sounded absolutely like something I could hear my girls saying, and it made me smile on more than one occasion. Unfortunately, that is about the only thing I enjoyed about this book.

The grief of losing someone you love is profound, to be sure. I am well accustomed to living with grief. With that being said, the amount of times that Keaton mentions his ex-wife, how he still isn't over her, and he's afraid to move on is a bit ridiculous. It's been ten years, and it seems like he hasn't moved on...at all. Then, all of a sudden, on this weekend trip, he realizes he's in love with August? I don't think so. One could say the same for August, only her recurrent story lines are how she is okay being plus sized, she doesn't want to have children/can't stand people telling her she'll change her mind, and how she wishes she hadn't walked away from Keaton all those years ago.

Literally at one point I am banging my head against the wall because WE GET IT. Keaton is grieving his wife, August is angsty because she let him go...you both need to let it go. These repetitive storylines did nothing to enhance the story and everything to detract from it. The third act "break-up" felt forced (like the author was trying to create a reason for them to have drama), and the "grand gesture" didn't feel all that grand and like it came out of left field.

I was so excited to read this book...but I can't say I will be reading the first two books in the series, although I will say that I would never have guessed this was the third in a series, so it is fine as a standalone.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the chance to review this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Confessions of a Canine Drama Queen is the third book in the Paws In The City series / world. Each of these romances read as standalones but are in the same world, and have character overlap/appearances. I’m this case we are getting the story of August, high end dog groomer, and Keaton - the one who got away / her older brothers best friend.

This was a lovely addition to and wrap up for he series. Another fun romcom featuring some great and well loved tropes - and of course, featuring another pup and its antics (in this case Molly a very dramatic husky). The cover art as always for this series is so cute, but don’t let that deceive you - this one dies have some steam.

This was a quick and easy read, a fun romcom and I loved all the pup interaction moments - Molly was definitely the one in charge here.

A fun read for romcom and dog lovers alike 😊 Thank you to HTP books for the opportunity to read and review an early copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

When Keaton's sister Leah has an MS flare, she asks him to show her dog Molly- and he needs help! August, who is an expert with dogs, is more than happy to help her friends. She's had enough of romance for a while and Keaton has been laser focused on his career after the death of his wife so this should be purely business right? Wrong. This is a gentle and nicely done, albeit trope-y friends to lovers romance that also hears Molly give her thought as well. It's funny and it's fun, with good characters (including Molly) and a group of people who want the best for each other. While it's the third of a series, it's perfectly fine as a standalone. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. A good read to make you smile.

This is a cute rom com with a few familiar but beloved tropes: Since she was a teen, August has been in love with her best friend Leah's older brother, Keaton. Even now at thirty she's still crushing hard. Keaton is now a widower who had decided to devote his life to his work and caring of his sister with MS and aging mom. So when Leah asks him to please take her dramatic husky, Molly, to a pet competition in her stead, he asks August, a dog groomer, to join. August is great with dogs and agrees to join. Of course, they fall in love, there are hijinks aplenty with Molly being a great catalyst for them falling in love.

This is a cute second-chance, old love, best friends falling in love story which is a quick and fun read. It's entertaining, but formulaic and nothing new. But still fun.

This is a classic rom com with a happy ending and DOGS! A rom com and dog lovers perfect read

August Merriweather is Manhattan’s Dog Whisperer. She is groomer to the who’s who list in NYC and makes enough she can afford her own Manhattan apartment. She is curvy and endowed and likes her healthy body. I like that the author uses real descriptions like her thigh rub etc. She had a teen crush on her best friends older by two years brother. But on the day he tried to make a move she panicked and fled. He went on to marry someone. She is now actively searching for a life partner.

Keaton Sax has been a widower for many years. He is closed off and driven to be make a named partner in his Wall Street firm. But he struggles at the ruthlessness of the business. Having grown up poor he is driven to provide financial security for himself, his mom and his sister. Sister Leah gets the bulk of his non work attention. And when she asks him to take Molly, her dramatic husky, for a weekend competition he can’t say no. Only Molly doesn’t like him. So he asks Leah’s BF August to come along. Sparks are going to fly.

I like this series, especially the first book The Dachshund Wears Prada (May 2022). This is the third in the Paws in the City series. They can be read as stand alone books but there is small appearances by the previous couples. (No big spoilers by reading out of order.) The chemistry is real and the passion heats up. Some of the bantering is on the childish side as Keaton is often smirking and they fall into daring each other to do things. But other than that they are honest and self aware of their being workaholics tendencies. And of course Molly is wonderful and you get some of her thoughts too.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC and I am leaving a voluntary review.

Thank you to Canary Street Press and NetGalley for an ARC of this book, in exchange for my honest opinion.

I struggled to get through this book, thinking I would eventually get into. The story was too slow paced for me, and a bit boring. Fans of the series may enjoy it, but it wasn’t for me.

August is hopeless at finding love, even though she’s tried it all; Tinder, Match Making services. But she never seems to find Mr. Right. In the midst of her match making meetings, her best friend Leah asks her to take her dog to a competition upstate. The only catch is Leah’s brother Keaton, will also be going too. August & Keaton have a bit of missed chance at love connection, but have still held a candle for each other. What will happen when they’re forced to spend so much time together upstate? Will there romantic connection come back to life, or are they better as friends?

I did think the ending was a sweet happily ever after!

This was cute, but predictable. We have a couple of common romance tropes. The hero is closed off to romance, in this case because of the tragic loss of his wife. And then we have the H and h travel together and then find out that there is only one bedroom that they’ll have to share. I’m so sick of that trope. It’s almost as if it’s automatic that a couple who travels then we should expect for there to be a shortage of bedrooms at whatever hotel they visit.

What makes the novel is the characterization of the titular canine, Molly. She’s really cute and the enemies-to-friends plot line between Molly and the hero, Keaton. That was extremely cute. The romance between August and Keaton was secondary in my opinion.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.

I have greatly enjoyed this series, and once again, London incorporated a trope I adore - Friends-to-Lovers. This romance was complicated from the start, as there was something long simmering between these two, however, Keaton had shut the door to his heart following his wife's death. August was seeking someone to be her "forever", but she carried many wounds from her upbringing. Always being made to feel as though she was never enough, she struggled with romantic relationships. Would timing finally be right for these two?

I know my previous paragraph makes this story sound very serious, but it was actually sweet, lighthearted, and lots of fun with just the right amount of drama. I can attribute most of my laughter to the antics of one sassy husky named Molly who also played a role in pushing these two together.

When Keaton's sister was suffering from an MS flare up, she asked him to take Molly to the Pets in the City competition. Since Keaton was not a "dog person", August joined them in a support role. Molly was such a hoot, and I think even non-dog lovers will enjoy getting to know her and watching her put Keaton through his paces.

So, lots of laughs, but there was plenty of substance to this story as well. Both Keaton and August struggled with the ghosts of their past. They also had a lot of history having been part of each other's lives for so long. It was a pleasure seeing them support and aid each other as they unpacked their pasts. This was especially important for Keaton as his wife's death left him not wanting to risk forming connections of any kind. He became his job, and this did not fill the hole in his heart the way he thought it would.

I felt a lot for both Keaton and August, and it filled me with joy to see them moving forward. I was gifted with a beautiful ending that wrapped up the series nicely with respect to all three main characters. It was so sweet and satisfying, and it put a huge smile on my face.

This series has been to put it quite simply- delightful. I’ve loved everything from the storylines right down to the perfectly matching covers. (This is so incredibly important- the cover matches the feel of the book!). Quick to read and checks all the boxes- with an absolutely adorable dog mixed in. Throughout the entire book I had a clear visual of the interactions like I was watching it on tv while reading. Well written and will be keeping in stock for customers.

Excellent addition to this series. Loved the interaction between Molly and her “underling’s”, made the story fun, laughed out loud in several places. There were a couple of spots that made me question the story line and it was long in places, but all worked out. A definite winner, do not miss this one.

Stephanie London’s plots are hands down, the most ridiculous concepts out there. I love it, they’re unique and memorable.

‘Confessions of a Canine Drama Queen’
had me sucked in so fast I barely realized it was happening. I intended to quick read a chapter or two and the next thing I knew I was flying through. The plot and characters get full marks from me for truly getting me invested and on board. There’s plenty of funny banter and it’s totally believable watching the chemistry develop. As mentioned the comedy had me sold from the beginning. The only downside was a somewhat dry narrative, with such strong dialogue I would have expected the rest of the writing to be a little less stiff. Still I enjoyed the read thoroughly!

I’ll admit I didn’t realize this was part of a series until I’d already started, thankfully that was fine! There’s nothing in here that could spoil another book, this is very much the interconnected standalone style series. Having read this I’d absolutely go back and read the others!

This was so cute and funny! I didn't know it was part of a series so now I have to go and read them too! This was that good!! I can't stop thinking about this book!!
I just reviewed Confessions of a Canine Drama Queen by Stefanie London. #ConfessionsofaCanineDramaQueen #NetGalley
[NetGalley URL]

3.5 Stars Confessions of a Canine Drama Queen was a great continuation of Stefanie London's Paws in the City series.

August has been in love with her best friend Leah's older brother, Keaton, since she was thirteen and that love still exists now at thirty. Widower Keaton is just barely living, working long hours on Wall Street and caring for his mother and sister. He'd do anything for Leah, which is why he agrees when she asks if he'll take her dramatic husky, Molly, to a social media pet competition upstate since she's experiencing a MS flare-up and cannot go. Keaton enlists the help of August, dog groomer and canine whisperer extraordinaire. to help since he's not so great with dogs, especially Molly.

This has a lot of my favorite tropes, including second-chance romance, best friend's brother, and only one bed. It was a quick read and although I've read the other books in this series, it is clear that you don't have to have read them to understand what is going on or who these characters are. It is fun to see the previous books' characters pop up and know what they are currently up to. A fun read if you love rom coms and dogs!

Confessions of a Canine Drama Queen was the third book in the Paws in the City series, and I found it to be absolutely adorable. It has the friend's sibling trope in it; August and Keaton have mercilessly teased each other over the years to hide their true feelings from each other. When they have to work together to help Keaton's sister's dog win a competition, sparks fly, and they have to determine if their love is real or not.

I like how Stefanie London writes strong female characters in her romances. August makes it very clear that she wants romance solely for the purpose of having a connection with someone else. She has a successful career and friends who truly make her happy. Of course this book is predictable, but I didn't mind it. I liked how things ended and that there was a good epilogue!

If you're in the mood for a light romance, I recommend this book and the other two in the series.

This was cute!
I enjoyed a lot of elements of this book, especially the big personality of the dog character, and the way the two leads worked together in the show. The continuing grief element over the former wife was a little bit of a low thread through the entire book, and one which never really got resolved, imho. Widow/widower tropes aren’t really my favorite, because even if it’s been a while, it’s still a raincloud over the new relationship.
The spice level was great, it definitely felt like the characters related to each other in that way. One thing I would have liked, is at least one scene where our FMC did successfully meet with a match.
Overall, a good book! Many thanks to NetGalley for the chance to check this out!

Great book, love the storyline with the dog. Look forward to all titles by this author. Characters are very relatable

Confessions of a Canine Drama Queen
By Stefanie London
⭐⭐⭐⭐

Publication Date August 1, 2023

This is such a very sweet second chance romance story. You have Keaton who is a widow and scared of letting anybody else in. And you have August who is searching for "the one" and only ever finding duds.

August is considered the "dog whisperer" and Keaton asks her to help train his sister's dog for a dog. Show. This leads to a series of very funny and sweet events that bring them closer to each other after years apart.

This book had some very sweet moments. Some sad moments. Some hilarious moments. I greatly enjoyed this book and I highly recommend it for anyone who loves a true rom-com. And definitely if you're a second chance romance fan.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fun, cute, quick read that had a sincere depth to it. Keaton’s backstory in particular involved a lot of complex emotions, but it wasn’t told in a way that made the book feel overly heavy. I really liked August and the independence she’d carved out in her life. She was successful in her own right and really knew who she was, and she also knew she wanted to have someone to share her life with. I enjoyed the dynamic between her and Keaton. I did feel at times, mostly early in the book, that the attraction between them felt a little forced and contrived feeding off of a past that we didn’t really see any of, but as the story went on it felt stronger and more real.

Molly was a star and provided some laugh out loud moments. Loved her.

I haven’t read either of the other books in the series yet, but I know they’ll be on my list for when I need a lighthearted pick-me-up read.

Confessions of a Canine Drama Queen by Stefanie London
This story has so many feels, and it's still fun! This book is part of a series but you can read it as a standalone. I immediately added the other books in the series to my want to read list!

Things I am here for:
August, the female main character, is an independent woman running her own business.
Keaton, the male male main character, is working through his grief and finding himself.
Molly is a husky dog, and she is written like a character in the book. I loved this!
August does not want kids, and the author doesn't change her views by the end! There are women who do not want kids!!!!
Not needing college to be successful.
Leah is Keaton's sister and she has Multiple Sclerosis. I am totally here for MS representation!
Second chance romance, where the characters grow and learn who they are as adults. Swoon.

I received an advance review copy for free from NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.