by Jenn McKinlay
Series: A Bluff Point Romance #1
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon *affiliate
Heat Level:
Fall in love with a little help from man's best friend in New York Times bestselling author Jenn McKinlay's contemporary romance debut.
Mackenzie "Mac" Harris fled her hometown of Bluff Point, Maine, after being left at the altar--and seeking solace in the arms of her best friend's off-limits brother. Now, seven years later, she's back to attend her best friend's wedding--safe, or so she thinks, from the mistakes of her youth.
But Gavin Tolliver has never forgotten the woman who has always held his heart. And when Mac rescues a stray puppy named Tulip, only Gavin, the town's veterinarian, can help. With a little assistance from Tulip, Gavin vows to make Mac realize that their feelings are more than just puppy love...
ABOUT A DOG by Jenn McKinlay takes us to the seaside town of Bluff Point and delivered a second chance romance with humor, heart and a pup in need of saving. Come meet Mackenzie “Mac” Harris as she heads home to Maine for her best friend’s wedding and renews a complicated relationship with Gavin Tolliver, her best friends brother. With a dash of suspense, an adorable puppy and character growth, ABOUT A DOG offered a sweet start to the Bluff Point Romance series.
Coffee Dates with About a Dog
- First Date: Mac left Bluff Point after her fiance ditched her at the altar. In her grief, she slept with her best friend’s younger brother. She fled Point Bluff and never looked back. She has never told anyone about that night. She now lives in the city and is in a relationship of sorts with a man who has asked that they take a break. Her best friend is getting married and as the maid of honor, she heads back home. With two weeks of activity will she be able to resist Gavin?
- Second Date: Gavin is now the local veterinarian and all grown up. Soft spoken, sexy and loves animals who could resist? I loved their first interaction after so many years. While Mac is pretending nothing happened Gavin is declaring his intentions. Oh boy! Poor Mac is out of sorts between her attraction to Gavin and his declaration that he wants a repeat of their night together. Mac is damaged and as McKinlay peels back her layers we see the cracks brought on by her jilted fiance and the odd relationship she is currently in. We get to know several secondary characters and lordy but Mac’s aunts are a hoot. When Mac finds an abandoned puppy she turns to Gavin for help. A suspenseful thread appears when a man claiming to be the dog owner shows up. Gavin and Mac soon find themselves tangled in the sheets and I felt their connection was genuine. Now if only Mac can accept it and find her happy. I struggled a little in the middle of the book and wanted Mac to be less indecisive, confess to her bestie and tell her on a “sabbatical” boyfriend to beat it.
- Third Date: A wedding, a jerk, and secrets revealed kept me flipping the pages during the last date. We see growth in Mac and witness her open up her heart and form attachments again. It was fun seeing Mac figure it all out. Threads regarding her previous fiance proved interesting and allowed Mac to make peace with it. Gavin was patient, delightful and determined. It was nice having a hero who is inherently good and loves animals. The pacing was off a little for me, and as much as I loved the setup one needs to take a break from reality to accept two weeks of pre-wedding activity. I will say that I ended my dates with a smile.
ABOUT A DOG was a delightful start to the Point Bluff series and I look forward to getting to know more about the residents who reside there.
A cute pup in need of rescue and a second chance romance can be found in About A Dog Click To Tweet
About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Dani Chapman
Sounds like a delightful read! I will add it to my list! 🙂
kimbacaffeinate
It was cute Dani 🙂
Angie
I thought this was a really sweet read, and I can’t wait to read more!
I’m glad you enjoyed it, too. Great review. 🙂
kimbacaffeinate
Glad you enjoyed it a well. I am looking forward to the next one.
Lorna
Yes, I am not crazy about books that use a indecisive heroine to flesh the book out. And two weeks of wedding events is really too much. As in 9 or 10 days too much. As always, I love your coffee dates!
kimbacaffeinate
LOL. Thanks Lorna!
Katherine
I love Jenn McKinlay’s cozy mysteries and this sounds like such a fun series! Plus I can’t resist a dog and a veterinarian!
kimbacaffeinate
I should check them out, Katherine.
The Bibliophile Babe
This sounds like an adorably fluffy read! I’m a huge dog lover and Gavin sounds like my kind of man. 😉
kimbacaffeinate
Yes, perfect rainy afternoon escape.
Nadene
This sounds like a cute read. Glad you enjoyed it.
kimbacaffeinate
Thanks, Nadene. It was a fun read.
Michele
Well, you know I’m all about rescuing animals. Aside from the pacing issue, I think this sounds great and like one I would enjoy. Thanks for the great review, Kim 🙂
kimbacaffeinate
It was a fun read Michele, and I look forward to the next. Oh, my her Aunts are hilarious.
Rita
I know you like more “steam” in your stories Kim, but it sounds really cute and worthwhile for a reader such as myself. I love stories is small towns, in Maine, with dogs, and rediscovered love trope. Only thing that could make it not work for me would be if the dialogue was off-key.
Thanks so much for this review. It’s going on my list!
kimbacaffeinate
I can go either way with the steam Rita from small town to sex in the city..lol
Sophia Rose
Good summation. I adored Gaven and Tulip, but wanted to give Mac a good shove to get off the fence. I loved the group of friends, too.
kindlemom1
Gavin sounds like someone I already like. 😉 Wonderful review for this Kim!
kimbacaffeinate
He was and she didn’t make it easy for him 🙂
Heidi
A quick, light read with a small town setting is perfect for this time of year. Sounds delightful.
kimbacaffeinate
Yes, perfect lazy Sunday afternoon read Heidi.
Mary Kirkland
I haven’t read this author but I like this type of story. Sounds good.
kimbacaffeinate
It was cute Mary.
sherry fundin
Not my ususal genre, but add a dog and the setting, I find it hard to resist.
kimbacaffeinate
Exactly.
Angela Adams
A handsome hero who loves puppies. What more could a heroine ask for???. Thanks for the post.
kimbacaffeinate
Right. Who can resist?
Debbie Haupt
Oh this is the second review I’ve seen for this, gotta love a romance that includes pets!! Thanks Kim
kimbacaffeinate
I hope you get a chance to read it Debbie.
Stephanie
Definitely going to need to give this one a read. I just finished One Week to the Wedding by Olivia Miles which also features a small Maine town and a jilted bride heroine. I really enjoyed it!
Two weeks of wedding activities is an awful lot! Glad this one ended up being a good way to pass the time for you! Even if you had to suspend reality a time or two.
kimbacaffeinate
It was a fun read Stephanie.
Quinn's Book Nook
I am not big on second chance romances. BUT I have a hard time resisting romances with puppies! Such tough decisions!
kimbacaffeinate
Yeah, I am a sucker for four-legged friends myself Quinn!
Northwoman
It was warm and fluffy. I had more trouble suspending reality on the 2 weeks of pre wedding it IS fiction and I grew up on a town of 1500. I do love Maine. Anne
kimbacaffeinate
Yes, I felt the same way about the two weeks, but like you said it is fiction.
Nick
Love that cover! This sounds like a warm and fuzzy type of read perfect for Jill Shalvis fans! So that means I will most definitely need to try it. 🙂
Lovely review, Kim! Glad your dates with the book went well.
kimbacaffeinate
Yes, fans of Jill will enjoy this to be sure!
Melanie Simmons
Gotta love a story with a vet.
kimbacaffeinate
Yes, I am a sucker for animal lovers
Cindy
I truly enjoyed this one and I loved the dog! The ex fiance was a jerk! Great review Kimberly.
kimbacaffeinate
Right. I would have killed him.
Christy LoveOfBooks
A Maine setting… that’s all I need to know. ❤️ No, but this really looks like a lovely read
kimbacaffeinate
Yeah, that got me too.
blodeuedd
The cover is adorable
kimbacaffeinate
Right. It was why I accepted it. hehe
Melliane
Ah yes I heard nice things about this one but haven’t tried it I confess
kimbacaffeinate
It was cute Melliane.