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The Lucky Dog Matchmaking Service

by Beth Kendrick (Goodreads Author)

3.53 of 5 stars 3.53 · rating details · 604 ratings · 154 reviews

Lara Madigan has a gift. She can help you find your soulmate—your canine soulmate, that is. As a dog trainer with a soft spot for strays, she’s found perfect homes for sulky Shih Tzus, broken-down Border collies, and diabolical Dalmatians. But while she’ll always make room for one more rescue mutt, she’s not sure she’s ready to commit to another human being. Especially aft...more

Paperback, 321 pages

Published May 1st 2012 by NAL Trade (first published January 1st 2012)

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Mar 05, 2013 J.j. Lair rated it 2 of 5 stars

Lucky dog
I wanted to read this because I really liked Nearlyweds and some of her other books. I have Beth Kendrick as a Facebook friend. Her other novels are full of humor and romantic twists.

This book started strong. The couple of Lara and Evan struggle to make a new life in a new home with her five dogs. The dogs can be destructive, but Lara has a way of dealing with them. Evan doesn't. They break up twenty percent of the way through the story. Lara eventually moves in with her mother.
Kendri...more

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Jan 24, 2013 Michelle Robinson rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: could-not-finish, wallbangers

I really enjoy reading books that includes dogs. I am a dog person. I like seeing people who enjoy animals in novels and in nonfiction.
This novel did not do it for me though. I wanted to read a light, airy little novel about a dog walker with the uncanny skill to match the correct dog with the correct person.

I did want to see the animals treated well but I also need to see the people that the dog lovers come in contact with treated well also. At the very least, it would have been nice to see on...more I really enjoy reading books that includes dogs. I am a dog person. I like seeing people who enjoy animals in novels and in nonfiction.
This novel did not do it for me though. I wanted to read a light, airy little novel about a dog walker with the uncanny skill to match the correct dog with the correct person.

I did want to see the animals treated well but I also need to see the people that the dog lovers come in contact with treated well also. At the very least, it would have been nice to see one of characters not demonized because he did not want to share a home with no less than 7 dogs and more being "rescued" constantly, in the same home, whenever people chose to abandon them.
The man in question may have been a jerk, however, I don't think choosing to not become an in-home animal shelter or a burgeoning animal hoarder did not justify the disdain he gets from Lara. Lara, this supposedly intuitive, dog trainer and rescuer allows her dogs to completely destroy her fiance's drywall and furniture, at the beginning of the novel, she then blames him for being overwhelmed with her dogs. That was just silly and childish. Relationships require give and take. Why not try to deal with the negative behavior of your animals and also find other foster homes for some of them. That would have demonstrated a level of concern for this man's feelings that we never see from her. When the relationship ends, she is so busy assigning blame and never takes time to reflect on her possible contribution to the failed relationship.

I also got really tired of Justine's repeated comments of how she was not going to be, "one of those moms" that put the needs of her children above the care of her animals. I can understand and sympathize with not abandoning an animal when a child is born but I don't like the judgmental tone this book takes. Even when the cause is worthwhile, no one is picking up a work of fiction to be preached at. I also have to say if one does not want to be weighed down by the needs of your own children, then don't have any and then you will have all the time you feel is necessary to devote to rescuing a number of dogs and keeping them in your home. Justine says how much she hates people who have children and then neglects thier animals so much that I became tired of hearing it.

I greatly enjoy dogs and look for books that include them in the storyline. this is just not a book for me. Fiction is not the place to push your agenda so forcefully down the throats of your readers. Share your ideas and trust that reader is intelligent enough to form their own opinion.

I also hated a scene where a person flushes a dog toy down the toilet and then in retribution, Lara flushes something expensive down the toilet as well. I don't know if this was meant to be funny. For me, it was just immature.

It was also extremely bothersome, for me, that Lara treated her mother so abominably, even as an adult. Her mother sacrificed a great deal to give her daughter financial stability and opportunities. Even if Lara was not interested in being financially successful or in dressing nicely, she could have treated her mother with at least a modicum of respect. I felt that it was not wonder her mother avoided her when she (the mom) became ill, Lara treated her as an adversary. Who deliberately makes themselves vulnerable to someone that consistently thinks the worst of them and behaves childishly toward them? I wouldn't not even if they were my child.

Please forgive the awful grammar. I wrote this while in a fit of frustration.... Now I need to go read something good.(less)

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Oct 14, 2012 Melissa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: animals, romance

This was a cute book, I read it cover to cover in one sitting. I knew from the cover it would probably be interesting, and I was right. I had a real problem with some of the characters though, and that's what kind of ruined the book for me in some regards, making it a 3.5 star kind of book.

Lara is very good with dogs. So good in fact that she is known as a matchmaker of sorts for people and their dogs. She can find a stray the perfect home. Too bad she's not as good at matchmaking in other regar...more This was a cute book, I read it cover to cover in one sitting. I knew from the cover it would probably be interesting, and I was right. I had a real problem with some of the characters though, and that's what kind of ruined the book for me in some regards, making it a 3.5 star kind of book.

Lara is very good with dogs. So good in fact that she is known as a matchmaker of sorts for people and their dogs. She can find a stray the perfect home. Too bad she's not as good at matchmaking in other regards though, especially with her own love life. When she and her boyfriend have a fight over her rescued dogs, Lara finds herself homeless, and back living with her mom, who's not the most maternal of people. But she also gets new opportunities in the form of dog training clients from this move too, so thinks are starting to look up.

Lara is an ok character. She's strong willed in some ways and flaky in others, but for some reason it just doesn't mesh together and make her seem like a real person. I think she gets walked on too much, and that it is excused too easily during the book. Her boyfriend I didn't like at all either, and I'm not sure what she saw in him really. The same with her parents, I can understand a child being attached to someone because they are a parent, but she would have been better to just walk away from the both of them. The only really redeeming character in this would be her friend Kerry, and even she had problems of her own.

The plot was cute though. And that's what saved this book. I liked the concept of a dog matchmaker and all the hard work that was put into finding good homes for dogs. That kind of thing just gives me the warm fuzzies. And when it was talking about the dogs the descriptions were better and the ideas were better too. Kendrick took the time to make you want the best for these dogs, more so than for the human characters. I did think the ending moved a little fast and things were resolved a little too quickly as well, but for the most part the book maintained a decent pace.

Cute, and while it could have used better characters it was still worth the read. I would probably read more by this author.

The Lucky Dog Matchmaking Service
Copyright 2012
320 pages

Review by M. Reynard 2012

More of my reviews can be found at www.ifithaswords.blogspot.com (less)

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Aug 07, 2012 kari rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012

Doggonit! Cute premise if the book was actually about what is the proposed idea of the book according to the blurb. Unfortunately, what you get is trying to be a romance novel without the romance. Didn't work for me, not that I minded the direction where the story went romantically speaking, but it felt too coincincidental and also, not even central to the story. Just felt like Lara never really learned what I was hoping she would learn along the way.
Lara, unfortunately, is the problem I had mos...more Doggonit! Cute premise if the book was actually about what is the proposed idea of the book according to the blurb. Unfortunately, what you get is trying to be a romance novel without the romance. Didn't work for me, not that I minded the direction where the story went romantically speaking, but it felt too coincincidental and also, not even central to the story. Just felt like Lara never really learned what I was hoping she would learn along the way.
Lara, unfortunately, is the problem I had most with the story. I found her to be unreasonable and childish. At one point she tries to search for an apartment, where she hopes to keep five behaviorally challenged rescue dogs and three untrained puppies, without telling the agent she has eight dogs. When that fails, she tries on her own to find a place, telling potential landlords that her dogs "are all such sweeties." But her dogs are not well-trained. She is supposed to be almost this dog whisperer, but her own dogs are destroying the home she shares with her boyfriend, tearing up drywall and scratching up doors. This is NOT what a responsible owner/trainer does. This is what an irresponsible self-centered woman does without thinking of anyone but herself and what she wants.
On page 82, she does something so out of control that I am left thinking this woman, more like child, is simply a spoiled brat and my sympathy is with her boyfriend, not her.
I have a lot of issues with the way taking animals to the shelter is portrayed. I blame Walt Disney. Many, if not most, animal shelters try to find homes for the animals in their care. They aren't the bad guys and it seems unfair to show them as such. I know, that's my personal opinion and has nothing to do with the story, but since Lara feels that she must keep every lost dog and they can never go to the shelter, it is central to the story.
Also, she supposedly has a job, but she never goes to work. She never quits this job, either, even when she is busy from dawn to dusk developing her "dog doyenne" business. And, when it comes down to it, the dogs simply disappear from the story.
There is another plot about her living and trying to re-connect with her mother. I felt sorry for her mother, not for what she is going through, but for her argumentative brat of a daughter. Justine, Lara's mother, is trying to make a decision about her business and she and Lara argue about what she should do. Justine makes the decision for which Lara was lobbying and then Lara argues the exact opposite, telling Justine she should wait and think it over. She seems to simply enjoying arguing with her mother and making things more difficult between them. An example of Lara's interaction with her mother: page 217 "Lara wheedled and whined and stamped her foot." Is she two? Three, maybe?
There is a dog for whom she cannot find a home, but when she finds that her mother has fallen for the dog, she stomps out of the room in a fit of temper. At this point I was wondering if Lara had some kind of underlying emotional problem that we don't know about.
This has all the things you'd think would make a great read, but it just sits there and not in a good dog, sit kind of way.
Not recommended, not even for a quick beach read. Disappointment.(less)

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Jun 14, 2012 Cindy Roesel rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review first appeared at Chick Lit Central Blog!

Just like the doggies in the window on the cover of THE LUCKY DOG MATCHMAKING SERVICE, you won’t be able to resist Beth Kendrick’s new novel of the same name. I’ve been writing reviews long enough for CLC that you should know by now I’m a dog fanatic, but if you don’t, well, I am. This book had me excited with the title, thrilled by the cover and once I started reading it, well, let’s just say, you have to go buy a copy immediately!

Lara Madiga...more This review first appeared at Chick Lit Central Blog!

Just like the doggies in the window on the cover of THE LUCKY DOG MATCHMAKING SERVICE, you won’t be able to resist Beth Kendrick’s new novel of the same name. I’ve been writing reviews long enough for CLC that you should know by now I’m a dog fanatic, but if you don’t, well, I am. This book had me excited with the title, thrilled by the cover and once I started reading it, well, let’s just say, you have to go buy a copy immediately!

Lara Madigan rescues dogs finding loving homes for them. She’s essentially a matchmaker, fixing up four-legged canines with their two-legged soul mates. At the beginning of the novel, Lara’s engaged to Evan Walker who surprisingly, isn’t thrilled to share his, excuse me, their, house with all the dogs. Despite the written contract Evan has signed with Lara promising to be a “dog person,” he is more of a people person. They are in love, but Evan regularly gets angry at all the dog toys, shedding and slobbering.

Lara soon moves out and in with her mother at mom’s ultra-fancy exclusive posh gated community where Lara soon becomes the Dog Doyenne to the “real housewives of Mayfair Estates” catering to their every canine need. Beth Kendrick’s storytelling skills are delightfully tight. I love how she creates a cast of characters of super rich, neurotic, funny, likeable ladies but at the same time places high value on the friendships among the women. Her wonderful coterie of characters is deliciously fleshed out.

Soon Lara’s training neighborhood dogs, getting a “flabrador” on a diet, and showing a Bernese mountain dog on the conformation circuit. The dogs even seem to take on personalities of their own. The reader soon recognizes Eskie, Mullet, Ivory, Cleo and Murphy.

But before you think it’s all work and no play for Lara. That she’s destined to be the matchmaker and roam single, pairing up others, a rescue comes into her life that may bring her to her perfect match. This is THE LUCKY DOG MATCHMAKING SERVICE.

Beth, I do have to single you out for having a character who watched THE BOURNE IDENTITY at least 18 times. I think we are tie. Matt Damon is dreamy!

THE LUCKY DOG MATCHMAKING SERVICE and all Beth Kendrick’s novels are available on Amazon. You can find her on Facebook and Twitter and her website.
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Jan 20, 2013 Suzanne rated it 1 of 5 stars

If I didn't know better I would think this book was co-written by Emily Giffin and Tracey Garvis-Graves. A book about an unsatisfiable woman, that things miraculously always works out for. Yet it seems we are supposed to sympathize with this truly unlikable, severely immature main character; because she is surrounded by these people who are "horrible" to her (ie. her parents and boyfriend). It seems to be overlooked that Lara conducts herself like a bratty tween, therefore requiring to be treate...more

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Mar 02, 2013 Kaitlin rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is a very quick, easy read but was extremely enjoyable and one that I would recommend any other fellow dog lovers! The story was cute and made me smile :)

Lara rescues dogs - whether they happen to wonder across her path or the local vet calls to tell her about a stray they have. She helps to train them and groom them so that they would be a good match for a family. With that though, she matches the dogs to their owners - helping them to find their "soulmate." I loved the interactions she h...more

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Jun 15, 2012 Barbara rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: general-fiction, romance

There's chick-lit, and then there's a book like "The Lucky Dog Matchmaking Service." Don't let the category put you off; this one is worth the time and it's fun. Especially if you like dogs and can understand that life doesn't always work to pattern.

Our heroine, Lara, is a dog trainer/rescuer who has a knack for finding just the right person for a dog in need. But her own life is not so well-ordered; boyfriend troubles put Lara into a difficult situation with her uber-perfectionist mother, and i...more

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Jun 10, 2012 Meredith Schorr rated it 5 of 5 stars

Having grown up with a mostly absent father and a sometimes overly critical mother, Lara Madigan has always been more comfortable with and trusting of dogs than with people, with the exception of her best friend Kerri and her live-in boyfriend Evan. Unfortunately, when the dogs take over her house and home, it drives a wedge between Lara and Evan. As her career with canines hits an all-time high, Lara is forced to come to terms with her human connections.

I adored this book! Beth Kendrick fleshe...more

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Jun 14, 2012 Jen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: chick-lit, 2012

Update 6/14/2012: I originally gave this book 3 stars, but after talking to a friend about it ... I am revising it to 4 stars. She brought up some good points, which were (1) Did you care about the characters (human and canine); (2) Did you care how it ended; (3) Did you feel parts of it were accurately portrayed (not too sticky sweet). The answer to all three questions is yes. Therefore, aside from the way it was written, I think it is a good story. Once I started discussing it, I realized I ac...more

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Sep 13, 2012 Kristin rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-own

This book was rather shallow fluff, with minimal drama or plot, and I'm surprised it got published in hardcover. It started off promising, with main character Lara running a dog rescue and taking in a bunch of moody mutts who need the perfect owner. When her rescue partner's pregnancy gets in the way of taking in any more strays, forcing Lara to take over operations completely, it puts a strain on her relationship with her boyfriend, who decides he is not a dog person and evicts her from his hom...more

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Jun 30, 2012 Zann rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction-general

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. An easy read. Pleasant but kind of pointless really. If you love dogs then you might like it however. I did like the premise quite a lot, but after awhile it just wasn't enough. The protagonist was manipulated by pretty much every character she was involved with: her mother, father, a wealthy dog owner, a news reporter, a movie guy looking for a dog trainer...ugh! It annoyed me. And there were a few parts that just didn't really mesh for me. For instance:

1) A man comes to Lara (the protagonist)...more An easy read. Pleasant but kind of pointless really. If you love dogs then you might like it however. I did like the premise quite a lot, but after awhile it just wasn't enough. The protagonist was manipulated by pretty much every character she was involved with: her mother, father, a wealthy dog owner, a news reporter, a movie guy looking for a dog trainer...ugh! It annoyed me. And there were a few parts that just didn't really mesh for me. For instance:

1) A man comes to Lara (the protagonist) and asks for her help in adopting a dog. Why does he want a dog? Answer: To attract woman. Really? If I were in charge of a rescue group, that answer would generate a big "I don't think so" from me, yet Lara cheerfully matches him up with a dog. I mean seriously, if that's the only reason you want a dog, then what happens after you get the girl? Get rid of the dog? Ignore the dog? Hey, it happens. (Luckily, in this story the guy really does bond with his new dog so everything turns out okay but still...kind of a lame premise for getting a dog I think.)

2) Lara takes on a new rescue dog who might have valley fever. She tells her boyfriend that if the test results come back positive then the dog might have to have surgery. What??? I've known of a few dogs who've had valley fever, including 2 of my own and I can tell you with certainty that no vet would even mention surgery. What are you going to do surgery on? Medication is the only thing that can help. There's nothing to operate on.

3) Lara and her boyfriend break up and she goes looking for an apartment. She even gets a real estate agent to help her find a place. Okay, but she has five grown rescue dogs plus 3 puppies in her care and the time this happens. Anyone with any sense knows that no apartment management is going to allow you to keep 8 dogs! She should've been looking to rent a house with a yard. That whole premise seemed completely unrealistic.

4) Lara finds a dog running through traffic and rescues it. Turns out it belongs to her ex-boyfriend (Evan) so she takes the dog home. Evan seems pretty devoted to the dog and has been looking everywhere for her. So now the dog is sitting in Lara's car and wouldn't you think the first thing he'd want to do is run out to the car and see his dog? Nope. Instead the two of them chat for awhile, decide to get back together, start kissing and go inside to make love, leaving the dog still sitting in the car. That just sounds strange to me and probably would to any real dog lover.

5) From the time Lara meets Evan's dog, Honey, she falls in love with her. Great, but from that point on the rest of Lara's dogs aren't even mentioned! Strange. Especially since they were part of the reason Lara and Evan broke up in the first place. So did she find homes for all of them? (She still had 4 left after finding homes for the others) That aspect of the story didn't get wrapped up neatly, or at all actually.

6) And I really, really didn't like the fact that Lara and Evan got back together. I was so hoping she would find someone better suited to her and her dog centered lifestyle. Besides, Evan flushed Lara's dog's favorite toy in a fit of jealousy and anger. That's bad enough but the toy was the dog's 'security blanket' left over from his previous life with his previous owner and the way the event was described made me so sad for the dog.

Sorry to write such an uncomplimentary review but there were so many places where I wanted the story to jump off and really go somewhere and it didn't.

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Jun 22, 2012 Rebecca rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: chicklit, dog

Dogs and chick-lit, send all your recommendations my way NOW! This book covered both those topics pretty well. Sometimes the dog portion of the story gets shafted to the background, but this one was kept front and center throughout the whole story. YAY! Too bad I couldn't like the protag and her love life couldn't have been as positive. I'll start with the worst part, which was the "chick" part. It was awful. I hated hated hated the ending in that storyline. Seriously, this part was written so t...more

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Aug 08, 2012 Crystal rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: chick-lit

Cute. Fluffy. Nothing profound, especially in the romance department, although I didn't see that ending coming. I'm not sure if that's a sign of good writing or bad, though. Nothing about the romance made a lot of sense to me, but, hey, I'm not inclined to flush engagement rings down toilets, even when angry, so I may not be the right person to "get" this.
The main characters relationship with her mother and her father were depicted with more nuance, and rang true in a lot of ways. I wouldn't wa...more

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Jul 21, 2012 Michele rated it 2 of 5 stars

This is a harmless read, enjoyable if you don't think too much. Fairly likable characters, not very realistic. The story takes off with a fine plot idea but somewhere along the line the main character loses her "passion" for dog rescue and dog matchmaking and it becomes all about jobs and work and money and material things. Quite disappointing.

By the end the rescue dogs are nary mentioned, and no further thoughts are recognized of their future.

I would have liked to give a higher rating, but trul...more

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Sep 02, 2012 Alice rated it 4 of 5 stars

Fun book about 30ish woman who rescues dogs and matches them with the perfect people. She has a mom who wants her to be glamorous, a father who wants to be the fun parent, a boyfriend who thinks she's taken dog rescue too far, and a girlfriend who is equally crazy about dogs.

Light, fun, and I learned a bit about dog training and dog shows. Strong dialogue, good humor, engaging.

This is classified as chick lit, but the characters aren't featherheaded as they have been in some chick lit I've read...more

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May 23, 2012 Linda rated it 5 of 5 stars

I love dogs and I love Beth Kendrick's books, so reading this book was a no-brainer. Don't let the cute cover fool you -- this isn't some fluffy chick lit book. Kendrick does a wonderful job of exploring the complex relationship between mothers and daughters and fathers and daughters, and how our past relationships impact our future decisions. Anyone who loves dogs will certainly love all of the cute canines in this book that Kendrick so skillfully brings to life, but beyond the dog fare is a we...more

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Jun 01, 2012 Julia rated it 3 of 5 stars

While not my favorite of Kendrick's wonderful books, I enjoyed the look at Lara Madigan's unconventional life as a Dog Doyenne! Lara's real life relationships rarely work out as well as those with canine companions. She and her friend Kerry run a piecemeal dog rescue operation out of both of their homes. Lara, however, is the one with the knack of matching the perfect person with the perfect dog. Kendrick does really well with the people relationships too. Lara's complicated life with her divorc...more

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Nov 16, 2012 Gabrielle rated it 2 of 5 stars

One of the problems with this book is me the reader. I am not wild about the genre. Why then did you pick up the book? Because I like reading about dogs and I don't hate "chick-lit" so it wasn't like I was picking the book up to criticize it.

I think that the whole ad hoc rescue thing rubbed me the wrong way. I mean if you are going to run a dog rescue then do it legitimately. Remember I never said that this was entirely fair! I was vaguely irritated by Lara although I did like a lot of the suppo...more

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May 03, 2012 CB rated it 5 of 5 stars

I was lucky enough - no pun intended - to receive an ARC of this book.

Beth Kendrick is a favorite author of mine for her humorous but emotional women's fiction novels, and LUCKY DOG is no exception. I found myself laughing at Lara's trials and tribulations with her canine companions, while deeply invested in Lara's emotional journey.

Lara Madigan is a dog trainer with a gift: no matter how grubby or unlikeable the exterior (be it human or dog) she can find them their perfect animal/person match....more

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Feb 18, 2013 Leona rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: chick-lit

I read this as part of our Library Valentines "Blind Date" program. You walked into the library and picked from a stack of a books that were wrapped. I thought this was rather clever, and even though I already had a Valentines date with my husband, I figured what the heck. I always enjoy a surprise.

This turned out to be a very light hearted read. I would have enjoyed it a bit more had the author further explored the relationship and character development. But still kin of fun if you enjoy a fur...more

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May 18, 2013 Eddy Allen rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: animals-and-children

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Feb 07, 2013 She-Who-Reads rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: chicklit, dogs, romance, parent-child-relationships, family, contemporary

I really enjoyed this book! It's a "non-romance romance" -- it's not a romance novel and the romantic relationship isn't the main focus of the book, but it is important to it, and it frames the story. The most important relationships in this book -- besides the human/canine ones -- are the relationships between Lara and her parents. Her relationships with her mother and her father are very different (her mother, although devoted to providing Lara with everything she needs, is critical and seems...more

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Jun 05, 2012 Lauren rated it 5 of 5 stars

I saw this at the library and since I love any stories that deal with dogs, I thought I'd pick it up. Kendrick wrote a delightful book. Lara is the "doggie matchmaker" she looks at people and can almost instantly match a person up with their ideal canine soulmate. She's very devoted to her dogs and we see how that affects her relationship with her boyfriend and her very prim & proper mother.
Definitely a great light-hearted read, had just the right amount of humor,

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May 22, 2012 Amanda rated it 4 of 5 stars

Totally cute book! This was a first time read for me by Beth Kendrick and I have to say I enjoyed it. I actually found myself trying to guess which dog she would pair up with which person!! I laughed at times and got teary eye'd at others and I think all of those things combined make for a great book. The story was well developed and I enjoyed the characters. If you are looking for a cute easy read then this book is for you... only if you like dogs though;)

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May 30, 2012 Marcy Graybill rated it 2 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jun 13, 2012 Jenn O'Brien rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

This is the perfect book for a Sunday afternoon, a pitcher of pink lemonade, light jazz on the radio and a comfortable reading chair on the patio. It is light and breezy and just right for any dog lover.

The characters in this book are a lot of fun, they all had such varied personalities and backgrounds that it made for an interesting group. I adored the Jane Austen couple - how much fun to have a Austen-esqe house in the middle of Arizona.

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May 16, 2012 Marcia rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, x2012

Actual Rating: ***1/2

Love me, love my dogs--that should be Lara Madigan's life motto. She has a way with the rescue dogs that come her way, but not so much with her family and boyfriend. A fun, furry read especially if there's a dog in your life who can melt your soul with his soft, chocolate eyes.

A Quote of Note (to me)
Maybe the key to happiness was having a short memory and the conviction that all of life's problems could be solved with a chew toy, a nap, and the occasional belly rub.

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Jun 26, 2012 Jaye rated it 4 of 5 stars

Don't judge my trash dammit. I just adopted a new mutt and he's making me insane, this book is just what I needed to lighten my mood and relax. And honestly, I thought that the character of the protagonist's mother was really well written. Just reading her made me uncomfortable to be quite honest. This isn't high art, but it was a well written light read that had some really good character development.

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May 23, 2012 Maryellen rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: kindle-read

Honestly, this is more like 3 1/2 stars. The story's about a woman whose life revolves around dogs, both matchmaking rescues and other interesting dog jobs, bookended with a neurotic perfectionist mother and a father who is in la la land. The ending just didn't ring true to me, which is why it gets 3 (1/2) stars instead of the 5 I want to give it for fun readability.

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About Beth Kendrick

This is the part where I’m supposed to brag about all my illustrious accomplishments, but honestly, I’d rather talk about my dogs and brag about some of the things I haven’t done:

I’ve never been to prison*, court-ordered rehab*, or splashed across the cover of a salacious weekly gossip tabloid with my ladybits on display**.

I’m a Leo, a middle child, and a formidable Trivial Pursuit opponent. I re...more This is the part where I’m supposed to brag about all my illustrious accomplishments, but honestly, I’d rather talk about my dogs and brag about some of the things I haven’t done:

I’ve never been to prison*, court-ordered rehab*, or splashed across the cover of a salacious weekly gossip tabloid with my ladybits on display**.

I’m a Leo, a middle child, and a formidable Trivial Pursuit opponent. I read everything I can get my hands on, from the classics to comic books. I don’t drink coffee because, frankly, I’m high strung enough without adding caffeine into the mix. Here is the true story of how I became a novelist:

So I had just started seeing this guy, and on our second or third date, he invited me to be his guest at a family wedding. Being young and free and a bit commitment-shy, I was about to decline until he casually mentioned that the bride was a successful romance novelist. Well, the second I heard that, I had to go. Being a writer had always been my dream job, and I’d never met anyone who’d actually beaten the odds and made the leap into big-time publishing. So I RSVP-ed, sidled up to the bar at the reception, waited until the bride and all her author friends uncorked the good champagne, and then peppered them with endless questions about writing, editing, and landing an agent. They were so funny and encouraging and generous with their time and advice. (And drunk!) Next thing you know, I had joined a critique group and was knee-deep in the manuscript that would eventually become MY FAVORITE MISTAKE. The open bar at that wedding changed my life forever.

Oh, and the guy who invited me to the wedding? I ended up marrying him. All together: awww…

I live in Arizona in a very cute fixer-upper that my husband and I bought in a burst of can-do, pioneering confidence. We thought it would be fun to embark on a series of do-it-yourself renovations. Yeah. I know. Turns out, replacing baseboard that’s been painted over 15 times since 1958 is not as easy as those Home Depot commercials would lead you to believe. Also, freshly-installed lawn drip systems and “helpful” dogs are a bad mix.

Friday and RoxieSpeaking of dogs, here we have the indefatigable canine lawn maintenance crew: Roxie and Friday. Both were rescued from the pound when they were puppies. I think they’re Rhodesian Ridgeback mixes. (Probably. Maybe? Anything’s possible.) Roxie is the brains of the operation and Friday is…well, he’s very sweet. And so indolent he could be mistaken for a piece of furniture, which I consider a very desirable trait in a family dog.

I absolutely love hearing from readers, so please feel free to email me, with the caveat that I am often on deadline/on the road/on the ragged edge of sanity, so it may be awhile before you get a reply. Just know that it’s not you; it’s me!

Have fun exploring the site, and if you have any questions about my new book, my backlist, or finding an agent…I’ll be right over there at the bar.

*Yet.

**That I know of.(less)

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title link	preview: The Lucky Dog Matchmaking Service
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BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12196871-the-lucky-dog-matchmaking-service?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348567955l/12196871.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12196871-the-lucky-dog-matchmaking-service?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]The Lucky Dog Matchmaking Service by Beth Kendrick[/url]

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