What do you think?
Rate this book
Lucie Rizzo Mystery #2
Knocked Off
(Previously titled Dog Collar Knockoff)
Being stuck in the old neighborhood is the last thing reluctant mob princess Lucie Rizzo wants. With her new business on the verge of success—bada bing!—she’s ready to go from unemployed to entrepreneur. Lucie’s determined to make a name for herself. One not tarnished by her dad’s mobster rep.
So when an art deal she brokered between clients turns suspicious, it’s up to Lucie to uncover the truth. She might not know the difference between Monet and Manet, but Rizzos are no strangers to jail time—and Lucie refuses to be someone’s prison bitch.
Unless that someone is a tall, blond and Irish cop. Detective Tim O’Brien might be on the wrong side of the law by Rizzo standards, but everything about him is oh-so-right. He’s not shy about making Lucie feel wanted, mafia ties and all. Even joining her crack—or crackpot—team on the trail of two paintings with equally shady origins.
Being stuck in the old neighborhood is the last thing reluctant mob princess Lucie Rizzo wants. With her new business on the verge of success—bada bing!—she’s ready to go from unemployed to entrepreneur. Lucie’s determined to make a name for herself. One not tarnished by her dad’s mobster rep.
So when an art deal she brokered between clients turns suspicious, it’s up to Lucie to uncover the truth. She might not know the difference between Monet and Manet, but Rizzos are no strangers to jail time—and Lucie refuses to be someone’s prison bitch.
Unless that someone is a tall, blond and Irish cop. Detective Tim O’Brien might be on the wrong side of the law by Rizzo standards, but everything about him is oh-so-right. He’s not shy about making Lucie feel wanted, mafia ties and all. Even joining her crack—or crackpot—team on the trail of two paintings with equally shady origins.
252 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 9, 2016
211 people are currently reading
205 people want to read
About the author
Adrienne Giordano
108 books857 followersAuthor also writes as Anne Dano
Adrienne Giordano is a USA Today bestselling author of over thirty romantic suspense and mystery novels. She is a Jersey girl at heart, but now lives in the Midwest with her ultimate supporter of a husband, sports-obsessed son and Elliot, a snuggle-happy rescue. Having grown up near the ocean, Adrienne enjoys paddleboarding, a nice float in a kayak and lounging on the beach with a good book.
For more information on Adrienne’s books, please visit www.AdrienneGiordano.com. Adrienne can also be found on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/AdrienneGiord..., Twitter at http://twitter.com/AdriennGiordano and Goodreads at http://www.goodreads.com/AdrienneGior....
Adrienne Giordano is a USA Today bestselling author of over thirty romantic suspense and mystery novels. She is a Jersey girl at heart, but now lives in the Midwest with her ultimate supporter of a husband, sports-obsessed son and Elliot, a snuggle-happy rescue. Having grown up near the ocean, Adrienne enjoys paddleboarding, a nice float in a kayak and lounging on the beach with a good book.
For more information on Adrienne’s books, please visit www.AdrienneGiordano.com. Adrienne can also be found on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/AdrienneGiord..., Twitter at http://twitter.com/AdriennGiordano and Goodreads at http://www.goodreads.com/AdrienneGior....
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews
September 30, 2018
Another winner and worthy follow-up to Dog Collar Crime in the second book in the Lucie Rizzo series. If you enjoy light hearted romantic mysteries, you will love this book. I frequently found myself smiling while reading and loved following Lucie's tale as she continued to struggle with the bonds of being a mafia princess. And what could any mafia princess want more than an Irish cop? The author made the two come together in a plausible and endearing way that is also very entertaining. I strongly recommend this to fans of the genre - it's a must read.
January 9, 2016
I love this series so much! Lucie Rizzo and Frankie Falcone's (the adult children of mob bosses) relationship is off again and Lucie takes up with Detective Tim O'Brien. The author brought a lot of laugh-out-loud moments to the story as Lucie runs around trying to prove someone is selling forged paintings to her pet sitting clients. The author has a way of pulling you right into the story and making you never want to leave. The description of a certain painting certainly holds you in the moment! Can't wait for the next book in the series!
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
April 5, 2017
I like Lucie. She is trying to stay straight, which can be difficult in a mob family. After being laid off, she came back home and started a dog-walking business that bloomed into dog accessories with her friend and family's help.
The characters are fun. Lucie and Joey have a cute sibling relationship. Her best friend is a bit stereotypical, but fun. And it looks like the love triangle is over.
This time Lucie is training a new employee who is interested in art that ends up leading her into looking into art forgery scheme.
The characters are fun. Lucie and Joey have a cute sibling relationship. Her best friend is a bit stereotypical, but fun. And it looks like the love triangle is over.
This time Lucie is training a new employee who is interested in art that ends up leading her into looking into art forgery scheme.
January 19, 2018
Dog Collar Knockoff by Adrienne Giordano is the second book in her Lucie Rizzo series. It was another fun ride with Lucie as she investigates the world of art fraud.
Lucie and Frankie have split up - again but this time it's Frankie's choice. Lucie is keeping busy with her dog walking business and her Coco Barknell line of dog accessories. She also begins an investigation into what could possibly be art fraud that involves her and one of her dog walking clients.
Ro and Joey are back and this time things are heating up between them. Lucie also has a new love interest in the Irish cop, Tim O'Brien. I found it refreshing that Ms. Giordano wrote from Tim's perspective a few times in the story.
Fast paced plot with laughter and family and friends as Lucie continues to grow up as her own individual. This one has it all with mystery, romance, humor and love between family and friends.
I was given an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Lucie and Frankie have split up - again but this time it's Frankie's choice. Lucie is keeping busy with her dog walking business and her Coco Barknell line of dog accessories. She also begins an investigation into what could possibly be art fraud that involves her and one of her dog walking clients.
Ro and Joey are back and this time things are heating up between them. Lucie also has a new love interest in the Irish cop, Tim O'Brien. I found it refreshing that Ms. Giordano wrote from Tim's perspective a few times in the story.
Fast paced plot with laughter and family and friends as Lucie continues to grow up as her own individual. This one has it all with mystery, romance, humor and love between family and friends.
I was given an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 19, 2025
Knocked Off is a witty and fast-paced cozy mystery-style story that will leave you laughing and cheering for Lucie and her band of merry helpers! If you've read book one, you're already acquainted with Ms. Giordano's cast of characters, but if not, that's okay; she does a fine job of introducing each character in this book for the reader.
Lucie runs a dog walking/dog apparel company that is picking up some big-name clients, and she's had to hire help. This is a good thing, until her new hire notices something rather suspicious at a client's home. A piece of artwork that, to her knowledge, would never be in a private collection. Lucie, running on a tight schedule, manages to convince her that she'll ask around, but thinks nothing more of it. Until Lucie remembers she's Joe Rizzo's daughter, and ignoring something fishy would be a good way to end up in the klink... just like her mob boss father, Joe. In fact, he's due to be sprung, which is another thing complicating Lucie's life.
To make matters more entertaining, she's dating a cop! Not just any cop, either. An Irish cop, so she's mostly sure her father will disown her when he returns home, which is the reason she's got to find a new place to run her business. Enter the rundown shop on the main street. It's rough, but the potential is there, which she quickly convinces her best friend, Ro, of when she puts her in charge of fixing it up. Add in her zany brother, Joey, and you have a cast of characters that will leave you giggling on every other page.
Knocked Off is a mix of mystery, romance, and family drama that Ms. Giordano skillfully weaves together, creating a narrative that is fun, spunky, heartwarming, and filled with Lucie's determination to be on the right side of the law. If you're looking for a read with a unique plot, well-developed characters, and a satisfying conclusion for any cozy mystery fan, Knocked Off should be on your TBR!
Lucie runs a dog walking/dog apparel company that is picking up some big-name clients, and she's had to hire help. This is a good thing, until her new hire notices something rather suspicious at a client's home. A piece of artwork that, to her knowledge, would never be in a private collection. Lucie, running on a tight schedule, manages to convince her that she'll ask around, but thinks nothing more of it. Until Lucie remembers she's Joe Rizzo's daughter, and ignoring something fishy would be a good way to end up in the klink... just like her mob boss father, Joe. In fact, he's due to be sprung, which is another thing complicating Lucie's life.
To make matters more entertaining, she's dating a cop! Not just any cop, either. An Irish cop, so she's mostly sure her father will disown her when he returns home, which is the reason she's got to find a new place to run her business. Enter the rundown shop on the main street. It's rough, but the potential is there, which she quickly convinces her best friend, Ro, of when she puts her in charge of fixing it up. Add in her zany brother, Joey, and you have a cast of characters that will leave you giggling on every other page.
Knocked Off is a mix of mystery, romance, and family drama that Ms. Giordano skillfully weaves together, creating a narrative that is fun, spunky, heartwarming, and filled with Lucie's determination to be on the right side of the law. If you're looking for a read with a unique plot, well-developed characters, and a satisfying conclusion for any cozy mystery fan, Knocked Off should be on your TBR!
January 16, 2016
I am typically not a fan of cozy mystery books because I usually want more action and more heat, but Adrienne Giordano does a fantastic job with her Lucie Rizzo Mystery series. Dog Collar Knockoff is the second book in the series and so entertaining. I enjoy Lucie so much. She is such a loveable character and I give her so much credit for wanting to make her own way in life - legitimately. She doesn't want to be known as the Mob Boss' daughter or use his connections or cronies to get ahead. She finds herself caught up in some sort of illegal scheme though and the way she gets out of it is entertaining to say the least. Giordano packs in a lot of humor so you are always laughing or shaking your head at Lucie. The book is filled with great characters so it's hard to put it down wondering what will happen next.
March 29, 2016
I loved this book and a great addition to the series. Never a dull moment with Lucie around. With her mob father coming home from prison Lucie needs to move her business from the dining room table. Finding a place that needs work but as they are remodeling the place they discover some stolen track suits. Lucie also gets involved with trying to find out if her clients art work is fake since she helped them get the pieces. Her brother Joey gets involved with her BFF who is going through a divorce. Frankie and Tim the cop are fighting over Lucie. This is a funny and full of surprises story. A very enjoyable read. Well written and the characters are amazing and work so well together. Read the book today for a fun read.
July 4, 2017
Once again, Lucie is walking dogs and growing her new business. She and her friend Ro are going to move into a building so that when Lucie's father comes home, he won't be upset that she is running a business out of his dining room. As she is getting the building put together, she comes across some boxes with track suits in them. All of a sudden the police show up and she is hauled off to jail. Joey comes to the rescue and Tim is there as well. Then, she uncovers an art scheme that cost her clients a lot of money and could land her in jail for fraud. She and Ro investigate. Along the way she is letting go of some old things and figuring out that she likes a few new things in her life.
January 7, 2016
I received an ARC copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
If you like funny mystery solving stories then this is one to read. Lucie Rizzoli has a way with dogs to start up her own company to accessorize them all. She is a hard working honest individual and gets suck into things she doesn't like, but it doesn't get the best of her way of thinking.
Adrienne Giordano has a way to keep you turning pages just to get to the ending. You don't want to put the book down. Well written, funny with lovable characters.
If you like funny mystery solving stories then this is one to read. Lucie Rizzoli has a way with dogs to start up her own company to accessorize them all. She is a hard working honest individual and gets suck into things she doesn't like, but it doesn't get the best of her way of thinking.
Adrienne Giordano has a way to keep you turning pages just to get to the ending. You don't want to put the book down. Well written, funny with lovable characters.
January 14, 2023
Lucie is having to figure out life now that she’s in the off phase with Frankie at his request. That leaves her open to a relationship/attraction with Detective O’Hottie (Tim) but first she must deal with art forgery that she may have inadvertently brokered and also the horror of learning and witnessing her brother Joey and best friend Ro, rekindling their relationship. Between trying to figure out her relationship with Frankie and her attraction to Tim, Lucie has to clear her name and save her business.
February 23, 2016
The second book in the Lucie Rizzo mystery series picks up not long after the end of the first one, but a lot has happened in that time. Lucie and Frankie are broken up, this time at Frankie's insistence. Lucie's budding business of dog walking and high-end pet accessories is taking off, so much so, she's hired an assistant. Her young apprentice is an art major and notices some famous paintings hanging in the homes of Lucie's clients, raising concerns about their authenticity. Most of the book centers around this mystery, especially with her on-again-off-again relationship with Frankie in the off position. But the young, hot detective who helped her out in the first book is still hanging around, and his interest in Lucie might not be one-sided.
Plot
The mystery is the main plot and it moves much faster than in the first novel. And while the author lets on pretty early what's going on, there were a couple of really good unexpected twists. Lucie's love triangle is a strong subplot and particularly well done. I neither love nor hate love triangles as a whole, but I do loathe poorly executed ones. Luckily that's not the case here. Both guys have merit and both are easy to love. Lucie's conundrum is wholly believable.
Characters
I love that both Lucie and Frankie went through some character development in this book. In a lot of mystery series' the characters are stagnant, but not with this series. The cast is still a lovable bunch of colorful goofballs, but they're more meaty than stereotypical. Lucie is introspective and knows she has a bunch of stuff to figure out, and it's great that she doesn't take the easy way out. Of anything.
Ending
I didn't seen the ending coming and I'm happy with the way this chapter of Lucie's life is wrapped up. I'm fully onboard with the Lucie Rizzo Mysteries now and looking forward to the next one.
What Didn't Work for Me
1. Lack of grippiness. If that's even a word. I never really felt like Lucie was ever in any danger. It's a fun read, but a little more edge-of-your-seat moments would have made this a real page-turner.
What I Enjoyed About Dog Collar Knockoff
1. The pacing. This second book in the series moved at a faster clip than the first, which made it a fun, fast read.
2. Chemistry. As much as I loved the Lucie/Frankie chemistry in the first book, I can't deny she and Tim have their own sizzle. Adrienne Giordano writes a really believable love triangle.
3. The dogs. In the first book, I almost thought there were too many dogs. I mean, she's a dog walker, but I still felt like I spent an inordinate amount of time reading about dogs taking a dump. This time, I actually looked forward to Lucie's time with them. They've grown on me the way my own four-legged friend has. The one we got for the kids who has decided I'm his person and I've reluctantly accepted that.
4. Ro and Joey. These two will either kill each other or wind up together. If Joey was taking bets on his own life, the odds would be 50/50.
5. The mystery. The mystery was very different than the first one, and was well executed, which isn't always easy to do.
Bottom Line
The second book in the series is even better than the first and I'm looking forward to the release of the third.
Disclaimer
I was provided with a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Plot
The mystery is the main plot and it moves much faster than in the first novel. And while the author lets on pretty early what's going on, there were a couple of really good unexpected twists. Lucie's love triangle is a strong subplot and particularly well done. I neither love nor hate love triangles as a whole, but I do loathe poorly executed ones. Luckily that's not the case here. Both guys have merit and both are easy to love. Lucie's conundrum is wholly believable.
Characters
I love that both Lucie and Frankie went through some character development in this book. In a lot of mystery series' the characters are stagnant, but not with this series. The cast is still a lovable bunch of colorful goofballs, but they're more meaty than stereotypical. Lucie is introspective and knows she has a bunch of stuff to figure out, and it's great that she doesn't take the easy way out. Of anything.
Ending
I didn't seen the ending coming and I'm happy with the way this chapter of Lucie's life is wrapped up. I'm fully onboard with the Lucie Rizzo Mysteries now and looking forward to the next one.
What Didn't Work for Me
1. Lack of grippiness. If that's even a word. I never really felt like Lucie was ever in any danger. It's a fun read, but a little more edge-of-your-seat moments would have made this a real page-turner.
What I Enjoyed About Dog Collar Knockoff
1. The pacing. This second book in the series moved at a faster clip than the first, which made it a fun, fast read.
2. Chemistry. As much as I loved the Lucie/Frankie chemistry in the first book, I can't deny she and Tim have their own sizzle. Adrienne Giordano writes a really believable love triangle.
3. The dogs. In the first book, I almost thought there were too many dogs. I mean, she's a dog walker, but I still felt like I spent an inordinate amount of time reading about dogs taking a dump. This time, I actually looked forward to Lucie's time with them. They've grown on me the way my own four-legged friend has. The one we got for the kids who has decided I'm his person and I've reluctantly accepted that.
4. Ro and Joey. These two will either kill each other or wind up together. If Joey was taking bets on his own life, the odds would be 50/50.
5. The mystery. The mystery was very different than the first one, and was well executed, which isn't always easy to do.
Bottom Line
The second book in the series is even better than the first and I'm looking forward to the release of the third.
Disclaimer
I was provided with a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
February 10, 2016
Dog Collar Knockoff by Adrienne Giordano
The second book in a light mystery series. A bit more humorous than the first. Mostly in third person from Lucie's point of view but as a treat, also occasionally from Tim's view point. Now we know that he thinks she is utterly adorable. Nice!
Lucie Rizzo (aka mob princess) once again finds herself in the middle of a mystery and unfortunately, gets arrested for holding stolen goods. But she's "the good girl"! Of course, she has no idea how those tracksuits got in her store. Now she needs to prove it to the police. A bit of sleuthing by her family and BFF stirs up the neighborhood because it's not just the tracksuits, but her clients acquiring questionable art that she's investigating. Between the dogs, the BFF, the cop, the on-again-off-again boyfriend and brother, it's hi jinx in the city.
I highly recommend this humorous and entertaining mystery.
Excerpt:
“On her way home, Lucie stopped off at the shop to make sure everything was locked. Her new routine since her arrest. From now on, the place would be locked up tight.
By the newly installed locks.
At this point, she'd adopted Joey's favorite saying: Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, I'll kill you where you stand.”
Excerpt From: Giordano, Adrienne. “Dog Collar Knockoff.”
The second book in a light mystery series. A bit more humorous than the first. Mostly in third person from Lucie's point of view but as a treat, also occasionally from Tim's view point. Now we know that he thinks she is utterly adorable. Nice!
Lucie Rizzo (aka mob princess) once again finds herself in the middle of a mystery and unfortunately, gets arrested for holding stolen goods. But she's "the good girl"! Of course, she has no idea how those tracksuits got in her store. Now she needs to prove it to the police. A bit of sleuthing by her family and BFF stirs up the neighborhood because it's not just the tracksuits, but her clients acquiring questionable art that she's investigating. Between the dogs, the BFF, the cop, the on-again-off-again boyfriend and brother, it's hi jinx in the city.
I highly recommend this humorous and entertaining mystery.
Excerpt:
“On her way home, Lucie stopped off at the shop to make sure everything was locked. Her new routine since her arrest. From now on, the place would be locked up tight.
By the newly installed locks.
At this point, she'd adopted Joey's favorite saying: Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, I'll kill you where you stand.”
Excerpt From: Giordano, Adrienne. “Dog Collar Knockoff.”
January 13, 2016
Dog Collar Knockoff by Adrienne Giordano.
Lucie feels her world is falling apart when Frankie her on again off again boy friend says he wants a break. Luckily her dog accessories business and dog walking business are taking off so she is busy.
New love interest shows up in the form of an Irish cop which makes for interesting bedfellows with a Mob princess.
Lovable characters, funny characters, strange dogs, and fraud brings an interesting story that you don't want to put down. Humor that keeps you laughing so that you have a hard time seeing to read.
You probably won't look at a wheelbarrow in the same way again after reading this book.
Andrienne has a special way of keeping you engaged by weaving the humor, loyalty, love, and doing what is right together to bring a great story to her readers.
Lucie feels her world is falling apart when Frankie her on again off again boy friend says he wants a break. Luckily her dog accessories business and dog walking business are taking off so she is busy.
New love interest shows up in the form of an Irish cop which makes for interesting bedfellows with a Mob princess.
Lovable characters, funny characters, strange dogs, and fraud brings an interesting story that you don't want to put down. Humor that keeps you laughing so that you have a hard time seeing to read.
You probably won't look at a wheelbarrow in the same way again after reading this book.
Andrienne has a special way of keeping you engaged by weaving the humor, loyalty, love, and doing what is right together to bring a great story to her readers.
August 26, 2020
I didn't care for the mystery part of this book as much as in Book 1. This time Lucie goes looking for trouble then whines "why me"? This book doesn't focus on the dogs as much either which was the main reason I started the series in the first place. While well written, the author focused more on Lucie's dating life instead. That would have been fine if it was with Frankie. O'Brien was nice but I missed Frankie and was disappointed. All the times she's broken up with him he's waited for her. The ONE time he breaks things off just to figure out some things, she's ready to jump into bed with another guy. Tim's constant "she's so adorable" was nauseating. Like she was a small child or puppy. All it took for her to be happy was a new guy? I'm skipping Book 3.
February 4, 2016
I enjoyed the first book in this series but I loved this one! I'm not sure why - maybe it is the interactions between Lucie & Tim (so funny!) or the humping actions of Oscar (the dog), or the talk about a painting called Position Seven which represented early European Erotic art...and of course the men in the book had to check it out on the website many times!
This book just made me laugh throughout and I like that the "case" to be solved isn't a murder. I was shocked by how it ended (who was involved) but it was an interesting twist.
This is a great series and I can't wait to see what happens next with Lucie, Tim, Frankie, Ro and Joey!
This book just made me laugh throughout and I like that the "case" to be solved isn't a murder. I was shocked by how it ended (who was involved) but it was an interesting twist.
This is a great series and I can't wait to see what happens next with Lucie, Tim, Frankie, Ro and Joey!
February 9, 2016
Ok this series had been great fun! Luce and Frankie are off again and Hot Irish Cop Tim wants Luce , and man is he a hard one to resist ). Someone is trying to get Luce in trouble with the law because she stumbles across something that "seem's off" and she is right lol. Her best friend is helping her get Coco Barknel up and running in their own store and loves to spare with Joey Luce's brother ( more sparks hehe ) , This is truly a fun fast read ( i didn't want to put it down ) can't wait for more !
February 14, 2016
4 star
I was pulled right into this story. The story has laughs, suspense, and heartbreak.
This is more of Lucie's story. Lucie is trying to get to the truth. She is currently not with Frankie and a detective just might be making a move. O'Brien just might be making a move. Can he help her with the investigation or will he steer her in the wrong direction? Who should she trust? Lots of mystery and a little bit of suspense for this story.
I felt I was able to connect with the characters and the story was a great read.
I recommend this book.
I was pulled right into this story. The story has laughs, suspense, and heartbreak.
This is more of Lucie's story. Lucie is trying to get to the truth. She is currently not with Frankie and a detective just might be making a move. O'Brien just might be making a move. Can he help her with the investigation or will he steer her in the wrong direction? Who should she trust? Lots of mystery and a little bit of suspense for this story.
I felt I was able to connect with the characters and the story was a great read.
I recommend this book.
February 8, 2016
I love this series!! It is witty and different enough to keep it interesting.
Lucie and Frankie are off again! When she ends up looking for stolen art a certain cop makes his interest known. He isn't worried with her family ties and he's Irish ....need I say more. I love quirky stories with leading characters that are fun and mischievous. This is another great addition to the series!
Lucie and Frankie are off again! When she ends up looking for stolen art a certain cop makes his interest known. He isn't worried with her family ties and he's Irish ....need I say more. I love quirky stories with leading characters that are fun and mischievous. This is another great addition to the series!
January 26, 2018
The day I read Dog Collar Crimes, it was the first day I had any relief from months of suffering all day morning sickness. It has been long enough from then that my son is able to hear sound, so when I received my ARC of Knocked Off I thought I would get into the practice of reading aloud. Needless to say it took me a little longer to read than it normally takes me to get through a book. I had to stop every so often at the joy of feeling my son’s activity in my belly. I don’t know if he was just going off of my emotion or if he may happen to be a genius and can understand what I was reading, but when I would laugh at one of the many humorous part in the book, he would dance around. When I would slow my breathing down during a particularly suspenseful scene, he would seem to still all movements. When Lucie got into her Italian temper, protective nature, or a bout of betrayal; my son would kick out with vengeance almost like he wanted to be there to help her out.
Knocked Off is a fantastic story, continuing where Dog Collar Crimes left off. Lucie is off of her on again off again boyfriend Frankie (his choice this time) and this allows her to figure out a little more about herself and growing into the person she really is deep down (not a mob princess) and that others might also see her the same way she sees herself. Her business is growing enough that she finds a store front to fixup and moves her headquarters for Coco Barknell into (plus her mob father is being released early for good behavior, so she has two weeks to move it out of her mother’s dining room before world war three happened). She hires a new employee, Lauren, to help her with walking her furry clients. While training, Lauren an art major happens to notice a few extraordinary pieces of art and asks Lucie about them. The information Lucie gains doesn’t set well with her and she starts to investigate the strangeness around the artwork and the dealer. Lucie pulls her brother and best friend into the investigation and with a little assistance from the hot Irish cop, finds out that her gut instincts were correct the entire time and faces betrayal on several fronts. She learns and accepts herself more throughout the story; including going to dad isn’t always a bad thing when you really need to and that moving on from what you know and love isn’t always a bad thing.
I completely enjoyed Knocked Off and look forward to reading what is next for Lucie and the gang. :-)
Knocked Off is a fantastic story, continuing where Dog Collar Crimes left off. Lucie is off of her on again off again boyfriend Frankie (his choice this time) and this allows her to figure out a little more about herself and growing into the person she really is deep down (not a mob princess) and that others might also see her the same way she sees herself. Her business is growing enough that she finds a store front to fixup and moves her headquarters for Coco Barknell into (plus her mob father is being released early for good behavior, so she has two weeks to move it out of her mother’s dining room before world war three happened). She hires a new employee, Lauren, to help her with walking her furry clients. While training, Lauren an art major happens to notice a few extraordinary pieces of art and asks Lucie about them. The information Lucie gains doesn’t set well with her and she starts to investigate the strangeness around the artwork and the dealer. Lucie pulls her brother and best friend into the investigation and with a little assistance from the hot Irish cop, finds out that her gut instincts were correct the entire time and faces betrayal on several fronts. She learns and accepts herself more throughout the story; including going to dad isn’t always a bad thing when you really need to and that moving on from what you know and love isn’t always a bad thing.
I completely enjoyed Knocked Off and look forward to reading what is next for Lucie and the gang. :-)
April 19, 2018
Dog Collar Knockoff (renamed "Knocked Off"), A Lucie Rizzo Mystery, Book 2,
by Adrienne Giordano.
Not sure why the author or her publisher decided to rename all the books in this series, but they did. I have a couple more, and they bear the original names, which all include the words 'Dog Collar,' so, for them, I'll be posting reviews giving both names.
In this episode, Mr. Lutz, Lucie's former boss has purchased a piece of art purporting to be from an important artist named Gomez. He purchased the painting from a local gallery owner, Bart, whose dog was one of Lucie's 'customers.' Lucie's business is growing fast, and she's hired a college student to help with the dog-walking. When they go to the Lutz house to pick up Oscar for his walk, the student, who's major is art, sees the painting. She's excited to be seeing a piece from this artist, as the artist was reknowned for only selling his work from a specific gallery in Michigan. Lucie promises to get some information for the student regarding the painting, and the whole process plants a seed of doubt as to whether the painting is the original that Mr. Lutz believed it to be. When she discovers another of her dog-walking clients has purchased a painting from Bart that was purported to be painted by another famous artist whose family has held onto the paintings and almost always refuses to sell them, Lucie is sure she's stumbled onto an art fraud scam. She gets her brother Joey, her BFF Ro, and her maybe new boyfriend, Tim, the local detective, involved in the investigation. Is it a scam? Who is involved? Just Bart, or are others involved, and does the fact that the connection to both of the paintings came from the two buyers knowing Lucie, she wonders if she could be implicated in the scam. With her business growing and moving into a storefront, and her father being released early from prison, Frankie leaving Franklin to take a job in NYC, and her budding 'maybe' romance with Franklin Detective, Tim, Lucie's plate is full to overflowing!
Good plotting and pacing, good proofreading and editing. The characters are fully fleshed (and graphically fleshed in some instances) and consistent. This was a quick and fun read.
by Adrienne Giordano.
Not sure why the author or her publisher decided to rename all the books in this series, but they did. I have a couple more, and they bear the original names, which all include the words 'Dog Collar,' so, for them, I'll be posting reviews giving both names.
In this episode, Mr. Lutz, Lucie's former boss has purchased a piece of art purporting to be from an important artist named Gomez. He purchased the painting from a local gallery owner, Bart, whose dog was one of Lucie's 'customers.' Lucie's business is growing fast, and she's hired a college student to help with the dog-walking. When they go to the Lutz house to pick up Oscar for his walk, the student, who's major is art, sees the painting. She's excited to be seeing a piece from this artist, as the artist was reknowned for only selling his work from a specific gallery in Michigan. Lucie promises to get some information for the student regarding the painting, and the whole process plants a seed of doubt as to whether the painting is the original that Mr. Lutz believed it to be. When she discovers another of her dog-walking clients has purchased a painting from Bart that was purported to be painted by another famous artist whose family has held onto the paintings and almost always refuses to sell them, Lucie is sure she's stumbled onto an art fraud scam. She gets her brother Joey, her BFF Ro, and her maybe new boyfriend, Tim, the local detective, involved in the investigation. Is it a scam? Who is involved? Just Bart, or are others involved, and does the fact that the connection to both of the paintings came from the two buyers knowing Lucie, she wonders if she could be implicated in the scam. With her business growing and moving into a storefront, and her father being released early from prison, Frankie leaving Franklin to take a job in NYC, and her budding 'maybe' romance with Franklin Detective, Tim, Lucie's plate is full to overflowing!
Good plotting and pacing, good proofreading and editing. The characters are fully fleshed (and graphically fleshed in some instances) and consistent. This was a quick and fun read.
March 3, 2024
This was only so-so for me. I have been reading a few cozy mysteries lately and this is the latest in that run. I am seeing a few common denominators in this genre that just grind my gears.
There is a LOT of extraneous rambling and ruminating that takes on a stream of conscious quality to it and it gets very tedious and tiresome after a while. Much of it is irrational and inane. Yes, I am sure there are people, (especially dysfunctional people), who have such a chaotic process going on in their head non-stop. But it should never be shared with anyone else.
The main character in this is mostly a loon. She alternates between thinking she is a bad-ass do anything kick butt and take no prisoners broad and a frightened little teenager who thinks she is going to get in trouble for chewing gum in class. She makes poor decisions, she has poor self esteem, (always wanting to question herself and fears being locked up in prison for no good reason). If I was the kind of person that slapped people to snap them out of their ridiculousness, she would have a red face and I would have a sore hand.
Most of the other characters in this are way more likable and less caricatures.
There IS a plot in this, but the premise was so contrived. Most of the characters did not act in any reasonable way and it was exceedingly difficult to suspend my disbelief.
There is the skeletal bones of an interesting set of circumstances. Mob bosses' daughter is determined to be legit and legal and struggles to do that while people around her are into shady dealings. That's cool. She decides to date a detective. Cool. Her best friend and brother have mutual interest. Okay. All of this is stuff that can provide interesting drama and can have some humor.
That IS this book, but it was also a bunch of fluff and nonsense that made me want to give up a bunch of times. Lucie Rizzo deserves better. If there is going to be a mystery 3, I hope she becomes more of a badass and less of a whiny wimp who constantly wrings her hands and can't make a grown-up decision to save her life.
Dogs are fine. Situations with the dogs are fine. People constantly making ridiculous decisions and acting in nonsensical ways...I would leave that out.
There is a LOT of extraneous rambling and ruminating that takes on a stream of conscious quality to it and it gets very tedious and tiresome after a while. Much of it is irrational and inane. Yes, I am sure there are people, (especially dysfunctional people), who have such a chaotic process going on in their head non-stop. But it should never be shared with anyone else.
The main character in this is mostly a loon. She alternates between thinking she is a bad-ass do anything kick butt and take no prisoners broad and a frightened little teenager who thinks she is going to get in trouble for chewing gum in class. She makes poor decisions, she has poor self esteem, (always wanting to question herself and fears being locked up in prison for no good reason). If I was the kind of person that slapped people to snap them out of their ridiculousness, she would have a red face and I would have a sore hand.
Most of the other characters in this are way more likable and less caricatures.
There IS a plot in this, but the premise was so contrived. Most of the characters did not act in any reasonable way and it was exceedingly difficult to suspend my disbelief.
There is the skeletal bones of an interesting set of circumstances. Mob bosses' daughter is determined to be legit and legal and struggles to do that while people around her are into shady dealings. That's cool. She decides to date a detective. Cool. Her best friend and brother have mutual interest. Okay. All of this is stuff that can provide interesting drama and can have some humor.
That IS this book, but it was also a bunch of fluff and nonsense that made me want to give up a bunch of times. Lucie Rizzo deserves better. If there is going to be a mystery 3, I hope she becomes more of a badass and less of a whiny wimp who constantly wrings her hands and can't make a grown-up decision to save her life.
Dogs are fine. Situations with the dogs are fine. People constantly making ridiculous decisions and acting in nonsensical ways...I would leave that out.
January 24, 2018
Lucie Rizzo is the owner of burgeoning Coco-Barknell doggie designware and dog walking extraordinaire. Oh ya, and she happens to be the daughter of a mob boss. Everyone knows she’s spent a life time trying to know nothing about her family’s “business.” Lucie is a straight shooter that says what she’s thinking. She’s also got an independent investigative side. Both of which could get her in trouble. And that’s what I love about this series.
I was first introduced to Lucie in Dog Collar Crime. So I thought that I’d get to enjoy Lucie and the gang being mild manner sleuths in this book. Lucie took her snooping skills to an all new level with twists that I wouldn’t have guessed. I was definitely hopping on my toes in Knocked Off. It didn’t hurt that “buff” Tim, the Irish Cop, took an interest in Lucie either. I really liked him. His character developed very nicely. I found that I was definitely rooting for him over the long time on again off again Frankie. And Frankie, you’re just waiting for him to get it right with Lucie. Lucie’s brother Joey and bestfriend Ro, are just a hoot. I love that not only are they very loyal but they are always there for friends and family.
I really enjoyed Knocked Off. I thought that this was even better than the first. While the second book for Lucie and the gang, it can be read as a stand alone without feeling that you are missing anything.
I was first introduced to Lucie in Dog Collar Crime. So I thought that I’d get to enjoy Lucie and the gang being mild manner sleuths in this book. Lucie took her snooping skills to an all new level with twists that I wouldn’t have guessed. I was definitely hopping on my toes in Knocked Off. It didn’t hurt that “buff” Tim, the Irish Cop, took an interest in Lucie either. I really liked him. His character developed very nicely. I found that I was definitely rooting for him over the long time on again off again Frankie. And Frankie, you’re just waiting for him to get it right with Lucie. Lucie’s brother Joey and bestfriend Ro, are just a hoot. I love that not only are they very loyal but they are always there for friends and family.
I really enjoyed Knocked Off. I thought that this was even better than the first. While the second book for Lucie and the gang, it can be read as a stand alone without feeling that you are missing anything.
January 29, 2018
Best way I can describe this book/series is FUN! Ms. Giordano's Lucie Rizzo Mystery books are funny, lighthearted and of course romance is in the air. In Dog Collar Knockoff, Lucie's crazy team is at it again; trying to solve a mystery that just might land Lucie in jail.
While upgrading her dog walking and pampered pet business, Lucie Rizzo hires a part-time dog walker who just happens to be an art major in college. She conveniences Lucie that the paintings in some of their client's homes can't be real. Lucie panic's because she brokered the sale of these paintings and she doesn't want to go to jail, especially when she has just started dating the sexy town police detective Tim. So Lucie and her crazy bunch set out to find our what's going. The story is adventurous, romantic and non-stop fun.
If you like romance, laughter and just plain ole fun, this is definitely a must read series! This reader can't wait for the next book in the series to hit the shelves. 2 Thumbs Up for a great Book!
While upgrading her dog walking and pampered pet business, Lucie Rizzo hires a part-time dog walker who just happens to be an art major in college. She conveniences Lucie that the paintings in some of their client's homes can't be real. Lucie panic's because she brokered the sale of these paintings and she doesn't want to go to jail, especially when she has just started dating the sexy town police detective Tim. So Lucie and her crazy bunch set out to find our what's going. The story is adventurous, romantic and non-stop fun.
If you like romance, laughter and just plain ole fun, this is definitely a must read series! This reader can't wait for the next book in the series to hit the shelves. 2 Thumbs Up for a great Book!
December 21, 2021
I’m really enjoying this series. It did take an interesting turn that I wasn’t expecting but I still like it. I’m really interested to see what happens next. This whole artworld deal had me a little confused though. I’m not really all that familiar with how this sort of thing works so it took me a minute to kind of catch on. But the author made it pretty easy overall. The position number seven painting sure did make you think a little bit more than you cared too about renaissance painting porn… And if you haven’t read the book yet and are reading this review I will say that that piece of the story was incredibly entertaining. Anyway, I really like Lucy and Rowe. I even like Johnny and his interesting side businesses… In any case, I thought this story was very well done and I have to admit that I didn’t really suspect what would happen in the end. I like that this is a great mystery series that doesn’t necessarily involve murder in every book. That’s kind of cool. I’m going to jump right into the next book because I don’t think I’m ready to believe this series just yet.
June 27, 2017
Lucie Rizzo solves again!
Dog Collar Knockoff is another fun Lucie Rizzo crime solver book. Lucie, the daughter of a mafia member, owns a dog walking business, and also solves crimes. Not wanting to be thought of as a criminal's daughter she is very careful to walk the straight and narrow path. When she suspects something illegal going on with one of her clients she takes matters into her own hands. In the meantime she is also falling for handsome police officer Tim O'Brien. Worried about what her criminal father will think she tries to keep her feelings a secret. Tim is also developing feelings for her. What will happen when her family finds out?
Ms. Giordano creates characters that are fun and funny, situations that you can picture happening, and endings that are surprises. If you want to read a fun mystery pick a Lucie Rizzo mystery.
I was gifted an ARC by the author. I voluntarily wrote a review. All conclusions are my own.
Dog Collar Knockoff is another fun Lucie Rizzo crime solver book. Lucie, the daughter of a mafia member, owns a dog walking business, and also solves crimes. Not wanting to be thought of as a criminal's daughter she is very careful to walk the straight and narrow path. When she suspects something illegal going on with one of her clients she takes matters into her own hands. In the meantime she is also falling for handsome police officer Tim O'Brien. Worried about what her criminal father will think she tries to keep her feelings a secret. Tim is also developing feelings for her. What will happen when her family finds out?
Ms. Giordano creates characters that are fun and funny, situations that you can picture happening, and endings that are surprises. If you want to read a fun mystery pick a Lucie Rizzo mystery.
I was gifted an ARC by the author. I voluntarily wrote a review. All conclusions are my own.
February 1, 2018
I have to say that this book was delightful. I loved Lucie, her friend Ro, her brother Joey and oh my…Tim O’Brien…what a hunk! The support group Lucie has is filled with characters that are interesting and there for her no matter what. This fast paced mystery is fun, funny, serious, intelligent and thoughtful. At times I laughed and sometimes wondered and then was ultimately impressed by Lucie’s ability to evaluate her situation and do what was best for her business and for herself. I look forward to reading more of this series in the future and am glad I gave it a try. Lucie Rizzo has a LOT more going for her than Stephanie Plum and is much better at making personal and professional decisions, too, so if you have read or liked that series in the past…I would definitely encourage you to read this series as they are similar in some ways but oh so different…in a very positive way.
Thank you so much to the author for offering me this book to read and review!
Thank you so much to the author for offering me this book to read and review!
August 11, 2019
Adrienne Giordano knows how to put a cozy mystery together while using situational humor. Lucie Rizzo, a laid from her job, now walks dogs for a living. Lucie with her Mom's help design and make dog bows and clothing that eventually take off in stores. She's in a constant battle with Frankie, her on and currently off boyfriend. Their mothers are wanting a wedding and grandchildren asap. Joey Lucie's brother is also an annoyance. What connects Lucie & Joey & Frankie together is they are adult children of two mobsters. Lucie & Joey's Dad is in prison while Frankie's Dad has mob problems. Throw in missing museum quality art and an unrelenting cop finding out the truth make for an enjoyable tail...tale.
January 17, 2018
Once again, Lucie is walking dogs and growing her new business. She and her friend Ro are going to move into a building so that when Lucie's father comes home, he won't be upset that she is running a business out of his dining room. As she is getting the building put together, she comes across some boxes with track suits in them. All of a sudden the police show up and she is hauled off to jail. Joey comes to the rescue and Tim is there as well. Then, she uncovers an art scheme that cost her clients a lot of money and could land her in jail for fraud. She and Ro investigate. Along the way she is letting go of some old things and figuring out that she likes a few new things in her life.
March 6, 2023
A delightful tale. Lucie Rizzo wants to be seen as her own person: not her mob father's daughter. After being downsized from her finance job, she started her dog-walking business with accessories. She introduced some of her clients: one with an art gallery with others interested in art investments. There are hijinks along the way as she and her friend, Ro, investigate the suspicious art. And some of the dog's personalities are just precious. A great read.
Easy-to-read. Entertaining. Romantic. Twisted. Unpredictable. Whimsical. Wonderful characters.
I received a review copy of this book from a third party. This is my honest review.
Easy-to-read. Entertaining. Romantic. Twisted. Unpredictable. Whimsical. Wonderful characters.
I received a review copy of this book from a third party. This is my honest review.
January 23, 2018
This second book in the series continues all the fun. Lucie is always finding trouble and refuses to get blamed for someone else's crimes. She needs her new favorite cop by her side to keep her safe and protect her reputation.
I really like the dynamics between Lucie and Tim. It is a dynamic that works well. The story is full of fun too. Lucie is just such a great character.
I am voluntarily reviewing a copy I received.
I really like the dynamics between Lucie and Tim. It is a dynamic that works well. The story is full of fun too. Lucie is just such a great character.
I am voluntarily reviewing a copy I received.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews