ARC Review | Barking Up the Wrong Tree by Jenn McKinlay
Barking Up the Wrong Tree by Jenn McKinlay | A Bluff Point Romance #2
Publication Date | September 26th, 2017
ARC from the publisher
LOVE IS A FOUR-LEGGED WORD.
Carly DeCusati returned home to Bluff Point, Maine, with her tail between her legs. But she's determined to get her life back on track—and that means finding new homes for the elderly golden retriever and overly talkative parrot she inherited before her old life fell apart.
Enter physical therapist and hot one-night stand James Sinclair. James doesn't care that Carly doesn't do relationships. He is determined to win her heart, promising to help her with the pets if she'll just give him the time of day.
Carly agrees to date the irresistible James, and, for the first time in years, she's dreaming of a happily ever after. But James has secrets, and if he can't open up to Carly, their future could go to the dogs…
Barking Up the Wrong Tree is the second book in Jenn McKinlay's Bluff Point series, and like its predecessor, it was a boatload of fun! This installment gives the reader Carly's story, and boy did she have a rough start. When Carly's elderly neighbor passes away, Carly is surprised to find the woman left her something in her will, never imagining it was her array of 'colorful' pets. Unable to find homes for all of them before she moves back to her hometown, Carly rolls into Bluff Point, Maine with her tail between her legs, a new dog, and a dirty talking parrot. Luckily that dirty talking parrot leads her straight to James Sinclair before she even makes it to her parents door.
So, unbeknownst to Carly, she and James have a past. At first it felt a little slim to me, but after meeting James' family and seeing how his parents were with each other, his sincerity won me over, and I adored him. He was such a nice guy who loved his family and his on the mend pooch, Hot Wheels. I love how he knew he wanted Carly from the moment they connected, and he was determined to do anything to win her over. I will say that like the first book in the series, I do feel like this story sacrifices reality for something more far-fetched, but it was a better story for it. I think the author's quirky setting, characters, and situations give her a leg up in the genre, and if you are willing to suspend your disbelief a bit, you won't regret settling in for the ride. I already feel like when I pick up a Jenn McKinlay book, I know I'll be getting something fresh and new. And that's something that keeps me looking forward to each installment.
One of my very favorite things about this series are the friendships between all of the characters. And while it was the friendship between the women I enjoyed most in the first book, I feel like the the author took it a step further in Barking Up the Wrong Tree and fleshed out the friendships the women had with the men, too, and I loved every scene they had together. They're so loyal and always honest even when it hurts.
It's clear who two of the upcoming couples are in the Bluff Point series, and I cannot wait to read how they find their ways together. I am especially excited for Jillian and **#*($*#$'s story. (No spoilers from me; you'll have to read the series to find out who Jillian's hero is going to be!) And also, like the previous installment, I loved the addition of the pets. They added so much life to this story. Especially Ike the naughty bird. The only thing I would change about this book is that I wish James had made Carly do a bit of chasing. I feel like he was the one pushing for their relationship to progress all the time, and it would have been nice to see Carly fight for it a bit. But it's all about the happily ever after, and they did find it eventually!
This book had me in stitches throughout so much of it, and it was such a delightful read. If you're looking for an uplifting way to spend an afternoon, you'll find it here!
Series: A Bluff Point Romance
3.5 stars, ARC, Book Reviews, by Author Last Name, by Genre, by Rating, Contemporary Romance, Jenn McKinlay, M
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Guest Post | Jenn McKinlay – You've Got a Friend in Me
4 thoughts on "ARC Review | Barking Up the Wrong Tree by Jenn McKinlay"
Lover Of Romance says:
I am relieved to hear that you had such a blast with this one. I just love the covers this author has, they are so charming. You can never have enough of uplifting romances.
This really was a fun story. It's different from the romances I usually read, and it's such a breath of fresh air!
I had a great time with this one. The dogs and that bird were just a lot of fun. I had thought that Carly would end up with Zach but James was a great fit.
Yes! I loved the dogs and the bird. They added such a sweet element to the story. I had thought she would end up with Zach, too, but it seems he'll be getting even more of a spitfire!