Death by Chocolate Lab is the sweet start to a new series by new to me author Bethany Blake. Our heroine Daphne Templeton is a quirky hippy type pet sitter with a heart of gold. She lives with her type A veterinarian sister Piper in a big house in a small town. There is of course two men vying for her attention laid back surfer dude Dylan who is a vet assistant for Piper and the new cop in town Detective Jonathan Black. There is also an adorable assortment of canines and a murder or two to solve. I enjoyed every moment I spent in their company. I will probably try out some of the treat recipes included at the end.

Daphne is the perfect pet sitter, although she does seem to have a better rapport with the pets than with their owners. Her unique background, PhD in philosophy gives her a quirky edge unlike her vet older sister who is no nonsense. Then there is Maeve the realtor Mom who is a mover and a shaker and not always the most motherly towards Daphne, who "could be doing better" in Mom's opinion. While hunting a home for her foster Chihuahua she manages to get herself and her loyal basset, Aristotle embroiled in a mystery. Piper, her sister , might be Mom's favorite but she falls short in the love department and falls for a guy that thinks higher of himself than well, everyone and when he ends up dead following a spat with Piper it's Daphne who comes to the rescue to clear her sister's name. Loaded with interesting characters and some possible romantic entanglements, especially when there is dog walking involved. A great read, looking forward to the next installment.

My rating: 2 of 5 stars, it was just barely okay.

I loved the premise, but frankly, I didn't find the characters very likable. The main character, Daphne, came across as flighty and immature, and well, ditsy. Her sister, Piper, felt uptight and condescending and their mother was a snooty woman who obviously played favorites. Piper, of course, is the Golden Child, which gave me all the more reason to not like her.

Meanwhile, the reader is supposed to believe that Daphne has a PhD (even if it's in a "throw away" subject like philosophy) that took brains and commitment to get.

Add all that to the slooooow pace of the book and I really struggled to get through it. Towards the end things picked up, and that's the only reason it gets a second star.

Not sure I would bother reading the second book in the series.

A quirky and charming cozy mystery filled with both unique characters and animals. The author has created a story that is hard to put down once you delve into the meat of the story, Daphne and her trusty sidekick, Bassett Hound Socrates, coming upon not one but two murders and creating frustration for local Police Detective Jonathan Black. With her tenacious need to clear her sister's name of the first murder, Daphne has a habit of turning up where she's least welcomed by Detective Black.

Aside from all the quirky occurrences, there are also some tender, pull at the heartstrings moments that give what would be just another cozy mystery, some credence in the mystery genre. All in all, this was an enjoyable story that broke up the monotony of the same types of books that I tend to read.

This book was provided by the Publisher and Netgalley, I am voluntarily providing my honest review.

Death by Chocolate Lab

by Bethany Blake

I realize there are a lot of cozy mysteries that feature dogs or cats, but I had never even picked one up. Death by Chocolate Lab caught my eye because I am a sucker for basset hounds, and there was one soulfully staring at me from the cover of this book. How could I resist? Right from the start I knew I would enjoy this book as it humorously begins with Daphne, a petsitter with a PhD. in philosophy, walking her charges, three Rottweilers. These huge dogs are being corralled by a tiny somewhat mangled Chihuahua, a foster dog who is really just scheming to be picked up. They are accompanied by Daphne’s personal “sidekick,” a wise basset hound named Socrates.

Although there is a serious murder, with the victim discovered by Daphne, that starts a series of investigations led by handsome detective Jonathan Black, there is an undercurrent of humor throughout the book. Daphne is a semi-hippie vegetarian with a “vintage” pink VW van who lives on a farm with her type A personality veterinarian sister. Other interesting characters include her girlfriend, hair stylist Moxie, and her sister’s vet assistant Dylan, an equally laid back former surfer with whom Daphne has a nebulous relationship.

Death by Chocolate Lab is a mystery with lots of twists and turns, interesting characters, and a good dose of humor throughout. I am looking forward to reading the second book in the series, Dial Meow for Murder which is due for publication in September of 2017.

I would like to extend my thanks to netgalley.com and to Kensington Books for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 5/5

Category: Mystery

Notes: Book #1 in the new Lucky Paws Petsitting Mystery series

Publication: February 28, 2017--Kensington Books

Memorable Lines:

Was it odd that one of the things that brought us together was knowing we could be apart?

She was walking with my basset hound sidekick, Socrates, who considered himself above group walks and never hurried. He shambled along at Piper’s side, his droopy, solemn eyes fixed on something in the distance. He might’ve been interested in the dark clouds gathering ahead--a storm was definitely brewing--but I suspected that his real focus was inward. Socrates wasn’t the type of dog who obsessed about where his next treat was coming from. I was convinced that he dealt with more profound issues.

Was there such a thing as mal de vivre?

Daphne is a pet sitter while her sister Piper is a vet, two extremes but they both have a love of animals. Daphne's mother would prefer her to have a more stable income like her sister, but she likes what she is doing.

Piper is hosting a dog competition but it comes to a halt when her ex-boyfriend is found dead in one of the tunnels. Steve was supposed to be setting up all the equipment and Piper was upset that he didn't have it done, but he had a good reason for not finishing.

The new detective has Piper as the main suspect when they find evidence on her property and she has argued with him. So Daphne has decided to try and help clear her sister's name and gets in the way of the new detective a few times. I don't blame him for wanting to thump her but he seemed to have more patience than me.

I thought this was a good start to a new series and I can't wait for the next one. Though Daphne's antics made me roll my eyes at times, I liked her. I have to admit that it was the little chihuahua with a bit of character that stole my heart and was my favorite character. I loved Detective Jonathan Black, I really thought he might thump Daphne towards the end and I wouldn't have blamed him cause she really did do a stupid thing...lol. I wasn't a fan of Daphne's on again off again laid back surfer boyfriend of sorts Dylan, she needs to dump him for Detective Black. :)

The mystery was pretty good, I had three potential suspects that I thought it might be though there were others it could have been and it ended up being one of my guesses.

Overall, I really enjoyed it.

Review will go live on Feb. 23rd on http://booksmoviesreviewsohmy.com

While it got off to a slow start, I did enjoy Daphne and her Bassett Hound Socrates' adventure. A seemingly drifting young woman who runs a Pet Sitting business, and also a PhD in philosophy, Daphne gets involved with a local murder when her sister is named a suspect. Plenty of quirky characters and humor, there was also a decent amount of twists and action. I enjoyed this first book in teh series, and am looking forward to the next.

Bethany Blake gets a blue ribbon for her “paw”sitively charming dog cozy, Death by Chocolate Lab.  From the get-go, the pets steal the show.  It is hard to decide who was more appealing, Artie, the one eared bulging eyed chihuahua with a weak chin, overbite and a tendency to drool or Socrates the philosophical basset.  Bethany Blake’s love for dogs shines through every page of this fun mystery.

Daphne has a PhD in philosophy but spends her time doing what she loves most, taking care of dogs.  When her sister Piper’s ex turns up dead at the agility trial she is hosting, not long after Piper was seen arguing with him, Daphne decides to prove Piper’s innocence.  After all, there is no guarantee that the handsome and irritating Detective Jonathan Black will look further. Also, Axis, Steve Beamus’s black lab is missing, and the police don't have the time or the inclination to search for him.  

Adorable dogs, a good murder mystery and a dash of romance make Death By Chocolate Lab a delicious concoction that mystery and dog lovers alike will adore.

5/5

Death by Chocolate Lab is available for preorder and will be released February 28, 2017. 

I received a copy of Death by Chocolate Lab from the publisher and Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.

--Crittermom

Death by Chocolate Lab by Bethany Blake is the first in a new series, Lucky Paws Petsitting Mysteries.

The book was paced rather slowly in the beginning; but I understand that the author was trying to create the world of Sylvan Creek and the characters. The pace did pick up in the last half of the book which kept me turning the pages. I never really felt that I connected with Daphne. Maybe if I understood more of her back story that would have helped me. Daphne seemed to be very independent but rather flighty and would plunge headlong into situations without really considering the consequences of her actions. I did enjoy Detective Jon Black as he was both likable and professional as he was investigating the murder. I was intrigued by his back story and definitely want to know more about him. I also enjoyed Piper, Daphne's sister and her mother as they added some humor to the story with their interactions with Daphne.

The mystery kept me guessing until the very end! I was totally blown away by the reveal as the protagonist was never on my radar. If you enjoy cozy mysteries with animals and recipes, you might want to give this one a try.

Any book that has dogs in it I'm just drawn too and this book was no exception. Held my interest from beginning to end.

Death By Chocolate Lab
Lucky Paws Petsitting Mystery, Book #1
Bethany Blake
5+ Stars

Synopsis:

Pet sitter Daphne Templeton has a soft spot for every stray and misfit who wanders into the quaint, lakeside village of Sylvan Creek. But even Daphne doesn’t like arrogant, womanizing Steve Beamus, the controversial owner of Blue Ribbon K-9 Academy. When Steve turns up dead during a dog agility trial, Daphne can think of a long list of people with motives for homicide, and so can the police. Unfortunately, at the top of the list is Daphne’s sister, Piper—Steve’s latest wronged girlfriend.

Certain that Piper is innocent, in spite of mounting evidence to the contrary, Daphne sets out to clear her sister’s name—and find Axis, Steve’s prize-winning chocolate Labrador, who went missing the night of Steve’s death. Aided by Socrates, her taciturn basset hound, and a hyperactive one-eared Chihuahua named Artie, Daphne quickly runs afoul of Detective Jonathan Black, a handsome and enigmatic newcomer to town, who has no appreciation for Daphne’s unorthodox sleuthing.

Can a free-spirited pet sitter, armed only with a Ph.D. in Philosophy and her two incompatible dogs, find the real killer before she becomes the next victim? (Goodreads)


Review:

I really enjoyed this book a lot. It had everything I look for in a cozy: great characters, a realistic setting, adorable dogs and a intriguing mystery.

The characters are well developed, well rounded and three dimensional. I loved Daphne, she was spunky and full of life. She was willing to do anything to prove her sister’s innocence. I enjoyed the bickering and banter between her and Detective Jonathan Black. I really enjoyed her sarcastic comments and thoughts and I was laughing out loud a lot when I was reading this book.

I loved the fact that all of the dogs had their own distinct personalities. Socrates, the basset hound, is above the normal doggie behaviors, he is much too sophisticated. He does laugh at some of the things that Daphne does but he is always prim and proper. Artie is a bundle of energy and doggie exuberance. Artie has not been blessed with good look, with him missing an ear and his protruding tongue. But what he lacks in looks he more than makes up for in his behavior and antics. I loved the way Daphne was always talking to them and asking their opinions. They were as real of characters to me as the people were.

The writing style flows smoothly and the book is a quick easy read. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and I felt like I was right there, watching all the action take place. I could picture all of the animals in my mind, watching them in action. The mystery was well crafted and there were enough twists and turns to keep me guessing until the reveal at the end.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. And if you love animals, you definitely need to read this book. I am really looking forward to reading more adventures with Daphne and her lovable dogs.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I would like to thank NetGalley and Kensington Books for the opportunity to read and review this book.

'Death by Chocolate' is an absolutely charming new cozy with a quirky and engaging character in Daphne Templeton, pet sitter and Ph.D. When her sister becomes the prime suspect in a murder Daphne jumps right into the investigation in an effort to save her. She runs afoul of the investigating detective and sparks fly between them. This book is funny, suspenseful, with a touch of romance and a surprising ending. I've already put the next one in the series on my wish list!

A great start to a fun new series. Love the dogs with their quirks, although I do question the protagonist's vegetarianism and only eating "humane" eggs and dairy. Anyone who is a true animal lover should know that humane animal products don't exist.

What a great book 1 in the Lucky Paws Petsitting Mystery series. Daphne and her sister Piper share a love of animals in their small town. Piper is the local vet and Daphne is running a pet sitting, dog walking service. When a dog trainer is murdered, Piper becomes a prime suspect since she broke up when he was cheating on her. As Daphne, her trusty sidekick Basset Hound and her foster one eared Chihuahua work with the hot new police detective to solve the crime another murder has the whole town nervous. Can't wait to see what happens next. The mystery is great and the girls and their mother are fun to know.

Oh I loved this one! So much going on, and so many twists! Socrates and Artie were awesome sidekicks for Daphne, and the contrast between Daphne and Piper was interesting. The mystery was great, and I was seriously shocked by the murderer.

Really cute book, easy read. I love dogs, so anything dog related is right up my alley. I would read other books by this author, especially if there are dogs in it!

This was a fun start to a new cozy mystery series. I really liked the main character, Daphne, as well as quite a few of the secondary ones. Daphne was very interesting, with her doctorate in Philosophy, and running a pet sitting business. I really enjoyed the pets that showed up in the story. The storyline kept me interested, and I liked the way it all played out. I'll be looking forward to more in the series! Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC in return for an honest review.

First of all, can we talk about that cover? How adorable! Even without reading the description, I knew I wanted to check it out.

Death by Chocolate Lab is the first book of the brand new series, Lucky Paws Petsitting Mysteries, by Bethany Blake. Fun fact, Bethany Blake is a pseudonym - or perhaps a real name, and her other name is a pseudonym. Regardless, she also writes under a different name, but so far I haven't been able to figure it out. She looks familiar, though whether that's because I actually have seen her before or wishful thinking, I'm not sure. Check out her blog and let me know if you recognize her!

Death by Chocolate Lab introduces us to Daphne Templeton, Doctor of Philosophy and aspiring petsitter. Accompanied by her trusty Basset Hound, Socrates, and a "slightly misshapen but totally lovable" Chihuahua named Artie, Daphne is determined to prove her sister didn't murder her sort-of-ex-sort-of-current-boyfriend. Unfortunately, Steve was seen arguing with Piper the night before his death, and his body was found on her property. Add in a dangerously good-looking detective and a missing Labrador retriever named Axis, and Daphne has her hands full.

Daphne is about what you'd expect in an amateur sleuth. She's plucky, smart, and gets into all sorts of trouble. Sure, she's a bit overzealous, but she's got a sister to protect. I'm a sucker for cozies with animals, and this one didn't disappoint. While the dogs don't actually talk, Blake does what all pet owners do - provides words for them. They have personalities all their own, and, since Daphne takes them everywhere, are just as much characters as the humans.

Speaking of the humans, I'll admit, I did struggle to connect with them at times. It wasn't that they weren't likable. Daphne in particular had a great sense of humor - pretty much every time she encountered "the bear" I laughed out loud. No, it's more that there's not a ton of physical descriptors. For example, we get a few notes about hair color and eye color, but we don't get a lot of detail on people's actions and affects. At times, some of the interactions between characters come off a little stiff because of this - we really only have their words to go by. Since Blake isn't a new writer, it may be that branching into what I assume is a new genre simply means she's still finding her groove.

The mystery itself was a little odd, but honestly, the mystery kinda takes a back seat to the rest of the story, so this didn't bother me too much. I didn't really understand the killer's motivation, but again, I didn't really care. It wrapped up well enough, and actually, since there were really TWO mysteries - the murder and the missing Axis (otherwise known as Cookie Puss), I was satisfied.

I do, however, desperately want to know what happens to the Rottweilers, Ms. Blake.

Death by Chocolate Lab is a great start to what promises to be a fun series. I hope the next book will tell us a little more about Sylvan Creek, Daphne's petsitting business, and Detective Black's past, but overall, a great solid cozy. You can pick it up tomorrow, February 28th! Books 2 and 3 are already titled, and expected publication is September 2017 and early 2018, respectively. (You can bet I'll be reading them!)

If you love dogs and feeding them, this book has lots of lovely menus and recipes for dog food and treats your dog will love mixed in with a cozy mystery featuring a young idealistic Daphne Templeton, owner of Lucky Paws Petsitting.

Living on her veterinarian sister Piper's Winding Hill Farm, Daphne finds herself seeing more than she wants to admit to have seen when reporting to Det. Jonathan Black after Piper's former boyfriend, Steve Beamus is found murdered at the agility trials being held at the farm.

Determined to prove Piper's innocence, Daphne and her basset hound Socrates along with a variety of other dogs tagging along including Artie the chihuahua, drags her friends Moxy and Dylan into parts of Sylvan Creek, Pennsylvania that aren't as safe as she imagined.

Daphne has a philosophy degree and a great idealistic belief that leads her into a lifestyle that isn't everyone's idea of responsible. I hope that in the next book in the series I can find a better bonding with this character. Other characters have great potential to help carry this series.

Pet sitter Daphne Templeton lives with her sister, and she finds her sister's ex-boyfriend murdered on their property. Daphne finds herself wrapped up in the murder case after her sister becomes a suspect, and her efforts to solve it are quite comical. This is the perfect little mystery cozy that will delight lots of readers. I look forward to reading more books by this author. I give it 4/5 stars.