Loooved this book! Carly is moving back to her small town in Maine, along with a parrot and golden retriever she inherited from a neighbor back in New York. She's extremely afraid of being in a relationship, which is bad news for James, the physical therapist in love with her. James has to woo Carly into feeling safe enough to be with him. Its not all serious romance, Jenn McKinlay always puts decent humor in her books. A sweet romance that you can't help but root for. Thanks to NetGalley for the free copy in exchange for an unbiased review.

Barking Up the Wrong Tree is a perfect addition to the Bluff Point series.

I am loving Jenn McKinlay's romance books as much as her cozy mysteries! This 2nd Bluff Point book was a really good one. I found it to be a very easy one to read, and I loved the main characters, Carly and James. The pets were a fantastic addition to the story. They were sometimes hilarious and always lovable. The Maine setting made a good backdrop to the story, and the storyline kept my interest from beginning to end. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing a copy of the book in return for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this romance. I had such a good time with the first book in this series, About a Dog, when I read it earlier this year so it was a given that I would want to read more of the series. I will admit that I was a little surprised when I saw this book was about Carly and an unknown character named James. I had kind of thought that we would see Carly and Zach end up together but it looks like they are truly just friends. I was quickly won over by James and ended up really enjoying watching him win Carly over.

The characters in this book are great. Carly is just full of life. She had to come back home to her parents' home after losing her job. She doesn't come alone. She has just inherited a senior dog and a bird with a colorful vocabulary. Carly doesn't do relationships. One night stands are fine but that is where she wants things to end. I liked Carly from the start and loved watching her try to figure out where she wants her life to go.

James was nearly perfect. He was kind, funny, and easy on the eyes. He wants more than the one night stand Carly is offering. He quickly shows that he will do what is needed in order to keep Carly near him so he can convince her to give a relationship a try. I loved James from the start of the book and fell a little bit more in love with him with each page.

Carly and James made a great couple. They had some amazing chemistry and I really enjoyed their banter. There really were just as many comical moments in this book as tender ones. There was a point in the book that Carly seriously overreacted which kind of annoyed me. James made a rather boneheaded statement which annoyed me fairly equally. I did really enjoy the book so I guess all is forgiven.

I would recommend this book to others. This is the second book in the Bluff Point series but could easily be read as a stand alone. I thought that this was a great romance filled with wonderful characters including 2 awesome dogs and a talkative bird. I am really excited to start reading the next book in the series.

I received an advance reader edition of this book from Berkley Publishing Group via NetGalley.

Carly is coming home, and she is not happy about it. Although she loves her Maine Crew, life was supposed to go her way and keep her out of the family home. Back, and feeling the sting of disappointment, she sets out to take her mind off things with a little one night stand action - her go to. However, James has other plans. He doesn't want to let Carly go once he has her, so he sets out to keep her. Plenty of laughter in this one, as well as many characters we have grown to enjoy from previous books in this series.

Barking Up the Wrong Tree is the second book in Jenn McKinlay’s Bluff Point Romance series. The story is a standalone, with characters from the first book, About a Dog, making appearances.

I’m going to make this review short and sweet. I LOVED Barking Up the Wrong Tree. From the beginning, the story had me laughing and that laughter continued throughout. I loved the characters of Carly DeCusati and James Sinclair immensely. I loved the way they interacted and talked to each other. I loved that they’re so passionate. The secondary characters of Ike the parrot, Saul the elderly golden retriever, and Hot Wheels the Basset Hound, round out this romantic comedy and definitely helped with the laughter.

Barking Up the Wrong Tree is the perfect pick me up with a couple of surprises thrown in. It is one of my favorite reads of the year and one that I will remember for years to come.

I am a new reader of Jenn McKinlay's books. I have to admit that the dogs on the covers of both books in her Bluff Point series attracted my attention. I picked up book #1, About A Dog and the love affair began. Barking Up the Wrong Tree cemented the relationship. I really loved this book! I smiled, I laughed, I cried, and then I laughed a lot more. The dog owned by hero, James Sinclair was cute and I greatly appreciated that James rescued "Hot Wheels" who has an underdeveloped back leg and is working on rehabilitating the leg. The dog owned by heroine, Carly DeCusati was cute too. I love Golden Retrievers and this one, Saul is special. But it was the parrot, Ike who really stole the show and made the story so much fun. Carly inherited Saul and Ike from an elderly neighbor and friend who passed away just before Carly loses her job in New York and has to pack up her apartment and move back home to Bluff Point, Maine.

Carly no sooner gets back to Bluff Point with her friend, Mac and the dog and parrot when they see Mac's feisty and newly adventuresome septuagenarian Aunts Sarah and Charlotte with new red and purple highlights in their hair exercising in the park with hero, James Sinclair. Mac gets Carly to stop to see what trouble her aunts have gotten into this time and the fun begins. There's a jailbreak and Ike the parrot flies off into the park where "Hot Wheels" sees Ike and starts to chase him. Carly, Mac and James take off to try to catch the two. Next thing you know here comes Mac's Aunt Sarah singing "Rollin', rollin', rollin'," and Aunt Charlotte singing "keep them doggies movin'," as "Hot Wheels" comes busting out from under the bushes with Ike perched on his harness whistling the tune to "Rawhide." Then there's Ike's salty language, such as outbursts of "Shut your stupid cake hole", "Butthead" and the best is his imitation of a phrase he heard during James and Carly's "one-night stand", "James, oh James."

Besides the fun of the parrot and dogs the book tells the story of how commitment-phobe Carly falls for James whose motto seems to be "Never Give Up" when it comes to Carly. I enjoyed the role reversal with the female being the commitment-phobe as in so many romance stories it is the male portrayed in that role.

There's lots of friends and family interaction here who contribute to the HEA which is something I like to have in the romance stories I read. This was a "stay up way past my bedtime" to finish this delightful story type of book. I highly recommend it!

I liked this book and especially the main character. The male lead could have had more character development, I felt like I didn't know him very well when the book ended.

Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Daniele

I am just going to come out with it – I read Barking Up the Wrong Tree simply because Jenn McKinlay wrote it, and I am a big fan of all of her cozy mystery series. I am not much of a contemporary romance reader, but the humor, and the inclusion of the pets, won me over. I genuinely enjoyed my time spent in Bluff Point, Maine.

Barking Up the Wrong Tree is the second book in the Bluff Point Romance series, but it can be easily read as a standalone novel. The series focuses on a group of friends, and this story is all about Carly, a thirty-ish woman with some serious commitment issues. One night stands are her standard MO, and she thinks she has found the perfect evening’s entertainment in James. She knows she is in trouble when she breaks her number one rule – do not wake up beside your date the morning after. Plus, unlike her recent home of New York City, Bluff Point is a small town, and she is sure to run into James. And she does…a lot. She fights her every instinct in an effort tto avoid James, but James is set on making Carly his own.

I did not like Carly at all in the beginning of this book. She comes across as shallow and a bit uncaring. Of course, we soon learn that she was badly burned by someone and has closed herself off to any kind of relationship. This includes the geriatric dog and salty mouthed parrot she inherited from her NYC neighbor. As the story progresses, she does indeed thaw and is much more likable and relatable. James, of course, is almost too good to be true, but I enjoyed everything about him. A nice guy, he is kind of the opposite of Carly. Once he falls for someone, it is serious, and here he makes it his mission to woo Carly. The inclusion of Carly’s group of friends adds variety, and their interactions are fun. James’ family is a hoot, and I would like to hang out with them over dinner.

As I mentioned above, the pets are the highlight of the story. Saul the dog is a steadfast presence, and James’ disabled basset hound Hot Wheels adds a lot of warmth to the story. But it is Ike the parrot that steals the show with his foul mouth and imitation of Carly in the throes of passion.

The romance is uber-light and sweet. I wish there had been a little more conflict before they rode off into the sunset, but that is just me. Their past that links them is far-fetched, but McKinlay has changed my mind about contemporary romance – I will at least continue to seek out her works. I highly recommend Barking Up the Wrong Tree to any romance fan.

*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*

I laughed and giggled my way through this book. Bring on more dogs!

Book two in the Bluff Point Romance series/trilogy not sure which. This is an absolutely amazing romance novel. I loved every minute of it and was actually upset when I finished it. After losing her job Carly is forced to move back to Bluff Point along with some colorful pets she happened to inherit. With a huge fear of commitment she prefers one night stand and goes looking for one to make her feel better. Enter James who has been in love with her for years though she does not know that. He thinks all his dreams have come true until the next morning. he is determined to make her his and what follows is the most backwards romance I have read in awhile with the crazy pets thrown in for comic relief. The book is extremely well written making the reader root for the couple and I even fell in love with the cussing bird who loves to say the most inappropriate things ever in front of company. I loved it so it gets 5/5 stars.

Jenn McKinlay returns to Bluff Point with BARKING UP THE WRONG TREE. This is the second in the series and you don’t need to read the other books in the series to enjoy this one. If you’re new to Jenn and her books, this is her very first Contemporary Romance series. She’s a Cozy Mystery writer at heart, but I like that she’s expanding her genres and trying something new.

Jenn’s style is very fun and light in this series. There’s quite a lot of humor and banter in this series, which kind of reminds me of books like Jill Shalvis. However, I will say that the humor can take the place of plot in these books. Since the entire book is quite light, there’s not too much focus on conflict, which is my only real complaint about this series. I do like the romance and I do like all the characters but I don’t necessarily get that urge to continue reading to find out what happens next like some of her Cozy Mysteries do. So if you plan on starting this series, I do think you need to be in a certain mindset to enjoy it. Be prepared for something much lighter in tone and fun because that’s really where book shines.

If you’re an animal lover, well, you’re in luck because this book has lots of great animal appearances. Once again, they offer some great comic relief and some of the reactions from these characters were hilarious.

Barking Up the Wrong Tree proves that Jenn McKinlay's first romance, About a Dog, wasn't a fluke. This author, best known for her fantastic cozy mystery novels, is a solid contemporary romance author. Bluff Point is a charming setting, and the "Maine Crew" is full of sincere friendships and characters. Perhaps my only complaint is that I felt like there was a lot about Carly we didn't get to learn (more about her relationships with her sisters, more about her career), and she seemed so interesting! I'm hoping as the series continues we get to learn more about her, even if it's from an outside perspective and in small amounts. Revisiting Mac and the others from About a Dog was a joy as well.

McKinlay writes people and settings so vividly you wish it were real so you could move there and be surrounded by them. The addition of the animals makes for some great humor, how can you go wrong with a talking parrot?

This is the second in the Bluff Point Series and I’d recommend reading the first. Each book focuses on a different set of characters but the original characters are carried over so having familiarity from the beginning helps.

I liked that she wrote her characters with heart and you could feel for them as they started this new journey to learn how to trust again. Who hasn’t been there when you have been burned and want to avoid it happening again?

You’ll laugh, cry and enjoy getting to watch their lives unfold. I even wanted to get a parrot just to have another being get scolded by my mom for questionable language, lol. One of the more interesting aspects was how McKinlay changed gender personalities from the stereotypical; here Carly is the love ‘em and leave ‘em kind while James is the one who is more of the monogamous commitment kind. Getting to see how romance was going to blossom with these two under these conditions was fun.

McKinlay is well known for her mystery series which she is quite good at so it was nice to see her being able to carry that talent over to the Romance genre. I liked it and now want to read the third, Every Dog has his Day, which comes out this upcoming January.

When life doesn’t turn out like you planned, a feeling of unease and uncertainty plagues your thoughts. For Carly DeCusati – part of the plan to get back on her feet includes moving back home to Bluff Point, Maine. Dread fills Carly as she gives up the feeling of independence by headed home. There is a ‘bright’ spot that Carly might not see yet. She is gaining two new family members. An elderly golden retriever and a not-so-polite parrot.

With her ‘inheritance’ in tow, Carly moves back into her old home as her parents head out the door to warmer weather. A shock in itself when returning to your childhood home. Carly is surrounded by the friends that she left behind. A source of strength when she needs it the most. In her quest to get life on track once more, Carly knows the last thing she needs is the long arms of a relationship pulling her down. Quite the feat when you are currently in a ‘dry spell’.

They always say that you find someone that interest you when you least expect it. Carly seems to be no exception to the rule. Upon meeting the hunky physical therapist in town, Carly begins to rethink what a little dip into water might mean. With a ‘no relationships’ rule set in place, Carly is determined to keep James Sinclair at arm length…if that is even possible.

Now that Carly has indulged in a one night stand with James, she finds herself struggling to keep him at bay. James is determined to show Carly what she is missing out on by excluding herself from dating. With both stepping out from the shadows, love seems to be inevitable. The only question remains…..what happens when secrets from the past rear their head in a huge way?

Barking Up The Wrong Tree is a funny, sexy, and engaging addition to the Bluff Point Romance series!! Carly is down on her luck, and finds herself headed to her childhood home to regroup. James is the sexy physical therapist that is everything that Carly tries to avoid. Adding to the mayhem are a golden retriever, a dog on ‘wheels’ and a parrot that has a colorful and extensive vocabulary. All of it combines to leave you following this trail of chaos while laughing hysterically!!

This series has captivated me with such realistic characters, Bluff Point town life, and daily happenings that are so real you can just imagine it! As a new fan of Jenn McKinley – all I can say is you NEED to read this series!! Looking for a laugh, sexy hunks, and really hot sex?? This series has it all!! Make sure it’s on your reading carousel!!

Jenn McKinlay is going to the top of my list of must have romance authors! This is truly a big feat too as is this only her SECOND romance novel (she is well known for her cozy mystery series). This book is funny, romantic, sweet, and a pure pleasure to read. I can't wait for the series to develop more because I know it's going to be a forever top favorite of mine.

In this installment, readers will be rooting for Carly and James as they slowly navigate building a relationship with one another. Carly doesn't do relationships. Period. She is more of a "smash and dash" kind of chick because she has been burned in the past. James, on the other hand, is the total opposite. Once he get's a taste of Carly he wants her in his future bad. But it takes a lot of wooing and persuasion to make her see this. Can these two make it work even though both have different plans for their future? Or will Carly's fear of commitment stop it before it gets too serious? You'll have to read to find out!

The characters in this book are FANTASTIC. I love how the author has essentially switched roles with Carly and James- usually, it's the guys who are afraid of commitment and not the other way around like it is in this story. If you have read the first book in the series, About a Dog, you may recognize Carly as being one of the best friends of of the heroine in that book. If you haven't that's okay too because this can be read as a standalone. But anyway, I really liked how this circle of friends is still prominent in this book. It's so nice to be able to catch up and see them all interact with one another.

Another characters in this novel that had my heart from the second I met him is Ike. Ike is a parrot. A filthy parrot who has no problem swearing and singing a tune. He had me rolling around laughing so hard that there were times I could hardly catch my breath! You guys are going to LOVE him. He mad this story so funny!

Other than the great characters and fantastic romance, the setting in this book is great too. I love how the story takes place in Maine (I used to vacation in Maine every single year when I was a kid), so it's nice to "go back and visit". I think many readers will fall in love with Bluff Point as well. It's a fantastic small town that really sums up the beauty of Maine.

With that, I recommend this book (HIGHLY). I adore this series. Every time I pick up a book from it I get really excited because I know it's going to be so much fun to read. I can't wait to dive into the next one!

ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

Barking Up the Wrong Tree by Jenn McKinlay is the 2nd book in her Bluff Point Romance series. Barking up the Wrong Tree continues the trend of a sweet cute romance that McKinlay gave us in the first book. This series not only has cute animals, but a fantastic group of friends. Carly Decusati, our heroine, has returned home to Bluff Point, Maine, with the help of her friends, to stay temporarily, until she finds a new job. Carly, much to her displeasure was left to care for a senior dog (Saul) and a parrot (Ike), who loves to curse. Carly does not do relationships, whether its men or animals. But sometimes things don’t go as planned.

James Sinclair has recently moved to Bluff Point, and when he sees the gorgeous and outgoing Carly, he is determined to get to know her better. They end up having a one night stand, which James wants more of, but Carly is afraid to become attached…”no relationships” I actually loved the hot hot James, who was a lot of fun. He will do everything to win Carly over, even if he has to play just being a friend. Early on, I kind of was annoyed by Carly, with her stubborn insistence to find homes for the pets and ignore her growing feelings for James.

Other then Carly’s stubbornness, this was such fun enjoyable book. James was fantastic in the many ways he would entice Carly, and by the half way point, she was succumbing to her feelings. When James’s family comes out for a birthday party for his Dad, Carly is forced to help plan the party, which brings her into James life and great family. That was a lot of fun, especially when Carly knows she is falling in love with James. They both had bad experiences with love that defined the story, and together they will both face their nemesis to get past those issues.

It was great to see Mac & Gavin again, as well as Carly’s other girlfriends & the guys. The camaraderie between them all was terrific. As for the animals, they played a major part of this story. Saul, the senior dog was quiet, but loving, which slowly wore Carly down. James’s dog was very sweet, especially with him being handicapped and Ike was a riot throughout. LOL
What follows is a sweet romance that was slow build, for Carly only, as James knew what he wanted; the two dogs and parrot added a nice element to the story, with much humor; and a fabulous group of friends that were so much fun.

Barking Up the Wrong Tree was such an enjoyable read, fun, with likeable characters and very well written by Jenn McKinlay. If you enjoy pure simple small town romances, fantastic secondary characters, humorous and fun camaraderie and two adorable dogs, and a rascal parrot, then should be reading this series.

I love this author's mystery series, so I was a little apprehensive about her starting a romance series. Well she definitely delivers! I loved the first book and the second one did not disappoint. There was one little part at the end that seemed a little unrealistic, but overall, I found this story to be very believable. And I'm not sure if I was disappointed in the end, or if I just didn't want the book to end. I love that each book in this series is about a different character, but the original characters are still in it (just the focus is on someone new). I love getting to know a new character and routing for her. Very well done! And I can't wait for more!

If you like funny, sexy romance novels, this is for you. The quaint small town setting is charming.

BARKING UP THE WRONG TREE by Jenn McKinlay was absolutely freakin' adorable. The second contemporary romance story in the Bluff Point Romance series it delivered all the swoons, snark and swoons I could hope for in a novel. McKinlay included four and two legged friends that stole my heart.

If you remember I struggled with book one, ABOUT A DOG, but oh boy did I love Carly and James story. Even though this is a series, each book works as a standalone and features friends in a group

Coffee Dates with Barking Up the Wrong Tree

First Date: Our date begins in New York as Carly DeCusati as she learns her next door neighbor bequeathed her a menagerie of pets that include a saucy parrot named Ike and an older golden retriever named Saul.  After losing her job and no prospects on the horizon she is heading home to Bluffs Point. To say, Carly has reached a low point would be an understatement. When she gets home, her parents jump in their car, shouting take care of your sister and the house as they head to Florida. The sisters are like oil and vinegar. Between the pets and Carly's snark, I am quickly pulled in. McKinlay had me laughing aloud when the bird gets loose.  Her friends take her out to welcome her home, and she decides a one night stand will lighten her mood.  At the local pub, she meets James Sinclair, the sexy personal trainer she encountered early that day. Their chemistry is off the charts, and it looks like Carly will get lucky.

Second Date: Carly doesn't do relationships, and never sleeps with the same man twice. An arrangement she is quite happy with. It was fun seeing this reversal of roles, as typically it is the hero who has hang ups. So when she wakes up next to James, with her sister getting an eyeball and the parrot repeating some steamy moments, I almost snort coffee through my nose laughing. There is a story behind James, and it was interesting seeing this thread develop. To her the night was lovely, and they are over, but James wants more, and this bright, smexy man is making Carly feel all kinds of things. I loved the banter, snarky comments, and sizzling hot chemistry as Carly tries to deny it even as she wishes he'd kiss her. Time spent with friends, trying to get the pets adopted into good homes and securing a new job are all weaved into the tale. The animals in this tale were adorable and at times stole the show. I want to adopt them all. Ike made me laugh until I had tears. I enjoyed all the secondary characters and seeing the developments between Carly and her little sister. A scene at the veterinarian's office has me dying to get my hands on book two.

Third Date: I am in love with James and if Carly doesn't jump him I will! I was sold before I saw his home and then I melted into goo. The Sinclair family, whoopie pies, and folks from the past cause some hiccups. All in all the drama was minimal. The big issue didn't seem like much to me, but I had to look at it through Carly's eyes. I am confident and know my worth, but Carly has had some serious hits lately to her psyche. That along with her relationship history is enough to make someone skittish. Thankfully, communication, swoon-worthy romantic gestures and following one's heart ruled the day.

Funny, sexy and adorkable, BARKING UP TH WRONG TREE is a romantic comedy you will want to add to your bookshelf.