This series does good things for my soul!

I loved revisiting Brenham and the many familiar characters I’ve come to know and love over the last (now) six books. I do recommend reading them in order, as they build on each other to a pint and have all the recurring characters.

This one was quite the mystery, and I enjoyed the many twists and turns that I couldn’t figure out fully in advance! It was quite well done and very interesting.

I really hope the series continues, which I feel like is saying something—it can be hard to keep up and do well! But the two authors that have written these books do a great job, building on each other’s stories and characters in believable ways. And the faith element is great as well!

I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Restaurant owner Nora feels her relationship with Lane is coming to an end. They both have full schedules & have lost track of how to make things better. Lane also has a secret he's not willing to share yet. The town suffers from a tornado, mysterious explosions & a circle of people who are not who they say they are. There are several plot twists, a mysterious dog & a rescue cat that add to the mysteries and keep you guessing. The characters were very well written, I enjoyed the storyline because it was not that easy to solve. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing & was under no obligation to post a review

5 stars, Unputdownable

NEW LEASH ON LIFE (GONE TO THE DOGS SERIES BOOK 6)
by Kathleen Y'Barbo

I don't know what it was about this book, but I was immediately drawn to it, I was unable to put it down and read it straight through. I think the subject matter was the draw. Highly recommend.

Nora Hernandez owns a farm-to-table restaurant, that has been her life's dream. She recently purchased an antique shop next door to the restaurant and is patiently waiting for her boyfriend Lane Bishop, DVM to propose.

A mysterious runaway dog suddenly appears, Lane is able to catch the animal and thinks it is a MWD, or Military War Dog. The dog has been highly trained, he is sure that it belongs somewhere. He checks the dog over at the Lone Star Veterinary Clinic, where he's temporarily helping out.

These are sweet, inspirational, mystery, and romance books. I have read several, but this one drew my interest the most.

I received a complimentary copy of #NewLeashOnLife from #BarbourPublishing I was not obligated to post a review.

Gone to the Dogs series:
Book 1 - Off the Chain by Janice Thompson
Book 2 - Dog Days of Summer by Kathleen Y'Barbo
Book 3 - Barking Up the Wrong Tree by Janice Thompson
Book 4 - The Bark of Zorro by Kathleen Y’Barbo
Book 5 - Every Dog Has His Day by Janice Thompson
Book 6 - New Leash on Life by Kathleen Y’Barbo

#GoneToTheDogsSeries #CozyMystery #Inspirational #inspyfic #Christian #K9 #MWD #FoldsOfHonor #PTSD #BarbourFiction #ContemporaryRomance #NewReleaseBook #KathleenYBarbo #BelgianMalinois #Texas #StrongFemaleProtagonist

4 stars

Kathleen Y’Barbo takes the reader on a wild chase for clues about several mysteries in this clean romance.

The main characters are in a long-term dating relationship where Lane is hesitant to propose, due to his PTSD. As he continues to drag his feet, Nora really struggles with wanting to break up with him. I loved the author’s handling of this. It felt true to both characters.

The cozy mystery aspects kept my interest despite a few sections of repetitive information (i.e. Nora tells her friend Cassidy, then immediately tells her boyfriend Lane the same information).

My favorite part of the book was Pal, the military working dog who Lane and Nora found. He really provided the perfect setup to resolve several plot points and he instantly bonded with Lane.

Fans of cozy mysteries and clean romance will really enjoy this story.

Genre: Christian Mystery Romance, Cozy Mystery
Series: Stands alone
Location: Brenham, Texas
Romance: Very brief mention of kissing, but not described.
Faith: light mention of church and prayer.

Disclaimer: I requested and received an advanced copy of this book courtesy of the publisher through Celebrate Lit Tours and Net Galley. I was not required to give a favorable review. All opinions are my own.

This was such a great, feel good story! I loved Pal the dog and was so pleasantly surprised by this book. Highly recommended!

About this book:

“How Is a Missing Military Working Dog Related to Two Local Fires?
Air Force veteran Dr. Lane Bishop and Nora Hernandez’s romance has cooled. He is busy working as a researcher at the vet school, and she’s busy with her restaurant and opening an antique shop. What Lane hasn’t told her is his PTSD, which manifests mostly with nightmares, makes him believe he’s damaged goods. But that is about to change when he meets a stray pup that acts a lot like a military working dog.
When a tornado hits Brenham, there is damage in the downtown area and a fire is ignited in Nora’s new store. A Belgian Malinois dog is seen at the fire and later Lane sees him at a wedding venue where an explosion occurs. Not long after, a second explosion rocks Brenham and sends Nora and Lane on a hunt for the person responsible. Will the pair find the guilty party before more damage is done to the city’s landmarks? And will Lane find the words to tell Nora how much he loves her before it’s too late?”


Series: The final book (#6) in the “Gone to the Dogs Mystery” series. Can be read as stand-alones, but would be most enjoyed if read in order. Reviews of Book #1 Here!, Book #2 Here!, Book #3 Here!, and Book #4 Here!, and Book #5 Here!


Spiritual Content- 2 Chronicles 12:9-10 at the beginning; Prayers & Thanking God; 'H's are not capital when referring to God; Mentions of God & Jesus; Mentions of prayers, praying, & blessings over food; Mentions of churches, church going, worship, & pastors; A few mentions of Bibles & Bible reading; A few mentions of Saint Anthony; A couple mentions of thanking & praising the Lord; A mention of being Blessed; A mention of a godsend; A mention of a Christian university.


Negative Content- Minor cussing including: two forms of ‘dumb’, two ‘oh my gosh’s, five ‘stupid’s, seven forms of ‘idiot’; Sarcasm; Pain & Injuries; Lane has PTSD and nightmares from his time in the military & talks to a therapist via email (once, though it’s implied they have talked before and during the book; very light in terms of details or on-page mentions); Nora & Cassidy sneak into a building they’ve been told not to go into (by their boyfriends and the police, *Spoiler* but realize why they shouldn’t be there and Nora admits she went in the building to a police officer *End of Spoiler*); Many mentions of tornadoes, damages, a fire, & explosives; Many mentions of possible explosives or drug making, a crime scene, criminals, arrests, & jail/prison; Mentions of PTSD, military-related nightmares, deaths, injuries, shootings, bombs, & military men and dogs going AWOL; Mentions of injuries, pain, blood/bleeding, & stitches; Mentions of stolen items, stolen dogs, thefts, & thieves; Mentions of tattoos; A few mentions of the death of a spouse and parent & grief (for a wife and a mother); A few mentions of the death of beloved pets; A couple mentions of a possible burglary; A couple mentions of threats; A couple mentions of lies & lying; A mention of scams; A mention of a divorce; A mention of a dog fight;
*Note: Mentions of brand names (Crock-Pot, Blue Bell Ice Cream, Whataburger, Dr. Pepper, HEB, Yeti cooler, Kate Spade, Adidas, & Harley Davidson); Mentions of singers & songs (George Strait, Buddy Holly, Bob Wills, Marilyn Monroe, Dolly Parton, & Toby Mac); A few mentions of car brands; A few mentions of TV shows (Inspector Gadget, Murder She Wrote, The Bachelor); A few mentions of FaceTime; A mention of a designer (Vera Wang); A mention of a painter (Vincent van Gogh); A mention of a fast food chain (Dairy Queen); A mention of Girl Scouts.


Sexual Content- A fingers-to-lips touch, a fingers/hand kiss, two cheek kisses, two top-of-the-head kisses, an almost kiss, five not-detailed kisses, and two barely-above-not-detailed kisses; Touches, Embraces, Dancing, Hand holding, & Smelling (up to semi-detailed); Noticing (barely-above-not-detailed); a ‘babe’, a ‘baby’, and a ‘hunky’; Many mentions of dating, dates, girlfriends/boyfriends, exes, & break-ups; A few mentions of jealousy; A couple mentions of kisses & kissing; A mention of a guy who used to flirt with everyone’s girlfriends; A mention of a chaperone; Love, being in love, trying to fall out of love, & the emotions.

-Nora Hernandez,
-Lane Bishop
1st person P.O.V. switches between them
259 pages

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Pre Teens- Two Stars
New Teens- Three Stars
Early High School Teens- Four Stars
Older High School Teens- Four Stars
My personal Rating- Four Stars

I’m so sad that this series is over! It’s been my most anticipated book releases for the last couple of years and they all have received at least a four-star rating from me. I’ve loved all the characters, the Texas charm, and, of course, the dogs! It’s been a really good series and I’m sad it’s over now.

When I had first seen this book online, I couldn’t remember seeing about this main couple in any of the prior books, but Goodreads had an old description, so that was throwing me! Nora is actually Cassidy’s chef friend we met in a prior book, so we see all mentions (if not have actual conversations with) all of the characters from the other books in the series. This book was a bit different from the rest, though, because we get Lane’s point of view. I’m glad we did because just from Nora’s perspective, I could see why she was frustrated with him, but because of his point of view, I understood more of where he was coming from. All in all, a good read with a mystery that kept me guessing with all the possible suspects!




*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
*I received this book for free from the Publisher (Barbour) for this honest review.

This is such a great story! I fell in love with Pal, a sweet dog that captured my heart. There is so much to love about this book. The mystery slowly unraveled keeping me guessing at every turn. I enjoyed the romance aspect and wanted to give up on Lane a few times. Nora’s family was fantastic and supported her in everything from her business to her love life. I enjoyed the little details about her dad and his weather predictions that were thrown in. The orange tabby that Nora found and what she named her had me laughing, so clever. This a fun mystery with romance, family, and animals thrown into the mix. I hated for this story to end and wanted more!
Was given a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

Multiple mysteries and a rocky romance all going on simultaneously had me glued to this story. Nora has broken up with the love of her life, Lane, in her head but has not had the opportunity to have that discussion with Lane. Explosions, stray animals and business issues combined with Lane's workaholic life have put that discussion on hold.

There are a couple of things about this book that makes it unique. First, the telling of the story alternates between the two main characters so you get to see both sides of the story. Second, the series highlights different characters in each book so by now I am invested in numerous characters. Thanks to Barbour Publishing and NetGalley for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.

I loved this book so much and I think it’s my favorite of the series. Pal the dog was just the best addition and I loved reading the mention of the real life dog he was based on listed on the acknowledgment page. I was only a little familiar with Nora’s character and I’m pretty sure Lane wasn’t in it much before if at all, but these two characters were just so awesome and special. The end of this book was the absolute best! Look at me gushing over a book that’s not a murder mystery, lol.

This is the only series I’ve ever read that’s come even close to interesting me that consistently doesn’t have a murder as the case. Maybe it’s because of all the little side mysteries and secrets that’ve been parts of each book. But just like with all cozy mysteries, the good guys win and there’s a happily ever after…or more. I’m pretty sure this was scheduled to be the last book, but I’d happily read more in this series.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Barbour Publishing via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

Loved this Christian mystery book. I chose it by the cover and I am so glad I picked it up. Read it so fast that before I knew it it was done. I will be rereading this book in the future.


I received a copy of this book from Netgalley for my honest review.

This sixth of a cozy mystery series set in small town Brenham, Texas is focused on PTSD. Veterinarian Lane Bishop has trouble sleeping at night due to vivid dreams of his time serving in the Air Force. While he loves Nora, he doesn't want to burden her with marriage and a lifetime of dealing with his PTSD.

After years of dating, Nora wants to take their relationship to the next level. In frustration, she considers breaking things off with Lane even though she loves him.

On top of their personal struggles, the town is dealing with unusual crimes. Then, a service dog and cat surface without a clue of where they came from.

An enjoyable cozy with a good cast of characters. My favorite character was Pal.

Nora Hernandez is the owner of Simply Eats in Brenham TX and loves her life and friends, most of whom work at the Lone Star Vet Clinic and Second Chance Rescue. She has been dating Dr. Lane Bishop a Veterinarian Researcher at Texas A&M for four years and there has been no movement towards the next level, i.e., putting a ring on it. She loves Lane but she wants a husband and children. Lane is hiding something about himself that is the reason he hasn't proposed to Nora in spite of knowing that she is the one for him. While their romance drama is going on there is an explosion and tornado that hits downtown Brenham. Nora's restaurant has escaped damage but the building next door that she just purchased has had a fire. Also there is stray dog that looks to be a German Shepherd or Belgian Malinois running loose.

While at a friend's wedding, Nora and Lane are able to catch the dog which is Belgian Malinois. Lane takes him home with him and names him Pal. He feels he is a military dog but has no tattoo or chip. While trying to find his owner, the wedding venue has had an explosion. Two explosions in a short time in their small town? Nora and Lane set out to discover the culprit.

I enjoyed the story and the characters. My favorite is Pal, the Belgian Malinois followed closely by Lane's dad, Dr Bishop, and the casserole ladies! They made the story so enjoyable for me! I had trouble with Nora's turmoil about why Lane has not proposed and should she break up with him. After 4 years, I think it's time to have a heart-to-heart talk and not just break up with him. Nora could have been more open to knowing something was going on with Lane. I applaud the author for discussing the topic of PTSD with military veterans.

It's a good mystery. It does have quite a few secondary characters which can be hard to keep track of at times.
It's an enjoyable read for a cozy fall afternoon.
Thank you to NetGalley and Barbour Publishing for the chance to read this book and give my honest opinions.

Nora Hernandez and Dr. Lane Bishop have been dating for four years. She is really doubting her feelings and his commitment to her. As she has watched others in her friendship circle grow in their relationships, things seem stagnant in her love life. Utterly confused, Nora questions that it may be time to part ways with the handsome veterinarian that she loves. Her business life seems to be flourishing so maybe she should put her all into that. And then things go out of control.
Lane has a very serious secret. He definitely has a lot on his mind. A stray dog zeroes in on the military veteran and brings a mystery into the lives of the couple and their families. This is one solid mystery that I could only partially solve.
I received an advanced reader's copy of the newest book in the Gone to the Dog series via NetGalley from Barbour. I have read every book in the series, and this is my opinion of New Leash on Life. I really enjoyed it. I think the plot takes on a very important issue for veterans. It is a good part of this excellent series. This is one of my favorite ongoing series with endearing characters and their beloved pets.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading New Leash on Life by Kathleen Y'Barbo. It was a fun mystery and romance all in one. An unexpected twist that took me off guard.

Will Lane and Nora end up together? What will happen to Pal, the loveable Pooch?

If you love cozy mysteries, this is a must read. This is book 6 of the Gone to the Dogs series.

This is the first I've read of this series and it does stand alone. Fun book featuring Nora, who owns Simple Eats and just bought the part of the building next door, her boyfriend Lane, who's DVM, but works on the research side and my favorite, Pal, a Belgian Malinois who comes into Lane's life. Having a trained dog, that's as fun as he is, is a big bonus. These animals work hard and are smart, and Pal, is no exception. A tornado, fire, and a bombing keep things hopping as Nora, Lane and few others try to figure out the culprit.

A complimentary copy was provided by Barbour via NetGalley. A review was not required and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

The final book in the series and tbh I was disappointed in the writing. This one was most repetitive of all in example towards beginning Lane kept telling Nora call your dad, call your dad, did you call your dad? Call your dad. Like in less than 2 pages he told her the same thing over and over. Great way to get word counts, terrible way to keep my interest. On top of that Nora was soooooo bitter about how her life was going despite it going great outside of her boyfriend not putting a ring on it. She was so bitter and quite frankly mean to Lane, and was even going to break up with him until this mystery unfurled and gave them some close proximity due to the current events. Everybody basically made Lane out to be a jerk but was he really? He was afraid to open up about his ptsd and that is why he didn't want to get engaged to Nora...did Nora not make for a safe place to discuss his ptsd with? Because I could see that based on her character in this book. I side with Lane. The mystery was mildly interesting, a bit unbelievable but interesting.
I want to thank Netgalley for this arc. I received this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

Kathleen Y’Barbo continues the adorable cozy mystery Gone to the Dogs series with its sixth installment, “New Leash on Life.”

Nora Hernandez, owner of Simply Eat restaurant and friend of the entire Lone Star Veterinary Clinic staff, finds her relationship with Lane Bishop, a research veterinarian, suffering due to his lack of time for her. But when a tornado hits her town, a fire breaks out in the new building she recently purchased, and his father falls and breaks his leg, they find themselves thankfully brought together more.

As they work together to figure out who caused the fire, they also attempt to figure out who owns a rescued working military dog found on the loose.

Will they solve the mysteries occurring around town? And will they be able to patch back together their weakened relationship?

As always, Y’Barbo, along with her series co-writer Janice Thompson, creates a delightfully fun whodunnit with a lovely cast of characters. Past Lone Star characters aren’t as prevalent, but are still included in the storyline, especially in regard to identifying “Pal” and his owners. She also includes several great themes, like prioritizing those we love and we are never too broken to be fixed.

Told with an almost Mitford-like tone, readers of small town stories, cozy mysteries and animal stories will love “New Leash on Life,” which is due out Sept. 30. You could read this as a standalone, but I’d recommend checking out the rest of the series too.

Five stars out of five.

Barbour Fiction provided this complimentary copy through NetGalley for my honest, unbiased review.

Wow, this one is a great read. Nora has her restaurant, Simply Eat, up and running smoothly. Or is it? A tornado strikes the other side of the street but her restaurant and the building beside it, which she just bought, are not affected. However, a fire occurs in her new building at the same time. Why would that happen? At the same time a seemingly stray dog is seen in the alley. The dog then turns up at a wedding venue miles away. He takes to an ex-soldier, who is now a veterinarian, where he stays as the mystery unfolds. He appears to be military trained to detect explosives but does not gave the tattoo or a microchip. Will Brenham PD and the ATF ever unravel this one or will it are the help of Nora her friends and the mysterious dog?
I absolutely loved this story. There are lots twists and turns that may seem like dead ends but eventually become a new clue. The stories all untangle in the end and there is a very satisfying ending.
I received an advance copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

An Old Dog Learns New Tricks!

Nora is tired of waiting for her boyfriend of many years, Lane, to propose. She has tried breaking up with him, but he is so distracted, he doesn't notice. Things are going badly in the rest of her life, too. When a tornado touches down in her town, a fire also started in her building. Instead of it being a result of the storm, its cause is more sinister.

She is also having trouble at her restaurant. Nora thinks they might have happened because she hasn't paid enough attention.

Additionally, a well-trained service dog appeared when Lane and Nora were at a wedding. No owner claims him, so the two are devoting themselves to solving the mystery of who he belongs to. While they hunt, Lane is keeping the dog. Having it has reaped many benefits for him including, for the first time in years, Lane is getting a good night's sleep.

Little does Nora know, but Lane is more upset with himself than she is. He is always chastising himself for being a workaholic, coming late, or totally not showing up at all for events with Nora. He loves her, but is secretly dealing with PTSD. It is so bad he can't ask Nora to marry him, and have that as part of her life.

Things come to a head when Nora's family, without her knowledge, decide to pressure Lane into making a commitment. Nora is embarrassed and wonders if this will be the thing to separate them for good.

This is a great mystery with lots of twists, turns, red herrings, and humorous situations. This story also devotes space to Nora and Lane's life and relationship, including the state of their faith. This clean, five-star book will appeal to mystery lovers, and fans of well-written tales.

Thank you, Barbour Publishing and NetGalley, for providing Tickmenot with a complimentary copy of, “New Leash on Life,” for the purpose of review. I have not been compensated in any other manner. All opinions expressed are my own, and I was not required, or influenced, to give anything but an honest appraisal.

LOVED this new installment in this delightful cozy mystery series! I laughed and cuddled my dogs as I read. I am truly loving this series which has a mystery at its heart but without it being a murder. Looking forward to the next one eagerly!