Love, Chocolate, and a Dog Named Al Capone

A beautiful perspective on a romance.
Josie is a lonely owner of a rare book store, she has lost her parents, the bookstore owner who was father like also recently passed, the bookstore itself is in deep financial trouble and she found out that her boyfriend was cheating. Her best friend gets her a pup, Capone to help her navigate this rough time.
Capone, is an adorable rascal. He loves to create trouble, listen to books being read and watching PBS. He has taken it upon him self to save the bookstore and also self appointed himself to Miss Josie a Mr. Darcy.
I loved viewing a romance from the perspective of a puppy. The antics in this book were so believable, I loved how Capone classified all the males in Josie's life. The mystery story was some what predictable but that part was forgivable. I am glad this book had a HEA.
I absolutely loved the animals, all of them. As an animal lover, it was good identify different personalities in each of the characters. Also are lab pups so insightful in real life? (Maybe I need to get one).
I definitely recommend this book.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for a honest review. All opinion are my own.

Luanna

A quirky and entertaining read.
It took me a couple of chapter to get in to it, giventhat it is told from the point of view of a dog, but once I got in to the story it was really enjoyable.

A mystery with a bit of romance thrown in.

It took a little while to get into this book but once I did I really enjoyed it. It's all told from the viewpoint of a puppy name Capone, and he's so cute. It looks at Capone's life while still at the breeder's, to getting a new person, to learning obedience to catching some thieves to helping his person find true love in the amidst of it al. #LoveChocolateAndADogNamedAlCapone #NetGalley

This was an absolutely delightful book. I enjoyed it from the first page to the last. The premise is that Capone, a black labrador puppy is the narrator. All he wants is for his new owner, Josie, to find love with a Jane Austen sort of hero. That’s right, while being a puppy who can’t stop himself from eating up everything in sight, including shoes and wallets and pillows, Capone also loves being read to and watching PBS documentaries about Regency gentlemen. HE knows enough to recognize a Colin Firth wet shirt moment. As Capone encounters new animal friends and enemies including the owner of the next-door coffee shot’s hilarious pug, Jackson and a surly cat, Rocco, he also does his puppy best to steer his owner away from loser guys and toward the more Darcy-like potential boyfriends. All while helping Josie figure out where the priceless books the previous owner of her bookstore bought might be hiding.

I had a smile on my face the entire time I was reading this. At first I thought I wouldn’t enjoy the quirky idea of having a puppy narrator, but it really worked out and was a totally enjoyable read.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.

This book was hilarious and cute. I didn’t expect the entire story to be told entirely from the puppers pov but once I was a few chapters in it felt very natural. Capone was an adorable, funny, entertaining and engaging narrator. Loved his voice throughout and his interactions with all the other animals in the book. His ability and desire to eat practically anything was weirdly impressive.

Miss Josie and Mr Nate were imperfectly perfect for each other. The missing books mystery was a little predictable but the whole story kept me amused and hooked nonetheless. Will definitely be checking out more of this author’s work.

A funny laugh out loud story told only in the puppy pov, which was so weird at the beginning but while keeping reading, it just blended with the story. There are a few predictable mysteries but a lovely love story between the main characters.
Overall a good book that I'll recommend for an easy/cheesy story.

Love, Chocolate and a Dog Named Al Capone by Abigail Drake is a fantastic story full of sadness, laughter and love that will keep you turning the pages.
Capone, as he is called, was born and is being raised on a farm. All of his siblings have been adopted and he is left with Mistress Sue, the horses the cows, and Mr. Collins the barn cat. He is known for causing a bit of mischief but he also loves being read to and watching PBS. He is especially fond of Pride and Prejudice. One day a new lady, Anne, comes to the farm looking for a puppy for her friend, Josephine St. Claire the owner of Bartleby’s Books of Beaver. What could be a better place for Capone to live than a bookstore? With reservations Mistress Sue allows Capone to go but tells Anne she will come to check on him in two months to make sure everything is going okay. Anne believes Josie needs a puppy because her life has become the bookstore and she no longer gets out or spends time with others. Her ex broke her heart and her parents both passed away leaving her very alone. Now mysterious and confusing things are happening around the bookstore with missing items and attempted break-ins. Will Capone be only trouble or will he fit perfectly into his new life?
I loved this book! Capone is fantastic as he tells the story from his point of view and while he gets into some mischief as all puppies tend to do, he is also very lovable. Josie is not thrilled with the gift but vows to learn to care for Capone and to find him a better name. He would like Mr. Darcy but how can he tell her? There are parts of this story that are just laugh out loud funny and others are very serious. I give this book 5 of 5 stars and wish it could be more. I did not want to put this one down till I finished it. While the focus is on Josie and Capone there are so many characters that they meet such as the coffee shop owner, the vet and the trainer along with some who are less savory. All are so realistic and I know I have met all of them at some point in life. I will definitely be looking for more books by this author.
I received an advance copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

This was an entertaining read, told almost exclusively from the dog's point of view. Capone would like to become a gentleman, or at least as much as one can as a little Labrador pup. His new owner Miss Josie is going through many trials, involving love and keeping her business, so Capone sets out to find her the perfect man. Humorous and touching, this a great read with some quirky characters of both human and animal variety.

I absolutely loved this book. I would highly highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone. It was well written and the characters are described well. I posted my review on my blog today September 24, 2019.

Love, Chocolate and a Dog Named Al Capone is told from the perspective of a black Labrador puppy named Capone who is given to a bookstore owner named Miss Josie. In true puppy fashion, Capone wrecks havoc in her life all in the name of finding Miss Josie her true love. You see Capone is a Jane Austin obsessed puppy who wants his owner to find her own Mr. Darcy. Add to this a mystery of missing books and ledgers and you have a cute story that will have you turning pages. Having the story told completely in Capone's point of view adds a distinct charm to the story. If you are looking for a cute story to brighten up your fall this book will be released October 15th!


Thank you Netgalley and Backlit PR for providing a copy of the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I will be posting this review to Goodreads on 9/28/19 and Instagram on 9/29/19

This book was absolutely adorable! Even though the mystery wasn’t exactly unpredictable this book had all the cuteness that I enjoy. This was from the perspective of Capone an adorable lab puppy who is determined to be a perfect gentleman. What makes this book even better is that Capone is the authors dog and the author has my last name. What can I say? This book and author was meant to be read by me. Loved it loved it loved it.

While this is a cute and easy chick lit/romance read - I don't know how many people would enjoy reading from the perspective of a Labrador puppy. I enjoyed the romance between Miss Josie and Mr. Nate - and even some of the puppy hijinks. But while cute and easy, some of the storyline seemed a little left field/didn't 100% mesh. Still something I'd recommend to fans of Jill Shalvis or for people who love Jane Austen and chick lit.

It took me a while to get used to the unusual POV (a dog), but once I did, I enjoyed this great read. Mystery, romance and dogs... A great combination!

What an absolutely charming story! Capone is the narrator of this cute romance that includes a bit of mystery. Capone is a book-dog if ever there was one, and I love the references to Jane Austen that run throughout. Several animals run throughout, some becoming Capone's friends, some his nemeses. The big caper at the end reminds me of a Disney movie, a little bit of The Incredible Journey, a little bit of any movie with talking pets that save the day.

And of course there are Josie and Nate, the main characters. Yes, I just mentioned them, and that's because they really are less of the focus. Josie jumps through a few dating hoops, with some hilarious results. Nate is the charming neighbor that you know is the right guy for Josie, and happily he sticks around until Josie figures it out, too. They are very cute, but the dogs and cats rule this book. Outside of the dating hijinks, we don't see a lot of romance other than through the eyes of Capone and the other pets, as they watch Josie and Nate. Pacing slows down a little in the middle because of it. The villains are cartoonish and not unexpected. Still, there are some good laughs and I definitely was smiling at the end. Very charming.

Thank you Netgalley and Backlit pr for the ARC of love, chocolate, and a dog named Al Capone. I read bookstore owner and puppies and I was sold but of course Iove a fun romance story. This was an absolutely fun and adorable read and if you love feel good romance books check this one out.

This was such a fun book to read.
It's always entertaining to read a story from a pet's point of view. Because as a pet owner, you wonder what goes on in your dog, cat, etc.'s head.
Capone is a pup who wants to be a gentleman but living on a farm makes that very difficult. Until one day, he is adopted and taken to live with Miss Josephine St. Clair and her bookstore. He can't believe his luck & tries all that he can to be a gentile puppy. Sadly, he realizes that his name may be holding him back & hopes that Miss Josie will be willing to change his name and find the perfect name for him; a regal, literary name would be right up his alley.
Josie St. Clair has been left with a bookstore from her former employee and she's trying to keep afloat but disaster after disaster happens to the bookstore, along with her personal life. Someone is trying to sabotage & break into the bookstore but the question is why, what could her former employee have that someone would want. Unless they might know where the lost books that Mr. Bartley has misplaced may be. She's trying to find the perfect guy for her but she seems to attract nothing but duds, Josie wouldn't mind finding a Mr. Darcy of her own. And with Capone's help, she just might save her store and find the man for her.

Love, Chocolate, and a Dog Named Al Capone by Abigail Drake is a delightful mystery. Capone is the undeniable star of this tale. I was initially thrown off with the narration being from a puppies point of view but then the action takes over and you can’t help but fall in love with the characters and the story. A wonderful escape.

Review featured at www.books-n-kisses.com

Oh my! This story is so adorable! It is written by the dog. Ok not really but it is written from a dog’s perception.

Capone is so adorable! He is obsessed with Jane Austin. Yes you read that right. And he wants his new owner to find her true love. And Capone is going to figure out how to do it.

I loved the concept of this story. Just so sweet. Yes the romance is kind of stereotypical but told this different way makes it so much fun to read.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I'm still reading it but I couldn't wait to review as I'm in love with Capone and it's way of telling the story.
i think the author is a gifted storytelling and I hope to read other books by this writer.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

Oh my goodness, I enjoyed this book so much! It was hilarious, heartwarming and at times, quite suspenseful.

The subtitle is 'Pride, prejudice and a puppy' and I think that sums it up nicely. Capone, a black lab puppy, is the narrator throughout the book. He is partial to the Regency period and his ambition is to be a proper Regency gentleman, preferably with a name other than Capone. Then he sees the movie version of Pride and Prejudice (the one with Colin Firth), and he yearns with all of his puppy heart to be named Mr. Darcy. Or perhaps FitzWilliam.

One thing I loved about this book is that the reader sees two points of view - the action from a human perspective and from the points of view of the animals. Capone's original owner gives him to her friend, Josie, who is going through some tough times and could use some cheering up. She has broken up with her weasel boyfriend, and inherited a bookstore from her employer. The bookstore is in financial trouble, with missing and damaged rare books, missing financial records, and mysterious break-ins. On top of that, she fears that the owner of the new coffee shop next door has designs on her property. He does have designs but not on her property. He also has a pug dog named Jackson who is a hoot.

If you have ever had a big, playful, destructive puppy join your household, you can imagine the sorts of chaos that Capone creates in his new household. Josie and Capone had some interesting times as she learned the ins and outs of dog parentage - the time you first 'step in it', doggie daycare incidents, dating with a dog, running from bears, etc.

The human characters, love story and conflicts were interesting, but I thought the animal characters stole the show. My favorite characters other than Capone were the cats Mr. Collins and Rocco, and pug dog Jackson, all of them with distinct voices, and brimming with character.

My thanks to Netgalley for an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I loved Al Capone the pup and his cohorts. It was great having them have a voice and hearing what they were thinking. The story was cute and predictable but I would definitely read another Abigail Drake book because it was a nice, light read. I would definitely like to read any other books where the dogs are as involved as they are in this one!! Drake captured their personalities and made them so much for to read about!!

A very entertaining and well written romance. A good plot with a cast of quirky characters. Animal lovers and fans of romance books will enjoy this book. I received an arc from the publisher and this is my unbiased review.

Thanks to Backlit PR for the ARC!
The story is told from Capone's point of the view and... Well, he's a black labrador puppy. YES.
At first I was a bit confused, but then I realized what was happening and it was really cute and sweet to read these pages. Can't say it's my favorite book ever, but if you love dogs and romance you'll probably enjoy it too.

Thank you so much for the advance reader copy of this novel. I enjoyed this novel so so much and was rooting for Capone to contain his puppiness and behave but all his antics were so cute and endearing. I loved all the Jan Austen references and how much Capone wanted to be a gentleman. Nate and Josie's relationship was sweet and appreciated it was clean. Loved the twist at the end with the secondary characters. Great read!!!

Taken from the point of view of 3 month old Capone, a black lab puppy, this is a darling book, and one I had trouble putting down. Made me laugh a lot, with all his antics. Especially got a chuckle out of Hans, the cowardly German Shepherd. Josie is his new owner, and she runs a used bookstore. Things are happening around her, for example books being damaged, or the shop being broken into, and the mystery is unclear. Throw in several possible boyfriends and it gets fun seeing the disastrous dates she has. With the different men and their dogs, throw in a puppy who can't stop eating everything he can, and with the help of his dog and cat friends must solve the mystery. A fun and lighthearted book that was hard to put down. Really enjoyed this one, and highly recommend if you are looking for a quick and easy read. Fun story and author.

Omg, i love this book. Its so adorable, i love the characters and the dog, is unbelievably hilarious. Its romantic, action packed and funny.

Romance from the perspective of the animals in the humans lives. Very charming and captivating romance. Capone is the new puppy of Miss Josie the owner of a bookstore in financial trouble. He is trying to find a Mr. Darcy (wouldn’t we all) for his Josie and unfortunately she goes about dating everyone but a Darcy. Her neighbor Nate is the perfect fit for her but it takes her a bit of time to figure that out. Capone is also trying to find or give Josie hints on who is sabotaging her bookstore. The story of course are the adorable pets and the mystery of the sabotage was not all that hard to figure out. Clever romance.

I adore a story written from the point of view of a pet. I love stories about books and bookshops. And I love when you throw in a bit of a reference from other books. This had all of that. Sometimes lags but over all a good read.

Entertaining, well written romance .
Delightful rom-com so adorably told from the dog's point of view.
This sweet romance will keep you reading.
You're going to want to curl up with this as the snow flies outside.

Published October 15th 2019
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you.
All o[pinions expressed are my own.

What a delightful and unique story. A rom-com told by the perspective of a dog. Such a charming tale (tail haha) of a sweet Labrador who simply wants a Mr Darcy for his owner Josie.

This was beautiful rom-com told from the perspective of a dog.
Josie is left alone after the death of her parents, and is now the sole owner of a rare and old bookstore which was passed to her by the previous owner (aka employer aka Bartelby).
The bookstore is going through financial crisis and there are some ledgers and valuable books missing. Josie found out her boyfriend was cheating and broke up with her. But since she has taken over the bookstore, there have been some kind of break-ups and thievery happening.
Her best friend gifts her a dog (Capone) to give her company at this difficult time. But Josie has no idea about dogs and Capone is such a naughty yet adorable one! He loves to listen to books being read and watch those PBS dramas. When he comes to know of the situation, he takes upon himself to save the bookstore and Josie. He also promises to find the perfect Mr Darcy for her Josie. He starts classifying all the males in Josie’s life as males from Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice!
I loved reading this cute book from the viewpoint of a dog and given the dog was such a bookish fellow - it was even more interesting! Fans of P&P and lab pups will surely love this I guess!

Such a beautiful story, I enjoyed most of it! It was charming and delightful ! A lighthearted sweet story!It's always entertaining to read a story from a pet's point of view. I didnt expect the entire story to be told entirely from the puppers pov but once I was a few chapters in it felt very natural. Capone was adorable and funny!It was a refreshing story!

Who doesn't love Black Labrador puppy and he is named Capone? Story is told through him. He is very curious and super friendly puppy. He loves watching PBS and Jane Austen books. Capone never expected he would be a present for someone like bookstore owner Josephine. Yet he is happy he will be surrounded by his favorite books and smells. He is determined to change his name to Jane Austen's characters instead of Capone.
Josephine loved her bookstore but store is barely making it and her next door coffee shop taking all her parking spaces and she is constantly arguing with her neighbor/coffee shop manager.
Now Capone is ready to work his magic to find Mr. Darcy for Josephine. But nothing will come very easy. He will have to endure many challenges as long as his human owner will keep up with him. He won't be able to keep his paw clean if he wants to help her.
Pride and Prejudice meets homeward bound.. It is really delightful, funny and cute.. All those animals were funny and each chapter with checklist were really cute.. This wasn't anything I expected and I enjoyed until the very end. This book really makes me want to adopt Capone..
Thanks to Netgalley, Backlit Pr for my ARC in exchange for honest review.

This is one of those hidden gems that you long to come across. It has a little bit of everything in it; romance, paranormal, mystery, and lots of action. There are so many twists and turns. A book that packs a punch you'll never see coming.

The puppy was so adorable and funny!
I really enjoyed how the puppy was interested in Jane Austen and trying to help his owner.