If big business is a dog eat dog world, Lucie Rizzo’s tasty new idea will take Coco Barknell to the top of the food chain. Nothing says pampered pet chic like customizable dog food. At least Lucie thinks so. Her BFF-turned-partner isn’t so sure. Ro is the creative genius—not to mention the boobs—of their operation, but Lucie has the discerning business palate. And this venture smells like sweet … sweet success. All they need is the right investor.
French chef Antoine Durand made casseroles sexy again. His closely guarded secret recipe built a billion-dollar empire. He’s got the food industry cred and the cash to turn Lucie’s dream into a reality. And he just happens to be a Coco Barknell client. She gives him a taste of her proposal, and Antoine’s about to bite when a fire breaks out in his restaurant. Lucie saves herself and the chef’s prized Griffon Bruxellois pup. But in the chaos, Antoine’s priceless recipe is stolen.
The number one suspect? Lucie. Because a girl can’t shake her criminal connections in this town. She might be a mob princess, but she’s no thief. And she’s certainly no blackmailer. Someone has beef with the chef. The Rizzo crew needs to find out who, before Antoine puts Coco Barknell out of business…and Lucie behind bars.
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This book has mystery, humor and the mob. Lucie continues to try to escape the mob life. But when she is accused of being a thief, she sets out to prove who the culprit really is. Can she do so before it’s too late? Dog Collar Cuisine is the fifth book in the Lucie Rizzo Mystery series. I really enjoyed this story, and I highly recommend this it!
Lucie finds herself unwittingly and unwillingly in trouble again. While helping out a customer she becomes the target of someone maliciously accusing her of thievery and she knows she is not guilty SO in Lucie’s inimitable style she starts sleuthing for the real thief. This leads her to questionable behavior – at least in her boyfriend’s mind. Why questionable? Well, because Detective Tim “O’Hottie” O’Brien is an upholder and not a breaker of the law and sometimes Lucie bends and even slips across that line he upholds in his job.
There are escapades and situations and suspects and dogs and romance along with family and caring and romance and sharing. This is a great addition to the series with Tim and Lucie growing closer together as a couple while figuring out how to be just Tim and Lucie without the influence of his job and her familial ties impinging on their relationship.
Thank you to the author for the ARC – this is my honest review.
Lucie Rizzo is known as the Mafia princess
as she is the daughter of an Italian mob boss.
Coco Barknel is the company created by Lucie.
She is thinking of expanding with a dog food
line.
Lucie decides to consult with a famous chef
whose dog she walks. While she is at the chef’s
office a fire breaks out. Lucie manages to save
his dog but then finds herself accused of stealing
the chef’s famous recipe written on a blue card.
This calls for action to clear Lucie’s name. Her
faithful crew which consists of Roseanne ( Lucie’s
best friend), Joey (Lucie’s brother and current
boyfriend of Roseanne), Irish Detective Tim O’Brien
and her father, Italian mob boss, Joe Rizzo plus
his friends even Lucie’s mother gets in on the
action. What a combination of characters to help
prove Lucile’s innocence!!!
Feisty, vivid, colorful and well created cast of
characters get involved in well plotted mystery.
The story is mixed with danger, intrigue, suspense,
some romance with lots of humor.
This is book # 5 in the Lucie Rizzo Mystery series.
It can be read as a stand alone.
It is a page turner that is a fresh and unique cozy. You
will enjoy the dogs and the trash mouth parrot
involved with Lucie’s dog walking business.
I volunteered to read this Advanced Reader’s Copy.
Thanks to the author for the opportunity. My opinion
is my own.
I adore this series and loved Dog Collar Cuisine. The characters are the stars of the books as they should be; they are warm and often hilarious, and Adrienne Giordano allows them personal growth and change in both romantic and personal relationships which will help keep this awesome series alive. I discovered Ms. Giordano through her outstanding romantic suspense novels and she has carried her deft handling of mysteries into the lighter cozy series while remaining true to the genre.
Lucie is accused of theft! Those familiar with the series can image how she and her family and friends react to that! After years of battling the mafia princess image, no way are they going to let anyone challenger her integrity. The problems is that she is the most reasonable, apparently the only reasonable, suspect. On top of her personal horror at the idea of being accused of something that she would never do, she faces other issues that could destroy her. She fears that the impact that the accusations alone could have on her police detective boyfriend could be the last straw for him and Chef Durand whose recipe was stolen can literally wipe out her business with only a few words if he decides to go public, not to mention that if he sues, so would have no way to pay without turning to her father!