Series: True Gentlemen (Book 3)
It's a dog's life...
Will Dorning, as an earl's spare, has accepted the thankless duty of managing his rambunctious younger siblings, though Will's only true companions are the dogs he's treasured since boyhood. When aristocratic London is plagued with a series of dognappings, Will's brothers are convinced that he's the only person who can save the stolen canines from an awful fate.
But the lady's choice...
Shy, bookish Lady Susannah Haddonfield has no patience with loud, smelly beasts of any species, but must appear to like dogs so as not to offend her sister's only marital prospect. Susannah turns to Will, an acquaintance from her most awkward adolescent years, to teach her how to impersonate a dog fancier. Will has long admired Susannah, though he lacks the means to offer for her, and yet as they work together to rescue the purloined pets, it's loyal, dashing Will who steals Susannah's heart.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Though it dragged a little bit in a few places, the rest more than made up for it. Will and Susannah have a little bit of a history before the start of this book. Seven years earlier, Susannah was in her first Season and the victim of a pair of particularly nasty fellow debutantes. Will, being the truly nice guy that he is, stepped in to give Susannah a bit of confidence. They parted ways not long after, but Susannah never forgot Will's kindness.
Fast forward to the present, and Susannah is back in London, this time as a chaperone for her younger sister, Della. Susannah would rather spend her time reading her beloved Shakespeare than spend time in Society, but she is determined to help Della land a husband. Then she can go back to her books and be content as the maiden aunt. Unfortunately, her sister's one beau is a self-avowed dog lover, and Susannah most definitely is not. So she went to Will to ask him to teach her how to look like a dog lover.
Will is the second son of the cash-strapped Dorning family. He has taken on the responsibility of watching out for his younger brothers, a headache of major proportions. His preferred activity is the training and breeding of dogs, and he prefers their company to that of humans. He has also never forgotten Susannah, and over the years has found himself watching her from a safe distance.
I really liked both Will and Susannah. Will is a nice guy. He is honorable, kind, and loves his family, even though they frequently exasperate him. I loved watching him with the various dogs, his patience and understanding of their varied temperaments were obvious. He was equally patient with the various owners, who were much harder to train. Susannah is strong and determined. She no longer worries too much about what people say about her. She's comfortable with her old maid status. She also loves her family and is determined to do her best to make Della's season a successful one. I did get a little frustrated with her focus on shoving Della and Effington together, especially since it is so clear that he isn't a good man.
I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Will and Susannah. There are sparks between them from the beginning, as well as an undeniable connection. Will tried very hard to resist the attraction, making it very clear to Susannah that he is in no position to make an offer for her. While Susannah would like to have forever, she will try to be content with having him for as long as she can. I enjoyed their interactions, especially when Susannah put her mind to distracting Will from his honorable position. I did get a little frustrated with Will at times because he was so convinced of his unsuitability when he actually had a lot going for him. I also thoroughly enjoyed her "dog lover" sessions and the clear evidence that she wasn't as "anti-dog" as she thought she was. I liked the way that Will brought Susannah out of her shell and the time spent with Susannah helps Will let go of some of his control issues with his brothers. I loved the ending and seeing Will realize that a future with Susannah is possible after all. His discussion with his brother-in-law, Worth, about his finances and his plans was pretty funny, but quintessentially Will. His big moment with Susannah was sweet, with an additional twist for him.
The secondary story with Susannah's sister, Della, and her suitor was interesting. Susannah's determination to get Della married off quickly seemed a little extreme to me, and a bit selfish. It was especially annoying as more of Effington's personality was revealed. I had a great deal of fun watching Will's brother, Ash, stir that pot whenever he could. It was no surprise to see him show such protectiveness toward Della the more time he spent with her. I thought Della was a little naïve about her relationship with Effington, especially once her true feelings and intentions were revealed. I thought that Effington was creepy from the beginning and those feelings grew stronger as the book went on.
The mystery of the missing dogs was a good addition to the story. I was a little disappointed in Will's reluctance to get involved at first, though his reasons were logical. His brothers, Cam and Ash, had no such qualms and I loved watching the two of them and their attempts. Even Susannah got into the act of trying to convince Will to take action. The final confrontation was fantastic, with an intensity that kept me on the edge of my seat until it was over. I loved seeing how it all came together, with Susannah playing a significant part. I laughed out loud at her actions once the dognapper was captured.
Out of all the secondary characters, my favorites were the dogs. I loved Will's Georgette and her obvious affection for both him and Susannah. Each of the other dogs had their own personalities and unique relationships with their owners. I loved watching the various interactions between owners and pups, and between owners and Will as he tried to train the owners along with the dogs.
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