How to Read The Dogmothers Series
Roxanne St. Claire's contemporary romance series, The Dogmothers, is a direct spinoff of her bestselling Dogfather series. While each book is written as a standalone romance with its own happy ending, the character crossovers, small-town events, and overarching matchmaking shenanigans make reading the series in order highly recommended. The main sequence consists of nine books, including two holiday installments that advance the overall family timeline.
Recommended Starting Point: The Dogfather Series
To fully appreciate the Bitter Bark community and family dynamics, it is highly recommended to start with the original series, The Dogfather, before jumping into The Dogmothers. The original series follows Daniel Kilcannon, a widowed veterinarian who uses his elite canine rescue and training center to help his six children find love. Once you have finished Daniel's story, you can transition seamlessly to the extended family members in the spinoff.
Here is the reading order for the original Dogfather series:
- Sit...Stay...Beg (Book 1, 2017)
- New Leash on Life (Book 2, 2017)
- Leader of the Pack (Book 3, 2017)
- Santa Paws is Coming to Town (Holiday Novella, 2017)
- Bad to the Bone (Book 4, 2018)
- Ruff Around the Edges (Book 5, 2018)
- Double Dog Dare (Book 6, 2018)
- Bark! The Herald Angels Sing (Holiday Novella, 2018)
- Old Dog, New Tricks (Book 7, 2019)
The Dogmothers: Complete Publication & Reading Order
Once you are ready to begin the spinoff, the matchmaking duties shift from Daniel Kilcannon to the two matriarchs of the clan: Gramma Finnie (Fiona Kilcannon Mahoney), with her warm Irish spirit, and Yiayia (Agnes "Athena" Santorini), with her fiery Greek determination. Armed with their matching dachshunds and sharp matchmaking instincts, they set out to guide their nine grandchildren to true love.
The recommended reading order for The Dogmothers is the publication order:
- Hot Under the Collar (2019) - The series kicks off with firefighter Braden Mahoney and dog trainer Cassie Santorini, whose sparks fly during a dog-training scavenger hunt.
- Three Dog Night (2019) - Follows chef Alex Santorini and vineyard owner Grace Donovan as they navigate family secrets and a litter of abandoned puppies.
- Dachshund Through the Snow (2019) - A heartwarming holiday novella that dives deep into Yiayia's past as she embarks on a quest to adopt a special brown dachshund.
- Chasing Tail (2020) - Firefighter Connor Mahoney runs for mayor with the help of a canine hero and finds unexpected love with Sadie Miller.
- Hush, Puppy (2020) - Focuses on restaurant owner John Santorini and Summer Jackson as they overcome past heartaches.
- Man's Best Friend (2020) - Childhood best friends Declan Mahoney (a firefighter) and Evie Hewitt (a veterinary neurologist) reunite and discover deeper feelings.
- Feliz Naughty Dog (2020) - A festive holiday romance featuring high school student Pru Kilcannon and the broody new kid in town, Lucas Darling.
- Faux Paws (2021) - A match between Theo Santorini, a logical Navy nuclear engineer, and Ayla Hollis, a runaway bride working as an animal communicator.
- Peppermint Bark (2021) - Widowed dog treat store owner Colleen Kilcannon and returning business executive Tim McIntosh get a second chance at love while co-fostering a Westie.
Chronological Caveats and Numbering Differences
When searching for books online, you may notice that some sources and community forums number the novellas differently. For instance, the holiday novella Dachshund Through the Snow is sometimes referred to as Book 2.5, and the holiday story Feliz Naughty Dog is sometimes called Book 5.5. This shifts the main novel counts so that the final book, Peppermint Bark, is occasionally listed as Book 7 rather than Book 9. To avoid missing any family updates, follow the complete sequential list of nine books as outlined above.
What to Know Before You Start
The town of Bitter Bark, North Carolina, serves as a vibrant, dog-friendly backdrop where festivals and fundraisers bring the community together. A special element of the series is its real-world connection to the Alaqua Animal Refuge in Florida. The dogs featured on the covers of the books are actual rescue dogs photographed at the refuge, and author Roxanne St. Claire has often used the dogs from the photo shoots to inspire the canine characters in her books. Additionally, a portion of the book sales goes directly to supporting rescue efforts, making this heartwarming series a favorite for dog lovers and romance readers alike.