Misadventures of a Frustrated Mob Princess (A Lucie Rizzo Mystery Book 1)

Fun summer read! Interesting insight into the lives of mod kids who choose to live their own lives and not to follow in Dad's footsteps while meeting an intriguing cast of lovable and loyal sidekicks - of both the two and four legged varieties??

Very well written with that touch of mystery kept throughout the story.......yet wasn't too happy with the way it ended so abruptly. However, in thinking it through, that's the best way it could have ended.

Lucie is out walking a dog when it gets stolen. When her brother finds out, he insists him and Frankie walk with her to protect her. They are informed there is a dognapping ring. This book has a good mystery, and is a lot of fun to read!

I never miss a release by Adrienne Giordano. A fan of her romantic suspense novels, I wondered if romantic mystery would be to cutesie for me. Nope. This is a great story that I would recommend to any one who likes love, animals and a touch of mystery. An adorable read you don't want to miss.

Lucie Rizzo is the daughter of a local (Chicago) crime boss who wants out of the crime scene. Problems are that Lucie has lost her job despite her MBA and is madly in love with Frankie, son of a subordinate crime boss who is quite comfortable in the crime scene although, as a journalist, he has nothing to do with it.
Forced to move back home, Lucie starts building a dog-walking business along with a side line of upscale doggie accessories she makes at home with some help from her mother. Trouble comes when someone begins to kidnap her dogs, bouncing her against a wall or nearby car to get to her charges. Frankie and Joey, her brother, begin escorting her as attacks on the dogs continue. The plot thickens when all the dogs are returned safely a day after each dognap and Lucie, Frankie, and Joey begin to suspect that the criminals are after Lucie's handmade dog collars and blankets.
Eventually everything becomes clear although the clarification process gets rather ugly.
The book is definitely readable!

A delightful new genre for Adrienne Giordano but the same outstanding writing. In Doggy Collar Crimes, Giordano has publish the first book in a little-to-hot-for cozy romantic suspense series featuring a dogwalker/doggie designer whose dad is "connected". Lucia Rizzo does not wanted to be associated with organized crime or her imprisoned mob boss dad, so she built a life of her own in nearby Chicago, but that life collapsed when she lost her job in a merger, "rightsized" not downsized.

Now Lucie is back living at home and trying to make ends meet walking dogs and designing collars and doggie jewelry. Her doggie designs take off literally as well as figuratively; someone keeps dognapping her customers and then returning them. This is an intelligent mystery with a mild "hot" factor and relate-able humor. The romance issues are unique but very understandable. The guy is adorable as well as hot. I look forward to more with this dynamic cast of characters. I love AG's security romance mysteries, and this much lighter mystery has won my heart!

If I hadn't loved Adrienne Giordano's other books, I might not have bought this one because I avoid reading about the mafia now days. It would have been a pity if I had missed it. I loved it and the characters are wonderful!

This is a great beginning to the series. It is a real laugh out loud story with characters that are so much fun to spend time. Lucie is a really different kind of heroine. She has her connections but is trying to live another life. Dog walking should be safe but where Lucie goes, trouble follows.

I highly recommend the series.

I've read other books by Adrienne Giordano and especially liked the Justice series. this series is a new twist and a bit light for me but it was very good. It could be a young adult series. Lucie and Frankie are very likable and the dogs add a nice touch. I know the series will be a good one but I think I'll stick with the more adult theme. The author is very talented and I love her style.

This was a very cute story. I enjoyed the book and the characters were great. The only thing that bothered me throughout the book was talking about Frankie and Lucie' s relationship she kept saying she couldn't live without Frankie yet they were broken up that occurred all throughout the book and it got old really fast and made the story drag. I didn't it was necessary. For the most part though, it was pretty good.

Being the daughter of a mobster has its disadvantages and Lucie's goal is to make a life for herself free of the stigma. Her dog walking business and her pet apparel are developing well until her clients are dog napped. This is a light and quick read, more romance than mystery. The characters are well developed and the plot is entertaining. Definitely a good way to pass the afternoon.

Fun reading for me as a Philadelphian familiar (as a watcher) with people in the life. She does a good job of a sympathetic observer without being an apologist. Her characters were believable and sympathetic. I would guess few have thought to write about them from this viewpoint.

I'm a huge fan of Adrienne Giordano's Private Protectors series--and now I'm a big fan of her new Lucie Rizzo romantic mystery series. Giordano has a snarky, endearing humor that really resonates with me. Reminds me a lot of Janet Evanovich's writing. Can't wait for the next installment!

What a fun story. I really enjoyed reading Dog Collar Crime by Adrienne Giordano. It is a romantic mystery but not dark, rather it is light and humorous. The heroine, Lucie is trying so hard to shed the image of "Mob Princess" so how can you not laugh at that?

Lucie Rizzo is recently laid off from her investment banking job and is making ends meet by walking dogs and making dog accessories such as collars and coats. When a 15 carat diamond shows up in her stash of artificial gems she uses to make the accessories things get a little crazy.

The plot is engaging and I fell in love with some of the characters right away such as Frankie, Joey and Rosanne who happen to be Lucie's boyfriend, brother, and best friend. The chemistry between the characters was great fun to watch unfold as things got a little heated. In addition to the plot becoming heated, the romance between Lucie and Frankie was definitely heated at times. Adrienne did a fantastic job of balancing the romance and mystery of the overall book and how much detail to go into the romantic scenes to keep with the tone of the story. I enjoyed the dogs in the story as well. I was reminded how frustrating dogs and puppies can be when you want them to do something (or not do something) and it was another aspect of the book that had me laughing.

Dog Collar Crime is a different kind of book for Adrienne Giordano. I have loved her other romantic suspense books that she is known for, and found Dog Collar Crime just as entertaining, but in a different way. While reading this book I was reminded of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series. The tone and humor is similar but the characters and plot are quite a bit different. The ending of Dog Collar Crime has me hooked into the series and I can't wait to see how the rest of the series goes. If you are looking for a light, fun romantic mystery, I highly recommend Dog Collar Crime.

Lucie Rizzo is unemployed due to rightsizing . After six months of searching for a new job, she's forced to move back home. This is not what she wants. She hates being looked at with scorn because of her father's criminal activities. He may be in jail now but there is no escaping his reach. I liked Lucie. She's feisty and resilient. She'll work hard to accomplish her dream. To pay the bills, she started a dog walking service . Now she's branching out with dog accessories with plenty of style and bling. She loves what she's doing. Suddenly someone is dognapping her charges. Why? She needs help. Frankie Falcone , her ex, is there for her. They have plenty of chemistry. Their love making is smoking hot, but they have serious problems to overcome. Lucie and Frankie are an incredible couple. They deserve a HEA. With the Frankie Factor working, I knew that he would get his woman. This is an engaging story filled with great dialogue and well-written characters. Joey may be a bad guy but I liked him. He has plenty of rough edges but there is more there than meets the eye. He needs a good woman to bring him to heal. Adrienne Giordano has done and excellent job with Dog Collar Crime. I was left wanting more.

Kindle Copy for Review

Lucie Rizzo finds herself living back home with her mob infested family. Her mafia dad is recently out of prison for serving time. She is busy running a dog walking service and starting her dog couture accessories.

Lucie finds herself at the wrong place at the wrong time. When she ends up talking with someone new outside a building, she finds out hours later that a very expensive insured dress was stolen a f minutes after she left the scene. Lucie meets up with her detective boyfriend and fails to tell him she was there as he finds out the next morning when he and is partner ends up questioning her.

Lucie finds herself being a suspect due to her family as she finds herself involve in the investigation in order to clear her name. Who really stole the dress and why? A nice new series with a quirky heroine and boyfriend.

I loved Dog Collar Crime and can’t wait for more in this delightful and strong cozy mystery with mob connections. Adrienne Giordano again shows her masterful hand at suspense but this time she presents it in a lighter vein. Lucia Rizzo does not wanted to be associated with organized crime or her imprisoned mob boss dad, so she built a life of her own in nearby Chicago, but that life collapsed when she lost her job in a merger. In a desperate effort to survive in a limited job market, Lucie moves back home and walks dogs while she tries to start a business designing pet collars and doggie jewelry. Her doggie designs take off literally as well as figuratively; someone keeps dognapping her customers and then returning them. As one would expect from Adrienne Giordano the book is an intelligent mystery and the humor is relate-able but heat factor is mild. The romance issues are unique but very understandable. The guy is absolutely adorable as well as hot. I look forward to more with this dynamic cast of characters. I love AG's security romance mysteries, but this much lighter mystery has won my heart!
I purchased this book from the store when it originally came out under another publisher.

Dog Collar Crime – by Adrienne Giordano
I received an ARC of the Dog Collar Crime for an honest review, which I would do anyways.

In order for my absolute delight from reading this book to come across as strong as possible, I need to get a little personal about myself for a second - I am sorry if this is a little too much TMI.

Right around the time I received this book I started getting sick, and thought I would just start it when I felt better. Problem was, I didn't; I just got worse and worse. Turns out that the extremely improbable chances for me to become pregnant became a reality. Having morning sickness 24/7 for weeks on end consumed my every moment and was unable to do anything, even watching T.V. was too daunting for me. I finally broke out Dog Collar Crimes and started reading and before I knew it I was sucked in. All my attention finally got pulled away from my feelings of being sick and for the first time since finding out I was having morning sickness and not the flu, I spent an entire day without being sick.

Dog Collar Crime stole my attention, drawing it into the hilarity of this crazy mystery of kidnapped dogs, stolen dog accessories, and family relationships within the Mob. I found this to be an inspirational story as well. Down on her luck and out of work Lucie goes back home to where she is a Mob-Princess and struggles to keep out of that life. Lucie grabs life by the balls, or rather leash, and starts her own dog walking business and makes accessories for her furry clients. With encouragement from her mom, BFF and on-again off-again boyfriend she makes this side business into a career. It goes to show that despite the struggles and life's little stumbling blocks, with a little love, encouragement and determination anything is possible if you put your mind to it.

I know I say this about all of Ms. Giordano's books, but I really can't wait to read what comes next! This is my new favorite series that she has written! Four thumbs up - my two and baby's two ;-)

OH MY GOSH this is going to be on Hilarious Series, I can just tell. Ms Giordano has this a home run with this wildly funny mystery suspense romance.

The book is very well written with a storyline that will keep you turning page after page to see not only what's going to happen with the mystery plot but to see the wildly funny antics of Lucie Rizzo.
Poor Lucie is the daughter to a crime boss who is serving time in jail. While Lucie loves her family dearly she is trying to create a name for herself with the Rizzo connections. Yeah good luck with that - especially when her "honest acts" seem to cause her keep her in trouble.

2 Thumbs up for a great read. One I highly recommend and I am sooooo looking forward to book 2 in the series.

3-1/2 Stars. There was much to love about Dog Collar Crime. In many ways, it reminded me of a Stephanie Plum novel minus the incompetent protagonist and unrealistically stupid criminals. Lucie Rizzo is out of work and forced to move back home with her mom and brother. Born and raised a mob princess, Lucie longs to break free of her family chains and make her own way in the world. But after getting laid off, she's right back in the middle of the family drama, including a father in prison. Her on-again-off-again boyfriend, Frankie, would do anything for her, except leave behind his own mob-connected family.

Lucie makes ends meet by walking dogs and making high-end pet accessories, while she waits and hopes a job in banking comes her way. But when the dogs she walks start being targeted by someone, Lucie begins to wonder if she'll ever be able to escape that world.

Plot
The plot is a mystery with a strong dose of romance. Finding out who is targeting her dogs and why is the main plot, but her relationship with Frankie plays a larger role than in most other books of this genre. The pacing was slow more than a few times. There seemed to be a lot of time spent walking the dogs, which granted is Lucie's job, but not much else happened. There also seemed to be some repeated elements. Instead of escalating early, the dognappings stayed sort of the same and the back-and-forth with Frankie felt too repetitive at times. But there's light humor, plenty of chemistry between the characters, and a couple of twists that redeem the story.

Characters
The characters are by far the best part of the story. They're fun, quirky, well-rounded, and believable. Lucie Rizzo's desire to be anything but the daughter of a mobster is tangible and relatable, even if your dad isn't a made man. Frankie is also sympathetic as the loyal son who has managed to break away from the crime family and flourish in a legitimate job. Even the gangster family members transcend stereotype and are well-developed and three-dimensional.

Ending
I was expecting more from the ending. Although a mystery and not a thriller, overall the story lacked a real sense of peril for the characters. I never felt like any of their lives were truly in danger. The climax left me wondering what would happen to the characters' relationships rather than if they would survive. And that's not necessarily a bad thing, because I did care about all of them and wanted them to wind up happy.

What Didn't Work for Me
1. The pacing. The story moved too slow for me at times.
2. Repetition. There were times I felt like we revisited the same issues over and over again, particularly when it came to Lucie's feelings for, and issues with, Frankie.

What I Enjoyed About Dog Collar Crime
1. The characters. All of the characters were well developed, interesting, and avoided stereotypes.
2. Chemistry. There was instant chemistry between Lucie and Frankie, but also a great bromance between Frankie and Lucie's brother, Joey, between Lucie and her brother, and between Lucie and her mom. These relationships all came across as lovingly authentic.
3. The mystery. The mystery of who was behind the dognappings was well plotted, and kept me guessing.
4. Ro. Best BFF ever.
5. Lucie's mom. She was so beautifully flawed and yet I never doubted her love for her children.

Bottom Line
Dog Collar Crime is a lighthearted mystery with compelling characters and a touch of humor.

Disclaimer
I was provided with a copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.

I received an ARC of Dog Collar Crime in exchange for a honest review.

This is my first book by Adrienne Giordano, although I have a few others on my To Be Read List.

Dog Collar Crime is a light and humorous romantic mystery. The characters are well-developed, the story is engaging although a bit repetitive at times. I love the interaction between Lucie and her on-and-off boyfriend, Frankie. Both are mob children and while Lucie is trying to get away from it, Frankie embraces it. The secondary characters are interesting as well... and there’s a good interaction between all of them.

In a nutshell, we follow Lucie Rizzo as she tries to make ends meet after losing her job and moving back to her mom’s house where her brother Joey also lives. She walks dogs and designs fancy dog accessories – with the help of her mom, her best friend and, once the dognapping (love that term) starts, Frankie and Joey steps in to 1) protect her and 2) try to find out who is behind the dognappings. Both the love story between Lucie and Frankie and the mystery surrounding the dognappings are intricately woven together. Guessing who was responsible for Lucie’s problems was quite fun... and I have to say I was surprised by the denouement.

A strong 4 stars for my first Adrienne Giordano’s book.

Lucie Rizzo is unemployed due to rightsizing . After six months of searching for a new job, she's forced to move back home. This is not what she wants. She hates being looked at with scorn because of her father's criminal activities. He may be in jail now but there is no escaping his reach. I liked Lucie. She's feisty and resilient. She'll work hard to accomplish her dream. To pay the bills, she started a dog walking service . Now she's branching out with dog accessories with plenty of style and bling. She loves what she's doing. Suddenly someone is dognapping her charges. Why? She needs help. Frankie Falcone , her ex, is there for her. They have plenty of chemistry. Their love making is smoking hot, but they have serious problems to overcome. Lucie and Frankie are an incredible couple. They deserve a HEA. With the Frankie Factor working, I knew that he would get his woman. This is an engaging story filled with great dialogue and well-written characters. Joey may be a bad guy but I liked him. He has plenty of rough edges but there is more there than meets the eye. He needs a good woman to bring him to heal. Adrienne Giordano has done and excellent job with Dog Collar Crime. I was left wanting more.

I was gifted a copy of Dog Collar Crime in exchange for an honest and unscripted review.

What a great fast paced book. I love reading Adrienne Giordano. They never disappoint!
Poor Lucie, she looses her job and has to move back home. She has been trying to distance herself from all of her family's mob entanglements. Guess that is hard considering she is the daughter of a mob boss. Yikes! Coming back home has thrown her back into the thick of things. Lucie's old boyfriend is determined to get her back. He has a strike against him though since he is also involved with the mob. Frankie and Lucie's relationship is true despite the on again off again. Now if Frankie can just get Lucie on the same page it would be great. Loved their relationship up and downs as well as the love/hate relationship between Lucie and her brother Joey.
Lucie is trying to get her life back on track with her dog walking/ fancy dog accessories business. Things are going ok until she finds a diamond in her attic is connected to a dognapping. What is Lucie going to do? She is a strong woman and doesn't want to ask for help but she also doesn't want to let a dognapper to get away. She may have bitten off more than she can chew!
I loved this book. It has everything from mystery and suspense to romance and family relationships. I would recommend this book to all of those cozy romantics out there.

I'm not sure if this is a cozy or jut a plain mystery, but either way this was a good book. There was no murder in this one, just tracking down why Lucie's dog walking clients are being kidnapped.

The main character Lucie is in a quandary about her life, something many of us could relate to. She has been laid off from her bank job and has started a dog walking business and a dog accessory business called Coco Barnknell (love that name!). On to top of that she is the daughter of a mob boss and her on again/off again boyfriend, Frankie, is the son of a mobster as well. The upside is that neither wants to be involved in the "family" business.

The book has a lot of humorous parts, some scenes that will have you on the edge of your seat and satisfaction at the end of the book with how it all ends.

I really enjoyed the book and look forward to the next book. I can't wait to see how things continue between Lucie and Frankie and especially with their families. Will they be able to work things out?! I hope so!

Very enjoyable story with clever, fresh plot and a likable heroine we’re rooting for throughout. As the subtitle indicates, it’s an adventure — a whodunit interwoven with a cool-and-hot romance.
Lucie Rizzo has lots of baggage – especially family baggage – and, recently, a shattering career reversal. Now (back at her parents’ house) she faces new setbacks in a temporary job and the awkward proximity to her old flame, Frankie Falcone.
In looks and behavior, Frankie is almost too good to be true, but he has one perceived flaw — his closeness (and blind allegiance) to family and to their home town of Franklin, presumably an outskirt of Chicago. Whatever Lucie’s future holds, it has to be away from family and hometown.
But Frankie’s determined to take care of (and protect) the fiercely independent Lucie, whether she likes it or not. He won’t leave family and town, but won’t let go of Lucie either — not without a fight. [Frankie was especially interesting to me because he played baseball at LSU, my alma mater!]
There’s a passel of well-meaning but meddlesome relatives, friends, and almost-in-laws who – in roughly equal parts – keep Lucie off-balance or save her bacon. The sibling interplay between Lucie and Joey is nicely handled and will likely remind some readers of their own experiences — either as kids or in early adult years.
Nice descriptions of several characters — I found myself wishing I could have photos of Lucie and the other two beautiful women in this tale.
In whodunits – whether novels or movies – I’m usually quite good at guessing the bad guys (though in a story with two “mob” families, there are lots of folks technically outside the law). However, my early guess – from roughly half-way through this story – about the villain(s) turned out wrong! When an author fools me, and does so by the rules, I chalk that up to great writing.
Reviews are extremely subjective: I felt this story warranted 4.5 stars (an option not available here). The reason I rounded down (instead of up) was because of what I perceived as a slower pace in the middle third. A lot of that portion dealt with Lucie’s and Frankie’s roller coaster relationship and (for me) slightly bogged down.
This is the first in Giordano’s “Lucie Rizzo” series and definitely makes me want to read Book Two: Dog Collar Knockoff. [And I understand a third book is scheduled for release in May.]
One small thing I need to investigate further — what’s a “hairy eyeball”?
NOTE: I won the book in a drawing and was asked to post an honest review.

Loved it. Some humour, some mystery and some romance all wrapped up in one little package. Having lived with a title like the Mob Princess, Lucie has to reinvent herself when she loses her job. Dog walking and dog accessories seem to provide her with a new lease of life. But why is someone stealing the dogs she walks and the accessories? They are just blinged up with craft items - aren't they? Watch as she fights to preserve her new life, rebuild her family relationships and resolve the problems with the love of her life. A really good romp that has you chuckling in places and with an ending that comes out of the blue. Recommended

Dog Collar Crime took me a bit by surprise. It wasn’t the book I was expecting to read. Dog Collar Crime was an upbeat, mystery of who’s dog napping and why. Lucie along with the help of her family and friends set out to solve the mystery. Since their parents are all members of crime families, they can’t really involve the cops, but they can’t not involve them. Let the fun hijinks begin!

I really like Lucie. She was a smart, do it for herself, prove to the world person. And I even liked the rest of the characters, from her on and off again boyfriend Frankie, her crack me up BFF Ro, and even her brother grew on me a little bit. Somehow I know there’s more to the story for her brother, Joey and maybe future Lucie Rizzo books will tell his story. The detective that was “helping”?, well, him I’m not so sure about. We’ll have to see where that goes. Over all, there was more than just pretty bling to this story.

I read this book as part of a collection - The Perfect Ten. I had previously not read this author and pretty much had no exposure to her.

I enjoyed reading this book- even though it's outside of my normal genres that I read. Although it's labeled as romantic mystery. I didn't find it horribly romantic. Normally, I prefer a lot more romance in my novels- especially those which are marketed as romance.

I was pretty entertained with the entire storyline. The supporting characters were funny and added to the entire storyline.

Would I recommend this book to anyone? Yes, I would. Especially those who like light-hearted mysteries.

Will I read the author in the future? Possibly. If I don't, it would not be because the author wasn't a good read. I wouldn't read books if they didn't fit into my favorite genre- romance (or even urban fantasy). I'm just not sure if I can fully appreciate a mystery, but that is my fault- not the fault of the author.

So if you've never read this book, I would definitely give it a try.

Dog Collar Crime by Adrienne Giordano is a totally different genre of book for this author. It's more of a cozy
mystery but with some sexy times. Although different from the author's usual romantic suspense books that I have
read, I found this book to be equally entertaining.

The characters were all very likable and well developed as the book progressed. The mystery had me hooked from
the first dognapping. The family bonds, friendships and the premise of the story being families with mob connections
all were integral to each of the characters. There is humor, a lot of emotional growth, mystery and romance.
Ms. Giordano's writing always captures my imagination and I easily get caught up in her stories. A very enjoyable
read that left me wanting to read the next one in this series.

I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Dog Collar Crime by Adrienne Giordano

A mob story? Not really. Well, a little. Mostly it's a light mystery with a romance where the characters get to know themselves better while enduring a bit of upheaval. And it's about family and accepting.
I really liked Frankie and how protective he is with Lucie. A true gentleman. The chemistry between Lucie and Frankie is sweet and endearing. Enjoyable.

Lucia Rizzo and Frankie Falcone are on-again, off-again friends and lovers. They've known each other their whole lives since their fathers are mob partners. Lucie and Frankie have taken the honest, and straight route in life but being in the neighborhood and on family turf can be a little to close at times. When Lucie accidentally uses a real diamond on a dog collar, life is suddenly filled with dognappings, stun guns and police visits.

First, let me say I do not like giving out spoilers for the book and/or a summation of the plot. This does not mean I did not love reading the book I am reviewing it just means I don’t like those kind of reviews myself as I want to be surprised.

With that out of the way, I greatly enjoyed reading Dog Collar Crime which is the first book in the Lucie Rizzo Mysteries series. Any book that gets me to read it twice is a winner! I am very much looking forward to the next book in the series, Dog Collar Knockoff.

Adrienne Giordano is a terrific author and I have enjoyed reading pretty much everything she has written. I look forward to her books and, as a very avid book reader that follows multiple authors/series, that means I really, really like her style of writing. Ms. Giordano knows how to flush out a character and plot so that you feel like you actually know the people she is writing about. As many authors have found out, I take my characters very seriously and will call them out if I feel a great storyline/plot is being ruined (in my humble opinion of course). If I care that much about the characters in a book/series, you can count of the fact the author is very talented. I would 100% recommend reading Dog Collar Crime and, for that matter, any of Adrienne’s books.

FYI – This book does not contain sex scenes, violence or language that might offend some readers. I would have no problem having my teenage niece read this book.

I received this book as an ARC for an honest review.

WOW! - I really enjoyed reading this book because it was a different kind of book. Not only did it involve romance, mystery, suspense, but it was humorous as well. I loved how Frankie would do anything for Lucie, he had patience, and he loved her regardless of how many times she would break up with him. Lucie does not like that her father is a mobster boss, who is currently in prison for tax evasion, and she has been trying to circumvent that life style for years. After losing her job in the city, Lucie had to return home. Throughout the book, the illegal activities of her father are brought up, and she feels it is jeopardizing her dog business. This was fun to read, and I hope there is a continuation of Lucie and Frankie—maybe they will finally get married.

In her new book “Dog Collar Crime,” the USA Today bestselling author adds a little humor to her winning formula in serial romantic suspense. In what will (hopefully) be the start of a new series, we meet Lucie Rizzo, the feisty daughter of incarcerated mob boss Joe Rizzo. Lucie has moved back into her family home after losing her job, but desperately wants to escape the stigma of the mob-princess reputation and build a successful – and legitimate – career of her own. Working as a part-time dog-walker, Lucie throws herself into a new enterprise of making high-end dog accessories, when she hits a snag: her four-legged dog-walking clients, many of whom are sporting her sparkly creations, are being dognapped in broad daylight. Lucie is determined to figure out why the pooches are being pilfered, while simultaneously trying to sort out her complicated love life. Much mayhem ensues as Lucie’s on-again off-again boyfriend Frankie and Lucie’s irksome brother are also pulled in to help solve the mystery and keep Lucie safe from repeated dog-snatching attempts.
The story trots along at a merry pace, with colorful characters and an enticing back story that helps the reader feel like she is in the middle of all the action. Lucie’s character is reminiscent of Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum, without the latter’s tendency for cute klutziness that has become her trademark. Lucie is a sassy, vibrant heroine with a soft spot for canines and sexy shoes. Her struggle to separate herself from the alleged illegal activities of her father and his cronies is a recurring theme throughout the book, as it threatens to jeopardize her business, her relationships with those she loves most, and her own sense of identity.
This is a fun read, with unexpected twists that keep the reader interested. The characters are likeable, and diverse enough for the reader to care what happens to all of them. There are enough peripheral characters that one can only hope Giordano plans additional books with some of the other players taking center stage.

This is a great book; this is the first book in the Lucie Rizzo Mystery series by Adrienne Giordano. Lucie Rizzo is down on her luck after losing her job at the bank. She had to move home to her crazy family and back to the town she has been trying escape from, where she is known as the mob princess. Lucie has started a dog walking business along with making fancy dog accessories. When her dogs start getting kidnapped who are wearing her collars she starts thinking that something is going on with her mob connections. If you are looking for a great book that has romance, humor, and mystery then you need to read this book. I can’t wait to read the next books in this series.
A Review copy was provided to me in exchange for a fair and honest review. The free book held no determination on my personal review.

Lucie Rizzo is an out of work investment banker. When she lost her job, she had to tuck her tail and run back home in order to save money until she can find another job. She hates living at home and being right in the middle of the mob drama her family thrives on. She just wants to be out on her own where everyone doesn't think of her as a mob princess when they hear her last name.

Frankie Falcone is Lucie's on again/off again boyfriend/wanna-be fiance. Right now they are OFF, but with all the support he's showing her with her temporary dog-walking & dog accessory making jobs, she's considering giving it another try.

When the dogs she walks start getting dognapped right under her nose, they have to scramble to figure out who's doing it, and why before another dog is taken.

I received this book as an ARC for an honest review.

WOW! - I really enjoyed reading this book because it was a different kind of book. Not only did it involve romance, mystery, suspense, but it was humorous as well. I loved how Frankie would do anything for Lucie, he had patience, and he loved her regardless of how many times she would break up with him. Lucie does not like that her father is a mobster boss, who is currently in prison for tax evasion, and she has been trying to circumvent that life style for years. After losing her job in the city, Lucie had to return home. Throughout the book, the illegal activities of her father are brought up, and she feels it is jeopardizing her dog business. This was fun to read, and I hope there is a continuation of Lucie and Frankie—maybe they will finally get married.

I find it impossible to not like a book that has a dog named "Miss Elizabeth" that lives with a Mr. Darcy. The whole book was awesome! This was also my first read for Adrienne Giordano. I really enjoyed this book, and I loved the dogs in it as well, but there was SO much more to this book than the dogs! Lucie has been trying for years to get out of the shadow of her mobster father, but it just keeps following her around. Then, dogs start going missing on her watch, and she is right in the middle of a very unique situation. I loved how this story came together. There were a lot of interesting twists.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review...

Hysterical, steamy, and fun!! I Loved this book!!! Two mob kids have a complicated love relationship but they will always have a friendship. Lucia just wants a "normal" life in the real world however her name will not let her have it. She is back home after a complication with her last job and now she is trying to make a side job work...making dog accessories and walking pampered pets. When someone starts dognapping her pets. She calls her friend and sometime lover Frankie to assist. They begin to juggle the police and the challenge of keeping the Families from getting involved. Can Lucia save her business? Does she want to?

It's every young woman's worst nightmare. Lucie Rizzo has lost her job and is forced to move back home to her parents'. The Rizzos aren't your run of the mill family. Lucie's dad is Joe Rizzo, incarcerated mob boss.

Going back home isn't all bad, though. Lucie has managed to get herself a set of regular dog-walking clients, and developed a line of high-end dog accessories. Not to mention, home is where Frankie is. Her on-again, off-again man, and her biggest cheerleader.

When her clients are the victims of several dog-jackings, Lucie starts to wonder what kind of connection there is. As she starts to put the pieces of this puzzle together, she sees a picture that she isn't too fond of. Can Lucie keep the dogs, and herself, safe? Will all of this ruin her chances with Frankie?

This was my first dip into Romantic Mystery (again with losing my genre virginity to Giordano!) and I wasn't too sure what to expect. I've loved other books by this author, so I was pretty confident that I'd breeze through it. It was a great read! I wondered if romantic mystery might be a little too 'damsel in distress' for my liking, but as it turns out, Lucie is my kind of gal. She doesn't want her man to fix things for her, and I have a lot of respect for that.

I had the bad guy pegged pretty early on, but it didn't take away from the story for me. I enjoyed unraveling the mystery and getting swept up in the love scenes right along with Lucie. The personalities of the dogs in the book were really cute too. If you love animals, a little detective work and some steamy love scenes (without being graphic) you will really enjoy this book.

I was given an arc for my honest review. This is the first work that I've read by this author and it did not disappoint! The pace kept you going, not wanting to put it down and the characters were great. I feel a great author pulls me into the story, I can visualize the entire book as if I'm a fly on the wall. This is a great author! The characters were funny, good hearted, loveable, dastardly and each one made you love or hate them. The mystery was good, the action was good and the pace was good. Yes, there is a love story but it is a clean story...it is torment of the heroines heart that takes the focus. This is an enjoyable read and I thank the author for sharing with me!

I received this book as an arc for an honest review. Luciie's father is a mob boss and she walks dogs and designs dog accessories. Dogs are stolen and she is knocked to the ground until she realizes that some of the collars she designed have jewels on them that are worth money.
Her boyfriend is Tim who is also a cop..
She wants to make it on her own but her family keeps butting into her business. This book is a hoot and she kind of reminded me of Evanovich but better, IMO. Give her a try you will enjoy this book.
I had reviewed this before but am writing it again since the author needs a copy of my review.

I enjoyed this, but it was pretty repetitive and would have been improved by making it shorter and leaving out both so much "poor me, I'm the child of a gangster" and the sex. I don't think that fit the rest of the book. The cover and title gave away the plot, lessening the mystery. There were only a few errors but those were big enough to really jump out at the reader.

Dog Collar Crime
By Adrienne Giordano
This was a story that kept me trying to figure out who was the bad guy stealing the dogs Luci was dog walking and then return them. Adrienne Giordano created a story that keeps you turning the page with twists and turns that have you wondering along with Luci and Frankie who the bad guy is.
Stolen diamonds, mobsters, stolen dogs, dog accessories, on again off again lovers, mobster dads all combine to make this a mystery that hooks you from the beginning and holds you to the end. Can't wait to see what else Luci gets mixed up with in the next book

A very well written mystery and the characters all interact so well. Lucie loses her banking job and moves back home. She is dog walking to make some money. She is also starting a dog accessory business. But as she is walking the dogs someone keeps trying to kidnap them. Her off again on again boyfriend Frankie decides to try and help her find out why they are kidnapping the dogs.
They both have mob fathers and think it might have something to do with that. Read the book today to see how it all ends. A very enjoyable read. I loved every minute of it and I am looking forward to the next book.

Dog Collar Crime
By Adrienne Giordano
This was a story that kept me trying to figure out who was the bad guy stealing the dogs Luci was dog walking and then return them. Adrienne Giordano created a story that keeps you turning the page with twists and turns that have you wondering along with Luci and Frankie who the bad guy is.
Stolen diamonds, mobsters, stolen dogs, dog accessories, on again off again lovers, mobster dads all combine to make this a mystery that hooks you from the beginning and holds you to the end. Can't wait to see what else Luci gets mixed up with in the next book

What an entertaining group of characters! Lucie has to deal with a lot... Being home around her family's mob ties, her annoying brother, her feelings for her on again off again boyfriend, the dog-nappers and all the craziness that surrounds her! I found this mystery to be a delightfully fun read! I was really curious as to how things would play out and had a fun time turning page after page to find out! All the characters came to life for me with the author's words! Some nice little twists! Looking forward to seeing what is next for Lucie!
*copy gifted in exchange for an honest review.

This light mystery includes an adorable main character, her furry charges and a cast of interesting secondary characters. Add a few kidnappings, ties to the mob, an iffy love interest to Lucie's attempting to start a nice side business for herself, after her career in Investment Banking takes a nose dive and you get Dog Collar Crimes. Enter Frankie and an old romance is rekindled, but will it be as complicated as the rest of Lucie's life? I especially enjoyed the strong conclusion, which had a few unexpected surprises in store for me. No animals were harmed in this funny caper. The narrator did a good job and was a proper fit.

This was my very first audio book and I enjoyed it very much. I hope to learn to be a better listener. Lucie is the daughter of an imprisoned mob boss and her boyfriend Frankie's father is her father's best friend. Lucie is hoping to get away from this life and is trying to get Frankie to agree to leave with her. After losing her job at a bank, Lucie takes up walking dogs and making collars and other dog items. One day while walking one of the dogs, someone runs up and snatches the dog. It is fun learning why this is happening to the dogs she watches and how things turn out with her and Frankie.

I really didn't see that ending coming. I knew a mob boss when I was young and he was one of the nicest men I ever met. I can see how you could learn to trust them. The best ones could be very charming. It must be very difficult to find out it is a facade. What a heart breaker. This is a book I could find myself reading again.

First thoughts after......
I really hope there will be a sequel.

How distracted did I get?
Dog Collar Crime has almost all aspects I enjoy in a story. There was romance, mystery, suspense and comedy all rolled into one! I loved Lucie with her goodness and quirky sense of humor. Frankie....sigh....who wouldn't love this Hottie McTottie? Definite book boyfriend to add to my list! The air of "who dunnit" keeps you guessing through out the story. Lucie's action packed life it a must read for all.

This is the first book I've read (listened to) by Adrienne Giordano and I am hooked. This was such a fun book - every time I laughed my husband would say "You're listening to that dog book again, aren't you?" I could not guess who was responsible for the different incidents that kept happening and there was just enough suspense to keep you guessing. I loved how the dogs personalities came through in the descriptions of each of them and really liked Lucie!! I can't wait to read more by this author!!

I find it impossible to not like a book that has a dog named "Miss Elizabeth" that lives with a Mr. Darcy. The whole book was awesome! This was also my first read for Adrienne Giordano. I really enjoyed this book, and I loved the dogs in it as well, but there was SO much more to this book than the dogs! Lucie has been trying for years to get out of the shadow of her mobster father, but it just keeps following her around. Then, dogs start going missing on her watch, and she is right in the middle of a very unique situation. I loved how this story came together. There were a lot of interesting twists.

Enjoyed this book from start to finish.... loved the attraction between Lucie & Frankie but more importantly the real bond they had. Thought the love/hate brother relationship between Joey & Lucie was fun too. This story touched on so many relationships that we all have in our life & I like how the author dealt with them. Great mystery & it has dogs so that makes the story even better. Hope there are more books to follow.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.

This has the makings of a great mystery with romance attached. Lucie is a well rounded character that has some flaws and insecurities plus a family stigma she's trying to escape. The secondary characters are well done with their own quirks and faults. Frankie is her love interest this boo and they've known each other since children but go back and forth a lot. The plot was sound, the ending well done. Overall, a great read for anyone!

An excellent book by an excellent author! Lucie Rizzo and Frankie Falcone are both children of crime bosses who want nothing to do with their fathers' pastimes. They are in love and seem to break up with each other every other week. Lucie has been laid off from her job at the bank and has moved back home and taken up walking dogs and making dog collars and dog jackets to make ends meet. This is a hilarious book.

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a funny, clever mystery filled with engaging, relatable characters. I understood exactly how Lucie Rizzo feels about her family and her boyfriend, and why her new career matters so much to her. Well-written with a story that kept pulling me along.

4.5 really enjoyed this book! great start to the series and i can not wait for the next book, Loved the dynamics between brother & sister mom and daughter daughter and father and then throw in the on again off again love lol made this a very fun fast pasted not sure where it was going read but didn't want to miss the ride! Hated to put it down , darn job & sleep . This is one that will go for sure down as well worth the read and can't wait for more! You will not be disappointed

This is a fun, fast-paced mystery with zany characters and witty dialogue. It was so refreshing to read this humorous mystery. I really liked Lucie Rizzo and how she was able to turn dog walking into a fancy dog accessory business. The chemistry and romance between Lucie and Frankie Falcone was heartwarming. I was sorry to see this book end and hope Ms. Giordano will give Lucie Rizzo more adventures.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

On the surface, Dog Collar Crime seems like a standard snatch and grab crime novel, based around dog nappings. What emerges is a story about family and the ties that bind and break relationships.

The main character, Lucie, is the daughter of a mob boss. She has spent most of her life trying to shake the image of a mob princess only to be pulled back in when the dealings of the past collide with her dog walking/dog accessory business. To complicate matters, the love of her life, Frankie, son of a mob second in command, does not want to break ties with his family despite Lucie's wishes. Add in a bookie for an older brother and the story takes off.

The what and why of the crimes are resolved quickly, leaving only the who as the remaining mystery. This story is a quick read suitable for a long wait or a beach day.

The characters are likeable, fun and entertaining. Lucie and Frankie have known each other forever. They are currently off in their relationship because she wants Frankie to leave their town and families behind. Their families are mob connected and Lucie is tired of not being taken seriously because of her father. Frankie doesn't care what others think. There is lots of craziness going on and they have to figure out who is behind the dog napping. Who can they trust?

Enjoyed this book from start to finish.... loved the attraction between Lucie & Frankie but more importantly the real bond they had. Thought the love/hate brother relationship between Joey & Lucie was fun too. This story touched on so many relationships that we all have in our life & I like how the author dealt with them. Great mystery & it has dogs so that makes the story even better. Hope there are more books to follow.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book from beginning to end. It's a fabulous read that I am sure I will read more than once and I hardly ever do that unless I absolutely love a book. The characters could be your neighbor, the plot is moving constantly, and the love rules. Good clean romance and dog-walking and mystery. Never thought those would go together did you. It is well worth the small amount you will pay for this book. You won't be sorry.

I read this when it first came out and I adored it!! I loved the premise, the characters, and the writing! The only thing I didn't like was how quickly I finished it. I would have loved to stay in the story longer. The great thing is that it's part of a series!

This book was so lame, I can't believe all the good reviews it got. I always finish a book but there were so many times I nearly gave up reading this book and I really wish I had. The time I spent on this awful book I will never get back. I love dogs and I thought pairing them in a romance would be so great. But the whole premise of this book was unbelievable and the little bit of romance there was really didn't make up for the lame story line. And the romance part was even kind of annoying. I was just really disappointed with this read.

I grabbed this book to read while spending the weekend at the lake. I wanted something light and easily engaging. This was the perfect book. We had likeable characters (even if they were a mob family), a fun mystery to solve, and romance to boot. I will be adding Adrienne Giordano to my list of favorite authors.

Following the straight and narrow is hard when all you want to do is be an ordinary person and the family has high up mob connections. Plus you are trying to handle a dog walking business and get a dog accessories business off the ground. Who threw a huge diamond into the works and where did it come from? What happens when family turns out to be the bad guys? Read for a good time.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. There is a lot to like here. Good writing, well developed characters, crime solving, comedy, sexual tension between the two major characters but no graphic descriptions, family drama and dogs. Being a longtime dog owner and doing dog rescue for many years I know Adrienne's descriptions are spot on and they made me laugh. I am well acquainted with dog slobber, over enthusiastic greetings and puppies too young to have manner, all the things that make the bond between dogs and people strong. For me this was definitely a five star read.

I enjoyed reading this story. It's a cute story with some likable characters, suspense, drama, mystery, romance, family intrigue and dogs. This is the first book I've read from this author but I will read more.

I rate this novel five stars due to the character development. Lucie, the mob princess, has a core of steel and doesn't back down when she has something to fight for. This is an enjoyable read with a few racy scenes, a lot of whodunnit and enough action to keep the pages turning.

I enjoyed this book enough to want to read the second book in the series. But it was too costly so I will wait. It has some slow parts but is basically a fun read, a quick read. It had surprises and I didn't guess "who did it"

Dog Collar Crime – by Adrienne Giordano
I received an ARC of the Dog Collar Crime for an honest review, which I would do anyways.

In order for my absolute delight from reading this book to come across as strong as possible, I need to get a little personal about myself for a second - I am sorry if this is a little too much TMI.

Right around the time I received this book I started getting sick, and thought I would just start it when I felt better. Problem was, I didn't; I just got worse and worse. Turns out that the extremely improbable chances for me to become pregnant became a reality. Having morning sickness 24/7 for weeks on end consumed my every moment and was unable to do anything, even watching T.V. was too daunting for me. I finally broke out Dog Collar Crimes and started reading and before I knew it I was sucked in. All my attention finally got pulled away from my feelings of being sick and for the first time since finding out I was having morning sickness and not the flu, I spent an entire day without being sick.

Dog Collar Crime stole my attention, drawing it into the hilarity of this crazy mystery of kidnapped dogs, stolen dog accessories, and family relationships within the Mob. I found this to be an inspirational story as well. Down on her luck and out of work Lucie goes back home to where she is a Mob-Princess and struggles to keep out of that life. Lucie grabs life by the balls, or rather leash, and starts her own dog walking business and makes accessories for her furry clients. With encouragement from her mom, BFF and on-again off-again boyfriend she makes this side business into a career. It goes to show that despite the struggles and life's little stumbling blocks, with a little love, encouragement and determination anything is possible if you put your mind to it.

I know I say this about all of Ms. Giordano's books, but I really can't wait to read what comes next! This is my new favorite series that she has written! Four thumbs up - my two and baby's two ;-)

Loved it. Some humour, some mystery and some romance all wrapped up in one little package. Having lived with a title like the Mob Princess, Lucie has to reinvent herself when she loses her job. Dog walking and dog accessories seem to provide her with a new lease of life. But why is someone stealing the dogs she walks and the accessories? They are just blinged up with craft items - aren't they? Watch as she fights to preserve her new life, rebuild her family relationships and resolve the problems with the love of her life. A really good romp that has you chuckling in places and with an ending that comes out of the blue. Recommended

Dog Collar Crime took me a bit by surprise. It wasn’t the book I was expecting to read. Dog Collar Crime was an upbeat, mystery of who’s dog napping and why. Lucie along with the help of her family and friends set out to solve the mystery. Since their parents are all members of crime families, they can’t really involve the cops, but they can’t not involve them. Let the fun hijinks begin!

I really like Lucie. She was a smart, do it for herself, prove to the world person. And I even liked the rest of the characters, from her on and off again boyfriend Frankie, her crack me up BFF Ro, and even her brother grew on me a little bit. Somehow I know there’s more to the story for her brother, Joey and maybe future Lucie Rizzo books will tell his story. The detective that was “helping”?, well, him I’m not so sure about. We’ll have to see where that goes. Over all, there was more than just pretty bling to this story.

I received this book as an ARC for an honest review.

WOW! - I really enjoyed reading this book because it was a different kind of book. Not only did it involve romance, mystery, suspense, but it was humorous as well. I loved how Frankie would do anything for Lucie, he had patience, and he loved her regardless of how many times she would break up with him. Lucie does not like that her father is a mobster boss, who is currently in prison for tax evasion, and she has been trying to circumvent that life style for years. After losing her job in the city, Lucie had to return home. Throughout the book, the illegal activities of her father are brought up, and she feels it is jeopardizing her dog business. This was fun to read, and I hope there is a continuation of Lucie and Frankie—maybe they will finally get married.

I received this book as an ARC for an honest review.

WOW! - I really enjoyed reading this book because it was a different kind of book. Not only did it involve romance, mystery, suspense, but it was humorous as well. I loved how Frankie would do anything for Lucie, he had patience, and he loved her regardless of how many times she would break up with him. Lucie does not like that her father is a mobster boss, who is currently in prison for tax evasion, and she has been trying to circumvent that life style for years. After losing her job in the city, Lucie had to return home. Throughout the book, the illegal activities of her father are brought up, and she feels it is jeopardizing her dog business. This was fun to read, and I hope there is a continuation of Lucie and Frankie—maybe they will finally get married.

I enjoyed this, but it was pretty repetitive and would have been improved by making it shorter and leaving out both so much "poor me, I'm the child of a gangster" and the sex. I don't think that fit the rest of the book. The cover and title gave away the plot, lessening the mystery. There were only a few errors but those were big enough to really jump out at the reader.

This was my very first audio book and I enjoyed it very much. I hope to learn to be a better listener. Lucie is the daughter of an imprisoned mob boss and her boyfriend Frankie's father is her father's best friend. Lucie is hoping to get away from this life and is trying to get Frankie to agree to leave with her. After losing her job at a bank, Lucie takes up walking dogs and making collars and other dog items. One day while walking one of the dogs, someone runs up and snatches the dog. It is fun learning why this is happening to the dogs she watches and how things turn out with her and Frankie.

An excellent book by an excellent author! Lucie Rizzo and Frankie Falcone are both children of crime bosses who want nothing to do with their fathers' pastimes. They are in love and seem to break up with each other every other week. Lucie has been laid off from her job at the bank and has moved back home and taken up walking dogs and making dog collars and dog jackets to make ends meet. This is a hilarious book.

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Adrienne giordano has written an excellent book. You never know whats going to happen next, made me want to check my dog collar to make sure its what it says. Who knew walking dogs could be so dangerous and get you in wo much trouble. From the first too the last page she keeps you on your toes and guessing whats really happening. Can'twait to read the next book in the series.
I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review

I received an ARC copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
This was a story that you could follow along on from the beginning but keep you interested. The story plot and twist is a surprise but until it is revealed you don't get the connection.
I believe well written, lovable characters and very cute dogs along the way.

I've read other books by Adrienne Giordano and especially liked the Justice series. this series is a new twist and a bit light for me but it was very good. It could be a young adult series. Lucie and Frankie are very likable and the dogs add a nice touch. I know the series will be a good one but I think I'll stick with the more adult theme. The author is very talented and I love her style.

If you're looking for a fun book that is not educational or work-related, this book is an enjoyable read. It is a mystery that is somewhat romantic, a bit sarcastic, and it has a satisfying ending. Two thumbs up! :-)