After her ex took all their money and bailed, Hazel Bristow is left broke and homeless. A kind friend whose home is on the market lets Hazel and her foster dogs stay there until it sells. It’s the perfect setup, until her friend forgets to tell Hazel she’s sold the house.
Linc Kennedy is shocked to find Hazel and her pups squatting in the house he just bought, but after some negotiating—she offers to cook amazing meals for him in return for a paycheck—he agrees to let her remain while he’s renovating the place. Linc tells Hazel he’s an investor who renovates homes for fun—he just leaves out the part about being wealthy.
Hazel’s intrigued by Linc. He’s funny, sweet, ridiculously hot, and loves dogs almost as much as she does. But her track record with men? Not great. She worries her trust meter isn’t in working order.
Linc’s never met anyone like the quirky beauty who puts everyone’s needs—human and canine—before her own. He didn’t tell her about his wealth because he’s been burned by women who only wanted him for his money. But with Hazel, he’s never felt more like himself. Now he has to figure out how to tell her the truth without losing her. Because Linc realizes what he feels for her isn’t puppy love—it’s true love.
Release Date: Dec 12, 2023
Heat Level: Sensual/Hot
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: Berkley
Price: $10.99
“She liked him more and more every day. Maybe it was because they both came from families who didn’t believe in their dreams. She’d watched the play of emotions on his face when he’d talked about his family. He’d treated it with a shrug, but she saw the hurt, knew what that felt like. They might be different in a lot of ways, but in this, they were very much alike. And that hand-touching? They had some chemistry. Because when he’d touched her, she’d seen the reaction in his eyes, in the way his lips parted, in how he’d absently rubbed his thumb over the top of her hand. That zingy thing between them? It might be fun to explore. When she was ready. And she wasn’t ready just yet.”
Hazel Bristow’s ex-husband left her homeless and destitute when he ends their marriage. With nowhere to go, Hazel’s best friend lets her and her foster dogs crash at the home they have on the market.
Linc Kennedy gets more than he bargained for when he shows up at the home he just bought and finds Hazel and her pack of foster dogs. They strike up an agreement that Hazel can stay there if she cooks him home-cooked meals while he renovates, but Linc doesn’t realize that playing house with Hazel is about to get a whole lot more real when feelings get involved.
As a huge dog lover, this book was right up my alley. Hazel is fostering dogs until they can find their forever homes. I found a connection to her because of this, and I really rooted for her throughout this story. She’s been hurt, but she is strong and resilient. No matter what has happened to her, she is looking forward to making her own way in the world.
Linc was just an overall nice guy. He went out of his way to give Hazel anything and everything she and the dogs would need. The first fifty percent of this book was wonderful, but then the pacing got slow during the middle, and the ending left me wanting more emotion.
Their breakup felt perfunctory, a very formulaic black moment, but it lacked any feeling for me. I want to feel the tension, the pain, the absolute longing between the main characters when they are separated.
Their love should feel special like it transcends time and reason, and that they can’t stand to be away from each other for another moment. It didn’t feel that way with Linc and Hazel. Overall, an enjoyable read but it isn’t going to be one of those special books I always remember.
If you’re a fan of other contemporary authors like Elle Kennedy and Kristen Callihan, then you should add this one to your TBR pile.
~ Michelle
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