Wednesday, May 29, 2019

Review - Puppy Love

Title:   Puppy Love
Author:  Lucy Gilmore
Series:  Forever Home #1
Genre:   Romance
Publisher:  Sourcebooks Casablanca
Format:  Kindle ARC
No. of Pages:  384
Date of Publication:  May 28, 2019
My Rating:  5 Stars

DESCRIPTION:
A brand new series from debut author Lucy Gilmore, featuring service puppies who might just be matchmakers in the making... 

Sophie Vasquez runs Puppy Promise, a service puppy training organization. Sophie's always been treated as the frail baby of the family—a thing she hates but doesn't know how to change. Until, that is, she meets her newest client.

Harrison Parks is a wildfire firefighter who isn't allowed back in the field unless he finds a service dog. Reluctantly, he agrees, never expecting to be assigned a skittish Pomeranian and the equally skittish woman who's supposed to wrangle them both into order. As it turns out, they all have something to prove…and more than enough room in their hearts for a little puppy love. 


MY THOUGHTS:

Harrison Parks has been sidelined due to his diabetes. After lapsing into a diabetic coma while on the job, his boss demands he find a service dog that can alert him when his blood sugar is low. When he goes to the service center where the dogs are located, he is thinking that he will get a big, husky dog. Instead, Harrison walks out with a Pomeranian. The little female dog is nervous from the start. Nervous and clingy, 

The woman who runs the center, Puppy Promise, Sophie Vasquez, needs to train Harrison and the dog, Bubbles. Not only does Sophie have a huge job ahead of her, she has to contend with her family, who are rather overprotective. This comes to no surprise, because Sophie was very ill with leukemia as a child. 

Meanwhile, Harrison wants to get back out in the field. When this happens depends on how well he and Bubbles work together. It certainly doesn't come easy. However, the adjustment period is indicative of this example: The very first night, Harrison is trying to put Bubbles to bed. So, he sets up pillows at the edge of the mattress. After all, he thinks, babies roll, so puppies must roll too. But then Harrison worries that the pillows might suffocate the dog. So, on the very first night Bubbles sleeps on his chest. This is the beginning of an incredible bonding experience between man and his dog.

The way Harrison treats Bubble is in complete contrast to his personality. On the job, while training, he is tough as nails, even making grown men cry. Also, due to his health, and his experience with his mother, which is explored in the story, he has a wall around his heart. It was a true pleasure while reading this book to see both Bubbles and Sophie melt Harrison's heart.

This debut novel by Lucy Gilmore truly hits the mark. It is a warm romance, but also one that deals with some sensitive issues. As mentioned, Harrison's diabetes and how serious it is, and also Lucy's past illness and how she has worked hard to make her life er own. This book is balanced quite well, because the serious moments are interspersed with moments that will truly make you laugh out loud.

I am thrilled to have read Puppy Love and I look forward to the next book in the series, which is Puppy Christmas, due in September. Then there is Puppy Kisses, release date TBA.

Many thanks to Sourcebooks Casablanca and to NetGalley for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:


Lucy Gilmore is a contemporary romance author with a love of puppies, rainbows, and happily ever afters. She began her reading (and writing) career as an English literature major and ended as a die-hard fan of romance in all forms. When she's not rolling around with her two Akitas, she can be found hiking, biking, or with her nose buried in a book.





16 comments:

  1. I have diabetes and it is interesting to see it in a book as a relevant part of the story.

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  2. This novel looks super cute! I love the way the author subverts expectations by sticking the male lead with a Pomeranian instead of say, a German Shepherd.

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  3. Awe how cute is that cover. Great review.

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  4. Awww the puppy is so cute. The story sounds just as adorable. Great review.

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  5. Sounds like such a sweet story! I love dogs and romance!

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  6. This one looks so cute! I always told my husband I wanted a Bernese Mountain Dog named Forte and a Pomeranian named Fife. He told me absolutely not ha. So now I just read about men that like poms haha

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  7. This one sounds super cute. I'm glad you enjoyed it.
    Gemma @ Gemma's Book Nook

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  8. This looks so cute! Great review.

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