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Author: Jaci Burton
Genre: Romance
Publisher: Berkley Books
No. of Pages: 336
Date of Publication: December 12, 2023
My Rating: 4 Stars
DESCRIPTION:
A millionaire and a woman who thinks he's a house flipper are stuck living together with a menagerie of rescue dogs, in this heartfelt romantic comedy from New York Times bestselling author Jaci Burton.
After her ex took all their money and bailed, Hazel Bristow is left broke and homeless. A 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 squatting in the house he just bought, but after some negotiating, he agrees she can stay while he's renovating the place. Linc tells Hazel he's an investor who renovates homes for fun-but having been burned in the past by women who have only wanted his money, he leaves out that he's also extremely wealthy...
Hazel's intrigued by sweet, funny Linc. But her track record with men isn't great, and trust doesn't come easy.
Linc's never met anyone like the quirky beauty who puts everyone's needs before her own. But can he figure out how to tell Hazel the truth without losing her?
MY THOUGHTS:
Hazel Bristow was left penniless and homeless by her ex-husband. She is not alone, however, as she has the five foster dogs that she is caring for. She is staying in the house of a friend for the time being.
However, when Linc Kennedy gets to the home he just sold, he is nearly accosted by a woman wielding a cast iron skillet. Who is she? And Hazel wants to know who he is. That matter gets sorted out quickly. Linc is an investor who renovates homes, and this is his newest project.
Linc strikes a deal with Hazel. She can stay on in the guest house with her dogs and work as his personal chef. This is a win-win situation for Hazel, because she can temporarily live rent free and save the money she will be making working for Linc.
They each have different goals. For Hazel, one day she would like to open a rescue center for dogs and foster them until they can be adopted. She is also an excellent chef, and hopes to use that skill as well. For Linc, he is a multi-millionaire who has a great love for the renovation work he does as he flips houses.
Quite naturally, Hazel and Linc hit it off, and she loves how good and caring he is with the dogs. Having been burnt in the past by gold diggers, Linc does not plan on telling Hazel about his financial status, even though he finds himself enchanted with her.
Housebroke is a cute, steamy and heartwarming story, especially considering Hazel's intense love for dogs. Not only were Linc and Hazel wonderful characters, but the dogs each had great personalities.
Many thanks to Berkley and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
I'd like to say I always wanted to be a writer, but that's not the case. First I wanted to be a teacher. When I was a kid I used to play school in my friend's basement. She had actual school desks—and index cards. I'm a list maker, so those index cards rocked my world. Then later on, I wanted to be a nurse. My other friend had a stethoscope and a medical book. I had a thing for props, okay?
But during my early teen years my cousin and I—back in the day before the internet—would exchange scripts we'd written of a popular TV show. No, I won't tell you which TV show because then you'd know how old I really am. But it was a western with two gorgeous cowboy heroes and we were each in love with one of the main characters. I'd say that was my first foray into writing, and it got me hooked.
As an adult, marriage, work and raising two sons took priority. And while I fell madly in love with reading romance, there wasn't much time to write it. It's amazing how much corporate life, soccer games, high school musicals, dinner and laundry can suck out of the average day. But I would occasionally dabble in writing, then put it aside when I got busy. Unfortunately, I was always busy.
Eventually my kids grew up and I was on my second marriage when Biker Dude (what I call my husband because of his love for his Harley Davidson) found out I used to dabble in writing and encouraged me to try again. So I did.
I sat down and wrote a romance novel, start to finish. I was so proud of it, but I didn't sell that romance. Not right away, anyway. I didn't sell the one after that, either. Or the one after that. Suffice it to say I wasn't an overnight success. But eventually I did sell a book, then another, and then another. I have an exceptionally smart agent and write for amazing editors. I'm a USA Today and New York Times bestselling author, and I have you wonderful readers to thank for that.
This has been a dream come true for me, one I wanted for so many years. Writing is my full time career and something I love so much. I can't imagine a day that isn't filled with hot, sexy heroes who save the day, strong, capable heroines who don't need a man to save them, and the happily ever afters in every book.
Sometimes I even write about teachers and nurses. And hot cowboys.
I live in northeast Oklahoma with Biker Dude and our wonderful, crazy dogs. Between us we have three kids who are all grown up and living out in the wild. When I'm not writing I can usually be found in the garden, coaxing the tomatoes to grow, heading out to our local casino trying to become a millionaire (so far, no luck there), or riding on the back of Biker Dude's Harley. And when I want to relax I read other authors' masterpieces or I'm parked in front of the television watching sports, reality TV or crime shows. And maybe a drama or a comedy. Okay, I really watch way too much television.
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