Review - - Pugs & Kisses

Pugs & Kisses

by Farrah Rochon

Publisher: Forever

Release Date: July 15, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

 

From the outside, veterinarian Evie Williams appears to have the perfect but boring life. She is desperate to figure out a way to shake it up, but gets more than she bargained for when she finds her fiancé in bed with another woman. Suddenly, Evie is without a fiancé or a job, and isn’t sure what her next steps should be. That is, until her college crush, Bryson Mitchell, returns to town.  

Now, a nationally recognized veterinary surgeon, Bryson is stunned when he encounters Evie Williams for the first time in half a decade. When they learn the animal shelter where they used to volunteer is in danger of closing, the two must work together to save it. It has Bryson wondering, can he and Evie also save the friendship they once shared and finally bring it to the next level? 

PJ's Thoughts:

Pugs & Kisses is a heart-warming story set in New Orleans (a location the author knows well) that gave me everything I could have asked for. Second chances? Yes, please, especially in the hands of an author who uses that second chance to full effect. Strong friendships? Evie, Ridley, and Ashanti are friendship goals, the ride-or-die kind who are there for one another, always. Dogs? I mean, c'mon. Look at that cover. You know there are going to be adorable (rescue) dogs!

These characters - both two and four legged - pulled me in from the get-go. I love when couples who crashed and burned earlier in life are given a new opportunity to get it right. Rochon takes her time with Bryson and Evie, not rushing them into romance but allowing them the space to get to know one another again and avoid the issues that derailed them in college. I loved watching them find their way back to one another. Bryson is a total sweetheart and Evie more than deserves her happy ending after finally tossing her horrible ex. Their warm hug of a journey is spicy, hopeful, humorous, and endearing in all the right places. 

Toxic family? We have that too. I enjoyed watching Evie evolve to the point where she's ready to tackle the issues with her family head-on. Bryson grows too, especially in regards to the social class difference that caused him to make assumptions and poor decisions during his and Evie's first go around. It all leads to a more solid foundation upon which to build their second chance at love and I am here for it. 

While Pugs & Kisses can absolutely be enjoyed as a standalone, readers who like this book will not want to miss book one, Pardon My Frenchie (Ashanti and Thad - read my review).  

 

Review - - The Two of Us

The Two of Us

by Lori Foster and Maisey Yates

Publisher: Kensington

Release Date: March 25, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

 

The Odd Couple * LORI FOSTER
Ford Caruso agrees to an unusual favor—playing the part of new boyfriend for his adamantly single, irresistibly sexy neighbor Skye Fairchild, whose clueless ex refuses to accept his fate. But as Skye starts dropping by to use Ford’s pool, and even plan dates, the charade begins to feel satisfyingly real, complete with choosing rescue dogs together—a giant mutt and a fierce little chihuahua who adore each other. From one odd couple to another, some things are destined . . .

Force of Nature * MAISEY YATES
Rescuing animals is in Lydia Clay’s blood, so when a mournful old cattle dog named Hank shows up at the shelter, she knows exactly where to take him: to cattle rancher Remington Lane, her brother’s hot, and usually grumpy, best friend. Hank belonged to Remy’s estranged father, which is one strike against him, but when Lydia offers to help the man ease into dog ownership, he can’t say no. And as he and Lydia work together, it looks like an old dog can actually teach this brooding cattleman some heart-warming new tricks . . .

PJ's Thoughts:

Put a dog on the cover of a book and it's the first one I pick up. Put two rescue dogs on the cover and I'm moving it to the top of my tbr. Pair it with two long-time favorite authors and I'm all in. In The Two of Us, Lori Foster and Maisey Yates bring readers two heartwarming contemporary romance stories of couples finding their way to one another, aided by the unconditional love of dogs. 

"The Odd Couple" by Foster features one of my favorite tropes: fake dating between a relationship-averse man and a woman who has been given good reason not to trust men. I really enjoyed these two and the issues they both needed to work through. There's a terrific friend group (Foster does those so well), some complicated family dynamics, a big ole mutt who looks scary but has a marshmallow heart (and stole mine), and a happy ending for both two and four-legged characters. Plus, I hope, the potential for a future story between Skye's twin sister and Ford's best friend.

When I'm looking for emotional depth, complicated family relationships, and hard-won happy endings, Maisey Yates is an author to whom I frequently turn. In "Force of Nature," Yates brings all of those facets to the page along with another favorite trope: best friend's little sister. Add in the fact that Remy's abusive family had him living with Lydia's family through high school and you have a now-grown man who has two reasons to keep his hands off the woman who is capturing more of his heart each day. Lydia and Remy absolutely stole my heart. I love how he embraces her individuality and loves her for it, not in spite of it. I love how she refuses to give up on him, how insistent she is on showing him - by bringing Hank into his life - the road to healing. These characters - and their journey - are so well developed. I was completely invested in them and their road to a happy ending. Also, the scene between Remy and Lydia's mother near the end of the book had me sobbing...in a good way. 

If you're looking for heartwarming stories of love, healing, friendship, family, and the unconditional love of a rescue dog in your life, grab a copy of The Two of Us. It has my enthusiastic recommendation. 

Review & Giveaway - - Housebroke

Housebroke

by Jaci Burton

Publisher: Berkley

Release Date: December 12, 2023

Reviewed by PJ

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.

PJ's Thoughts:

This sweet and steamy story kept me happily entertained from beginning to end. Burton gave me a tale that had me laughing at some points, tearing up at others, and cheering on our lead couple while they worked through issues on their way to happy endings. The overall story had a fun, upbeat vibe without sacrificing depth of emotion.

Trust (or lack thereof) was a key component of this story. Both Linc and Hazel had good reason to hold trust in reserve. I appreciated the time the author gave them to work through issues, allowing their relationship to slowly develop. Hazel, in particular, needed that time. Joyful bedroom gymnastics were one thing but after her ex's betrayal, leaving her with nothing, including her self esteem, she needed that time to find her footing before being able to move forward. Yes, there were missteps along the way but I liked that they didn't go on for too long and that clear communication, understanding, and compromise (on both sides) were used to resolve them. The strong family dynamics - on both sides - added an additional layer to the story as well as to the growth of the characters. You can tell a lot about a man by the way he treats not only his mom but also yours. And then there were the dogs...

To say Hazel's foster dogs were important characters in this book would be a massive understatement. Not only did they provide important insight into both Hazel and Linc, they stole every scene they were in and pretty much the whole darn book. Hazel adored them. Linc adored them. I adored them! I loved how Burton made each of the five dogs a unique, fully-developed character in his/her own right. Their individual personalities, quirks, and actions were vividly depicted, bringing them to life on the page. I wanted to cuddle them, play with them, and adopt the whole bunch. 

Reading Housebroke was a fun way to spend an afternoon. I'm wondering if Jaci Burton plans to return to this locale for another book, say a story for Linc's younger brother? I'd be down for that!

Have you read Jaci Burton?

Do you enjoy dogs (or pets of any kind) in books?

Tell me about the furry creatures in your life.

One randomly chosen person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, December 15 will receive a print copy of Housebroke.

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

Review & Giveaway - - Peppermint Bark

Peppermint Bark

by Roxanne St. Claire

The Dogmothers - Book 9

Publisher: South Street Publishing

Release Date: November 12, 2021

Reviewed by PJ

Getting stood up for her high school prom turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to Colleen Kilcannon. That's when Joe Mahoney offered to fill in as her date, and magic happened. By the end of that night, Colleen was ready to give up her dreams of flying the friendly skies and seeing the world…because nothing in that world could compete with her firefighter. She and Joe married, had a family, and remained deeply in love until he died in the line of duty, leaving her a widow for twenty years.

Tim McIntosh has avoided Bitter Bark for forty-five years. But when the international business executive returns to his home town to fulfill his father’s dying wish, seeing Colleen again is inevitable. Determined to deliver a decades-old apology, he visits the dog treat store she runs, where a couple of sweet old ladies persuade him to participate in Peppermint Bark, a holiday dog fostering program. They even have the perfect dog for him to foster, an impish Westie named Bucky. There’s just one problem...someone else has already claimed that dog. Someone Tim remembers quite well.

As Colleen and Tim rekindle their friendship and co-foster a dog that seems to only be happy when they’re together, old sparks ignite. But they only have the month of December together before he returns to his life of world travel…and she returns to what suddenly seems like a mundane existence. Their relationship deepens while they set out on an impossible holiday mission to fulfill his father’s deathbed request, uncovering life-changing secrets. It’ll take one clever Westie, two scheming grannies, and a whole lot of Christmas magic for Colleen and Tim to finally get a second chance at a dance that just might last forever.

PJ's Thoughts:

My holiday reading would not be complete without an annual Christmas story from Roxanne St. Claire. Set in St. Claire's Bitter Bark, North Carolina, and featuring characters from her popular Dogfather and Dogmother series, plus some new additions, these heartwarming tales are sure to touch readers' hearts and have them coming back for more.

Peppermint Bark is the longest of St. Claire's Christmas offerings (at 260 pages) and one of my favorites. I love that authors are crafting romances for mature characters and, for my money, St. Claire is among the best. Her characters are multi-layered and relatable, people who could be my friends or neighbors. People who could be me. They may have decades of life experience in their past but they still have plenty of romance in their souls and adventures in their future. 

St. Claire does a beautiful job of portraying Colleen, a woman who has been widowed for twenty years. As a woman who has also been widowed for twenty years, I felt a deep kinship with her and empathized with her conflicting emotions. I also enthusiastically cheered her on when Tim unexpectedly reappeared in her life. Colleen has been a secondary character in previous books but we haven't really known much about her until now. I enjoyed how her story went back to the night of her high school prom then showed her progression to present day. It made her journey all the more poignant and her chance for a second love all the more satisfying. In a way, it brought her life full circle, from where she was supposed to be and the person she was supposed to be with during her early years to the person she's supposed to be with and the life she chooses to live at sixty. I loved her evolution and how it unfolded, her connection with Tim (such a good guy), her strong bond with her daughter and (overprotective) sons, her relationship with her mother (some surprising secrets are revealed), and the sweet pup who, with able assistance from two scheming grannies, notched another happily ever after under their matchmaking belts. 

Peppermint Bark joins Roxanne St. Claire's other Dogfather and Dogmother books on my keeper shelf. Once again, I laughed, I cried (of course), and I turned the final page filled with joy. These characters have become my friends, their stories have found a place in my heart, and I look forward to visiting them again. 

While characters from the many books in the Dogfather and Dogmother series pop in and out of these Christmas books, each one is written in such a way that it can be fully enjoyed on its own, without having read the other books first. If you're a series fan, you will no doubt enjoy revisiting some of your favorite characters but if you're new to this world, Peppermint Bark is a great place to start. 

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In the spirit of the upcoming holiday season, let's spread a little cheer. Tell me when you start reading holiday romances. Have you already started? Any favorites to recommend? Any particular titles you're looking forward to?

One person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, November 19 will receive a Kindle copy of Peppermint Bark. 

*Must be 18

*Amazon U.S.

*Void where prohibited

Review - - Faux Paws

Faux Paws

by Roxanne St. Claire

The Dogmothers - Book 8

Publisher: South Street Publishing

Release Date: April 23, 2021

Reviewed by PJ

At a personal and career crossroads he never expected, Navy nuclear engineer Theo Santorini faces the fact that his once charmed existence isn’t so charmed anymore. Then, on a cross country trip, he saves a desperate and abused dog, hoping he can turn around both their lives. When he arrives at Waterford Farm in North Carolina with his rescue, Clementine, Theo’s matchmaking grandmother and her best friend immediately launch a plan to help both man and dog. Theo doesn’t hate their idea of getting an assist from a beautiful, enigmatic “pet psychic” while he figures out his next move. But the woman’s preposterous claims that she can read an animal’s mind seriously test an engineer who lives for logic and flees from feelings.

After bolting from the church when she learned the groom waiting at the altar had cheated on her, Ayla Hollis can now add “runaway bride” to her short resume. But this perennial people-pleaser has broken free from her stifling upbringing and is finally ready to begin a new life. She’ll start by openly admitting to the world that she has a gift that might seem bizarre to some, but she can help animals, and in a town that loves dogs, that makes her a local hero. Her first “patient” is an emotionally damaged stray dog held in the strong arms of a handsome, but skeptical, owner. Ayla soon finds it can be much easier to understand an animal’s feelings than those of a man who refuses to believe her abilities are real.

As Theo and Ayla work together to help Clementine heal, they can’t deny one thing is real: their sizzling chemistry that quickly grows to feelings of forever. But before the Dogmothers can claim another successful match, Ayla’s psychic skills thrust her into a perilous spotlight that threatens everything. With their love on the line and a dog’s life in the balance, Ayla’s gift could save them all…but only if Theo will finally risk his heart and believe.

PJ's Thoughts: 

Roxanne St. Claire aims straight for the heart and never misses. I adored this book. I know it may seem like I say that with each newly-published book in this series but sometimes there's an extra-special something that pushes a book to the top of the heap and Faux Paws has it. As soon as I finished my first read-through, all I wanted to do was go back to the beginning and read it all over again. With more tissues. As I said, straight for the heart. 

In Faux Paws, St. Claire brings us three main characters (two and four-legged), newly arrived in Bitter Bark, North Carolina, who are all at a crossroads in their lives. I love the way she explores the challenges, possibilities, and decisions facing each of them. Yes, even Clementine, who is definitely in the running for my favorite rescue pooch in this series. Her journey is a hard one that had me reaching for tissues more than once. Don't worry, she definitely gets her happily ever after. 

I love the chemistry between Ayla and Theo but I also enjoy the fact that St. Claire takes her time with them, gradually building a friendship before introducing deeper feelings. They have some fundamental differences to work through before those deeper feelings can take root. I always enjoy the emotional layering that occurs in these stories, along with the slow burn. The relationships that form are very realistic, with humor and conflict along the way while the main characters are complex people I'd enjoy knowing in real life. In fact, they're so realistic that I'm still halfway convinced they're all living happy lives in a lovely little North Carolina town only a couple hours away from me. 

The extended families - including the matchmaking Dogmothers a/k/a one Irish Gramma and one Greek Yiayia - all add an emotional richness to the story along with more than a few laugh-out-loud moments. If you're a fan of The Dogmother series, as well as The Dogfather series, you'll enjoy catching up with some of your favorite characters in this book, while also welcoming new babies and pups to the clan. For readers who are new to these books, you should know that you can jump in with any of them and feel right at home.

If you enjoy family-centric contemporary romance with humor, sweet (but deeply emotional) romance, characters you'll want to be friends with, and rescue dogs who will flat-out steal your heart, this book is for you.