A Heartbeat at My Feet

by Kristin Judd

Fate has a sense of humor in this witty, heartfelt tale of love and second chances told in two perspectives—a woman in midlife desperate for something new, and a lost dog seeking his purpose.

After years of dreams deferred, Josie Ballard’s life is about to change. She and her husband are off to Sorrento for a summer adventure, but on the eve of their departure, Josie discovers his infidelity. Devastated, she leaves her faithless husband, heading for the sun-drenched Italian coast. Alone, future unknown.

Five thousand miles away, Cicero, a rather snobbish terrier of indeterminate breeding, is likewise living an upturned life after his beloved human’s passing. Heartbroken, he wanders the wilds of Pompeii. When a flustered tourist with a kind smile appears in the ruins, clutching her tote bag and map, Cicero and Josie collide like the two lost souls they are.

In a series of turns as twisty as Sorrento’s streets, Cicero leads Josie to her second Hugo, a charming and somewhat contrary local bookseller. Against a backdrop of quaint villages, sun-dappled olive orchards, and the shimmering Mediterranean Sea, Hugo and Josie embark on a friendship that just might tiptoe into romance, with little Cicero to help them along the way—for dogs, he reasons, are nothing if not experts when it comes to love.

Genres: Fiction, Romance, Italy, Animals, Chick Lit, Dogs, Contemporary

285 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2026

Reviews

[Karen.J.]

4.5 ⭐️

For me the main character in the book was Cicero 🐾🐾 a snobbish terrier which definitely made the story such a pleasure to read. The other characters to the story just fit right in to this fun, heartwarming and very entertaining story. If you are a dog lover as I am I guarantee you will enjoy reading this.

[Nancy McIntyre · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not crying…. Oh what a lovely lovely story. I got this kindle ebook as part of first reads on prime. What a beautiful story about love and heartbreak and believing. It’s told through the alternating viewpoints of a dog, Cicero and a woman named Josie. I truly enjoyed this. Josie experiences unexpected heartbreak which takes her on an experience to Italy where she discovers more about herself along the way. It’s an easy read and well written. You will fall in love with Cicero the dog and it may leave you with a full heart and a few tears. Highly recommend

[Laura]

Josie feels like a real-life friend who I was rooting for throughout the entirety of her wonderfully delightful adventure. A Heartbeat at My Feet made me cheer out loud, laugh out loud, and nearly adopt a dog! The hilarity of the story as told from Cicero’s four-legged point of view still has me in stitches. A lovely story of resilience, bravery, and above all else - love.

[Cindy P Huntington · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite books I have read in a long time!! I could relate to this story in more ways than I could have anticipated or imagined when selected it as my “next read.” Highly recommend if prepared for an engaging intertwining of people plus countries with many emotions. Highly recommend.

[Kayleen Burns · Rating 5 out of 5]

“And this, my friend, is what humans miss, again and again. They get so lost in all the details of life that they don’t see what’s right before them, right there every second they breathe air in and out of their lungs.”

My first 5 ⭐️ of the year. I truly can’t express the love I have for this book.

[Amber (amberreadsitall) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4.25/5
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Format: Audio 🎧
Release date: August 1, 2026 Out now!

Josie Ballard is an empty-nester who flees to Sorrento, Italy, after discovering her husband's infidelity.

Cicero is a heartbroken terrier wandering the ruins of Pompeii after the death of his beloved human owner.

When Josie and Cicero cross paths, it changes both of their lives for the better.

I adored this book! I don’t want to give too much away, but this was a very cozy heartwarming story. It is told in dual- perspectives: Josie’s and Cicero’s. The audio is outstanding. It was performed by Lauren Ezzo and Malcolm Hillgartner. Both voices felt perfect for the characters.

Read this story if you enjoy:
🐾 heart-warming stories
🐾 sweet romance
🐾 inner monologue of a pet
🐾 a helpful ghost
🐾 self-discovery
🐾 characters in their 40s
🐾 witty dialogue
🐾 beautiful setting
🐾 familial love and legacy

Thank you to NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for the advance copy of this audiobook. All opinions are my own.

[Erika Bazzle · Rating 4 out of 5]

So much goodness! Loved having the back and forth POV of our leading lady and her beloved pup. Great story about family, fate and true love.

[Le An · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 the perfect beach read!

[Jennifer Bohnhoff · Rating 5 out of 5]

A dog, a ghost, and the meaning of life

A lovely, sweet tale, half told by a woman who has devoted herself to others while denying herself, and half told by the dog who loved her and helped her find herself. If you liked Incredibly Bright Creatures, you're going to love this book.

[Mary Dykstra · Rating 5 out of 5]

My July Amazon First Reads pick - I didn’t expect it at all but this book had me sobbing it was so heartwarming. The first part took me a little bit to get into but it was worth it. It’s like if Remarkably Bright Creatures met The Wedding People.

[Megan Corley · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re a dog / animal person please read this ASAP this was the most heart warming, smile inducing book I’ve ever read. The human characters were full and real and I was genuinely rooting for them all throughout. Zero cringe which is difficult for me in a rom com. Loved so much. And free on kindle unlimited!

[Sharon Weaver · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet story!

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've always had a dog/dogs. Grew up with a dog and in my 20's I had my first rescue, this became a way of life for my husband and me. We have 3 rescues now 8,12 and 14, the payoff for us is unconditional love. All three rescued at 1 or younger. Losing them is so very hard but loving them is easy!

This book was a delight, once I learned a dog was involved I knew I had to read it. Cicero was my favorite character ❤️
A delightful book.

[Cathleen (Woven From Words) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heartwarming love story

Just a lovely book! The dog Cicero POV is very moving as he navigates the world around him. Will share more in a bit, but this was a good one!

[Tom Stamm · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel helped me grow!

In eighteen days I will have lived 86 years. I'm always reading at least one book. A Heartbeat at My Feet filled my days with a joyful presence every time I sat down to eat. I'm now getting ready to search for more of Kristin's creations. Thank you Kristin!

[Lisa Bono · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, this was a sweet story. A fantasy in many ways. I tend to dislike magical realism, but I was not bothered by the way the ghost was handled. It added something to the dynamic of it. The beginning half is a bit rough; there are a lot of feels. I love the way that the author describes Italy and the challenges of handling the travel alone when you’re used to relying on someone else or just the presence of someone else. That feels authentic. There are a lot of predictable elements, but you know what you’re getting when you start the book. I was less fond of some of the character development for Josie. She is supposed to have this huge growth, but throughout, she relies on men. There’s a part in the middle where you feel her starting to become independent. But then, she goes back to letting the man in her life make decisions. I get it—she experiences shock when her father unexpectedly has a stroke. I’m fine with her letting other people make decisions at that moment. But then it’s her father that says she shouldn’t go back to Mark and she realizes that he’s right. No! She should have come to that conclusion. From then on, Howard, Charlie, and Hugo tell her what to do. Even the male ghost is steering her life. Hell, the dog is a dude. There are only a few minor female characters—what about her best friend, Ellen? Where was she? Her father says something about her taking care of everyone else all her life and now it was time to let other people take care of you. Okay, I get that, but what about her learning to take care of herself? Isn’t that the message? The character did take care of herself in the middle of the story, which honestly was the most interesting part. I understand there had to be some resolution to her previous life, but I would’ve loved to see some more self determination from the character. I’ve ranted for a bit. I did enjoy the book. I wish it had wrapped up a bit differently, although the differences would’ve been minor in terms of effects but major for the character.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazon Prime free book, July 2026. Super cute!! The dog doesn’t die.

Ghosts are not to be feared, my friend. They are simply people who could not leave this world because their hearts were not quite finished with it.

“I think, ragazzo mio, you’ve known the meaning of life all along,” he mused. “Haven’t you?” Giorgio gazed at me for a moment, and bats wheeled through the sky beyond him, like bits of night, diving and spinning through the final colors of day. Soon, they would vanish into the coming darkness. “Perhaps that’s why humans need dogs, eh, boy? We have it backward. You don’t need us as much as we need you, because you show us the way.”

For the rest of my days on this beautiful, tragic, bewildering, swiftly spinning earth, I would show my humans the meaning of life. Remember it, won’t you? Love who you were sent to love. That’s it, my friend. That, quite simply, is all you need to know.

[Tiffany E-P · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book. Anyone who has a cherished dog aka companion will enjoy this book. I loved seeing Josie’s evolution. So many women put everyone and everything ahead of themselves. Why does it take us so long to realize it and center ourselves?

[Mady Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sucker for a book with a dog

[Lisa Elizabeth Castleman · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a sweet story. Book was available to me as A First Reads for Prime Members.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazon First Reads pick July, 2026

[Yvonne (It's All About Books) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Finished reading: August 14th 2026


*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by Netgalley and Brilliance Publishing in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***

REVIEW

WARNING: it's time for another unpopular opinion!!

Oh boy, I didn't expect this to happen... I admit that it was coverlove at first sight when I spotted A Heartbeat At My Feet; both because of that dog silhouette and the scenery reminding me (correctly) of the Italian town of Sorrento. I always love an Italian setting in the first place, but actually having been in Sorrento myself years ago added even more charm to this setting and it brought back great memories. The premise sounded excellent as well, but then again I always have a weak spot for any story with an animal POV. Sadly, despite a promising start somehow A Heartbeat At My Feet just wasn't the book for me. I'll try to explain what did and didn't work below.

First things first, and there is no denying that the blurb itself is very enticing. As I already mentioned, I loved the Italian setting of course, but it was also the promise of a dog POV and two heartbroken souls finding each other in an unlikely encounter. Cicero sounded like such a fascinating character, and his unique POV definitely took this story to the next level. It was honestly the main reason I kept reading... I was charmed by the fact that he only spoke Italian, and his bond with both his old (deceased) owner and Josie was one of the best things about this book. I wasn't sure what to think of the whole ghost element though...

Now, where things went truly wrong for me. I confess that I'm never a fan of a cheating angle in my stories, but the blurb made it sound as if it was mostly an afterthought and the main focus would be on Josie rediscovering herself, the unlikely friendship between Josie and Cicero and even a new romance. WRONG. I was SO wrong about the cheating only being an afterthought... Instead, it was very much present throughout, with Josie constantly mentioning it, her husband being very much present in the plot and to make things even worse, his presence turning the romance into a dreaded love triangle as a consequence. If there is one thing I hate in a romance, then it's a very present love triangle, and if I had known, I would have immediately passed up on this story (especially since it's combined with the very present cheating).

While I did love Cicero as a character, I truly disliked Josie. She wasn't too bad in the beginning, but everything in how she handled her cheating husband and the whole situation just made me SO extremely angry. I started to dislike her more and more, and I honestly almost threw my phone at the wall in frustration more than once. Hugo was likeable enough as a character, and Cicero's feud with him actually quite funny at times... But Josie's behavior really put a damper on things for me. I also wasn't a fan of the cursing, which really didn't fit the tone of this story... Especially in Cicero's chapters, and especially since the dog claims to be a 'gentleman' in the first place.

As for the audiobook... I admit that it took me some time to get used to the narrators, as there was just something about their tones that didn't feel completely right for these characters. BUT. After a while I got used to their voices and things improved. I could appreciate the way they pronounced the many Italian words/phrases incorporated into the plot, and how Cicero's narrator spoke with an Italian accent. It definitely made you feel as if you traveled to Italy yourself... Although I do think they might be a burden for those readers without any knowledge of the language. The pace was also quite slow at normal speed, but this at least was easily remedied.

All in all it's clear that A Heartbeat At My Feet and me simply weren't a right fit after all. If you enjoy contemporaries with an Italian setting, a somewhat predictable plot and an animal POV, and don't mind a very present love triangle/cheating element and plenty of drama, this book will probably work better for you. It sure has been receiving a lot of very high ratings so far!

[Beppie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness! 🐾💙🐾

A proper review is soon to follow as I am currently in need of a box of *Happy Tears* Kleenex! In addition, I simply must run out to the store and buy my own two angels with fur (Sadie and Beau), their most favorite treats in honor of the very wise pup in this book named Cicero! He is an important character in this story and one that I have come to adore while reading this uplifting novel entitled "A Heartbeat at My Feet."

My pups are grateful that Mama read this endearing, love-filled novel by Kristin Judd. Treats have been delivered, and a breath to reflect has been taken.

Onward to the full review...

"A Heartbeat at My Feet" is a feel-good, wisdom-filled story with its standout character being the aforementioned lovable pup named Cicero. Yes, there are human characters who are also very compelling, but this very, very good boy is truly the heart of a story that beats with loyalty, smarts, humor, grace, and LOVE! I was truly captivated from page one on through to page done!

Cicero IS the *heartbeat at the feet* of almost every character in this tale. He is a loving dog who pays attention to the world and to the people (his people!) with whom he shares life. This prescient, wise little pup is able to reflect, give thoughtful consideration to, and ultimately share (with equal measures of wisdom and wise-cracks) observations that provide these humans with clarity and comfort.
Through his actions (and with a little help from a distinctly *otherworldly* source), he guides and assists his chosen people all while helping them to act with compassion, dignity, and love.

Cicero's *people,* while being caring, good, well-intentioned folks, nonetheless, and despite his best efforts, do seem to have a habit of getting lost within their own lives. Now, any dog owner will tell you that only the "goodest of boys or girls" can offer the kind of unconditional and emotional support needed to navigate this thing we call LIFE. Never fear... this good boy's middle name is Patience!

My sincerest thanks to Kristin Judd for this lovely novel. It "scratched an itch" that I didn't even realize I had!

#KristinJudd
#AHeartbeatAtMyFeet
#whoisagoodboy?
#canineangels

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simply lovely

4.5 This charming book has a number of narrators: Cicero, a small white dog whose beloved master, Giorgio, dies suddenly, leaving him in the care of the less-than-devoted Hugo, Giorgio’s estranged son, and Josie, a woman from Kansas who, on the eve of a dream trip to Italy, discovers that Mark, her husband of twenty years, is having an affair and plans to divorce her after their vacation. Josie goes alone to her planned trip to Italy, a bit daunted to be doing it on her own, and she meets Cicero,lost in the ruins of Pompeii. Later, she meets Hugo, who tries to reclaim Cicero. Cicero despises Hugo, though, and as Josie tries to teach Cicero to like him, she and Hugo fall in love. Soon Cicero loves Hugo, too, helped along by the ghost of Giorgio, who is hoping for the romance between Josie and Hugo to flourish. There are complications, of course, such as Mark deciding he wants Josie after all and popping up in Italy unexpectedly, and the illness of Josie’s father causing her to cut her trip short to be with him. The theme of the story, as elucidated by Cicero, is that love is the meaning of life: the devotion between dog and owner as well as romantic love. A very sweet and lovely book.

[Diana Garcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️
This book was everything. 😭
It was kinda giving “remarkably bright creatures” but he was the cutest dog named Cicero. 🐶
Josie deserves all the good things coming her way and more, fuuuuuuuuu*k Mark. How the hell you cheat on her, ask her for a divorce, saying that you want to build a life with your mistress, and then go begging back to Josie saying it was all a mistake and that she was never there for him and he felt alone. And when she says no, you threaten to ruin her life?!?!
I’m soooooo happy her dad stood up for her and told her to live her life, that she was done taking care of people and needed to live for herself. 🥹🫶🏽

[CrinM · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well this was delightful and charming and heartwarming on Italian canine steroids. I loved Cicero’s narrating and introspection of human life. Such a sweet story. Dog stories always get me in the heartstrings. I’m cheering for Josie to reconnect with herself. Can Hugo’s heart be thawed from the hurt and pain his father inflicted? Gahhhh. Loved this Kindle first read so so much I’ll probably get a hard copy too.

I wish I loved my dogs as much as they love me so purely, they’re just so damn annoying. 🤪

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

if you love dogs…

Another one of those books I could barely put down. Except when I had to go blow my nose at some parts that were so sad that I couldn’t stop crying. But there were plenty of happy and funny moments too. I probably had a draw to it because I have a little terrier of indeterminant breeding. I Highly recommend this book.

[Beth Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a beautiful, magical story about grief, the healing power of unexpected connections, new beginnings, and self-discovery. It is told through alternating viewpoints: Josie, a woman dealing with an unexpected upheaval in her life, and Cicero, an outspoken dog who has just lost his beloved owner. The insights into life from a dog's perspective add a unique and witty look at human nature. The beautiful Italian scenery, charming town atmosphere and a heartfelt romance make this book a perfect summer read. While it was mostly predictable there were important themes about resilience and wonderful philosophical references. It’s a feel good story.

[Julia McDougald · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars! ⭐️

This book was so stinking cute!! And I think my favorite part was the wise old Italian dog narrating half of it. He had so many “good truths” for life and they were all just so simple because that’s how clearly he could see things! I’m so glad that Josie finally got a chance to do what she’d always dreamed of too!!

[Kelsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an Amazon “first reads” option I thought I would try. It was a sweet story and I’m a sucker for an animal POV. The tiny bit of language felt out of place for me. Infidelity was a big theme, but overall I enjoyed it and want to visit Italy!