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Forever Home #1
Puppy Love
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.
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.
359 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published May 28, 2019
449 people are currently reading
1349 people want to read
About the author
Lucy Gilmore
13 books911 followersLucy Gilmore is a celebrated novelist in a wide range of genres, including literary fiction, contemporary romance, and cozy mystery. She began her reading (and writing) career as an English literature major and ended as a book lover without all those pesky academic papers attached.
She lives in Spokane, WA with her family.
She lives in Spokane, WA with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 216 reviews
August 4, 2024
I really enjoy reading books about service dogs and the amazing ways they help people. This one was no exception; Bubbles the Pomeranian was the star of this book!
I also liked the background details of Sophie’s and Harrison’s childhoods; made it clearer to understand the self-esteem problems they both had.
Unfortunately, the very steamy sex scenes and vulgar language were the reasons that I rated this book only 3 Stars.
Steaminess Rating:
❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥
(Check my profile for my “Steaminess Factor Chart”)!
I also liked the background details of Sophie’s and Harrison’s childhoods; made it clearer to understand the self-esteem problems they both had.
Unfortunately, the very steamy sex scenes and vulgar language were the reasons that I rated this book only 3 Stars.
Steaminess Rating:
❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥
(Check my profile for my “Steaminess Factor Chart”)!
January 27, 2025
For wildlife firefighter Harrison Parks, it's not really his choice to get a dog, but after slipping into a diabetic coma during a training exercise, his boss gave him an ultimatum: it's the service dog or a desk job for now on. Harrison second surprise comes when he see the petite dog trainer. To used the author's words, she seem better suited for a tea party than a dog kennel. But don't be fooled by your first impression, she's a tough girl, even if she have a heart of gold. The hero's next surprise is when all his choices of "manly" and intimidating (to match his attitude) are refused and he ends up with a skittish female Pomeranian rescued from a puppy-mill. The trainer assures him Bubbles have the perfect nose to detect low blood sugar level. Harrison is not convinced but there's something about the dog's eyes and the young woman's spirit that gets him to give them a chance, even if they both drive him crazy.It's been eleven years since Sophie Vasquez is in remission but people still treat her like a fragile thing, even her two sisters who opened with her their service puppy training school. That's why she find Harrison's gruff personality so refreshing and surprisingly attractive.
I was already in love with this cover but I felt even harder for the story and the characters! Bubbles was absolutely adorable! Harrison's quick-tempered attitude was more funny than bothersome and my heart melt when he quickly opened to the sweet canine! I adored Sophie's openess and honesty and how easily she could understand the hero. It's difficult to explain how special their chemistry was but it made me feel that I haven't seen it often in books I've read before. Sophie really had a tough challenge in both way with Harrison because he's difficult to approach and built solid walls around his lonely heart. But what a beautiful thing to witness when we read how Sophie and Bubble's presence in his life make him thrive. My only complaint is I think the whole thing with Harrison's relationship with members of his family was too easily resolved and it didn't felt believable with what we knew about it. I hope to see more about the Vasquez sisters dynamic in the next book.
What an amazing book it was and I'll remember it as one of my favorite 2019 read!
"You're going to be the death of me. You know that, right?"
I was already in love with this cover but I felt even harder for the story and the characters! Bubbles was absolutely adorable! Harrison's quick-tempered attitude was more funny than bothersome and my heart melt when he quickly opened to the sweet canine! I adored Sophie's openess and honesty and how easily she could understand the hero. It's difficult to explain how special their chemistry was but it made me feel that I haven't seen it often in books I've read before. Sophie really had a tough challenge in both way with Harrison because he's difficult to approach and built solid walls around his lonely heart. But what a beautiful thing to witness when we read how Sophie and Bubble's presence in his life make him thrive. My only complaint is I think the whole thing with Harrison's relationship with members of his family was too easily resolved and it didn't felt believable with what we knew about it. I hope to see more about the Vasquez sisters dynamic in the next book.
What an amazing book it was and I'll remember it as one of my favorite 2019 read!
"You're going to be the death of me. You know that, right?"
March 4, 2020
I really liked the relationship building in this! I probably would have given this four stars on that basis, but this book also ticked some of my parent/child relationship boxes. Was so excited when Harrison told his mom he wouldn't forgive her! Was so mad when the epilogue came along and he's knitting her stuff! (Yes, it seems like they are tentatively rebuilding a relationship, BUT PEOPLE/CHARACTERS ARE NOT REQUIRED TO FORGIVE PEOPLE WHO ABANDONED THEM AS A CHILD IN THE HOSPITAL POST-COMA AND DIABETES DIAGNOSIS.
And the dog was cute. Very here for using dogs as a way of bonding characters.
And the dog was cute. Very here for using dogs as a way of bonding characters.
May 14, 2019
Cuteness Alert! A sweet, adorable puppy brings together two people who need all the help and support the little fur baby can give to find their way past their troubles to happiness. A new to me author and a new series introduces several elements around a romance series that I was eager to grab up.
Puppy Love introduces three sisters who have a puppy training business and provide service puppies in training. Sophie is the youngest and she feels that she has a lot to prove as a leukemia survivor who missed out on a ton because of health issues and now wants to prove that she's no fragile, china doll. The way to do it is get big, tough guy Harrison to accept little Pomeranian puppy Bubbles as his service dog partner and give Sophie and Bubbles a chance.
Harrison's boss makes it a matter of coming back to work on active duty as a wilderness fire fighter that he accept a service dog that will help alert him when his diabetes goes into the danger zone. He was already reluctant to pair with a dog, but why couldn't he have the Great Dane? He is a man convinced that he is better off alone and he scares people with his 'resting brick face' and off-putting manner, but Bubbles and Sophie are determined to work on more than his diabetes and he might not be as impervious as he thinks.
Puppy Love is as adorable as all get out. It brings to light what life for people living with severe health issues or recovering from one have to deal with. I liked that sister dynamics and family are core elements, too. It's an easy-going, gently paced story that makes you smile and occasionally laugh. If you're like me and have to be in the mood for sugary feeling stories to appreciate them, keep in mind that this one has that flavoring.
Harrison and Sophie are wonderful together. I love it when a couple bring out the best in one another and clearly have each other's backs even when they don't consider themselves a couple. This pair were givers, but it wasn't obvious to very many when it came to Harrison because his gruff, solitary nature meant people would have to work at it to see the diamond in the rough. Sophie loves her family and friends, but they don't see her as she is now and how she needs to be accepted. Harrison is not part of her past so he has no trouble accepting that she can do what she sets out to do even if he's not on board with being her project in the beginning.
I'm actually a tad biased against Poms since I lived nest door to a pair for five years or so and they both yapped and snarled and went for people's ankles any chance they could. But, I'll trust that Bubbles shows that there are other personalities to be had among that dog breed.
All in all, it was a good series starter. Sweet with a hint of spice. If you love dogs as main characters in a romance and want an uncomplicated, easy, gently-paced contemporary romance, then this one is a good bet.
My thanks to Sourcebook Casablanca for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Puppy Love introduces three sisters who have a puppy training business and provide service puppies in training. Sophie is the youngest and she feels that she has a lot to prove as a leukemia survivor who missed out on a ton because of health issues and now wants to prove that she's no fragile, china doll. The way to do it is get big, tough guy Harrison to accept little Pomeranian puppy Bubbles as his service dog partner and give Sophie and Bubbles a chance.
Harrison's boss makes it a matter of coming back to work on active duty as a wilderness fire fighter that he accept a service dog that will help alert him when his diabetes goes into the danger zone. He was already reluctant to pair with a dog, but why couldn't he have the Great Dane? He is a man convinced that he is better off alone and he scares people with his 'resting brick face' and off-putting manner, but Bubbles and Sophie are determined to work on more than his diabetes and he might not be as impervious as he thinks.
Puppy Love is as adorable as all get out. It brings to light what life for people living with severe health issues or recovering from one have to deal with. I liked that sister dynamics and family are core elements, too. It's an easy-going, gently paced story that makes you smile and occasionally laugh. If you're like me and have to be in the mood for sugary feeling stories to appreciate them, keep in mind that this one has that flavoring.
Harrison and Sophie are wonderful together. I love it when a couple bring out the best in one another and clearly have each other's backs even when they don't consider themselves a couple. This pair were givers, but it wasn't obvious to very many when it came to Harrison because his gruff, solitary nature meant people would have to work at it to see the diamond in the rough. Sophie loves her family and friends, but they don't see her as she is now and how she needs to be accepted. Harrison is not part of her past so he has no trouble accepting that she can do what she sets out to do even if he's not on board with being her project in the beginning.
I'm actually a tad biased against Poms since I lived nest door to a pair for five years or so and they both yapped and snarled and went for people's ankles any chance they could. But, I'll trust that Bubbles shows that there are other personalities to be had among that dog breed.
All in all, it was a good series starter. Sweet with a hint of spice. If you love dogs as main characters in a romance and want an uncomplicated, easy, gently-paced contemporary romance, then this one is a good bet.
My thanks to Sourcebook Casablanca for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 31, 2019
This was such a sweet read. We see a gruff no-nonsense hero who is a firefighter fall for a piece of fluff that is his new service dog in training. He comes to take a big scary dog and leaves with a pom. The heroine his trainer turns his and his dad's lonely life upside down and soon we have this dude who scares other people, knitting and doing what not for his dog and slowly letting down his walls. I loved the heroine too, her bond with her family, how she could be so assertive with the hero. This kept me smiling.
June 4, 2019
Rough on the outside and gooey sweet on the inside, Harrison was a lovably grumpy hero. Contrary to her perspective, Sophie was a bossy little thing, with a steel backbone and a spirit that wouldn’t quit! I loved both characters equally, but the funniest character was Bubbles! This super cute, cuddly, ‘raisin eyed’ Pomeranian was a little diva and could give Harrison hilarious conniption fits, but loved her human like he was her world and vice versa. How sweet is that?!
Puppy Love was a delightfully funny read! The conversations Sophie and Harrison had with Bubbles-and themselves-had me straight up laughing and I loved Sophie and Harrison’s dynamics! They were a quirky couple with issues I liked seeing them work through. The subject matter on the need for service pets due to health issues or even a pet for companionship was a strong thread and I enjoyed getting a glimpse into the pet training process. Overall, this was a fabulously sweet read and I can’t wait for the next book!
Puppy Love was a delightfully funny read! The conversations Sophie and Harrison had with Bubbles-and themselves-had me straight up laughing and I loved Sophie and Harrison’s dynamics! They were a quirky couple with issues I liked seeing them work through. The subject matter on the need for service pets due to health issues or even a pet for companionship was a strong thread and I enjoyed getting a glimpse into the pet training process. Overall, this was a fabulously sweet read and I can’t wait for the next book!
July 21, 2019
So this was very cute! I found the writing a little awkward and well . . . the big family issues weren't solved by hugs so much as . . . everyone just seemed to move past them without really addressing them???
But yes, very cute, and totally lives up to the name. I am interested in reading more.
(Be aware the book ends around the 75% mark on the Kindle!)
But yes, very cute, and totally lives up to the name. I am interested in reading more.
(Be aware the book ends around the 75% mark on the Kindle!)
May 29, 2019
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.
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.
May 23, 2019
Super cute, sweet romance that was a great start to a new series and debut author.
I loved Harrison and Sophie from the start. Talk about opposites attract! Sophie and along with her sisters train service dogs and while gruff wildfire firefighter is tasked with getting a service dog for his severe diabetes or risk losing the job that he loves.
From the very beginning, these two has through the roof chemistry. And every page forward it just got better and better.
I love how this novel brought to life the struggles of those who need to use a service dog but also how tough it is to match up and train a dog for each and every person. The hours, work and commitment on both of their parts.
Definitely recommend and can't wait for the rest of the series.
I loved Harrison and Sophie from the start. Talk about opposites attract! Sophie and along with her sisters train service dogs and while gruff wildfire firefighter is tasked with getting a service dog for his severe diabetes or risk losing the job that he loves.
From the very beginning, these two has through the roof chemistry. And every page forward it just got better and better.
I love how this novel brought to life the struggles of those who need to use a service dog but also how tough it is to match up and train a dog for each and every person. The hours, work and commitment on both of their parts.
Definitely recommend and can't wait for the rest of the series.
May 31, 2019
***4 ‘Bubbles’ Stars***
The cover made me curious, but it was the blurb that hooked me and I have to say this really was a cute read that kept me smiling all the way through until the end.
I loved Harrison and Sophie. Harrison is something of an enigma. He is a grump and wants to be left alone ~ which means he tends to give very short and to the point answers ~ but he also does this verbal vomit thing that ends up getting him in trouble. But regardless of the walls he’s built around him, the man has a good heart and a softer center than many would ever believe.
Sophie was a lot of fun. Bright, sassy, snarky and playful. She’s had it rough, but hasn’t let that stop her from living. I loved her determination and how she saw outside the box and followed her gut, even when others doubted her.
Sophie and Harrison’s journey to their HEA was unexpected and yet highly enjoyable. I’d love to go into the particulars, but then it would ruin the uniqueness of their journey, but what I can say is that they simply flowed well together. They saw each other a lot more clearly than most around them and it worked in their favor. I loved their bantering and the chemistry between them was undeniable. And then there is Bubbles, who was simply adorable, and I loved the role she played in their journey. The bump in the road wasn’t unexpected, and I had to shake my head when it happened, but I loved how everything turned out for them in the end.
This was a fun debut read. It was engaging and though the pacing did slow down for me at times, it still kept me turning the pages to see what would happen next. And as for the supporting cast of characters. They were all well written and unique and I’m definitely looking forward to seeing what men will get under Dawn and Lila’s skins and the dogs that will help them do it!
~ Copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley & voluntarily reviewed ~
The cover made me curious, but it was the blurb that hooked me and I have to say this really was a cute read that kept me smiling all the way through until the end.
I loved Harrison and Sophie. Harrison is something of an enigma. He is a grump and wants to be left alone ~ which means he tends to give very short and to the point answers ~ but he also does this verbal vomit thing that ends up getting him in trouble. But regardless of the walls he’s built around him, the man has a good heart and a softer center than many would ever believe.
Sophie was a lot of fun. Bright, sassy, snarky and playful. She’s had it rough, but hasn’t let that stop her from living. I loved her determination and how she saw outside the box and followed her gut, even when others doubted her.
Sophie and Harrison’s journey to their HEA was unexpected and yet highly enjoyable. I’d love to go into the particulars, but then it would ruin the uniqueness of their journey, but what I can say is that they simply flowed well together. They saw each other a lot more clearly than most around them and it worked in their favor. I loved their bantering and the chemistry between them was undeniable. And then there is Bubbles, who was simply adorable, and I loved the role she played in their journey. The bump in the road wasn’t unexpected, and I had to shake my head when it happened, but I loved how everything turned out for them in the end.
This was a fun debut read. It was engaging and though the pacing did slow down for me at times, it still kept me turning the pages to see what would happen next. And as for the supporting cast of characters. They were all well written and unique and I’m definitely looking forward to seeing what men will get under Dawn and Lila’s skins and the dogs that will help them do it!
~ Copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley & voluntarily reviewed ~
July 27, 2019
2.5/5, generously rounding up
I was pretty disappointed I couldn’t get into this one, but I think a lot of this depends on buying the characters’ instant connection, which I did not. The prose was also not great, a couple of the author’s descriptions were cringe-y, but the characters treated them as an inside joke, so I kept having to read about how the dog’s eyes were like “wet raisins.” I need to care about the characters and relationship to let writing like that slide, and I wasn’t.
There were also a lot of family issues in this one, and none of them were actually dealt with.
So yeah, this was disappointing and did not help me break out of my reading slump.
I was pretty disappointed I couldn’t get into this one, but I think a lot of this depends on buying the characters’ instant connection, which I did not. The prose was also not great, a couple of the author’s descriptions were cringe-y, but the characters treated them as an inside joke, so I kept having to read about how the dog’s eyes were like “wet raisins.” I need to care about the characters and relationship to let writing like that slide, and I wasn’t.
There were also a lot of family issues in this one, and none of them were actually dealt with.
So yeah, this was disappointing and did not help me break out of my reading slump.
May 13, 2020
3.5 stars. Dog parts are best of story.
Quirky characters. Some humor.
Romance part didn’t work for me on the whole...crude is the word that comes to mind.
Quirky characters. Some humor.
Romance part didn’t work for me on the whole...crude is the word that comes to mind.
February 20, 2021
“You're going to be the death of me. You know that, right?”
As you may have probably expected, I jumped into reading this book, because PUPPIES! The concept of a wildlife firefighter asking help from a petite dog trainer to get a service dog sounded so amusing that I couldn't resist picking this book up.
This book just exudes cuteness, and if you're looking for a read that will plaster a smile on your face, then this book is definitely it! I had so much fun learning about the backstories of each character and seeing them falling in love with each other. The grumpy/friendly pairing is so adorable, but this book also gave us endearing and heartwarming stories when you need them.
I appreciate the representation of diabetes and leukemia in this book, as well as the way the author dealt with the parent relationships of the main characters in this book.
All in all, Puppy Love was a strong way to start the series. I am so excited for more books using furry friends as a way to connect and bond two characters. A sweet and slightly spicy delight!
☁ THE CRITERIA ☁
🌼 Synopsis:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌼 Main Character:⭐⭐⭐☆☆
🌼 Significant Other: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
🌼 Support Characters:⭐⭐⭐☆☆
🌼 Writing Style:⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🌼 Character Development:⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🌼 Romance: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
🌼 Pacing: ⭐☆☆☆☆
🌼 Ending: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🌼 Unputdownability: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
🌼 Book Cover:⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
☁FINAL VERDICT: 3.36/5 ☁
December 31, 2020
Puppy love is the first book in the Forever home series. It’s a very good beginning for the series and it certainly made me want to read the future books in the series. The puppy training process was cute, although to be honest, I have no idea with the things mentioned are legit or not since I am not a dog owner. Bubbles was a cute and hard-working Pomenarian. Harrison’s initial reaction to her was not very good and I loved watching him slowly fall in love with the dog. Sophie was so much easier to like. Her past health issues made her stronger and they gave her some ammunition towards the very stubborn Harrison. Sophie and Harrison were good together. The book was heart-warming and I would recommend it.
December 16, 2021
I'm sorry. When I see what appears to be a romance novel that revolves around an adorable puppy....I don't expect to be reading curse words on every page! Especially not the GD word.
The cursing is purely gratuitous on the part of the author. It detracts from the story and that's never a good thing.
The cursing is purely gratuitous on the part of the author. It detracts from the story and that's never a good thing.
January 6, 2021
4 stelle e mezza
Bella storia in cui è stata la cagnolina a conquistarmi. I due protagonisti sembrerebbero essere due opposti, ma hanno anche molto in comune, sebbene non sembra sempre essere così chiaro.
Bella storia in cui è stata la cagnolina a conquistarmi. I due protagonisti sembrerebbero essere due opposti, ma hanno anche molto in comune, sebbene non sembra sempre essere così chiaro.
June 19, 2019
While Lucy Gilmore is a new-to-me romance author, some of you may know her under the name Tamara Morgan. (I may even have some of “Morgan’s” romances lurking in the TBR.) Though I’m leery of new-to-me romance authors, I succumbed to the cover puppy’s cuteness. If I were to ever have a dog, it would be a Pomeranian, though in truth, I’m a cat-lady. Reading Gilmore’s first volume in the Service Puppies series, I didn’t regret my venture to new-author territory for a moment. Gilmore’s romance may not break new genre ground, but it delighted me. To start, I loved the premise and meet-cute and recounting them will give you a good idea of what you can expect. Harrison Parks is my favourite kind of hero: huge, grumpy, rhetorically monosyllabic, introverted, and a sentimental softie under the bluster and muscle. He’s also a wildfire firefighter and type 1 diabetic, whose workaholism put him into a diabetic coma. Now his boss, Oscar, wants him to get a service dog to detect his blood sugar — before he’ll let him anywhere near a wildfire again. Harrison loves his work and, grumbling and whinging up a storm, he finds himself at the Puppy Promise kennel staring down at a ball of fluff named Bubbles and a bitty woman in a ruffled dress telling him Bubbles is his new lifeline to getting back to the work he loves.
Gilmore’s opening scene is hilarious and the humour, wit, and banter don’t let up. The juxtaposition of alpha-man with furball, especially when Harrison had already picked out his service animal, a Great Dane, is a hoot. Like Bubbles, Sophie is tiny, adorable, and a will-o-the-wisp. She’s also a hard ass puppy and man trainer, with nerves, discipline, and wisdom earned from a childhood with leukemia.
While the puppy’s, man’s, and heroine’s antics and banter are comic (Sophie gets Harrison to join a knitting circle, with chuckle-inducing results, need I say more?), there are serious stakes for hero and heroine as well. Harrison and his father, Wallace, live a Miss-Havishamian existence in the woods, in a farmhouse kept exactly as the day Harrison’s mother left twenty-two years ago. What Harrison needs is a resurrection and Bubbles and Sophie, as it turns out, are exactly the dog and person who can give it to him. Gilmore’s novel isn’t just funny, it’s endearing and touching. Bubbles is the nonpareil; Harrison and Sophie have chemistry, affection, and winning, snappy banter. Secondary characters are nicely developped and our hero and heroine show growth.
Puppy Love, however, is a hero-centric romance. It’s Harrison’s story and Bubbles even more than Sophie’s. In this lies its flaw. Though Sophie shows growth in confidence and independence from her overprotective but gloriously loving family, her character notes wane as Harrison’s dominate. I enjoyed it nonetheless, but I did notice how Sophie became less and less of a changing, growing character and moved solely toward being Harrison’s emotional saviour. I did enjoy, however, how Bubbles’s growth as a service puppy, brave, loving, devoted, and disciplined paralleled Sophie’s role in Harrison’s life.
Another tiny moue of disappointment came at the dark or betrayal moment. Ye olde crank of deus ex machina made its way into the narrative and, without spoiling, left some unanswered questions, or rather underdevelloped answers, about Harrison’s childhood. The not-baby-but-Bubbles-filled epilogue, on the other hand, was priceless. Gilmore writes with a sure, pleasant hand and paces her narrative so that it remained compelling. Like Harrison with Bubbles and Sophie, I’m now a sucker for a doggy cover, though I maintain my cat-lady status, and pantingly await the next book in the series. With Miss Austen, we found in Puppy Love “a mind lively and at ease,” Emma.
Lucy Gilmore’s Puppy Love is published by Sourcebooks Casablanca. It was released on May 28th and may be found at your preferred vendor. I received an e-ARC from Sourcebooks Casablanca, via Netgalley.
Gilmore’s opening scene is hilarious and the humour, wit, and banter don’t let up. The juxtaposition of alpha-man with furball, especially when Harrison had already picked out his service animal, a Great Dane, is a hoot. Like Bubbles, Sophie is tiny, adorable, and a will-o-the-wisp. She’s also a hard ass puppy and man trainer, with nerves, discipline, and wisdom earned from a childhood with leukemia.
While the puppy’s, man’s, and heroine’s antics and banter are comic (Sophie gets Harrison to join a knitting circle, with chuckle-inducing results, need I say more?), there are serious stakes for hero and heroine as well. Harrison and his father, Wallace, live a Miss-Havishamian existence in the woods, in a farmhouse kept exactly as the day Harrison’s mother left twenty-two years ago. What Harrison needs is a resurrection and Bubbles and Sophie, as it turns out, are exactly the dog and person who can give it to him. Gilmore’s novel isn’t just funny, it’s endearing and touching. Bubbles is the nonpareil; Harrison and Sophie have chemistry, affection, and winning, snappy banter. Secondary characters are nicely developped and our hero and heroine show growth.
Puppy Love, however, is a hero-centric romance. It’s Harrison’s story and Bubbles even more than Sophie’s. In this lies its flaw. Though Sophie shows growth in confidence and independence from her overprotective but gloriously loving family, her character notes wane as Harrison’s dominate. I enjoyed it nonetheless, but I did notice how Sophie became less and less of a changing, growing character and moved solely toward being Harrison’s emotional saviour. I did enjoy, however, how Bubbles’s growth as a service puppy, brave, loving, devoted, and disciplined paralleled Sophie’s role in Harrison’s life.
Another tiny moue of disappointment came at the dark or betrayal moment. Ye olde crank of deus ex machina made its way into the narrative and, without spoiling, left some unanswered questions, or rather underdevelloped answers, about Harrison’s childhood. The not-baby-but-Bubbles-filled epilogue, on the other hand, was priceless. Gilmore writes with a sure, pleasant hand and paces her narrative so that it remained compelling. Like Harrison with Bubbles and Sophie, I’m now a sucker for a doggy cover, though I maintain my cat-lady status, and pantingly await the next book in the series. With Miss Austen, we found in Puppy Love “a mind lively and at ease,” Emma.
Lucy Gilmore’s Puppy Love is published by Sourcebooks Casablanca. It was released on May 28th and may be found at your preferred vendor. I received an e-ARC from Sourcebooks Casablanca, via Netgalley.
May 28, 2019
Puppy Love was a fun, sexy romance and was just what I was needing to break up all the mystery/horror I have been reading!
Sophie is the youngest of three sisters and when she was younger she had leukemia and was smothered with love and attention. Now she is good health because of a donor and doesn't need the protective smothering but it seems she is the only one who thinks that. She works with her sisters at Puppy Promise, a training facility for service dogs, and they have taken on a case because Oscar had asked them too. Oscar was Sophie's donor so she owes him to do this but she was told that the guy is not going to be easy.
Harrison is a wildfire firefighter and is tough as they come and closed off emotionally. His only problem is that he has type 1 diabetes and has an insulin pump. Usually that keeps him regulated and okay but when he went into a diabetic coma while training firefighters his boss gave him an ultimatum, either he goes behind a desk or gets a service dog. Harrison hates his boss for making him do this but he ops for the dog.
Harrison is looking for a manly dog but Sophie sticks him with a little ball of fur named Bubbles. He refuses at first but he really has no choice and Sophie is sure that the pomeranian is the perfect fit for Harrison. She will be working with Harrison and Bubbles and can see that he is going to be a hard case to crack.
Sophie is drawn to him rather quickly and can see that when he smiles that rough and tough act is really just an act and she needs to bring down his walls. She also likes that he doesn't treat her like a fragile doll as everyone else who knows her does. Actually Harrison is terrified of the little spitfire as he has never met anyone like her.
I really enjoyed the characters in this book. Sophie is quite different and her tactics with Harrison are unusual (and probably never happens in a real service dog training business), and makes for some fun banter. Harrison is sexy and a bit damaged emotionally, but very protective of others. I like her sisters and look forward to reading about them in the other books in the series. I also like some of Harrison's firefighter friends as well as his boss Oscar. Really it's a very well rounded group of characters.
The banter in this story is what made it really funny but I also must say that sometimes I wasn't a fan of it at the same time. Sometimes the sexual teasing banter just felt like overkill to me, but other than that I really enjoyed it.
I would recommend it to any one who enjoys romance novels.
Sophie is the youngest of three sisters and when she was younger she had leukemia and was smothered with love and attention. Now she is good health because of a donor and doesn't need the protective smothering but it seems she is the only one who thinks that. She works with her sisters at Puppy Promise, a training facility for service dogs, and they have taken on a case because Oscar had asked them too. Oscar was Sophie's donor so she owes him to do this but she was told that the guy is not going to be easy.
Harrison is a wildfire firefighter and is tough as they come and closed off emotionally. His only problem is that he has type 1 diabetes and has an insulin pump. Usually that keeps him regulated and okay but when he went into a diabetic coma while training firefighters his boss gave him an ultimatum, either he goes behind a desk or gets a service dog. Harrison hates his boss for making him do this but he ops for the dog.
Harrison is looking for a manly dog but Sophie sticks him with a little ball of fur named Bubbles. He refuses at first but he really has no choice and Sophie is sure that the pomeranian is the perfect fit for Harrison. She will be working with Harrison and Bubbles and can see that he is going to be a hard case to crack.
Sophie is drawn to him rather quickly and can see that when he smiles that rough and tough act is really just an act and she needs to bring down his walls. She also likes that he doesn't treat her like a fragile doll as everyone else who knows her does. Actually Harrison is terrified of the little spitfire as he has never met anyone like her.
I really enjoyed the characters in this book. Sophie is quite different and her tactics with Harrison are unusual (and probably never happens in a real service dog training business), and makes for some fun banter. Harrison is sexy and a bit damaged emotionally, but very protective of others. I like her sisters and look forward to reading about them in the other books in the series. I also like some of Harrison's firefighter friends as well as his boss Oscar. Really it's a very well rounded group of characters.
The banter in this story is what made it really funny but I also must say that sometimes I wasn't a fan of it at the same time. Sometimes the sexual teasing banter just felt like overkill to me, but other than that I really enjoyed it.
I would recommend it to any one who enjoys romance novels.
September 24, 2019
This was an impulse purchase and I'm glad it caught my attention (mainly because I have two Pomeranians). Sophie is determined to be seen as strong and independent by her family after a childhood illness sidelined her. Harrison's childhood diabetes has finally caught up to him and the only way he's getting back in the field is to get a service animal. He thinks he needs a great big, strong dog, but Sophie is determined to show him Bubbles the Pomeranian may be small, but she is fully up to the task of saving his life. Between training and witty banter, these two are really funny together.
tbr-top-of-list
August 1, 2019YES!
I WON!
I WON!
August 31, 2019
This was a adorable and cute read, I espesially loved Bubbles - The Pomeranian puppy <3 You'll know what i mean when you read it, hihi.
December 13, 2019
I picked this book up because it centered around service dogs – which I love, admire and respect – and the premise sounded like it’d be a really cute story.
Sophie, after surviving leukemia, wants to prove she’s not fragile; Harrison just wants to get back to work without damaging his image and protect his heart from everyone. Sophie and Harrison are two very different people but have a lot in common – making them perfect for each other based off their initial interactions.
However, I did not like how Sophie handled Harrison’s case from the very beginning. It was unprofessional, unethical, and borderline sexual harassment. I didn’t like how she used their mutual instant attraction to get him to open up and work with her and Bubble (like purposefully wearing certain clothing to show off her body). It was wrong – like a therapist taking advantage of their client’s vulnerabilities, knowing exactly how to manipulate them. And her sisters encouraged this. This went on for 3/4 of the book and I couldn’t shake my disapproval.
The only good part of this book was Bubbles. I loved her to bits and loved even more that she was a rescue dog. As much as I didn’t like Sophie, I was happy to see her push and advocate for Bubbles to be paired with Harrison.
I think I would’ve loved this story if not for the inappropriate conduct of business.
Sophie, after surviving leukemia, wants to prove she’s not fragile; Harrison just wants to get back to work without damaging his image and protect his heart from everyone. Sophie and Harrison are two very different people but have a lot in common – making them perfect for each other based off their initial interactions.
However, I did not like how Sophie handled Harrison’s case from the very beginning. It was unprofessional, unethical, and borderline sexual harassment. I didn’t like how she used their mutual instant attraction to get him to open up and work with her and Bubble (like purposefully wearing certain clothing to show off her body). It was wrong – like a therapist taking advantage of their client’s vulnerabilities, knowing exactly how to manipulate them. And her sisters encouraged this. This went on for 3/4 of the book and I couldn’t shake my disapproval.
The only good part of this book was Bubbles. I loved her to bits and loved even more that she was a rescue dog. As much as I didn’t like Sophie, I was happy to see her push and advocate for Bubbles to be paired with Harrison.
I think I would’ve loved this story if not for the inappropriate conduct of business.
May 28, 2019
Puppy Love is a fun read! I would call this a Sour Patch Kid of a romance novel. What do I mean by that? Know how Sour Patch Kids are really sour and then surprise you with their sweetness? Well - Puppy Love is really sweet - and then surprises you by showing up with the steam!
Harrison is a grumpy, tough wildfire firefighter who needs a diabetic service dog to continue doing his job. While he’s hoping for a large, tough looking dog - he gets paired with a small, fluffy Pomeranian puppy named Bubbles. Harrison quickly grows to love this puppy...and may be developing feelings for her trainer Sophia as well.
Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks for the advance reading copy in exchange for my honest review.
Harrison is a grumpy, tough wildfire firefighter who needs a diabetic service dog to continue doing his job. While he’s hoping for a large, tough looking dog - he gets paired with a small, fluffy Pomeranian puppy named Bubbles. Harrison quickly grows to love this puppy...and may be developing feelings for her trainer Sophia as well.
Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks for the advance reading copy in exchange for my honest review.
April 18, 2019
Very slow pace book. Boy meets puppy....boy meets girl. Both come with som baggage but eventually figure it out.
June 26, 2019
I wanted a light romance to read on the beach so I wasn’t expecting much, but this was just awful. Sophie was weak and unprofessional from the start and spends more time thinking about what clothes will slow off her butt or her shoulder than telling her client, who has never owned a dog, how to care for a wisp of a puppy who needs a service dog to be by his side during fires. Oh yes, he is dark and deep and she is frail but strong, and did I mention she has a great ass? I guess I’m in the minority here, but this was just bad. I only finished it because I was in a plane and had nothing else with me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 5, 2022
I was excited to read a book about service dogs, after raising guide dogs for 17 years, but this book is very heavy on a FAST romance and no so much in the...believable service dog organization facts. For instance, why spend so much important relationship capitol on a dog that the client obviously doesn't want? And why name it Bubbles? Anyway, all the dog stuff probably annoyed me more than was reasonable. But I also just didn't feel the chemistry between the two characters. It felt like he wasn't helping her grow in any way, just being resistant and reticent about the relationship.
July 4, 2020
Pervasive profanity from the H, including religious swears and 'F' bombs. This story is beyond unbelievable, into the stupid,ridiculous,silly,range…….don't waste your time.
June 27, 2021
A bland romance about a strong-but-silent firefighter and the woman who trains his rescue dog when he passes out from a diabetic coma. Interesting possibilities, unfulfilled.
August 29, 2022
Abandoned at 50%. I liked the dog, but the human characters were poorly written.
May 11, 2019
If you like finding new authors who you can stay with for the long haul, you have to check out this first book by Lucy Gilmore. With a unique plot, a riveting storyline, authentic and endearing characters, and prose that lean toward poetic, Gilmore has secured her future works an automatic spot on my TBR list.
With an unconventional premise, Puppy Love features a bit of a love triangle between three main characters, one of which is a Pomeranian named Bubbles. Along with her two sisters, Sadie Vasquez is a dog trainer with Puppy Promise who agrees to do a favor for an old friend, Oscar. Harrison Parks is a diabetic firefighter and his boss, the aforementioned Oscar, puts Harrison on temporary leave until he has a service dog to alert him when his blood sugar gets in the danger zone.
Now, to understand how wonderful this story is, you need to know more about both Sophie and Harrison. Harrison is a tough nut to crack, and he's been known to make grown men cry during firefighter training. His heart isn’t simply guarded. It's wrapped in barbed wire with mile-wide walls around it. He would hate for you to feel sorry for him, because he's doing just fine all by his lonesome, but when Sadie and Bubbles invade his life, he doesn’t know what hit him. He also doesn’t stand a chance.
Sophie has been protected and coddled all her life, leaving her to feel inferior to her beautiful, accomplished sisters. But Sophie knows canines and is confident Bubbles is the perfect pup for Harrison. Despite any perceived shortcomings, Sophie is nothing if not determined, and she’s not afraid to push Harrison. The first crack of Harrison's heart happens in less than twenty-four hours, and Bubbles wags her way past the wall and through the barbed wire. The next crack is due to the machinations of Sadie, who innately knows just how far to push to draw out that soft marshmallow center Harrison has worked so hard to keep locked down.
I loved everything about this book, but especially the relationships between these two females and Harrison. Adorable little Bubbles overcomes fear, rises to the occasion and becomes the perfect companion, and both she and Sophie bring out the best in Harrison. At its heart, this is a story about overcoming adversity and fear, healing old hurts, finding the best in yourself and bringing out the best in someone else. It’s sweet and funny, poignant and inspiring, and uplifting and satisfying. Give this new author a chance and read Puppy Love. You won't be sorry you did.
*I reviewed an advance copy of this book freely and voluntarily, having made no commitment to provide a review and receiving no compensation of any kind from any source for this review.
With an unconventional premise, Puppy Love features a bit of a love triangle between three main characters, one of which is a Pomeranian named Bubbles. Along with her two sisters, Sadie Vasquez is a dog trainer with Puppy Promise who agrees to do a favor for an old friend, Oscar. Harrison Parks is a diabetic firefighter and his boss, the aforementioned Oscar, puts Harrison on temporary leave until he has a service dog to alert him when his blood sugar gets in the danger zone.
Now, to understand how wonderful this story is, you need to know more about both Sophie and Harrison. Harrison is a tough nut to crack, and he's been known to make grown men cry during firefighter training. His heart isn’t simply guarded. It's wrapped in barbed wire with mile-wide walls around it. He would hate for you to feel sorry for him, because he's doing just fine all by his lonesome, but when Sadie and Bubbles invade his life, he doesn’t know what hit him. He also doesn’t stand a chance.
Sophie has been protected and coddled all her life, leaving her to feel inferior to her beautiful, accomplished sisters. But Sophie knows canines and is confident Bubbles is the perfect pup for Harrison. Despite any perceived shortcomings, Sophie is nothing if not determined, and she’s not afraid to push Harrison. The first crack of Harrison's heart happens in less than twenty-four hours, and Bubbles wags her way past the wall and through the barbed wire. The next crack is due to the machinations of Sadie, who innately knows just how far to push to draw out that soft marshmallow center Harrison has worked so hard to keep locked down.
I loved everything about this book, but especially the relationships between these two females and Harrison. Adorable little Bubbles overcomes fear, rises to the occasion and becomes the perfect companion, and both she and Sophie bring out the best in Harrison. At its heart, this is a story about overcoming adversity and fear, healing old hurts, finding the best in yourself and bringing out the best in someone else. It’s sweet and funny, poignant and inspiring, and uplifting and satisfying. Give this new author a chance and read Puppy Love. You won't be sorry you did.
*I reviewed an advance copy of this book freely and voluntarily, having made no commitment to provide a review and receiving no compensation of any kind from any source for this review.
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