Puppy love /

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

This sparkling, escapist, feel-good contemporary romance is full to the brim of great banter and beloved tropes- a grumpy hero, a sunshiney heroine, delicious forced proximity, and enough puppies to make anyone smile.

When Sophie Vasquez and her sisters dreamed up Puppy Promise-their service puppy training school-it was supposed to be her chance to bring some good into the world. But how can she expect to do anything when no one will take her seriously?

Enter Harrison Parks- a rough, gruff, take-no-bull wildlife firefighter in need of a diabetic service dog. He couldn't be a more unlikely fit for Sophie or Bubbles-the sweet puppy she knows will be his perfect partner-but when Sophie insists he give them both a shot, something unexpected happens- he listens. Even better, he keeps on listening, even as Sophie and Bubbles turn his lonely, uber-masculine world upside-down.

As it turns out, they all have something to prove...and more than enough room in their hearts for a little puppy love.

Reviews provided by Syndetics

Booklist Review

To get back to work as a wildlife firefighter, stoic Harrison Parks is ordered to get a diabetic alert service dog so he doesn't end up in a coma again. At Puppy Promise, a service-dog puppy training school, he meets Sophie Vasquez, who presents him with a tiny Pomeranian named Bubbles. Harrison is completely unprepared for these tiny but mighty ladies, who will overhaul his life. Sophie refuses to let Harrison's gruff and grumpy attitude get in the way of her job. She wants her family and friends to see her as a capable and independent woman, not as the girl who survived leukemia and needs protection. She quickly learns to push and pull to break down Harrison's barriers and get to his marshmallow core. From a knitting circle to a camping excursion, Sophie, Harrison, and Bubbles learn and grow together and discover they don't want to be apart. Gilmore's romance debut is hopeful and heartwarming, with realistically depicted medical issues and well-crafted characters. A winning choice, especially for dog lovers.--Jenna Friebel Copyright 2019 Booklist

Kirkus Book Review

First in a sweet new contemporary romance series about three sisters and their service-puppy training school.Ever since recovering from leukemia as a teen, 26-year-old Sophie Vasquez has been an object of pity and concern for her loving family. She and her sisters own Puppy Promise, a service-dog training school in Spokane, Washington. Against a protective sibling's advice, Sophie takes on the challenge of training Bubbles the Pomeranian, rescued from a puppy mill. The challenge increases exponentially when she tries to match Bubbles with Harrison Parks, a diabetic wildland firefighter who requires a dog that can detect and alert him to blood sugar swings. Undaunted by his skepticism, Sophie convinces the gruff, impatient man to give the tiny dog a chance. While others are terrified of Harrisona physically imposing and emotionally closed manSophie responds to the undercurrent of longing and fear she senses in him and the family trauma that he experienced. Gilmore rises above the eye-roll-inducing setup with a more compelling study of the classic tough romance hero than the title implies. Straightforward and kind, Sophie works to break down Harrison's barriers without taking on responsibility for his emotional well-being. He protests that "I'm never going to be cheerful or pleasant or even all that likable," but he builds her confidence and strength in ways that are more enticing than romantic gestures. This small-town, family-centered, and fairly chaste romance should appeal to readers of Jill Shalvis and Susan Mallery.Readers who can get beyond the trite setup will enjoy a satisfying, heartfelt romance. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Author notes provided by Syndetics

Lucy Gilmore is a celebrated novelist in a wide range of genres, including uplit 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, Washington with her family.

Visit her online at www.LucyGilmore.com