This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Genres: Contemporary Romance, Holiday Romance
Published by Sourcebooks Casablanca
Released on September 24, 2019
Pages: 416
Format: eARC
Source: NetGalley
The Delight
I didn’t really know what I was getting into when I started this story, but when I came out of it, my heart was so much happier. Seeing a guy so into the care of his daughter and not one for greatness. A woman who thinks she is cold and unlovable. I just was a story to melt my heart for Christmas
Review
Lila Vasquez runs Puppy Promise, a service puppy training, with her two sisters, but she isn’t considered the “fun” one of the group. She’s is organized and gets things done, but at the end of the day, she lays down and lets the puppies crawl over her and that makes her not as cold as people may think. When she is given the opportunity to help a non-profit auditory foundation with a free puppy and training services, she see this as a way for her company to move forward. What she didn’t plan was for her sisters to put her in a glittery, pink princess dress that would steal a young girls heart or even that of her father. When they turn out to be the clients, Lila learns that she isn’t as cold as her ex-boyfriend says she is and she owes some of that revelation to Ford. That’s Ford Ford.
Yep, Ford Ford is his first and last name. Ford’s life revolves around his six-year old, Emily. With a cochlear implant, Emily often isn’t very social or confident. When Lila enters all dressed up as a princess, both Emily and Ford truly believe they have royalty in their mists. With Lila’s gentle but firm guidance, Emily starts to flourish with her trusty puppy, Jeeves. Ford though is harder to crack as he keeps everyone at an arms distance with his flirting. These at times were very laugh out loud moments, but they also show you that he has forsaken any happiness in the quest to provide everything he can for his daughter.
Ford teaches Lila she isn’t cold and that she can have fun. Just be who she is. Lila teaches Ford he doesn’t have to give up everything for his daughter, but still provide everything he wants to provide for her. This was a beautifully written story about ordinary people finding that person that makes their inner beauty and personality shine.
This could be a sweet romance, a RomCom romance but it also plays well as a Contemporary Romance that happens at Christmas time. It falls into so many categories, but it also falls into one of my favorite books of 2019.
Challenges Met
Review Writing Challenge #70
Literary Pickers #54 – Pet Toys
New Release #29
Try Something New #33 – Author
Preview
Shari
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This sounds like a really nice story! I love the premise and as one of your favorite books of the year, I guess it really delivered!
I really enjoyed the story. Now I need to find time to go back and read book 1 in this series.
Ih it looks nice and sweet
It was sweet and I needed this kind of story!
I enjoyed the first book so I’ll be reading this one when I get a chance.
Karen @ For What It’s worth
I can’t wait to find time to go back and read book 1.
I read and adored the first one. This sounds just as good and I just knew Lila was a softy. 🙂
I can’t wai tto rad the firs tbook. Glad I found this author.
I love this cover, and it sounds like a great read! Hugs, RO
The dog mostly is the little girls, but it’s cute to see the hero witht he puppy. Loved this couple!
Ford Ford <- what a name. I like that it was tongue in cheek, because it matched the Ford we saw for the majority of the book. I liked getting to know the less public Ford though, and I adored him with his daughter. She was just precious. Lila sort of broke my heart, and therefore, I was overjoyed these two came into her life, and let her know how special she was. The thing I really love about this series, though, is spending time with and learning about the dogs. All their training and skills fascinate me.
Loved spending time with the dogs as well. The name stumped me for a bit, bu I grew to love his dedication to his daughter and Lila’s vulnerability being overcome.
The best xmas stories need to melt the heart like this one did for you.
Can I have the puppy and the man from the cover 😉
Of course you can! Unfortunately you have to find them, lol.