Puppy love is such an adorable story about puppies becoming service dogs. Of course there’s romance. Of course there’s dogs. What more could you want?!

This is the story of Harrison and Sophie. Harrison is a wildfire firefighter who is diabetic. The diabetes has gotten the better of him lately and in order to return to the job he loves, he must have a service dog. Enter Sophie, the youngest of three sisters who run a service dog training company.
The information about service dogs and their training was super interesting! I had no idea there were service dogs for diabetics.
The characters were well described and multifaceted, but a little too quirky for my taste.
If you are interested in service dogs you would enjoy this book!

<B>No matter the job, no matter the need
These service dogs in training will always fall in love at first bark.</b>

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 Pomeranian 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.

Service Puppies Series:
Puppy Love (Book 1)
Puppy Christmas (Book 2)

*****************************************************

Loved this book! I loved how likeable to characters where and how you could see their growth, the story plot was a charming love story (my favourite) while Harrison was a bear of a man the way he interacted with Sophie and Bubbles melted my heart. I seriously fell in love with him 😍😍 Sophie was proof that appearances can be deceiving - strong wild and dominated with a sprinkle of humour what’s not to love about her??

This was a perfect start to a series and I can’t wait to read the next instalments.

<b>**Thanks to the author and netgalley for the advanced copy of this book. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.** </b>

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.

Puppy Love is my first read by Lucy Gilmore and what a lovely, heartfelt story it was. There were some deep and meaningful moments, and heartbreaking emotion too; but what I loved the most was the light and funny interactions that also took place between Harrison and Sophie, and let’s not forget the impact of the wonderfully cute Bubbles! Puppy Love is essentially a story of overcoming a series of neverending obstacles, and the life altering changes that occur along the way. A nice feel good story that I highly recommend.

Who wouldn’t fall for a big, hunky guy who has to settle for a cute Pomeranian puppy as his service animal to help him cope for his Type I diabetes? Harrison is a silent, reserved buy who just feels undeserving because his mother abandoned him with his grumpy father when he was a child.

Sophie Vasquez is the dog trainer who pushes him to take the Pomeranian instead of the bigger sort of dogs he thought was appropriate. But he falls in love with Bubbles.

The two work together to train the puppy so that Harrison can return to his job as a firefighter for wildfires. Somehow, the plan is for him to carry the puppy in a sling while he is fighting fires so that the dog can smell when his blood glucose readings are low. I can’t imagine taking a little dog into such a situation, but I guess we just have to with the set up.

Sophie has her own burdens to over come since she had to overcome leukemia as an adolescent and now is tired of her family sheltering her. She is attracted to Harrison because he doesn’t see her that way. Together they learn to overcome their scars from their childhoods.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.

I so loved this book. The main characters were wonderful. All three had things to overcome and that made them strong in their own way. Truly a joy to read.

Puppy Love by Lucy Gilmore 3 stars

The cover was what caught my eye, big hunky guy with a cute Pomeranian puppy. I had to read this. This is the first in a series about the Vasquez sisters who run Puppy Promise a service puppy training school. This book is about Sophie the youngest and Harrison Parks, a big brawny wildlife firefighter who needs a diabetic alert service dog. Picture this, a big guy looks at a Great Dane puppy and thinks - he'll do - but in walks Sophie who tells him the Great Dane isn't right for his needs. She takes him to Bubbles, a cute little Pomeranian puppy. The contrast is startling. This is a story of attraction and denial. Of individuals that have baggage to overcome. For me this was an OK book, the best parts was the interaction between Harrison and Bubbles. I couldn't really warm up to Sophie and unfortunately found her irritating.

Thank you Netgalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for this ARC

Let’s all be honest who doesn’t love a story that features an adorable puppy. This story not only had that it had some great characters and it had an incredible story line. I loved Harrison and Sophie together but when you put Bubbles in there it changed the whole dynamic of the story. Bubbles brought out the worst and the best in Harrison. The story was fast paced and so sweet at the same time. I am looking forward to reading more by this author. Thanks Net Galley. I voluntarily reviewed this book in exchange for an honest review.

POV ~> Third person

The cover features Harrison and Bubbles, looking happy and well-adjusted.
Grouchy wildfire firefighter, Harrison, is out of the field after a drop in blood sugar puts him in a coma. Now, boss-man says he can’t return to active duty without a scent detection service dog to help keep his insulin levels in check.
Sophie is tired of being treated as if she were fragile. Sure, she nearly died. But she overcame leukemia and has since become a strong and independent woman – even if her friends and family refuse to see it.
Bubbles is NOT what he wanted and the last thing he expected. After all, who in their right mind would pair a six-foot-plus firefighter with a two-pound, flame-shy Pomeranian?
The lead characters were complex. They were enjoyable when they did not dwell on all their baggage. He was a grumpy loner, she was pushy and extremely social. Two more different people could not be found. The chemistry between them was entertaining to watch unfold. Secondary characters were plentiful, as they tend to be in a series debut. Dialogue was smart, interactions were mostly believable. The plot concept was intriguing and the execution was well-done. The story flowed smoothly and the pages turned quickly. There were a few conflicts throughout, providing enough dynamics in this lengthier novel. They were resolved (or, at least, addressed) in a timely manner. Predictability was on the lower end. The conclusion was mostly satisfying but not truly solid. It provided an implied HEA.
Overall, I did enjoy the story and liked the cast.
I would consider reading more from this series, mostly for the service animals.
.
Rating: [R] ~ Score: 4.075 ~ Stars: 4
==========================
⭐ ⭐ **** Disclosure of Material: I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and the Author/Publisher with the hope that I would voluntarily leave unbiased and unsolicited feedback. I was not asked, encouraged, or required to leave a review - nor was I compensated in any way. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising". ***** ⭐ ⭐

Puppy Love by Lucy Gilmore is the first book in her new Forever Home series. Puppy Love was a sweet, cute and fun story line that revolves around a service puppy training school run by three sisters. In Puppy Love the youngest sister, Sophie Vazquez is our heroine and she was a blast throughout the book.

Sophie usually listens to her older sisters, Dawn and Lila, when it comes how to handle placing a puppy to someone who has special needs. But once Sophie meets Harrison Parks, our hero, she steps forward in handling this case fully on her own.

Harrison is on leave as a wildfire firefighter and wants badly to get back to work. He is being forced to get a service dog, who is trained to recognize signs of his sugar getting low, putting him into danger of falling into a diabetic coma. When he has his sights set on a great Dane, he is surprised to have Sophie turn down that request; especially after he meets the dog she suggests. Harrison meet Bubbles, a little cute Pomeranian. First off, Harrison hates the name Bubbles, and the fact he is a small dog; afterall Harrison is a tall and strong hunk, and this small dog would be an embarrassment for him.

The banter between Harrison and Sophie was off the wall from the start, and frankly at times it was hilarious. But Sophie put her foot down, despite everyone’s feeling that perhaps Bubbles was not right for Harrison. In a short time, after Harrison take Bubbles home to stay with him, with visits daily from Sophie, he slowly begins to fall in love with the dog, not to mention he is becoming very attracted to Sophie, who usually ends up having the last word.

Sophie comes from a wonderful loving family and is very close to her two sisters; I loved the family and Sophie was a fun, sweet and wonderful heroine. She had a rough childhood, being treated for a disease and her family always by her side. Now she is determined to prove her independence, as well as being recognized as a good trainer.

I loved Sophie with Harrison and Bubbles, as they were so much fun. However, at times I wanted to smack Harrison for his stubbornness; though he knew he was falling in love with Sophie, Harrison did not want to be in a permanent relationship, as he felt his life as a firefighter was all he wanted or needed. But once our lovable dog goes missing, all bets are off, and in the end love will prevail. Puppy Love was a heartwarming, sweet, and fun story, with a great couple and adorable dog, which was so very well written by Lucy Gilmore. I look forward to more stories from Puppy Promise and the remaining sisters.

PUPPY LOVE by Lucy Gilmore is a sweet small town romance. This book has plenty of laugh out loud moments! It's a clean summer book to enjoy!

This book was so sweet. It gives us the story of Sophie, a service puppy trainer, and Harrison, a type 1 diabetic firefighter. Harrison and Sophie’s personalities could not be more different, but somehow they make sense together. I loved both characters and was rooting for them the whole book. This was the first book of a series and I cannot wait to read the next book!

I found myself struggling with the pace of this book, took me awhile to get into it, I ended up skimming pages. Didn’t find the style of writing allowed the story to flow. Overall story idea was cute....just couldn’t get into it

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.
The book was a lot of fun. The characters had great personalities for the plot and who can be a critic when puppies are involved? Harrison is a grouchy catch and Sophie is determined to get him, during this light, easy read. Would've loved to have seen Bubbles deal with the big flames but maybe that'll be hinted at later.
Sophie's sisters are lovely and I'm looking forward to more antics as their books get released.
3.5 stars

Very slow pace book. Boy meets puppy....boy meets girl. Both come with som baggage but eventually figure it out.

Sweet and humorous romance with puppies (who doens't love puppies!) A little slow and overdone at times, but a nice book to curl up with.

I am so very glad I picked up this book that has introduced me to an author I will definitely be following.
The first book of this series about three sisters who own a service puppy training school, belongs to Sophie Vazquez and Harrison Parks.
Sophie has come a long way from all the suffering she experienced as a child. She doesn’t consider herself as pretty or as bright as her sisters, and is determined to become an excellent dog trainer. Add that to her spunky personality and you have a winner.
Harrison is a wildfire firefighter, a big tough guy that doesn’t smile and though respected by his peers, is also feared. His type 1 diabetes latest episode and his boss are forcing him to find a service dog so he can continue to work the fires.
When these two meet, sparks fly and not always in a good way, especially after Sophie chooses the opposite kind of dog that Harrison wants.
The story is at times funny, at times heartbreaking but also touching and sweet. The complex and imperfect characters make it a wonderful story. Aside from the obvious plot, it’s also a story on how our experiences as children, as well as our family support and love or lack thereof, mold us as adults . Sometimes making us stronger, at other times making us feel that we are not good enough or loved enough if the person that is suppose to be there for us , abandons us.
Can’t wait to read what else the author has in store for us in the next book.
I was entrusted a copy of this book by Netgalley. The opinions expressed ares solely my own.

I received an advanced reader's copy of Puppy Love by Lucy Gilmore from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I had never read anything by Lucy Gilmore before this and had no expectations either way. Happily, I did enjoy her writing style and would gladly read other novels in the future.

I'm a huge animal lover so a romance that features puppy dogs is right up my alley and I am glad that this novel didn't disappoint. From the start of the novel, the main characters, dog trainer Sophie Vasquez and firefighter Harrison Parks, are adorable. Their relationship started memorably when Harrison attempted to get a Great Dane or some more manly sort of dog for a service dog and Sophie instead gave him a tiny, fluffy Pomeranian. From there, the banter, humor, and romance just grew. Both main characters have baggage, but I thought it was realistic in how they dealt with it and went after their happily ever after.

All in all, it was an enjoyable novel to read!

Yeesh, how scary is he?

"One small coma"? And he thinks a dog will help? How powerful is this dog?

No one needs that many channels, period.

Lila is a twat. She had this!

Aw, honey, a goiter?

He's an adorable puppy owner.

I wish I could have dessert first.

Yes, your sock-sweater is amazing. Good boy!

Beer choir?

Geez, some Thanksgiving at their house.

Oh, nicely played, honey.

The wooden spoons are also annoying. The ice cream slides off!

I love them. Even the sex is funny.

Gah, poor Minerva.

Holy mackerel.

Parents of the Year. Not.

Wow, that is one brave puppy. I had no idea dogs were so smart.

I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.