Tess has grown up learning that she can not rely on anyone. She's a hard working woman who is doing everything she can to make it in this world. Holding down three jobs and taking online college courses leaves no time for romance. Enter a man and his dog. How could she possibly keep her heart closed to either of them?
Inara Scott is a new author for me and I think this could be the start of a long and satisfying relationship!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC in return for an honest review.

Heartbreaker by Inara Scott a five-star read that will surprise you. I have to be honest and I nearly gave this a four-star or lower rating, but the ending pulled it round for me and pulled it up to a five. I loved the Main characters Tess Paplion and Mason Coleman they were great together and the secondary characters of the bad angels and Cecilia (I hope we hear more from her in the future as she was someone you know has a story begging to come out) gave a great story lines, the dogs Astro and Wick definitely played their parts making it overall a very good, heartfelt and compelling read but at times it did drag a little and I was like how much more time till its over, then a couple of pages later I could wait to turn the page. Give this a go if you like your romance slow burning, most definitely give this a go if you like dogs, in fact give this a go if you like a good romantic story.

Story-line

To be honest, it wasn't the most original story. I don't mind reading stories that aren't original, don't mind it at all, if characters and the romance are well written down. This was the case in this book. Somehow it didn't wow me as much overall, not in the way I was hoping for beforehand, but I still liked reading it nonetheless.

Remark: There's the fact that there's a lot of miscommunication happening in this book, which is something I often experience as frustrating. This was the case in this one as well for me, from time to time. Unfortunately. I know not everyone minds this as much in a story as I do maybe, but it's a peeve of mine I guess so that's definitely a personal opinion on the matter. Don't let yourself being held back by this opinion of mine, because you may end up not feeling like this at all of course.

The characters

I really liked the set of characters in this book, both humans and the dogs.
Tess, our female lead character was quite relatable and I always like that. She's stubborn/headstrong, hard working and independent. This left me quite frustrated from time to time, when she was being a stubborn mule yet again, lol, but I also admired her for it as well. She's such a strong character! But I really liked it as well, when she opens up to Mason. She was in need of finding someone to be her anchor, aside from her best friend, and reading about this was a joy.

Then we have this male lead character, called Mason: He's such a frigging sweetheart and I loved him right from the very first page. I always like reading from dual pov's and Mason's thoughts were such a joy to read about and a great addition to the book in general. I love how willing he is to go after what he wants. I love how good of a friend he is to the other characters in the book. He's just a really good guy and I sometimes really felt sorry for him when Tess was being stubborn and kept shutting him out or not believing him when he was trying his damnest to do good by her. Yeah, Mason stole my heart and could do no wrong to me haha.

I loved the presence of the supportive characters. The friendships in this book were fun to read about and have me craving more. The dogs were fun to read about, although I sometimes felt like things were being left a bit superficial. Not enough of the dogs' character traits came to surface to my liking though. I prefer, when there's an animal present in a story, there's just more 'presence' of the animal you know? They are present physically but they aren't always Really 'present' you know? - God, I suck with words, lol.

The Romance

The chemistry and attraction between the two characters was really palpable and believable, which only adds up to a well developed romance being present. The pace of the development wasn't always to my liking though, but I'm known for being too greedy sometimes, lol. I like a well developed romance, but to be honest, sometimes it felt things dragged on a tiny bit too long, you know?

To me, the romance in the first part of the book was more enjoyable than the second part of the book. I liked the way the characters met, their chemistry and their banter. I liked how they were slowly falling in love with one another. But towards the end there were some developments that just weren't always fully to my liking, like the dragging part for example.

I really liked this romance though, overall. I like that there's friendship first for example, while they're both also trying to fight off their attraction to one another as well. In general, when there's friendship first, I think the base of the developing romance is just a tad more well developed in my opinion and that was also palpable in this romance development in my opinion.

CONCLUSION

Overall, it's definitely a story I enjoyed reading. It's definitely a book I'd recommend to other romance readers out there who like a cute, light and sexy romance.

It was fast-paced, it had likable characters, it had DOGS and what's not to love about them right?!, it had a cute romance and I really liked the writing style of this author. It was a perfect in between romance book for me that I really enjoyed reading overall. It's probably not one that I'll remember down the road but that's okay though. The most important part to me is that I enjoy a book While reading it and that's something I did with this one.

This author has left me curious and excited to read more of her work. I'd really love to read a book that's about some of the supportive characters for example, since they were so much fun to read about as well!

This one just missed the mark for me. I didn't care for either of the main characters, there was way too much introspection and not enough dialogue, too much repetition and rehashing of the same issue, and not enough of a storyline.

This was such a sweet romantic story about two people that really were not looking for love and found it in the most unlikely place. I just loved Mason he was such a sweet caring guy. Everyone thought of him as a player even his friends. They always teased him about his 4 date rule. It never use to bother him but lately it is getting under his skin. Tess was just as sweet but she had a hard life. At points in her life she did not always do the right thing. Now as an adult she has changed her life around and is trying to make something of herself. Mason and Tess meet because Mason needs someone to help him with his sisters dog which he is dog watching. From the moment they meet sparks fly. Their relationship is one misunderstanding after another. I absolutely loved this book and the characters in it. I cannot wait to see where this series goes next because honestly there are so many possibilities. Thanks Net Galley. I voluntarily reviewed this book in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars!!

I really enjoyed this book. There were times in this story that I just wanted to shake some sense into the characters.

Tess and Mason are two individuals that are extremely after of commitment.

One of them had a horrible past and they build this super tall skyscraper around their heart.

The other has a huge heart but they never give themselves enough credit.

This read reminded me of of the movie Shes all that...but I a million times better and more adult.

Tess Papion has had a hard life and knows she can only rely on herself not only did she have a mother who was continually in love and dragged her along for the ride but she made a stupid decision that left her pregnant out of school and dumped by her boyfriend at the age of sixteen but now at 26 she is doing a internet degree is working three jobs and finally getting her life in line. Mason Coleman is the exact opposite his life is silver lined he is a successful venture capitalist with a four date rule He has the face of fallen angel and definitely lives up to that tag. Now he is caring for his sisters 200lb injured mastiff "Wick" and he has no idea how to handle him. Whe he and Wick tangle (literally) with Tess and the dogs she is walking he gives her an offer she can't refuse to help him with Wick There is instant attraction between these two leading to some sass and spice between them will it develop into more you need to read Will Tess drop the chip on her shoulder will Mason start to live again it is all in the detail that you will as you progress through this fun story

Any story with a giant dog in it already has a leg up on the competition in my book! In this book, it went way beyond a meet-cute between the characters with their silly animals. This was a very emotional book - where both Tess and Mason had a lot of growing to do before they could be together.

Tess is epically poor, extremely hardworking, and fiercely independent. She refuses to take "handouts" or any form of help from anyone - even her best friend. I think the defining moment of her character happened when <spoiler> her house burns to the ground and she leaves a note for Mason stating - something came up. Say what??? Your house burning down is major.</spoiler> To describe Tess as proud, would probably be an understatement. But in order for her and Mason to fully come together, she needed to open up and accept help when it was offered freely.

Mason is the opposite of poor - but has progressively lost his confidence and seems to be feeling separate from his friends and partners. His whole life he has been repeatedly told things - and then, as a result of apathy maybe? - lived up to those very things. His friends joke about a "four date rule" and it really hurts him. He also doesn't feel like his contributions carry the same weight. Before he can be with Tess - he has to take ownership of his contributions and let go of his fears of taking a chance to be something other than what people tell him he supposed to be/do.

Overall - I think the defining quote of this book comes from Mason's friend and partner - who says - Just because they are saying that about you, doesn't mean you have to believe them.

I enjoyed the book and thought the emotions and reactions of the characters were written beautifully and in a very honest way. The easy answer would have been to let Mason come in an save the day and have Tess thank him for it. The hard way was to have each character learn more about themselves in the process.

Overall a good read - and I am hoping for at least four more books about this crew.

I voluntarily read an ARC of this book via Netgalley - but the opinions are all my own!

Really cute storyline about Mason, who "inherits" a troublesome dog and are in acute need of help from someone who actually knows anything about this monster dog - Tess to the rescue!
Tess is juggling multiple part-time jobs while finishing her college degree, but gets persuaded to dog and house sit for Mason. Actually, Mason was desperate enough to end up begging.

There is some really nice and snarky banter, like:
“Ah, thanks, I guess? But we’ve known each other for less than one minute. I usually wait at least five before I bring over my toothbrush.”

Of course they end up super attracted to each other, and since they both are kind of commitment phobic, they agree to a friends with benefits arrangement. I don't think I reveal anything by saying that, of course they end up falling in love.

It was a very sweet romance, and I had a wonderful time reading it.

Let's just start by saying, I am a sucker for an above 25 year old romance. I am also a sucker for a book drawing you in, grabbing you, and literally not letting you go. That being said, I could not put this book down. Romance novels tend to be on the shorter side, not SHORT but not as long as this one. And I loved every second.. Okay okay, there were a few moments where I thought "wtf are you doing girl, quit being sassy and rude." But those moments were far by surpassed by the good ones. The characters were great, they were relatable, the conflict was realistic and allowed you to connect to what was happening to them. I find myself becoming more and more critical (of romance novels especially,) now that I'm reading them more often. It was one of the best romances I've read in a while. Props to you Inara, I need another! Because WTF ALLI!?

3 1/2 Star Review......

Heartbreaker is a story with so much promise. I liked the plot about a guy who inherits a troublesome pet and the need to acquire the help of someone who actually knows anything about this monster of a dog.

So while the storyline was good, I felt the author could have provided more information about Tess and Mason’s relationship and provided a deeper emotional account of their connection. That said, it is a good story and I’m sure the sequel will be fun and interesting too.

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

I'm a sucker for a book that has dogs present. I will always want to see how cute it can be and the dogs here do make the book a bit more cute. They aren't mentioned as much as I would like, but they weren't needed to... anymore and it would have felt overdone, so good dog inclusion I think.

I unfortunately read this during a romance binge and this one just isn't sticking out. I think there are some good parts, for sure. Tess is independent, hard-working, and relateable. Mason is cute, loving, and willing to put in effort. The thing is this book uses one of my pet peeves: miscommunication. At times it felt more like lack of listening on the characters' parts which made it worse.
Tess has a darker past and doesn't want to trust anyone enough to have a relationship AND she doesn't want to lean on anyone. She ends up coming across as really stubborn and I wanted the characters to just sit down and have a conversation. Mason had some shining moments and there are moments that poke at other tropes and ideas that could be done for the story which his friends tell him not to do -- I loved this!! Except for then what he ended up doing anyhow!

So, while this one has cute and fresh moments, it also had characters that seemed to act certain ways in order to prolong the story. I would recommend this one to people looking for something cute and lighter, but this isn't one I'll probably remember down the road.

When the man is desperate Mason is not above begging, “no way. You are the answer to my prayers. Everyone in this building trusts you. What do you normally charge Chris? An hourly rate? I’ll double it. Triple it. And I’ve got all sorts of references you can call. I swear I’m not creepy.” Mason's compliments are quite original, “are you comparing me to a drooling mastiff?” I loved this book, I loved Mason.

This contemporary romance novel turned out to be surprisingly good. Mason convinces Tess to dog sit his sister's sick dog for a few weeks and as they spend time together at his apartment and walking the dog their attraction to each other increases. I loved that Mason respects Tess' decision to be friends and not give in to their mutual sexual attraction. This allows them time to really get to know each on a real level and takes some of the pressure off to.
Tess has a particularly painful past that inhibits her from trusting and counting on others which at times feels frustrating because I see how hard Mason tries to get her to trust him enough to stay.
On the outside they appear to come from two different worlds but their compatibility is off the charts. I enjoyed the sexual tension and watching it build until neither could resist.
Loved every minute.
Thank you Netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Tess is a professional dog walker and trainer who runs into Mason who is taking care of his sister’s badly behaved 200 pound dog. He desperately needs her services and makes her an offer she can’t refuse. Billionaire Mason is very attracted to financially struggling Tess, but he has never been interested in a relationship, and Tess has serious trust issues. Despite these issues, they become friends. Eventually, they become friends with benefits. Mason seems to realize that he is in love with Tess first, but realizes that she’s a runner and doesn’t want to scare her off. Tess eventually realizes that she loves Mason, but is convinced that he could never love her back. Fortunately, Mason is finally able to make Tess believe that he loves her, and they get their HEA. Here is to hoping that This book is the first in a series and we get to see how Mason’s buddies and Tess’s BFF fare in the love department!

I like books that involves pets and this book got me when I saw the cover.
It was an engaging and entertaining read.
I liked the style of writing and the cast of characters, both humans and pets.
The plot was entertaining and kept me hooked till the end.
Recommended!
Many thanks to Entangled Publishing and Netgalley for this ARC

Tess Papion is a busy woman on a mission, she is working three jobs, taking classes, and determined to get her life back on track. She doesn't have time for men, or the headaches they bring along with them. After seeing her mother fail time after time in the love department she has no desire to give it a try either... but she didn't plan on meeting a man quite like Mason Coleman either!

The moment they meet the sparks start flying and tensions are high, but she is determined to keep her libido in check, and keep him at bay... but unfortunately her heart has other plans!!

Between the pages of Heartbreaker you will meet a feisty heroine with a serious dislike for love, and a playboy venture capitalist that doesn't do love, but "love" doesn't seem to agree with either of them! These two love birds try to fight the sparks bouncing around between them at every turn, but they soon learn their resistance is futile... and finally give in! This charming little tale had me smiling and giggling throughout, it's lighthearted story line lifted my spirits and had my heart overflowing with joy. I highly recommend this one, it's a can't miss, feel-good romance story loaded with every necessary to leave you smiling!

I requested an advanced copy of this title from NetGalley, and I am voluntarily leaving my honest and unbiased opinion.

Couldn’t put the book down once I started!! You just can’t help but fall in love with Tess.

Dog walker was a new concept for me and it totally worked.

I’m hoping this isn’t a stand alone because we totally need to know what is going on with Noah and Cece!!

This book made me do a little happy dance. We’ve got grown-up leads with great chemistry and actual character growth, and we’re all set up for a fun sequel.

Mason Coleman, stunningly handsome San Francisco VC, is taking care of his sister’s very large, very lazy, very untrained mastiff and doesn’t have time for this. Tess Papion is a non-traditional student just barely hanging on with three jobs, one of which is being a dog walker. Mason makes Tess an offer she really can’t refuse to rope her into babysitting the high-maintenance mastiff so he can get back to work.

What really worked for me here is that Mason and Tess feel well-matched. Scott shares Lucy Parker’s gift for writing mature characters and building a story that doesn’t rely on ridiculous drama. Mason is a charm monster who is struggling with something intangible, Tess has trouble letting the people in her life help her. They’re cognizant of the power imbalance that muddies their growing attraction to one another. Most importantly, they talk about their problems.

We could quibble about a couple of the deus hiding in the machinas. I mean, thank goodness for the super-rich, am I right?

I was given an advanced copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

I received a copy of Heartbreaker by Inara Scott from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was the first novel by Inara Scott that I have read and I was very pleased to find a new author - probable new series, in fact - that I would follow for future/additional offerings!

First, a fast-moving plot with entertaining dialogue between the characters (primary characters as well as secondary). Next, the author crafted well-developed characters that you wanted to like and empathize with. Her characters are flawed (protagonist Tess had a difficult childhood and doesn't want to put trust in others or fall in love, then be let down or hurt) and make mistakes, but you root for them and want them to have a happily ever after. Third, and I can't stress enough, the banter between her characters was great. Hilarious often, at times serious, but always well crafted and never boring. Lastly, the dogs in the story - Wick and Astro - are adorable! Who doesn't like a book that includes dogs as strong secondary characters?!

Heartbreaker was a fun book to curl up by the fire on a cold winter day. I would read future novels by Inara Scott without hesitation.