Lucy Gilmore is quickly becoming my go-to author for contemporary romance that has a comic tone to it. Puppy Christmas is the second in the Forever Home Series that feature the sisters who own and run Puppy Promise. Besides the wonderfully engaging sisters there is always a dog who is as much a main character as the human counterparts.

I fell in love with Jeeves about the time that six-year-old Emily did, while also falling for her too. I could identify with Lila Vasquez. While I had never been called “the fun sponge” (What an expression!) I have been told I am too serious. Lila is fun so I loved her transformation when she is with Emily and Ford. Ford, well it is awesome that Lila saw deep inside of him because I would have pegged him as shallow. The author did an amazing job at bring his depth out through the eyes of Lila.

Loved the banter between Lila and Ford, will never trust anyone with too white teeth and hope that all in real life have service dogs and trainers like the ones in these books. Captivating, humorous, and oh so romantic even with a six-year-old almost always nearby.

I can highly recommend this book to anyone who needs a smile, not just at Christmas but any old day of the year.

An ARC of the book was given to me by the publisher through Net Galley which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

OMG!! Such a cute story. I just couldn't put it down.

Also, I am so happy the author wrote in Cockapoo puppy in the book.


I do highly recommend this.

I give this 4 out of 5.

You can now purchase this sweet and cute story online at amazon.com and in bookstores near you.

This was a cute/sweet story. I'm not usually one for such a tame story, but this one was pretty good even to me.
His name is Ford Ford.
No, I didn't mess that up.... his first and last name are one and the same.
Funny, right?
He's a single father to a 6 years old girl who gets a dog to help her hear. Or to be her ears when she cannot hear. Lila is the woman who has trained the dog and is continuing to train the dog with his daughter.
Slowly, these two get a HEA. :)

Wow, just Wow. This was an amazing story. It was a wonderfully well written Christmas romance with amazing characters. The story flowed seamlessly in this character driven storyline. Ford and Lila were endearing characters and I loved Emily and Jeeves. Is is not only a Christmas romance, it is a story about love, hope family and friends. If you like Christmas Romances or well written romances or stories about adorable puppies, or just amazing stories in general, then you will love this book. If you only have time to read one Christmas romance book this year, I would highly recommend this one. I have read many and this is the best one yet.

I loved this book so much! Puppy Christmas is the second in a series about three sisters running a service dog training company. We met Lila in the first book.

If I was asked to use one word to describe Lila based off the first book alone I would use the word "rigid". After reading this one I can tell you she is so much more than that! I thought she was the perfect heroine. I also loved Ford. I am a sucker for single dad romances and this one was perfect. I loved him and his daughter, Emily. This was a fun and funny book and perfect for the holidays. Definitely pick this one up!

An absolutely delightful romance! I loved Ford and his self-deprecating, flirty style. Lila is great with her wanting to maintain professionalism but can't resist Ford. Puppy therapy sounds wonderful! And Emily adds another dimension that brings them all together. Enjoyed laughing at Ford's jokes. Appreciated the hard work of a single parent and how you have to learn to accept help. Heartwarming, uplifting story.

Dogs and hot men...what more could a book need?! And why am I reading a holiday book in September?!

This is the second in a series about 3 sisters that run a dog training facility. In this one, we meet Lila who is a bit hard around the edges but has a good heart. Enter Ford Ford (honestly that is his name, what were his parents thinking?!) and his daughter Emily that has been granted a service dog for her hearing disability. Emily thinks that Lila is a princess in her pink dress and sometimes with 6 year olds it is best to engage a little fantasy. The story winds its way around this little group with strong supporting characters that round out the story nicely.

This story had me laughing throughout at the witty banter between Ford and Leila, the fact that he spelled dirty words so Emily wouldn't know what he was saying, and the way that they both learned how to be more open and honest helped bring them closer together. And of course, Jeeves, the service dog Emily chooses from Lila's company.

This book also teaches the reader a little bit about a hearing disorder and I liked how Emily still had to lip read and use sign language to communicate despite cochlear implants.

I enjoyed this book and can't wait to read the last one about the last sister.

I could use a long list of adjective to define this book: engrossing, entertaining, emotionally charged, wickedly funny, page turner, heartwarming.
Any of these adjectives applies to this novel which is one the best and most entertaining romance I read this year.
You cannot help rooting for the fleshed out characters and you cannot help laughing or being moved.
I read it in one setting and I was sad when it was over.
Now I'm looking forward to reading the next instalment.
Ms Gilmore can surely write a book that keep your attention and will make you laugh e move nearly to tears.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

It does not get any sweeter, cuter and more fun than this!! Lila is one of three sisters who absolutely adore each other. Together they run a business raising and training service animals and matching them with their forever humans. Lila is the go to sister. The reliable, steady one who everyone has always relied on. It makes her seem uptight and staid, but it really isn’t who she wants to be and she is sick and tired of being treated as if who she is is not enough and yet has no idea how to change perceptions. She wants nothing more than to be lighthearted and fun loving and yet has yet to figure out how to let go and just have fun. Enter Ford and his deliciously adorable daughter Emily. Ford is trying to be all that Emily needs. Being a single parent is nearly impossible on the best of days, Having to navigate all that goes along with all of the extra requirements for her is almost beyond comprehension. Yet Ford has done everything to create the best life he can for her even putting up with the women all around him who are always trying to “help” him with his “poor Emily” when what they really want is to impress him and insinuate themselves into his life. Emily is adorable, sweet and like most kids just wants to be able to do what everyone is doing and have friends, real friends and not just the ones that are forced to hang out with her because their moms want her dad. Just because she is almost deaf doesn’t meant she cannot hear what is going on all around her! Its a wonderful interesting cast of characters. Some are truly there to help, some have their own agendas (Lilas ex needs lots and lots of serious therapy, a serious kick in the butt (figurative not literal) and to somehow learn that just because he is a Dr does not make him better than everyone else in the room.
Oh and the puppies, all of the puppies!!! A light easy really fun read. Definitely one to go on your to be read list!!

You do not need to have read the first in the series for this book to be a wonderful read, but you should as it is adorable!

This book was SO GOOD!
Seriously, I was a little wary at first, only because of the Christmas theming/title...hey, it's ONLY SEPTEMBER; I wasn't sure I was ready for a "holiday" read yet...but once things got started, I was SO GLAD Christmas came early.

Lila is a CHAMPION, and I mean that in the BEST ways possible. She's had a hard time of things, and sometimes she gave those hard times to herself by taking on so much all by her lonesome, but she's SO on point, can handle SO much, and is unbelievably better at SO many things in life AND love that she doesn't even understand. The moment we met her in her moment of feeling lost in a crowded room (think wearing a not-typical outfit of pink ballroom gown style tulle - but honestly, it sounds SO pretty!), see her try to escape elegantly only to be ensnared by the tears and sniffles of a 6 year old, watch her pretend to be a princess all for the sake of that same said child, and fall unexpectedly under the spell of her very own potential Prince Charming (this time without the abnormally white teeth)...I...was...sold. The self reflection she experiences, the shame filled hurts she shares, the heart she reveals to the right audience (finally!), and the love that is shared with her tenfold, were enough to make this reader's heart toasty warm...and we haven't even talked about Ford! *sigh*

Ford Ford...yes, that's his name, not a typo...is the complete package; he just doesn't know it...which by the way, is totally endearing! He's got the looks, the brains, the smarts, and the HEART to puddle any woman's inhibitions at her feet, but guess what? He uses his "powers" for GOOD...well, mostly. Okay, so he flirts A LOT, but it's good natured and reciprocated fun, not over the top, back-the-heck-off-mister kind of stuff...and he's totally dedicated to the "little lady" in his life. He doesn't pull out the "big guns" until a certain Vasquez sister knocks him off his feet, and even then between misunderstandings, miscommunications, and curious conversations about tater tots (LMAO!), it doesn't hit its mark for quite some time. When it does though...ZING! Ahem, let's just chalk this one up to adult audiences for a scene or two. Anywho...

Aside from our leading lady and leading man, we've got a smaller duo that take center stage...Emily and Jeeves! Okay, so Emily is the DARLING little girl that holds Ford's heart in her hands, and Jeeves is her new service pup in training, who actually has three part name that ends in "the third" (much like one of my own pups!) that is much bigger than his own growing furry body, but he wears it well. The way Emily carries her little self, takes on the big girl responsibilities that come with not only owning a pet, but TRAINING her very own service pupper, and tackles the big people problems she sees coming (a little naughty, but so cute!), she's not easy to forget. Being a pupper parent myself, Jeeves was a furry little gem not to get lost in the mix. It was great to see him conquer the obstacles stacked before him and become an intricate part of this little family.

All in all, a FABULOUS read that will have you gladly unburying the holiday decorations a few months early! Whether you've read the first book in the series or not, this one totally stands on its own two (or is it four?) feet...although, I can't say that I won't be seeking out the first one because yeah...I totally will be.

This is the second book by Lucy Gilmore and even more delightful than the first. When I received an invitation from the publisher, via Net-Galley, to read and review Ms. Gilmore’s second novel in her Forever Home series, I eagerly accepted. My opinions are my own and are not influenced in any way.

Puppy Christmas is a fast-paced romance with lots of laugh-out-loud moments. The characters are engaging, and the plot is unique. The bantering between the hero and heroine is natural and delightful. Ms. Gilmore certainly tells an amusing, yet heartfelt story, and her writing is emotionally-charged.

Lila Vasquez is an endearing heroine with a little bit of a quirky personality. Her love for her work comes through loud and clear and is her only focus when she meets Ford. From the first scene, I fell in love with her. Her willingness to help a little girl with a disability and pretend she’s a princess when that’s the last thing Lila wants, stole my heart. That took her way out of her comfort zone. Her shy manner and insecurities with Ford endeared her to me as well.

Ford Ford––and yes, the hero’s name is Ford Ford––is a geeky, yet loveable hero. His strong desire to do right by his daughter is so admirable. He’s sacrificed everything for his six-year-old. His easy, flirty banter covers up his feelings of inadequacy. He has his own insecurities since his wife walked out on him and their disabled daughter when Emily was only a few months old. I truly enjoyed his amorous ways of wooing Lila.

The romance between Lila and Ford is more sexual than I initially expected. The passion ignites fairly quickly and burns hot. It’s playful and fun. I found Ford’s need to spell out curse words, so his daughter would not repeat them adorable, and it added to my enjoyment of this story.

If you’re looking for a romance that will put a smile on your face and have you chuckling as you read, while still managing to touch on plenty of deep emotion, then you will love Puppy Christmas. I can’t wait to read the next book in this delightfully funny series. Happy reading!

Sunny, warm, touching and sweet – you can pick any of these three words to describe Puppy Christmas, the second book in Lucy Gilmore’s series about a sisterhood of service dog trainers.  A good story that combines a light heart with reasonable emotional heft, it’s a darned good romance novel.

Lila Vasquez would do anything for her younger sisters – even wear a bubblegum-pink ballgown to a fundraiser for Spokane’s hearing services community. Since she’s representing an important cause herself - Puppy Promises, their service dog training group - most humiliations can be weathered.  But, naturally, as she sheds glitter across the ballroom floor, she manages to meet with disaster in the form of her ex-boyfriend, handsome and still sporting a Pepsodent smile.  While totally-not-hiding beside a potted plant, she meets a lost little girl named Emily and returns her to her very handsome father – and suddenly the ex is nothing more than a memory.

Ford Ford (yes, really – even Lila does a double-take, and he makes fun of his own name) is a handsome single dad who’s instantly smitten by Lila’s lovely face, but is just as happy with how effortlessly Lila draws his hearing-impaired daughter out of her shell. They share a dance together, and there’s definitely magic in the air – but Lila thinks it’s a brief moment of joy in an otherwise awkward evening.  When Emily wins a service dog and six months of training from Puppy Promises, Lila finds herself playing fairy princess for Emily as she teaches the girl how to handle her cockapoo.  That means sparkly pink and professionalism, patience – and pretending she doesn’t feel the heat building between herself and Ford.

Ford doesn’t mind that Lila has swept into his life with edicts about raising dogs clutched in hand – after all, the service dog draws his daughter out of her shell in ways she never has been before.  And hey, Lila’s sweet and hot.  She even laughs at his (constant) jokes – and teaches him to take the world a little more seriously as he urges her to let her hair down.  But with Emily playing matchmaker – and Lila’s ex trying to win her back – is their burgeoning romance real?

I liked Puppy Christmas. I liked slightly cranky, very human Lila and I loved jocular, slightly harried Ford. I loved fluffy, feisty Jeeves von Hinklebottom The Third, named by Emily against Ford and Lila’s advice. I even liked Emily, who was written realistically as a young child, messy, unpredictable and imperfect, though sometimes a bit saccharine.

The romance between Lila and Ford has spice and a sense of humor, and it wends realistically from trust, flirtation and friendship to deeper bonding.  I also enjoyed Lila’s bond with her two sisters and her mother, and how they help, support and irritate one another in a totally realistic manner.

The book’s portrayal of disability is, to the best of my knowledge, well researched, informative and respectful. Emily has Pendred Syndrome – a degenerative hearing loss combined with thyroid issues that have to be carefully monitored.  She combines a cochlear implant with lip reading and sign language to navigate the world around her, and her service dog will help with her occasional bouts of dizziness as well as helping her with sounds that are beyond both her visual ability to sound them out and her hearing range.

The book’s dog antics are well-written, and Jeeves von Hinklebottom feels like a real dog, and not like a plot device.

Puppy Christmas is a beautiful, sweet romance that’s a winning way to open your holiday season, and is a near-perfect gift for the cozy romance lover in your life.

Buy it at: Amazon/Apple Books/Barnes & Noble/Kobo
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I loved book one in the series and couldn’t wait for this one.
The series centers around three sisters who own Puppy Promise, a service training school . They match the dogs with those in need .
This time the story belongs to the oldest sister, Lila Vazquez. She’s the organizer, the take charge and the giver of the group. Sometimes to her own detriment making some think that she is not affected by anything, and is cold and unfeeling. When in reality, it’s just the opposite.
The service dog is going to a child with a hearing impediment, whose single Dad, Ford, will do anything for his sweet daughter Emily.
This vulnerable trio will touch your hearts. This story, with a well develop plot and characters that are perfect in their imperfections, is at times heartbreaking , at others funny , as well as touching and heartwarming.
Another winner in this series.
I was entrusted a copy of this book by Netgalley and Sourcebooks. The opinions expressed are solely my own.

Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Lila Vasquez and her sisters run Puppy Promise, a service puppy training school. Lila has always done what she needs to in order to get the job done, so when she encounters a client who has a big interest in princesses, she dons the fluffiest pink princess gown she can find. Ford has always made his daughter his focus and his life revolves around Emily. When he meets Lila, the attraction is immediate and he realizes she is everything he's ever wanted. Lila is tasked with training a new puppy to be Emily's service dog. The three of them get along great and the attraction between the two grows as well as the relationship between Emily and Lila. Ford has been offered a new job opportunity and he needs to decide what he wants to do - keep what he has going or move on.

This book was super sweet. I am a sucker for stories involving dogs and this one was even better with Jeeves being a service puppy! The story was predictable at times, but that did not detract from the book for me. I love a simple and sweet romance. After the first few chapters, I flew through this book. I need to go back and read the first in the series and I can't wait for the third!

Puppy Christmas is the second book in Lucy Gilmore’s Forever Home series, but don’t be dissuaded if you haven’t read book one, as this can definitely be read as a standalone story. There are many facets to this story; the serious theme that surrounds why the sisters have initiated this training program, and the fun and outrageous part that revolves around working with pups. Second chance romances are my kryptonite, and this one is no exception. I loved the characters, the storyline and the way I felt as I turned the last page. I’m so very excited to read what comes next!

I’m always apprehensive when it comes to reading holidays books. I find that they often have the cheesy Hallmark-like storylines with unrealistic, forced dialogue that drives me crazy.

I was pleasantly surprised, though, that this was not the case with Puppy Christmas. This is the first book I’ve read by Lucy Gillmore and I am really impressed! Her characters were fun-loving, witty, and relatable. Lila, Ford, and Emily...I loved them all! The dialogue was engaging and flowed so well that I couldn’t put the book down. Plus, puppies are always an added bonus in my opinion.

I do have to point out that this didn’t feel like an overly Christmas-themed story, but considering I read it in September, I was all right with that.

Highly recommend!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2960221279

What could be more endearing than a romance that centers around a single-father who is doing all he can for his little girl, an adorable child with a degenerative hearing problem, who is scheduled to get a service puppy to help her out. They meet Lila, the puppy-trainer, at the reception to announce that Emily will be winning a puppy. Due to a dressing mistake, Emily mistakes Lila’s poofy pink dress for a princess gown.

Lila plays along and wins both Emily and her father’s hearts that first night. Ford, the dad, is a charming fellow who has given up everything so that he can work from home and be there for his little girl. He will win your heart just as Emily and Jeeves the puppy will.

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.

If you like Hallmark Christmas movies, Puppy Christmas is even better because, well, puppies! It's an adorable, heartwarming read.

Many thanks to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Sometimes readers need a book with heart and puppies and single fathers and princesses who need a mommy. And putting all of those things together in a Christmas gift makes it even better. This book isn't fabulous literature, thank goodness. This novel is perfectly predictable and funny and heart-warming, and cute and a fun read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. This book was just what I needed.

This is a super cute, funny Christmas romance. There is a single father with an adorable daughter, a heroine with a tough exterior but a gooey center and a loyal service dog. This series is so good. If any of this sounds like your catnip, you won’t regret picking it up.