Cover Image: Cold Nose, Warm Heart

Cold Nose, Warm Heart

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Member Reviews

This was a very enjoyable story by debut author Mara Wells. The first thing that drew me in was this story was the dog aspect. I love romances that have fur babies as a character. In this instance it was adorable LouLou. LouLou's owner Riley is a manager of an old building full of quirky characters including her grams. She meets Caleb whose job is too figure out what to do with the falling apart building his grandfather owns. Riley and Caleb are on opposing sides but they are drawn to each other. I enjoyed getting to know all the characters and hope that Caleb brothers Lance and Knox find their HEA in their own books.

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This is a well written book that holds your attention. It's a fun story and a wonderful start to a new series. If you like a story with sweet cute dogs and romance, you will love this book. I look forward to reading the next book in the series. Thank you SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca via NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

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I enjoyed this book about dogs and people. Riley works at the Rundown senor apartment building she believes is owned by her grandmother. Caleb is one of three the grandsons of Donavan who sends him to turn the building into luxury condos. But the vacant lot is used by all the people as a dog park and they will not go down with out a fight.
This is a story with cute dogs and interesting characters. The writing is smooth, and the story ends with satisfying conclusions. Thank you, Net Galley, for an advanced copy for an honest review.

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I did not know that about poodles.

Pate is yummy.

Who actually wants to wear a blazer?

Nice family he's got.

Her grandma should be an actress.

You go, Commissioner Jackson!

Classy guy, his dad.

Huh. She's nice enough to take the jerk's stuff to the dumpster instead of burning it.

Aww, that was awkward but cute.

I'm confused by the ending.

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Caleb runs right up against Riley and her best friend LouLou the poodle. Even though you know how this has to end it is fun watching the two try to resist and then give in to attrition. Caleb is an OK guy who is trying to overcome his family's background. Riley is a hard working woman who is taking care of everyone. She has to learn to accept help. A really fun story with some wonderful dogs as side characters.

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Cold Nose, Warm Heart is a sweet story about new beginnings and dogs. Caleb Donovan’s grandfather owns a rundown apartment building housing senior citizens, that he wants his three grandsons to work together on renovating. Riley manages the building that she always believed belonged to her grandmother, who it turns out used to be married to the elder Donovan. Attached to the apartment complex is a vacant lot that the neighborhood uses as a dog park. The Donovans’ plan to make it a parking lot. No way will the neighborhood dog owners let this happen without a fight! It’s too bad that Caleb and Riley are attracted to each other because neither one wants to betray family. The author has created a group of interesting relatable characters, human and canine, that will warm readers’ hearts and bring smiles and chuckles. I voluntarily reviewed an advance copy of this book from NetGalley.

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Very cute and sweet! As one characters wants to build new, the other wants to save what's there...compromise is a great thing if they can get past the passion they have ;) And so many puppies! LOL

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A great read, the story of Caleb and Riley. When they meet there is an instant attraction, but when they find out who each other really are, do they have a chance at being together?

I loved the characters, especially Grams and LouLou!

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Tasked by his grandfather with taking an older building called the Dorothy and converting it into money-making condos, Caleb comes up against a force called Riley and it was game on! Caleb came from money but when his dad lost everything, including the family business, Caleb lost his investments as well and had to learn to pinch pennies. He has a better grasp of living in the real world, just not so much when it comes to the family business expectations. He still follows family dictates instead of trusting his own instincts. He’s full of doubt and hesitation, constantly questioning his decisions on what is the right thing to do. Alpha he was not, however, he was sweet, a little misguided, and charming, but what I enjoyed most about him was how much he grew into his own.

Riley is colorful and lively, yet sort of floating through life. After losing her job as hotel assistant, she takes over as building manger to the Dorothy where she spent her childhood and where her grandmother still lives. She’s learned to do repairs with DIY tutorials and has come to love the tenants and their furbabies in the time she’s lived there, even getting a pet of her own. Riley is resourceful and loyal, but lacks confidence in really going after what she wants. Possibly losing the her home spurs her in to action, and with the help of her poodle Lou Lou and the small community of loyal tenants, Riley has to learn how valuable she really is.

This book turned out to be a really cute read! Caleb and Riley were frenemies on a journey of self discovery, learning what they wanted versus really needed to be satisfied. The true magic of this book, however, revolved around precious, precocious fur babies and the neighborhood dog park! The effort Caleb and Riley put in was heartwarming and sometimes comical, but it also kept their romance on slow burn, giving each other time to learn one another. The colorful cast living in Dorothy also provided plenty of their own senior-minded amusement, especially with their matchmaking skills. Overall, I think this was a good start to what appears to be a new series.

I received an advance reader copy from Netgalley/Sourcebooks and this is my honest review.

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Oh how I loved this book...such a good story with wonderfully mad characters and adorable dogs! I really loved Riley, and how she supports everyone else, and sometimes neglects herself in the process. Caleb was a good match for her, he is trying to restore the family name after a financial scandal by buying over the building Riley and her gran stays in, but finds himself falling big for the strange group that stay there. I’m so glad it’s the first in a series as there was some unsolved mysteries left unanswered, and I can’t wait to read about these characters again.

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