This a classic tale of grump meets sunshine with two adorable Dalmatians. Throw in three meddling octogenarians, two overprotective brothers, and a small town beach setting for the perfect recipe for a budding romance. There’s also a local rivalry between the fire and police department with the annual softball tournament that leads to a couple of hilarious moments between Sam and Violet.

This was a quick, sweet read with very little steam (a few kissing scenes in all). I grew up watching the classic 101 Dalmatians and loved this take on it! The dogs are my favorite characters and are opposites just like their owners. They can be quiet meddlesome as well, forcing their owners into precarious situations.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I want to fist say thank you to the author and NetGalley for giving me the eARC. Ok este libro fue tan cute y yo Adoro a los perros así que eso le dio muchos puntos. Este libro es un romcom super cute y me hizo el corazón feliz literalmente la historia se siente un poco predecible pero eso no le quita el encanto. Me gusto mucho la forma de escribir la autora y me gustaría mucho leer mas libros de Ella en el futuro

This book was low on steam and angst but high on laughs. It was an absolute joy to read! When Sam Nash moves into Violet March’s world with the second Dalmatian in Turtle Bay, chaos is quick to follow!

This rivals-to-lovers story is as sweet as honey. It’s a quick, light-hearted, clean read. I really liked it. I mean it’s a firefighter meets police chiefs daughter with an epic weeks long softball tournament between the two departments. It’s got cute dogs and sweet, meddling old ladies. And CUPCAKES. I am such a sucker for a heroine who bakes. 🧁

Thanks to Sourcebooks and NetGalley for the earc in exchange for an honest review! This book is out September 21st!

A Spot of Trouble was so much fun to read! From the small town vibes and rivalries to the main characters going from enemies to in love, I enjoyed every moment of this book!

Violet is carefree and spontaneous, while Sam is serious and a rule-follower. It was so much fun to see the sparks (both the figurative and the literal ones, haha) between them as they fell in love! The rivalries in the town were a little over the top, but they were definitely entertaining! I also really loved Cinder and Sparkles, the Dalmatians, as well as the trio of elderly women who caused trouble but who also had Violet’s back. I laughed so much while I was reading this book, and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys clean rom-coms!

5/5 stars!

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

A Spot of Trouble is a fun Romantic Comedy. Violet Marsh owns the only Dalmatian in her small town. Violet and her dog are very well known in the town. Violet is a fun person that lets her dog behave however he wants with no real training. Sam Nash is a fireman that has recently moved into town with his Dalmatian dog, Cinder. Cinder is a highly trained fire safety dog. While Violet is walking outside she sees a Sam out with his dog, Cinder. She immediately starts accusing him of stealing her dog. All of the other townspeople around also think she is right about him stealing her dog. After the police become involved, he finally convinces him that it is his dog. When the two dogs are finally together, everyone agrees that the dogs are identical except for their behavior. Violet and Sam got off to a bad start but there was definitely an attraction between them. The town had a strong competition between the fire department and the police department. Violet's father and brother were both policeman so this caused a problem as Sam worked for the fire department. This is a fun book about a fun small town where everyone got involved in the lives of all residents. I recommend this book.

I loved the premise of this book, especially that dogs are in here as well, however, the story itself between Violet and Sam is not that interesting. Everything that happened between them and around them is full of cliches and it is distracting and annoying to read for every chapter. Violet is also an annoying character and I can't sympathize with her because of her being kind of a spoiled brat. The only thing that I loved in this book is the dogs, especially Sprinkles and Cinder. The rest are either just meh or straight-up annoying.

Violet March and Sam Nash got off on the wrong foot. After Violet accused Sam of stealing her dog, only to find out that he had the same dog as her. It only got worse when she finds out he is on the fire department, and was a ex-baseball player. Usually that wasn't a big deal, but in Turtle Beach the PD vs FD softball tournament is everything! And the PD had one the past two years. Unfortunately Violet and Sam cannot stay away from each other, partially due to their dalmatians Sprinkles and Cinder and the elders at the senior center dubbed "Charlies Angels." While the sexual tension is thick and everyone see's it Violet and Sam are too hard headed to admit their feelings, thinking the crush will pass. But will it? Or will this puppy love turn into forever love?

Put dogs in a romance and I'll enjoy it! It was a little predictable, but I still loved it. This was a classic enemies to lovers trope. Part Romeo and Juliette meets 101 Dalmatians and a little splash of The Parent Trap. I felt like the rivalry between the PD vs the FD, while cute, was a little over done. We get it you are rivals! And the same with "the only Dalmatian in town" like it's so surprising to see a very common dog breed. IDK why, I knew they were Dalmatians, but for some reason I kept picturing them as poodles LOL. Either way, I devoured this book. It was a quick and enjoyable read!

Thank you for an advanced copy of A Spot of Trouble by Teri Wilson in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Genre: Contemporary Romance
Pub Date: September 7, 2021
Star Rating: 3 stars

A Spot of Trouble was a fun, simple romance with an enemies to lovers trope. I thought the book was fun and flirty, and I love anything that includes a dog. The plot of this book leans heavily on how Roger and Anita meet in the 101 Dalmatians Disney cartoon, with some exceptions.

I liked the two main characters, and I thought they were interesting. Both had a backstory of loss, and I liked that the backstory was unveiled slowly. I also enjoyed the connection between the two main characters as it grew and developed; it was an instant attraction, but it was not an instant love. The love between the two was gradual, and I believed in their connection.

That being said, I thought the connection at the end was somewhat rushed. The male MC went from liking the female MC to calling her "love" all the time; it just seemed forced at points. I also thought the plot dragged a bit in a lot of places, and I would have enjoyed more interaction between the two MCs and less interaction between the female MC and her surrogate mothers.

While this was a fun romance, it doesn't really stand out from the crowd of other romances I've read over the summer. I think people who enjoy closed door romances will like it, but I like a little more meat on my romances...and this one falls just a bit short. I almost rated the book two stars until the twist at the end, and I thought it was a really cute way to hammer home a point about the dogs and their owners (no spoilers). That twist bumped me up to three stars!

If you like simple, sweet little romances, you will probably enjoy A Spot of Trouble.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.

This book was cute. I think that is the best thing that can be said about it - it was a very cute book. It has dogs, cupcakes, and a very clear romantic couple that the only obstacles between them are themselves. It has meddling octogenarians and a rivalry that has very little merit other than pride. It's cute. That being said, I was able to finish the entire book in a few hours because I was able to read it very quickly, since it wasn't a very deep book either. This isn't necessarily a negative, just an observation. The huge terrible things that caused the main characters to act the way they did were just glossed over, and weren't even brought up until significantly far into the book to begin with, so really the characters had flaws but they didn't feel connected to their actions. Violet - the ingénue in this book - really grated on me. She was incredibly frustrating and I found her to be very bullheaded. She had a tendency to not want to listen to anyone and then play the "woe is me" card when she ended up in a pickle that could have been resolved if she had taken five seconds to let someone finish a sentence. Why Sam falls for her is still a bit beyond me other than it is a romance book and it is clear a HEA/HFN ending is coming. Plus they both have Dalmatians. Apparently having the same dog as someone means that you are fated to love them when you live on a tiny island. To be clear, this book is written well, and I did enjoy the few hours I read it, but it is not something I am going to be picking up again any time soon. Solidly 3/5

Such a cute book! I really enjoyed the story and the characters, The cover art is also prefect for this book! I would recommend it to anyone looking for a cute and clean romcom.

This is a very cute contemporary romance. Violet and Sam are enemies turned lovers after lots of silly misunderstandings (many including dogs). I really enjoyed the small town setting and fun side characters. This was a fast read and an enjoyable storyline, if not a bit predictable.

Thanks to Teri Wilson, Sourcebooks Casablanca, and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Turtle Beach is a one Dalmatian town. Until it’s not. Violet March takes pride in having the only Dalmatian in town and the new, hunky fire marshal, Sam Nash, and his Dalmatian will not dethrone her. So Dalmatian hijinks ensue. An arch nemesis is created. And a little wager over a softball game might go too far. But even that can’t keep Violet and Sam from falling for each other.

This is a quick, fun read. The story and pacing are good. The setting of Turtle Beach is cute and quaint. The enemies-to-lovers relationship is really fun. Especially with a little wager and the small town folks sitting back to watch the show. Not a lot of angst or annoying miscommunication that derails everything. The conflict is maybe a bit silly, but the reader doesn’t get stuck in it for too long. And the whole book is so fun-loving that the conflict didn’t feel out of character.

This book was delightful! I enjoyed it from start to finish. A cute romcom with some meddling octogenarians and Dalmatians that steal the show sometimes. Violet is the quirky, fun-loving heroine with a big heart. And Sam is the straight-laced hero that needs a little more fun in his life. And Violet brings it! Such a fun read!

If you enjoy small town romcoms with meddling characters and some dog love, then you’ll enjoy this book.

A cute rom com and dogs?! I’m all in!!!

In the cute little beach town of Turtke Beach, NC, Violet is the daughter of the local police chief and also has two very protective brothers who are also police officers!
Violet also has the only Dalmatian in the town, the sassy Sprinkles!

When the new fire Marshall arrived in town, Sam Nash, arrived with his own Dalmatian, Cinder, he’s immediately accused of stealing Sprinkles!

With the impending police vs. fire softball tournament, Violet must choose sides!

This story was a bit predictable but super cute and I really enjoy a good rom-com which this definitely was!

The idea that the town had room for only one Dalmatian was already hilarious but add to that the wild antics that Violet March & Sam Nash got themselves into when their Dalmatians crossed paths and this book was perfect. The build up of angst and longing in the two main characters coupled with their immediately antagonizing meet cute was so fun to read. The story oozes perfect small town vibes complete with a senior center and an adorably boisterous Dalmatian! This book had a dreamy soft glow about it.

Violet, longtime resident of the small town of Turtle Beach and daughter of the police fire chief is known for her Dalmatian and her baking but also for a bad breakup with a firefighter... Sam is new in town and a transplant from a big city. He needs a fresh start and brings his Dalmatian along with him to the small town of Turtle Beach where he is hired on as the new Fire Marshall... Did I mention the town's Firefighters and Police department have an epic softball rivalry?

The meet cute is one of those you can imagine in your minds eye and the chemistry and banter that it sets off give the story a great start. These two get off on the wrong foot from the very start and neither can back down from their rivalry once it gets into full swing which creates some epic hilarity and some unexpected swoony romance.

The story spanned a few weeks where the author did a great job of constantly foiling potential romance at every turn and creating excellent tension and dialogue. I'd love for this to become a series because I think that there is so much great material to work with in the cast of characters that we met. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a sweet, charming romance.

Violet and Sam are opposites and they become enemies when Sam is new in town. Sam is a fireman and Violet is a baker who owns a cupcake shop. They both have Dalmatians who look exactly the same. One day when Sam is walking his dog, Cinder on the beach, Violet accuses him of kidnapping her dog, Sprinkles. She doesn't listen to what Sam is saying and immediately calls the police (who are also her brothers).
Turtle Beach has some feud going on between the Fire department and the Police department, therefore, naturally Violet and Sam are enemies too.
This book wasn't exactly what I had expected. I expected a cute enemies to lovers romcom with small town rustic vibes. However, it was nothing like that.
Violet is 28 but acts exactly like an 8 year old. She's extremely immature and annoying which for some reason, the entire town finds "cute" and that's why she's the town's "sweetheart". Everyone even treats her as a child.
Sam is a more sensible and responsible person, his dog Cinder being the same. However, soon Sam too starts finding the immature and annoying behaviour of Violet attractive too.
The description of the book quite wrong when it mentions "a grumpy firefighter" and "a bubbly yoga teacher". Because when I read the book, I found that all Sam was trying to do was make friends with Violet despite the stupid feud and the fact she tried to humiliate him for no reason. Sam was a responsible fireman and made sure of everyone's safety, whereas, Violet didn't at all understand the meaning of the "safety code". She wasn't ready to accept that she was breaking laws because of her ego. Moreover, when Sam refused to allow Cinder to be petted because she was a working dog, she simply gave everyone tshirts that said #freeCinder because she simply assumed that Sam was treating her like a slave. What part of "working dog" does she not get? She crosses limits every time and Sam starts finding it attractive and feels alive. Honestly, I wouldn't have been surprised if Violet pushed Sam under a bus and then too he would have said that he feels "alive".
The romance between the two main characters felt very rushed in the end. When the book started, I felt like every person on the island was insane except for Sam and Cinder. By the time I reached the second half of the book, I realised that Sam is now going insane too and the only sane creature left if Cinder. The entire island seemed insane to be because "playing bingo" to them was more important rather than being safe. Making the cupcakes "prettier" was more important to Violet rather than ensuring the safety of all the oldies. And Sam had to apologise for "doing his job" and "ensuring people's safety"?? I felt really sorry for him.
I think I would have liked the book more if the characters (especially Violet and her 3 Charlie's angels) were less annoying and more mature, maybe acted a little bit their age.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was an adorable and fluffy romance that scratched an itch in me that I loved. It was a fun romance about Sam and Violet who meet after Violet accused him of dog napping her dog (he didnt). A spot of trouble was well written and paced with loveable if not sometimes annoying characters. I enjoyed my time with this book and I hope others do too. Thank you for the E-ARC netgalley and sourcebooks Casablanca!!

4.5 ⭐️

What a wonderfully adorable read!
I really loved the small town setting, how everyone was in everyone’s business and the gossip travelled faster than lightning. It was so much fun getting to know all these people, especially our MC, Violet’s three old friends, Ethel, Mavis and Opal. There’s just something endearing about the way the four of them cared about each other and I also liked Charlie’s Angel’s (Ethel, Mavis, Opal) meddling, matchmaking antics when it came to Violet and Sam.

Violet descriptions of the various cupcakes she made had my mouth watering! And the names she gave them? Hilarious! She had such a bubbly, sunshine-like personality, seeing good in everyone and everything that I instantly loved her!

Sam was definitely opposite of her as he was so grumpy, but in an adorable sort of way. The way he got riled up over everything Violet did was so funny to read!

Their romance was definitely proper opposites attract, enemies to lovers! I really enjoyed the hilarious banter between Sam and Violet! It was truly enemies to lovers done right and I was so happy about that!

The pun intended humor was another thing I absolutely LOVED! It had me snort-laughing so many times. There were some pretty original scenes, both romantic and humorous that added to the story and made it even more enjoyable! I didn’t see them coming at all!

Let’s not forget about the adorable dogs that made this story even more special and cute! Both Violet and Sam’s dalmatians, Sprinkles and Cinder were such a joy to read about! I loved how different they both were from each other, kind of portraying the personality of their owners.
It was the first time I had read of firefighter dog and all those cute tricks that she did made me grin so wide!
I’m a cat person through and through but I couldn’t deny the cuteness of these two dalmatians and they completely won me over!

The whole softball championship and the rivalry between the Policemen and Firefighters was so amusing and the way the townspeople took it so seriously was hilarious. It was a nice addition to the story!

I will definitely recommend this book to all the dog lovers (or in general, animal lovers) out there! It was such a fun, cutesy rom-com and the two dalmatians will definitely win your heart!

A huge thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the advance reviewers copy!

SPOILERS!!
{Dropping 0.5 stars because I wanted to know more about Violet’s mom, it felt unfinished. Also, the ending was kind of abrupt in my opinion and I was hoping for a bit more from it.}

For someone who loves dogs, this would be a fun cute and light read. The romance is done well. The dogs also have a good role to play! Even the cover is so gorgeous!

The only issue I had with this was the conflict.

I constantly felt that there was something missing. And I think it's gotta do with what the stakes were?

This was predictable. And I have read a lot of predictable stuff before! However, this was one of those predictable where you get bored. And I actually was bored at times. I felt that had the characters got some more conflicts then it would have been better(?)

But, overall, this was an okay read! Going with 3 stars!

She's the daughter of the chief of police. He's the new fire marshal in town. She teaches yoga and bakes cupcakes. He teaches fire safety and gives out tickets for violations like they're candy. The only thing they have in common? Their love for Dalmatians.

Violet March and Sam Nash do not get off on the right foot. Kind of hard to do when Violet accuses Sam of dognapping her beloved Sprinkles. After all, there's only one Dalmatian in town and everyone knows it's hers. Surely the new guy at the fire department wouldn't be so stupid as to dognap Sprinkles, even in the lead-up to the big softball tournament between the police and fire departments. Everyone knows Violet's off-limits. Imagine Violet's surprise when she--and everyone else in town--starts seeing double the spots, because, as it turns out, Sam is the proud owner and handler of Cinder, his partner and fire safety co-teacher.

Will opposites attract? Is there room for two Dalmatians in this small North Carolina beach town? Can Violet's senior center besties stop meddling for five minutes? And when Violet and Sam strike a wager revolving around the outcome of the softball tournament, who will come out as the top dog?

Wilson's brilliant and fun rom-com is a perfect summer read--or, really, any time of the year read. Readers will adore not only Violet and Sam, and the polar opposite Sprinkles and Cinder, but the entire cast of wild characters and the shenanigans that they get up to!

3.5 stars. A fun, fluffy read about 2 dog owners who are stubborn, a pack of meddling retirees, a baker slash yoga instructor and her enemies to lovers other half, a fire marshal.

While I enjoyed Sam and the cast of yoga doing retirees, the main character, Violet, grated on me a big. She can best be summed up as sweet…but kinda stupid. If she hadn’t been written as immature as she was in many points of the story, I think I would have enjoyed it a bit more.

Despite that, this is the very definition of an easy breezy beach read.