I'll pretty much go for any book with a dog on the cover, and "Housebroke" did not disappoint! Hazel, who had no where to go after the end of her marriage, is currently staying in her friend's home with the numerous foster dogs that she cares for untl she can get back on her feet. The only problem is that the home is currently up for sale, so she is only able to stay there until it sells. She arrives home one day to find a strange man working in the home, and finds out that the house has sold and somehow she was not informed. Linc, the new owner, is simply planning on renovating the house to flip, and Hazel and Linc work out an arrangement where she and the dogs can remain in the home during the renovations, and she will be his personal chef while there. Hazel has issues with trust due to her previous relationship, and Linc, who happens to be much wealthier than he has let on, does as well, due to women only being interested in his wealth. Hazel and Linc must learn to navigate through their issues as they begin to fall in love, until the renovation comes to an end.

This was an adorable story, and both Hazel & Link were extremely likable characters, and it was easy to root for them to get together in the end. A little far-fetched, i.e. who lets someone with a bunch of dogs stay in their home that's on the market to sell for free? And then doesn't tell them when it sells so they can get out? But its ok- the story was cute and I adored it!

Thanks to NetGalley and the Berkley Besties program for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a cute forced proximity romance for readers who are dog lovers. The banter was fun and I think if you are looking for a light, quick read then this would be a good choice. The standout characters to me were the dogs and unfortunately the romance was just a little forgettable.

Many thanks to Berkley & Netgalley for the ARC.

Hazel is broke after her ex-husband stole all her money. Luckily, her friend let her stay in her home in Orlando, along with her menagerie of dogs that she fosters, until the house could be sold. But, her house did sell, and the friend forgot to tell Hazel, so Hazel almost clobbers Lincoln (Linc) Kennedy when he comes into the house while she is there.
Linc allows Hazel to stay in the house after he hears her sad story, and Hazel becomes his cook. Linc is a multi-millionaire, but Hazel thinks he is a house flipper. Linc doesn't want to tell her, because money makes people change.
Linc begins to fall for Hazel and her dogs, and the feeling is mutual.
This is a really cute story about one woman's fight to be independent, and the man who encourages her to follow her dreams.
I don't think the cover is great on this one - looks cartoonish.

Housebroke by Jaci Burton is an absolute wonderful read! First, I will read anything from this author. She got me back into reading with her previous series and I will forever read EVERYTHING she writes. This book is a bout Hazel who is a foster mom for dogs. Linc is renovating the house Hazel lives in and they form a dog bond. I think this story was so cute and gave me the warm fuzzyies. Who doesn't love a story about dogs with personalities for days! Thank you Jaci for being the best author!!

I love cute romances with lovable characters and Housebroke definitely fits that bill. I enjoyed this story a great deal- Hazel is rebuilding her life and Linc (I really didn't care for the name) is renovating the house she's been staying in. I really loved the pups Hazel fosters in the story and the book was a great escape from real life. Definitely a fun read!

Hazel Bristow was left penniless and homeless by her ex-husband. She is not alone, however, as she has the five foster dogs that she is caring for. She is staying in the house of a friend for the time being.

However, when Linc Kennedy gets to the home he just sold, he is nearly accosted by a woman wielding a cast iron skillet. Who is she? And Hazel wants to know who he is. That matter gets sorted out quickly. Linc is an investor who renovates homes, and this is his newest project.

Linc strikes a deal with Hazel. She can stay on in the guest house with her dogs and work as his personal chef. This is a win-win situation for Hazel, because she can temporarily live rent free and save the money she will be making working for Linc.

They each have different goals. For Hazel, one day she would like to open a rescue center for dogs and foster them until they can be adopted. She is also an excellent chef, and hopes to use that skill as well. For Linc, he is a multi-millionaire who has a great love for the renovation work he does as he flips houses.

Quite naturally, Hazel and Linc hit it off, and she loves how good and caring he is with the dogs. Having been burnt in the past by gold diggers, Linc does not plan on telling Hazel about his financial status, even though he finds himself enchanted with her.

Housebroke is a cute, steamy and heartwarming story, especially considering Hazel's intense love for dogs. Not only were Linc and Hazel wonderful characters, but the dogs each had great personalities.

Many thanks to Berkley and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

Review: HOUSEBROKE by Jaci Burton https://bit.ly/47BGhN6
Publication Date: 12/12/2023
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Reviewed by: Reading in Pajamas/ Donna
Rated 4 Stars

This was an enjoyable, light romance. The forced proximity trope was cute and blended the future story together nicely. It wasn’t insta-love between Linc and Hazel, but they were just perfect for each other, didn’t fight the attraction, thus the relationship blossomed quickly into a hot romance. Add foster dogs to the mix, and you have a fun book to get lost in. I also enjoyed the banter and interaction with Linc’s family. I wish they were around more, but glad I had a taste of their relationship. I do have to say that Hazel’s actions during the climax of the story made me groan. It was forced as an almost “I have to have some drama here” situation. It could have been something different to add to the feel of the book instead of detracting. Overall, it is a light and enjoyable story.

*Review copy provided by Penguin Random House in exchange for an honest review.

Kindle https://amzn.to/4aSFTwf

A fun, contemporary romance, would be perfect for a summer beach read. Hazel is out on her luck, without much money or resources, house sitting for a friend with her foster dogs. Unbeknownst to her the house is sold to property flipper Linc Kennedy.
Not sure who's more surprised when Linc shows up to what should be an empty house to almost get beaned on his head by a saucepan. Desperate Hazel manages to sell Linc on the idea that she would cook for him as he does the remodel on the house to get it ready to sell in exchange for a place to stay with her dogs.
Before long both she and the dogs are burrowing their way into Linc's hard heart. Since Linc hasn't been totally upfront and open with Hazel there are bound to be some fireworks when the truth is out just when things seem to be going well between them.
I've been traveling and this book just hit the right lighthearted romantic note.

Housebroke nails the forced proximity trope, especially for readers who have a soft spot for dogs. (Quick heads up, if you're not into pets in your romance, this might not be your cup of tea.)

The overall vibe here is light and breezy, which I totally dug. Even with the protagonists dealing with their own stuff, the story doesn't drown you in angst. It's more of a rom-com rollercoaster than an emotional whirlwind. Now, I've got a tiny bone to pick – the "dark moment" and the ending felt a bit rushed and forced, hence the not-so-high rating from me.

But hey, let's not throw the pup out with the bathwater. It's still a fun read, destined to find its crowd. 🏠🐾💑

✔️ (Secret) Millionaire
✔️ And they were roommates

The setup was the most charming part about this book. I liked the idea of Hazel being such a dog lover that she fosters so many of them and that living in a being-renovated gigantic house with a pool made sense. I also liked Nick though that is also part of the problem - he felt a little flat to me. There wasn't a meaningful emotional journey for me.

This is a great book for a low-angst read. You will enjoy it more if you are an animal lover. For me, it was pretty average.

Steam 🔥🔥
Banter 🗣️🗣️
Swoon 💕💕

Housebroke would make the perfect Hallmark channel movie (minus the spice, obvi). I was super excited to pick this one up when I read the premise. Hazel is down on her luck following a divorce and crashing at her friend's house with all five of her foster dogs. When Linc. the new owner of the house, shows up unexpectedly they come up with the perfect temporary living arrangement - Hazel will live in as Linc's professional chef while he updates and flips the house.

There were things I definitely enjoyed about Housebroke, but ultimately I just found myself bored throughout most of the second half. I didn't feel invested in the relationship between Hazel and Linc, and I didn't feel like their connection was anything other than physical. I did love the scenes involving Hazel's foster dogs and how each one of them had their own personalities. Hazel was a great FMC and she was easy to root for, but I could take or leave Linc.

This is my first book by this author, but I would definitely give her another shot in the future. 3.5 stars

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for a review copy.

This book was not for me, unfortunately. While I liked the premise, particularly the foster dog situation, the stakes were too low for the plot to be compelling. The story was too slow for me. I also really liked the idea of money differences being the source of conflict in the relationship, since that is so authentic to real life, but it just didn’t click here. The spice level was high but at the same time it didn’t feel like there was a lot of romantic tension.

Thank you to the publisher - I received a complimentary eARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Hazel is broke, homeless, and living in her friends’ empty house with her collection of foster dogs. But when the owners forget to tell her they sold the house and the very attractive new owner shows up, they make an arrangement. Hazel will be Linc’s personal chef as he remodels the house, and in exchange, she can continue to live there.

I am a sucker for a romance with dogs on the cover and I was SO excited for this book. Unfortunately, the dogs were really the best part of the story, and the romance itself fell very flat. Where the dogs were full of personality, the main characters did not have the personality or the chemistry I hope for in a story. This book was not for me.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for the advance copy.

Book Summary:

Hazel Bristow's life has had its fair share of ups and downs. For example, recently, her (new) ex took all their money and walked out of her life, leaving her and her foster dogs stranded. The good news is that Hazel's friends are there for her. One even offers to let her (and the dogs) stay in her unoccupied house.

It's perfect. Or it was. Until her friend accidentally (on purpose?) forgot to tell Hazel about the house finally selling. Now, it's a bit more crowded than Hazel had been expecting, and we're not talking about all the dogs.

My Review:

A book full of romance and puppies? Where do I sign up?! But really, Housebroke is a cute and endearing romance novel perfect for any animal lover. I'm happy I had the chance to read it – and I'm even happier to report that it helped get me out of my burnout.

As far as I'm concerned, the best (light) romance novels start after a series of strange coincidences – a funny meet-cute, as it were. So I knew right away I was going to enjoy Housebroke. Okay...the dogs also helped sell this one! I'm not ashamed to admit that.

By far, the book's best part must be the characters and their personalities. We have our two leading lovers (Hazel and Linc), but there are also the dogs. I know I've already mentioned them, but they're not stagnant background details – they each have their own personality, and I adored them.

Housebroke is the perfect read, especially for this dreary time of year. So go enjoy yourself!

Highlights:
Contemporary Romance
Dogs!

Thanks to Berkley and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

This was a cute sweet and sexy book. I loved the slow burn and connection that Hazel and Linc had. It was cute how the dogs grew on Linc and eventually wormed their way into his heart along with Hazel. There was the spice you can always expect from Jaci weaved into a love story for any romantic at heart.

This a sweet and steamy romance with low angst. Hazel dreams of running a foster program some day but at the moment she is crashing at a friend’s house while it is on the market. Lind flips houses and has been burned too many times by women who just want his money. Due to a miscommunication, there is an adorable meet cute. Linc hires Hazel,to cook for him and stay in the house with her 5 foster dogs. I really enjoyed the gentleness of this story. Hazel and Linc are really nice people and I appreciated how they built a friendship that turned into more. If you need a feel good story with some sex scenes than this for you.

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Housebroke by Jaci Burton is a lovely rom-com about dogs. The story revolves around Hazel, who is staying at a friend's place after a nasty break-up. She unexpectedly runs into Linc, who pretends to be an investor in houses. However, Linc isn't really an investor. He's actually a millionaire and the owner of the house! Will Hazel fall in love and trust Linc even though he hasn't told her the truth about who he really is?

Here is a comedic excerpt from Chapter 1:

"Hazel Bristow lined up all her babies, preparing them for their early-evening walk. Today she waited until almost dark because even though it was late summer in Orlando, it was still muggy, and just chasing after these hellions all day inside was a sweat-inducing activity, let alone taking them on a long walk.
Of course as soon as she dragged the harnesses and leashes out, there were excited tail wags and butt wiggles. Even from Gordon the pug, who at twelve years old couldn’t make it more than two blocks but gave it his best effort. Which was why she always brought the stroller along.
She got all five dogs hooked up and prepped the stroller, and they were out the door, Lilith the Chihuahua leading the way, even though she was the smallest of the pack."

Overall, Housebroke is a rom-com that will appeal to dog-lovers everywhere. One highlight of this book are the dogs. If you are a dog-lover or pet-lover, then this book would be perfect for you. Another highlight of this book is the dual 3rd person POV, which I definitely prefer over dual 1st person POV. I did take off 1 star because there's not much of a plot or tension regarding Linc keeping his identity secret. I wish that had been more of a plot point. If you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you're a fan of romantic comedies in general, I recommend that you check out this book, which is available now!

An entertaining mix that is much better than the book I finished before this one......Jaci Burton gives these characters a real feel that I find missing in too many romance books. This young woman is not looking for romance. She's been burned and now must figure out how to take care of her responsibilities. So she accepts a friend's invitation to stay at his home as he tries to sell it. But too soon, she'll get a huge surprise when the house is sold and the new owner shows up. The new owner is really surprised when he finds Hazel and her pack of foster dogs living in his home. The two make some concessions and an agreement and as they say....the rest is history. Amusing and entertaining are good adjectives for this "sigh" worthy romance.

This was just the right book for me to read at this moment. A light romance filled with DOGS!!! There are 6 of them altogether, which made my dog lovin' heart happy.

I really liked Hazel and Linc's characters. They were down to earth but still flawed. Hazel is getting over a disastrous marriage, and Linc is trying to move past women who only see him for his money. The chemistry between these two is HOT!

I read this just to enjoy the story and a little light reading. I sped through this book and didn't want the story to end. I don't know if this is a series, but I think Linc's brother, Eugene, needs a book. I just feel like there is more to him than meets the eye. I think it would be cool is there was also a book about his other brother, Warren, and how he meets his husband and their relationship.

I also liked Linc's mother. She is very down to earth and can see what her boys don't see. But isn't that a mother's job? Hazel's mom and sister are a bit of a handful, and while initially, I was very disappointed in their treatment of Hazel (they treated her as if she was ten and not a grown woman), I know they cared about her. However, things turn around when Natalie (the sister) has her own issues that need to be resolved.

If you are in the mood for a light, fun romance filled with adorable dogs, read this book!

Housebroke was a pleasant story. It was interesting to see how Hazel and Linc connected. They went from strangers to acquaintances to friends to lovers. It was a slow build but it was what the characters needed. They seemed to complement each other and the time they spent together was sweet. I liked the more we got with the dogs. They brought that extra oomph needed in the story. The storyline was cute but I just wished for more. Overall an alright read.