Read if you like:
💕Romances
🏡 Forced Proximity
💰Rich MMC
💸 Poor FMC
🐕 are a dog person
🏠 Flipping Houses

In this heartfelt romantic comedy, Jaci Burton introduces us to Hazel Bristow, a woman left broke and homeless after her ex took all their money and disappeared. Desperate for a place to stay, Hazel finds herself living in a house with a twist: it’s already occupied by a millionaire named Linc Kennedy and a menagerie of rescue dogs. Linc, who Hazel initially mistakes for a house flipper, agrees to let her stay while he renovates the place. Little does Hazel know that Linc is not just an investor—he’s extremely wealthy.

As Hazel and Linc navigate their unexpected living arrangement, sparks fly. Linc is drawn to Hazel’s quirky beauty and selflessness, while Hazel is intrigued by the sweet and funny man who puts everyone’s needs before his own. But trust doesn’t come easy for either of them, especially when past experiences have left them wary.

Burton weaves a delightful tale of love, trust, and second chances. The chemistry between Hazel and Linc is palpable, and the addition of rescue dogs adds warmth and humor to the story. If you’re a fan of romantic comedies with a dash of canine charm, “Housebroke” is a heartwarming read that will leave you smiling.

Jaci Burton’s new novel Housebroke is a sweet and sexy romcom that features a millionaire who likes to buy, renovate, and sell houses, and a temporarily homeless woman with five rescue dogs who ends up living with him.

Hazel is reeling from a messy divorce that has left her broke and homeless. Some friends offer to let her stay at their house for a while, with the understanding that the house is for sale. When Linc, the new owner, shows up unexpectedly, Hazel nearly clocks him with her cast iron skillet. Linc wants her out of the house immediately so he can start renovating the property, but once he hears about her desperate situation, he doesn’t want to be the guy who kicks her when she’s already down so he invites her and her dogs to stay in his guesthouse. Hazel agrees on the condition that he allows her to cook for him while she’s there.

I really enjoyed both of these characters, both individually and as a team. I loved watching the two of them bond, particularly when they were taking care of the dogs. Linc clearly being a dog guy did a lot to endear him both to Hazel and to me, and I also loved how much he clearly admired Hazel for being so independent and that he also saw all that she had to offer. It was so nice to see, especially after knowing how awful her ex had been to her.

I also enjoyed the way Linc and Hazel’s story evolved. There was also a nice blend of sexy, spicy scenes as Linc and Hazel grow closer, as well as sweeter, more domestic scenes as the two of them, plus the dogs, fall into a comfortable, family-like routine. There’s a bit of tension, as both of them try to deny their feelings for one another, but it’s pretty obvious that fighting it is a losing battle.

And let’s not forget about those dogs. From Penny the lovable golden retriever to Lillian the feisty chihuahua and Gordon the elderly pug, as well as a few others, the dogs really steal the show and were just a joy to read about. They are the glue that really brings Linc and Hazel together and I just wanted to adopt them all myself, haha!

This was my first time reading anything from Jaci Burton and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. If you’re in the mood for a charming romcom that features lovable big-hearted characters, both human and canine, be sure to check this one out!

I really enjoyed this book about a woman named Hazel, who’s a chef and dog lover, staying in her friend’s house that’s empty and up for sale. Hazel’s ex took everything in their divorce so she’s starting over. One night she hears a noise and almost brains a guy named Linc, and it turns out he’s the new owner. They agree that she can stay with her four rescue dogs she’s fostering in exchange for making meals.

Linc buys houses, fixes them up, and sells them. He’s got plans for this house, he’s going to fix it up and move on the next flip. However, as he spends time with Hazel, he falls for her and all her dogs.

I liked the way their relationship progresses, it feels very real. 4 stars.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed as in this review are completely my own.

3.5 Stars! This is a super cute romcom that will not disappoint. If you are a fan of dogs in romance books, this one’s for you!

Hazel is a foster mom for 5 doggos and dead broke. The premise surrounding her new housing situation gets a little unbelievable, but you can’t help but root for this dog mom. Linc has bought a house to flip and lets Hazel and her dog brood stay as longs as she cooks.

Linc and Hazel have great chemistry but both are mistrustful and it goes on a little too long given their proximity. I’m going to be honest, I was a little more invested in the dogs than I was the romance, but it was still a lot of fun!

Housebroke by Jaci Burton
Genre: contemporary romance
Format: ebook
Length: 336 pages
Moods: funny, hopeful, lighthearted
Pacing: medium

Thank you to Netgalley, Jaci Burton and Berkley for an e-arc of this book. All thoughts/opinions are my own.

Read this if you enjoy:
🐶Animals, especially dogs
💑Insta love / fast paced romance
🪚House renovations

I’m an animal lover; when I see a cover with animals, it’s an immediate yes for me. Animal welfare is something I’m very passionate about so I fell in love with the idea of this book and with Jaci’s dedication in the beginning. I love that Hazel is a animal foster.

Everything to do with the dogs was an absolute win for me. The issues I had with this book came down to the romance and the initial plot of letting a stranger and her foster dogs stay in a home you’re renovating.

Housebroke is a cute romcom! It's predictable and very unrealistic but fun and light which is all I really want from a sweet romance book. The best part of the story is 100% the foster dogs; they each have their own distinct personality and feel like main characters all on their own. Hazel is a broke divorcée living in a house that her friend is selling and Linc is the *secret* millionaire who actually already bought the house and finds her and her five foster dogs squatting inside. The two cut a deal: Hazel and her dogs can stay in the house while Linc handles the renovations if she cooks for him. So the two become roomies in this forced proximity, reluctant attraction, once burned twice shy romance. Housebroke gives Hallmark movie feels without a lot of tension/conflict besides both MCs having trust issues. Overall it's a perfect choice is you're looking for a quick, easy read with some spice!

This book has:
- Dual POV
- Super Cute Foster Dogs
- Secrets
- Trust Issues
- 3rd Act Breakup

I would rate this one 3.5 stars!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book from NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Reviews have been posted to Goodreads and Instagram as of 12/13/23.

Hazel Bristow is taking a minute. She just got out of a bad marriage and is staying at a friend’s house while she figures out her next step. It wasn’t enough that her ex had broken her heart, he’d also drained their bank accounts before he left town. Now she’s taking some time to get over him. But she’s not lonely. The five foster dogs she’s working with keep her from feeling alone. She has them trained so well that they didn’t even bark when someone broke into the house.

Just seconds away from hitting the intruder with her handy cast iron skillet, Hazel is shocked to find an extremely handsome man in the kitchen. He’s shocked too, insisting that the house was his. A quick call to the friend who was letting her stay there, and Hazel finds out the truth—her friends had sold the house, and she was once again without a place to stay.

Linc Kennedy bought the house in Florida to renovate it and sell it, hopefully for a tidy profit, and had no idea anyone was living there. And when she started packing up the few items she had and the five different dogs, he realizes that she doesn’t actually have anywhere to go. He offers her the guest house, at least for the night, and she agrees, at least for the night. But when she offers to cook him dinner (she was just about to make herself something), and he finds out what a great chef she is, they come up with a new plan.

Hazel gets to stay in the guest house with the dogs, and Linc will employ her as his cook. He offers her a salary in addition to a place to stay, and Hazel figures out that she can take the salary and bank it towards a down-payment on a rental. It would help her take care of the dogs and make a plan for what’s next. But what she doesn’t realize is that what comes next just may be falling for the handsome house flipper in front of her. Especially when it turns out how great he is with the dogs she’s fostering.

But Linc has a secret. He’s just out of a bad relationship too. He thought she’d be different, but in the end, she was just another girlfriend who was with him for his millions. So he’s very careful not to mention that to Hazel, so she doesn’t try to take advantage of him. But when he starts developing feelings for all his housemates, not just the dogs, he knows he has to tell her the truth about his money. But when can he confess his secret without destroying her trust in him?

Housebroke is the latest rom com from Jaci Burton, and it’s a sweet light-hearted story with lots and lots of dog love. Just as the foster dogs have been damaged by some of their past relationships, the humans here have been damaged also, and they are all finding healing together. There are lots of steamy scenes as well, mimicking the heat and humidity of their Florida house.

Housebroke is a little bit of family warmth and a little bit of icy attraction, with the blend of heat and sweet making it the perfect blend for a winter weekend read. I especially loved all the dogs with their individual personalities and quirks and how lovable they were. That was an unexpected surprise, and it was just the balm I was needing in the middle of a stressful month. If you’re a dog lover, then you’ll want to pick this one up and read it with your best friend nearby. But if your best friend is like Penny, and likes to walk off with anything she can call a toy, then you might want to held on to the book extra-tight.

Egalleys for Housebroke were provided by Berkley through NetGalley, with many thanks.

Hazel Bristow life has taken a downward turn after her her ex-husband took all their money and left. Now Hazel is living in her friend, Ginger's empty house with her foster dogs until the house sells. When Hazel is shocked to find some guy all of sudden in the house, she quickly comes to realize that Lincoln Kennedy is the new owner of the house and Ginger forget to let her know. Linc is instantly smitten with Hazel. She thinks he's just some guy who flips houses, but in reality he is a wealthy businessman who flips houses for fun.

Linc and Hazel come to an agreement, she will cook all of his meals and in return she can stay at the house until he finishes renovating it. As these two spend more time together, their feelings start to grow and pretty soon they cross that line into something more. When the time comes that the house is finished, Linc isn't ready to let Hazel go. When he does a go big or go home gesture, everything backfires. It will take some big time groveling, but in the end Hazel and Linc get their perfect happy ending.

I just adored this opposites attract love story. Linc was the perfect, dreamy alpha. I loved how he became just as attached to all the foster dogs just like Hazel. Hazel was such a sweet person and really deserved something wonderful to happen in her life. If two people ever belonged together, it's these two.

Housebroke by Jaci Burton pairs a millionaire and a woman just trying to get by. Dogs are heavily featured in this so if that’s not something you are interested in, keep that in mind. This was a fast read, one that needs a bit of suspension of disbelief. Linc was a great character and he matched well with Hazel.

When Hazel is left broke and homeless her friend steps in to help, letting her and her foster dogs live in the house she has on the market. Somehow Hazel’s friend forgets to mention she sold the place leaving Hazel and the new owner extremely surprised. Linc and Hazel negotiate a deal letting Hazel stay while Linc renovates the house and no surprise here they fall for each other! This was a fun one! My only disappointment was I wasn’t ready for this story to be over yet!
.

Huge thank you to @berkleypub @berittalksbooks @thephdivabooks @dg_reads and @netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

4.5 Stars!

I truly enjoyed Jaci Burton's latest book offering, Housebroke. The plot is a bit far-fetched, but I loved the main characters and the pack of foster dogs. This book is well-written with a welcome combination of emotion, delicious food and hot sexy times.

Hazel Bristow's ex-husband left her high and dry. With no money or a place to call home, she ends up living in her friend's vacant house, which is on the market. The only thing keeping her sane are the dogs she fosters. They provide tremendous comfort to her as she navigates her new future. Then one day Linc Kennedy walks into the locked house. He bought the house and Hazel's friend forgot to let her know about the sale. Needless to say, both parties are completely shell shocked when they come face-to-face.

Linc is a millionaire, thanks to his investments and the return he gets from flipping houses. He feels bad for Hazel's predicament and agrees to let her stay on in the house until he completes the renovations. He also employs her as his personal chef, since she is a terrific cook. Overtime, they get to know each other and fall into lust and love.

Hazel and Linc are an easy couple to get to know. They are likable, full of goodness and I truly felt the love evolving between them. Their respective issues regarding trust are understandable. The foster dogs are fun and entertaining. The only thing missing from this book is an epilogue, which was very disappointing.

Complimentary copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.

**Many thanks to Berkley and Jaci Burton for an ARC provided via NetGalley!**

Hazel is a proud dog mom...but there's a slight catch. As a foster dog parent, she only gets a fixed time with her furry loves before they are placed in their fur-ever homes. While this is hard for her, Hazel lost everything after an ugly divorce from her controlling husband, and the dogs keep her centered, happy, and make life that much better...so she's willing to do the hard work, even if in the end it will break her heart. She also has a unique living arrangement which is providing her temporary housing: she resides at a house that one of her good friends is going to sell, and is free to stay there until the house finds its owner.

So imagine her surprise when there's a knock at the door...and the new owner, the dashing, dreamy Lincoln "Linc" Kennedy strolls in. Of course, he is MORE than a bit confused as to why Hazel and a cadre of dogs are living in his newly-purchased home...but since he is simply planning to flip the house, he decides to let Hazel stay while renovations and upgrades take place. Hazel offers to work for Linc as a personal chef of sorts, and the two fall into a comfortable rhythm...which eventually leads to extravagant dinners out and MORE than a little bit of flirting. As feelings begin to bloom on both sides, Hazel's past relationship looms heavy in her mind and on her heart. Can she learn to trust again when there is SO much to lose? Meanwhile, Linc has been harboring a BIG secret...but is Hazel different from all of the other women in his gold-digging past? And, most importantly, WHO will end up with ALL of those dogs?!

Housebroke is one of those romances I picture sitting among so many others you might find at the grocery store or in the airport bookstore. With its cute cartoon cover and the promise of some adorable pups, I was willing to take the plunge and dive into the courtship between Hazel and Linc...and was hoping for plenty of laughs, some witty banter, and of course, a fully-fleshed out love story between two dynamic characters.

What I got instead felt more like one part Pretty Woman, one part Must Love Dogs (although that comparison is based on the title alone)...and three parts implausible, patriarchal, and underdeveloped (at best).

Hazel is not the kind of MC that is easy for me to root for, and though I tried to give her the benefit of the doubt, it became quickly apparent why. She blames so much of her past on her relationship with a man who frankly sounds like he encompassed every abusive stereotype in the book, but also seems all too willing with a new man to play the 'traditional' role of subservient housekeeper....not exactly liberating by any stretch of the imagination. She even seems to REALIZE this: "You're not the boss of me. Except so far as you paying me to cook for you. Otherwise, you can kiss my ass."

What a lovely sentiment...for a job she literally OFFERED to do, unprompted.

There's also the fact that the plot itself is so implausible that it's hard to believe these two would have EVER actually ended up in the same house in this way. There are so many logistics that go into home buying, and if I bought a place for the sole purpose of house-flipping, I can't see saying someone else (AND THEIR 5 DOGS) should hang around while construction was happening. The whole thing just felt odd, and less like forced proximity than 'squatting in a home inhabited by someone you just met and then falling in love with them'.

We are also told over and over how Hazel has no money...and yet, she can afford to take care of dogs, herself, solely by working as a chef for Linc for an undisclosed amount of money. I mean, how was she planning to support herself if he didn't show up...? She has aspirations of running her own shelter AND of being a sous chef...and does absolutely nothing to get a more stable job NOT working for someone she has the hots for in order to make this dream happen.

When the book dives into Pretty Woman territory, we learn that not only does Linc just LOVE all of her dogs, but he is more than willing to go shopping with her and buy her dresses, take her out to Victoria and Albert's (which to my knowledge is a VERY high end restaurant in Disney World), and yet...at one point we find out that Hazel has somehow been 'saving up enough' to reimburse him...for everything. Which, if I read things correctly, means she was saving up Linc's money...to pay Linc back.

Color me VERY confused.

Aside from all of these financial and logistical headaches, I didn't like that the main 'drama' on Linc's side also revolved around money...and that the two of these were apparently so in insta-love that they were willing to give up all of their dreams randomly and dive headfirst into whatever sort of 'relationship' this is. There's plenty of spice, and open door spice at that...not to mention I found all of the descriptions a bit TOO involved for my personal taste. I don't mind some heat, but I would appreciate SOMETHING left to the imagination...and since I couldn't find the appeal of either of these characters, I was far from interested to see whether they stayed together or not. (I was FAR more interested in the fate of the doggos!)

There's something about this title that just rang a bit 'off' to me for a romance, and after looking up the definition of the word, I remembered why:

A housebroken pet is: "trained to defecate and urinate outdoors or in a special place indoors so that it can live in a house."

...and what could be more romantic than that?

3 stars, rounded up from 2.5

I don't know about you, but I love a good romance that throws in the mix a bunch of dogs. Who doesn't think pups adds to a story. I know I do. That's just what happens in this story. In fact, most of my tears with this book is about the dogs. Homeless puppies and kitties make me sad.

I really enjoyed Housebroke. Both Hazel (great heroine name) and Linc are wonderful characters. You really like them right away. It seems that right from the beginning these two meshed. For Hazel to find a person who can deal with the fact that she'll always has a bunch of dogs around her isn't easy. Even those who love animals might think five is a lot.

For most of this story both Linc and Hazel are the only two people in the story. Sure, you have Hazel's sister and mother thrown in a few times and also Linc's family, but I'd say only five percent of the story is with them. Most of that is phone calls. Now I'm a smalltown reader so I was afraid this would bother me, but it didn't. I felt the author did a great job of moving the story along and keeping me interested. Something I don't feel is that easy unless it's a novella.

You see a lot of growth with these two. They are able to talk with each other about their pasts and how the loss of their fathers has shaped them. As a whole they are both great and I was so happy that they were working on their HEA. Now saying that I did have an issue or two. Not very big and it might only be mine but at the end Hazel kind of bugged me.

I really don't understand why when you aren't having a very deep and meaningful relationship that someone feels that they should know you finances. Maybe that's me being older speaking but if you won't even say my girlfriends and our relationship is friends with benefits then you don't get to know how much I am worth.

Another thing that was an eye roller for me is Hazel's need to stand on her own two feet and make something of her life. She wanted to make her own money and support herself, but I didn't see that at all in this book. She's living rent free in a friend's house and has no real job. Now I'm not belittling her, all I'm saying is that I feel the author stressed too much Hazel's need to be independent but didn't really show us her doing that.

I know that might seem like a lot of issues, but it really isn't. For most of the story I was really happy and for me every good book has a character with flaws. No one is perfect. I am not finding that this is a series, but she does leave us with a few characters that are single. Who knows.

Housebroke by Jaci Burton is a cute and funny rom-com with forced proximity, strangers sharing a home, and foster dogs that is delightful. Hazel is dead broke after a failed marriage to a thieving ex, so she and her five foster dogs are staying in a friend’s home, who moved out of state until they can sell it. Linc is a millionaire who likes to personally renovate and flip homes. Linc is surprised when he gets to his new flip house and finds Hazel and her dogs squatting. After they calm down and talk, Linc hires Hazel to cook his meals in exchange for a small salary and room and board. Linc doesn’t tell Hazel his true story; worried she won’t see him for who he is, just his money. Both have been hurt and burned before and are determined not to have a relationship; except it’s becoming more difficult for them to fight the strong magnetic attraction, and sizzling chemistry they share.

Ms. Burton wrote a wonderful, thought-provoking romance that is a must read. She did an excellent job with the dogs becoming the third main character; their personalities and presence added a lot to the story. This tale is filled with sizzling chemistry, strong attraction, family dynamics, amusing banter, and caring secondary characters, as Hazel and Linc find love together. I highly recommend Housebroke me to other readers.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

3.5 Stars

“She liked him more and more every day. Maybe it was because they both came from families who didn’t believe in their dreams. She’d watched the play of emotions on his face when he’d talked about his family. He’d treated it with a shrug, but she saw the hurt, knew what that felt like. They might be different in a lot of ways, but in this, they were very much alike. And that hand-touching? They had some chemistry. Because when he’d touched her, she’d seen the reaction in his eyes, in the way his lips parted, in how he’d absently rubbed his thumb over the top of her hand. That zingy thing between them? It might be fun to explore. When she was ready. And she wasn’t ready just yet.”

Hazel Bristow’s ex-husband left her homeless and destitute when he ends their marriage. With nowhere to go, Hazel’s best friend lets her and her foster dogs crash at the home they have on the market.

Linc Kennedy gets more than he bargained for when he shows up at the home he just bought and finds Hazel and her pack of foster dogs. They strike up an agreement that Hazel can stay there if she cooks him home-cooked meals while he renovates, but Linc doesn’t realize that playing house with Hazel is about to get a whole lot more real when feelings get involved.

As a huge dog lover, this book was right up my alley. Hazel is fostering dogs until they can find their forever homes. I found a connection to her because of this, and I really rooted for her throughout this story. She’s been hurt, but she is strong and resilient. No matter what has happened to her, she is looking forward to making her own way in the world.

Linc was just an overall nice guy. He went out of his way to give Hazel anything and everything she and the dogs would need. The first fifty percent of this book was wonderful, but then the pacing got slow during the middle, and the ending left me wanting more emotion.

Their breakup felt perfunctory, a very formulaic black moment, but it lacked any feeling for me. I want to feel the tension, the pain, the absolute longing between the main characters when they are separated.

Their love should feel special like it transcends time and reason, and that they can’t stand to be away from each other for another moment. It didn’t feel that way with Linc and Hazel. Overall, an enjoyable read but it isn’t going to be one of those special books I always remember.

If you’re a fan of other contemporary authors like Elle Kennedy and Kristen Callihan, then you should add this one to your TBR pile.

~ Michelle

This was a cute rom-com between two people who are fresh out of relationships leaving them with trust issues, and the dogs that are going to show them everything works better in a pack.

Like most rom-coms, the plot is a little wacky: Hazel is staying at a friend's house while trying to figure out her life after her ex stole everything from her. The deal is she leaves when the house gets sold. Except no one tells her the house gets sold until Linc, the new owner, walks in! Once things get sorted he ends up letting Hazel and her 5 foster dogs stay and she agrees to cook for him. The attraction is slow-burn and I liked how they got to know each other first- largely through interacting because of the dogs. The dogs made a great third character 'group' that helped move things along, and helped both Hazel and Linc get more comfortable around each other and open up in ways people often only do around animals.

The chemistry between Hazel and Linc was great and I loved their developing romance. It was definitely a case of needing to communicate more than they did, and trust issues, and the ending left me feeling like I needed a little something more (maybe an epilogue?) but this was an enjoyable, fun book and I'd recommend it for people needing a good romance.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

This was fun! I must admit that the dogs were such a big part of the story was a huge plus for me. I just wish my dogs were as well-behaved as the dogs in this story were. Was it a bit far-fetched to think that someone who just bought a house would let someone he doesn’t know continue to live there with her 5 dogs – and pay them a salary to cook meals? Probably, but I just went with it and had a lot of fun in the end.

Linc and Hazel were wonderful characters and seemed perfect for one another. Linc is wealthy and can let others run his company while he rehabs houses because that is what he enjoys. Hazel is in a tough spot. Her ex took everything and she is doing what she can to get back on her feet while taking care of her 5 foster dogs that mean the world to her. I loved watching Linc interact with both Hazel and her dogs. He was such a softie when it came to those pups which was a very good sign. I thought that they had wonderful chemistry together and couldn’t wait to see them figure things out.

I would recommend this book to others. I thought it was a fun romance and loved that it featured a whole pack of dogs. I looked forward to picking up this book each time that I had the chance and couldn’t wait to see Linc and Hazel find their happily ever after. I look forward to reading more of Jaci Burton’s work in the not-to-distant future.

I received a digital review copy of this book from Berkley Publishing.

This was a cute one! Love house flipping shows but that's got to be a lot for one person to do on their own. Though he does bring in a specialist when it's more than his knowledge.
Love a good meet cute with a lady squatting in her friends unoccupied house that's on the market then the new home owner comes in. Lol not really squatting just in between places cause her ex was a con man and left her in the lurch.

They struck up a bargain since she was a great cook so he let her stay there as his personal chef. And there were about 5 others living with her. She was a dog foster mom and was training and helping get them ready for their forever home. Oh my goodness they all had such unique sweet personalities. Sadly a lot of dogs are given up or left behind so some may develop trust issues or fears from being abandoned as would all of us.

These two over time fell for each other and were like mind with home renovation, interest, and especially the dogs.

Though secrets that are revealed kind of pull them apart but it's not for long. We all love a third act breakup. But this is in dual pov so you know what they are thinking the whole time and their fears and feelings. They def get there. Both their families experienced loss and dealt with it differently as well.

Thank you berkleyromance for the e-ARC for my honest and voluntary review.

This was a quick, fun, lighthearted read. A lot of my favorite romance books involve animals. So, the dogs in this book were my favorite part. Hazel’s foster dogs played a large part in the story and actually helped in bringing Hazel and Linc together. If you’re not a fan of dogs, you’ll probably want to pass on this book.

Parts of the plot seemed a little far fetched, but it didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment of the book. It’s hard for me to imagine that someone flipping a house would just let a stranger move in with minimal questions asked. It was cute though. Especially after the trauma Hazel went through with her ex husband. Linc was such a nice guy.

Read if you like:
💕 Dogs
💕 Forced Proximity
💕 Insta-Love
💕 Lighthearted Fun

Housebroke is such a fun, light rom-com.
I do love a romance that has adorable animals in it. They just add that extra layer of charm to a love story. Housebroke is bursting with fun, sweet, and quirky dogs, and anyone who has been a pet owner will connect with this story on so many levels. Now, if you don’t like your romances with animals in it, you should give this book a pass because Hazel’s pups are the central focus of the story. I loved the way that Jaci uses Hazel’s foster dogs as a way to create this connection between Hazel and Linc. The dogs take on this role as secondary characters in this story, each with their own distinct personality. They really steal the spotlight in this book. Any big emotion I felt while reading this story was connected to these adorable pups.

Now besides all the furry fabulousness that exists within this book, the love story itself is pretty good. The story is nice and easy to read. Some things happen in this book that would only occur in romanceland, but I didn’t mind that. It is just a book you can get lost in for a few hours. We meet Hazel at a low point in her life. Her ex-husband had left her houseless and broke, and she was crashing at her friend’s house until the house was sold. She is struggling to figure out what her next steps will be. All she knows is that she has to get her act together because she is fostering five dogs, and they all need a place to live. I liked Hazel; she has a big heart and is passionate about fostering dogs and cooking. She approaches life in a “glass half-full” manner, and you can’t help but want good things for her. Her growth in this book is in learning to believe in herself and her dreams. Her ex-husband and her family have shattered her confidence, but with Linc’s help, she realizes her dreams can be a reality. Linc is a good male MC. He tries to be this mean, tough guy, but he is a big cinnamon roll. Linc’s problem is that he has difficulty trusting people, especially women. His past relationships have all failed because once these women find out he is a millionaire, then they only see him for his money. It’s why Linc lies to Hazel about his financial situation, which will cause problems later in the story.

Hazel and Linc are a great couple. I could feel that chemistry between the two of them right from the first moment when they met. At the beginning of the book, there is definitely this weariness between them. Neither one wants a relationship, but they can feel those sparks and this attraction towards one another. They are both fighting this inner battle with themselves. Do they give into those feelings and see where this relationship could go, or do they keep a cool, weary distance from one another? I’m sure most of you know that they definitely give into those feelings, which leads to some pretty spicy moments between Hazel and Linc. The moments I liked best between these two were when they spent time with the pups. It was during these times that they really let their guards down and opened up with one another.

Housebroke is a fun rom-com filled with lots of quirky and cute dogs.