Pugs and Kisses is a sweet romance where two people find who they truly are and where they fit in life and maybe they find each other.

Evie…my gosh the way this book starts I wanted to scoop her up and give her a big hug but this woman is a force. Evie sets out to figure what comes next and the strength she finds in herself is truly amazing. I love that she started to do things just for her and found her love for herself again.

Through her journey Evie reconnects with an old friend, Bryson and something starts to stir inside her and she has to decide if she’s willing to take a chance.

Bryson is back home and as he gets used to being back he starts to remember the beauty of home. He has so much to overcome come when it comes to his past with Evie and boy did he almost mess it all up.

This book is beautiful and highlights the strong bonds of friendship and the importance of loving who you are.

I received an ARC of this title from Netgalley. Here are my honest opinions.

I really like Farrah Rochon's writing, and the type of characters she writes. You want her characters to be happy. Through in that they're veterinarians, set it in New Orleans, talk about Ethiopian food, and have multiple adorable dogs, and this is going to be a good time. A relaxing read when the world out there is ... the world out there.

Pugs and Kisses brings us a heroine, Evie, who has never felt like she has stood on her own, uncompromising in making her own decisions. She was raised in a wealthy family and meant to go into medicine. While she goes into veterinary medicine instead of what her mother wanted, she instantly went to work for her boyfriend. When they break up, she wonders what her future holds.

Bryson volunteered at an animal shelter with her, and went on to be world renowned. Now he's back. When they meet again, he is determined he win her love after making the mistake of letting her go before. From more humble beginnings, he never felt like he would fit in with her world.

Now, the shelter is in danger of shutting down so they team up to save it.

We also revisit characters from Pardon My Frenchie!

I love Farrah Rochon's characters, what she finds attractive in a hero, and how both of her characters are community minded. I could also read about New Orleans forever. As the song goes, Do You Know What it Means to Miss New Orleans? (Heh, even though I've only been there once.)

Gorgeous setting, gorgeous people, gorgeous dogs, incredible setting!

Evie and Bryson have a very interesting fight that left me torn on whether or not I would have been as offended as Evie. Maybe? I still think Bryson should have cleared it up easily in the moment. But it leads to more romance, so who am I to complain?

One small issue I have with the author's books is that I invest in the side plots, wondering how the characters are going to solve whatever they're non-romantically going through, and then it's a deus ex machina -- solved in a way that feels like that was never important or like a couple more pages of the nitty gritty were never considered.

Romance is a happy genre, and so of course I want everything to work out, even work out the way that it does -- which is admittedly set up nicely -- but it felt a little too easy to be fully satisfying.

I know, and find it valid, that a lot of readers won't care, and it's not what they're seeking, so I accept that it's a me thing, and it's never going to stop be from picking up the next book!

I'm assuming we're getting another book in the series, Ridley's (and Von's) story, and I'm very excited! She WILL learn to love dogs, right?!?

This book was so fun! I am a huge animal lover myself so I was drawn to the cover and title. I enjoyed the second chance romance so much and these characters, as well as the setting! I want to check out more from this author!

This was cute rom com, nothing more nothing less. It did start to lull in the middle of the storyline but I enjoyed it!

This was such a cute, second-chance romance. Groveling? We love to see it. I loved the way that, despite their unresolved feelings and resentment, Evie and Bryson worked together for the greater good in regards to the animal shelter where they got their start. The slow burn romance was done really well, and I was thoroughly invested in not only them getting their HEA but also saving the animal shelter. I'm a sucker for an animal companion so I absolutely adored all of the doggie moments we got throughout this story. This was such an easy and swoon-worthy read.

Pugs and Kisses gave us a second chance, slow burn romance with rescue pups as the cherry on top! Evie and Bryson had a summer fling back in college while interning at the Sanctuary, and the connection was instant. But when Bryson let his fears (and class differences) get the best of him, he ghosted without a word. Fast forward a few years, and he’s back in New Orleans, while Evie is fresh off catching her fiancé cheating… so yeah, she’s not exactly thrilled to see him stroll back into her life. But when the Sanctuary needs saving, the two team up and working together just proves that spark never really died.

I really enjoyed this one overall! The chemistry was there, the doggie moments were adorable, and I loved their growth. My only hang-up was that the ending felt a bit rushed, and some of the side plot threads (especially with their parents and Dr. Landry) were just kind of… left hanging? Still, a sweet and swoony story that made me smile.

This was adorable! Cute dogs, cute romance, low drama, what more can you ask for? The second chance elements were nicely set up (without feeling like the original breakup was pointless), and both leads were swoony in all the best ways.

This is the second in a series, but you do not need to read the first one to understand it. Though I might go back and read Pardon My Frenchie for some more cute dogs and NOLA vibes :)

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I am rating this book a 3.75 overall. I got to read this early thanks to NetGalley. This was my first time reading a book by this author and I enjoyed it. It was a cute, slow burn. Like really sloooow burn, they didn’t kiss until about 56% in and it was still a mild kiss haha. If you are in the mood for a romance that focuses more on the FMC and MMC emotional connection building rather than having a lot of the book focus on the spicy scenes, then I think you will enjoy this. It was refreshing to read a book that had minimal spicy scenes and even then the spicy scenes were more toned down compared to other books I’ve read. Don’t get me wrong I enjoy those books too but it was nice to read something different. I enjoyed the contemporary references. It’s not a 4 or above because 90% into the book the FMC and MMC had an argument that I was not expecting, especially after they had made a lot of progress so it just seemed unnecessary. Or I would’ve liked it more if they had communicated sooner and not waited as long. Overall still a cute read and loved that fur babies made many appearances throughout the book.

This was so stinking cute!

This is filled with an adorable romance, cute dogs, and wonderful friendships. Evie and Bryson were so adorable. I loved them so much. They had a great friendship that blossomed into more. The built up to the romance was written wonderfully and had so many swoon worthy moments. This one is for the slow burn lovers.

This was a low stakes/drama story but it did have a little bit to keep things interesting. The drama is mostly with side characters like Evie's and Bryson's family members. I would mostly say this is a feel-good story though.

A wonderful romance for dog lovers!

Loved this story! I read it quickly, and loved the tension between the two main characters. The way I wanted to hug Evie and Bryson’s dogs!!! This is the perfect book for any dog lover who appreciates competency in a man.

Read if you like: Grey’s Anatomy (but make it vets), dogs (duh), second-chance romance, teaming up for the sake of a good cause, and a light sprinkling of spice

Thanks to Netgalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for providing me with a copy of the book.

Set in New Orleans, Evie runs into her college crush just after breaking up with her cheating fiancé. Bryson has just moved back to town, highly successful in their field. They run into each other at the dog sanctuary they volunteered at the summer they got close 8 years ago, now finding it about to close due to lack of funds. Working together to save it, Evie and Bryson deal with their past while also finding a future together.

This book as an amazing sense of place. I loved seeing them explore the city (and getting to see Bryson's hometown!). The friendships in this series stand strong as well, creating a great community as these two get their second chance at love. Farrah Rochon remains an auto-read author for me!

This romance includes:
🐕 Veterinarian main characters (great detail about their different jobs in this field)
🐕 Slow Burn
🐕 Second Chance
🐕 Waffles the Pug mix and Bella the Papillon!
🐕 Delightful descriptions of food in New Orleans
🐕 Complex relationships with parents

Fingers crossed we get Ridley and Von next!

Content Warning - death of a pet (not MC's), infidelity (FMC's ex cheats on page in first chapter, FMC's father's cheating is also described later)

Open door / some spice

5 / 5 stars

Thank you to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for this eARC!

Evie’s life has been thrown for a loop when she walks in on her fiancee cheating on her. She immediately ends things by kicking him out. And who might she run into days later? Bryson, now famous vet, the only other man who has broken her heart. Forced to work together to save The Sanctuary, the pair grows close. But can Evie overcome how Bryson left without a trace all those years ago?

This book was dual pov 3rd person. The writing was captivating and I was drawn in initially but the romance was a little too slow for me. But if you like dogs, second chance romances, and slow burns this one’s for you!

Thanks netgalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review

If you're looking for a sweet, fun read where the adults actually communicate, Pugs and Kisses is for you.

I absolutely loved the premise of this story as it's a forced proximity situation that I haven't read before. The tension between Evie and Bryson is evident from their very first on page interaction, and the slow burn between them is absolutely delicious. I am a sucker for second chance romances, and Farrah Rochon does not disappoint. Especially as she ensures that issues between the couple are addressed so that we, as readers, aren't left banging our heads against the wall at their miscommunication, or lack thereof.

I also appreciated Evie and Bryson's relationships with their respective parents. We all know our relationships with our parents change and grow as we do, and I feel as though Farrah does an exceptional job of portraying the complexity of familial relationships while not being heavy handed.

If you're a fan of slow burns, second chances, and, of course, dogs, I highly recommend Pugs and Kisses.

This was a thoroughly enjoyable book - Light-hearted, funny, and easy to read. MCs Evie and Bryson were great to get to know. I liked seeing Bryson work through his insecurities about growing up poor and not feeling like he fit in with wealthy and relative fame. I recommend this book; it's a great read. Now I want to go out and sponsor an animal shelter.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC.

4.25/5 ⭐

A second chance romance, with cute dogs, and a mission to save the animal shelter.

Evie, a veterinarian who seems to have the perfect life, until that life crumples when she catches her fiance cheating and she have to quit her job at his practice. Feeling down she goes to the animal shelter to check on things and runs into Bryson, her summer fling from a decade ago. With the shelter at risk of shutting down they team up to rescue The Rescue, and try not to fall in love again.

This was such a cozy and wholesome book. I loved the flow of the story, the characters, and the romance. I'm struggling with a reading slump, and this helped making me want to read more. Also I love Bella and Waffles! and ofc, Evie and Bryson lol.

I highly recommend this book if you want a cute fast read, and love second chance romance.

Another Read Now steal from NetGalley and I had SUCH a nice time with this one. I really liked that the past was a big deal that wasn't ultimately and that for all the FMC was the one who should have had baggage, the MMC was the one who needed to get his shit together. Very good complicated mother/daughter relationship scene too. And the dogs were darling.

<i>Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.</i>

This book was excellent until 60% in. Then it all went downhill.

He's such a jerk! He tells her that her fiance, that she's been in a relationship with for a decade, was always a jerk and he always knew it and he's glad now she does. Who says that? That is so disrespectful and rude. She broke up with her fiance maybe two weeks ago? So a third of her life was spent with this guy and that's how he's talking to her? That's not respect.

Then she tells him she just wants to be friends and he kisses her. That's assault.

What finally did me in: he's at a school for career day and she's accompanying him, and then he says this is ”Dr Williams she's a veterinarian too! Talk to her about it." She didn't consent to that! He's making decisions for her? And telling her all her previous decisions were bad? Oh and he keeps treating her like the little rich girl and he's this authentic bayou boy ... who just bought a million dollar condo, and she gets no money from her family.

Not to mention, he ghosted her 10 years ago. They were dating for the summer and then he saw her house and she's rich so he just left. Didn't tell her they were breaking up or anything but "oh well her family's rich so I could never be a part of her life so I'm just going to piss off". Who is he to question her judgment when he acts that way?

He is immature about his family as well. "I moved back to Louisiana, so now I require you to be with me when I say." When his mom makes other plans he's angry and rude.

So far the majority of this book, even when we're in her head, is about him. I do not read books to be in the minds of men all the time. The universe gives us enough insight into men. I don't need it in my books.

We have more conversations on his side: about his family, his practice, his dog. When we're inside her head or she's talking to her friends she's mostly talking about either the fiance she kicked out for cheating, or him, the guy who ghosted her 10 years ago. She only exists for him.

That's so unfortunate, because the book had real heart and great characters and it just fell flat. It was 4 stars easy until it all went wrong.

(Thanks to Netgalley for the arc.)

The banter in this book was so good, and Evie and Bryson are adorable together. The author did a gorgeous job with the friends-to-lovers progression, and they had such great chemistry together.
The parents' storyline didn't really capture my full attention, but it was interesting.
The writing was very easy and flowed really well. I honestly couldn't put the book down!
Thank you to NetGalley, Farrah Rochon, and Forever for the eARC of this book.

Thank you to Forever for the advance reader copy of Pugs and Kisses by Farrah Rochon.  

Dr. Evie Williams discovers at the beginning of the book that her fiancé is cheating on her. Following this revelation, she leaves the practice where they worked together. Then her college crush, Bryson Mitchell, someone who Evie has never really forgotten, returns to town. Both maintained connections to an animal shelter where they used to volunteer and both are determined to not let it close when they learn it’s at risk.

I really enjoyed this book! As soon as I started it I didn’t want to put it down. Evie and Bryson are so good together!!! Reading these two as they navigate reuniting with each other drew me in. I loved how they were brought back together and the story of these two reconnecting is so sweet. I enjoyed getting to see how both Evie and Bryson grow throughout this story. There were a few moments toward the end of the book related to Evie’s story that are highlights for me. And we get to be reunited with characters from Pardon My Frenchie!

If you enjoy a second chance romance, this is one to check out!!

For a contemporary romance, this was fine. I didn't mind the characters and the New Orleans setting was good. The end solution (throwing a high class gala together in two weeks is very impossible, said as a former event planner) felt a bit rushed.

The dogs were pretty cute.

The internal issues both characters had to go through were understandable, but the romance felt a little fast.