Pugs and Kisses was such a cute second chance, slow burn little romance. I loved watching Evie find herself following the break-up of her long time boyfriend/fiancé Cameron. I loved the character growth Evie goes through when dealing with her parents high expectations for her and her career, and finding her voice to stand up for herself and what she feels like is the best for her own life. Bryson was such a sweetheart and I was rooting for him from the very start!! I was absolutely LOVING how we essentially got the "It was always you, it could never be anyone else" trope too. Bryson was such a down bad mmc. I do wish we got a little more insight on the underlying tension between Bryson and his parents. It was introduced/alluded to but there wasn't a real resolution for that nor was there anything really explained on why that tension was there.

There wasn't too much drama just enough to keep the plot interesting and moving forward. I've learned this book is part of an interconnected series and other than some side conversations that you may be lacking some context for I think think this is okay to read without the first one. The beginning of this book is slower-paced but the last 40% or so it picks up quite nicely.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book! Good laughs, cute charm, and cute dogs all in the setting of New Orleans. I think this would be a perfect summer read & it wont be my last book by the author.

Thank you to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the E-Arc!
All opinions are my own.

A cozy, sweet follow up to Pardon My Frenchie. Pugs and Kisses follows Evie Williams (known to Pardon My Frenchie readers as Ashanti's veterinarian best friend). When Evie's life is turned upside down after catching her fiance with another woman, Evie finds herself searching for her own footings. She runs into the talented veterinary surgeon and college friend, Bryson Williams and they are forced to reexamine the tension between them all those years ago while they save a beloved shelter.
Includes Pardon My Frenchie cameos, but reads well as a standalone novel. Mild on spice.

Thank you NetGalley & Forever for this ARC . I really enjoyed Pugs & Kisses. The book was everything I needed to get out of my reading slump. I loved Evie’s and Bryson’s relationship. I loved how we got to see characters from Pardon my Frenchie in here.

I'm always a Farrah Rochon fan, but this was not my favourite of hers. The pacing is quite slow at the beginning, then races at the very end (the last 10% is packed). The stakes didn't feel high enough because they're cleaning up someone else's mistake in trying to save the Sanctuary, not their own. Also, Bryson seemed to subtly (accidentally?) shade Evie often, which just didn't sit right with me. But Rochon's banter is always on point, and I'm interested in what's going to happen in the third book in this series.

Thank you netgalley and publishers for this arc.

This was the first I've read of this author. I didn't realize this was the second in a series, but it didn't feel like I was missing out on too much.

This was a cute book about old flames returning and had a bunch of doggos. It was a fun, fast paced read that I enjoyed.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4

Pugs and Kisses is a lovely, feel-good read that I’d recommend to anyone who enjoys contemporary romance, especially if you like second chances and characters who feel like real people. Rochon is a dependable voice in romance, and this book is a great example of why.

This was such a fun read! I really felt like i was exploring New Orleans with characters! It is great second chance romance! I really need Ridley and Von!

This was truly a RomCom!

All the expected troupes and then some extra sprinkled throughput. The story was well paced, truly descriptive in all aspects and the characters and setting were all realistic. The themes of love, in all its forms, grief and hope were well woven together. The complexities of life, love, and the choices one navigates as they grow due to lived experiences are beautifully written in this second chance romance.

The characters are loveable (deservingly disliked where appropriate) and the banter is so realistic in the emotions evoked its almost like catching up with friends, in parts, learning what everyone has been up to when not with each other. (This goes for the internal dialogue as well) The story had spice, not so much its unbearable heat, but enough there was a definite sizzle. Farrah Rochon definitely wrote another hit book with this one.

*Be mindful of the trigger warnings

Weird that two veterinarian romances with a very similar rescue subplot came across my radar within a month of each other. I lost interest in Pugs and Kissed about halfway through and haven’t cared to pick it back up again. I think this might be a good beach book.

Dr. Evie Williams seems to have it all- her dream job as a veterinarian, a handsome fiancé, a wealthy family. Until the day she catches her fiancé cheating on her, and she’s forced to confront her life and the decisions that have led her to this point. Enter Bryson Mitchell, a veterinary surgeon Evie had a summer fling with eight years ago. Evie and Bryson team up to try to save the animal rescue that brought them together all those years ago. Will sparks fly again?

-Veterinarians
-Second chance
-He never got over her

Pugs and Kisses is such a cute romance! The vibes were there. I really liked the premise, and all the dog content was adorable. I wish it would have dug just a little bit deeper. The relationship felt surface level to me even though I really liked both main characters. This was my first Farrah Rochon book, and I’m excited to read more from her!

Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for this arc in exchange for my honest review!

Oh hello there, second chance romance heavily featuring dogs—how did you know I was looking for you? I’ll admit, I was a little nervous this one wouldn’t live up to my very high hopes, but have no fear—it absolutely delivered! This book was such a delight, full of charm, and had me laughing and swooning the whole way through.

"Second Chance Shelter" by Farrah Rochon is a charming romance that brings together Evie, a veterinarian, and Bryson, a vet surgeon, as they work to save an animal shelter. The story kicks off with a dramatic start, setting the stage for Evie's fresh start after ending things with her unfaithful fiancé. The chemistry and banter between Evie and Bryson are delightful, and their journey from past regrets to a renewed connection is engaging. While the book is a treat for dog lovers, with its adorable canine characters, the pacing feels a bit uneven, with a slow start and a rushed ending. Despite this, it's an enjoyable read for those who appreciate a light-hearted romance with a focus on second chances and animal rescue.

This was pretty enjoyable. The cover is super cute, and I was totally into the premise at first. The beginning actually had me hooked, but somewhere along the way, it started to lose its spark. I enjoyed the early banter between Evie and Bryson, but I was hoping for a bit more depth in their characters and backstories. Bryson’s actions didn’t always sit right with me either. The pacing felt uneven too. It started off pretty slow, then suddenly sped up near the end, which made the rescue storyline feel kind of rushed and not as impactful as it could’ve been. It's a shame, because I really liked the dogs, the side characters, and the whole rescue theme. If you're into dogs and looking for a light, second-chance romance, this book might be for you.

I loved Evie and Bryson so much. I love how Evie grows as a character throughout the story and how Bryson learns that he is deserving of not just Evie, but the life he wants. I loved the cameos and I’m eagerly awaiting Ridley and Vons story!! 5 stars, no notes!

I wanted to love this but had trouble connecting with the story! Wished the characters were a bit more developed.

I adored this second chance romance between Evie, a veterinarian, and her former college crush, vet surgeon Bryson, who work together to save an animal shelter. A must-read for dog lovers (that cover!) and helpless romantics, written in author Farrah Rochon's always charming style.

I absolutely loved Pardon my Frenchie last year, so I was super excited for another romcom by this author with cute dogs. This one just didn't stand out to me as much. The veterinary setting/job was interesting, but I really wasn't all that invested in the romance.

Well, that was quite a cute and fun read! It started off with a bang (I totally didn’t mean for that pun but it sure applies) with Evie walking in on her fiancé Cam having an affair. I immediately felt so bad for Evie and knew that her second chance at love would be really worthwhile.

I felt like the characters and the situations they went through were believable. It wasn’t all perfect all the time and there are real struggles they needed to overcome from their past.

The writing was great and super easy to read with fun side character friends. Also, as an event planner I loved seeing how important events were to their fundraising efforts!

I do wish the epilogue was a little longer and described more of what happened with the sanctuary though! I wanted more! I was a little confused as to why more wasn’t mentioned there when it was one of the bigger plot points.

Immediately hooked when I saw the title had pugs in it 🥹 this slow burn /second chance is definitely one to add to your list. It tackled some heavier subjects especially with financial problems within a relationship. I loved the cute dogs in this book they truly added to the story for me lol.

After the intro I was happy to see Evie kick Cameron to the curb. And as soon as we met Bryson I loved him. It was easy to see that this man regretted letting her go 8 years ago. This had a lot going for it, a slow burn, a second chance romance and of course we can’t forget Waffles & Bella.

“Do you have any idea how many times I have pictured you naked in my mind over the years?” he asked. “A thousand?” He opened his eyes and shot her an incredulous look. “In eight years, Ev? Do I look like a monk?” He huffed. “Multiply that by ten and it’s probably still not high enough.”

I love their banter, the tension between them and how they worked together to overcome their issues and save the rescue. If I had one complaint it would be about the pacing. It started off quite slow to me and the ending felt maybe a little rushed like so much happened in the last 20-30%.

Overall this is a cute series for dog lovers. I really enjoyed Pardon my Frenchie too and now I need to know what is going on with Ridley and Von.

Thank you to NetGalley, Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and the author Farrah Rochon for the advanced reading copy, all my opinions are my own.