I had the opportunity to listen to Pugs and Kisses by Farrah Rochon as an eARC and it was better than I expected! I chose this book because it stuck out to me and as a pug owner I was intrigued by the title, but after reading I have nothing but high praises.

Pugs and Kisses started out with Evie finding her fiancé, who she has been with for close to ten years, in her bed with another woman. After discovering them, she realizes that something has to change. She quits working at the vet clinic her ex fiancé’s family owns and visits an animal shelter she interned at in her college years.

While at the animal shelter Evie sees Bryson, a fling from her past that still has a place in her heart. Seeing each other brings up feelings for both Evie and Bryson, and after learning the shelter could be closing, they are brought together in hopes of saving the place that has fond memories for them.

The way that the author, Farrah Rochon wrote this book had me feeling like I was in the story as well. Her decision to include descriptors of the city and street names gave an immersion that I don’t always get with audiobooks.

This books touched on topics that I relate to a lot. From rocky relationships with moms to feeling like I’m never good enough.

I had the bless of listening this book as an Arc and will definitely be purchasing the trophy soon!

Thank you to Hachette Audio for giving me the opportunity to enjoy this book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.5/5)

Pugs and Kisses is an absolutely adorable romance! Farrah Rochon delivers a sweet and funny second-chance love story with all the heart and charm you'd want in a rom-com. I loved revisiting the world she’s built—there are so many wonderful details that tie back to her previous work, Pardon My Frenchie. The chemistry was great, the humor hit just right, and the HEA was everything I hoped for. Highly recommended for romance lovers seeking something warm, funny, and feel-good.

I received this ALC from Net Gallery for my honest review. 3.75 ⭐️

So essentially Pugs @ Kisses by Farrah Rochon, is a second chance romance story that follows Evie and Bryson who are two veterinarians.

The book opens up with Evie finding her Fiancé Camron cheating on her in her home and in her bed. Comes to find out it’s a woman from the clinic that they both work at. She told him she quits and he needs to move out.

As Evie is trying to figure out her next steps she goes back to her old stumping grounds The Pet Sanctuary where she use to volunteer at during college. While there she runs into Bryson who broke her heart 8 years ago.

Some time passes and the current director of the clinic discloses that the shelter is in trouble and that he needs Evie and Bryson help to save it. Which puts Evie in a space where she doesn’t want to even interact with him. But she decided to because it’s for the sanctuary.

As they work together they kinda of fall back into their old rhythm and Evie decides to ask him what happened with them so those years ago. Bryson tells her and she accepts it and puts it behind her and decides to let the relationship develop.

While their relationship ship grows they figure out how to generate the needed money to help the Sanctuary.

The spice level is a 2.5/3 out of 5. Which fits the vibe i of the book. Overall it’s a very cute story. It has the potential to be a Hallmark movie.

The Narrator Marissa Hampton did an excellent job bringing all the characters to life.

What I didn’t like about the production is the announcement of each new chapter with a noticeable pauses. To me it broke up the natural flow of the story. For instance one chapter ending in a middle of a scene then a new chapter began and it pick right up in that scene. If that is eliminated then this would have flowed like a movie which is how I visualize whole listening and reading Books

I liked this so much more than Pardon My Frenchie. The first one I really didn't like the characters are much. I had the ick a few too many times too but this time I really enjoyed the audiobook experience. I liked the characters much better and I laughed a lot.

Links to come.

Second chances, messy mamas, and puppy love? Instant 4 stars.” 🐾💛

Review: Pugs and Kisses by Farrah Rochon
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 stars)
Genres: Contemporary Romance | Second-Chance Romance | Romantic Comedy | Women’s Fiction | Dog-Lover Fiction

Pugs and Kisses is a sweet and cozy second-chance romance that had me talking back to the book from page one. “Girl, go back in there and get it together!” Yes, it’s that emotionally engaging.

Farrah Rochon blends family drama, classism, and unresolved childhood insecurities with heart and humor. The ex-fiancé? A complete waste. The new romance? So worth it. And the dogs? Absolute scene-stealers.

The audiobook narrator was fantastic—engaging and full of personality.

If you’re into romances with depth, charm, and just the right amount of fluff (the canine and emotional kind), this one belongs on your TBR.

I read the first in the series (Pardon My Frenchie) and thought it was adorable! The same is true for this one! I am a huge fan of second chance romance and this was a sweet story about how a couple gets another shot. It warmed my heart and I look forward to the next in the series!

the setup…
Veterinarian Evie Williams gets the surprise of her life when she returns home early and finds her fiancé in her bed…with another woman. She kicks him out and also quits working at his practice, now jobless and broken hearted. Evie turns to the Sanctuary for solace, a nonprofit animal rescue center operated by her college mentor. While she gets the puppy love she needed, she also got a snootful of an old love that got away. Bryson Mitchell, a nationally renowned veterinarian surgeon, has returned to town, standing right in front of her and she’s not ready for that. She exits rather quickly with new pug-beagle mix Waffles in tow but only later must work with Bryson to save their beloved Sanctuary.

the heart of the story…
I rarely choose a book because of its cover but must admit that this one did it, along with the title and description. Happily the story lived up to their promises and I had a really good time. Evie comes from a prominent and affluent family who had different plans for her. Bryson comes from very different circumstances that he lets come between them. Meanwhile, he and his papillon Bella bond with Evie and Waffles as they work to save the Sanctuary.

the narration…
Marissa Hampton delivered a fun and lively performance that met the spirit of this story. She managed a host of distinctive voices, including secondary friends and family along with Evie and Bryson.

the bottom line…
I didn’t realize this was the second in the series and thankfully it didn’t matter much, though I can tell when secondary characters have a backstory I’m missing. No matter because I had a lot of fun with the canine aspects and a very substantive romance. Bryson had to dig out of a hole to win Evie’s trust and he made that journey interesting. I’ll be reading the first book and highly anticipating the third.

Cute story. Enjoyed the "co flict" and resolutions in the storyline. There was just something missing in the romance of it all. It was a second-chance romance that just seemed to pick right up from where they left off. I wanted more tension, more will the won't they.

I had never read one of Farrah Rochon’s books before, but I grabbed Pugs & Kisses for review as soon as I saw it being marketed as perfect for fans of Abby Jimenez and Jasmine Guillory. I’m so glad I did too because this was just the cutest second chance romance I’ve read in a while!

Evie Williams is a veterinarian who works at her fiancé’s animal. Well, she does until she walks into her house and finds him in bed with another woman. Now that she’s out of a job and minus a cheating fiancé, Evie stops in at an animal rescue shelter where she used to volunteer and unexpectedly runs into Bryson Mitchell, her college crush and the man who broke her heart years ago when he ghosted her. Bryson is back in town and now a famous veterinary surgeon, and he’s going to be working at the shelter too.

I really enjoyed how Rochon wrote both of these characters. The feelings between Evie and Bryson are clearly still there, but there’s some hesitation because of what happened in the past. I loved how when they realize the shelter is in danger of closing though, they immediately pull together to try to save it, which provides them a chance to really get reacquainted with one another and eventually to have that much needed conversation about why Bryson ghosted Evie the way he did. They make a great team everywhere that it counts and I so wanted them to get that second chance.

I also just adored that they were both dog parents. As a dog lover, I was just eating up all of the charming pets in this book!

🎧I read this one with my eyes and ears and thoroughly enjoyed the narration of Marissa Hampton. Her performance really highlighted the humor and the heartwarming qualities of the story and I enjoyed the distinctive voices she gave to the different characters. It was an entertaining listen.

This was aaadorable! I loved Waffles and Bella’s relationship almost as much as watching Bryce and Ev’s connection grow!! Apparently I’m out of order and have to go back and read Ashanti’s book - but I also can’t wait for the 3rd book now!!! As a dog owner/lover myself this was such a cute, light story and I loved how everything came together in the end!!!

Thank you @farrahrochon for this wonderful book!

Thank you NetGalley for the ALC!

I absolutely adored this book! The struggle for the animal shelter to stay open is only too real. So many animal shelters struggle like this everyday. Reading about Evie and Bryson trying to navigate between saving the shelter and their new found relationship is so sweet and fun. Cameron is an absolute a**hat and oohhhh Evie's mother! How horrible she is! The narrator for the audiobook was so great and easy to listen to! Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for my audio ARC!! This was just released in paperback, so make sure to grab yourself a copy!

Pugs and Kisses was a sweet, cozy read, lighthearted and easy to get through. It has that soft, comforting feel that makes it perfect for when you just want something warm and simple. It was a bit uneventful and a lot of unproblematic problems. While the story didn’t quite stick with me or stand out in a big way, it was still a pleasant and charming little escape.

Evie and Bryson sittin in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G! This was an absolutely cute read! It is a fantastic addition to the series. I love a story where a woman knows what she deserves, and Evie deserved more than a cheating fiance. This is a slow burn second chances story where the MMC yearns for the FMC but shys away because of a wealth gap. Now, years later, when wealth isn't a concern, the new dilemma is saving the dog sanctuary together while navigating rekindled feelings. There's a little drama. But love, communication, and a heartfelt apology conquer all!

I can't wait for book 3. Because their story is giving scorchng hot!!!

Also, thanks to @netgalley for the ALC!!!!

#happyishreading #pugsandkisses

This was a very cute romance, especially if you are a dog lover. Really enjoyed how the story played out between Evie and Bryson. I’m a sucker for second chance romance and this one did it right. Both MC were likable and made you want to root for them. Even when someone did something I didn’t like, that character came around to understand and redeemed themselves in my eyes. I haven’t read the first story in this series but I definitely plan to do so. Thanks to NetGalley for both the ARC and the ALC to review.

This book had me grinning, swooning, and clutching my heart from start to finish. Farrah Rochon’s signature blend of humor, heart, and heat is on full display in this slow-burn romance.

Evie and Bryson’s second-chance story is rich with emotional tension, witty banter, and those quiet moments that hit just right. One of my favorite lines? “I might want you to apply a little pressure.” WHEW.

Even the steamiest scenes are layered with charm and realism which I find to be a Farrah Rochon specialty.

As a South Louisiana girl, the setting felt especially vivid and personal to me and I loved that. Whether you’re new to this series or already loved Pardon My Frenchie, Pugs and Kisses is a feel-good, dog-loving romance that knows how to flirt, heal, and hug you at the same time. Highly recommend!

This was delightful! Everything you want in a rom-com (and PUPPIES). This was my first Farrah Rochon book, and it won’t be my last.

The stage has been set for a sequel (what is Ridley up to!?), and I will be preordering it for sure.

The narration was impeccable—I’ve been so spoiled on this front lately! Will be adding Marissa Hampton to my favourite narrator list.

Thank you to Hachette Audio and NetGalley for an advance listener copy of the audiobook of Pugs and Kisses by Farrah Rochon. Narrator Marissa Hampton does a lovely job embodying the characters and immersing you into the story. I literally did not want to stop listening to this audiobook!

Pugs and Kisses as a story itself was insanely cute and yet another perfect example of how Farrah can make caring about dogs and falling in love go hand in hand. This book can be read as a standalone, but I’d highly recommend reading Pardon My Frenchie first for some background context and Easter eggs. It’s just the right amount of pining, spice, and friendship for a fun summer read! 4.75⭐️

While the title was captivating (and I absolutely love it!), the book's romance didn't quite make my tail wag. This wasn't for lack of development, as the characters' romantic connection seemed to intertwine with their efforts to save the animal shelter. However, it felt like this overarching goal outshone the romantic progression.

My attention was more consistently drawn to the characters' individual journeys. For her, a major hurdle was the fallout from her broken engagement, necessitating a redefinition of her future, alongside her issues with her mother and asserting her desires. For him, the struggle was deeply rooted in feelings of inadequacy especially compared to her ex—his former lab partner—a comparison that visibly plagued his decisions.

Perhaps a key reason the romance felt less impactful for me was that the characters were already somewhat in love from the start. Her primary conflict wasn't about developing feelings for him, but rather the challenging timing of their connection post-breakup, which intertwined with her personal growth. While he certainly had work to do to mend their relationship, he didn't truly have to "win her over," and I believe this lessened the romantic tension and the feeling of a blossoming love story. It was a cute premise with compelling individual and plot-driven arcs, but something about the central romance didn't fully ignite for me.

The narration was pretty good and honestly helped me through some of the slower sections that I might have otherwise found a bit flat.

Thank you to Hachette Audio, Farrah Rochon, and NetGalley for the advanced listening copy. This is my honest review.

If you are in the mood for a sweet, low stakes romance - Pugs and Kisses might be for you.

The story follows Evie and Bryson - former college sweethearts, and now veterinarians that are suddenly reunited after years apart. The banter between these characters is excellent, and the spicy scenes are minimal (I think there were two) but very descriptive. The best part for me was *dogs*, of course.

As a veterinary professional, there were a few things that made me cringe, but overall I thought the author did a nice job of portraying the field.

I listened to the audiobook version, and the narrator was fine - nothing exciting, but she did a serviceable job.

Id recommend this to anyone looking for a break from reality, and a solid romantic read.

Pugs and Kisses was a really cute and cosy second chance romance. Dog lovers will adore it. When Evie walks in on her fiancé with someone else, she starts to reevaluate her life. Not knowing that Bryson, her college crush, is back in town and ready to mix things up. They get off to a rocky start, but soon things are heating up between them. I loved how their relationship slowly grew and progressed into more. All with the backdrop of trying to save the shelter they both volunteered at. The only issue I really had was Bryson's inability to talk to Evie about his hangups about her family and their coming from money. It started to become a little repetitive. Otherwise, it was a great listen. Marissa Hampton was fabulous; she gave each character a distinct voice. It was a joy to listen to.