This was such a touching story! It goes to show sometimes there is more to a story and the people that are behind it that we know! Highly enjoyed it and as a dog lover I appreciated that tie in to the story as well!

4.25 stars
Thank you NetGalley for an arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Okay, I was not expecting to fall in love with this book. I was looking for a fun palate cleanser book and was pleasantly surprised that this book was NOT that.
We have an opening that makes it seem like this might be a second choice romance, only for us to see that is not the case.
The author was able to take deeper topics like depression and suicide and put it into a heartfelt book that also had humor.
The FMC I felt was very fleshed out as someone who was in a slump with her life after the death of her ex-fiancé who left her at the alter a few years previous. She is then left the ex-fiancés dog in his will and she has to learn how to cope with a dog with severe ptsd from its time as a service dog in the military.
It brings out the parallels of the FMC having to figure out how to cope and support someone (or an animal in this case) as she felt that she failed her ex-fiancé in the past with his fight with ptsd and depression.
The MMC was actually the older brother of the ex-fiance which is kind of weird but also worked.
This was definitely a heart clencher but was so beautifully written

I finished this book and I loved it so much. Caprice was such a strong and relatable character, and I really felt her grief and struggle after losing Kyle. Rufus, the dog, stole the show. Drew was sweet, protective, and quietly strong, and I loved seeing him and Caprice slowly heal together. The book handled grief, mental health, and forgiveness beautifully, with both heartbreaking and tender moments. The emotional impact and depth of the story really made it true beautiful. Thank you so much to the author and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read the book in advance, I received this for free and I'm leaving a honest review

This book is a moving romance that explores grief, healing, and second chances through a unique bond with a military trained dog.
The slow burning tension between Caprice and Drew as they navigate shared loss and conflicting feelings makes the story emotionally compelling.
The dog’s role adds depth, showing loyalty and resilience.
I loved the authentic characters and fresh narrative, combining struggles with personal healing, which made this a heartfelt and engaging read.

ok this book completely took me by surprise. i thought i was strong than this! turns out a good book like this can still turn me to mush. this was so much in a slot of its own and it was fresh, gorgeous and oh so touching. i lost a few droplets of water to this book.
and i mean you put a dog in there and you are not being fair,ok.
Caprice was such an amazing character. i wanted to be her friend and i wanted to scoop her up. i also wanted to just take care of her stricken heart, make her stop, and help her cry and heal. and also make her realize how much what happened was not on her.
because this is a woman who has been dealt a blow. the love of her life is gone. gone from the relationship and then not long after gone from her life altogether. gone from his own life.
but he leaves her something. he's leaves her his dog. which would be touching, or is it cruelty for Caprice who is so far from being a dog person its untrue.
then there is the lost loves brother Drew. he certainly doesn't think this woman should get to have his brothers dog. and will be round there to tell her just that, thankyou very much.
ha we'd like to see him try take the dog though as Caprice hates him more than she does dog.
but the struggle is real. Caprice had to fight to keep things spinning and most of the time they end up being smashed...often by said dog. he's struggling himself and so she might just need the help from the one person she knows will be up to the job. in step trainer Drew.
this sparks a getting to know the truths of each other. getting to be by each others side in more ways than one. and getting to heal with the help of each other.
i felt like i was alongside these two too. i was rooting for them.
this book was showing so much of how a grief can shower down on people lives. it can be different and similar for all kinds of people. when you have a death like the one our characters have it can leads to a whole different and more heart excavating type of feelings. ones that need such tender love to be able to heal from. it needs steadfast support and time. and those around you need to do just that. seeing how these two start to be that for each other was so wonderful.
seeing how their hate wasn't directed at either of them was something that you can often see. that hate, pain, fear and loss just need to go somewhere and anywhere when so much of it seems to be going inward and hurting too much.
this book was truly a beautiful read. it had all the things you want from a romance but then layered it into and around something so much more fabulous too.
i adored this book. wow Emilia, just wow. thankyou.

Wow. This was a rollercoaster. I didn’t read the previous books (this very much reads as a standalone) and was expecting more comedy. This is really just so emotional. I had such a deep ache in my heart for the 3 leads (4 if you include the dog). They all have just been through heartbreak and trauma and loss. It was very powerful. I was not prepared. I ate this up and read it straight through barely stopping to eat meals. I will absolutely be putting this author on my auto buy list.

Recommend highly.

As a dog lover, I instantly wanted to read this book—it has all the ingredients of things I love in a modern romance: dogs, dogs, and more dogs! Especially because I own a Belgian Malinois myself, I absolutely loved Rufus.

Love In Training by Emilia Reed is far more than a simple romance; it’s a beautifully written, deeply emotional journey of grief and healing.
Journalist Caprice Phipps inherits Rufus, a military dog with severe PTSD, from her lost love. This unexpected inheritance instantly puts her in conflict with dog trainer Drew Forbes, the brother who blames her for the tragedy. Reed masterfully explores heavy themes like depression and forgiveness with sincerity. Rufus’s struggle mirrors Caprice's own, creating a unique, heartfelt path to connection and healing for the three characters. This is a satisfying and unexpectedly moving story about finding second chances where you least expect them.

Thank you to “ARC provided by Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op” for an advanced reader copy of this book for review consideration via NetGalley. This review is voluntary. All opinions are my own.

Two years ago, Kyle left Reece at the altar. After a year Kyle was dead and willed his military dog, Rufus, to Reece who was not a dog person. Kyle's brother, Drew, trained dogs and really wanted Rufus himself. When Reece and Rufus have trouble adjusting, Drew helps her train him. Reece is a journalist, currently exposing a dating app for married males to find females. As she exposes those responsible, she is stalked. Rufus becomes a necessity in her life. This is a beautiful book about the importance of friendship between siblings and best friends. I loved how Reece's friend, a dog lover, supported her. There is a lot of information about military men and dogs as they try to adjust to normal life. I loved the way Drew worked with Rufus and supported Reece. Great book!

As a first time reader of Emilia Reed's work this was a well written and captivating storyline. It was an emotional rollercoaster, that dealt with heartbreak, deep trauma and loss. It was a very powerful and intense story.. The author dealt with some very hard and difficult issues with a nuance and thoughtful approach. I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading more from this author.