Must Love Dogs…and Hockey
Series: Bears Hockey, #1
Author: Kelly Jamieson
Publication Date: September 8, 2020
Publisher: Penguin Random House
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Note: This review is for an ARC and is my unbiased opinion.
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★
Synopsis:
Lilly: My life is like the love child of a train wreck and a dumpster fire right now. I’ve been canned, my professional reputation is shredded, and now I’m walking dogs to make ends meet.
But I still believe everything will work out. Somehow.
Then a dog at the park attacks my friend’s dog. At first, I’m ready to give the owner hell—but it turns out he’s in desperate need of doggie daycare. I figure, why not? I love dogs and I need the cash.
Too bad his cocky bad boy attitude annoys me. He’s too damn cute for his own good. And I’m not talking about the dog.
Easton: My coach is riding my ass and I’m not handling it well. When I’m saddled with an abandoned pooch, my teammate thinks a dog will keep my temper in check. I think I have enough problems already.
But when my new dog gets into a tussle that leads me to meet a smoking hot chick who knows how to handle the rascal, I start to think pet ownership isn’t all bad. At least it gives me an excuse to see Lilly again. . . .
Neither of us are interested in a relationship. First they steal your bed, then they steal your heart. And I’m not talking about the dog.
Before I start my review, I just have to say I’m really digging this cover. With so many authors going illustrated covers, this cover made me want more like. I absolutely love the couple loving on the dog. Plus, the green props. A+ cover in my book.
As for the story, it was as cute as the cover. I adored the way Easton became a dog owner. The way Otis wrapped his legs and heart around Easton made me so happy. Everything involving that dog was magic. I loved that Otis was responsible for Easton meeting Lilly and, therefore, what came after.
Lilly and Easton were both interesting characters, mostly due to their pasts. Those pasts weighed them down a lot. I liked how they reminded me and seemed to be based off a couple of real-life events. That could have made the feel to this story on the angst-ridden side, but it didn’t. I liked how light the story still felt despite what the characters were dealing with. Lilly and Easton’s romance had this nice, natural feel to it. Everything seemed to happen just as it should, in a cute way. When things went wrong (because you know they do at some point in a romance usually), I felt their heart ache, but I still felt happy because I knew good things were to come. The romance between them was so cute and well written.
I did have a few of things I wanted more of from this book. The first was regarding everything that went down inside the hockey organization. That was such a big deal, and I think I wanted to feel the explosiveness of the situation rather than just be told how it all went down in the end. Same with Lilly’s court case. Maybe that would have made this book heavier than I wanted, though. I don’t know. I guess I just wanted to feel more in touch with those two events. Oh! I also wanted to know what was up with Lilly’s freaking dad. That kind of resolved, but we never got to know the why of it all. That was frustrating.
That being said, this truly was a fun, new hockey romance series from Jamieson. I like how it started, and I can’t wait to find out what’s coming next in it. I’m guessing a certain someone’s book who was mentioned at the end. I am loving that idea. I also very much want a Cookie book. How could I not with a hockey player nicknamed Cookie. Makes me think of a giant teddy bear.