I love this little series it’s late it’s fluffy and in this instance my absolute love of dogs especially rescue dogs as me 100% lockstep and invested in these fun quirky character driven plots.

Heart on a Leash by Alanna Martin is the first book in her Hearts of Alaska series.

Taylor Lipin escaped Helen, Alaska for the sophistication of Los Angeles, but she’s back in her hometown to help her sister with the family business. She meets Jay, Pepper, and Bella, three adorable huskies, and their human, Josh Krane, a new doctor in town. Taylor is instantly attracted to… the huskies and just possibly Josh, who, unfortunately, turns out to be a member of the rival family that has troubled the Lipins for decades.

Heart on a Leash is a perfect portrait of a small town with a twist. The writing is immediately engaging, and the plot and characters hold the reader’s attention throughout. The dogs are an extra treat. This is an excellent romance with a touch of mystery that smartly enhances the plot. I thoroughly enjoyed this 5 out of 5 star read and recommend it to all readers who enjoy romance with a real plot.

My thanks to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. However, the opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine and mine alone.

The swoon-worthy romance, the crazy over-the-top family drama, the adorable huskies all contribute to a time well spent.

The last thing Taylor Lipin wanted to do was return home to Helen, Alaska. She had worked hard to get out from under the never-ending feud her family has going on with the Porter family. But she can't leave her sister in the lurch with their inn after her mother packed up and left suddenly. Dr. Josh Krane is a part of the Porter family. He's aware of the long-standing feud, but he doesn't consider himself a part of it.

Josh and Taylor met when one of Josh's adorable husky's tried to run her over. They had no clue they were fraternizing with the enemy, as it were, and by the time they figured it out, cupid's arrow had already met his mark.

I really loved how Josh and Taylor just ignored all the warnings and threats from their families and pushed forward with their relationship. And boy, those two families pulled out all the stops to keep them apart.

I enjoyed this book from start to finish. There were moments of great frustration and plenty of awwww moments. And it all comes together well. The writing kept my interest and the plot moved along nicely. The characters were filled out nicely and most of them experienced some kind of learning experience by the end of the story.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book has dogs on the cover so ofcourse I needed to get my hands on it.

This story is such an adorable rom-com that will steal your heart right away.

I love this book so much. I just couldn't put it down .

Thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the chance to read this book. It was super fun and super cute!

I really wanted to love this book, but sadly I could not get into it. The characters were cute and the setting was ideal, but again something was missing. I was looking forward to the Jewish elements of the story, but found those to be lacking as well. I'd like to give this one another shot at some point, so it's on hold for now.

My Review: This book immediately captured my attention; adorable dogs on the cover - check, small town atmosphere - check, secret lovers - check. I had a lot of fun reading this book, it definitely gave me modern day Romeo and Juliet vibes with family feuds, verbal duels, and a lot of longing lovers. Luckily, this is a contemporary romance so we get that happily ever after and it doesn't take a turn for the tragic. I really enjoyed the characters, Taylor's reluctant return but still full of love for her family. Josh just kind of gets sucked into the turmoil without wanting it but by family blood. I also loved that the dogs played such a role in the story, it kind of makes me want huskies! The family feud was really played up a lot but Martin also manages to poke a bit of fun at it by showing through various characters how ridiculous generation long feuds end up being. All in all this was a fun and enjoyable read and I am looking forward to more books in the series!

My Rating: I was really drawn in by the cover of this book and was intrigued by the synopsis, and the story did not disappoint. I really enjoyed this book and can't wait for more in this small town and hope to see the family feud broken down! I give it a rating of Four Paws.

4.5 stars

This is the first book in the Hearts of Alaska series by Alanna Martin.

I thought this book sounded really good in the blurb. They have a kind of Hatfields and McCoys thing going on in the town of Helena and these two people reminded me a lot of Romeo and Juliet. Star-crossed lovers that might not have been meant to be. I read about the first third and the couple got together really quickly and was doing what I consider the cheesy sex scenes. I was rolling my eyes hoping against all hope it wouldn’t continue in this vein with no real plot. Then the feud between the two families kicked in gear and the angst started popping in and I was very relieved.

There was real plotting, real feels and real struggle. If I could have given the two advice, I think more communication would have been key. They assumed a lot of things that really put their newfound relationship on the rocks almost as badly as the feud was doing to them. The feud seemed a bit silly to me. The main culprits lighting a fire under the feud were the older generation. And the police had long ago decided to stay out of it. So when all the crap hit the fan and their love affair was discovered, they fought for that love … until they didn’t and they let the stupid people decided who they could love.

When you finally get into the real thru-line of the story, you will tear up and choke up and root for them to fight, fight, fight. And that is what a good book does. It might have started a little wobbly but it found its stride and ended with an amazing resolution that I was beginning to think might never happen.

I totally recommend this book.

Definitely pick this up if you are a contemporary romance lover.

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title. Opinions are completely my own.

A pack of rescue huskies brings together two people from feuding families? Sign me up! From the first time I saw the cover of Heart on a Leash, I knew it was for me! As a mom to a very sweet rescue husky, I can personally vouch for their potential for bringing people together.

Heart on a Leash follows the story of two warring families in Helen, Alaska: The Lipins and the Porters. Taylor Lipin has made it her mission to leave her hometown of Helen, Alaska, and never return. But when she gets a desperate call from her sister asking her to come help with their family’s inn when their mother walks out, Taylor reluctantly agrees. Her plans for a quick trip are thrown off course when she meets Josh Krane and his adorable trio of rescue huskies. There’s only one problem: Josh is a Porter.

Heart on a Leash is an adorable romance story. It’s the perfect book if you’re looking for something light, and happen to love fluffy pups. Josh and Taylor are both great characters, desperately trying to balance their affection for each other with the demands of their family.

I can’t wait for the next book in the series, Paws, and Prejudice!

Thank you to Berkley Romance and Netgalley for the review copy! All opinions are my own.

3.5 Stars

Small town romance? Check. Sexy doctor who loves dogs? Check. Forbidden romance? Double check.

Helen is your idyllic Alaskan town where everything seems too good to be true. That is until you learn about the feud between two major families in the town: the Lipins and the Porters. This feud dates back centuries with the real cause unknown, but that does not stop either one of these families from doing what they can to agitate each other. A chance meeting between Taylor Lipin and Josh Krane gives rise to an all-out war between the Lipins and Porters. Each one trying harder to break the new couple up. Can they survive it?

This book makes you want to sit by a fire, drink hot chocolate, and snuggle with your dog while reading it. It has such a cozy hometown vibe to it with an added bonus of three extremely adorable Huskies. I am a sucker for a story about an animal lover hero, and Josh Krane is no exception. He is very thoughtful hero, and really goes out of his way to assure Taylor that their relationship is important to him even at the expense of making his family unhappy. He refuses to let them ruin their budding romance. It was enjoyable to watch their connection grow into love, and to watch them stick it to their families for the sake of their happiness. They are grown adults who determine their own destiny without regard for the feud between their families.

“After building a life around seeking stability and avoiding unnecessary risk, he was fresh and ready for this battle. He’d found Taylor, and she was a risk worth taking.”

They really do have so many struggles to overcome though with so many family members adding difficulty into their life. I kept thinking throughout the story that something has got to give. These people are adults, and they are going to stop acting like petulant children and just accept this relationship. Nope. It never happened. I really felt for this couple because it went from simple things like tearing up flowers to someone trying to cause bodily harm. It was hard to believe that someone’s family would not give them a chance because of something that happened hundreds of years ago. Honestly, I missed that in this story. At the end, neither family truly accepted their relationship. I wish we had gotten to see some growth from these other characters because it would have added another layer of depth to them than just their anger.

If you like a story that gives you a small town feel like Robyn Carr’s Virgin River Series or Susan Mallory’s Fool’s Gold series then check this book out.

~ Michelle

I devoured this book! There’s nothing better than a good feuding families drama, and the one in this book creates the perfect modern day forbidden romance—with rescue dogs! The author did a fantastic job of creating the colorful and memorable setting of Helen, Alaska. The small town is filled with lovable characters that bring so much life to every scene—it reminded me a bit of the quirk of Gilmore Girls’ Stars Hollow in the best way. Taylor is a delightful and headstrong heroine, whose personal journey is so relatable. Her love interest, dog lover Josh, is all at once sweet, sensible, and sexy. I enjoyed the rich backstory of how the families came to be enemies, and appreciated that each family had their flaws. It made the story all the more intriguing. I was SO invested in the drama! Taylor and Josh have so much chemistry, and I enjoyed every moment of watching them fall for one another, and fight for their love. The dialogue and banter is super fun and smart, and kept me smiling all the way through. This book has the ideal balance of steamy scenes and sweet, heartfelt moments. I’m really looking forward to the second book in this series which features Josh’s cousin Kelsey, who was one of my favorite characters! All in all, a fantastic read.

Total Hatfields/McCoy's vibe that I adored! Plus, pets! Adorable Huskies, enemies to lovers, and a beautiful Alaskan setting made this book delightfully charming!

I absolutely adored this one! I loved the writing and the characters. The feud definetly made me angry but the way Josh and Taylor clicked was so amazing. I got really annoyed with Kelsey at points but I really liked Lydia. This was fun and I loved that we got Jewish rep in romance! This was so good!!

Heart on a Leash was a really fun read and one that I found to be very enjoyable. It was easy to get right into this small-town feeling and the writing was captivating enough that it had me up late at night reading and ignoring the fact that real life would be starting again in the morning.

Honestly the family-feud part of this book is what had me nervous because typically it's not something I would find enjoyable. But in this book I actually liked how it was handled. There was some drama that had me rolling my eyes but it also had me reading faster and dying to get Josh and Taylor's HEA.

Thanks to Berkley Pub for the arc of this title!

One sentence review - A fun romance set in Alaska featuring a couple with some great chemistry, three fantastic huskies, and a family feud to rival the Hatfields & McCoys.

I am a sucker for any story set in Alaska.  Add in some great dogs and I knew this was a book I needed to read.

The story centers around Taylor Lipin who finds herself back in her family home of Helen, Alaska.  She returned from Southern California in order to help with the family inn.  When out for a run one day she encounters Josh Krane and the sparks fly.  What neither realizes at the time is that they are both members of rival families who have feuded for generations.

I really liked this story a lot.  The two main characters have interesting jobs and have some amazing chemistry.  And Josh has three amazing huskies that really almost steal the show.  The family feud is the main source of conflict in the story.  I appreciated that it added some intrigue but things weren't completely blown out of proportion.  

So I'd highly recommend this book if
... you love romances set in Alaska
... you love romances where dogs play a big role (and these huskies are the best!)
... you like stories with a Hatfield & McCoy type backstory

A paws-itively sweet read. This present day Romeo and Juliet story, made this book a so very entertaining read. The husky’s are extra fun and added much to the story line. This book has it all, mystery, drama, angst, romance and steam. Grab this as one of your vacation reads.

The reason I picked this one is the cover. I saw it and knew that I wanted it to try this story. Cover love is a real thing. Since this is a new author for me I couldn't wait to jump into this book. I hoped that the inside of this book fit the wonderful cover.

To start off I really liked Taylor and Josh. I liked how they acted with each other. Right away you felt the ease that these two have with each other. I felt for Taylor and what she was dealing with. The shock of being laid off and then her parents is a lot to take.

Right away I liked Josh too. I did feel like he really didn't know his Alaska family that well so I was kinda shocked when his cousin just gave him a bunch of dogs. He didn't seem to mind so I guess that works.

The best part of this book is the two main characters which are good because the book is about them. What doesn't work for me is the "Hatfield-McCoy" relationship that the two families have. I really felt it took away from the romance of Taylor and Josh. I really didn't care for Josh's family the most. I felt Taylor's family is more understanding or at least some of them.

I think I would have liked this much more without the families. Which for me is saying a lot. I always love a good small-town romance with tons of family and friends that I can wonder who will get their stories next.

There are many moments of the story that I enjoyed. Most of what I didn't was the families. Take them out of the story and it would have been really good. The childish behavior of the families was a little too much for me. I'd almost want to try the next book in the series but I'm worried it will be more of the same bad behavior. This isn't a horrible story, the moments that I did like are good. If you don't mind fighting families then you'd enjoy this. For me, it was a little too much.

There’s just something about romances set in Alaska that gets me every time. This was a great small town Alaska romance. I loved Josh and Taylor. I will definitely be reading more from Alanna Martin!

Taylor and Josh’s romance story in Hearts on a Leash by Alanna Martin, book one in her Hearts of Alaska series, was an emotional, enjoyable and heartwarming tale. Growing up in small town Alaska where your family had a crazy century-old feud with another family was the reason Taylor Lipin gave for her goals to leave her hometown for sunny California. When her sister needs help running the family inn, Taylor agrees to return to Helen, Alaska for a couple weeks; a temporary solution. At least that’s her plan until she is knocked off her feet, literally, and enters enemy territory by three happy huskies and their gorgeous, hot owner, Dr. Josh Krane. Josh didn’t grow up in Helen alongside his Porter cousins, but he’s heard the stories of their feud with the Lipins. Porters recue huskies, Lipins are cat people; keep to your “pack” or family. At least that’s the plan until Josh meets the too tempting Taylor; I mean, his dogs love her, even if she is allergic. Upon learning about their familial ties, Josh and Taylor are drawn to each other, naively believing it won’t affect them or their relationship. Spending time together they find their magnetic attraction pulls them together, and electricity sparks between them. Meanwhile, tensions in the town intensify, especially between the families, and seeing each other secretly is taking a toll on Josh and Taylor. These two will need to decide if their newfound love is just a summer fling or if they have found their forever person. It’s going to take strength, trust, and determination for them to pull this off.

Ms. Martin wrote an emotional, romantic and heartwarming romance that should not be missed. This story abounds with emotions, magnetic attraction, wonderful dialogue, and charming but strong characters giving Taylor and Josh a chance at a forever love. I highly recommend Hearts on a Leash to other readers.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

3.5 stars

Oooooh puppers! Alanna Martin had me at the cover lol

And the puppers inside the book are just as amazing and adorable as I wanted them to be.

I liked Josh and Taylor - a lot - but sheesh did I hate just about every one else in this book.

The Hatfield and McCoy/Capulet and Montague BS that the two families carry on with just made me so mad, so sad for our lovelies. These people should all be ashamed at themselves for acting like two year olds throwing a tantrum, over something that none of them was even around for *rant over* This drew me out of the love story, as all I wanted to to was smack people over the head with my kindle hahah

I hated how much the immaturity affected our lovelies who did nothing wrong but to fall in love.

Ms Martin uses such beautiful imagery, that I could imagine myself in Alaska, walking these dogs.

so whilst I didn't love Heart On A Leash for the above reasons, I did enjoy it for the most part, and I am looking forward to more in this series in the future.