Lilly and Easton meet when they both are at the park walking dogs. Lilly’s career is down in the dumps, and to make ends meet she is walking dogs.
Easton is a NHL player and in a bizarre incident saved a dog, and now has to take care of him, while looking for the original owner. He needs someone to take care of his dog while he is on away games and requests Lilly.
Lilly and Easton both have issues and are not interested in a relationship. However they are attracted to each other and fighting it is not proving as easy as they thought.
I really enjoyed this book and the relationship development between Lilly and Easton. They became friends first and supported and were there for each other before moving ahead. I think this is a wonderful start to a promising new series.

I love this story, is fresh and good for the soul. Lilly and Easton are a great couple and a life changing one. They both are brave and fight for justice. Otis is the glue that bring them together and is the funny one.
I received an ARC from Netgalley foa a honest review.
I recommend this book. Hope this was the first of another hockey series.

I always enjoy this author and this is a stand alone- or perhaps the beginning of a new series? The writing is good and I liked the story. I would definitely read more if she decides to continue. Thank you to netgalley for the arc.

4 stars.

With a title like “Must Love Dogs… and Hockey,” how could I not pick this up? I mean, if I had to create a dating profile and needed to come up with a headline, that’s pretty much exactly what I would choose. So I figured I couldn’t go wrong with this book, and having finished it now, I can say I fully stand by that expectation. That said, this was not the easiest of reads for me. While there was plenty to like about this book, and while I definitely ended up loving the story as a whole by the end of it, it took a while for me to get into this — way longer than I would have thought possible for a book with a title that so perfectly describes me.

This is a slow burn, but more than that, it’s a slow start. For the first half of the book, there’s really not a whole heck of a lot that happens, and we don’t get the opportunity to really get to know either of the main characters until we’re at the halfway mark. So, to be perfectly honest, reading this felt a little bit like a chore for me at first. But once we got to that halfway mark? I blew through the rest, finishing it all in one sitting and finding all of my feelings on this completely flip-flopped by the end. But let’s back up.

What’s this story about? Strong and optimistic but down-on-her-luck Lilly gets an opportunity she can’t refuse when professional hockey player Easton finds himself unexpectedly saddled with a dog he desperately needs a dog walker for. The two don’t quite get along at first — or, well, Lilly isn’t quite a fan of Easton from the start, but Easton’s undeterred — but their relationship slowly grows over the pages of the book, and the two get a better idea of what they each want out of their own lives, too.

What did this story do well? Well, this book had sweet, lighthearted romance down. The plot followed a general arc that will be familiar to fans of Hallmark movies, but there was actual depth here, and the plot was executed way better than your average Hallmark movie. The characters, once we get the opportunity to really get to know them, feel real and come with their own histories and family quirks. They feel unique, and they feel like they’re a good fit for each other.

I’ll also say that I was impressed by how well Kelly Jamieson does tension. Right from the opening pages, there’s a scene from Easton’s point of view where you can truly feel the tension rolling off of him. They’re in the locker room, his team being berated by their coach, and Jamieson manages to jump right bast show into feel. You could see Easton’s jaw clenching, his muscles tightening as he forces his gaze away, could feel the room as a whole going quiet. It was beautifully done, and is honestly what kept me hooked into the book despite the otherwise pretty slow first half. And it wasn’t just the one scene; throughout the book, there’s a storyline dealing with the conflict between Easton and his coach, and each time, you can really see and feel everything about those scenes. But, that said… this incredible “show or feel, don’t tell” style doesn’t really extend into all of the other areas of the book. I’ll get to that in a moment.

Another thing in the “plus” column for this book is the way it deals with its New Adult themes. I’m a picky New Adult fan, and I feel like a lot of the time, books are just lumped into that category because the characters fit the right age range, and there’s nothing more to it. Not so with this book! Here, Jamieson explores important themes of figuring out how to rebound from career setbacks, of deciding what you’re willing to fight for, of coming to terms with the fact that as an adult, you need to forgive your parents for their “mistakes” a bit. It’s subtle at first… really subtle, but when it gets going, it’s just absolutely beautifully done. I was a huge fan.

Also: this book has a gorgeous cover. It’s not overly fancy, but it gives all the right vibes for this book.

What could be better? The first half of the book, really. Maybe I’m being unfairly critical here, or maybe it actually needed to be as slow and drawn out as it was in order to make us more appreciate the latter half, but I’m not exaggerating when I say that I struggled with the first half of the book. It was more than your average slow burn, because it really didn’t feel like we got to know either of the characters until the halfway point. The whole first half of the book, I couldn’t decide if I liked either Easton or Lilly. That’s… you know… not great. I just wish we would have gotten a little bit more of a glimpse at at least one of them. I don’t know that Lilly’s whole backstory with her career situation and whatnot needed to be such a mystery at first… I would have been more ‘in her corner’ from the start had I known earlier what was going on, there. But, then again, the slower reveal let me get to know her, realize she’s actually a super strong and resilient person, and decide I liked her, the same way you get to know someone in real life and have your opinions change about them. Maybe that’s the way it should be, really, because in hindsight, it worked, and it worked well, but I do worry that other readers would get bored and quit this book before things actually get good and they realize what they’ve been missing at the halfway mark.

The whole first impression Lilly has of Easton being full of himself or a jerk… I just didn’t feel. I like that she wasn’t immediately all-in on him, that it took him some time to have to win her over, and that she never felt over-the-top in her initial reservations about him, but I just never fully understood what it was that gave her that negative impression to begin with. I’ve reread their first interaction a few times. I’m trying to see it from her perspective, but… I just don’t get the vibes from him that she apparently gets. Oh well.

I also wasn’t a huge fan of the writing style, at least at first. Don’t get me wrong, Jamieson seems like a great writer, and I don’t think I spotted a single typo anywhere, but the flow of the narration just didn’t really work for me. It was a bit too stream-of-consciousness for my tastes, though I recognize that might work great for other readers. I just get turned off a book when the characters are narrating aloud their thoughts to themselves (or to dogs, etc.). But… that said, I literally only noticed this in the first half of the book. By the second half, I was flipping the pages so fast that I didn’t feel any of the jarring/choppy sentences that I felt littered the first half. I’m not sure if there was an actual shift in Jamieson’s writing at that point, or if I just got used to it and stopped noticing it, but whatever it was, it worked. Second half, I loved the writing style, but the first half just wasn't a good fit for me.

The only other thing that struck me as an odd fit were the sex scenes — again, at least in the first half of the book. For such a sweet (and otherwise not really steamy) story, our man Easton was a bit direct and crass at points, and the sex scenes just didn’t really have the same sweet vibe, to me. Again: at least in the beginning. It’s really hard to know if I only felt that way because I was so disconnected form the book until I got to that halfway point, though, so take this with a grain of salt.

Lastly, and somewhat importantly, I did feel as though we didn't get a full, proper conclusion to the whole tension-with-the-coach dynamic. It felt like we had such great build up on that plot (again: the best tension in the entire book was in those scenes between Easton and his coach), only to then gloss over the resolution, and I'm honestly still not 100% sure that it was, actually resolved? Or is it something that will play a role in the upcoming books in this series, and was it therefore left purposefully vague? We got to see Easton make huge strides in his own character, and he seemed to have formed a plan for how he wanted to handle the situation with the coach, by the end of the story, but then the actual final resolution, if any, seemed to happen off-screen. I wish we'd had a bit more clarity on this plot, even if that was to show things would be resolved more completely in a later book.

Overall, this was a great book that I really, really enjoyed, but it took me until the halfway point to actually start enjoying the story. I’m definitely going to look out for another Kelly Jamieson book in the future, and especially if there’s a book coming up featuring Igor and Nadia, you can bet I’ll be the first in line to get my hands on that. (I mean, I know they’re already together… but please? They seemed like an awesome couple from the tiny glimpse we got, and I want to see so much more!)

Recommended for fans of lighthearted romance and new adult, especially if you’re also a fan of dogs and/or hockey (though no understanding of the sport is required, so non fans should definitely still give this a shot!). Not recommended for those who prefer more of a deeper or angstier read.

*Disclaimer: I received an ARC from NetGalley, but this in no way affected my rating or my honest opinions shared above.

When I see this author releasing a new book...or series I get so excited. If you love romance, hockey, and of course dogs...then you will want to grab this book. Easton is a hockey player who inherits a dog. When Otis runs into Lilly during a walk it’s fate. Neither are looking for romance but their attraction makes for a fun and enjoyable read. I really enjoy this author’s writing and cannot wait for the next in what I’m sure will be a great series.

I feel like a cute dog makes every book better. This book is definitely a feelgood, sweet, extremely sexy book - that is made even better by the edition of Otis. Easton saves Otis from a terrifying elevator accident. After the accident, the woman taking care of him abandons him with Easton. Easton is a professional hockey player who has learned not to get attached to things or people. He has experienced a lot of loss in his life and could probably benefit from serious therapy - but he clearly falls in love with Otis really quickly (even as he half-heartedly looks for Otis' owner).

Easton meets Lilly while sh eis walking a neighbor's dog. Lilly has just been fired (again) for something that wasn't her fault. She's working on pulling herself up out of debt and depression to figure out where she is headed in life. When she accepts a dog-sitting gig from Easton that pays ridiculously well, she starts off on a path towards small-business ownership.

Both she and Easton are resistant to starting a relationship - but can't fight the attraction between them. They make a very cute couple - and I loved how much they both grew as individuals as they supported each other through the challenges they were facing. I also respected that when the conflict came - that they both acknowledged how they could move forward together and the issues that led them there. I could truly see Easton and Lilly going the distance - the end is a happy for now ending, but they are definitely headed for a happily ever after. I hope Kelly Jamieson writes more about these guys - including (and especially) Josh Heller.

I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, but these opinions are all my own.

There are times when you just want to get lost in a good book, knowing that whatever troubles the characters get into, by the end it will have all worked out the way it should. They'll be happy, you'll be happy for them, and maybe you'll feel just a little bit better about the people and the world around you. If you're feeling the need for a happy ending and absorbing read to transport you for a day, Kelly Jamieson's new hockey romance Must Love Dogs . . . and Hockey is for you!

Lilly's life is currently like "the love child of a train wreck and a dumpster fire." She's been fired from a crappy job, no one in her field will hire her, and she's trying to make ends meet by dog-walking. Easton is a hockey player with a coach who is verbally and emotionally abusive, he's dealing (by which I mean, NOT dealing) with lots of emotional baggage, and he seems to have accidentally acquired a dog he doesn't know how to take care of. Neither of them want to open their hearts or trust others for fear of being let down. But there's undeniable chemistry between them and as things heat up, Lilly and Easton will have to decide if they are brave enough to get past their insecurities or if the past will put them in the penalty box for good.

Anyone who's read Jamieson's Aces Hockey series (Playing Hurt, Slap Shot) knows that she's a writer who takes hockey as seriously as romance. Which makes her the perfect author for people like me, who enjoy both. In Must Love Dogs . . .and Hockey, Jamieson gives us a new team, the New York Bears, and new players to love- starting with Easton Millar. He comes off as a bit of a cocky jerk jock, but start getting to know him and you find a man who feels like he's lost everything but hockey, and is willing to put up with pretty much anything to hang on to what he sees as the only thing left in his life. He's afraid to get close to teammates, afraid to get attached to the dog he rescues, and afraid to look too closely at his feelings for Lilly- until it all comes to a head and he has to force himself to look at his life and who he really wants to be. The more I got to know Easton, the more I hurt for him, and the more I hoped he could make himself be brave enough to try for love.

What can I say about Lilly? When she sees people doing something wrong, she acts- even knowing what the consequences to her life could be. She tries to see the good in life, and how she can help make that happen for someone, while at the same time not having an annoying Pollyanna complex. She's the person I hope I would be in her situation.

In Must Love Dogs . . . and Hockey Jamieson gives readers an emotionally satisfying story of love, friendship, bravery, and dogs. Well-written and full of three-dimensional characters you come to love, this was a great book that left me thinking about it long after I'd finished. I hope we see more of Jamieson's Bears hockey team and its players in the future.

A must-read for any sports romance fan, dog lover, and everyone in-between.

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review

Must Love Dogs

Lilly is down on her luck when she takes a job as a dog walker for a neighborhood pup. While walking her client, another dog approaches and she ends up with a new client for her new business.

Easton has had a rough few years while dealing with the death of his brother and Dad. He’s also struggling with being traded to another NHL team with a difficult and unethical coach. When he randomly finds himself somehow the owner of new pup, he seems the help of the lady he just met at the park.

As Lilly and Easton start to spend time together, thanks to Otis, they find it difficult to keep their relationship all business. Neither is looking for anything serious due to their pasts, but it turns out they just may be what each other needs...

The premise of this story was cute! The title threw me off a little and I expected more of an online meeting between the two main characters. The dog, Otis, was a nice way of bringing Lilly and Easton together and the story progressed well. I do wish there was a little more conclusion on what repercussions occurred in regards to Easton’s coach but it seems like there may be another book coming so maybe it will come in time!

Easton and Lily’s story is heartwarming and sweet. I loved watching their bond grow. They both are going through some things in life and watching them open their hearts and learn to trust each other was touching.

This is story of standing up for what you believe in and for others, of opening your heart, and of love. It’s a sweet story that will warm your heart.

“Being brave isn’t the same as not being afraid. It’s just deciding…something else is more important.”

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.

This is a great romance novel with strong characters. Both Easton and Lilly have issues with losing loved ones and are determined to keep their relationship professional. Lilly is Otis’s dog walker and Otis cements their relationship. The issues of an underlying lack of trust, trying to do the right thing, and facing one’s fears make this a memorable book. I loved the hockey insights and the bond a team has for each other when they reflect on the team rather than themselves. Great book!

With my beloved Canes out of the Cup finals (sad face) I am having to get all my hockey love from my books.

And hockey and dogs? Let me at it!

Lilly and Easton's story is just cute from word one to the last. An if the hockey hottie isn't enough to keep you keen, then add some adorable pooches, and if you are like me, you will find yourself smiling throughout.

It's been a while since I have read a hockey book by Ms Jamieson, however I knew what I was going to get a cocky player and a feisty leading lady. And she did not disappoint.

I am looking forward to more of the Bears in the future. Please don't make me wait too long.

This one was very cute, even as it dealt with a few serious issues. I really loved how Easton was a little doofy, he charmed me right along with Lilly. It was great to see Easton become more open, Otis was a bit part of that was was Lilly. Lilly really helped Easton by listening to him talk about his past, by getting him to see what was happening to him at work wasn't right and that he needed to take a chance and do something about it. Lilly also brought back something that Easton never knew he never wanted. This one ended in a great way, loved that Lilly and Easton found their HEA.

There are a few things I'm a sucker for: any dessert made with apples, snarky banter, hockey romances, and romances involving dogs. This book gave me 3 out of 4!

Easton and Lilly meet in the park via dogs...one that she's walking and one that he saved (literally saved its life) and was now stuck taking care of. There's an immediate attraction, though Lilly sees him as kind of an ass, so she fights it. We see their relationship grow and change throughout the book.

Easton is a little broken and insecure and comes with some significant baggage. His backstory was heartbreaking! I felt for him from the very beginning. Lilly has some baggage of her own and is struggling with being unemployed and her finances. I enjoyed seeing them each help the other through their issues while really not knowing they were doing it. Their relationship was sweet and steamy!

Overall, this was a cute and quick read (less than 24 hours.) This was my first book from Kelly Jamieson and I'm looking forward to checking out some of her other hockey romance series!

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group. My review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.

I absolutely loved this story, as it combines some of my favorite things, hockey and dogs! The chemistry between Easton and Lilly was off the charts!

Their pasts have not been kind to them, both Lilly and Easton are just surviving right now. A chance run in morphs into a tenuous friendship between the two. Lilly is adamant that she is just there to take care of Otis, but slowly Easton begins to chip away at her resolve. As the two spend time together with Easton’s dog, they realize that sharing a bed might not be a hardship. Neither is looking for a relationship, but they can’t deny their attraction to each other, but when Easton is faced with a difficult decision will he cling to Lilly or push her away?

I’m really hoping that this book will turn into a series with the ending that we were left with! I didn’t feel like it was incomplete by any means but definitely has me wondering if there could be more! Kelly Jamieson is one of my favorite hockey authors, and this book just solidified that even more! From beginning to end I was pulled into the story and didn’t want to put it down. The back and forth not only between Lilly and Easton, but also Easton and his fellow hockey players was hilarious. I really enjoyed Easton and Lilly and how they supported each other and what they wanted. Absolutely amazing story, and I’m definitely hoping for more!

A fun and quick romance between Lilly and Easton. He is a hockey player, and she is a dog walker, and the sparks fly. Really enjoy Otis too. Hard to put this one down, and one I highly recommend.

Geez I thought this book was going to be totally different! Between the cover and the "new adult" stamp I thought it would be really mild, I guess you could say lol well was I wrong! It was hot!! And funny light drama some heartbreak and heartache! The storyline flowed seamlessly! It was a really great read! Definitely don't miss out on this book! Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for sharing this book with me!

Kelly Jamieson is known for her hockey themed books. This book is a little different from her previous books. It still has a hockey player and a love interest, but I thought the story was surface level. I never felt a real connection to the characters like I would normally have in a Jamieson book.

I enjoyed the story very much and it was a really fast read.

Cute fun read, great banter, plenty of humor but also a few tears and feels...oh and lots of heat! Lilly is down on her luck, just fired from the only job she could get in over a year you'd think she's be discouraged, well she is but she also has a great positive attitude that has her landing on her feet. Easton has had a hard life too, loosing his father and brother in an accident, as well as loosing his mother to living grief, he's put everything into hockey, it's his life and he doesn't want to rock the boat when playing for his current coach makes it miserable so when this positive dog loving beauty comes in sight their chemistry keeps sparking his life's going to be changing. Two people not wanting to get into a relationship, yeah right, time spent walking little Otis and a blossoming friendship makes this a fun read.

You know what you’re going to get in a Jamieson hockey novel: a hunky hero who plays hockey but has some insecurities about his personal or professional life. And there will be a plucky heroine who might resist the guy in the beginning, but soon enough they’ll be having hot sex. And after some misunderstandings, they’ll eventually achieve their HEA plus some well-deserved success on the ice. This novel follows that pattern, but throws in a cute dog who will soon bring together Easton and Lily.

Easton seems at first to be a grumpy gus who is having trouble holding in his anger at his tyrannical coach. But he soon acquires an abandoned dog who soon wins his heart. Lily is out of work and down to last dollars. But she’s plucky and optimistic. She meets up with Easton and his dog, Otis. Easton hires her to watch the dog when he’s traveling to away games. She is starting to build up a dog-walking business and also starting to find a new romance. And sure enough - they start finding out more about each other and growing closer and closer. The more I found out about the backstories of these two characters the more sympathy and interest I felt in their romance. Another winner from Jamieson.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.