Once Upon a Puppy (Pine Hollow #2) by Lizzie Shane



Connor Wyeth loves to plan; he has a plan for every step of his life. He gets more than he anticipated when he adopted Maximus from Furry Friends. The only one Maximus listens to is Deenie Mitchell, Connor enlists her help to train Maximus.



Deenie is a free spirit, taking odd jobs to save up for her next trip. While working on Maximus with Connor, she comes up with a great plan… if he comes with her to her sister’s wedding events, she’ll attend work events with Connor. After all, opposites attract.



Review: I was so happy to be back in Pine Hollow; The Twelve Dogs of Christmas is my favourite go-to Christmas romance novel. We were introduced to Connor and Deenie in the first book, and I’m happy their stories continued! Connor and Deenie are complete opposites which made this all the sweeter, and the banter was incredible. Once Upon A Puppy was a sweet, heartwarming, romance read.



Thank you Forever and netgallery for my ARC in exchange for a review.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
4.5/5 Stars
I discovered Lizzie's work in 2020 with The Twelve Dogs of Christmas, and I was thrilled to see that there was a follow up book! I didn't know if I would like Deenie as a character at the beginning; she had definite Manic Pixie Dream Girl vibes, and that doesn't tend to appeal to me. However, I quickly grew to love her (and hate her family). I always appreciate when my feelings about a character changes through the book, as it shows that the author took me on a journey! Deenie and Connor were fun together, and I definitely got Hallmark vibes from their various parties and events together (always a good thing!). Now to wait for a third book hopefully!

(My one small qualm is that I wanted more of Maximus (the dog) in it- it would have been 5 stars with a bit more dog time.)

After reading the first book in the Pine Hollow series last year, The Twelve Dogs of Christmas I just knew I wanted to read more.
I'll admit books that feature dogs are a go to for me.
This is a really cute story with an overly rambunctious Irish wolfhound puppy.
Yeah the dog is adorable but very clumsy and lovable and his house is going to be destroyed if he doesn't find a way to train it quick.
The large goof-ball of a dog only listens to one person, the Princess Party Planner aka the lady who used to walk him at the shelter where he came from.
With totally different outlooks on life can this party planner free-spirit and straight laced lawyer see eye to eye on more than dog care?
Such a cute and fun book. Perfect beach read.

Published May 25th 2021
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.

Y’all may remember last Christmas I was raving about the first book in this series, it was SO freaking cute I almost couldn’t take it. I’m happy to say book two was just as adorable, when an author makes me want to move to a fictional town you know I’m obsessed and I’m planning my pretend trip to Pine Hollow daily.

Ok this one has fake dating, opposites attract, cute dogs obviously, small town charm and so much heart. Pick this one up when you’re in the mood for a sweet romance that will give you all the warm and cozy feelings

This grumpy/sunshine romance was everything I wanted it to be and more!! I loved seeing how these two people were able to use a fake dating arrangement to figure out how and why they needed each other in their lives, and it wasn't just to get his dog properly trained either.
The second book in the Pine Hollow series didn't disappoint, and I can't wait to see what comes next!

Enjoyable story about two complete opposites and a dog. Connor is a lawyer with one focus and that’s to make partner but he needs to have a well-rounded life. Enter the dog from hell. Check. Deenie is a complete failure by her family’s standards. She lives until the next adventure and only works until she has enough saved up. Currently helping her friend at the local animal shelter, she teaches a dog training class and meets the owner from hell. Well, to be honest, he does have a few redeeming qualities like hotness and a dog.

Entertaining story of the two people you doubt would ever fall in love but they do!

I received an ARC from the publisher for an honest and unbiased review. The review is my own.

A light, fun, funny, incredibly sweet romance. Adorable characters and dogs. What could be bad? Not a thing! Connor and Deenie are as vastly different people and should make absolutely no sense and yet slowly the ice melts and ultimately they make all the sense in the world. I truly enjoyed going back to Pine Hollow, Vermont. This was a fabulous addition to the series. Left me anxiously awaiting my next visit.

3.5 Stars

Opposites attract and fall for each other bonding over dog training and fake dating to impress the parents. Deenie is the free-spirited, never wants-to-be-tied-down kind of girl, and Connor is the uptight straightlaced, plan-everything-kind-of-guy. Heads butt and sparks fly in this cute romance!

I love opposites attract and fake dating so I knew I’d love this. I was right! Connor and Deenie were so much fun and I loved Max. Definitely recommend this for romance fans!

Thanks to Forever and Netgalley for an advanced copy of Once Upon a Puppy.

ONCE UPON A PUPPY is the second book in the Pine Hollow series and it's such a fun small town romance. I loved the first book in the series The Twelve Dogs of Christmas so I've been eagerly awaiting the second book.

What's not to love
▪Adorable small town in Vermont
▪Enemies to lovers (or at least complete opposites)
▪Fake Dating
▪Stuffy uptight lawyer and a free spirit princess party planner
▪A great set of friends
▪Fun dogs everywhere!

This book checks so many of my favorite boxes. If you're looking for a fun romance I highly recommend this book and series!

This is a sweet "opposites attract" romance, and the fact that dogs are included makes it even better! This is an uncomplicated, fun book to enjoy during a relaxing day.

This book is S-U-P-E-R cute! I didn't think Lizzie Shane could do it again after her spectacular Christmas novel (The 12 Dogs of Christmas) but I was so happy to be back in the world of Pine Hollow.

Great characters, and slow-burn romance, and plenty of puppy cuteness made this one a must-read!

This was adorable—a Hallmark movie in book form. I liked it even more than the first in the series (The 12 dogs of Christmas). This is one of those romances where you know the two main characters will end up together at the end, but what’s satisfying about that is experiencing the journey that gets them there. You don’t need to read the first book to enjoy this one, though you’ll see the main characters from that one show up as side characters in this one. I thought both Connor and Deenie were believable and sympathetic characters, and I loved how their relationship forces them to grow out of their comfort zones and become even better versions of themselves. If you like a satisfying, predictable, closed door romance, give this one a try!
<i>Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Forever, for the advanced copy!<i>

Connor and Deenie are true opposites or so it seems. He's a planner, knows what he wants and she's always up for an adventure, never staying in one place too long. They appear to dislike each other a great deal but when Connor hires Deenie to train his dog they spend some time together. They enjoy debating and challenging each other and really just spending time together. Deenie proposes a partnership to help each get what they want and make life easier, at least short term. The longer they are together, the more they get to know each other, like each other and wonder if there is a future together. I always enjoy Ms. Shane's books, her blend of reality, humor and romance are perfectly done! I received an ARC from Forever Publishing and am voluntarily leaving my review.

Fake dating is one of my favorite romance tropes. Lizzie Shane did a great job with this small town romance. I adored Connor (and Max). Deenie was a fun character to cheer for. It was also great to catch up with Ally and Ben from book 1, but this can definite be read as a standalone. This book is sweet, charming, and funny! It’s a perfect summer read. Thanks you to Forever and Lizzie Shane for the free advanced copy. All thoughts expressed are my own.

This book was so much fun to read.  I enjoyed the banter between Connor and Deenie.  They were definitely like oil and water and complete opposites.  Deenie despised what he represented and his pretentious home.  I liked her character who was a free spirit like her Great Aunt Bitty and Connor was all about contracts and following procedures.  She liked to have fun and he was rigid.  

It was funny to watch her try to help him train his 140 pound dog, Maxamus.  I really enjoyed the scheme they came up with to help each other out.  She would be his date for his social activities with his law firm and he would be her date for her sister's wedding,  It worked well for each other because it was a relationship with an expiration date, until it wasn't.  I enjoyed the great ending!  I received an advance copy of this book and I willingly chose to write an honest review.

This would be opposite attract as Connor was a planner and Deenie is an adventurer and loves to travel, never wanting to stay in one place any longer than it takes to save up money for her next trip. As her great aunt isn’t doing well and is in an assisted living home dealing with Alzheimer’s and was the only family member that cared for her and supported her, she will remain in town being there for Bittie as she was always there for Deenie. She is helping Ally as well as makes princess dresses and plans princess parties. Now she has taken on training Maximus, Connor’s wolfhound mix, that gets into so much trouble and you just have to laugh at the things he has done, including getting drunk. At first Deenie and Connor didn’t like each other at all. They constantly threw jabs at each other but the more time they spent around each other the more good they saw in each other. I really sweet story. I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving a free copy.

This was such a cute book. Maximus was one of my favorite dogs in The Twelve Dogs of Christmas, of right away I was so thrilled to see how he was doing. And Connor does not disappoint as Max's owner. It's funny to see someone who is usually so in charge of everything in his life not know how to handle such an energetic dog.

Deenie is definitely one of the best characters in this series. On the surface she's so fun and, as mentioned in the book, sunshine-y yet there's more to her than meets the eye. It's really great to watch Deenie come into her own as she spends more time with Connor and Maximus. Seeing her grapple with trying to decide who she wants to be, while also falling for someone who is so different from how she's lived her life makes for such a great story.

Lizzie did a great job creating the relationship for Connor and Deenie. They have the time to realize their own truths and who they are while getting to know each other and learning how they can balance each other out.

ONE UPON A PUPPY BY @lizzieshaneak
I had the luxury of being able to read this book on my flight to and from my honeymoon thx to @netgalley and @lizzieshaneak
This cute book is about a princess party actress/dress making/dog trainer woman who loved to live life as freely as she could even if it meant she didn’t have her family’s approval. As well as about a man who is a lawyer and has plans for everything in his life and must have control over everything. The two start off not being able to stand each other until the lawyers pup brings them working together to train him. Once that happened, the two ended up helping each other out in their personal life’s by pretending to be each other’s partner only to actually fall for one another.
This cute story had me glued to it I loved the speed of the story as well as the characters involved. There were several life lessons within the book as well that I am sure a lot of people could benefit from understanding. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am looking forward to more books from this author. 4.5/5

A delightful sweet romance. Dogs enhance the story, but then so do the tiny princesses. Cute tale that is sure to be a Hallmark movie. A few tears, many chuckles and a charming ending to this happily ever after. Haven't read the first one in this series, but look forward to reading the next one. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley.