Once Upon a Puppy is the second book in Shane's Pine Hollow series. I totally loved the first book and did also enjoy this one. At times this one was a little hard for me to read and I'll explain why.

Let me start off with Conner. I really liked him. He's so uptight and yet he has the uncontrollable puppy called Max. Okay, really only he can't control him, but still loves him. Who doesn't love a man who likes kids and animals. They give you the warm fuzzies.

I will admit at times his uptight ways are a little harsh but as you read the story you get where he's coming from and why he is the way he is. Sometimes his driven need to get what he wants in his job overshadows everything and he needs someone like Deenie to remember how to have a life outside of work.

You kind of get an idea about who Deenie is from the first book. But since it didn't focus on her it was like a watered-down Deenie. In this book at times, she got on my nerves. I'm not saying I didn't like her but she judge those who work hard and go to good schools as snobs. I also felt at times she belittled people that work and stay home instead of being free and going where they want. I don't think her attitude about this would have bothered me so much if it wasn't said so very often. Her feels are beaten into you.

Now, it's not like I didn't like her, okay, sometimes I didn't but others I really did. A lot of the things that bugged me about her I know had to do with strong issues in her self-esteem. That's why I think Conner is good for her. He showed her that she didn't have to give up enjoying life if she stayed put. She also learns from her relationship with him that she's smarter and more capable than she gives herself credit for.

On their own, these two at times are hard to take, but together they learn what it's like to count on someone to always be there for them. This one might have started out slow for me but picked up about halfway through and ended really well. I am looking forward to the next book in the Pine Hollow series.

After loving first book in this series, The Twelve Dogs of Christmas, I was happy to return to Pine Hollow to follow up on the lives of the dogs (and their newly adopted owners) that were introduced in that book. This second book in the series focuses on Ally's best friend, Deenie, a free spirit who is temporarily in town to spend time with her great aunt, and Connor, a slick, workaholic corporate lawyer, who adopted Maximus, a goofy, untrained, 140-lb part Irish wolfhound at the end of the first book (mainly after being goaded into doing so by Deenie).

Predictably, it's not going very well for Connor or Maximus. After a training session in which Deenie subs for the regular dog obedience instructor, Connor gets the brilliant idea of hiring her for private lessons with Maximus. The only problem is that Deenie and Connor have clashed from the moment they met due to Connor's buttoned up, hyper-organized approach to life vs. Deenie's free spirited, travel oriented one.

As they spend more time together, Deenie's laid back attitude works its magic on both Maximus and Connor. After getting into a fake relationship to appease her family and the partners in his law firm, they inevitably give in to their attraction and end up in a relationship for real, the only question is how will they resolve the basic conflict in their opposite approaches to life?

As in the first book, the main characters were both likable and relatable, there was plenty of doggie action (mainly Maximus, but some of the others pups make appearances also), and the story was sweet and heartwarming. The next book looks like it will feature Elinor, the librarian, and Levi, the police chief and I'm looking forward to it. Although I'd recommend reading the first book since it was so great, this book does stand alone and it would be easy to jump in here. My thanks to Netgalley for an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.

I knew when I saw the title of this book it was going to be a wonderful read. It's the perfect read to escape with. I fell in love with Max! Conner and Deenie's story will keep you turning the pages to see what happens next. I would love to see this book made into a movie. I loved this book and highly recommend it. Thank you Forever (Grand Central Publishing) via NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

Four and a half stars. This story has all you could want in a contemporary romance. Deenie and Connor are wonderfully flawed characters and I liked them both. They each had interesting baggage and most of the conflict was internal rather than coming from other characters or situations.
I had a little difficulty getting into the story at the very beginning which is why I gave this four stars instead of five. But of course, stories with kids and/or animals are always winners.
I received a free copy of this book from the author and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) through NetGalley and was under no obligation to leave a favorable review.

Twelve Dogs of Christmas was one of the most fun books I read for the holidays. I was very grabby hands about getting this early copy of the follow up book. Connor and Deenie weren't really on my radar as far as personalities that I was interested in, but I am so glad that those are the characters we got. They were so similar and yet so different in their struggles. They both yearned for control of their lives and to be safe and loved, but in much different ways. I loved their banter and their chemistry. I loved Max and how much we got of their friend group.
Closed door romances are either done well or feel a little disjointed and I think that Lizzie Shane has such a good hand at making the door shut quietly enough that I don't feel like I am missing out on important parts of the story. This is a small town series that I am absolutely here for. If you love Annie Rains, Aj Pine, you should probably pick these up. They are sweet and fun and funny, but with some depth that keeps us turning the pages.

Thanks to Forever publishing for the free book.
It was so good to be back in Pine Hollow. I love the characters and dogs in this series. I am so glad the author gave Deenie and Connor a story. This book features the fake dating trope, which I think is my favorite one. It's so fun to see how the characters slowly fall for each other without meaning for it to happen. Deenie is such a strong, well developed character. I enjoy her assuredness in her overall life goals. It was so fun to read about Connor and his plans. I could definitely relate to the rule following character trait, so I enjoyed seeing how this played out.
Also so glad to read more about the characters from this first book, and I am already anxiously counting down the days to the third book. This is such a fun, feel good series.

I needed this return to Pine Hollow, Vermont, just for the warm, happy, squishy feels I get on completion. Lizzie's small town romances are sure to put a smile on my face.
Deenie is vibrant, full of life and glitter. Her jet-setting ways are confusing to the staid Connor. But we all know what happens when opposites pretend at a fake relationship with a side of undisciplined puppy.
Lizzie does a great job about painting a movie in my head. I love her descriptions and the funny way she acknowledges the stereotypical fake relationship trope. Now I just need Elinor and Levi's second chance.
Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.

Wow! This book is so good! It is heartwarming, witty, funny, sweet, romantic, and so much more! Whenever I picked up "Once Upon a Puppy", I was whisked away to the small town of Pine Hollow, and so enjoyed this book!

This is the second book in Lizzie Shane's "Pine Hollow" series! I have read the first book and absolutely loved it, just as I did this one! However, I also think this book can be read as a stand-alone as well, but, having read the first one, it was fun to see some of the same characters again! Ms. Shane's storytelling is spectacular, and her characters all feel like such incredibly real people. Each and every moment of this book is so well-thought out, and Ms. Shane's love of writing jumps right off of the page.

As a dog lover, I love how the dogs in these stories, in one way or another, really help to bring two people meant to be together, well, together! Connor and Deenie are opposites in many ways, and, in this case, opposites truly do attract! These two truly compliment one another quite well, and help bring out the best in each other. I loved watching them come together, and how their relationship grew deeper and deeper as the book progresses.

If you enjoy contemporary romance, I highly recommend this book! I am so looking forward to, what I hope, will be many more books in this heartwarming series!

Thank you so much to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and NetGalley for the ARC of this book, I loved it! All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Once Upon A Puppy is a romance set in the small village of Pine Hollow. It focuses primarily on Connor, a stuck up lawyer, and Deenie, a free spirited traveller with ties to Pine Hollow. When Connor asks Deenie to train his Irish Wolf Hound, Maximus, a mutual attraction occurs between Connor and Deenie. After spending more time together, and creating a fake dating situation that benefits both of them, maybe they aren’t as annoying as each other thought.

I really enjoyed this feel good book – it was charming. Not only does it draw you in with the cute dogs and the likeable characters, but it tackles real life struggles that are relatable to a reader. I found the dialogue flowed well, I was invested in the relationships of the characters, and I laughed more than once while reading. If you are looking for a light-hearted romantic read, look no further. I haven’t read the first book in the Pine Hollow series, but I found Once Upon a Puppy was great as a standalone book.

Thanks to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and Net Galley for the ARC of Once Upon a Puppy in exchange for an honest review

CW: alzheimers

In the first book in the Pine Hollow series I loved Dennie, and I was so excited to see her get her own book! Dennie is such a unique character, a tough wandering princess party planner with a heart of gold. I loved watching her develop and figure out what would truly make her happy in life. Connor is a type a, buttoned up lawyer type, and I wasn’t sure how I felt about him in the first book in this series. In this book, we learn so much more about him and I fell in love with him. It was really interesting the pairing of Dennie and Connor, these two COMPLETELY different characters, and to see how the author would try to bring them together. I absolutely loved this story, it was just the feel good read I needed! I so hope a third book will be coming out soon featuring Elinor! I received an ARC from netgalley, and this is my honest review.

This is a super fun opposites attract romance. Deenie and Conner really are different in so many respects but in the end they find they have many reasons to fall in love with each other. I really enjoyed the back and forth dialogue between Deenie and Conner. There's humor and poignancy in this story. I do enjoy author Lizzie Shane's writing style

I received an ARC in exchange for a honest review.

Thank you @netgalley for an early copy of Once Upon a Puppy. After reading and loving The Twelve Dogs of Christmas, I couldn’t wait to get back to Pine Hollow and learn more about Deenie & Connor!

Connor and Deenie were ready to fight for what they wanted. Between becoming partner at his firm and Deenie determined to stay free spirited and not boxed in, I wasn’t sure how they were going to get to their HEA and compromise. But they found their way and I adored it! Their wise cracks between each other had me laughing, and Connor definitely had me swooning!

There’s something said when an author names a hero Connor. There hasn’t been a single Connor I’ve read about that I haven’t loved and Conner Wyeth is no exception! Gosh he was perfect. And Deenie. I loved her free spirit, her sparkle & her overall being. As someone who had a family member with Alzheimer’s, her connection with her great aunt Bitty stood out to me as well.

We also get snipits of Ally, Ben, Astrid and the dogs which was so fun! Overall, I recommend Once Upon a Puppy, especially if you loved The Twelve Dogs of Christmas.

4/5 ⭐️

I really adored The Twelve Dogs of Christmas by Lizzie Shane and was so excited when I saw the series was continuing with Once Upon a Puppy. We follow free-spirited Deenie and her complete opposite Connor as they decide to fake date. They do this so Connor can make partner at his firm by showing he's well rounded, and so Deenie will have a date to her sister's wedding festivities. Cue the sparks!

If you are someone who hasn't tried a small town romance book I highly suggest starting with this series. Once Upon a Puppy can be read as a standalone if you haven't checked out the first book yet, but I did love following the characters in town in this second installment. This book felt so cozy and was very comforting, which everyone could use right now. I really loved the opposites attract energy between Deenie and Connor and how they individually grew throughout the story. Of course I loved Connor's adorable giant dog, Maximus. If you want a book that feels like a big warm hug, check out Once Upon a Puppy!

I received this book for an honest review from netgalley #netgalley

This was a sweet simple book very hallmarkish and I was glad that I read it. the puppy was absolutely adorable and really added character to the story.

The Twelve Dogs of Christmas was my favorite Christmas book last year, so I was very excited to read the next in the Pine Hollow series, Once Upon a Puppy.

Deenie helps out at the animal shelter and is particularly good at training dogs. So when Connor is struggling with the Irish wolfhound she goaded him into adopting, he hires her to help train him.

This is a sweet, small town romance in which both of the main characters hate Valentine's Day (with reason), and I am here for it. They have such great banter and conversations. I laughed out loud so many times. I don't want to include any spoilers, so I will just say if I hadn't fallen in love with Connor already, I would have at the 50% mark. They see each other and help heal each other.

Deenie's great-aunt, the relative to whom she is closest, has Alzheimer's. The scenes in which Deenie visited her and learned whether it was a good or bad day hit very close for me. They were very authentic, as I can attest from my own experience with my grandmother. This book featured a perfect blend of serious with the romance.

I love series and was glad I had already read the first, but this would definitely work as a stand alone. I'm already looking forward to the next book.

Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

4.5/5 rounded up

Once Upon a Puppy gives you just what you want in a contemporary, cozy romance: sass, snark, and the famous fake dating trope. Shane has given us another lovely peek into the world of Pine Hollow with Deenie and Connor's story, and it's been the perfect read for these sunny Spring-like days.

Deenie and Connor both made appearances in the first book in this series, but now they've become the main characters. Connor Wyeth is a man with a plan for everything, but the workaholic lifestyle he's developed since being jilted by his fiancee has further jeopardized his plans for the future. On top of that, Max, the 140-pound Irish wolfhound mix who Connor adopted to prove he has a life outside of work, refuses to listen to him. In fact, the only person Max will listen to is Deenie Mitchell. Deenie has a bad case of wanderlust, but her great-aunt Bitty's declining health and a series of commitments is keeping her in Pine Hollow for the foreseeable future. The last thing she wants is to spend more time with Connor, but the money Connor is offering to train Max is too good for Deenie to pass up. Add to that the fact that Connor would be the perfect guy to distract her uptight family at her recently-engaged sister's wedding functions, and Deenie makes a plan. But the best laid plans have a tendency to go awry, and Connor and Deenie discover that there may in fact be something to the age-old idiom that opposites attract.

This is not a twisty, surprising read. It's obvious how things are going to end up right from the start, but the ride to the finish is a pleasant journey. Deenie and Connor are very different characters, but their personalities complement one another, and their interactions are a lot of fun. I'm always a fan of the fake dating trope, and the "relationship" between these two is no exception. The more time they spend together, the more they learn that there's more to the other than it seems, and those moments of discovery are what make this novel so sweet. The pair also have a lot of admirable qualities, from Connor's willingness to work hard and desire to take care of mother to Deenie's gift with kids. I also really love Deenie's willingness to chase her dreams even though they're not what most would consider conventional. She's unapologetically herself, and that's a hard thing to do in a world that wants to force people into boxes. Her attitude on success, mainly that being successful doesn't always mean being the best, is applicable not only for Connor but for myself and surely other readers as well. Sometimes doing what you love won't earn you the traditional notion of success, but there's something to be said for following your heart and being happy, and I like that Shane included these weightier themes in a generally fluffy novel.

Once Upon a Puppy is exactly the sort of read you'd expect based on the title and the cover, and it's worth the read. It's comforting, sweet, and playful, and the canine chaos adds to the excitement. If you're looking for a small-town romance with lots of heart, the newest addition to the Pine Hollow series is for you.

I received an advance copy of, Once Upon a Puppy, by Lizzie Shane. This is a cute love story. Deenie and Connor have great chemistry.

Once Upon a Puppy by Lizzie Shane is an excellent modern/cozy romance that is the second book in the amazing series: A Pine Hollow Novel.

I truly loved the first book in the series, The Twelve Dogs of Christmas, so I knew I had to read this book when it came out. This could he read as a stand-alone, however it can be more appreciated if read in sequence. The first book introduced the wonderful cast of characters, so I knew a bit of the backstories of these two characters that were to be the focus of this book: Connor and Deenie.

As different as possible at first glance, opposites attract within this story, brought together by mutual friends that have found a lasting relationship, and by their own respective passion for canines and helping the four-legged residents around the adorable town of Pine Hollow. Both are brought together in hopes of creating a wonderful forever home with an adoptee, Max, from the shelter by Connor, and Deenie helps with her trainer skills to make the transition possible.

While these complete opposites meet, they realize that both would benefit from each other’s presence to help fill the “plus one” that is unique to both of their lives. But will this friendly agreement and tolerable initial relationship turn into something more? I will leave the reader to find out how it all ends up.

This is a light, breezy, fun, adorable, charming, and heartwarming romance that of course has my beloved canine presence throughout. I love this series, love the overarching premise of the animal shelter and finding forever homes, and the amazing cast of characters presented. This book is just as good as the previous, and I am looking forward to the next book in the series.

These books could easily become movies...I would love to see that.

5/5 stars

Thank you NG and Forever (Grand Central ) Publishers for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR, Instagram, and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication.

Denied is constantly on the go, always looking for the next adventure. Conner is a straight laced lawyer with control issues. He needs someone to help train his dog, she needs someone to fake date to keep her family off her back.

Expectations: Light, heartwarming romance with a touch of puppy chaos.

This book definitely delivered. A cute rom-com style book. Reading this book felt like hanging out with an old friend, familiar, relaxing, and comfortable.

*This eARC was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

With a title of "Once Upon a Puppy" you know you are in for a fluffy, sweet romance. Connor is a lawyer with a plan for everything in his life. He works hard and expects everything else to fall into place. He adopts Max, a full grown Irish wolfhound, and doesn't have time to train him. Deenie Mitchell is a free spirit with wanderlust. She has returned home from traveling to be with her beloved aging aunt. She is glittery and plans princess birthday parties in addition to helping her friend set up a dog adoption business. Connor hires Deenie to train Max.

Connor and Deenie are opposites especially at first. Throwing in a fake dating troupe that is advantageous to both, it is hard to separate the lines between friendship and more. This is a clean read for language and intimacies occur off the page. I enjoyed both main characters especially as there were real back stories for their life choices. Family members, friends and even dogs make the book have more depth than I was expecting.

This is a happy, low angst romance. Especially enjoyable for those wanting mature people but not explicit descriptions. Second in the "Pine Hollow" series but I easily read as a stand alone. Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for an ARC ebook in exchange for a honest review. (4.5 stars rounding up)