Member Reviews

A really sweet romance for the animal lover inside of (almost?) everyone, with characters that are easy to root for. Although it is part of a series, it can be easily read as a standalone. In other news, Jane Austen-meets-puppies is also a really specific subgenre of Hallmark movie that I absolutely did not furiously consume to attempt to fill the void left by this book.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Forever for this ARC!!!

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Incredible. This book improved on a perfect novel by adding puppies to the mix. I loved this and cannot stop gushing to my coworkers.

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The cute, fun story every Jane Austen fan should pick up. Small town, dual POV. I think this would be a great Spring/Summer read. *mood readers unite*

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Pride and Puppies is a cute, quick read for anyone who loves puppies and Jane Austen. The world was adorable and so loveable. The plot was predictable but enjoyable nonetheless.

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Nothing wrong with the writing, but I just wasn't a fan of the overall concept and plot. This is apart of a series that I haven't read the first 3 books, but I didn't see anything exciting about the story.

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a delightful story that is equal parts heartwarming and romantic. Charlotte and George are fully realized characters who are easy to root for, and the supporting cast of quirky townsfolk and adorable puppies adds to the charm of the book. Overall, Pride & Puppies is a must-read for fans of contemporary romance and anyone who loves a good love story

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As always, I was thrilled to return to Pine Hollow. Pair that with a Jane Austen reference, and I was SOLD. At first I thought I would question whether or not I needed a Christmas setting but I am happy to say, that I loved it just the same! Shane continues to grow this lovely community and I love each new character she introduces.

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Charlotte gives up guys and decides to get a puppy instead.
But instead she realizes the perfect relationship is also the best friendship.

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I’ve gotten away from reading “true” romances these days. You know the ones, where the entire plot is based around two characters who will end up together at the end of the story without much else happening. I make an exception for Lizzie Shane, however. I’ve been thoroughly enjoying her Pine Hollow series and the latest, Pride and Puppies, was no exception. It was so delightful!

Here’s the book’s description:
Dr. Charlotte Rodriguez is single—again—and she blames Jane Austen. She made brooding, aloof men sound oh so dreamy. But after years of failing to find her own Mr. Darcy, Charlotte decides it’s time to swear off dating. She’s going to lavish all her love and affection on someone who actually deserves it: her new puppy, Bingley.
And there’s no one better to give her pet advice than her neighbor and coworker George Leneghan. He’s quiet and patient and, best of all, way too sweet to ever be her type. But as their friendly banter turns flirty, the unimaginable happens—Charlotte starts catching feelings.
Just as Charlotte is trying to untangle what it is she truly wants, George announces he’s contemplating a cross-country move. Suddenly, Charlotte wonders if she’s kept her soulmate in the friend zone so long that she’s entirely missed her chance at a happily ever after. Dear Reader, could it be possible she’s had it wrong all this time?
First things first, this is not a Pride and Prejudice retelling. It is, however, an homage to Jane Austen, an author who is clearly close to Lizzie Shane’s heart. Charlotte and her sisters were all named after Austen characters - and yes, Charlotte can’t believe she’s named after heroine Elizabeth Bennet’s best friend who marries the horrid Mr. Collins - because their mother had loved the author. So, once you know that you’re not expecting Mr. Darcy to stride across the moors, you can buckle in for a sweet and fun romance that has lovely Austen touches.

I love a good friends to lovers trope but it’s always hard when it’s clear one of the characters has romantic feelings from the start and the other is an oblivious idiot. That was the case with this book as George most definitely wanted to date Charlotte as soon as he met her but Charlotte just didn’t see him as someone for her. Surprise, surprise, she had some work to do on herself and her self-esteem. A bit of a tired trope? Perhaps. But it didn’t lessen my enjoyment of this book one bit.

Part of the appeal of these books is the small town they’re set in, Pine Hollow. It’s the quintessential small town setting and so lovely. I’d move there in a heartbeat. The neighbours all look out for each other, there are great shops and restaurants to enjoy, and they have lots of nature in their backyard. What’s not to love? (Why, yes, I am a small town girl at heart.)

You don’t have to read all the books in Lizzie Shane’s Pine Hollow series but I think you should. Pride and Puppies was such a lovely romance and I absolutely cannot wait for the next book in the series. What kind of doggos will we get to meet next?!?

*An ARC of this novel was provided by the publisher, Forever, in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*

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Pride and Puppies made me so happy- it was chock full of references to my fave things like Austen, Ted Lasso and even a knockoff british baking show. I loved the story and it was so fun, but the more I think about it, the more I had issues with some of the things in it. I liked the characters but there are some flaws that are hard to ignore and then annoyed me the more I thought of it. But it was a super fast and fun read and I did enjoy it.

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Small town Vermont? Check. Swearing off men in favor of puppies? Check. Jane Austen inspired? Check. This had all the makings of the perfect rom com, and while it was a fun and lighthearted read (and REALLY made me want to adopt a dog), I did find that the chemistry between Charlotte and George was a bit lacking for me. It was a slow burn that never really *burned* in the way I needed it to, and the characters didn't feel as built out as I needed them to be (maybe a bit two-dimensional). Regardless, it was a cute fun read, perfect for spring and summer!

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I adore this series! It speaks right to me heart and I love how it sends a message to #adoptdontshop. The town of Pine Hollow is ABSOLUTELY a place I'd want to visit! I can see so many people I'd love to be friends with and hang out with! I love that although each book is a standalone we get glimpses of the other characters (AND DOGS!!) so we still get to catch up with them!

Charlotte drove me a little bit batty in this one - I wanted to scream at her to SEE George. On the flip side that made her more relatable LOL

I can't wait for more from Pine Hollow!!

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I really enjoyed this story - perfect combination of whimsical romance, cute puppies, and witty characters! A very easy read that kept me entertained from cover to cover!

4 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

📚Disclosure: I received a review copy of this book from Forever - Grand Central Publishing - via Netgalley. All thoughts, opinions, comments, and interpretations of the story are my own and bias free. I did not receive any money in exchange for this review. Thank you to the publisher/author for allowing me the opportunity to review. Reviews are usually cross-posted to social media, goodreads, and Bookbub. 🦄 @ReadForeverPub @GrandCentralPub @HachetteUS

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I am sorry for the inconvenience but I don’t have the time to read this anymore and have lost interest in the concept. I believe that it would benefit your book more if I did not skim your book and write a rushed review. Again, I am sorry for the inconvenience.

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I'm a sucker for two things - dogs and retelling of Pride and Prejudice. So as soon as I saw this book I knew I needed to read it!

What do you do when you think you'll never find the one? Adopt a dog of course! Because dogs love you unconditionally and will never disappoint you. I loved that Charlotte's dog is what brought her and George together more and gave them that nudge to move past friendship to something more.

A fun and feel good read that I see myself reading again in the future for when I want a sweet, dog filled romance.

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I enjoyed the premise and the characters were really fun! I loved the grumpy and sunshine plus friends to lovers trope. There was an instance where a characters says “he has the law enforcement background, so he knows how to get away with it” in reference to the main girl’s brother in law threatening the love interest. In this day and age that’s a truly disgusting joke to include in a book let alone have a cop as a romantic lead in a book released in the last five years. That needs to change because that soured my experience of this book deeply.

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I love pride and prejudice. I picked this up because people raves about her holiday book. However, I struggled to finish this one. Maybe because I know P&P and nothing felt really interesting or unique about this one. It was cute but I found myself enjoying some parts and then bored other times

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Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a sweet and charming romance novel. I loved the puppies in the story so much.

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A soft, light romance. Great for an afternoon of enjoyment and puppy antics. I enjoyed the Jane Austen inspiration and the secondary characters. The family dynamics were strong and vulnerable, painting the different family love and conflicts. This is a very low stakes, warm, closed door romance that is relatable and recognizable in its romantic arcs and tropes. I do love a good puppy filled romance.

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This was a first time read for me by this author, but I will definitely be looking out for more books in the future
Charlotte has been burned one too many times in love and has had enough. No more dating for her, men are just not worth all the trouble. She decides to focus her attention and love on someone she knows will never betray her, her new puppy Bingley. George is her neighbor and co-worker and one of her best friends. She has no idea he is harboring a massive crush for her. She seems perfectly content keeping him in the friend zone, and he doesn't want to rock the boat, so he doesn't clue her in on his feelings. George is the nicest sweetest guy, but doesn't see himself as the one girls fall for. Charlotte needs help in raising her new puppy and George is totally there for her, already owning a dog of his own. As he helps her with Bingley and they spend more time together, Charlotte connects with him in a way she's never connected with guys before and she begins to realize her feelings just may go beyond friendship.
This book was just too sweet, and being a such a Jane Austen fan, I really enjoyed the quotes introducing each chapter. Both Charlotte and George had some inner reflecting to do and it was nice to see them each go through their personal growth.
A fun, lighthearted read, that I absolutely enjoyed! Glad to have had the chance to read this!
I received a complimentary copy from Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

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