Unleashed Holiday by Victoria Schade is a sweet romantic novel with wonderful dogs adding to the fun. We meet Chelsea (Chels) Higgins from the start, as she runs School of Frolic, a successful dog training business; she also has an older dog, Birdie to give her companionship. When one of her clients has to give up his dog, Edith, Chels offers to take her; so now she has two cute dogs, a young puppy and a senior dog.
To her surprise, Chels learns that the vacant building next store to her shop, has been rented by her old nemesis, Andrew Gibson; which he plans to turn into a gym for fitness training. Though they both share best friends, they have never really gotten along.

Andrew has a boxer dog, Dude, who is totally untrained, and Chels becomes annoyed at some of Andrew’s bad habits, parking in her space and not training his untrainable dog. One night, Dude, the wild dog (though very cute), accidentally injures her, and Andrew and Chels make deal; Chels will train Dude, and Andrew will give her strength training rehabbing her wrist injury. Slowly, the bickering between them changes to sort of a friendship, leading to lots of bantering; and both begin to have feelings for each other.

Chels gets to know Andrew’s parents, and sees that he and his father have their own issues; but in time she will get Andrews to try and find a way to reach out to his father. But Andrew’s mother is thrilled to have Chels available to train her goats. This was fun and I really like the mother. Chels also learns from being with his family, that she needs to spend more time with her own family, including her pregnant sister and mother.
When Chels and Andrew learn that the landlord is planning to sell the building, both are concerned. Chels’s family tries to convince her to use the money her deceased father left, but she refuses to touch the money. Now will the building possibly being sold; she will need to reconsider. How will Andrew react to this possibility?

Unleashed Holiday was a fun story, with a great couple, nice secondary characters, and all three of the cute adorable dogs. I have to admit, I loved all of the dogs, especially with Birdie’s surprise in falling for Edith, and her dominant ways. I loved Dude too. Unleashed Holiday was a sweet enemies to lovers romance, and so very well written by Victoria Schade. If you enjoy a second chance romance and fun dogs, you need to read this book.

Have you ever laughed so hard you leaked some bodily fluids ? No? Me either , never .

LIES .

I found a book that made my little squirrel brain jump up and down like an old lady at bingo .

Unleashed Holiday

I love love love holiday books! Now throw in some comedy, romance AND fur babies? Gosh dang it, you have me swooning!

I fell in love with Chelsea over and over again . By the time I concluded this book I felt like I knew both Chelsea and Andrew, personally and my goodness! Those pooches! They caused me irreparable bladder damage from laughing so hard.

Victoria Schade has talent, that part is clear! I am excited to see what comes next!

This book is filled with love, laughter, family and at times a tear or two .

Check out this teaser :

When an old rival reappears right before the holidays, a professional dog trainer must decide if the melting frost between them can make up for their ruff past, from the USA Today bestselling author of Dog Friendly.

Chelsea Higgins is doing just fine. She’s heading into the holidays at the helm of a thriving dog training business, and she’s got a mellow senior dog at home to keep her warm at the end of the day. What more could she need? Enter certified gym bro Andrew Gibson: Chelsea’s former nemesis, and now the newest neighbor in her business complex, who also wants to expand into the vacant space Chelsea’s been eyeing for months. Who cares if it’s the season of joy? Let the turf war begin.

When an unfortunate (and literal) run-in with Andrew’s lawless dog leaves Chelsea with a bum wrist, the two strike a deal: Andrew will help Chelsea rehab the injury if she’ll work with him to train his adorably uncivilized boxer.

Their typical bickering soon turns to bantering, and Chelsea finds herself inexplicably drawn to the man she thought she had nothing in common with. As she gets to know Andrew and his parents, she realizes she needs to refocus on her own family, especially with a milestone Christmas speeding toward them. But Chelsea can't help wondering if she and Andrew are training for keeps, or if this unexpected Christmas gift is just too good to be true.

"Chelsea Higgins is doing just fine. She’s heading into the holidays at the helm of a thriving dog training business, and she’s got a mellow senior dog at home to keep her warm at the end of the day. What more could she need? Enter certified gym bro Andrew Gibson: Chelsea’s former nemesis, and now the newest neighbor in her business complex, who also wants to expand into the vacant space Chelsea’s been eyeing for months. Who cares if it’s the season of joy? Let the turf war begin." This is a great romantic comedy. Chelsea and Andrew are meant to be together. Going through a bunch of ups and downs is just the right direction.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion of this book.

This contemporary romance was engaging and a quick read. It hits a lot of the romance memes. It is an enemies to lovers romance. At least it is on the heroine's part. She has an embarrassing memory of a drunken hookup with the hero.

Chelsea Higgins runs a successful dog training business. When she learns that her new next-door neighbor is Andrew Gibson, she's less than thrilled. They have known each other since college when he was her best friend's roommate. Now he's opening a gym next door and has an untrained deaf boxer that he doesn't keep on a leash often enough for Chelsea.

The rivalry they had in college soon turns to bantering and to romance as Chelsea gets to know the real Andrew as opposed to the person she made him in her mind when they were in college together.

Besides the romance, Chelsea is also still dealing with the death of her father from cancer and the changes that has made in her family. She's also distanced herself from her best friends as a part of her grief.

I liked the people in this story, and I really liked the dogs. Chelsea's senior dog Birdie and her new puppy Edith and Andrew and his deaf Boxer named Duke were all active characters in this romance.

Fans of contemporary romance will enjoy this one.

Unleashed Holiday by Victoria Schade is a delightful book that offers a festive story, beautifully gift-wrapped for Christmas. Within its pages, readers will find three charming dogs, mischievous mean girls, a dashing hero, and a reluctant yet endearing heroine.

This captivating story took me on a heartwarming journey, filled with holiday cheer and unexpected twists. As the story unfolds, the lovable dogs steal the spotlight, bringing joy and laughter to every scene.

Amidst this delightful chaos, a handsome hero emerges, capturing the hearts of both the readers and the reluctant heroine. Their journey together is filled with unexpected encounters, humorous mishaps, and heart-tugging moments that keep me eagerly turning the pages.

Victoria Schade's writing style effortlessly weaves together humor, romance, and the magic of the holiday season. Her vivid descriptions transport readers to a world where the spirit of Christmas is palpable, and where love and friendship triumph over adversity.

Unleashed Holiday is a must-read for anyone seeking a heartwarming and entertaining story that captures the essence of Christmas. With its delightful characters, captivating plot, and expertly crafted prose, this book is sure to leave readers with a smile on their faces and warmth in their hearts.

If you love animals and holiday romance then get this book! First, I had preordered this book from #doylestownbookshop solely due to the Boston Terrier on the cover. That and I was looking to line up my holiday reads early. I saw the opportunity to read it before the pub date and I was lucky enough to snag an advanced reader copy thanks to "Netgalley and "Berkley
There was so much I enjoyed about this book. Edith the Boston Terrier was so spot on to how my own Boston Terrier behaves. The main character, Chelsea Higgins, is very likable and I enjoyed the enemies to lovers and second chance romance trope. I was interested in the animal training she did and her working with her enemy's mother and her naughty goats.
This was a fun, feel good, holiday romance and I loved it. This is my first book of this author and I look forward to picking up another of hers.
Pub Date: September 26, 2003
Thanks to #Netgalley and #Berkley for my advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.
#unleashedholiday #victoriaschade

Thank you so much for an advanced copy of this book! This is my second book by Victoria Schade, and it won't be my last!

First off, how cute is this book cover? I'm a dog person through and through, and I would pick up this book on cover choice alone! Adorable. Also, the characters in this book were so cute and fun! I found myself staying up late while I read it, wishing I had a cup of hot chocolate and some caramel popcorn to celebrate the holiday season.

Second, I just found this whole story charming. It was the perfect book to tease the holiday season!

Overall, I enjoyed this book so much. Two thumbs way, way up!

Rating: 4⭐️

This story has a good blend of content that will make you feel right at home. It’s a combination of different tropes – Christmas romance, enemies to lovers, dealing with grief, family dynamics, second chance romance, and more.

Unleashed Holiday was a fun story to read because of all the components the author treated us to, but especially because of the dogs. After all, we do have a dog trainer in the house with two cute pups and an athlete with a darling boxer. What could go wrong?

The author crafts the story with great visualization and detail. She loads it up with heart and delight. But also adds in a bit of hate and discontent, strife, old loves, a past hot hookup, and a wonderful HEA.

I love the fact that it was not all roses and sunshine. These two had to go through a lot to get to their happy place. They both are business owners and deal with issues there. Family drama and past issues had them working to get through it together.

One thing was bugging me a bit in this story and that is the female lead did have a bit of bite with some of her words and that was never really addressed well enough for me with Andrew. Her hurt was showing through but in turn, she was degrading him.

Unleashed Holiday is a pleasure to read. Schade pulls out the stops with tenderness, warmth, and a slow burn romance. A yummy hot Andrew and cute secondary characters in the pups make this a delightful, sweetheart of a read!

School of Frolic has continued to grow since Chelsea founded it. She has put in so much dedication and hard work.

Andrew, Chelsea’s nemesis, recently moved to the same business complex. Chelsea realizes that the one spot between them is not enough.

With adorable dogs providing comfort and companionship, what more do you really need.

When I think of holiday romance, I am looking for a book that is set smack in the middle of Christmas, and full of delightful love and miscommunication. I don’t really think books that are set outside of the heart of Christmas are true Christmas books for me. And that was the base here. Sure, there were talks about getting the tree ready and the lights hung, but that was about it. I just prefer my Christmas books to be more Christmas based. The writing was alright, and the characters have chemistry. I honestly kept reading this one for the puppies and their antics. They really sold the book. The rest of the book just left me wanting for more, and not in a happy kind of way.

If you are looking for a light and cute holiday read, then check this one out.

Thank you so much to the publisher, Berkley Publishing group, @BerkleyPub, and Netgalley, @Netgalley for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Publication Date: September 26, 2023

After her father's passing, Chelsea Higgins has thrown herself into her work as a dog trainer. Chelsea is looking to expand into the empty building space next door with her business thriving, but there's one problem. Her newest neighbor, gym-bro and ex-college nemesis Andrew, is also looking to expand his fitness center. When a run-in with Andrew's tornado of a dog leaves Chelsea injured, the pair strike a bargain: Andrew will help Chelsea rehab her injury if she helps him train his dog. Soon their bickering turns into fondness, and the more time Chelsea spends with Andrew and his family forces her to face the feelings she's been hiding from her own family. Between vying for the open real estate and her growing feelings for Andrew, Chelsea finds herself needing a Christmas miracle.

I'm not the biggest fan of holiday romances, so I liked how subtle this was. It still is very much a holiday rom-com, but it wasn't over-the-top. There were a lot of aspects of this I enjoyed. I liked how while it was comedic at times, Schade also dealt with heavy topics, such as grief and family dynamics. I liked how Chelsea and Andrew weren't afraid to challenge one another. I also love a romance that includes adorable pups, and this one felt very Hallmark-y. Unfortunately, I did have some issues with the writing and story itself. There were times it felt like we were missing chunks of backstory. Chelsea and Andrew have known each other for years and have a history, and while we get little bits of that, I never felt like I had the whole picture. That applies to Chelsea and her friends as well. It was a whole lot of telling and not showing. It made it hard for me to connect fully to these characters. I still liked it and thought it was cute, but I wanted more.

Chelsea is running a successful dog training business when her former nemesis, Andrew, moves in next door to start his own business. When Andrew's dog accidentally injures her wrist, he offers some strength training in exchange for some dog training. Their bickering turns into banter and they seem to have more in common than she initially thought. They both must decide if they will let their defenses down, and open their hearts this holiday season.

Chelsea and Andrew had some on point chemistry in this story, with their banter being top notch. They both challenged each other and ran into some laughable situations. This book is built on the miscommunication trope though, and having it from a single perspective allows the miscommunication to be perpetuated for the reader. It is not my favourite plotline, but it seemed to work in this book.

While there were many comedic moments, this book had some serious issues as well. Chelsea is learning to live with life after the passing of her father, while Andrew is struggling with disappointing his own father.

This was a fun cute story that included the antics of dogs during the holiday season. Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for a copy of this book. All opinions are 100% mine.

This is a cute holiday (Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas) story that includes adorable dogs, a couple who seem not suited at all, and all the festivities of the season. Chelsea has a chip on her shoulder and Andrew seems happy to goad her at every turn. Drama ensues as they navigate misunderstandings that led them to this point and force them to decide if they want to work things out. Fans of Hallmark movies and author Victoria Schade will love it!

UNLEASHED HOLIDAY is a snappy, yappy tale of adorable dogs and a bickering couple of neighbors who rub each other the wrong way. Could it be the right way leads to romance? It stars Chelsea Higgins, a cute, confident lady who has a successful dog training shop. When a male rival from college moves in next door to her business, she isn't happy. What will it take to iron things out between them?

Andrew Gibson, a seriously, handsome guy, and Chelsea's old nemesis, opens a gym in her complex. His unruly dog injures her wrist. Andrew offers physical therapy in return for Chelsea offering to discipline his dog. Chelsea is hesitant since they don't get along. They both are thinking of expanding there businesses when an adjacent space is open for rent. This is a bone of contention between them, as they argue over who gets to expand.

With the holidays looming, it should be a season of joy, not a scrappy, crabby couple who are constantly bickering. But, as Chelsea gets to know Andrew better and meets his parents, she refocuses are her own family as Christmas approaches. Andrew and Chelsea are drawn to one another, once they let their defenses down. Is this the season of surprises with a rollicking romance and wriggling dogs underfoot?

UNLEASHED HOLIDAY is cuteness overload with dogs stealing the show, as an enemies-to-lovers couple squabble and discover chemistry sparking between them. Chelsea is a dog trainer who disciplines her rival, Andrew, disorderly dog. This is a comical, festive, and sexy story that made me fall in love with the stars. Each have their own faults and quirks, which made for many unforeseen, laughable events. Ms. Schade delivers many colorful characters and playful partners with panache. Truly a winning combination! Absolutely loved it!

Unleashed Holiday is the perfect holiday romance for dog lovers.
These pups certainly get into trouble but were also incredibly adorable!
This is a rivals to lovers romance set during the holiday season. I felt the book did deliver on its premise. I thought the romance was developed nicely and did not seem to spring out of nowhere. It was a slow build that was definitely rewarded in the end with the steamy scenes. The tension is wonderfully done and I loved all the romcom shenanigans.
Definitely worth a read if you love Hallmark with Spice!

Chelsea's dog training business is going very well when she gets a new business neighbor... her old college nemesis, Andrew. As with any romance comedy worth its salt, sparks fly, misunderstandings brew, and all is happily resolved. This is a fun read, perfect for the holidays.

Unleashed Holiday
By Victoria Schade
Pub Date: 26 Sep 2023
Berkley Publishing Group, Berkley
Romance
Spice🌶
Rating: 4/5

Victoria Schade's Unleashed Holiday is a hilarious read, captivating readers with its unique narrative style and heartfelt storytelling. Can you think of anyone who does not love a romantic story featuring adorable dogs? It had me on a leash!

In the years since Chelsea Higgins founded School of Frolic, she has grown the business significantly. It is the start of the holidays and she deserves extra attention and love for all her dedication and work. It's pleasant to know that her senior dog Birdie is there at the end of the day to provide comfort and companionship she needs. What else could she possibly need?

Andrew Gibson, her old nemesis, suddenly moves into the business compound and is now her neighbor. They are separated by only one vacant space, and Chelsea finds that to be too close. This adds yet another layer of complexity to an already complicated situation, making Chelsea's holiday season even more challenging. Joyful season or not, who cares? This is the beginning of a Higgins/Gibson war.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for sharing this cozy romance with me. For those looking for holiday spice without graphic imagery, I highly recommend this book.

#UnleashedHoliday #VictoriaSchade

Victoria Schade’s books are quick reads, fun, joyful and always have a happy ending. And….the dogs are always the best part. Loved this book!

Oh my goodness this book was absolutely precious! I’m a huge dog lover, and this spoke to my soul! Read this!