Puppy Love at Mistletoe Junction by Shannon Richard. I loved this romantic Christmas story that involved dogs and puppies. Read the love story of Lucy and Theo.

This book offers a promising premise: two childhood rivals forced to co-exist and navigate their complicated feelings. Unfortunately, the execution falls short. The characters' constant bickering and repetitive conflicts become tiresome. While the underlying tension is intriguing, the lack of character development and progression hinders the story. Didnt help that the plot feels a bit forced. It's like they're just going through the motions. I wanted to like it, but it just didn't do it for me.

Puppy Love at Mistletoe Junction by Shannon Richard is a charming and delightful romance that hits all the right notes.
A beautifully written love story! The characters are well developed and the reader will become attached to all of them.
Great characters that you come to enjoy, a plot that you can sink your heart into, and an ending that just feels right makes for a wonderful holiday story. I highly recommend this author.

Thank You NetGalley and Avon for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Puppy Love at Mistletoe Junction is a lovely and festive holiday read. Lucy and Theo rekindle an old romance. I loved that they rescue a dog together and help take care of it before she gives birth.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon for this arc.

Great holiday ready with fun cast, engaging love story and all the feels of Christmas time. This was an easy, fast read to pull readers in and loved watching this characters fall in love.

PUPPY LOVE AT MISTLETOE JUNCTION – Shannon Ricard
Avon
ISBN: 978-0063235656
October 15, 2024
Contemporary Romance

Cruickshank, North Carolina – Present Day

After ending a bad relationship in Los Angeles, Lucy Buchanan temporarily returns to her hometown in North Carolina and has landed a job teaching music at the local high school. Lucy is notorious for competing at darts, especially when it is Theo Taylor she competes against. The two have never gotten along. Not as children, nor as adults. Well, therein lies a little secret. Seven years ago, Lucy and Theo hooked up for several weeks in secret, but she dumped him and went back to seeking her dream as a singer. As they can’t avoid each other in town because of their interconnected friends and relatives, it’s no wonder that they are soon feeling the attraction rise between them once again. They end up having a fling, that both know will end once she leaves town in her continued search of landing a job in music.

Lucy and Theo soon discover that their secret fling isn’t that much of a secret in PUPPY LOVE AT MISTLETOE JUNCTION. In fact, a few of their family and friends knew or suspected they had a fling several years ago but didn’t say a word—until now. While Lucy has no interest in remaining in town once her temporary job is over, Theo secretly wishes she would stay on. But he also realizes he has no hold on her. Where does the “puppy love” come from in this tale? Partway through, Lucy rescues a rather large dog that was found abandoned. And the dog, which she names Bear, is pregnant. Along with lots of help from Theo and others, Lucy brings the dog into her home and makes her comfortable. Readers will smile and feel good about how Lucy comes to love a dog. She has no business owning a dog since she will be leaving in two to three months, but will this factor in any decision she might make wanting to stay in town? Especially with Theo an added benefit.

Their friends are pushing them together and Lucy and Theo aren’t averse to being outed and bringing their relationship out in the open in PUPPY LOVE AT MISTLETOE JUNCTION. But readers understand her reluctance to remain in town when she wants to achieve her career dream. It isn’t something she can pursue in a small town like Cruickshank, where everyone knows everybody. Her plans are the big hangup between them as Theo hopes she changes her mind but knows that he can’t force her to stay. And forcing her to do anything would be a dealbreaker for her. Lucy loves the town, but it also holds bad memories after her mother died from cancer during her high school years. Then her last boyfriend tried to control her to the point that she came home to recover from the mental exhaustion of trying to be perfect. Readers will understand and sympathize with Lucy. But yet, we want them to finally realize how they are falling in love. How will this tale end? Guess you will have to read it to find out.

A fling from seven years ago is resurrected in PUPPY LOVE AT MISTLETOE JUNCTION and readers will enjoy going along for the ride as Lucy and Theo get reacquainted. Enjoy the fun and grab a copy today.

Patti Fischer
Romance Reviews Today

A fun-loving romantic holiday novel that highlights the folks of a small town and how their lives intertwine. When Lucy returns home, after running years ago, she still has that same love/hate feeling with Theo. Will they find their way to be together. The rescue dogs included in this story make it even more heartwarming and romantic!

A nice holiday read with puppies, what more could you ask for in a book?!! This is my first book by this author, and I am glad that I took a chance on it!!!

I am such a sucker for a cute holiday story with doggies in it and this story sounded perfect along with its holiday romance story. I’m going to refrain from calling it a Hallmark story because it was way too hot and spicy (definitely R-rated) to be a Hallmark story, for those that are interested in that kind of info. From pretty much the get-go, I kept wondering, “where are the puppies”, and “bring on the puppies”. GIVE ME THE PUPPIES!!! For the record, the puppies don’t show up until almost the end ot story. Uuuggghhh!!!

The book summary introduces the MC’s, Lucy and Theo and pretty much lays out the primary storyline. There is also an ensemble of other characters that are a mixture of friends and relatives that definitely add to the story. Love Wes, Lucy’s widower dad; in the Hallmark movie version (I totally see this becoming a PG-rated Hallmark movie) I see a younger Sam Elliot. The story starts out with the typical friends to lovers to frenemies trope based on the history of Lucy and Theo.

There is also a secondary storyline of Lucy trying to decide if she’s staying or going. Lucy has a habit of coming in and out of Cruickshank, NC every few years. She’s home this time, after seven years, because of a bad break up in Los Angeles, but six months later, she has an opportunity to go to NYC. Around the same time, she is offered to stay on for another semester at the local high school where she has been teaching drama. And then finally, the puppies!!! Well not exactly, but Theo and Lucy rescue a pregnant doggie that they name Bear because she’s huge and she looked like one with all the caked-on mud she had on her when they found her.

The chapters flip back and forth between Lucy and Theo and the character development of the two was good, the character development for most of their friend group seemed kind of flat. However, while I didn’t hate Lucy, she bugged the #%!! out of me for most of the story, which was really annoying. That’s just me though, and my lack of sympathy for immature grown @$$ adults. My fave characters were actually the two teenagers, Gia and Chloe, who were funny and kind of cute in their typical teenager exuberance. The pacing kind of dragged a little in some parts, but not to the point of being boring, just slow. The storyline was the typical holiday romcom with a sweet “Mama Bear” doggie sprinkled on top as kind of a garnish, which was a little disappointing.

I’m looking an overall rating of 3.4 that I will be rounding down to a 3star review. I want to thank NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

#NetGalley #AvonandHarperVoyager #PuppyLoveatMistletoeJunction

this book was such a quick, fun, and wholesome read. i love me a good second chance romance novel and or course, who doesn’t love dogs? would absolutely recommend.

4⭐️s. Cute romance for dog lovers. I love a second chance romance and puppies of course.

Lucy and Theo have always had a type of rivalry. But sometimes, that rivalry can become flirty. Too bad it scared Lucy and she left town for seven years. Theo, despite his hesitation to have his heart broken again, takes a chance on whatever Lucy will give him. Lucy is a flight risk even though all of her friends and family are here.

As more and more leads Lucy to every opportunity for growth at home, she might just stay put. A job she loves, the chemistry that is very much stronger than ever with Theo, and a pregnant dog in need. Theo will have to let go of that fear and be the knight Lucy needs to help her plant roots.

Bear would like to argue that frosty face pups are just as cute. Which do you prefer, frosty pups or puppies?

Thank you to @netgalley @shan_richard and @harpercollins for the advanced reader copy!
#netgalley #shannonrichard #puppyloveatmistletoejunction #advancedreadercopy #arc #bookreview #puppylove #bookstagram

Loved reading this book and new author for me. Looking forward to other books from this author. Hopefully you enjoy it as much as I did..

Oh my I just loved this! I loved it from the beginning! You could feel the connection between Theo and Lucy right from the start. Plus the group of friends these guys share is absolutely is amazing. I want a group of friends just like these guys. Plus we have to add in family and family friends. Theo and Lucy finally give into their attraction a second time and sparks just keep flying for them from there. Add in a special dog named Bear and it will just melt your heart!! Perfect for lovers of fall, Christmas, and of course dogs!

This is the first book I have read from this author and it was a super cute, dog loving, Christmas holiday, second chance, banter, small town romance.

Featuring a woman afraid of being stuck and a man in love with her since they were kids what could go wrong? She comes back from running away the first time and she tries to figure out what she wants to do while teaching theater at the school.
He is trying to avoid her at all costs but it’s just inevitable for them to keep running into each other. Is it worth spending so much energy avoiding, or is it better to just jump in?
They decide to rekindle what they had before she left and they both realize quickly that it is becoming more than what she expected.
Her family and friends want her to stay and he wants her to stay. Can she?
Finding a dog abandoned and pregnant in an alleyway, getting offered an extension to her teaching job, but then offered to move to New York and reached out to by an agent for singers, can she stay?

This was a feel good, cozy, loving book that I enjoyed.

Such a great read! Highly recommend this one.

Many thanks to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

This second chance romance story is part of a series. I feel the need to mention this because on Goodreads it’s listed as a stand-alone. However when I began reading this I could immediately pick up on the shared history and coupling up of others in their friend group. While this can be read as a stand-alone, it will leave you with the feeling that you’re starting a movie half way through the film. It feels like a lot of characters (specifically in their friend group) to keep track of them all and differentiate at the start of the book.

I really wanted to love this book but it just fell flat of me. The introduction to so many characters at the start of the book, the immediate physical relationship that seemed to be the foundation of this romantic relationship for quite a while, the lack of dogs until almost half way through the book (perhaps my expectations weren’t met, but the cover had me thinking they’d be in the story from the beginning) and as much as I wanted to be, I didn’t feel super invested in the characters.

Perhaps it’s my current reading mood or the disappointment of unmet expectations but something about this felt underwhelming. It was ok and I’m grateful for the opportunity to try a new to me author with this dog loving story. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this story. All opinions are my own.

Trigger warning: brief mention of past experience with bulimia and verbally abusive relationship, has been worked through with the help of a therapist

This book had everything in it that I like in a book. Dogs, love, Christmas, second chance at love and smalltown romance all add up to a perfect way to spend my day by reading a book with all of them.
Lucy and Theo came together years ago and then life took them in different directions. Lucy returned her small hometown after a bad break up.
Little did they know that rescuing a pregnant dog would forever change their lives.
Thank you NetGalley, Shannon Richards and Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC of Puppy Love at Mistletoe Junction. This is my personal review.

This book about Lucy and Theo takes you on a beautiful emotional roller coaster. The characters have been through a lot in their small town, family deaths, eating disorders, feeling lost in life. Throughout this book it has me laughing, crying and falling in love with all the character of Cruickshank. This is actually book 2 in a series but it can be read as a stand alone. I couldn’t help but see some possible “rat” references which made me so happy. I totally recommend for anyone who loves a good Christmas Hallmark movie. Thank you netgallery, Avon and Shannon Richard for choosing me to be an arc reader for this book.

"Puppy Love at Mistletoe Junction" is a charming enemies-to-lovers romance that combines small-town nostalgia with second-chance love and a touch of animal rescue. The novel cleverly employs popular tropes in the romance genre, creating a story that's likely to resonate with fans of contemporary romance.

The story follows Lucy Buchanan and Theo Taylor, childhood rivals whose antagonistic relationship takes an unexpected turn into passion before Lucy's abrupt departure. Their reunion after seven years sets the stage for a complex, emotionally charged narrative.

The author appears to have crafted a well-balanced plot that interweaves past and present, allowing for gradual character development and the exploration of unresolved feelings. The long-standing tension between Lucy and Theo provides ample opportunity for witty banter and sizzling chemistry, key elements in a successful enemies-to-lovers story.

The introduction of a pregnant rescue dog adds a heartwarming element to the narrative, serving as a catalyst for Lucy and Theo to spend time together and potentially bridge their differences. This subplot likely adds depth to their characters and provides a touching backdrop for their evolving relationship.

Themes of homecoming, personal growth, and healing from past hurts are woven throughout the story, giving it emotional weight beyond the central romance. The small-town setting of Mistletoe Junction (presumably during the holiday season, given the name) likely adds to the cozy, intimate atmosphere of the story.

While the plot follows a familiar romance structure, the characters' long history and the unique element of joint pet care set it apart from typical fare in the genre. The story promises both emotional depth and light-hearted moments, likely creating a satisfying reading experience.

Overall, "Puppy Love at Mistletoe Junction" appears to offer a perfect blend of romantic tension, personal growth, and puppy cuteness. It's likely to appeal to readers who enjoy enemies-to-lovers stories, small-town romances, and tales that feature adorable animals. The book promises a journey of reconciliation and rediscovery, all wrapped up in a cozy, heartwarming package.

This is the first book I have read by this author. I really enjoyed the pacing of this one. I kept waiting for the next moment that I could pick it up and read more.

I loved Lucy and Theo as well as their friends and family in this small town second chance romance. I was rooting for them both and the anticipation for the first half was done so well.

Then along comes lovable Bear. The story changed a bit when this pup came into their lives. The way Lucy was with this dog was so touching and I really enjoyed how they all came alive and changed their lives for the better because of this furry gift.

I would definitely want to read more from an author like this that keeps me looking forward to the next page. Can't wait to see what she comes up with next!