I really enjoyed this story. Kit and Olive were just so adorable together. Olive is just a little puppy at heart. The story flowed quite well. The relationship with Kit and Shawn were done so perfectly. They had real adult conversations and I loved that for this story. I wish we could have gotten more of the best friend and sisters side of their relationship as well but I’m hoping this means they will be getting their own story. My only hangup was that the story ended too soon. I would liked for it to wrap up more. Overall I thought it was a cute little small town story.

A great festive novel.

I wasn't too keen on the storyline and I am always hesitant when the novel is based in small towns but damn do they always make me change my mind.

Kit is this relatable character that struggles finding her own in her hometown and believes that the only way she can truly live her life is by moving away. Though a change in circumstances means she's back home and must learn to navigate living at home again.

Shawn on the other hand, dealing with her own challenges was never able to properly consider what she wants for herself and her life.

With Kit's dog Olive playing cupid, the two end up spending a lot of time together, and each helping the other question what exactly it is they want out of their lives and whether they each are what the other is looking for.

Though with Kit eager to leave, their time together is limited and they must figure out whether they want to make it work.

The authors really did a great job with the MCs development I have to say. I truly enjoyed watching both Shawn and Kit evolve and come into their own. Like Kit, I'm aware of how restrictive small towns and the impact it has on those who are can be but the authors subtly demonstrates how small towns can be welcoming and not everyone is closed minded. There is hope, there can be change and we should give people a chance to support us. Loved it!

Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for allowing me to read and review this book.

I very much enjoyed this book. The writing was great and the characters were well developed. I hope to read more from this author in the future.

A nice read that is also thought provoking what makes you stay in a place and is love enough of a reason to do so?
The two main characters Shawn and Kit reunite whislst out walking their dogs. Old feelings new feelings and a wanting to belong is the theme of this. Its also about acceptance. A lovely story. Thankyou for advanced copy.

Is love enough to make you stay in the town you hate? Will the girl of your dreams finally make you leave everything you know behind? A lovely small town, low angst romance with good non-binary rep and some divine spice sprinkled in!

I received an advance copy from Netgalley for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Shawn McCoy has lived in Rocky Springs her entire life. Now, at 35, she wonders if staying and neglecting her own dreams was worth it. Working the counter of the family cupcake shop surely isn’t exciting. Life is about to get interesting though when Kit Hartman blows back into town. Having left Rocky Springs for Hollywood, Kit ended up trading a job in her family’s construction company for a spot as a design specialist in an HGTV home improvement show. A show Shawn religiously watched. Hollywood seems far away though when the show is cancelled and Kit shows up at the cupcake shop. The two reconnect immediately and when Kit impulsively adopts a tiny dog, Shawn is the first to volunteer to help her corral the tiny terror into a somewhat behaved pet. Kit is everything Shawn has dreamed about except for one thing: she wants to leave Rocky Springs again as fast as she can. Shawn is determined to show Kit that their home town has much to offer, but does it? Really?

A New Leash On Love is the ‘sister’-story to Frosted By The Girl Next Door by the same authors, which was published simultaneously by Bold Strokes Books. The latter focusses on the story of Shawn’s sister Tara and Kit’s friend Casey. Both books can be read as standalones but its fun knowing both sets of characters and seeing the overlap between the stories that unfold in the exact same timeframe.

I adore Shawn’s journey of self-discovery throughout the book. Kit encourages her to think outside of the life she settled into. It results in many steps towards feeling more like herself. One of the biggest is coming out as nonbinary and I love that the authors immediately switched to using they/them pronouns when writing about Shawn in the middle of the book. Their realization that Kit accepts them just as they are and more than matches their desire to explore in (and outside of) the bedroom is sweet and beyond hot!

There are a few spots in the story where I would have loved to dive deeper. Kit has been struggling with her health having had a hysterectomy. To recover after the surgery she came back home. I thought the hesitation of progressing her relationship with Shawn into the physical was very realistic. Although I put tiny question marks in the margins when Kit’s hesitations disappeared like snow in the sun when they actually got to be physical. No mentions of a scar or other sensitivities. I think adding that would have made Kit’s experience feel even more real.

Another big storyline is the relationship between Kit and her awful, toxic brother Adam. She discovers that his way of doing business is not entirely clean, but in the end we don’t see that really resolved. Adam is a horrible character though and I would have loved to have seen him getting his due.

Overall this is another lovely, low angst story from Rey and Clevenger. It’s a really nice way to spend a few hours ignoring the cold, dreary winter weather and transporting your mind, once again, to the quaint town of Rocky Springs!

A New Leash on Love is a small-town sapphic romance that pairs Kit, a former home improvement show designer, with Shawn, a steadfast town fixture who has never left Rocky Springs. Kit’s return to her hometown is meant to be temporary as she plans to jumpstart her next big career move, but her connection with Shawn throws her plans into question. Shawn’s deep ties to the community and family dynamics set a compelling contrast with Kit’s desire to leave.

The characters are well-drawn and likable, with natural chemistry that builds over time. However, the story does feel a bit predictable, and the romantic progression, while sweet, is somewhat overshadowed by repetitive conflicts. I also felt that some side plots, particularly involving Kit’s family dynamics and Shawn's college application, lacked resolution, which left the ending feeling a little incomplete. I will admit I was hoping for these to be resolved in the second book of this series, Frosted by the Girl Next Door, which coincides with another romance between Shawn's sister, Tara and Kit's friend, Casey.

Despite these small issues, this is a very sweet and easy read. With its cozy small-town setting and a mix of humour, heart, and a few steamy moments, it’s perfect for readers looking for a feel-good holiday romance.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Bella Books for a copy of this novel. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

Kit Hartman is a capable interior designer and builder who escapes to Rocky Springs after the cancelation of a hit home renovation show in LA. Completely upending her life, she moves back home, dealing with family in their construction business and using the time to find her feet again. She’s always wanted a dog, and now seems like the perfect time to take on the small scrappy dog from the shelter. Who can resist Olive, a dog with gumption!

Shawn McCoy has put professional and personal dreams on hold to stay and look after family. Now working in the best bakery in town with a culinary award winning sister, Shawn is everyone’s go to gal when they need a hand. So helping Kit train her wayward pet rescue is all part of Shawn’s daily routine.

The dog is a clever way to push the protagonists together. There is a natural chemistry between the main characters, and what I really liked, was the respect they had for one another, including their differences. Both main characters need help in different ways to overcome personal and professional obstacles, and the authors do a lovely job of building a natural romance between them. I also appreciated how learning about the family and the other characters in the book was so easy and how the plotting and characterisations melded together so well. It made it an easy book to read, despite family histrionics, and a delightful way to spend a day during the holidays.

I figured two well-known, prolific queer authors wouldn’t lead me astray, and they didn’t! Even more telling, it is impossible to see the tug and pull of two different authors in the writing. This is a charming book set in small town America, complete with a homecoming and a breaking out, all tied up with a naughty dog. Perfect!

ARC provided by the publisher for an honest review.

I fell in love with the cute cover and Olive, rooted for the characters, had a lot of fun.
A romantic and entertaining novel that I recommend
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This is a story about Kit Hartman a renovation remodel er. Kit has come back home to a small Colorado town to recover from recent surgery. She’s also lost her job on a TV show on HGTV. She adopts a cute dog who’s a holy terror in her house. Kit seeks out an old HS friend Shawn McCoy who’s a handy woman about town to help her tame her wild new dog. Shawn works with her sister at their family bakery. Shawn has lived in this town her whole life, always helping her family and many townspeople who need favors and help with odd jobs.

I have mixed feelings on this book. In the beginning I thought both women were strong characters, both doing any task that came their way including many traditional male jobs. Then the whole story shifted and both Kit and Shawn showed their true selves and their insecurities. And each seemed to morf sexually into different roles. That confused me, maybe the writing style wasn’t clear in the beginning or maybe it’s me assuming something different than the authors meant.

I did enjoy both dogs, they were cute and added to the story. Both Kit and Shawn’s family were introduced but left me with several plot lines unfinished.

Thanks to Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

An easy, cozy yet enjoyable read with well written characters. I loved the open communication between both main characters and that the story was low angst. I recommend.


Thank you Bella Books and NetGalley for this ARC copy.

I really enjoyed this book. It was the second in a series but I had no clue. You didn’t need to read the first and it didn’t have lots of flashback references that made it obvious you missed a book!!
I loved both MC and enjoyed watching them fall in love. I thought Adam was written particularly well - and couldn’t stand him!!
I raced through this book and loved every minute of it.

Another wonderful Rocky Springs story, this time following Shawn and Kit, the sibling and best friend respectively of the leads in Frosted by the Girl Next Door.

This was such a lovely, cosy, gentle read. There’s a proper meet-cute involving dogs (the best kind!) and a bit of instant attraction (not quite insta-love, but definitely insta-crush!) between Kit and Shawn. They were a really balanced, well-matched couple, and they fell into step with each other really quickly.

What I really liked about their story is that most of the intrigue, drama, and unknowns came from their stories as individuals, such as Kit working out her next steps career-wise, and Shawn coming out as non-binary. While they were still figuring out their relationship, it acted more as a through-line than as the main plot itself.

I thought it was really fun to see a lot of the Rocky Springs characters from another perspective! Tara in particular came across very differently, and I really enjoyed seeing the different aspects of these characters. The timeline runs alongside the other book, so it was nice to see plenty of nods and references to the plot of Frosted. This one definitely felt like a companion to Frosted to me, but it would be interesting to see if someone who read them the other way round felt the same way.

Overall this was a really lovely romance story, that added to the world already created in Frosted by the Girl Next Door.

I received a free copy for an honest review.

A really good book. The storyline had me hooked from the beginning. I read book straight through. The main characters were well written and I enjoyed getting to know them, each character had her flaws, but it all worked out well in the end. And any book with animals in is a fun read for me. The support characters were well written and helped to move this story along. This was a second book of a series and hopefully not the last book. I look forward to what's next from these authors. I would definitely recommend this to my friends and family.

A New Leash on Love is the “sister” book to Frosted By The Girl Next door. However this time we get to watch Shawn and Kit fall in love and catch up with their family and friends. I enjoyed this story and the addition of a couple of cute dogs certainly added some extra love to the mix.

Shawn has some issues to work through, issues that they have kept hidden for years with a smile. Kit, is a nice distraction and one Shawn wants more of. Watch them break down emotional walls and find a way to accept each others love. Definitely plenty of chemistry between this pair. At times the story is a little bit repetitive but overall it’s an easy read. Rounded off both books nicely.

Another fab Christmas romance from two great authors.
I loved the pace of the story, the issues that were raised which contributed to the two MC’s having different views in their home town.
How Shawn begun to emerge as her true self and how Kit understood herself more and how her experiences affected her resulting in them both opening up to each other and developing their relationship. The main issue is would they stay, would she go - how could the relationship work. There were also some hot scenes which were tastefully written.
It was lovely to see the story unfold and also how the roles of supporting characters fitted into their story - oh and of course cute dogs!!
A great read. Thanks to Bella Books for the ARC - this is a honest review.

I had just finished reading the first book in the Rocky Springs series when this one became available. I was super excited to go back and encounter some of those same characters through an adjacent story. Clevenger and Rey did a wonderful job of developing all of the characters in this fictional world they created. So going into reading this, I was already familiar with the characters, the vibe of the town, and overall what to generally expect. I liked the relationship development of Kit and Shawn and liked that the hot scenes were even hotter than the first novel. I think this novel had a better ending that fit more with the overall story than the first book did. I really felt for Shawn, being the person that everyone relies on and that no one allows to have their own life. I liked seeing her finally stick up for herself and not let others walk all over her.

If you are looking for a hot WLW romance for the holiday season or to get you through winter, this one definitely fits the bill, especially if you love straps. Fantastic writing in those scenes.

Tis the season folks, the season where it’s not only socially acceptable but highly encourage to wear nothing but comfy cloths all day, listening to nothing but Christmas songs, stuffed myself to death (figuratively) with nothing but hot soup and hot chocolate and read nothing but Christmas themed books.

A new leash on love was exactly what I envisioned it would be, a typical but winning formula - a cozy small-town romance with adorable fur babies, low angst romance between two MC, spry grandparents and unfortunately a misogynist character that had me wishing I could wrangle his certain body parts until he cease to exist in the book but I was just rambling. Kudos to clever wordplay at the title, it had me chuckle because Olive was a maniac when unleashed and unguarded, in fact he nearly mulled our MC Shawn to death (figuratively) when they first met.

All in all it was sweet story but I felt like the pacing could be faster. One thing that had me confused and unsatisfied was the plot between Kit and Adam, I would probably had to re-read back but it seemed the issue was left unresolved? Also I just realized there’s another book set in the same timeline with Tara, well guess I know what’s next on my agenda.

Kit and Shawn are thrown together after Kit returns to her small hometown. Kit is a minor celebrity back home after her appearance as a designer on a home improvement show and hopes to make a go of it at her family's construction business after the show ends. Shawn has never left town and has the same job she had in high school but has become a community fixture, always helping anyone she can. Kit is itching to leave again as soon as she can but Shawn is not interested in the world outside of Rocky Springs.
I enjoyed this one, the characters are nicely written and their storyline well developed. The side characters each add a bit with the exception of Kit's brother Adam who seems very one dimensional to me. I liked their progression and felt like it was a natural lead up to the end if slightly unexciting. They have a few hiccups in their relationship and I think there may have been a couple too many for me. There is also one major plot point that felt unresolved with Kit's dad and brother so I was a bit disappointed not to see that resolved. I liked this story though and would recommend to anyone looking for an upbeat romance with likable characters and a few spicy scenes, it is a quick fun read would be great to curl up with during the holidays.

Love in small-town Colorado
This is another Christmas f/f romance book by Rey / Clevenger set in the small town of Rocky Springs in Colorado.
The two main characters Kit and Shawn first seem to be worlds apart: Kit who left the town to seek a career in LA until she is forced to return home but only temporarily and Shawn, the people-pleaser, who never left town and stayed to help her family and friends. Kit‘s new dog kind of brings them together and their dogs have an immediate friends-affair. The humans - as always - take a bit longer to acknowledge their attraction and to find out that they have a lot in common: both are at a crossroad in their lives. Question is whether they travel the road alone, stop moving at all or - and this is a big challenge - to find a way to travel together. And after years one of them eventually stands to their queer identity which is a good addition to the mix.
Two cute dogs, two main characters who have chemistry and once they give in to it have their attraction heat up their houses and bedrooms make up for a relaxed holiday read.

I received an ARC via netgalley. The review is left voluntarily.

In A New Leash on Love Jaime Clevenger and Aurora Rey bring to light two very different characters, both of whom are at a crossroads in their life and in need of finding their next step. The main difference is that Kit knows that she needs to find out what comes next but Shawn is stuck, thinking she is happy even though she is giving up on her own desires through a need to help everyone around her. The two women had grown up together with Shawn being friends with Kit's brother.

Following the end of the ending of the television show that had been meant to give Kit her big break in California and while recovering from surgery, Kit is forced to return to her mountain hometown of Rocky Springs to stay in the cottage at the back of her parents place while working as an interior designer for her parents' business, alongside her obnoxious brother. She doesn't know what she wants to do next, but she does know that there's no way she wants to stay in Rocky Springs long term.

Meanwhile, Shawn is living in Rocky Springs with her dog, Milo and part owner (alongside her sister) and cashier for the local bakery that specialises in making cupcakes. She thinks she is content with her life and will do anything to help anyone whenever needed. However, in doing so, she has given up on her own dreams including the opportunity to go to college when she was younger. She has no intention of ever leaving Rocky Springs.

The two women are reunited when Kit's newly adopted dog, Olive, escapes her control while walking in the park before bumping into Shawn and sending her coffee flying. When Shawn offers to help train Olive the two women start to spend more time together and a bond quickly forms. However, neither of them knows where any relationship could go given that Kit has no intention of staying in Rocky Springs and Shawn has no intentions of leaving.

With the two women spending more and more time together including Shawn taking Kit on an "I Heart Rocky Springs Tour" to try to convince her that living in the mountain town isn't so bad and Kit starting to plant seeds of an idea that could encourage Shawn to consider leaving town. A roller-coaster of emotion ensues with the two women quickly becoming hot and steamy while also beating down their own internal fears about how any relationship could work long term.

With a bit of Christmas spirit, a little family angst and lots of spice, A New Leash on Love is a wonderful comforting story of new beginnings. A fantastic comfort read for the holiday season that leaves you rooting for the two main characters to find a way to make things work.

I am grateful to Jaime Clevenger and Aurora Rey and the publishers for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley. I am leaving this review voluntarily and any opinions are my own.