It Started with a Dog by Julia London is the second book in the Lucky Dog but I read it as a stand-
alone and had no problems with it. The book was entertaining, and I found myself laughing out loud a couple of times. It was unputdownable and I had to finish it to see who would win the King Mutt contest. In the book, the Austin Canine Coalition (ACC) holds a yearly King Mutt contest to raise money for local animal rescue organizations. In the book, the characters take the contest very seriously and it was comical how far they each went to have their dog win.
Aerospace engineer Jonah Rodgers took leave from work when his father was diagnosed with bladder cancer. His family had owned and operated the family’s coffee shop, The Lucky Star, for years. The Lucky Star was struggling to stay open with all the changes taking place in Austin. It was outdated and the people moving to the area wanted trendier coffeehouses. Needing to get away from it all for a while he flies to see his cousins in Chicago but on the way to the airport in the Lyft his phone gets switched with another passenger. Once he returns to Austin, his family rallies together to come up with ideas to bring in more customers. Joining in the King Mutt contest brought people in and was how Lulu, the three-legged dachshund, became part of their family. The competition between the three coffee houses in the area became fierce.
Harper Thompson was tasked with the grand opening of Deja Brew which was right across the street from the Star. Soren, her boss, has big plans to expand and Harper has worked hard over the years for a promotion. All was going well until Soren hires Kendal who became Soren’s new protegee. Harper must bring her A-game if she wants to win that promotion. Discovering the guy her phone got switched with and who she is now dating is her completion was surprising. Her competitive side leads her to join the King Mutt contest and fostering Bob, the grumpy bulldog.
This was a book that will have you rolling on the floor. The side characters and the dogs are really wild and provided many laughs. The cute-meet was unique and I loved seeing Harper and Jonah’s relationship grow. Harper was an only child and she had to learn how to be self-efficient early in life. She set goals and stayed the course until they were met. She was innovative, energetic, and brilliant at her job. Experiencing the warmth of the Rodgers family and the atmosphere of the Lucky Star showed her what she had missed as a child. After the death of his sister, Jonah felt the need to be there for his family. He loved his job but felt guilty for even considering the opportunity of going to Madrid for 6 months on his dream job. Not only would he be leaving his family behind in a bind but also leaving his new relationship with Harper. Will the competition or their jobs keep Harper and Jonah’s relationship from growing? You will have to read to find out.
Book Info:
Publication: October 5, 2021 | Berkley Books | Lucky Dog #2
All Harper Thompson wants for Christmas is the huge promotion she’s worked so hard for–which she should get, as long as her launch of the hip new coffeehouse, Deja Brew, goes according to plan. Jonah Rogers is trying to save his family’s coffee shop, Lucky Star, from going out of business, which will be tough with the brand-new Deja Brew opening across the street.
When Jonah and Harper meet for the first time after accidentally swapping phones, their chemistry is as electric as a strand of Christmas lights. He’s a tall, handsome, compassionate hunk of engineer, and she’s an entrepreneur whose zest for life is very sexy. They love all the same things, like scary movies, greasy food–and most of all, dogs. It’s a match made in heaven…until Jonah finds out that Harper’s the one about to put him out of business.
Only one coffee shop likely can survive, and a competition of one-upmanship ensues in a battle of the brews. The paws really come out when the local rescue shelter has a fundraiser where local businesses foster dogs, and patrons vote with their dollars for their favorite pup. Harper takes in an adorable old bulldog on behalf of Deja Brew, while Jonah fosters a perky three-legged dachshund for Lucky Star. As the excitement builds for who will be crowned King Mutt and king of the coffee hill, Harper and Jonah must decide if their connection was all steam or if they are the perfect blend.
