Love and Let Bark by Alanna Martin is the third book in the Hearts of Alaska series. The Porter and 
Lipin families have had a feud that spans generations. Now Lydia’s sister is doing the imaginable and marrying a Porter, Lydia is running interference between her sister and her father and grandmother, who don’t approve of the marriage. What no one knows is that at one time Lydia herself was involved with a Porter, and now he’s back in town.
After realizing years earlier that she would never publicly go against her family to give their relationship a real chance, he left Alaska and Lydia behind to become a firefighter in Washington. After an accident leaves him unable to work for the moment, he’s returned home with his two naughty husky puppies to heal, help with the wedding preparations, and to see Lydia again.
The two may be older now, but will they be brave enough to go against their families’ wishes and prove to everyone that it’s time to end the feud once and for all?
Both Lydia and Nate are characters that readers will feel for. Lydia has basically always done anything to make her family happy, even putting her own happiness aside. It was nice to watch her develop throughout the book and see her realize that her happiness is just as important a everyone else’s. Nate loves his family, but he hates the feud between the families and what it cost him. Like Lydia, he learns to realize that he needs to put his own feelings before that of his family. They are a couple readers will find themselves rooting for.
I haven’t read the first two books in the series; as a result, I did feel like I was missing some background information in regards to some things. That being said, it honestly wasn’t enough to take away from my overall enjoyment of the book. I feel it works well as a standalone if you’re like me and haven’t read the previous books.
Love and Let Bark is a charming small-town romance, complete with feuding families, a secret romance, a couple of mischievous puppies, and characters that readers will find themselves rooting for. If you enjoy any of those things, I recommend giving this book a read.
Book Info:
Publication: November 30, 2021 | Berkley | Hearts of Alaska #3
When Nate Porter left Helen, Alaska, to become a firefighter with the Forest Service, he claimed it was because he craved adventure. The truth was, he couldn’t stand to hang around, pining for a girl the town’s century-old feud meant he could never have. But Nate got over Lydia Lipin years ago, or so he thought until he learns that an old rival has come sniffing around. The solution—a trip home with his rescue puppies to prove to himself he completely extinguished that old flame.
Lydia Lipin has always been satisfied being the “good” Lipin daughter—dutiful, practical, and always putting others before herself. But that role begins to chafe as Nate’s return ignites old memories. No one in town knew about their secret friendship or those forbidden kisses they stole the summer after graduation. Suddenly, Nate and his puppies are everywhere, and sparks are flying.
When Nate realizes he never got over Lydia, he’ll risk everything for a second chance. But Lydia’s not a risk-taker, and she has to make a choice—play it safe and pretend their summer fling was just puppy love, or step out of the family shadow and unleash her heart.
