Once Upon a Puppy by Lizzie Shane the second book in the Pine Hollow series. This was a new-to-me author and 
series, but the book was fine reading it as a stand-alone. I feel like the author did a great job catching the reader up on the important details from the first book and I had no problem keeping up. I adore small-town romances so this one was right up my alley and once I started reading it, I could not put it down. The characters were charming, and their opposite personalities gave the book some humor. The story was beautifully written and the pacing was perfect.
Connor Wyeth is a planner, and his five-year plan was to have the perfect job, perfect house, and perfect family. His plans were disrupted when his fiancé dumped him thirteen days before their wedding with a post-it. A year later, he has readjusted his plans and now has the house, he is working on becoming a partner in the law firm he works at, and he has adopted a dog. Although he never planned on having as unruly of a puppy like Maximus. Unfortunately, the only person Maximus listens to is Deenie Mitchell who volunteers at the shelter and drives him crazy. She is Miss Sunshine and Glitter, unpredictable, and the exactly his opposite. But when he is told other candidates for the position of partner are being looked at due to his lack of socializing, he agrees to Deenie’s crazy idea of them pretending to be the perfect couple. She will attend his work events and he will be her plus-one for her sister’s wedding.
Deenie Mitchell was a wanderer. She was either traveling or saving up money while planning for a trip. She considers the town of Pine Hollow to be her base and she has returned to visit with her aunt and help her friend Ally. Her Aunt Bitty has Alzheimer’s and Deenie wants to spend as much time as she can with her aunt. Connor’s offer to pay her for training Max would help her save up money. When her sister calls and wants Deenie to be part of her wedding, she needs a plus-one for the wedding. Her family does not understand or approve of Deenie’s lifestyle and always try to have her change. Deenie feels like no one can accept her as she is until she comes to know Connor better. He gets her but he is afraid of her leaving him just like his ex-fiancé did.
Deenie had issues with never fitting in but with Connor she found someone who could understand and admire her for her uniqueness. Connor was such a type-A personality, and he slowly relaxes as his friendship with Deenie grows. I enjoyed watching their friendship slowly grow as they came to understand each other. Their attraction to each other was a slow-burn and I liked that they were friends first and could appreciate their differences. I enjoyed reading this book and meeting all the charming people of Pine Hollow. The next book looks just as good as this one and I cannot wait to read it.
Book Info:
Publication: May 25, 2021 | Forever | Pine Hollow #2
Opposites attract when a straitlaced lawyer and whimsical party planner must fake-date as co-parents of a rambunctious Irish wolfhound in the second book of this im-paw-ssibly charming small-town romance series.
Connor Wyeth has a plan for everything. But when he adopts Maximus, an unruly Irish wolfhound mix, he gets more than he bargained for. If he doesn’t act fast, the big dopey mutt is going to destroy his house. The only person Max ever listens to is the volunteer who used to walk him at the shelter—a perennially upbeat woman whose day job is planning princess parties for little kids. Connor couldn’t ever imagine that she’d be able to tame such a beast as Max, but he’s desperate enough to try anything.
Deenie Mitchell isn’t looking forward to spending more time with uptight, rules-oriented Connor—no matter how attractive he is. But when her sister announces her engagement, Deenie realizes he’s the perfect person to impress her type-A family. When she learns he needs a plus-one for his law firm’s work events, an unlikely alliance is formed. But as they play the perfect couple, the friendship—and the feelings—that are forming start to feel all too real. Opposites may attract, but can the man with a plan for everything and the misfit who makes her own rules ever find common ground?
