Spotlight & Giveaway: Love and Let Bark by Alanna Martin

Posted December 3rd, 2021 by in Blog, Spotlight / 35 comments

Today, HJ is pleased to share with you Alanna Martin’s new release: Love and Let Bark

 

Spotlight&Giveaway

 

It’s up to two rescue husky puppies to convince their owners it’s never too late for a second leash on love.

 
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 her family’s shadow and unleash her heart.

 

Enjoy an exclusive excerpt from Love and Let Bark 

Lydia gave Nate’s hat a little squeeze. She might have sniffed it one last time in her car, which was silly, but she wasn’t sorry as the smoke scent had already driven the memory from her brain.
Familiar barking increased in volume as she crossed the porch, suggesting she had indeed found the correct cabin. That fact was confirmed a moment later, before she could even withdraw her hand from knocking, when Nate opened the door.
Shirtless Nate.
Lydia swallowed. Holy half-naked firefighter calendar model. She’d been absolutely right to assume that the bulky coat Nate had been wearing last night did not do him any favors. Nate had grown up and grown bigger, but that didn’t do the form in front of her justice. His broad shoulders sloped down to a powerful chest, which narrowed into a flat stomach that showed off faint ridges of his underlying abs before all that skin disappeared into his sweatpants. It was the body of a man who worked out not for his appearance, but to meet the rigorous demands of his job, and it was a body she desperately wanted to see more of. Looking at Nate, Lydia didn’t feel so much of a spark as she did an inferno.
The trail of light brown hair leading down from his chest into his waistband had ensnared her gaze, and she realized she was staring. Blood rushed to her cheeks, and she thrust the hat at him. “Hi. Sorry to interrupt. I was returning this.”
Nate’s expression was unreadable, seeming to cycle through emotions faster than Lydia could decipher them, but he took the hat. “Thanks. Do you want to come in?”
Nope, she absolutely should not, even though spending time with Nate was precisely the reason she’d come over. But that was before she’d known he was half-naked.
When she faltered for words, Nate adjusted his stance in the doorway. “Not to put pressure on you, but I’m trying to keep the monsters in and it’s getting cold.”
This time, Lydia was certain his lips had twitched. Lord, she was making a fool of herself. “Sure, thanks. I’d love to meet the monsters.”
She hoped the monsters referred to the puppies, which were yapping around his feet.
Nate took a step back so she could slip inside the cabin, and Lydia stuffed her hands in her pockets to keep from fidgeting. Or doing something worse—like poking Nate in his chest to see how hard it was.
The cabin was as cozy on the inside as it appeared on the outside. A woodstove to her right formed the centerpiece of a sitting area, behind which was a small kitchen. Directly across from her, stairs led to loft that overlooked the room. All the walls were wood paneled, lending it a rustic but homey vibe, and the business half of Lydia’s brain wondered what sort of rate Nate’s family rented out the cabins for during the summer.
It was tempting to indulge that boring, logical side because it kept the emotional, hormonal side of her brain under control. But before Lydia could give it a chance, Nate lowered himself to one of the cushy chairs near the stove and scooped up a puppy with one bare arm, and her ovaries might have exploded. At the very least, the butterflies Nate had spawned in her last night were undeniably riled up.
So was the second puppy, who looked almost identical to the first. The husky charged over to her, and Lydia knelt to pet him. Or her. It was all she could do to keep from drooling over the image of a half-naked Nate with a puppy.
Luckily, the new puppy was a blur of black-and-white fur that demanded her attention, so Lydia didn’t have to worry about being caught staring again. Cats were really more her style, laid-back and cautious. The contrast between Nate’s so-called monster and Merlot couldn’t be more stark, but the puppy’s excitement was too endearing for her not to be charmed.
No doubt Nate’s effect on her emotions had some part in that.
Lydia finally looked up and saw he was watching her with amusement again, and he was no less tempting for it. “What?”
“A Lipin playing with my puppy.” Nate shook his head. “Shocking.”
“If you haven’t heard yet, my sister is marrying your cousin. It’s a shocking state of affairs all around here. But I think it’s more fair to say your puppy is playing with me.”
“Sparky!” Nate’s slightly raised voice startled the dog, who spun around. “Here.”
The puppy seemed to consider but Nate repeated the command and he—or she—left Lydia after one more lick.
“Good boy!” Nate heaped praised on the dog, answering one of Lydia’s questions, but she couldn’t help but note the ginger way Nate moved, as though too much motion caused him pain. She’d forgotten about the sling he’d been wearing the other night, since he didn’t have it on now.
Had he hurt his arm or shoulder? She should ask which, but Nate spoke up again before she could.
“This is Dolly,” he said, nodding toward the squirming puppy in his arm. “And that’s her brother Spark, except I usually call him Sparky so he probably thinks that’s his name.”
Both huskies’ ears perked up at the sound of their names, and Dolly wiggled her way out of Nate’s grip, which was probably best for Lydia’s state of mind. Gorgeous, half-naked men holding adorable puppies was more temptation than she should be expected to endure.

Excerpt. ©Alanna Martin. Posted by arrangement with the publisher. All rights reserved.
 
 

Giveaway: One copy of each of the following titles in the Hearts of Alaska series by Alanna Martin (U.S. winner only): HEART ON A LEASH, PAWS AND PREJUDICE, and LOVE AND LET BARK

 

To enter Giveaway: Please complete the Rafflecopter form and post a comment to this Q: What did you think of the excerpt spotlighted here? Leave a comment with your thoughts on the book…

 
 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Meet the Author:

Growing up, Alanna Martin wanted to be an astronaut, a doctor, and an actor—possibly all at once. After nine years of studying psychology, she somehow became a writer instead. This turned out to be the best career choice of all because she can work in her pajamas while drinking wine. She firmly believes in the power of fluffy books, long walks in the woods, and that there’s no such thing as too much coffee.
Author site: alannamartin.com
Buy link: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/636310/love-and-let-bark-by-alanna-martin/?pdivflag
 
 
 

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35 Responses to “Spotlight & Giveaway: Love and Let Bark by Alanna Martin”

  2. EC

    The spark is still there between the couple and the pups are adorbs. Thanks for this entertaining excerpt, HJ!

      • Laurie Gommermann

        Ice introduction to Nate and Lydia. The tension and attraction leaps off the page. Looking forward to reading how Nate overcomes her reservations.

  4. Diana Hardt

    Nice cover. I liked the blurb and excerpt. It sounds like a really interesting book.

  5. Pamela Conway

    I commented already but don’t know if it sent or not. Love the excerpt!!

  11. Eva Millien

    I love the excerpt and I really want to read this book, cause Lydia’s stronger me… I don’t know if I could have resisted and I have to know just how long she holds out against the half-naked Nate! Have a magical holiday season!

  12. Latesha B.

    Loved the excerpt and wanted to know more about the family and feud that is holding them apart.

  21. Dianne Casey

    Love the cover! I enjoyed the synopsis of the book and would really like to read.

  22. Bonnie

    What a wonderful series! Great cover and excerpt. I’d love to read more.

  23. Patricia B.

    Thank you for an enjoyable excerpt. It gives a hit at the relationship between the characters and a little hint about the relationship between their families. We have friends in Alaska and their cabin is very similar to the one on your cover. No dogs though and they do not spend the winters there since they retired.

  24. rkcjmomma

    Sounds likea really sweet and enjoyable read the excerpt was very good