And, oh man, did she have an incredible smile. It lit up her whole face and made her blue eyes shine like sapphires. It made him want to know a lot more about this mysterious woman who he was now kind of sort of living with.
Housebroke is such a fun, light rom-com.
After her ex took all their money and bailed, Hazel Bristow is left broke and homeless. A kind friend whose home is on the market lets Hazel and her foster dogs stay there until it sells. It’s the perfect setup, until her friend forgets to tell Hazel she’s sold the house.
Linc Kennedy is shocked to find Hazel and her pups squatting in the house he just bought, but after some negotiating—she offers to cook amazing meals for him in return for a paycheck—he agrees to let her remain while he’s renovating the place. Linc tells Hazel he’s an investor who renovates homes for fun—he just leaves out the part about being wealthy.
Hazel’s intrigued by Linc. He’s funny, sweet, ridiculously hot, and loves dogs almost as much as she does. But her track record with men? Not great. She worries her trust meter isn’t in working order.
Linc’s never met anyone like the quirky beauty who puts everyone’s needs—human and canine—before her own. He didn’t tell her about his wealth because he’s been burned by women who only wanted him for his money. But with Hazel, he’s never felt more like himself. Now he has to figure out how to tell her the truth without losing her. Because Linc realizes what he feels for her isn’t puppy love—it’s true love.
I do love a romance that has adorable animals in it. They just add that extra layer of charm to a love story. Housebroke is bursting with fun, sweet, and quirky dogs, and anyone who has been a pet owner will connect with this story on so many levels. Now, if you don’t like your romances with animals in it, you should give this book a pass because Hazel’s pups are the central focus of the story. I loved the way that Jaci uses Hazel’s foster dogs as a way to create this connection between Hazel and Linc. The dogs take on this role as secondary characters in this story, each with their own distinct personality. They really steal the spotlight in this book. Any big emotion I felt while reading this story was connected to these adorable pups.
Now besides all the furry fabulousness that exists within this book, the love story itself is pretty good. The story is nice and easy to read. Some things happen in this book that would only occur in romanceland, but I didn’t mind that. It is just a book you can get lost in for a few hours. We meet Hazel at a low point in her life. Her ex-husband had left her houseless and broke, and she was crashing at her friend’s house until the house was sold. She is struggling to figure out what her next steps will be. All she knows is that she has to get her act together because she is fostering five dogs, and they all need a place to live. I liked Hazel; she has a big heart and is passionate about fostering dogs and cooking. She approaches life in a “glass half-full” manner, and you can’t help but want good things for her. Her growth in this book is in learning to believe in herself and her dreams. Her ex-husband and her family have shattered her confidence, but with Linc’s help, she realizes her dreams can be a reality. Linc is a good male MC. He tries to be this mean, tough guy, but he is a big cinnamon roll. Linc’s problem is that he has difficulty trusting people, especially women. His past relationships have all failed because once these women find out he is a millionaire, then they only see him for his money. It’s why Linc lies to Hazel about his financial situation, which will cause problems later in the story.
Hazel and Linc are a great couple. I could feel that chemistry between the two of them right from the first moment when they met. At the beginning of the book, there is definitely this weariness between them. Neither one wants a relationship, but they can feel those sparks and this attraction towards one another. They are both fighting this inner battle with themselves. Do they give into those feelings and see where this relationship could go, or do they keep a cool, weary distance from one another? I’m sure most of you know that they definitely give into those feelings, which leads to some pretty spicy moments between Hazel and Linc. The moments I liked best between these two were when they spent time with the pups. It was during these times that they really let their guards down and opened up with one another.
Housebroke is a fun rom-com filled with lots of quirky and cute dogs.
Thank you, Berkley Publishing Group, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
