Must Love Dogs ….and Hockey by Kelly Jamieson-a review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date September 8, 2020

Lilly: My life is like the love child of a train wreck and a dumpster fire right now. I’ve been canned, my professional reputation is shredded, and now I’m walking dogs to make ends meet.
But I still believe everything will work out. Somehow.
Then a dog at the park attacks my friend’s dog. At first, I’m ready to give the owner hell—but it turns out he’s in desperate need of doggie daycare. I figure, why not? I love dogs and I need the cash.
Too bad his cocky bad boy attitude annoys me. He’s too damn cute for his own good. And I’m not talking about the dog.

Easton: My coach is riding my ass and I’m not handling it well. When I’m saddled with an abandoned pooch, my teammate thinks a dog will keep my temper in check. I think I have enough problems already.
But when my new dog gets into a tussle that leads me to meet a smoking hot chick who knows how to handle the rascal, I start to think pet ownership isn’t all bad. At least it gives me an excuse to see Lilly again. . . .
Neither of us are interested in a relationship. First they steal your bed, then they steal your heart. And I’m not talking about the dog.

••••••••

REVIEW: MUST LOVE DOGS …AND HOCKEY is the first instalment in Kelly Jamieson’s contemporary, adult BEARS HOCKEY erotic, hockey, romance series focusing on the members of the New York Bears professional hockey team. This is professional hockey player Easton Millar, and former hotel hospitality manager Lilly Evans’ story line.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Lily and Easton) MUST LOVE DOGS…AND HOCKEY follows the building romance and relationship between professional hockey player Easton Millar, and former hotel hospitality manager Lilly Evans. Easton Millar has no idea what to do with the dog he rescued from a near elevator mishap until coming face to face with a woman who is willing to dogsit…for a price. Lilly Evans is struggling to make ends meet in the aftermath of being fired for blowing the whistle on a business scam but when professional hockey player Easton Millar begs Lilly to look after a stranger’s dog, our heroine discovers that doggy daycare may be the career path she never knew she wanted. When no one comes to claim ‘Otis’, Easton finds himself falling for both woman and dog, a fall that is threatened as Easton’s professional hockey life slowly spirals out of control. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Easton and Lilly, and the potential fall out as the past threatens to overwhelm our story line hero.

Not all is well in Easton’s professional career as his team endures the physical and emotional abuse of a coach who is unable to see beyond the almighty ‘win’. Pulling from recent real-world accounts in both professional and junior A hockey, Kelly Jamieson weaves a heart breaking tale of loss, betrayal and abuse as Easton must come to terms with what happened in the past, and take the first step in stopping the racism and abuse in both amateur and professional sport. Lilly Evans’ own life is on a downward spiral: her wayward father is embroiled in a midlife crisis; her grandmother got caught up in a time-share scam; Lilly is currently suing her previous employers; she is in debt with the possibility of losing her home; and she has been blacklisted from the hotel hospitality industry.

The relationship between Lilly and Easton begins as a business arrangement when Easton hires Lilly to look after Otis, the dog he rescued from a potential accident. Lilly doesn’t want to mix business with pleasure but a few afternoon lunches and coffees quickly grows into something more. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

We are introduced to Lilly’s roommate Carlin, and several members of the Bears Hockey Team- Jamal Jordan aka Jammer, JBo, Owen Cooke aka Cookie, Goose, Larry, Russ, Igor Barbashev aka Barbie, Wendell aka Wendy.

MUST LOVE DOGS… AND HOCKEY is a story of family, friendships, relationships and love; of loss and acceptance; of racism and abuse. The premise is emotional, heart breaking and captivating; the romance is seductive and flirty; the characters are energetic, colorful and fun.

copy supplied by Netgalley

reviewed by Sandy