Just One Kiss by Traci Hall – a Review

Just One Kiss by Traci Hall – a Review

 

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Description:
Free-spirited Grace Sheldon is used to living on a tight budget as a freelance photographer. But nothing short of a miracle could produce the thirty thousand dollars she owes on the house she’s inherited. Without steady employment, the bank refuses to give her a loan. Working a temp job won’t give her nearly enough, but she’ll take any little bit she can get until she figures out a solution. Her first day, though, she realizes this is no ordinary office—and her handsome new boss is no ordinary man.

After Sawyer Rivera’s well-planned career in Seattle officially imploded all he’s looking for is a small beach town where he can open a dog training facility and start a simple life. Except, his new office assistant is anything but. Grace is carefree, artsy, and doesn’t know a thing about dogs. The woman has pet chickens! She’s also funny, kind, and the best part of his day.

Grace is his complete opposite—and completely refreshing. But when her month of temp work is over, she could disappear from his life for good. Sawyer realizes he has just one chance to try to change their fate.

 

 

Review:

Just One Kiss by Traci Hall is a sweet romantic stand alone novel.  We meet our heroine Grace Sheldon, who is a freelance photographer, while on the beach trying take pictures of a robin hatching babies. Alone comes a dog, who falls all over her, licking away, only to break her camera; Grace looks up at a man (who is a hunk) calling out to the dog.

Sawyer Rivera, our hero, apologizes and offers to buy a new camera for Grace and the two of them get off on the wrong foot.  Sawyer is a well-known dog trainer, and has just bought a house next door to Grace, and plans on opening a dog training facility, using veterans to help build the place.  Grace does not know who Sawyer is, though her friend tells her that he is famous; to her surprise, she had accepted temp work, and it seems it is at Sawyer’s business.  Grace owes money on the house her deceased grandmother left her, and needs to save money; forcing her to accept the job.

When Grace begins to work at the facility, she is distant with Sawyer, who tries to make her feel welcome.  Sawyer finds that he is attracted to Grace, but has his own rules not to date any employee.  Grace is a free spirit and independent, and Sawyer is the complete opposite, being a military man.  In a short time, both Sawyer and Grace kiss and realize there is something between them, but both are determined to keep it just friends; especially with Sawyer’s ex trying to sabotage his career, and Grace saddled with trying to save her home.  I did enjoy the time at the facility with the wonderful dogs that Sawyer had, the veterans who would become part of the business and the time spent with Violet (autistic daughter of Grace’s friend, Lottie) training the dog how to react to her.    

What follows is a quick, lighthearted, fun, sweet pure romance. I liked Sawyer and Grace, but throughout most of the story, the chemistry wasn’t there; though as we closer to the end, it did perk up. Just One Kiss was well written by Traci Hall, and if you enjoy a clean sweet fun romance, with wonderful secondary characters and dogs, I suggest you read this book.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

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In The Dog House by Traci Hall – a Review

In The Dog House by Traci Hall – a Review

 

Amazon / Kobo

 

Description:
Ten years ago, Jackson Hardy joined the Marines, leaving behind a woman he still dreams about. When he’s called home to care for his ten-year-old nephew, no one is more shocked than he to run into Emma again. Or to still have those same feelings. But Jackson isn’t looking for love, and neither is Emma, especially not with him. His precocious nephew, though, and a retriever named Bandit, are about to change that.

So what if Emma Mercer is an overachiever? She has plans to get her doctorate in psychology and create a no-kill shelter for the EST dogs she trains. Which leaves absolutely no time for romance. She’s fine with a furry family—dogs don’t teach you to love and then rip your heart to shreds. But young Matty’s situation tugs at her heartstrings and there’s no way she can’t help him…and Jackson.

She may have hotter-than-ever chemistry with the soldier, but forgetting the past isn’t easy.

 

Review:

In the Dog House begins with Emma Mercer at a local school doing a presentation to the kids about the service dogs she trains.   The last person she ever expected to see was Jackson Hardy, her first love, who left town ten years earlier and left her heartbroken.  When one particular child shows interest in her dogs, she is taken aback by Jackson’s gruff reaction.  When she realizes the little boy is his nephew, she learns that his mom (Jackson’s sister) was in a bad accident and is in a medically induced coma to help her heal.  Which is why Jackson is on leave from the marines and in town to take care of the little guy.  To top it all off, Jackson didn’t even recognize Emma……until later.

Emma has a lot on her plate.  She wants to expand her kennel and she’s trying to get her doctorate in psychology.  When her professor calls her in, she discovers that he is not happy that she is still working on her thesis and gives her a hard deadline to get it finalized.  She then heads home and finds that someone has broken into her kennels and is trying to nab one of her dogs.  With adrenaline pumping, she approaches the masked bandit, only to discover that it is none other than Jackson’s nephew.  Emma knows that Jackson will be furious so when he arrives to pick his nephew up, she tries to ‘pad’ the truth as much as possible, without actually lying.  The nephew’s motives were honest, but he went about it the wrong way.  She and Jackson strike a deal where the little boy will work at the kennel a few days a week to make up for his  little indiscretion.  Little do any involved realize how much that little discretion will change everyone’s life

In the Dog House is a wonderfully written story of second chances, acknowledgement and acceptance.  Both Emma and Jackson were very well written.  The matters dealt with by both of them are real life issues that draw you in.  Emma’s upbringing, even though it was loving, has affected everything she’s ever done.  Jackson’s time in the military, however, is what draws you in and breaks your heart.  His PTSD is so prevalent that his ten year old nephew recognizes it right away.  As they all try to navigate new relationships and curves life keeps throwing, the way they all (human and furry) come together is just amazing.  You may shed a tear or two………. The secondary characters were engaging as well.  I love stories with animals, and the dogs in this story will melt your heart.  If you’re a fan of romance, you’ll enjoy this story.  This is the first I’ve read by this author, but hopefully not the last.  Well done, Traci Hall!

Reviewed by Vickie

Copy provided by Publisher

 

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