Reviewed by Sadonna

TITLE:  Must Love Dogs

AUTHOR:  Eden Winters

PUBLISHER:  Rocky Ridge Books

LENGTH:  114 pages

RELEASE DATE:  December 16, 2023

BLURB:

Does a good deed outweigh a white lie?

With his family away this holiday season, Nathan Johnson faces his very first Christmas alone in a new city. Unexpectedly taking in the neighbor’s dog leads to a series of white lies, all designed to set his sister’s mind at ease. After all, Nathan really is spending the holidays with a stunning ginger named Oscar. He simply leaves out the part about Oscar being a dachshund.

Who knew Oscar would play furry little matchmaker and introduce Nathan to a gorgeous veterinarian who just might make Nathan’s dreams come true?

REVIEW:

Nathan is new to Bowling Green having moved up from Georgia.  He’s got a good job as an accountant and he likes his work and his rental house. When he arrives home to see his elderly neighbor being taken away by ambulance, he steps in to take care of his long-haired Dachshund Oscar.  He visits Mr. Stevens in the hospital and takes care of things for him while he’s away.  He has no family and Nathan is happy to help.

He decides to do something else nice for Mr. Stevens and take Oscar to have his picture taken with Santa. The proceeds support a no kill shelter, so money well spent and it’s something to perk up his neighbor.  When he arrives at the vet clinic he meets the man from the picture in the flyer.  And he has Oscar’s litter mate!  They take cute pictures and he finds out the guy is Oscar’s vet and it’s his clinic.  He checks all Nathan’s boxes and then Dr. Michael Kane asks him out 😉

They get to know each other over the holiday season and Nathan and Michael are on their own for the holidays – or so it seems.  But they end up spending time together and Nathan decides to volunteer at the shelter – which Michael also runs.  Turns out these two have a lot in common and their lonely holidays won’t be so lonely after all 😀

OMG!  This story is adorable!  I loved the dogs, the people and of course the MCs.  These two were so sweet together.  I adored Michael’s found family at his clinic and the shelter.  They looked out for him as a real family should 🙂  Clearly Nathan is a good man.  Looking after Oscar when he was new to the city/neighborhood showed what a sweetheart he was.  Missing his family?  He realizes how lucky he is and doesn’t want to deprive them of their own special holidays even if he would potentially be alone at Christmas.  Val is a hoot.  Just like a pushy older sister should be 😉   Michael’s backstory is sad in some ways, but he obviously was well loved by his grandpa and he’s made a great life for himself.  Now he’s ready for someone to share it.  Nathan has moved on from his past as well and with time and distance has realized everything has happened for the best.  His inner monologue is so funny too!  His foot-in-mouth-itis when he first meets Michael is too cute.  Nathan’s boss is funny also – I’ve worked with this person who could not remember ANYONE’s name.  If you’re in the mood for a low angst happy holiday story involving two lonely guys, some cute dogs and a sweet romance with a happy ending, then I think you’ll enjoy this one.  Recommended.

RATING:

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