Reviewed by Lesley

TITLE:  Yorkie To My Heart

SERIES:  Friends of Gaynor Beach Animal Rescue

AUTHOR: Gabbi Grey

PUBLISHER: Self Published

LENGTH: 282 Pages

RELEASE DATE: December 23, 2024

BLURB:

Phillip

Devastated at being dumped by the guy I loved, I’m struggling to put my life back together. My social worker suggested a new start in an LGBTQ-friendly town where I might make friends and meet people like myself. A new town doesn’t mean I suddenly become great with people, but Wally, an overweight Yorkie in need of love, prances into my life, like a dog version of me. Taking care of him is healing, and I want to forge a new future for us. Who needs men anyway?

Jeremy

When I nearly trip over my solitary new neighbor and his adorable dog, I’m smitten. But getting past his guarded aloofness won’t be easy. Phillip could clearly use some friends, and I’m always happy to open my circle here in my hometown of Gaynor Beach. No one should be that alone. The guy’s rescue of Wally the Yorkie makes my heart melt, and the more time I spend with the two of them, the more I find myself falling for the shy man. Will I be able to break through Phillip’s walls, or are we destined to only remain friends?

Yorkie to My Heart is a slow-burn, age-gap, opposites attract, gay romance between a shy man with a heart of gold and the gregarious, outgoing man who might just love him.

REVIEW:

I am really embarrassed to say this, but it is only now as I am writing this that I got the pun in the title, where’s a facepalm emoji when you need one.

I really enjoyed this book, It was well written and whilst the story the love story told in it is very sweet, Phillips journey is a hard one.

We meet Phillip as he is adopting Wally the rescue dog of the title as the Gaynor Beach Safe Haven Animal Rescue.  Both Phillip and Wally are very overweight and Anthony his social worker sees walking Wally as way of helping them both to lose it. He will also give Phillip some company and a reason to keep going. Phillip’s life has been really tough from childhood until we meet him as he has just moved to Gaynor Beach. The fact he has a social worker immediately gives the clue that he has he is working to overcome some challenges in his life.

Jeremy is Phillips neighbour and the complete opposite to Phillip. he runs marathons, is very successful in work and has an amazing family. When he literally trips over his new neighbour whilst out on a run for him it’s almost love at first sight. He doesn’t see an overweight failure, (Phillips perception of himself), he sees a gorgeous young man that he wants to know more about, protect and make his own – not in weird stalkerish way.

In this book we meet again so many characters from this series and other Gaynor Beach series, which is brilliant. It has also left me in a quandary. I think you could read this book as a stand-alone, but I definitely got a little buzz when I recognised the names of characters I had previously read about. For example, he is staying in James’s house, Cole takes Phillip to LA. Scott, Anthony’s husband the towns head librarian befriends Phillip and so many more. Of course, Arthur the founder of the animal sanctuary is it in from the start. I do have to make a plea at this point, when will Arthur find love/companionship?????

RATING:

BUY LINKS: 

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