Puppy Love

by J.R. Barten

It’s a fresh start for Jack. Frustrated with relationships, he has happily found companionship with his new rescue dog, Angus. He knows Angus will love him unconditionally, and he won’t complicate his life like all of his ex-boyfriends did.
Except when Angus, who hasn’t been fixed yet, gets loose at the dog park, finds a female in heat, and gets her pregnant. So much for Jack’s easy life as a dog owner.
It’s not all bad, though, since the female dog’s foster parent, Sean, happens to be tall, dark, and just his type. Not to mention the guy has a lopsided grin that Jack finds sexy as hell.
Their attraction is electric, and Jack gets caught up in the excitement until he remembers why he’s sworn off men and chose to adopt a dog instead. Fearful of getting his heart broken, he pulls away, but not for long. Angus plays matchmaker, Sean wins his heart, and Jack finally takes a risk that pays off big in the end. And they have puppies. Really cute ones.

Genres: M M Romance, Contemporary, Romance

55 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 10, 2016

About the author

J.R., or Jen, as friends call her, has always been an avid reader, oftentimes finishing five to six books a week. When she was a kid, she found a huge box of old paperbacks for sale at a neighbor's garage sale. She offered the woman a quarter for the entire haul, and then went home and locked herself in her bedroom so her younger brother couldn't interrupt her while she read. This fueled her love for romantic fiction and inspired her to try her hand at writing. In 2013 Jen started writing fan-fiction, and then began creating her own original stories in 2014. Currently, her favorite genre to read and write is contemporary gay romance.

J.R. Barten was born and raised in Iowa and now resides in the Twin Cities of Minnesota with her partner of eighteen years and a spoiled rotten rescue dog.

Reviews

[Heather K (dentist in my spare time) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cute enough, I guess, but it barely tipped over from "didn't like" to "okay" for me.

While there was nothing horrendous about the story, and I always enjoy sweet stories about dog lovers, there were a few things that really rubbed me the wrong way.

There was a judgemental undertone towards sex that made me pause a few times. I'm into books with sex-positive messages, and this book gave me the impression that the MC though that "too much sex" was dirty.

He chucked. "Seeing him today. Did you hook up?"
I quickly flashed back to Sean asking me to stay over last night. "Um, it's a little soon for me."
"I know, but you two seem pretty into each other if you're spending the whole weekend together. Don't be afraid to take a chance, Jack. You're always so damn careful."
"Yeah, well, that carefulness has kept me clean and negative. Maybe you should try exercising some restraint on occasion."

In addition, I didn't get the point of the character of Lyle and the background information about Jack and Lyle's hookup. It didn't mess into the plot of the story well, especially for a novella. Also, this book had some editing errors and areas that felt extraneous or awkward. I feel like it needed some reworking in parts.

Finally, the author should know that English Bulldogs that are birthing purebred puppies need C-sections most of the time due to difficult births. It wouldn't have been a simple affair.

I wasn't impressed.

*Read as part of my GRL reading challenge, my quest to read new-to-me authors before the convention*

[Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jack hasn't had much luck with relationships, so he's recently adopted a dog named Angus, whom he adores. He's a bit taken aback when someone at the dog park accuses Angus of getting her dog pregnant. Jack's a good guy and thus offers to help with any cost and such.

This brings him to Sean who's fostering the female dog that Angus impregnated.

Jack has some self-confidence issues, likely brought on by the ex-boyfriend, but Sean has no such trouble and starts pursuing Jack.

I liked the characters, and the plot, in this novella. The writing was fine for the most part, even though the dialogue felt a bit stilted on occasion. The romance happens rather quickly, which is expected for how short the story is, but what bothered me is that Jack threw out his convictions too quickly for my taste. The "when you know, you know" didn't really work for me here.

The dogs were fun, and seeing both Jack and Sean be good doggie parents was also a positive.

I didn't like Sean's sister (the one who accuses Angus). The other sister was nice enough, I suppose, though we don't find out much about them in the book due to its shortness.

Overall a sweet story that didn't take me long to read. Enjoyable, for sure.


** I received a free copy of this book from its author. A positive review was not promised in return. **

[Candice · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too short. Like way too short. When I was getting into it it was 70 % over. Really?

[Jenny Wood · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very cute cover....

I adore hot guys with their animals and I was excited to check this one out. The story itself isn't bad, the writing style is good and I dunno... maybe I'm just in a mood today or something but the dialogue was soooo cheesey and bad...

So, Jack and Sean meet at a dog park where Sean's sister is really rude to Jack about getting her dog pregnant... but was it her dog or was it Sean's because, Sean acts like she's his but I can't figure out why it'd be any of her business if it wasn't.... ANYWAY.... so, Sean is super confident and seems like an all around nice good guy... he's so attractive and Jack doesn't know why he'd ever go for a guy like him and blah blah blah, but he does and he ends up asking him out...

Within minutes they're making out and ready to do the business but then Jack has a moment of clarity or whatever and stops it... that's okay though... he comes back the next day and they do it then....but not before he kind of has a meltdown over defining the relationship... I mean, hey... they just met and started hanging out a few hours ago, but I really need for you to define what we're doing here.... Come on...

And Lyle? Jack's friend? I can't believe anyone's friends with him at all. He's condescending and slutty... and his dialogue is almost as ridiculous as the other guys.
I dunno.. I really wanted to like this story, it has a cute thing going until the dialogue kicked in.
I'm glad I got it from kindle unlimited, I'd have been mad had I actually paid for it.

[Sue bowdley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to give this 5 stars even if it's a short one....this is just so sweet.....The two MC's are adorable together and are brought together by their dogs......A lovely short read for an afternoon x

[Tinnean · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a cute short.

[Nila · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you love small dogs and can imagine a hotly romantic story with little ones and their loved ones, you can figure out why I bought this book. The puppy looked adorable.

The M/M romance was pretty tepid involving non-neutered dogs and the inevitable result. There was a story of sorts and sex and sweet words.

If you just want to read a story that won't hurt a bit, this might be for you. If you want more of either the puppies or the sex or the story, maybe you could look a little longer.

[Sadonna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a super short and sweet read about two guys who meet over a doggy incident at the dog park. When they meet up again, it seems fate and they both acknowledge they attraction and that they'd like to see each other outside of the confines of the dog park and vet's office.

It's really a cute story and Jack and Sean are adorable as well as Sally and Angus. What a lovely little story for a lazy Sunday morning.

[Barbara Ingram · Rating 5 out of 5]

💕💕💕💕💕 5 Sweet Stars💕💕💕💕💕

I absolutely adored this short, sweet, yet pretty steamy tale of two men who meet by way of their puppies. I fell in love with Angus and Sally, the puppies, not to mention Sean and Jack and you will too! Give them a chance to worm their way into your heart!

[Bitchie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too short to really connect, and several wrong words. Per say? Wondering around? Please,hire an editor!

[Lila Hunter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 3.5 stars

A really cute, sweet short story. The right amount of character development even when a bit rush due to its length.

[Pam Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given this short story in exchange for a honest review so here it is. This was a sweet love story which I enjoyed reading quite a lot. When it makes your heart swell then it is worth reading. The story line was good and the characters were well developed and believable. Jack and Sean had met at a dog park with their new dogs. Thinking that Sean's dog was pregnant by Jack's dog, the two see each other at the vets office which Sean worked and his sister was the vet. The attraction between them both was amazing. And Sean asked Jack to come over his house. Things moved quickly as each were willing to take a chance on the other. The beginning of a sweet relationship that turned out to be so much more. A great short read that will make you smile. Loved it.

[Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was cute and lovely.

[Viki Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars


A very cute,short,sexy read. Enjoyed very much x

[Zane Kage · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 stars