It's up to two rescue husky puppies to convince their owners it's never too late for a second leash on love.
When Nate Porter left Helen, Alaska, to become a firefighter with the Forest Service, he claimed it was because he craved adventure. The truth was, he couldn't stand to hang around, pining for a girl the town's century-old feud meant he could never have. But Nate got over Lydia Lipin years ago, or so he thought until he learns that an old rival has come sniffing around. The solution—a trip home with his rescue puppies to prove to himself he completely extinguished that old flame.
Lydia Lipin has always been satisfied being the "good" Lipin daughter—dutiful, practical, and always putting others before herself. But that role begins to chafe as Nate's return ignites old memories. No one in town knew about their secret friendship or those forbidden kisses they stole the summer after graduation. Suddenly, Nate and his puppies are everywhere, and sparks are flying.
When Nate realizes he never got over Lydia, he'll risk everything for a second chance. But Lydia's not a risk-taker, and she has to make a choice—play it safe and pretend their summer fling was just puppy love, or step out of the family shadow and unleash her heart.
Growing up, Alanna Martin wanted to be an astronaut, a doctor, and an actor – possibly all at once. After nine years of studying psychology, she somehow became a writer instead. This turned out to be the best career choice of all because she can work in her pajamas while drinking wine. She firmly believes in the power of fluffy books, long walks in the woods, and that there’s no such thing as too much coffee.
If she's wasting time online, it's most likely on twitter where you can find her at @ta_martin or on instagram at @tamartinauthor. You can also check out her website for updates at alannamartin.com.
A feel good, light-hearted read! The cover of this one drew me in with the snowy Alaska vibes and the adorable puppies. I haven’t read the other 2 books in this series yet, but this one read fine as a stand-alone! I loved the characters in this book and the second chance at love storyline. This book had the perfect amount of steam and chemistry. This book will leave you feeling good with a smile on your face!
Thank you Berkley and Net Galley for an ARC in return for my honest review.
Refreshing and delightful. ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Second chance romance stories are a lot of fun to read. I think we all kind of think about the “what if” scenarios on the one that got away, or, like in this case, the one we have unfinished business with.
The author took that to heart when she was creating the story. She features the 30-something’s with their high school secret crushes in the back of their mind. Their story was never completed and now we get to experience that crush coming to life.
Set an a quaint small town with a great vibe, the main characters are struggling to find their footing. And an old family feud keeps trying to keep the covers on everything, not to mention the annoying other guy trying to grab Lydia’s attention too.
With a bit of angst, frustration, and tongue tied mishaps, Martin weaves her magic to settle the issues once and for all. The setting and the puppies play a perfect role with the budding romance that captures our attention and begs for a solution to the small town and family issues at hand.
The heat was hot with firefighter Nate in the mix and your heart will sing when this cozy romance is complete. A refreshing and delightful romance to warm your soul this winter.
This second chance romance proves that love can win over even the most difficult of obstacles...
Why has Nate Porter returned home to Helen, Alaska after a successful career with the Forest Service as a firefighter? When Nate was a teen he was closer to Lydia Lipin than anyone else. However, a century old feud forced them to keep their friendship a secret. Could the fact that Lydia has now found someone else be enough incentive for Nate to head home and to defy both families by letting his deep feelings for Lydia known?
As far as Lydia is concerned, she spent her entire life doing the right thing, and that included pushing strong feelings for Nate as far back as possible. When Nate comes home Lydia soon realizes that those long ago feelings are more powerful than ever. Will Lydia stand on her own and defy her parents and everyone else that is trying to keep the feud going and seek her heart's goal - love with Nate?
Love and Let Bark is the third book in the delightful Hearts of Alaska series. The first two titles are Heart on a Leash and Paws and Prejudice. Whether it is the gorgeous huskies that grace the covers of each book, or the warm love stories contained within, this is a wonderful series that warmed my heart.
Many thanks to Berkley and to NetGalley for this ARC for review/ This is my honest opinion.
I’ll let out a giant WOOF for Love and Let Bark, Alanna Martin’s third book in the Hearts of Alaska series (but can easily be read as a stand-alone!) In this delightful second chance romance (with an almost love triangle and an ongoing family feud), there are miscommunications and missteps, making the reader ask, ‘what’s in a name?’ Did I mention the sexy firefighter and his adorable puppies? Just make a calendar already! In sum, Lydia and Nate are relatable characters that have to let go of the past to claim the present–if they can.
This is the third book in a series and I haven’t read the first two, which may have been a mistake. I wasn’t confused or anything, I just wasn’t very connected to the characters and I’m not sure if it was just the leads here and it wouldn’t had mattered if I had read the first two, or maybe I needed to be more invested in the town. I know part of the reason that I wasn’t that invested was because the conflict centered around Nate and Lydia having to keep their relationship a secret due to an ongoing feud between their two families. While I understood their need to keep things under wraps as teenagers, I didn’t quite buy it now that they’re adults. It just seemed really silly and trivial and since that was a main part of the issue, I never fully got behind them as a couple. There was still stuff to like here, it was pretty cute especially if you’re a dog lover and the setting was pretty and well described. I would definitely try this author again, this just wasn’t my fave but if you like second chance romance and cute pups you may like this more than I did.
The adorable huskies strike again. The compelling writing and appealing characters, and I just couldn't put it down.
The feud between the Porters and the Lipins of Helen, Alaska, is still going strong. Lydia is running interference with her family to give her sister, Taylor, a breather from all the shenanigans while she is planning her wedding to Josh. (This is starting to sound a bit like a soap opera. 😁)
Nate Porter has escaped the town and the feud, but an injury has forced him home again to recover. He discovers his attraction to Lydia is just as strong as ever and it is returned. Will their growing relationship be able to withstand the force of the feud?
I don't have a lot to say here. Read the books and start from the beginning, preferably. It's an amazing series so far and I feel very privileged that I got the chance to read and review them. I loved Nate and Lydia right from the start. Lydia is a bit uptight and everything in her world is ordered just so. I can identify with that. Nate's return turned her world upside down and made her take a long and hard look at herself and at what she wants from life. He forced her to come out of her shell and live a little. Nate came to realize that the town he was trying to run away from so badly, is actually the place that he was meant to be.
The feud was a bit more low-key. I loved seeing Kelsey, Josh, and Taylor again as well. Trust me, you won't want to put this one down once you get started. I can definitely recommend this to any romance reader. This is book three in the Hearts of Alaska series. You don't necessarily have to read them in order, but it might help a bit.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I enjoyed this second chance romance book more than I was expecting. I've read a few contemporary romances featuring dogs as big side characters fairly close together and this one stands out. Lydia Lipin lives in the small town of Helen, Alaska and runs her families Inn. She is always the practical one, the good one, and not the person to take a risk. Nate Porter is a firefighter and lives in Washington. He left Helen before Lydia could return from college thinking they would never have a chance. After a car accident leaves him recovering he returns to Alaska to be with family and hopefully to see Lydia too. Of course he brings his two rescue puppies along.
This is a low angst romance. Lydia and Nate are both still drawn to each other and I like that they give in to their passion. A little drama comes from some competition and family but it isn't something two adults who can talk can't overcome. This is the third (and I think final book) in the Hearts Of Alaska series. I read as a stand alone but think it would be enjoyed more read in order. There is also a feud between Lydia and Nate's families that is probably better explained in earlier books. I am new to the author and enjoyed her writing style. I'll look forward to reading more form her. Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Set in the small town of Helen, Alaska. Nate Porter left his hometown to become a firefighter. He left for the adventure but also because he couldn't have the girl he wanted, Lydia Lipin. His family, the Porters and her family, the Lipins, have a100 year old feud and he felt it was an impossible situation for them to be together. But seems times are changing, Lydia's younger sister is marrying a Porter. Nate comes back to town to recuperate from an accident and to see if Lydia feels anything for him after all this time. Lydia and Nate start to rekindle some old memories..sprks fly! Cute story set in Alaska and lots of huskies and interesting characters.
This is my absolute favorite of this awesome series. It's so wonderful. I don't usually love second chance romances but this one is a swoony delight, and I cheered for Nate and Lydia from the very first page.
Love and Let Bark was a delightful read featuring a romance between two people on opposite sides of a feud in their small Alaskan town.
Nate Porter left Helen, Alaska looking for an adventure. He was also running from the century-old feud keeping him from being with the girl he loved. Nate thought he'd gotten over Lydia Lipin years ago until he runs into her on a trip home and those old feelings come back. Lydia has always been the "good" daughter who does as she's told, putting duty before herself. Her secret relationship with Nate was the one time she did something for herself. When Nate comes home to visit, Lydia realizes she still wants him but she's never been one to take risks. With the feud escalating around them, Nate and Lydia will have to decide how much they're willing to risk for love.
Lydia has always disliked the feud with the Porters but she could never say so openly. Lydia has a hard time saying no to her family and at times she lets them walk all over her. One thing I loved about her character was how by the end of the book she stood up to her family and told them she wasn't going to be doing everything they wanted anymore. Nate, like Lydia, never liked the feud and thought it was rather pointless. Nate always wanted more than life in Helen and he had a desire to help people leading to him becoming a firefighter for the Forest Service. He also volunteered with the Humane Society which led to him adopting two husky puppies who were absolutely adorable.
Nate and Lydia secretly became friends their senior year of high school and began dating the summer after. Ultimately Lydia couldn't handle the possibility of their families finding out and ending things before she left for college. The pair don't have contact until many years later when Nate comes back to town. I enjoy second chance romances so I was looking forward to theirs particularly due to the fact their breakup didn't have anything to do with problems in the relationship. When the pair meet after Nate returns to town, it's clear they're still attracted to one another and their chemistry is fantastic. It doesn't take long for their relationship to turn physical and the steamy scenes are very well done. There is a misunderstanding between them towards the end that was thankfully cleared up quickly.
Overall Love and Let Bark was a fantastic read and I highly recommend the Hearts of Alaska series if you're looking for some great contemporaries.
This delightful Alaska holiday romance between two people that hid their relationship in high school and discover they aren't over eachother. Their families hate eachother like generations worth of hate and they have to carry on the tradition. But with their siblings engaged they are helping pave the way to some type of truce. (Ugh I don't get rivalry or animosity that carries on but it happens)
Too bad Lydia is the good daughter that does what she's told which unfortunately her handsome high school love interest that isn't related to the enemy shows up in town wealthy, attractive and creates competition for Nate. And just what her family thinks she needs.
Nate who is recovering from a shoulder injury and comes back to town.
I definitely love a second chance romance add in a Romeo and Juliet flair some snow and husky puppies. Oh man I love huskies!
Thank you berkleyromance and netgalley for the e-ARC for my honest and voluntary review.
I think it was the promise of more huskies that sucked me into reading this one.
I liked Lydia and Nate well enough. They’re both good people with good intentions. I liked that they had history and had been sort of pining away for each other. There are a load of characters here and I did remember most of them, so it was fun to see them again.
Plot wise, I don’t know. At times it felt repetitive and there was a lot of telling, not showing. And much like the previous book, the feud was all anyone talked or thought about. This time, it got pretty old, pretty fast.
Overall, it was a quick read and the dogs are described to be adorable. I would have liked to see more chemistry between Lydia and Nate, but I did enjoy reading their HEA.
**Huge thanks to the publisher for providing the arc free of charge**
Oy, when I first started reading, I was all "oh man, I forgot about these idiots and their stupid fued' and was hoping that it wouldn't carry on like the last two books.
I was glad that these morons finally started to remove their heads from their rectums so they would stop ruining their children/grandhildrens lives with their nonsense.
My heart hurt for Lydia, for how she was the buffer between her sister and her "so called" family - I mean, you treat your kids/grandkids this way, are you really family? I hated how she was trying to live up to their expections, and being miserable whilst doing it.
I adored the back story between Lydia and Nate, and all through the story I just wanted them to finally be together.
I will say, I called out loud when Lydia did what she did - you'll find out. - and seeing her and Nate come full circle.
I don't want to say too much, as I don't want to spoil things, but let me say that this was my favourite of the series, and was glad where things ended up.
I just loved this one so much! You get puppies, a cat, hot shot FS firefighter, this crazy small town in Alaska, hundred year old family feud, snow storms and moose that come at just the right time, and second chances. Nate has never stopped loving Lydia, he moved away because of their families they had to keep their High school time a secret, but things are chaining. Cody, Lydia's ex is also back in town and as a tech billionaire he is a threat to Nate. You get family drama, learning about each other again, the monsters aka the puppies, and sneaking out to see if their chemistry is still there.
Make sure to go read book 1 and 2 as we get some more of those characters and it will make sense with the whole town. I just loved this series! So if you like Alaska settings, some steam, puppies and more puppies- then this is a great one for you to read!
I received an ARC of this title from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Return to Helen, Alaska--home to picturesque scenery, a whole bunch of fluffy huskies.... and the feud that fuels the town.
Nate Porter left Helen shortly after high school and hasn't looked back. His job as a firefighter for the Forest Service keeps him busy, but the call to adventure wasn't what drove him away from town: it was the fact that he couldn't stay in Helen knowing that the feud makes it impossible to be with the woman he loves: Lydia Lipin.
Lydia Lipin is the good girl, the good Lipin daughter. She runs the family business, she plays peacekeeper between the demanding and critical matriarch and her younger sister--who is marrying a Porter despite, well, everything--her love life is nonexistent despite (or, rather, because of) her grandmother's meddling and heckling, and she has resigned herself to this fate. That is, until Nate Porter comes back to town...
Lydia and Nate shared one, beautiful, glorious summer together--young and in love. But they both knew it could not last. Now, older, the two find each other again and feelings reemerge. But will they pick duty to family ties, or choose to follow their hearts?
The third of Martin's "Heart of Alaska" books does not disappoint! Full of heat, drama, and fluff--both the romantic kind and the husky puppy kind--"Love and Let Bark" is a phenomenal continuation of the story of Helen, Alaska and the Porter-Lipin Feud... and the children of the feud who continue to find love despite it.
While Love and Let Bark wasn’t a bad story, it started losing my interest about one fourth of the way in and never really got it back.
The best part of the book was the dogs. Daisy and Spark, the husky puppies that belonged to the hero, Nate, were the best characters. Nate was a yummy hero, and Lydia a strong, smart capable heroine, but the two of them waffled so hard in the face of the probable disapproval of their families they needed butter and syrup. Nate and Lydia had a history in high school when they hid their relationship from everyone. Now they are both grown and the attraction is still there-but so is the feud that kept them hiding as teens. One of my biggest questions was why the town would accept a gay marriage before they would one in which people from either side of the feud had a wedding.
Both Nate and Lydia spent far too much time in introspection with the reader as an unwilling observer into their every thought.
While the book wasn’t my cup of tea, I didn’t hate it. It just could have used a little less thought and a lot more action.
Sweet & steamy! All my favs from the Hearts of Alaska series are here. She's practical. He's a hero. They're on opposite sides of a centuries long feud. What could possibly go wrong? And can we talk about a FIREFIGHTER with PUPPIES? I'm dead.
Love and Let Bark by Alanna Martin is the third book and final book in her wonderful Hearts of Alaska series. This series takes place in Helen, Alaska and the background of this series is a horrible feud between the Lipin and Porter families that has lasted many years. In book 1, Taylor (Lipin) and Josh (Porter) fell in love despite the feuding families; in book 2 Kelsey (Porter) and Ian find each other. In Love and Let Bark, the story revolves around Lydia Lipin and Nathan Porter. I will say I loved all the stories, but this was a wonderful romance.
Lydia Lipin runs the family B&B, and is usually the one to sacrifice her own life, to keep things peaceful; especially with her sister Taylor’s engagement to Josh, and goes out of her way to protect her sister from the meddling from both families. Years ago, Lydia had a secret friendship with Nate Porter, and when she went away to college, they both decided they could not continue to date secretly due to the feud, and Nate left town. To her shock, she runs into Nate and his adorable husky puppies, as he has returned home unable to use his arm from a serious accident.
Nate has a successful career as a firefighter with the Forest Service, and when he learns that a former boyfriend of Lydia has also returned, Nate decides to renew his friendship with Lydia. Nate has never forgotten Lydia, and when he runs into her, the feelings he has not been able to forget reignite. Can Nate convince Lydia to give him a second chance?
In a short time, both Lydia and Nate find their feelings for each other reemerge, and the chemistry between them intensifies; will they both put themselves first this time. I loved both of the husky puppies, who were so much fun and adorable. I also liked Lydia’s cat Merlot, who is more independent. The relationship between Lydia and Taylor (sisters) was wonderful, as their bond was strong.
What follows is a fun and sexy romance between Lydia and Nate, and the adorable huskies, who made this story even better. Just when we realize that they have fallen hard for each other, an argument between Nate and Cody will anger Lydia, and we pray they can reconcile and take their relationship to the next step, despite all the family feuds.
Love and Let Bark was a wonderful sweet romance, great couple, two fantastic puppies, terrific friends and sisters (Taylor & Kelsey), despite the family feud. Alanna Martin once again gives us a wonderful well written story. I suggest you read this series.
Thank you to Berkley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review! Also, thank you for allowing me to be a part of this Blog Tour!
Love and Let Bark by Alanna Martin is an adorable romantic comedy that would make the perfect holiday read! The story is told from alternating 3rd person POV's between the two main characters. Lydia and Nate are from rival families in a small town in Alaska. However, they had a secret tryst after high school. Years later, Nate returns to their hometown with his rescue puppies. Will meeting Lydia cause sparks to fly? Or is their former relationship as cold and dead as the snow around them?
Here is a humorous excerpt from Chapter 1:
"IF THE WEDDING didn’t kill everyone, Lydia Lipin might have to do it herself. Surely no judge would convict her, not when they learned about the circumstances. Her younger sister wasn’t even getting married for another nine months, but already the strain Lydia felt was bone deep. Actually, make that premeditated murder deep. Her hometown of Helen, Alaska, had been torn apart by the Lipin-Porter family feud for over a century, and while it didn’t make being a member of either family fun, it was something everyone was accustomed to. Like tourists, and rain, and mosquitoes—if you lived in Helen, you accepted that the feud was life. But Lydia’s sister was engaged to a Porter, and Taylor and Josh exchanging kisses—never mind vows—was not something either family was ready to accept. Lydia wasn’t sure how the planned nuptials hadn’t exploded into true violence yet, although to be fair to both families’ ingenuity, it had come close. In the meantime, Lydia was waiting and getting exhausted."
Overall, Love and Let Bark is an amazing rom-com that will appeal to fans of Sophie Kinsella and Melissa Ferguson. One highlight of this book is the wild Alaskan setting. It's the perfect setting for a nice holiday read, and it made me wish that it would start snowing soon. Another highlight is the concept of star-crossed lovers who haven't seen each other in years finally meeting once again. The plot is lovely and focuses on how these two people get to know each other once again. If you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you're a fan of romantic comedies, I highly recommend that you check out this book when it comes out in November!
Nate Porter left his hometown of Helen, Alaska to become a firefighter for the forest service in Washington state. Claiming he wanted adventure and to be away from the ridiculously long running feud between his family of Porters, and a certain young woman from the opposing Lipin side. Nate actually left because Lydia Lipin was out of his reach as an “enemy,” plus the fact she left for college. Now in his thirties, Nate returns to Helen in part because of some injuries and that his old rival for Lydia’s affections has returned as well.
Lydia Lipin has always done what her demanding and frequently annoying family asked whether it be giving up any dreams she might have had to run the family hotel, or toeing the family line regarding their hated adversaries the Porters. Since Lydia’s younger sister, Taylor, returned to help with the hotel and had the bad taste to actually get engaged to a Porter relative, things have begun to slowly evolve; however, there are still plenty of family on both sides who oppose this sea change.
Lydia had her own long-time feelings for Nate, but never saw any future for them. When Nate returns stirring up old emotions and some new ones, Lydia has to decide whether she is brave enough to risk her heart as well as the family furor that would ensue should a relationship between them become public. Lydia’s former boyfriend, Cody, who has become quite successful has plans to woo her back though she sees him for the egotistical jerk he is. Lydia and Nate find out that hiding their growing affections for each other might just backfire.
Third and last in the Hearts of Alaska series, tensions rise and push comes to shove when Lydia and Nate must decide if they are willing to risk it all to be together despite a whole lot of opposition from a century old and now senseless grudge. The older generation are having trouble letting go of the bitterness and hostility they were raised with; however, the younger folk are beginning to be so over it. Lydia is tired of being a doormat and Nate has to learn to speak his true feelings, or the odds of them working out as a couple are slim.
“Dawn- or what passed for it at this time of year- didn’t change Nate’s resolve. Every interaction he’d had with Lydia, culminating in that almost-but-not-quite-like-old-times phone call last night, had forced him to realize how much he still cared about her. He could tell himself all he wanted that it should be impossible to be head over heels for a woman he’d lost touch with a decade ago, but facts were facts. His physical attraction to Lydia was as strong as ever, and everything else about her continued to draw him in like a bonfire at midwinter. She was a light in the darkness. Warmth in the cold. A welcoming presence telling him he was home.”
Nate Porter and Lydia Lipin’s forbidden relationship ten years ago was torn apart by the feud between their families. Nate left town and hasn’t been back since until he hears that Lydia’s ex-boyfriend is back in town pursuing her. Nate finally has to decide about his feelings for Lydia Lipin: Keep running away or confront them head on once and for all.
I have thoroughly enjoyed the other books in the Hearts of Alaska series, and when found out the final book was going to be Lydia and Nate I was super excited. I am a sucker for a good second chance romance. It is one of my favorite tropes so this book should actually check all the boxes for me. It didn’t though. Why? I just kept wishing for some extra depth from both of these characters and their relationship. I was also expecting a great deal more angst too since it is forbidden love and they were separated because of the feud, but it just wasn’t there. It just felt extremely watered down. I wonder if the reason is because every book in this series seems to use the same tropes, so they start to feel overdone. The feud has been an over-arching plot point since the beginning, and I had some fatigue when reading what felt like an immensely similar story to the other two. It was a good book, but just was my least favorite in the series so far.
Give this one a chance if you are a fan of small-town romance authors like Susan Mallery or Debbie Macomber.
Love and Let Bark by Alanna Martin is the third book in her contemporary romance series, Hearts of Alaska. I’m freely going to admit that I was drawn to this book by the adorable husky puppies on the cover and the promise of a snowy Alaskan setting. I didn’t even realize it was part of a series, but thankfully not having read the first two books in the series didn’t hamper my enjoyment of this latest installment at all.
When they were younger, Lydia Lipin and Nate Porter were secretly friends in spite of their families’ century-long feud. They soon developed more than friendly feelings for one another, but frustrated that he would never be able to have Lydia openly in his life because of their families’ dislike for one another, Nate decides he needs to leave town. Years later, Nate comes back to his hometown, and as soon as he sees Lydia again, he realizes that time apart has done nothing to dull his feelings for her.
Lydia has always played the role of the responsible and reliable daughter. She dutifully takes over the family business when it’s time, and she always puts the needs of others above herself, including her sister, who decides she’s in love with and wants to marry a Porter and doesn’t care about the feud. Even though it’s incredibly stressful, Lydia spends much of her time running interference between the two families so as to spare her sister the stress. When she sees Nate again, however, Lydia realizes she still has feelings for him and becomes frustrated with the state of their families and the peacemaking role she has been forced into.
Lydia and Nate were both such sweet, likeable and sympathetic characters. It was so obvious how much they love each other and that they were both heartbroken when it didn’t work out the first time. They were stuck in such a horrible and awkward situation that wasn’t even of their making. I loved that they have the opportunity for a second chance at love and was really rooting for them to just tell off their families and run away together.
The husky puppies were of course adorable little scene stealers and the snowy Alaska setting was the picture perfect background for this delightful, feel-good story. If you’re a fan of second chance romances, I highly recommend Love and Let Bark.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
Love and Let Bark is the third and final book in the Hearts of Alaska series. It can be read as a stand-alone. I feel very conflicted about this one, as I feel like I wasn’t in the right headspace to enjoy this. I feel like I already read a much more enjoyable dog-themed small-town second chance book, and not to say there can’t be more than one, but them coming out on the same day and receiving ARCs of both meant reading them close together, so comparison (however unfair that is), and I will take some accountability for that…it was poor planning on my part, and I didn’t anticipate this.
But I also feel like, as a concluding book to a trilogy, it felt very…ok? Underwhelming? I’m a bit tired of the family drama that doesn’t seem to go anywhere. It felt only half-resolved in the first book, which also focused heavily on the family feud, and I was honestly tired of the families so stuck on old grudges, even though one Lipin-Porter couple were officially together, and this one follows another that fell apart due to that feud.
I did feel for Lydia and the situation she was in with a sometimes toxic family dynamic making her miserable. And Nate was all right…but I can’t say I was super invested in them as a couple.
I wasn’t a huge fan of this one, but that’s not to say it won’t work for someone else, as I’ve seen many rave reviews, and am absolutely in the minority. If it sounds like your thing, I encourage you to give it a try.
In Live and Let Bark we are back in Helen, Alaska and things are heating up. The Porter/Lipin family feud, a generational conflict that gathers in the bulk of the residents in the delightful tourist town, is still in high gear.
Enter the daughter of the head of the Lipin Family, Lydia, who has always done the right thing. Her greatest trespass and secret to date is that she had a clandestine first love – namely Nate Porter, son of the head of the Porter family.
Their high school romance ended when she went away to college, but firefighter (sigh) Nate is back in town and this time, he has no intention of doing anything to douse the heat that springs up between them.
Once again, Martin’s crisp, clean prose is a delight as she gifts us with a fun and smart second-chance romance. Lydia’s inner monologues are achingly familiar to anyone who tries their best to please everyone and Nate is just plain yummy. Martin has created a compelling and entertaining backdrop in Helen, Alaska, and a special bonus, we are given husky puppies. Honest to goodness puppies both on the page and on the cover. Fans of small town romance, sexy firefighters, and second-chance romances should snap this book up!
Did I say that I absolutely love reading this book? If I have not, then let me say it again. Love and Let Bark is my top favorite in the Hearts of Alaska series. And I know you will say the same thing as well. We get to read about Nate Porter and Lydia Lipin which is a bit unexpected yet so refreshing. They are supposed to be rivals to each other but they are much more than that. Years ago, they formed a friendship - a secret friendship behind their families' back; and they ultimately fell in love with each other. But life got ahead of them, and they lost touch. Fast forward, they meet again, and they are still in love with each other. I know that sometimes family expectations get the best of them. But I am relieved that Nate and Lydia are fighting back. It's getting tiresome fighting about the town family rivals. No one has time for that anymore. Plus, Nate and Lydia are finally ready to fall in love with each other again. They always have feelings for each other. It never went away. Just developed deeper as they saw each other again. Do you know what made me fall more in love with Nate and Lydia? They never forgot about how much they love each other after so many years apart. They always remember how true their friendship always was.
I was seriously excited to read this book - a true Montague and Capulet style romance (minus the suicide and killings). Nate is the oldest brother in the main branch of the Porter family. He has been MIA from Helen, Alaska for a long time. Trying to find his own way in the world as a firefighter apart from his hometown and the feud that defines it. He's also been avoiding Lydia Lipin. Lydia and Nate had a secret friendship and romance in high school that ended with Lydia running away. Neither could see how they could be together in the face of their families.
Nate and Lydia are so sweet together - and I loved that Nate was really fighting for their relationship - even when neither of them was sure how it could move forward. I also loved that both Lydia and Nate took responsibility for how things happened - they really showed that it takes two to make things work.
Overall- this was a very satisfying read and everything I hoped it would be! You do not have to read the other books in this series to understand anything - but I do think it is worth it to really understand the nature of the feuding families.
I received this as an ARC from NetGalley but these opinions are all my own.
A very satisfying closure to the series. I can't believe the love stories filled with lots of Huskies have come to an end. I was fortunate to read all 3 books in the sequence so I could get the most out of the series endbook.
Nate is a firefighter- risktaking is his game. While Lydia is the peacemaker- doing her best to avoid confrontations. But she has a hidden atreak of rebelliousness and it was SO satisfying to see her excercise it at the end with her grandma. You go girl! Nate is a grump usually so the way he bungles up using incomplete sentences was way funny. Poor guy. But he is so sensitive taking his cues from Lydia all through the book it was awwwwww.🥰
I loved the whole Cody thing. Not the man but he brought lot of clarity to Nate's thoughts in a fun way so I enjoyed reading him. The most fun part? Wait till you get to the page where Nate goes to Kelsey for advice 😃
All in all I'm so happy to see the feud was not going to stand in Love's way once again and Nate and Lydia were on their own HEA. Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!
Love and Let Bark is a steamy second chance romance with heart! It’s also a small town romance–which I love–and a Romeo & Juliet/Hatfields & McCoys-type ill-fated romance… or is it?
When Nate and Lydia were younger, they had to keep their love a secret. Now that they’re adults, it’s difficult to pick up where they left off because the entire town of Helen has taken a side in the Porter/Lipin feud.
Nate and Lydia have great chemistry together, I really enjoyed reading their story. I especially loved all the doggies! Nate is a super swoony hero that I equally wanted to pet and/or brain because he’s so stubborn! Lydia is secretly a gifted artist and I enjoyed watching her character grow a backbone and stand up to her family, her community and the overbearing males in her path! Very sad that this is the conclusion of the series. *Secretly hoping for more*
**I voluntarily read a copy of the book provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and feelings expressed are my own**