Pride & Puppies

September 19, 2022
Shane’s diverting fourth Pine Hollow romance (after To All the Dogs I’ve Loved Before) follows physician Charlotte Rodriguez, a Jane Austen enthusiast searching for her Darcy, and her neighbor and coworker, physical therapist George Lenegham, who moved to the small Vermont town hoping for better luck finding his own soul mate. George has been drawn to Charlotte since their first meeting, but he’s self-aware enough to know he’s not the Darcy-type she’s looking for. Cementing their platonic status, Charlotte swears off men following a bad breakup, forming a “Puppy Pact” with her friends to “only give our love to adorable puppies.” Indeed, Charlotte soon finds the love of her life in a golden retriever she names Bingley—and satisfies her romantic side by setting George up on blind dates. Frustrated by their just-friends status and with the fact that he’s still “the new guy” after 18 months in Pine Hollow, George considers another move—which might be just the push Charlotte needs to see what’s in front of her. Entertaining subplots—including George’s Zoom book club with his sisters, the town’s cutthroat talent show, and the joys and tribulations of dog ownership—add zest to this sweet tale. Thoroughly saturated with Austen allusions, this cute contemporary is sure to charm. Agent: Michelle Grajkowski, 3 Seas Literary.

October 1, 2022

Shane returns to the dog-filled Vermont town of Pine Hollow (following To All the Dogs I've Loved Before) in a friends-to-lovers romance with just a hint of Jane Austen. Dr. Charlotte Rodriguez is terrible at dating men, always picking the emotionally unavailable Mr. Darcy-wannabes who are more scowls than substance. After another nasty breakup, Charlotte vows to swear off men and give all her love to her new golden retriever puppy, Bingley. She's completely unaware that her co-worker (and literal guy next door) George secretly pines for her but is too scared to confess his feelings. The two forge a bond over their canine companions and binge-watching reality TV, but even though they're spending all their time together, Charlotte somehow remains clueless about George's infatuation. The heroine is almost too naive to be believed, and the hero can't voice his feelings for so long that one begins to wonder how these two will ever get together. VERDICT It's a very slow burn, but this ticks a lot of small-town romance boxes that readers love: puppies, local festivals, nice boys-next-door, and plenty of friends and family.--Kathryn Howe

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