Valentine Puppies and Kisses: The Hart Family

Rachelle Ayala

Feb 2018 · Rachelle Ayala

About this ebook

If you love sweet romances (PG-rating), look no further than Rachelle Ayala's Have a Hart series. The Harts are a family of San Francisco firefighters. Their family motto is: Heart comes first.

Larry and Jenna have it all—a fairy tale romance, a sweet and gassy basset hound dog, and a dream home on the way.

While Jenna charges ahead with her dreams, Larry is plagued by nightmares and doubts about their future.

As Valentine’s Day draws near, and with it, their first anniversary, Jenna plans a big surprise for Larry, a scarred and injured firefighter who is on disability.

When Harley, their hound dog, spoils the surprise, Jenna is shocked at Larry’s reaction.

Will a house full of puppies and kisses be the lucky charm Jenna needs to convince Larry that he can truly have a big and noisy happily-ever-after family?

Valentine Puppies and Kisses is Book #8 of the Have A Hart Romance Series. It can be read standalone, although characters from the previous books appear here in supporting roles. Please note that Larry and Jenna have their initial love story in Book #2, Valentine Hound Dog where we are also introduced to Harley, their basset hound puppy. Their wedding happened in Book #5, Valentine Wedding Hound where they were featured in a reality show.

Book 1: Melisa & Rob, Christmas Lovebirds

Book 2: Jenna & Larry, Valentine Hound Dog

Book 3: Connor & Nadine, Spring Fling Kitty

Book 4: Cait & Brian, Blue Chow Christmas

Book 5: Jenna & Larry, Valentine Wedding Hound

Book 6: Grady & Linx, Summer Love Puppy

Book 7: Dale & Nessa, Dog Days of Love

Book 8: Jenna & Larry, Valentine Puppies and Kisses

Book 9: Kim & Pete, Happy Goose Year

Ratings and reviews

Don't Start a Series in Book 8 This was a harder review to write than usual, because this reader is new to an interconnected series, in Book 8. The Harts aren't my favorite family, as a result. there's A LOT of them, and they all have deep back stories that it is helpful to know more than I did before reading. They DO meddle, and they ARE in each other's business, even when told it's not helpful. As for the main couple and their story...they were WAY emotional. Borderline hysterical (not without cause). But for a person who rarely reads sweet romance, all that emotion, needs an outlet, especially for a married couple. But it's PG, so...the build up never paid off, and I found it difficult to believe these characters would act this way in a committed marriage. That said, for those whose taste run more towards sprawling, family dramas that close the door at the bedroom and celebrate the cuteness of animals, it's probably a hit out of the park. The writing itself is clean and for a full-length novel, the pacing is pretty solid.

This well written romance does not hide the fact the marriage requires effort to keep the relationship alive. Life is not always champagne and roses. Larry and Jenna Davison are in the midst of planning a big first anniversary celebration that is part of the package received from winning their reality show wedding. However, Larry is fighting emotional demons because of one life he could not save in his job as a firefighter. Jenna is a successful fashion designer who wants to become a mother. The two are now struggling to keep their marriage together. Rachelle Ayala does a beautiful job in showing that love can triumph even in the most difficult circumstances. Readers will experience moments of despair when it seems the marriage will fall apart and times of elation when it appears that things will work out. Animal lovers will smile when they read about Harley, their basset hound. He has a cute side story that fits right into the rest of the book. This book is book 8 in the Have A Hart series. However, I have not read the full series and felt that I was not missing anything by not reading all the previous books. That said, I am likely to go back to read the ones I’ve missed! I was provided with an Advance Reader’s Copy of this book. However, all opinions here are strictly my own.

A Sweet Valentine's Romance! Larry and Jenna are on the verge of divorcing because of Larry's inability to talk to Jenna about what he is going through after a traumatic experience left him with a form of PTSD. The story was informative and loving but also heartbreaking because you want this beautiful couple to work it out. I found myself rooting for this couple because they are such great characters. I would put it on my recommened reads list.

About the author

Rachelle Ayala is an award-winning USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romance and romantic suspense. She writes emotionally challenging stories but believes in the power of love and hope.

Her book, Knowing Vera, won the 2015 Angie Ovation Award, and A Father for Christmas garnered a 2015 Readers' Favorite Gold Award. Christmas Stray was awarded the 2016 Readers' Favorite Gold Award and A Pet for Christmas had an Honorable Mention. In 2017, her romance between a veteran pitcher and a mom with an autistic son, Playing for the Save, won the Readers' Favorite Gold Award for Realistic Fiction.

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