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My Review:Title: In Service of Love
Author: Laurel Greer
Series: Sutter Creek Montana #5
Published by: Harlequin Special Edition
Release Date: September 1, 2020
Format: Kindle Book
Pages: 198
Genres: Romance, Contemporary, LGBT
Reading Challenges: Lenoreo's 2020 Diversity Reading Challenge, Lenoreo's 2020 New Release Challenge
Find it: Goodreads ✩ Amazon ✩ B&N ✩ Google ✩ Kobo ✩ iBooks ✩ IndieBound ✩ Book Depository
My rating:
Blurb:Could a dog help heal them both?
A service dog in training knows just what they need!
Veterinarian Maggie Reid is focused on training service dogs and has no time for romance. Yet Asher Matsuda sends her guarded heart into a tailspin. The widowed single dad has vowed to put his grieving daughter first. He can't be falling for a beautiful workaholic who hides behind her career. But every dog has its day and this stubborn duo is no different...if only they'll take a chance on love!
3.5 stars — There were so many things I absolutely LOVED about this book, but it was also missing something to push it over the top, kwim?
I am in LOVE with Asher. He was unique, adorable, almost too good to be true. He swoonily always said the right things when it came to his daughter, and how to treat Maggie, and just…everything. I could FEEL his caring right down to the bones. And OMG, I felt his grief too! He brought so much to this book, I really need more heroes like him, b/c he’s definitely a favourite. I also loved that his bisexuality didn’t feel like a plot device, but really gave a glimpse at how much harder it can be to be bi vs gay. I thought that was dealt with quite well, from my hetero perspective anyways.
Maggie was a bit harder to fall in love with. I think on the surface I got her hangups, but I will admit that I didn’t connect with that and feel for Maggie as much as I wanted to. I kinda felt like her brother and her friends, just wanting to smack her. I’m not sure what I needed, but I needed something more for me to really understand where these fears came from, b/c I didn’t empathize with her over it…it just seemed unreasonable to me.
The chemistry between Asher and Maggie was okay…I will admit that I didn’t feel the steamy stuff as much, no idea why. But oh wow, I DEFINITELY felt the rest of the relationship connections — from their friendship to their crushes to the flirting, to all the emotion that came along with it. It was a very strangely mixed bag, and I really don’t know how to explain what wasn’t enough for me.
Ruth was a complete surprise for me — in a FABULOUS way! I’m not a huge fan of kids in books…well, not like I’ll avoid them, they just aren’t something I seek out either. I get really frustrated with how unrealistic they feel sometimes. No worries on that with Ruth! She sincerely felt like a 10 year old girl dealing with grief. She could be adorable, she could get to your heart, but she could also be exactly how I expect a tween to be — struggling with growing up and asserting herself and dealing with her emotions and and and…
And then there’s Jackson. I need a Jackson. For realz. I love that good boy.
Lots of interesting secondary characters that make me want to check out previous books in the series, and look forward to future books (Stella, Stella, Stella…).
So yeah. There were elements that had me cheering, and there were elements that I wanted more from. But it was a satisfying romance in the end, and I can definitely see myself looking into more books in this series…
I’m glad you enjoyed this one. That cover is so old school, though! It’s more 1990 than 2020.