While in the small town of Paradise Isle, Dominic "Nic" Caruso comes across what appears to be an abandon dog on the side of the road. He doesn't have the heart to just leave the poor thing there so he scoops him up and takes him to the local vet office. There he meets Jillian Everett, the vet technician, and is immediately entranced by her. Problem is, he's there to buy up and old inn and turn it into a resort for his family's business while she is one of the strongest opponents against the development. The last thing she wants is for a resort to bring hordes of tourists and disturb the feel of the small quaint town. Can these two find a middle ground and find a way to really get to know each other??

This is a wonderfully written small town sweet romance that once I started I couldn't put down. It is one I would recommend to everyone!

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Very good book. Nic is on his way to Paradise Isle on business when he comes across an injured dog. He can't just leave the animal to fend for itself, so he scoops it up and takes it to the Paradise Animal Clinic, intending to just drop it off. Sympathy for the dog and one look at vet tech Jillian have him revising his plan. Jillian is immediately drawn to this gorgeous man who also has a soft side. But there is more than she knows about his presence on the island.

I loved both Nic and Jillian. They bonded quickly over the dog and his care, enough that Nic made sure to find a way to see her again the next day. They spent a marvelous time together, but the more time he spent with her, the more he realized that there were some rather significant obstacles to anything more than what they have right at that moment.

Jillian was orphaned as a toddler and grew up in multiple foster homes. She learned early in life not to count on anyone other than herself. She doesn't trust that anyone will stay in her life for long, so instead she has lavished the love in her heart on her town and her friends. She loves the small town life, with the way that she knows almost everyone and everyone watches out for each other. She belongs to the Island Preservation Society, which works hard to maintain the island's charm. When she finds out that Nic is on the island to purchase the Sandpiper Inn, with plans to tear it down and build a fancy resort there, she feels hurt and betrayed.

Nic is in charge of acquisitions for his family's hotel business. As the oldest in the family, he has always felt a huge responsibility to them. He has put his personal life on hold in order to do whatever is necessary. He's tired of the travel and not having a place that feels like home. He's also become cynical about the women he dates, all of who seem far more interested in what he can give them than in who he is as a person. But in Jillian's case, his job is far more likely to keep them apart.

I ached for both of them as their feelings for each other grew. Nic wanted to be with Jillian, but the conflict between what he has to do for the family business and what he wants for Jillian is tearing him apart. He finds himself re-evaluating what he wants from life. I loved the various conversations he had with family members as they helped him straighten out his priorities. I figured out the solution pretty early, but I really enjoyed seeing Nic's journey to it.

Jillian had fallen in love with Nic, but couldn't find a way to reconcile her feelings for him with her love of the island. I got a little frustrated with the way that she kept pushing him away. She had good support from her friends and I loved the way that they tried to help her with what she wanted to do while at the same time showing her what she really needed.

I loved how Nic refused to give up on his relationship with Jillian. There were several really sweet scenes where Nic's feelings for her really came through, especially the one the night they were supposed to go out to dinner. The way he ended up using Murphy the dog in order to get Jillian to talk to him at the end was pretty clever. ( )

When the author translates her real life experience as a vet technician into a story about one, the results are a sweet, heart warming, funny story worth reading. Add into the mix a dog with a nose for mischief and running away, an unexpected rescue, a stray fork, a crazy pelican, and best friends who won't leave any stone unturned to help our protagonist, and you have an unforgettable experience. This is a cozy down-home lazy type of read, chock full of feel good moments. I hope you like this as much as I did.

Jillian Everett, orphaned so young she had no real memories of her parents, had been part of the foster home system most of her life. Now on her own as a vet tech at the Paradise Animal Clinic, she had found the town in which she wanted to set down roots. Paradise was located on Paradise Isle, a small community, passed by most of the modern world. When Nic Caruso showed up one night at the animal clinic with a dog he had rescued on the highway, she couldn't help be attracted to him. But eventually she realized he was there to buy out the lone historic hotel in the town, she didn't want to have anything to do with him. If he was successful with bringing about the changes his family was famous for, her town would undergo a drastic change. But she'd already fallen in love with him. She felt her world beginning to tip upside down.

Nic Caruso, growing up in a traditional and loving Italian family, was Vice President of Acquisitions in his family business. He was in Paradise, Florida to scout out a potential hotel his business may want to buy. Once he'd met Jillian, he realized he was involved in a conflict of interest. He was falling for her so hard he could think of no one else, and she wanted to preserve the ages old hotel. He was being forced to re-examine his life's priorities.

There are many things I love about this book. First, it is a good character-driven book. Both Jillian and Nic had many assumptions on which they based their life's purposes. But when their encounter challenged those presuppositions, both stubbornly clung to their familiar lifestyles until they realized they had some re-evaluation to do about themselves. The process of change is what makes this book a treat to read.

Second, animals play an important role in the story line. If you are an animal lover as I am, this is a delightful addition to the storyline. Third, I love how the author includes bits of humor here and there. The funny things that happen flesh out the characters well, add to the attraction between Nic and Jillian, and are a fun way to help develop the conflict and resolution. Finally the short book is a great light-hearted treat to read. I read the book through twice before writing this review. I think it can easily be read in a couple of sittings. There are more reasons, but you get the idea. I highly recommend this book for a light weekend read.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the author, Katie Meyer. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” ( )

The Puppy Proposal by Katie Meyer is a 2015 Harlequin publication. I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A delightful and charming feel good contemporary romance!

When Nic arrives in Paradise Island on an acquisitions assignment he encounters a dirty dog running lose and in need of rescue. Arriving at the Paradise Animal clinic, Nic meets Jillian, the vet technician and the two become acquainted.

But, the sweet connection they made was shattered in an instant when Jillian finds out Nic is about to buy the Sandpiper Inn and her small town community will never be the same again.

I love stories that feature animals or pets, and that is what drew me to this book initially. Murphy is a border collie with an elderly owner, and is in need of some special help, which Jillian and Nic are more than happy to give him, and he returns the favor with panache.

While the small town girl pitted against the rich powerful city boy is not exactly a unique trope, exploring the themes of family, friends, big businesses moving into small communities and wiping out all the charm and close knit sense of family one feels in that environment, gives this one a little more depth. I cheered Jillian on, was firmly in her corner, even though at times I thought she became a little overwrought. I liked her fight and determination and how she stuck to her principles, even if it came at a very high price.

Nic is the character who, while nice enough, was the one who has the most to learn and must make some pretty difficult choices. While it's hard to feel sorry for people in Nic's situation, I did understand the huge risk he was taking, but it was good to see him make a stand and be his own man, not to mention doing what is right. So, although I didn't dislike him, he did have to grow on me a little, but as his character developed so did my respect for him.

The steam level in this one is very low, but it seemed to fit this couple perfectly and so I was fine with it.

If I have my facts straight, this is a debut novel for this author and if that's correct then she is off to a solid start. The characters were defined, even Murphy, who of course is the star of the whole show!

I believe this book was intended to be a sweet, light and fun read and it does what is set out to accomplish. This is a quick, easy read, that will lift your spirits and leave you smiling!

Overall 4 stars. ( )