ARC Review: Unleased Holiday by Victoria Schade

Unleashed Holiday
Author: Victoria Schade
Publication: Berkley (September 26, 2023)

Description: When an old rival reappears right before the holidays, a professional dog trainer must decide if the melting frost between them can make up for their ruff past, from the USA Today bestselling author of Dog Friendly.

Chelsea Higgins is doing just fine. She’s heading into the holidays at the helm of a thriving dog training business, and she’s got a mellow senior dog at home to keep her warm at the end of the day. What more could she need? Enter certified gym bro Andrew Gibson: Chelsea’s former nemesis, and now the newest neighbor in her business complex, who also wants to expand into the vacant space Chelsea’s been eyeing for months. Who cares if it’s the season of joy? Let the turf war begin.

When an unfortunate (and literal) run-in with Andrew’s lawless dog leaves Chelsea with a bum wrist, the two strike a deal: Andrew will help Chelsea rehab the injury if she’ll work with him to train his adorably uncivilized boxer.

Their typical bickering soon turns to bantering, and Chelsea finds herself inexplicably drawn to the man she thought she had nothing in common with. As she gets to know Andrew and his parents, she realizes she needs to refocus on her own family, especially with a milestone Christmas speeding toward them. But Chelsea can't help wondering if she and Andrew are training for keeps, or if this unexpected Christmas gift is just too good to be true.

My Thoughts: This contemporary romance was engaging and a quick read. It hits a lot of the romance memes. It is an enemies to lovers romance. At least it is on the heroine's part. She has an embarrassing memory of a drunken hookup with the hero. 

Chelsea Higgins runs a successful dog training business. When she learns that her new next-door neighbor is Andrew Gibson, she's less than thrilled. They have known each other since college when he was her best friend's roommate. Now he's opening a gym next door and has an untrained deaf boxer that he doesn't keep on a leash often enough for Chelsea.

The rivalry they had in college soon turns to bantering and to romance as Chelsea gets to know the real Andrew as opposed to the person she made him in her mind when they were in college together. 

Besides the romance, Chelsea is also still dealing with the death of her father from cancer and the changes that has made in her family. She's also distanced herself from her best friends as a part of her grief. 

I liked the people in this story, and I really liked the dogs. Chelsea's senior dog Birdie and her new puppy Edith and Andrew and his deaf Boxer named Duke were all active characters in this romance. 

Fans of contemporary romance will enjoy this one.

Favorite Quote:

It was just like Carly to call me on my b.s., but she didn't understand my history with Andrew. Sure, I'd always been quick to knock him down a few pegs, not because I wanted to, but because I had to. With Andrew, I had no choice but to be on the defensive. I'd always forced myself to ignore my embarrassing involuntary response to him--that seasick, racing heartbeat, shaky hands feeling--because whenever we were together his "jokes" didn't stop, and I was his favorite target.

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.