Three Cowboys and a Puppy

What do you do when you love your best friend and he is clueless? Luke and Bernie have been friends for decades and lived so much life together and learned how to live in a small town where everyone knows everyone. Luke went to war and came back a different man, he doesn't want anyone to know just how different. Bernie is a very busy woman, she has multiple businesses and interests but the one thing she can't seem to have is Luke. This is a great friends to lovers story with characters that are relatable and you wish you were friends with. There are ups and downs like in all love stories but this is a great story and the puppies are the icing on the cake.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and I am voluntarily reviewing it. While this is a part of a series of former military men turned cowboys working on the Luke's family ranch, you don't have to read the prior one to fully understand and enjoy this one. Prior characters do make multiple appearances however, but again you don't have to read it. This is written in a dual POV format. For me, that is the best. I can fully understand and connect to a character so much better if I can see what they are going through during the story and not just at the end. Some scenes were funny and others very poignant. I felt for both of the characters with the stress of their every day lives while trying to see if they can take their friends status to other level. Showing the "outside pressures" that the characters have placed on them really is played out here. It makes the story more real. There is so much going on for these two. Can they survive the pressures of family, work and a changing relationship? Well you will have to read for yourself. This is a sexy book so just a word of caution on that.

In “Three Cowboys and a Puppy,” Kate Pearce highlights the obliviousness of men who actually believe machismo is useful. This novel sprinkles gentle forgiveness on the foibles of all its characters, just ordinary folks trying to do the next right thing, a bit befuddled by how to do so! Coffee shop/bakery owner, Bernie has been in love with her bestie, Luke, since they were first friends as kids. He’s come back from the Marines with two buddies determined to make the family ranch profitable. Unaware of Bernie’s crush on him, he kisses her to make another woman jealous. It changes everything, but he’s clueless about his own emotions. His military experiences have shut him down, and he’s not great a communicator, either. Meanwhile, Bernie and Luke are also stressed by business and family issues. Can they ever get their lives on track? Often romances are too zeroed in on a relationship and fail to address all the others problems which affect couples. I appreciated the many realistic details of how Bernie and Luke come to terms with themselves, as well as each other. It's not easy to move on from the beliefs we hold dear… beliefs on how life ought to unfold. And Ms. Pearce shows us how to negotiate these challenges. Can Bernie grow her bakery despite other’s doubts? Can Luke help the ranch recover from a devastating winter while his friends/co-workers are equally bad at talking things through? Two stubborn individuals will doubtlessly blunder, harming themselves and others. As Bernie and Luke picked up the pieces of their mistakes, I identified completely. I’ve made their errors and appreciate the gentle allowances Ms. Pearce offered. Her clear sensitivity to their struggles, was healing. I hadn’t read, “Three Cowboys and a Baby,” the first in the series, yet followed along perfectly, but I will double back for it now. Sure, “Three Cowboys and a Puppy,” is a sweet, sometimes humorous romance, with recognizable characters and an even-handed plotline. It is almost better as absolution for all our silliness, the myriad of ways we trip ourselves up. Fun and rewarding!

What’s not to love? Sexy cowboy, the girl next door and puppies! Luke and Bernie have been BFF forever, the only problem is Bernie has been in love with Luke since she was 5 years old. Of course Luke is so clueless! He asks her for help with his love life, and Bernie is heartbroken with that fact he doesn’t see her in that way. She looses it and confesses her feelings, seems like everyone knew but Luke. A fun fast paced read, a little steamy and great that the previous characters are all back. Can’t wait to read Max story. Thank you NetGalley for this eARC. I am voluntarily posting an honest review after reading an Advance Reader Copy of this story. #NetGalley #ThreeCowboysandaPuppy