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Book Review of A Nurse and a Pup to Heal Him (Harlequin Medical, No 1041) (Larger Print)

A Nurse and a Pup to Heal Him (Harlequin Medical, No 1041) (Larger Print)
scoutmomskf avatar reviewed on + 2534 more book reviews


Terrific book about two people who have been hurt in the past and are reluctant to risk their hearts again. I enjoyed seeing both Toni and Ben overcome their fears and open their hearts.

Ben moved to the small village of Great Crowmell for a fresh start. After finding out that his wife and the baby she carried belonged to his best friend, he needed to get away from the memories and the pitying looks. He has no interest in entering any new relationships.

Toni moved back to Great Crowmell to care for her grandmother and stayed after her grandmother's death. After a series of relationships with men who turned out to be selfish jerks, Toni no longer trusts her judgment and has sworn off men.

Ben and Toni got off to a rough start when he tripped over her therapy dog, Archie. After Ben comments about dogs not belonging there, and Toni snaps back, both retreat to their corners. Fortunately, neither one holds a grudge, and they clear the air the next day. Toni is a friendly and kind-hearted woman and wants Ben to feel at home in the village. After inviting him to dinner, where he gets to know both her and Archie, the beginnings of a friendship form. I loved watching Toni and Ben spend time together, getting to know each other, and sharing the hurts of their pasts.

Neither expected the sparks of attraction they felt. After an evening of Ben comforting Toni after losing a friend turned into much more, they had to make a decision. Do they allow past hurts to rule their lives, or take a chance and explore whatever is between them? I loved how they were open and honest about their wants and needs and decided to move their relationship ahead slowly. It was sweet to see the things they did together, from dinners to sightseeing to quiet movie nights. Their romantic weekend away was incredible.

Everything moved along quite nicely, then Toni became pregnant. I wanted to shake Ben, who let his past get into his head and cause him to make a boneheaded mistake. I ached for Toni, who suddenly felt her past happening all over again. Fortunately, Ben's idiocy didn't linger too long, helped along by an emergency with his sister's family. I loved Ben's big moment at the end, with his heartfelt apology and admission of his feelings. I didn't blame Toni for being wary at first and making him work for her forgiveness. The epilogue was fantastic, with a nice little twist at the end.

I loved the view of life in Great Crowmell. Like small towns all over, everybody seems to know everybody else and all of their business. I loved how quickly Ben felt at home. I would love to live/visit there myself, especially during their nineteen-forties weekend. Archie was another big part of the book. His obvious joy at being around people and ability to sense what they needed made him an excellent therapy dog. I loved how he turned Ben from an anti-dog person to a dog lover.

On a personal note, I loved Ben and Toni's trip to Vienna. Having been to the SiSi Museum, I agree entirely with Toni's love of what she saw. From their carriage tour to the concert to the pastries they ate, it all brought back wonderful memories.