Walking out on his own wedding literally minutes before marrying high school sweetheart Miss California Amber St. Pedigreed, Lucas Campbell decides to move his entire life, including his veterinary practice, from San Diego to Monterrey. They reside in the same state, but the cities are worlds and lifestyles apart.
When Lucas meets Chloe Patterson, a woman with the body of a supermodel, the mouth of a sailor, and the fashion sense of a teenage guy in Seattle during the 1990s, he's blown away by how refreshing it is to find a girl who breaks the San Diego blonde, designer label wearing, actress/model mould. And to top it all off, Chloe's no stranger to cleaning up dog poop! She runs "Our Gang" ranch, a sanctuary for abandoned and rescued pit bulls.
Lucas likes cleaning cages, feeding puppies and cuddling and cooing with adorable animals alongside Chloe. But is he just biding his time before his family expects him to fall in line and marry "the right girl," or will Lucas and Chloe's mutual love for their furry, four-legged friends be enough to keep him in Monterrey for good?
Former beauty queen, Chloe, experiences a wake up call on the morning of her wedding, and flees. She escapes to her father's ranch, and attempts to embark on her path of self reliance. Luckily, she meets a handsome veterinarian, Lucas, who is recovering from his own failed marriage attempt.
Alice Clayton always delivers the laughs. Chloe amused me on a regular basis with her former pageant queen talk and personal rebellion. (Yes, she ate the whole donut) I liked that this was not a romance from the start. I liked that there was a genuine friendship that grew to be more. I loved that Chloe was looking to find herself and her purpose, and that she wanted to make a home for herself before embarking on another romance. I also really liked how Chloe's relationships with her parents were handled. I think it was an important part of Chloe's journey, and I was glad Clayton included it.
Overall: A lot of fun with a lot of heart, and great MCs, who you cannot help but like.
