i love, i love, i love my calendar guy

Holly King had to start over. After she quit the law firm where she had worked, she wanted something different. Her best friend Rachel worked at a non-profit, and Holly thinks that might be the way to go. She gets on as an intern, and while she is older and more experienced than the other interns, she knows she has to show up and do the work in order to get noticed.

The executive director at the non-profit decide to have a competition for the interns. They each have to work with one of the creatives at the agency to come up with a fundraising idea. The intern who raises the most money will be offered a job in their Glasgow office. And Holly wants that job. She’s already had to start over once, and she wants to get away from the city where her ex had humiliated her and stole her job. She wants to get out of her brother’s guest suite and find a new life in Scotland.

As soon as the announcement is made about the competition, four of the interns rush from the room, quick to find a creative to pair with and snagging an idea quickly. So by the time Holly tries to find someone to work with, the only creative left is Jonathan Summers. Holly knew Jonathan. He had rescued her when she got locked in the supply closet. But he is known for keeping to himself, and when Holly tells him her fundraising idea, he shoots her down immediately.

Holly knows she has to try again to get him on her side, so she comes up with a plan. And when she gets him to listen to her, he agrees that her idea has some possibilities. What Holly wants to do is to create a calendar that features good-looking men with their dogs in beautiful outdoor scenes. She doesn’t have much time to put it together, get it printed, and sell it, so she needs to start right away trying to find models.

Holly tried everything she can think of to find men who are willing to pose for the calendar, asking at veterinarian offices and going to dog parks and even signing up for a dating site that features men who are dog owners. She manages to sign on one, and then another. She had to deal with some bad dates, but she was able to find several models for the calendar. Jonathan, as it turns out, is a talented photographer and sets up beautiful photos for Holly to use. And as the photos pile up, their relationship heats up as well.

But dating a coworker can be problematic, and as Holly comes up against challenges with the calendar, she remembers just how challenging it could be to work with someone you care about on an important work project. And it doesn’t help that if she does well on the project, she’ll be moving halfway around the world. As the days go by, the calendar comes together and her feelings for Jonathan grow. Holly is faced with the decision of starting over again in Glasgow or putting down roots where she is.

Finding Mr. July is a spicy rom com that looks at the strength it takes to start over. It’s a fun read about finding love in an unexpected place and letting it bring you all the happiness you wished for as a kid. And there are dogs and hot guys volunteering their time for a good cause.

I thought Finding Mr. July was very sweet and fun to read. As someone who has to start over after a difficult time, I thought Holly’s new start was brave and hopeful, and I couldn’t help but root for her. I liked Jonathan a lot too, with a fascinating past and a path towards healing. There were a lot of scenes in this story that just make me smile. This is a feel-good romance, perfect for summer reading, preferably with a furry friend nearby.

Egalleys for Finding Mr. July were provided by Forever through NetGalley, with many thanks, but the opinions are mine.