Zero to Sixty is the third book in Marie Harte’s Body Shop Bad Boys series, and in this installment, a good girl and a bad boy fall in love, all because of a devastatingly cute puppy. It’s sweet, it’s sexy, and Cookie, the lovable pup in question, gives the hero and the heroine the push they need to stop being neighbors and start being something more.
Ivy Stephens is on her way to a fresh start following the disastrous end to her last relationship. The Seattle masseuse is focusing on her great career, instating a “no men” policy as she readjusts to being alone again. But she can’t help her attachment to an adorable neighborhood puppy she’s named Cookie. The stray has been hanging around her apartment, and Cookie always seems to brighten up Ivy’s day with her lolling grin and scruffy fur. When Cookie goes missing, Ivy’s search for the dog leads her right into the path of big, burly and bearded Sam Hamilton.
After his best friend’s engagement, Sam has thrown himself into his work at the garage. Sticking his head under the hood of a car lets him forget about his loneliness—well, the cars and the curious little mutt that’s been hanging around his workplace. Sam sees the stray as his, but when Ivy shows up at the garage in search of a pup called “Cookie,” he’s worried that the dog is about to be taken away from him.
At first, Ivy is intimated by Sam’s stature and the fact that he’s covered in dirt, grease and a heck of a lot of tattoos. However, she soon realizes that while Sam has a hard shell, inside there’s a gooey center. With both of them finding something precious with Cookie—Ivy finds levity and happiness; Sam finds softness and purpose—neither can bring themselves to lay full claim to the dog.
Physically, Sam and Ivy couldn’t be more different. She’s a prim and proper blonde, and he’s a tall, tatted mechanic, but they have something in common, and that’s pain. Sam has had a difficult past, growing up in a toxic and unhealthy household. Ivy felt isolated within her own family and is nursing a broken heart. The fact that a homeless stray could bring these two together is guaranteed to make readers smile until their cheeks start to ache. With a great mix of self-reflection, crazy puppy antics and steamy kisses, Zero to Sixty is a fast ride with a well-won, happily ever after payoff.
