Early Book Review: Love at First Bark (Rescue Me) by Debbie Burns

Love at First Bark is the fourth book in the Rescue Me series by Debbie Burns. It is currently scheduled for release on July 30 2019. You do not have to have read all the books, or the books in order, to enjoy them. They can each stand up well on their own.

Animal portrait painter Mia Chambers and architect Ben Thomas have volunteered at the High Grove Animal Shelter for years, and they share a complicated history. Ben has secretly loved Mia all this time, but she was married to his best friend. Now she's newly widowed, with a young son, and Ben doesn't know how to tell her what's in his heart. All he can do is stay close, help her as much as she'll let him, and watch for the right moment to bare his soul. When a dozen adorable border collies get dumped in St. Louis' biggest park, everyone at the shelter mobilizes for a large-scale rescue. Rushing to the park to round up the frisky collies, Ben and Mia unexpectedly plunge into a new phase of their entangled lives. Who knew that opening their hearts and homes—to animals in need and to each other—would lead to so many upheavals and new beginnings?

Love at First Bark is a sweet story about two great people in a hard situation, having trouble admitting their feelings. Mia was in then middle of divorcing her husband when he died. There are secrets and a lack of closure swirling around her and she is struggling to do the right thing and help her young son deal with all the changes in his life. Ben has been a good friend, but was always her husband's friend first, so Mia is not sure what to do with the still growing attraction for him as she deals with the chaos left behind. I like that Ben is honestly a good guy, and willing to stand back and care for Mia ans Ollie in what ever way he can. The addition of adorable pups and great secondary characters make the story even more engaging and fun to read. I did enjoy the characters, and getting to know them. I liked the story, but I have to admit that it did not wow me. There were a couple moments when I expected something bigger to happen, and it just did not. There was nothing wrong with the book, it was well written and solid, it just fell a little short of my expectations.

Love at First Bark is a lovely contemporary romance about second chances.  I enjoyed the read.

Early Book Review: My Best Friend’s Ex (Daring Divorcees) by Shannyn Schroeder

My Best Friend’s Ex is the second book in the Daring Divorcees series  by Shannyn Schroeder. It is currently scheduled for release on June 10 2019. Each book can be read as a stand alone, but I think returning readers will enjoy seeing characters from the divorcee support group come back in each book.

Trevor Booth’s life was just thrown a curveball. When his ex dies, he suddenly goes from an every-other-weekend, fun-time dad to full-time dad. The dad part he’s cool with, but life with two teens is like a roller coaster in hell. Thank God his ex-wife’s best friend, Callie, seems to have secret powers that allow her to deal with the chaos. Callie is devastated when Lisa dies and she’s determined to help the kids get through it. She’s concerned about how Trevor will adjust to being a full-time parent, but she’s having a tough time keeping her eyes off his ripped physique. Callie loves being a part of this makeshift family but no way she’s falling for her best friend’s ex.

My Best Friend’s Ex is a contemporary romance that deals with many real issues, and does it well. So many factors have influence over how we face grief, stress, and love. Trevor loves his kids, even if he did not spend every day with them. When his ex wife dies he goes from a part time dad to a full time dad of two grieving teenagers. His ex's best friend, who was once his friend to, is deeply involved their their loves. They fight their way through grief and forging new routines and a new life together. Romantic love was not something they were looking for or expected, but sometimes that is when it hits the strongest. Trevor, Callie, and the kids are all working towards a future, preferably together, and the details and stress of making that happen is the heart of that book. Coming to term with what they need, what they want, and how to make it work is a real and constant conflict here. Sharing those revelations and working towards those goals can be harder than realizing them, but that is what Trevor and Callie need to do in order to move forward. I love that no character was perfect, and that no solution could be. However, they acknowledged that and  moved forward with that in mind, and the willingness to lean on each other when needed.

My Best Friend’s Ex is a sweet, heart warming, and sometimes frustrating read because of the very real flaws and fears of the characters. I enjoyed the read and will be looking for more from the author and series.