Cover Image: My Forever Home

My Forever Home

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Member Reviews

There’s a saying that you can’t go home, well that is exactly what Sydney does, she returns home to Rose Bend. From the moment Sydney crests the ridge into Rose Bend and sees the beauty of her home town until the very end, Sydney encounters a long, winding, and twisted road.

Pregnant, divorced, and returning home, Sydney seeks the comfort of coming how, to raise her baby in the small town she was raised in. To her estranged family and her friend Leo and Leo’s welcoming family. All except for Cole, Coltrane Dennison, her friends brother.

Cole and Sydney have both suffered losses, and feel the burden of failure, but somehow they form a bond together for the benefit of Sydney’s baby...... and eventually they heal through their connections, their chemistry, and learning to be brave and let go of pasts hurts in order to accept new love. Not a replacement love, but a new and growing love.

A must read, it reminds all of us that you can go home... things may change and be different than you remember, but where there is love, there is ‘home’.

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The story's ending left me wondering hanging. Tess has felt she was the screw-up of her family. She was woops baby for her parents. Her own mother thought about giving her up for adoption - the family already had older children that were almost out of the home. Tress's grandparents were her godsend while growing up. When she decides to run off to Europe on an internship the family thinks its just another failure for Tess - her grandmother knows that Tess just needs to find her real self and not worry about disappointing her parents.

Tess has been in Europe for 1 1/2 years when she receives a message to come home immediately due to her grandfather is sick / dying. Tess rushes home but is too late to visit her grandfather while he was alive. She moves in with her grandmother - the only person she feels comfortable with and decides to launch her own business of training dogs.

Mason has been on the injured list with the Red Birds Baseball team after being is a major car accident. He is not looking for a girlfriend when Tess and he meet by chance at the park.. He was walking his neighbors dog when the dog ran off from him in the pouring rain. Tess knows that she needs to step in and save the poor dog from possibly getting hit by a car. Tess saves the dog but in the process loses her binder or customer referrals business plans etc.

The two must each face their own inner battles before they can give themselves to eachother - but through the support from eachother they learn to trust themselves.

The ending was up in the air - it left me wanting to know what happens next.

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Mason and Tess meet by chance when she helps him catch his neighbors dog who escaped its leash. He is surprised when she doesn't recognize him as a player for the local MLB team and she is surprised by her connection to the man she's just met.

Their story is sweet, romantic, and a fun read. They are both kind people with a love of animals that brings them together. Despite a few bumps along the way the progression of their relationship is fairly smooth despite Mason not telling Tess who he is right away. I also love how this series also intertwines the stories of the animals that the shelter workers rescue and care for.

I am already looking forward to reading the next book in the series!

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I love this series so much, and I'm so glad I got to read My Forever Home! This book does not disappoint, with quirky characters, awesome K9 companions, and all the romance a girl could want.

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Animal lovers will love this book about Tess, a holistic pet therapist, and Mason, a handsome dog lover with a secret. While the predictable romance is basically in the background, I liked that it evolved slowly and realistically. This book is part of series featuring animal shelters and adoption. I love that the author has brought the problem of homeless animals to light, and I'm sure many found forever homes with some of the readers. I will highly recommend this book and the series to my animal loving friends.

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In my Forever Home we meet animal loving, Tess Grasso. A vet school drop out, who's recently returned home from travels abroad to start her own pet therapy business. In the meantime she takes a job at the local animal shelter.
While out one rainy day she comes across Mason Redding trying to catch his neighbors run away dog. Mason is a baseball player healing from an injury. Before Tess knows it she's promised to help him catch a stray dog that hangs around his apartment building.
This book was perfect! Tess & Mason's growing relationship is so sweet & genuine. Ms Burns has a way of telling stories involving animal shelter pets that make me want to run out & adopt them all. I love the way you get not only a happily ever after for the love interests but also for the animals.

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The story was written in the third person with an omniscient narration. Characters are described indirectly as it is a narrative and the major conflict is a mixture of internal and external. The characters battle themselves, society and fate. This story shows three characters perspectives on all going after the same goal but through different means.
Anna Grasso, a vet dropout with issues of trust and belonging, is a round character who goes through a set of dynamic changes. Mason Redding, an injured pro baseball player, a round character who also goes through a set of dynamic changes. John Ronald, a stray husky, rescues his own pups and has issues of abandonment. The exposition introduces main characters to one another. The rising action introduces problems as we'll as characters attempting to adjust to their new situations. The climax enters conflict of battling fates and oneself. The falling action allows secrets to be revealed. The resolution shows growth and coming together.
The author uses a unique way of bringing characters together and teaching them. Yes, I would recommend this book. To those who enjoy animal rescues, animals playing main roles, nonphysical based relationship but not to those who dislike use of animals, or prefer more physical relationship.

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Talk about a gripping read…have those tissues ready.

We met Tess and Mason in book one of the Rescue Me Series. Now here is their story.

Mason drew my interest from book one, not just for his good looks. lol It’s for his huge heart, and his obvious love for John Reynolds (A stray dog). Mason has always drawn people to him for his celeb status, so imagine his surprise when a sweet gal had no idea who he was and was willing to help him give John Reynolds a happy home.

Tess maybe a short gal, but what she lacks in size she makes up for it in heart. I adored Tess loved her from book one. I am very happy how Ms. Burns gave us her background. It was wonderfully done. Tess is a heroine that thinks she knows her worth but in truth there is so much more to her.
There is so much quality to Mason and Tess on their own, but together they are even more amazing. The connection they have is unmistakable. Chemistry between them is there. John Reynolds my hearts joy. I am going to call him a character in My Forever Home because I feel this is his story as well. How Author Debbie Burns recants John Reynolds life as he travels over his pass, present, and future has caused me to reach for quite a lot of tissues.

The supporting characters are mostly from the first books in the Rescue Me Series except for Mason’s family. They gave such great moments in Mason and Tess’s story. I find it very hard not to just gush on the fact that I truly loved My Forever Home. The plot was touching, engaging and informative. We are of family of a saved dog. I could not even think of our lives being without our GusGus. GusGus story is he was in a home with two larger dogs, who dominated him. Kept him living under a table, afraid. He was malnourished, dirty when he came to us, but as with all HEA stories I can honestly say we have one. Thank you Debbie Burns for this wonderful series.

Rated 5 Stilettos and a Recommended Read by Deb!

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This was just okay. While the writing itself flowed okay, I wasn't a fan of the POV of the dogs. I thought this would be a romance, but I felt like there is more about the dogs than the romance. Tess and Mason are good together, although I would have liked more development in their relationship. While this wasn't for me, it could be for someone else.
I voluntarliy reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book.

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This was an engaging read that was hard to put down. These are characters that you just have to get to know.

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I loved this story from beginning to end. I was anxious to read Tess's story after reading Sit, Stay, Love. Debbie Burns didn't disappoint. Her unexpected romance was enthralling and unique. I loved the added part from the dog's POV. Absolutely awesome. I loved Tess's grandma and her interactions with our hero, Mason. Mason, wants a chance without a lady seeing only a baseball player and he lucked into the one person in St. Louis that has no clue who he is. He's got a giant heart and he will sweep you off your feet as fast as he did Tess.
If you're looking for a romance with lots of fur love and secret sports romance I highly recommend reading My Forever Home.

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4 stars

My Forever Home by Debbie Burns is a sweet and heartwarming read.
The writing is well done, the storyline entertaining from start to end and I loved watching the relationship develop between Tess and Mason.

Overall, My Forever Home is a heartwarming read and I highly recommend it.

*A big thank you to the publisher via Netgalley for the advance copy.*

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I really appreciate that Debbie Burns gives her characters so many flaws and dimensions and makes them so *real* and relatable. The characters she writes are so damaged and broken in so many ways, and their flaws are what make them truly special and beautiful. Tess especially comes from a pretty tough background, but the love she has with her Nonna is so great. (And oh my gosh, her Nonna is giving Patrick a run for his money as my favorite character in this series! Where do I get myself a Nonna like that?) She's also got such grit, and just keeps picking herself up and pushing on through, and it's wonderful. I want to hug her and squeeze her and buy her a macbook too.

Then Mason is learning some hard lessons (and Georges is basically his like a fairy godmother, no? I love Georges. Nonna and Georges forever! Debbie Burns gives such good side character...) and while he's made some mistakes he's also got this just solid gold good corn-fed Iowa boy thing going on, and mmpfh. Yummy. Get you a man who names his stray dog after Tolkien, because *melt*.

For all that I loved Tess and Mason individually (and all of the side characters), as I'm writing this review I can't actually recall much about their chemistry together. I feel like there was a lot of telling and not much showing - like them both having some connection to Tolkien's line in the poem about "All who wander are not lost." Clearly that line resonated really deeply with both of them, but as a reader that fact was just told to me and didn't register on an emotional level. So while I really liked this book and the characters, it was missing a certain something/spark/chemistry between Mason and Tess to make it really connect with me and be a WOW POW 5 STAR! read for me.

My Forever Home is the third book in the Rescue Me series, but can be read as a stand alone. There are some minor (reading the back-cover-blurb-level) spoilers for the second book in the series, Sit, Stay, Love, but you don't need to read the series in order to enjoy this book. Characters from the first books in the series show up as side characters in this one (and I'm still holding out for Patrick to be an MC in a later book in the series, PLEASE!) My Forever Home is written in the third person limited POV and alternates between giving the reader a deeper insight into Tess and Mason's POV, and is a "clean" romance with a fade-to-back on the more suggestive content.

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Well written romance + emotionally rich characters + adorable canines = My Forever Home
A successful baseball player meets a woman who is desperately trying to find her place in the world. At first the only thing they seem to have in common is there concern about a stray dog who resists their help, but so desperately needs it- but soon a relationship flourishes between all three.
Simply charming- but the best parts were the sections told in the stray dogs voice. Heart melting!

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This was a really sweet read and I really enjoyed it. It is the third book in the series and the only one I have read so far but I am looking forward to reading the previous to books. Tess and Mason were wonderful characters you cannot help but like these two if you are looking for a good cute read to curl up with you cannot go wrong with this one.

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My Forever Home is the third book in the Rescue Me series by Debbie Burns. I had read the second book in the series, and enjoyed it, but still have not gotten a chance to read the first. Each book does stand well on its own, but reading as a series will give a better understanding of personalities and relationships between some of the secondary characters.

Vet school drop-out Tess Grasso dreams of having her own pet therapy business, but she meets one disastrous obstacle after another. There's no denying she has a way with animals, so in the meantime she puts her skills to use at a local no-kill shelter. Between helping her furry companions and a budding relationship with fellow dog lover Mason Redding, Tess begins to find fresh confidence. What Tess doesn't know is that Mason is recovering from an accident, hoping to get back to his pro-baseball career. He's afraid the truth will ruin everything-and he's right. But in the midst of everything a free-spirited stray Husky enters their lives, and teaches them a few things about faith, love and forgiveness.

My Forever Home is a book about coming home, finding yourself, and trust.Tess has little faith in herself, except when it comes to her connection with animals. She knows she wants to work with them, and help people keep them healthy and happy. Her plans are not working out, but she is not quite ready to give up. I like her combination of openness and vulnerability. She might be worried about her future and how others view her, but she will not let any of that change who she is. Mason has partied, and he has made mistakes. However, he is tired and ready to focus on his career and life again. In fact, he was ready for a change before the car accident that has him in a sing with a broken collarbone. Attraction and interest hit both almost instantly, but neither is sure about whether the interest is shared, or if they should pursue it. I liked watching the dance of the two getting to know each other, and thought the moment that was played up as the big conflict was over so very quickly that I do not think it was as big of a obstacle as it could have been. I still love the secondary characters, and most of the the personalities and love of the animals. It was a sweet, feel good book with some emotional moments that might affect others more or less than they did me.

My Forever Home is a sweet romance with some humor and lots of animal goodness. I enjoyed it and read it in a weekend. Fans of the series and author will really enjoy it, although I did not love it quite as much as I had hoped.

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My Forever Home is a wonderfully cozy and heartwarming read. It is just made to tug at you, through both animal and people. You totally understand why Mason keeps who he is from Tessa and the revelation works well with their relationship as it has developed. And while there is the opportunity, I really appreciate that Burns avoids melodrama and handles issues quickly and realistically.

While I feel that Mason had good development as a character, I do wish we’d gotten a little more of Tessa’s family. Her issues with her family is what sent her on a tour of Europe, but while it is hit upon I think that it could have used a little more. I do love her relationship with her grandmother – their closeness is so sweet and I loved the support there.

As much as I love Mason and Tessa’s relationship, it is the connection with John Ronald that is really the highlight of the book. The look inside his mind brings happiness, sadness, and humor. Some may not like the personification of a dog, but it works for me.

Like Sit, Stay, Love, My Forever Home is one of those easy to read, slow burn books that takes it time creating connection between the characters – exploring them as people and how they relate to each other. Mason & Tessa manage to find each other at a time when both are ready for the next phase and it creates a delightfully satisfying HEA. I’m so looking forward to what Burns has in store for us next.

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I adored the book before this in the series and wanted to keep going with more of the same heartwarming romance and cutie shelter dog co-stars. I found it moderately engaging and enjoyed the rescue shelter world once again.
Review

My Forever Home takes up the story of Tess who does dog therapy and Mason a baseball player who is recovering from an injury along with John Ronald a stray Huskie. The book is third in the Rescue Me series and is connected to the other two with recurring characters and the shelter, but can also work fine as a standalone.

Tess has returned from a long sojourn in Europe where she worked and traveled while trying to get a handle on her life. Her nonno’s ill health and death bring her home to St. Louis. Tess plans to start up her own pet therapy business and in the meantime is working with the abused dogs that were brought in from a dog fighting ring bust at the rescue shelter. She encounters Mason who is trying to help a neighbor with their dog and also trying to coax a stray huskie into trusting him. They hit it off and share a love for dogs, but Tess isn’t aware Mason is a big time baseball pro who plans to get back in the game after his injuries heal and he keeps it a secret which you can imagine doesn’t stay a secret.
Tess, on the other hand has some issues that complicate things even beyond Mason’s secret. She was the oopsie kid who came late in the family and her parents were always distant and her siblings much older. She tends to start things and not stick with them. She doesn’t have a lot of confidence in herself or accepting that others see her differently than she does. Now, she is sorting through the family situation after her grandfather died and working hard to get her business off the ground. It takes a stray dog to keep this pair together.

I liked it. I wanted to love it because I like slow burn, heartwarming romances, circle of friends, adorable animals, and family situations. But, I couldn’t seem to get past like. I think the big reason was nothing reached out and pulled me in. I was easily distracted and had no trouble putting it down or read other things between book encounters though, that said, I wasn’t reluctant to pick it back up.

The plot was cozy and heartwarming and easy-reading. I definitely was rooting for Tess and Mason to take their chance at happiness. He was good for her and she, for him. Their time together working with the dogs and spending time against the backdrop of the holidays made it fun. John Ronald and especially the occasions when that dog got the narration were the highlights for me. Tess’ issues and Mason’s secret were not overblown for which I was glad since I didn’t find them huge things, but other than that it was cute and sweet.

So, it was all right. I preferred the book before it, but didn’t dislike this one. I’ll definitely take a look when the next installment comes out. I think it will be for those who adore dog side characters, gently-paced and gently plotted slow burn contemporary romance.

My thanks to Sourcebooks Casablanca for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

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My Forever Home by Debbie Burns is a 2018 Sourcebooks Casablanca publication.

I’m a huge animal lover, so naturally, I’m a sucker for any story that features pets and animals. This one is centered around Tess Grasso, a veterinary school dropout, who dreams of opening her own pet therapy business, and Mason Redding, a professional baseball player recuperating from an injury that has him temporarily sidelined.

The couple bonds over a stray Husky. They give the dog a very special name, which was very cool. I loved it! But, as their friendship deepens, Tess develops a huge crush on Mason. However, Mason has failed to inform Tess he is a famous athlete, fearing that if she knew, it would spoil their pure relationship.

Naturally, the truth must come out sooner or later, but in the meantime, they look for their favorite Husky, who also weighs in on the situation.

This story will appeal to the animal lover in all of us. The homeopathic, holistic approach to treating pets and rescue animals is an interesting topic. However, it overpowered the story, with the relationship developments running mainly in the background. The chemistry between Tess and Mason leads to a very, very slow burn romance, which, unfortunately, after the build up to Mason’s confession to Tess regarding his professional life, was very anticlimactic, and the ending was fairly rushed.

The bulk of the book is about pet therapy, and is fun to read, on that basis. However, if you are looking for a romance with more character depth, emotions or steam, this one fails to deliver on that front.

Overall, romance seekers may be left wishing for more, but animal lovers will find this one quite appealing.

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I loved this book. The chemistry between Tess and Mason was great. I loved seeing things through John ronalds eyes too! That was awesome.

Also, can Patrick please please please get his own book!!

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