Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆
M/F Romance

Tess is amazing with animals. She wanted to be a vet but realized that she wanted more than to just fix broken or sick animals. When she realizes that she is floundering, she heads back to her grandma's house to figure out what her next steps are. Tess was the accidental child and she knew it. But once she came to grips with it, she realized that she had a lot of love, just not directly from her parents. When she realizes that she can truly help animals, she sets out to start a business. But she is finding it much more difficult than she anticipated. When she is worrying about her new business, she sees a stranger in a park trying to catch a dog, she knows that she can help. That stranger was Mason.

Mason is a baseball player who is also known for taking some unnecessary risks. While recovering from a car crash, he is helping his neighbor with his dog and is having difficulty with getting the dog to stay on the leash. Mason also has noticed a stray dog that is wanting to trust but isn't sure how. Mason is instantly taken with Tess' ability to handle animals.

These two have a slow burn relationship. I like how we were able to see the mind behind John Ronald too. I thought that it lent a lot to the story to see his past as well. This is a sweet story about finding love, holding on to it, and letting yourself find happiness. I really enjoyed the secondary characters too.

My Forever Home is definitely for the animal lover! Thanks go to the publisher, via Net-Galley, for a chance to read and review an advance reader copy of this book. My opinions are my own and are not influenced in any way.

This is an interesting read. I believe it is the first book I’ve ever read where one of the main characters is an animal, including his POV. The writing is smooth and has some engaging moments that had me chuckling.

Tess’s character is an interesting one with many facets to her character. I did like her, but I would have enjoyed her more if there had been a bit substance. I neverbecame fully engaged with Tess.

Mason is a great male leading man. He is genuine, and I really liked him a lot. I did become investing in his character. He is such an honorable man with many redeeming characteristics. His determination to safe the dog was excellent. I was so glad he was able to gain the dog’s trust.

The romance between Tess and Mason is fairly minimal. The story is much more focused on the animals Tess cares for and of course Mason’s dog. While is was interesting, sometimes it was a little over the top.

My Forever Home is a great read for an animal lover. Much of the book is about Tess’s desire to safe them. While this story was not quite my cup of tea, I did enjoy it. I have no doubt the author truly loves animals. Happy reading!

This was my first read by Debbie Burns and it will definitely not be my last! I absolutely love her writing style. The characters are well-written and complex as well as relatable. The story telling is flawless and flows effortlessly with great description and wonderful dialogue. The cover grabbed me first, and then I was wrapped up in the story from the beginning and fell in love with the characters. I didn’t even realize this was part of a series. I can’t wait to go back and read the other books.

I loved the chapters that were in John Ronald’s POV. I thought they added so much to the dog’s presence in the book. Talk about a back-story and a perfect way to help the reader to empathize and truly understand the reasons on why he is the way he is, WOW.

I loved the slow build for Tess and Mason. Some insta-lust/love stories work, but there is also beauty in the building of a relationship and I think Debbie Burns did a spectacular job in telling their story.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for an advanced copy. These are my honest and unbiased opinions.

This book was by far one of my favorite Christmas reads this year. The story of Tess and Mason was heartwarming but John Ronald the husky made this book. The telling of a dog who lost his trust of people young, who rebuilt that with patience and love was inspiring. I recommend this book to anyone who needs their heart broken then put together by a beloved dog.

5/5

My Forever Home by Debbie Burns. Loved this story but I love books about animals, especially dogs. This story was about Mason and Tess, as well as, some very precious dogs. Once you start reading this story, you won’t be able to put it down. I received an advance copy from Net Galley for an honest review.

My Forever Home is the third story in the Rescue Me series. And once again my heart was captured by not only this couple but a stray Husky with definite opinions of his own (in his own unique voice).

Tess and Mason make an interesting couple, each with a love of dogs, strays of the world and the work they do. Unfortunately, Tess is unaware of Mason’s real job, as a professional baseball player and a rather famous one as well. That oversight on Mason’s part will matter, and may even be the ending of something between them that could be amazing.

I enjoyed Mason and Tess’ romance, it’s a slow burn in many ways and they are both likable people who fit well together. I adored John Ronald who stole scenes with his personality, his voice, his devotion and dedication to a rescue of his own. We get to visit again with old friends, and as always, the shelter is the center of this world.

If you’re in the mood for a good story, a tender romance, a bit of hiding in plain sight and love animals at all… then My Forever Home is a story you’ll want to pick up. I had such a good time with this story and would recommend this and the entire series to any Romance reader.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

My Forever Home by Debbie Burns is a perfect holiday read… hunky man, intelligent woman and picture perfect dogs. So, let’s start with the hunky man. There is much more to Mason Redding than looks. He is intelligent, kind and motivated. Mason is a professional baseball player who happens to be recovering from an injury. Add to this, he has a reputation for being a little on the hot tempered side and quite the ladies’ man.
Tess Grosso had dreams of becoming a vet but quit school, traveled Europe and has returned home with a plan. She wants to heal animals both physically and mentally. She is good with animals and knows she can make a difference.
Cut to the meet cute… Tess spies Mason struggling with his neighbor’s dog. Knowing she can help him, she puts her bags and purse down and comes to the rescue. The dog is safe and Mason is happy (quite intrigued by Tess). Unfortunately, when she tries to retrieve her things, they are missing. The worst part, Tess’s life was in her bags, aka, her laptop with her business plan.
I adored this book. The themes of trust and friendship are paralleled in the relationship between Tess and Mason and their relationship with John Ronald, the stray dog. The novel uses both humor and emotions to engage the reader; I was pulled in immediately and fell in love with the storytelling. There is so much to this story to enjoy.
This is the third novel in Burns’ Rescue Me series. I have not read the first two novels in this series but am adding them to my TBR list. Anyone who loves stories with dogs, will truly fall for this one.
4/5 stars

My Forever Home is a wonder sweet read with amazing characters and some of the cutest pups around. Debbie Burns and this series is new to me but now that I've had a sample of her writing and stories I will definitely be going back and reading the first two books. I read this with no problem so it is definitely a standalone.

Tess Grasso finds herself floundering in life and decides to return to her hometown and try to get her pet therapy business off the ground. Mason Redding is an injured baseball player who is recuperating and itching to get back to the game. These two meet when Mason has a mishap with his neighbors dog and needs Tess to help him catch the furry troublemaker. They start to spend a lot of time together at the local shelter. During their time together Tess opens up to Mason but he's kept secrets. Will their new relationship be able to survive them?

Excellent read that I highly recommend.

I really enjoy this series that centers around a pet shelter in St Louis.  This is the third book in the series and Tess was introduced in the second book, Sit, Stay, Love and I have to say I wanted to know more about her and her background so I was glad to see this was the next book in the series.  We also see many familiar characters such as Patrick, Megan, Kelsey, and Kurt.  I believe in the second book there was mention of Mason but I can't remember for sure.

I find it interesting that Tess has no idea who Mason is and that he is a sports figure.  There are many clues but she does not pick up on any of them.  Her grandmother recognizes him instantly but for some reason decides to not say anything to Tess which is a good and a bad thing.  In the long run that doesn't matter since Mason and Tess bond over their love of dogs and puppies that John Ronald leads them to in an abandoned warehouse.  John Ronald is a street dog that Mason has been feeding and knows will someday be his dog once he has built up the trust.  

I enjoyed the times when the story is from John Ronald's perspective.  It adds an interesting twist to the story and as a dog lover, I can only imagine what goes through any dogs mind.

This is a sweet romance that has its ups and downs for Tess and Mason, but it wouldn't be realistic if there weren't some issues and in this case, it is Mason not fessing up to who he is and what he does for a living.  I enjoyed the part where Tess reveals she is a vegetarian and Mason has to figure out what to cook and how to cook it for her.  Oh and his neighbor Georges adds an interesting twist to Mason's life.

Enjoyable series and I can't wait to read what comes next.  We give this 4 paws up.

This is a sweet adorable read with a loveable couple and some very cute puppies, My Forever Home is book 3 in the Rescue Me Series but it certainly can be read as a stand-alone, I know this because I haven’t read the previous books in this series and because Debbie Burns is a new author to me.
Tess Grasso has dreams of having her own pet therapy business but nothing seems to be going right so in the meantime she is helping out at the local no-kill shelter and this is were she meets fellow dog lover Mason Redding. Mason Redding is keeping secrets because he is afraid that if he tells Tess the truth she will feel betrayed and lose every bit of confidence she has gained since spending time with him. What neither Tess or Mason expected was a free spirited stray husky pup to enter their life’s and teach them both about faith, love and forgiveness........
This is a sweet romance about finding love and holding onto it, it’s a slow burn relationship and it’s perfect because we get to know Tess and Mason as they get to know each other. Great sweet read

Any book that has pets in it, and especially one with an emphasis on rescue animals, is a winner for me. Tess is trying to start a pet therapy business, and she stops to help a man get his energetic dog back on the leash. The dog is recovered easily enough, but in the meantime, someone has stolen Tess's belongings. Her business plan, client testimonials and all of her research, gone. Little does she know, the man she helped and is in danger of falling for is none other than professional baseball star, Mason Redding.

The early copy I read of this book is my first by this author and there were many things I liked about it. In spite of being wordy at times and a couple of subplots not being fully resolved, this book kept my attention with it's compelling, poignant storyline. One special touch, done extremely well, was a few scenes written from the dog's point of view. The book has a wonderful sense of community with the animal shelter background, and quirky, memorable secondary characters. Add to that the subplots with the dog’s, and this book had me eager to see how things turned out. My interest is piqued and I’ll be reading more from this author in the future.

*I reviewed this book freely and voluntarily, having made no commitment to provide a review and receiving no compensation of any kind from any source for this review.

My Forever Home is a touching story centered on two individuals and the dog that brought them together. Tess Grasso has returned to St. Louis and is ready to start her own dog therapy business but has hit a snag when she spots a man in need of help. Mason Redding is beside himself when he can’t catch his neighbor’s dog when he escaped his leash. It’s a cute meet that neither expected and more of a pleasant surprise for Mason. Tess doesn’t recognize St. Louis Red Bird third baseman and one of the most eligible bachelors out there and Mason likes that very much. Mason is leery when it comes to people liking him for him or for his fame. She has a way with dogs and there is a certain dog that he’s been trying to coax out of the alley and Tess has agreed to help him find this stray.

My Forever Home is a tender love story for Mason and Tess with an instant attraction and a slow build with each encounter. I particularly liked reading each of their perspectives especially from the stray dog, John Ronald. You can see how each of them had some deep hurts and hesitated to take that final step, and when they do, it was well worth it. If you are a dog lover and have a tender spot for dogs in your stories, this one will warm your heart. My Forever Home was an easy read and a great addition to the Rescue Me series.

My Forever Home by Debbie Burns is a sweet romantic novel. It's definitely for all animal lovers. This journey took me on an emotional rollercoaster ride for both the furry animals and their humans. There was plenty of humor and romance to enjoy. Some scenes that left me tingling with anticipation of what was to come. Next, there were moments like the loss of an animal's life and possible to loss of more. Sad and happy paths are found, here. I enjoyed watching the human characters grow closer. The trust bond that developed between them and the ones between them and the animals was also my favorite moments. Overall, I could not stop reading this book. I was hooked.

Great story for animal lovers! This is the third book in the Rescue Me series. I've seen the others but haven't read this author until now. I always like books that involve dogs or pets. Cute story!

There is a lot of telling and not showing in this book, which is a personal pet peeve of mine. Otherwise, it's perfectly pleasant and a good fit for anyone who loves animal-centric romance.

This was exceedingly sweet. The subplot about the stray dog, John Ronald, finding his “forever home” will tug on your heartstrings.

Tess meets Mason when she helps him catch the dog he’s walking for his neighbor. She doesn’t recognize that he’s a superstar baseball player for the home team. Meanwhile, her property is stolen and Mason is captivated. He enjoys his anonymity with Tess and getting to know her as they bond over dogs without having her know who he is.

Usually, I find stories that involve one of the main characters hiding his/her identity to be irritating. We all know that the big reveal is coming and that there will be some fight until the other person forgives. I was waiting for that to happen in this book and it did, but the conflict was over quickly and then everything is pretty smooth from there.

I guess I kept waiting for there to be more to the plot than two nice, appealing people meeting and falling in love and taking care of stray dogs. Mason has been injured and worries that he won’t be able to play again at the same MVP-candidate level. That is totally unresolved.

Tess worries about fitting into Mason’s world where everyone is watching and reporting on him. That gets smoothed over pretty easily and quickly.

I just wanted a bit more plot development.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.

This was a cute story and is DEFINITELY made for dog lovers! The role that dogs play in this book is HUGE! It is a sweet, nice read that will make you smile.

I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A Sweet, Clean Holiday Romance with Furbabies💚
This will stretch your heartstrings so good. I loved this read, including furbabies of all sizes and origins😉.
Mason had a great outlook, had overcome a lot. I understand why he did what he did regarding Tess. He didn't take advantage of her, but knew he wanted her.
Tess confused me a bit at first as she was so insecure and sure didn't act very mature, but understanding came later.
The true hero was a magnificent, super intelligent stray, Mason named John Ronald. To have his viewpoint at times imo, was genious, pulling me in deeper. A great journey to "My Forever Home" with all the feels. I always enjoy some humor and Tess's Grandma also added some levity.
I feel parts of this story were a tad slow, so it did take me a few days to finish, but all ends very well.
I received an ARC thru Net Galley and giving my honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. It's a romance without all the mushy stuff. It felt realistic, the storyline and people are well developed. It flows and reads very easily. The only misstep I noticed is that they, Mason and Tess don't bury the mother dog that died after giving birth. Considering how caring they are of the animals you would think that they would bury her instead of leaving her in the abandoned warehouse but it's not mentioned. #MyForeverHome #NetGalley.

Tess comes to Mason’s aid at the park. This is the start of Tess and Mason’s romance. The stray dog Mason has been feeding trusts them when he needs human help. They help “John Ronald” save his puppies and in turn he helps them find answers to what they really want!