Cover Image: Love at First Bark

Love at First Bark

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Member Reviews

a cute and adorable second chance romance that will have you smiling though out the story . can't wait to pick up more of this series .

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This is another one of those series that I have been reading out of order with no issue, but I would recommend reading them from the beginning so there are no spoilers or missed character development. Mia Chambers is a single mother, recently being widowed. Prior to her husband's death, she had left him and was preparing for a divorce. She is dealing with being a single mom, deciding what to do with her family home and dealing with financial issues. Ben was his best friend, but has loved Mia from before they had even married. Working together at the animal shelter brings them together often, but will Mia realize that Ben actually loves her and has for years? Will she be able to accept how she feels about him? There are several things I enjoyed about this book, but the main one is the dogs. I am a dog lover and the ones in this story were amazing. The second thing was Ben. He was a wonderful character. Not only was he trying discreetly to help Mia and her son, but he is a "Big Brother" to a teen who need a good male role model. Ben is so patient with him and willing to spend time as well. The story was well written, and had a very sweet storyline. I definitely recommend this one to those who love romance stories, especially those involving animals.

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Debbie Burns continues her Rescue Me series which weaves the stories of humans and animals associated with a St. Louis animal shelter.

Mia is going through a difficult time. The husband she was about to divorce suddenly died and she is left to pick up the pieces for herself and her son. Complicating things is Ben. He was her husband's best friend growing up and someone she's had a growing attraction to.

The author did a nice job tackling the issues that both Mia and Ben face. They navigate the changes and surprises fairly gracefully. I liked that their friendship and budding relationship were also well paced. There was one moment I would have expected Mia to be more upset with Ben, but it didn't feel too out of character for her to be kind and forgiving.

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Love at First Bark is a complex romance story with the added charm of family and rescued animals. Mia Chambers world has been upended by her husband Brad’s infidelity and sudden death. Now a widow she is trying to make ends meet for her and her 7-year-old son Ollie. There to help is Ben Thomas, Brad’s best friend and Ollie’s godfather. Ben has been in love with Mia for 8 years and hopes this time he can let his feeling be known. Is it too soon to tell her? And what about the secret Brad told him before his death? Ben is an accomplished mountain climber and faced deathly obstacles, but nothing was more at stake than his future with Mia.

The road to happiness for Ben and Mia took some twists and obstacles to overcome in order to be together in the end. Social and family pressure was something they both had to deal while sorting out their feelings for one another. It got even more complicated with a surprise development, but it was easily diffused when she had to accept it for what it was and for her son Ollie. I loved these characters because they acted so naturally with their anger, disappointment and fears. Mia and Ben had to go through a great deal before they could have their chance at love, and they both agree that maybe it was meant to be this way.

Love at First Bark is a captivating story for two very deserving individuals. Add the cute foster dogs and puppies from the rescue center, and the other couples from previous stories, and it makes it a well-rounded story. This story has it all for me with cute kids, adorable puppies, a good plot and very likeable characters. Debbie Burns has created an unique situation in Love at First Bark and it is a great addition to the Rescue Me series.

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Love at First Bark is book #4 in the Rescue Me Series and is a fabulous addition to a already wonderful series.

Ben is a true delight, I adored him. Ben has been have in love with Mia for a while, even after his best bud married her. Now that Ben has a chance to gain Mai’s attention will he confess his feelings or stay in the friend zone? I adored Ben, you truly felt what he felt for Mai and Ollie.

Mia is a absolute gem! Mia has been on a long hard road after her divorce/widowed, so it’s a wonder that even as hot as Ben is he takes a backseat at times for Mai. Her #1 focus is Ollie he sweet baby boy. Mai didn’t know what to expect from Ben who was her late husband’s best friend and the godfather to her son. I could feel Mai’s challenge.

Ben and Mia have a intense friendship, each of them trying to guess what the other is trying to say. What will happen when all that Ben has been holding onto spills at Mia’s feet? Can Mai open up and except what Ben is offering to her and Ollie?

I can’t say enough about these supporting characters in Love at First Bite. All were just as amazing as the leads. Ollie is a love, Lynn ( Mia mom), High Grove Animal Shelter owners and employee, Irene (who I wanted to slap) and Victor( Mia’s ex in-laws). As the plot is laid out we finally get Mai’s story. A true heartwarming story about love, family and a good dose of trusting. As always Debbie Burns love for animals shines through in every book in the Rescue Me Series.

Rated 41/2 Stilettos by Deb !

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Mia Chambers and Ben Thomas both volunteer at a no-kill animal shelter. Mia was married, then separated, and ultimately widowed. The man she was married to was Ben's best fiend. There has always been a problem, however. Ben has been in love with Mia for years, and she never learned of his feelings. Not only do they see each other often at the shelter, Ben is Mia's son's godfather, so he still plays an important role in their lives.

A rescue operation concerning a dozen border collies throw Ben and Mia together yet again. Ben knows that he might find the right time to tell Mia of his feelings. Meanwhile, Mia was very unhappily married, yet she worries that she is more fond of Ben than she would like to admit.

I have loved every book in this series by Debbie Burns, but this is my favorite of the four. There were a lot of reasons. For one thing, and that is rather obvious. The dogs. Yes, the dogs. More than that is that Ben is just the nicest guy around, even spending quality time with a teen that needs a male role model. Also, Ben is a man of honor and does not want to disrespect the image of the father of Mia's son.

Yes, this is another sweet romance - all four books in this series are. Instead, the stories focus of saving dogs, training them, re-homing them, etc. As this is being done, the romance builds slowly, but it is ever so lovely, especially since the couple make certain to consider more than physical desires.

I will definitely be following this author. She writes stories that are wonderful, allowing readers to draw close to delightful characters. And, if readers love dogs, then that is just another bonus.

Many thanks to Sourcebooks Casablanca and to NetGalley for this ARC to review. This is my honest opinion.

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Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Sarah – ☆☆☆☆
3.5 stars

I love all the dogs in this book! This a slow-burn, second chance romance. When we first meet them, Mia and Ben are likeable characters with a decade of baggage hanging heavily between them. As godfather to Mia’s son, Ben is a constant in her life after her husband’s death, but Mia doesn’t realise how long Ben has had feelings for her.

Parts of this story are quite dark. Mia’s marriage was complicated and she’s struggling as a widow with a young son. Ben struggles with the morality of his feelings for Mia. Fortunately, the dogs in the book bring joy and the potential for fresh starts. This is a very slow and angsty read. Even when Ben and Mia start to explore their feelings, Mia’s mother-in-law complicates things further.

For me, the relationships in this story feel more real than most romance novels. I read this while on holiday and it was quite a bit heavier than I’d expected from the title and cover. I liked the characters and I think I might have enjoyed the story more if I’d read it in a different time and place. I’m never a huge fan of kids in romance and this felt a little bit too much like a Hallmark family film at times. There isn’t much heat in the book and little opportunity for any chemistry between Mia and Ben to develop.

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Recently widowed Mia is trying to cope with her husband’s recent death while helping her young son Ollie cope with the loss of his father. Both their lives have been upended. Besides her mother and her dead husband’s parents, the one stable person in Mia’s life is her deceased husband’s best friend, Ben Thomas. However, Mia is unaware that Ben has been in love with Mia since he first laid eyes on her and only stuck around because of his friendship with her dead husband, Brad. Mia feels the same for Ben. Things only get more complicated when Ben and Mia finally admit that theirs has always been more than a friendship. To add to the mix, a young woman suddenly appears with a child Brand and she had during one of Brad’s unfaithful liaisons. The story revolves around Mia’s and Ben’s “wanna-be” relationship and how it develops. Ben represents everything Mia has ever wanted in a man. He is a good influence on Ollie, his godson, whom he adores and fusses over. He is a settled professional architect, with a good business of his own. He wants to and shields Mia and Ollie from everything and everyone who threatens them in any way, shape or form.

This was a well written story. I really enjoyed the way the author interwove the characters and the dogs that became part of their lives. The dogs and human characters all played equal roles, which is not always the case in dog stories. What I found difficult to take and understand is the way Ben and Mia danced around their attraction to each other and their feelings, which, as I said had been around for a long time. I wanted to take them, shake them by the collar and tell them to get on with things, to declare their feelings for each other. The author really dragged out their romance, almost to the point of turning me off. I also enjoyed Mia’s mother, who was a bit unconventional, but sill came across as loving and wise in her ways and those of the world. Of course, as intended by the author, I did not particular care for Mia’s dead husband or his family. The story has a lot to offer. It will bring joy to any dog lovers who read it because of the dogs’ prominent role. This story can provide a good, easy read, with little complexity or sex scenes. I received this from NetGalley to read and review.

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Love at First Bark is a book on Friendship, Love and Family with a high dose of puppies thrown into the mix, making this a good read.

Mia is at odds. Her recently deceased husband left her in a world of turmoil. Mia was in the process of divorcing Luckily she has Ben, her late husband's best friend, and godfather to her son Ollie, by her side.

Ben wants to be there for Mia and Ollie is every way but he's full of guilt. He never let Mia know that it was actually him who has been in love with her since before she ever started anything with her husband.

With the help of a litter of puppies and their shared love of volunteering at High Grove Animal Shelter, the two start to open up to each other and see that love has always been there. It's just presenting itself in a new way now.

This book is full of heart and if you love puppies you are going to love this book. A little angst and a lot of love is what Love at First Bark is all about.

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I enjoyed the latest book in the Rescue Me series. The mood of this book was a bit melancholy initially, but it was to be expected with the story at that point. The mood lifted and I enjoyed the story and the animals! Any book that is centered around a shelter helping animals is a winner in my book! I don't want to give away any spoilers. Just know that the story is well written with very complex characters dealing with real emotions.


I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my open and honest review.

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This is the 4th book in this series but dont let that keep you from reading it. But, you will want to go back and read the first 3 books in the "Rescue Me" series asap.
This book is well written and I love the character development. The plot is well thought out and flows nicely. and there's DOGS. I loved this book. Grab it today and enjoy.

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Love at First Bark by Debbie Burns is a sweet and enjoyable read.

Ben has been love with Mia for the past eight years but she has no idea. Mia was married to Ben's best friend, Brad, and they have a son, Ollie. When Brad dies suddenly of an aneurysm it leaves Ben and Mia both sad and confused. There are some twists and turns to discovering how Mia feels and what she wants.

I really enjoyed this book. I was drawn to the animal shelter and dog aspects and was not disappointed. Bonus points for the story taking place in St. Louis.

Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the opportunity to read and review this book.

General Fiction (adult)
Romance
Release Date: July 30, 2019

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4.5 Stars for Love at First Bark
This is only the second book I have read in this series and I need to go back and read books 1 and 2 because I’m falling in love with everything about these books, I love the plots, I love that they are set around rescue shelters and I love the characters and what about the puppies who can forget them....
This book starts off a bit sadder than the previous book I have read, Mia is recently widowed bringing up her 7 year old son Ollie and she finds herself turning more and more to Ollie’s godfather Ben. Mia and Ben has a connection way back in their college days but a mix up lead them in different directions but is the timing right now .....
Love at First Bark is an emotional read, it has adorable characters as well as some adorable puppies that we get to meet when someone dumps a dozen Border Collie pup in the park and the team from High Grove Animal Shelter get to work rounding them up and let’s not forget the deaf mother and her puppy that Mia fosters only to fall deeply in love with both of them. A second change romance with the perfect mix of love, humour and sadness make this a great read.

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I have enjoyed each book in this series for the story but mostly for the dogs. The series centers around a shelter in St Louis and the various employees and volunteers. I love how the shelter is very proactive in getting pets adopted and roping in local celebrities to help in their mission. It doesn't hurt that some of those well known local names find love in several of these books.

This book is a little sadder than others at least to start. It focuses on Mia who is a recent widow. She has a 7 year old son, Ollie, and while she was about to divorce her husband he ended up dying unexpectedly. Enter Ollie's godfather, Ben, who has always had a thing for Mia yet a mixup in college created a new path for each of them. Mia also has some not-so-nice inlaws that seem to think their son could do no wrong. They are about to find out how wrong they are in that thought process. While I'm not sure we truly find out their feelings once they know the truth, there is a hint of shock and perhaps it is an eye-opener.

Ben is a very caring man and it is very surprising that he is still single. That could be due to his interest in Mia all these years, he could be battling some of his own demons about his life, or maybe no one else measured up to his standards. I love how he takes an interest in a teenager and shows him how to be a kind and caring young man.

Then there are the dogs...we can't forget them! A crazy woman lets loose a pack of border collies (around 13 I think). Mia becomes a foster "fail" when she falls in love with a mother and her puppy that are both deaf. I loved it and how it really helped Ollie move forward past his dad's death.

Overall this was a great story and I can't wait to see who might be featured in the next book in this series. We give it 4 paws up.

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The story was written as a third person omniscient descriptive where characters are described indirectly. The conflict is a mixture of internal and external as the characters battle themselves and other characters. The popular themes shown throughout include wisdom of experience, progress, overcoming, motherhood, love and sacrifice, heartbreak of betrayal, fear of failure, family, facing reality, death and circle of life.

Ben Thomas is most known for being a skilled mountain climber and now he mentors in a big brother like mode to a teenager. He is love with an old friend and has recently lost his best friend. Mia Chambers is an animal portrait artist, who is now a single mother as her soon-to-be ex-husband suddenly died. She is confused and has a difficult relationship with her in-laws but also spends her time working a mural at the animal shelter. Ollie Chambers is Mia seven year old son, who desperately wants a dog for Christmas. He is having a hard time dealing with his father’s death and spends his time reading to the dogs when his mom is working at the shelter. Ben is left with just his feelings after his best friend marries the girl he is in love with. Now he plays the role of godfather to their son and now executor of his estate and his secrets. Brad untimely death has put Ben in a tight spot as his affair that split his marriage to Mia resulted in a child that Mia knows nothing about. Plus now he has to decide does he make a move in showing Mia how he has felt about her all these years. Mia is going through a tough time as she was planning on divorcing Brad but didn’t plan on raising Ollie on her own, now Ben is stepping up and helping out where he can. Her pet portrait business has grown since her work at the shelter and Ollie enjoys reading the dogs and might have inspired a new program for the shelter. Though now she wonders if she will ever find true love or even love again. Plus the holidays are coming up and that means meddling in-laws, add in her world travelling mom, and death puppy and his mom and she might have a party?

The ideas are interesting and unique as the flow was organized and logical. The voice was individualized and unique to this story as the sentence structure and word choice help to enhance the overall story. Yes, I would recommend. If you are interested in no-kill shelters, rediscovering love, blending families and rescuing dogs pick up this book. If you are not interested in cheating, lying, manipulative in-laws, and disabled dogs maybe look for a different book.

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As I said, I haven't read the rest of the series, but I'm seriously adding it to my wish list for future reading. I mean first of all, we have the cutesy title...just try and tell me you didn't smile when you read/said it. Second, that cover! An adorable pupper, the snowy scene, and our potential couple walking through the drifts...can't you just feel the love? Last on the "why should I read this" roster, the story! What, you didn't think I'd forget about the nitty gritty part of things now did you?

The characters, both the two and four-legged ones, will endear themselves to your heart while the tale itself will speak to your soul. It's not that something utterly dramatic and earth shattering happens, but it's monumental enough to them and relateable enough for readers to have you caring right alongside each of them, come what may. You feel brokenhearted for the start in life that the border collie brigade got, but can't help having your heart warmed by how things turned around...not to mention how sweet each of them are in their own way! You cheer for Ben as he conquers obstacles in life not with an iron fist but a giving heart, patience, and understanding...and yeah, he's totally easy on the eyes too! He may not be superman, but he IS a super man...with his priorities straight, a good head on his shoulders, and yet just enough daredevil in him to keep things interesting...and really, what more could a girl want? (*adds to list of book boyfriends*) You can't believe the utter horses' behind that Brad was, at least when it comes to his role in a marriage, and yet can't help liking him a tiny smidge because half of his genes created the wonderful little boy that is Ollie. (Seriously, such a sweetie!) You feel well represented by Mia as she rebuilds her fractured heart, uncovers truths both welcome and not, and finds the strength to truly live again. Again, she may not be THE super woman, but she totally IS one anyway.

All in all, this book has SO much going for it! Love, loss, family, puppers, and enough feels to shut down the power grid to the big apple (still blush-worthy versus scorching!)...it's a great combination that'll have you SITting down for a moment only to find yourself STAYing straight through to the end. Seriously, I was flicking epages so much I didn't even stop to update my Goodreads status! Recommended for Contemporary Romance fans.

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Ben had been craving the escape of the mountains for the last three weeks. He yearned for the rigorous challenge and solitude. Climbing was ben’s biggest passion and it was the activity that would successfully quiet his thoughts, the only time he could shut out the world. He’d lost his oldest friend-Brad- That meant Mia Chambers was available the only woman Ben had ever loved. Ben had an obligation to his small architect company and to mia and her son- his godson-Ollie. He wasn’t going to let them down. Ben missed his oldest friend, even if their relationship had become strained. He had to support Mia as she navigated the waters of losing a husband she was on the verge of divorcing. She had already left him and moved into her grandparent’s place with Ollie. Eight years ago Ben had fallen in love with Mia. She never knew and a few months later she married Brad. He’d fallen in love with Mia’s words, her bravery, a depth of character over the course of a five minute speech she’d given. A speech he hadn’t suppose to have heard but had been proven tenfold since. That first afternoon she’d revealed things that resonated deeper with Ben than anything ever had. Some of the things she had shared about her childhood mirrored his. One was abandonment. Ben wasn’t good with words and don't let people in easily. Mia had struck his heart. Ben had been introduced to the sport of climbing when he was twelve by his father. Ben had his best ideas for work when he was climbing. Three months ago, Ben had been shocked when Mia left Brad and they were suddenly on the brink of divorce when Ollie was seven. Than three weeks ago, he got a call that Brad was dead. Ben steered clear of relationships. Always waiting. Mia went back to volunteering at The Grove Animal Shelter . She needed to get out of the house and the people at the shelter were an extended family and wouldn’t judge her. She had been volunteering at the center since she was fifteen. Brad had admitting to cheating on Mia and with a marriage with more bad than good those pushed Mai to leave Brad. Brad had been diagnosed with bipolar over the course of her marriage. Ben had been someone she trusted immensely. Mia ran an online business as a pet portrait artist. So she had only to leave the house to take Ollie to school until she went to volunteer. Ben decided he had to tell Mia the way he felt.
This was an okay read for me. But it somehow dragged and I had to force myself to keep reading at times than others no problem. It was hard to get into and keep my interest going at all times. I did love that Mia volunteered at the animal shelter and her love of animals. I just didn’t really relate to this book or its characters or get into the story like I usually do. I am sure there are a lot of others who will really love/like this book.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book

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I have rated all the previous three books in this series highly, they are what draw me to contemporary romance. Love at First Bark is another stellar entry with a hero to die for. Ben is a good man, a good friend, good godfather and finally gets the woman he has love from afar seeing her struggle in a bad marriage.

Our heroine is a widow, one who doesn't feel like one because she was finally on the verge of letting go of a bad marriage before her husband passed. She is dealing with a lot of worries, bills, her son and so much more but her time volunteering at the shelter helps.

To me the romance in this book moved just at the right pace, the revelations on how Ben first met Mia and connected with her through her college speech, Mia's mother, even the reveal of her husband's secret child; all of it moved the story along beautifully. I also liked how Mia handled her horrible ex-mother-in-law. Mia and Ben's HEA was beautiful and hard-won.

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A delightful fourth installment to Debbie Burns’ Rescue Me series

⭐⭐⭐⭐ Puppies!!!

For that reason alone, I knew I would love this story, having them be Border Collies was the icing on the cake. They are my favourite breed of dog and Debbie got their renowned characteristics, especially for Sadie and Turbo down to the ground.

You might think I’m mad for highlighting the dogs in my review, but it speaks a lot to the author's ability to write about characters if they can make you see an animals expression or the understanding that comes with the tilt of their head in your mind’s eye.

I did enjoy the story, three of my favourite things, Christmas, romance and you guessed it, puppies :D

Though I found the plot a little slower than I would like in places, I thoroughly enjoyed reading #LoveAtFirstBark and would recommend to those who enjoy their romance.
My thanks as always to #Netgalley, #SourcebooksCasablanca and @DebbieBurns for giving me the honour of reviewing an advanced copy of the book.

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It's a sweet and engrossing story, entertaining and well written.
I appreciated the fleshed out characters, the plot that flows without any issue and the setting.
I look forward to reading other books by this author.
Recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

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