What is not to love. Dogs and ST. Louis. Customers are enjoying this series and look forward to seeing the next book in the store. Can't wait to read the next one!

Mia’s estranged husband recently died unexpectedly, making her a widow who was in the process of divorcing her husband. She didn’t feel like she could move forward with her life due to the awkwardness of the situation and her need to help her young son accept his father’s death.

Ben was Mia’s late husband’s best friend and is her son’s godfather. They have been friends for eight years now, but she has started to have different feelings for him. Unbeknownst to Mia, Ben has been in love with her for years. Despite a new awkwardness between them, they begin spending more time together since both have recently adopted border collies.

Can Mia let her fear that people will judge her for beginning a relationship with Ben so soon after her husband’s death prevent her from fully opening up to Ben?

This book is part of the Rescue Me series which focuses on the lives and loves of those who either work or volunteer at a local animal shelter. The sweet rescues there play an integral part in the relationships of those who work and volunteer at the shelter.

Back to Webster Grove area, this gives us the story of a love that's been waiting to bloom for years. Shelter dogs, holidays, kiddos, and a good guy bring it all together for a quick read. Love the references to St Louis locations, having grown up there! Recommend her books each and every time, loved having her at the store for last release and look forward to her future books!

I'm not sure which dog I fell in love with more. All of the rescue dog stories are just heartwarming. Plus there were some surprises that I didn't expect. I loved reading this book.

I thought this was a very cute, engaging story. My only pet peeve was some editorial things I noticed such as the realtors name- the author said Ava but then referred to her as Monica. Thank you to netgalley for the arc!

I really enjoy how dogs play such a big part in these books and this book was no different. From the herd of dogs let loose at the start, to a few of those dogs being adopted, they were fun to read about as were the humans that took care of them.

This one was a bit different, sort of a melancholy tone. Mia was in an odd spot in her life, not really sure what to think and learning new things seemed to throw her in a tail spin. Luckily she had her son and the shelter to focus on, to steady and ground her. And then there was Ben, but he was, at times part of the problem. Ben had some of the same issues, he knew all, he was feeling conflicted, but also didn't want to loose his chance.

I was really glad how everything worked out. Mia made the right decisions for everyone and found her way to happy.

Description:
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...?
Rescue Me Series:
A New Leash on Love (Book 1)
Sit, Stay, Love (Book 2)
My Forever Home (Book 3)
Love at First Bark (Book 4)




Love at First Bark by Debbie Burns is the 4th book in her Rescue Me series. We return to High Grove Animal Shelter, revisiting many people we met in the previous books. Mia Chambers, our heroine, works at the shelter and also paints animal pictures. Mia is recently widowed (though she was in the middle of a divorce) and has an adorable 7 year old son, Ollie.

Ben Thomas, our hero, has always been in love with Mia, but she was married to his best friend. Ben does everything he can to help Mia and her son, as well as participate in events for the shelter; but he awaits the right moment to let Mia know about his true feelings.

I was great to see Megan, Patrick, Tess and all the others from the shelter, as well as all the cats and dogs, especially those that we know. Mia’s mother makes a surprise visit, and she pushes Mia to open her eyes to Ben’s love for her. Mia also must deal with her in-laws, who are not keen on Mia becoming involved with anyone. But Mia will stand up to them, noting that she was in the middle of finalizing a divorce.
When someone dumps a dozen border collies in a park, everyone bands together to rescue them. I really enjoyed Ben, Mia and Ollie bringing two dogs (mother and puppy) home to foster and eventually adopt them. Very cute. The hunt to find and place the border collies, brings Ben and Mia closer, with both acknowledging their feelings for each other.

What follows is a wonderful sweet romance between Ben and Mia, with added the element of Ollie. I love this series, which spends much of the time with the shelter and the wonderful dogs and cats. Love at First Bark is a wonderful delightful, heartwarming read, with some great characters, sweet dogs and cats, and wonderful romance.

In Love at First Bark, Debbie Burns gives us another well written, sweet heartwarming story that kept us entertained from beginning to end. If you love animals, with a romance in the background, you need to read this book.

This was a slow starting book but once I got into it, I enjoyed it. I'm really enjoying this series and cant wait to read more

I have loved this series from the very beginning, and the latest installment is no exception. There are so many good aspects of this book, from the human relationships to the canine, that I couldn’t put it down. Can’t wait for more from Debbie Burns!

I loved this return to the High Grove Animal Shelter. Mia and Ben are wonderful characters, looking to move forward after the death of Mia’s estranged husband/Ben’s best friend. Figuring out what that looks like for the two of them is the tricky part. Add in Mia’s seven year old son (who is Ben’s godson), Mia’s mother, her former in-laws (who resent Mia and her decisions), the delightful friends from the animal shelter, and adorable dogs, and you get a captivating story of friendship, moving beyond old hurts, hope, family, the healing power of pets, and love. Awesome! I look forward to another return to St. Louis and the Hugh Grove Animal Shelter.

Another cute story set in this wonderful shelter, but at times it was a little too angsty for me. I enjoyed the emotional journey between Mia and Thomas, just wish at times the characters didn't jump back and forth quite as much.
I look forward to the next story set in this world.

LOVE AT FIRST BARK - Debbie Burns
Rescue Me Series

St. Louis, Missouri - Present Day

For Ben Thomas, reaching the summit of Mount Everest was an important goal in his life. But for the past eight years Ben has been in love with his best friend's wife, Mia Chambers. He had heard Mia's speech at the college of his friend, Brad's, and could not forget her. However, it was Brad who made the first move on her and soon it was Brad and Mia who were married, shortly after her pregnancy was confirmed. But it was Ben who was at Mia's side when she delivered Ollie, and when the injuries from the automobile accident she and Brad were in cost her a chance at any future children. So, from afar, and much too near sometimes. Ben had to watch Mia hold up a marriage that wasn't working, raise her son in the midst of her husband's infidelity, and now, deal with Brad's sudden death. For Ben, this is not the time to reveal his feelings for Mia, but as Ollie's godfather, he will be able to help in emotional ways, all the while keeping too many secrets from Mia.

Mia is an animal portraitist and a long-time volunteer at the High Grove Animal Shelter. She and Ollie moved out of the house she and Brad owned, unable to deal with a failing marriage. Living in her grandparent's home inherited by Mia's mother, Lynn, who works in Kenya as a teacher, Mia is struggling to make ends meet, deal with Brad's demise, and give her son a normal childhood. She is thankful for Ben's support and how he so obviously cares for Ollie. The holidays this year will be difficult in too many ways. To complicate things, someone has dumped a dozen dogs in the local park, and Mia has taken in a mother dog and her young pup to foster.

As difficult as life can be, Mia knows that keeping things as normal as possible for her grieving son is the most important thing. Ben, who is a Big Brother to a young teenage boy, Taye, is always around to visit Ollie, take him for fun events, and give some emotional support when it is needed. Slowly coming to the realization that it's been Ben who has been there all along for her, even during her turbulent marriage, Mia refrains from revealing that knowledge to Ben or that she cares for him. It's only been a short time since Brad's death, and maybe Ben doesn't feel the same for her.

LOVE AT FIRST BARK is centered on Mia and Ben's growing relationship, but the dogs and cats at the High Grove Animal Shelter are key characters. Their need for help, and the love they give in return balances the upheaval in Mia's life and the need for Ben to be honest about his feelings. The arrival of Mia's mother opens up new emotions for Mia. Her mother's honesty and ability to see what Mia cannot in her relationships is eye-opening for the daughter.

The author's knowledge of dog behavior and training is spot on. As a dog owner/trainer myself, I appreciated the honest and realistic approach to all aspects of pet ownership. LOVE AT FIRST BITE is a wonderful, heartwarming tale that all readers will enjoy.