Paws for Love is a second chance romance. Danielle and Knox were together in high school and after getting pregnant they got engaged but after she lost the baby Knox left to join the military.
15 years later he is back in town after suffering an injury to his leg that has him barely walking and helping with his brothers renovation project. As part of the large condo renovation they built the Fur Haven Dog Park where Danielle brings her greyhounds everyday. Danielle has never really left her home after her miscarriage, works as an assistant for her veterinary father and lives in the guest cottage in his yard whilst also running a greyhound rescue charity. When Knox and Danielle finally see each other again they can't help being attracted to each other and with the help of Sarge, her latest greyhound rescue they get entangled again.
This is a fun romance and if you are a dog lover you will struggle not to fall in love with all the dogs mentioned in this book. This is the third in the series and the previous two books must be about Knox's brothers finding love.
Thanks to Netgalley.com and Sourcebooks Casablanca for my complimentary eARC copy.

Somehow, I once again accepted an ARC of a book that is part of a series without realizing it was part of series. In this case, while it may have been nice to know a bit more about the different personalities of Knox’s brothers and their spouses, I don’t think it was detrimental that I didn’t read the previous books. By far, Knox is my favorite character in this book. I would have loved to understand Danielle a bit better, but it doesn’t seem she was really a significant presence in those other stories, so it most likely wouldn’t have mattered if I had read them.

I liked this story, but it had quite a few slow spots for me. There were definitely places in the middle where I wanted Danielle and Knox to get on with it already. It wasn’t even what I would call a slow burn. It was just an unlit candle. There was decent chemistry between Knox and Danielle, but the will they/won’t they got a bit overplayed.

Danielle is a wonderful a person. I don’t want you to think she’s a terrible character or anything like that. She really has a huge heart, but she’s more comfortable with animals than humans. Danielle has never really felt as though she fit in with those around her. As much as I liked her, I also felt she was all over the map with Knox. Was she mad at him or not? Had she forgiven him or not? Was she going to randomly through the past in his face when it didn’t seem that was even the issue? It made me feel as though the author didn’t know where to take this character, and that bummed me out.

Knox had his issues, too. He is really quite a terrible communicator. Plus, the man is beyond stubborn. It seemed only his brothers felt they could put him in his place. And since nobody else ever did, he still had very unrealistic expectations for how his life was going to play out.

While Knox and Danielle had some chemistry, I also felt that I was often being told and shown when it came to their relationship. There are plenty of words given to the inner workings of both of their brains, but far too few scenes where they have any sort of meaningful conversations to help me to believe they are rebuilding their relationship and not just stepping into their old shoes that they’ve grown out of.

There is definitely a lot of potential here. The author does a beautiful job with her descriptions of the dogs and their emotions. I’m not even a dog person, but I enjoyed all of the fur-babies in this story. I felt like I got to know their personalities. There was just a lack of cohesion where I felt the story sort of meandered for a while as it was trying to figure out which direction to take. Then, when it was time for the emotions, it was quickly tied up in a neat bow. I believe I’ll give this new-to-me author another try if ever the chance comes up again.

Paws for Love by Mara Wells is a second chance romance with so many feels and adorable dogs. Danielle and Knox were high school sweethearts that seemed to have a future together, until they didn’t. Now he is back and old hurts resurface. But Danielle is not one to trust so easily anymore. So much has changed in the years they have spent apart but bonding over a rescue dog brings them closer together. Their story was emotional, touching and sweet.

Happy reading!

Very good second chance romance. I really enjoyed meeting Knox and Danielle, learning their history, and then watching them try to work through things for their future. If only they would remember to just talk to each other. The dogs were precious.
This is party of a series, but I was able to follow along with no issues.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor.

Thank you so much to Sourcebooks Casablanca and Netgalley for letting me read an e-ARC of Paws for Love! I love dogs and books with dogs and I've recently been more and more into greyhounds (well Italian greyhounds really since they're so funny and all over Instagram) so this was the perfect book for me! Paws for Love is the third book in the Fur Haven Dog Park series and even though I haven't read any of the other books in the series, I really enjoyed Paws for Love.

Paws for Love 4/5 Stars

Summary from Goodreads:

Damaged hearts--man, woman, and dog--have a second chance for love, healing and happiness under the warm Miami Beach sun in this endearing contemporary romance...
Danielle Morrow works tirelessly for the greyhound rescue as an adoption coordinator, rehabilitating retired racing dogs and helping them find forever homes. She guards her heart as vigilantly as her two adopted greyhounds guard her home. One heartbreak per lifetime is enough for any woman, and no one she's met since her high school boyfriend dumped her to join the military has ever tempted her enough to risk love again.
Knox Donovan expected to be career military, but an injury has resulted in an honorable discharge that leaves him uncertain of his future. When his brothers ask him to come back to Miami Beach to help manage their new condo conversion, he figures he can at least advise them about security systems before declining the job. He has no intention of staying in the city that has so many bad memories for him.
Knox is reminded that not all his memories of growing up in Miami Beach are bad when he sees Danielle again at the Grand Opening of the new Fur Haven Dog Park. Fifteen years haven't softened the pain of their breakup. But Knox is different now, more hard-edged and suspicious, and when he bonds with the retired racing greyhound, Sarge, Danielle's cool reserve begins to melt. Sarge needs special care after the injuries that ended his racing career, and it's not long before Danielle realizes that Knox does too. Can Danielle trust her heart to the one man who's ever broken it?
Snuggle up with your best dog companion and get reading: This adorable romance includes a veteran who could use a four-legged best friend, a second chance with a high school sweetheart, and a determined heroine who isn't going to let the man of her dreams get away again.
This book was pretty much exactly what you expected from a second chance, ex-high school lovers meet again romance novel with pups mixed in. I really liked Danielle as a character and while Knox wasn't my favorite (I can't even put my finger on why I don't really like him- there's just something about him that's a little off putting to me), I thought they worked together well enough. I really liked all of the supporting characters and all of the dogs and the way that Miami Beach seemed like such a small town/had such a small town feel to it, even though it definitely isn't anywhere close to a small town. I thought the overall lost love story was cute and I loved that Danielle's father also found love in the book. It was also really nice that he pushed her (aka pretty much forced her) to do more with her life and try and go back to school so she could live out her dreams. The amount of miscommunication and times that Danielle ran off/just didn't talk to Knox was a little annoying, but I get why the author did things the way that she did. Overall, this was a cute, easy, fun read, and I definitely loved all the dogs.

Danielle and Knox's story was a good addition to this series. I like how their friends and family are always a part of things. Sure Knox had things to get thru but with the love of a great dog and a special woman wow.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I did not know this was a part of a series! Now I gotta pick up the rest! Love a second chance romance! I love how this story covers healing and the relationship between dogs and humans. How dogs are just such a gift to us! Highly recommend for a sweet fun reading time!

Danielle works at a greyhound rescue...enter her ex Knox after 15 years post breakup. While alot of time has past, Danielle can’t help but have her guard up. But under the Miami Beach sun...well romance heats up.

Love the change in cover from what netgalley had up previously!

This series has been so much fun to read. I have loved how each book is unique but they are tied together via the building renovations and Fur Haven Dog Park.

Paws for Love is Knox and Danielle's story. We have seen them in previous books and I was excited to learn more about them. They were high school sweethearts but their relationship ended with Knox leaving for the military and Danielle brokenhearted.

With the way their relationship ended and Knox's discharge from the military due to injury there is a lot for them to work through. I thought their second chance romance was really sweet, especially when Knox bonded with Danielle's dog. It was also nice to see characters from the first two books. I liked seeing the friendships and family relationships and how they supported Danielle and Knox.

This is a fun contemporary read, and a must read if you love dogs!

Absolutely great book. Loved the entire idea of a wounded former soldier finding love and companionship. Especially with the one woman he's aleays loved and a great dog. Liked seeing all the characters from previous books. Really cute story would highly recommend reading this book.

Will they let pass their second shot at love by lack of trust ...

I discovered this series and it’s author with the previous book, so I was happy to come back to Fur Heaven Dog Park.

Knox fights to recover from his injuries and sees his hopes to going back to the army drift away as it looks like he will never be again the man he was before he was wounded.
He is recovering along his rediscovered family, one who welcomed him with open arms.
Still he seems unable to fix himself in one place. He struggles to project himself in the future, to determine what he wants for himself, he wants the girl but he wants too his old job back, the one he left her for.
Danielle has cried for herself for more than a decade, still living in her father’s outhouse and working for him. Sure she lived through a devastating hardship for any woman, yet she uses too her past wound to hide herself from the world. She procrastinated because she cowardly retreated behind her pain instead of facing the world.

Both dealt with their scars a different way, she hides et runs away.

I felt like many times they were running in circles, stretching the story but always coming back to the old wound between them with no real talk about it outside you hurt me, I do not want to go this way again but can’t say no to you too.
It dragged too long to go to the whys of her constant rejection. When it is easily figured out. I got upset at Danielle always talking in riddle, holding back and making decisions for both of them because of what she has decided was a burden only for herself. In truth, they never have a heartfelt discussion.

I loved the many side characters, the fun elders, the many puppies and to see again the couples from the previous books.
4 stars

𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 mild onscreen lovemaking scene.

I have been granted an advance copy by the publisher Sourcebooks Casablanca, here is my true and unbiased opinion.

A book with dogs (especially rescue dogs)? Sign me up🙋🏼‍♀️🙋🏼‍♀️🙋🏼‍♀️

This book was cute for a second chance romance, but it is part of a series. Swipe to see the synopsis. It can be read as a stand alone, but I think it would be better to be read in order as the side characters play big roles in this one.

TW: unplanned pregnancy, hysterectomy, soldier injured during war

I really wanted the characters to talk more and open up to each other than they did. I really wanted to see more growth in the characters based on this story line. It was almost drawn out then condensed at the end. I will say I loved the rescue aspect of this (and the dogs in general throughout the book). I love that the book focused on your dog knowing that your their human sometimes before you realize they’re your dog💙

Paws for Love is the 3rd book in the Fur Haven Dog park series by Mara Wells. I really enjoyed this story, and it has made me want to catch up on the series. I loved the focus on how rescue dogs can help you heal, it touched me as I rescued a puppy and she really has been such a bright light in our lives.

Damaged hearts—man, woman, and dog—have a second chance for love, healing and happiness under the warm Miami Beach sun

I found it to be a sweet, fun romance built on second chances for both humans and dogs. I will definitely be grabbing the first 2 books in the series.

I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from Sourcebooks Casablanca and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A good second chance romance! Danielle and Knox haven't been together for years and now are running into all the time. Both are struggling at finding direction. Their reunion was sweet. I loved the dogs in the story, especially Sarge. I received an advance copy and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Danielle Morrow has never quite recovered from tragic past events, but she has moved on with her life. The rescue of her latest retired racing greyhound, Sarge, and the grand opening of the new Fur Haven Dog Park has kept her busy. She was not expecting to see Knox Donovan, a reminder of her past and once the love of her life. She can’t let herself get involved with him again, even if he were interested, as she is no longer the young girl he loved and left. After being injured and leaving the military, Knox is surprised to see his high school girlfriend Danielle. He had no plans to settle down, but finds himself thinking about Danielle, maybe buying a house, and maybe adopting a dog. Is there a second chance for them after all? I always enjoy a story involving dogs. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)

Thanks to Sourcebooks Casablanca and Netgalley for an advanced copy of Paws for Love by Mara Wells.

This is the third book in the Fur Haven Dog park series and we get Knox's story! In this second chances romance set up at our favorite Miami dog park/senior condo.

Knox has been back in town helping his brother's with the condo's renovation after he was wounded as a Marine and when he sees Danielle, his high school sweetheart at the opening of the new dog park will they be able to put their past behind them? Danielle thinks Sarge, an injured greyhound she is rehabilitating is exactly what Knox needs

This a cute and fun book with lots of dogs and puppies.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Paws for Love is the first book I’ve read by Mara Wells, but I’m excited to try more, especially as I found out this is actually the third in a rescue dog-themed series. This is just the right amount of adorable, with a dog finding a forever home with a pair of fellow wounded souls.

I loved the focus on the dogs in the rescue, and how it promotes the idea of canine love as playing a role in one’s healing. It does overshadow the rest of the story at times, but I didn’t mind too much.

Knox and Danielle are both sympathetic characters, both recovering from wounds in different ways. They also share a past relationship that did not end well. The way their respective wounds and their second chance love were navigated was quite sweet and I rooted for them, even if I didn’t feel completely in love with them as a couple.

This is a fun, sweet second chance romance that will appeal to contemporary fans, but especially to those who love dogs.

Second Chance Romance, Heartache, Healing, Acceptance, and Dogs

Danielle Morrow, owner of HOMESTRETCH, A greyhound rescue shelter in Miami. Knox Donovan, career military man, with a leg injury that forces him into retirement from the Marines. Danielle, and Knox were high school sweethearts. An unexpected pregnancy, and miscarriage changes their lives forever, and the hurt drives them apart. Knox returns to Miami, and realizes he still has deep feelings for Danielle. There's a second chance for love if there is forgiveness, and acceptance of a new normal. Knox has permanent damage to his leg, and has to wear a brace for the rest of his life, and Danielle has to come to terms with the past, and the severe, painful life changing health issue she dealt with alone after her miscarriage, and kept secret. Can these two lovers in the past, connect, forgive, and let love in? Or will the emotional pain of the past keep them apart?

Mara Wells is a new to me author but when I saw the cover of this book and read the synopsis I thought it would be a fun read. I wasn't disappointed.

Danielle works at a greyhound rescue centre looking to find these amazing dogs new homes. The dogs in her care, and the two belonging to her are lovely and such adorable characters. Danielle takes the dogs along to the grand opening of the Fur Haven Dog Park and bumps in to her ex Knox Donovan who she hasn't seen for fifteen years. Knox has been discharged from the military after an injury and the two rekindle their friendship over Sarge one of the wonderful dogs Danielle is trying to find a home for. Sarge has decided Knox is the one for him, however he will need some convincing.

This book has everything I want in a romance, second chances, fun, interesting characters in human and fur form. Difficult issues people over come by having amazing family and friends around them. It was just a really nice enjoyable book and I will definitely look out for others in the series. Those Donovan boys are sure to keep things interesting.

My rating scale
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - Absolutely loved it! Gave me a warm fuzzy feeling or made me cry. And took me on an emotional rollercoaster.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - Really liked it. Will read more by the author and other books in the series.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ - It was just okay, didn’t move me, but don’t feel like I wasted me time reading it either.
⭐️⭐️ - Didn’t like this book and probably won’t read other in the series.
⭐️ - I did not care for this book at all and feel like I wasted my time reading it

This is all about second chances. Second chances at love and second chances at life. Danielle and Knox were a couple in high school until she lost their baby to miscarriage and he left to join the Marines. Jerk move. Now, though, he's back in Miami after being injured by an IED. Danielle never left; she works for her father, who is a vet, and runs a greyhound rescue. When they see each other, all sort of emotions bubble up but this couple, and Danielle's dogs, need to reconcile what happened in the past and heal. You know this is going to work out but Wells does a terrific job of gently pulling the story along. It's very emotional and pulls at the heartstrings. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This is the third in a series but it's completely enjoyable as a standalone. It will make you smile.

Paws for Love is an endearing tale of second chances. A chance to re-kindle that spark, that warm feeling, and that overwhelming soul-stirring.

Knox Donovan and Danielle Morrow, high school sweethearts, were to marry after the discovery of Danielle's pregnancy. But after Danielle's unfortunate miscarriage, Knox nixes marriage, to enlist in the Marines.

Fifteen years later, and due to a debilitating leg injury, Knox gets honorably discharged from the Marines and returns to Miami Beach. It is there that Knox runs into Danielle, stirring up fond memories from the past. Danielle, too, is forced to remember the warmth and love she and Knox shared. But old wounds re-emerge, and Danielle finds them difficult to forget. Can Danielle overcome her feelings of mistrust? Can she open up her heart to Knox again? After all, Knox may very well to the same thing again -- leave her with a broken heart.

A four star read for me. Inasmuch as I really enjoyed the novel, it seemed to me the the story was too drawn out, repeating that "should I, or shouldn't I" theme in an unending loop. Thankfully, that loop ended when it did.
Paws for Love is still a wonderful romance novel about second chances with a smattering of fur-baby cuteness, It is sure to please readers that enjoy the contemporary romance genre.

I received a digital ARC from Sourcebooks Casablanca through NetGalley, The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.

My NetGalley review is concurrently being posted to Goodreads at this time. My book blog review, and reviews to social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook, will publish on my book tour date of February 23, 2021. Reviews to retail sites will occur on publication date.