Forever Home by Elysia Whisler is a compelling story of a loner who is struggling to make a good life alone after years in the marine corps. Delaney Monroe is a character you instantly care about and want to see thrive in her new community. This is a feel good story.

This was a great book! I really enjoyed it and I read it in one day! It was great on having women in control, military and business owner of a mechanic for motorcycles. I would definitely recommend this book.

I work in a high school library, so I would be unable to purchase this for my library, but I did submit the review for Library Journal.

Heartfelt, emotional and compelling, readers will thoroughly enjoy Elysia Whisler’s latest novel, Forever Home.

After returning from the Marine Corps, Delaney found herself needing a new challenge, a fresh chapter and somewhere to start over. Dogwood County seemed to be everything she was looking for and finding the perfect place to open her dream motorcycle shop, Delaney decided to put down roots and settle in this charming part of the world. Delaney has her shop and does not want or need any further commitments or complications – but she hadn’t counted on an adorable abandoned pit bull and a handsome detective keen to get to know her better…

Detective Sam Callahan takes one look at Delaney and falls head over heels in love with her – even though she is keen to keep him at arm’s length. Sam knows that if Delaney gives him a chance then the two of the could be so good together and sets about trying to win her over. When her late father’s vintage motorcycle goes missing, a determined Sam vows to leave no stone unturned in his quest to locate Delaney’s most cherished possession. Can he find the motorcycle that means everything to the woman he is desperately trying to impress? Or will Sam end up disappointing Delaney?

Delaney is a woman who does not let people in so easily, but with Sam effortlessly breaching the walls around her heart, will she let go of her doubts and insecurities and embrace this chance at happiness? Or is Delaney destined to spend the rest of her life wondering what might have been?

Elysia Whisler’s Forever Home is an uplifting, poignant and heart-warming tale about finding somewhere to belong, letting go of the past and the magic of falling in love – with adorable puppies and handsome detectives – that is sure to charm readers and leave them feeling uplifted.

Delaney and Sam are two brilliant characters and their love story sparkles with pathos, humor and plenty of heart.

Perfect for readers hooked on Virgin River and Chesapeake Shores, Elysia Whisler’s Forever Home is an engaging charmer ideal for losing oneself in!

Thank you NetGalley and MIRA for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

So cute! I adored having pitbull type dogs properly portrayed in a fiction novel. The Pittie Palace rescue is a rescue concept I’d love to implement myself one day. I haven’t read the first book in this series yet, but I definitely want to go back and read it now.

The story has the perfect amount of love, life, family drama, and the way a rescue animal can heal the soul. A smiling, loving pitbull, at that!

I’m so happy Elysie took a stand to write a novel that stands up for their breed. Hopefully it encourages others who are unfamiliar to explore the true nature of these wonderful dogs.

Delaney Monroe retired after 20 years in the Marines. She buys a shop where she plans to restore and work on vintage motorcycles, beginning with a 1933 Indian that belonged to her great grandfather. Delaney's father has recently died and she inherited the bike. What Delaney didn't know was that the store came with a skittish pitbull who lives at a nearby dog rescue operation, but prefers to spend his days at the shop. Delaney joins a gym run by former Marines and she discovers a new world of friends and permanence. But when the vintage bike is stolen, Delaney has to learn to trust Sean Callahan, the detective in charge of finding it. I wanted a quick read with some romance and this book delivered. A sweet read, with some complex characters learning to trust again.

Tough on the outside, that is for certain. She proved herself while she was in the Marines. She is about to the same yet again when she purchases a rundown motorcycle shop. This has always been her dream and Delaney plans on making it a reality.

She is not alone from the very beginning, however. There is a resident pit bull along for the ride. Well, mostly. He is a free spirit and comes and goes at will. Not sure why she is even trying, Delaney is determined to win the chocolate pittie over. She starts out by learning his name from a tag on his collar, Sinbad.

There is a mystery from the outset, however. Delaney's most treasured possession, her father's classic motorcycle, has been stolen and Sean Callahan is the detective on the case. More than that for Sean, as he is immediately drawn to Delaney.

I loved this story. Whether it was Sean trying to win over Delaney, or Delaney trying to win over Sinbad. Whether Delaney planned it or not, she is now a dog owner.

This story was just so touching. I loved how Delaney took slow and gentle steps towards Sinbad. I also enjoyed the intrigue in the story when it came to the goings on at the motorcycle shop. Also, as this is the second book in the series, with the equally touching first book, Rescue You, it was a delight to see Constance and Sunny again in this book, Forever Home.

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

Although second in a series, it can be read alone. Strong, retired marine who happens to be a woman settles in a small town. She meets a pit bull and returns him to the shelter. It sounds like a similar plot to many other books but it really had heart. I liked the way things did not always work out. There is a good depiction of PTSD and also therapy dogs.

It's a heartwarming read with a mystery in it. It's a small-town romance story with wonderful dogs in it. It's a story where people trying to just belong, to find home after everything they've been through. There's also mystery and rescue action that got me on the edge of my seat. It brings all the feelings. So yeah, it's pretty complex story.
As for the characters. Delaney is an ex-Marine and Sean is a detective. What a powerful couple this one and Delaney is a really stubborn person and she builds walls around her to protect herself and Sean is determined to break them. It's just sweet reading about these two and I just can't not root for their happy ending.

Complex sweet romance read with wonderful characters, yup I totally recommend this one.

Ex-Marines, motorcycles, hard-core workouts, and adorable dogs make this one unique romance.

When retired Marine Delaney Monroe opens a motorcycle shop in Dogwood County, it would almost seem like she’s putting down roots, but that’s not like her.

She wasn’t expecting to meet a lovable, abandoned Pitbull that was left at the building of her new shop, though. Not one to let herself get attached, she sends the timid dog to the Pittie rescue nearby.

When her father’s beloved cycle is stolen from her shop, the handsome Detective Sean Callahan is more than willing to help on the case. Since he first saw her working out at the local gym, Sean has been captivated by Delaney.

For a strong, independent woman trying to keep others at a distance, both Sean Callahan and a certain Pitbull seem to keep showing up at her door and maybe walking into her heart.

𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐇𝐨𝐦𝐞 is a slow-burn romance with the added mystery to fuel the fire. This story has a lot of tough military and motorcycle riding characters. But as I’m a huge animal lover, Sinbad, aka Wyatt, stole the show, along with the other rescue dogs.

Thank you to @_MIRA_books_ @HTPbooks and @elysiawhisler for a spot on tour and a gifted digital copy.

Forever Home is the second book in the Dogwood County series, but it can be read as a standalone. Having said that, I really enjoyed Rescue You, the first in the series and definitely recommend it as well. In Forever Home, we meet several vets living in Dogwood County, see their struggles as well as how they support one another as they heal. The MC in this story is Delaney, a recently discharged marine. Delaney was raised by her father, a motorcycle head, and his buddies as her mother left when she was young. She loves riding and working on bikes and has dreamed of opening her own repair shop. Just before she musters out, her father dies and she inherits his vintage motorcycle that has been passed down by previous generations. She finds the perfect spot for her business, a store with apartment attached, buys it, and begins to set up her business. When she finds an abandoned pitbull pup in the shop, she turns to a pitbull rescue for help. It appears he used to belong to the previous owners of the shop and he keeps escaping the rescue to return to the only home he knows. Slow to trust, Delaney is determined to work with him and becomes his foster. She meets other vets at the local gym, Semper Fit, including a young woman she met while on active duty. Throw in a local police detective, also a vet, who is attracted to Delaney and you know there will be some sexual tension. When Delaney becomes a victim of some illegal acts (theft of her vintage motorcycle, theft of her dog, threats) the story heats up even more.

I really enjoyed this story. Delaney is a great character. She has not had an easy life, but a good one. After the death of her father, his friends (honorary uncles) step up to support her. She is smart, strong, caring yet vulnerable as well. She has no intention of getting involved with someone, but sometimes our emotions overrule our brains. Detective Sean Callahan is immediately attracted to Delaney and when he and his partner are assigned to the case of the motorcycle theft, he spends a lot more time and energy on the case than normal. He has some hidden talents that come to light and make him more attractive to Delaney. The romance moves at a good pace, dealing with both Delaney's and Sean's insecurities and doubts. Tabitha is a vet who is suffering from PTSD. She is also struggling with other issues and Delaney becomes a great support to her as well. The secondary characters are all wonderful and I hope they will continue to appear in other books. Of course, the bad guys, two seedy brothers, are also well written and boy did I dislike them, just as the author intended, I'm sure.

This is a well written and plotted story. There is some suspense and romance, but there is so much more to the story than it sounds. Ms. Whisler writes veterans with PTSD and/or physical impairments with empathy making them very realistic and relatable. She doesn't give snap or easy solutions, but shows that support is needed for transitions to life after the military. I absolutely love the addition of The Canine Warriors, a local charity that trains service dogs for vets. There were several dogs in the book and they all play important roles. There are so many themes in this book, such as female business owners trying to survive in a male-dominated business, struggling with PTSD, support animals and people not understanding their roles, finding comfort with who you are, trusting again, forgiveness, abuse by superiors, bullying and more.

I was really looking forward to reading Forever Home. I loved the first book Rescue You, so this was a most anticipated sequel. I really enjoyed this book. This one features Delaney and Sean. Delaney has always wandered and had never had a permanent, lasting home. Opening a motorcycle shop in her father’s memory is the first step toward permanency...maybe.

As I said, I really enjoyed this one. I loved watching the relationship grow between Delaney and Sean. He was too sweet in his courting of Delaney. They had great chemistry. I also loved watching the relationship that grew between Delaney and the dog. What a perfect metaphor for finding a “forever home”. The last scene of the book was perfect.

There is a side plot with Tabitha and her dealing with PTSD from war. I thought it was done very well and realistically. I hope her story continues in the next book. I would love to see her get a HEA. I highly recommend this one as well as the first book.

I'm a sucker for a good dog story, especially one that has some romance and a bit of mystery to it, so after reading the blurb I decided to give this one a look. I'm so glad I did. I really enjoyed this story and these characters.

Delaney is a woman who grew up around men where she learned to take care of motorcycles before entering the service. She has some cracks, but she works hard not to let anyone see too deeply into her. I loved her caring nature and just really everything about this character. This is the type of female heroine I love -- strong, motivated, caring and confident with some vulnerability. I was immediately engaged in this story because of this character.

Detective Sean Callahan is also an interesting character. He's not complicated but he does carry around some baggage from the past which made for a more realistic character. I adored his interactions with Delaney -- they had a special sort of flirting going on there, and they fit together like chocolate and peanut butter.

There's a bit of an intriguing criminal investigation going on and just enough clues and red herrings that had this reader speculating on who might have done the crime. It isn't too hard to figure out what happened, and it was a fun part of the story for sure.

And best of all, there was Wyatt the dog bringing people together in different ways. The rescue and therapy dog scenes were terrific in this.

This is my first book from this author. I didn't read the first book in this series, and Forever Home worked really well as a standalone and I'm itching to read the first book now.

Forever Home has interesting characters, a story that moves along at a very nice pace, a bit of mystery and a romance that made me go "ah" . A very entertaining and fun read.

The Review

This is such a well-balanced and engaging story. The way the author is able to weave themes of PTSD, how military service impacts those who come home, loss and opening ourselves up to the possibility of love into this narrative set against the backdrop of a crime mystery and a slow-burn romance was truly entertaining. The vibrant yet muted imagery of the story’s setting really felt cinematic in its delivery, making this such an incredible read.

What was so mesmerizing was the character’s arcs in this narrative. The heavy exploration of romance between the two protagonists felt so realistic to real life. I’ve always felt there is a time and place for both magical-inspired fairytale romances and real-world, gritty romances that take time to build, and that’s what makes this novel shine so brightly. The strength and courage these two find in one another, both in challenging each other and then in working together, was inspired to see, and how each helped the other overcome past pains were so fun to watch come together in this novel.

The Verdict

A memorable, emotional, and gripping romance, author Elysia Whisler’s “Forever Home” is such a unique and entertaining women’s fiction and contemporary romance read. A true one-of-a-kind read that shows romance in an entirely new setting and creates a love that feels very real and relatable all at once, this is one novel you will not want to miss.

Thank you so much to MIRA books for having me as a part of their Forever Home tour! Forever Home is book two in the Dogwood County series and I loved book one (Rescue You) when I read it, so I was the most excited to read this one!
Forever Home 4/5 Stars
Summary from Goodreads:
If home is where the heart is, Dogwood County may have just what Delaney Monroe needs
Newly retired from the Marine Corps, Delaney is looking for somewhere to start over. It’s not going to be easy, but when she finds the perfect place to open her dream motorcycle shop, she goes for it. What she doesn’t expect is an abandoned pit bull to come with the building. The shy pup is slow to trust, but Delaney is determined to win it over.
Detective Sean Callahan is smitten from the moment he sees Delaney, but her cool demeanor throws him off his game. When her late father's vintage motorcycle is stolen from Delaney's shop, Sean gets to turn up in his element: chasing the bad guy and showing his best self to a woman who’s gotten under his skin in a bad way.
Delaney isn't used to lasting relationships, but letting love in—both human and canine—helps her see that she may have found a place she belongs, forever.
Ahhhh another cute book- this one was less outwardly like cute-cute and more like a tougher cute (if that makes sense). Delaney (side note, I've always loved that name) and Sean are cute with each other, but they have a lot more fun banter than cute-cute moments (I feel like my words may not be making any sense, but it makes complete sense to me in my head- let me know if y'all want me to explain it in another way haha). One of the things I liked best about Forever Home is that even though it is the second book in the series, it's the most standalone series I've ever read. I barely remembered what happened in Rescue You and I had vague ideas of the characters, but even though they were pretty constant throughout the book, Elysia Whisler did a great job of giving enough background about what was going on for you to know who everyone was- and she did it in such a great way that I'm sure even if I had just read Rescue You, I wouldn't have felt as though things were being too repetitive. One thing that I was not a huge fan of sometimes was the placement of Tabitha's chapters- for example, we were doing something super intense with Delaney and she was about to take a rash decision and instead of following her with that rash decision, we were all of a sudden with Tabitha. And don't get me wrong, what Tabitha was doing was huge for her growth, but man, why couldn't we have gone to her just a bit later? Also, while I enjoyed Tabitha's story, it felt a little disjointed from Delaney and Sean's- why was her story the secondary one in this book rather than us learning more about Sean's partner at the police station for example? I'm sure Elysia Whisler has a reason, and I really hope we do get more of Tabitha's story because I love the person who it seems like she's going to be paired with, and it did seem as though this book was really priming her to become more of her own person so she could have her own book... I don't know- I guess I'll just have to read more Dogwood County books to find out! And I guess y'all will too! This book is already out, so make sure you go grab it whenever you can!

As the sayings go, “home is where the heart is” and “a dream is a wish your heart makes.” Delaney Monroe’s home was working on motorcycles with her father in Omaha, and their shared dream was to open their own motorcycle repair shop.

But Delaney’s beloved father is dead. Killed in an accident between his motorcycle and an SUV whose driver wasn’t paying nearly enough attention to the other vehicles on the road. She’s just retired from the Marine Corps after putting in her 20. She can’t face living in Omaha without her dad, no matter how much her adopted uncles love her and want to help her.

They want to take care of her just a bit too much, and Delaney can’t stop seeing the hole in their formation where her dad used to be.

There’s a part of that dream that is still alive. She has just enough money saved up to buy what used to be a motorcycle shop in Dogwood County. It comes with a tiny apartment, a screaming need to be cleaned up and fixed up, and a dog who can’t figure out whether he wants his home to be in the shop he used to live in or the dog rescue park on the other side of the creek.

Wyatt the dog is afraid to trust that his heart has led him home. Making him not all that different from Delaney. Maybe they can figure it out together.

Or maybe Delaney will give up and run away, again, in the face of the dastardly and determined opposition of the men who used to own both the shop and the dog.

Along with a suspected slice of the local drug trade.

Escape Rating A-: At the end of the story, the dog is fine. I’m saying that first because my reading circle gets very upset if the starring animals don’t make it. No worries on that score, Wyatt has a few adventures but he’s fine, actually better than fine, at the end.

Which doesn’t stop Delaney and Wyatt from being equally heartbroken at the beginning – and some of the middle – of the story. They both need to feel that it’s OK to trust, safe to open their hearts, and the right time and place to put down roots so they can flourish. Neither of them is anywhere near there at the beginning.

And neither, in an entirely different way, is Detective Sean Callahan. He’s been going through the motions for a long time, having little holding him together except his job and his duty. He’s a good cop but a sad human being.

The situation in Dogwood County, between Delaney, Sean, Wyatt, the Dudebros – literally, they’re the Dude Brothers – and each and every one of their pasts is on a collision course.

It’s not just that the Dudebros are trying to wreck her business and take her dog – although they are.

Someone has stolen Delaney’s prize bike, the classic Indian Motorcycle that has been passed down in Delaney’s family for four generations. It’s that they tinkered with it and then put it back. It was heartbreaking while it was gone, and it’s baffling now that it’s back. But as much as Delaney wants to pin it all on the Dudebros, Sean knows that’s not the right answer no matter how tempting it is.

Also how tempting it must have been for the author. That would have been such an easy solution – but the real answer added so much to the story that I was surprised and pleased at the way things turned out.

Although the Dudebros do get theirs in the end.

Forever Home turned out to be one of those books where the whole was much greater than the sum of the parts. It sits right on the border between contemporary romance and relationship fiction, and it’s a surprisingly comfortable border in this case.

A romance occurs between Delaney and Sean, with an HEA that definitely feels earned. But that romance doesn’t completely hold the center of the story. The HEA is the icing on the cake and not the cake.

The suspense element was suspenseful in a surprising way, in that the obvious perpetrators were both obvious and not obvious at the same time.

The heart of the story was in Delaney – and Wyatt – finding their way to a home in Dogwood County. The way that Delaney establishes her shop, makes friends and allies, and makes a home and a life for herself in this new place and with these (mostly) terrific people.

I very much enjoyed my visit to this place, and I’m looking forward to seeing these people again. The next book in this series, Becoming Family, won’t be available until next August, but the first book, Rescue You, is available and I’m looking forward to reading it the next time I need a bit of a reading pick-me-up.

Delaney has retired from the Marine Corps. She has decided to open up her own motorcycle shop. It has been her dream for quite a while. She found the perfect place to rent and she is ready to roll. However, an abandoned dog keeps showing up. Delaney is smitten! But, not long after she has opens her shop, her antique motorcycle is stolen. Enter detective Sean Callahan! Can Delaney let him in too?!?

Now, I am not a fan of motorcycles. So, I really didn’t think this would appeal to me. And there is a good bit of motorcycle talk. But, I found it fascinating, especially about the antique bikes. Something I didn’t know…I enjoy learning something new. Add in the chemistry between these characters and you have a good tale!

I discovered this author last year when I was asked to review Rescue You . I enjoyed that book so much, I could not wait to read this one. And this one did not disappoint. I love how she incorporates animals and the armed services into her stories. Always makes for really good, heartwarming reads!

Need a good book to curl up with…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

This is the second book I read in Dogwood County series and I enjoyed it.
Elysia Whistler has a knack for writing stories about strong women, their dogs and how they are able to find happiness.
Delaney is a great character: a woman fighting in a business male dominated environment, the aftermath of her past experience. She's a fighter and loved her.
Her relationship with Sam is interesting and slow burning.
It's a poignant and compelling story about changing and how love can be found in different way, it can be in a human relationship or with a pet.
The story can be read as a stand alone and I enjoyed it.
Many thanks to MIRA and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Have you ever really liked a book, finished it, but then the more you thought about it, the more you weren't sure WHAT you thought about it?

That is this book for me. I think it was a romance, but I felt like the romance kept getting shoved to the side with everything else that was happening in the book. The motorcycles, the dogs, the gym, etc. Some of the plot twists I felt like came out of nowhere. A few were there to provide angst and to cause "The Problem" but it just felt off and unnecessary.

Unfortunately I was more invested in a few of the side characters than the MC. The MC was fairly closed off and remote to the other characters and she was that way with the reader too.

All in all, I liked it, it was entertaining, but just don't think too hard about it.

I am so happy to review this excellent book.

After her father's death, Delaney Monroe retires from the Marine Corps with plans to build a new life. Her dream to open a motorcycle shop starts coming together by starts and stops in Dogwood County. It's not perfect; there are plenty of people who will tell her she won't succeed, and some who appear to make sure she doesn't.

I wouldn't classify this as a romance, although at least one relationship established in the story is pretty steamy. Hello, Detective Callahan!
I enjoyed how the story centers on powerful women. Oh, Delaney has her issues, but she powers through them as she powers through her workouts at the Semper Fit gym and establishing her shop in an ordinarily male-dominated business.
The other characters in the story are well-rounded and intriguing, and since this is number 2 in the series, I hope they re-surface in future books. I adored the adopted uncles, Boom, Zip, Donnie, and Sal. Everyone can use friends like the motorcycle uncles. The dogs help round out and soften the story; yep, there's more than one; Humphry, Trinity, and of course, Wyatt.
The appearance of Tabitha, another ex-Marine, into Delaney's life seemed a little contrived. Still, Delaney's acceptance of Tabitha's situation and her friendship help establish the circle of strong women that emerges throughout the story.
Forever Home also contains a mystery or two that keeps the reader guessing until the end.
All in all, I found this book a breath of fresh air. I now plan on reading the first book of this series, Rescue You, and look forward to upcoming volumes.