Elysia Whisler is a new-to-me author, but the cover and blurb of this book drew me in, and I decided to take a chance on someone I’ve never read before. Apparently, it’s the third in a series, but other than muddling through some of the secondary characters’ relations with each other, I didn’t feel like I had missed out on anything huge from the previous stories.

While the story was a slow burn where the romance was concerned, it didn’t feel like it moved too slowly as there were some pretty significant obstacles for the hero and heroine to muddle through separately before they could appreciate their HEA together. And there were just enough breadcrumbs to leave me hungry for more where the secondary characters were concerned. Even though this was my first read from this author, it will not be the last.

Tabitha and Chris are one of those couples you just can't help but root for. Both of them are stronger than they believe, and they both have some hoops to jump through on their journey to discovering themselves. They both have secrets and things they'd rather forget, and while they seem like complete opposites, they have some fundamental things in common. Dogwood County has several terrific characters, and we get some page time with favorites from the first two books in the series. Another thing Dogwood County has lots of is quirky animals. If you're an animal lover, you're gonna love these little guys and gals - and their owners. To sum it up, this third Dogwood County book is sweet, emotional, witty, engaging, and entertaining. It's a nice way to spend a weekend - curled up on the porch swing with a nice cup of coffee or glass of wine (depending on the time of day).

Mini Review: I really enjoyed reading this book! The romance was excellent. I thought all the characters, both the leads and supporting ones were great. Overall, I really liked this book, and would definitely recommend it!

I received an e-ARC from the publisher.

Thank you to the publisher for giving me a chance to read a digital copy of this book. I read Rescue You after it first came out, and I loved it, so I was definitely looking forward to reading Becoming Family. I still need to go back and read Delaney and Sean's story. In this one we have Tabitha and Hobbs. Tabby and Hobbs are both veterans, and I enjoy the military aspect in this author's books. I also enjoy the rescue dog aspect in her books. This one is a super slow burn as far as the romance between the two characters. Whew I wasn't sure if we'd ever get there with the two of them. I wish them realizing their feelings for each other would have happened earlier in the book so we could see more of the two of them together throughout the story. Chris's back story with an abusive father is really sad, and I love that Tabitha didn't shy away from him when he finally told her what had happened to him as a child. Tabitha deals with PTSD and her service dog Trinity is a great addition to the story. I liked that Rhett's gym Semper Fit was included in this story and we got to catch up with those 2 characters from the first book. Overall I ended up giving this one 3/5 stars.

Rescue You and Forever Home are the first two books in this delightful Dogwood County series by Elysia Whisler. This third installment, Becoming Family, brings another touching story. Tabitha Steele is not quite sure where she fits in the world. With not much of a social life, working in a motorcycle shop despite knowing absolutely nothing about them, and struggling in massage school proves that her life definitely needs a lift. Thankfully she has a faithful service dog, Trinity, and this allows her to be able to manage each day. How can she become more is the question that she asks herself over and over again.

Then we have Chris Hobbs. He is a man that lives life to the full, never looking for anything more than a bit of fun. He is a successful gym coach, and he soon realizes that he can help Tabitha, wanting nothing more than friendship, yet he finds himself fighting his attraction to her as well as a growing emotional connection. Meanwhile, Chris has some family drama that he is dealing with, and that includes facing some issues with his estranged brother and also his emotionally wrecked younger sister.

This enjoyable story is about healing, growth, and love conquering all. Tabitha’s emotional pain was palpable, as was the case with Chris, especially when his past came into play. His relationship with his sister was just as important as his growing relationship with Tabitha. In fact, this is a good place to talk about trigger warnings in this book - assault, abuse and alcoholism. This is where the growth in this story abounds.

This lovely story fits right in with this delightful series, and I love how dogs are featured in each story. It is wonderful to see how important dogs are to these characters and I really loved how Chris reluctantly became a pet owner himself.

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

Please enjoy my YouTube video review - https://youtu.be/3MX_-bsUc6I

Becoming Family is the third book in the Dogwood County series. I have loved all of the books in this series so far and this is by far my favorite of the three. This series is full of wonderful characters. I always feel like I am visiting old friends every time read a new one. This one is Tabitha and Chris's story.

I had been looking forward to Tabitha's story and I was not disappointed. I loved this book so much. I just really enjoyed watching Chris and Tabitha fall in love. They were perfect for each other in the way they called each other out on their BS forcing them to really be genuine with each other. I also loved the secondary story with Clementine and Lily. I really hope that Clementine gets her own story. Of course it wouldn't be a Dogwood County series without animals. George and Gracie were adorable. I highly recommend this one as well as the first two. I can't wait to read the next book.

In this third book in the Dogwood County series from Elysia Whisler, Semper Fit fitness aficionado Chris Hobbs must face his past while also dealing with his growing attraction for his friend Tabitha Steele.

Tabitha relies on her service dog Trinity to make it through the day, but she's also determined to get stronger. When her thirtieth birthday coincides with a party at Semper Fit, it's a kiss between her and Hobbs that lights up something in both of them.

But neither Hobbs or Tabitha are exactly in the right place for a romance. Hobbs is a love-em-and-leave-em kind of guy and doesn't want to hurt Tabitha, so he ignores his feelings. He is a bit busy dealing with a family situation that brings back all sorts of bad memories.

And Tabitha has her list of accomplishments she is checking off, and she is still thinking about that kiss shared with Hobbs. But mostly she's worried about her massage therapy career until she finds her groove, which is absolutely the most lovely part of this story (aside of the dogs, that is!!)

Speaking of dogs and cats, I just love how the animals are incorporated into this story. They are workers and friends and family and it complements the romance so very well. These animals are as in love with their humans as much as the hero and heroine are and that is what I love most about this series.

Overall, this is a low-key small town romance. There is some conflict and much of the action comes in the last ten percent of the book which made for a slower paced story, but I just loved all the human and animal characters in Becoming Family.

I enjoyed the first two books in the Dogwood County series and was looking forward to reading Becoming Family. I am happy to say, this story was as good as the previous ones. It is not necessary to read the previous books to enjoy this one, but we so meet Chris Hobbs and Tabitha Steele in previous books and there are those in this book who's stories were told already. I recommend you read them all as they are so good.

In Becoming Family we learn more about Chris and his past. He has always been the happy go lucky guy out for a good time, but it hiding the hurt that lingers inside. Tabitha is struggling to find her place and in this book, she is studying to become a massage therapist. She is so insecure that every little incident sets her back. When Chris' brother, Victor shows up in town, he is worried. Victor wants him to come home to see his dad, who is dying. Through the trip, we learn more about their past and meet his sister, Hannah. She comes back with Chris to stay with him while a situation is dealt with. I really liked how Tabitha's and Chris' relationship develops. It is slow and they both fight it along the way. Once again, animals play an important part in this story. Not only do we have the service dogs, Trinity is Tabitha's, but we meet George (a cat) and Gracie. They are a hoot, but also help save the day when the time comes. The secondary characters all play a role in the story, with their own stories that all come together in the end. There is also a mystery with some suspense that comes to a head and showcases the animal characters. This is a book that highlights learning to trust others, believing in yourself, healing, friendship, and romance. There are also issues of PTSD, alcoholism, child abuse, and spousal abuse. Overall this is an uplifting book that shows the importance of family, furry friends, finding your place in the world and trust.

BECOMING FAMILY (Dogwood County Book #3) by Elysia Whisler is another wonderful addition to this contemporary romance series featuring a community of veterans from all branches of service, their families, friends, and service animals. These books can be read as standalone romances, but the entire community of characters and their relationships continue to evolve in each consecutive story, so I feel they are best read in order.

Tabitha Steele has decided on her thirtieth birthday to take charge of her life and do what she really wants instead of just getting by. She feels she is better at handling her PTSD with her service dog, Trinity and now it is time to accomplish some goals to move her career and personal life forward.

Chris Hobbs is the flirty and playful coach at Semper Fit. He always keeps things light and his relationships short, but something about the timid Tabitha pulls at him and he wants to help her discover her strengths. With the sudden death of his abusive father, Chris must face his own past and decide if he is willing to allow Tabitha to see the vulnerable person behind the mask.

I love this series so much. I have been waiting for Chris to meet his match and I just knew there was more than met the eye with this hero. Tabitha at first seemed too timid to take on Chris, but Ms. Whisler expertly turned the tables with Tabitha being stronger than she believed and Chris covering up more than his “good ole boy” persona let on. I also enjoy how all the characters from previous stories, and I am sure more stories to come are a family by choice and play helpful roles in the current featured couple’s journey to their HEA. I love all the pets and service animals intertwine throughout these stories and especially the pitties, my favorite dogs. This book has everything I love about a great contemporary romance and that it is a series is like having a cherry on the top.

I highly recommend this romance, this series, and this author!

Starting and building relationships is what you get reading Becoming Family.
Main characters are Tabitha and Chris. Tabitha is suffering from PTSD and has a service dog to help her cope. Chris is a trainer at a gym which is where Tabitha gets to know him.
Can Tabitha find what she needs to heal?
Can she find happiness and love?
Definitely a heartwarming romance.
Trigger Warning:the story does contain abuse, assault and alcoholism aspects.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Tabitha Steele is at a cross roads as she faces her thirtieth birthday. She has a job at a motorcycle shop, thanks to a friend, she is trying to love her classes to become a massage therapist. Her best friend is Trinity her therapy dog and she is currently living with her elderly aunt. She needs a change but she has no idea how to go about it, but when Tabitha starts getting closer to gym coach Chris Hobbs, this may just be the change she needs. Can Chris tame his playboy ways to be the man that Tabitha needs?

This is such a beautiful story of two people who realize they are stronger together than apart. Eysia Whisler has a way of taking her readers on their own journeys as they see her characters evolving throughout the story. I love how each character is raw and real letting their wounds show and then slowly heal. I also appreciate how Eysia includes a rescue dog into each book as it is a passion of mine. My thanks to Harlequin Publishing who so graciously gifted me an advanced copy of the book in exchange for my honest opinion. This is a beautiful series and one you do not want to miss.

Tabitha is struggling with her PTSD and with the direction of her life. She is determined that within this year she will discover what she is good at and where she wants to go with her career. But, life tends to get in the way. Enter Chris…Chris has his own family issues and reservations. But, life continues to throw these two together.

The first book I read by this author was Rescue You . I really enjoyed that one, so when this one as offered, I took it. This is on the same vein as Rescue You and I loved it.

This story is full of wonderful animals and the characters have a connection which can’t help but draw you into the story. I love Tabitha. She is broken and knows she has issues. But she keeps up the fight! And then there is Chris! He is like most men…and he is not! He is funny and witty and NOT looking to settle down. But there is just something about Tabitha!

Need an all around good romance with great rescue dogs…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!

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

the setup…
Tabitha Steele is at loose ends since she left military service. She’s living with the woman who raised her but is struggling to find something she’s good at doing. She’s clueless about motorcycles and is failing as a sales clerk for a bike shop; she’s floundering in her training to be a massage therapist; and, while her service dog Trinity is helping her control her anxiety she’s still lacking confidence. Enter Chris Hobbs, the coach at her gym who is her exact opposite, exudes confidence, cheer and success and also has his eyes on Tabitha. The world sees the face he chooses to present, that sunny disposition and “player” personality, but it’s a facade to hide his deeply rooted feelings resulting from a painful childhood and fractured family. Tabitha somehow can see right through him and shares the same attraction but finds it tough penetrating that veneer.

the heart of the story…
I had no idea that rescue and service dogs figured so prominently in this story! They always put me in my happy place so that’s where I was the entire time. There’s Trinity, a miniature pit bull; George (a hairless cat) & Gracie, a golden lab mix puppy; Humphrey, a disabled beagle; Wyatt, the biker dog who wears Doggles and more. It says a lot about the owners of these precious animals so I was invested in their circumstances. Tabitha served in Afghanistan, returning with PTSD issues but not for what everyone believed so she’s holding back, too. Her and Chris’ path to finding comfort and solace with each other was a bit tricky and problematic but I loved how they found ways to elevate each other.

the narration…
Larsen is new to me and I enjoyed her performance. She has a lovely voice tone and good storytelling skills. While there wasn’t a lot in voice distinctions, but just enough for me to never be lost.

the bottom line…
It’s a rare thing for me to read out of order but I was drawn to this story and broke with pattern. I’m glad I did as it delivered beyond expectations and I had no issues keeping up. Now I’m interested in going back to listen to the first two stories as the secondary characters featured earlier were engaging. It’s a heartwarming story though not without the conflicts that are substantive and realistic. This turned out to be something special.

What a lot of emotive issues are included in this contemporary romance!
Involving people and dogs being given a second chance.
It is a moving read with great characters who
Work together to support each other in all that they do.

Tabitha is ex-military, suffering from PTSD,
And has a variety of jobs as readers will soon see.
She also has a service dog to help her cope with her stress
But still seems to believe her own life is a mess.

Chris Hobbs is a trainer at the Semper Fit gym
He's attractive, popular and always wears a big grin.
He's the antithesis of Tabitha but the attraction is there
Will they give each other a chance to show that they care?

There are mistreated animals who need lots of care,
And families with problems both here and elsewhere.
Abusive relationships and folks needing support too
All have roles to play in this story I recommend to you.

For my complementary copy, I say thank you,
As I share with you this, my honest review.

A lovely story of two wounded people finding one another and healing. Tabitha is struggling with PTSD from her military service as well as a lack of purpose. Hobbs likes to push down the darkness in his background by being the good time guy They bond over animals (love the animals) , face their demons, and at long last, (not a spoiler) will find love with one another. That path isn't easy but it's a good one. Yes this is a bit trope-y but it's got a big heart and I found myself rooting for the two of them. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A very good read.

The story of Tabitha Steele and Chris Hobbs touched my heart in all of the right places. Tabitha was abandoned by her mother and raised by her foster mom, whom she calls Auntie El. She has never felt wanted or completely accepted or loved and her brief stint in the military where she was sexually harassed did not help matters. Now suffering from PTSD, she has a support dog named Trinity. She is working hard at becoming a survivor. She joins a gym called Semper Fit and meets Hobbs, one of the trainers. The story of their starting and building a relationship is well written, incorporating both of their pasts and the trauma that they both went through. I enjoyed the fast pace and getting to know the characters, all of whom became like friends to me by the end of the book. What I did not enjoy about the book was the description of all of the exercises at the gym which were too detailed and boring for me because I’m not a gym enthusiast. In fact, for some of them, I had no idea what the exercise entailed, but I wasn’t interested enough to look it up online. This is a good romance, with triggers including assault, abuse and alcoholism.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

When I think of romance, I think of books just like this one, that gives all the feels and satisfies every romance junkies' heart. This is a perfect books to snuggle up with on any day.

Becoming Family by Elysia Whisler is the 3rd book in her Dogwood County series. We meet Tabitha Steele, our heroine, as she has reached her 30th birthday. Tabitha lives with her Aunt El, and feels she is failing since she left the military, suffering from PDST. She works at the motorcycle shop, learning to be a massage therapist, takes care of her aunt, and tries to enjoy her friendships with her gym/shop/shelter friends (all friends from the earlier two books). The most important relationship is with her dog, Trinity, her service dog, who watches over her.

Tabitha’s friends are always there for her, offering her suggestions and help, and I loved all of them, who were a sensational group, most of whom we met previously. I loved 16-year-old Lily, who finds homes for dogs at the shelter. We get to meet some wonderful dogs, as well as those we met previously; Trinity was a hero in every sense of the word; and I adored George (hairless cat) and the dog, Gracie, who were inseparable.

Tabitha finds herself strongly attracted to Chris Hobbs, who is a gym coach, and always fun and friendly with everyone, as well as pushing her to the max during training. Hobbs knows he is attracted to Tabitha, but he keeps his bad childhood a secret, until his brother comes to visit him; making Chris face his past, visit his family and open himself up to Tabitha about his own family drama. Chris will be pulled into seeing and protecting his younger sister, bringing her home to Dogwood. Becoming Family was an emotional story line, with a couple we rooted for, and a fascinating group of friends and dogs (besides George the cat). I loved seeing the wonderful characters from the previous books, Delaney, Sean, Sunny, Constance, Rhett, Pete to name a few, as well as meeting the new like Hannah, Victor, Lily, etc; the animals are always a joy.

What follows is a sweet, romantic and emotional story line, with wonderful couples, family, friendships and rescue dogs. Becoming Family is a story that pulls on so many emotions, as well as finding love and happiness. As we reach closer to the end, it does become a bit suspenseful with lives and dogs in danger. If you enjoy stories with great couples and dogs, you need to read this book. Becoming Family was very well written by Elysia Whisler.

Lots of walls breaking down. Good read.
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People are complicated and I can only imagine how hard it is to get down deep into the psyche of your characters to really develop and understand their supposed pains and hurts.

Whisler does just that in this series with a collection of characters that have felt helpless, torment, and other deep feelings that no one wants to know about. However, in this story, there are people that want to know and help others.

Tabitha and Chris are complex people with deep-seated, raw feelings and emotions that we can only imagine through the author’s words. Whisler paints a picture of growing trust, believing in yourself, healing, friendship, and a romance that warms the heart.

Becoming Family is a wonderful tale that envelops the quiet support of many characters and a delightful ending that leaves you smiling.

My first book by this author. I enjoyed the sweet, warm feeling of this book. Enjoyed the plot and the characters. Five stars!