Today it is my pleasure to Welcome author Debbie Burns to HJ!
Hi Debbie and welcome to HJ! We’re so excited to chat with you about your new release, Head Over Paws!
Please summarize the book for the readers here:
Wanting to escape a mess of judgement in her rural hometown after breaking off an engagement with a longtime boyfriend, Olivia Graham accepts a dream teaching job in St. Louis. Unfortunately, it’s only a temporary position. While she’s figuring out where she’s going to be living and working next, she’s not in the position to have a dog of her own. To feed her love of animals, Olivia signs up to be a volunteer animal rescue transporter. On her first assignment to transport dogs and cats that have been misplaced by flooding, Olivia’s car breaks down. She’s picked up by Gabe Wentworth, a veterinarian and former EMT/firefighter, who’s also heading to the rescue site.
They have an instant connection that’s heightened when they work together in a daring attempt to prevent a penned dog from drowning in floodwater. When they part ways after an incredible kiss that rocks his world, Gabe’s first thought is to run the other direction. After a bad breakup, Gabe has embraced the hermit life. It’s just him and his loyal dog, Samson. Yet, the more Gabe learns about the woman who would risk everything to save vulnerable animals, the more he realizes what he might be willing to risk… As he and Olivia meet up again, it’s clear Samson is just as taken with her as he is, and Samson has never led him astray…but is Gabe ready to risk his heart again?
Please share your Favorite quote from the book:
“I’m telling you this” Gabe said, laughing, “because Samson’s a bit like having a toddler in the bed, and I don’t think he has any concept he could be shoved out for, ah, something other than sleeping to take place. Which I guess most likely means this mission—should you choose to accept it—is probably going to involve a very spoiled senior-aged golden retriever whining at the door.”
Please share a few Fun facts about this book…
- Olivia is living with her aunt in Elsah, Illinois at the beginning of the story. While the characters and Elsah house are fictional, Elsah is a real town and one of my favorite day-trip destinations from St. Louis. It was founded in 1853 and is on the National Register of Historic Places. If you’re ever in the Midwest, the quaint little town, nestled in the bluffs along the Missouri River, is worth a visit.
- When you think about the many people who volunteer to help homeless animals, the ones working in animal shelters may come to mind. However, without the help of volunteer animal rescue transporters (like Olivia in Head Over Paws), animals who are displaced by fire, flooding, and other natural catastrophes wouldn’t be able to make it across multiple state lines to reach shelters and foster programs where they can be cared for until they can be adopted into loving homes.
- 3) They say we all have our skills. One of mine is that I’m a fairly decent birder, and I’m pretty good at identifying birds in flight. I’m not, however, much of a car person and have little skills in terms of telling cars apart (even my own sometimes when I’m leaving a store!). Whenever it’s time to replace “car,” “SUV,” and “truck,” in my manuscripts, I ask the advice of my car-loving teenage son. He’s great at coming up with years, makes, and models that fit my characters’ personality, budgets, and lifestyles. Thank you, Ryan, for making this part easier with your car IQ!
What do you want people to take away from reading this book?
I’m a sucker for romances that involve learning to trust again…and even more so when it comes to animals, and Head Over Paws is chock full of these opportunities for both the animal stars and for Gabe and Olivia. The two dog stars in this story have both experienced hardships, just like with so many real-life shelter dogs. I’ve had many readers share that after reading about shelter animals in the Rescue Me series, they’ve decided to adopt their next pet, and this is the best compliment I can receive.
And correlating with the learning-to-trust-again theme of this book is the message that it’s perfectly okay to redefine your life to create the life that is right for you—regardless of any judgement you may worry about receiving. Both Gabe and Olivia must face this as they step into the lives they want to lead.
Thanks for blogging at HJ!
Giveaway: A paperback copy of Head Over Paws by Debbie Burns
To enter Giveaway: Please complete the Rafflecopter form and Post a comment to this Q: I’m a sucker for cute, fuzzy puppies, but it’s older dogs like Samson, Gabe’s loyal golden retriever, who really melt my heart. I’ve met several senior dogs that I have great reverence for. In fact, I’m certain if they could talk, they’d have so much wisdom to share. What is it that you think old dogs would be most eager to share with their humans if they could?
Book Info:
Who rescued who? Love can lead to your forever home in this charming contemporary romance from best-selling author Debbie Burns.
Olivia Graham isn’t in a place to have a dog of her own, but her new position as a volunteer rescue driver for the local animal shelter will keep her close to her four-legged friends. When she’s called to transport pets that have been misplaced by flooding, she doesn’t hesitate to help, but then her aging car breaks down…
Veterinarian Gabe Wentworth, former EMT and firefighter, is also heading to the rescue site and reluctantly agrees to pick up Olivia on the way. After a bad breakup, Gabe’s embraced the hermit life. When he meets Olivia, he can’t deny their irresistible mutual attraction, and his first thought is to run the other direction. But then the two band together in a risky maneuver to save a beautiful abandoned dog from rising floodwaters. The more Gabe learns about the woman who would risk everything to save vulnerable animals, the more he realizes what he might be willing to risk…
Book Links: Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Kobo | Google |
Meet the Author:
Debbie Burns is an award-winning author and 2019 HOLT Medallion Award of Merit recipient. Her highly praised Rescue Me romance series features happily ever afters of the two and four-legged kind. She lives in Saint Louis in a gingerbread house that’s almost cute enough to eat. In her free time, you can find her enjoying time with her two teens, two phenomenal rescue dogs, and a somewhat tetchy Maine Coon cat who everyone loves anyway.
Author Website: authordebbieburns.com
Mary Preston
Patience for sure, and the joy of napping.
erahime
How they love their family.
Shannon Capelle
How much they have been loved since getting them!!
Debra Guyette
I think they would love to tell him or her if this one is the one.
Pamela Conway
Their love & loyalty for their human owner. Senior dogs need love too!!
Janine
I think older dogs would want to let their people know how grateful they are to have a good home, love and full tummies.
dbranigan
I think old dogs would tell you to just enjoy every moment. No worries, just love what’s in front of you.
hartfiction
They would just share their love.
Diana Hardt
Loyalty and love with their humans.
Lori R
Their love for their family.
Martha Lawson
I love Debbie Burns books!! I don’t know what an old dog would tell you except that all they want is your love! Thanks for the chance to win this one.
Nancy Jones
Love
jovialvampyre
I think they just want us to know how much they love us and love being part of our pack.
Glenda M
Love. They may be slower and sleep more but they still love with all their hearts
SusieQ
That they adore you and…squirrel!
Ginger Connatser
I think you would share the wisdom to slow down and smell the roses.
Texas Book Lover (@TexasBookLover)
We just lost our 15 year old doggo and at the end I think at the end all he would of asked for was belly rubs and treats!
Mary C
Take the time to enjoy each day.
Caro
All they’ve seen! Man, imagine all the people they’ve met and things they’ve seen. <3
Pammie R.
That wisdom you spoke of. One day many years ago, my family was relaxing when we heard a bark at our door. outside was a poodle who was about 11. Long story short, she taught my other 5 dogs what they needed to know to be good dogs. She only lived with us for 23 months. We called her Dolly and she was a very smart, very wise dog. And SHE CHOSE US. That’s how smart she was. She found a home that would take care of her for her remaining months.
diannekc
I think an older dog would share their memories of the fun times they had with their humans and how much they love them.
Charlotte Litton
Their love and family.
Merry
I think they would share love, patience and loyalty
Teresa Warner
They would probably say how much they loved and appreciated you!
Nancy Payette
How much they appreciate the companionship of an old, loyal friend.
BookLady
I think older dogs can teach us how to enjoy each day and share the love unconditionally.
erinf1
LOL… I’m pretty sure that my 11 year old beagle mix would tell me off for a few things, such as giving him a bath a few days ago 🙂 I would love it if he could talk! Thanks for sharing!
lindamoffitt02
What they really like and don’t like
Jana Leah
Just to relax & take it easy. No need to always be running from one activity to another.
dholcomb1
loyalty and love
Anna Nguyen
i would like to know where they have been and what they do when home alone
[email protected]
How they love their owners.
Patricia B.
We have had about a dozen dogs over the years, all rescues. Since we know so little about their experiences prior to our getting them, it would be nice if they could talk. They could tell us what kind of owner they had. Whether they miss them, were they abused, how many litter mates did they have? Are they happy with us or is it too lonely/too hectic. We adopted a beautiful beagle once and she was our only fail. She sat by the door staring out all day. She had such sad eyes and just wasn’t interested in anything, even the other dogs. We finally contacted the shelter and had a long talk. It seems she had belonged to an older person who had passed away. It had been just the two of them for many years. She was readopted by a family with two young girls and no other pets. It turned out perfectly for her. Aside from adopting a variety of animals, we have fostered litters of puppies, all but one with their moms. The shelters can’t keep young puppies waiting for them to grow old enough to adopt out. We had two other failures, of a different kind, with them. We kept a lab mix from the first litter and a terrier mix from our last litter. They are both gone now having both lived to 17. At this point in our lives, I don’t think we could handle puppy again. We have a senior dog now and will likely get an older one if we adopt again.
Thank you for promoting fostering and adoption. Stay safe and healthy.
bn100
their fun
Irma Jurejevčič (@IrmaJurejevcic)
I would love to see what come of visdom do the dogs gain, lol.
Amy R
What is it that you think old dogs would be most eager to share with their humans if they could? their likes and dislikes
joab4424
They would say they love you but think before you speak.
Ellen C.
Share their love and tell you when they weren’t feeling well.
Katrina Dehart
How much they appreciate the love and friendship you have given them
Terrill R.
I think our older English Springer Spaniel would tell us how much he wants our family together at all times. She is never more excited than when we’re all at home together. Since our bedrooms are on separate floors she spend the night moving from the hallway between our children’s rooms and our bedroom to sleep.