Spotlight & Giveaway: Love at First Bark by Debbie Burns

Posted July 22nd, 2019 by in Blog, Spotlight / 41 comments

Today it is my pleasure to Welcome author Debbie Burns to HJ!
Spotlight&Giveaway

Hi Debbie and welcome to HJ! We’re so excited to chat with you about your new release, Love at First Bark!

 

Please summarize the book for the readers here:

This 4th book in the Rescue Me series features Mia Chambers, a High Grove Animal Shelter volunteer and pet portrait painter. Mia’s husband passed away while they were in the process of divorcing, leaving Mia to raise their 7-year-old son Ollie and her life in a tangled mess.
Ben Thomas, Ollie’s god parent, has been secretly in love with Mia since before she married his best friend, a secret he’s kept to himself the last seven years. In the wake of his best friend’s passing, Ben does everything he can to help Mia and Ollie as he waits for the right time to tell Mia about his true feelings.
When someone dumps a dozen border collies in a park, Ben and Mia band together to help in the rescue and the attraction they’ve kept at bay is ignited. As they navigate their uncertain new relationship, they welcome some very charismatic dogs into their lives.
 

Please share the opening lines of this book:

While they weren’t ideal, the towering bluffs lining the Missouri River an hour outside St. Louis were the best climb Ben Thomas could get today. For the last three weeks, he’d been craving the escape of the mountains like never before. His successful ascent of Everest this year had taken its toll, so much so that Ben was surprised to feel the mountains’ call again so soon.

 

Please share a few Fun facts about this book…

  • In Love at First Bark, two of the border collies rescued from the park are red merles. This beautiful coat color is sometimes carried with a gene for deafness, and in this story, a red merle mom and pup are found to be deaf after being rescued. Popular training hand signals, some of which are American Sign Language signs, are used by the characters to help train the dogs.
  • While ideas for my characters can be completely fiction, I based the appearance of Ben Thomas on a younger Karl Urban (based on his 2004 character “Kirill” in the Bourne Supremacy)….who I found oh so sexy for a bad guy.
  • Ugly Sweater/Cute Mutt contests, Puppy Bowls, and Holiday Soirees. Shelter volunteering can be as fun and festive as it sounds in Love at First Bark. Check your local shelter to see what exciting event is planned next that you can support!

 

What do you want people to take away from reading this book?

My ideal take-away for every story in this series is pretty much the same: to serve as a reminder that both life and love are beautiful—to be treasured and embraced. And when it comes to love, whether its the romantic sort with a partner, with a family member or friend, or for a special four-legged animal in need of some TLC, so long as love comes from the heart, good things come of it.

 

What are you currently working on? What other releases do you have planned?

Right now, I’m working on developmental edits of the fifth book in the series, Head Over Paws, which will be available April 28, 2020. After that, I’ll be taking a short break from the Rescue Me series for a single-title women’s fiction manuscript that I’m excited to begin. No fear, there will be dogs! After that, I’ll return for another few books in this series (which is planned to be an eight books series).
 
 

Thanks for blogging at HJ!

 

Giveaway: Paperback copy of Love at First Bark (Rescue Me) by Debbie Burns

 

To enter Giveaway: Please complete the Rafflecopter form and Post a comment to this Q: While a love of pets isn’t required to enjoy the Rescue Me love stories, most readers seem to love pets as much as romance. What are some favorite pet-centered stories that you’ve read? I have many that hold a special place in my heart, but a few are The Incredible Journey, Black Beauty, Charlotte’s Web, and the Art of Racing in the Rain.

 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

 
 

Book Info:

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…?

Book Links: Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Kobo |

Meet the Author:

Debbie Burns lives in St. Louis with her family, two phenomenal rescue dogs, and a somewhat tetchy Maine coon cat who everyone loves anyway. Her hobbies include hiking, gardening, and daydreaming, which, of course, always leads to new story ideas. Debbie’s writing commendations include a Starred Review from Publishers Weekly and a Top Pick from RT Book Reviews for A New Leash on Love, as well as first-place awards for short stories, flash fiction, and longer selections. You can find her on Instagram and Twitter (@_debbieburns), on Facebook (facebook.com/authordebbieburns), and at authordebbieburns.com.

 

 

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41 Responses to “Spotlight & Giveaway: Love at First Bark by Debbie Burns”

  1. Linda Herold

    I like reading stories where a cat is the main character’s side kick.

  2. Mary Preston

    I re-read BLACK BEAUTY not long ago. Even as an adult it had me in tears.

  5. Sue C

    I have read your books and loved them, love the K-9 series, The black cat books and many more

  7. Jo-Anne B.

    My favourite pet books are The FIrefighter Daddy by Margaret Daley and all the K-9 Rescue books by D.D. Ayres but I especially like Primal Force.

  10. Kathleen Bylsma

    All time favorite: non-fiction “Oogie”….a must read for animal lovers….fiction: Jill Shalvis, Susan Mallery, DD Ayers and Lori Foster’s books featuring animals.

  11. Danielle Hammelef

    I enjoyed Black Beauty, Charlotte’s Web, Wish, and How to Steal a Dog.

  12. Nicole (Nicky) Ortiz

    I love pets but I don’t remember reading any books that were pet centered yet!
    Thanks for the chance!

  13. Banana cake

    Jill Shalvis’s animal attraction series, Kristin Higgins books and countless others.

  14. jovialvampyre

    All of James Harriot’s books and my girlfriend who is from England lent me Buster and Buster’s Diaries – Funny!

  17. Amy R

    Anyone But You by Jennifer Crusie, Wallbanger by Alice Clayton but have memorable animals that are characters in the book

  20. Glenda M

    There are a ton of great ones out there. I have read and reread the James Herriot books many times over the years.

  21. erinf1

    I recommend any of Jenny Cruise’s books. She always has a dog or a cat as a secondary character. Thanks for sharing!

  22. Ellen C.

    Charlotte’s Web from childhood, more currently, the Dogfather series by Roxanne St. Claire.

  25. Irma Jurejevčič (@IrmaJurejevcic)

    Pets are always adding up to the story, no matter what animal: a got, a cat, bunny, a dog,.. Maiden Lane Series by Elizabeh Hoyt is speacial to me because of the dogs. There’s always one in the story and I’m loving that.

  26. Nancy Payette

    I can’t think of the name now but it was about how dogs help vets cope.

  29. Vicki Clevinger

    The Incredible Journey, both versions and the live action version of 101 Dalmatians

  35. aomullan

    I really like Roxanne St. Claire’s Dogfather series! Proceeds for the first months sales go to an animal rescue in Florida! It’s a win win series!

  37. BookLady

    Marley and Me, The Art of Racing in the Rain, Shelter Dogs: Amazing Stories of Adopted Strays

  38. Patricia B

    Charlotte’s Web has always been a favorite. As an adult, the Dogfather series by St. Claire has been enjoyable.