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The Cornish Village #1

The Wagging Tails Dogs' Home

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Life could not be busier for Ginny and the team at Wagging Tails.

The annual dog show is looming, a crucial event when it comes to fundraising and ensuring the volunteers can continue the brilliant work they do.

But their trusted newspaper reporter, who always includes them in his weekly column, is retiring, only to be replaced with a city-slicker named Darryl. And Darryl, as Ginny soon learns, has no interest in articles he deems 'below him'.

Not one to take no as an answer, Ginny becomes determined to get him to meet the dogs themselves. One look at their cute faces and they'll worm their way into his heart.

But what Ginny doesn't anticipate is that Darryl might be more open-hearted than he seems. And inviting him to the dogs' home might be the best decision she ever made – even if she doesn't realise it at first!

290 pages, ebook

First published May 31, 2023

261 people are currently reading
280 people want to read

About the author

Sarah Hope

53 books154 followers

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
Profile Image for Phrynne.
4,032 reviews2,727 followers
April 27, 2023
This was an enjoyable story about helping stray dogs find their forever homes, and about a delightful couple of people who meet and fall in love. It is a sweet, easy story especially if you enjoy reading about a cute dog or two, or even twenty two.

This promises to be a good series and I will be watching out for book two.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Profile Image for Heather Adores Books.
1,596 reviews1,860 followers
May 3, 2024
4⭐
Genre ~ animal fiction
Series ~ Wagging Tails Dogs' Home, #1
Setting ~ UK
Publication date ~ May 31, 2023
Est page Count ~ 288 (34 chapters +e)
Audio length ~ 7 hours 2 minutes
Narrator ~ Laura Kirman
POV ~ single 3rd
Featuring ~ dogs, no steamage

Ginny & Darryl don't get off on the right foot when Darryl does not give Wagging Tails enough page time when he writes the article that they rely on for fundraising every year in the town newspaper. He seems to lack interest in the dogs at all, or so she thinks.

This is heavy on the dog rescue side of the story, which I didn't mind at all because if there's a book about a dog rescue then count me in! It's slow burn on the romance side and as always I didn't care for the 3rd act breakup. Can people just talk and listen please? Overall, a sweet story and a good introduction to the series.

Narration notes:
Laura did a great job once I got used to her accent.

Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter
1,718 reviews110 followers
March 14, 2024
This was a lovely, easy read with plenty of great characters and lots of doggies. This place sounds perfect, the countryside and the residents all seem to want to muck in. What's not to like? My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.
Profile Image for Jan.
6,531 reviews102 followers
April 22, 2023
It's a rocky road to romance for Ginny and Darryl. Ginny is devoted to the dogs and people at the Wagging Tails Dog Home, and Darryl is the replacement reported who initially sabotages their fundraising efforts. To top it all off, Darryl's new boss is Ginny's egocentric former fiance who had left her practically at the altar. It's a great feelgood story and written so well that the characters really come alive. Can't be a true unbiased review because I love rescue dogs and the people who love them.
I requested and received a free e-book copy from Boldwood Books via NetGalley. Thank you!
Profile Image for Bookworm86 .
1,973 reviews137 followers
October 27, 2023
BLOG TOUR REVIEW 


Review for 'The Wagging Tails Dog Home' by Sarah Hope.


Read and reviewed for Sarah Hope, NetGalley, Boldwood, Book & Tonic and Rachel's Random Resources Tours. 


Publication date 31st May 2023.


This is the first book I have read by this author. It is also the first book in The Wagging Tails Dogs' Home Series. 


This book is set in Cornwall, England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿, UK 🇬🇧. The bonus for me of books that are partly or fully based in the UK is that I live in the UK and have sometimes visited places mentioned in the book which makes it easier to picture. I absolutely love that this book is set in Cornwall which I absolutely love visiting and holidaying there, which I must admit was another thing that drew me to it and I cannot wait to see if I recognize any places mentioned.


I was originally drawn to this book by its eye catching cover and its intriguing synopsis and title. I am also a huge animal lover so any animal based books is a bonus for me!!  I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Boldwood. I have yet to read a book published by Boldwood that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).


This novel consists of 34 chapters and an epilogue. The chapters are short to medium in length so easy to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!


This book is written in third person perspective and the main protagonist is Ginny Stevenson. The benefits of third person perspective are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything. 


This book has fantastic descriptions that set you straight in the scenes. The cover, title and synopsis suit the storyline perfectly. 


Where the heck have you been hiding all my life Sarah!!! Love, LOVE, LOVED this absolutely gorgeous page turner!! An absolute must read!!!



OMG!!! I absolutely LOVED this gorgeous pageturner and I cannot WAIT for the next book in this series to come out!! It is just guaranteed to be stunning!! As I previously mentioned, any books that revolve around animals is a HUGE bonus for me!!! I am a MASSIVE animal lover and after all my pets being rescues to then volunteering in rescues, working in rescues and now running my own little cat rescue (Golden Oldies Cat Rescue And Hospice which you can look up on Facebook if you are interested) I know exactly how Ginny feels and have the same passion running through me for the animals so I was 100000% invested in this beautiful storyline all about Wagging Tails Dog Home. Sarah even goes one step further than just writing a stunning fictional story about a dog rescue and that is the fact that she has not only based her beautiful story on a genuine no kill shelter called Wellidogs based in Grendon Northamptonshire and even helps to promote it in her notes so I want to say a MASSIVE THANK YOU AND WELL DONE Sarah for promoting what seems to be an amazing rescue but to also for your kind notes in your acknowledgements thanking volunteers and workers at dog rescues, such an amazing thing to do!!! I absolutely adore the fact that you based many of the rescue dogs in the books on the dogs at Wellidogs such as basing Ralph on Wellidogs resident dogs. Just amazing and I absolutely love it and I really cannot compliments this book enough!!! Even if you are a reader who has no experience with rescue at all Sarah's stunning and evocative writing skills will drop you straight into the middle of Wagging Tails Dogs Home as well as Trestow, Cornwall where she ensures you can hear the dogs' happy barks, feel the sand on your feet and smell Elsie's yummy pastries baking. This book is very well written with vivid descriptions setting the picture perfectly in the readers mind. The title, description and cover works perfectly with the storyline. It is one of those books that are very easy to read and perfect for any reading situations whether you are laying on a beach or curled up in front of a fire. It is an absolutely ideal read for anyone who is looking for a fantastic read that will have you hooked from beginning to end. I absolutely LOVED the realism of this storyline which made it so easy to picture everything that was going on which had been helped by Sally's fantastic evocative writing skills. I cannot wait to get hooked into more of Sally's books so I hope she is busy writing her next one!! This is definitely one of those books that will turn a frown upside down and make life seem a lot brighter. It is packed with fun, dogs, romance, heartbreak, friendship, laughter and everything you could ask for in a fantastic feel good book. I have more or less covered the storyline but it is about Ginny who works at Wigging Tails Dogs Home tirelessly trying to help the rescue dogs all needing their furever homes. Ginny and the team at the rescue are organising a Family Fun Event and are wondering why the local newspaper the 'Trestow Telegraph ' hasn't started advertising it like they normally do. When Ginny discovers the usual journalist she works with there has left and that Darryl has taken over she asks him to continue advertising. However, things take a turn for the worse when he writes several tiny articles with the wrong or damning information on them. When Ginny invites him to visit the rescue he shows no interest in the dogs at all and is getting annoyed with his boss who just happens to be Ginny's ex Jason for giving him rubbish to write about. Things start taking a turn for the better when Darryl seems to take a Uturn on the rescue writing positive articles and even helping out. Is Darryl just doing it to try and get a big story? Will Jason win back Ginny's heart? Most importantly can Wagging Tails Dog Home raise enough funds especially when news is out that there is an illegal puppy farm operating in the area?? Well, I'm not going to tell you am I!!! You'll just have to grab a copy of this stunner yourself to find out! I can promise you it will be a fun rollercoaster ride of drama, romance, dogs and absolutely everything you could want in an absolutely unforgettable and stunning page turner!!!! Sarah's evocative writing skills drew me deep into the book bringing the atmosphere and characters to life all around me. It is one of those books that I could not put down. I ended up walking around the house looking at my kindle reading away and absolutely devoured it in one sitting. 


Well done Sarah on an absolutely stunning and perfect start to what promises to be a gorgeous series!!!



This may be the first book I have read by Sarah but I cannot wait to get hold of more books by this extremely talented author!!! 


It is always worrying when starting a new series as you have no idea who the characters are. It is very important for me to bond with not only the lead protagonists but also any characters that may make repeat appearances during the series too.


The characters were all an eclectic mix and each one of them were realistic and strong. I was completely invested in them all. It also makes them more realistic, believable and made me feel even more for them than I normally would. I absolutely LOVED Ginny in regards to her love for the dogs at the rescue. She is such a kind hearted person and a MASSIVE animal lover and she is definitely the type of person I would love to have in my life!!! The passion she has for the dogs sparks out of the pages and you really can feel the emotions running through your fingertips!!! However, I did have a small niggle with her in the fact that she was consistently pushing Darryl away and even after all the help at the rescue he provided she still wasn't grateful. Playing devil's advocate though I could see her point as he could have done an awful lot of damage to the rescue which would have been truly unforgivable. Moving on to Darryl I could not stand him at first and the way he ignored the dogs when he visited the rescue made me want to scream at him!! Actually, I won't say anymore about him as I don't want to give anything away. I could not stand Jason who really did need taking down a peg, or one hundred!!! However, again I won't say anything. The other characters were also just as amazing and intriguing and I loved getting to know each of them and looking forward to getting to know them more as well as (hopefully) seeing some relationships grow between certain characters!!! I really cannot wait to meet Ginny, Darryl, Flora,     Elsie, Sally, Alex, Susan, Tim, Percy and Malcolm as well as all the dogs including Lily, Tinkerbell, the pups, Tiger, Belle, Ralph, Luna and the many more characters and dogs soon!!!!!! Each of the characters and dogs are memorable and unique in their own ways and they are a group of people that I wont be forgetting any time soon! 


Pick up this book and get lost in this absolutely gorgeous page turner!



Congratulations Sarah on an absolutely stunning read that I just could not put down!!! I am absolutely mind blown that I have never read any of your absolutely gorgeous books yet!! I am looking forward to reading more of your previous and future books. I would absolutely love to see this book turned into a movie!!! Welcome to my favourite author list and here's to your next success 🥂 



Overall an unputdownable, gorgeous, STUNNING page turning book filled with dog, tears, drama, romance, fun, laughter, friendship and so much more!! 




Genres covered in this book include Small Town & Rural Fiction, Contemporary Women Fiction, Friendship Fiction, Coming Of Age Fiction, Women's Romance Fiction, Fiction Mashups, Rural Life Humour, Family Life Fiction, Women's Contemporary Fiction, Teen & Young Adult, Holiday Romance, Literary Fiction, Romance Fiction, Romantic Comedy, General Humour, Women's Friendship Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Women Writers And Fiction and Contemporary Romance amongst others. 



I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of Sophie Kinsella, Sariah Wilson, Lindsey Kelk, Abby Jiminez Emily Henry, Bridget Jones, Mhairi McFarlane and Sophie Kinsella and just anyone looking for a great read!!



288 pages.


This book is just £1.89 to purchase on kindle, free with kindle unlimited and £9.24 in paperback via Amazon, at time of review which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!! 


Rated 5/5 (I enjoyed it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook. 


Feel free to add me on Goodreads or follow me on my website or Facebook for more reviews 



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Merged review:

BLOG TOUR REVIEW 


Review for 'The Wagging Tails Dog Home' by Sarah Hope.


Read and reviewed for Sarah Hope, NetGalley, Boldwood, Book & Tonic and Rachel's Random Resources Tours. 


Publication date 31st May 2023.


This is the first book I have read by this author. It is also the first book in The Wagging Tails Dogs' Home Series. 


This book is set in Cornwall, England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿, UK 🇬🇧. The bonus for me of books that are partly or fully based in the UK is that I live in the UK and have sometimes visited places mentioned in the book which makes it easier to picture. I absolutely love that this book is set in Cornwall which I absolutely love visiting and holidaying there, which I must admit was another thing that drew me to it and I cannot wait to see if I recognize any places mentioned.


I was originally drawn to this book by its eye catching cover and its intriguing synopsis and title. I am also a huge animal lover so any animal based books is a bonus for me!!  I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Boldwood. I have yet to read a book published by Boldwood that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).


This novel consists of 34 chapters and an epilogue. The chapters are short to medium in length so easy to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!


This book is written in third person perspective and the main protagonist is Ginny Stevenson. The benefits of third person perspective are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything. 


This book has fantastic descriptions that set you straight in the scenes. The cover, title and synopsis suit the storyline perfectly. 


Where the heck have you been hiding all my life Sarah!!! Love, LOVE, LOVED this absolutely gorgeous page turner!! An absolute must read!!!



OMG!!! I absolutely LOVED this gorgeous pageturner and I cannot WAIT for the next book in this series to come out!! It is just guaranteed to be stunning!! As I previously mentioned, any books that revolve around animals is a HUGE bonus for me!!! I am a MASSIVE animal lover and after all my pets being rescues to then volunteering in rescues, working in rescues and now running my own little cat rescue (Golden Oldies Cat Rescue And Hospice which you can look up on Facebook if you are interested) I know exactly how Ginny feels and have the same passion running through me for the animals so I was 100000% invested in this beautiful storyline all about Wagging Tails Dog Home. Sarah even goes one step further than just writing a stunning fictional story about a dog rescue and that is the fact that she has not only based her beautiful story on a genuine no kill shelter called Wellidogs based in Grendon Northamptonshire and even helps to promote it in her notes so I want to say a MASSIVE THANK YOU AND WELL DONE Sarah for promoting what seems to be an amazing rescue but to also for your kind notes in your acknowledgements thanking volunteers and workers at dog rescues, such an amazing thing to do!!! I absolutely adore the fact that you based many of the rescue dogs in the books on the dogs at Wellidogs such as basing Ralph on Wellidogs resident dogs. Just amazing and I absolutely love it and I really cannot compliments this book enough!!! Even if you are a reader who has no experience with rescue at all Sarah's stunning and evocative writing skills will drop you straight into the middle of Wagging Tails Dogs Home as well as Trestow, Cornwall where she ensures you can hear the dogs' happy barks, feel the sand on your feet and smell Elsie's yummy pastries baking. This book is very well written with vivid descriptions setting the picture perfectly in the readers mind. The title, description and cover works perfectly with the storyline. It is one of those books that are very easy to read and perfect for any reading situations whether you are laying on a beach or curled up in front of a fire. It is an absolutely ideal read for anyone who is looking for a fantastic read that will have you hooked from beginning to end. I absolutely LOVED the realism of this storyline which made it so easy to picture everything that was going on which had been helped by Sally's fantastic evocative writing skills. I cannot wait to get hooked into more of Sally's books so I hope she is busy writing her next one!! This is definitely one of those books that will turn a frown upside down and make life seem a lot brighter. It is packed with fun, dogs, romance, heartbreak, friendship, laughter and everything you could ask for in a fantastic feel good book. I have more or less covered the storyline but it is about Ginny who works at Wigging Tails Dogs Home tirelessly trying to help the rescue dogs all needing their furever homes. Ginny and the team at the rescue are organising a Family Fun Event and are wondering why the local newspaper the 'Trestow Telegraph ' hasn't started advertising it like they normally do. When Ginny discovers the usual journalist she works with there has left and that Darryl has taken over she asks him to continue advertising. However, things take a turn for the worse when he writes several tiny articles with the wrong or damning information on them. When Ginny invites him to visit the rescue he shows no interest in the dogs at all and is getting annoyed with his boss who just happens to be Ginny's ex Jason for giving him rubbish to write about. Things start taking a turn for the better when Darryl seems to take a Uturn on the rescue writing positive articles and even helping out. Is Darryl just doing it to try and get a big story? Will Jason win back Ginny's heart? Most importantly can Wagging Tails Dog Home raise enough funds especially when news is out that there is an illegal puppy farm operating in the area?? Well, I'm not going to tell you am I!!! You'll just have to grab a copy of this stunner yourself to find out! I can promise you it will be a fun rollercoaster ride of drama, romance, dogs and absolutely everything you could want in an absolutely unforgettable and stunning page turner!!!! Sarah's evocative writing skills drew me deep into the book bringing the atmosphere and characters to life all around me. It is one of those books that I could not put down. I ended up walking around the house looking at my kindle reading away and absolutely devoured it in one sitting. 


Well done Sarah on an absolutely stunning and perfect start to what promises to be a gorgeous series!!!



This may be the first book I have read by Sarah but I cannot wait to get hold of more books by this extremely talented author!!! 


It is always worrying when starting a new series as you have no idea who the characters are. It is very important for me to bond with not only the lead protagonists but also any characters that may make repeat appearances during the series too.


The characters were all an eclectic mix and each one of them were realistic and strong. I was completely invested in them all. It also makes them more realistic, believable and made me feel even more for them than I normally would. I absolutely LOVED Ginny in regards to her love for the dogs at the rescue. She is such a kind hearted person and a MASSIVE animal lover and she is definitely the type of person I would love to have in my life!!! The passion she has for the dogs sparks out of the pages and you really can feel the emotions running through your fingertips!!! However, I did have a small niggle with her in the fact that she was consistently pushing Darryl away and even after all the help at the rescue he provided she still wasn't grateful. Playing devil's advocate though I could see her point as he could have done an awful lot of damage to the rescue which would have been truly unforgivable. Moving on to Darryl I could not stand him at first and the way he ignored the dogs when he visited the rescue made me want to scream at him!! Actually, I won't say anymore about him as I don't want to give anythin
Profile Image for Zara Harper.
711 reviews5 followers
May 12, 2023
Ok, I really wanted to love this book! And to start with I did but then I became more and more annoying with Ginny and ended up not liking her much at all, simply because of the constant comparisons she was making and her inner monologue. I love the dogs, I loved their stories and wanted to visit the fun day, I just didn’t enjoy Ginny’s story as much sadly!
Profile Image for Courtney.
360 reviews30 followers
July 19, 2023
This was a borderline miscommunication trope that never ended. The main character was so fixated on the initial interaction that it took far too long for the couple to ever move past it. The story had so much potential, but it never amounted to anything. No depth of character at all.
Profile Image for thewoollygeek (tea, cake, crochet & books).
2,811 reviews117 followers
June 3, 2023
This is my first ever read from Sarah Hope and I’m now glad that she has an entire back catalogue on Kindle Unlimited for me to devour and work through, because this was such a pleasure to read, it has dogs and romance, I mean what more do you want, oh did I mention it’s set in Cornwall (if you set a book in Cornwall or Scotland it’s an auto win for me) Sarah captures Cornwall perfectly, just as I remember my many holidays as a teenager to my recent return trips, I could be walking those path’s myself.

I admit the first thing that draw me in was doggos, especially when it’s a rescue centre, my animals are my life and we have always rescued cats and dogs when we can , our most recent has been with us seven months after the sudden death of his owner. So I guess I was more sentimental than usual going into this. I would love to take so many more in if I could i am always in awe of people working at animal rescue centres because Ithink it would break my heart not being able to take them all home. That’s what I loved about in reading this , I got to meet the characters that do this daily.

The story was so easy to fall into, getting out of its pages wasn’t quite as easy as I had to force myself to go to bed, although that shows how good a book it is. I adored the very slow burn romance, they’re my favourites because they give you time to get to know and care for the characters and want them to get their HEA. I definitely recommend this book to animal, book and romance lovers and I am looking forward to diving into more of her books.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Kims.reading.nook.
464 reviews19 followers
May 27, 2023
After a bad break up, Ginny left London and dedicated 4 years of her life to the Wagging Tails Dogs Home. Now, she's helping to prepare their biggest fundraising event of the year; a fete with dog training, market stalls and hopefully plenty of adoptions!

When she realises that the local paper has yet to run their usual advertisements for the fete, Ginny is shocked to learn that her contact has retired and Darryl, the journalist replacing him, has no interest in helping them.

Determined to save the shelter, Ginny is on a mission to prove to Darryl that once he visits the dogs, he'll be on side. Will Ginny win him over and save the fete? Or will Darryl's disinterest mark the end of the shelter?

Thank you to Author @sarah_hope_writes @netgalley & @bookandtonic for providing me with an ARC of this book. All opinions shared are my own.

This was a sweet story about the lengths people will go to for those they love; animal or human. Ginny and those who work/volunteer at the shelter are a true found family and it was lovely to witness their relationships grow. This was an easy read and I'll happily continue the series.

Look out for publication on May 31st 🥳
Profile Image for Sarah Kingsnorth.
455 reviews14 followers
June 3, 2023
The Wagging Tails Dogs’ Home - Sarah Hope

I could write a thousand words to talk about this book, but it really doesn’t need that many.
The Wagging Tails Dogs’ Home is delightful. It’s an easy read that will fill your heart with happiness.
There are some interesting characters and so many adorable dogs.
Add in a charming setting and what you get is a fabulous read that positively oozes warmth and happy vibes.
A well written, feel good summer read.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

With thanks to Netgalley, Boldwood Books and Rachel’s Random Resources for a digital arc of this title.
Profile Image for Kirstie Cooper.
598 reviews17 followers
July 11, 2023
This is one of these books that you sit down to read for a few minutes you have spare, and before you know it you have read 50 %
One of the easiest books I have read in ages actually - lovely characters, good storyline, and about a dog rescue - what isn't there to like!
Predictable in places,but these sort of books are, and in my opinion doesn't spoil it in any way and is perfect when you want an easy read, that doesn't require much thinking.
Great read - would highly recommend
Profile Image for Amanda.
378 reviews18 followers
November 25, 2023
Loved the human and dog characters in this start to a new series.
Profile Image for Gill Loades.
39 reviews
September 16, 2023
great read

Easy reading, great story and iT incorporates the Cornish bakery which is great. Looking forward to more in this series
Profile Image for IRIDESCENZA.
44 reviews
October 29, 2023
I now have cavities because of the sweetness in this book. Everything is so adorable, sweet and, while has tense moments, it's definitely one of calmer romance books I've read. Plus, it has dogs! What more do you want?

Things I liked
- The setting: I've always been interested in dog training, especially dog shows and competitions (I have followed Crufts since 2016, and one my biggest dreams is to go in person). So, when I read that this book was based around a non-for-profit dog rescue home, I was hooked. One of the bits I liked the most is how Sarah Hope shows how hard this kind of lifestyle could be; when the lifes of innocent animals are now in your hands. The puppy mill subplot was really tense, although I felt like it came back out of nowhere just to kickstart drama and get Ginny and Darryl back together.

- The language: As someone who learn English with mostly British teachers, most of the idioms used ring completely true, hehe. Although I had to search more than once the meaning of some words. I like it when authors implement colloquialisms in their novels; it makes it feel more real, which you should strive for when righting contemporary fiction or real-life fiction.

- The characters: I really enjoyed the characters' dynamic between them, but I would have loved to see more of them. Hopefully, the author expands on them in the sequel (i.e., Percy's obvious crush on Flora, Susan and Malcom's relationship, whatever the hell Darryl said to Dean, etc). While I liked our lead Ginny, she sometimes felt very stuck up when it came to giving Darryl a second chance, especially in the third act (more on that later). Darryl felt very bland at first, but after that scene with Luna at the beach, I started to like him more.

- The dogs: Of course, it was a given, the dogs were going to be on this list. I loved how they all had different quirks and personalities, and the bonds they form with the characters. Special shoutout goes to the aforementioned beach scene with Luna and Darryl, it was very sweet and genuine. I hope more books that involve animals as secondary characters give them this treatment, because they can add so much more to the story.

- Lack of spice: Okay, I enjoy some spice as much as the next guy, but sometimes I need a break. I like a book that doesn't have the characters doing the devil's tango every ten pages, and then fall in love out of nowhere. A lot of authors I believe now feel pressured to write smut-heavy books because that's what readers want but please, relax. We can live without sex for five minutes.


Things I disliked
- The third act breakup: I'm sorry, but it came out of nowhere. Ginny suddenly avoiding Darryl because of the job application in London and telling him to leave, EVEN AFTER HE SAID TO HER, TIME AND TIME AGAIN, THAT HE WASN'T GOING TO TAKE THE OFFER. GOD, MY GIRL, HOW ARE YOU THIS DENSE?!?! Sorry, but he is an adult; he doesn't need you to mom him. And I get that Ginny was very iffy with Darryl because Jason had completely destroyed her self esteem, which is an appropiate reaction after someone cheated on you with not only one, but TWO women, one of them being your bestfriend. But Ginny, give me a break! The man isn't going to leave; he didn't want to tell you because he wasn't going to take it.
The whole puppy mill subplot came out of fucking nowhere. It wasn't mentioned in like, 10 chapters, and then all of a sudden, it comes back again. Don't get me wrong as I've said before it was very tense, but it also felt like a very cheap way to get them back together and completely ignored the fact that Ginny had no right to get mad at Darryl for something he wasn't even going to follow through.


Overall, really good novel. I would reccomend it if you just want a sweet, little feel-good romance with adorable puppies running around! I will be reading more of Sarah Hope in the foreseeable future, that's for sure!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
754 reviews12 followers
June 1, 2023
Originally reviewed for Chick Lit Central (www.chicklitcentral.com)

I loved this dogs’ home! I used to have aspirations of running my own no kill animal shelter decades ago, and it felt like I could live vicariously through the various characters who play a major part in doing all they can to save dogs who might otherwise not have a home, or a chance at a good life. We discover that Ginny has a rocky road that led her to the dogs’ home, soon becoming her salvation in working on finding her own way to a good life–former past relationships aside. Which is why it’s so hard to trust Darryl, a man who seems insistent on ruining the reputation of her employer, potentially leading to a difficult time in adopting out their dogs.

At first, I didn’t blame Ginny for feeling that way. One minute, Darryl is completely against writing a column to highlight the dogs’ home. He’s rude and arrogant. But then, he seemingly has a change of heart. A complete one-eighty. I’m so glad Sarah Hope, the author, included that observation from Ginny’s perspective, because it really helped to explain just how confusing Darryl’s behavior could be. Later, the reader learns what is really going on and why Darryl is acting the way he is, but it’s still hard for Ginny to let go of past hurts that really stem from before Darryl.

One of Ginny’s coworkers points out how at times, we need to forgive and give people the benefit of the doubt, and when Ginny begins to do that, not only is she learning more about Darryl, she’s learning more about herself, too. There were so many sweet moments between the two characters, also including the adorable dogs, too–like Luna! I love Luna’s quirks and tendencies that really made her such a great canine character. When Sarah Hope describes the way that Luna likes to flop down and not move until she receives attention, I could easily visually see that in my mind. It’s a really nice, unique touch.

There are some definite obstacles in the way of romance here–Ginny’s past, Darryl’s too–that create a few walls and barriers between them. I enjoyed getting to learn more about them and discover the ways they work on trying to get around their obstacles, while also learning the ins and outs of what it takes to run a successful shelter. I enjoyed The Wagging Tails Dogs’ Home immensely. A definite five-star read!
Profile Image for Emma's Things to Read.
549 reviews4 followers
June 21, 2023
If you like a cosy romance with a big heart, then I definitely The Wagging Tails Dogs’ Home.

The Dogs’ Home is preparing for its annual summer fair – the biggest fundraiser of the year. With bills to pay and dogs needing homes, it’s vital that Wagging Tails makes as much money as possible. To do that, they need some positive publicity, so Ginny heads to the local newspaper for support.

There, she soon finds that dog-loving veteran journalist Terry has been replaced by Darryl. Fresh from London, suited up Darryl is not interested in the rehousing venture or the fun day. He dismisses Ginny and can’t even be bothered to get her name right.

Determined not to take no for an answer, Ginny sets out to win over Darryl and persuade him to promote the fair and publicise the dogs that are looking for their forever homes.

This is enemies to lovers done really well. Darryl and Ginny’s relationship starts off rocky, but they gradually seem to have more in common than they first thought.

Ginny gets to see a softer side to Darryl, who is soon helping out at the rehousing centre and befriending the pooches.

There are lots of complications along the way. Ginny has trust issues after her ex-fiancé had an affair, and the wedding was cancelled. Wagging Tails helped her mend her broken heart, and she is passionate about her job. It takes her a while to believe that Darryl’s change of heart is genuine.

The dogs get a starring role in this book especially loveable labrador Luna who loves cuddles and quickly wins over all the staff. The dog back stories illustrate the many different ways dogs end up needing new homes and highlights the issue with unscrupulous breeding and puppy farms.

Overall, this is a heart-warming read that is perfect for the summer. Likeable main characters and a supporting cast that you will want to get to know better, a lovely Cornish setting and delightful dogs – what’s not to like!
Profile Image for Kirsty (BookBlogger).
2,031 reviews63 followers
May 28, 2023
Today it is my turn on the blog tour for The Wagging Tails Dog's Home by Sarah Hope

📚 Book Review 📚

The Wagging Tails Dog's Home by Sarah Hope

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

Life could not be busier for Ginny and the team at Wagging Tails.

The annual dog show is looming, a crucial event when it comes to fundraising and ensuring the volunteers can continue the brilliant work they do.

But their trusted newspaper reporter, who always includes them in his weekly column, is retiring, only to be replaced with a city-slicker named Darryl. And Darryl, as Ginny soon learns, has no interest in articles he deems 'below him'.

Not one to take no as an answer, Ginny becomes determined to get him to meet the dogs themselves. One look at their cute faces and they'll worm their way into his heart.

But what Ginny doesn't anticipate is that Darryl might be more open-hearted than he seems. And inviting him to the dogs' home might be the best decision she ever made – even if she doesn't realise it at first!

My Opinion

I am a big animal lover and used to work at my local dog rescue centre so when I saw this book I just knew that I had to read it. This was such a lovely and easy book to read that I read over 90% in one sitting. This will appeal to animal lovers and like me you will want to adopt a few of the dogs yourself.

Ginny is desperately trying to fundraise so that the dog's home can afford to pay the bills and feed the animals. When she reaches out to her contact at the local paper she soon learns that Darryl might take a bit of convincing. A delightful, highly recommended read.

Rating: 4/5
Profile Image for Julia.
3,069 reviews93 followers
May 25, 2023
The Wagging Tails Dogs Home by Sarah Hope is a positively delightful contemporary novel that will warm your heart.
If you love dogs – this is definitely the book for you. I am a crazy cat lady but I absolutely adored this book.
There are so many dogs in need of new homes that the shelters are overflowing. No one ever wants to turn a dog away. Looking after the dogs costs money. The reader follows the staff at the dogs home as they prepare for their annual fund raising event. There are hiccups along the way but the dedicated staff are determined not to let the dogs down.
We witness lives that have also been let down by others. Being hurt has made souls cautious but there are good people out there.
All the characters were well drawn, realistic and likable. It felt more like meeting new friends as I dropped in on their lives. There was a wonderful camaraderie as the staff at the dogs home had huge, generous hearts.
Not every rescue is easy. Dogs can have problems, just like people. My heart went out to a number of dogs in the book.
Sarah Hope has perfectly captured the scenes with her words. I ‘walked’ through the novel as I ‘shared’ the lives of the people and the dogs.
The action is set in Cornwall. I particularly loved the trip to Looe Island as I have holidayed in Looe since 1986 and my brother lives there, so the location and the history of the island were familiar to me.
The Wagging Tails Dogs Home was an absolutely charming read. I do hope there is a sequel please Sarah Hope.
I received a free copy via Rachel’s Random Resources for a blog tour. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.

Profile Image for Karen.
Author 41 books67 followers
June 2, 2023
Boldwood Books publish a whole variety of wonderful books and when I saw there was one set in a dogs’ home, I knew it was something I would want to read. I got into it straight away, the characters you meet in the first chapter all seem lovely and you are drawn into the story straight away.
The main character Ginny Stevenson is in her mid-thirties and works at the Wagging Tails Dogs’ Home in Cornwall, where they are struggling for money to keep everything going. Flora founded the Dogs’ Home thirty-five years ago and is helped by a team including Susan, Percy, Alex and Tim.
Everyone involved is busy preparing for the annual Family Fun Day and Dog Show where they hope to raise enough funds to keep the dogs’ home running. When the usual pre-event publicity fails to emerge, Ginny goes along to the local newspaper to see what’s happening and meets up with new journalist Darryl Thomas, who is very rude and dismissive. She is determined to convince him just how important the work of the dogs’ home is and how essential good publicity is.
I got into the book straight away and really liked Ginny and everyone working with the dogs. It’s also a real treat to meet all the dogs in the book and follow their stories. I did want to shake Ginny at times though and give her a good talking to about her reactions to some things! But that shows it’s a good book, because I cared about the characters and believed in them, I was invested in their fates and wanted a happy ending for them.
Overall, I’d definitely recommend the book and I look forward to reading more of the author’s work.


Profile Image for Julie.
2,654 reviews43 followers
November 21, 2023
The Wagging Tails Dogs’ Home is a charming contemporary romance from Sarah Hope readers will adore.

Running the Wagging Tails Dogs’ Home certainly does not leave Ginny with a lot of spare time – and she wouldn’t have it any other way. The coming weeks are certainly going to be busy with a looming dogs show requiring all of her time, energy and effort. With the show being hugely important for fundraising, Ginny hopes to get some much-needed good publicity from the press – so she is dismayed when their old contact retires and the replacement reporter is a big city journalist who makes it clear from the off that he is only interested in covering important stories and not parochial local interest events like a dog show.

Ginny might be disappointed, but she is certainly not deterred. She is positive that once Darryl meets the dogs, he will fall head over heels in love with them. Her adorable dogs could melt the hardest of hearts, however, what Ginny hadn’t counted on was Darryl falling in love with someone other than her adorable canines! Might Cupid’s arrow strike at The Wagging Tails Dogs’ Home in the most unexpected of ways? And are Ginny and Darryl ready to stop listening to their doubts and to take a chance on romance?

Sarah Hope’s The Wagging Tails Dogs’ Home is absolutely adorable. Witty, heartwarming and wonderfully romantic, this lovely tale of unexpected attraction, gorgeous canines and second chances is a feel-good and uplifting page-turner that has me eager to return to The Wagging Tails Dogs’ Home in the not too distant future!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Frieda Thompson.
389 reviews6 followers
January 21, 2025
Wagging Tails In The Cornish Village

I like stories set in England because I know I'll never see it myself. I like romances in which one, or both, of the couple don't quite believe it will happen. I love stories with dogs! Or cats, I love them both! But I love Love, LOVE stories like this one which have ALL of the above!! The descriptions Ms. Hope uses are fabulous! The characters, except for 3, are people I would happily have as my own friends! The village, I can see it perfectly! Including the pebble beach, something I've never seen in my life! And something I had never ever thought of, that people still live under thatched roofs, I now know to be true! If I ever get too old to learn something, I'll be simply "too old"! Learning new things is one reason I read!! Anyway, that little nugget is absolutely charming! With this book, Ms. Hope takes on the subject of pet ownership & responsibilities; the needful place for shelters like Wagging Tails to rescue animals & help them find new homes with responsible, loving people; & a not so nice subject, but one which needs to be thrown wide open. Puppy farms, or puppy mills as we call them in the US. I've had dogs, bought from Pet Stores, before I knew better, who we're pretty sure were from puppy mills due to certain health issues. The stories aren't good. If I had the ability, I would close up every one & put the people under the jail! Since I don't, I'm glad authors Iike Ms. Hope help get the word out. And she did it in a way that wasn't depressing or angering! Thank you, Ms. Hope! I can heartily recommend this book!
Profile Image for Carly Rushforth.
579 reviews28 followers
May 23, 2023
I received this ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

The first thing that made me take a look at this book was the cover, how beautiful is it?.

The book opens with Ginny heading a staff meeting to organise a Family Fun Day to raise much needed funds for The Wagging Tails’ Dogs Home.

All the other volunteers/ staff at the meeting are really interesting characters and I was excited to read more and learn all about them.

It’s been 4 years since Ginny left her cheating/controlling ex Jason and moved away and found a new life , now she’s horrified to learn he’s moved near her and wants to reconnect but she’s not interested after what he put her through and is happy being single.

When they can’t get in touch with the local reporter to put an advertisement about The Fun Day in the paper they wonder why he’s not answering his phone like he normally does, they soon learn he’s retired and been replaced by Darryl who’s not bothered about the Dogs Home at all and is rather rude.

After a rocky start sparks begin to fly between Ginny and Darryl but it’s not plain sailing with lots of ups and downs.

The whole book was just so lovely and I really enjoyed the dogs and the dogs home and all the effort they put into finding new homes for the dogs just like countless people do in real life up and down the country.

I was positively charmed by all the residents and characters in this story and I could really tell it’s going to be part of a series and it’s going to be a fantastic series!.

Profile Image for Anjana.
2,558 reviews60 followers
September 1, 2023
This book centres around a dog rescue (as the title directly states) and the people who run it. There are several characters, each with their own histories and hopeful arcs for the end of the book. The central protagonist is Ginny, who left her old life behind to plunge herself into this new life. She was in a long-term relationship that sapped her positivity, and just when she thinks she has left it all behind, it seems to be at the forefront of her thoughts, along with the man who came with those memories.
Ginny is trying to ensure the biggest event held by the team goes according to plan, and this basically means getting the aid of the local newspaper. The latter part does not seem as feasible as it once was.
For most readers of the genre, the next few steps will be obvious. The writing is simple, and the character arcs are easy to follow. I think I would have liked this even more than I did if I was a bigger animal lover than I am. I have a fondness for watching animals from a distance. I am not the touch-and-play type. I knew this going in and hoped the people would carry the story instead. It was not the case since I liked the book but did not devour it in single sittings like I usually do (for books of this ilk).
I would recommend it to fans of the genre, but I probably will not be continuing with the series.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.
Profile Image for Rachel Gilbey.
3,324 reviews571 followers
May 9, 2023

Well with a title like that, this book was always going to capture my attention, and once I started reading, I knew it was right to. As the words held my attention as I devoured this story over a Bank Holiday Monday.

If this is the quality of Sarah Hope's storytelling normally then, she has just won a fan in me, as I loved this book, and her writing.

I was gripped and really cared about all of the dogs at the Wagging Tails Dogs' Home, while being angered at some of the conditions the dogs arrived at the dogs home in. But they never turn anyone away, and although fund raising is critical to them, the team is made up of a motley mix of complete and utter dog lovers.

And the dogs were utterly adorable and stole my heart, especially Tiger and Luna.

But it is also about our faithful 2 legged companions, yes the humans, and Ginny is devoted to the dogs home and is determined to get the local paper to run articles leading up to the Family Fun Day, which is easier said than done on discovering their local reporter has suddenly retired.

This was very easy to read, and a sheer joy to . I loved every second of this book, and am already definitely keen to read more from the author. Just wonderful.

Thank you to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
Profile Image for Elaine - Splashes Into Books.
3,883 reviews136 followers
May 30, 2023
A dog rescue centre always has lots to do
For Ginny this is particularly true.
She's organising the annual dog show
Hoping to raise funds to keep them on the go.

The newspaper reporter who usually shows he cares
By the news of the centre and events that he shares
Seems to have disappeared, there's no news going out
So Ginny goes to discover what it is all about.

It seems he's retired, moved from the area, too,
So his job is now being done by someone new.
That reporter, Darryl, doesn't seem interested at all.
He gets facts wrong and doesn't want to call.

Ginny is determined to showing him the errors of his ways
She's sure the cute dogs there will totally amaze.
But can she trust him to help them now?
Can she - and the dogs - win him over somehow?

What a lovely read this proved to be
With brilliant dogs and people as you'll soon see.
There's a couple of ex partners who're reluctant to go,
And lots of doggy antics that are hilarious, you know!

A story that shares the plight of our canine friends
In a story where you're hoping all will be happy when it ends.
A heartwarming read about people who live to care
And the chances for romance for a pair who work there!

For my complementary copy, I say thank you,
As I share with you this, my honest review.
Profile Image for Genna Hazelden.
31 reviews
May 5, 2023
Dogs and romance - what more could I ask for?

I absolutely LOVED this book, I couldn't put it down! I lived my dream life of working at a dog rescue through the eyes of the main character, Ginny.

After her fiancé cheated on her, Ginny escaped the hustle and bustle of London to a seaside town in Cornwall where Flora, the Wagging Tails dog rescue owner, took her in and helped her get her life back together. They're organising the annual summer fundraiser when they realise the local journalist hasn't put the advert out in the local paper and it's only a few weeks away! When Ginny turns up at the newspapers office, she finds that there is a new journalist in town, Darryl, and they do not get off on the right foot. What's worse is Ginny's ex has followed her out of London and is his boss! Can Darryl salvage what he does? Can Ginny forgive him? Will Jason leave them alone or will he destroy their connection before they've had a chance to pursue it?

I love an enemies to lovers trope and this did not disappoint! I was giggling at times, and read the whole book with a smile on my face. I can't wait for more books in this series!

Thank you NetGalley, Boldwood Books, and Sarah Hope for letting me read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Profile Image for Corinne Rodrigues.
488 reviews60 followers
June 5, 2023
With the subject of this book being dogs, I knew I’d find it interesting, but didn’t realize I’d want to read it in one go.

The love of dogs and working with them is what settles Ginny, who comes to live in this place, after leaving London let down and heartbroken. She loves her work and gives it her all.

One of her tasks is to organise an event that will raise funds for the Home and also will give peole a chance to adopt these abandoned creatures.

When the usual newspaper reporter doesn’t seem to be writing about the Home, Ginny visits the newspaper office to find out why. There she has a run in with his replacement. Darryl seems totally disinterested in the Home, doesn’t realy listen to her, and publishes a badly written and error-filled article.

On her second visit, she realizes that Darryl’s boss is her ex – who has suddenly landed in town and wants to rekindle their relationship.

When Darryl agrees to visit the Home, Ginny is very skeptical about him and his motives. However, he surprises her not just with the article.

A lovely book about second chances – for the beautiful dogs to find a home and for Ginny to find love.

The descriptions of the dogs, their background stories and their adoptions are absolutely sweet. The characters too are very endearing.

I absolutely enjoyed this book – my first by this author.
Profile Image for Hsiau Wei.
1,806 reviews7 followers
October 11, 2023
After a painful breakup, Ginny devoted 4 years to the Wagging Tails Dogs Home. As she plans their major annual fundraiser, she’s surprised to find that the local paper hasn’t advertised the event because her usual contact retired, and the new journalist, Darryl, is uninterested. Determined, Ginny tries to convince Darryl of the shelter’s importance, hoping to save the event and the shelter itself. The outcome hinges on whether she can win him over.

Initially, Ginny is perplexed by Darryl’s behavior, who is resistant to supporting the dogs’ home and comes off as arrogant. However, he unexpectedly changes his stance. As the story unfolds, the reasons behind Darryl’s behavior become clear, though Ginny struggles to move past her own prior traumas. Their budding relationship is interspersed with charming moments, including interactions with endearing dogs like Luna, whose antics are vividly described by Hope. Both protagonists face personal challenges obstructing their romance, yet the journey of overcoming these barriers while navigating the complexities of running a shelter is engaging.
Profile Image for Leanne.
2,157 reviews43 followers
June 3, 2023
Well I seen the cover of this book and the title and of course I just knew that it was for me! The story within definitely exceeded my expectations and I am now a fan of Sarah Hope writing style. The main attraction for me was the dog's but I also loved the kind hearted characters and the development of a romance between Ginny and Darryl. I have a rescue dog myself and they are the most loving and beautiful natured little beings. I would love to work at the Wagging Tails Dogs home but I honestly don't think I could handle it, it would break me and I would want to adopt every dog myself. I loved learning about the very special people it takes to run a home like that. It honestly warmed my heart. The slow development of a little human romance was also a page turner. I don't have a single criticism of this book for me everything about it is just perfect and I look forward to reading more of this authors books. It's a huge recommend from me!
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