Romance to the Rescue: A Boxed Set of Ten Full-Length Novels to Benefit Animal Rescue

by Marie Force

Ten novels from New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors! Five contemporary romances and five historical romances, all featuring beloved pets. All proceeds benefit Tails of Joy Animal Rescue.

FOOL FOR LOVE by Marie Force
Gansett Island: As a vet tech at the island's veterinary clinic, Janey McCarthy sees some hard cases—and adopts them all. Her pets provide comfort after she catches her fiancé with another woman, as does her brother's best friend, Joe Cantrell, who has been in love with Janey forever.

IF YOU WERE MINE by Bella Andre
San Francisco: The last thing Zach Sullivan wants is to watch his brother's puppy for two weeks. Until he meets the dog trainer, that is. Heather is bright, beautiful, and he can't stop thinking about her…and she just might be the only woman on earth who wants nothing to do with him.

THE HIGHLANDER’S CONQUEST by Eliza Knight
Medieval Scotland: Lady Aliah is skeptical of the nobleman, Sir Blane, who’s come to escort her to Scotland. She demands her loyal hound, Frosty, accompany them as her personal guard. When her escort reveals his true identity, she can’t decide which is more fearsome: his Scottish ancestry or his seductive kiss.

PAINTED MONTANA SKY by Debra Holland
Montana, 1895: After rancher Tyler Dunn rescues artist Lily Maxwell’s dog from being swept away by the river, an attraction develops between them. Yet both have secrets that hold them back from love. Can these lonely souls find their hearts’ desires under the majestic Montana sky?

BETTER THAN BEFORE by Kathryn Shay
New York: Charismatic and super rich venture capitalist Spence Wickham makes a bet with his brother to join an online dating service and prove people lie on these sites. But his deceit trips him up with sweet and generous Annie Hopkins, who’s looking for the type of man he’s pretending to be.

LILY by Lauren Royal
England, 1677: Lily Ashcroft loves animals and is usually surrounded by her beloved strays. Whenever a new one finds her, she feels lucky. But Lily's not so lucky when it comes to romantic love. She’s fallen for dashing Lord Randal Nesbitt…but her older sister Rose wants him, and Rose is supposed to marry first.

THE COLOR OF A DREAM by Julianne MacLean
Boston: Recovering from a heart transplant, Nadia Carmichael is haunted by a recurring dream about her donor. It’s not until Nadia meets his estranged brother Jesse—a dog-loving recue pilot—that she begins to explore the true nature of her dreams and discover what her new heart truly desires…

HIS FORBIDDEN TOUCH by Shelly Thacker
A mythical kingdom, 1302: Disgraced ex-knight Royce Saint-Michel has the chance to reclaim his birthright—if he agrees to escort the lovely Princess Ciara to her royal wedding. They must survive a treacherous journey through snowy Alpine passes…where forbidden love proves even more dangerous than the assassins on their trail.

RIVER’S BEND by JoAnn Ross
Southern Oregon: Welcome to River’s Bend, where spurs have a job to do and cowboy hats aren’t a fashion accessory. Sheriff Cooper Murphy and his “deputy” dog Hummer not only keep the peace, they ease a major life transition for widowed newcomer Rachel Hathaway and her young son.

PASSION’S EXILE by Glynnis Campbell
Scotland, 1391: Once noble Sir Pierce of Mirkhaugh now wanders Scotland as the sword-for-hire known as Blade. His latest mission goes awry when runaway falconer Lady Rose joins the entourage. Just as she tamed her crippled but beloved pet Wink, she gentles outlaw Blade to her hand.

Genres: Romance, Anthologies, Contemporary Romance, Collections

3000 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 20, 2015

About the author

Marie Force is the New York Times bestselling author of contemporary romance, romantic suspense and erotic romance. Her series include Gansett Island, Fatal, Treading Water, Butler Vermont and Quantum.

Her books have sold more than 12 million copies worldwide, have been translated into more than a dozen languages and have appeared on the New York Times bestseller more than 30 times. She is also a USA Today and #1 Wall Street Journal bestseller, as well as a Speigel bestseller in Germany.

Her goals in life are simple—to finish raising two happy, healthy, productive young adults, to keep writing books for as long as she possibly can and to never be on a flight that makes the news.

Join Marie’s mailing list on her website at marieforce.com for news about new books and upcoming appearances in your area. Follow her on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/MarieForceAuthor and on Instagram at www.instagram.com/marieforceauthor/. Contact Marie at marie@marieforce.com.

Reviews

[UniquelyMoi ~ BlithelyBookish]

Proceeds go to a great cause! Just $0.99 for a very limited time!!

Romance to the Rescue: A Boxed Set of Ten Full Length Novels to Benefit Animal Rescue. Authors - Marie Force, Bella Andre, Eliza Knight, Debra Holland, Julianne MacLean, Shelly Thacker, JoAnn Ross, and Glynnis Campbell

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00P...

Stories:

Ten novels from New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors! Five contemporary romances and five historical romances, all featuring beloved pets. All proceeds benefit Tails of Joy Animal Rescue.

FOOL FOR LOVE by Marie Force
Gansett Island: As a vet tech at the island's veterinary clinic, Janey McCarthy sees some hard cases—and adopts them all. Her pets provide comfort after she catches her fiancé with another woman, as does her brother's best friend, Joe Cantrell, who has been in love with Janey forever.

IF YOU WERE MINE by Bella Andre
San Francisco: The last thing Zach Sullivan wants is to watch his brother's puppy for two weeks. Until he meets the dog trainer, that is. Heather is bright, beautiful, and he can't stop thinking about her…and she just might be the only woman on earth who wants nothing to do with him.

THE HIGHLANDER’S CONQUEST by Eliza Knight
Medieval Scotland: Lady Aliah is skeptical of the nobleman, Sir Blane, who’s come to escort her to Scotland. She demands her loyal hound, Frosty, accompany them as her personal guard. When her escort reveals his true identity, she can’t decide which is more fearsome: his Scottish ancestry or his seductive kiss.

PAINTED MONTANA SKY by Debra Holland
Montana, 1895: After rancher Tyler Dunn rescues artist Lily Maxwell’s dog from being swept away by the river, an attraction develops between them. Yet both have secrets that hold them back from love. Can these lonely souls find their hearts’ desires under the majestic Montana sky?

BETTER THAN BEFORE by Kathryn Shay
New York: Charismatic and super rich venture capitalist Spence Wickham makes a bet with his brother to join an online dating service and prove people lie on these sites. But his deceit trips him up with sweet and generous Annie Hopkins, who’s looking for the type of man he’s pretending to be.

LILY by Lauren Royal
England, 1677: Lily Ashcroft loves animals and is usually surrounded by her beloved strays. Whenever a new one finds her, she feels lucky. But Lily's not so lucky when it comes to romantic love. She’s fallen for dashing Lord Randal Nesbitt…but her older sister Rose wants him, and Rose is supposed to marry first.

THE COLOR OF A DREAM by Julianne MacLean
Boston: Recovering from a heart transplant, Nadia Carmichael is haunted by a recurring dream about her donor. It’s not until Nadia meets his estranged brother Jesse—a dog-loving recue pilot—that she begins to explore the true nature of her dreams and discover what her new heart truly desires…

HIS FORBIDDEN TOUCH by Shelly Thacker
A mythical kingdom, 1302: Disgraced ex-knight Royce Saint-Michel has the chance to reclaim his birthright—if he agrees to escort the lovely Princess Ciara to her royal wedding. They must survive a treacherous journey through snowy Alpine passes…where forbidden love proves even more dangerous than the assassins on their trail.

RIVER’S BEND by JoAnn Ross
Southern Oregon: Welcome to River’s Bend, where spurs have a job to do and cowboy hats aren’t a fashion accessory. Sheriff Cooper Murphy and his “deputy” dog Hummer not only keep the peace, they ease a major life transition for widowed newcomer Rachel Hathaway and her young son.

PASSION’S EXILE by Glynnis Campbell
Scotland, 1391: Once noble Sir Pierce of Mirkhaugh now wanders Scotland as the sword-for-hire known as Blade. His latest mission goes awry when runaway falconer Lady Rose joins the entourage. Just as she tamed her crippled but beloved pet Wink, she gentles outlaw Blade to her hand.

[Bj]

Last day to grab this fantastic box set for just $0.99. Best of all, all proceeds go to animal rescue!

[Heather Stanton]

$0.99 box set with TEN full length novels. Proceeds benefit Tails of Joy animal rescue.

[Leiah Cooper · Rating 4 out of 5]

A while back I saw an ad for Romance to the Rescue, a collection of ten stories by famous romance writers that was published to benefit Tails of Joy Animal Rescue.

For only $2.99 the collection includes five contemporary and five historical romance stories all revolving around animals. What a deal, and the fact that it benefits Elayne Boosler's Tails of Joy Animal Rescue, which helps animal rescue organizations across the United States and around the world is a bonus.

The first book in the anthology is Fool for Love by Marie Force. This is the second in the series, but you can easily read it and not feel lost in the narrative.

Janey McCarthy has been with David Lawrence since they were in high school. Thirteen years. Of course, he has been in Boston, in medical school, for the last six years, while she did as he bade and stayed on Gansett Island as a vet tech instead of going to veterinary school in Ohio, which she really wanted, and was more than qualified for. But surely it would all be worth it when he came home and Janey got her white picket fence and four children? And surely his wanting to save them from having two sets of medical school bills is really for the best. Right?

Only, when Janey shows up in Boston as a surprise and finds a nasty little surprise of her own - namely David flat on his back in the bed they bought together - with a buxom blond riding cowgirl - all that love and devotion is suddenly gone. Maybe it isn't just the whole 'watching as your fiance bangs a whore' thing, but all the phone calls he never returned, the times he blew off visits, and all the other glaring road markers leading to "wake the hell up and smell that coffee" that built up. Whatever the case, Janey is done, and it is time to get on with her life. And time for her to consider what, or make that who, was under her nose all the time. A HEA is upcoming, and more than Janey could have ever expected. It made me smile to watch her stand up, straighten her spine, and go for everything she ever wanted - as well as everything she never expected to have.

I doubt I will read the historical stories, just not my thing, but my purchase will hopefully help the cause and five books for $2.99? Yep. It's all good!

If you enjoy my reviews please check the "Yes" box at Amazon.com - I appreciate your support!

[Julianna]

Reviewed for THC Reviews
When reading anthologies, I usually pick up one book here and there and rarely read them straight through. With that being the case, I've decided to post reviews of each story as I finish it. Reviews on the remaining book and the overall anthology rating will be forthcoming.:-)

Fool for Love by Marie Force - Fool for Love is the second book in Marie Force’s Gansett Island series. While the first book of the series introduced us to the McCarthy family and told the story of oldest son Mac, this second volume gives us a romance between Mac’s best friend, Joe, and his only sister and the youngest McCarthy, Janey. Joe has been in love with Janey from afar for years, while Janey has been in a long-term, but also long-distance, relationship with her high-school sweetheart, David, who is studying to become a doctor. But when Janey finds David in bed with another woman on their anniversary, she’s devastated. When her car breaks down while fleeing the scene of her heartbreak, she calls the only person she can think of for help and that happens to be Joe. He takes her home and tenderly cares for her, and when she all but begs him to make love to her, he can’t resist even though he knows it might lead to his own heartbreak down the road. Soon he has almost everything he’s ever dreamed of, but David’s revelations, family machinations, and Janey finally getting a chance at her dream career may stand in the way of their HEA.

Joe is a steady guy who’s lived on Gansett Island all his life. He owns and captains the ferry that runs between the island and the mainland. Although a best friend to her brother, Mac, he’s also been a friend to Janey, and he’s been in love with her for as long as he can remember, maybe even since they were kids. Before he ever had a chance to reveal his feelings, he watched Janey chose David in high school and she has remained with him ever since, leaving Joe struggling to move on. He still sees Janey all the time and wants her desperately, but knows he can’t have her, even though he also sees that David doesn’t treat her with the respect she deserves. So his life is filled with work, hobbies, and the occasional dalliance with a woman that’s never been anything more than a physical release, while there’s a big Janey-sized hole. When he’s the one Janey calls after the fateful night she catches her fiancé cheating, he’s more than happy to help her pick up the pieces, and when she begs him to make love to her, he’s helpless to resist. It’s the best sex both of them have ever had, and from there on, they simply can’t seem to keep their hands off each other. But Janey is uncertain about her true feelings for Joe, leaving him in a painful limbo. Joe is a real sweetheart of a guy, who isn’t afraid to wear his heart on his sleeve. When given the chance with Janey he’s been longing for most of his life, he doesn’t hesitate to jump in with both feet even though he knows it might lead to his own heartbreak later on if Janey can’t return his feelings. I love how he’s always there for her, and pulls out all the stops to romance her in hopes of getting her to fall in love with him. He’s one of the most devoted and loyal romance heroes I’ve ever read.

As the youngest McCarthy, Janey has had to put up with four older, over-protective brothers all her life, but even they couldn’t see David’s flaws to prevent her heart from getting broken. Janey fell for David as a teenager and has been with him ever since. They had plans to get married, but their relationship is a long-distance one with David living in Boston and Janey staying on the island. After going to surprise him on their anniversary and seeing him in bed with the other woman, she doesn’t even stop to confront him, and instead, runs away, only to have her car break down. Since all her family and friends are on the island, the only person she can think to call is Joe, who keeps a house on the mainland. He doesn’t hesitate to come to her rescue and provide comfort for her devastated heart. One thing leads to another, and soon, all Janey wants is to feel something besides pain. Although Joe tries to talk her out of it, she eventually wears him down and gets him to make love to her, which turns out to be a revelation. Sex was never as good with David as it is with Joe, and Joe is so much more attentive in general than David has ever been. But with her barely ending their thirteen-year relationship, she isn’t sure what her true feelings are for Joe. She’s always loved him, but is she in love with him? Is that even possible in such a short length of time, or is he just the rebound guy? While she tries to figure it all out, Joe encourages her to pursue her dream of becoming a veterinarian – something that David had discouraged – but when her dream comes within reach, she doesn’t think she can have both it and Joe. Janey is a very relatable heroine who is sweet but with a backbone. She never wavers over the end of her engagement even when David comes begging her to take him back and makes a major revelation. Even though she questions her feelings for Joe given how quickly it all happens, she’s always cognizant of possibly hurting him and doesn’t want that. She even tries to make what she thinks is a selfless choice, but I adore how Joe turned the tables on her to show her just how much he truly loves her.

With Gansett Island being a long-running series, there are supporting characters aplenty, many of whom get their own books in the series. The McCarthy parents, Big Mac and Linda (Celebration After Dark) are there to support their kids, and this time around, Linda was more likable, even though I worried for a moment that she might be conspiring with David’s mom to push him and Janey back together. Mac and Maddie (Maid for Love) get several of their own POV scenes as we see them preparing for their wedding, and their relationship hits a small snag when Janey confides in Maddie who remains mum about what’s going on between Janey and Joe. The other three McCarthy brothers, Evan (Hoping for Love), Grant (Falling for Love), and Adam (Waiting for Love) return home for the wedding, and Maddie’s sister, Tiffany (Longing for Love) is seen in a couple of scenes. As I read, I wondered about what might happen to David. Although he was unfaithful to Janey and didn’t always treat her the way she deserved, he wasn’t a totally bad guy, and the author did end up giving him a sympathy factor. This made me curious if she might redeem him, and the answer is yes in the book, Time for Love. Then there’s Mac and Joe’s friend, Luke, who much like Joe, has been in love with a woman named Sydney for years. He gets one POV scene where he sneaks over to her house in hopes of getting a glimpse of her after she returns to the island following a devastating loss. Their book is the next one of the series, Ready for Love, which I very much look forward to reading. Of course, I’d also be remiss if I didn’t mention Janey’s menagerie of special needs pets who are just too cute for words.

If you can’t already tell, I absolutely loved Fool for Love. At first, I wasn’t sure about the insta-love plot (at least from Janey’s side), but Marie Force really sold it. Joe and Janey are simply perfect for one another. Joe is a to-die-for hero who’s kind, loyal, and not afraid to put his heart on the line, while Janey is sweet, strong, and knows what she wants out of life. Their love scenes are plentiful and steamy, while their romance is deeply emotional and gave me all the feels I look for in a romance. I loved the secondary storyline of Mac and Maddie’s wedding preparations, which helped tie the book into the greater series story arc, as well as the brief introduction to Luke and Sydney’s story that’s yet to come. With two big winners in a row, Marie Force has earned a spot on my favorite authors list and I can’t wait to continue the series soon. Star Rating: *****

If You Were Mine by Bella Andre -

The Highlander's Conquest by Eliza Knight -

Painted Montana Sky by Debra Holland -

Better Than Before by Kathryn Shay -

Lily by Lauren Royal -

The Color of a Dream by Julianne MacLean -

His Forbidden Touch by Shelly Thacker -

River's Bend by JoAnn Ross -

Passion's Exile by Glynnis Campbell -

[Jujubee]

Note: Boxed set to benefit Tails of Joy Animal Rescue
Fool for Love - Marie Force
If You Were Mine - Bella Andre
The Highlander's Conquest - Eliza Knight
Painted Montana Sky - Debra Holland
Better Than Before - Kathryn Shay
Lily - Lauren Royal
The Color of a Dream - Julianne MacLean
His Forbidden Touch - Shelly Thacker
River's Bend - JoAnn Ross
Passion's Exile - Glynnis Campbell

[Ms. Jerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Group of Books and also to Benefit Animal Rescue.

I really enjoyed every one of the books in this anthology. They were different and unique. I found some new authors that I am looking forward to checking out more of there books. Then some of my favorite authors had wonderful stories in the anthology. I would recommend this book to everyone. I do not think you will be disappointed and it is for a good cause. Two days ago our Black Lab Angel (12 years old) had a stroke. It was bad and we had to put her to sleep. We found her running on a very busy street when she was 7 months old. We tried to find out where she came from but never did. We already had two medium size dogs but I fell in love with her. We always took in rescued dogs and she was our last one. It is so strange to come home and Angel not be here. Our animal friends need our support. We thought of Angel as our child since our children are gone and she thought she was human. I really miss her.

[Nikki ♥ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Proceeds go to a great cause.

Fool for Love
3 stars - 2/2016
Second story in The McCarthy's of Gannett Island series by Marie Force. I enjoyed this one more than the first. Not sure if I'll continue with the series.

The Highlander's Conquest
2 stars - 7/ 2015
Don't remember what I didn't like about this one. I'm thinking the heroine was TSTL.

Working my way through the stories.

[Birgit · Rating 4 out of 5]

10 romance stories by different authors, for just about 1 or 2 Euros, and some of the proceeds going to animal charity - that alone would have been a reason to buy this book. Add to that a majority of well-written, witty, funny and quite long love stories, and you cannot go wrong. There were only about two stories I did not like quite that much, which does not mean they were badly written, they were just not my kind of romance story. The first four and the last two especially were brilliant.
What can I say - go and buy this! :)

[Margaret Transue · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved these stories. No two were the same, yet all had an animal as a part of the story. As an animal lover I found this added to my enjoyment. It took me longer to read these stories as I would read other books in between the stories. I can not recommend this group of authors and the reason they came together in this set of stories highly enough, loved them all!!

[Peni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Please see individual stories for review.