What do you think?
Rate this book
Love to the Rescue #1
Kein Plan für die Liebe
Cara Medlens Leben folgt einer einfachen Regel: Binde dich an nichts und niemanden! Zwar hat sie vor acht Jahren ihre Krebserkrankung erfolgreich besiegt, doch erst nach zehn Jahren ohne Rückfall – so die Statistik – wird sie als vollkommen geheilt gelten. Genau so lange hat Cara sich eins geschworen: In ihrem Leben wird es nichts geben, was von Dauer ist – selbst die Hunde, die sie aus dem Tierheim aufnimmt, gibt sie kurze Zeit später an vertrauensvolle Herrchen weiter. Doch als sie ihren Nachbarn Matt mit dem sexy Dreitagebart kennenlernt, muss sie feststellen, dass in der Liebe manchmal eben nicht alles nach Plan verläuft …
480 pages, Klappenbroschur
First published October 28, 2014
40 people are currently reading
1002 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Lacey
37 books2,391 followersRachel Lacey is an award-winning contemporary romance author and semi-reformed travel junkie. She's been climbed by a monkey on a mountain in Japan, gone scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef, and camped out overnight in New York City for a chance to be an extra in a movie. These days, the majority of her adventures take place on the pages of the books she writes. She lives in the mountains of Vermont with her family and a variety of rescue pets.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews
November 18, 2014
3.5 stars
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review
Cara has just gotten back from her childhood friend's funeral, a friend she went through chemo with. It's been eight years of remission for Cara and with the added reminder of her friend's death she refuses to really live her life until she hits that magical ten year mark. The problem is that her photography business is starting to take off with or without her permission, two of her foster dogs are beginning to feel more like furever pals, and her sexy neighbor Matt may just be the one capable of getting past her barriers. Matt also isn't looking for anything permanent, his mother is having some health scares, he is going to be relocating to Boston very soon, and he is dealing with a P.I. case that may be more than it seems. They may not have time for each other but they definitely need one another.
Due to her health issues and the psychological fear they caused, Cara was a very guarded character which in turn made her a little hard to warm up to. As the reader, I never felt like I was with her in her trials and tribulations but instead a distant observer. The emotion wasn't quite there as Cara kept up her brick wall for a lot of the story. It was through her interactions and banter with Matt that the reader gains a connection. There are a handful of extended scenes where Cara and Matt get to shine and I really began to enjoy the story, I just wish there could have been a little more. Matt started off and was set up to be a very interesting character and again I wished the story could have delved into him more. There was some meat to the tangents dealing with his mother and Marine days but especially with the IED bombing that derailed his career, I wanted it to be ingrained with a longer connection to the story. Instead it’s a kept secret that keeps him guarded, a one night kind of deflating explanation, and then never to be dealt with again. The reader really gets to know Cara and Matt when they are together but there is enough of the story where they are separate to keep from truly embracing them.
There was a lot happening in this book and while all the story threads imposed on the romance at times, they were also very well written and coherently flowed perfectly together. As a dog lover I particularly enjoyed all the dog talk and rescuing shelter and abused boxers; if you're also a fan of doggies then this book should definitely go on your to be read list. I think if the author could have cut one or two of the side stories, Matt's crazy client, his mother's stroke, or Cara trying to rescue the two neglected boxers and substituted it with more Matt and Cara time it would have improved the story immensely. There was also a great deal of starting and stopping kissing between Matt and Cara that reached borderline annoying and felt manipulated; a little throw back to the days of "I want you but I can't possibly have you!".
Overall, Unleashed was an enjoyable read with adorable dogs whose personalities shine through enough to make you wish you could adopt them, a plethora of life issues, and leads that have chemistry when together. Additionally, there are some secondary characters that make enough of a splash, mainly Cara's friend Merry who runs the boxer rescue, to cause some curiosity and make this series worth watching the calendar dates for.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review
Cara has just gotten back from her childhood friend's funeral, a friend she went through chemo with. It's been eight years of remission for Cara and with the added reminder of her friend's death she refuses to really live her life until she hits that magical ten year mark. The problem is that her photography business is starting to take off with or without her permission, two of her foster dogs are beginning to feel more like furever pals, and her sexy neighbor Matt may just be the one capable of getting past her barriers. Matt also isn't looking for anything permanent, his mother is having some health scares, he is going to be relocating to Boston very soon, and he is dealing with a P.I. case that may be more than it seems. They may not have time for each other but they definitely need one another.
Due to her health issues and the psychological fear they caused, Cara was a very guarded character which in turn made her a little hard to warm up to. As the reader, I never felt like I was with her in her trials and tribulations but instead a distant observer. The emotion wasn't quite there as Cara kept up her brick wall for a lot of the story. It was through her interactions and banter with Matt that the reader gains a connection. There are a handful of extended scenes where Cara and Matt get to shine and I really began to enjoy the story, I just wish there could have been a little more. Matt started off and was set up to be a very interesting character and again I wished the story could have delved into him more. There was some meat to the tangents dealing with his mother and Marine days but especially with the IED bombing that derailed his career, I wanted it to be ingrained with a longer connection to the story. Instead it’s a kept secret that keeps him guarded, a one night kind of deflating explanation, and then never to be dealt with again. The reader really gets to know Cara and Matt when they are together but there is enough of the story where they are separate to keep from truly embracing them.
There was a lot happening in this book and while all the story threads imposed on the romance at times, they were also very well written and coherently flowed perfectly together. As a dog lover I particularly enjoyed all the dog talk and rescuing shelter and abused boxers; if you're also a fan of doggies then this book should definitely go on your to be read list. I think if the author could have cut one or two of the side stories, Matt's crazy client, his mother's stroke, or Cara trying to rescue the two neglected boxers and substituted it with more Matt and Cara time it would have improved the story immensely. There was also a great deal of starting and stopping kissing between Matt and Cara that reached borderline annoying and felt manipulated; a little throw back to the days of "I want you but I can't possibly have you!".
Overall, Unleashed was an enjoyable read with adorable dogs whose personalities shine through enough to make you wish you could adopt them, a plethora of life issues, and leads that have chemistry when together. Additionally, there are some secondary characters that make enough of a splash, mainly Cara's friend Merry who runs the boxer rescue, to cause some curiosity and make this series worth watching the calendar dates for.
May 28, 2019
Cara Medlen foster dogs and help the local shelter, while also working as a nanny. She's a cancer survivor who lost a friend before and is afraid to make plans for the future. In fact, she put her dreams and her life on standby. She just have to wait two more years for the marking of the ten year cancer free and then she'll allow herself to embrace life to the fullest and maybe commit to someone.
After seeing so many different dogs passed in his neighbor's backyard, private investigator Matt Dumont is beginning to think something shady is going on there. Things doesn't begin on a good start for Cara and Matt but it's soon obvious they got the hots for each other. It's just that the timing couldn't be worst. She have her own issues and he's planning on moving out soon, to go to Boston, to be near his mother who lately have health problems and start a new business with his brother. But when Cara is in hot water with complaints about her foster dogs and suspect that other canines could be in trouble, her hororable neighbor will be there to help her, whether it's for a roadtrip or a stakeout.
I didn't find a way to insert the fact that Matt is a former marine so there, I said it😏. I had a great time reading this book but some people might think there wasn't enough romance because a lot of the time is spend on the heroine's rescue dogs and the difficulties she encounter, and for the fact Matt doesn't want to start anything with her because he's leaving soon. But I can't be unhappy reading about dogs and especially how the hero naturally appreciate each dogs that Cara present him and give them attention.
"Sadie burst past her like a fawn-colored bat out of hell and catapulted into Matt's chest. He bent to her level for a quick pat, then straightened.
"Easy, there, Sadie; no slobber on the penguin suit.""
And finally, the hero's investigation about a cheater bring something pretty interesting to the story and revelations I didn't see coming.
After seeing so many different dogs passed in his neighbor's backyard, private investigator Matt Dumont is beginning to think something shady is going on there. Things doesn't begin on a good start for Cara and Matt but it's soon obvious they got the hots for each other. It's just that the timing couldn't be worst. She have her own issues and he's planning on moving out soon, to go to Boston, to be near his mother who lately have health problems and start a new business with his brother. But when Cara is in hot water with complaints about her foster dogs and suspect that other canines could be in trouble, her hororable neighbor will be there to help her, whether it's for a roadtrip or a stakeout.
I didn't find a way to insert the fact that Matt is a former marine so there, I said it😏. I had a great time reading this book but some people might think there wasn't enough romance because a lot of the time is spend on the heroine's rescue dogs and the difficulties she encounter, and for the fact Matt doesn't want to start anything with her because he's leaving soon. But I can't be unhappy reading about dogs and especially how the hero naturally appreciate each dogs that Cara present him and give them attention.
"Sadie burst past her like a fawn-colored bat out of hell and catapulted into Matt's chest. He bent to her level for a quick pat, then straightened.
"Easy, there, Sadie; no slobber on the penguin suit.""
And finally, the hero's investigation about a cheater bring something pretty interesting to the story and revelations I didn't see coming.
August 9, 2020
Poor Cara Medlen. Her neighbors hate her foster dogs and are trying to force her to give them up. Then she loses her nanny job when the mom she's working for loses her job. Now she needs a new job and a new place to live if she's going to save the life of a dog with cancer, which is greatly important since Cara is a cancer survivor herself. She doesn't date, which is too bad, because her attractive detective neighbor seems to like her. Too bad he's moving.
Good riddance to bad neighbors, who characterize one dog growling at another as an "attack," and want to change the condo complex's bylaws to forbid fostering of pets. Cara is a great, authentic, sympathetic character. She's afraid to date or to pursue her dreams of a career in photography until she's been in remission for 10 years (since then there's a 95% chance it won't come back). She's been avoiding living a full life due to her fear, but thankfully neighbor/future boyfriend Matt is too sweet and attractive for her to resist.
Good riddance to bad neighbors, who characterize one dog growling at another as an "attack," and want to change the condo complex's bylaws to forbid fostering of pets. Cara is a great, authentic, sympathetic character. She's afraid to date or to pursue her dreams of a career in photography until she's been in remission for 10 years (since then there's a 95% chance it won't come back). She's been avoiding living a full life due to her fear, but thankfully neighbor/future boyfriend Matt is too sweet and attractive for her to resist.
February 2, 2015
3.5 stars
For a romance story, there were a lot of things going on in here, which unfortunately for me, sort of pushed the romance into the background most of the times. While I thought the storyline with the animal rescue as very well done -- in fact I thought it was the strength of this book, and I enjoyed all of the scenes involving the animals -- the others made the romance between Cara and Matt as lukewarm at best.
I really could do without the insane client (which also resulted in a little bit violent for the tone of this story) or Matt's mother's health issue. I mean, those two problems pretty much made Cara and Matt 'separated' ... and I thought I would believe in their romance better if I saw them connecting more. In addition, the whole idea about a deadline in their romance -- Cara refused to commit before reaching the ten-years mark of her cancer remission while Matt didn't want to get serious because he was moving to Boston -- also affecting my lack of believe in their progress of falling in love.
Having said that, I would definitely read the next book because of the animal factors. Plus the next story is about Merry, Cara's best friend who owns the Triangle Boxer Rescue.
For a romance story, there were a lot of things going on in here, which unfortunately for me, sort of pushed the romance into the background most of the times. While I thought the storyline with the animal rescue as very well done -- in fact I thought it was the strength of this book, and I enjoyed all of the scenes involving the animals -- the others made the romance between Cara and Matt as lukewarm at best.
I really could do without the insane client (which also resulted in a little bit violent for the tone of this story) or Matt's mother's health issue. I mean, those two problems pretty much made Cara and Matt 'separated' ... and I thought I would believe in their romance better if I saw them connecting more. In addition, the whole idea about a deadline in their romance -- Cara refused to commit before reaching the ten-years mark of her cancer remission while Matt didn't want to get serious because he was moving to Boston -- also affecting my lack of believe in their progress of falling in love.
Having said that, I would definitely read the next book because of the animal factors. Plus the next story is about Merry, Cara's best friend who owns the Triangle Boxer Rescue.
December 11, 2018
Well after reading three awesome animal rescue books by Debbie Burns I thought this one might keep the mood going but alas not. For one I am sure it was realistic but I didn't like reading about animals being put down coz they couldn't be adopted. That just hurts my animal loving hurt even if I know that happens IRL. Also the heroine was crazy stubborn and stupid waiting to be cancer free 10 years to live her life. The romance also was meh and lacking. PI hero is her neighbour and about to leave town, they said we won't do anything, then later sleep together, then nothing and suddenly we have declarations of love and h leaving her town? It just made no sense whatsoever.
June 24, 2015
Liked the idea but it seemed very slow and exceptionally wordy. Not sure this author is for me.
October 31, 2014
Unleashed is a fun and contemporary romance, filled with a very important message about life. There are no guarantees in life. Even if you’re happy and healthy today, you could be sick and miserable the next. We mustn’t live every day like it’s our last, or wait until something seems ‘safe’. Rather, we must go after the things that we want and live a life of happiness, joy and be open to the possibility of love.
As I finished reading Unleashed, my eyes glistened with happy tears. It was a fun, contemporary romance, but was filled with a very important message about life. Twenty-eight year old Cara Medlen has put her life on hold for the last eight years, waiting until she she hits the ten year mark, the point where the doctors can basically declare her cancer-free. She’s only got two more years before she will allow herself to do the things that will undoubtedly make her happy. Until that times comes, she doesn’t want to get too involved in anything or with anyone that would be left devastated if the cancer came back and she were to lose her battle.
Being in remission from cancer doesn’t just affect Cara’s health, but every aspect of her life. She’s chosen a career of nannying over her dream career of being a photographer. She refuses to let any man close enough to her heart and into her life. She fosters dogs that have been abandoned, nurses them back to health and gives them to a happy family and a loving ‘forever’ home, but never takes one in to her own home to be her own ‘forever’ dog. Will she ever be able to stop putting her life on hold until it’s ‘safe’ to live it? Will she ever realize that there are no guarantees in life or love and that she’s wasting precious time not living the life she could be and experiencing the joys that she desperately wants?
Matt Dumont is no better off when it comes to being open to falling in love. He’s in no position to let someone important into his life and tends to have a difficult time trusting people, especially women. Matt is a Private Investigator that specializes in cheating spouse cases, a topic that’s close to his heart after being blind sighted by a cheating girlfriend while overseas serving on the Marines. He’s since gotten over his ex-girlfriend, but he still hasn’t quite recovered from being betrayed by someone he trusted and cared about. Despite his past relationship issues, Matt’s a gentleman to the core and is honorable when it comes to relationships. Which is a particularly annoying yet admirable trait once sparks fly between him and his next-door neighbor Cara.
I loved the dynamic relationship that brews between Cara and Matt and I enjoyed every minute of reading this novel. Unleashed makes you think about the fact that there are no guarantees in life. Even if you’re happy and healthy today, you could be sick and miserable the next. We mustn’t live every day like it’s our last, or wait until something seems ‘safe’. Rather, we must go after the things that we want and live a life of happiness, joy and be open to the possibility of love. There is never a right or wrong time in life to do what you want and let love in, therefore we must strive everyday to try to do those things now and stop waiting.
Unleashed made me want to rescue two dogs (and maybe a cat or two) and give loving animals a ‘forever’ home. One day, when I’m out on my own and have the time and space to devote to animals, I will certainly consider adopting rescued pets. Unleashed is the debut novel by author Rachel Lacey and is the first novel in the ‘Love to the Rescue’ series. I look forward to reading For Keeps, the second novel in the series and will put anything Lacey writes in the future on my TBR list!
As I finished reading Unleashed, my eyes glistened with happy tears. It was a fun, contemporary romance, but was filled with a very important message about life. Twenty-eight year old Cara Medlen has put her life on hold for the last eight years, waiting until she she hits the ten year mark, the point where the doctors can basically declare her cancer-free. She’s only got two more years before she will allow herself to do the things that will undoubtedly make her happy. Until that times comes, she doesn’t want to get too involved in anything or with anyone that would be left devastated if the cancer came back and she were to lose her battle.
Being in remission from cancer doesn’t just affect Cara’s health, but every aspect of her life. She’s chosen a career of nannying over her dream career of being a photographer. She refuses to let any man close enough to her heart and into her life. She fosters dogs that have been abandoned, nurses them back to health and gives them to a happy family and a loving ‘forever’ home, but never takes one in to her own home to be her own ‘forever’ dog. Will she ever be able to stop putting her life on hold until it’s ‘safe’ to live it? Will she ever realize that there are no guarantees in life or love and that she’s wasting precious time not living the life she could be and experiencing the joys that she desperately wants?
Matt Dumont is no better off when it comes to being open to falling in love. He’s in no position to let someone important into his life and tends to have a difficult time trusting people, especially women. Matt is a Private Investigator that specializes in cheating spouse cases, a topic that’s close to his heart after being blind sighted by a cheating girlfriend while overseas serving on the Marines. He’s since gotten over his ex-girlfriend, but he still hasn’t quite recovered from being betrayed by someone he trusted and cared about. Despite his past relationship issues, Matt’s a gentleman to the core and is honorable when it comes to relationships. Which is a particularly annoying yet admirable trait once sparks fly between him and his next-door neighbor Cara.
I loved the dynamic relationship that brews between Cara and Matt and I enjoyed every minute of reading this novel. Unleashed makes you think about the fact that there are no guarantees in life. Even if you’re happy and healthy today, you could be sick and miserable the next. We mustn’t live every day like it’s our last, or wait until something seems ‘safe’. Rather, we must go after the things that we want and live a life of happiness, joy and be open to the possibility of love. There is never a right or wrong time in life to do what you want and let love in, therefore we must strive everyday to try to do those things now and stop waiting.
Unleashed made me want to rescue two dogs (and maybe a cat or two) and give loving animals a ‘forever’ home. One day, when I’m out on my own and have the time and space to devote to animals, I will certainly consider adopting rescued pets. Unleashed is the debut novel by author Rachel Lacey and is the first novel in the ‘Love to the Rescue’ series. I look forward to reading For Keeps, the second novel in the series and will put anything Lacey writes in the future on my TBR list!
February 11, 2016
Cara got on my nerves most of the book. See, the story is, she is a cancer survivor and feels like she can't make plans, get attached to anything, etc until she has been cancer free for 10 years. She's made it 8. I just didn't like that attitude. Be glad you are alive and LIVE dammit!
It takes a close call before Cara wakes up and decides to LIVE. I did like that she was a cancer survivor. I also liked the dynamic of meeting like they did when they did. Once Cara (and Matt) make up their minds on what they want, it is smooth sailing.
Nice twists with the dog rescue and Matt's PI client. I liked Merry and will read her book soon.
It takes a close call before Cara wakes up and decides to LIVE. I did like that she was a cancer survivor. I also liked the dynamic of meeting like they did when they did. Once Cara (and Matt) make up their minds on what they want, it is smooth sailing.
Nice twists with the dog rescue and Matt's PI client. I liked Merry and will read her book soon.
Read
September 17, 2014DNf half way through. It started out very cute, but it's become boring. The hero and heroine dance around one another, which is way too annoying. Nothing much happens, although the premise of the heroine fostering dogs for adoption is a nice concept. I just wish it was more engaging and not so flat.
December 26, 2014
*I received a complimentary copy from the Publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
This book was a languid stroll down romance lane.
Matt the super hot PI neighbor is every girl fantasy of a modern white night… with a couple of trust issues, specially related to women.
Cara, a photographer at heart that makes a living out of being a nanny and rescuing shelter dogs, has had a serious medical condition that she is still carrying on, and will only start really living when she is sure it won’t get in her way.
She had been avoiding him for a year; he never made the effort to meet her. Now when Matt is moving away, they just can’t help themselves, and even when it’s against their better judgment, things just happen.
At points, I found myself fast-reading because although I myself have a shelter dog, I wanted to read more about them as a couple, and a little less about the animals. The pace of the book is fairly slow, and I’ll admit that at other times this might have made me skim… a lot, but I was really enjoying the storyline and I especially liked that we get to see their feelings for each other blossom with every interaction.
Apart they’ve been content at best. Together they can overcome all their problems. This is a book to enjoy on a lazy Sunday preferably while staying in your pjs.
This book was a languid stroll down romance lane.
Matt the super hot PI neighbor is every girl fantasy of a modern white night… with a couple of trust issues, specially related to women.
Cara, a photographer at heart that makes a living out of being a nanny and rescuing shelter dogs, has had a serious medical condition that she is still carrying on, and will only start really living when she is sure it won’t get in her way.
She had been avoiding him for a year; he never made the effort to meet her. Now when Matt is moving away, they just can’t help themselves, and even when it’s against their better judgment, things just happen.
At points, I found myself fast-reading because although I myself have a shelter dog, I wanted to read more about them as a couple, and a little less about the animals. The pace of the book is fairly slow, and I’ll admit that at other times this might have made me skim… a lot, but I was really enjoying the storyline and I especially liked that we get to see their feelings for each other blossom with every interaction.
Apart they’ve been content at best. Together they can overcome all their problems. This is a book to enjoy on a lazy Sunday preferably while staying in your pjs.
November 1, 2014
UNLEASHED is a truly warm and engaging Debut from Rachel Lacey.
I started UNLEASHED thinking "Oh this will be just a light-hearted, Sweet and Sexy Contemporary with cute dogs...boy was I wrong. It was emotional, and had a way of wrapping each one of my heartstrings up and giving a good firm tug.
Cara was afraid and I could certainly feel for her, I personally stopped eating cheesecake for YEARS after I got a stomach flu one Christmas (Yes, I blamed the cheesecake), but she has a good reason to be afraid to move on, afraid to really LIVE and LOVE and the fact that her good friend just passed away doesn't help.
Matt has plans, finish this last case and he is gone, but somehow those plans get pushed to the side for one beautiful, funny and caring neighbor (and you won't want to miss their first or second meeting...haha) But when Cara stirs the pot and the case starts to blow up in his face...let's say Matt is stuck between loyalty and what feels like it might be "love".
Not to be missed...UNLEASHED will tie you up in knots for sure! Fans of Jane Graves and Kristan Higgins will want to grab this one up!
I started UNLEASHED thinking "Oh this will be just a light-hearted, Sweet and Sexy Contemporary with cute dogs...boy was I wrong. It was emotional, and had a way of wrapping each one of my heartstrings up and giving a good firm tug.
Cara was afraid and I could certainly feel for her, I personally stopped eating cheesecake for YEARS after I got a stomach flu one Christmas (Yes, I blamed the cheesecake), but she has a good reason to be afraid to move on, afraid to really LIVE and LOVE and the fact that her good friend just passed away doesn't help.
Matt has plans, finish this last case and he is gone, but somehow those plans get pushed to the side for one beautiful, funny and caring neighbor (and you won't want to miss their first or second meeting...haha) But when Cara stirs the pot and the case starts to blow up in his face...let's say Matt is stuck between loyalty and what feels like it might be "love".
Not to be missed...UNLEASHED will tie you up in knots for sure! Fans of Jane Graves and Kristan Higgins will want to grab this one up!
October 11, 2016
Die Handlung:
Cara hat ein Problem sich auf Beziehungen einzulassen, ihr Leben richtig anzugehen, denn sie betrachtet sich erst als geheilt, 10 Jahren nach ihrem besiegten Lymphom, 2 Jahre fehlen noch.
Bevor Matt, der RSF (rattenscharfe Typ), ihr Nachbar wegzieht um seine Mutter zu unterstützen, kommen die beiden in Kontakt. Besonders verdächtigt für Matt sind Caras ständig wechselnde Hunde, bildet sie sie gar zu Kampfhunden aus??
Als Privatermittler muss er das natürlich herausfinden....
Kurzmeinung:
Besonders mochte ich, dass Cara Tiere zu sich aus dem Tierheim holt und sie aufpäppelt, bevor sie wieder zu neuen Leuten kommen. Eigentlich mochte ich auch Cara und Matt, aber ihre Beziehung konnte mich jetzt nicht vollkommen überzeugen, genauso wie das ganze Buch. Nett, aber mehr auch nicht, eher noch ein bißchen mit der Tendenz nach unten. Warum auch zum Schluss immer was passieren, bis man sich "Ich liebe dich" sagen kann? Insgesamt war doch vieles extrem vorhersehbar....
2,5 Sterne gibt es daher von mir. Ich weiß wirklich nicht, ob ich die Reihe weiterverfolge, hätte gehofft, die Autorin kann mich mehr begeistern.
December 10, 2014
I received this book from Netgalley for the purpose of an honest review. I started this one because I knew it had just been released and I was slow in reviewing it. I was so happy I did. Not only is it set in North Carolina (which I love) but it's a great story. There's a lot going on in this one. You have the romance between Cara and Matt, you have the storyline following dog rescues, and there's an underlying storyline dealing with more. I won't say the more so that you can figure it out on your own. This is book one in the Love the Rescue series. I'm eager to read more in this series! The secondary characters including the dogs and cats are cute and add an extra touch to the story. The setting is realistic and believable. The characters are realistic and engaging. I found this one to be delightful and am eager to read more from Rachel Lacey. I highly recommend this one to any fan of contemporary romance, great characters, a realistic story, and a wonderful cast of animals. You'll fall in love!
January 12, 2015
This is the next book you need in your life!
Not only is it as charming and sweet as the cover implies, but the hero is also deliciously HOT (and not in the I CAN'T STAY AWAY FROM YOU BECAUSE I MAY OR MAY NOT BE UNSTABLE way). Yet, there are plenty of elements of danger to keep you turning the pages. From neglected dogs to trespassing to Matt's PI job. But the elements of the story never overshadow the hero and heroine's lives. They are real, they are grounded, and Matt's cool confidence makes for one of the sexiest heroes I've ever read.
It's a small-town contemporary that will tug your heartstrings until you unravel, then make you want to charge out into the world and adopt a dog...and maybe a man to go with it.
Not only is it as charming and sweet as the cover implies, but the hero is also deliciously HOT (and not in the I CAN'T STAY AWAY FROM YOU BECAUSE I MAY OR MAY NOT BE UNSTABLE way). Yet, there are plenty of elements of danger to keep you turning the pages. From neglected dogs to trespassing to Matt's PI job. But the elements of the story never overshadow the hero and heroine's lives. They are real, they are grounded, and Matt's cool confidence makes for one of the sexiest heroes I've ever read.
It's a small-town contemporary that will tug your heartstrings until you unravel, then make you want to charge out into the world and adopt a dog...and maybe a man to go with it.
October 20, 2014
How to describe Matt, well hes' a smarta**, "he raised an eyebrow. "Actually, I cook quite well. Just don't find much use for it when it's only me at the dinner table." The chemistry between Matt and Cara is off the charts, "thanks for dinner, and for helping us out. Really, if you get us the evidence to get those dogs seized, I won't even know how to thank you." Her warm eyes shone up at him as they stood on her front porch. Matt gave her a devilish grin. Seriously, did she say these things just to drive him crazy?" He can sometimes be a little flirtatious, "we clothes are no good." When he looked back up, his expression had taken a wicked gleam again. "You know, it's better to conserve body heat when you're skin to skin." I really enjoyed this book it was entertaining.
June 7, 2015
Unleashed (Love to the Rescue, #1).... I will be picking #2 rescue Novel : For Keeps !!
Rachael Lacey tugged at my heart: her first book dedicated in Memory of her Mom... ( being a daughter & a mother: I imagine & sure she is very proud of you writing this book and its result !!!! )
I'm Adding Rachel Lacey on my list of fav authors !!!
Romantic, Suspenseful, funny, and love the camaraderie with her friends and the dedication to the cause for animals.
If I write anymore on this one I am afraid I will end up giving away spoilers ... so pick up your copy or get it from the library... you won't be sorry !!!
I noticed on the front and back cover of Unleashed by Rachel Lacey : Lori Wilde and Jill Shalvis names of endorsement .
Rachael Lacey tugged at my heart: her first book dedicated in Memory of her Mom... ( being a daughter & a mother: I imagine & sure she is very proud of you writing this book and its result !!!! )
I'm Adding Rachel Lacey on my list of fav authors !!!
Romantic, Suspenseful, funny, and love the camaraderie with her friends and the dedication to the cause for animals.
If I write anymore on this one I am afraid I will end up giving away spoilers ... so pick up your copy or get it from the library... you won't be sorry !!!
I noticed on the front and back cover of Unleashed by Rachel Lacey : Lori Wilde and Jill Shalvis names of endorsement .
October 1, 2015
OMG THIS BOOK! ALL THE DOGS!!!
I luurrrrrve this!
I want to be BFFs with Cara. Man, what a great MC. To be completely fair, there were a couple of times she irritated me, but they weren't enough to make me like her less. She's an animal person, people. She loves her dogs, volunteers at the animal shelter, saves other pets from horrible condition. How can I not love her???
Matt is a pretty cool dude, too. The way he cared for his Mom, for Cara and her dogs warmed my heart.
There were loads of sexual tension, the sex scenes were HOT and well written.
This contemporary romance deserves 5 stars.
I luurrrrrve this!
I want to be BFFs with Cara. Man, what a great MC. To be completely fair, there were a couple of times she irritated me, but they weren't enough to make me like her less. She's an animal person, people. She loves her dogs, volunteers at the animal shelter, saves other pets from horrible condition. How can I not love her???
Matt is a pretty cool dude, too. The way he cared for his Mom, for Cara and her dogs warmed my heart.
There were loads of sexual tension, the sex scenes were HOT and well written.
This contemporary romance deserves 5 stars.
December 1, 2014
If you like a fun and flirty romance you have to read Unleashed. To top it off, there's dogs (and cats)! The story of Cara and Matt is so touching and I found it to be very realistic. What Cara was going through--without giving away any spoilers- is something I'd imagine is a real worry for those going through a similar thing. I love the spark between the characters, too!
I recommend Unleashed and will be putting all Rachel's books on my TBR list!
I recommend Unleashed and will be putting all Rachel's books on my TBR list!
March 21, 2015
I received this book quite unexpectedly from Katy Budget Books with an order I place.
It was a wonderful story of finding love at the "wrong" time. I enjoyed getting to know both Cara and Matt. Neither character nor the story was predictable which was very enjoyable! The story moved along at a good pace and kept you interested as to what was happening in their lives.
I'm looking forward to the next book in the series!
It was a wonderful story of finding love at the "wrong" time. I enjoyed getting to know both Cara and Matt. Neither character nor the story was predictable which was very enjoyable! The story moved along at a good pace and kept you interested as to what was happening in their lives.
I'm looking forward to the next book in the series!
November 20, 2014
It was an okay book. I just felt like it was pulling in too many different directions. I also thought that the ending was a bit much. I think that having him have a case without ... well... I'll leave it blank, because spoilers, but seriously? It was too much. I also felt that the main character's plots were too contrived.
June 19, 2017
This was such an endearing book! A sweet romance with moments of HOT! I loved both the hero and heroine, both flawed and still so likable and relatable. The characters felt real, the romance organic, and the happily ever after was just, just right. Congratulations, Rachel!
Go read it!
Go read it!
May 27, 2015
This is a wonderful story. I very much enjoyed the characters, especially love the dogs. I'm looking forward to read her next book.
November 1, 2014
I won Unleashed in a GR giveaway.
I had stopped participating in GR giveaways because it has been forever since I won one, but I loved the cover so I did my clicking and voila, a package on my doorstep.
I bring up the cover because I love the cover. Everyone is clothed, everyone is happy, and there is a puppy. What is not to love about a puppy on a cover. And in their world it is fall/winter. I love fall and am glad to see the pretty leaves on the cover, even though it is really more winter. After reading the book I found that for a change the circumstances depicted on the cover actually fit what happened in the book. Go figure.
But enough rhapsodizing over the cover. I won’t quite rhapsodize over the contents between the cover, but pretty close.
At a setup, the book does pretty well. You start reading it and stuff is happening. Cara Medlen, our heroine, is taking home a foster pup. This is not a cutie pie, no issues 12-week-old ball of fluff, but a dog with issues, a dog that has lost hope, a dog with reservations about the world in general. Come to find out, those same descriptors could be used about our heroine to one degree or another.
In the beginning, there are instances of what I would call Vaguebooking if we were reading status updates on Facebook. Allusions to bad times, allusions to circumstances not yet revealed. Huge pet peeve of mine, both on Facebook and in books. My biggest issue is a lot of times the allusions are never clarified, they have nothing in the text of the book to explain what that illusory allusion was all about. That does not become an issue in this book. Allusions are explained, giving meat to the story and characters’ actions.
Our hero, Matt Dumont, lives next door to Cara and has for a long bit of time, but he has never actually met her. She keeps herself aloof, friendly but apart, from her neighbors. Matt witness’s what he considers to be suspicious circumstances and is concerned. He questions the neighbors in their townhome community and realizes that even though she has been there for a long time, nobody really knows her. As a private investigator, this makes Matt a bit concerned even after he finds out the real reason for her actions from a neighbor. (Okay, so Vaguebooking is the only way to go when trying to do a nonspoilery review).
Suffice it to say, everything is cleared up, Matt and Cara have a meet-not-so-cute but nicely round it off with meet cuter and some fun actions and dialogue.
A bit of Googling confirmed that Ms. Lacey is a new author with Unleashed being the beginning of a three-book series. I bring this up because as I am reading it, the authors that she most remind me of Susan Mallery and Sherryl Woods and a bit of Jill Shalvis. This has its good and bad parts, but overall it is a very positive reaction on my part. But I did have some issues with the typical series setups and workarounds.
For the positive, the characters have interesting jobs. Cara is a nanny for money but does pet photography and fostering for her soul. The fostering is a payback for good deeds and love given during a trying time in her life as a teen. The photography is something she would like to do for a living someday, but the nanny gigs pay for the photography and fostering. Matt is a private investigator. A Marine who came home to find out his SO was not faithful, I think he enjoys (no, I know it because he said so) finding the cheating philanderers and making them pay a price to their jilted SOs. I enjoyed seeing something other than doctor/nurse/entrepreneur/never-quite-explained working person careers.
The other positives include this is a respectful and mature couple. Except for the opening few pages, there is no big MIS. You have a man and a woman who have experienced life’s trials and tribulations so they know how to have a mature conversation, and they do. They interact and it is not just instalust. A bit of instalust (but come on, he has been lusting for year so I don’t know that I should preface it with “insta.”) He is honest about the fact that he will be moving away soon and is not going to be around for the long haul so he doesn’t want to start something he can’t finish. She has priorities, goals (maybe not of the healthy, positive sort) that are meaningful to her, that she has lived her life by for eight years and doesn’t want to veer from that path for deeply personal, if hard-to-understand) reasons.
Bottom line, I liked the characters. There is nothing not to like. They love their parents, they love animals, and they know how to deal head on with situations that pop up in their lives. And they don’t have to agree on everything.
The other thing I liked is there was a lot going on in this book. A lot. People are making life changes. Houses are being put on the market. (One quibble, Cara puts her house on the market with as much effort as most people put into choosing what deodorant to buy. Come on, people. A person who fosters dog after dog needs to at least bitch and moan about how many hours it takes her to clean her house to be able to have an agent come look at it let alone put a sign in the front yard. Granted, not sexy times fixing chewed doors and carpet with dog stank, but at least give it a nod and have her say, oh, I spent the weekend from Heloise hell getting that place clean.) Jobs are lost. Jobs are presenting frustrations. There is reality (contemp romance reality, but reality) and it is handled well and believably.
Now for the not as positive. I hesitate to say “negative” because they really aren’t negative but things I get a bit irritated with. Not irritated to dump the genre, but irritated. This arc where the couple knows each other (and I mean knows at least the other’s name) and then they fall in love is very compressed. Extremely compressed. Painfully compressed. Yes, they have situations that draw them together. Yes, some of them could have been life changing. Yes, they have each dealt with life on every level both separately and together. But geez, Louise, this was quick. And then, Cara is the one at the end who makes the most fundamental life changes. Yeah, Matt’s life changes – and they were major – had been put into play before the meet-not-so-cute. And yeah, the “deciding event” around Matt was big. But so were some lesser deciding events around Cara. I just feel the fallback of the heroine seemingly giving up more was too easily reached here and no explanations or thought processes were shared. It didn’t have to be a big deal, but I at least wanted to “hear” the conversation before decisions were made. And the proposal, very abrupt and not in character to me of either Matt or Cara. But it is a contemp romance and sometimes you have to go with that. I don’t know that I would have liked an agonizing physical separation for them, either, but a little more angst in this particular spot would have worked for me.
I love a series. I have read more Fools Gold and Lucky Harbor and Charleston Harbor and and and and than I care to remember. I am glad this is a series. But sometimes when you read a book and you know it is a series, you start seeing series bait. Oh, is this BFF going to have a book. Oh, wait, his brother is being introduced tangentially and some issues are being raised, but he is living in Boston. Hmmm. Oh, this bartender, next hero for forever for someone. Yeah, definitely a me issue. And I didn’t get this vibe too strongly. But I got it. Of course, in my ARC there is a tidbit of the next in the series. Gotta say, I loved it. Definitely going to be the next one on my list to add to my almost criminal TBR. But seeing who the next story was going to be about definitely made me wonder about the third installment.
My general things I put on every review. The editing was great. The proofing was wonderful. I think I remember a typo or two, but it is an ARC so that may have been cleaned up. But even if they aren’t cleaned up, there was nothing egregious, offensive or bad enough to pull you out of the story and make those of us who fume about such things fume. It is not a “let’s do it on the sleeping porch while our BFFs are finishing drinks in the parlor” sort of book. Yes, there is sex and it is not behind the door but it is not the kind of stuff that makes you rush to Sir Google to see if that is a “thing.” I will say I am not the best sex scene reviewer because I generally skim them or jump over them. To each his own.
I had stopped participating in GR giveaways because it has been forever since I won one, but I loved the cover so I did my clicking and voila, a package on my doorstep.
I bring up the cover because I love the cover. Everyone is clothed, everyone is happy, and there is a puppy. What is not to love about a puppy on a cover. And in their world it is fall/winter. I love fall and am glad to see the pretty leaves on the cover, even though it is really more winter. After reading the book I found that for a change the circumstances depicted on the cover actually fit what happened in the book. Go figure.
But enough rhapsodizing over the cover. I won’t quite rhapsodize over the contents between the cover, but pretty close.
At a setup, the book does pretty well. You start reading it and stuff is happening. Cara Medlen, our heroine, is taking home a foster pup. This is not a cutie pie, no issues 12-week-old ball of fluff, but a dog with issues, a dog that has lost hope, a dog with reservations about the world in general. Come to find out, those same descriptors could be used about our heroine to one degree or another.
In the beginning, there are instances of what I would call Vaguebooking if we were reading status updates on Facebook. Allusions to bad times, allusions to circumstances not yet revealed. Huge pet peeve of mine, both on Facebook and in books. My biggest issue is a lot of times the allusions are never clarified, they have nothing in the text of the book to explain what that illusory allusion was all about. That does not become an issue in this book. Allusions are explained, giving meat to the story and characters’ actions.
Our hero, Matt Dumont, lives next door to Cara and has for a long bit of time, but he has never actually met her. She keeps herself aloof, friendly but apart, from her neighbors. Matt witness’s what he considers to be suspicious circumstances and is concerned. He questions the neighbors in their townhome community and realizes that even though she has been there for a long time, nobody really knows her. As a private investigator, this makes Matt a bit concerned even after he finds out the real reason for her actions from a neighbor. (Okay, so Vaguebooking is the only way to go when trying to do a nonspoilery review).
Suffice it to say, everything is cleared up, Matt and Cara have a meet-not-so-cute but nicely round it off with meet cuter and some fun actions and dialogue.
A bit of Googling confirmed that Ms. Lacey is a new author with Unleashed being the beginning of a three-book series. I bring this up because as I am reading it, the authors that she most remind me of Susan Mallery and Sherryl Woods and a bit of Jill Shalvis. This has its good and bad parts, but overall it is a very positive reaction on my part. But I did have some issues with the typical series setups and workarounds.
For the positive, the characters have interesting jobs. Cara is a nanny for money but does pet photography and fostering for her soul. The fostering is a payback for good deeds and love given during a trying time in her life as a teen. The photography is something she would like to do for a living someday, but the nanny gigs pay for the photography and fostering. Matt is a private investigator. A Marine who came home to find out his SO was not faithful, I think he enjoys (no, I know it because he said so) finding the cheating philanderers and making them pay a price to their jilted SOs. I enjoyed seeing something other than doctor/nurse/entrepreneur/never-quite-explained working person careers.
The other positives include this is a respectful and mature couple. Except for the opening few pages, there is no big MIS. You have a man and a woman who have experienced life’s trials and tribulations so they know how to have a mature conversation, and they do. They interact and it is not just instalust. A bit of instalust (but come on, he has been lusting for year so I don’t know that I should preface it with “insta.”) He is honest about the fact that he will be moving away soon and is not going to be around for the long haul so he doesn’t want to start something he can’t finish. She has priorities, goals (maybe not of the healthy, positive sort) that are meaningful to her, that she has lived her life by for eight years and doesn’t want to veer from that path for deeply personal, if hard-to-understand) reasons.
Bottom line, I liked the characters. There is nothing not to like. They love their parents, they love animals, and they know how to deal head on with situations that pop up in their lives. And they don’t have to agree on everything.
The other thing I liked is there was a lot going on in this book. A lot. People are making life changes. Houses are being put on the market. (One quibble, Cara puts her house on the market with as much effort as most people put into choosing what deodorant to buy. Come on, people. A person who fosters dog after dog needs to at least bitch and moan about how many hours it takes her to clean her house to be able to have an agent come look at it let alone put a sign in the front yard. Granted, not sexy times fixing chewed doors and carpet with dog stank, but at least give it a nod and have her say, oh, I spent the weekend from Heloise hell getting that place clean.) Jobs are lost. Jobs are presenting frustrations. There is reality (contemp romance reality, but reality) and it is handled well and believably.
Now for the not as positive. I hesitate to say “negative” because they really aren’t negative but things I get a bit irritated with. Not irritated to dump the genre, but irritated. This arc where the couple knows each other (and I mean knows at least the other’s name) and then they fall in love is very compressed. Extremely compressed. Painfully compressed. Yes, they have situations that draw them together. Yes, some of them could have been life changing. Yes, they have each dealt with life on every level both separately and together. But geez, Louise, this was quick. And then, Cara is the one at the end who makes the most fundamental life changes. Yeah, Matt’s life changes – and they were major – had been put into play before the meet-not-so-cute. And yeah, the “deciding event” around Matt was big. But so were some lesser deciding events around Cara. I just feel the fallback of the heroine seemingly giving up more was too easily reached here and no explanations or thought processes were shared. It didn’t have to be a big deal, but I at least wanted to “hear” the conversation before decisions were made. And the proposal, very abrupt and not in character to me of either Matt or Cara. But it is a contemp romance and sometimes you have to go with that. I don’t know that I would have liked an agonizing physical separation for them, either, but a little more angst in this particular spot would have worked for me.
I love a series. I have read more Fools Gold and Lucky Harbor and Charleston Harbor and and and and than I care to remember. I am glad this is a series. But sometimes when you read a book and you know it is a series, you start seeing series bait. Oh, is this BFF going to have a book. Oh, wait, his brother is being introduced tangentially and some issues are being raised, but he is living in Boston. Hmmm. Oh, this bartender, next hero for forever for someone. Yeah, definitely a me issue. And I didn’t get this vibe too strongly. But I got it. Of course, in my ARC there is a tidbit of the next in the series. Gotta say, I loved it. Definitely going to be the next one on my list to add to my almost criminal TBR. But seeing who the next story was going to be about definitely made me wonder about the third installment.
My general things I put on every review. The editing was great. The proofing was wonderful. I think I remember a typo or two, but it is an ARC so that may have been cleaned up. But even if they aren’t cleaned up, there was nothing egregious, offensive or bad enough to pull you out of the story and make those of us who fume about such things fume. It is not a “let’s do it on the sleeping porch while our BFFs are finishing drinks in the parlor” sort of book. Yes, there is sex and it is not behind the door but it is not the kind of stuff that makes you rush to Sir Google to see if that is a “thing.” I will say I am not the best sex scene reviewer because I generally skim them or jump over them. To each his own.
June 16, 2015
Read my full review HERE at Into the Hall of Books.
Cara Medlen is a cancer survivor with no plans to live life to the fullest until she's safely 10-years cancer-free. Despite being wildly talented and in love with photography, she postponed her dream of being a full-time photographer and instead took a nannying job. She has also pushed aside romantic attachment with basically anyone for fear of breaking her own or another heart if the cancer were to come back. Cara's plans get shaken and stirred when she gets tangled up with her next door neighbor, Matt Dumont. They meet when Matt comes to her door, curious about the relationship she keeps with her dogs.
Cara is passionate about rescuing dogs. She fosters dogs at her townhome, helping to rehabilitate and reintegrate them into society after abandonment, mistreatment, bouts of illness, etc - then Cara sends them to permanent homes. By fostering instead of adopting these dogs, Cara is able to give and feel love, yet prevent becoming attached -- this totally fits with her 10-year plan PLUS it helps to fills the void of not having a romantic relationship. Cara is incredibly offended and downright angry when Matt assumes that she is pushing her dogs to fight and when he mentions their unhealthy state and unkempt appearance! She promptly and with a FIERY attitude tells him about how she fosters the dogs...they ALL have an adjustment period when they first arrive, duh! and mind your own business...and then Matt pretty much shuts up because he realizes he was wrong to assume. BUT! OH NOW HE HAS A MASSIVE CRUSH ON THE LADY NEXT DOOR!
After living next door to one another for something like a year already, both Cara and Matt had seen each other coming and going. They'd just never spoken. This couldn't be a worse time to develop a crush, really: Matt is moving out of state in just a few days! But now MY GOODNESS how he wants to stick around just a little longer...and then soon he's thinking of how he can pull Cara into his life, even if he does end up moving. Is that possible? Would she come with him?
Matt doesn't know, see, because CARA HASN'T GIVEN HIM ALL OF THE INFORMATION ABOUT HER 10-YEAR RULE! She needs to talk to him, right? Of course. But Matt hasn't given up all of his backstory either - WE know why he's moving so quickly and WE know why he acts so much like he does, but Cara doesn't. These two are quite the pair and they have a tiny little hill to climb before they settle into their routine of happy-ever-after. Sure, they love spending time together, but it's almost like these two do not want to admit that they're falling for one another, like they're irritated with themselves for even letting it happen. They make me laugh (and want to squish them together).
Is there a happy ever after? YES, there is. It's great.
I enjoyed the heck out of Unleashed by Rachel Lacey. I never considered that I would love a book that features dogs or pets so much, but I did! I fell hard for these animals and I understand a little more now why fictional Cara (and real life people) have the desire to help them like they do - as a person with no pets, I'd never given any thought to this. But this story isn't only about dogs - they're just part of what bring Cara and Matt together.
Cara and Matt are quite the pair. Cara is so affected by her bout with cancer. Because of what she went through, she doesn't leap into anything. She seems to overanalyze everything. She is almost reserved in how she lives. Now, I can't speak to what that must feel like because I've not walked that path, but it seemed like it made Cara hold life at arm's length for much of the book - which is odd because even though she kept me at a distance, I still felt like I got to know her as a character. She has trouble connecting with LIFE, so she doesn't connect with many things or people at all...except one or two friends and her dogs. I GOT THIS. Until her handsome neighbor came over and just frazzled her to pieces! She didn't mean to fall for him - she tried so hard not to - but Matt really got under her skin, and I think this was SO GREAT for Cara because it changed her life. She began to live and be happy and it was so wonderful to read.
Matt is a private investigator with a few trust issues that come from a real thing in his past. His tendency to be inquisitive is how he ends up at Cara's door in the first place. He isn't really snooping, he isn't really nosy. He has a reason for asking questions and being protective. He's smart, he thinks and acts quickly when crazy situations arise (and they do!), and he's an all around nice guy. Total gentleman. Matt IS leaving the neighborhood, and quickly, but he has a very valid reason for this - he doesn't really tell Cara WHY right away. This of course almost backfires on him, but quick-thinking Matt is smart and works everything out for the good. And romantic, yes. What a guy!
Unleashed was an impulse buy for me because I found the author through her interaction on Twitter with some other authors that I love. AND starting this book was such a treat for me because within a few paragraphs, I discovered that the setting is RIGHT HERE, RIGHT HERE where I am! Well, almost right here where I am. (It's always fun to read a book that is set in a familiar place.) Cara's neighbors are not hip to the fact that she fosters dogs. In fact, the homeowner's association takes action against her, and this is a big portion of the plot that drives the story. EVEN BETTER than the setting are the underlying messages to the story: Live to the fullest. Love to the fullest. Make the most of your time on this earth. I think Matt helped Cara realize that her 10-year plan had worked for her for a while, but maybe it was time to ditch it so she could let her happy-ever-after in.
I had the BEST time reading Unleashed by Rachel Lacey, andit's only days until the second book in this series is released the second book is fantastic too. (Here's my review.) I highly recommend this book to readers that enjoy fun contemporary romances with happy endings, and readers that are dog-lovers.
Cara Medlen is a cancer survivor with no plans to live life to the fullest until she's safely 10-years cancer-free. Despite being wildly talented and in love with photography, she postponed her dream of being a full-time photographer and instead took a nannying job. She has also pushed aside romantic attachment with basically anyone for fear of breaking her own or another heart if the cancer were to come back. Cara's plans get shaken and stirred when she gets tangled up with her next door neighbor, Matt Dumont. They meet when Matt comes to her door, curious about the relationship she keeps with her dogs.
Cara is passionate about rescuing dogs. She fosters dogs at her townhome, helping to rehabilitate and reintegrate them into society after abandonment, mistreatment, bouts of illness, etc - then Cara sends them to permanent homes. By fostering instead of adopting these dogs, Cara is able to give and feel love, yet prevent becoming attached -- this totally fits with her 10-year plan PLUS it helps to fills the void of not having a romantic relationship. Cara is incredibly offended and downright angry when Matt assumes that she is pushing her dogs to fight and when he mentions their unhealthy state and unkempt appearance! She promptly and with a FIERY attitude tells him about how she fosters the dogs...they ALL have an adjustment period when they first arrive, duh! and mind your own business...and then Matt pretty much shuts up because he realizes he was wrong to assume. BUT! OH NOW HE HAS A MASSIVE CRUSH ON THE LADY NEXT DOOR!
After living next door to one another for something like a year already, both Cara and Matt had seen each other coming and going. They'd just never spoken. This couldn't be a worse time to develop a crush, really: Matt is moving out of state in just a few days! But now MY GOODNESS how he wants to stick around just a little longer...and then soon he's thinking of how he can pull Cara into his life, even if he does end up moving. Is that possible? Would she come with him?
Matt doesn't know, see, because CARA HASN'T GIVEN HIM ALL OF THE INFORMATION ABOUT HER 10-YEAR RULE! She needs to talk to him, right? Of course. But Matt hasn't given up all of his backstory either - WE know why he's moving so quickly and WE know why he acts so much like he does, but Cara doesn't. These two are quite the pair and they have a tiny little hill to climb before they settle into their routine of happy-ever-after. Sure, they love spending time together, but it's almost like these two do not want to admit that they're falling for one another, like they're irritated with themselves for even letting it happen. They make me laugh (and want to squish them together).
Is there a happy ever after? YES, there is. It's great.
******************************************
I enjoyed the heck out of Unleashed by Rachel Lacey. I never considered that I would love a book that features dogs or pets so much, but I did! I fell hard for these animals and I understand a little more now why fictional Cara (and real life people) have the desire to help them like they do - as a person with no pets, I'd never given any thought to this. But this story isn't only about dogs - they're just part of what bring Cara and Matt together.
Cara and Matt are quite the pair. Cara is so affected by her bout with cancer. Because of what she went through, she doesn't leap into anything. She seems to overanalyze everything. She is almost reserved in how she lives. Now, I can't speak to what that must feel like because I've not walked that path, but it seemed like it made Cara hold life at arm's length for much of the book - which is odd because even though she kept me at a distance, I still felt like I got to know her as a character. She has trouble connecting with LIFE, so she doesn't connect with many things or people at all...except one or two friends and her dogs. I GOT THIS. Until her handsome neighbor came over and just frazzled her to pieces! She didn't mean to fall for him - she tried so hard not to - but Matt really got under her skin, and I think this was SO GREAT for Cara because it changed her life. She began to live and be happy and it was so wonderful to read.
Matt is a private investigator with a few trust issues that come from a real thing in his past. His tendency to be inquisitive is how he ends up at Cara's door in the first place. He isn't really snooping, he isn't really nosy. He has a reason for asking questions and being protective. He's smart, he thinks and acts quickly when crazy situations arise (and they do!), and he's an all around nice guy. Total gentleman. Matt IS leaving the neighborhood, and quickly, but he has a very valid reason for this - he doesn't really tell Cara WHY right away. This of course almost backfires on him, but quick-thinking Matt is smart and works everything out for the good. And romantic, yes. What a guy!
Unleashed was an impulse buy for me because I found the author through her interaction on Twitter with some other authors that I love. AND starting this book was such a treat for me because within a few paragraphs, I discovered that the setting is RIGHT HERE, RIGHT HERE where I am! Well, almost right here where I am. (It's always fun to read a book that is set in a familiar place.) Cara's neighbors are not hip to the fact that she fosters dogs. In fact, the homeowner's association takes action against her, and this is a big portion of the plot that drives the story. EVEN BETTER than the setting are the underlying messages to the story: Live to the fullest. Love to the fullest. Make the most of your time on this earth. I think Matt helped Cara realize that her 10-year plan had worked for her for a while, but maybe it was time to ditch it so she could let her happy-ever-after in.
I had the BEST time reading Unleashed by Rachel Lacey, and
April 26, 2024
Easy read - - predictable ending.
June 27, 2024
It was a predictable book. Was ok
November 24, 2014
Title: Unleashed
Series: Love to the Rescue #1
Author: Rachel Lacey
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Thoughts: I am a huge fan of paranormal romance and erotica (generally separately), but every once in a while you need a sweet romance that just lets your heart sigh. This is a good one for that. Cara is passionate about her rescue dogs, but avoids having any attachments. She has been in remission for 8 years and her doctor told her that at 10 years the chances of the cancer coming back was 5%. She's basically been waiting for the 10 year mark to start living. She fosters rescue dogs, but she won't keep them. On the rare occasion that she dates, she'll only go out with men that she has no chemistry with. She doesn't post pictures of herself at her house and she won't even go after the career she really wants. She even avoids being friendly with the her neighbors (especially the hot guy next door)to save herself from being attached. At the beginning of the book, a girl that she beat cancer with as a teenage has died. Her friend was in remission, got married and had a child only to have her cancer come back. This only cemented Cara's feelings about avoiding commitments.
Matt is Cara's next door neighbor and he notices that she avoids him. His mother has become ill and he's moving back to Boston to take care of her and open a business with his brother. When he sees Cara in her back yard and it looks like she's getting her dogs to fight, he has to step in. His gorgeous and innocent looking neighbor doesn't seem like the type to do that, but he's seen it all in his line of work as a PI. When he introduces himself to Cara, she combats her attraction by being angry and defensive, but she doesn't tell Matt what she's really doing. That just makes Matt all the more interested. When he finally figures out what she's actually up to, he can't seem to get her out of him mind. He tries to avoid Cara and tries to be just friendly, but he's drawn to her like he's never been before.
When the Homeowner's Association tells Cara she can't keep foster dogs anymore due to complaints they've received and she loses her job as a nanny, Cara has trouble coping with it. She tried to fight the HOA, but she's never been too friendly with the neighbors. Cara focuses her efforts on rescuing 2 dogs that are being mistreated and saving another dog with cancer from being euthanized. Matt has to step in and help her with both situations and one of them leads to being stuck in the snow overnight then staying the weekend in the mountains. Matt and Cara have tried hard to fight their attraction and they're both open about the fact that this can't go anywhere, but the pull is just too strong.
What will happen when Matt has to leave North Carolina to go home to Boston?
Matt was pretty darn perfect. His only "flaw" was his overwhelming sense of responsibility and very rigid sense of right and wrong. Matt really struggled when Cara made a decision that he felt was wrong. These are pretty minor things compared to this former marine, athletic, mom and dog-loving, neat and successful alpha male's positive attributes.
Cara was an interesting character. I wouldn't expect to be able to relate to a character so different that I am, but I did. I could understand the fear holding her back and how she tried to protect people from getting too close to her just in case she died on them. It was frustrating at times to hear her thoughts, because she saw it as more of a life plan than avoiding life. She couldn't control herself or her heart with Matt, though, and he was able to break through some of her misconceptions.
While I totally respect the author's stance on saving dogs, animal shelters, etc., I did feel at times that some of Cara and Merry's thoughts and actions seemed like those of a PETA member. I'm not bashing PETA or condoning animal cruelty, but I felt like there was a just as much (if not more) emphasis on the animal part as the romance. Personally, I felt like it distracted some from the enjoyment of the romance and went on a bit too long because of it. That's just my opinion and you may love it all the more for the animal rights angle.
I had to say that I was extremely happy with the ending. I really didn't know how the story was going to play out and I really wanted to check the end of the book a few times to see if they ended up together. I didn't though and I won't tell you what happens either. Read it. You won't be disappointed.
Grade: A-/B+
Review: Holly
http://www.thebookreadinggals.com
Series: Love to the Rescue #1
Author: Rachel Lacey
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Thoughts: I am a huge fan of paranormal romance and erotica (generally separately), but every once in a while you need a sweet romance that just lets your heart sigh. This is a good one for that. Cara is passionate about her rescue dogs, but avoids having any attachments. She has been in remission for 8 years and her doctor told her that at 10 years the chances of the cancer coming back was 5%. She's basically been waiting for the 10 year mark to start living. She fosters rescue dogs, but she won't keep them. On the rare occasion that she dates, she'll only go out with men that she has no chemistry with. She doesn't post pictures of herself at her house and she won't even go after the career she really wants. She even avoids being friendly with the her neighbors (especially the hot guy next door)to save herself from being attached. At the beginning of the book, a girl that she beat cancer with as a teenage has died. Her friend was in remission, got married and had a child only to have her cancer come back. This only cemented Cara's feelings about avoiding commitments.
Matt is Cara's next door neighbor and he notices that she avoids him. His mother has become ill and he's moving back to Boston to take care of her and open a business with his brother. When he sees Cara in her back yard and it looks like she's getting her dogs to fight, he has to step in. His gorgeous and innocent looking neighbor doesn't seem like the type to do that, but he's seen it all in his line of work as a PI. When he introduces himself to Cara, she combats her attraction by being angry and defensive, but she doesn't tell Matt what she's really doing. That just makes Matt all the more interested. When he finally figures out what she's actually up to, he can't seem to get her out of him mind. He tries to avoid Cara and tries to be just friendly, but he's drawn to her like he's never been before.
When the Homeowner's Association tells Cara she can't keep foster dogs anymore due to complaints they've received and she loses her job as a nanny, Cara has trouble coping with it. She tried to fight the HOA, but she's never been too friendly with the neighbors. Cara focuses her efforts on rescuing 2 dogs that are being mistreated and saving another dog with cancer from being euthanized. Matt has to step in and help her with both situations and one of them leads to being stuck in the snow overnight then staying the weekend in the mountains. Matt and Cara have tried hard to fight their attraction and they're both open about the fact that this can't go anywhere, but the pull is just too strong.
What will happen when Matt has to leave North Carolina to go home to Boston?
Matt was pretty darn perfect. His only "flaw" was his overwhelming sense of responsibility and very rigid sense of right and wrong. Matt really struggled when Cara made a decision that he felt was wrong. These are pretty minor things compared to this former marine, athletic, mom and dog-loving, neat and successful alpha male's positive attributes.
Cara was an interesting character. I wouldn't expect to be able to relate to a character so different that I am, but I did. I could understand the fear holding her back and how she tried to protect people from getting too close to her just in case she died on them. It was frustrating at times to hear her thoughts, because she saw it as more of a life plan than avoiding life. She couldn't control herself or her heart with Matt, though, and he was able to break through some of her misconceptions.
While I totally respect the author's stance on saving dogs, animal shelters, etc., I did feel at times that some of Cara and Merry's thoughts and actions seemed like those of a PETA member. I'm not bashing PETA or condoning animal cruelty, but I felt like there was a just as much (if not more) emphasis on the animal part as the romance. Personally, I felt like it distracted some from the enjoyment of the romance and went on a bit too long because of it. That's just my opinion and you may love it all the more for the animal rights angle.
I had to say that I was extremely happy with the ending. I really didn't know how the story was going to play out and I really wanted to check the end of the book a few times to see if they ended up together. I didn't though and I won't tell you what happens either. Read it. You won't be disappointed.
Grade: A-/B+
Review: Holly
http://www.thebookreadinggals.com
November 13, 2014
I am a huge fan of paranormal romance and erotica (generally separately), but every once in a while you need a sweet romance that just lets your heart sigh. This is a good one for that. Cara is passionate about her rescue dogs, but avoids having any attachments. She has been in remission for 8 years and her doctor told her that at 10 years the chances of the cancer coming back was 5%. She's basically been waiting for the 10 year mark to start living. She fosters rescue dogs, but she won't keep them. On the rare occasion that she dates, she'll only go out with men that she has no chemistry with. She doesn't post pictures of herself at her house and she won't even go after the career she really wants. She even avoids being friendly with the her neighbors (especially the hot guy next door)to save herself from being attached. At the beginning of the book, a girl that she beat cancer with as a teenage has died. Her friend was in remission, got married and had a child only to have her cancer come back. This only cemented Cara's feelings about avoiding commitments.
Matt is Cara's next door neighbor and he notices that she avoids him. His mother has become ill and he's moving back to Boston to take care of her and open a business with his brother. When he sees Cara in her back yard and it looks like she's getting her dogs to fight, he has to step in. His gorgeous and innocent looking neighbor doesn't seem like the type to do that, but he's seen it all in his line of work as a PI. When he introduces himself to Cara, she combats her attraction by being angry and defensive, but she doesn't tell Matt what she's really doing. That just makes Matt all the more interested. When he finally figures out what she's actually up to, he can't seem to get her out of him mind. He tries to avoid Cara and tries to be just friendly, but he's drawn to her like he's never been before.
When the Homeowner's Association tells Cara she can't keep foster dogs anymore due to complaints they've received and she loses her job as a nanny, Cara has trouble coping with it. She tried to fight the HOA, but she's never been too friendly with the neighbors. Cara focuses her efforts on rescuing 2 dogs that are being mistreated and saving another dog with cancer from being euthanized. Matt has to step in and help her with both situations and one of them leads to being stuck in the snow overnight then staying the weekend in the mountains. Matt and Cara have tried hard to fight their attraction and they're both open about the fact that this can't go anywhere, but the pull is just too strong.
What will happen when Matt has to leave North Carolina to go home to Boston?
Matt was pretty darn perfect. His only "flaw" was his overwhelming sense of responsibility and very rigid sense of right and wrong. Matt really struggled when Cara made a decision that he felt was wrong. These are pretty minor things compared to this former marine, athletic, mom and dog-loving, neat and successful alpha male's positive attributes.
Cara was an interesting character. I wouldn't expect to be able to relate to a character so different that I am, but I did. I could understand the fear holding her back and how she tried to protect people from getting too close to her just in case she died on them. It was frustrating at times to hear her thoughts, because she saw it as more of a life plan than avoiding life. She couldn't control herself or her heart with Matt, though, and he was able to break through some of her misconceptions.
While I totally respect the author's stance on saving dogs, animal shelters, etc., I did feel at times that some of Cara and Merry's thoughts and actions seemed like those of a PETA member. I'm not bashing PETA or condoning animal cruelty, but I felt like there was a just as much (if not more) emphasis on the animal part as the romance. Personally, I felt like it distracted some from the enjoyment of the romance and went on a bit too long because of it. That's just my opinion and you may love it all the more for the animal rights angle.
I had to say that I was extremely happy with the ending. I really didn't know how the story was going to play out and I really wanted to check the end of the book a few times to see if they ended up together. I didn't though and I won't tell you what happens either. Read it. You won't be disappointed.
Reviewing on behalf of The Book Reading Gals Blog – check us out at http://www.thebookreadinggals.com/.
Complimentary copy provided for honest review.
Matt is Cara's next door neighbor and he notices that she avoids him. His mother has become ill and he's moving back to Boston to take care of her and open a business with his brother. When he sees Cara in her back yard and it looks like she's getting her dogs to fight, he has to step in. His gorgeous and innocent looking neighbor doesn't seem like the type to do that, but he's seen it all in his line of work as a PI. When he introduces himself to Cara, she combats her attraction by being angry and defensive, but she doesn't tell Matt what she's really doing. That just makes Matt all the more interested. When he finally figures out what she's actually up to, he can't seem to get her out of him mind. He tries to avoid Cara and tries to be just friendly, but he's drawn to her like he's never been before.
When the Homeowner's Association tells Cara she can't keep foster dogs anymore due to complaints they've received and she loses her job as a nanny, Cara has trouble coping with it. She tried to fight the HOA, but she's never been too friendly with the neighbors. Cara focuses her efforts on rescuing 2 dogs that are being mistreated and saving another dog with cancer from being euthanized. Matt has to step in and help her with both situations and one of them leads to being stuck in the snow overnight then staying the weekend in the mountains. Matt and Cara have tried hard to fight their attraction and they're both open about the fact that this can't go anywhere, but the pull is just too strong.
What will happen when Matt has to leave North Carolina to go home to Boston?
Matt was pretty darn perfect. His only "flaw" was his overwhelming sense of responsibility and very rigid sense of right and wrong. Matt really struggled when Cara made a decision that he felt was wrong. These are pretty minor things compared to this former marine, athletic, mom and dog-loving, neat and successful alpha male's positive attributes.
Cara was an interesting character. I wouldn't expect to be able to relate to a character so different that I am, but I did. I could understand the fear holding her back and how she tried to protect people from getting too close to her just in case she died on them. It was frustrating at times to hear her thoughts, because she saw it as more of a life plan than avoiding life. She couldn't control herself or her heart with Matt, though, and he was able to break through some of her misconceptions.
While I totally respect the author's stance on saving dogs, animal shelters, etc., I did feel at times that some of Cara and Merry's thoughts and actions seemed like those of a PETA member. I'm not bashing PETA or condoning animal cruelty, but I felt like there was a just as much (if not more) emphasis on the animal part as the romance. Personally, I felt like it distracted some from the enjoyment of the romance and went on a bit too long because of it. That's just my opinion and you may love it all the more for the animal rights angle.
I had to say that I was extremely happy with the ending. I really didn't know how the story was going to play out and I really wanted to check the end of the book a few times to see if they ended up together. I didn't though and I won't tell you what happens either. Read it. You won't be disappointed.
Reviewing on behalf of The Book Reading Gals Blog – check us out at http://www.thebookreadinggals.com/.
Complimentary copy provided for honest review.
February 20, 2015
http://openbooksociety.com/article/un...
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Jerjen
Unleashed by Rachel Lacey is such a great book. This book perfectly blended together romance, friendship, animal rescue and animal abuse. That may sound like a strange combination, but believe me, it all goes together nicely. This book pulled me in from the very beginning and did not let me go until the very end. I could not read it fast enough.
Cara Medlen is a nanny, a want-to-be photographer and and animal rescue foster parent. She is also a cancer survivor of eight years. She has basically put her life on hold until she reaches the ten year cancer free mark. She feels she cannot make any permanent commitment to anything or anyone in her life until she meets this milestone. That is why she fosters dogs instead of owning her very own dog, why she is a part time nanny instead of pursuing a career in photography. She does not know her neighbors very well because she does not want to get close to others in case the cancer returns. But she begins to question that decision when she meets her neighbor, Matt Dumont.
Matt is a private investigator who owns his own company. He is about to move out of state to help take care of his aging mother and go into business with his brother. So when he meets his neighbor and begins to spend time with her, he knows that there is no chance of anything developing between them, even though he wishes something could develop. They say timing is everything, and in this case, the timing is lousy.
The characters are very well developed, realistic and three dimensional. I really enjoyed reading about the relationship that developed between Cara and Matt. There are times when they both irritate each other enough to make them want to scream. Other times they get along great and each know it is going to be hard to say goodbye. Matt at times has to keep a close eye on Cara to prevent her from breaking the law where animal safety is involved. Their relationship is very realistic and they face some of the same obstacles that everyone faces in daily life. Reading about their relationship was one of the things I like most about this book.
The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The author is very descriptive in her writing and it is very easy to picture places and events in my mind. There is some suspense involved in Matt’s investigative case and also in a dog abuse situation. At times, things got very intense and exciting. I really enjoyed the surprise at the end of the book, I did not see it coming. .
The author seems very knowledgeable about animal rescue and animal abuse. At times it was hard to read about the abuse and the cruel things that people do, At other times it was heartwarming to read about the happily-ever-after stories. Unfortunately, this is the way it is in real life and I feel that the author did a very good job portraying both sides of the issues in a realistic manner. I really enjoyed this aspect of the book.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well-written contemporary women’s fiction. This is the first book that I have read by Rachel Lacey and it will definitely not be my last. I am excited to see that book two in the series, For Keeps, has just been released. I cannot recommend Unleashed enough, so treat yourself and get this book.
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Jerjen
Unleashed by Rachel Lacey is such a great book. This book perfectly blended together romance, friendship, animal rescue and animal abuse. That may sound like a strange combination, but believe me, it all goes together nicely. This book pulled me in from the very beginning and did not let me go until the very end. I could not read it fast enough.
Cara Medlen is a nanny, a want-to-be photographer and and animal rescue foster parent. She is also a cancer survivor of eight years. She has basically put her life on hold until she reaches the ten year cancer free mark. She feels she cannot make any permanent commitment to anything or anyone in her life until she meets this milestone. That is why she fosters dogs instead of owning her very own dog, why she is a part time nanny instead of pursuing a career in photography. She does not know her neighbors very well because she does not want to get close to others in case the cancer returns. But she begins to question that decision when she meets her neighbor, Matt Dumont.
Matt is a private investigator who owns his own company. He is about to move out of state to help take care of his aging mother and go into business with his brother. So when he meets his neighbor and begins to spend time with her, he knows that there is no chance of anything developing between them, even though he wishes something could develop. They say timing is everything, and in this case, the timing is lousy.
The characters are very well developed, realistic and three dimensional. I really enjoyed reading about the relationship that developed between Cara and Matt. There are times when they both irritate each other enough to make them want to scream. Other times they get along great and each know it is going to be hard to say goodbye. Matt at times has to keep a close eye on Cara to prevent her from breaking the law where animal safety is involved. Their relationship is very realistic and they face some of the same obstacles that everyone faces in daily life. Reading about their relationship was one of the things I like most about this book.
The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The author is very descriptive in her writing and it is very easy to picture places and events in my mind. There is some suspense involved in Matt’s investigative case and also in a dog abuse situation. At times, things got very intense and exciting. I really enjoyed the surprise at the end of the book, I did not see it coming. .
The author seems very knowledgeable about animal rescue and animal abuse. At times it was hard to read about the abuse and the cruel things that people do, At other times it was heartwarming to read about the happily-ever-after stories. Unfortunately, this is the way it is in real life and I feel that the author did a very good job portraying both sides of the issues in a realistic manner. I really enjoyed this aspect of the book.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well-written contemporary women’s fiction. This is the first book that I have read by Rachel Lacey and it will definitely not be my last. I am excited to see that book two in the series, For Keeps, has just been released. I cannot recommend Unleashed enough, so treat yourself and get this book.
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*
May 2, 2017
Unleashed is book #1 in Rachel Lacey's Love to the Rescue series. I was excited to read this since I loved book #3, Ever After, so much. (Although this is a series, the books can be read as standalones.) Sadly, Unleashed did not have the same effect on me as the other book and I had a lot of trouble finishing it.
Cara Medlen works as a nanny, but her passion lies with rescuing dogs and fostering them until they find forever homes. She volunteers for the local rescue in Dogwood, NC, and also lends her time taking photos of the dogs for the shelter's website. In addition to her love for dogs, Cara adores photography and has always wanted to make it a career.
Cara's neighbor, Matt Dumont, is a Marine turned private investigator. He and Cara have lived next door to each other for a year, but it isn't until recently that they've actually interacted and realized they share a mutual attraction. The problem is, Matt is moving back to Boston to start a business with his brother. Also, Matt's mother has been having health issues, so he wants to be closer to her to help care for her.
Cara's in hot water with her condo's homeowners association due to multiple complaints about her so-called aggressive foster dogs. Basically, she's on the verge of getting evicted unless she agrees to get rid of her dogs. Cara's last hope is to file an appeal with the HOA board, pleading with them to reconsider.
Meanwhile, Matt's working hard on an investigation involving a cheating spouse. The situation hits close to home for him since his ex cheated on him when he was deployed to Iraq. Needless to say, Matt has trust issues when it comes to women. Because of this, Matt doesn't want to start a relationship with Cara, even though he's certainly smitten with her--and she seems to feel the same way. Complicating all this is the fact that Cara is a cancer survivor, but she won't allow herself to have a serious relationship until she reaches the 10-year mark of being cancer-free.
Both Cara and Matt set up a lot of boundaries in efforts to prevent themselves from being hurt again. Due to this, their relationship is very much push and pull. They have a strong physical attraction, but their respective issues hold them back.
I really struggled to finish this book. The romance itself felt underdeveloped to me, to the point where I didn't see why Cara and Matt were so attracted to each other, beyond the physical. I loved the scenes involving Cara's work with the dog rescue, but many of the scenes became repetitive. Toward the end, a subplot veers the book precariously into left field and I almost gave up at that point.
This isn't a bad book, by any means, but as I mentioned, I had high hopes going in since I enjoyed Ever After quite a bit. If I had to choose between Unleashed and Ever After, I'd say it's safe to skip ahead. I haven't yet read book #2 (For Keeps), but it is on my TBR list and I'll continue reading this author in the future.
Cara Medlen works as a nanny, but her passion lies with rescuing dogs and fostering them until they find forever homes. She volunteers for the local rescue in Dogwood, NC, and also lends her time taking photos of the dogs for the shelter's website. In addition to her love for dogs, Cara adores photography and has always wanted to make it a career.
Cara's neighbor, Matt Dumont, is a Marine turned private investigator. He and Cara have lived next door to each other for a year, but it isn't until recently that they've actually interacted and realized they share a mutual attraction. The problem is, Matt is moving back to Boston to start a business with his brother. Also, Matt's mother has been having health issues, so he wants to be closer to her to help care for her.
Cara's in hot water with her condo's homeowners association due to multiple complaints about her so-called aggressive foster dogs. Basically, she's on the verge of getting evicted unless she agrees to get rid of her dogs. Cara's last hope is to file an appeal with the HOA board, pleading with them to reconsider.
Meanwhile, Matt's working hard on an investigation involving a cheating spouse. The situation hits close to home for him since his ex cheated on him when he was deployed to Iraq. Needless to say, Matt has trust issues when it comes to women. Because of this, Matt doesn't want to start a relationship with Cara, even though he's certainly smitten with her--and she seems to feel the same way. Complicating all this is the fact that Cara is a cancer survivor, but she won't allow herself to have a serious relationship until she reaches the 10-year mark of being cancer-free.
Both Cara and Matt set up a lot of boundaries in efforts to prevent themselves from being hurt again. Due to this, their relationship is very much push and pull. They have a strong physical attraction, but their respective issues hold them back.
I really struggled to finish this book. The romance itself felt underdeveloped to me, to the point where I didn't see why Cara and Matt were so attracted to each other, beyond the physical. I loved the scenes involving Cara's work with the dog rescue, but many of the scenes became repetitive. Toward the end, a subplot veers the book precariously into left field and I almost gave up at that point.
This isn't a bad book, by any means, but as I mentioned, I had high hopes going in since I enjoyed Ever After quite a bit. If I had to choose between Unleashed and Ever After, I'd say it's safe to skip ahead. I haven't yet read book #2 (For Keeps), but it is on my TBR list and I'll continue reading this author in the future.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews