Sit, Stay, Love

Rescue Me #2

by Debbie Burns

Debbie Burns combines all your favorite romance tropes with cuddly rescue pups, but if you need another reason to fall into this cozy romance with heart, we've got plenty!

An ex-military dog handler whose heart of gold is buried deep
The sunny shelter volunteer who sees the way he bears his heart to the dogs he trains
A million never-ending projects that keep throwing them together
And a pile of puppies so adorable you'll want one for your very own

For devoted no-kill shelter worker Kelsey Sutton, rehabbing a group of rescue dogs is a welcome challenge. Working with a sexy ex-military man who needs some TLC himself? That's a different story. The distance between them seems nearly impossible to cross, but she's never met a puppy who couldn't put a smile on Mr. Grumpy's face, so he can't be all that bad.

Kurt Crawford keeps his heart locked away from everyone. Well, everyone except the dogs who need his help... and always have his back. As he works tirelessly to turn a house generously donated to the shelter into a sanctuary for the dogs who have helped him heal, he gets to know the compassionate, beautiful woman he's been assigned to work with. And the more he sees her do everything she can to protect their four-legged friends, the more he realizes that what he feels for her is a lot like love...

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Dogs, Animals, Fiction, Military Fiction

416 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published April 3, 2018

About the author

Debbie Burns is the celebrated author of heartwarming romance and women’s fiction
featuring both two- and four-legged stars. While her books have earned many awards and commendations, her favorite praise is from readers who’ve been inspired to adopt a pet in need from their local shelter.

Debbie lives in Saint Louis with her family, a thoroughly spoiled rescue dog, and two
Maine Coon cats who ought to be named Pete and Repeat. When she isn’t writing (or reading), you can find her hiking in the Missouri woods, working in her garden, or savoring time with family and friends.

You can follow her on BookBub @AuthorDebbieBurns) and connect with her on Instagram (@_debbieburns) or Facebook @authordebbieburns).

Reviews

[Trish · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted a fluffy romance for Valentine's Day. No, I'm not one to actually "celebrate" the day. And before anyone asks the usual ridiculous question: it has nothing to do with whether or not I'm single and I don't mind romantic gestures at all (doesn't have to be something expensive), but it's because I think most people don't think about doing something nice to treat their partner throughout the year and those same people don't need to make some hollow gestures on this particular day out of peer pressure. It's hypocritical nonsense, especially because the people I know, who do make grand (still hollow) gestures to show off on V-day, complain about how commercial Christmas has become or how Germans shouldn't celebrate Halloween. *rolls eyes*

That being said, I am a seasonal reader so I like to read books about the desert (Ancient Egyptian historical novels for example) in summer, stories set in the Arctic in winter, spooky tales in October etc. So I figured why not read a romance on V-day?!

Moreover, I'm an animal lover so of course the dogs being the heart and soul of this story appealed to me.

Sadly, it didn't go as well as I had hoped. I don't know if it's because I've read three or four romances and after that amount you start coming back to the same template over and over again (no, romance will never be my favourite genre) or if this was just not the right author for me.

The story is about a shelter that has volunteered to take in 37 dogs that have been confiscated by the police from a dog fighting ring. They renovate an old mansion bequeathed to them by a woman who tasked them with taking care of her cat after her death.
The female MC works for the shelter and is voluntold to oversee the rehabilitation of the dogs.
Help comes in the form of a former military dog handler. And I wish I could tell you if he served in the US Army or US MC but I can't because this author either couldn't make up her mind or she didn't know enough about the different branches of the military (and didn't care enough about her own story to invest 5 seconds to google it). Anyway, he's freshly out of the military service and sparks fly between the two MCs of course.
In between we get ridiculous protesters wanting to sue the shelter and forcing the dogs to be put down as well as the usual array of weird family members, incl. some slight tragedies, left and right.

Formula all around.
The female MC's brothers are weight lifters and her entire family supposedly is very fit except for her (which is not true, judging by the physical description, a curvy woman is not a fat woman for example - she's just not a porn star). While I get that many people have issues with self-confidence etc. (myself included), I'm annoyed that every woman apparently is paralyzed by doubts about her physical appearance (not least because there are other reasons for lacking self-confidence).
The hero, on the other hand, is the Hollywood template of a former military member that of course has to have psychological/emotional issues and be scarred and in need of "healing".

So the only characters I actually liked were Mr. Longtails, Franky and the other dogs.

I know you cannot always expect a deeply immersive story that rocks your world but I did expect more of this. Romances CAN be deep(er) and better written. Others I've read WERE better. This one needed ... more. More (and better) research by the author, more (and more realistically) fleshed out characters, more laughs, more quirkiness if there wasn't any humour, more kissing, more steamy / sexy scenes, ... just more all round. *sighs*

Cute if you look at the dogs and how some people fight for them. I also liked the message that a dog isn't a killer just because that dog is of a certain breed - there is too much prejudice (definitely against shelter animals in general, too) and downright stupidity all around so I like when books put people thinking that way in their place. Not to mention that the issue of people mistreating animals was at the forefront what with the fighting pits and the work put into getting the dogs' trust back.

But that wasn't enough to save the reading experience or make it anything more than mediocre for me and I shall not pick up another book of the series (or this author), sadly. 1 star for the book and an additional star for the animals (yes, I'm a sucker for furry babies).

[Robin Loves Reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Rating: 4.5 Stars

When a huge dog fighting ring is discovered, the dogs will be in need of rescue and rehabilitation. Kelsey Sutton is a rescue worker in a shelter and she is asked to help with a few dozen dogs. Kelsey will not be alone in this and a specialized trainer is needed. She is none-too-pleased that it will be a former military guy, Kurt Crawford. He is far too gruff, and she cannot imagine working with him.

They do have the perfect location, however, and that is a donated mansion that will offer more than enough room to set up a unique program. So, Kelsey and Kurt begin working together. It should come to no surprise that the pair will have many problems to face. There are some undeniable facts, however. For one thing, they are both drawn to one another. More importantly, they both love dogs to the fullest extent possible, so these dogs will have every available opportunity offered to them.

As Kelsey gets to know Kurt, she sees the hard shell that protects the man she just knows is deep inside. In this sweet romance by Debbie Burns, more of the attention is on the dogs, all while the romance develops at a very nice pace.

This second book in the series is just as endearing as the first one. In part, this is due to some recurring characters, which is one of my favorite things in continuity series.

[Simply Love Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sit, Stay, Love is a heartwarming story that will pull at your heartstrings for the dogs as well as their handlers. The dogs have been rescued from a dog fighting ring and are in bad shape and in need of rehabilitation. Kelsey and Kurt have been put in charge of their rehab and use the donated mansion as an outreach of the animal shelter. Not only do you see the slow changes in the dogs they are helping but you see a slow relationship developing between the humans as they too open their hearts to change.

Kelsey has worked hard at the shelter and is up to the challenge of this task of rehabbing the dogs for adoption. Her working relationship with Kurt might have started off on shaky ground but she doesn’t back down to the big, bad ex-military dog handler and stands her ground on what is right for the dogs. She might have a small crush on Kurt but she knows that she’ll have to be careful and go slow if she wants anything to happen between the two of them. Over the course of the story you see admiration turn to respect and eventually into a love for Kelsey. When he reciprocates she knows that she’s find the right one for her and understands her far more than she thought imaginable.

Kurt is ex-military and has a few dark secrets of his own and lets very few people into his life. On a whim he accepts the job to work with Kelsey and sees that she too is very much dedicated but a softie when it comes to the dogs. He doesn’t know how but she has wiggled her way into his thoughts and heart and feels that she brings something to balance him out. His family’s dynamics are a bit complicated but when he puts the past behind him, he knows that he can have a good future with Kelsey and deal with anything with her in his life.

Sit. Stay. Love is a sweet romance that draws you in to show that both humans and dogs can rescue one another with a little work and patience. The author has created such likable main characters and a supporting cast to propel the story that it is very easy to get lost in it. She’s combined two of my favorite topics together, romance and dogs, and has created a good balance between them to show how it all works together for caring and devoted handlers and the dogs that need rehab.

[Bradley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is pretty much a cookie-cutter romance with a haunted ex-military man and an unsure, perhaps even low self-esteem woman who fall into each other's arms while training ex-dogfight rescues.

I admit I read it mostly because it tugs on those doggie heartstrings. The rest was sugary-sweet and TOTALLY wish-fulfillment dreamstuff.

I could go into all the amazing HEA coincidences and even more amazing windfalls, but I really can't be all that surprised by ANY of it. Not really. It's a fantasy. A fantasy that includes tons of doggies, a wonderful rescue named Franky, a cat that behaves just like a cat, and a really comforting family-oriented house-fixing.

For what it is... it's comforting. Did I get bent out of shape by it? No. It was a fine Valentine's Day read.

[Sophia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A mass rescue operation of dogs abused in a huge dog fighting ring bust for a local St. Louis area shelter leads a sweet yet closed off woman and a scarred and rudderless man a new chance right along with the rescue dogs. I saw the blurb and it was all over. I had to give this new to me author and series a go.

Sit, Stay, Love is the second book in the Rescue Me series. Fortunately, it works so well as a standalone because I spotted the blurb and didn't have the patience to go back and start from the beginning though I suspect Megan and Craig's book was a sweetie, too.

So, this one begins when a call goes out to local dog handlers, shelters, and volunteers to step up when a hug dog fighting ring is busted up. Megan thinks this is a great opportunity for their shelter to reach out and for her best gal bud, Kelsey, to have an opportunity to get out of her rut and expand her horizons to partner with an experienced dog handler to begin rehab on several of the fighting dogs.

At the same time, Kurt returns to the area to visit family now that he's out of the Marines before he heads west for a job doing anything, but working with dogs. Being a K-9 handler with several tours under his belt has left him raw after the lost of human and canine friends. But, he can't look away when he spots optimistic, but woefully out of her league Kelsey looking over the dogs with his old mentor to take back to her shelter. Kurt knows that hugs and kisses and big doggie wishes are not going to cut it.

I know it sounds crazy, but I was actually wary about this book It was laid back and sweet and engaged me from the beginning. I kept waiting for it to morph into some sort of soap opera. Yes, Kelsey and Kurt have their hang-ups. Yes, they didn't always see eye to eye on the rehab work. And yes, there was a green-eyed monster moment. But people! This book about adults had the adults acting like adults. I mean... shazam. I know you'd think that's kinda a given, but its not. I think I fell in love with this book for almost that alone. Okay, not really. There was more to love.

Kelsey and Kurt were fantastic. Their separate stories and their slow build romance was developed and paced just right. I know this story is not loaded with drama or pulse-pounding excitement, but it was subtle with natural rises and falls of conflict and resolution throughout the story. It was sexy, but again, this was understated letting the relationship develop first.

And the dogs. They weren't just wallpaper for the people story. I adored seeing their individual characters fleshed out. Oh, and let's not forget Mr. Longtail, the cranky Maine Coon cat who ran the place and took an immediate liking to dog- guy Kurt. I enjoyed getting glimpses of the training work, but I also appreciated that the author showed just how much work shelter volunteers put in. They aren't just cuddling the cuties all day, though they do that, too. And what a fun variety of folks to fill out the cast of secondary characters, particularly Patrick.

So, it was fabulous. It was laid back and sweet, but not saccharine. Gently-paced character-driven romance that was definitely one to make me smile and swoon with the pups and people whose story it was. Those who enjoy light, but engaging contemporary romance should give this a try.

My thanks to Sourcebooks Casablanca for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Linda (NOT RECEIVING NOTIFICATIONS) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed A New Leash on Love so when I read Sit, Stay, Love, I was expecting more of the same. Instead, it had multiple plot points with some rambling, repetitiveness and too many threads. At 416 pages, the storyline needed a good editor to drop about 100 pages.

Rescuing dogs who were used in fights was both serious and sobering. I can’t imagine anyone enjoying watching what happens as entertaining.

The romance between Kelsey and Kurt bordered on insta- and yet took forever for their HEA. In the meantime, there were too many secondary stories that pulled away my thoughts. I understood Megan’s reception as a continuation from the first story, but with Sabrina’s sister, Sara’s breast cancer, William’s and Nana’s marriage, the protesters, Patrick’s drive to find a pet owner, Kelsey’s family not to mention why years passed before she got over Steve, I lost the connection I originally felt with this couple.

[Bea · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Sit, Stay, Love" was a sweet love story, with delightful dogs and a cat that I want to adopt. I enjoyed this one quite a bit and I'm looking forward to more in the series. I'm really hoping that Patrick will be the lead in the next book. He's an interesting character, who happens to be on the autism spectrum but it's presented as just a part of him, like his hair color or his height. To my knowledge, there's a dearth of romantic leads who have autism so I'm rooting for Patrick to be a romantic hero in a future book.

Anyway, back to "Sit, Stay, Love". We met Kelsey in the first book. She is a full-time worker at an animal rescue center but has been feeling restless. When the rescue agrees to house, nurse back to health, and re-train almost 40 dogs rescued from a dog fighting ring, Kelsey takes on the challenge of running it and working with a professional dog handler, Kurt. He's just out of the Army and at loose ends. His dog mentor talks him into taking on the job; he thinks is might be good until he figures out what he wants to do now that he's a civilian.

Sparks fly between Kurt and Kelsey from the first meeting. I loved the slow development of their relationship, their ability to talk things out like adults (for the most part), the ways they helped each other, and their willingness to learn and to admit mistakes. As they worked together they got know each other and they don't hit the sack together until relatively late in the book. Their romance played out subtly, with few dramatic moments. It was sweet, gentle, steamy, and subtle.

The animal element was not forgotten. The shelter, the rescue of the fighting dogs, the dogs themselves, and the adorably grumpy cat, Mr. Longtail were realistic and important. It was obvious Burns knows her animals and rescue work. They are integral elements of the story, not just window dressing. She managed a good balance between enough information and drowning us in information. I enjoyed the animals and the dog training as much as I did Kurt and Kelsey's romance.

"Sit, Stay, Love" was a sweet story that pulled at my heart, had me rooting for the humans and the animals, and left me smiling.

My review of A New Leash on Love

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet and sexy read. Not a fan of the Hero but I love it when animals are involved especially dogs.

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Debbie Burns's Sit, Stay, Love, the second installment in the Rescue Me contemporary romance series, this heart-warming romance novel would make you fall in love and cry. For Kelsey Sutton, she works in a rescue shelter in St. Louis area and seeks the approval of her parents. But when news broke out about a dog fighting ring, it was up to her and her supervisor Megan to bring them into a huge mansion, the estate of Sabrina Raven, to take them in and to tend to them. But that had brought an uproar from protestors who wanted them to be euthanized. That's when she met Kurt Crawford, a veteran of the armed forces, who's looking for a fresh start after finishing his latest tour of duty. When a friend of him asked him to help him out, he debated around the issue and then took the plunge. His life changed when he met Kelsey, while he reconnected with his mother and grandmother, and made a world of difference to Mr Longtail and a bunch of dogs. Together, they formed a stronghold bond and had feelings for each other, when they cared for their dogs and rehabbed them before they would find new homes. In an instant, a love blossomed and transformed before them to give them a happy ending of their own.

[Saly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fantastic read with down to earth characters (no-one is a player). Our hero has just left the army after serving for 8 years and somehow finds himself doing what he vows he wouldn't caring for dogs, and not just one but 37 dogs rescued from a dog fighting ring. Giving him company is the heroine whose dog shelter (she works as an adoption coordinator there) is also involved to rehab the dogs so that they can find forever homes. I honestly loved the h/H, how they slowly got to know each other, fell in love first than physical intimacy. Pretty sweet book.

[Christa Schönmann Abbühl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a sweet read. The romance was nice, but those dogs stole the show. Tears were shed.

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

TW Animal cruelty

[Ian Mcnamara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was another great book. It was fantastic learning more about how rehabilitating dogs rescued from a fighting ring is done. I love the fact that dogs are a huge part of the series. The dogs bring a new dimention to the main characters. I can’t wait to read more of this great series.

[Aly · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Dogs do speak, but only to those who know how to listen."

Kelsey Sutton is the adoption coordinator for the High Grove Animal shelter. When the police force disband a dog-fighting ring, the poor canines need a place to stay before they can be rehabilitated in the hope of finding a forever home. But the HG animal shelter doesn't have enough space for the 37 dogs. It's just their luck the refuge got an unusual inheritance with only one particular condition : a 114-year-old mansion they can use as long as they feed the cat that's living there and they let him stay. The TLC is fine, but the distress dogs need profesional training. That's when Kurt Crawford enter the scene.

After eight years in the military, the dog handler lost too many friends, too many dogs so now he's out. He doesn't plan on accepting his former mentor's proposition to help with the rehabbing of the fighting canines, especially after meeting the pretty blond who doesn't seem cut out for the job but curiously, she's also the one who'll convince him to take the assignment when he see how fiercely she plead for the dogs' rights. Their relationship get off on the wrong foot. He question her capability because she's all heart and they rub each other up the wrong way. But surprisingly, once they get to work together and spend time at the mansion, they get along well. But even when it become attraction, Kelsey won't take a chance. She did before and the reject hurt too much.

I see that Sit, Stay, Love is the second book written by Debbie Burns (it's my first time reading her). I wouldn't have guess she's a debut author. She created a story with heart, charm and depth and put just enough conflict to make things interesting without overwhelming the reader. And she add the little details that for me make a book better, like great secondary characters for example. But the romance was on the slow side (a little too slow and almost no "sexy time") and I wanted to see more about the hero working with the dogs. But I liked how Kurt's and his mom's reactions were realistic given their relationship. I also liked how Kurt and Kelsey were with each other. The fact that they didn't always agree when it comes to manage the dogs, but they both took time to express their opinions, listen to the other and sometimes agree to disagree. Finally, I adored how he showed her he wants to share his life with her.

When it come to second chance, it's not always a question of romance. Dogs can have second chance too. That's the beautiful message of this book.

[Darcy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a feel good romance, a bit surprising with how it opened. Kurt was a bit of a curmudgeon, then there was the whole situation with the dogs. Kelsey was so open and happy that I didn't want her with someone like Kurt and I worried that things with the dogs would be too much for her. Instead Kelsey worked her magic on all of them. I loved seeing Kelsey fighting for all of the dogs, but especially loved how everyone saw how great Frankie was!

The romance between Kurt and Kelsey had a slow burn, but it worked for them. By the time either of them were really ready to act you knew they were in deep!

I loved how this one ended, loved the journey Kurt went on at the end, the decision he made on how to really start his life and how he wanted Kelsey right there with him!

[Babette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book because of its cute cover and catchy title, and found a new-to-me author who has become one of my favorites. I love the fact that the animals in the book (in all her books) aren't just window-dressing that appear and disappear conveniently to give the hero a chance to be heroic, but are important characters with their own personalities and character arcs. If you're a romance reader who likes animals, you'll love this book.

[Leslie aka StoreyBook Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a sucker for any book that has dogs in it, and this one is loaded with dogs. They were rescued from evil owners that pitted them against one another for what they thought was a sport. You expect the dogs to aggressive to all the humans they come across, but not always.

Kurt is tough and wants nothing to do with training dogs anymore after losing one overseas to an explosive device. It devastated Kurt because there was nothing he could do. He comes back home and gets rooked into helping his mentor rehabilitate the dogs rescued from the fight situation. He initially turns it down, but one look at Kelsey and her optimistic outlook and knowing who was going to come in and help train the dogs got the better of him.

Kelsey may be optimistic but she is a realist too. She loves all animals and the job working at the local shelter is perfect for her. She has a kind heart and we see that when she is checking out the dogs before they can be transferred to their temporary shelter that she will be overseeing. I can imagine seeing any dog in the condition they were in would be hard. It would probably break my heart. But she can be tough when the situation arises.

I enjoyed the evolution of the love story between Kurt and Kelsey. They both have some baggage to wade through and leave behind, but having each other to lean on helps their relationship move forward.

There were a few situations with the dogs that left me with tears rolling down my face. Not for bad/sad reasons, but for happy ones.

Very enjoyable!

[Reading In Pajamas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spotlight, Review & Giveaway: SIT, STAY, LOVE (Rescue Me) by Debbie Burns https://wp.me/p3d0RZ-aFW
Publication Date: April 3, 2018
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Reviewed by: Reading in Pajamas/ Donna
Rated 4.5 Stars

This is a lovely, light romance with a cast of varied personalities and emotions. There is no real drama to tense you up, yet it never got boring or saccharine. Kurt may have seemed a bit too standoffish at first, and Kelsey too naively optimistic, but it all worked. It was real people, real life and real love woven around rescued dogs. I enjoyed this feel-good story.

*Review copy provided by Sourcebooks in exchange for an honest review.

~*~*~*~

Kindle $4.99 http://amzn.to/2sxIPNK

[Elley Murray · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was great on so many levels. Kelsey and Kurt are both great characters dealing with issues from their pasts, as well as trying to do their best to get through each day and build a better future. I love Kelsey's history with depression, her rainbow color-of-the-day T-shirts, and how she takes one of the shelter dogs home with her each night. I appreciate the amount of diversity in this book - Kurt is dealing with PTSD, Kelsey struggles with depression, Patrick (a wonderful side character) has Asperger's.

The romance storyline doesn't really feel front and center of this book to me. It splits its focus on Kurt dealing with his PTSD, his family issues, and the loss of his grandmother; running rehab for 37 dogs rescued from a dog fighting ring in a falling apart mansion, with a specific focus on a few of the individual dogs' stories, as well as issues with protesters and the like; the relationship with Ida (another really great side character). There are also many themes of fate in this book, which at times got a little sappy for me. The sex scenes are also told in a very fade-to-black manner, so this book is definitely more sweet than steamy. At times it got a little too saccharine sweet for me, which is what inevitably made me rate it 4 stars instead of 5. The writing is great, I loved the characters and the world they built, and this book make me want to go adopt a cat exactly like Mr. Longtail.

This is the second book in the Rescue Me series, but can be read as a stand alone novel. The first book, A New Leash on Love, is about Megan and Craig who do feature some as side characters in this novel, but the spoilers are really limited to things you already know from reading romance (i.e. that they wind up together and live happily ever after). There is also some set up that makes me really hopeful that the next book will be about Tess and Patrick.

*I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

[Pelusa Rivera · Rating 3 out of 5]

We have a retired marine who is fighting battles within and what is helping him deal is the training dogs. While at the shelter he meets Kelsey who comes to realize that this man needs help too not only the animals. This was a sweet story, probably a little too sweet for me, but good none the less.

[Christi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am loving this series. I wanna cuddle puppies and pet kitties for hours now. I have enjoyed EVERY CHARACTER both human and animal.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sit, Stay, Love by Debbie Burns is an adorable sweet romance. The book immediately caught my interest in the first chapter. I am a dog lover so I really wanted to like it and I was not disappointed.
Kelsey was a like able character. She is a manager at an animal shelter. She is asked to handle a big situation where a lot of dogs had been mistreated. It showed her strengths and her heart. I found it realistic how she dealt with her family’s feelings about her career.
Kurt is an ex-military dog handler dealing with issues from his past and his family. He has lost his dog and many friends in the service and is convinced that he needs a break from dogs. Once he meets Kelsey and the dogs he cannot help but get involved. The author did an amazing job of making Kurt human and a hero. Kurt lives with ADHD and was a great hero and example for those living with it.
Each of the dogs took on a personality and you were championing for them to get a forever home.
Debbie Burns is a ‘new to me’ author. I will be looking for more books by her.
Alcohol - some minor drinking
Violence - the dogs were rescued from a dog fighting ring, some were very hurt, and there were protestors
Sex - 2 there was a make out scene and one physical scene with very little details.

I received this book from Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review.
You can see my full review at More Than a Review dot com where I rate the level of sex, violence, language and drug/alcohol use in books.

[Stephanie Fitzgerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Steaminess Rating:
❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥
(Check my profile for my “Steaminess Factor Chart”)!

[Marsha Keeper Bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed at Keeper Bookshelf

You know what I really loved and respected about Sit, Stay, Love – aside from the dogs, of course? Adults acting like adults, okay, maybe flawed, not perfect, have their own issues adults… but, still acting like an adult. I was drawn in to this story by the plight of the dogs, but the human characters kept me captured to find out what happens next to them all. It may sound silly, but so often characters act like children throwing a tantrum – so yes, it is noteworthy and enjoyable to find a non-human driven story (dogs desperately in need of help and a forever home) with humans acting like grown-ups.

Both Kurt and Kelsey have realistic issues to be dealt with, there is no denying that. Kurt has lost too many friends, both human and canine, in his time in deployment. The absolute last thing he wants to be doing as a new civilian is training dogs again – yet, he cannot let Kelsey face the realities of retraining now former fight dogs in the hopes of eventually finding them forever homes completely on her own. She’s going to need help and he cannot just walk away from the dog or the woman. Their’s is a slow burning romance, from strangers to team mates with a purpose, to friends and then more. There is little sugar glossing on any of the situations. We all know the reality of life for fight dogs isn’t always a happy ending, yet watching caring humans try to redirect the learned instincts of these rescues is truly heartwarming. Could there have been more harshness? I suppose, but I also liked that the author let her readers be human themselves, and trusted us to know the realities, the hardships and the joy of retraining fight dogs without having to hit us with a sledgehammer.

I was easily caught up in Sit, Stay, Love. With dogs who need love and patience, one superior cat, lots of interesting secondary characters and a story that touches the heart whether you’re a dog lover or not – really, what’s not to enjoy about this one? I’d recommend Sit, Stay, Love to any Contemporary Romance reader – and if you haven’t read it yet, I’d also recommend the first story in the series, A New Leash on Love as well.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sit, Stay, Love is the second book in the Rescue Me series. I have been reading these books, out of order and have no hesitation saying that they can be read as standalone stories. They are set in the same town, and some characters appear in each book, but each story is about different main characters. Kelsey Sutton works in a no-kill shelter and when a dog-fighting ring is broken up, she requests to take in the dogs and rehab them. That is not an easy task and the organization responsible for the dogs agrees, with the caveat that she work with Kurt Crawford, a sexy ex-military dog handler. She agrees, although not happily. Kurt agrees as well, but he comes with some baggage. They do not hit it off well initially, but as they work together, their feelings toward one another changes. They have some roadblocks to hurdle involving the dogs and the community, as well as helping one another heal and maybe, just maybe, find they can trust and love one another.

This was just what I was looking for when I picked this book up. It was a sweet romance, but also dealt with a serious issue involving dogs that are rescued from terrible situations, in this case dog fighting. The way they worked with the dogs was amazing and I learned a lot about training. There are always small minded people, the not in my backyard type, who give them a hassle and I was rooting for Kelsey and her shelter. I loved the storyline about the donated mansion where they can house and train the dogs, while waiting for the future of the house to be determined. As much as this is a romance, there is equal attention given to the dogs. Although the story is predictable, I enjoyed this book and the others in the series that I have read. If you are a dog lover, I recommend this one. I listened to the audiobook narrated by Stina Nielsen. She has an easy voice to listen to and made this an enjoyable listening experience.

[Deb Schwartz · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love romances that include animals then Sit, Stay. Love by Debbie Burns is a must addition to your TBR pile.

Kurt Crawford is an ex-military man, an ex-military dog handler that has server ADHD with a healthy does pf PTSD. Kurt finds moving back home a difficult task. He enjoys working with dogs its like a healing for him. That is what lead him to work with the striking Kelsey Sutton who wears her heart on her sleeve. Her do good-er tendencies rakes on Kurt’s nerves, he continually reminds Kelsey that some dogs can’t be saved. What Kurt is about to find out is Kelsey doesn’t give up on dog or human.

Kelsey Sutton has a commitment phobia, none of her relationships work. Kelsey works at High Groove Animal Shelter, a job she takes seriously. She adored all animals, so when Kelsey was given a chance to work a miracle with abandon dogs of a dog ring she leapt at the job. Kelsey only found one major problem with her new job, and his name was Kurt Crawford.

Kurt and Kelsey have a connection from the beginning, but it grows into more. The slow building of feeling between them was a sweet trip that only got better with a little spice thrown in. Kurt wasn’t looking for anyone to hold a spot in his heart, but when Kelsey took her place there Kurt didn’t want her to leave.

I found the supporting characters and animals shined just as much as the lead characters did. I enjoyed getting to know both human and pets I found myself wanting to take them all home. Yes, I am a Kelsey. {smiles} I know Sit, Stay, Love’s plot is a romance, but I am truly happy that Debbie Burns did a story like this. There is much cruelty in the world, it makes me hope that even in real life there are champions.

Rated 5 Stilettos by Deb!

[Danielle Urban · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sit, Stay, Love by Debbie Burns is the kind of novel that pulled me deeper into its story. I felt the emotions from the characters as well as the ones coming from the furry creatures. A tough cat who fights an ex marine for a pillow space to sleep, a homeless dog that broke down the wall the marine built around his heart, and a cute female human who has wormed her way into his soul...has left me feeling emotional. An animal shelter takes on dogs that are not fit to be in a regular shelter and houses them into a big mansion with enough space. The building is old and dark. But once the dogs start to arrive, a sense of purpose and action take over the empty fear. A retired marine with inner battles yet to be fought some how finds healing and peace training the dogs. An animal shelter woman loves the animals that come to the new shelter. Helping them find love and new homes will be hard. But in the end it is worth all the struggles.

This novel was not just about the dogs needing a rescues but their rescuers needing one too. It was sweet, heartfelt, and engaging. I cried, laughed, and fell in love. Sit, Stay, Love by Debbie Burns is a must read. I recommend it to all animal lovers, contemporary fiction lovers, and to all romance lovers. It captured my whole heart.

I received this copy from the publisher. This is my voluntary review.

[Avid Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sit, Stay, Love (Rescue Me #2) by Debbie Burns
3.5 stars
M/F Romance
Triggers: Dog fighting
I was given this book for an honest review by Wicked Reads.

Kurt and Kelsey are a couple who would seemingly not have very much in common. Kelsey is a very soft hearted woman who would die for any of the animals in her shelter. She gives everything that she has to them and with that devotion, she also makes an incredible friend. When she is asked to head up a rehabilitation program for a dog fighting ring, she doesn't hesitate.

Kurt is just coming home from being deployed. He has been a dog handler his entire career and lost many friends. With each loss, a little part of himself was lost too. When he comes home and is asked to help rehabilitate some fighting dogs and get them ready to be adopted, he balks at first. He came home to lose himself in work, but wanted to stay away from the dogs.

Kurt and Kelsey's relationship was a very slow burn. They took their time and despite the communicating hangups that Kurt has, it seems that Kelsey is very intuitive. However, the love story was not very fluid and seemed at times to drag on for a while. Also, the book was a lot about the dogs and less about the romance. I think that my final issue is that it seemed to end very abruptly.

But, in saying all of that, if you're a dog lover, you're going to love the personalities of all of the animals involved. The kindness that each character displays for them it truly admirable. I wonder if Kurt's long time friend, Tess will get her own story next?

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I've read by this author and I guarantee it won't be the last. She has gained a new reader. I love books with animals in them and this one got me right in the heart. The stories of the abused fighting dogs broke my heart, but seeing the rescue organization give them a second warmed my heart. It's a beautiful story. Kurt needs to find meaning again, but there is no way he's going to be convinced to help Kesley or will he? Kesley brings Kurt peace he didn't know could exist, but he still struggles to let go of the past. The characters will grab you right from the beginning and the animals will grab your heart. I wouldn't pass up on reading this one. I'm so looking forward to the next book in the series and I'm going to go back and read the first.

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kurt and Kelsey are great characters and they are aided by some awesome dogs. A older house left to the shelter becomes on of the characters as well. This is a very well plotted story with two character who have to overcome their past to move on to their future. There is great dialog, interesting side characters and a multilayered story line. Great addition to the Rescue Me series.

I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.