Dog Days Forever

Cruickshank #1

by Shannon Richard

A heartfelt, romantic novel inspired by  Sweet Home Alabama  and perfect for fans of Jill Shalvis, Kristan Higgins, and Susan Mallery ,  in which a young woman who only fosters dogs discovers an abandoned puppy and finally starts to open herself up to love again… Once inseparable as children and romantically entwined as young adults, Caroline Buchanan and Maximillian Abbot are now virtual strangers. It might be Caro’s fault—considering she abruptly   ended their engagement—but she had good reasons. After their devastating breakup, she stayed in North Carolina, building a quiet, cozy life, while Max went to New York City. In the fourteen years since, Caro has experienced more than her share of heartache and loss. She rarely lets anyone in, not even the steady stream of rescue dogs she fosters. When Max returns to town for the summer at the behest of his grandmother, Caro must finally face their past because she keeps running into Max, and old feelings come rushing back. Shortly after Max arrives, Caro finds a puppy, alone and shivering in a thunderstorm. She takes the dog in, planning to find her the perfect new family. But at a time when her life is in turmoil, this new furry friend—who she names Frankie—unexpectedly becomes her anchor. As she opens her heart to the sweet, cuddly canine, Caro begins to wonder if she could love Max again, too. Max and Frankie feel like home and she can’t bear to say goodbye to either of them. But secrets, both old and new, are still lingering and Max hasn’t completely forgiven her for breaking his heart all those years ago. Will this be a summer of second chances or are they bound to make the same mistakes twice?

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Animals, Second Chance, Chick Lit

384 pages, Paperback

Published February 28, 2023

About the author

Shannon Richard lives in Tallahassee, FL with her adorable rescue dog Teddy—not that she’s biased or anything. She enjoys experimenting with a new recipe in the kitchen or perfecting an old one, typically done with a glass of Sauvignon Blanc in hand. She has no shame for the amount of reality T.V. she indulges in, listens to entirely too many podcasts, and is now a plant lady.

Reviews

[Melike · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars
Cute small town, second chance romance. My only complaint is it is way too long.

[Carole (Carole's Random Life) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/

This was great! Did I pick this book up because of the cover? You know I did. But it wasn’t the cover that kept me glued to the pages, that credit goes to the story contained within its pages. I liked Caro and Max right from the start and couldn’t wait to see them finally figure out a way to work things out and find their happily ever after.

Caro and Max grew up spending their summers together. Things changed in their teenage years when they fell in love. They eventually became engaged but then life threw a curve ball their way and things fell apart. That was 14 years ago. Max is going back to the town of Cruickshank to help his grandmother, Ava, get her house ready to sell and ends up back in Caro’s orbit. It doesn’t take long to tell that the spark between them is still there.

Caro and Max were both great characters but this book was really full of great characters. There were quite a few secondary characters that were well-fleshed out and added a lot to the overall story. And the dogs! With the cute dog on the cover, I would have been disappointed if the book didn’t have at least one dog. I had nothing to worry about. Caro works with a rescue group and fosters dogs so she usually has a dog with her but there were really quite a few dogs that were a part of this story and I love how they each had their own distinct personalities.

I would definitely recommend this book to others. Caro and Max were fantastic characters that had great chemistry together. They really did deserve a second chance and I am glad that I was able to see them get it. There were some heartbreaking and touching moments in this wonderful story. I will definitely be on the lookout for more books by this talented author.

I received a review copy of this book from Avon Books.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

A feel good small town, second chance romance with lots of adorable dogs. Good on audio and perfect for fans of Kristan Higgins or Lizzie Shane. This was my first by this author and I liked it - would read more. They seem like great beach reads too.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

You know when you feel like you have invested too much time into a book to stop reading and so you just keep going? I thought it was tacky to tell the sizes of some of the women in the story. As in she was still beautiful even though she was a size … I didn’t think we were still doing that.

[Laurel · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's really more like 3.5 for me. There were sex scenes that just felt forced and unnecessary. Yes, there were dogs in the book, but they didn't feel like an integral part of the storyline.

[Permanently_Booked · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you, Partner @bibliolifestyle @avonbooks for the #gifted copy of Dog Days Forever by @shan_richard  ! I know it's technically Spring but this is the epitome of a perfect summer read. Dog Days Forever is adorable and 🥵steamy🥵.   

Caroline and Max were inseparable as kids and young lovers. When Caroline makes the hard decision to return his engagement ring, years go by until the selling of Max's childhood home brings him back.

Cue the rekindling of the hot and bothered flames folks. I laughed as the green-eyed monster and little antics of those two came out to play until they finally had the "let's be adults" chat. Of course that leads to the makeup we readers of the hot and heavy adore *eye waggle.*

I loved this quick read. There are a few moments where I felt the frustration or fight topics were not worth the fall apart but the come back was so worth it. It truly  holds all of the aspects of a contemporary romance that I personally love. Well done plot, heartfelt characters, hotter than hell steamy moments, furbabies and family. If you're looking for your next HEA feel-good romance read than look no further.

[Diane Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice, well-written second chance romance (with dogs!).

[Amanda G. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to the author, publisher, and Goodreads for this giveaway!

It’s perfect that this novel is being released Valentine’s month. The story of Caro and Max is so charming in a rom-com kind of way, and the characters are all very lovable and unique. The perfect meet-cutes, timeline of events, and overall idea of the book were just welcome and enjoyable for a nice easy read. I found myself rooting for each of them as their lives unfolded and were shaped by changes, and a few twists that I didn’t see coming.

One minor quirk for me was that Caroline’s nickname was Caro. I don’t know why, but it rubbed me the wrong way and took some getting used to.

This is 3.5 stars for me because there were a few minor plot holes and sub-stories that were unnecessary to the story, or made me question things that didn’t need too much focus…
1) It’s never really said what Caro’s mom dies from, just that she gets sick and passes. (Or it’s mentioned and I can’t remember it exactly but 46 is really young and I want to know why.)
2) Lucy and Theo’s feud. It’s mentioned multiple times but we aren’t ever really told what it is or if it ends well, just that they don’t like each other.
3) The books Caro writes aren’t talked about. I’m not sure why Max gets so upset about that. May just be me, but a person is allowed to write about their own life and the people who come into it. She didn’t use his real name. I did, however, want to see an example of one of the stories. Even just a remembering the moment that made the plot of one would be great.

Overall, a quick cute read with overall happy vibes.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful romance about re-uniting with your first (and only) love. Quick read and hard to put down. Some chapters are long but so worth it.
Spoiler: No dogs die. It does mention a pet Caro lost in the past but none of the living dogs in the book die.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book from Goodreads, but with the puppy on the cover it's something that I probably would have picked up anyway.
Aside from the gratuitous overuse of the f bomb, this was a well written steamy romance. Lots of pups made the story much more enjoyable.

[Sher Free · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have a chiweenie and picked this up solely due to the cover so I was expecting (and wanted) more dog to the plot. Unfortunately they were really background mostly. This is a serviceable ex-lover returns home to small town romance. Nothing really new or extraordinary.

[Candice Gigous · Rating 3 out of 5]

Much sadder than the synopsis leads you to believe. More a dramatic story with a theme of moving on from grief and loss and a second-chance romance, not a cute rom-com. Read this if you want to grab the tissues.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Story line great and very sweet. Not at all a fan of the descriptive scenes between them. Should have a disclaimer. NOT for you guys kids or young teenagers.

[Sandra Hoover · Rating 4 out of 5]

Caroline Buchanan and Maximillian Abbot were once engaged to be married. He went to college secure in their future only to have his heart broken when Caroline announced she wouldn't be following him . . . or marrying him. She returned his heirloom wedding ring and parted ways without an explanation. Caroline remained in their hometown while Max went to the big city of New York to lick his wounds and begin his career. Now Max is back in town to help his grandmother clean out their big old house as she prepares to move into something smaller. At every turn, Max and Caroline are thrown together. At first it's painfully awkward as old memories surface, but eventually they begin connecting again through a puppy they both rescued. It appears they're finally really communicating, but is there hope for a future that includes the both of them?

Dog Days Forever is a low-angst, contemporary romance about forgiveness, second chances, pain and love. It's about letting go, but keeping your heart open to love again. Richard's writing flows smoothly, carrying characters and readers forward at a simple, easy pace while rendering a story that will touch your heart. I love the inclusion of the foster dogs - both those they must let go and the one they can't. It's a great way to showcase the great need for both foster and adoption parents for animals abandoned in shelters. Dog Days Forever is an emotional and heartfelt romance that I highly recommend for fans of contemporary romance with low key angst.
3.5 Stars
Many thanks to Avon Books for the physical ARC of this book.
Release Date: Feb. 28, 2023
Review published at Cross My Heart Book Reviews

[Dana · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Dog Days Forever" grabbed me instantly, and I thought it would be a 5 star read. However, the more I read the easier it was to put it down, and not feel compelled to read it quickly or voraciously. Author, Shannon Richard gets points for including sweet rescued dogs in the story, and for creating lovable human characters, as well.
Caro and Max were intensely and madly in love in their teens. They had grown up together, and were engaged when Max left for college. Caro was to join him a year later, but events happened that made her stay back home in North Carolina. It is now fourteen years later, and the once enamored couple are now nearly strangers. Caro always remained in their small town, while Max had a successful career in New York City. When called home by Ava, the grandmother who raised him, Max agrees to return for the summer. Of course, it takes only minutes until Max and Caro bump into one another again (literally). Neither is happy about it, but Ava begs Max to be friendly to Caro, for her sake, as she loves both of them! Caro broke Max's heart, and he never understood why. He never knew that she broke her own heart, as well, and that he had played an unknown roll in doing so.
Over the course of the summer, feelings resurface. First love is a fierce things, and sometimes, those intense feelings never die. I did love how Caro and Max tried to figure things out, with some meddling on the part of her sisters and his grandmother. It was predictable, but heartwarming at the same time, with some "heat" thrown in for good measure.
"Dog Days Forever" was a nice escape, a feel good kind of book, and there are dogs in it....so if you love dogs, as I do, that will be an added bonus!

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bittersweet. So the the majority of the book was sort of cute and sweet, not to say there weren't a few spicy parts. The dogs- they just made it all the more better and I could had even more of them in the book (they intensified all the feels the happy, the sad, the excitement). You could not help, but fall in love with each and every one of them. Most of the characters were enjoyable as well, though Caro you want to shake and slap, because her reasoning was rather stupid and selfish (don't want spoilers). I don't want to give away too many spoilers, but people missed out on 14 years of life because of a pretty silly decision, especially when both main character were so deeply in love and thus missed out on a lot of life together, not just for them, but for the other characters as well. Now for the ending, it had its sweet moments, but it was overshadowed by (again, I hope I an not giving too much away), the very sad and again the dogs made it all the more intense that really pulled at the old heart strings and made for some tear jerk reactions, at least they did for me. For me, the ending was kind of a disappointment because it hard to be happy and sad at the same time. I really want happy endings in my books, because in life you don't really get them, and everything was finally going right in the book, but then of course there had to be one final monkey wrench arrghh!! I wanted to be happy, but was left feeling that bittersweet sadness and asking why did you have to do it....

[Louisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I picked this off the library shelf I expected short stories about people whose dogs were their best friends, so I was slightly surprised to find a contemporary romance novel. But all was good. Caro Buchanan of Cruikshank, North Carolina has a career as a children’s author and works several jobs around town to keep herself busy and pay her everyday expenses. One of her jobs is helping Ava Abbott care for her Victorian house and its grounds. Ava’s grandson Max and Caro had been best friends through elementary and middle school, then a couple, even going so far as becoming engaged before everything fell apart. That was fourteen years ago, and although both of them claim to have moved on, neither had been in a serious relationship since they broke up. Caro wouldn’t even commit to owning a dog after her Sweet Pea died three years ago, though she has been fostering dogs for the local rescue agency because she can’t imagine not having a dog. Then Ava calls Max to come help her get her house ready for sale.

All of the characters in Dog Days Forever are complex and well drawn, and Cruikshank makes life in a small town appealing. Caro’s mother, Rachel, and Max’s grandfather, Martin are important and feel real even though they are dead. Everyone in this novel has a dog (or cat) or two to love. Caro and Ava are active in the local rescue agency, which has a booth at the weekly local farmer’s market. My one word review: Delightful!

[Samantha (WLABB) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 4.5 Stars

I will admit, this is one of those the-cover-made-me-do-it books, but I was not disappointed. This was a delightful second chance romance that made me laugh while plucking my heartstrings.

Caro and had so much history, and it really pained me that their future together was shattered due to a chain of events in their past. I was obviously delighted that they still carried a flame for each other, and I loved how Max's grandmother plotted to get them to reconnect. But, Ava was so right! These two hadn't had true happiness since they parted ways. They just belonged together.

I was wholly on board with this romance, but I also loved meeting everyone in town and being with their families. The big group events were lots of fun. I felt like the author was planting the seeds for another book. Keeping my fingers crossed we get to visit with them again.

Overall: A heartwarming second chance romance that earned extra points with me by featuring some precious canine companions.

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[Cody · Rating 4 out of 5]

First: this is NOT my usual genre

It has some grammatical errors in it, but it is an advanced copy, so that may be fixed by the time it comes out in (I believe) February.

It has some odd placement of the F word. It threw me off for some reason. I do see it being needed in a few places, but not all the places it was used.

The smut in this book is not terrible. It's better than a lot I've read, which isn't much. But it didn't make me cringe!

I like that this book is the opposite of a Hallmark movie in the sense that it's the man who returns to the small town, a town he only spent summers in growing up.

The whole premise of the whole town participating in the dog adoptions is adorable. I absolutely loved that about this book.

Also, towards the end I kinda had my heart ripped out and was NOT expecting that.

Overall, considering its not my genre it was a decent read. I'd recommend it to someone who does enjoy romance.

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dog Days Forever is a low-angst, contemporary romance about forgiveness, second chances, pain and love. It's about letting go, but keeping your heart open to love again. Richard's writing flows smoothly, carrying characters and readers forward at a simple, easy pace while rendering a story that will touch your heart. I love the inclusion of the foster dogs - both those they must let go and the one they can't. There were times that Caro drove me crazy I just wanted to shake her because the decisions she made. The end of this book was good but also a challenge because I felt happy and sad at the same time. Dog Days Forever is an emotional and heartfelt romance that I highly recommend for fans of contemporary romance with low key angst.
I requested an ARC copy of this book and this review that I have written based on how I felt about this book. I would recommend this book

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very cute (not sappy) novel of love lost (and possibly found?) in a small southern town.
There’s a hint of spice, lots of meddling family and friends and overall good vibe to this novel. Plus lots of pups! I LOVED the animal rescue aspect of the book.
While I felt the writing was strong, the characters and plot well developed, I was bothered by a few things. Mainly the “feud” alluded to between two of the secondary characters- possibly a set up for another book? The “big secret” Caro was keeping, and way Caro and Max’s relationship fell apart in the first place.
It bothered me that he felt “she stopped fighting for them” but he never came back for her either.
All that aside, definitely a sweet not sappy romance that has a strong storyline and developed characters.
Thank you to Goodreads, the author and publisher for my ARC!

[Danielle Urban · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dog Days Forever by Shannon Richard is a beautifully woven charming yet heartbreaking story of second chances. A young woman fosters dogs that were abandoned. She abandoned her engagement to a childhood friend slash lover. Now, many years later they keep bumping into each other. They are now forced in proximity to deal with their woes, troubles, and hearts. Themes of abandonment, trust issues, love, second chances, and fate all come together in this sweet read. I loved Frankie. The latest foster dog Caroline takes in and that's where everything begins to unravel like a ball of yarn. Shannon Richard writes with heart, hope, and healing. It is a novel that all can relate to and love. Unforgettable scenes and characters in this fantastic read.

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

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading Caro and Max's love story. I thought it was a little strange how involved Ava was in her grandson's romantic life, and how involved the whole town was, for that matter. It really hits home the fact they live in a small town, albeit filled with tourist hussle and bussle. Cruickshank is a whole vibe and I loved it. It reminded me a bit of Stars Hollow from Gilmore Girls.

I was not expecting the novel to be so sad near the end, although there is a happily ever after. It is a slight emotional rollar coaster with cute dogs sprinkled throughout. Overall, a very good read!

Thank you Avon / HarperCollins for the ARC. (Sorry I didn't get a chance to read/review until now.)

[Jenni Stein · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a super cute love story about first loves. Reminiscent of the feels you get when you watch the Notebook. This is a story of true love and the messy paths it sometimes takes. I think all of us hope to one day have a village or place that truly feels like home as the town in this book does and have the love/support system Max and Caro have. The loss both suffered and went through hit home.

I laughed, I cried, the only thing I felt that was a bit unnecessary was the sex scenes but hey sex sells, I get it. But with the cute beauty of the story for me it detracted a little bit and almost felt a bit awkward. Overall I really enjoyed this book. Loved the fosters, relationship between Max and Caro and everyone else!

[Kelsey Campbell · Rating 1 out of 5]

3/10 because I am NOT the target audience. For anyone else wondering, no dogs die in the book in case anyone waited to read this for that exact reason. I picked this book with the intention of having a quick, feel good read…and it is not that. Quite frankly the story dragged on, there were too many characters to keep track of, AND the story was largely recalling the past. I don’t even want to call it a second chance romance. I REALLY was just looking for a lighthearted read, and I didn’t think that was too much to ask for. I guess this is what I get for picking a book based solely on the puppy on the cover. Plus, the writing is poor. This might be someone’s cup of tea, but it definitely isn’t mine.

[Mel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I have read of Shannon Richard- and it will not be the last!
The way she wove this story of Max and Caro and a small town that I’d love to live in is amazing. I didn’t want to put the book down. I had to know what was going to happen next, would they? Wouldn’t they? I especially appreciated that this is not a sappy story it’s a heartwarming one. I also loved all the dogs mentioned in the book- an added bonus to the story. This is a great story that gives you hope pulls at your heart strings and has an ending that is bittersweet.

[Keri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for my opinion.

Completely predictable but that's how romance novels go. I liked the story of returning to a small town and the families involvement in each other's business but in a positive way. I loved Ava, the grandmother of Max. She's the grandmother we should all have. I was curious to see if any of the story line would be in any of the dogs' perspective. Not in this book. This was a overall good romance novel.

[Cortney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book in a giveaway and am very glad that I did!

It was an adorably sweet story about childhood sweethearts who find eachother again later in life and realize that maybe they never stopped loving eachother after all. Cutesy rural town, foster pups welcome at all of the dog friendly businesses in town, disguised love devotion, loving family/community..perfect book for a relaxing, feel-good read.

[Hilda Etherton · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great story about love the second time around. Caroline and Maximillian grew up together and became a couple until something broke them up. The next few years they each lived their own life, but fate has come into play. It talks about their life once they see each other again. There is sex involved, if you like it.

A great story and buy it if you want to know what happens. Thank you for allowing me to read your book.

Hilda

[Kelsey Duro · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the best books I’ve read in a while. While the cover obviously drew me in, the story was even better. A second chance romance in a small town setting. Shannon Richard knew exactly how to pull on my heartstrings throughout the entire book. It reminded me of Lucy Score novel and I couldn’t put it down.