Tag Archives: Mara Wells

Paws for Love by Mara Wells – a Review

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Paws for Love by Mara Wells – a Review

 

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Description:
Danielle Morrow works tirelessly for the greyhound rescue as an adoption coordinator, rehabilitating retired racing dogs and helping them find forever homes. She guards her heart as vigilantly as her three adopted greyhounds guard her home. One heartbreak per lifetime is enough for any woman, and no one she’s met since her high school boyfriend dumped her to join the military has ever tempted her enough to risk love again.

Knox Donovan expected to be career military, but an injury has resulted in an honorable discharge that leaves him uncertain of his future. When his brothers ask him to come back to Miami to help manage their new condo conversion, he figures he can at least advise them about security systems before declining the job. He has no intention of staying in the city that has so many bad memories for him.

Knox is reminded that not all his memories of growing up in Miami Beach are bad when he sees Danielle again at the monthly Adoption Day celebration his brothers host at the local dog park. Fourteen years haven’t softened the pain of their breakup. But Knox is different now, more hard-edged and suspicious, and when he bonds with the retired racing greyhound, Sarge, Danielle’s cool reserve begins to melt. Sarge needs special care after the injuries that ended his racing career, and it’s not long before Danielle realizes that Knox does too. Can Danielle trust her heart to the one man who’s ever broken it?

 

 

 

Review:

Paws for Love by Mara Wells is the 3rd book in her Fur Haven Dog Park series.  Fur Haven Park and the Dorothy apartment complex is where the Donovan Brothers are fixing up both places. In the first two books, two of the brothers found their mates, and in Paws for Love, the third brother Knox is our hero. 

Knox, was set in his decision to stay in the military as a career, but a serious injury to his leg causes him to be discharged.  He has a hard time dealing with this injury, but works hard with his brothers to fix up the project they are working on.  Knox, has been away a long time, and when he sees the girl whom he left years ago, memories and regrets flood back.

We meet Danielle Morrow, our heroine, at the start, with her helping save a dog in her veterinarian father’s animal hospital.  Danielle helps rescue greyhound racing dogs, to help find forever homes for them, as she is an adoption coordinator for Homestretch; she has two dogs of her own (Luna & Flurry), which were foster fails.  Danielle is friends with the wives of the two Donovan Brothers, and is a regular at Fur Haven Park, where she brings the dogs. She happens to see Knox, and tries to avoid him, since she has not forgotten that he walked away from her all those years ago. 

When Danielle rescues another greyhound, whom she names, Sarge, she takes him home to help rehabilitate him. The dog has a leg issue, and when he sees Knox, Sarge has found his master; but will Knox allow himself to open up to the dog.  Danielle and Knox decide to help with Sarge, and agree to be friends.  Knox knows he still cares for Danielle, but realizes there is no future, and in a short time their friendship escalates to friends with benefits; with Danielle knowing that he will leave when the project is over.  Will they have a second chance to fall in love again, after 15 years?  You will have to read this book to find out.

What follows is a cute, fun, heartwarming, enjoyable adventure, as their romance heats up, but the issues were still there. The best part of this book and series, are the wonderful dogs that play a large part of this story.  Such sweet fun.   It was also wonderful to see Riley, Caleb, Lance, Carrie, Grams again, and I loved the friendship between Sydney and Danielle, as well as the dogs.  I loved Danielle, who was a great heroine (the ladies of all three books have been wonderful), and understood her hesitation to allow herself to be hurt again, when Knox would leave.  I did like Knox, but thought his determination to leave again was annoying, but later he does come through.

Paws for Love was a heartwarming story about family, second chances, friendships, dogs, dog parks and finding love again.  Mara Wells did an excellent job in writing this story.  I suggest you read Paws for Love, or start this series with the first book.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

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A Tail for Two by Mara Wells – a Review

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A Tail for Two by Mara Wells – a Review

 

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Description:
Lance Donovan agreed to dog sit only to help out his younger brother. Little does he know that an encounter with his ex-wife at the local dog park is going to turn his life upside down…

Carrie Burns has a successful business, a young son, and an energetic pup. She doesn’t have time for much more in her busy schedule, but her friends say she needs to get back into the dating scene or she’ll never find a new Mr. Right. Between her demanding job and 3-year-old Oliver, dating is starting to be another chore.

Carrie especially doesn’t have time for her ex-husband, Lance Donovan. But when Lance meets Oliver, he’s determined to connect with the son he didn’t know he had, and the love he thought he’d lost.

Fur Haven Dog Park Series:
Cold Nose, Warm Heart (Book 1)
Tail for Two (Book 2

 

Review

A Tail for Two by Mara Wells is the 2nd book in her Fur Haven Dog Park series. This series is a lighthearted second chance romance story line with a great couple, and cute adorable dogs.

Lance Donovan, our hero, is Caleb’s brother (last book hero), and with his other brother Knox, they have been helping renovate the Dorothy apartment complex for seniors, which Caleb is in charge of.  But Caleb and Riley are going away on vacation for two weeks, and Lance takes an active role. He is also stuck with taking care of their dog, Lou Lou.  While at the dog park, Lance notices another dog that reminds him of the dog he loved that his ex wife kept in a divorce settlement; he quickly realizes that the dog is Beckingham.

Carrie Burns, our heroine, is Lance’s ex wife, whom neither have seen each other for three years.  In a short time, Lance will meet her young son, Oliver, and quickly realizes he is his son.  He was surprised, as both of them never wanted children.  She never told him about Oliver, and at first Lance is angry, but slowly he indoctrinates himself into their lives, as a friendship.  Carrie has her hands full, with Oliver and Beckingham, and her business, designing homes. Lance offers to cover for her when she needs to go on jobs, as this gives him more time with Oliver.

Lance and Carrie begin to feel a connection again, but Carrie is determined to date others to find the right man for her.  After a bit, Lance finds himself becoming jealous, and knows he wants Carrie back, and he wants to be a family with Oliver.  Will she give Lance another chance?  Will Lance change his mind and try to win Oliver in a custody battle?

What follows is a cute, fun enjoyable adventure, as their romance heats up, but the issues were still there, if it was possible to begin again.  It was nice to see many of the regulars at The Dorothy, as well as at the Dog park. It was also wonderful to see Riley, Caleb and Grams again.   I thought that Oliver was the best part of the story, as I adored him.  I also loved both Lou Lou and Beckingham. 

A Tail of Two was a heartwarming story about family, second chances, senior citizens, dogs, dog parks, and finding love again.   Mara Wells did an excellent job in writing this story.  I suggest you read.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

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Cold Nose, Warm Heart by Mara Wells – a Review

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 Cold Nose, Warm Heart by Mara Wells – a Review

 

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Description:
A poodle, a black lab and a Chihuahua walk into a dog park…

All Caleb Donovan has to do to redeem his family name is take a rundown Miami Beach apartment building and turn it into luxury condos. Easy, right?

Unfortunately, that would also turn the local dog park into a parking lot and the neighbors aren’t having it. Caleb is faced with outright revolt, led by smart, beautiful building manager Riley Carson and her poodle, LouLou.

For Caleb, this project should have been a slam dunk. But even more challenging than the neighborhood resistance is the mutual attraction between him and Riley. It would be so much easier just to stay enemies.

Can Riley and her canine sidekick convince Caleb that what’s best for business isn’t always best for the heart?

 

 

Review:

Cold Nose, Warm Heart by Mara Wells is the 1st book in her new Fur Haven Dog Park series.  This is the first time I have read this author, and I really enjoyed this light sweet romance story line and the wonderful addition of dogs.

Riley Carson, our heroine, is the building manager for the run-down apartment building, The Dorothy, which her grandmother lives in and owns.  Riley is constantly called to help fix things within the apartments, which is made up of mostly senior citizens, but due to barely making ends meet, they have no money to fix up the place. 

Caleb Donovan, our hero, has been given a mission by his grandfather to devise a plan to tear down The Dorothy and replace it with luxury condos, and a huge parking area, which is currently a dog park for the local residents.  He meets Riley, and to his surprise, the beautiful young girl is the manager, and she has no idea that his grandfather owns the building, not her grandmother.  Both Caleb and Riley get off on the wrong foot, especially since it was Caleb’s family that cost Riley her job as a hotel assistant.  Though they are on opposite sides, in a short time a friendship and romance will develop between them.  Riley and her friends work to fight the Donovan’s from taking over the building, and leaving everyone with no homes.  Caleb feels bad, and knows his father and grandfather are doing an injustice to these long-term residents.

While all this is going on, Riley, who has a cute dog, Lou Lou, whom she takes to the dog park next door a few times a day, and we get to meet some of her friends, who also have dogs.  Caleb will get to know some of them, and he will help plan to redesign and create a nice dog park for them; but he still needs to get his grandfather to change his mind about tearing down The Dorothy.

What follows is a cute, fun enjoyable adventure, as we watch Caleb and Riley’s romance heat up, even as they both are on different sides. As Caleb meets most of residents, and all Riley’s friends, he is determined to come up with a viable solution for all.  There are some comical moments, especially with the dogs, as well as when Riley’s grandmother joins in the fight, and comes face to face with her ex (Caleb’s grandfather).  I loved Riley, as she was a wonderful heroine, who was always there for everyone; I liked Caleb, and rooted hard for them to get together. Wells also has created a wonderful group of secondary characters.

Cold Nose, Warm Heart was a heartwarming story about family, division, senior citizens, dogs, dog parks, and doing the right thing.   Mara Wells did an excellent job in writing this story.  I suggest you read Cold Nose, Warm Heart.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

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