Healing Hearts

Caring Canines #1

by Margaret Daley

Love's Healing Power

After surviving a tragic accident, little Madison Winters is in desperate need of comfort. And social worker Abbey Harris has the perfect solution. With the help of her cherished therapy dogs, Gabe and Cottonball, Abbey soon coaxes a smile from Madi—and her workaholic guardian. Dominic Winters is heartbreakingly handsome and is hurting just as much as Madi. But it might take more than wagging tails to get the brooding businessman to open his heart. With the help of a matchmaking little girl and two sweet dogs, Abbey and Dominic may get a second chance at love.

Caring Loving and loyal, these dogs mend hearts.

Genres: Love Inspired, Romance, Christian, Christian Romance

224 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

Margaret Daley, an award-winning author of seventy-six books, has been married for over forty years and is a firm believer in romance and love. When she isn’t traveling, she’s writing love stories, often with a suspense thread and corralling her three cats that think they rule her household. To find out more about Margaret visit her website at http://www.margaretdaley.com.

Reviews

[Stephanie Fitzgerald · Rating 3 out of 5]

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

[Sheila · Rating 3 out of 5]

Such a great story. Abbey, Dominic, and Madison are great characters.

[June · Rating 5 out of 5]

Madi is recovering from surgeries and an airplane crash that resulted in her parents dying. Her half brother, Dominic, is now her guardian. He has moved back to the ranch that he grew up on.

Abbey is a social worker at the hospital where Madi is having surgery. She likes to bring her dog Gabe in to spend time with patients. Everyone loves Gabe. Abbey takes special interest in Madi and soon she and Dominic are spending time trying to avoid the fact that they are drawn to each other. Through his caring for his sister and her establishing a business to provide companion and service dogs, Dominic and Abbey get around to figuring things out.

Very enjoyable story.

[Aerykah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good. Pretty good... I am really looking forward to continuing this series. :)

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Caring Canines
Book 1

I loved this book!!! The description on the back of this book captured my attention and I just had to read it. The book involves a little girl, Madi who is still suffering from nightmares and depression after her parents died in a plane crash six months earlier. Her half-brother, Dominic, is not her guardian but there is a whole set of problems since she is still suffering physically and emotionally from the plane crash. Dominic's company overseas is having some really bad trouble and must relocate, but with Madi still so sick, he can't leave her to take care of business.

Enter hospital social worker, Abbey Harris, who is still struggling with her own loss while using her dogs for pet therapy. She decides Abbey would be a great candidate, but she finds that the uncle may need help just as much. When both lives intertwine, things may just get more complicated!

The romance in this was great! I loved watching these two bond and fall for each other. Madi's story was heart-breaking and I found myself struggling right along with her. This was a GREAT book!!!

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Healing Hearts caught my attention right from the first chapter and kept me interested through to the end. This book was hard for me to put down. The author did a great job of creating realistic characters. The two main characters, Dominic and Abbey, are both very likeable people who have both had some really hard things happen to them in their lives. They have both experienced loss and have also both been betrayed by people they loved. The betrayals they have both experienced make the feelings they are developing for each other hard to sort out. Dominic's half-sister, Madi, is also a great character in this story. She has an uphill battle in her recovery and that is why Abbey has come into their lives with her therapy dogs. This was really such an enjoyable story. I loved the way the author ended this story, and I am definitely looking forward to reading upcoming books in this Caring Canines series. I was blessed to receive this book from the author and am not required to write a review, but happily do so.

[Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story. The heroine's ex left her a few days before their 5-year-old daughter died of cancer. Now, besides her job as a hospital social worker, she trains therapy dogs and takes them around the hospital and nursing homes. The hero's young half-sister survived the plane crash that killed her parents and pet dog and is facing yet another surgery, but the dog visit really helps her. And the story is off and running. Both hero and heroine have to deal with past betrayal by an ex, which kind of drags on and then finally is dramatically, instantly cured in a single conversation, whether at graveside or in an office. I liked the story, but felt the completely warranted angst was played down and the inspirational element was almost non-existent. It was there, but minimal. Still, it was an enjoyable read. I liked it.

[Britney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Healing Hearts is a touching story that illustrates love’s healing power. Little Madi Winters captured my heart on the very first page and never let go! I loved the engaging characters, humans and canines, in this story and was delighted with their second chance at life and love.

Healing Hearts is the first book in the Caring Canines series. This is a very special book series featuring service and therapy dogs. I loved Healing Hearts and look forward to reading more books in the Caring Canines series!

[Dorel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 1st book I read by Margaret Daley. I love this book's cover. I loved this book's story line. I loved Abbey's character. My heart broke & I was happy for Abbey. I loved Dominic's character. I felt sorry & I was happy for Dominic. I loved Madi character. I loved how I can relate to her. I loved Cottonball & Gabe. I loved the ending. I loved how you Ms. Daley gives us readers an understanding what Service Dogs can do. Awesome job Ms. Daley.

[Julia Griffis - The Romance Bibliophile · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Healing Hearts" was a wonderful Christian romance and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I absolutely fell in love with Abbey, Dominic, and Madison. They were amazing and very relatable characters. It was an amazing story and I'm so glad I read it. Margaret Daley is a very talented author and I just adore her books. Can't wait to read more from her and the Caring Canines series!

[Sandra Webb · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a sweet book! Drama, romance and dogs! Who could ask for more. Glad there are more in the series!

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a heartwarming story

[Rinda Kuempel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love it.

Teaching us how important it is to forgive those hurt us, forgiveness heals hurting hearts
I love this reminder. It is a good book.

[Harlequin Books]

"The characters are strong and authentic and the storyline, including a secondary plot, is fully developed in this keeper. The first in Daley's Caring Canines series is also a fantastic tribute to therapy animals." RT Book Reviews, rtaed 4 1/2 stars

Miniseries: Caring Canines
Category: Inspirational Romance

[April Suter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Madi lost her parents in a plane crash that also leaves her with injuries. Her brother, Dominic, comes home to help her with her recovery and meets Abbey at the hospital. Abbey has lost her marriage and daughter, so all three have hearts that need to heal with the aid of some pretty special dogs.

[Harlequin Books]

Miniseries: Caring Canines
Category: Inspirational Romance
Received 4 1/2 stars @ RT Book Reviews

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspirational romance. Therapy dogs help Madison recuperate from her latest surgery.