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Second Chance Ranch #2
Rescue Me
A rescued dog returns the favor in the latest Second Chance Romance from USA Today bestselling author of Shelter Me.
Detective AJ Parker left undercover work in Atlanta to join a small-town Tennessee police force, hoping for an easier workload and the solitude of his cabin. But the scars left by AJ’s previous work are more difficult to escape than he thought…
Mary Hannah Gallo works with the Second Chance Ranch Animal Rescue to train therapy dogs for traumatized patients. It isn’t easy, but her life is under control—until she meets the broodingly sensual AJ, who rattles her composure all the way to her toes.
After an assignment confiscating dogs from a backyard breeder reveals a dangerous drug operation, AJ must work with sexy perfectionist Mary Hannah to train an abused rescue dog—a dog now named Holly. While Holly proves to these two very different people that opposites can, in fact, attract, she also knows more than a few explosive secrets that could heal—or divide—the entire town.
Detective AJ Parker left undercover work in Atlanta to join a small-town Tennessee police force, hoping for an easier workload and the solitude of his cabin. But the scars left by AJ’s previous work are more difficult to escape than he thought…
Mary Hannah Gallo works with the Second Chance Ranch Animal Rescue to train therapy dogs for traumatized patients. It isn’t easy, but her life is under control—until she meets the broodingly sensual AJ, who rattles her composure all the way to her toes.
After an assignment confiscating dogs from a backyard breeder reveals a dangerous drug operation, AJ must work with sexy perfectionist Mary Hannah to train an abused rescue dog—a dog now named Holly. While Holly proves to these two very different people that opposites can, in fact, attract, she also knows more than a few explosive secrets that could heal—or divide—the entire town.
304 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 3, 2015
8 people are currently reading
487 people want to read
About the author
Catherine Mann
593 books1,242 followersUSA Today bestseller Catherine Mann has written women's fiction, romance, and romantic suspense for Lake Union, Harlequin, HQN, Berkley, Tule, and Sourcebooks, with titles released in more than 30 countries. Catherine’s novels have won numerous awards, including a RITA Award, the Romantic Times Magazine Reviewer’s Choice Award, and the Bookseller’s Best Award.
A South Carolinian at heart, after years of moving around the country Catherine has settled back in her home state with her Harley-riding husband. Empty nesters, they have a blended family of nine children, nine grandchildren, two dogs, and three feral cats, who all provide endless inspiration for new novels. For more information, visit: http://catherinemann.com
A South Carolinian at heart, after years of moving around the country Catherine has settled back in her home state with her Harley-riding husband. Empty nesters, they have a blended family of nine children, nine grandchildren, two dogs, and three feral cats, who all provide endless inspiration for new novels. For more information, visit: http://catherinemann.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
February 6, 2019
Second book in the Second Chance Ranch series and sadly, the last one. Both stories were so great I wish there was more book afterwards but at least there was those two.
Mary Hannah Gallo is a mental-health counselor who pair her clients with rescue dogs. She live an ordered life, but that wasn't always the case and she think that her past mistakes are responsible for a personal tragedy that happened a few years ago.
Former undercover cop was supposed to be done with the high-level crime when he left Atlanta for a small town in Tennessee. But busting a meth house and rescuing dogs from a breeding situation is the opposite of that. And working with the woman next door to help train a mama Boxer, the same woman who were his one-night stand not too long ago, is not what this solitary guy had in mind. But it will be exactly what he needed. They can try to fight the obvious attraction, but they can't win at avoiding their feelings.
Rescue Me is the romance between two people who didn't have things easy in life, who were unhappy without really knowing it, a little jaded but who find comfort in each other when they finally let go of the barriers around their heart and the wounds of the past. We also got chapters featuring Mary Hannah's boss and friend who's life is going through changes. Amazing characters who were flawed like any real person and who have their hearts in the right place. But the real star is Holly, the Boxer who give us her POV throughout the story and improvised herself matchmaker.
Mary Hannah Gallo is a mental-health counselor who pair her clients with rescue dogs. She live an ordered life, but that wasn't always the case and she think that her past mistakes are responsible for a personal tragedy that happened a few years ago.
Former undercover cop was supposed to be done with the high-level crime when he left Atlanta for a small town in Tennessee. But busting a meth house and rescuing dogs from a breeding situation is the opposite of that. And working with the woman next door to help train a mama Boxer, the same woman who were his one-night stand not too long ago, is not what this solitary guy had in mind. But it will be exactly what he needed. They can try to fight the obvious attraction, but they can't win at avoiding their feelings.
Rescue Me is the romance between two people who didn't have things easy in life, who were unhappy without really knowing it, a little jaded but who find comfort in each other when they finally let go of the barriers around their heart and the wounds of the past. We also got chapters featuring Mary Hannah's boss and friend who's life is going through changes. Amazing characters who were flawed like any real person and who have their hearts in the right place. But the real star is Holly, the Boxer who give us her POV throughout the story and improvised herself matchmaker.
November 28, 2015
Quickie Review:
Rescue Me was an enjoyable read. I liked the animals. My heart just broke for Holly the boxer. The hero and heroine were likable and I enjoyed their time together. I wasn't totally wow-ed by the book though. It was pleasant but nothing that had me antsy for more. The ending was weird to me. A surprise twist that I just didn't care for unfortunately. I would have rated a little higher had that not happened.
Full review:
Rescue babes, a sexy cop and a likable heroine. All things I adore in my reads. And I did enjoy Rescue Me even though it didn't blow me away entirely as Mary Hannah and AJ both work on a meth house bust in different ways. He's there with the police force and she's there with the animal rescue to get animals out of the house.
The characters--I liked both AJ and Mary Hannah. They'd hooked up a little while back on a one night stand then realized they were going to be neighbors of a sort. I always love that storyline. They were a little awkward but still sweet as they worked through that. They could be a little touchy and over reactive now and again but I liked them. Especially how much they each cared about what they did--he's a cop, she's a therapist that specializes in therapy animals-- and the people and animals around them as well.
The animals--I loved the animals. Holly the Boxer broke my heart. She was a breeder dog used by the meth house owner. There were parts told from her point of view and she was such a sweetie but so broken and hurt it was difficult watching her find freedom and deal with everything new happening around her. Being in rescue it touched home since a number of our animals have come from horrible situations and had the same struggles adjusting. I do wish--with things being set at a rescue--some of the animals in the spotlight had been mixed breeds. There were purebreds around every corner. Not sure if that's how the other book in the series was or not. But the actual animals themselves were adorable and so touching.
The Set Up--I liked the set up of Mary Hannah helping AJ working together on both the meth house bust and with the animals as they train Holly for a charity event as well as to help him deal with the stress of his police work. It was very touching seeing how Holly the dog and AJ bonded and helped heal each other from the pains of their past lives.
I'm not quite sure. While I enjoyed Rescue Me it didn't really capture me entirely for some reason. It was pleasant. But that really was it for me. Not a horrible thing but not one that will have me rushing for more right this second. I also had issues with a surprise twist at the end that felt very out of place for me and dealt with the owner of the rescue where the series is set. I'm just not a huge fan of her storyline at all. She just rubs me wrong for some reason.
Rescue Me was an enjoyable read. I liked the animals. My heart just broke for Holly the boxer. The hero and heroine were likable and I enjoyed their time together. I wasn't totally wow-ed by the book though. It was pleasant but nothing that had me antsy for more. The ending was weird to me. A surprise twist that I just didn't care for unfortunately. I would have rated a little higher had that not happened.
Full review:
Rescue babes, a sexy cop and a likable heroine. All things I adore in my reads. And I did enjoy Rescue Me even though it didn't blow me away entirely as Mary Hannah and AJ both work on a meth house bust in different ways. He's there with the police force and she's there with the animal rescue to get animals out of the house.The characters--I liked both AJ and Mary Hannah. They'd hooked up a little while back on a one night stand then realized they were going to be neighbors of a sort. I always love that storyline. They were a little awkward but still sweet as they worked through that. They could be a little touchy and over reactive now and again but I liked them. Especially how much they each cared about what they did--he's a cop, she's a therapist that specializes in therapy animals-- and the people and animals around them as well.
The animals--I loved the animals. Holly the Boxer broke my heart. She was a breeder dog used by the meth house owner. There were parts told from her point of view and she was such a sweetie but so broken and hurt it was difficult watching her find freedom and deal with everything new happening around her. Being in rescue it touched home since a number of our animals have come from horrible situations and had the same struggles adjusting. I do wish--with things being set at a rescue--some of the animals in the spotlight had been mixed breeds. There were purebreds around every corner. Not sure if that's how the other book in the series was or not. But the actual animals themselves were adorable and so touching.
She leaned and wrote on the paper, my test. "There. It's official."
And that's how I finally had one name, sweetly spoken with love in a moment that changed my life forever. I had a long way to go, but finally, I had someone who cared. Someone who thought of me as more than Fat Mama, Bitch, Dumbass, Confiscate #8 or Shelter #S75230.
Finally, I mattered. Me. An individual being, not just a baby-making machine. And finally, I can introduce myself to you.
Hello, my name is Holly.
The Set Up--I liked the set up of Mary Hannah helping AJ working together on both the meth house bust and with the animals as they train Holly for a charity event as well as to help him deal with the stress of his police work. It was very touching seeing how Holly the dog and AJ bonded and helped heal each other from the pains of their past lives.
I'm not quite sure. While I enjoyed Rescue Me it didn't really capture me entirely for some reason. It was pleasant. But that really was it for me. Not a horrible thing but not one that will have me rushing for more right this second. I also had issues with a surprise twist at the end that felt very out of place for me and dealt with the owner of the rescue where the series is set. I'm just not a huge fan of her storyline at all. She just rubs me wrong for some reason.
November 12, 2015
Very emotional story of love and healing, both human and canine. The book starts from the viewpoint of a rescued boxer dog. It begins as she is describing what her life has been like up to that point, and what had kept her from total despair. I loved her take on human television shows, and the way she enjoyed them. The rescue, from her viewpoint, was both wonderful and terrifying. The descriptions of her feelings, from cabin to shelter to ranch to her forever home were so vivid that I almost felt like I was there with her.
AJ is a new addition to the Cooksburg police force. He left his job as an undercover narcotics detective in Atlanta after a really tough assignment where he also got involved with a woman and child. When things went bad he knew he had to get away, so he accepted his cousin's offer to join the force there. He feels like he's settling in well and adjusting to his new life.
Mary Hannah works with the Second Chance rescue group as part of her job as a counselor. She trains therapy dogs as well as working with abused animals. Everything she does is a way for her to atone for the mistakes she made in the past; mistakes that ended her marriage and caused her to miscarry her baby. Mary Hannah keeps pretty tight control over her life, except for one night a few months earlier. After a really bad day, a stop at a bar had her hooking up with a really hot guy for a little comfort, someone she never expected to see again. Imagine her shock and dismay to discover that he's a new cop on the force and her next door neighbor.
They are brought together again by the raid on a dog breeder's house that also turns out to be a meth house. AJ is there to make the arrest, and Mary Hannah is with the rescue group who is taking care of the dogs. Both of them are drawn to the female boxer that is one of the rescues. When AJ is told by his boss that he's still too emotionally close to the edge, he assigns AJ to work with Mary Hannah and Holly to train the dog for therapy work. Though reluctant at first, AJ soon sees it as a chance to get closer to Mary Hannah.
The attraction between them is still very strong. Working with the dog gives them time to really get to know each other and their feelings continue to grow. Then the day comes that Mary Hannah finds out what happened to AJ at his last job and she realizes that she can never be the right person for him. She says that she is the arsonist to his fireman and that there is no future for them. I understood AJ's reaction, though I had hoped for better. Fortunately, they have to continue to work together, with Holly, who seems to see what they need more clearly than they do. I loved seeing how their ability to forgive each other helps them forgive themselves and finally open up their hearts to the risks of love.
There are some sad yet heartwarming moments as Holly bonds with AJ and Mary Hannah. Her initial caution about even getting close made me want to cry. I loved seeing her settle into AJ's house with him, and her slow release of her fears. Her actions with the tv remote that began her real bonding with him was adorable, and I loved his reaction. I really enjoyed Holly's opinions about what was going on between her humans, and her determination to bring them together. Thanks to an unexpected twist, Holly plays a big part in shutting down the drug operation that kept her captive.
There is a secondary story between Lacey McDaniel (Shelter Me), owner of the Second Chance Ranch, and AJ's cousin Wyatt. Lacey and Wyatt have been dating for the past year and Wyatt is beginning to push for more. Lacey isn't sure what she wants, as she is still recovering from her husband's death. She also has a lot going on with the rescue, her teenage son, father-in-law with Alzheimer's, and visiting daughter and son-in-law. There is an added complication that has added stress to her decision, but in the end she listens to her heart.
I can't wait to read the next book and hope that it comes out soon.
AJ is a new addition to the Cooksburg police force. He left his job as an undercover narcotics detective in Atlanta after a really tough assignment where he also got involved with a woman and child. When things went bad he knew he had to get away, so he accepted his cousin's offer to join the force there. He feels like he's settling in well and adjusting to his new life.
Mary Hannah works with the Second Chance rescue group as part of her job as a counselor. She trains therapy dogs as well as working with abused animals. Everything she does is a way for her to atone for the mistakes she made in the past; mistakes that ended her marriage and caused her to miscarry her baby. Mary Hannah keeps pretty tight control over her life, except for one night a few months earlier. After a really bad day, a stop at a bar had her hooking up with a really hot guy for a little comfort, someone she never expected to see again. Imagine her shock and dismay to discover that he's a new cop on the force and her next door neighbor.
They are brought together again by the raid on a dog breeder's house that also turns out to be a meth house. AJ is there to make the arrest, and Mary Hannah is with the rescue group who is taking care of the dogs. Both of them are drawn to the female boxer that is one of the rescues. When AJ is told by his boss that he's still too emotionally close to the edge, he assigns AJ to work with Mary Hannah and Holly to train the dog for therapy work. Though reluctant at first, AJ soon sees it as a chance to get closer to Mary Hannah.
The attraction between them is still very strong. Working with the dog gives them time to really get to know each other and their feelings continue to grow. Then the day comes that Mary Hannah finds out what happened to AJ at his last job and she realizes that she can never be the right person for him. She says that she is the arsonist to his fireman and that there is no future for them. I understood AJ's reaction, though I had hoped for better. Fortunately, they have to continue to work together, with Holly, who seems to see what they need more clearly than they do. I loved seeing how their ability to forgive each other helps them forgive themselves and finally open up their hearts to the risks of love.
There are some sad yet heartwarming moments as Holly bonds with AJ and Mary Hannah. Her initial caution about even getting close made me want to cry. I loved seeing her settle into AJ's house with him, and her slow release of her fears. Her actions with the tv remote that began her real bonding with him was adorable, and I loved his reaction. I really enjoyed Holly's opinions about what was going on between her humans, and her determination to bring them together. Thanks to an unexpected twist, Holly plays a big part in shutting down the drug operation that kept her captive.
There is a secondary story between Lacey McDaniel (Shelter Me), owner of the Second Chance Ranch, and AJ's cousin Wyatt. Lacey and Wyatt have been dating for the past year and Wyatt is beginning to push for more. Lacey isn't sure what she wants, as she is still recovering from her husband's death. She also has a lot going on with the rescue, her teenage son, father-in-law with Alzheimer's, and visiting daughter and son-in-law. There is an added complication that has added stress to her decision, but in the end she listens to her heart.
I can't wait to read the next book and hope that it comes out soon.
April 18, 2015
Holly, the Boxer, is amazing! This story pulls on your heartstrings. It's as if every character has extra baggage their forced to carry because of the blows life has dealt them. Even the rescue animals. Poignant, intense, and thought-provoking. You'll remember this story long after you turn the last page.
November 24, 2016
I really liked this one and I hope we get more in the series.
February 10, 2015
Rescue Me is an emotional roller coaster ride, beginning with the rescue of a cute boxer to the surprise ending that pulls at your heartstrings. This is the second book in the series about the Second Chance Rescue ranch and the fabulous people that are affiliated with it.
AJ Parker is a detective in the small community of Cooksburg, Tennessee. He is new to the area, jumping at the chance his cousin Wyatt gave him when he needed to get away from the big city, and big drugs. He wants a low key life after being undercover in narcotics for several years. He was burned out from the lifestyle and hurt by a woman he trusted.
Mary Hannah Gallo is a councilor and dog rescuer. She trains dogs as service or emotional SUPPORT dogs to help others. She has past issues with prescription drugs but has been clean for four years, although through her troubles she lost a lot in her life.
Mary Hanna met AJ several months ago, SPENDING an amazing night together, it was an anonymous hookup and they were never to meet again. Yet fate works in mysterious ways, as now they are living next to each other, working together to help rescued dogs.
As with the first book, this is a very emotional story of love and healing. There are several story lines intertwined featuring the family and friends of Second Chance Rescue along with amazing rescue dogs.
Mary Hannah is an extremely likable person, she cares for both people and animals, she enjoys pairing rescued animals with both physically and emotionally injured soldiers helping them heal each other. There is one particular story that really tugs at your heart as she aids a desperate family to recover. What she does not do is help herself. There are several things in her past that she has not dealt with and does not talk about, even her good friend Sierra does not know. But the weight of her past decisions drag her down and it takes a special person and rescued boxer to make her whole again.
AJ is a great hero, a little rough around the edges, keeping his heart closed up so as not to get hurt again. But the attraction between the two is tangible and after their night of anonymity, they can hardly stay away from each other. There are a few bumps in the road, their jobs and both their pasts get tangled with reality but they slowly work through these things as they get closer.
Secondary characters play huge roles, there are additional stories that are featured, Lacey and Wyatt’s story makes me feel both angry and sad, I did not see those twists and turns coming. I also liked catching up with Lacey’s son Nathan and her daughter Sierra and family. The pace of the story is perfect, the romance starts SLOW as Mary Hannah and AJ find their way through the obstacles of their relationship, there is a small amount of drama toward the end however things are worked through quickly. I love how we are treated to a dog’s view of the world and how quirky humans can be through Holly the rescued boxer, it makes for some cute moments. Although this is the second in the series it can easily be read as a standalone, the author catches the reader up to speed on the main characters from the beginning. I am interested in what will happen next and look forward to more from this author.
Review posted at: Ramblings from a Chaotic Mind
Copy from publisher for an honest review
AJ Parker is a detective in the small community of Cooksburg, Tennessee. He is new to the area, jumping at the chance his cousin Wyatt gave him when he needed to get away from the big city, and big drugs. He wants a low key life after being undercover in narcotics for several years. He was burned out from the lifestyle and hurt by a woman he trusted.
Mary Hannah Gallo is a councilor and dog rescuer. She trains dogs as service or emotional SUPPORT dogs to help others. She has past issues with prescription drugs but has been clean for four years, although through her troubles she lost a lot in her life.
Mary Hanna met AJ several months ago, SPENDING an amazing night together, it was an anonymous hookup and they were never to meet again. Yet fate works in mysterious ways, as now they are living next to each other, working together to help rescued dogs.
As with the first book, this is a very emotional story of love and healing. There are several story lines intertwined featuring the family and friends of Second Chance Rescue along with amazing rescue dogs.
Mary Hannah is an extremely likable person, she cares for both people and animals, she enjoys pairing rescued animals with both physically and emotionally injured soldiers helping them heal each other. There is one particular story that really tugs at your heart as she aids a desperate family to recover. What she does not do is help herself. There are several things in her past that she has not dealt with and does not talk about, even her good friend Sierra does not know. But the weight of her past decisions drag her down and it takes a special person and rescued boxer to make her whole again.
AJ is a great hero, a little rough around the edges, keeping his heart closed up so as not to get hurt again. But the attraction between the two is tangible and after their night of anonymity, they can hardly stay away from each other. There are a few bumps in the road, their jobs and both their pasts get tangled with reality but they slowly work through these things as they get closer.
Secondary characters play huge roles, there are additional stories that are featured, Lacey and Wyatt’s story makes me feel both angry and sad, I did not see those twists and turns coming. I also liked catching up with Lacey’s son Nathan and her daughter Sierra and family. The pace of the story is perfect, the romance starts SLOW as Mary Hannah and AJ find their way through the obstacles of their relationship, there is a small amount of drama toward the end however things are worked through quickly. I love how we are treated to a dog’s view of the world and how quirky humans can be through Holly the rescued boxer, it makes for some cute moments. Although this is the second in the series it can easily be read as a standalone, the author catches the reader up to speed on the main characters from the beginning. I am interested in what will happen next and look forward to more from this author.
Review posted at: Ramblings from a Chaotic Mind
Copy from publisher for an honest review
June 15, 2015
Rescue Me is a nice, light romance whose main attraction for me was the rescue dog, Holly. Glad that I saw Anna's review over at Herding Cats and Burning Soup or I never would have found this book on my own!
Holly, the rescued boxer, broke my heart. Used as a breeding dog by a meth dealer, Holly never knew love or affection of any kind until she was rescued. Despite a very tough life, she somehow managed to keep things together long enough to find her chance.
Loved her sense of humor! Despite being terrified and overwhelmed by the shelter environment, Holly observes that she never dreamed she would one day wind up in a Sarah McLachlan commercial. My kind of girl!
Had a harder time warming up to the two humans that rescue Holly. Mary Hannah has very good reasons for being so straitlaced and proper, but I couldn't muster up much sympathy for her. And while AJ was a little more approachable, neither one resonated with me for some reason.
But Holly? I fell for Holly and I fell hard!
Every chapter started with a little quote or observation from Holly, which was a nice touch. Who knew a dog could be hooked on game shows? Loved the a-ha moment when AJ realizes that Holly likes to watch TV and that her favorite show seemed to be Jeopardy. Too funny!
One of the things I didn't care for was the multiple narrators. I don't usually mind more than one voice, but felt that there were too many POVs in this one. I think that limiting it to Holly, Mary Hannah, and AJ might have worked better. It was never confusing, but there were just too many people narrating in my opinion.
There was also a little too much information about animal rescues and the importance of service animals. While it was interesting, some of it felt a little too much like a lecture and interrupted the flow of the story for me. Maybe that could have been included in an afterword or appendix instead?
This was a fast read for me, and to be honest I found myself plowing through most of the book to get to the next Holly chapter. Almost wish this had been Holly's story instead, but that would have been a totally different type of book.
Overall, I did enjoy this one. It was a fast read with a touch of romance, an interesting storyline, a fascinating look into the world of animal rescues, and an adorable boxer named Holly!
Holly, the rescued boxer, broke my heart. Used as a breeding dog by a meth dealer, Holly never knew love or affection of any kind until she was rescued. Despite a very tough life, she somehow managed to keep things together long enough to find her chance.
Loved her sense of humor! Despite being terrified and overwhelmed by the shelter environment, Holly observes that she never dreamed she would one day wind up in a Sarah McLachlan commercial. My kind of girl!
Had a harder time warming up to the two humans that rescue Holly. Mary Hannah has very good reasons for being so straitlaced and proper, but I couldn't muster up much sympathy for her. And while AJ was a little more approachable, neither one resonated with me for some reason.
But Holly? I fell for Holly and I fell hard!
Every chapter started with a little quote or observation from Holly, which was a nice touch. Who knew a dog could be hooked on game shows? Loved the a-ha moment when AJ realizes that Holly likes to watch TV and that her favorite show seemed to be Jeopardy. Too funny!
One of the things I didn't care for was the multiple narrators. I don't usually mind more than one voice, but felt that there were too many POVs in this one. I think that limiting it to Holly, Mary Hannah, and AJ might have worked better. It was never confusing, but there were just too many people narrating in my opinion.
There was also a little too much information about animal rescues and the importance of service animals. While it was interesting, some of it felt a little too much like a lecture and interrupted the flow of the story for me. Maybe that could have been included in an afterword or appendix instead?
This was a fast read for me, and to be honest I found myself plowing through most of the book to get to the next Holly chapter. Almost wish this had been Holly's story instead, but that would have been a totally different type of book.
Overall, I did enjoy this one. It was a fast read with a touch of romance, an interesting storyline, a fascinating look into the world of animal rescues, and an adorable boxer named Holly!
February 14, 2015
Rescue Me by Catherine Mann
A sweet contemporary entertaining romance. The Second Chance Ranch is an animal rescue operation and in this book there are two dogs that focus on the emotional recovery of a cop and military veteran. Holly, rescued from a meth house, sees her mission as getting AJ Parker and Mary Hannah together as a couple.
While Holly is really only heard from in the chapters titles and the occasional page, she goes from scared pup to emotionally fulfilled family member. Adorable.
A heartwarming romance with a strong message of emotional recovery.
A sweet contemporary entertaining romance. The Second Chance Ranch is an animal rescue operation and in this book there are two dogs that focus on the emotional recovery of a cop and military veteran. Holly, rescued from a meth house, sees her mission as getting AJ Parker and Mary Hannah together as a couple.
While Holly is really only heard from in the chapters titles and the occasional page, she goes from scared pup to emotionally fulfilled family member. Adorable.
A heartwarming romance with a strong message of emotional recovery.
June 9, 2015
Poignant and powerful, Catherine Mann's Second Chance Rescue stories will remind you why you read romance. I love the way her characters battle their way through seemingly insurmountable odds and the heartwarming rescue tales will have you welcoming another pet into your home!
October 16, 2018
All the characters brought a lot to this story but Holly, the boxer was the best! She had lived a sad life in a meth house. Her only purpose was to breed. I loved hearing Holly's thoughts after she was rescued. She was treated kindly and given a real name for the first time in her life. Understandably, it took her quite a while to trust these humans. Mary Hanna was great with the dogs. It was through her that we got a look into the dog rescue and training world, seeing how heart-breaking and rewarding it can be. I loved kind, caring AJ. Even though he left his undercover drug work behind in Atlanta, his instincts/training kicked in when they found a meth operation in the small town.
Mary Hanna and AJ's feelings grew as they worked on training Holly but they both fought the attraction. It was cute that Holly knew they should be together and kept trying to get them to realize it.
This is an intense, heart-breaking story that will leave you smiling.
Mary Hanna and AJ's feelings grew as they worked on training Holly but they both fought the attraction. It was cute that Holly knew they should be together and kept trying to get them to realize it.
This is an intense, heart-breaking story that will leave you smiling.
May 28, 2019
Loved the animal's POV in this book. Very different from what I've read before and looking forward to reading the next in series
June 20, 2022
A book about adult relationships and problems for adult readers.
February 26, 2015
Rescue Me is the most extraordinarily heart-warming story I have ever read! I laughed, I cried, I felt good about life after finishing this book. Catherine Mann takes you on a journey of second chances for the people and the pets through out this book.
Reading from the perspective of Holly was so emotional for me, It made me hug my rescued fur-babies & shelled-baby just a little bit more. (Yes, you can hug a tortoise & mine gives cuddles right back!) AJ & Mary Hannah's story shows how two completely opposite people can come together and make each other whole again.
Reading from the perspective of Holly was so emotional for me, It made me hug my rescued fur-babies & shelled-baby just a little bit more. (Yes, you can hug a tortoise & mine gives cuddles right back!) AJ & Mary Hannah's story shows how two completely opposite people can come together and make each other whole again.
June 17, 2017
Viens me chercher est le second volet de la série Second Chance Ranch, une lecture légère et agréable. Des animaux sur le point de finir leur existence dans une fourrière sont secourus, soignés par les membres du refuge. Ce sont des protagonistes à part entière, Holly pour ce volet-ci, qui interviennent auprès des humains pour leur montrer la voie vers le bonheur. L'auteure, comme dans le précédent tome, intègre à la fois des perspectives humaines et...
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June 30, 2024
This was a pretty good story, but I just couldn't get past the part where the point of view was from a rescued dog. Not only did Holly describe her horrible circumstances in a puppy mill/meth house, but she watched Jeopardy and knew state capitols. I am often guilty of humanizing animals feelings, but this was just too much for me.
September 30, 2017
Such a good book. I love Mary Hannah and Aj. They truly are the perfect couple. Holly was probably my favorite character though. The Second Chance Ranch series is so good, and I hope Catherine Mann adds another book.
May 22, 2023
I won't lie. I only checked the book out because it had a dog on the cover and I'm a dog lover. The story was very well written though and I really enjoyed it. The ending even had a surprising twist, but it was still a great story. Worth the read.
May 26, 2020
Great story! Loved watching the main characters grow and rescue each other, and rescue dogs along the way. Extra fun to have input from one of the canine characters. Wish the series was longer!
August 11, 2023
⛔️(in notes)
February 15, 2015
http://openbooksociety.com/article/re...
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Jerjen
Rescue Me by Catherine Mann is the second book in the Second Chance Ranch series and it is a very good read. This book, as well as the first book in the series, is about animals and humans, both looking for love, redemption and happily ever after. Mary Hannah Gallo works at the Second Chance Ranch as a trainer for therapy dogs. She is called to a house to confiscate dogs from a backyard breeder that are living in terrible conditions. Detective AJ Parker is also present to help with the operation. When they get to the house, they find a meth house as well as unscrupulous breeding practices. They remove all the dogs and eventually place them at the Second Chance Ranch to begin the dogs rehabilitation and to look for forever homes for the dogs. AJ and the police force must also find out who has been running the meth lab.
One of the dogs removed from the home is Holly, who has been abused and used for multiple breeding purposes. She is scared and very undersocialized and she pulls at the heartstrings of both Mary Hannah and AJ. They both begin working with Holly to socialize her and get her ready to be adopted.
Holly is not the only one who needs healing and a chance at a new life. Mary Hannah is divorced and has lost a baby during her pregnancy. She is also a recovering addict who blames herself for losing her baby. AJ worked undercover in Atlanta before joining the Tennessee police force.
He became involved with another drug addict while undercover and because he trusted that addict, a little child almost died. He is suffering from big time burnout and he does not trust his own instincts anymore. To make matters even more complicated, he and Mary Hannah had a one night stand a few months back and neither can forget the encounter. They are both damaged from their past, just like Holly is, and they do not know how to heal. They do not know how to trust themselves or others to obtain the life they all want.
Holly is quite a character. She has spent most of her past life watching television and trying to avoid further abuse. During the course of the book, there are sections that are written from Holly’s perspective. I really love those parts of the book. She often quotes television shows and things that she has learned from the television. I thought this was so cute and it pulled at my heartstrings. She also knows that it is her job to get Mary Hannah and AJ together and she does everything within her power to do just that. Will she be able to succeed?
The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The author writes with such tenderness when describing the abused animals that it is devastatingly heartbreaking and also triumphantly happy. I do not think this is an easy thing to do. My emotions were all over the place while reading. I laughed out loud and wanted to cry and everything in between. In my opinion this made the book extra special.
Another area that I really enjoyed is the tight knit family that runs Second Chance Ranch. Although some were not blood related you could tell that they were as close as any family could be. I loved reading about all their relationships and it made the book seem very real to me. I would like to be friends with them and be included in the family closeness. Many of the characters from book one are back in book two and it was nice to find out a little more about them and to catch up on their lives.
There is also an element of mystery and suspense contained within the book when the police try to find the people behind the meth house and the drug problem. Holly recognizes some of the people from the meth house at Second Chance Ranch and she tries to let Mary Hannah and AJ know, in her own way. When this mystery is solved I was surprised by the outcome. I enjoy when that happens.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading a romance book that offers so much more. If you enjoy reading about second chances and forgiveness and fighting for what you want, then this book is for you. And if you are an animal lover, this is a must read book. I cannot wait to read the next book in the series, whenever it is released. I would recommend reading book one also.
*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
Rescue Me by Catherine Mann is the second book in the Second Chance Ranch series and it is a very good read. This book, as well as the first book in the series, is about animals and humans, both looking for love, redemption and happily ever after. Mary Hannah Gallo works at the Second Chance Ranch as a trainer for therapy dogs. She is called to a house to confiscate dogs from a backyard breeder that are living in terrible conditions. Detective AJ Parker is also present to help with the operation. When they get to the house, they find a meth house as well as unscrupulous breeding practices. They remove all the dogs and eventually place them at the Second Chance Ranch to begin the dogs rehabilitation and to look for forever homes for the dogs. AJ and the police force must also find out who has been running the meth lab.
One of the dogs removed from the home is Holly, who has been abused and used for multiple breeding purposes. She is scared and very undersocialized and she pulls at the heartstrings of both Mary Hannah and AJ. They both begin working with Holly to socialize her and get her ready to be adopted.
Holly is not the only one who needs healing and a chance at a new life. Mary Hannah is divorced and has lost a baby during her pregnancy. She is also a recovering addict who blames herself for losing her baby. AJ worked undercover in Atlanta before joining the Tennessee police force.
He became involved with another drug addict while undercover and because he trusted that addict, a little child almost died. He is suffering from big time burnout and he does not trust his own instincts anymore. To make matters even more complicated, he and Mary Hannah had a one night stand a few months back and neither can forget the encounter. They are both damaged from their past, just like Holly is, and they do not know how to heal. They do not know how to trust themselves or others to obtain the life they all want.
Holly is quite a character. She has spent most of her past life watching television and trying to avoid further abuse. During the course of the book, there are sections that are written from Holly’s perspective. I really love those parts of the book. She often quotes television shows and things that she has learned from the television. I thought this was so cute and it pulled at my heartstrings. She also knows that it is her job to get Mary Hannah and AJ together and she does everything within her power to do just that. Will she be able to succeed?
The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The author writes with such tenderness when describing the abused animals that it is devastatingly heartbreaking and also triumphantly happy. I do not think this is an easy thing to do. My emotions were all over the place while reading. I laughed out loud and wanted to cry and everything in between. In my opinion this made the book extra special.
Another area that I really enjoyed is the tight knit family that runs Second Chance Ranch. Although some were not blood related you could tell that they were as close as any family could be. I loved reading about all their relationships and it made the book seem very real to me. I would like to be friends with them and be included in the family closeness. Many of the characters from book one are back in book two and it was nice to find out a little more about them and to catch up on their lives.
There is also an element of mystery and suspense contained within the book when the police try to find the people behind the meth house and the drug problem. Holly recognizes some of the people from the meth house at Second Chance Ranch and she tries to let Mary Hannah and AJ know, in her own way. When this mystery is solved I was surprised by the outcome. I enjoy when that happens.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading a romance book that offers so much more. If you enjoy reading about second chances and forgiveness and fighting for what you want, then this book is for you. And if you are an animal lover, this is a must read book. I cannot wait to read the next book in the series, whenever it is released. I would recommend reading book one also.
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*
February 4, 2015
In Rescue Me (Second Chance Ranch #2) by Catherine Mann, AJ and Mary Hannah are both looking to put their pasts behind them. AJ, a former undercover police officer, is close to burn out. When his cousin offers him a chance to work for a small town police force, AJ is only too happy to move on. Mary Hannah is a counselor who also trains therapy dogs at Second Chance Ranch. She certainly does not expect or want to feel an attraction to a man like AJ at this point in her life...and she struggles to resist it and him.
Neither is looking for love, but when they start working together to train a rescue animal as a therapy dog, they spend a lot of time together. As they get to know each other, the chemistry between them gets hotter and they like one another. But they are both still holding back. As secrets from the past and present emerge, will what they've started get stronger or be pushed away?
I don't even know where to start! I absolutely loved everything about Rescue Me. From the human characters to the animals, Rescue Me is filled with love, hope and promise as well as heart ache and a good deal of tension and inner conflict. Catherine brought out so many emotions through her characters that I felt like I was right there with them.
Mary Hannah and AJ are strong main characters who are both struggling to recover from pasts that have hurt them. They are drawn together almost against their wills, with Holly the rescue dog, doing all she can to push them together. As they build their relationship there are challenges to get through if they are going to have something more permanent together. I liked how they handled things and worked through conflict both internally and together. Their characters showed true maturity and continued to grow through out Rescue Me. With the realism of these characters, flaws and all, Catherine really drew me into their lives and I found myself really caring about what happened to them.
There are a lot of secondary characters woven into Rescue Me. The Second Chance Rescue Ranch is a busy place. I loved the follow up from the characters in Rescue Me and how they continued to be a powerful part of the series. Lacey, who runs Second Chance is a very strong secondary character with a sub plot of her own running smoothly along side Mary Hannah and AJ's. This added even more dimension and believability to Rescue Me, because as is such in real life, these people are co-existing and their lives intersect. I loved how Lacey's story continued from Rescue Me, because she's been through so much I want to see how things turn out for her also.
The animals! I love, love what Catherine did in Rescue Me with Holly. Holly is the rescue dog AJ is working with, and she is the only character in the story who gives us a first person POV. It is endearing and sweet to say the least to hear Holly's thoughts! Catherine writes smoothly and reading all of the other characters POV in third person only made us get to know them so much more.
Added into all this is a bit of a mystery and some surprises that keep an already very intriguing book even more exciting.
It is obvious that Catherine knows what she's writing about...especially the animal rescue operation, all the hard work they are, and the intense need for them. Through a captivating romance, Catherine has managed to draw attention to those animals who need our voices and support too.
Reading Shelter Me first would be beneficial so that you have a better understanding of the shelter and the background of some of the characters, but I think if you read Rescue Me alone you will love it for itself too. Filled with everything I want in a book that will stay with me for a long time, I highly recommend Rescue Me to any romance reader, especially if you love animals!
Neither is looking for love, but when they start working together to train a rescue animal as a therapy dog, they spend a lot of time together. As they get to know each other, the chemistry between them gets hotter and they like one another. But they are both still holding back. As secrets from the past and present emerge, will what they've started get stronger or be pushed away?
I don't even know where to start! I absolutely loved everything about Rescue Me. From the human characters to the animals, Rescue Me is filled with love, hope and promise as well as heart ache and a good deal of tension and inner conflict. Catherine brought out so many emotions through her characters that I felt like I was right there with them.
Mary Hannah and AJ are strong main characters who are both struggling to recover from pasts that have hurt them. They are drawn together almost against their wills, with Holly the rescue dog, doing all she can to push them together. As they build their relationship there are challenges to get through if they are going to have something more permanent together. I liked how they handled things and worked through conflict both internally and together. Their characters showed true maturity and continued to grow through out Rescue Me. With the realism of these characters, flaws and all, Catherine really drew me into their lives and I found myself really caring about what happened to them.
There are a lot of secondary characters woven into Rescue Me. The Second Chance Rescue Ranch is a busy place. I loved the follow up from the characters in Rescue Me and how they continued to be a powerful part of the series. Lacey, who runs Second Chance is a very strong secondary character with a sub plot of her own running smoothly along side Mary Hannah and AJ's. This added even more dimension and believability to Rescue Me, because as is such in real life, these people are co-existing and their lives intersect. I loved how Lacey's story continued from Rescue Me, because she's been through so much I want to see how things turn out for her also.
The animals! I love, love what Catherine did in Rescue Me with Holly. Holly is the rescue dog AJ is working with, and she is the only character in the story who gives us a first person POV. It is endearing and sweet to say the least to hear Holly's thoughts! Catherine writes smoothly and reading all of the other characters POV in third person only made us get to know them so much more.
Added into all this is a bit of a mystery and some surprises that keep an already very intriguing book even more exciting.
It is obvious that Catherine knows what she's writing about...especially the animal rescue operation, all the hard work they are, and the intense need for them. Through a captivating romance, Catherine has managed to draw attention to those animals who need our voices and support too.
Reading Shelter Me first would be beneficial so that you have a better understanding of the shelter and the background of some of the characters, but I think if you read Rescue Me alone you will love it for itself too. Filled with everything I want in a book that will stay with me for a long time, I highly recommend Rescue Me to any romance reader, especially if you love animals!
April 24, 2015
I was so beyond excited to read Rescue Me. I was a big fan of the first book in the Second Chance Ranch series and I'm a huge sucker for any romance that has to do with animals. For some reason, though, I couldn't really get into the story and it ended up taking me forever to read.
Detective AJ Park was letting his emotions get the best of him as an undercover cop in Atlanta and knew that he had to leave before he endangered not only himself but the rest of his force as well. He moves to a small town department in Tennessee hoping for less stress and more time to himself. What he's finally there, though, he finds Mary Hannah Gallo, a woman he had a one night stand with who works for the Second Chance Ranch animal shelter. After a drug bust that revealed abused dogs used for breeding, Mary Hannah and AJ are forced to work together. Still showing signs of stress, AJ finds himself asking for Mary Hannah's help to train one of the rescued dogs named Holly for him. While Mary Hannah does her best to keep her distance from the temptation of AJ, Holly does her best to bring those two together.
I don't remember how it was in the first novel of this series, but I wasn't a huge fan of the parts where it was from the point of view from Holly (the dog). Some things made Holly seem too human and not a realistic animal, which hindered my enjoyment of the novel. I know it was supposed to be cute with Holly deliberately trying to get AJ and Mary Hannah together, but I think I would have liked the story better if she were just a regular dog who needed some TLC after being abused for so long. I really loved how training Holly is what brought AJ and Mary Hannah together and how Holly really did begin to grow on AJ, but I would have liked a more realistic sense of the dog over the cutesy, exaggerated personality we got.
As for the romance, I enjoyed it a lot, but I felt like I had missed a pretty big moment between the two main characters before the book even started. Apparently AJ and Mary Hannah had a one night stand, but none of it was in the book and it was only sometimes talked about or alluded to. There were details about that night that I was like, did that really happen? Since when? I wish we had either witnessed that moment or gotten a quick, full rundown in order to keep the story straight instead of trying to sort of piece it together on our own. Other than that, though, I thought their relationship was cute and enjoyed how it was so hard for them to resist each other. I did think that the end "secret" that was thrown in to add some suspense was a bit too abrupt and not really all that necessary for the story. Also, I didn't really care for Lacey's story that took up quite a bit of this book for a secondary character. I was there for AJ and Mary Hannah and didn't like having to spend so much time on Lacey and her romance problems.
Overall, this was a great romance with just a few problems in my eyes. I'd prefer a more subtle animal character rather than such an overt one that was found in the story and I wanted even more Mary Hannah and AJ and less attention on one of the secondary characters. I still adored the animals in the book and loved how rescued dogs were the key to bringing together two people who were trying their best to stay apart.
Detective AJ Park was letting his emotions get the best of him as an undercover cop in Atlanta and knew that he had to leave before he endangered not only himself but the rest of his force as well. He moves to a small town department in Tennessee hoping for less stress and more time to himself. What he's finally there, though, he finds Mary Hannah Gallo, a woman he had a one night stand with who works for the Second Chance Ranch animal shelter. After a drug bust that revealed abused dogs used for breeding, Mary Hannah and AJ are forced to work together. Still showing signs of stress, AJ finds himself asking for Mary Hannah's help to train one of the rescued dogs named Holly for him. While Mary Hannah does her best to keep her distance from the temptation of AJ, Holly does her best to bring those two together.
I don't remember how it was in the first novel of this series, but I wasn't a huge fan of the parts where it was from the point of view from Holly (the dog). Some things made Holly seem too human and not a realistic animal, which hindered my enjoyment of the novel. I know it was supposed to be cute with Holly deliberately trying to get AJ and Mary Hannah together, but I think I would have liked the story better if she were just a regular dog who needed some TLC after being abused for so long. I really loved how training Holly is what brought AJ and Mary Hannah together and how Holly really did begin to grow on AJ, but I would have liked a more realistic sense of the dog over the cutesy, exaggerated personality we got.
As for the romance, I enjoyed it a lot, but I felt like I had missed a pretty big moment between the two main characters before the book even started. Apparently AJ and Mary Hannah had a one night stand, but none of it was in the book and it was only sometimes talked about or alluded to. There were details about that night that I was like, did that really happen? Since when? I wish we had either witnessed that moment or gotten a quick, full rundown in order to keep the story straight instead of trying to sort of piece it together on our own. Other than that, though, I thought their relationship was cute and enjoyed how it was so hard for them to resist each other. I did think that the end "secret" that was thrown in to add some suspense was a bit too abrupt and not really all that necessary for the story. Also, I didn't really care for Lacey's story that took up quite a bit of this book for a secondary character. I was there for AJ and Mary Hannah and didn't like having to spend so much time on Lacey and her romance problems.
Overall, this was a great romance with just a few problems in my eyes. I'd prefer a more subtle animal character rather than such an overt one that was found in the story and I wanted even more Mary Hannah and AJ and less attention on one of the secondary characters. I still adored the animals in the book and loved how rescued dogs were the key to bringing together two people who were trying their best to stay apart.
February 12, 2015
I love second chance stories and I love dogs, especially rescue dogs who finally get that forever family who will love and protect them. Catherine Mann knows the rescue dog journey well as she's volunteered with a rescue for many years and recently opened her own. (follow her on facebook for more info on her rescue efforts) In Rescue Me, Mann has fashioned a story filled with hope, heart and healing that gives our three main characters - Mary Hannah, AJ, and Holly the dog - that precious second chance.
AJ's choice to put his trust and his heart into the hands of the wrong person while working undercover in Atlanta has him second-guessing his career. He jumps at the chance to join his cousin on a small-town Tennessee police force where he thinks he's healing until a meth-house bust and an ultimatum from his captain force him to face the truth. Mary Hannah has steered clear of him since a truck stop hook-up his first night in town when she gave him a false name but now that they're forced to work together maybe he'll have the opportunity to break down a few of her walls.
Mary Hannah has spent the past several years trying to pay penance for the mistake that cost her both her marriage and the life of her unborn baby. A counselor by day, she spends her free time volunteering at the Second Chance Ranch Animal Rescue where she lavishes her love on the animals while feeling she'll never be worthy of accepting it for herself. The desire between Mary Hannah and AJ still sizzles and the more she gets to know him, the better she likes him. Unfortunately, once she learns what caused his crash and burn in Atlanta, she knows they have no chance of a future as she's sure he'll never be able to forgive the secrets of her past.
Holly, a female Boxer, has known nothing but abuse and deprivation within the confines of the filthy meth house where she's spent the first four years of her life. She's never dared to dream of anything beyond the horrors of the hand she's been dealt.
Mann offers insight into this heartwarming and, at times, heartbreaking journey from three viewpoints: AJ, Mary Hannah and Holly. AJ and Mary Hannah are both likable people who have made very human mistakes. Not only do they need forgiveness from each other to move forward but, most importantly, they need to forgive themselves. That's something to which I think all of us can relate. Being human - and thereby stubborn - they'll need the help of Holly to finally open their hearts to one another and to the love they need, want and deserve.
Giving the reader access to Holly's thoughts by humanizing them, thereby allowing us to experience the despair, bewilderment, fear, tentative hope, and determination she experiences on her journey from the meth house through a shelter to the ranch where she works to bring AJ and Mary Hannah together to create a forever family is a poignant, heart-tugging experience that's sure to wring tears from the hardest heart. For this animal lover, it was a multi-tissue experience and what vaulted this book to a must-read keeper.
~PJ Ausdenmore
The Romance Dish
AJ's choice to put his trust and his heart into the hands of the wrong person while working undercover in Atlanta has him second-guessing his career. He jumps at the chance to join his cousin on a small-town Tennessee police force where he thinks he's healing until a meth-house bust and an ultimatum from his captain force him to face the truth. Mary Hannah has steered clear of him since a truck stop hook-up his first night in town when she gave him a false name but now that they're forced to work together maybe he'll have the opportunity to break down a few of her walls.
Mary Hannah has spent the past several years trying to pay penance for the mistake that cost her both her marriage and the life of her unborn baby. A counselor by day, she spends her free time volunteering at the Second Chance Ranch Animal Rescue where she lavishes her love on the animals while feeling she'll never be worthy of accepting it for herself. The desire between Mary Hannah and AJ still sizzles and the more she gets to know him, the better she likes him. Unfortunately, once she learns what caused his crash and burn in Atlanta, she knows they have no chance of a future as she's sure he'll never be able to forgive the secrets of her past.
Holly, a female Boxer, has known nothing but abuse and deprivation within the confines of the filthy meth house where she's spent the first four years of her life. She's never dared to dream of anything beyond the horrors of the hand she's been dealt.
Mann offers insight into this heartwarming and, at times, heartbreaking journey from three viewpoints: AJ, Mary Hannah and Holly. AJ and Mary Hannah are both likable people who have made very human mistakes. Not only do they need forgiveness from each other to move forward but, most importantly, they need to forgive themselves. That's something to which I think all of us can relate. Being human - and thereby stubborn - they'll need the help of Holly to finally open their hearts to one another and to the love they need, want and deserve.
Giving the reader access to Holly's thoughts by humanizing them, thereby allowing us to experience the despair, bewilderment, fear, tentative hope, and determination she experiences on her journey from the meth house through a shelter to the ranch where she works to bring AJ and Mary Hannah together to create a forever family is a poignant, heart-tugging experience that's sure to wring tears from the hardest heart. For this animal lover, it was a multi-tissue experience and what vaulted this book to a must-read keeper.
~PJ Ausdenmore
The Romance Dish
February 3, 2015
The most surprising thing about this book was that some of the scenes were in the dog’s point of view. I had never read a romance novel like that before. You might think, “How is it a romance novel if it’s in a dog’s point of view?” Because the dog, Holly, is looking for love, too, because she was abused. And isn’t that a romance novel is all about: two people coming together after being abused in some way to find love? Mann reinvents the definition of a romance novel. In years past it’s always been about the stunningly beautiful woman meeting and falling in love with equally sexy man. Don’t get me wrong, Cathy’s hero is smoking hot, but he is flawed, some would say massively. And the heroine, Mary Hannah, has made choices in her past that wouldn’t make her the “typical” romance novel heroine. And that’s what I loved, you could relate to both of them. You could feel their pain through Mann’s descriptions and storytelling. She’s always had a knack for making the characters so easy to relate to and the ones in Rescue Me is no exception.
I really loved getting to know these characters. Mary Hannah was so easy to like and sympathize with. She was having an impossible time forgiving herself for her past. There is always something in everyone’s past that they regret and constantly struggle with. A.J. was the same way, struggling about poor choices in his past that affected others. They both struggled with doubt and the insecurities of not wanting to fail anyone, while not thinking that they might be failing themselves by not giving into their feelings and allowing themselves happiness.
I will say that within the first page I had tears in my eyes. I knew this book would be memorable and would stick with me for a while. I want to tell anyone who loves “damaged” characters and adorable animals to read this book. It was an easy read, but I don’t mean that in a negative sense. Mann’s storytelling was easy to follow and I love how she peppered information about fostering animals and caring for animals throughout the romance. I was learning new things without realizing it. There was an excellent balance. There were some unexpected plot twists that literally caused my jaw to drop(that I don’t want to give away). I also really enjoyed that Mann showed that not all relationships last, even in romance novels. It gave the story that much more realistic and enjoyable. I was hoping for the dog competition to be in Holly’s POV, but I do understand why it wasn’t. I just enjoyed Holly’s point of view, you saw the hurt, but also the hope that she had. Her matchmaking skills weren’t bad either.
Rescue Me is about rescuing yourself from your past, rescuing yourself from your circumstances and rescuing those you love.
Please check out this fantastic book from this fantastic lady!
*I was sent a reviewer copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I really loved getting to know these characters. Mary Hannah was so easy to like and sympathize with. She was having an impossible time forgiving herself for her past. There is always something in everyone’s past that they regret and constantly struggle with. A.J. was the same way, struggling about poor choices in his past that affected others. They both struggled with doubt and the insecurities of not wanting to fail anyone, while not thinking that they might be failing themselves by not giving into their feelings and allowing themselves happiness.
I will say that within the first page I had tears in my eyes. I knew this book would be memorable and would stick with me for a while. I want to tell anyone who loves “damaged” characters and adorable animals to read this book. It was an easy read, but I don’t mean that in a negative sense. Mann’s storytelling was easy to follow and I love how she peppered information about fostering animals and caring for animals throughout the romance. I was learning new things without realizing it. There was an excellent balance. There were some unexpected plot twists that literally caused my jaw to drop(that I don’t want to give away). I also really enjoyed that Mann showed that not all relationships last, even in romance novels. It gave the story that much more realistic and enjoyable. I was hoping for the dog competition to be in Holly’s POV, but I do understand why it wasn’t. I just enjoyed Holly’s point of view, you saw the hurt, but also the hope that she had. Her matchmaking skills weren’t bad either.
Rescue Me is about rescuing yourself from your past, rescuing yourself from your circumstances and rescuing those you love.
Please check out this fantastic book from this fantastic lady!
*I was sent a reviewer copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
February 1, 2015
I believe everyone deserves a second chance at redeeming life. Be it two legged or the four legged. We get thrown into situations by force or choice, and when that moment of break or make stares at us, we need courage, immense will power and motivation to get to the other side. And along with all that, is the need for support, a lending hand, an open heart and people not to sit in judgment, and most of all we need to find it in ourselves to be able to forgive and give ourselves a second chance.
No mean feat, considering the pain, the guilt and loss that dogs Mary Hannah Gallo everyday of her life. Working as a therapy dog trainer for Second Chance Ranch Animal Rescue and a counselor is not easy for Mary Hannah, as everyday reminds her of a life before Second Chance Rescue. A bust at a meth house brings her up close and personal with a painful past, her one night pleasure, AJ Parker and dogs in abuse.
Detective AJ Parker joins small town police force leaving behind undercover work that almost ruined him. Little does he realize that very soon Mary would become his Kryptonite. Working together with her as they train the rescued dog Holly, AJ realizes he needs to get over his scars as much as Holly, the dog rescued from the meth house. Working with Mary Hannah brings out his feelings of protectiveness and love that he had been avoiding. But Mary Hannah’s past collides with AJ’s scars, and they both need therapeutic help and who better than Holly to be the divine intervention!
Catherine Mann’s second book in the Second Chance Ranch Series, “Rescue Me” is more than a HEA. It is a story of one strong woman who had the courage to make right the wrong that she had been living. It is the story of people who want to make a difference in the lives of abused canines, even as they reach within themselves to sort their own personal trauma and pain. It is the story of one big family, with bonds made through blood and heart, as they support and love unconditionally.
Catherine Mann is a rescuer and nurturer by nature and all that love, energy ad passion flows into her stories. “Rescue Me” is so eloquently titled, as every character in the story need to be rescued at some point or the other, be it from the past, be it the events happening in the current, be it humans or animals, or be it from danger close to home.
Rescue Me is an emotional ride of pain, love, support and most of all the possibility of second chances, only if we have the courage to keep our hearts open, and accept the promise of a better tomorrow.
Received an ARC from the author for an honest review.
No mean feat, considering the pain, the guilt and loss that dogs Mary Hannah Gallo everyday of her life. Working as a therapy dog trainer for Second Chance Ranch Animal Rescue and a counselor is not easy for Mary Hannah, as everyday reminds her of a life before Second Chance Rescue. A bust at a meth house brings her up close and personal with a painful past, her one night pleasure, AJ Parker and dogs in abuse.
Detective AJ Parker joins small town police force leaving behind undercover work that almost ruined him. Little does he realize that very soon Mary would become his Kryptonite. Working together with her as they train the rescued dog Holly, AJ realizes he needs to get over his scars as much as Holly, the dog rescued from the meth house. Working with Mary Hannah brings out his feelings of protectiveness and love that he had been avoiding. But Mary Hannah’s past collides with AJ’s scars, and they both need therapeutic help and who better than Holly to be the divine intervention!
Catherine Mann’s second book in the Second Chance Ranch Series, “Rescue Me” is more than a HEA. It is a story of one strong woman who had the courage to make right the wrong that she had been living. It is the story of people who want to make a difference in the lives of abused canines, even as they reach within themselves to sort their own personal trauma and pain. It is the story of one big family, with bonds made through blood and heart, as they support and love unconditionally.
Catherine Mann is a rescuer and nurturer by nature and all that love, energy ad passion flows into her stories. “Rescue Me” is so eloquently titled, as every character in the story need to be rescued at some point or the other, be it from the past, be it the events happening in the current, be it humans or animals, or be it from danger close to home.
Rescue Me is an emotional ride of pain, love, support and most of all the possibility of second chances, only if we have the courage to keep our hearts open, and accept the promise of a better tomorrow.
Received an ARC from the author for an honest review.
February 5, 2015
Second Chance Ranch Romance series book two by Catherine Mann is a beautifully written and touching story that splits the POV from third person to first person specifically the dog Holly's POV. I liked that it was clever. Holly is a boxer that grew up in a meth-house/backyard breeder. At four years old she hasn't seen anything but what the T.V. has shown her. Fortunately on Christmas Eve the house was raided and she along with a bunch of other dogs were rescued. The human characters in the book were pretty special too. Both AJ and Mary Hannah have pasts they are trying to deal with. AJ is burned out, after working for several years undercover it has finally at his breaking point so when his cousin offers him a job in a little town to help heal he jumps at the chance. Mary Hannah is a recovering addict, addicted to prescription drugs to get through college and make the grades and be the perfect person her father wants her to be. It all changed for her when she miscarried she went into rehab and started to heal, getting involved with Second Chance Ranch animal rescue helped in a big way. She found her purpose and now she helps animals heal and people heal with the help of animals.
Holly has known nothing but abuse and the sweet Mary Hannah is the first to show her kindness and homemade treats. Holly notices that behind the gentle nature of Mary Hannah lays sadness and Holly wanting to repay Mary Hannah for her kindness is determined to help her. AJ and Mary Hannah work together to socialize the rescue dog, Holly, who has a timid nature and has great potential to be a family dog and all the while help AJ use Holly as an Emotional Support Animal. AJ and Mary Hannah are also fighting a losing battle of their attraction. When they finally give in everything between them is good but there is still something hinkie with the meth-house raid. Lacey the owner of the animal rescue is involved with AJ's cousin Wyatt. Lacey is a still grieving widow mother of two and wants to take things slow especially now that her own aging body is working against her but Wyatt is rushing things and is pushing her toward marriage. With everything going on at Second Chance Ranch between Sierra and Matt, Lacey's Daughter and son-in-law, visiting and the Valentines mutt makeover everyone is busy with something.
Overall Rescue Me is a great read but probably best read in order, reading Shelter Me first. Everyones conflicts are very palpable and they really pull you in. I look forward to more.
Holly has known nothing but abuse and the sweet Mary Hannah is the first to show her kindness and homemade treats. Holly notices that behind the gentle nature of Mary Hannah lays sadness and Holly wanting to repay Mary Hannah for her kindness is determined to help her. AJ and Mary Hannah work together to socialize the rescue dog, Holly, who has a timid nature and has great potential to be a family dog and all the while help AJ use Holly as an Emotional Support Animal. AJ and Mary Hannah are also fighting a losing battle of their attraction. When they finally give in everything between them is good but there is still something hinkie with the meth-house raid. Lacey the owner of the animal rescue is involved with AJ's cousin Wyatt. Lacey is a still grieving widow mother of two and wants to take things slow especially now that her own aging body is working against her but Wyatt is rushing things and is pushing her toward marriage. With everything going on at Second Chance Ranch between Sierra and Matt, Lacey's Daughter and son-in-law, visiting and the Valentines mutt makeover everyone is busy with something.
Overall Rescue Me is a great read but probably best read in order, reading Shelter Me first. Everyones conflicts are very palpable and they really pull you in. I look forward to more.
February 5, 2015
In Rescue Me Catherine Mann weaves an intricate tale of friends and family. She gives the story her own unique stamp by making a rescue dog a main character, complete with point of view and voice. Rather than a gimmick, the boxer gives us insight into the characters and the plight of the animals at Second Chance Ranch.
Everyone we meet in the book is tied to Second Chance Ranch Animal Rescue. Rather than being cardboard cutouts of stereotypical rescue worker martyrs, each of the characters is multidimensional and facing their own challenges. Detective AJ Parker has transferred to Cooksburg, Tennessee from Atlanta after burning out doing undercover drug work. He rents a cabin on the grounds of the ranch. Mary Hannah Gallo had a one night stand with him. She used a fake name and thought she would never see him again while living in the apartment next to the main house of Second Chance Ranch. This makes it hard to avoid the matchmaking attempts by seemingly everyone around them. Not only does Mary Hannah volunteer there but she also trains service animals and she is a therapist. Mary Hannah uses her skills to match rescue dogs training as service dogs together with families who need these special canines. Her matches represent Second Chance Ranch in the My Furry Valentine Contest. She also has her own past with which to deal. Female Boxer confiscate from their first drug bust together keeps the story moving and reminds us why everyone works so hard for the rescue. Both Mary Hannah and AJ are touched by her plight and work hard in the hopes of saving her. To tell you more about her story would be giving too much away.
Second Chance Ranch owner, Lacey McDaniel, juggles a seemingly endless array of responsibilities. She runs the rescue, watches out for the volunteers, mothers her teenage son and her father-in-law with Alzheimer’s, hosts her son-in-law and seven months pregnant daughter and , oh yes, she is dating AJ’s cousin, Wyatt. Lacey is also nursing a secret challenge of her own. I could go on and on about the cast: the wounded warrior and his family as they learn to accept his lost limbs and the service dog Mary Hannah is helping them train; Mike and Sierra, Lacey’s daughter and Mary Hannah’s best friend; or the General, Lacey’s dead husband’s father who is in the throes of Alzheimer’s and his good and bad days. But the beauty and charm of this book is how deftly Mrs. Mann weaves all these stories together into a heartwarming, sometimes gritty, and believable story of redemption and above all, love. I highly recommend Rescue Me.
Everyone we meet in the book is tied to Second Chance Ranch Animal Rescue. Rather than being cardboard cutouts of stereotypical rescue worker martyrs, each of the characters is multidimensional and facing their own challenges. Detective AJ Parker has transferred to Cooksburg, Tennessee from Atlanta after burning out doing undercover drug work. He rents a cabin on the grounds of the ranch. Mary Hannah Gallo had a one night stand with him. She used a fake name and thought she would never see him again while living in the apartment next to the main house of Second Chance Ranch. This makes it hard to avoid the matchmaking attempts by seemingly everyone around them. Not only does Mary Hannah volunteer there but she also trains service animals and she is a therapist. Mary Hannah uses her skills to match rescue dogs training as service dogs together with families who need these special canines. Her matches represent Second Chance Ranch in the My Furry Valentine Contest. She also has her own past with which to deal. Female Boxer confiscate from their first drug bust together keeps the story moving and reminds us why everyone works so hard for the rescue. Both Mary Hannah and AJ are touched by her plight and work hard in the hopes of saving her. To tell you more about her story would be giving too much away.
Second Chance Ranch owner, Lacey McDaniel, juggles a seemingly endless array of responsibilities. She runs the rescue, watches out for the volunteers, mothers her teenage son and her father-in-law with Alzheimer’s, hosts her son-in-law and seven months pregnant daughter and , oh yes, she is dating AJ’s cousin, Wyatt. Lacey is also nursing a secret challenge of her own. I could go on and on about the cast: the wounded warrior and his family as they learn to accept his lost limbs and the service dog Mary Hannah is helping them train; Mike and Sierra, Lacey’s daughter and Mary Hannah’s best friend; or the General, Lacey’s dead husband’s father who is in the throes of Alzheimer’s and his good and bad days. But the beauty and charm of this book is how deftly Mrs. Mann weaves all these stories together into a heartwarming, sometimes gritty, and believable story of redemption and above all, love. I highly recommend Rescue Me.
February 6, 2015
Rescue Me by Catherine Mann is the 2nd book in her Second Chance Ranch series. This is a very sweet and romantic series that centers on the McDaniel family, as they run their Second Chance Ranch, which brings in stray or abused animals. Lacey McDaniel is a widow and she runs the ranch, which is usually overrun with rescue animals, whom they find permanent and foster homes. In the first book and now in the second, the dog opens each chapter, as they talk to us. Cute.
In Rescue Me, Mary Hannah is our heroine, as she lives at Second Chance Ranch and helps Lacey. Mary Hannah came to the ranch to rebuild her own life, being offered this chance by Lacey’s daughter, Sierra, who has since moved away with her husband Mike. Mary Hannah is trained to help abused and traumatized dogs, as well as being a counselor to help people, who made need her specialized consulting.
AJ, our hero, is a burned out undercover cop who comes to Tennessee to have a slower, less pressured job, that was offered to him by his cousin Wyatt, who also is a cop. The story starts with a rescue mission to save abused dogs in a house that is a drug operation, mostly a meth lab. It was a dangerous mission that Mary Hannah helped the police force gather most of the crazed or scared dogs bringing them to the shelter. When AJ first met Mary Hannah, he did not know who she was and they both enjoyed a one night stand, which neither one of them has forgotten.
Mary Hannah is determined to avoid AJ, since she does not want anyone to know they were together. But the attraction between them is very strong, and it will be a slow build romance. A big part of the story are the dogs that need to be fixed, and trained to be able to live with families. Holly is the main dog in this story, as she was used to breed puppies to sell. AJ is forced to participate in training a rescue dog, as part of his recovery to unstress from his undercover days, and Mary Hannah works with him to train Holly. Needless to say, this will bring them together, each helping the other overcome their own issues, and of course, Holly plans to keep them together, and to keep her. LOL
As I have said, this is a sweet romance, great characters, and the animals are fun. There is two sideline stories around Lacey and Wyatt, as well a crippled young soldier, who has trouble handling his wife and son. All this ties into another wonderful story.
Barb
The Reading Cafe
In Rescue Me, Mary Hannah is our heroine, as she lives at Second Chance Ranch and helps Lacey. Mary Hannah came to the ranch to rebuild her own life, being offered this chance by Lacey’s daughter, Sierra, who has since moved away with her husband Mike. Mary Hannah is trained to help abused and traumatized dogs, as well as being a counselor to help people, who made need her specialized consulting.
AJ, our hero, is a burned out undercover cop who comes to Tennessee to have a slower, less pressured job, that was offered to him by his cousin Wyatt, who also is a cop. The story starts with a rescue mission to save abused dogs in a house that is a drug operation, mostly a meth lab. It was a dangerous mission that Mary Hannah helped the police force gather most of the crazed or scared dogs bringing them to the shelter. When AJ first met Mary Hannah, he did not know who she was and they both enjoyed a one night stand, which neither one of them has forgotten.
Mary Hannah is determined to avoid AJ, since she does not want anyone to know they were together. But the attraction between them is very strong, and it will be a slow build romance. A big part of the story are the dogs that need to be fixed, and trained to be able to live with families. Holly is the main dog in this story, as she was used to breed puppies to sell. AJ is forced to participate in training a rescue dog, as part of his recovery to unstress from his undercover days, and Mary Hannah works with him to train Holly. Needless to say, this will bring them together, each helping the other overcome their own issues, and of course, Holly plans to keep them together, and to keep her. LOL
As I have said, this is a sweet romance, great characters, and the animals are fun. There is two sideline stories around Lacey and Wyatt, as well a crippled young soldier, who has trouble handling his wife and son. All this ties into another wonderful story.
Barb
The Reading Cafe
February 25, 2015
Amanda's review posted on Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews
4.5 Stars
Rescue Me is another story in which a rescued dog brings together two very unlikely people and allow all to heal and become a family. The one thing I love about this story is that the author incorporates both human and animal perspectives to tell this touching story that will pull at your heartstrings. A boxer dog was rescued from a meth lab and only new one kind of life as a breeder. Now Holly is being trained by Detective AJ Parker and Second Chance Ranch counselor Mary Hannah Gallo. What she faces is a hard road ahead of her because both AJ and Mary Hannah have tragic pasts and are leery of how to move past it.
I found myself totally immersed in this story from the small introduction to each chapter and the plot driven story line of Mary Hannah and AJ’s budding relationship. There are multiple story lines intertwined together which just enriches this story for me. Mary Hannah has extended herself in many directions in order to not think about her life and concentrate on others. Second Chance Ranch rescue has big plans of a rescue dog competition so Mary Hannah is very busy with a veteran family dealing with training a service dog and hopefully bringing this fractured family back together again. I felt that the story dealt with real issues and concerns that every day people have to confront. People who have been hurt or caused the hurt, are very reluctant to trust and be approachable, so it took a while before they each were comfortable with the other. Nothing was rushed. Lacey McDaniel, along with Mike and Sierra, are also a part of this story and we see how things are going after the end of book one. I especially love the epilogue because it gives the story more of a complete finish for a happily ever after.
I was totally taken with this story in the Second Chance Ranch series. How can you not fall in love with a rescue dog and her attempts at bringing two people together? I highly recommend this book as a second chance at love and romance. The writing feels genuine and the romance believable between AJ and Mary Hannah. This series has me hooked and I’m very interested in finding who the mystery man for Lacey is. Looking forward to more stories from this wonderful writer.
Review copy provided for an honest review.
4.5 Stars
Rescue Me is another story in which a rescued dog brings together two very unlikely people and allow all to heal and become a family. The one thing I love about this story is that the author incorporates both human and animal perspectives to tell this touching story that will pull at your heartstrings. A boxer dog was rescued from a meth lab and only new one kind of life as a breeder. Now Holly is being trained by Detective AJ Parker and Second Chance Ranch counselor Mary Hannah Gallo. What she faces is a hard road ahead of her because both AJ and Mary Hannah have tragic pasts and are leery of how to move past it.
I found myself totally immersed in this story from the small introduction to each chapter and the plot driven story line of Mary Hannah and AJ’s budding relationship. There are multiple story lines intertwined together which just enriches this story for me. Mary Hannah has extended herself in many directions in order to not think about her life and concentrate on others. Second Chance Ranch rescue has big plans of a rescue dog competition so Mary Hannah is very busy with a veteran family dealing with training a service dog and hopefully bringing this fractured family back together again. I felt that the story dealt with real issues and concerns that every day people have to confront. People who have been hurt or caused the hurt, are very reluctant to trust and be approachable, so it took a while before they each were comfortable with the other. Nothing was rushed. Lacey McDaniel, along with Mike and Sierra, are also a part of this story and we see how things are going after the end of book one. I especially love the epilogue because it gives the story more of a complete finish for a happily ever after.
I was totally taken with this story in the Second Chance Ranch series. How can you not fall in love with a rescue dog and her attempts at bringing two people together? I highly recommend this book as a second chance at love and romance. The writing feels genuine and the romance believable between AJ and Mary Hannah. This series has me hooked and I’m very interested in finding who the mystery man for Lacey is. Looking forward to more stories from this wonderful writer.
Review copy provided for an honest review.
February 5, 2015
Rescue Me is the second book in the Second Chance Ranch series by Catherine Mann. This series has a unique flavor too it and grips the readers heart. This series focuses on the battered souls of both humans and animals. It allows these wounded souls to take the journey of healing and becoming whole individuals together. It showcases the importance of love and acceptance all beings need to thrive in life.
What makes this series exceptional is Catherine Mann’s incredible writing talent. These books have been portrayed through the animal’s POV. She clearly shows the generosity and simplicity of the pure hearts these animals possess. She shows how the companionship between animal and man makes the soul thrive.
The formula for this book is quite simple. The emotional content is bountiful. The story is delightful.
Take one woman that is a reformed drug addict. That woman is trying to earn redemption and forgiveness for her past. Take a man, a burned out cop, trying to run from his demons. Add a nasty drug dealer/ meth producer that is a menace to society as well as abusive to animals. His heartless disregard for life endangers all those he comes in contact with. Rescue a dog from that abusive dealer and give her a second chance at life. Her pure heart and gift of love will change both the woman and burned out man. She will bring these two people together and find a home for herself that is overflowing with love. The bad drug dealer will get what’s coming to him. Karma can be real vindictive.
Everything about Rescue Me worked. It is a story of healing. It is a story of many kinds of different love. It is a story of hope.
As an animal lover and owner of five rescue pets, this book touched my soul. I loved how Catherine Mann showed the world how animals can make a difference in our lives.
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