Home to Stay: A Clean Romance

4.5 stars In Home to Stay, we start out with high drama, the air thick with suspense, as Shannon and her search-and-rescue Darwin search for a missing little boy, Dylan. From discouragement to hope to elation and everything in between, readers get a front row seat for the search. And let me just warn you – when you think you can relax…. don’t be too hasty! James tossed one curveball after another into the plot and kept tension high. The other sort of tension going on in Home to Stay is the romantical kind. The way their relationship starts is a bit unconventional, and I don’t know that I was comfortable with the timing or the ‘instalove’ aspect of it. BUT, there is no denying their chemistry. (Just wait for that first kiss!!!!) There’s also no denying that they’re good for each other. However, a couple of major obstacles stand in the way of their happily-ever-after – and I truly (almost) didn’t know how everything would play out. The twists and turns kept me captivated, refusing to set me free until I reached the last page! Bottom Line: Suspense, action, romance, DOGS – Home to Stay has something for everyone. The theme of rescue – adopting rescue dogs, the search-and-rescue-team, the way Sawyer and Dylan really rescued Shannon from life- was subtly woven throughout the fabric of the story. This well-crafted novel brims with personality and warmth, and readers will fall in love with the masterfully-trained canines! (I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

Sawyer loves his son Dylan very much. When they're on a camping trip Dylan disappears from their tent and Sawyer starts looking for him, but he can't find Dylan anywhere in the woods. Shannon is a San Diego K-9 Unit officer and she brings her dog to track Dylan down. However, Dylan doesn't seem to be there, where did he go? For Shannon finding Dylan is more than just a job and she's determined to bring him back whatever it takes. While doing everything she can to find the little boy she spends quite a bit of time with his father. However, falling in love with the father of a missing child is extremely complicated and the timing couldn't be worse. Will Shannon find Dylan and is there a chance for her and Sawyer or is there too much going on for them to become close? Home to Stay is a gripping and romantic story. Dylan's disappearance kept me on the edge of my seat. He's a sweet little boy and I couldn't turn the pages fast enough to find out why he disappeared. Sawyer is a wonderful dad. He's a kind and caring man and he does everything in his power to make his son happy. I loved that about his character. Shannon is strong, capable and incredibly compassionate. I loved her big heart and the sympathetic and friendly way she treats people is amazing. Home to Stay has the most fantastic main characters and I loved them all from the start. Kate James has an impressive descriptive writing style. She makes her stories come to life in a beautiful emotional way. I love her empathy and her great skill to explore what her characters are feeling through and through. It gives all of her stories a strong foundation. True love can surprise people at the most unexpected moments, which is a subject I'm a big fan of. Home to Stay is a terrific story about this topic and the story kept surprising me. It has plenty of unexpected twists and turns and it's captivating and really well written. I highly recommend this special book.

I love this San Diego K-9 Unit series. The bonds that each officer has with their dog is so endearing and I can't help but to love these furry critters as well. In HOME TO STAY, Shannon and her four-legged partner, Darwin, are called to find a missing boy, but the situation hits too close to home for her. Sawyer is a single parent since his wife disappeared a few years earlier and I had a few issues with this. He is ready to move on with life and I didn't like the fact that he made that jump so quickly and in the midst of a crisis with his son. I guess when love hits, it hits, but I felt like it made him seem a little selfish at times. And I'm not a big fan of a yo-yo relationship. However, I loved seeing characters from previous books show up and to catch up on their lives. Just like in the earlier books of the series, the action and suspense happens right from the beginning and it doesn't ease up until it's all over. It was almost over-the-top, crazy drama--the kind that you wonder if it ever happens in real life. There's a mystery angle that really kept me reading because I couldn't figure out the who-done-it and what the motive was. I devoured the story and came away feeling a little emotionally exhausted and heart wrenched, yet satisfied with how the events finalized. Content: mild language; mild romance; mild violence. *I received a copy through the tour host, which didn't affect my review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

My heartstrings were in constant turmoil with this captivating return to Kate James' San Diego K-9 Unit series! It had my full attention from the first page, and as secrets were told and plots were unraveled, I took the journey of ups and downs right along with them. A really intriguing plot will keep you guessing as this cast of characters weave their spell. It was great to see the crowd from the previous books and get some exciting updates on them. I'm crossing my fingers that there are more books on the way for us ... after all, Quinn seems like quite a mystery awaiting unravel! :) Awakening to find your child missing is every parents nightmare! Sawyer Evans jumps into action searching everywhere to find him, but his efforts are fruitless. He just seems to have vanished! Rookie K-9 officer Shannon Clemens is called out with her partner Darwin to look for the missing boy. Her first solo assignment might be the end of her if she can't get her emotions under control. This case brings back so many memories of a tragedy from her past and she's finding it hard to focus. Speaking with Sawyer seems to comfort her ... as well as him. An unexpected connection forges in the wake of despair and helps keep an even keel as things spiral out of control.